TEACH ME TUESDAYS: How I keep my WHITES, WHITER!!

AS you know, I have been making my own laundry detergent- liquid for nearly a year now:

• It has worked great, 
• Saved us money, 
• Helped us to make a smaller carbon footprints on the earth!! 

SUPER-DUPER-right?, only thing my whites have not been so "WHITE".... 

more like grey & dingy, so sad! 

I really don't want to use bleach, so I tried various whiteners, so far this formula I found has worked quite nicely!

DIY "Oxy-Cleaner" Soak for Whites

3 CUP Peroxide
2 & 1/2  CUP Water
2 & 1/2 CUP Baking Soda

1. I mixed this into an upcycled, LARGE, WIDE MOUTH, Pickle jar. 
2. Shake well & use  1/4-1/2 C on a HOT WATER setting& allow the water to fill up with laundry soap and clothes but stop before agitation begins.
3. Allow WHITE clothes to soak for 20-30 min
4. Continue with cycle and Wash clothes as usual

Another simple trick to whiten any white even those "stains" that clothe diapers get:
Hanging to Line DRY in the Bright Sun Shine will whiten any load!

 

MYO Magnetic Dolls

My daughter's friend birthday was around the corner,and since this little one has just about everything you could want, I had to come up with a neat idea that NO ONE would ever give her....

CUSTOMIZED MAGNETIC PAPER DOLLS!!

 How Cute are these?

Kissi-cat thought it would be cute to make one doll in her girlfriend's likeness and another one in her own. 

"This way so they could play together everyday in doll form even if they couldn't for real." ~ Kissi-cat

 

I forget exactly how my 4 year old said it, wish I would have wrote that down it was cute, kinda like, "Now we REALLY can play everyday, huh momma?"

I scoured the web looking for inspiration, originally I was just going to make paper dolls but remember the frustration of hassling with the paper tabs as they tore off when I was little. So when I saw this blog ("Make it & Love It"- a gr8 blog with awesome inspirational ideas and tutorials) that featured "MYO magnetic doll With Cover", I knew I would be "pinning it" for Audra's b-day!

List of Items to Make this yourself:

• Paper Dolls or make your customized Paper Dolls with your Cricut Machine Paper Dolls,  Once Upon Princess, Disney Princess Cartridges to name a few cartridges with character options. You could even do a boy's one with robots, animals... Look at your cartridges in a different way to get inspired...
• Card Stock Paper
• New Cookie Sheet
• Fabric
• Elastic
• Sewing Machine
• Adhesive Magnetic sheets

1.) I used my Cricut and selected the dolls from "Once Upon Princess" cartridge, since both girls adore princesses. I made 2 girls, Kissi-cat picked out the dresses and designed the dresses by choosing the paper to make them. We had more dresses and outfits than I ended up using because it just didn't fit right with all the options we had come up with.

2.) I cut the dolls and dresses at 5", I don't remember what the unicorn was set at. I used Stickles glitter glue as accents to doll's hair and outfits.

3.) I remember finding Adhesive Magnetic sheets at Walmart, but they hadn't had a shipment  for months, ughhhh! So off I went to search the web- and the cheapest was Jo-Ann's Fabric and Crafts. They had a free shipping coupon that made it the cheapest- I meant to get the bigger size, but purchased the 4X6 photo sized ones instead, plus I meant to get the deep cutting housing and blades to but forgot and once it was all said and done I ran out of budget.

I ended up cutting the magnetic sheets by hand, I was afraid I would run out so I didn't cut it the whole shape, in the future I would cut the dolls and magnetic shapes the same outline, and if a shadow shape is available that would work out best. Because I noticed the dolls adhere best with more coverage.

The link gives more details to make the cover here, it was easier to make than I thought, I am not a great seamstress and novice sewer at best, I did have to redo it bc I didn't pull the elastic tight enough and cut the cover to small. Thankfully I had 2 yards of fabric, I tried to make the name applique and still feel like I want to attempt it again...

I watched a ton of you tube showing how to use your cricut to cut fabric and thought I did it as I remembered, but it ended up not working out. I even tried hand cutting, grrrr, looked to horrible, not even cute like a child did it...so I opted to leave plain, looks cute anyway,

I think each time I make these they will get better and better~ (And I will make it again!!). I think this would be such a unique gift to a little girl with a doll in her likeness and one of her friends so they can REALLY play with each other ALL the time As Kissi-cat stated. 

I did touch on this earlier but if you use the Cricut Cartridges they have so many cute characters you could make a paper character set for boys too, with critters, robots, machines... Give this idea a try!

How cute is this bow ? I made this cute bow that with white curling ribbon, white tulle I added pink glitter glue and pink curling ribbon, & fluffing makes if fluffier.

