Mickey Party Questions

To no end it thrills me when someone asks me how to do something or has questions. I mean it is really exciting that something I did you want to know about. Now secretly I knew that someday... ok it took 4 months, but someday someone would call me on my BS and why I hadn't done a post about the gift bag.... So here are the questions and comments I received about Laci's 3rd birthday pary...

Hello,

I found your blog online as I was searching for ideas with a Mickey theme for my daughter's birthday. The party you planned was AMAZING! (insert a very large squeal from yours truly... I was beaming enough for the whole room to light up!) You put so much thought into it and it was very creative. I would like to copy some of your ideas so I was wondering if you could answer a few questions. (please do! It is what makes it worth it to post stuff... right ladies?)

1. Can you please tell me how to make the dipped oreo pops?
•1 package of "White Double Stuff Oreo Cookies" (they must be double-stuff or they won't work)
•1 package of melting chocolate (these are sold in bags & inside it looks like a giant Hershey's bar as you can break apart big chunks <--if you need a picture let me know)
•1 package of sucker sticks*
•1 package of small cellophane bags*
•Candy/Decorations for outside of the pops. Any candy works- crushed peppermint sticks, coconut, toffee, candy bits, etc.,.
* The melting chocolate, sucker sticks, small cellophane bags and decorations are all available at cake/candy supply stores.

Directions:
1. Un-twist the oreos (while you are doing this heat up the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in small increments not to burn the chocolate) dip your sucker stick in chocolate about an inch and press it in the oreo. After you press them in add more melted chocolate on top of the stick and put the oreo back together. You may need to gently press the cookie together.
2.Place the oreo pops onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with wax paper. Place in the refrigerator to cool for 15-20 minutes. By cooling the cookies, it aids in helping the chocolate stick to the cookies easier.
3.Meanwhile, melt more chocolate according to package directions. Place the chocolate in a glass liquid measuring cup or other tall container (it makes it easier for dipping).
4.Remove the Oreo's from the refridgerator and dip each Oreo into the chocolate, just covering the Oreo. You may need to use a spoon to make sure it is evenly covered, shaking off the excess chocolate into the container. Place back onto the wax paper to dry.
5.Have your decorations close at hand because it only takes about 30 seconds before the chocolate starts to dry. I would suggest dipping 2-3 cookies, adding the decorations and then continuing to dip the remaining cookies.
6.Once all the cookies have been dipped & have their decorations, place back into the refrigerator to cool (make sure the dipped cookies are on the wax paper). They only need to cool for about 10 minutes before they can be wrapped in their cellophane bags and tied with ribbon. If you live in an area where it's warm, you may want to store these in the refrigerator. Otherwise, they will last fine at room temperature.

I know it sounds like a lot of directions- but they are so very simple and can be made rather quickly. The chocolate can be purchased in a variety of colors, red, green, white, which make these pops perfect for any holiday

2. Where did you get your dessert stand from?
I got this from Sam's Club, I have scoured their website and found nothing like it, but you can look on Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond. They have ones that are slightly similar... wish I could help out more on this one!

3. What did you for the gift bags?
As for the last question... thank you for getting me off my lazy bum and posting about it. So I started with what I love to start with... a white lunch sack bought in bulk at Sam's Club. I took the Mickey Mouse Cricut cartridge enlarged it as big as it would go and cut out the mickey mouse head in black scrapbook paper (bought in bulk at JoAnn's Fabric like 50 sheets per pack and cut in half for the cricut machine) and to close the bag punched two holes, used curly ribbon used for gift wrap and tied the bow.

