Barbie Bake Shop Party

One of my friends is an amazing party planner. She always has the best ideas and puts a lot of thought into her party themes. This last week her daughter turned 6 and she wanted a Barbie Bake Shop party. It was so adorable. She wanted to make aprons for all the girls as their party favors. She has never sewn before so it was definitely an adventure.

I made up a quick pattern using a t-shirt for the top of apron and a basic square for the bottom.

Here are the instructions:

Cut the following pieces:

4 strips 44"x4"
1 square 9"x12"
1 bodice piece using a t-shirt

1. Fold over the edges of the bodice under the arms and along the top 1/4th inch and then another 1/4th inch. Press down and top stitch in place.

2. Fold over the sides and bottom of the square piece 1/4th inch and another 1/4th inch, press, and top stitch in place.

3. Take two of the strips and fold over the sides of the strips 1/4th inch press and another 1/4th inch and press. Then fold over the bottom of each strip 1/4th inch, press, and another 1/4th inch. Top stitch all the folds in place.

4. Using the two strips you just top stitched on, sew a gathering stitch along the raw edge. Gather making a ruffle on each strip. Place the ruffle along the top of the square piece with the wrong side of the ruffle against the right side of the square. Pin in place and sew together along the gathered stitch. Now layer the next ruffle under the top ruffle about 2 inches down so the top ruffle overlaps the bottom ruffle. Pin in place and sew along the gathered stitch.

5. With RST sew the bodice to the skirt piece with the ruffles on the top. Open and press.

6.  Using your other 2 44" strips fold in half with RST, press, and sew along the length and one of the ends. Do this to both strips. Sew both ends closed on the second strip, fold in half so both ends are touching and cut on the fold so you have two. Turn all the tubes right side out using a pencil or wooden spoon. Tuck in the open ends and sew the ends closed then press flat.

7. Using the longer of the tubes find the middle and pin it to the front of the apron along the top and skirt seam. Top stitch it in place.

8. Take the smaller tubes and pin one to each side of the bodice at the top. Top stitch in place.

Your done!

 

 

 Lisa made 8 all by herself. I was amazed at how quickly she caught on. I can see a lot of sewing in her future. Here are some pictures from the party.

bunting banner and ruffled Barbie cake, love the update to an old favorite

Barbie box for all the girls to take their pictures in.

A garage sale changing table spray painted pink

If you would like to see more party themes and decor check out her blog: Diary of a {Wannabe} Domestic Diva. So many great ideas, I was so excited to be a small part of it.

Someone Call for a Superhero?

My son turned 4 this week and we celebrated with a Superhero party. He has really been into imagination and Superheroes so this party was perfect for his current interests.

We started out with Mr. Freeze capturing all our favorite superheroes and freezing them in ice. The kids had to save the Superheroes by spraying the ice with hot water from their squirt guns. The kids loved it. We told a story beforehand to get them excited and then they were so pumped to try and save the heroes.Next we painted Spiderman masks. I bought the masks at Joann's in the $1 section. What a cheap and easy craft! I love a craft that shows the kids creativity as well as being low cost.


Then we dinned on pizza and strawberry lemonade. Every Superhero's power food, lol.

Next we all became Superheroes ourselves by creating our very own capes. I cut the capes out of felt and added sticky Velcro circles for the closures. Then I cut out a variety of shapes from presto felt (it is felt that already has sticky backs). The kids assembled the capes themselves. Again creativity and the glory of being the Superhero they all dream of becoming.


Once all the kids were in costume we finished the party games with a Superhero scavenger hunt. I made a key with all the Superhero characters then I placed their matching logos all over the house. The kids had to match up each logo to the Superhero on their sheet. It was really nice to see the kids helping each other find the logos they needed for their sheets.



We finished the party with a Spiderman cake and pinata and the kids took home all the candy in Superhero gift bags. It was a super party for my little super man.