Linked to 30Days Homemade 85th Pity Party- Linky Party, Unveil Your Genius Link Party #8 & Teach Me Tuesdays @ Growing Home, Twin Dragonflies ,Uncommon Designs Linky Party

P. A. R. T...Y?? Cuz I GOTTA!!!

Western Pony Farm Girl

4th Birthday Party

NOT the party girl, LOL! But her popa Stefan!

A party as BIG as it's name! Party day finally was here...only took me 2 months of dreaming up ideas,  then a few weeks of scouring the web {Google & Pininterest mostly and a 4 weeks of assembly plus 3 days of food prep work....all for 2 hours of fun. 

Happy giggles & shrieks of delight from party goers plus the look of enchantment on the Birthday girl's face....TIMELESS!!!

It all started with a picture I had in my head of Cow Hide Print and Red Bandana fabric & paper projects w/the use of the Old West Cricut Cartridge once Kissi started showing interest in horses. Then I found this pillowcase dress and an ESTY store customized her appliqued shirt for my son using both fabrics.

I really wanted to give her a party with pony rides and I even got an excellent price to give her one but my fear was the average age of the party guests was 3 and was too young to really handle it plus if it rained there would be no main attraction and 7 active girls plus 3 boys trapped in the house is something I wouldn't wish for even my arch enemy should I have one! And based on all of that it made it easier to choose to have the party at my Aunt's club house in her allotment. It is a rustic barn with exposed beams on the ceiling and wagon wheel light fixtures, brick walls... soo perfect for a Western Pony Farm Girl Party!!  Side note it did RAIN, Sleet and even snow some party day... good thing I changed the plans because the kids had more fun running around chasing each other & screaming like wild banshees in the HUGE clubhouse! 

I did a lot of upcycling for decorations, grocery bags, cereal boxes, shipping boxes, aluminum cans... I tried to keep this very frugal, green, and of course SUPER CUTE!! Items I made using Brown Grocery Bags (click here for details):

• Birthday Banner/Bunting
• Lollipop Tags {Forgot to add, but use make~ BUMMER!
• Marshmallow S'More Pops Display/Holder
• Favor Bags Labels
• Party Invite Directions
• Table Name Tags for food

I used a lot of stainless steel, white serving dishes, vintage crates, aluminum upcycled cans for serving dishes and flatware. My mom had some customized black table clothes that were designed for different table sizes but I draped them so they fit this HUMUNGOUS pool table with MDF board cover. I had plenty of space to display the many munchies.

I made everything from scratch so it saved us tons of money and got lots of the food on sale. I had a bountiful table filled lush and fresh offerings. I made my Family Favorite Potato Salad, Bountiful Pasta Salad, Campfire baked Beans, Carmelized Hickory Brown Sugar Barb-B-Q Drummettes, Limeade Cherry Spritzers (tastes just like Sonic's Cherry Limeades... YUMMO!!), Fresh and Delicious Fruit Kabobs, Cracked Pepper Dip, Lush Veggie Plate w/white & Choco covered strawberries, zesty pepperoni slices, dill pickles, roasted sweet peppers, black olives, My Mom's Double Stuffed Deviled Eggs. 

And that is just the food buffet! I did make a Dessert bar with Bakerella worthy cake pops made with the traditional red velved cake and white chocolate covering, 2" mini Cherry Pie Pops, S'mores Marshmallows on a stick, white cup cakes, Rich Deviled Foods Sour Cream Cake w/ Carmel-Chocolate Chips Trifle,  Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Covered Waffle Pretzels. I hand cut mini bunting for the Trifle and Twig basket containing Cherry Pie Pops. I wasn't crazy about the art work behind the table so I draped a remnant of Muslin over the pic that was drilled to the wall and taped a poster I had made of both of my children in their party clothes. I did have many ideas for backdrops but the wood paneling didn't allow for me to hang up any back drops and the Brick walls I didn't want to cover up.

I made customized paper dolls in the Birthday Girl's image some I used cricut cartridge some I good old fashioned ingenuity. I also made hats, boots, and horses with the Old West Cricut Cartridge as well as Bucking Broncos for Pin the Tail game, and sheriff badges for party guests, Rope fonts, Western Lettering, Lollipop tags. I just used raffia to fill the clear buckets I doubled use for party balloons placed bandanas under buckets along with mini horses.

As kids arrived I had them all decked out in western gear complete with cow boy hat, red bandana and they were deputized. I gave kids a choice to sit on the bale of hay and authentic western saddle (Which was a gorgeous saddle with amazing leather work my bestie allowed me to borrow) or to stand against the brick wall so I could take a photo for the Wanted Sign thank you cards I am going to send. Nearly all the guests (10 of them total) chose the saddle and it was really fun to so them all dressed up!


