Candy Bouquet Birthday Gift

As much as I try, I just can't give a gift card in a plain ol' envelope. I've tried. It's just not me. Even if I'm in a rush, I always have a few minutes to whip something up in my art room. This project on the other hand, took a little less than an hour. Not including the shopping time for the flower pot and yummy chocolates at Dollar Tree! And the trip to Cracker Barrel for the gift card!

Part of the awesomeness of having a fully stocked art room is the inspiration! I can tell you I had the skewers, the oasis (to hold the picks and skewers in place), ribbon, paper punches, the card stock and crinkled paper on hand. I cut a few ice cream cones out with my Cricut and jazzed it up with Stickles!

I glued and tapped (for good measure) the mini candy bars to the skewers. I hate to think anyone would actually spear the candy bars with the skewer, so I thought this was important to point out! All the other steps are pretty much as you wish and as your creativity allows. I also gave my friend her birthday present as pictured, I thought wrapping it in cellophane would take away from its presence.

Happy 109 Birthday Dr. Seuss!

In honor of this lyrical wizards 109th birthday, I made a dozen cupcake picks! I love children's illustrations and is definitely one of my favorites! Yes his red, blues and yellows could seem redundant to some children but never to me. In fact, red and aqua is my "go to" color combination when I'm creating.

Now I just need to honor this man in style and convince the Cuppin Cake Truck (Tampa) to make me a batch of blue iced cupcakes! I have to say being related to a cupcake food truck has its perks!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
― Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthday to You!

Candy Buffet

We threw our son a 5th Birthday party this past weekend and decided to do another candy buffet instead of a traditional pinata or loot bags.

I transformed the dining room into Candy Land!

Family favorites were in every jar!

I purchased these sleek white frames for $.99 each at Ikea and made a few quick signs celebrating my babies 5th birthday celebration!

I labeled all the goodies (even if it was obvious what they were!)

{I was surprised that there were any jellybeans left when the guests finally arrived!  My husband was magnetically drawn to the jelly beans like bees to honey!!!}

Seriously, I had an abundance of five year olds that needed to know we just don't eat trinkets!  (I know- I am silly!)

I did have the kiddos fill up their goodie boxes as they left instead of lining them all us at once, as I usually do.  No matter how you slice it, it is always chaos!  But always worth it! 

Linking up with :

Tabletop Tuesday  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday  http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

And

Hooking Up With HoH http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

~Rachel

Happy 5th Birthday Little Guy!

 My sweet little baby is FIVE today!  Oh my- where have the years gone?  More importantly, how have I survived being the mother to three energetic little boys for 10 years already!?!?! 

This awesome little guy is a Lego Hero Factory and Bionicle FREAK!  I have no idea when or how this happened because his older brothers do not have these toys.  I think it is cute and feed into it.  I am terrible, I know.  But he is my BABY!!!!  I can't help myself!  In fact, the two he is holding are the brand new ones we bought Saturday and he built all by himself for his birthday cake toppers.  I logically thought it out and knew the best idea would be to spend the money on the toppers (that he will be able to play with for a long time) and bake a cake myself then to buy a $50 bakery cake! 
On that note, Happy Birthday little man!  We love you SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!
xoxoxoxo!
Mom

Eight Dollar Gumball Machine

 Do you remember when I showed you my haul from a recent garage sale and I teased you, saying I had one more item left to show you??  Here it is!  My Carousel gumball machine I scored for eight bucks!  Stand and all!  I was over-the-top-excited since my youngest son is having a birthday party next week and I am doing (another) candy buffet.  I just knew I had to snag this piece for the party!  Who cares that I already have a smaller tabletop Carousel machine!

 I was stoked to find this box of 850 large gumballs at Sam's Club for $17!  So were my boys!

I plan on putting out a apothecary jar full of the gumballs for Nicky's birthday party- easier access for the kiddos to fill their boxes with!
Linking with Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday's http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
Stay tuned for more fun photos of apothecary jars full of candy!
~Rachel

Carnival Themed Gift Basket

My boys were invited to their best friends birthday party this Saturday. She is having it at the park and they are doing a carnival! Ya'll know I can not resist the opportunity to make a gift basket! And I can not pass up the chance to tie the birthday theme into the gift basket either!!! So I went shopping ...

and I found this giant plastic popcorn bucket, juggling balls, clown nose with glasses, silly string and carousel candy sticks at Dollar Tree and the yummy tub of cotton candy at CVS. The main gift is actually a $25 Target Gift Card (I know my kids love receiving gift cards!). I painted on Kendall's name and made a colorful name tag to match!

