Sushi

For April Fools I made this "sushi" for T1's soccer team. They were so convincing, and really easy to make.
Green fruit roll ups, gummy worms and warm rice crispy treats. The girls had a great time with them, too bad I can't use this one on them again!

Beach Party

One of our goals with this site is to give ideas for parties, so each month we are going to pick a theme and plan a party.

For July we are planning a Beach Party!

Invitations:

* Write on a cheap pair of flip flops... or stuff the invite in a beach ball.

* Create a message in a bottle.

* You can order this or make something similar for a more refined look.

* Or this is another idea starter for something to make. And of course you could just go all out and get this one!

Food:
* Skewer pieces of fruit, cheese, and meat with fancy toothpicks and arrange them on a pu pu platter (that's Hawaiian for appetizer!).

* Hot dogs/hamburgers, you know.. BBQ food!

* These yummy party cups.

* Of course s'mores if your party goes into the evening hours!

* This pail cake looks fun!

* Any cake can be made and with some crushed graham crackers or brown sugar you have a beach! Cover with paper unbrellas or add some water by using blue icing, this party cake is limitless!

Decor:
* Ya gotta play the Beach Boys!

* Make your place look like a tropical paradise by decorating it with exotic paper or silk flowers, colored holiday lights, and paper lanterns.

* Set up a beach umbrella to create a shady spot where kids can get out of the sun. Have plenty of sunscreen on hand!

* Use a surf board for all the food to go on, if you don't have one - make it!

* There is this beach ball set you can purchase.

* If indoors is your party place, lay out towels on the floor, umbrellas, fish and starfish hanging from the ceiling, beach balls all over and of course the Beach Boys singing loudly.

* Serve food buffet style, filling beach pails (line with plastic) & giant plastic clam shells with chicken, potato salad, etc. Guests can use shovels to put the food on their plates.

Games/Activites:
* Water balloon volleyball

* Use the Hawaiian alphabet (a, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, o, p, u, w) to come up with fun new nicknames to go by.

* Make animals out of sea shells

* Limbo

* Swim

* If the party is for a birthday, have the attendees sign/decorate a beach ball for the birthday person.

Party Favors:
* Add stuff like sunglasses, gummy sharks, bags of goldfish crackers, bubbles, plastic shovels, gold coin chocolates, and small beach balls in a sand bucket.

If we haven't given you enough... Family Fun has a whole page we could steal ideas from but we thought we could just give you the link instead.

What ideas do you have to add??

Happy 4th of July

We didn't do much for the 4th this year, but my girls did make these table center peices. I have a BBQ coming up and I am using a patritic theme, so my modivation was for that.. but they fit the craft for today!

Gift Card holders

For my girls birthdays I have stopped trying to guess what they want. Honestly, they scare me! We have taken to giving them gift cards to their favorite places and then they get a shopping trip including lunch with me alone. I made these multiple gift card holders this year.

This one for my oldest was harder to make and held 2 on each "page".


This one for my younger daughter was easier and just as effective. I got the template for the card holders from a Claire's gift card holder I tore apart.

Altered Shirts

At Twilight Camp for Girl Scouts we always have matching shirts that we need to wear for all 3 days. The second my oldest saw the shirt she said she would never be wearing it again.. she is too cool for everyday T-shirts. As part of the badge the Juniors are working on they needed to alter a piece of clothing. After observing what a lot of the older girls had done to their shirts, this was the design they wanted.
Split the shirt up the sides, cut about 1 inch strips and tie them in double knots. We also cut off the sleeves and cut V's in the neckline. A shirt now must be worn under the modified T, but to hear the picky 10 year old say that she would now wear this shirt over and over is very worth it!

Hair Bows

So on the baby theme today...

I made these hair bows as my first attempt at hair accessories. They're by no means perfect, or even something I really think will get used much- if at all. I made the cupcake one to go along with the theme for Madeleine's first birthday party. I made the other one for my sister's baby. Yes, it's huge. No, the pinks don't match perfectly. But, like I said, first attempt for someone who had no idea what she was actually doing. Maybe some day I'll give in and do them right. But for now, these will do. Madeleine's served its purpose prefectly. It was for the one day and it worked just fine. I figure from here, and with the one for Monica they'll be fine for silly dress up. They'll work as barrettes or clip to a headband to work that way as well. Now that I have a small idea what I'm doing, I'm collecting ribbon and planning on making lots and lots more. I am in no hurry yet... my kid doesn't have enough hair to use them yet!

CD Holders

I found this idea a while back and never got around to using it. About a month ago, I made a music cd for my sister's baby and Madeleine and wanted a cute cover for them. I remembered this idea and thought I'd try it out. Now I can't quit making them. I joined a swap group and for each one I've included one of these. When I have to send pictures to my sister, I make one for the cd. I find myself looking for reasons to make them. It's kind of pathetic. I have Madeleine's pictures divided by month and if I can get each month down to fit on one cd, I'll make an envelope for each month. Instead of looking at paper for scrapbooking anymore, I look at it in terms of cd envelopes. Yes, pathetic.