How to Have an Amazing Spider-Man Birthday Party: Part 1

At the end of my son's sixth birthday party, one of the ROCpoppas commented, "This was great! No one has birthday parties like this anymore."

It's true; lately most kids' birthday parties seem to be at a venue, rather than at home. And I get it: someone else does the set up and clean up, the activities are already planned, and sometimes the goody bags are even done for you. How can you pass up all that?

But if you enjoy working with your child to pick the theme and throwing a personalized party, but you don't enjoy all the planning, I can help. Here are ROCmomma's tips and tricks for a truly Amazing Spider-Man Birthday Party!

Invitations

The Easy Method: 
Type the party information* four times on one page (postcard or quarter-card style) and print on card stock. Cut each sheet into quarters and let your kid decorate the other side with Spider-Man stickers.

The More-Time-On-Your-Hands Method:
Purchase red, black, and blue card stock, spider-web themed scrapbook paper (Halloween section), white gel pen. Print party information* on card stock, print Spider-Man faces* on red card stock, cut out Spider-Man faces and fill in eyes with white gel pen. Cut all pieces and assemble invitations with your adhesive of choice.

For each card:

• blue card stock: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• spider web scrapbook paper: 4" x 5 1/4"
• red card stock: 4 1/4" x 1/2"
• black card stock: 4 1/4" x 1/4"
• Spider-man face* (printed on red card stock; cut out with scissors; fill in eyes with white gel pen)
• party information* (printed 4 per page on card stock; cut page into quarters; trim as necessary)
• adhesive of choice (such as glue stick, double-sided tape, adhesive runner, etc.)

I gave the birthday boy all the cut pieces and some glue sticks, and he assembled the cards.

1. Center and glue the spider web paper onto the blue card stock.
2. Center and glue a red strip across the card.
3. Center and glue a black strip over the red strip.
4. Center and glue a Spider-Man face on top of the strips.
5. Turn the card over.
6. Center and glue the party information onto the back.

While we were at it, we made the thank you cards at the same time.

For each card:

• white card stock: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
• red card stock: 4" x 5 1/4"
• spider web scrapbook paper: 1 1/2" x 5 1/4", torn along one long edge
• Spider-Man comic strip image*, printed multiples per page, and torn to fit: 1 1/4" x 4 3/4"
• your favorite "thank you" stamp
• black ink pad
• adhesive of choice (such as glue stick, double-sided tape, adhesive runner, etc.)

To assemble:

1. Fold the white card stock in half, to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"; set aside.
2. Ink your "thank you" stamp with black ink and stamp along the right side (long edge) of the red card stock.
3. Center and glue the stamped red card stock onto the front of the folded white card.
4. Align the spider web paper strip along the left edge of the red card stock, and adhere.
5. Center and glue the comic-strip image onto the spider web paper.

* FREE PRINTABLES: Here are the printables I created for this party in PowerPoint for Mac. Here is another pdf version, in case you have trouble opening the PowerPoint version. Please note that I do not own these images, nor do I have permission to sell them. These are FREE and are for your personal use and convenience only.

Have fun making your invitations and thank you cards! Be sure to check out the rest of the How to Have an Amazing Spider-Man Birthday Party series:

Part 2 - Decorations & Attire

Part 3 - Goodie Bags & Party Food

Part 4 - Games & Activities

As always, thanks for reading!