Inside we made a coloring book that had a custom front page that I made. It was two pages front and back that were folded in half and stapled in the middle. I don't know where to load up files for download, if someone can suggest one I can upload it and you would just have to change the first page, or just use the second page folded in half. We also included into the bag...
1) Crayons (bought during back to school sale for less than 25 cents a piece <-- now would be a good time)
2) Mickey Gummy Snacks
3) Mickey Mouse Note Pad (from the dollar section in Target - you got a couple for a dollar)
4) Goofy Frisbee (bought at Party City you get like 4-6 per pack or something like that)
5) Dumb Dumb pops (got a huge bag at Sam's Club <-- do you see a reoccurring theme?)
6) A toddler version of the Rubik cube it was from the dollar store or something like that. My mom got them.

So there were quite a few things in the bag. It was pretty cool... the kids loved them! Here are some of the pictures I took tonight for you...




Hope this answers your questions and if anyone else has any questions. Please let me know.

TTFN~

It's Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursday #14

Today is a VERY big day for me at work.... I can't really go into it, but wish me luck at 2:15 CST.

Ok, butterflies set aside - welcome to It's Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursday! As always - Thank you to EVERYONE who linked up last week! You are all AWESOME! I need to set aside some time this weekend to be crafty. I have an idea in my head, I just need to get to Home Depot and to the fabric store for some tool. Hopefully I can make this happen this weekend. I would love to share something with you all since I have been lackin in the crafty thing lately.

Here goes -

It's NO secret that I love Ashley from Cute as a Fox! Everything she does is Super Stinkin' Cute! I fell in LOVE with this initial frame that she entered and want to do this for my craft room, but do more letters to spell stuff like, create, imagine, etc. I just LOVE it!


Something I need to do for my daughter is make her this super stinkin cute little apron set that Susan over at Living with Punks made for her little one. It gets better ladies... she includes the link to the pattern FOR FREE on there. So get to making this one for your little boy or girl (in appropriate fabric of course).


And because I am in the middle of my craft room re-do I wanted to add in this little gem from Jessica over at Life's Good, Be Happy! She made what she calls Cheap Scrapbook Storage! I call it just brilliant!


I do want to add that I was going to feature one of those tasty looking dishes as that is something I do want to make, but maybe I will make one in the next week or so and feature you and a link on a different day. I do want to make them both though. Maybe have a pasta recipe cook off challenge... hehehe.

Ladies, be sure to grab the featured button from the side bar if you don't already have it... I can't wait to make some of these things for my craft room/or kiddo!!!

Let's get to linkin'!! Rules:

1. Please link craft projects that you have done!
2. Linky Tools will remain open until next Wednesday evening so there's plenty of time to link your projects!


<a href="http://itssewstinkincute.blogspot.com/" target=""><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4561049489_a63691786d_o.jpg" alt="Stinkin Cute Thursday Button" width="147" height="77" /></a>

TTFN~


Rules for linking:
(1) Link to specific blog post, not blog home page!
(2) Link craft projects that you have done!
(3) Make sure to visit a few of the links and leave some comment love!
(4) Linky Tools will remain open through Wednesday, August 4th so you have plenty of time to add your projects!

Embroidery Blanks

Have you ever wondered where to get some awesome embroidery blanks? Well I can tell you that working with both Discount Embroidery Blanks (minimum order of $75 <- easy to hit) and their sister site The Sewphisticated Stitcher (No Minimum) is awesome. I got bags for all my co-workers last year for Christmas for less than $5.00 each and embroidered their names on them. I see lots of them carry them still. Which I guess means it was a good gift.

Anyways, thought I would share a great place to get some things that you can decorate, embroider and just be creative with.

TTFN~

Craft Room Update

I know, sorry there aren't any pictures, but I really think I am going to wait until I am compleltly done with decorating before I show it off. Plus, I still have LOTS of organizing and work to do on getting it how I want it. I have to say Haley, you are right... he doesn't have to like it! It's MY room to be creative, and he never goes in there anyways. I must say thought, it does look AWESOME!

I can't remember who else said that they have the same cubbies and desk area (too lazy to look back through comments), but it is the best thing I could have asked for. I mean I am using the exact same amount of space in the room, if not less, but I now have tons of storage. 35 cubbies to be exact. Thats a lot of room to fill stuff up in. I ended up going with the 5 tall ones, I didn't realize till I got there that the 4 was just so short. I absolutly love it!

