Making things together help strengthen the bond between adults and children but sometimes things can go wrong. Glue can get spilled; paint can get on clothes.

By taking a few simple precautions beforehand, you can make sure that your craft session will be full of fun and laughter rather than tears and disappointment. Consequently, it's worth having the following items handy before embarking on a craft project with children.

• Sheets of newspaper or old bed sheets to cover the floor and table
• An old shirt or apron for the child to wear (adults can wear them too)
• A damp cloth for wiping up spills

Now you're ready to get crafting.

The following selection of ideas will help get you started but by all means use your own ideas, too. You could even ask the child whether he or she has any ideas – children are often far more creative than we give them credit for.

Invitations

If you're mailing invitations then you'll need to stick to the standard format of invitation inside an envelope but if you're able to hand out the invitations yourself, you'll be limited only by your own imagination.

Here are some unusual ideas:

• Pin the invitation to the front of a small, cuddly toy
• Put the invitation inside a bag of candy (sweets)
• Pin the invitation to a pair of dog-ears or similar, with a note saying that the recipient is to wear the ears to the party.
• Write the invite on an envelope containing flower seeds with a note to bring the envelope to the party. The seeds can then be planted in the garden to grow as a reminder of the day.If you have to stick to standard invitations, here's how to make them.

You'll need:

• Card Blanks with Envelopes
• Marker Pens
• PVC Glue
• Glitter
• Any other decorations of your choosing

How to make:

1. Either draw simple pictures on the cards for the child to color and decorate, or let them use their imagination to create random patterns.

2. If glue has been used, allow the cards to dry for at least a day.

• The name of the child whose party it is
• The name of the child being invited
• Where the party is to be held
• When to arrive
• Whether food will be served (mostly for the benefit of other parents)
• Whether there will be a party theme
• When the party will finish

4. Pop the card into an envelope and address it.

Remember that some schools won't allow invitations to be handed out in school unless the entire class has been invited. Please ask your child's teacher beforehand so as to ensure an awkward situation doesn't arise.

Decorative Buntings

A great way to decorate for the party. Hang buntings on the walls of the kitchen, dining room or lounge (or all three) and maybe in the windows or on the outside wall to let the whole neighborhood know there's a birthday happening.

You'll need:

• Construction Paper (preferably in various colors)
• Crayons or Marker Pens
• Scissors
• Glue, Tape or Staples
• A long piece of yarn or string

How to make:

1. Choose a subject for your bunting. Ideas include flowers, leaves, flags, stars, and letters (to spell out a name).

2. Decide how long your bunting needs to be and cut a suitable length of yarn.

3. Let's say you've chosen stars. Draw a star on the construction paper but make a narrow rectangle (a stem) at the top. This is for folding over the string when the time comes to hang them paper on it.

4. Cut out the heart. Repeat this step as many times as needed to fill up the chosen length of yarn.

5. Decorate each star with colors. You can also add glitter, sequins, and beads if there are any handy.

A Rubber Band and Cardboard Box Guitar

All children love to make a noise so playing musical instruments are at the top of their lists of fun things to do. What could be better than giving each their own guitar, especially made and decorated by the birthday boy or girl?

You'll need:

• An old shoe box (a sturdy tissue box can also work)
• Six long rubber bands
• The cardboard tube from a roll of paper towel
• Scissors
• A pencil
• Tape or glue
• Markers

How to make:

1. Take the box and cut an oval hole in the top.

2. Decorate the box using the marker pens.

3. Stretch the rubber bands over the box so that they fit snuggly right around the box.

4. Put the pencil underneath the rubber bands on one side of the hole.

5. Tape or glue the paper towel tube onto the end of the box.

6. Decorate the box.

Cup O' Worms

Yuk! Who wants to eat a cup of soil full of wiggly worms? Kids do, that's who!

Not only are these wormy desserts fun to make, they're edible, too! You'll need:

• Chocolate blancmange (pudding) mix
• Gummy worms
• Cocoa powder or hot chocolate mix
• Chocolate sprinkles - optional
• Clear plastic cups

How to make:

1. Make the chocolate blancmange or pudding and cool in the refrigerator.

2. Put individual portions of blancmange/pudding into clear plastic cups. Don't smooth the top of the blancmange/pudding – you want it to resemble earth.

3. Sprinkle cocoa powder or hot chocolate onto the surface along with some chocolate sprinkles (if used).

4. Place a few gummy worms into each cup, pushing the down into the 'earth'. It's ok if their heads stick up.

5. Keep in the refrigerator until it's time to serve.You can also use a big, clear bowl instead of individual cups if preferred.

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Imagine the pride your child will feel when friends arrive to a house decorated with the child's own handiwork and enjoy food prepared by his or her own young hands.

Get crafting and make this a birthday to remember.

Remember: never to let a child use a sharp knife or scissors without the supervision of a responsible adult.