Thomas the Train birthday party

I'm alive! Yes.

I just wanted to check in with the www and post a few pictures of my son's 3rd birthday. He is obsessed with Thomas the Train so we decked out the house with painters tape and made a train track for him to actually ride with one of his ride able push cars. He was in heaven.

I also made a Thomas the train cake. It was fairly easy, just really time consuming. You can find out how to make any type of number from cake on this website (thatslife).
After making the cake I covered it in frosting and made the tracks with hershey's chocolate bars (only took about 2 regular bars) and some black frosting. 

I also lined the cake with his favorite candy, M&M's. It took a little bit of work and time but it's all worth it for my little boy's face of complete happiness. :) The things we do for our kids..... :)

DIY of the week: 1st year photo banner

I made this little banner for my son's birthday party when he turned 1. 

I snapped 13 photos of him throughout the year, one for each month until he turned 1 (including newborn picture) and then strung them to a ribbon by clipping it to clothes pins attached with a numbered tag.
After the party I strung it up in his room. Almost one year later it is still up there (I just can't bare to take it down yet-he's so cute).

I do realize that this DIY isn't for everyone... but you could customize it to fit your needs.  For example, a 50 year birthday... you could take a few photos of each decade... or even an anniversary.

The instructions are so easy I feel awkward typing a "how to".... but here it is:

Need:
-13 photos (newborn and 12 months)
-ribbon long enough to string and tie all your photos (I think mine was about 3-4 yards). The thicker the ribbon, the better. If you were wanting something small, like twine, the smaller clothes pin clips work best or the weight will be too much and it will topple over. Does that make sense? haha- just trust me.
-13 clothes pins (the smaller ones are cuter and less noticeable)
-paper, pen or computer/printer to make tags with each numbered month
-paint to color clothes pins or (my preference) washi tape
(my favorite site to get washi tape is from PrettyTape)

Steps:
1. Cover one side of the clothes pin with your washi tape- or paint clothes pin.
2. Tape or glue the numbered tag on the decorated side of the bottom section (the mouth) of the clothes pin. I printed mine out to fit in a 1.5" circle punch.
3. Clip pins on ribbon and pictures.

Done.

Tip: It's actually easier to tie the ribbon where you want it to be hung and then clip on the photos. But either way works

How to: kraft and tissue paper pom gift wrap

I came up with this little wrapped gift because I had so many of these pre-made tissue paper poms all over the place.

If you don't have any kraft paper, I suggest you get some. It's very versatile. I use it for every occasion in gift wrapping. Just add an accent or theme and you're done.

Need:
wrapped gift in kraft paper or use a kraft box
pre-made tissue poms (these kind)
string or twine
double stick tape or vellum tape

Wrap your gift in kraft paper 

I used a kraft box

Gather several tissues and lay them across the top of your gift. 

Keep them unfolded with the fringes pointing outwards. 

If that makes sense..?.. 

Next, wrap the twine around the box and over the middle of the tissues

Then, place your double stick tape or vellum tape over the twine that is on top of the tissues. 

Like below

I used vellum tape, since I had some laying around that I never use

Afterward, fold up your tissues and scrunch them up onto the tape

scrunch?? ...sorry, I'm not great at explaining things

But if your final product looks something like this, then you have success!

How to: Plastic Pom Garland

I wanted to make a pom garland for my son's birthday, but being in a rainy climate I couldn't rely on the normal tissue poms (especially since we did the decorating the night before).
So I created a plastic pom using strands of cut plastic table coverings. It worked out great because it matched the tables perfectly.

