Make Your Own Old Fashioned Games... Make Them Pretty too!

Well here we go.  

I am planning this birthday party that I initially intended to be easy with pizza and a jump house. But to my great delight, we decided to go another direction and we are doing this picnic party with some homemade, old fashioned yard games, picnic blankets, and a picnic dinner. And it will be GIRLY!  

HOORAY for girly!  

So get ready!  This next month will be pretty party focused and today I am going to share two projects I have done so far.  

The first one is this Ring Toss game. Isn't it sweet?

I started off with this old small crate, some small embroidery hoops, and a 6 pack of Diet Root Beer.

I wanted the bottles to use in the crate.  I could only fit 5 of them in there but I loved how it turned out.

I used the inner and outer rings of the embroidery hoops to make 6 rings and wrapped them with fabric from those pretty sheets I recently purchased. I just cut them into thin strips and wrapped them around and secured it with a dab of hot glue.

I hope the outer rings with the small screws won't be a safety issue so I figure the grown ups can use those and the kids can use the inner rings.

I wanted a girly but distressed look to the bottles so I painted them a very light green color (I know it looks white...sigh) called celery ice.  After it dried, I painted over it with a light pink color and then wiped it off in different places to reveal the light green underneath.

(I love my little Ella's bare feet jumping into the picture at the last minute ♥)

I painted the crate a really pale blue color (again, it looks white...another sigh) by using a dry brush of paint.  I just dipped the brush in paint and then dabbed off the excess and then with long sweeping strokes made it look distressed.  I prefer painting things this way so that I don't have to sand them later. 

Finally, I used alphabet stamps for the lettering and made them look faded.

Fabric Wrapped Hula Hoops

I love hula hoops!  I love their shiny and fun colors.  But I wanted something more feminine and sweet for one of the outdoor activities I have planned.  Plus, a couple of their hula hoops starting peeling and feeling prickly so I wanted to give them some new life.

 So enter in pretty sheets again! 

I just cut thin strips of fabric and started wrapping them and securing them with dabs of hot glue just like the embroidery hoops.

 Much prettier and they feel so soft!

And yes, they still work!  The girls seem to like them better and actually using them a lot more now.

I believe pretty fabric makes everything better. And prettier.  And happier.

Amen.

Linking to: 

Peaches and Basil... Amazing Together!

 Thought I would share one of my favorite summertime yummy goodness treats!

 I found this recipe in Real Simple (original recipe at link) several years ago and when I tried it I was in taste bud heaven.

For a single serve snack, this is what I do:

1-2 ripe peaches

fresh mozzarella 

fresh basil leaves (5 or 6) torn into small pieces

A splash of olive oil

Freshly ground pepper and a pinch of sea salt

(regular table S & P is just fine)

I make this for parties all the time too. ♥

Mix it together and get ready for an amazing, tasty treat!

  I love peaches, basil, and mozzarella but the idea of salt and pepper with olive oil intrigued me.

Are YOU intrigued?

You will not be disappointed. 

 Seriously.  Go make it.  Right now. And tell me what you think. :)

Fashion Headbands Giveaway Winners!

Good Morning Everyone!

Email me so I can get your information to arrange for your Fashion Headbands to be sent to you!

Picnic Theme Birthday Party Invitation

Hey Friends!  

Have I got a fun little party invite to share!  As you all know by now...the girls have birthdays coming up and they share a party.  So this year I decided I wanted to do a PICNIC THEME.  I have been tossing this idea around for months now and I still don't have a clear picture of what the party will look like.  But what comes to mind are old fashioned games I can make myself (ring toss, kick the can, hopscotch, sack races, etc), ready made picnic meals, and pretty sheets as picnic blankets outside. I am aiming for something simple and sweet.

So the first thing on the to-do list?
INVITATIONS!
 I thought it would be fun to send an invitation that looked like a picnic lunch.  The envelope would be the paper bag and using food images printed and cut out on white card stock, I made each item in the lunch...a sandwich, apple, milk carton, and napkin...contain the information for the party.

