Everyday Celebrating

Tooting my own horn....

Remember my son's airplane birthday party?
It's up for award as part of Kendra's Blogoversary party!

She's asking people to join in the vote! 
So head over to her blog here and cast your vote (on the right hand sidebar)

THANKS!

Another Family Fun valentine!

Thought I'd post another great valentine idea from the creative folks at Family Fun magazine!
Valentine's Day is one of my favorites with their magazine, because they go above and beyond with super cute ideas!

Like this ipod valentine!  Super easy... and the folks at Family Fun have provided the hard part!

Here's what you'll need:

• Tape
• 2 (14 inch) pieces of string
• 2 mini peanut butter cups
• 1 (1 ounce) box of conversation hearts
• 2 (4 inch circles) of aluminum foil
• 4 X 7 inch piece of pink paper (or another color if these are for boys)
• glue stick
• white paper to print out the menu and song list

1. Tape each end of a piece of string to a peanut butter cup. Tie on the other piece of string then tape the loose end to the candy box.

2. Wrap each peanut butter cup in a circle of aluminum foil.

3. Wrap the pink paper strip around the candy box and secure it with a glue stick.

4.  Download and print the scroll wheel and playlist.

4. Use a glue stick to attach them to the box. Write a valentine message on the back of the box.

Easy!  And almost all the necessary items can be found at the dollar store!

These would also make great invitations to a musical inspired birthday party!

Party planners - wish Kendra a happy blogoversary!

Happy Blogoversary, Kendra!!!!!
Today, we're celebrating Kendra's blogoversary over at her blog, My Insanity.

What does a blog party entail?
Well, Kendra's blog party is a party theme.  So all her blogging friends will head over and post links to recent parties they've thrown. 

If you love looking at other people's parties, head on over today and take a look!
It's a great place to get ideas and share in the creativity of others.

Have a party on your blog that you'd like to share?
Follow the instructions on Kendra's blog and join the fun.  It's a great way to meet new bloggers!

Happy Blogoversary, Kendra!  We heart you!

Remember making your Valentine's box?

Remember in elementary school.... finding a shoebox and decorating it with doilies and construction paper hearts? 

Well...we've gotten a lot more crafty over the years, huh?

I received my February issue of Family Fun magazine and thought this Valentine's box was one of the cutest I've ever seen.  And EASY!

You start with an empty cracker box.  Like a saltine box. 
You can make it gray two ways... either cover the box (before cutting) with silver scrapbook paper or
(what I'd do) is cut the door first and then spray paint the box silver metallic.  This way, you're going to be able to make the edges of the door gray as well.

You'll cut the door with a craft knife (xacto).  If you'd like, you can cut a mail slot in the top of the locker or children can open the door to deposit their valentines.

Use a black marker to draw on vents, a handle, etc. 

The padlock is a small white button glued to a larger black button. Make a school pennant out of cardstock... maybe put a school sticker on if you have one.  And I love the finishing touch of the 2008 made with the Dymo label maker. 

Will your child need a box for their valentines?  Start thinking of your design now!

Valentine's Wreath

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a red painted magnolia wreath!
Have magnolia left over from the holidays? 
Purchase a wreath form (either straw or foam) and attach leaves via hot glue.
Make it as dense as you'd like.
Spray paint with a red gloss for a shiny finish.
Maybe add a white bow or sash!

Lay it on a table with a candle in the middle for a nice centerpiece!

Have some extra cash and don't have time to hot glue?
Buy one here at the Magnolia Company.  $92.
They come in red, gold, platinum and pumpkin.

Photo credit: Real Simple magazine.

Wrapped up roses

Valentine's Day is just over a month away and, for those that aren't spouting off stuff about it being an overly commercialized "hallmark holiday", it's time to get to planning! 

A recent issue of Southern Lady magazine, they showed a tutorial for "wrapped up roses".  A super unique idea which I thought would be perfect for the upcoming holiday.

Here's what you need:

• a tin with a see through lid
• floral WETfoam - the oasis foam that soaks up water
• roses
• ribbon
• scissors and a knife

First, cut floral foam to fit the container.  It should be at least a half inch deep and about a half inch from the top of the container.  Soak the foam in water overnight.

Next, cut rose stems to about a half inch, depending on the height of the container.
Place in foam to fill and cover, making sure the blooms are inserted low enough to allow for the lid.