 We played Pin the tail on the Bucking Bronco with an icon I made using the Old West Cartridge, it was fun and amazingly we had a 3 way tie!! Then we played Red Light/ Green Light, but with a western twist...In place of red light I told them "Whoa" and in place of Green Light I said "Getty-Up!" For added fun I taught the kids different gaits of horses, "Gallop", "Cantor", & "Prancing" that had to do as they participated...

3 yr old Ben learning "to"...what a sweetie!!

We finished up the party w/the children learning American Sign Language Signs to "Happy Birthday" including the Birthday Girl's nickname "Kissi", which they learned in a only a few short seconds. Then we taught the adults, which was pretty hysterical watching them struggle with 5 signs the kids breezed through.

Was a fun exhausting day that took a crew of people to help me pull off the finishing touches and clean up. I had more ideas that just didn't happen due to time constraints & forgetfulness. I had the lollipop doilies all ready to place on the marshmallow pops (got for pennies on sale), cake pop tags (I made with old west cartridge), and jute ribbon for pie pops- just in the last minute rush to assemble I forgot to add.

Plus I was going to have 2 stations rolling as kids arrived one was for the dress up and pictures and one was for the coloring page where they made up their horse name. Which was going to be a 3rd game to keep the kids engaged. Kids had fun running, chasing each other and screaming. But in the future I will need more help in the beginning so I can be more time efficient.

I will post the links and detailed post as well as one with just images for people who don't want to read all my details just want to be inspired by images...

I hope you get inspired to make your decorations, upcycle items you might just throw in the trash, look at every day items in different ways.

Linked to 30 Days handmade pity party link party  , Women Living Well ,
The Thrifty Home , Passionately Artistic , Gingersnap Crafts ,

Super Cute Favor Bags...DONE DIRT CHEAP!

Really wanted the favors to say "western/ farm girl/cow girl/pony party", but stay on budget and with the customized clothes for kids I had to trim favor budget to next to nothing...

And that is what I did, but honestly, do they look like they were basically $2.75 each??

Each child will receive 4 Mare and her Foal stickers, 6 western tattoos,  a ring, a mini western coloring book, and mini western crayons {ORIENTAL TRADING had a sale on western items I used in favor bags so really was CHEAP!!} as well as a customized homemade sheriff badge, bandana and cow boy hat once they arrived. [Now the hats and bandanas were not included in the $2.75/BAG price I included them in the decoration budget, but they were steal too only $1 each on sale!!]

I originally wanted to print directly on the bags, Like I pinned in pinterest here, so I got my printer set to the right settings, but once I tried to print it wouldn't grab the bag not sure what the trick is, still irks me that I couldn't figure it out- I wanted it to have a more authentic western look than it does... but it still looks great in my opinion.

I took regular lunch sacks and since the bags wouldn't print as I wanted, I still printed on paper with the same settings I would have used to print directly on the sacks, then used a paper trimmer with a wave blade.  I really wanted it to look like a wanted poster and was considering using the tags from Old West, then print it, but honestly was feeling "done'ish" so I went with the wave blade on the trimmer, then used a cream chalk and chalked the edges with a charcoal smoke look to age the paper edges some.

I used the font, "bleeding cowboys" and wrote this:

"Happy trails partner! Kissi's much obliged you attended her 4th Birthday Fandango!"

The left over paper from the tags I used as a topper to bags to look more finished, professional, and deliberate. I drew on cow spots, trimmed to size of sack, folded down and attached with double sided tape,  & then used a hole punch and punched 2 holes...so far the project has been free, the bags I had & the paper I used was laser printer paper all it has taken is ingenuity and about 5 minutes of my time.

I used left over ribbon I bought last year for Izak's Elmo Party favor, guests left his party with several adorable items including customized crayon roll and customized hair bows I made: click here to see the party. The tags I cut from Old West @ 3" I used the one with jagged edges to resemble a star badge, I used a sharpie to write in names and attached w/jute rope. The ribbon was free already paid for last June, the jute rope was from a project years ago, the name tag paper I used upcycled brown grocery bags. 

Really the $2.75 price tag didn't' come from the bags themselves it came from the goodies in side the bag... I don't really think anyone will truly understand the happy-joy-joy feelings I get with the results and that it didn't cost me one red cent to make the favor bags and they look so stinking adorable!! Doesn't take me much to make me happy, does it??

Name Plates w/western names for buffet

I tried to think of as many uses for the brown grocery bags as possible, I nearly bought a roll of brown Kraft paper, but with the tight budget I had to find places to cut the budget so I could include food in the squeaky tight budget plus have the "cuteness factor"enter... grocery bags!

