Dress-Up Cowboy Child Boy Costume

$ 19.05

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Western Party Invitations
• Wanted Poster
• Wild West Gun Belt
• Cactus Invitation
• Western Party Dress Code
• Western Party Decorations
• Western Party Guest Arrival & Announcement
• Western Party Favors
• Western Party Activities
• Sneaky Outlaws
• Target Practice
• Outlaw Rescue
• Sheriff's Mark
• Food & Drink

Introduction

The Old West was a crazy place where a man could get shot down for simply looking at another the wrong way. But don't worry, this is nothing that dangerous. In fact, it's to help you organize the ultimate western party where you and your fellow gunslingers can have the times of your lives! Below you will find some tips to help you organize the event. But first, a little more about the Old West and some of the most noted characters.

To start off, we have Wyatt Earp who was born in 1848 and was one of the most famous lawmen of the Old West. A gentleman and an extremely dangerous adversary, Earp is especially known for his involvement in the O.K. Corral shootout in Tombstone, 1881. Here, together with some other notable figures of the time, Wyatt Earp defeated the feared Clantons and McLaury brothers.

And speaking of gentlemen, there were also those who lived on the other side of the law. We are of course referring to a character known as Black Bart, or rather Charles Bolles (born 1829) who is said to rob 28 stagecoaches. To obscure his identity he wore a flour sack mask (how he became known is not quite sure) and appeared a rather menacing character. But, for all it is worth, we can say that according to reports he never hurt anyone and often recited some poetry to calm people down.

Last but not least we have Pat Garret, born in 1850 and raised to be a Buffalo hunter, hog rancher and a cowboy. Mr. Garret is most famously known for killing Billy the Kidd who was said to be an unruly character not entirely worthy of his romanticized persona. However we'll leave that up to you and the history books.

Right now, we've got us a hog-killin' time to organize! 

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Western Party Invitations

Below you will find some useful ideas for Western Party invitations. Should you require any of the materials or items necessary, just ask your parents to help by purchasing them from a retail store in your area or from the internet. And remember, including the following information in your invitation will ensure that your guests will have all the information they need. 

• Party Name: Give your party a cool name! Think in terms of “Young Willy's Old West Gunslinger Gathering”

• Salutation

• Date & Time

• Venue/Location

• Dress Code

• Contact Details

• Additional information… 

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Wanted Poster

Well partner, if you want your friends to mosey on down to your shindig or whatever event you're tryin' to organize, you had better get them invitations ready. And just to get you started, why not use our wanted poster idea? You'll need a picture of your friends' heads to make this realistic as well as a computer loaded with the appropriate software and a printer.

To start off, you'll need to edit the image you have of your friends' heads to make it (the image, not the face) look aged. Depending on your image editing program, techniques for this may vary so we'd suggest that you have a look on the internet for suitable tutorials.

Once you've got that pat, you'll need the text of your invitation. Here's an example complete with all the details: 

Wanted

Jimmy "Silver Bullet" Anderson

Invitation to attend Wild Kidd's Western Blowout

Date: 17th of July 2009

Time: Noon

Venue: Kidd's Saloon

Dress Code: Outlaw or Sheriff

Info: Bring yer squirt gun

REWARD: Great Fun!

Now you can change the text as you want, but be sure to include all the important information and also to use the appropriate font.

Once your poster design is finished, print it on normal paper of a size of your choice - however, be sure to use a laser jet printer as our next step will require you to submerge your posters in liquid. We'd also recommend printing off additional samples for testing purposes as to ensure that your efforts aren't wasted.

Fill a large tray or plate with some black coffee or black tea and submerge your test sheet into it. Let it lie for a couple of minutes and then carefully take it out to dry (lay it on a wooden board or even on dry grass in the sun). If your posters don't look aged enough then you might need to use stronger coffee or tea.

When you've found the right strength of your mixture and have soaked all your posters, just leave them to dry for a bit and then get ready to deliver them - simple as that! 

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Wild West Gun Belt

What would a western party be without guns? Pop down to your local toy store and pick up a toy gun belt for each of your friends. If you don't have the appropriate toy store in your area, just ask your parents to help you look on the internet as there are plenty of suppliers ready to help out.

Now all you'll need to do is to create the appropriate paper-based invitations and attach them to the gun belts.

Please note that if you think your guests will be wearing these to the party (and if you aren't providing toy pistols or squirt guns with them) then you had better state under 'Information' on your invitation that your friends should bring their own toy pistols or squirt guns. 

