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Category: diy

Confetti Dots Birthday Party

posted in crafts, diy, family, kids, money saving tips, party, sewing by Hanna on
There is NO shortage of cute parties that can be found scowering Pinterest so naturally I was having no problem finding ideas while planing one for my girl’s birthdays. However, when push came to shove I just couldn’t find something that was going to be easy, flexible and not over the top; meaning in money and time. Also since the girls are still so young I wanted to have a party for family and close friends to come celebrate with us so like Sara’s it needed to work for all ages.
My inspiration for this party finally came as I was wondering around Target and found some confetti, paper pails in the dollars section. I loved the idea of confetti dots and also the color scheme of the pails. So I grabbed a couple of those pails and ran with it, continuing on to the party section to grab balloons, paper lanterns and plastic table clothes. I walked out of Target with my party theme and most of the decorations for around $20. Thank you Target!
What I was able to learn from this experience is to not rely TOO heavily on things like Pinterest for my ideas and let the things around me by my inspirations. As a perfectionist, it became so much easier for me to create something new instead of trying to duplicate something someone else already did perfectly.
The invitations for this party were completely free as I made them myself on the computer and printed them from home on cardstock I already had. It also helped that we weren’t inviting that many people. I always prefer to have smaller and more intimate parties rather than huge friend parties for birthday’s which not only saves on the costs but makes for a little more meaningful and relaxing party.
 
As Sara mentioned in her post, I made this confetti dot, birthday banner for us to use for our party decorations. If you missed it you can download it HERE.
For the menu I wanted something that my girls really liked so of course we had Mac and Cheese; an all around kids favorite. However, since there were going to be mostly adults I put a “grown-up” twist on it and did a Mac and Cheese bar with different mix-ins. I used THIS recipe from Paula Dean but left out the eggs like most reviews suggested. It was a big hit with everyone young and old at the party! A Mac and cheese bar is also a meal that is very affordable and easy when feeding a crowd of people.
For dessert we had to have cupcakes since that’s all my daughter kept asking for whenever I asked what she wanted for her birthday. I made Strawberry Confetti cupcakes following THIS cake recipe by Heather Baird on her blog Sprinkle Bakes.
After stressing about the party and wanting it to look and go perfect, in the end I decided to just enjoy it and the people who came to share in the girl’s special day. So even though I couldn’t hold my party outside as planned and I didn’t get everything set up in just the right way I wanted I think it’s safe to say fun was had by all!
Lastly, if you’re wondering where I got Mia’s blue and white striped dress, I made it using the Sweet Simple Dress pattern by Allison at Freshly Completed. If you’re wanting to make a fun, summer dress for your little one then I HIGHLY suggest using this pattern. It only took a few hours to make, was super easy to follow and I’m just in love with how it turned out.
So here’s to a coming year with an adventurous 1 year old and a strong willed 3 year old. Should be fun…or at least interesting! Advice on how to survive these wonderful ages is always welcome. 🙂
Linked to:
http://theblissfulbee.com/work-it-wednesday-no-45/
http://www.tinysidekick.com/makers-link-party-15/
http://bloomdesignsonline.com/2014/05/link-party-71.html
http://craftdictator.com/2014/05/01/craft-frenzy-friday-37/
http://www.thepinjunkie.com/2014/05/friday-link-party-65.html
http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2014/05/creative-collection-link-party.html

DIY Ice Cream Sundae Kit

posted in diy, printable by Hanna on

Let me just start off by saying how much fun I had putting together this ice cream sundae kit. There is nothing better then doing something that will brighten up someone’s day especially when it involves sweets! Speaking of kit’s have you seen THIS post with a round up of all the different kits you can make to give to someone? So cute!

