Franklin the Turtle
Dress your child in green sweats. Tie a red bandana around her neck. Have her wear a red baseball cap. For the shell, cut a circle out of poster board and cut a couple holes in it to loop a ribbon thru to tie it. Then, use the spray foam insulation to cover the poster board. Next, paint over with green and brown spray paint. Voila -- Franklin! I really like the ideas of sweats ''dressed up.'' The kids are so much more comfortable in them and they actually leave them on.


A Lego Piece

Get a big box, cut a hole in one end for the head, and two for the arms. The box should go down to about her knees. Spray-paint it any color: yellow, red, green, white or black. Then find something for the six ''bumps'', perhaps disposable salad bowls or little butter tubs. Paint these the same color as the box, and glue them on in tow columns of three each, as you would see on a Lego. Dress in the same color clothing underneath.


Witches, Wizards and Goblins

Invitations: Buy several cheap plastic magic wants. Print out invitations on white paper with important information. Scroll up around want. Tie with orange and black ribbon. Hand deliver to guests.

Decorations: String Christmas lights around the entrance way. Hang silver and gold stars through out the party area. Mylar gold and silver balloons can also be hung. Cut out ghost shapes in Mylar and hang. Glow-in-the-dark tape attached to walls, doors, lamps etc. is nice when lights are low. Grave markers can be made from Styrofoam sheets - use felt-tip markers to make inscription.