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Cactus Invitation

Can you see you and your friends as a couple of lonely old cowboys riding across the desert and into the sunset? A cactus is not only a plant with thorns on, but a source of fluid for those stranded in the desert.

For this invitation you will need to pop down to your local nursery and get a cactus for each of your friends (did you know that the plural for 'cactus' is 'cacti'?) and make sure that they are already potted. You will also need to get some paint as you will be painting the details of your party onto the pot of the cactus.

Now, for those who are artistically inclined, why not make some western gear for the cacti. These can include miniature western hats, miniature gun belts, perhaps some shades (not really old time western, but they look cool), and of course a poncho.

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Western Party Dress Code

It's a western party, so you'll have to state “Lawman” or “Outlaw” on your invitations.

Western Party Decorations

Here are a couple of decorations to consider for your Western Party. If you aren’t planning on making them yourself, then just ask your parents to help you purchase them from the appropriate retailer in your are or from the internet. 

• Bales of hay

• Saloon Signs (make these yourself using some cardboard and paint).

• A Bar Counter

• Cacti

• Backdrops of the desert

• Steer Skulls

• “Wanted” Posters (on the walls)

• Lanterns

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Western Party Guest Arrival & Announcement

As the Old West wasn't exactly a friendly place or one of too many formalities, you can use any old announcement. Here's an example:

“Hey y’all! This here is Jimmy 'Two Gun'!” 

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Western Party Favors

Party favors are small gifts that you can give your friends when they arrive at the party. These items are often used as reminders of a good party or at the party itself. Below you’ll find a couple of ideas which you and your parents can buy from a store in your area or from the internet.

• Squirt Guns

• Cacti

• Gun Belts

• Bullseye Targets

• Wanted Posters
  
  

Western Party Activities

There’s nothing like a good party activity to ensure that a great time is had by all. Below are a couple of ideas which you can use and change as you want to suit the purposes of your party. 

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Sneaky Outlaws

Whether you're only a couple of cowboys or outlaws together or a large group of people, this game is sure to be a blast!

One person has to be selected as the "IT" person and all the others have to be equipped with water balloons or squirt guns. Once someone has been decided upon all players have to go into hiding and count to 100. After 100 has been reached, all the other players have to look for the "IT" person without being seen by one another - if you see someone else looking for the "IT" person, then you have to use the water balloon or squirt gun to evict that person from the current round.

Should someone find the "IT" person they will be able to hide with that person and will be immune from round eviction. The first person to find the "IT" person will be the "IT" for the next round. 

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Target Practice

Line up a couple of targets of various sizes. Now measure approximately 10 feet away from the target, use your squirt guns to hit the different targets. Points for targets vary according to size, with the smallest targets having the highest amount of points and the largest the lowest amount of points. The person with the most points, wins. 

Outlaw Rescue

Outlaws were almost always in trouble in the Old West and often had to go rescue each other (or try anyway).

For this game you'll need a rather large area where you can run. Two teams of equal size should be formed with one person of each team agreeing to be the captured outlaw.

Now, the playing area should be divided into two with the division clearly marked (with a chalk line or anything else). In addition an area for the prison should be allocated at the back of each team's territory. The goal of each team is to rescue their outlaw from the other team's prison without being caught. This is done by carefully and swiftly running through the other team's area until prison is reached. Once the prison is reached, the rescuer is safe. He or she must then carefully plan the escape (with the prisoner) back to their team's territory to avoid being captured. If they are captured, both of them are prisoners and someone else has to go and rescue them.

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Sheriff's Mark

Quite a fun game but one that requires some speed and definitely some accuracy, this activity can be enjoyed by as many people as possible, all at once. And all you'll need to play it, is a small, soft ball (the hardest object that may be used is a tennis ball).

One person is selected as "IT" for the duration of the game. The game starts with "IT" having the ball and having to throw others with it. If someone is hit with the ball anywhere on their body except on clenched fists, they are in "IT"'s team. Those who are not "IT" may hit the ball with their fists or carry it between their firsts, but no other type of contact is allowed (if it does happen, they have to join "IT").

The winner of the game is the last person to avoid being hit by the ball or joining "IT"'s team. He or she then gets the title of Sheriff. 

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Food & Drink

Most important when organizing your food is to give normal dishes some extraordinary names (as the folks in the Old West used pretty much the same names for food as we do now). Here are a couple of examples:

• Barbecue: The Kidd's Burnt Chops

• Grilled Steaks: Earp's Ears

• Baked Beans: Young Gun's Bullets

• Sandwiches: Plain Folk Grit

• Hot Dogs: The Kernel's Finger

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