My embellished good find

I found these Euro pillow shams being clearanced at the Pottery Barn Outlet for quite the bargain. Other than some zig-zag stitching, they didn't have any red on them -which I thought they needed more of. So, I remedied that by attaching some letters to them. G, for Gavin. E, for Eli. It breaks up the square pattern and added some color I needed. I adhered wonder under to some red felt and then used my friends super cool machine to applique them on. The stitching on them feels so good, you would never know I didn't buy them that way.

Celebrate!

I made pennant banners a few years ago for the twins circus party, and had a bunch of sewn triangles left over. My sister in law has made some for b-day gifts, so I thought I'd clean out the "studio" (term used very loosely), and whip 'em up. They were so fast as I already had most of it all cut out. Yippee!

Sugar and Spice

Party theme: So Sweet! (5 year old girl, 2008)

Cake: Three tier, pink fondant, beaded with white and dark pink frosting

Decor: Dark pink table cloths with light pink tulle, pink birthday banner, light and dark pink streamers, balloons, and dark pink paper lanterns. Most of the food was elevated out of the tulle with white cake plates, pedestal bowl, or plate stand. I used Addie's white parlor table as the cake table.

Menu: Petite corn dogs, flower shaped PB & J sandwiches, mini turkey sandwiches, cheese lollipops (pretzel sticks stuck into cheese cubes), pecan crusted cheese ball and crackers, chocolate dipped strawberries, fresh fruit (pineapple, grapes, and apples), cheez-it crackers (a staple for one of our neighbors) dressed up in a pedestal bowl, lemonade, and of course cake and ice cream.

Games/Activities: #1. They decorated foam visors with glitter, polka dots, pom poms, and foam sticky flowers as they waited for all the guests to arrive.

#2. I cut apart chocolate lollipop molds so each would have one. Then they painted various color candy melts in the mold. I finished filling the mold with chocolate as well as putting the stick and tag on while they were busy with another game. They also served as party favors.

#3. We had a build-a-sundae relay. Two teams each had a sundae glass they had to run to and fill with sundae items. The first person scooped ice cream then ran back and tagged the next person, second sprayed whip cream, third chocolate syrup, fourth sprinkles, fifth cherry, etc.

#4. This wasn't really planned, but turned out to be the highlight for Addie. After the sundae relay, they used the remaining ingredients to make an ice cream, mean-man-mud-pie (usually their "mean-man-mud-pies" are made with mud). What could be more fun than uncontrolled whip cream squirting, chocolate sauce drizzling, and sprinkles galore?

#5. Addie really wanted a treasure hunt like at the pirate party, but I was too lazy or uninspired rather, to come up with rhyming clues again. So, I just gave them a list (and pictures for those who couldn't read) of "sweet" items hidden around the yard.

Party Favor: As each guest arrived they were given matching aprons I had made, to wear and take home. They took home the hats they decorated, the lollipops they "painted", and some candy in a little cupcake bag.

Not McQueen or the Flash...just lightning

Party theme: Lightning (5th birthday, 2008)

Cake: cookies & cream ice cream cake (he doesn't like frosting)

Decor: Sweet Eli, wanted lightning as a theme and not knowing where to go with that, I decided to go with "good ole fashion backyard party" theme, with lightning capes to work the lightning in. I went with modern primary colors (red, mustard, aqua, lime and a dark royalish periwinkleish color). I decorated with balloons, streamers, fabric pennant banner (made for party 2 yrs ago), and of course colorful plates, table cloth, utensils, etc. Pretty simple really, but it looked festive.

*Brett thought maybe a karate chop would cut the frozen cake better than a knife.

Games/activities: #1. My husband wore a shirt I had ironed a lightning bolt onto, and the kids chased him with squirt guns (most guests a little too young to handle an honest to goodness squirt gun fight). He made it fun to watch as well with cartwheels, brake dancing and somersaults involved in his getaway.

#2. Good ole fashioned balloon popping relay (always a favorite). Remember the one? You have to run to the chair with your balloon and sit on it and try to pop it, then run back and tag your teammate and so on.

#3. Water balloon relay balancing it on a spoon around the chair and back. After which the chairs were used for target practice with all the water balloons.

Menu: Corn dogs, popcorn, cheeses and crackers, fresh pineapple, grapes, strawberries, apples, lemonade and of course ice cream cake.

Party favors: I had made 12 lightning capes, so each child could take one home, along with a way-too-big lollipop.

Cupcake Banner

Addie's party is in a couple of weeks and I just finished her birthday banner. She was very excited for it to be completed. If ever I wasn't working on it, she would ask me "Why aren't you working on my birthday thing?" Crimony, a girls gotta eat, ya know? She even went so far as to bring down all the fabric and supplies and set them on the table next to me - not such a subtle hint. It's done now, so it's time to start Eli's. I'm going to kick myself for throwing the twins separate parties. Eli wants his to be "lightning" themed, not flash or Lightning McQueen, just lightning. Any suggestions for a lightning party?

No calorie cupcake

I love cupcakes, so why not a calorie free version? I made this cupcake out of felt, and just put some beans (for weight) and stuffing inside -the sprinkles are french knots. Great addition to Addie's play kitchen or a sweet cupcake pin cushion,

Flannel nightgown

I haven't sewn clothes in VERY long time, not that I've sewn much in the clothing line, ever. This was a really easy pattern and I love the way it turned out, probably partly for nostalgic reasons. I remember wearing homemade flannel nightgowns when I was little, so had to give Addie a similiar experience. I guess to complete my trip down memory lane, I'll have to make a matching one for her doll. Thanks mom, for warm memories.