Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ooh Lulu! Une fête d'anniversaire à la française

My niece Luiza turned 7! She and her family spent the entire summer in Paris (how cool right!) Luiza loved her summer there, and to celebrate her mom decided to throw her a French themed party. The colors: of course reminiscent of the French flag.
The French touches were everywhere in the food: delicious pastries and candies, breads, dips, homemade cake...yum! And to set the French ambience: pictures of Luiza during the trip, and paper decorations adorned the space. A carefully planned party, so charming and sweet that would make you say: "Ooh Lulu!
I will try to post some pictures of the party production in a later post.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Father's day Free Printable

Print this tree trunk .pdf file in card stock, and let your kiddos make leafs using their fingerprints or handprints in different shades of green. After it dries just put it in a frame!


Download the file in this link:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B03A6Jmd-JS4RjRFUlV1SGhaNms

Monday, May 14, 2012

Puppy Themed Paw-ty!

I just finished working on this cute puppy party! Happy Birthday sweet Natalie, have a tail wagging time ;)


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Jr. Explorer Theme

Mason celebrated his first birthday with a Jr.Explorer party! 
Envelopes with ladybug detail

Invites, envelopes and tags

Tags

Butterfly Garden Themed Party

I used this theme for my daughter's 3rd birthday.  It was girly, colorful and modern! 
Invites & Envelope Seals

Invite Closeup

Dessert Table Setting

Cake topper designed to match the invites

Monday, April 23, 2012

Mother's Day: Commercialization Of a Sentiment?

Anna Jarvis, a West Virginia native, is credited with launching the campaign that resulted in the tradition of Mother's Day.  At first, people celebrated Mother's Day by attending church and writing letters to their mothers, but as time went by the increasing retail activity associated with Mother's Day enraged Jarvis. She felt that the day's true sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of commercial profit. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have admitted that she regretted having started the Mother's Day tradition.
The second Sunday of May became officially Mother's Day, and it is  now the most popular day of the year with the highest telephone, restaurant and retail activity.  Sons and daughters use this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers by purchasing everything from chocolate and flowers to the coveted designer handbags and diamond jewelry.
Do you think we should go back to Anna Jarvis' original intent and stay true to the Mother's Day sentiment; or, should we indulge our mothers by purchasing gifts instead?
Personally I think any gift (no matter how expensive) accompanied by a handmade note, card, picture or letter is the perfect balance of both ideas. I have received many beautiful gifts on Mother's Day from my husband and children, but I must admit that my collection of Mother's Day handmade items is for me the real treasure!
Here are a few cute handmade ideas to inspire you to make your own...


Personalized Family Tree Pillow Cover 16 inch. Mothers Day Gift. Embroidery.  Family Names.  Family.  Light Brown or Gray.
Personalized tree pillow by: Blue Leaf Boutique on Etsy

Mother's Day bouquet Mother's Day bouquet Mother's Day bouquet
Mother's day picture bouquet
Mother's Day card Mother's Day card Mother's Day card
Mother's day heart card
Sentiment garland by: The Country Chic Cottage (tutorial)
DIY Candle votive by: Homemade Serenity Blog
Mom portraits!
Mother's Day Tshirts!
I heart mum t-shirt: idea by The Londoner Blog
Mother's Day
DIY handprint flower vase

Bud Branch and Little Bird Lariat
budded tree branch and bird pendant by: Morgan Prather on Etsy


Ponies & Puppies Party

I was contacted recently by Sharon from the blog MOM OF 6.  She wanted to use my equestrian invite artwork for her daughter's 8th birthday party, and she wanted me to include a puppy in the illustration (a golden doodle, like their dog Bentley).  
She used the illustration to create invites, thank you notes, and to personalize goodie bags.  Here are the results!!

Party invite Momof6 8 Year Old Girls Birthday Party Idea: Ponies and Puppies!

Thank You Note 8 Year Old Girls Birthday Party Idea: Ponies and Puppies!


BD Party Goody Bag Content 8 Year Old Girls Birthday Party Idea: Ponies and Puppies!
To read more about this party visit Sharon's blog: MOM OF 6
For more horse/ equestrian party ideas visit my posts: 
Equestrian party
Equestrian invite
Party decor: prize ribbons

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

My New Obsession: Photo Books!


OK...I admit I am guilty of digital picture neglect!  When my first son was born, I like most moms started taking lots of pictures and printed them regularly.  As time went by, and digital cameras entered my life...well I printed less.  I bought digital frames, emailed pictures, started sharing on social sites...and TOTALLY STOPPED PRINTING!!  Needless to say: I have an enormous gallery of pictures just sitting in digital limbo.
One of my new year resolutions was to do something about those neglected memories.  It all started with a coupon in my emails..and now I am obsessed! 
Photo Books can be a little expensive, but there are so many companies out there that do them...you can always find a good deal or discount!
This is a great way to keep all those precious moments forever in a quality printed collection.  Show your pictures some love and start printing them! in a book, calendar, card, magnet...







Monday, February 20, 2012

Recycled Rainbow Crayons!