I had several brown grocery bags and though typically on grocery store trips I will use my earth friendly reusable recycled bags, but sometimes you forget the bags at home or don't want to carry home meat in the bags so I had about 6 or 7  bags. 2 bags I used to cover 2 cereal boxes to make a holder for the s'more campfire marshmallows {here's the post showcasing the marshmallow holders}, several bags I used to make bunting "Happy Birthday with Old West Fonts",  and 3 bags I cut into 12" X 12" pieces of paper. Out of each bag you get 3, 12"X12" pieces of paper and scraps from bottoms I used Old West Cricut Cartridge and cut them into "wanted signs" @ 4" and chalked the edges and made name plates for food buffet.

As I write this I still have several 12"X12" brown bag pieces of paper, might come up with a project or two- perhaps add wanted posters guests can draw of themselves...dunno?? I already made several 3" wanted poster tags and they look so cute I think I will might them bigger and hang them around the room or add to tables maybe use as an ice breaker at beginning after kids get dressed up in hat and bandana?

mini buntings are for cake topper & other uses I will think of later...STOP looking at my messy desk!!

Funny once you start looking around your house you see items in a different light and items you would just toss in the recycle bin or even possibly the trash can be upcycled in an unexpected way that scream "Cuteness Factor"!!
Linked to 30 Days handmade  , Raising Homemakers andGrowing Home
 

Pony Party invites on a Budget - Plus links to rest of party

Western Cuteness on a VERY THIN DIME!!

As the time quickly approaches for Kissi-cat's 4th b-day, I am nearly finished with her invites. I loved the video I saw on Scrapping with my Bug's blog, actually I LOVE nearly everything she does...but I digress, she did a tutorial on tri-fold card found here that is super easy and looks more complicated than one might think. I won't lie to you, if you really want to use this for more than 4 cards it gets involved what you save in financial means you spend in your time economy especially if you plan on using your cricut to cut all these tiny images for each block...like I did with 14 cards!! But if you use pre-cut images or stickers it goes really fast and gives a big impact for little time and money..

What you need- if you want a look-a-like to my customized [cow-girl/boy, western, pony] birthday invites:

• 6" X 12" Black card stock
• Cow Hide print card stock- or black polka dot print paper
• red banana print card stock- or customize your own
• ruler
• black marker, opaque white marker, 
• stickles glitter glue (Y stickles glitter glue? Cuz; it's the best IMO!!)
• adhesive of choice
• paper trimmer w/card scorer
• die cuts, stickers, or images of choice 
• Old West Cricut Cartridge

I used black card stock as back ground, then could NOT find red bandana print card stock ANYWHERE, grrrrrr!! SO I did find a free printable digital print but the red didn't translate well once I printed it out-- it was a berry red...so necessity is the mother of invention, right? I took the paper I printed off and used as a pattern to make my own customized paper on a 12X12 deep red card stock I all ready owned, 6 pieces of card stock to be exact. I didn't want to spend 50 cents/sheet for cow spots so I used black polka dot on white background, problem solved!

The tutorial here explains it all better than I could say plus it might scare you into not trying with my wordy explanation, you know I can make a sentence into a 300 page novel, holla at yer girl!

But a brief explanation I shall attempt:

• take a 6X12" piece of black card stock and score @ 2", 4" SKIP 6", 8". & 10"
• At the 2" & 8" score line measure in 1& 1/2 " & mark with pencil on either side of paper.
• Then use a paper trimmer, or ruler and craft knife {Whatever you are comfortable with using!} to cut from the 2" mark through 8"~  AGAIN WATCH THE TUTORIAL HERE, it will make more sense to see a visual.
• Then fold each score mark every other way.
• Use 2 different pattern paper in each square and rectangle shape leaving a 1/4 boarder
• Decorate with choice of die cuts, stickers, word art, glitter, skies the limit!
• Make a custom envelope, here is a gr8 resorce for free printable patterns for any size and quirky envelope you can imagine- will basically be a 4X6" card when finished folding up.

Now I messed up with my invites, at first I planned on doing as video suggested and not place any wording on front, but I was just afraid some ppl would NOT think to look on back of card, then if I did write on back since I was making 14 how was I sure WAS NOT going to hand write the info, I would have to make a card cut to dimensions of the blocks then make the print large enough to fit in space yet small enough to contain all the details of the party NO STINKING WAY-- me and my BIG ideas!!??All this work and it's just an invite no one is going to save it but me, so why go to such extremes-SOOOOOO...

I opted to make a cute "wanted" poster as an insert to card, here is how I did it:

Wanted ...
_______~ 4th Birthday Party Guests!
Round up is: _________
Head on Over to:_______
Neighs Only  Give us a holler! (123) 456-7890

Used Caligraphy paper I bought over 12 or so years ago for next to nothing that had that weathered looked, used my paper trimmer with pinking edges, then used tea/coffee stained cream chalk product for edges of mini poster and random places to give an aged effect.