Anyway, for this kit I started by searching the candy isles of Walmart looking for everything I would want on an ice cream sundae of my own. By the time I was done I ended up with mostly chocolate things. You should have seen my daughter’s eyes as I kept putting sweet after sweet into our shopping cart. You would have thought it was Christmas or something! Don’t worry she got to taste test just about all of it. 
In the end the toppings for this particular ice cream sundae kit included the following:
– Oreo’s
– Snickers
– Reese’s
– Sprinkles
– M &M’s
– Fudge topping
– Caramel topping
– Waffle cone bowls
(I was also planning on adding some chopping walnuts but complete for got about them while I was wrapped up in getting all the sweet things.)
So except for the rare few who dislike chocolate I would say this was a safe concoction of toppings for anyone.
For the candy bars and the Oreo’s I used a mixer of my food processor and blender to make them a little easier to go on the sundae’s. The Snickers where a little too tough for my small food processor which is when I pulled out the blender. Then I put all the toppings in individual bags. I used zip-lock sandwich bags because that is what I had an hand.
Next I created and printed off these Tasty Topping labels. I cut them out and folded in half; then stapled them over the top of the bags with the toppings in them.
Now I was ready to assemble my kit in a box that fit everything nice and snug since I was sending it. Before wrapping the box up with some kraft paper I put this little note on top. Done!
If you’re wanted to make this ice cream sundae kit you can download the “Tasty Toppings” labels and the “Just Add Ice Cream” note HERE.
I’m sure someone special out there would love to receive a yummy package like this 🙂
Linked To:

Contact Paper Furniture Update

posted in crafts, diy, home, tutorial by Sara on
There is always something about springtime that makes me what to start fresh– out with old and in with the new. As soon as the warm weather hits I’m ready to throw the dull winter clothes into storage and replace them with bright new colorful ones. I clean out, get organized, and rearrange almost my entire house. It’s all so refreshing! First on my list this year is a bedroom makeover, starting with this dresser update.  
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
We inherited these drawers from my mom after we got married due to the fact that we were poor college students with hardly any money for furniture. They’re actually those inexpensive Closetmaid drawers, and while they’re nothing fancy, they certainly did the job. Really, we were just happy with anything we could get.
Well, four years later we’re still poor college students with no money for new furniture. Since we didn’t have it in the budget to go out and buy a new dresser, I basically had to work with what I had. My husband kept suggesting we paint them, but to be honest I hate painting furniture (especially laminate furniture). I simply don’t have the patience for it. After some thought, I finally came up with an easy solution to my problem…contact paper! 
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
You all know how much I love shiny metallics so naturally I went with a faux stainless steal look. It just seems so sleek and sophisticated! The great thing about contact paper is that it is inexpensive, easy to apply, easy to replace, and comes in many different colors and patterns. So, if in a couple of months I decide I want a different look, it would be an easy fix.   
Anyway, here is how I transformed my dresser in just 4 simple steps:
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
This whole project costed me under $15! I got my contact paper at Home Depot but you can get it on Amazon for a little cheaper. I was going to buy new hardware for it as well but it would have cost me over $25 so I settled for a $4 can of spray paint. Overall, I love how it turned out! It is the first step in my bedroom makeover and I can’t wait till it all comes together. To give you an idea of what I what the end results to look like I’ve created a little inspiration board below (final reveal to come later!). 
Update your furniture with contact paper: It''s easy, inexpensive, and produces fabulous results // Stripes and Polka Dots
– SARA
Linked to:

Link’n Blogs Linky Party {#20}

posted in baby, blogging, crafts, diy, family, food, health, holidays, inspiration, kids, lifestyle, marriage, motherhood, organization, parenting, party, recipe, sewing, thrifted, tutorial by Sara on
Today we’re honored to be guest hosting the Link’n Blogs linky party brought to you by Put a Bird On It. This is our first time ever “hosting” a linky party and we couldn’t be more excited to share with you the inspiration and talent of so many wonderful bloggers! It is actually through linky parties that we have come across some of our favorite blogs and have connected with some amazing people. With that being said, we invite you all to share, connect, inspire, and be inspired yourself!

Welcome to Link’n Blogs {#20} !
A place to link up your projects and make new friends. We are all about visiting links and following new bloggers here at Link’n Blogs. Remember to leave comments and PIN PIN PIN!
Cause sharing is caring. 


**Your links will show up on ALL blogs hosting the link party!**

Interested in guest hosting Link’n Blogs?!
I’ve created a spreadsheet where you can sign up to host a link party! It’s a great way to get to know other bloggers, share a recent post with other party goers and pick the features. Sign up using the link below!

Grab my party button! 
 



*Feel free to post my party button on your blog and say you linked up here!*



I am sharing a feature I did on Warby Parker collaborating with Architecture for Humanity. It’s a good company working towards a good cause!

