COOL PARTY IDEAS

You don't have to be from cattle country to enjoy a few cool party ideas with a country and western theme. Send out the invitations in the shape of cowboy boots, hats or a large star designed to look like the shiny star from a Sheriff's badge right out of the Wild West.

The focus of your western cowboy theme party ideas can be an old fashioned, vintage cowboy theme with a Wyatt Earp look alike contest, a water gun target shooting contest or more contemporary with a line dancing competition.

Whether you have dancing is up to you, but make sure that your musical selections are appropriate for the theme that you choose. An example would be that you can't line dance to tunes by the Sons of the Pioneers and by the same token, they didn't have contemporary country at the OK Corral.

Inexpensive country western party decorations might be brightly colored bandanas looped from the colored patio lights (if the party is at night). Arrange to have square bales of hay delivered to seat your guests around tables that have been decorated with checkered tablecloths.

Centerpieces for the tables could be floating candles in tin buckets or old fashioned lanterns. Decorations for the entryways and outer perimeters of the party might be rope lassoes and riding gear.

The menu might be served from the back of a "trail wagon" and include simple dishes like chuck wagon stew, chili and slices of homemade cornbread or BBQ ribs.

Our topsy-turvy cool party ideas or baby shower themes are perfect for a coed party. You may be able to use the concept for older kids' school birthday parties as well.

The idea is for all aspects of the party planning process to be backwards as they appear to the guests, not to the hostess of course. From the wording or poems on the invitations to the dress requirements. everything at this party will be topsy-turvy.

You might think that this theme would be too juvenile to be interesting to grownups. However, if you want your party to have a lighthearted, informal atmosphere and are having trouble coming up with something fun; keep reading because our baby shower ideas might just change your mind. Our tips are especially entertaining if you are planning an event where small children will be invited to attend with their parents. They will get such a kick out of some of the goofy decorations and games.

THE INVITATIONS

The wording on your invitations should state clearly that everything related to the party will be conducted in reverse. Announce very clearly that your baby shower theme or party theme is TOPSY TURVY or your guests will think that you have started to celebrate early by hitting the sauce or have gone off the deep end never to return.

CREATIVE DECORATIONS for a TOPSY TURVEY PARTY THEME IDEAS

Since this party is not based on a particular motif, activity or character you can buy your decorations according to the guest of honor's favorite colors. For individual table decorations, visit the gag gift store for trick tableware like glasses where the liquid won't come out or forks that won't work, etc. Of course you will have the real thing available on the buffet.

DRESS REQUIREMENTS for your UPSIDE DOWN PARTY

Here's where the reverse party theme ideas picks up steam and becomes hilarious. There are several approaches that you can take to request dress requirements that are backwards. You can ask all the ladies to dress up like men and demand that the guys dress as girls. If you feel that that's going too far or that the boys won't go for it, request that summer clothing be worn if it's winter and winter clothing be worn for a spring or summer party. Mention in the invitation that they should bring comfortable clothing to change into after the judging for most outrageous outfit has been completed.

MENU SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS UNUSUAL PARTY

Since everything at this party is backwards, the dessert will be served first and the savory items last. Pineapple upside down cake would be in keeping with your party ideas, but I you might want to come up with some cute cupcake decorating ideas like ones with decorated bottoms rather than tops.

HOSTESS DUTIES

The hostess at this party had better be on her toes. Keeping the party going backwards in an efficient, fun way takes some talent and can be challenging. Delegate some of the same co-hostesses that helped you out with party ideas with the step by step organization.

Have a friend at the entrance to the shower greet your guests by saying, "Bye! I'm glad you had a good time! Thanks for coming", and of course you will need judges for the most creative backwards outfits.

This is not the easiest party theme to pull off successfully. However, done correctly it might be the most unique and unusual party that your friends have ever attended.

This is one party that should be held out of doors because of the danger of paint splatter and we don't want the possibility of ruined carpet to staunch the flow of your party guest's creative juices.

Hang lengths of plain, white butcher paper on easels if you can beg or borrow the right number. In a pinch you can tape canvas size lengths of paper spaced far enough apart so that your talented friends will have plenty of elbow room on the back yard fence. Have small tables set up with small containers of poster paint within reach of the painting area. Write the names of some objects to be drawn or painted on small pieces of paper that you fold and put in a box.

When your amateur painters arrive pass out the artists smocks (old men's shirts will work) and some long brushes. Have each person draw a piece of paper that will tell them what the subject of their artwork is to be.

Set a timer for a specified time frame and let the fun begin!

When the buzzer sounds have an unbiased judge award first, second and third place ribbons.