After all this I realize I left out" _____~4th birthday" ... ALL I had was "Wanted...Party Guests" No birthday child's name, LOL! Grrrr, so I thought I would use a sharpie and try to make it look like it kinda matched...uhh NO! Looks so NOT MATCHED, I really dislike the messy way it looks, I used bleeding cowboy font and thought the bleeding marker would kinda blend it-- NOPE it doesn't.

I have revamped the file I made the Rich Text Edit file(MAC document program) so it contains all necessary info and might remake the signs, but it was some time I might not want to spend again when I still want to make:

• Horse, Cowgirl,  Boots for center pieces {All ready customized a doll in the birthday girl likeness for the center pieces using ONCE UPON A PRINCESS cartridge, really cute looks like the pillow case dress in the cow hide bandana print plus cowhide hat and black boots she will be wearing for the party}-Will post a tutorial
• Place Cards-Will post a tutorial
• Happy Birthday Bunting from grocery store bags and Plantain Cartridge-Will post a tutorial -
• mini bunting for cake-Will post a tutorial
• cake pops-Will post a tutorial 
• Cake Pop, Marshmallow, pie pops Display/holders tutorial- Click here
• Wanted Posters for kids to color-Will post a tutorial
• Felt Hobby Horse-Will post a tutorial-Will post a tutorial -
• Color Cow Spots on white balloons-Will post a tutorial
• Make Favor Bags from lunch sacks-Will post a tutorial
• Western Die Cuts from Old West to make Kissi's Birthday Signs- Will have a post with pics of all and party decor plus food once party takes place!
• MIGHT make a peasant blouse from Muslin with red bandana print fabric accents, {first 2 attempts remind me of Chris Farely in that one movie with David Spade "Tommy Boy-Black Sheep" in the one scene Chris is trying on David's sports coat and he is singing "Fat guy in a little coat"... LOL!! Don't know that one, well image squeezing into a shirt that barely fits and is bulging all your fat..NOT ATTRACTIVE but still kinda humorous kinda wanted to run upstairs singing that song with it on, but really didn't want my hubby to have this visual of me..so I just snickered and realize I might be wear a plain black shirt...see a sentence into a novel, yes some ppl want an "easy button" I need an "edit button" LOL!}

Linked to Growing Home & 30 Days handmade  Linky party, Uncommon Design on line

Kissi-cat's "Cowgirl" 4th-Birthday Party Preperations

Getting excited for Kissi-Cat's 4th birthday party! 

I need to reserve the church and get details on the pony rides at this stable that offers pony rides 2 blocks from the church. They offer pony parties as well but not sure I want to have the party there, I will have to check and see the details...

I  want to decorate in Red bandana & BLACK & White cow hide prints and wanted to find a matching out fit for Kissi-cat to wear. I then found some adorable ideas for bandana fabric dresses, was all set to make them, but then stumbled on to this charming pillowcase dress with both prints I wanted for a reasonable price on E-bay: boutique_littlesweetie.

Pillowcase dress-SUPER CUTE!!

How cool is that?? I think I will purchase a black, long sleeved turtle neck for her to wear under this dress as April will still be cool.

The seller, Laurie gave me an idea for an appliqued tie shirt for my son, but we were unable to come up with an idea she was comfortable with making.  I found Laurie super sweet, easy to work with, and I would order from her again. I will post the outfit once I get the dress which she sent me a tracking number and it's all ready on its way within 3 days of purchase..super fast, REC'D IT WITHIN 4DAYS~WOW!! It is soo darling, and looks just like I thought it would.

Here is the boot for Kissi from Amazon I got for $16

Kissi-cat has these "skinny jeans" in a black wash finish pared with these stylish and very comfortable boots the outfit will be sooo perfectly cowgirl! She was so thrilled with her boots, she has been dancing around the house in her boots and she can't wait for her party!

Imagine this w/long sleeved black shirt w/Red bandana print vest with cow hide tie

I then googled cow print shirts for boys and found an Esty seller: BittyBundlesofJoy who was willing to customized her cow hide print vest and black tie applique concept to fit my ideas. I wanted a long sleeved black shirt with vest and tie, she recommended using the red bandana vest and cow print tie combo.

I think I could have handled making this on my own but the price was right, Kate was super nice and easy to work with plus she  worked out the bugs of making this and I supported a small, woman owned business~ so I am ALL  for that!! I order the the shirt on Tuesday paid for it on Wed and I just got a notification it was sent Thursday, how is that for super fast?? Will post the shirt on my cutie when I get it!!

This was the inspiration

Love the Banner with brown bag burnt edges with cowhide print banner the cupcake tags, and the overall design!

