Planning a PArtY!

Oh goodness, it's been a while!  I've been a very bad blogger lately. 

Let me try and explain...we've been planning a party

(for some of you I needn't say more, you know what all that involves and the absence makes complete sense...and for those who don't get it...well, let's just say we take our parties seriously around here).

The little guy's turning 5.  So were having a carnival.

Hope to have more details for you soon!

Oh, hi there...

It's been a while.  And while there are several reasons as to why I have not been here wasting my (and everyone elses) time, I'm gonna wrap it up in one nice little package and blame it on

SUMMER. 

We've been having a bit of it here...and enjoying it, too. 

So here I am, checking in. Saying hi.  And letting you know it may be hit and miss here for the next few...but I'm sure you can handle it.  I hope you're having some of your own summer.

In the mean time here's a great Father's day gift idea...hee, hee...a little late, I know...but whatever.  Father's day comes every year, right?

We (Activity Day GirLs) made this little snack to give to our dads for father's day...another quick and easy one.

A little root beer, a little microwave popcorn, some curly ribbon and another cheesy saying...here's what you get...

"RoOt rOot for DaD!"

"You're the beSt PoP around!"

The Tags: print, cut, apply...

Rip oFF

Okay, I totally ripped off this shirt. 

Sometimes I need a little inspiration, so I look around in other places to help me get creatative...I'm not the only, am I?  I found this one here...

(Mini Boden USA $24.00)

And then I made this one...

(Walmart & a little time and effort...less than $4.00)

I'm loving how this one turned out.

Another HaPpY customer.

He calls it his Sk8 boaRd Dude shiRt.

If you're looking for a tutorial on the freezer paper stenciling, start here.

I also borrowed the embroidery idea from her...lover her, she's pretty much genius.

Fun Freezer Paper Tees

So I've had these on my desk (er, craft table) for quite some time now waiting to be finished up. 

Another take on the tee.  Freezer paper stenciling.  Have you seen these around?  I've seen them here and there and thought I would try my hand at them.  They are so fun and not too hard to do!  I've made a couple of them now and will show each one for the next couple of days as to not make this post super long.

First I found some plain front tees (Walmart...my boys LOVE the muscle tees) and a bit of fabric paint (Joanns).  I already had the freezer paper from previous projects...so I was off to make my tees.

I decided to start with a shirt for my 3 year old.  He has outgrown his favorite t-shirt (finally!), a pirate t-shirt, but he cannot bring himself to 'hang it up' for good...still tries to sneak it on, EVERY DAY, and I'm afraid it is no longer containing his little belly. So to make this transition a little eaiser for him (and me) I made up a new pirate shirt using this template for the skull and crossbones.

Here's how it turned out...

After I stenciled the skull I added some applique...

And then a little embroidery stitching...

He is a huge fan!  He tells me almost daily, "I wuv my new pirate shirt, Momma!"

And that's good enough for me.  ArrGh.

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

My little guy is graduating from preschool tomorrow morning. So because he will be saying goodbye to his preschool teacher for good, I thought we'd whip up a little something to tell her thanks for all she has done over the past two years.  We love Miss Amy!

I came up with a couple of these ideas on my own...and couple I borrowed from others (thanks for sharing). 

I decided to go with the apple theme.  When I think teacher, I think apple.  So what better to go with the apple theme than cute little bag of...

Apples!
I used a small paper lunch sack trimmed it down a bit, folded the top over, then filled it with a few apples and attched an apple sticker to the front of the sack. Quick and easy.

Now if you're looking for something a little more cheesy you could whip out the corny sayings, such as:

You're "Simply" the best (Simply Apple Juice)

Or, You're "MaG"nificent! (ABC magnets)

Or what about, You're o"Fish"ally the best! (Sweedish Fish)

Or if you're like me and don't know where to draw the line, you could load it ALL up in to a trash can and attach a tag that says...

Learning with you was no "Waste"

Now if you need a little help getting started, here's an apple tag to get you going.

Print.  Cut.  Attach.  Done.

And if you're feeling cheesy...

Moms and Muffins

We held our "Moms & Muffins" breakfast this past weekend for the Activity Day girls.

