Octonauts party!

It's birthday time for both of my boys. Though 2 years apart, their birthdays are 6 days apart, so it's natural to have one party for both. With both boys (turning 6 and 4) being huge fans of kids TV show, The Octonauts, finding a theme for this years party was easy peasy, and producing the parts was challenging and fun! Here's what I came up with (and some fun ideas to try - if you're doing one too)...

Easy party hats and eye patches were made with coloured card. A 'party room' was set out within our open plan playroom, using walls of seaweed (streamers). Inside that space we set up a central table, set with sea shells, small sea creatures and the food.

The 'coral' and 'fish biscuits' were homemade cheese puffs, the chocolate bars were re-badged with Octonaut characters, various confectionery items became 'electric eels' and 'blob fish'. 'Octodogs' (made by slitting legs through red-skinned hotdogs prior to cooking) were served with 'ink sauce' (tomato sauce tinted with blue colouring!)

A large hand drawn 'Peso' poster on the wall became a game, following an episode of the Octonauts where he wins an "Iron Clam" award, we had the children 'pin the clam' (a silver painted shell - each with a childs name inside it) in his hand - blindfolded. Later the children were given a treasure map and were sent on a hunt to find their treasure boxes (which would be their goodie bag to take home).

Finally, sharing a party is one concession, but I wanted the boys to have a cake each, so they can blow out their own candles. They were each quite sure about their favourite characters, which were not so tricky to replicate in cake form: Dashi (above) for 4 year old Hugo, and Captain Barnacles for Dylan, 6.

A fun party, and I'm exhausted! I should have remembered after last years party! Now, who's got the vino?

*EDITED: Check out the comments section for loads of FAQs. Seems Octonaut parties are still awesome and our little party has inspired ideas for yours!