$9.00 for 25 free shipping

The colors of Kissi-cat's party are BLACK cow hide print and red bandana, u guessed that right? LOL! I found these balloons super cute, I think I would add some plain red balloons. Might try buying plain white balloons and use a sharpie to color cow hide print on it? Would be  a penny pinching idea, since I can get a bag of 25 for under $2. I am thinking of using red gingham table clothes with burlap-like table runners and clear buckets with steel accents filled with natural raffia strands, and cow hide and red print balloons. Or if too expensive white or red table clothes, with the same stainless steel buckets and runner,  using images from Old West Cricut Cartridge- (Cool story, Kim, an amazingly sweet woman  from Cricut message boards, saw my post and went WAY out of her way to find me this cartridge in Oklahoma today!!) poking out of the clear paint can....

Love the balloons and stainless steel

Want to make a 2 layered cake, might purchase one from bakery and add a horse to top with mini-banner like this party planner did:

 Horse, natural raffia, and bunting

I also like the natural raffia on the table, to mimic hay. I would want the cake to be white, unsure how I would ice the "trim" bc red and black can be so bitter, will have to think on that some more...

Might use this idea w/my party colors

Then enters this idea for a double banner and the icing with the swirls, I could make the cake and save money and practice the swirly technique... might do that just use cow hide print and bandana print  remnants and use fusible web on twine with kabob skewers? I would then make cup cakes with plain white paper cups and use Old West Cricut Cartridge for Icon images, like cow boy hat,  boot, & bucking horse images.  Not sure how I will display cupcakes, think I will simply place on white square plates and make 24 plain white w/white frosting or do mini cakes and idea with egg carton pictured below.

Using Old West images as toppers/or "4" for her birthday

Love the Name plate labels and snack mix paper cones

Also I am thinking of doing cake balls again, only this time make them to stand on plate and insert the pony icon/4 circle icons on to long sticks, s'mores marshmallows on sticks with the inserts, fruit cream cheese spread w/teddy grahams, fruit Kabobs-adult ones on larger skewers placed in a stainless steel wash tub speared into lettuce head as I did in the Princess party, but add a small rectangle plate with mini- fruit and veggie kabobs for smaller kids on longer tooth pics or use my 4 slot large rectangle serving dish.  Also make a veggie tray w/thick ranch dip, crackers, and cheese, chips, pretzel sticks, and (might add Bar-B-Q chicken drum'etts in slow cooker, Ranch Baked Beans, and Potato Salad.)

Love the labels of this party the use of burlap ribbon, I would use a cork that has a slit cut into it and use images from Old West, also LOVE the other use of egg carton for deviled eggs called "hatchlings", LOL! Plus the burlap paper cones holding the snack mix.

Mini-Cupcakes, gr8 idea for easy transportin

Love this mini-cup cake holder idea, I have been saving egg cartons (that I cleaned & sanitized!) just for this idea, I would have to have longer tooth pics, might display the cupcakes this way on either side of my cake w/swirls and red bandana bunting. Will make chocolate cake with white frosting to look like cow hide print and use red bandana backgrounds with cowgirl icons on the pic.

PONY RIDES!

This might be the "pony ride" we end up with, hopefully I can borrow a saddle from my one friend to make it complete!

Kids can color if they want or take home!

Found this idea for the place settings and it is a free printable, I have the PDF saved to my Pony Party File but I can't find the link, I have found the images of this party all over pin-interst but none take right to this party, I am thinking it is a "Kara's Party Blogg" item, if you want to check you might find the "Free PDF". I remember the instructions were to use a flat 9"X12" brown shopping bag and cut down 1/4" of the bag, fold over, and insert the poster. Tie with twine and add a Sheriff's badge. The poster says " WANTED ... definitely alive, space to color pic, then lower portion says for crimes of not cleaning room/stable. Or something like that, funny bc Kissi-cat is very good at cleaning her room and helping clean up in general so far that is anyways...

Printing DIRECTLY on lunch sacks!

For favors:  I am going to print on a brown lunch sack "THANK YOU" in Western print and punch holes in the top and tie jute/twine rope and attach a tag w/child's name. I think I will find a tub of horses and give horses as favors and cow tails candy along with horse stickers.

For Games: If we don't go the pony ride route am thinking of some games.

Use the stamps for game and Kissi's present

Pony Name: When guests first arrive give each guest a plaque to decorate with their pony name. If they were a pony, what would they be called?  Then using this Kit from Melissa and Doug have the kids stamp their favorite horse and color.  Use that name from then on & write on a star and stick on kid's clothes- if they don't freak out about it. Hang up pic & Plaque on jute rope line as a bunting behind the pony on a haystack with clothes pin.

