Pattye Duffner's Blog

1st Birthday Happy Holden Robot Birthday Party

    

Beach Party

 

Davis’s birthday party was a blast…and easy.   Having friends and family meet at the beach for a day of fun was on the plan.  And a day of fun was had.  Davis loved having his family and friends around him and I loved the celebration.  Happy birthday my big boy.  You have brought so much joy into our lives.  You are a special little boy that is smart, funny and charming.  In 2 years you have made this world a better place by just being in it,

Ella turns 8! One sweet party

With 4 brothers you are truly the princess not only on your birthday but everyday.  Happy 8^th birthday princess Ella. 

    
 

You plan your own parties, make all the decisions and run the show.  I love that about you.  You wanted an all sweets party this year.  Paper invites attached to large lollipops hand delivered to your friends was the beginning of a sweet day.

 

I made small pink cakes frosted in white for all the girls to decorate, aprons with candy fabric and a table full of your favorite sweets.  Happy Birthday, I love the person you are.   

 

Happy 9th Birthday Quinn

Quinn wanted a football party... so you know when your kids are little and you rent a clown (or other party fav) at 9 I guess the thing to do is rent a coach!  Let me tell you Quinn's football coach took off work, ran the entire party, and even brought a gift!  What more could a 9 year old want?  After the party he even told me "this was the best party ever".  SCORE!  That is all I want to hear... Here are the details and the invite.

Made these on elements and printed 2 on 5x7 photo paper.  Cut down the center to get 2 invites out of 1 print.  Also made a flyer with "tailgate party info".  All additional info that would not fit on fun ticket! 

 
9 favs at 9! 

1. Riding bike 

2. Collecting football stuff 

3. Watching tv 

4. Playing video games 

5. Mom   

6. Dad

7.  Brothers and Sister

8.  Math

9.  Sleeping

Happy Birthday My Big Boy, Momma Loves You!
 

Mario Party Birthday Party: Happy Birthday Braeden!

 

Kicking off the event with a postcard invite mailed out to his favorite friends. 

 

For Braeden’s 6^th birthday bash he wanted a Mario Party Party!  We had traditional birthday party games with a twist.  Ie: 

Hot potato with Mario music and using “bull dog”  pin the wii remote on braeden (painted an outline of him sitting with his hand out) kids made paper wii remotes and pined them on.

Gunny sack races with bags in the symbols of the Mario Bros characters hats… M  L  etc.   Simple cone hats and a bit of paper crafting turned them into themed hats. 

Braeden worked weeks ahead of time making all the decorations that we hung on the windows.  Hand made drawings off all happenings in the Mario Party world. 

Mustaches, Kettle Korn and Shave Ice topped off the party that would not be completed with out a fabulous cake!

Gift ideas

Getting ready for Christmas around here includes party planning, Santa’s lists, and crafting, shopping, card making along side the every day jobs.  Having a new baby in the mix too!  This year I am going to find 1 thing to make and hopefully it will work for a number of gifts.  Teachers, nieces, friends, sisters etc.  While I am searching I wanted to share some of  years past handmade holiday ideas…   Hopefully I will get on schedule soon, running behind this year!

 

handmade crayons

letter blocks

 

chalk board mat

personalized score cards

 
 

Could not be easer ruffle apron

 

Having a ruffle foot for your sewing machine can make a quick gift.  A ruffled apron for the holidays can make kitchen duties a bit more fun. 

·   Cut the skirt piece 23” x width of fabric (mine was 44”) two times.

·   Attach 2 pieces together (this makes center seam)

·   Finish edges ¼” under on three sides (leaving top unfinished)

·   Cut 6” x width of fabric two times for waistband.

·   Fold waistband in ½ sew edge and flip thru for finished edge. 

·   Attach skirt to waistband with ruffle foot. 

This turned out so easy and cute I think I may try to make some children’s ones for the next birthday party Ella is invited to. 

It is possible to make without a ruffle foot, simple hand ruffle before attaching to waistband. I like to start in the center and work my way out from there.

Heather and Marc's Wedding

My niece Heather married her sole mate Marc on July 25^th in Huntington Beach.  It was a fabulous wedding.  She looked stunning, Marc looked like the happiest man alive, and her Mom (my sister) was just beaming with excitement.  All the details were just perfect.  Some of the photos are here on her photographer’s blog.  I did want to share this funny video of Heather and Marc braking loose from the traditional wedding dance into a one of a kind piece…  Congratulations Heather and Marc.  And welcome to the family!