Carefully place the lid on the container and tie a ribbon around the container.  Adding a gift tag if desired!  Voila!  Unique gift with a container they can reuse. 

Tip:  Walmart has fabulous roses in usually a nice variety of colors to choose from ... at a great price!

Two great cake decorations!

For my son's first birthday, I tackled baking a tiered cake.  Here's how it turned out. Not too bad!

I gained a HUGE respect for professional bakers everywhere.  It was hugely time consuming (which I didn't mind) but frustrating because I didn't have the skills to make it as smooth as I wanted.

I digress.

I recently found two great ways to embellish your cake.  Without a huge amount of work!

How about these crystal cake bands?
If you want a blinged out cake, these are for you!

These are from etsy seller DazzleMeElegant and they come in a huge array of colors.

I recently had a reader write in asking for ways to spice up a pink birthday party for a girl?
This would be fabulous!  They come in various shades of pink and any girly girl would SURELY love this special touch to her cake!

Also, as the etsy seller suggests, you could use them to wrap around bouquet stems for weddings, even around vases.

I also ran across the seller:  Throughthewoods.   They sell pre-made fondant embellishments!
How great is that?

She sells many things, not just dots, but in the dots purchase, you get 50 dots for $4.75 plus shipping!
Just stick them on your cake and impress your guests!

What will they think of next?

Winter ONEderland - First Birthday - more ideas!

Recently, I had a reader email me to say she's using the Winter ONEderland theme for her daughter's first birthday.  She wondered if I had any other ideas to share to go along with the theme. 

For those that missed the post about this event, you'll find it here.

I noticed in that post that you couldn't see all the details and one you couldn't quite see was the crunch 'n munch cones.  I've mentioned these before and I'll mention it again because it's super easy and people love it. 

Here's one on the table.  It's the painted flower pot on the right.

I don't have a picture of that particular one up close, but here's another one.
This is just a large flower pot, painted.  Then you roll up cardstock to create cones (using double sided tape to adhere) and fill them each with crunch 'n munch or popcorn.  Quick, cute snacks and it's something people can grab and hold while mingling.  For the winter party, I hot glued on a glittery flat snowflake ornament I found at the dollar store.

I thought these were cute.  Pails of feathers.  Children love feathers and if you didn't mind
the mess they'd make, it would be cute to give the guests feathers to throw in the air while the child is eating cake or you're helping them blow out the candles.  These are also used at weddings to toss at the bride and groom.

I love this sucker dish.  These are lemon suckers where guests can dip them in sugar.
Choose suckers in your coordinating color.  If you didn't want that mess, you could always have rock candy.  It's so cute and looks like ice which ties in with the theme.

Another idea would be a lollipop tree.  Get a white floral cone and stick in "all day suckers" in coordinating colors.  Sit it on a plate or tray and surround it with matching M&Ms or other candies.

Easy trick... marshmallows on a stick!
These are homemade and I'm not suggesting you go that route.  LOL
Just take the regular white ones, dip them in some white chocolate/candy melt and put some sprinkles on them in your complimentary color. 

Also food related and easy.... strawberries!
Cover them in powdered sugar (i.e. snow) and serve them with a tinted whipped cream in your complimentary color.

I also want to mention that the topic of a "cold weather birthday parties" was recently discussed over at Oohdedoh.  Lots of readers posted fabulous ideas!  Check it out!

The hand that rocks the ... pen.

Let me introduce you to something stunning.

Go ahead. Click on it.  Make it larger.  You have to see it closer!

Isn't this calligraphy breathtaking?
For a paper and font junkie like me, it literally makes my heart skip a beat.

This is calligraphy created by hand!  Simply gorgeous. 

This beautiful work is created by Emilie Friday.

Sure, several people offer calligraphy services, but I've never seen the finished product this stunning.
It's so even and perfect.

She offers many services... wedding or event envelopes, of course.  And many different styles of calligraphy.

Look at this!

So you may already be married.  So what?
How about having Emilie create a fabulous love letter for Valentine's Day?  Or even just address the envelope?

Or maybe create beautiful place cards for your next dinner?

The possibilities are endless to wow your loved ones!

Paper roses

Can you believe these are made of paper?
Yep.  Paper!

So easy!  Would be great to go ahead and get started on a bunch of these for a cute child's
Valentine's Day party!

Click here to find out how!