There is nothing better than taking something that is old, and making it new and exciting all over again. 
If you have kids I am sure you have an enormous collection of broken crayons sitting in a container somewhere in your house...well it is time to give them new life!


What you need:


-Old crayons
-Silicone mold or muffin pan
-Knife
-Oven



1.  Gather all your broken up crayons and peel of the paper labels (Crayola brand melt better than other cheaper brands)
2.  Separate crayons into different color families or favorite color combinations
3.  Cut crayons into small pieces and fill mold (you might want to spray the mold with oil first)
4.  Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
5.  Bake 20-25 minutes or until crayons have melted
6.  Allow mold to cool; then pop out crayons
TIPS:
-Don't use a silicone mold that you plan to use for food in the future.
-If you are using a muffin pan you can line it up with aluminum paper, so you can reuse it for food.
-You could also melt the crayons in the microwave (use a microwave safe container), and then just pour the melted crayons into the molds.  This technique works better if you are planning on making layered color crayons.



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Valentine's Printables!

Here are some freebies for you! print them out in card stock and cut(use scissors or a 1 1/2 round punch) to make labels or cupcake toppers...you can also print them in sticker paper and use them anywhere (how about the tops of play dough cans as a fun treat for your kids classmates!) Just click on the images to access the pdf file!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Valentine breakfast ideas!

Nothing says I LOVE YOU like food! Start the day by treating loved ones with a special breakfast on Valentine's day...get inspired and start planning!







Valentine's Day breakfast
Nutella recipes

Saturday, January 21, 2012

More Clever Ideas for Everyday Use!!

Your response to the 25 clever ideas was so positive that I decided to look for more!  If you have any tips that would like to share: post a comment!!



If you want to bring a salad in your lunch, keep them from getting soggy by layering the ingredients in a jar. If you layer it just right(dressing in the bottom layer), you can make the salads ahead of time and grab a jar on your way out the door in the morning.

Use a paper towel dispenser to organize your ribbon spools!


Necklaces hanging on a coat rack
Use a coat or towel rack to organize your bracelets and necklaces! I do this myself and it works wonderfully...no more tangled jewelry and you always can see exactly want to have (and actually will wear it).

Use a rubber band to remove a stripped screw!Vegetable oil and patent leather shoeUse vegetable oil to shine leather.  Just wipe with a damp cloth to clean any dust, then polish with a drop of oil and a soft cloth.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sweetie Pie Hearts!

Valentine's coming up! So I am doing my homework and gathering for you the cutest heart shaped ideas...Don't these pies look yummy? They are made using pie dough and filled with jam!
Check out the recipe from Simply Vintage Girl

Monday, January 9, 2012

25 Clever Ideas!

As a mom I am always on the lookout for simple clever ideas, tips and tricks to make my life easier! Check out these simple solutions that will have you saying "why didn't I think of that?"


1.  Use a straw to easily hull strawberries
Clever ideas: hull strawberries with a straw

2. Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.Clever ideas: use a walnut to heal furniture scratches  
3.  Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).
Clever ideas: WD40 for cleaning crayon off TV screens
4.  Stop cut apples browning in your child's lunch box by securing with a thick rubber band. I love this! my son now loves taking apples to school (plus you save money by not having to buy the pre-cut ones from the supermarket)
Clever ideas: keep a cut apple from going brown5.  Overhaul your linen cupboard: store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.Clever ideas: store bedlinen sets inside their pillowcases

6.  Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl, the concave shape amplifies the music.Clever ideas: bowl as iPhone sound amplifier

















7.  Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Cleaver ideas: wet wipe dispenser as plastic bag storage8.  Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily! who knew?!
Clever ideas: baby powder to remove sand from feet 
9. Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys. 
Clever ideas: velcro strip on wall to hold soft toys

10.  Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.
Clever ideas: gift wrap storage on cupboard ceiling
11.  Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.
.Clever idea: stocking over vacuum to pick up lost items

12.  Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid. 
 Clever idea: box lid cupcake holder

13.  For those like me who can't stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.
Clever idea: how to fold a fitted sheet

14.  Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door

Clever idea: magnetic bobbypin storage

15.  A tip for packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes.
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Clever idea: use shower caps to hold shoes when packing 
16.  A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant..
Clever idea: muffin pan craft storage

17. Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels. 
Clever idea: bread tags as cable labels
18.  Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones! so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Check out how to make these here
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.Clever idea: cook cupcakes in ice cream cones 

19.  Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
Clever idea: microwave your own popcorn in a plain paper bag

20.  Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!
Clever idea: use a tension rod to hang spray bottles 
21.  With Valentine's coming up: treat your loved ones at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww cute!
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Clever idea: how to make heart-shaped eggs 
22.  Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila  you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.
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Clever idea: use upside-down muffic pan to make cookie bowls

23.  Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief. 

Clever idea: freeze aloe vera lotion for soothing burns 

24.  Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie or herb patch using guttering.  I am for SURE doing this!
.24.  
Clever idea: gutter veggie garden
25. Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.  I also use them to store last year's plastic easter eggs :)
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Clever idea: egg cartons for Christmas ornament storage