| Kids love magic tricks and special effects because | | | | Party Punch with Pizzazz |
| they surprise and delight with the unexpected. Here's | | | | Mix up a batch of one of the following party punches: |
| a collection of easy yet impressive special effects to | | | | Smoldering Swamp Water |
| try at your next kids party. | | | | Mix equal parts Ice Cool Arctic Green Apple flavor |
| But beware... kids are naturally inquisitive, and will | | | | Kool-Aid with ginger ale, or try any green beverage |
| want to know how you achieved your spectacular | | | | such as 7-UP. |
| results. Keep it mysterious, and you'll be the hit of | | | | Bubbling Love Potion |
| the party crowd! | | | | Mix equal parts cherry Kool-Aid & ginger ale for |
| Erupting Volcano | | | | a colorful and fizzy love potion drink. |
| Start by lining a box lid (edges should be about 2 | | | | Here's where the fun starts... |
| inches high) with foil or use a large metal pan. Fill with | | | | Place a piece of dry ice in a sealed plastic container. |
| wet sand. Place an empty soup can in the center and | | | | Punch or cut holes in the container lid. Before serving |
| press the sand around the can to form your volcano | | | | drop the container into the punch bowl for a very |
| mountain. For the best effect, completely conceal the | | | | cool effect! |
| can. Spoon 1/4 cup baking soda into the can and | | | | Important: Always use caution when handling dry ice! |
| place the box on a surface protected with a plastic | | | | Use tongs or heavy gloves so it does not touch bare |
| tablecloth or newspapers. | | | | skin as burn will result. Do not put the dry ice directly |
| To erupt the volcano, pour a portion of the | | | | in the punch; it should NOT be ingested. |
| activation solution into the can. When this is added to | | | | Frozen Hand |
| the baking soda, it will make flowing "lava". Let your | | | | Fill an unpowdered surgical glove with water. Add |
| party guests take turns adding a bit of solution to | | | | green food coloring for a creepier look. Securely twist |
| the can to cause further eruptions. | | | | tie the end and hang from a shelf in the freezer. |
| Activation Solution - 1 cup water, 3/4 cup vinegar, 1 | | | | Once frozen, cut off the glove and float hand in your |
| 2 cup dishwashing liquid, 10 drops of red food coloring | | | | punch bowl for a nice "touch"! |
| and 10 drops of yellow food coloring. | | | | Slime |
| Volcano Cake | | | | Take a cup of water and add to it 1 Tbs. of borax |
| Make a bundt cake and frost it in chocolate frosting. | | | | (available in the laundry section of the grocery store). |
| Decorate with palm trees and small plastic dinosaurs: | | | | Stir until completely dissolved. Take 1/4 cup of white |
| Before serving, take a pint of chocolate ice cream | | | | glue and 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. In a |
| and place over the hole in the center of the cake. | | | | ziploc bag, add equal parts of the borax solution to |
| Pour strawberry syrup over it for volcano lava. Serve | | | | equal parts of the glue solution. A half cup of each |
| and enjoy! | | | | will make a cup of slime. Add a couple drops of green |
| Variation: Frost the cake white and use vanilla ice | | | | food coloring. Seal bag and knead the mixture. |
| cream for a different look. | | | | Fake Blood |
| Spinning Vortex | | | | Karo brand corn syrup |
| Take two empty 2-liter bottles and fill one about one | | | | Red and blue food coloring |
| third with water. Put the bottle openings together, | | | | Milk |
| with the empty bottle upside down on top of the full | | | | Add some red food coloring to the corn syrup, then |
| one. Place a 3/8 inch metal washer in the opening | | | | just a drop or two of blue to get a more realistic |
| between the two bottles and duct tape them | | | | dark color. Milk will make the blood appear more |
| together carefully. | | | | opaque and more realistic. |
| When you're ready to make a vortex, reverse the | | | | Note: This mixture is sticky and can stain clothes. |
| bottles so the full one is on top. Swirl the top bottle | | | | These cool special effects are perfect for a mad |
| in a circular motion until a spinning vortex begins to | | | | scientist party, a dinosaur party, a Halloween party... |
| form in the water. It will continue until all the water | | | | just use your imagination and have fun! They add a |
| has funneled through the washer and into the | | | | unique twist to any kids party and will make your |
| bottom bottle. Just reverse the bottles to create | | | | child's special day a truly memorable event! |
| another vortex. | | | | |