 

 

Davis Is 1, Carnival Party!!!

 

 

Davis turned 1 and of course he had a party too!  We did a carnival theme.  Low key (well as far as the guest list went)but fun non-the less. Games, tickets, prizes, Kettle Korn, Shave Ice and cake, what more could a baby want.  Here are some photos of the event.   

under the sea birthday bash

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ella wanted an underwater birthday party with Ariel.  She started planning this big event in January.  In her costume she planned all her games, invite and food.  Man this girl is growing up.  The day finally came an we played pin the crown on Ariel, did a candy filled piñata, Arial’s treasure hunt, Under the sea gunny sack races…  We had shave ice, Kettle Korn, Peanut butter and Jellyfish sandwiches and Sandy pasta (for the moms).  She put shells everywhere and hung fish from all the trees in the back yard.  The kids came in their swim suites and hung out at the 20-foot waterslide all day.  She had a blast (as any kid would I hope) but is already planning her next party… watch out Tinker Bell!!!

Birthday Bash

Quinn’s 8^th Birthday party was a blast.  We did a water park in the back yard with his friends in the back yard… all boys!  He did not want anything extra, no games, no piñata, no decorations… I knew this day would come.  The day the kids would not want me to plan their parties.  I added a surprise of plastic water guns in hopes they would approve…  It was a great party.  He thought it was the best party ever.  Thank heavens I have other kiddos to plan parties for!   Happy Birthday Quinn!

Happy Birthday Braeden!

Braeden turned 5 today and for the 3^rd year in a row he did not want to change to the next age…  Last year on his birthday it was a sore subject to say he was turning 4 and this year he is feeling the same way.  He wants to not turn 5!  This just makes me smile, this is so Braeden.  I tell him that is fine he can be any age he wants.  No one is making him grow up.  I am glad he has his very own opinion on what he wants… 

 

His birthday party was a blast.  The book theme went as planned.  The only issues were that I had a house full of sick kids the week before and I was not up for any last minute planning so I am glad I had done what I had before.  I turned target t-shirts into "brown bear brown bear" iron on shirts.  Party hats were made out of old books.  The food was all the food in the book "Very Hungry Caterpillar".  Read books.  Made bookmarks.  We played musical chairs, hot potato, pin the hat on the cat, and had a piñata…  I found these book bags and the decorations that I did not make from Highsmith, a library resource on-line.   Breaden loved it and so did I.  Happy birthday baby Braeden, I love you.   

 

Handmade Valentines

 

 

This year I am making the valentines with the kids…  I can’t say it is cuter then any store bought ones but it was fun to make together and it is homemade.   

 

 

I had each kiddo write on a blank sheet of paper “Happy Valentines Day From --------” or what ever they wanted to add.  Ella added the word “friends” on hers (so cute) and the boys drew a heart.  After they each wrote their own valentines on their own sheets of paper I scanned the image and saved it as a jpeg.  I opened elements 5 and started…  Open a blank file to be the size of my colored sheets of paper (mine were 8.5 x 11).  Opened the jpeg of their original written words.  Simply dragging and resizing the words to fit on the page as I wanted,  (over and over and over and over) I had a finished image.  Flattened the jpeg and renamed it. 

 

 

 

From here I printed this new image onto colored paper.  Used a play doe cutter to trace onto the backsides of the colored paper and cut!    Using a small hole punch cut 2 holes for the sucker to weave through….  I put the finished valentines on glass bowls around the house for Valentine decorations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Book Belongs To

 

 

 

In planning Braedens 5^th birthday party I have made these for the guests.  He is having a book party and the plans have begun.  With not having as much free time as I use to I am trying to get anything done way ahead of time as I can in order to not feel rushed.  Here are the book labels I made out of Quinn, Ella, Braeden and Brittney (my niece and wonderful babysitter) artwork.  Scanning it and adding the frames in Adobe with the text to top it off.  I am thinking to print them out and the guests can write their own names on them when they are ready to use them… More ideas to come on the book party!

 

 

 

Classroom parties...