Here's how to make them

You'll need:

• Scissors
• Plastic table covering- the colored ones at a party store (or any type of thin plastic. you could even use strips of plastic bags)
• Twist ties or thin floral wire
• Staples and stapler
• Twine or string

1. Cut strips of the plastic about 1 inch thick and between 4-6 feet long... depending on how thick you want your pom to be. The longer it is the thicker it will be. Thicker meaning the pom will have more poof in it. Make sense? I cut mine the length of the whole table cloth-  6 feet.
2. Take each strip and wrap the whole thing back and forth around the width of your hand. This really depends on how big you want your pom to be. The wider the wrap, the bigger the pom. Sorry, don't have step by step photos of this.
3. You should have rounds of plastic now around your fingers. Next, grab the middle of the plastic and tie it up with a twist tie or floral wire. 
4. It should look like a big bow (with numerous bows). Now, cut every loop on each end. 

You can fluff and move it around to form more of a ball shaped puff. 

Should look somewhat like this:

       5. To attach them to a string to hang, simply staple a few strands of plastic, closest to the core of the pom, to the string. Like image.

That's it. Just hang it up and admire.

Tip: to take them down I pulled out the strings from the poms and stored them separately. If you leave it in it will become easily tangled. Theses poms are great because I just threw them in a plastic bag and they can be stored forever and reused in so many ways. It's not a high maintenance kind of decor. 

DIY stripey paper straw pennant garland

A little spark when off in my head when I saw this simple paper straw garland...
*spark*... why not add pennants?

So here it is. And it's so easy to make.

You'll need:
-Paper straws (I got these at hey yo yo, but you can get them cheaper in bulk here)
-Coordinating card stock
-String and needle (a quilting needle works best, something with weight to it)
-Hot glue

Cut out your card stock into triangles, however big you want them and however many you want.
I had two to each straw. You could even try letters, circles, squares...etc. whatever. Just make sure they measure up to each straw since you'll be attaching it to them.

Place hot glue across the tops of each pennant then place paper straw on top. Again, make sure you measure it out before you place on the straw.

Then, string in your needle/string through the straws.

Hang.

Admire.

DIY chalkboard on a wall

I made this little chalkboard last week for my 2 year old daughter and she has put it to good use so far.
She loves to draw circles and people. Even though its hard to make out what is who and who is what... she points to each figure and says, "that's momma, that's dadda, that's grandma, that's baby, that's... etc". I'm glad her creativity is being stretched already.

I just painted a piece of wood (actually it was a piece of thin cupboard backing) with brown chalkboard paint and glued on a strip of molding to the bottom to hold the chalk.

How to: tissue garland

I made this little tissue garland to hang up for various birthdays and holidays. Here's the how-to in case you wanted to, well, know how-to.

You'll need: tissue paper, string, and some shredding scissors (or regular scissors will work)

Step one: Cut out various colors of regular tissue paper into rectangles (the tissue paper you use for gift wrap). I cut mine into rectangles around 4.5x3inches, but you can do whatever size you prefer.

Step 2:  Fold about 5 sheets in half length wise. Cut towards the fold but not cutting all the way to the fold, like the photo. Here is where your shredding scissors come in handy. Regular scissors work, but take much longer in time.

 Step 3: Unfold each rectangle and pinch the two sides (that aren't cut up) together. Like the photo.The more the merrier.

While you're at it... wrap a few candies for someone using the tissue. Brazilians do this for their parties and it looks awesome when there are hundreds of candies together wrapped up like this.

Next: get your string and tie a single knot onto the middle of the tissue and fold both ends to one side, as pictured.

Repeat steps until you get what you want. Remember, the more the merrier.

Hang and admire. Ah!

Paper Poppies

These flowers are too pretty not to make. Find the tutorial at the sweetest occasion.

How to: make cupcake liner poms

Get the tips on making this cute Valentines Decor made from cupcake liners at Kara's Party blog.

Vintage Paper Valentine Chandelier

I'll be making one of these this coming week.

I've got a few old books from college that need to be put to good use.

Find out how to make it with the crafting chicks.

How to: Make heartshaped flower petal cupcake toppers

I'm not sure where I learned this, so I don't know who to give credit to.

