Pinwheel tutorial

Here is the Pinwheel tutorial that so many of you requested I repost. Also, I WILL post the cotton candy tree tutorial when I get back home. I leave tomorrow am (Tuesday).

YOU'LL NEED
11" x 17" or 12" x 18" sheet construction paper or two-sided scrapbook paper or two-sided color copies of fabric
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Bone folder (or butter knife)
Pushpin
Monofilament or ribbon
Tape
Small hole punch

1. For large star, measure and cut paper to 10" x 16"; for small star, cut paper to 7" x 12".

2. Lay paper on table, with a short edge near you. Starting with edge nearest you, accordion-fold paper. For large star, make each pleat 1"; for small star, make each pleat ¾". Use bone folder to smooth each crease. Continue until entire sheet is folded (last pleat should face same direction as first). Trim excess.

3. Holding folds closed, use a pushpin to make a hole through midpoint. Thread a short length (about 4") of monofilament through hole and knot tightly. Trim loose ends.

4. Still holding folds closed, cut each end at a 45-degree angle to make starlike points.

5. Fan out folds to form a circle. Tape edges together.

6. Punch a hole at top of star, ½" from edge. Thread monofilament or ribbon through and hang.

(courtesy of All You)

Backyard BBQ

This backyard BBQ would work for Memorial Day throughout summer. I love its simplistic country charm. I always love using bandanas for napkins but here it is also used as a table runner. Use jelly jars as glasses and unbreakable melamine or enameled tin plates. Placing pillows on the bench and chairs encourages guests to sit a spell.

Hang a homemade fabric banner. The tablecloth has fabric cutouts stars attached.
To create these decorated ice cream cones just melt white chocolate chips in a microwave, then paint melted chocolate around tops of cones with a pastry brush. Then, dip cones in red, white and blue sprinkles. Place on a waxed-paper-lined tray. Freeze for 10 minutes. Love the display stand ~to copy just overturn a small vase or cup and set a sturdy plate on top.

Fold to form a pocket, then slip flatware inside. Thread a star-shaped button onto a piece of twine; wrap one around each bandana.

Loving the simplistic centerpieces. Just fill the jars with water and lemon slices and fill with daisies.

Hang homemade paper stars from your scrapbook paper.

(Photos from All You)

Sweet Melody

I can't remember where I found this (so sorry) but I thought this was a quick and simple way to spruce up those Dollar Tree glass plates. I just love sheet music so this is right up my alley. Of course you could decoupage it onto the back of the glass plate. However, I like just placing the sheet music down on table so you aren't committed to it on plate.

My sister is married!! She looked so beautiful and happy yesterday at her wedding. It was the first time ever that I attended a family event where I did NO work. I just enjoyed time with my family.

Gummy Bear Candelier

No, I didn't mispell Candelier. Jellio create this sweet "candelier" made of approximately 5,000 hand-strung acrylic gummi bears. (A process which takes about two months to complete) I have to think of a way to create this for a party without the 2 months part!

Bug Party

This is about one of the cutest boy parties I have seen!! Jennifer from Nounces Designs sent this party over that she did for her boys! Check out this invite! YOU already know she had me at these!! I LOVE invites that are not the norm! By the way...while you are checking out this blog post over at her site you must check out her ETSY shop!
Jennifer drilled holes in the lid and used Easter grass and put the Bug inside. OH how I love this!!

Even had the party details in "Bug lingo".

Don't you just LOVE cupcakes!

EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKK I could just DIE!!

I can't say how much I LOVE these cupcakes!!

Jennifer got the cakes made at a local bakery. They fit absolutely perfect with the theme.

Cookie bouquets doubled as decoration for the table, and favors for the guests. The cookies were made by Pam of Cookie Crazie.

Even the silverware was wrapped around different bug fact cards.

It's all about the presentation!

SO the secret I have been keeping~ I couldn't post and tell you all where I was going because I was surprising my sister. Remember I told you that my sister was getting married Labor Day?? Well, she moved it up to this Saturday. I was initially unable to go due to a scheduled party. However, I have the party covered and I flew into Cincinnati and surprised her last night! The look on her face was priceless! Of course she cried and it was so worth it! So that is why I didn't post last night. Maddy and I are here until Tuesday. So I will be blogging from Ohio ~ anyone live here? Got to love Skyline Chili.