 

Squash Bowling How-To
First, make the pins: Attach vinyl sticker numbers to 10 butternut squashes. With painters' tape, cover portions of each squash to create stripes. Fill in stripes using acrylic craft paint, and let dry. Carefully peel off stickers and tape. Designate a lane, and set up the pins, placing lower numbers in front and higher ones in back. Have each player stand about 15 feet away, grip a small pumpkin by the stem, and bowl. (Should the stem fall off after a few tries, players can grab onto the whole pumpkin.) Give everyone two turns, and award each player the number of points on the pins knocked down.

Customized pendants

Using a thin piece of wood or chipboard circles you can make these customized pendants for any occasion.  I made this one for Ella to wear on her birthday.  Using some background paper and an image of your choice toped with a ton of Modge Podge (about 3 thick layers) you can punch a hole in the top.  Attach a circle ring and some flowers or beads.  I used an elastic string to make it into a necklace.  I am thinking a Halloween one with stamps would be adorable…  Beads added to the bottom would be fun as well!

Summer drink

 

The grapes are also ready… Here is a fun-entertaining recipe to share with you for an easy drink.  At your next gathering try this.

 

 

Lemon-Grape Coolers

 

Ice
3 cups unsweetened white grape juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
1 small bunch grapes, washed and halved
1 lemon, sliced into rounds

In each glass filled with ice, or a large pitcher filled with ice, pour in the grape juice, lemon juice and lemon-lime soda. Stir gently. Garnish with sliced grapes and lemons.

 

 

 

August is the perfect time to plant your pumpkins in time for Halloween.  I have started my patch… wish me luck!

Apple season

This year the apples are abundant!!! We have more apples then I will know what to do with.  They are happy and yummy.  If you are visiting us please ask for a bag full.   Here is a yummy recipe.  I think I need to figure out a fun project to make for the teachers on the first day of school that has to do with apples.  Any thoughts?

 

Baked Apples

Ingredients

Makes 4

·      1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

·      1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar

·      1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

·      1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·      1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

·      1/4 teaspoon salt

·      4 medium apples, skin peeled in a spiral

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together butter, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, ginger, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Scoop out the core of each apple with a melon baller, being careful not to go through the bottom; discard cores. Fill each apple with oat mixture, dividing evenly. Transfer apples to a 9-inch square non-reactive baking dish. Add 1 cup water to the dish to cover bottoms of apples by about 1/2 inch. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake until apples are soft but not mushy, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm.

splash zone = fun zone

Summer fun in our very own back yard… we have finished the splash zone and upper patio along with a fire ring.  The kids are using it just about every week (some times more).  Last night was Davis’ first fire along with s’mores.  As we sat there Jerry and I talked about how truly blessed we are with all of these babies in our lives.  Truth is our back yard is way bigger then our house so as we are sitting holding baby talking about our blessings the older ones are screaming running around being kids… Not very peaceful, but the chaos is a blessing to us.

Happy Birthday Ella!!!

Happy Birthday Little Ella!!!  Today you turned 6 and are so happy with life.  You do not want to “grow old like a Grandma”.  I do not know why that is even on your young mind but little one let me tell you… You are never going to grow old.  You will always be young at heart I just know it!

 

Chalkboard Mats

I finished the “ boredom buster” chalkboard mats for the kiddos. Some people use these to keep their kids occupied when eating out or Dr. offices.  We do not eat out much with the kids but we can bring these when we do.  They are easily cleaned off with wipes.   I made 3 of them so I can give them to Quinn, Ella and Braeden when I am in the hospital and they come to visit.  This was another simple project but I had never worked with chalkboard fabric or oilcloth so it took a bit to get use to.  Hopefully with these tips you will be successful! 

I was eager to make a few so I bought 3 yards of each the front and the back.  After making 3 I have a ton left over so if you plan to make 1 or 2 don’t buy too much like I did…  I cut the oilcloth and the chalkboard fabric 12”x17”, I wanted minimal waste.  I put the correct sides together and sewed around the edges leaving an unsown part to pull thru.  Then stitching again around the entire project to close the edge and finish the edge.  You cannot iron this fabric… well I did not even want to try! So I pushed the edges from the inside with one hand to make sure I would get a straight edge…  I did not want to use pins either, thinking that would make holes.  I used some binding to hold on the chalk.  I next punched a hole in the binding and added an eyelet for the ribbon which was the tie to close it.  I think ribbon could do that job as well!

