How to Host a Brave Birthday Party

With the release of Pixar/Disney’s Brave only days away, we thought what better way to celebrate than with a Brave themed birthday party! There are very few things that excite us here at Official Princess Partiesmore than a new princess. And what a great princess Merida is! Brave is set on the Scottish Highland and follows Merida as she breaks tradition and tries to save her father’s kingdom while learning the true meaning of the word Brave. Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted with one wish, Princess Merida must rely on her bravery and archery skills to undo a beastly curse… riveting stuff. With all the action, adventure and beauty of this film, creating and equally exciting party will be easy peasy!

Brave Princess Merida Invitations:

Invite guests to your royal event with a creative home-made card using a simple design program. Most programs have a wide variety of custom fonts to select from, and typically have a wide range of Celtic inspired font. Find a great picture from the movie and add to your card. Print on note cards and be sure to remember to include all your important party details. Not feeling so creative, or on a time a restraint? Disney/Pixar had release a few pre-made birthday invitations that you can found at party stores or online.

Princess Merida Brave Decor:

Depending on your budget and the amount of time you can invest in the set-up, the decor of your Brave themed party can really bring this event to life. Using recycled items from around the house and inexpensive items for dollar stores, will really go a long way. The table set-up is very cost effective and delivers a big bang. Ideally, using your picnic table, cover with a blue plaid table cloth, fabric or bed sheet. Using woven baskets from around the house, or a local craft store, use as centre pieces. If you are lucky enough to stumble upon some large stones, feel free to use those as well.

Using a hoola-hoop and a cut-out yard bag or craft paper, you can make these great targets. Simply cut the brown paper to fit, and paint the targets into place. Let dry and hang, rest against the wall or ideally place onto an easel.

Disney has also released some great birthday party decor of Princess Merida from Brave. These plates, napkins, cups, etc are sure to please all the guests. Clickhere to check out some fantastic party supplies

Source: http://www.officialprincessparties.com

Princess Merida Party Games & Activites:

Brave is such an action packed film, it’s makes planing fun and unique games a breeze. If you are planning to have your event during the summer months, stop by any local big box or toy store and pick up a simply box and arrow play set. Use a traditional suction cup style, or for a bit more durability try a foam tipped arrow.

Another fun and inexpensive Brave birthday idea, is to have a mini-strong man competition. Create an obstacle course using hoola-hoops, tires, large rocks, a sand box and whatever else you have on hand. Have guests display their “Celtic Powers” by completing the course quickly. To add a little extra silly fun, have them complete this while riding a stick horse. These can be found at toys stores, if you don’t have one at home.

Hot Potato is a well-known an low-maintenance party game. Jazz it up a little with a “Brave” twist. Using a black stuff bear, have guests sit in a circle. Give the bear toy to the birthday child. Begin to play music (Celtic or Brave soundtrack would be appropriate) and have guests pass the toy bear around in the circle. Stop the music. However, has the bear is out. Continue until there is a winner. Whoever is the final player, is “Brave” enough to stand up to the bear!

Princess Merida Brave Party Food:

What can you eat at a Disney Brave Princess Merida themed birthday party? Take inspiration from movie characters and their heritage. Here are some fun and delicious recipe ideas.

Bear Claws:

One of King Fergus’ and Princess Merida’s favorite stories is how the peg-legged monarch lost his limb in a skirmish with the fearsome Mor’du. Inspired by that legendary bear, these rich, chocolaty cookies are tipped with slivered almond claws.

Recipe:

Small heavy saucepan

Wooden spoon

Mixing bowls

Whisk

Electric mixer

Baking sheet topped with parchment paper

1/2 cup butter, softened

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped into pieces

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Slivered almonds

Disposable food prep gloves (for shaping the cookies)

Spatula

Cooling rack

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter and chocolate in a small heavy saucepan on the stovetop over low heat, stirring continually. Set the melted chocolate aside to cool slightly.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl. Set the mixture aside for now.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar and eggs together with an electric mixer at high speed until light and airy, about 3 or so minutes. Blend in the vanilla extract and semi-cooled chocolate.

4. Stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture one half at a time. When the dough is evenly mixed (it will be fairly soft), cover the bowl with plastic and set it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours.

5. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. For the first cookie, roll a 1-inch ball of dough for the front of the bear paw and a half-inch ball for the heel. Gently press the two balls together and set them atop the parchment paper-topped baking sheet. Flatten the dough a bit with your thumb. For claws, insert five slivered almonds partway into the dough at the front of the paw. Continue making cookies in this manner, spacing them apart on the baking sheet.

6. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and then transfer them to a rack to cool before serving.

Princess Merida Brave Craft Idea:

If you have decided to add the element of a craft to your birthday party, here is a really cute themed Brave idea. Have your guests make their own bow and arrows!

Supplies for Pipe Cleaner Bow & Arrows:

pipe cleaners (aka chenille stems)

wooden dowel or popsicle stick

red sparkle paint

sponge brush

Directions:

1. Using your red sparkle paint and sponge brush, paint your wooden dowel or stick. Let it dry completely. I used a tall drinking cup to set it in to dry, painting one half of the stick and then the other.

2. To create your heart shaped arrow, first bend the pipe cleaner in half, but don’t press. About half way down, twist the two ends together all the way down. Form the top half of the bent pipe cleaner into a heart shape.

3. You can create a large heart for your arrow to strike, just twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together at the bottom.

4. Once your painted stick is dry, add one pipe cleaner to it to form the bow. Wrap and twist each end of the pipe cleaner to each end of the stick.