Sugar Cube Race: Call the kids by their pony names and tell them that sugar cubes are one of a pony's favorite treat Split the guests into two teams and have them take turns racing a sugar cube on a spoon. If the sugar cube falls off, they pick it up and go back to start.

Pony Relay Races: Run short races pony style: prance, gallop, run, and trot. Who’s the pony at your pony party?- If I can find a CHEAP HOBY HORSE/STICK PONY, I will buy or perhaps make it? Then the kids can name it and use the games above with the ponies.

So those  are SOME OF my ideas...

I have started some ideas using Cricut Craft room  an online design tool that lets you experiment, explore, and design in ways never before possible. And it’s free. Plus, just for starting your account, you’ll automatically receive Cricut Craft Room™ Basics, a collection of digital fonts and shapes. 

I thought I wasn't going to find the cartridge until my new Oklahoma friend KIM, offered get me one from her local Hobby Lobby-she ended up calling 8 STORES and found me one, yay!!! That has to be the COOLEST story ever! 

I have designed the center pieces & the banner is started in the Craft Room. This is a really cool program, gr8 for those who don't have a gypsy yet, there is a learning curve, but once I figured out the mat layer it was smooth sailing, haven't cut any out yet, bc I had to either purchase or link up my cartridge so hopefully all that time won't be for not. I can see using this to design during the day and being all set up to cut& assemble at night while kids are sleeping...so excited to use this!! :-)

Izak's Elmo 1st Birthday Party

Close up of the cup cone, toppers, and carrier.

Boutique Bow I made with ribbons I got for a steal. All the girls got them in a favor bucket along w/a crayon roll, crayons, elmo coloring book, and small Elmo board book.

Elmo choclate covered Oreo cookies, square cake wrapped with a ribbon and Elmo Cake Topper I made with "Emlo's Party".Cup Cake Cones topped with Elmo Toppers.  I made a cup cake cone carrier by wrapping a Cherio box with Elmo coloring w/crayons wrapping paper I got for $1, I then hot glued a ribbon around the box and glued crayons around the box.

Fruit Skewers with Elmo sign, waving Elmo and Dorthy.

Birthday boy with Aunt Lori

A poster I made of Izak's first year, turned out really cute!

I was going to use the crayons to line the walk way to Elmo air walker but wasn't able to. IT was so windy we had to tape Elmo up so he wouldn't blow away.

Made the Crayons from the Pin the Crayon on Elmo's hand game and made 11" crayons. I used blue paper and colored the "crayon" part with red marker and used red glitter glue over the top of it.

U can barely see, but the banner in the background is the Birthday Banner from Elmo's Party. It was really cute!

Elmo, Dorthy, and Crayons I made for the center pieces,

Project Princess Party COMPLETED!

The girls and Izak had a blast, and we all loved watching them giggle, play, dance and run in circles as every 3 yr old loves. The 15 & 18 month olds had a gr8 time trying to catch up and play with the older girls.  We had an ice breaker for the girls as they arrived, little wooden princess dolls they colored as we allowed time for all the guests to arrive. We had an open "grazing" that allowed the kids and parents time to have some snacks as the party went along.

The centerpieces, didn't really get a good shot of them but they were so cute!

Dessert Bar w/ red velvet cake pops, marshmallow wands, peanut butter pretzels bites, white chocolate vanilla oreo truffles, and of course the piece de` resistance` the Castle cake w/Disney Princesses.

Food Table

"Belle's Farmer Market Tray"- Cut at 5" customized from 3 dolls to make dress likeness to Beauty & the Beast

"Under the Sea Jelly Delights"-Peanut Butter, Cream Cheese , & grape Jelly Sandwiches sprinkled with lilac sanding sugar

Tiana's Froggy Fruit Kababs- Yes her one eye is missing, we lost it in transit, LOL! The pic doesn't show the highlights I added with bronze glitter glue or that I added chalk to make her mocha skin, it was my fav doll to do!

Bibbity Bobbity Boo Cheese Ball- I made Cinderella's hair, I don't think I would line it in black again, and yes her slipper is missing, I used that for one of the games, called "Pass the glass slipper"

I added different icons for Princess Party Cartridge, 2 castles, ring, unicorn, & frog. Used lettuce as base to hold skewers-I won't make this the night b4 again, wasn't as firm as I would have liked  and the fruit didn't as fresh as I wanted it to  look.

Customizes Water Bottles, hand cut labels, lilac part at 1 3/4", pink part 1 1/2" used Princess party Cartridge and used the Crikits pen in black and filled in with glitter glue. I used 2" clear Scott's Packaging tape to seal. I don't think this would hold up in iced cooler or bucket, I just kept refrigerated.

Another close up center pieces, I intended on using tulle and tying it at base of lowest balloon and tying other end at base of balloon weight, but I forgot. This doesn't show the tags I made for each balloon along with lots of curling ribbon. But still was cute!