Perfect Popsicle found

I have been on a quest to find unique Popsicles for Maddy's birthday party. It is so hot here in June that I want to do some sort of gelato/Popsicle bar. It never dawned on me to look in an Asian Food store. I love it when you find what you've been looking for when your not looking.
Check out this baby!! The "seeds" are bits of chocolate. YUM!! I love these!

Maddy and I leave tomorrow for yet another trip and currently my kitchen is still completely torn up due to the installation of granite counter tops! Dishes, pots and pans still all on the floor in dining room. There is a coating of white powder on everything in the kitchen, den and dining room! Don't you hate coming home to a messy house? Yikes! The plumber is coming at 7 am and I must leave by 9 am to catch my flight! However, I'm just so blessed to have a home and to be able to make improvements that I thank God each day for my many blessings.

Madison's Crayola Art Party Invitation

Here is the logo I designed for Madison's Crayola Art Birthday party. It will be used throughout the party on everything!! I have designed so many custom logos for Maddycakes parties that I'm currently working on putting together printable party packages ~ this is one of the themes I will be offering. I had her photo taken about a month ago and used iron on transfer paper to put her logo on her shirt. I love this photo of her...I just wish you could see the Crayola on the plush crayon she is holding! Marry Jordan photography rocks!!

I used the photo for the outside of her invitation which is an actual box of Crayola crayons. I will mail as is. You know me...I love to think outside the box...well in this case inside the box! So people won't think I'm crazy for mailing just a box of crayons with my cutie pie's picture on it ~ I put for them to look inside for details to Maddy's 3rd birthday party.

I used the box of 8 crayons for the invitations and used a free label template I found on Chica and Joe website for the crayon wraps. I just updated the text on each crayon wrapper to include my party information. I cut out each label and matched it to the corresponding crayon color. I did not bother removing the original wrappers from the crayons. The template includes 6 of the colors...I just put the brown and black back in the box as is. I used glue to put on the crayon wrappers but you could use your Xyron machine or sticker paper.

Here is the back of the invite. In the open blue space is where I am putting the return and guests addresses onto clear labels. I will have the post office put the postage along the bottom. My post office personnel crack me up ~ every time I come in they all gather around to see what crazy invitation I'm mailing. Then they want details of what I'm creating~ I don't think the other customers are quite as amused! Here is the invitation template download here. So much more to come....

2 Bee or Not 2 Bee

Today I am featuring 2 Bee parties! This Bee party comes from Any from Brazil. I love her parties because she is a frugalista like me and is a Dollar Tree queen as well. I would love to shop in her Dollar Tree in BRAZIL!!!!!!!!!!! The descriptions of the party were all in Spanish but the pictures say it all. If you have any problem seeing the details click on the photographs to make larger. (and double click it)

I love using food dual purpose as centerpieces and to eat! Loving the bees on cakes. I have used cakes as centerpieces and then guests just cut for dessert.

Loving the variation of tables and the mixing of paper plates using the larger for a "charger".

Love all the variations of patterns of black, yellow and white.

Great job Any!! Keep the parties coming and if you ever need an assistant in BRAZIL don't hesitate to call!!

This next party is all over blogland but I still must feature it's from my homegirl Nancy from A to Z Celebrations . I am loving that she made bee antenna for each child to wear during the party!

This is one serious Sweets table!

Check out her blog for more fab pictures and description of party. Thanks Nancy for sharing even though Maddy and I weren't invited to the actual party! LOL

I'm back from my fab vacation and tomorrow my kitchen begins it's demolition...I currently have tile counter tops but being replaced with granite...yippee!! I am unpacking and repacking for another trip Maddy and I are taking this week. More of that to come. Is your life as hectic as mine?? I wouldn't trade it for anything though!