Anyways, I found somethings that I completly forgot I had and I REALLY look forward to working with them. I also got a reminder of all of my unfinished projects. BOOOO... I have a HUGE denium rag quilt to finish and also have a very large quilt that I need to keep working on for my mom to maybe finish it for Christmas.

Ok, well enough about that. I had a great weekend and look forward to sharing it with all of you once I am done with it. Until then, I might be able to start doing some crafting for the room since I now have a semi-organized space. I can't wait to start doing crafts again. For now... back to work. I have to go shoot some training video stuff in 50 minutes. If you want to see me in my You Tube day view for work go here.

TTFN~

Pink Paint

Transformation has begun. Last night I went to Home Depot and had them "color match" my pink fabric that I wanted in the room. I have quotes, because it isn't an exact match, but it complements it very nicely. Plus, the fabric won't be hanging on that wall. So were good! I am so excited to get my furniture tomorrow morning.

You know I didn't realize how small the room really was until I started trying to move everything on the other side of the room to start painting. oy, vey. It was a tiny bit cramped. But I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least I have a room for crafts right?

Funny though, not sure that they hubby was thrilled about the paint, actually I don't think he fancied it at all, so instead of being his usually helpful self he stayed on the couch and watched some yucky sci-fi movie. It's fine though because you feel a sense of empowerment with DIYing it you know? This was also good for me because I listened/watched She's The Man with Amanda Bynes while painting. I wouldn't have enjoyed watching anything sci-fi.

By the way, if you were thinking about painting your room at all... please take my advise and think twice. It is exhausting... but I guess it is rewarding to see it done. I'll let you know how I feel after it is done. How's that?

So what do you think of the color? It's only going to be on the one wall. I got some black spray paint to do some other items that will be in the room, I am pretty stoked! Yippie and HAPPY FRIDAY YA'LL!

TTFN~

It's Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday - #13

I want to start by saying I LOVE hosting this party... REALLY... It is inspiring to get to see all the nifty, spiffy, cool items that you ladies (maybe a few gents - not sure we have any though) come up with! In addition I am privileged enough for you to share with me. That makes me genuinely happy!

With that said... welcome to It's Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursday! Thank you to EVERYONE who linked up last week! I saw some wonderful crafty things I will have to try once my craft room is put back together. Although lots of them spoke to me saying "make me, make me" there are three that I can see doing in the near future... In no particular order here we go...

The Little Green Bean made these ADORABLE his/hers aprons. I just ADORE the ruffle on the hers and the nice strong lines on the his. ***Insert here where I beg, NO PLEAD (on one knee, or two <- which ever suits your fancy) for the pattern or where I can get the pattern***


This little beauty is from MLE's ABC's and is just super stinkin cute. Talk about taking the "cake" theme to another dimension. She made scarfs for her friends entire family. Now... take the little suckers that are already cute (those little flowers just make them PERFECT) and make them into a scarf cake or warm fuzzy cake as she calls it to give them to the family! Oh, just to die for. BTW - I LOVE the improvised cake stand... it is PERFECT! Great Job!


Last but not least is something I am looking at for my craft room once I get the furniture in there and get everything decorated and painted. I LOVE vinyl decals on the wall because they can change so easily. Not to mention the one The Paisley Cupcake put in her kitchen really fits me pretty well... I mean I bake, but I don't really like to cook. Smart Start frozen meal anyone?


Ladies, be sure to grab the featured button from the side bar if you don't already have it... You all are truly my inspiration.

Let's get to linkin'!! Rules:

1. Please link craft projects that you have done!
2. Linky Tools will remain open until next Wednesday evening so there's plenty of time to link your projects!