Each guest got little hand made tags with their names and likeness, The tag is from School cartrige cut at 7" and dolls were cut at 5" I used glitter glue to accent.

3-D Castel made @ 8"- with 8 1/2" X 11" paper, I just turned it to portrait for most cuts and some I had to cut twice to get all pieces to fit, I didn't have any 12X12"paper that was the color I was wanting and this size was free, so I wanted to use it!, I added silver glitter glue to edges and little icons from another cricut cartridge to hide the darkening that happened when I smudged glue. This paper was not forgiving. The box was baby diaper box I painted and decoupaged with sky and grass, the outside was red and gold leave painted. The kids loved it!

Kissi's throne chair, I used charomose silk I got for a steal and a pink table tunner that was embellished with glitter along with organza ribbon I got for pennies at fabric store. I wrapped the rocking chair in batting & placed the silk over it using a saftey pin in back and hand sewing in place in front. This way I can re-use the material If I eve get it back from Kissi, LOL, and my son can use the chair with out feeling weird.

All the princesses after they got "princess-ifed"!

The party princess enjoying her food!

"Princess" Kissi embracing her cousin, a good time had by all!! :-)

I used my ciricut and Princess Party cartridge like a mad lady. I used the tags & tied them onto the balloons with curling ribbon, they didn't translate as well as I envisioned, they were tied on with the image facing backwards so I didn't get a good pic of it. I still think it is a cute idea, I would just tie them on myself and make sure the colors match better. The other components of the centerpieces were really cute, I used empty, clear mini paint buckets and filled them silver balloon weights covered with petal pink tissue paper and wrapped the buckets with a white feather boa. I forgot to add the pink tulle to cover the ribbon and act as a topiary apparently I needed 3 hours instead of 2 hours for set up-still looked cute i just wish I had of remembered all I had planned on doing.

The paper dolls were cut at 5"I used for the table decor, I used the clear slipper wedding favors I got at Dollar General and used them to hold up the name plate for dishes. I used glitter glue to dot the edges of the tags, I just thought it needed a little bling, plus Kissi loves her glitter! Yes I know Tiana lost her eye and Cinderella lost her slipper (again, LOL!) I must have lost in transit. I made "Tiana's Froggy Fruit Kabobs" the night before with very ripe fruit, not a good thing, it was ok, but a little soggy, won't do it again. Still was quite tasty the pineapple really sweetened it up, just would not do this the night before. I made just a simple meat and cheese plate and named it I made a Belle likeness paper doll along with "Belle's Farmer's Market Tray",  Cinderella had whipped triple berry cream cheese we called, "Bippity-Boppity-Boo Cheese Ball",  and made an Ariel doll along side of Peanut butter, jelly and cream cheese sandwiches shaped with heart cookie cutters and sprinkled with purple sanding sugar (kissi's fav snack), and named it, "Under the Sea Jelly Deights".

The dessert bar, was really cute, I made a banner from the letters on the Princess Party Cartridge and used glitter glue on tops of crowns attached letters with ribbon and twine but they got all tangled & we didn't have time to untangle it to use-ughh! It would have been so cute, I just had more ideas that needed only my attention and were kinda tedious so more ideas than time allowed for. But it still was cute, I used a large feather boa I got for less than $5 to line edge of table, and used a shimmery fabric I got for $2 I placed under the raised cake layer and tied with a sheet fabric ribbon. I placed the red velvet cake pops in small glasses filled w.purple grass and marshmallow wands I placed in a med vase. I used tags from Princess Cartridge to label the delicacies but I didn't get pics of it, my mom did If I can figure out how to get them from fb I will add them l8r. I also made pretzel peanut butter bites, white chocolate vanilla Oreo truffles, and placed pink wafer cookies on the tiered stand.

The games we played were pin the crown on the princess, pass the glass slipper, princess parade and princess dance party. We did them at break neck speed, the kids' attention span at that age is like 3 secs on sugar it is less than 2. They did seem to like the games and free play we allowed. I started with the  pin the crown, then did pass the slipper as each guess had the slipper we had their parents get into their bags and help them get "princessified" with feather boa, crown, wand, and tutu. We then led them on a parade to the tune of "Part of your world" from The Little Mermaid", following with a dance party with the girls dancing to Kissi's fav songs I complied from I-tunes and cd's we have.

Now I am planning Izak's 1 year birthday party in June at a park. I have the shelter reserved and his invites are half made. We are going to do an "Elmo" theme I have tons of ideas that include using my cricut and "Elmo's Party", plus I saw quite a bit at Dollar Tree I will collect as I go along.  I can't wait to get going on his party. Each party I just get better and better, I just love lavishing all this attention on my babies!!! :-)