I have just booked the most FAB party for my DD 6th Birthday.

[Tas1]

Along the same lines as 'Build a bear' shops but they come to your home/venue!!!!

The party entertainer brings along the teddy bear skins (or rabbits, dogs, tigers, unicorns etc), stuffing, hearts, birth certificate etc. The children stuff their bears, make a wish and place the hearts etc. They then decorate t-shirts for their bears.

After the Birthday Tea, the children play party games and decorate cup cakes, all included in the price.

The bears are put into gift bags to hand out at the end of the party, so no need for party bags.

They also bring along outfits for the teddy's, which parents can purchace at the end of the party if they want to.

How fab is that!!!

I bet the other parents will be thrilled at buying extra outfits.

Hope you all have a great party.

I don't think I'd be too happy at the inevitable pressure at the end of the party to buy more outfits tbh.

my dd went to one of these parties and LOVED it

The extra outfits wont be on show but a note will be put on the invitation saying they will be on sale if they want them, but the children wont know.

No pressure.

wow sounds great, where did you find them?

The extra outfits are only £3.50 so not too expensive.

sounds really good.

i wonder if they do something like this in edinburgh.

if you dont mind me asking what is the ££££ like?

OMG that is spooky!! I have just planned my dd's birthday along the same lines - except I am hosting it myself! We are not havign the extra outfits for sale though, as part of teh party I am supplying plain white bear-sized t-shirts adn some fabric pens adn we are decorating the bears t-shirts

Have fun, dd will love it.

I found them on GUMTREE (kent).
There is another company called smiles that do it too. smilesparties.co.uk

KARRYK The lady from GUMTREE quoted between £16.50 - £17.50 per bear depending on size, but that includes the extra entertainment and cake decorating.

Smiles quoted £9.95 - £12.50 per bear but then you have to add £25 travel allowance as I am outside M25, and £50 entertainers fee.

So in the end gumtree worked out cheaper.

I am doing it myself: 10 12" bears at £7.99each, 10 bear t-shirts at £1.50each, a packet of fabric pens (£4.50).
I will go to Costco for some party food and a cake. We may play pass the parcel adn 'pin the bow tie on the bear' too if time allows. Whole party should be no more than £100

And each of my bears come with satin make-a-wish-charm, deluxe gift bag, birth certificate.

I am getting mine here
Click on teh 12" bear party

thanks hippipotami, I did not know there was such a thing as a DIY build a bear party, looks great!

No worries
I am a bit worried about hosting it myself, but a 'host' would cost £50 or so, and that is money I cannot justify spending.

Have had to reduce the numbers a bit as the budget for the party is £100 (my credit is crunched ) but I think it may be easier with 6 or 7.

The party is not till Dec so I have some time to fret about it. [panicking emoticon]

This looks great!
Had no idea this was possible-went to a great party recently where all children decorated plates/mug/bowls so teddies would be a great alternative!

I love the idea you could do this yourself! Like I have upteen unstuffed bears about the place

Sounds great.