birthdays

Here’s the players:

Yay for ribbon and butterflies!

Mini paper bags
stapler with colored staples (available at craft stores)
scissors
an assortment of ribbon, cut in 8” strips
craft butterflies; mine came from the Dollar Tree but they are also at any craft store
not shown are the Glue Dots that come into play later

So happy to have some pink in this project

Pair up the ribbons into coordinating twosomes.

Is that a hand model?

Place one end of the paired ribbons in the middle on the top of the bag.

Look at how she holds that stapler...

Put the bottom of the staple inside the opening of the bag, under the ribbon and staple.

Let the sunshine in!

I like to use several staples to attach the ribbon to the bag cause it looks cuter and makes the handle more stable.

The rule of 3, people!

Flip the bag over and secure the other ends of the ribbon to the other side of the bag. I like to keep the ribbon ends uneven…I like things to look haphazard and stuff.

There's that beautiful hand again!

Here’s one of the little butterflies. There was a piece of wire embedded in its belly, so I pulled it out so it could be glue-dotted to the bag.

I *heart* some glue dots

Voila! A slightly tilted little butterfly finishes off the bag.

Love it! What a cute set!

Here’s the sweet trio of butterfly bags, filled with tissue just waiting to be filled with treats and goodies for friends and loved ones. I just LOVE these, so easy and just so pretty.

Again, the ladies at How Does She are here to share a truly wonderful and SIMPLE crafty idea!

Isn’t this the cutest wreath ever? Imagine hanging it on your door for each of your children’s birthday, beginning a new tradition? I mean, this wreath screams PARTY HERE, COME ON IN! Click on the photo for the tutorial.

And by the way, I was at the Dollar Tree on Cantrell Road today and saw packages of 100 water balloons, in very fun neon colors and just like what they used for the wreath, for just a dollar. Snatch some up and craft away!

Well, my heart was in the right place when I wrote my post last week about MLK Day, but my planning skills…another story.

I had intended to volunteer at the Arkansas Foodbank Network for a few hours this afternoon to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr Day. I had also spoken to my son’s teacher about a little service project the kids could do at school for MLK Day.

Well, it goes to show that when you have more than one adult helping to plan, things usually will work out.

  (more…)

My son turned four on Tuesday, as unbelievable as that is for me to fathom. For his party he had a construction theme smashed up with a fancy, dress-up tea party theme, since he shared a party with a pal from his school. It made for some neat (read psycho-looking) invitations:

Invites for the construction/tea party

Since he decided on a construction party, I’d had my eye out for ideas on how to make dirt cakes. I found inspiration here and here, and with some help from my husband I came up with a plan.

(more…)