How fun are these!?!?!?

Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel

My Moxxie Projects for CHA

I was very excited when our Design Team Coordinator, Kelley, called and asked me what papers I wanted to do projects with for CHA. CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show, this years summer show was held in Chicago. I submitted several projects that were used for Moxxie's Ice Cream Social.This line from Moxxie is called OFF TO THE PARKS, I made a gift tin to resemble Minnie Mouse (thanks to my husband for engineering the ear assembly for me!) and matching gift tag! The project below is a fun notebook to help get the kids excited for school!I designed the Beach Bucket from the KEEP IT COOL line! I love love love this project best. It imparts my love of giving unique gift "baskets" and creating something special and different! I added an inflatable beach ball, sand bucket and shovel for a little summer fun!I made this with the OFF TO THE PARKS line and this is a close personal favorite of mine! I love the old fashioned carnival graphics. I covered an old checkbook box with the paper and lined the inside with tissue paper and added a cello bag with popcorn and candies to match the color and theme!More OFF TO THE PARK for some fun party and school supplies in INCREDIBLE style!Birthday gift bucket filled with Jolly Ranchers and a homemade party hat! This line is called IT'S YOUR DAY. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to unwrap this gift!?!?!

Birthday caddy- upcycle project here! I altered an ORANGE CRUSH package from the four pack with the IT'S YOUR DAY line, as well as a utensil caddy. I added a special touch to the utensils and wrapped the napkins around the forks, knives and spoons then tied it with a ribbon!

I hope my projects inspire you to pick up some of these great sheets of Moxxie paper and embellishments from your local craft or scrapbook store.

Thanks for looking!
Rachel

Party Hardy Friday

So I decided to try something new...

I love planning, shopping for, making party favors, cooking, hosting and throwing parties (I hate the clean up part!).

So I figured, how about a virtual party. Shopping and hunting for great party ideas for my readers. I get to have fun "window" shopping and you get a few tips and ideas along the way! Sound good?

All of these goodies were found at my local Super Walmart. I just took my boys to see Toy Story 3 and it was the BEST Disney film EVER! So I felt inspired to throw a Toy Story Party for my first Party Hardy Friday!How awesome is this centerpiece?!?!?!?! I LOVE it!

You can find it all at Wally World... plates, napkins, Mac N Cheese, Cheez-Its and gummy candies all for nibbling on!

Be sure to grab the first 2 DVD's to play for your party guests!
You can get your birthday honoree a TS place setting just for them on their special day!

And I am sorry, but these little Toy Story popcorn boxes with microwave popcorn, make the BEST party favors! They were only $2 each! Or these super cute shopping bags as favors! Think of all the bubbles, candies and Slinky's you can cram in there!!! Look at all these birthday gift options! I don't know about you, but I LOVE to match my gift with the theme (thank goodness for theme invitations to drop the hint ;)

Happy Shopping!

Rachel

-----> Link for the awesome Mr. Potato Head cake at the top of this post!http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/2007/AS07/PotatoHead_Cake.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Contest-Winners/Creative-Cakes-Contest-Winners/1&h=330&w=246&sz=21&tbnid=lQZ7Aia-isZDfM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmr%2Bpotato%2Bhead%2Bcake%2Bimages&usg=__ZIiP0MgbKfZe-uVEDWGOWKt6nD4=&sa=X&ei=yD8kTLvDK4L48AbmuNjWDw&ved=0CCQQ9QEwBA

OK! Now it's your turn to share your Party Hardy Party ideas for the week! Post them right under HERE!!!!

Girlie Birthday Girft Basket

ok, this was supposed to be a 'vessel' for our little friends birthday gift card. But it spiraled out of control the more pink and peace signs I saw! As you recall, I have three little boys, no need for pink here... unless I am buying gifts. And then I go into pink girlie overload! I LOVE making gift baskets and special goodies to go in them! Miss Sarah is turning 13 tomorrow and having an awesome party at Boing Jump Center (wall to wall indoor trampolines!). We adore Miss Sarah and I affectionately refer to her as the daughter I never had (she is pretty dang awesome!) and a plain ol' $20 Target gift card just won't cut it! So I added some bubble gum balls, cotton candy, journal, note cards, make up bag, flip flops, photo frame, body wash, body spray, shower mesh and a homemade, personalized memo holder.
I even made her a special hang tag that I signed as the card. She can hang it on her bedroom door or put it on a shelf. TFL! Rachel