Volcano Birthday Party

 My son wanted a Volcano Lava themed birthday party for his 7th birthday so...we did our best to give it to him...I made a volcano out of a garden tomato tree and wrapped paper around it to look like a mountain, then spray painted it with dark brown spray paint and added orange paint for lava.

Tomato tree: $.69, painters paper: $2.00, spray paint: $1.20

The coolest part was the dry ice we put in the top of the volcano (in a glass carafe) to look like smoke.
Dry ice: $5.00

I spray painted plastic cups brown and hot glued dixie cups to the inside.  I cut a hole in the bottom of the plastic cup, flipped the cup upside down & put in a tablespoon of baking soda, 4 drops of orange food coloring & 1 teaspoon of dishsoap.  I then gave each child a dixie cup of vinegar to pour on top of the plastic cup.  And voila!  A bubbly volcano!

Plastic cups: free, had them around the house.  Dixie cups: free (I borrowed some from a friend).  Baking soda, vinegar, food coloring: free (had them already)

Dad came up with a few "Lava " games; Lava Tag, Volcano Obstacle Course, Hot! Lava! (just like Marco Polo), and Balance the Lava Rocks (running with spoons with cherry tomatoes on them).  We also had a "Hot Pinata" for the kids.

Finally, the cake (Pioneer Woman's Best Chocolate Sheet Cake)  My sister helped me figure out how to use the part of the cake I cut away and put it on top like running lava. All in all, it was a fun party.  I still can't believe my sweet boy is 7!