Warby Parker + Architecture for Humanity






Katelyn is sharing a DELISH recipe for a spin on cheesy pasta. This looks so good! I love that it has bacon in it. Everything is better with bacon!



Be sure to give some love to our guest hosts – you will love their creative blogs!



These two girls have one of the cutest blogs! You’ve got to check out the Pinterest challenge they’re doing. Today, Hanna and Sara are sharing some divine cinnamon rolls – with a twist!






Chastity has a fun lifestyle blog and is momma to an adorable little cowboy! Today, she is sharing a heart filled printable perfect for the upcoming Easter holiday. I love it!





Carolyn’s blog is all about her life as a stay at home mom to her two daughters {which she never thought she’d be!}. And her post this week is about just that.




Here are this week’s features:

My Pick

DIY Felt Flower Headbands by Maddie Moe’s




Katelyn’s Pick

DIY Stenciled Tray by Life in Velvet



Hanna and Sara’s Pick

DIY Geometric Photo Display by The Caldwell Project



Chastity’s Pick

Picnic Basket Tutorial by Over the Apple Tree



Carolyn’s Pick

Bacon, Egg and Avocado Sandwich by Belle of the Kitchen


Fan Favorites


Reversible Easter/Spring Wood Blocks by Something Splendid



Pantry Makeover by View from the Fridge




I know the bloggers featured would love if you would visit their posts and say hello!

All features will be pinned to my Link’n Blogs board. Follow it here!



Follow my blog! If you want to receive an email reminding you about the link party, leave your email when adding your link.
Link to your blog post — not just your blog.
Share the love! Visit the other links and say who sent you.
If you enjoy a link, you can LIKE it {new feature!}
Adding your link gives me permission to feature you on my blog. 
Grab my party button! – See more at: http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com/2013/12/diy-christmas-scriptures-advent.html#sthash.mPINNYsH.dpuf
Ok, here are the guidelines for the link party:  


Follow your HOSTS and GUEST HOSTS

If you want to receive an email reminding you about the link party, leave your email when adding your link

Link to your blog post — not just your blog.

Share the love! Visit the other links and say who sent you

Adding your link gives me permission to feature you on my blog
Share this link party on social media to help Link’n Blogs grow!

*Don’t be a LINK & RUN partier. Visit a couple links before you and a couple after!*


Happy Linking!

Leave a permalink on your blog back to the party to help our party grow!
*here is the link*
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com/2014/04/linkn-blogs-20.html


 

**********************************************


I monitor each link and may delete a link if it is not something I want to promote on my blog. If you see your link was deleted, please email me. I’d be happy to chat about why! Thanks! 

**********************************************

Metallic Photo Wall Collage

posted in diy, home, Pinterest Challenge by Hanna on

For those of you following the Pinterest Challenge we are currently doing, a couple weeks ago I posted my metallic photo frame that I did. I promised then that I would show you the entire wall collage that I created around this frame. So today I’m sharing!

This photo collage also shows more progress in the decorating of my home. So far I’ve been really hesitant to put anything up or do anything in fear I will hate it or my style will change; once I actually figure it out that is. Finally I just decided to do something and not worry about changing it later, because that’s the great thing about home decor…it can be changed many times! Anyway, the living room where this photo collage now resides is slowly coming together and it all started with a bronze vase I have. It gave me the inspiration to continue a metallic, bronze throughout the room.

Also I don’t know if you’ve noticed that beautiful piano below the collage, but can I just say how in LOVE with it I am?! We were given it as a wedding/house gift from my husband’s parents when we moved in. After years of not having a piano, it has been so nice to have one in our house. I wouldn’t say I’m a concert pianist in the least bit, but I find such relief in playing it everyday. My girls also love it as they dance along while I play. The great part about it is the house has this little nook as you walk in the front door between a closet and the stairs that is just perfect for a piano. After getting the piano I knew I wanted to do some kind of photo frame display above it and eventually decided on the collage.

I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result and it’s given me the push to get more things up around the house.

