avi's party details... finally!

sory that it took me so long to get thses pics up! if it makes you feel better i haven't even gotten my christmas tree up yet:( the party was super fun & all the kids had a "sweet" time. sorry, i couldn't help myself!

{you must have plenty of sweet treats...}

{& a few yummy activities}

{adding more sugar is never a bad idea}

{a game is a must!}

{with candy markers of course}

{here's the card i made. it is 6x6, you can fit 4 on a 12x12 paper}

i printed them on cream pearlized paper & clipped the edges with a corner rounder

{i went to the store to get a # candle & when i went to put it in the cupcake

my friend said "is she 2?". i had totally bought a #2 candle instead

of a #3:) hence the 3 separate candles.}

{knowing this little one, she probably wished for more sugar}

{conclusion::: one finger licking party!}

lollipop invites how-to...

here are the promised pics of the avi's invite. i love the way that they turned out. they weren't hard, but they are a little bit timely.

**try to glue yours together a little straighter than i did this first one:)

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{the finished product... unwrapped}

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{a closer look at my crooked edge:)}

{here is the template i made for the actual info part}

i made it to have the colors to match my papers...

this one is made to be the size i made mine. but you could always shrink it down.

you just want to make sure that this one is about 1-1 1/2" smaller than your patterned paper.

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{i used this circle cutter by making memories, i got it at Michael's craft}

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{just cut a front & back sheet for you lollipop. i made mine with 9" Styrofoam, which i got at the cso

i cut my sheets as wide as the cutter would allow}

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{i glued 1 1/2" satin ribbon around the edge of each disc... after i glued the

dowel in}

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{cut 1 1/2" strips to acordian fold for around the outer edge of you lollipop}

you will probably need 3-4 strips depending on what size you make &

how tight you fold them.

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{after you have folded all of your strips, glue them together in a long line, then

glue the ends together to make a circle}

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{hot glue around the edge of your styrafoam, them stretch your acordian paper

& hold it down until the glue is set}

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{make one small accordian paper to glue in between the patterned & word

circles.

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{glue them all together, again paying attention to the space on all sides}

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{this is what it should look like from the side}

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{glue another piece of patterned paper onto the back, i went with a circular stripe

on this side instead of the horizontal stripe on the other side}

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{wrap each one up i clear cellophane & tie with ribbon of you choice}

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{making it look as close to a real lollipop wrapper as you can}

{& tada! one lollipop invite... or you could omit the word part & use then as decor}

the party is on saturday... gotta get cookin'

party planning kicked into high gear...

so i have been super on & off about doing a party for my kids birthdays this year or taking a trip. since both of there birthdays split Christmas i thought maybe we should do parties on even years & trips on odd years. i know that you are probably thinking... "just scale down & do both." & i know that is the logical answer, but that is just not my style. i hope that one day i will be able to let go & scale back, but for now this is the way i am & i will just embrace it:)

anyhoo- the whole theme for Avi's party came a few months back when i got her this shirt that she became so obsessed with she wanted to wear it day & night. it's no secret that she has a sweet tooth (& that is an exaggerated understatement!!!!) this child wakes up wanting sugar & goes to bed still asking for treats! so it was only appropriate that i buy her this "candy makes me happy" shirt.

i had seen a lot of candy themed parties over the last few years & i just wanted something a little different. still cute & fun & playful, but just different. so i was really excited when we found the shirt & had a very TRUE theme for avi's 3rd birthday. now for all of the work that goes into throwing the party, planning activities, the cake, the favors & all that fun stuff. i'll post the lollipop invites soon. stay tuned!

it's a boy...

one of my little sisters friends from grade school is having a little boy this summer & this last weekend heaphy (my little sis) & her friend threw her a shower... which meant i got to help out:)  it really turned out cute.  here are a couple of pics of the stuff i helped with.

 

{if you're gonna give diapers, they might as well be cute!}

{natalie's super yummy Whopper cupcakes... recipe here}

{the favors, all wrapped up}

{the favors- made with jumbo marshmallows, paper nut cup & frosting}

a pirate's life for me...

{captain Beckham: age 4}

my sweet little pirate turned 4 this last week & at our house we LOVE a good party.  i am so lucky to have great friends & family to help me fulfill all of my crazy plans!  from rummaging through their Halloween decor to holding my hand while i picked out favors.  even lending me pewter goblets & plates to make the pirate theme complete.  i couldn't have pulled it off with out all of their help!  i have to say, it couldn't have turned out any better!

{one side of the spread}

{foggy brew}

{the full table...}

we served captains crunchy chicken (i used drumsticks instead of nuggets, for more of a pirate feel).  peg leg potatoes(potato wedges) & pirate's blood (ketchup).  fruit skewers & sand dip (brown sugar) & pirate's brew (homemade root beer) for the drink.

{thanks debbie lew for the fun glittered skull & bones}

{the pirate loot cupcakes}

{my homemade holders}

{the boxes...}

for beck's birthday treats for school, he wanted to take the cupcakes.  so i thought i would just put them in a box,  i used 4" square.  but then i had to figure out a way for them to not slide around.  so i  just cut some card stock the width of the box, & then added a quarter inch on each side & folded it over so it would stand up a little.  then i used a 2 1/2 inch circle punch for the cupcake to set in.  it worked like a dream & was super simple.  also then i could embellish the box to fit my theme.

{i tied them up with jute twine & then used the same tags as with the invites.  boy, those came in handy more than once!}

{i went a little banner crazy.  they are super easy & inexpensive so i made this "happy birthday" one & then a bunch of plain ones to hang all around.  instructions here.  i used 12x12 paper so the dimensions are different.  i marked them at 3" & 9" on one side, & 6" on the other.  it is actually a little easier.

{beckham wanted all of his guests to have a hat, sword & eye patch.  the kids loved them!}

{the treasure...}

we took the kids on a treasure hunt through the house.  my mom drew a map that i ripped up into 4 pieces.  the kids loved following the clues to find the treasure.}

{i filled the bags with chocolate coins, bead necklaces, unwrapped ring pops & skull stickers}

{we also played this fun game.  the winner got the his own telescope... just like on the box}

all in all, the party was a hit!  everyone should through a pirate party!