Party craft ideas for 2-4 year olds

[melpomene]

DD1's 4th party will have an animal theme. I want to have a craft activity for the children to do as they arrive. They will be mostly 3 and 4 year olds, but a few 2 year olds as well. It's a joint party with dd1's bf so there will be quite a lot of children there, so don't want anything too complicated/expensive.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Decorate a biscuit is always a great success. (Although not exactly what you're after perhaps). Have them spiders (with chocolate buttons and legs from chocolate sauce) on white icing.

Baker Ross do animal masks you can decorate I think. We did crowns. About £4 for 12. I bought loads of stickers, glitter etc. the kids loved it and were really pleased to take home something they had mad4e themselves.

For ds's party (fireman sam theme) each child coloured / decorated a place card for the table .... cheap and effective.

I got a colour-in picture of Fireman Sam off the net, and printed off each child a place card, with their name in a colour-inable (sorry if that's not a word) font.

Also saved argument about who sat where at the table ....

What about a small pack of toy clay for each child to make an animal out of - best one wins a prize.
I have some small packs of Toy Clay that I could sell you if you're interested.
4 packs for a £1 or 30p per pack plus P&P
I also have some animal stickers for sale.
have a look at my picturetrail
I'm sure I could find you an animal based prize aswell

Thanks for the suggestions. Decorating biscuits might work - I could use cutters to make some animal shaped biscuits.

magicmummy, does the clay air dry hard ?