Hi there! I’m Michelle, a communications specialist at Girl Scouts River Valleys. I love all things crafty, so I was thrilled when Brianna asked me to write about the DIY Cookie Costume crafting party we threw for a group of Girl Scout Brownies. It was a blast! And the costumes will be so fun for girls to wear during the cookie season, at cookie booths, parades, and other events throughout the year.
Never hosted a craft party? Here are a few simple tips to help get you started. I hope you’re inspired to throw your own party with your troop!
Gather materials
Make it easy and fun to get creative with your girls. Pick up colorful felt, hot glue gun, scissors, and Velcro! We found Velcro to work well, especially since we were working with younger Brownies (you could also sew the costume if you’d like). I’d recommend loading up on scissors—that way no one is waiting for a turn!
Send out invites
Nothing makes a party official like an invitation! I put together some printable DIY deLites invitations for you to pass out at your troop meeting. Girls will be extra excited if they receive one in the mail. Feel free to ask parents to bring something. Whether it’s craft supplies, food, or drinks, it’s always nice to have a little help in those areas.
Start decorating
If you want to make your party feel even more festive, put out some fun decorations. We hung up a bunch of paper chains—not only did it get us in the crafting mood, it also doubled as a nice backdrop for taking photos during the party. They’re super easy. Here are some instructions if you need help with making your own, but you’re probably already a paper-chaining expert. 🙂
Take lots of photos!
Make sure to take lots of pictures—the sillier the better! We’d love to see photos of your crafting parties and your finished costumes. Send us a photo of your troop modeling their finished cookie costume. We encourage you to share your photo on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
I’m looking forward to hearing about your crafting parties!
–Michelle