Pony Party- Cake Pop/ Marshmallow Display Stand/Holders

I know, big title right? Not sure what to call it, Googled the basics to get the name more concise but both showed up... sooooooo here are the details if you would like to make a similar display stand/holder for your lollipops/dipped marshmallows/cake-cookie-brownie-pie pops WHATEVER IT IS YOU HAVE PLACED ON A STICK, have WORKED so hard to perfect and now wish to display! {For my tutorial on making Cake Pops near perfect ever time, click on my link here}

All you need are upcycled household items & Craft knife/exacto blade to cut holes so treats stand upright!! - it was super easy & super cheap, try basically FREE!

These did get knocked around so be kind!

 To make the rectangle display/holders I made all you need is:

• Large Cereal Boxes
• Brown Grocery Bags {The thinner ones made of recycled paper are easier to use}
• Good Quality Clear strong tape
• Hot Glue & Glue Gun
• Ribbons of choice, preferably one(s) you all ready own to keep this FREE
•   Good Quality Paper Scissors
• Paper Mache Hat Box

The hardest part of this project was convincing my hubby to stop trying to throw away my grocery bags and cereal boxes, grrrrrr! I had to rescue several bags and noticed boxes gone MISSING right as I was going to make the display holders/stands..UGH!!

Details on the rectangle display holders/stands:

1. I took a plain brown grocery bag, {the thin recycled bags that barely hold 3 grocery items work the best}. Cut down the side on the seam like you do when you make book covers, and cut off the bottom. 
2. Tape the cereal box opening down and place on opened grocery bag graphics/wording facing up {Meaning you don't want to tape the boxes up so you end up seeing the writing on the bags when you are finished!}
3. Cut to size and wrap tightly like you do with gifts, the use of Good Quality Strong Clear tape is a help, the cheaper brands don't hold well, ask me how I know, LOL!
4. Use Ribbons of choice and cut to size around the circumference of the box and use small dab of hot glue to affix Ribbon. I used:

Eco-Friendly Sustainable Natural Fiber Sinamy

Natural Sinamay Fiber Ribbon in 1 & 3/4" Can be found here {it is mostly an Eco-friendly ribbon and from the link I attached are hand made by artisans in remote villages around the world - creating jobs and fair wages for hard working communities.} I got on sale CHEAP years ago!
Jute String
Red Gingham ribbon

On the paper Mache hat boxes I had painted one white however thought it was not the look I was after, so I used the one box I bought about 12 years ago or so that was left plain and I hot glued the Natural Sinamay Fiber Ribbon and red polka dot ribbon I bought last year for a hair bow favor for my son's Elmo Party click here for pics. Placed mini horses on top for effect...

Got knocked around a bit, but you get the idea!

The Cherry Pie Pops, I used a a head of lettuce and placed inside a twig basket I bought years ago that I never really utilized until now and used natural colored un-dyed crinkle paper shreds to hide the lettuce. WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN, but in the rush to get last minute touches was done in haste and just torn tissue paper was used. NOT the look I planned but sometimes you just have to go with it. I made mini buntings and used one on this twig basket, cute, huh!

For all boxes I used several cake pops/dipped marshmallows as guides to know where to cut holes, and use a craft/exacto knife to make holes. Don't make too big sticks will fall through and too small will cause paper bags to rip.

Those were cute super cheap display/stand holder (s) to show off all your hard work!

 Other ideas for a display stand holder for all your goodies you have made on a stick:

• Shoe box either wrapped in decorative paper, painted, or left as if for a funky look
• Any kind of box/crate you have lying around the house in a shape or size you are looking for wrapped, painted in color or design of choice, glued &/or modge podged- playing cards, copies of vintage: post cards, tags, envelopes, pictures, 
• Mini Hay stack, left as is, outside wrapped in burlap, Sinamay or other ribbon of choice- or placed inside a decorative container
• Foam block placed inside a decorative container, or shaped Styrofoam {Like cones or spheres}
• AstroTurf
• Expensive {IMO} acrylic/cardboard factory made holders like these ones
• Placed inside a: tea pot, Terra-cotta pot, glass cup, mugs, tea or other decorative cups, vases, canning jars, upcyceld baby food jars, cookie jars, fish bowl, brandy sifter,  cup cakes or layer cake, inside hallowed out pumpkins or other decorative gourd, halved fruit like cantaloupe or watermelon,  galvanized steel wash tubs or buckets, cleaned out paint buckets with colorful coated pops, clear jars filled w/colorful candies like M&M's, Skittles, Jordan Almonds etc...
• If you want to place them ball side down you could place them inside a small decorative suit case, cake tower, cake plates, boxes, placed inside mini cupcakes liners and displayed on trays or mirrors.