Blessings

Operation Shower

I know by now you all know that I am a retired Marine Corps Officer with 21 years of active duty. I am very proud of serving and loved my Marine Corps career and miss my comrades very much. However, I am in a new chapter in my life and have found a few amazing people over the Internet through blogging! Amy from Stem Parties is one of these people! Not only is she super duper talented, funny and sweet. Amy is the chief event organizer and one of the four amazing volunteers who donate their time and talent to Operation Shower.

Operation Shower is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that recognizes and honors the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating unit-wide baby showers and "showers in a box" for pregnant or expecting military families in a deployment or high stress situation.

WE can make a difference. Spread the word about this worthy charity. I have posted about Operation Shower before here. Post information regarding this charity on your blogs, FB and Twitter. Please leave me a comment and let me know that you posted. There is also information on Operation Shower's website how to donate either money or items for shower boxes.

Leaving Turks/Caicos tomorrow and going back home ... all good things must come to an end.

Beach Week~centerpieces

Here is Maddy and her Caribbean hairdo! She loves it so much. However, the first night she kept complaining that the beads hurt when she was laying down but she is used to it now. Today it rained majority of the day so we pretty much stayed indoors so I have a chance to blog to my peeps. It has been such an amazing vacation. We had family pictures scheduled to be taken on the beach today so I was disappointed we couldn't do it. How often do you get to take professional pictures on a beach?? YIPPEE! Although we had to give up our Sesame Street breakfast tickets to someone today....I finally got Maddy to get near a character!! As long as mommy was standing next to Abby and not her she wasn't screaming her head off for the first time....baby steps! Although she almost pulled down my cover up completely!) I bet you didn't know Maddy got her curly hair from me??? I never wear my hair this way unless I'm on vacation. I look like a french poodle!

Not doing to good blogging this week but I know you all understand being that I'm on vacay!! You know I'll be back to my regular upon my return. Here are a couple of neat centerpieces for a beach theme soiree.

I have done this exact color shell mix combo before but I did it in a tall vase layered. I really like the effect of it being flat. Real Cool!

You can get the effect of coral by spray painting Manzanita branches. Thanks for being patient about my not blogging everyday as normal. I'm on holiday and I'm loving every minute of it....vice all the rain today!

Beach Week

My daughter was a "Barney Fife" yesterday. She has been talking about seeing Elmo and Cookie Monster forever. Every day and every chance she gets, she talks about going on vacation and seeing them. Well, yesterday we went to a Sesame Street show and she totally freaked out! She was screaming like crazy. So much for our Sesame Street breakfast that I paid extra for to go to on Thursday. That's not going to happen.

Not crazy about the tables and decor...but loving the balloon garland! This would be a creative and frugal way to add color and volume to your space for your tropical party or any party. Maddy LOVES Popsicles...what better thing to have at your tropical soiree than a Popsicle buffet...a different spin to the ice cream buffet. I love these confetti Popsicles from Country Living.

Daddy is out with Maddy getting her hair braided. Why is it when you go to a tropical island just about everyone gets their hair braided?? Well, Maddy is joining the ranks. I will post a picture tomorrow.

Beach Week~ Invitations

We are here. This is what I woke up to this morning~views from room balacony.

So in the spirit of the resort I'm staying at Beaches...this week will be beach week. My favortie seasons are summer and fall. I love a good tropical party anytime though. Here are some cool flip flop invites...remember mine here? I'm am not a fan of fill in the blank invitations however I do like these beach ball invites from Oriental Trading. I have used these for a beach theme party and my entire decor was using beach balls in all sorts of creative ways. No, I don't have pictures....don't ask...it's a long story but basically lost boxes which contained hundreds of photos in a military move.

I hung up beach balls everywhere using fishing wire and attached onto the blowup valve. This picture is actually lamps but you get the idea!

For Madison's Luau first birthday, I also used Oriental Trading plastic bottles and put in it my own colored sand, drink parasol, luau confetti and a photograph invite with Madison in a grass skirt. I still have an invite but it's at home and I'M IN THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS...did I mention that?? The below picture I found on Flickr but just wanted to show the invite in the bottle concept. I mailed the plastic bottle as is....no need for a box! People loved them!

I tried to send this post earlier but the Internet went down. So I will still post everyday just may not be the same consistent time as normal! Until later my peeps!