<a href="http://itssewstinkincute.blogspot.com/" target=""><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4561049489_a63691786d_o.jpg" alt="Stinkin Cute Thursday Button" width="147" height="77" /></a>

TTFN~


Rules for linking:
(1) Link to specific blog post, not blog home page!
(2) Link craft projects that you have done!
(3) Make sure to visit a few of the links and leave some comment love!
(4) Linky Tools will remain open through Wednesday, July 28th so you have plenty of time to add your projects!

Wordless Wednesday

Too much for the whole room? Or should I just do one wall? What do you think about this color. It's the Disney Behr color called Tink Pink. hehehe.



You know the drill... wanna join in on the fun of WW, just grab a button and link on up!

TTFN~

Help Needed - Wedding Book/Pen Set

Ok, so I love my soon to be SIL, and because I do I offered to make her a unity candle like the one shown below. It runs in my family to make these unity candles as wedding gifts. It is a wonderful keepsake with the invitation wording on it and is now a third generation tradition. For starters, there isn't one that you can buy at a store that holds a flame to these, plus, finding one that is personalized is usually cheesy and not really a cute keepsake.



I asked my soon to be SIL if she wanted one and she politly declined saying that they weren't going to do a unity candle, but now has asked me to do this...

"In my effort to find a guest book/pen set thing for the wedding, I've come up short, so I was wondering if you knew anything about making one! I know you like doing neat crafts and things (plus you're good at them!!) so if you're at all interested in something like this, let me know! :D"

I have done a couple searches on the web and turned up nothing as far as a great guest book/pen set to make. So seriously if you have done any, seen any, have an idea, or know where I can find some ideas... HELP! I am begging you as I am at a loss for what to do.

TTFN~

Anxiety Phase? Is it over yet?

I am flabbergasted!!! I just checked for the first time and I have 16… yup… 16 entries to It’s Stinkn’ Cute Craft Thursday!!! I am so excited! I have been so busy that I just hadn’t gotten around to it, so I guess I have some things to look at this afternoon and some people to thank for stopping by. Yippie! That just MADE MY DAY!

On to my reason for posting… Have you ever had one of those weekends that you don’t really feel like you have gotten anything done? Yet, you are tired, and just want to have a do over…

Well that is exactly how my weekend went. Here is a small recap:

Friday Night: After receiving a nice little reminder from our HOA it was time to get the weeds/grass extra greenery out of the flowerbed we had some work to do. So an exhausted husband and 3.5 hours later we tore the whole flowerbed up… sprayed down weed/grass killer (no we don’t care about not being able to plant for a while) took all the junk and current flowers out, pulled up all the rocks, killed some spiders, put down mulch, finished it off with some lighting from Walmart that is solar. I would show you a picture, but I haven’t taken one yet. After that and taking a quick shower I cooked the cake and put them out on the wire racks to cool and made the icing while the cake was baking.

Saturday (this is where the fun really begins): Woke up early, all three of us went to get hair cuts (Laci got her first real hair cut and did SO GOOD!), went home and changed, went to a child’s birthday party, came home, went to the store for some cake supplies, came home and finished the cake (FYI – Nutella and buttercream mixed together make an EXCELLENT cake filling), then went to the neighbor across the street’s house for her birthday party this is the party the cake was for, then went home grabbed Laci’s stuff, took her to my mom’s where she proceeded to tell us to leave <-it was pretty cute, then Jake and I went to another birthday party for a soccer friend at a local bar that has karaoke… got home about 2:30 (yes am) and crashed…