Spring Theme Baby Shower

I love baby showers. There are so many options for themes and games. Pinterest is addictive when it comes to these ideas, haha. I am actually a person that is for a baby shower no matter what number that child is in the new mom's life. Maybe not necessarily for the gifts but to celebrate a new life and give the mom to be a little love to let her know she is beautiful and special. I recently had the privilege of throwing a shower for a new mom in my ward at church. I didn't really know her at the time but she was really quiet and I figured I would ask. This was her first baby and she was SOO GRATEFUL for the gesture. So the planning began. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, since she didn't know the gender of the baby I thought neutral spring theme. Fun. Here is what I came up with:

The Decor:
Petal Lanturns from Martha Stewart

I actually used roll on glue instead of tape and it made the process go a lot faster.

Thrift store vases that I spray painted with Daisy's

A charger and old vase, spray painted and glued together to create a cake stand.

Simple chevron stripes in grey and white throughout the house.

The FOOD:

Vegetable Pizza. This is a family favorite that I make every Christmas for our annual appetizer night.

Crock pot meatballs. Frozen meatballs from Costco thrown into a crock pot. Cover them with a jar of grape jelly and a jar of chili sauce. Cook for at least 2.5 hours. Another family favorite.


Fruit tray with Orange Cream dip Curried Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

And finish it off with bar cookies, raspberry lemonade, and chocolate covered strawberries.

We all had a great time and it was fun to celebrate someone who truly deserved it.

Gumball Birthday Party

Last Saturday we celebrated my daughter's third birthday. 

Before I started planning the party I showed my daughter pictures of parties online and let her pick the theme.  She really wanted to have a gumball party.  December is a very busy month and I knew I would be stressed for time as the party approached.  Instead of making my own design I found a perfect gumball printable pack from Bee and Daisy.  The pack was full of everything I needed and only cost $12.  Great deal!

Party Décor Included:
•Happy Birthday Pennant Banner (also available in “It’s a Boy/Girl, just ask)
•Patterned Pennant Banner
•Bunting Banner
•Candy wrappers
•Bottle wrappers
•Napkin wrappers
•Signs (welcome, food, drinks, gifts, games, cake, blank)
•Cupcake toppers
•Place cards
•Favor tags
•Blank card
•Thank you card
•Pattern Papers
•Tee shirt decal
•Blank Tent cards
•Cupcake wrappers
•Party Hats
•Favor Box
•Snack Box
•Pinwheels
•Room Decorations

I try to avoid holiday themed parties for my daughter with her birthday in December.  The gumball party was great with bright colors!

I used pink tulle to connect the pennant banner.

I somehow convinced my daughter the gumball machine was only a decoration!

I already had plain colored party hats in my stash of birthday supplies.  I printed the gumball image onto adhesive paper and added the image to the hats.  Then I glued on fun trim for the bottoms and tops of the hats.  The tops of the hats look like they have ribbon attached individually but it's actually just a small piece of trim wrapped around the point.

I made a special hat for the birthday girl.

For added table decor, I printed a birthday picture of my daughter and glued it to cardstock.

Photography by Jessica from this blog

I took a big risk and didn't order cupcakes before the party.  I figured the local grocery store would have simple colored cupcakes Saturday morning.  When I told some friends I hadn't ordered cupcakes they looked at me like I was crazy.  This is extremely abnormal behavior for me!  Luckily my plan didn't go wrong and I was able to get a few dozen cupcakes Saturday morning.   I used some of the images from the party pack to make cupcake toppers.

My daughter's birthday cupcake was also purchased from the grocery store.

She was so excited to wear her party hat and blow out candles!

The cupcakes were tasty!

For entertainment, we had a balloon man come over.  The Arizona Balloon Cowboy was incredible!  He showed up with an amazing cake hat and Ariel for my daughter.

He made each party guest something special and then made duck boats for races.  The kids LOVED it!

Each guest went home with some gumballs.

We had so much fun celebrating my daughter's third birthday!

Go and like the Bee and Daisy Facebook page for a chance at winning your own printable party pack!