Make a calendar cake

To honor the months of the school year, make a calendar cake! Simply bake any flavor cake in a 13x9x2 pan. Frost with white frosting and use black decorator gel to create 9 boxes. Use black gel to write the abbreviation for each school month (Sep-May) within each box. Use colored decorator gels to add a small Christmas tree to Dec, a bat to October, leaves in November, a heart in February, a clover for March and an Easter egg for April.

Try school-themed munchies

Every party needs munchies! Set out a bowl of tortilla chips, salsa, a plate of raw vegetables, and dip. Add some fun by naming your goodies in a school theme. Use index cards glued to craft sticks to identify your educational treats. Some suggestions are Math Munchies, Science Salsa, Vocabulary Veggies and Reading Ranch. Get creative and think up your own names such as Learning Lemonade, Playground Punch, Monkey Bar Melons, Coach’s Crackers & Cheese, or Alphabet Apples.

For a sweet treat, make Jell-O Jigglers using cookie cutters shaped like numbers and letters. Alternatively, if you don’t have cookie cutters, make brownies or sugar cookies and decorate the top with decorator gels, writing letters and numbers on top.

See you in school!

Hand out goodie bags and time capsules as children leave the party. If the time capsules aren’t dry, be sure to hand them over to the parents for safe keeping. Remember, you aren’t saying goodbye—this party ushers in a new beginning, so say “hello” instead!

Related Links:

• AmazingMoms Back-to-School Party
• AmazingMoms Back-to-School Countdown
• AmazingMoms Back-to-School Tips

Amanda Formaro is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She and her husband live in sunny Nevada with a houseful of kids, dogs and cats. They enjoy traveling in the RV, swimming, and riding their four wheelers.

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