Elmo and the Big Party!

Last weekend we celebrated my dd turning 2. Such an overwhelming feeling trying to put it all together, but also realizing she is not a baby anymore. I am so proud of all you have accomplished in just two years my sweet Kayleigh, I love you so much! I enjoy all the little moments because I now realize how fast it goes by and how precious each of these moments are.

Our family and friends celebrated with us at our Elmo cupcake tea party!

It starts off with the invites...I used the cricut cartridge "Elmo's party" to make the little elmos that are sitting on this birthday invite. I had lots or sheets of bright paper, and put all the contents of the invite on the picture of my dd, and then printed the pics. Very inexpensive option for a custom invite!

Then we need to decorate. I made the little elmo cupcake sticks to put in each cupcake...but did not use them for that...more to follow shortly on that...

For decorations, we made a pinata. We blew up a baloon and did papermache to make Elmo's head. Then I cut strips of red tissue paper about 4" wide, and the full length of the tissue, folded it in half and then used my fringe scisors to cut into it up to about a half inch from the middle. Then I hot glued these onto elmo's face. The eyes, nose and mouth were cut on my cricut machine using Elmo's Party cartridge.

To serve at this cupcake teaparty, I purchased a red cardboard cake stand at the Dollar Store, and then added my own touches. Firstly, I assembled and then reinforced everything with my glue gun. I added ribbon around each tier, and then the cupcake picks I cut off the bottom and glued onto the cake stand. All made from Elmo's party cricut cartridge.

Same for the loot bags, we bought red gift bags at the $$ store, I think 2 for a 1$, cut the eyes, nose and mouth and voila!

I made elmo tissue flowers and just glued again eyes, nose and mouth.

For food, I made a big batch of beef stew, and then setup a salad bar with all the different toppings for everyone to help themselves!

My daughter and son both had elmo outfits I had purchased on etsy...so cute! Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88186287/brother-sister-pillowcase-dress-elmo-and at Fridascloset1 on etsy.

Food, we need cake right? After 3 nights up to midnight trying to bake, I quickly discovered I am not a baker....not even close. I can cook lots of yummy food, but baking is out of my list of talents!

I armed myself with a fancy book from Michaels called "The Big Book of Cupcakes", I bought all the ingredients, even bought all organic too! I mean really how hard can it be to bake a bloody cupcake from scratch??? After two batches and slight burning on the bottom and taste tests that resulted in dumping the rest of the batch in the garbage...I gave in, my time is very limited, I gave it my all, but I cannot serve that crap even to the dog...So I dialed our local bakery the next day....who took my order the day BEFORE the party, and produced exactly what I had imagined....a beautiful Elmo cupcake cake...lots of flavours of cupcakes...Thank you to "Cakes By Stephanie". You rock!

A big thank you to our family and friends who make these special occasions, even more special.
Thanks for looking!
Mandy

I Love This Boy!

Here is a pic of my ds from a few years ago. I was playing with this clipboard, using some crackle paints and the paper is from Bella Blvd "Super Stud" line of papers. It has some robots and lots of bright colours.

I added some ribbon, and embellies to dress it up and ofcourse the cutest picture of my ds!

Thanks for looking!

Mandy

New Layout...Pumking Patch

Wow, I just blinked and I don't even know where October went. My dd gave up the bottle, we are still working on the pacifier. My son is growing in leaps and bounds. Just today I was looking at him run up the stairs and his jeans are already looking too short. Well cold weather, I have the mitts, coats, hats and everything else we need to battle the cold weather out, so bring it on!
We have had a few sick kiddo's in the house this weekend, so I am taking advantage of a quiet house right now. I have been catching up on a few layouts, I have one to post today of my kiddos at the pumpking patch near hour home. I found some inspriation on a magazine cover. I am all for simple lately.
The paper is Echo Park from their Halloween collection last year. And I love these Jenni Bowlin Buttons. The crochet flower I purchased on etsy, and glimmer misted it to match 'ol spider man in the picture! The stamps for my title are Ali Edwards.

Yesterday my kids and I went to a local pottery shop called Crockadoodle. We get our goodies back next week. It was a fun afternoon with my kids, crafting, getting messy and now anticipating how our goodies turned out! As another little girl said in the shop, only 7 more sleeps!

So is everyone ready for winter?????
Thanks for looking.
Mandy

Sigh...his first day of school...there goes my baby

Last month my son started his first day of Junior Kindergarten. He goes to daycare already, so this was not a huge transition for him. But when we took him for his first day I was a wreck... I was the one who this was a big transition for! Holding my video camera in one hand, my slr in my other hand snapping away as tears rolled down my face! I had said to my sister in law the week before....oh no I will be fine. Yes, he was fine, but I was watching my baby take another big step in his life and was so proud of him!

So, this was one of my first layouts I have completed in over 7 months. I used the pink paislee line "Old School".

Thanks for looking,
Mandy

Some Catching Up To Do!!!