The only thing I may try next time is to use some deckle scissors and sew the edge wrong sides together (one time around only would be quicker as well).  Pulling the project inside out was a bit challenging.  This fabric is not very forgiving. I would love to see yours if you try it… E-mail it to me J   

Bike Birthday Party

When making birthday invitations I always try to include their photos.  This year we are doing a bike riding party at the local BMX canter.  Quinn is my biggest and best poser for photos.  Any time anywhere he is ready for a photo!  But let me tell you I never know what I am going to get… he has a plan of his own.  I picked this one to make his 7^th birthday invite. Using Photoshop and my own photo this invitation was a snap to make!  With trophies and candy for the party favors, donut birthday cake, pizza and shave ice will round out a party.  I will post more detailed photos ASAP!

Celebrate Summer

Picnic Essentials 

Whether you're planning a picnic to celebrate an occasion or simply enjoy a pleasant summer afternoon, it's easy to make each picnic unique. The food, candles, flowers, games, music, and other diversions you bring add a special touch. But no matter the occasion, most every picnic requires some basic essentials. Consider the following:

For Transporting and Storage 

·  Cooler fully stocked with ice or ice packs

·  Picnic basket

·  Food storage containers

For Safety and Comfort 

·  Picnic blanket or tablecloth

·  Low-standing picnic table

·  Cushions or pillows

·  Folding chairs

·  Antibacterial gel

·  Insect repellent

·  Anti-allergy medication

·  Sunscreen

·  Umbrella

For Serving 

·  Utensils/plates/cups

·  Napkins/paper towels

·  Condiments

·  Bottle opener/corkscrew

·  Plenty of water/beverages

For Cleanup 

·  Towelettes/paper towels

·  Trash bags

Feeling HOT HOT HOT...

Perfect Lemonade Recipe

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

Method

1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Serves 6.

Teacher appreciation week

This week is teacher appreciation week and today we brought flowers to the teachers.  I am too practical (or is it cheep) to buy cut flowers and prefer myself to get plants.  This is what I have come up with.  I hope you find some inspiration and think this is fun.  The kids looked cute caring them to their teacher.

Birthday Cards

For birthday cards I have been caring on this tradition of pre making large, laminated, bound cards that the guests at the party can all sign.  This is a fun way to get all of your family and friends to sign one card and you can discard (or re-use like I do) all of the birthday cards when you are ready!  I make a 2-page 12x12 card with miscellaneous photos from the year along with patterned paper (scraps) and solid cardstock.  I always include how old they are turning and get it laminated and bound before the party even starts.  I then tie a permanent pen to the corner and pass it along at the party.  You can even make it and leave it by your front door for the month so when you get any guests for the month of the birthday kiddo you will have all of there wishes.  My kid’s love looking at the previous years and our friends and family even look forward to signing them every year.  I started this tradition at there 1^st birthday for each child… I will have quite a collection I am sure!

Star Wars Birthday Bash

The 3 again birthday went well.  Thank you to all the good wishes!        

We played Darth Vader Bowling, had a bounce house, pin the buttons on Darth Vader, and a version of Hot Potato but with a Sat Wars Figurines........ The party favors were Bubble Light Sabers!    I hope this inspires you for your next birthday bash!  I am off now to start the details for Quinn's 7th birthday.  BMX Bike Riding Party...

Happy Birthday Baby Braeden

 

Today is my baby’s birthday.  He is refusing to turn 4.  He is telling everyone he is “3 again”.  He is constantly telling me “ I don’t want to grow up” in the cutest baby voice.  When I ask him if he is ready to be a big brother he changes the subject.   He is not sure about a new baby coming into his life.  Today is his big day.  He is turning 3 again!  His birthday bash is Star Wars.  I have some fun party ideas up my sleeve; I hope everyone enjoys the day.  His party is in a few days.  Remembering his birth is something I will never forget.  It was the most peaceful calming day.  The doctors even had to wake me up to deliver him.  After 26 hours of delivery (with an epidural of course) he changed my life forever!  Happy birthday baby Braeden… I love you, Mommy

Happy Easter

Happy Easter From My Family To Yours...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

  Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Enjoy a cocktail version of a root beer float: vanilla ice cream topped with Irish stout. With the ice cream sweetening the rich beer, the float is as much a dessert as it is a drink. Scoop ice cream into a pint glass, and pour in enough stout to fill it. One pint of ice cream and one 12-ounce bottle of beer will yield 2 servings.  Or if you are like me a great root beer float with an adorable Saint Patrick's Day pick in it would do the job! 