Sunday: Was supposed to go to IKEA, but woke up at 9… hubby woke up soon after and said he wanted to go to Home Depot and Half Price Books. I am going to admit here is where my day started off pretty crummy. I REALLY want to get my craft room in shape so that I can find everything and have more inspiration, but I guess I will have to wait at least until next weekend. So we went out to those other stores and while in HPB we didn’t really find anything to use our coupon on. I have REALLY wanted an iPad since I got Jake his, and so we went in Best Buy to see if they had any. No such luck. So both things I have been wanting I don’t have time to drive an hour to get. Grrrrr. So we finished our errands and went to get Laci from Grammy’s for cheerleading. Get to cheerleading and she is perfectly fine skipping around, that is until Coach Monica starts to come over to get her for her private. Then she starts balling and hiding behind us. Please tell me that this is a short lived phase because she knows better and this cannot continue. I can’t take much more of it. Just wait my reasons get better. So finally she gets calmed down and goes and has a good time. When done we go to the gym. She refuses to go play in the kids area which is totally awesome I wish I were a kid again. So we get upset and left. Go home, make Laci take a nap. Once she gets up she can only read, color and try and learn how to use her computer (she doesn’t consider this a toy yet). After an exhausting couple of hours Laci goes to bed and is mad at me that I took her stuffed animals away. Will this anxiety get better? PLEASE tell me yes and soon. It has been about 3-4 weeks now and I can’t take much more. It is terrible!

I was so glad to come to work today… I am just exhausted! Sorry if my recap is jumbled and poorly written... I am a little out of it. If you have any suggestions for a 3.5 year old having anxiety attacks even thought she knows better advise or thoughts are welcome.

How was your weekend?

TTFN~

It's Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday - #12

Welcome to "It's Sew Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursday". I admire every one of you for taking the time to be crafty this week as I am still sitting here planning out my craft room of zebra print and hot pink. Hopefully I can start working on some decorations for my craft room so that when I get my furniture I will be able to put my room together faster. It is looking like this weekend is filling up really fast :o( so I don't think I am going to get to get the furniture this weekend. But I will survive and continue to plan it.

Ok, on to the items I would love to do with my daughter or do myself.

I don't have any friends who are pregnant or new moms, but if in the future I do I will be going over to Sew Chic and Unique and copying this nursing cover. It is REALLY cute!


I have already made it known that I love The Autocrat's bags, and these new ones with the cute chic flower roses are adorable!


Although I am featuring more than usual this week, these next two items will be on the MUST do list with my little one.

These adorable easy watches by Red Ted Art are so stinkin cute and look to be an easy project to make with the kiddos. Plus you can help them learn their numbers and time. GREAT IDEA!


Last but not least Fun on a Dime shows us an ... It is summer time, and what a great project for an outdoor mess (sorry markers and paint don't make an appearance in my house very often) than homemade fingerpaint! Laci will love this, and pretty much everyone has the items to make this at home. Genius! Oh, and that little model in the picture is ADORABLE!!!


Ladies, be sure to grab the featured button from the side bar if you don't already have it... You all ROCK!

Thank you all so much for linkin up your adorable items. I can't wait to get my craft room back in line. That way I can come up with new crafty stuff because I will be able to see all my stuff. Until then I LOVE the ideas you are coming up with and things you all are doing.

Let's get to linkin'!! Rules:

1. Please link craft projects that you have done!
2. Linky Tools will remain open until next Wednesday evening so there's plenty of time to link your projects!


<a href="http://itssewstinkincute.blogspot.com/" target=""><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4561049489_a63691786d_o.jpg" alt="Stinkin Cute Thursday Button" width="147" height="77" /></a>

TTFN~


Rules for linking:
(1) Link to specific blog post, not blog home page!
(2) Link craft projects that you have done!
(3) Make sure to visit a few of the links and leave some comment love!
(4) Linky Tools will remain open through Wednesday, July 21th so you have plenty of time to add your projects!

Wordless Wednesday

I would probably have had a different style picture like the zoo for instance, but being rushed on Saturday morning I left my memory card at home and had no way to take pictures with the camera. I felt dumb. So here is another from the shoot last week.



If you would like to share your Wordless Wednesday, grab a button and link up to me.

TTFN~

Reorganizing My Craft Room (Need Advise)

As you may have noticed I have been lacking on the creative side of things lately. This could be due to me being a little down and out with some things going on at work, but part of me thinks I need a change in the creative area as well.

