With 20 days to go, we told the kids that we are going to Disney World! They were so excited. Nolan got on the Disney website to look at the Star Wars attractions and these were his questions: "can you buy Star Wars stuff there? what can we buy?" (oh God). Sean, my 4 year old was a little more clueless..."are we going today?" "No buddy not for a few weeks." Sean: "tomorrow?" I started to think maybe I should've told them yet, but I couldn't wait any longer!! I knew I needed to do something so they would get the concept of how many days to go...maybe it might teach them a little patience?? Anyway, we make a paper chain at Christmas time (my husband's family tradition) they kids tear off a link to the chain each day leading up to Christmas. So I thought I would make a Mickey countdown paper chain.
I "cut and pasted" a little picture of Mickey from the Disney website and shrunk it down...then I copied and pasted him a bunch of times and made numbered Mickey rows.
I cut them into strips on my paper cutter...
And then stapled together a chain.
Each day the boys take turns (they love taking turns LOL) tearing off a link to the chain and then they count how many days are left.
It's amazing how time flies. I booked this trip 90 days ago! I downloaded a "Disney Countdown" App on my iPhone (yup there's an App for that ;) that's how I've been counting down. Can't wait!
Warning: Pinterest is highly addictive. Pinterest will make you feel like you can take on the world. Pinterest may cause feelings of euphoria. Pinterest may cause you to believe that you are now very crafty. Pinterest can cause a messy house. Do not leave your children unattended while on Pinterest. Use Pinterest in small doses.
I was on Pinterest Saturday morning, pinning and repinning to my hearts content. I could hear Nolan scurrying around the playroom/kids tv room. I called from the other room "what are you doing?" Nolan: "I'm cleaning the playroom." I'm thinking hum, OK that will keep him busy and a nice little chore for him. I go back to feeding my Pinterest addiction.
"Mom I'm done!" I pull myself away from the computer to look. "Wow Nolan good Job"! There is not a toy, or anything for that matter, in sight. "I just put everything in the closet"
Oh...oh boy, yes you did...chairs and everything...thanks Buddy...
Ugh. When they go to bed I'm going on Pinterest to find the perfect way to organize this closet, it's going to be awesome (LOL)...wait let me just take one more little peek right now...
I could totally do this...while they are at school tomorrow...
My son Nolan's latest obsession is The Muppets! I mean really, who doesn't love the Muppets?! So of course I took this theme and ran with it for his 6th birthday party.
The party stores don't seem to share our love for the Muppets, so with a little creativity and some help from the Disney website, Michael's, Target and Avery, we made our own invitations, buttons, decorations and CDs.
I downloaded a Muppet invitation from the Disney website. Animal is one of Nolan's favorite Muppets, so we decided to send an Animal invitation. I used "snag it" on my computer so that I could capture just the Animal invitation and then type the birthday info right on it. I then printed them on heavy cardstock paper and cut them on my paper cutter.
Nolan and I found some Muppet posters at Michael's for $6.99. He was thrilled because I told him he could put them in his bedroom after the party.
We also found these "make your own button" thingys at Michael's.
I found some Muppet pictures, by Googling "Muppet pictures" (duh). I went to Avery.com downloaded a template. I filled the template with my various Muppet pictures.
Popped the buttons open and used this circle as a guide.
I cut out my Miss Piggy circle...
placed Miss Piggy in the circle...
And popped the back of the button back on. Nolan is demonstrating here:
...and then repeat 25 times until you can't feel your fingers.
We had bought The Muppets Movie soundtrack on iTunes. My kids love it so much, I thought what a great party favor. I bought blank CDs and a CD/DVD Label Maker Kit at Target.
I burned some of the songs from the soundtrack and then found a few other funny Muppet songs...for example, The Muppets singing Bohemian Rhapsody! Check it out on YouTube, it's hilarious!
The burning of the CDs, although time-consuming, wasn't the toughest part. It was the CD labels. I designed the label, which was the fun part (Disco Animal), but then trying to get it to line up and my printer to cooperate was the--pour yourself another glass of wine--part. But I finally got it to work!
The CD/DVD Label Maker Kit comes with software and these labels.
After you have designed and printed your label you use this little device to attach the label to the CD.
Carefully peel off the label...
Place it on the device sticky side up.
...and then place the CD shiny side up and press.
Ta-da!
If you want to go ALL out you can design CD cases. The kit has all the stuff for that as well. Maybe next time (see note below). Instead I used colorful CD envelopes.
Note: if you are going to attempt to do this, give yourself a lot of time...like a few weeks before the party, not two days before the party. Yes, I got this bright idea two days before the party and was determined to figure it all out, which meant staying up until 2AM. But who needs sleep, right? Oh and another tip, buy extra CD/DVD labels, so you don't have to make several trips to Target within a 24-hour period and look like a crazy person. They also sell the labels at OfficeMax.
My final Muppet party project was Muppet cupcake toppers. I used another Avery template to print out little Muppet pictures and then cut them out.
I used toothpicks and tape to secure them...and then I bought (nut-free) cupcakes at the bakery! In all my creative wisdom there was no time for baking.
Nolan made these "favor bags"
Yes, he used all my Ziploc bags and staples, but it keep him busy for hours while I got the house ready for the party.
He also printed out some pictures, and also drew some pictures for decorations...
These are is my favorites LOL!
The party was a success :)
Party pictures to follow...
Helpful hint: if you click on anything highlighted in red, it links to a websites or products I used for these projects :)
My youngest son Sean LOVES Mario. Sean's birthday is the day before Halloween. We always have a Halloween costume party, but I still let him pick a birthday party theme. There was no question that this year it would be Mario!
We got Mario and Luigi plates, napkins, decorations, favors and...we made mustaches on a stick!
Here is the how-to:
I found a mustache template online. I forget exactly where I found the template, just google "mustache on a stick" and you will find some templates and a lot of other funny things!
I used black felt, a glue gun, pins and wooden sticks from Michael's.
I cut out the paper mustache patterns. I folded the felt so that when I cut it I had two mustache sides that match up perfectly. Pin the patten on to folded piece of black felt.
I cut it out along the pattern.
My older son Nolan wanted to help.
Mama going to need more coffee.
We made a mustache assembly line.
"Mum why are you like so subsessed (obsessed) with mustaches?"
pull apart the matching mustache pieces...put hot glue and the stick in the middle
Then put on the other matching side and squeeze together. Be careful not to burn your fingers on the hot glue like it did.
They were a hit at the Halloween/Mario Birthday Party!