-HANNA

Linked To:
http://placeofmytaste.com/2014/04/work-wednesday-42.html
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/112-share-your-projects/
http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/2014/04/wow-me-wednesday-140.html
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com/2014/04/linkn-blogs-20.html

Pinterest Challenge Week #1

posted in diy, home, inspiration, Pinterest Challenge, women's fashion by Hanna on
Hey, it’s Hanna! When I saw this gold-dipped frame from Sarah at Pretty Providence, I fell in love and I had just the mirror to do this same thing with so on to my pin board this went. Sadly, not too long after I pinned this inspiration my mirror fell over and shattered. Now that I think of it, it was only a few weeks later I had to get my appendix out during our vacation in Florida…yep…bad luck! Anyway I still loved the idea so I decided to take this inspiration and use it on a picture frame.

Instead of going with gold I decided to try bronze to match some of the other decor I already had in my living room. This lovely frame is the center of a photo wall collage I did above our new piano. I’m in LOVE with it all! Now I just need to get a family picture in this frame and it’s complete!
Stay tuned for a complete look at this framed wall collage with bronze accents coming soon!
Sara here, to show my first project of the Pinterest Challenge– a DIY studded collar! Studded apparel is everywhere this season and it’s one trend I’m absolutely in love with! Best of all is that I found this simple tutorial on Pinterest a while back on how to create your own studded look.You can buys these studs at almost any craft supply store (I got mine at Joanns with a 40% coupon for $3.60) and they come in all different colors. Each stud has little prongs that you push into the fabric. Once the stud is placed right where you want it, you bend the prongs inward to secure the stud. You guys, it is soo easy! I’m trying not to get too carried away and bedazzle my whole wardrobe with these studs, I love them!

We hope you enjoyed this first week of projects! Be sure to follow our Pinterest Challenge board on Pinterest so you can check out all the amazing projects by us and the other bloggers!

Making Progress // DIY Chalkboard Calendar

posted in diy, home, organization by Hanna on
I’m blaming it on the warm weather and “spring cleaning” for my recent productivity and finally starting to unpack the rest of our boxes; most of which had a lot of our home decor stuff. Four months in our new house and in just the last few weeks I feel like we’ve made some real progress to make it look like we actually live here!
After living in our house for awhile and giving it much thought (I’m talking many nights in bed before going to sleep) I’m starting to get a sense of the things I want to do for each room. I still wouldn’t say it’s all exactly how I want it, but I’ve been surprised at how putting up a few things really brings out who we are and makes me feel more comfortable in my house. Plus I had a good reminiscing moment while pulling out all our pictures that have been boxed up. I already need to replace most of them with updated pictures of the girls!
So today I’m giving you a peak at our dining room. It’s right off the kitchen and connects with the living room and the family room so it’s a place we’re in a lot!
Right now I’m going through each room and decorating it using mostly things we have on hand and then making a list of things the room still needs that we’ll need to start saving for. Rugs are at the top of the list for pretty much all of the rooms on our main floor as is the case for the dining room. Anyone have some good suggestions on rugs for a dining room? I need to find something that will hold up with kids and the huge mess they seem to make under their chairs at meal times!
Other than a rug the thing on my list was some sort of a calendar. I made one for our last place out of an old window frame, but it doesn’t fit anywhere in our house where it would be convenient. While I was at Hobby Lobby I happened upon a chalkboard that was 23×35 inches for only $8.50 after getting it 40% off. 
At first I thought about taping off the lines for the whole calendar and painting it (I ALWAYS think of the hardest way first) and then I discovered paint pens. Pretty much the best thing invented and I’m just learning about them! I’m probably way behind on the times here. I made another trip to Hobby Lobby for mine. This is the one I got and I had just enough to draw out the whole calendar. I also gave the wood frame a coat of white paint that I had on hand as well.
I’m loving finally being able to see our month happenings at a glance, especially with Eric traveling for work. I never seem to remember his schedule and always think he’s going to be home one week when he is scheduled to fly out. This will keep that all sorted out.
Oh and lets talk about how I had to actually turn on our fan today because it was so warm outside! The problem was I couldn’t figure out how to turn it off for the pictures. The chain was stuck and every time I tried to reach higher my hand would get whacked by the fan. Tomorrow’s fix-it project I guess.

-HANNA

Linked To:
http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/2014/03/craft-o-maniac-monday-link-party-13.html
http://carriethishome.com/2014/03/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop-69/
http://www.abrightandbeautifullife.com/making-monday-34/