4.04.2012

Made ~ Vintage Bluebird of Happiness Birthday Party

My little girl, Caleigh, celebrated her first birthday last month. I knew that I wanted a vintage feel for her party and to use her signature colors, aqua and pink. With it being spring, an idea flew into my head to center the party around the bluebird of happiness.  Caleigh is such a happy, little girl and loves music. It would be the perfect theme.  


I designed her invitation using a digital paper from the Ellah Rose Collection from hellolovetoo and with one of my favorite bluebird images.  Then I attached a strip of pink ribbon at the bottom of the invitation. 



The focal point of the party was the shabby chic bunting I created with fabrics from JoAnn, Wal-Mart and Hancock Fabrics.  The majority of the fabric was from Wal-Mart and cost a whopping $1.50 a yard!  I cut 3-inch wide strips x the length of the fabric.  Next, I tied the strip of fabric to a length of rope.  I hung the bunting from two Command hooks that I could remove later.





The candy bar was draped in a light pink ruffled sheet from the Simply Shabby Chic line from Target.  I wrapped my silverware cabinet in a remnant of aqua fabric from my fabric stash.  Then I placed white chocolate eggs wrapped in blue foil, plain M&Ms (aqua and pink) and chocolate dipped pretzels in apothecary jars. 



Peanut M&Ms in the signature colors were placed in a small birdbath type ceramic dish I found at Michael's for half off. 



The aqua and white swirl lollipops came from Oriental Trading.  I tied pink seam binding bows to the sticks and placed the lollipops in a pink wooden tray from Target's Dollar Spot. 



Blue Peeps were displayed in a bluebird accented plate (TJ Maxx) next to a vintage children's book.  Tiny bluebird ornaments from Pier One hung from the topiaries.



Pink lemonade was dispensed from a glass beverage dispenser (Belks, half off) that had a chalkboard necklace of sorts.  I attached a metal bird ornament (Hobby Lobby) using glue dots for easy removal later. 



Plastic milk bottles from Sweet Lulu were dressed up with strips of fabric from Fabric.com.  The pattern is called Spring Hill Birdy.  The blue version is shown but the fabric also comes in pink and white.  The pink polka dot paper straws from Cakes and Kids Too.


Since the party was mid-afternoon, I didn't have a lot of heavy food options for guests.  Chicken salad croissants and spinach dip were offered as well as yellow cupcakes with white chocolate cream cheese icing (tinted aqua), bird-shaped sugar cookies and candy pops, cake pops, bird nests and bluebird cookies.  The bluebird cookies were Nutter Butters dipped in blue Wilton candy melts.  Their eyes were mini chocolate chips and their beaks were a dot of yellow frosting.  Bottles of water were also wrapped in fabric and placed in an aqua metal tub that I found at Target's Dollar Spot.  (It also came in pink.)





The birthday cake was homemade and placed on one of my late mother's cake plates.  The cake was made of chocolate with white chocolate cream cheese icing. To continue the bluebird theme, I created a banner on card stock featuring bluebirds.  I cut the banner out and attached it to two lollipop sticks.  I added aqua and pink seam binding to soften the look.  One pink candle was all that was needed to make the perfect birthday cake for my little girl.



For party favors, I used aqua cupcake boxes that my late mother had a supply of.  Inside I placed a stuffed chick and a wooden bird whistle, both from Oriental Trading, and a carton of Whoppers shaped like robin's eggs. 


I wrapped the boxes with ribbon made from the white Spring Hill Birdy fabric and attached a gift tag that said, "It was TWEET of you to come."



To say the least, Caleigh's party was a hit.  Not to mention, is that I can use a lot of the party decorations in Caleigh's room.  The bunting will go on the wall over her bed.  The aqua and pink metal tub containers will hold hair bows and other accessories.  The wooden trays can help organize her dresser drawers and the bird accents can decorate her room. Essentially, I killed two birds with one stone.  No pun intended.  Thanks for stopping by!






1.09.2012

Made ~ Holiday Apron Swap

When my friend Cheryl of Nouveaux Portmanteau asked if I wanted to participate in her holiday apron swap, I was a little hesitant.  I am NOT a seamstress.  I nearly failed home ec in middle school because of my lackluster sewing skills.  However, Cheryl's positivity and encouragement calmed my fears and I began creating a holiday apron in red and lime green.  I enjoyed hand sewing bits and bobs to a plain apron I found at Kirkland's.


The fun part of this swap was that all participants had to send their creations to Cheryl and she carefully handpicked an apron for each of us from the lot.  No one  knew what apron they would be getting in return.  Ooh, the suspense!


I was delighted to receive Kelly Gibbs Lamb's apron.  This is not the first creation that I have received from Kelly.  Back in October, when we both attended Jenn Hayslip's Once Upon A Dream event, I received not one but two of Kelly's creations in the swap exchange.  One being a fairy lapel pin and the other being a fairy house. A naughty fairy house to be exact!  Tee hee!


Kelly's apron was divine and in my favorite colors of aqua and pink.  I immediately displayed it in my dining room alongside all my other vintage inspired Christmas decorations that are in that color palette.  I am so glad that her apron made it's way to my home. 



**Photo by Cheryl of Nouveaux Portmanteau**

Cheryl included a gorgeous tote bag that she made with each of our aprons.  The holiday tote is the perfect accessory to take to all the holiday parties.  I love the image on the front of the brother with the two sisters.  It reminds me of my son, daughter and stepdaughter.  Very cute!


Unfortunately, in all the rush of trying to get my apron in the mail to Cheryl, I forgot to photograph it.  However, Cheryl did a fabulous job of photographing each of the aprons.  Here is an image I grabbed from Cheryl's blog.



**Photo by Cheryl of Nouveaux Portmanteau**

Thanks, Cheryl!  I had so much fun with the apron swap, count me in to participate in your tussie mussie swap.



 

1.07.2012

I'm Gonna "Shine": 2012 Word of the Year

Boy, has the new year started off bumpy!  My husband's grandfather passed on December 29 but due to funeral arrangements was not buried until January 3.  Then my 9-month-old daughter contracted RSV and had to spend the night in the hospital.  Needless to say, the last week and a half has felt like a decade and a half and I am already off of my blogging schedule for the new year. I pinky promise to do better. 

For the last couple of years, I have chosen a word of the year instead of the same old resolutions.  In 2010, the word was "more" and in 2011 it was "faith."  This year I have chosen the word "shine."

Shine. 

Arise and shine. 

She took a shine to him. 

I am going to work hard to shine in all the areas of my life...at home, at work, in the lives of my kids, etc.  And as far as my artwork, I am going to shine by using more glitter.  Tee hee! 

To keep me inspired and to remind  me to shine, I purchased a Shine necklace from Ashley.  One dollar from the purchase of each Shine necklace goes to The Shine Project Scholarship Fund to help inner city kids go to college.  I liked my necklace so much that I ended up buying two more for Christmas gifts. The initial necklace came with the shine charm, rose charm and a pearl.  I personalized my with a charm I made.  It's a piece of vintage lace pressed between two pieces of glass.  I love it!



Here are some quotes using my 2012 word of the year.

  • As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others. ~ Marianne Williamson

  • Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish. ~ John Jakes


  • Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas. ~ Henry Ford


  • I see heaven's glories shine and faith shines equal. ~ Emily Bronte


  • Let God's promises shine on your problems. ~ Corrie Ten Boom


  • The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world's joy. ~ Henry Ward Beecher
Shine on!