Anatomy of the Picnic Theme Invitation

Napkin (cocktail size) with Handwritten Message of Party Theme
Milk Carton RSVP
Apple Date and Time Card
Sandwich Birthday Announcement

 I made a little funny. Tee hee.

 I decided to fold the bag without taping it.  I originally planned on making the paper bags into envelopes and mailing them but I decided to save a bunch of stamps and hand deliver them.

But you still can do that if you need to mail your invites...

1. Place everything inside a flat and VERTICAL bag with the bottom still folded and facing up.

2. Fold the bottom up once.

3. Take the top half and fold into a triangle or point.

4. Fold it down and secure it with double sided tape or a glue stick.

To fold it like I did...

Lay flat with the bottom of the bag facing up.

Slide your picnic food tags/cards into the bag, all the way to the bottom while the bag is still flat.

 With the bag lying horizontal...fold  about 2 inches of the top of the bag down.

Fold the left side over to the right.

Label bag and tie twine around to keep the bag folded closed.  I did it this way so that when they untie and open it...it will be an actual paper bag instead of torn by tape.

This is the back secured with the jute twine. Baker's twine would be adorable too.
I actually tried doing this where the folded part was tucked under the flap but it would not lay flat so this way worked best.

How fun would it be to open up this invitation?

If you would like to make your own, I have a download of the clip art for you. This is a great idea for any kind of party and even great lunch notes too for back to school!

 

Click here to download (4 per sheet)

 Click here to download (9 per sheet)

Click here to download (4 per sheet)



What do you think of my fun invites?
You will probably see a  lot more of my projects for this party over the next month...hope you don't mind!
Happy Monday and Hugs to Each of YOU!

Giveaway: Creativity for Kids Fashion Headbands! (CLOSED)

What a fun, fun, fun giveaway I have for you and TWO of you can win!  

I was excited when Creativity for Kids asked me about participating in a giveaway.  They even sent me a free Fashion Headbands kit to try out with the girls and when I showed Cati the picture of it, she could not wait for it to get here!

Thrifting Cottage Style

Hello there friends!  

Just stopping in with a little note to say hi and to let you know I have been so crazy busy that I have not been able to be in the crafting mode.  And I miss it so! I have lots of things "in process." VBS is this week for the kiddos so I am driving all over the town, roasting in this Florida heat and wondering where the term lazy summer came from.  I mean, seriously!

But I did get a chance to do some thrifting this week and I was specifically looking for sheets. Sheets to make several wreaths (like this white ruffly wreath from the Spring) and other pretty things where I can FINALLY open up an Etsy shop.

I am going to get started on an actual inventory and then jump off this scary cliff. 

Can you believe it? 

I mean, I have been talking about it for almost 2 years.
You probably don't believe me anymore. :)

These shabby chic, cottage style sheets literally shouted my name. Literally.  It was eerie.  
The cheerful, light and airy colors.  Oh yes, I answered their call.

I already made this one out of a few of the pillowcases. 

What do you think?
An honest to goodness shop item...I am still stunned.

Just lovely, happy, little ruffles.

I hope to add garlands and some other fun little items but I am starting off with a narrow focus or I will never do it. I tend to lack focus, friends.  And time.  And sometimes resources. But I got it together and hope I can keep going.  

At the moment my focus is working on the girl's birthday party this year. They share a party with both their birthdays landing 2 weeks apart in the middle of the summer. Mommy loves doing parties but not two in a row.  I am so not a "Super-Crafty-Never Needs Sleep For Weeks On End-Still Has Time For Mascara" Mom.

So we do ONE party. :)

I hope to post the cutie patootie invites soon.  Stick with me...I got things in the works.  PROMISE!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

9 Years ago Today...♥

 I married the man meant just for me.

June 16, 2002.  A simple, outdoor wedding.
The best day...