Teddy Bear's Picnic Party: Invitations and Beehive Pinata

In the May issue of Canadian Family magazine [page 35] we showed you how one family turned their son’s birthday into a little party in the woods, and with these instructions to make scroll invites and beehive piñatas you too can gaily gad about at your own Teddy Bears’ Picnic

Originally published April, 2009

By Shannon Phillips

Photos by Michael Alberstat

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Scroll invites

Cordially invite all of your bear-y best friends with a personalized, handmade scroll invite that shows just how much you want them there.

Time it takes: Two hours or more (depending on how many invites you make)

Age level: 6 & up with help from mom or dad

Material

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Step 1 Use the verses to Teddy Bears’ Picnic online as inspiration for your invite. Here’s our example of a birthday party held at Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum & Arts Centre.

If you go out to Todmorden in July
You’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go out to Todmorden on the 26th day
You’d better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there at 11 a.m. because
That’s the time Jamie will have his birthday.

Picnic time for Jamie’s friends,
The little boys and girls will have a lovely time today
Watch them seek and find a bear
And join a picnic for Jamie’s 4th birthday.

See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout
And never have any cares.
At one o’clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they are tired little teddy bears.

Every teddy bear that’s been good
Is sure of a treat today
There’s lots of nut-free sweets to eat
And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the trees, where only parents see
They’ll hide and seek as long as they please
Today’s the day that Jamie has his birthday.

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Step 2 On a computer program of your choice, create your invite. Tip: Choose a document size that will work easiest with your printer, if you make each invite 4x11" you can print two invites per piece of 8.5x11" paper. As with any invite, provide a date, time, location and encourage an RSVP deadline so you can plan your party accordingly. It can be difficult to navigate in parks, so include a map to your meeting spot.

Step 3 Print off your invites.

Step 5 Using your scalloped scissors, cut out circles (approx. 1.5" in diameter) from the white sticker paper. Keep the back on them until you are ready to use them.

Step 6 Stamp each sticker with your bear stamp.

Step 7 Roll your invites and then wrap them with the parchment paper. Remove the back of your pre-cut white circles and seal.

Step 8 Cut your ribbon into 6" strands and tie bows on the ends of each scroll.

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Piñata

Nothing says a party like a piñata, and in a few simple steps you can skip the tacky party-store version and make your own. We suggest starting the piñata a week beforehand to account for overnight drying time and choose peanut-free treats for everyone to enjoy.

Time it takes: One and half hours (not including drying time)

Skill level: Six and up for the papier-mâché part, but younger kids will need some help in the later steps.

Beehive materials