Write the party particulars on a long strip of paper and insert in a fortune cookie or a Chinese coin purse. Place in a Chinese takeout box, add an Asian drink paper umbrella and a mini hand fan. Seal with a Chinese sticker and an addressed mailing label and take to your post office to mail. (Note: Send one to yourself first to judge its condition and to determine length of time it takes to arrive.)
Pen the wording on a piece of paper and attach to a bag of Chinese or green tea.
Write
invitation on stock shaped like an
Oriental dress.
Write the wording on the back of a Chinese laundry ticket.
* Fill vases with dried Chinese lanterns found through your floral supplier and some craft stores in their dried floral department.
Scour thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales for Asian pottery, Buddhas, Chinese dolls and figurines or search out goats, rams or sheep and use to fill the party site to celebrate this special Chinese New Year.
Float candles in bowls half-filled with colored water.
Dress in Oriental costumes to help put your guests in the mood from the moment they enter your pagoda.
Since gold means a wish of good fortune, place goldfish in goldfish bowls as part of your table d�cor and then give to guests as a party favor. (Be sure to give them some fish food and care instructions as well to get them started. Remember, these fish need to be put in distilled, not tap, water.)
Line your walkway with colorful, black and white, or red and black Chinese lanterns or luminarias made with a hole punch in a Chinese design, sand or kitty litter, and a votive candle in a gold or red paper snack sack.
Play Chinese music found through your library or buy a collection of Chinese music to put guests in an Asian frame of mind.
If the party is indoors, replace your lampshades with paper lanterns.
Give each party-goer a Mandarin hat to wear and they become part of the d�cor (and it makes a great party favor).
Set up a couple of games of Chinese checkers.
Let guests read their fortune from a fortune cookie or Chinese fortune sticks.
Children may enjoy playing with Chinese jump ropes.
Work with a local Judo or Karate group to put on an exhibition for your guests.
Have guests try their luck playing with Chinese yo-yos.
Find Chinese characters for common words and let your guests try their hand at copying them.
Teach guests how to use a pair of chopsticks. Then hold a contest to see who can pick up the smallest object the fastest with them.
Decorate your walls or tables with Chinese silk or dragon design cloths.
Rent or borrow from your library movies or travelogues with a Chinese locale or theme. Try �The World of Suzi Wong,� �Flower Drum Song,� �Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,� �Joy Luck Club, � �Year of the Dragon� or any other videos that appeal to you. You don�t need to leave the sound on, just play the video for added atmosphere. For purchasing information.
Serve homemade or take-out egg drop, sweet and sour or wonton soup or rice in Oriental bowls.
If you can�t find suitable Asian design dishes for rent or in a thrift shop, red or gold paper plates and accessories will still set the mood and in true Chinese tradition. These colors mean good fortune to your guests.
Place a hand fan with Asian paintings on each guest�s plate for d�cor and a favor.
Use Chinese character slap or stretch bracelets for napkin rings.
Decorate plain glasses with Chinese character stretch bracelets for added Asian atmosphere.
Paint each guest�s name on a hand fan for use as a favor and place card setting.
Put a set of chopsticks at each place setting, along with traditional flatwear for the more adventurous diners.
Serve Mai Tais and garnish with paper umbrellas.
Serve your meal on bamboo or rattan trays.
Serve goldfish crackers in a goldfish bowl.
Serve vanilla ice cream topped with pineapple chunks and a fortune cookie in Chinese bowls or margarita glasses for dessert. Garnish with small umbrellas.
Send guests home with leftovers in a Chinese takeout box .
When things heat up, a hand fan will help guests keep their cool.
Wooden Oriental bookmarks will be a thoughtful gift they�ll use for years to come.
Share the light of love with a frosted glass votive candle enhanced with the Chinese symbol of love.
Present a grand prize of a cookbook featuring Chinese Cuisine.
NOTE: The products we mention in this plan go in and out of stock quickly so some that you link to may be sold out. If you have any requests please contact us and we will try to help you find them.
For a full range of party supplies for every theme and occasion visit the companies below:
Directory of Kid's Party Themes
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2006 Phyllis Cambria, All Rights Reserved