Happy Valentine's Day

I saw this Valentine somewhere last year and had to try it!  Quinn is saying “I”, Ella is saying, “Love” and Braeden is saying “You”.  I guess next year I will have to make one with 4 words… Maybe I Love You More!  Happy Valentines Day

Love The Duffner Family!

Is There Fish In Here???

  Don’t tell my kids… but you need bait to fish.  Jerry and I both are not huge fans of fishing.  But the kids have these grand ideas that it is a great thing to do.  Last year for Christmas we gave them all fishing poles and told them we would go fishing… someday.  We have now taken them about 5 or 6 times and they have never figured out why we are not catching anything every time we go.  We put their plastic fish on the ends for weight and they cast their little hearts out.  And never catch anything.  They keep wanting to go more and more and I keep getting some great shots for the scrapbook.  This is a safe, clean and fun way to go fishing with little ones.  I hope they do not figure it out anytime soon.  I guess you can say this is a bit of a fish story...

Martha to the rescue...

Last week I tried the starch ghosts and do not feel this is the best craft project for this year...  It worked out great but I am worried that the overnight drying time will be a problem.  So here is the other option for the craft project, we have done this before at a Halloween Party and it went well.  Wish me luck! 

Create a ghoulish Halloween candy face with a variety of candy, but be sure to warn children not to eat the candy on the face.

Tools and Materials
Good & Plenty
Miniature marshmallows
Twizzler licorice bites (Black)
Gummy teeth
Licorice wheels
Candy corn
Neapolitan licorice
Ball pins
Glass canisters
Scissors
Small pumpkin

Halloween-Candy Face How-To
1. Secure the candy to the pumpkin with ball pins that match the color of the treats so they aren't too noticeable. Tip: Chewy candy is easier to bend and snip.

2. Place pumpkin on glass canisters or reuse large glass jars for candy.

Monster Mash

I am so excited to plan the Halloween Party for my sons classroom.  From now and then I will post the ideas that I plan on using.  If you have any additional ideas please share them.  Today we found a fun site with Halloween games and activities that Quinn just loved!  I thought I would take the coloring sheets as a back up activities incase the original station activities run a bit short, or in case someone would rather color then to what I am going to plan.  You never know with little ones right?  I am planning the party to have four different stations where five kids at each will rotate.  Hoping that I can get four Moms to help, one at each station.

The craft station will be these Gauzy ghosts...

It takes practically nothing to make this family of mischievous sprites.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Different-size plastic milk jugs or juice bottles
	Laundry starch
	Aluminum foil
	Paper towels
	White gauze or cheesecloth
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Top each jug or bottle with a ball of crumpled aluminum foil.

2. Cut white gauze or cheesecloth into 18-inch squares (one square for each ghost). Dip the gauze squares into a bowl filled with laundry starch. Pull them out one at a time and squeeze out the excess moisture. Drape a square over each bottle.

3. To shape the ghosts' shoulders and arms, loosely pile crumpled aluminum foil near the bottle and drape the gauze over it. Flare out the lower edges of the gauze and let dry overnight. (To make a dog, simply drape a small square of gauze over shaped foil.)

4. Once they've dried, carefully lift the ghosts from their bottles. They should stand freely on a flat surface.

Sucker...

A fun way to say thanks for coming, or to escort them to their seats is with a lollipop display.  It is as Yummy to look at as to receive.  Take a wooden box and paint it red (candy red of course), add a Styrofoam insert available at floral supply stores. Hot glue gumdrops over entire Styrofoam (of course they will no longer be edible).  Insert each Lollipop directly into Styrofoam in-between the gumdrops.  To make labels simply do a text box in word cut into circles and you are done!  Imagine having names on one side and the table setting on the other for a fun casual wedding.  Or names on one side and a “thank you note” on the other side for your guests as they leave your next birthday bash!!!

On your marks... get set... go!

Its guests will never forget a two year olds birthday if you plan it right!  Having a hot wheel theme with cars galore is a fun way to celebrate your little ones day!  Complete with little burger sliders for them to chow down on.  Road walkways and décor with the details on the street make this one party they will not even want to leave.  Have your guest arrive on his or her own wheels (bike, boards anything will work) and have a parade as one of the events. 