It was lots of fun and I think everyone had a good time (I never really know...preteens are hard to read...almost as bad as their teenaged friends).  We did have a good turn out, everyone came in fancy hats as was requested.  The party was meant to have a tea party theme.  So we had breakfast with our moms (muffins, obviously), gave awards for their decked out tea party hats, and then took pictures of the girls with their moms.

And now I can say...one more down.

Anyway thought I would share a few pics of the decorations.

First, here's the invite I made up in Photoshop.

I know! 8:00 in the A.M.! 

That's so early for me to up and functioning correctly.  But schedules had to be worked around.  Busy girls.

Here's a bit of an overview of the tables.

And a little bit closer in on the details.

I used a lot of decorations from around the house (cheap) but did have to fluff it up a bit further.  I made pink pOm PoMs (already had the blue and green) and strung a few paper doilies, then made a few of the rosette balls (above)...and there you have it, ready for a party.

It's a Matilda Jane Party!

My cute friend is having a Matilda Jane Party this weekend at her home. 
If you're in the area you MUST come have a look...seriously THE cutest stuff ever! 

Seriously!

Here are the details:

Hostess: Tiffany George

When: Saturday, May 22nd

Time: 11am – 1pm (Open House)

Place: 2611 N. 3375 W. Plain City

RSVP: 801-941-8319 (Call if you need directions)

Don’t Forget: Bring your daughters and enter them into the MJC Cover-Girl Contest

If you are unable to attend, but would like to place an order, feel free to call or email our Trunk Keeper, Becky. You can shop online at www.matildajaneclothing.com and then click on ‘the goods’. You can choose from any of the categories. Instead of adding items to a shopping cart you’ll add them to a wish list and you can print it off and bring it to the show or email it to becky at beckyj@matildajaneclothing.com and she’d be more than happy to help you place an order on Tiff's show.

Becky Jeide
Matilda Jane Clothing

Utah Trunk Keeper ID# 203

801-360-3109

Go have a sneaky peek...

www.matildajaneclothing.com

More for Mom

As promised here is a bit more for Mom. 

Along with the flowers we made for our mom's, my Activity Day girls are going to 'make' a jar of bath salts.   Homemade bathsalts was my intention in the begining. I wanted to make them from scratch using Martha's recipe...

You need only four ingredients to make these moisturizing exfoliants. The base can be made from either Epsom salts or sugar, depending on whether you want a large or fine grain. Color the scrubs with shades that are in keeping with some of the scents you use -- pink with grapefruit, for example, or green with eucalyptus. Makes about 2 1/3 cups.

Tools and Materials:

2 cups Epsom salts or organic cane sugar

1 cup carrier oil

8 drops essential oil(s)

1 drop food coloring

Special equipment: plastic pipette, canning jars

Great idea, huh?  Yes, but then I went to look for all the supplies and ended up not finding everything I needed and realized that it was probably cheaper to buy it done for us already in a big bag like this...
Edited to add:  I found these at Walmart

All we need to do is add some food coloring to add a touch of color,

Top with our flowers and we're done.

Don't know if I can qualify that as a whole activity...but I figure it will leave us time to write a nice letter to our mom's that we can attach to our almost homemade bath salts :) 

It's the thought that counts, right?

One day you're in...

Remember these?

They don't look like that anymore...not exactly anyway.  Nothing in this house is safe.  One day you're in, the next day...you're getting painted over. 

After I the hubs painted the walls and I started to redecorate the playroom, I decided I wanted to change up the ABC cavases.  I still liked the idea of having the big cavases and was even okay with keeping the letters. I just wasn't digging the colors.  There was an explosion of color going on and the plan was to tone it down a bit.  So instead of going out and purchasing something else to put on the walls...I got to work...

scraped off the old...

slapped on some new paint (gave these a distressed look)...

and ended up with this...

Which I'm currently loving.  But only time will tell how long that will last :)   

I explained how I made these the first time here.  I did pretty much the same thing this time, only I used my Cricut to cut out these letters. 

I've only got A-N so far...I ran out of cardstock and have had a hard time finding white 12x12 in stock anywhere.  And thus, the playroom awaits it's debut...well, that and there are a few other projects I'd like to get done first.  Perhaps one day it will all be together...that is if I get it done before I change my mind again...