Its really quite simple
If you have never made them before, here's how:

You'll need:
-card stock
-lollipops
-hole puncher
-scissors
-cupcakes
-tape

*Take colored card stock paper and cut out 3 hearts about 1-2 inches in diameter.
*Next, punch a small hole at the base of all 3 hearts.
*Place your lollipop through the 3 holes in the hearts, arrange like a flower, and tape in place underneath.
*Place on cupcake.
*Eat or give away.
             *I'd eat.

How to: keep the kids entertained while Thanksgiving dinner is being set up

This idea can get pretty messy, so you may want to figure something out for the younger kids who make big messes. 

Get out your play-dough, or make some. 

Die the play-dough in colors related to Thanksgiving. 

Divide the dough equally to each child and let them create a Thanksgiving History Scene (or a turkey, an Indian Chief, Pilgrims, vegetables, etc). 

Choose a judge and pick a winner. 

The winner gets the first piece of pie and all the whipped cream they want!! haha.

This is what my daughter and I created for Halloween. 

THE craft of the season:

Chalkboard Pumpkins!

They have become not only my daughter's favorite thing to play with, but mine too!

I highly recommend that everyone make one.

We took a craft pumpkin (the fake ones that are the styrofoam/rubbery type) and spray painted some chalkboard paint on it. 

I saw the idea on this blog -Zakka Life, she has detailed instructions if you need them. But it's pretty self explanatory, just spray.

We also took a cheap $1.99 plastic pumpkin (those trick-or-treat baskets) and painted that too, which works fine (also about 90% cheaper- those craft pumpkins can get pricey, but they last forever). The cheaper pumpkin was actually less frustrating to draw on for my daughter because it doesn't have deep grooves like the other.

Zakka Life blog said the paint also comes in colors... you could make a few for Thanksgiving too!

That chalkboard spray paint has become my new best friend.

I can't wait to see what else we can make with it.

DIY: cone pouch favors

If I am ever in a hurry to make a fast party favor or treat, 

this is what I fall back on. 

They're super easy and super fast to make. 

What you need:
-patterened paper
-double stick tape or glue
-scissors.

1. Cut your paper 5" x 3.5" -or however you want -bigger or smaller the favor

2. Place patterned side of paper facing down and fold over left side about the width of your tape (1/2 inch or so)

3. Place your tape or glue in the pink areas below (on the flap, in the middle of the top side, and the bottom left side of the paper)

4. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and secure the flap with the tape on the inside of the opposite end (don't crease the right side though).

5. Press and seal the bottom half as well so you're left with a pocket pictured below

5. At this point you will want to fill your favor with your goodies (i.e. jelly beans, chocolate, etc.)

6. Next secure the top half that is opened by pinching the ends together in the opposite direction of the bottom half. Line up the tape and it will be easy.

It should look like this:

These would be great as a Halloween treat or a place/name card on Thanksgiving- just write your guests name on the favor made with some festive patterned paper. 

I'll be using them for an upcoming baby shower.

Happy folding!

via Zakka life

Balloons and Cupcakes... a perfect match!

 I was hunting down different types of cupcake toppers for an upcoming baby shower and I spotted this. It then inspired me to come up with these fun balloon cupcake toppers.

Aren't they adorable!?!

And the greatest thing is they are very easy to make. Really. No need to print, cut, or glue anything!

Here is how you do it...

You'll need:

• a small helium tank (you can get it at Wal-Mart or similar store)
• small balloons (or regular balloons if you want- I did small ones)
• string or bakers twine
• dum dum lollipops (optional) or toothpicks- I used toothpicks
• baked and frosted cupcakes

After you have baked and frosted your cupcakes, fill up the balloons with helium.

Tie them onto a string and then anchor them onto the lollipop or on the top of a toothpick (just cut the toothpick if it is too long). Lollipops would look much cuter, like a little cherry on top, but I just didn't want to go out and buy them.

 Next, insert the lollipop or toothpick into the middle of the cupcake. 

and Viola!

My daughter and I have been playing with little floating balloons all day. They are our new favorite thing lately.

Oh, and don't forget to eat the cupcakes later!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

p.s. be careful with small children and balloons.