Fall Feasts

In celebration of fall this event was planed with details in mind.  Making your centerpieces out of clear glass vases, filling with fruit, water then the color flowers of choice will take your table from ordinary to extraordinary.  Grouping like flowers in a bunch will give visual impact and make a stronger statement.  Differing the heights of your single arrangements spread out over several containers may be the perfect backdrop to your fall feast. 

A Very Un Birthday To You....

In honor of my dear friend Stephanie’s birthday I wanted to share some very un birthday ideas for a Alice in Wonderland bash!  I hope you have a great day Stephanie, I love you lady…

The invite is printed backwards with a hand mirror attached with the colors if the party.  You would need to hand deliver these invites and the guest will need to use this mirror to read the details….  having a cake that looks like a madd hatter will top off the event!  Color coordinating of course!

The place cards are large playing cards with the name of the guests put on with rub-on letters.  Gluing 3 together to form a triangle it will stand all alone.  Another idea is to build a card house at each place setting and glue it together with names… how fun would that be???  To finish off the day you will need to give a white rabbit to every guest...  Can't be Alice in Wonderland with out a white rabbit!

All Fabulous

Introducing the first completely personalized, totally fabulous line of personalized note cards. Get a set with your name on each one. Or be creative. Choose the design, color scheme and text you want - the options are limitless. Make a beautiful little invite that sets the tone for the birthday party or house warming in your future.

The baby announcements almost make you want to have a baby just so that you can send one!!!

Cupcake Craze

In Celebration of Brittney's 13th Birthday...

Mix large with small cupcakes to mimic the variation in a garden. Decorate a cake stand with green crepe paper leaves and top with a watering can full of sweets.

Unfrosted cupcakes can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container at room temperature a day ahead, or frozen up to three weeks.

Pack the cupcakes in a shallow plastic container, and stuff crumpled waxed paper in between. Then dole them out and watch kids marvel for a second before opening wide!

Set up an assembly line, and put kids in charge of affixing candy eyes, gumdrop cheeks, and other trimmings.

Happy Birthday you special little lady... I love you Love Aunt Pattye

Blueprint Wrapping

I love finding new uses for old things, and old blueprint paper is AMAZING gift wrap paper. While working in the building industry for so many years I have ended up with rolls and rolls of blue prints.  Well, it was A LOT of blueprint paper and I've been wrapping gifts with it ever since.   So you might ask: where do you find blueprint paper?    Become friends with an architect or student learning architecture.  They've got tons.   Then stock up and wrap away!

Office Essential

Red and white bakery twine has become an office essential on my desk.

I can't remember where i got this, but it wasn't some fancy gift wrapping store for sure.    A restaurant supply store where I think you can find this entire spool of bakery twine for about $10.  You can have this for years, use a lot of twine, and it still looks completely like the first day you bought it.

Red and white twine is a simple way to dress up a simply wrapped gift.  It's festive, it's cherry and it's unexpected.   You can bundle pencils together and keep them organized.   If you're giving someone a stack of old magazines, tie then together with the twine.    There is a whole multitude of uses for it.

I also like the fact it's cotton twine; that makes it biodegradable.   But I think the best thing is that it looks so nice sitting on your desk.   

Love is in the details...

I made these hats for little Ella's 5^th birthday tea party.  These party hats can be as sophisticated or as silly as you like, depending on the colors and patterns of paper you use. Whatever occasion your hats are destined for, sturdy ribbon chin ties will keep them in place until the fun is over.

Tools and Materials
Decorative paper
Sheets of double-sided adhesive and liquid glue
Pencil

Party Hat pattern
Scissors
Hole Punch

Boa feathers

How to make it:

Note: Finished cut-out size is roughly 12" tip to tip and 7" tall.

1. Print out the Party Hat pattern.
2. Trace the pattern on decorative paper, flip the hat over on the fold line and trace the rest of the hat. (The full pattern will fit on one 12x12 piece of paper.)
3. Cut out the hat.
4. Curve your hat into a cone shape. Tape closed.
5. Punch 2 holes to the side of the hat. Adhear hole punch protectors on inside.
6. attach ribbon to each side.
7. Glued boa feathers to top of each hat.

Not Big Bird... Baby Bird

Spice up your living space with these fun and whimsical coasters, I am in love! This pair of soft high-quality coasters with an adorable embroidered yellow bird is made with durable and washable corduroy, both front and back! They are eve, nicely packaged with a ribbon! (The perfect gift!)  You can find them at