Hello Kitty Birthday Centerpieces

Sophia is turning 5! Her birthday is coming up this Saturday. I have been busy with lots of planning and preparation for her special day. She has had her theme picked out for the last year, Hello Kitty.

Every trip to Target consists of having to walk by the bakery, were she proceeds to tell me each time "Mommy that's the cake I want!" Then we head to the sticker section and then to the makeup, were they have a whole section of just Hello Kitty stuff. She could spend hours just combing over Target for Hello Kitty stuff. I have no clue were she gets it? :)

Her party will be at our local gymnastics center. After the kids run and tumble for an hour they come back to the party area, which is really a blank room with tables and chairs. So it's needs of some real warming up.

Here are the centerpieces that I created for each table. I was dead set on not spending any more money (my husband thanks me for that). So I challenged myself to use items and supplies that I already on hand.

I knew I wanted to make something with Hello Kitty's face. So I did a search for coloring pages and found this one. I printed off eight (one for each side of the centerpiece). I then colored the bows and nose in the colors used on the invitations.

I sprayed each face with spray glue and then dusted them with clear rainbow glitter. After they dried I cut out each one. I used scrapbook paper folded in half and glued together for. This made for a nice stiff  background. Then I just spray glued each face onto the paper.

For the base of the centerpiece, I used a party cup turned upside down with a slit cut in the middle.

Done! Cost: NOTHING!

Spring has sprung!

Hope all you momma's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. I did. I enjoyed great food at Claim Jumpers and relaxing the day away with my family.

Now that it's finally getting warm here in the Chicagoland it's time to plant a garden. I'm doing a simple container garden this year.  Green peppers, romaine lettuce, short and sweet carrots and cucumbers. Yum! I think I may do one or two tomato plants too. I'm not a huge tomato fan but, I want to try my hand at making some fresh salsa this year.

Sophia was a great helper. She sprinkled the seeds in a nice row and helped me cover them up with soil. I love passing on the green thumb to her.  She is so proud. Can't wait to see her reaction when the seeds sprout!

Here is our mixed greens that we started by seed 2 months ago. The kids already enjoy picking and eating the lettuce.

Planting was a fun way to breakup the Monday blues.

Maxon's 2!! Little Guppy Party

The party has come and gone. Reminds me of Christmas, all that planning and it's over in a flash. It was a fun time with bright colors and guppy fun all around.

Kids table. I found these great vintage fish plates on ebay. The kids loved eating off them and the got to take them home.

I decided to go for cupcakes this year. The cake is vanilla white chocolate and I made just a simple blue butter cream frosting.  They tasted as good as they looked.

These great fish straws added a little more fun to the theme for the kids. The got to take these home as well.

Remember these great finds at Goodwill? What belongs in fish bowls?

Swedish Fish of course.

I can't forget the inspiration for the party, Goldfish crackers!

Here is the birthday boy working on his fish project with all the kids.

The fish project were a huge hit! I bought them from here.
This was the quietest time of the party. ;)

Make a wish and blow!

Mmmm.....

Happy 2nd birthday Maxon!

 Mommy, daddy and big sister Sophia love you.

Crayon Window Hearts

Are you a Martha fan like me? I book marked this project last year to do with Sophia for Valentines day. Seeing as she had her preschool Valentines party today I figured we would keep with the theme and try our hand at a this craft.

It was so easy and has such a pretty look. I love how the warm sun light hits the hearts.

Valentines Crayon Roll-Up

Yep, my mind is already going there. Valentines Day! I made this fun crayon roll-up for Sophia and also one to add to my etsy shop. Don't you just love the fabric! I love the fun and fresh colors and that it does not just say "Valentines" but, could pass for everyday hearts.

Now to just come up with a fun idea for the front door. Stay tuned!

Holiday Crayon Idea

I've started making my gifts for Christmas and one of my projects is a fun stocking stuffer. We are always in need of new crayons in this house. Why not turn ordinary crayons in to fun holiday shapes! What you need is 6 box's of 8 count crayons. Silicone molds and an oven set to 350 degrees.

Start by peeling the paper off the crayons. I used a exacto knife to cut a line strait down the paper to make the peeling easier and faster.  

I was able to find help at a cheap price, candy!

Fill the molds with about three crayons each.

Put in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for about 6-8 min. Just keep checking on them to see if they have melted all the way.

let them sit and cool for about an hour until they are completely cold. If you try to remove them while the slightest bit warm they will break and you will have to re-heat.

Finished and bundled up with a bow for their stockings!

Trick or Treat!!!

I made up a few different Halloween "Trick or Treat" bags one for Sophia, Maxon and a few to sell on my etsy. Who would'nt want to hit the streets with one of these bag?

Tic-Tac-Toe Bean Bag Toss Game

It's Birthday time around here again! Today we have my Niece Emma's 4th Birthday party. I wanted to make her something fun and personalized that she will enjoy for years to come. So I came up with this      Tic-Tac-Toe game played with bean bags.

 Tutorial Here!

 

Tic-Tac-Toe Tutorial

What you need:

1 yard white canvas

Masking Tape

Fabric Paint

One 4 lb. bag White Navy Beans

Two 1/2 yards of two different fabrics for the bean bags

Bias Tape home made or store bought

Let's get started!

Cut your canvas so it measures 36" X 36"

Fold the mat (canvas) in thirds and iron creating 3 equal sections. Then rotate and do the same. You will now have 9 equal squares.

Using one long piece of tape, lay masking tape 1/2" away from the fold line on both sides. This will give you a 1" paint line. Make sure to press and smooth edges of the tape REALLY well so you will not have bleeding like I did in the lower left. :) oops! Set the mat aside and let dry.

Grab your fabric for the bean bags.

You are going to need (10) bean bags (5) of each fabric. Cut each piece into 12 1/2" x 6 1/4" rectangles. Fold each in half with right sides together, stitch sides using a zig-zag stitch, leaving a small hole to turn.   

After turning right side out fill each bag with 1 cup of beans.

Tuck opening in and close using a strait stitch. Continue all the way around the bean bag sealing the beans from coming out and creating and nice finished edge.

Grab your mat and bias tape. Pin all the way around and then bast using a strait stitch.

Your DONE!