It is always fun when your child discovers something retro that you happen to love. My daughter recently discovered the simple joy of sock monkeys and I thought it would be fun to base her birthday celebration around these little cuties.
Sock monkeys were originally made from Rockford Red Heel socks in the early 20th century. These nostalgic critters are loved by both children and adults so a sock monkey party would be just as appropriate for a first birthday party, where adults are often important guests, as it would be for a ten year old’s party.
Sock Monkey Invitation Ideas
This trendy vintage character is a popular product for crafters. Because of this, customized sock monkey invitations can be purchased through an Etsy shop, or put together yourself with scrap booking material and stickers. Another easy way to create birthday party invitations is to take photos of your child wearing a sock monkey hat or hugging a sock monkey. Print copies and then use a glue stick to attach party details on the back of the photo.
Sock Monkey Party Decorations
I like to use party favors and food as the main part of my decorating in order to keep the costs down. This way, the party room is basically cleaned up as guests leave! Specifically, for a sock monkey party the main table can be decorated with a red runner down the center with the cake and glass containers of banana Runts.
Hang inexpensive monkeys from the chairs and add a few helium balloons to finish the look. If you hand out sock monkey coloring pages at the start of the party, hang these to enjoy throughout the party. Of course you can add more decorations if desired. Party Express paper products are a good way to decorate inexpensively. Another fun idea is to have photos of your child and her sock monkey blown up and placed on the wall.
Food for a Sock Monkey Party
You can stick with your child’s favorite party foods, or make something that ties into the monkey theme. Make banana splits, frozen chocolate covered bananas or stir up banana smoothies. A sock monkey cake is not a difficult themed cake to build. Start with a round cake and use a sock monkey as a guide. Frost with white and brown icing. Use red licorice to outline the mouth and the hat. Oreos turn into ears and mini Oreos as eyes. If you do not want to do it yourself, purchase a Monkey Cake Pan or make cupcakes.
Sock Monkey Party Games
Consider playing fun, active games like monkey in the middle or a monkey themed version of Simon Says. A party full of kids, stuffed monkeys and fun music can be a game in itself.
Sock Monkey Party Craft: Finger Puppets
Gather the kids around the table to make monkey finger puppets and listen to a story.
You will need:
Brown gloves Googly eyes Brown felt Brown pipe cleaners Glue
Cut the fingers off the gloves. Let each party guest cut out and glue on felt ears. Glue the googly eyes on and poke a pipe cleaner through the back of the finger puppet. Kids can finish with markers to make the mouth if desired. While they are creating monkeys, you could read “Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.”
More by Sylvie Branch:
Candy Wrapper Crafts
9 Ways to Encourage Creativity
Fort Making Kit: Inexpensive Gift for Imaginative Kids