I could go on and on with ideas, I have more ideas than parties coming up, I think each party will probably be built around my cake pop display/holder ideas, LOL! For more visual ideas here is a Google link that might inspire you too!
 
Linked to Homemaking LinkUp ,

4 year old Vintage Farm Girl Birthday Party

 I had so many ideas swimming around in my head and some definite requests from the birthday girl herself including a dessert bar with cake pops and a must have chocolate cake!

Portraits from Portrait Innovations

I found her gorgeous pillow case dress from an E-bay Vender boutique_littlesweetie. and her Steve Maddon boots were a steal from from Amazon  . I purchased my son's adorable appliqued shirt from Laurie of  BittyBundlesofJoy  who customized my shirt using my ideas, she was a joy to work with. Amazingly she made & shipped the shirt within 4 days! 

Everything else I made myself from invites to  food and decorations. I used my Cricut Expression & Old West Cartridge to customize all the decor pieces.

 Trifold Card I  hand made myself. I couldn't find the Bandana print paper so I made it myself.

The Favor bags I made out of an upcycled grocery bags and scrap laser printer paper and jute rope. 

  I "westernized" the menu with authentic western slag and terms for each menu item. We had full, lush and fresh Food Buffet included Barb-B-Q Chickabiddies {aka Chicken}, Campfire Beans and so on... 

I  used stainless steel serving dishes, white and vintage pieces like a coke crate, mini wash tubs, and candle holder. I used raffia around the food buffet to continue with the western cow girl feel.

Fruit Kabobs I made, some were eaten before the pic was taken as were some of my mom's deviled "hen fruit" aka eggs.

The tags were cut from Old West Cricut Cartridge and I also included part of the invite in the fruit kabobs.

I really tried to keep this as green and to upcycle as much as I could, even the bunting was upcyceld grocery bags and paper scraps from other paper projects! The exposed beams of the party barn really helped to give this western, farm girl party its cow girl feel!

The dessert Bar was filled with:
Red Velvet Cake Pops...........Red Velvet Lassos
Rich Sour Cream Devil's Food
Cake with Caramel-Choc Chips Trifle.....Diablos's Trifle
Cherry Pie Pops.....................Cherry Flap Jacks
White Cake with
Vanilla Frosting......................Old West Mini Cake

 


I hand made the mini bunting attaching the bunting to kebobs skewers. Vintage Horses from my childhood adorned the base of a punch bowl my husband & I received as a wedding gift 18 years ago acting as a trifle bowl. The mare candle was from Oriental Trading Company.com  

 Cake Pops I made with Red Velvet Cake Mix, Cream Cheese Frosting and Vanilla Coating.
 
As guests arrived they were deputized, given a hand made western star red bandana, and straw western hat. I took pictures of them sitting on an authentic saddle and bale of hay. I made a wanted poster I will insert the pics into as part of a thank you card.

Customized Center pieces made in the Birthday girl's likeness. We filled clear buckets with raffia and tied on white, black, and red balloons.

Pin the tail on the Bucking Bronco. The kids had a gr8 time playing and we had a 3 way tie!

 I taught the kids to sign "Happy Birthday" even using the birthday girl's name.  We had all the kids using American Sign Language in under 1 minuted then we taught the adults...that was pretty funny to watch the adults struggle, the kids got a kick out being able to teach the adults for a change. We had some fast learners who even practiced signing when they were playing!

For the gift table I used a antique hand made crazy quilt made in the 1900's covering a vintage 1950's stereo. I found this quilt in a travel trunk left to us by an ancestor on my husband's side, I used it to give the party a cozy and "homey feel".  I also framed the invitation and placed authentic horse shoes in various places on the gift table & around the room.

The birthday girl was so excited to play with her friends and cousins and can't wait to help plan her 5th birthday party

Linked to Raising Homemakers , 30 DAYS HOMEMADE,

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!! :-)