Breaking out the Sewing Machine

My niece is a HUGE Dora the Explorer fan.  In fact her birthday party is Saturday and her theme party is...you guessed it, Dora.  So for her birthday present I have decided to make her something.  Dora, for those that don't know her, carries a back pack that talks and sings which always stores whatever she might need to help her in her adventure.  In the back pack is also a map.  Just like the back pack it too has a face and sings.  So for her gift I made a Dora Back Pack with a Map.  I went to the fabric store and bought about 1.5 yards of purple fabric.  I also bought felt sheets in black, red, yellow, blue, and white.  I actually bought 3 in white b/c I the only white our store had was glittered on one side and I didn't want glitter so I was going to have to sew 2 of the glitter sides together.

My picture makes this fabric look blue, but I promise it is a dark purple

It took me a day, but here are my step by step pics.

Here is the finished product:

That is a real map.  I used a transfer sheet.  However, I had the iron too hot and it melted a little, but I'm hoping Callie won't mind and instead think it looks like the map is old.

I can't wait to see her face when she gets this!!!

Party Crafts

Today's topic: Crafts at your Party

At most of my kids birthday parties I try to have a craft for the kids.  A good craft can also double as a favor.  It is always best to have the craft age appropriate.  Have everything ready for easy assembly.  For the Mickey & Minnie party this past weekend I had a table set up to make your own Mickey or Minnie ears.  I had headbands, ears, and bows ready and all the kids had to do was assemble.  My ears were two pieces of scrapbook paper sewed together with a small opening for the headband. 

Next is my craft that I had for Sesame Street party, which was "Make your own Elmo puppet". 

Have you had some fun crafts for your party?

Plates

Today's topic is plates.  I am one that likes to save money anywhere I can.  I would rather put in a little extra time than  money.  You could go out and buy a themed pack of plates for $3-$5 but would only get anywhere from 8-10 plates.  However, if you get plain colored plates you can get 20 for less than $1.  My project today is my Mickey and Minnie Plates.  I started out with just my plane basic black plate.  I cut out several circles and for Minnie I cut out several hair bows. 

All you need is glue or glue dots (my preference) and poof you have instant hit.

Luau Wreath

I am helping with a luau next week and I have several crafts that I am currently working on.  Thought I would share this simple, but festive wreath. 

Materials:
144 Parasol umbrellas - ($5 at Party City)
A Water Tube - ($1 at the Dollar Store)

Take the tube and tape the ends together to make a circle

Open all the parasols

Now, just stick them into the wreath.

Teacher Apprecitation Day 5

Last day of Teacher Appreciation Inspiration.  Please make sure you appreciated our teachers!  I think they are underpaid and under-appreciated!!  Today's gift is my grand finale.  A beautiful flower arrangement with a hand painted flower pot.  Don't freak out on me when I say hand painted.  It isn't that bad, I promise!

Spray paint the bottom black.  Paint the top yellow and take a sharpie to draw the lines and numbers to make it look like a ruler.  Then take some white paint to write the message.  What teacher wouldn't love this?  I think this might be our gift for our teachers this year!

Teacher Appreciation Day 4

Day 4 on our MUCH deserved teacher appreciation week is another cute craft idea, but very inexpensive.  For this project you will need a Cricut or some sort of cutting machine (if not you will need a lot of paper flowers), a box of flowers, some styrofoam, and a container.

I have a cricut so I just cut out about 4 flowers of 5 different flowers.  Put them through the erasers and stick in to a Styrofoam and then into a container.  And tadah, a beautiful, sweet, handmade gift for some deserving teachers.

Day 3 Teacher Appreciation

Day 3 of getting crafty for our wonderful teachers.  I think they deserve to be appreciated, because I know that I could NEVER do their job!

Today's craft is all about becoming a smartie and a sharpie!

 Take a mason jar, or any clear container with a lid.  Fill it with some smarties.  Then tie some ribbon (don't forget your sharpie pens on top!) and attach this adorable sign.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

Day two of Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas.  You don't have to go out and spend a ton of money to have a great and memorable gift.  Here is an adorable gift that the kids can get involved in.

Just trace your child's hands on some craft paper, embellish with some cute stickers.  Just stick a tube of lotion or hand sanitizer in between the hands.  L-O-V-E!

Teacher Appreciation

Next week (May 7-11) is Teacher Appreciation week.  So I will be posting a few cute craft ideas (or you can purchase them).  The first one is an adorable flower arrangement with alphabet magnets in the bottom.    I think any teacher would love!

Cinco de May Wreath

Found this adorable wreath on pinterest today and I had to share.  This would be perfect for the Cinco de Mayo party.

Things you need:
Styrofoam wreath
Cocktail parasols
Hot Glue Gun
Ribbon for trimming (optional)

All you need to do is hot glue in the parasols.  Cute right?