Dora the Explorer Cardboard Craft Party Decor

We’ve had a big weekend in the DG household: Dimples turned the big 4.

She requested a Dora Craft party. She was very specific about the crafts and the guests and the food. But less so about the decor. Which gave me a bit of a challenge because this is not a house that lends itself to easy party decorating: some of the party would take place in the kitchen, the family room, the hallway, the corridor, the sitting room.

Then a parcel arrived and all my problems were solved with a lot of corrugated cardboard.

The party called for a Dora-style Map Quest. I came up with a plan to hunt for Boots’ Bananas, and a route. Then I put obstacles in the way.

I cut letters from card: the letters would be a code that needed breaking to conjour up a Magic Key. The phrase later made a birthday banner for the Four-Year-Old on her actual birthday.

The key would open up the door leading to the long tunnel: but watch out for Swiper.

Once Swiper was gone we needed to count the four stepping stones.

And I needed to keep little people from veering off the trail and down the corridor into the bedrooms of our one-level home.

All of these things I made from cardboard. I cut them out, drew outlines in magic marker. No colours, no complications. Simple yet effective decorations and party theme tools all made from a recyclable item that we had in our home.