It is good to be back. Seven months and no blogging is just not a good thing! Sometimes life gets in the way, and I finally sat down two weeks ago and found my mojo again. My scrapbook Mojo that is. Because while I was off and not blogging, I was not scrapbooking either : (

I cleared out the "stuff" in my scrapbook room that was just too much. I was finding all these carefully collected papers and embellishments and stuff was cluttered into boxes, bags and I really didn't even know what I had anymore. I had alot of other things stacking up in my scrap space, and I just could not create there. I never had a clear slate and all I could think about was all the things I should/need to do instead of scrapbooking.

But, scrapbooking is my escape, my memories being carefully preserved, and this is important to me. Important enough to do a clean sweep sort of....well, 6 garbage bags later and many piles of give aways are created and in the works of finding new homes!

It was fun to rediscover many paperlines, embellishments and other things I have collected over the years. I was very selective in what I kept. I am forcing myself to the space I have now and that is it.

I even have a shelf now for the kids birthday party supplies, sewing supplies and gift bags and wrap. Another whole shelf dedicated to my kids crafting supplies too.

I added a shelf from Ikea to keep handy all my scrapbook basics that I reach for each time, and the new little table also from Ikea enables my kids to have a chair all around to have a little crafting time.

Here are some pictures to share, I would love to hear about your scrap spaces and how you get your scrapbook Mojo back! (ok, so my shelves are not that organized now that I look at it in the pics, but believe me it is a huge improvement!)

I also received this week the most amazing price from Gabry Road. So a big thank you for my prize won from my friend Lorena (who has an amazing blog...), by entering us into a contest on their facebook page. Anyways, Gabry Road has a lot of homemade goodness, definitely worthwhile to check out!

So, I will be sure to publish some of the layouts I have been working on this week!

Have a great Monday everyone!

Cheers

Mandy

Let’s Scrap Hoppy New Year Blog Hop

Note, new blog postings below, this will remain at the top of my blog until bloghop is over!

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.....You have arrived at:

Resolution #9...Laughter is the Best Medicine.

...Are you into making resolutions each new year. I am not, but this year I did. Not to let myself stress the little things! In keeping with this theme...your challenge is to pick a Let's Scrap Sketch and scrap something that makes you smile or laugh..It could be a moment that you laughed about for days, it could be a funny face that your kids make, or something funny your pet does, it could be a breathtaking moment that kept a smile on your face for days! Don't forget to include some journaling so that you can look back at this years from now and reminisce what was making you smile or cracking you up! I can't wait to see your layouts, they can be single or double, the choice is yours.

Here is my layout and the sketches it was based on from Let's Scrap. My son's first season of soccer was so fun. Picture it, two mini fields and 4 teams of 3 & 4 year olds learning to play. The funniest times were when the ball went into the neighboring field and both teams were playing in the same field...kids everywhere, coaches not knowing which way to go and balls being kicked this way and that...oh such fun it was to watch. And ofcourse I was so proud to watch my DS play week after week and improve and learn so much...always smiling, what more can you ask for!

Here is the prize you can win for participating in my Resolution#9!




Here are all the rules for Resolution#9:

1. Subscribe to my blog.
2. Select a sketch from Let's Scrap.
3. Create a layout and Upload your layout by Feb 14th 11:59 central time to Let's Scrap.
4. When uploading tag your layout "resolution#9".
5. Leave me a comment so I can be sure to include you in the draw for the prize!
6. Not only do you have a chance to win a prize for each challenge you enter but if you complete and post an entry for EVERY challenge along the blog hop, by February14, 2011 you're name will be entered into a random drawing for a wonderful prize supplied by Cosmo Cricket. On every blog in the hop you must become a follower and leave alittle love (a comment) for the host.


Resolution #1: Betty Anne
Resolution #2: Kristin
Resolution #3: Beth
Resolution #4: Cori
Resolution #5: Carolina
Resolution #6: Roulien
Resolution #7: Kristie
Resolution #8: Bev
Resolution #9: Mandy - You are here!!!
Resolution #10: Megan - Head here next!!
Resolution #11: Wendy
Resolution #12: Debby
Resolution #13: Dawn
Resolution #14: Tracy
Resolution #15: Amy


Kathy’s Special Challenges - Kathy wanted to be involved in the fun but doesn’t have a blog so she has posted two challenges in the Blog Hop section of the forum. These are extra challenges with great prizes but they do not have to be completed with all the others for the Cosmo Cricket Grand Prize.
Her challenges are:
Scrap Words Scrabble
The Power of Words Challenge

Thanks for looking,

Mandy

New Sketch At Let's Scrap

I loved this Let's Scrap sketch, very simple and I was inspired to make this card for my friend who was recently engaged...try to act surprised when you get this Anne!

Head on over and post your card. It is an awesome sponsor this week with a great prize!

Don't forget the Blog Hop is well underway, and lots of postings in the gallery. I am loving watching everyones fun layouts..!

Thanks for looking,

Mandy