I like to be organized, but I just don't have the storage right now for being organized. I like order and currently I have a form of chaos. Semi-organized chaos anyways. My friend just got a set up from IKEA similar to this for her office in the dark brown, but I am thinking I want a white desk so that I can have hot pink and black accents all over the place. You can choose many different cubby sizes, but I really like this type set up so that everything can have a place and a label.

What do you think?



Let me know if you have something similar or a different suggestion.

TTFN~

Really? A coffee cake?

So it is someone’s birthday in the office and as we usually celebrate, I hate to buy stuff at the store pre-made. So I said I’ll make the cake, just tell me what she likes.

So another co-worker asked her what her favorite was and she couldn’t choose cheesecake (since I don’t make cheesecake). What does the birthday girl request? Yup, coffee cake. Are you serious was my first thought. It doesn’t come out of a box, I don’t have a recipe for it, and I almost said the hell with it I’ll buy one, but I really don’t have a clue where to buy one from that would be good anyways.

Yesterday I found a recipe for a coffee cake by the Bearfoot Contessa. Found here that had five stars on the food network website. So I got the pan and other ingredients I needed and after about an hour prep (I am slow ok… I measure and re-measure and make a HUGE mess in my kitchen) I finally got it in the oven.

This morning I added the glaze, because I went to bed while it was cooling. Anyways, I hope it turns out good, because honestly it was more work than I was originally offering up. Next time, the choices will be limited to a box cake and a homemade frosting.



Anyways, what do you think? It smells good and looks good, so hopefully the taste is on par.

TTFN~

It's Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday - #11

Welcome to "It's Sew Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursday". Thank you to everyone that found the time to link up their items. Coming from someone who needs major inspiration right now I need them all to keep coming in. I just can't get myself to get crafty. I just sit there. So I really appreciate everyone taking their time to share and inspire.

I can't tell you how much I love this recovered chair. It is beautiful, and La Maison Reid even said it was her first attempt at a slipcover. If I didn't know better I would have said you were a PRO!


Then as always, Cute as a Fox comes up with clever and adorable items. Her little cutie is wearing a Skirt to Shirred Sundress Refashion. This is a great idea for all of those items in the closet that er... um... ya know... ***mumbles - don't fit me anymore*** I mean that I bought just to do this type of project. Awesome girl this rocks!


Thank you all so much for linkin up your adorable items. It makes me want to come up with something crafty to do, I just want to do something new and can't come up with anything. Grrrr... It will come back to me. Until then....

Let's get to linkin'!! Rules:

1. Please link craft projects that you have done!
2. Linky Tools will remain open until next Wednesday evening so there's plenty of time to link your projects!


<a href="http://itssewstinkincute.blogspot.com/" target=""><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4561049489_a63691786d_o.jpg" alt="Stinkin Cute Thursday Button" width="147" height="77" /></a>

TTFN~


Rules for linking:
(1) Link to specific blog post, not blog home page!
(2) Link craft projects that you have done!
(3) Make sure to visit a few of the links and leave some comment love!
(4) Linky Tools will remain open through Wednesday, July 14th so you have plenty of time to add your projects!

On the Train - Wordless Wednesday

If you would like to share your Wordless Wednesday, grab a button and link up to me.

TTFN~

Laundry Basket Labels

Ok, so like MONTHS ago I made these labels for my four laundry baskets, but I couldn't ever get myself to finish the project... that is until "How To" Homemaker inspired me to finish with their link party that included organizing.

So I made White, Black, Red and Blue labels. Matted them on the Cardstock and laminated them with the home laminator I have and cut them out. Then all I had to do was attach velcro and put them on the baskets.

Here are my laundry baskets...






Why didn't I finish these three months ago? Well that's easy... I lost them right after I made them. So when I was cleaning my craft room and found them I was over the moon! I love them and it is already easier to sort the clothes! So a big thanks goes to "How To" Homemaker for inspiring me to finish my project!

TTFN~