Red, White and Blue and New to You?

Have you ever had one of those days?? This morning I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go. I had every intentions on finishing my 4th of July tablescape but the stuff is still in the place it was yesterday. I don't want to leave you hanging so I'm going retro...well...really last year on patriotic projects that I did. So if your new then this will be all new to you and if you've been a follower for over a year than maybe you had forgotten these posts.
Just click on each link to see the post. I'm leaving for our beach condo tomorrow so hopefully we can get our Internet to work this trip so I can post. I've notice that before I had the store, I made things to share with my peeps more often than I do now. I need to get back to my roots and start making more DIY things. I'll do better.

Frugal Ice Cream Buffet ... I really love red, white and blue!

Even though this breakfast picnic was for Father's Day it has a patriotic theme colors.

Made an invitation using a fly swat.

Used socks to make a centerpiece.

I hope you enjoy.

Curling Ribbon Cake Banner

Yesterday I posted this Korker banner cake as one of my 4th of July muses. Here is my simple and free version. I love to find things that "muse" me then look and see what I already have and make my own version. I am in love with cake banners right now. When I first saw the Korker banner, I immediately thought of curling ribbon. I have tons of it (you can get it from the Dollar Store). I found these pinwheels in my stash that I bought at Hobby Lobby last year after the 4th holiday sale for 10 cents. I simply twisted curling ribbon and tied onto pinwheels then added curled ribbon to sides. Took me only minutes and it dresses up this plain white cake.

I will post more of my 4th of July tablescape today...yes 2 posts in one day!

4th of July Muses

We are going to our condo this weekend for the 4th. Although I love spending time at the beach~our condo is in Mexico. No fireworks....bummer! Plus, I won't be having a BBQ! Yes, we will grill out but not having a huge BBQ will be unusual. So today I'm challenging myself to make a 4th of July tablescape using only what I already own. I will post pics tomorrow. Here are my muses for the table. I love the denim cake plate holder from The Style Sisters. She covered up a Christmas cake plate with a denim waistband- how clever. Now that's using what you own!

Here is a Korker cake banner from Sweeter than Sweets. Tricia provided a tutorial on how to make Korker....good because I had no idea. Now I know how to make those hair bows as well that I have been spending way too much money on for Madison's hair!

I love this centerpiece from Sweet Something Design. I really want a vintage Coke crate! I saw new ones at Hobby Lobby but I really want one with history! Well, let me go see what I can find in my stuff to make a 4th of July tablescape .... luckily Madison's birthday party colors were blue and red will have a lot to play with!

Clever Tips for Styling a Party

Check out my guest post over at Under the Table and Dreaming by Stephanie Lynn. She is having a Celebration Inspiration Party all week long. Stephanie is featuring 2 guest posts each day with party planners, designers and experts. There is also giveaways all week to include a link up party which you can link up your own parties. You know I love a good party! Click here!

Mason Jar Love

I have tons of Mason jars left over from Madison's birthday party. If you are a follower on FB then you've seen some ideas I have for using them for food. I am seriously obsessed with Mason jars right now so I thought I would share some Mason "muses" with my peeps. You can purchase these wire handles on ETSY and make Mason Jar lanterns.

I really love this chandelier. Don't have colored Mason jars? All you need to do is use glass paint mixed with thinner on the inside. Paint a very thin coat then let dry overnight or if you live in Phoenix like me a couple hours in the sun! Then bake in oven to cure it.

I love this idea of using them for soap dispensers!

Use as a vase ~ always pretty to me.

Or put in floating candles.

Yeah....No, this is not my organized pantry. I wish! I wouldn't dare show you mine right now. What is tvp?

Serve cold lemonade or Ice Tea in jars at your next party.

I really need to do this next idea...putting lettuce in a jar and have ready for daily salads.

However, my favorite is from The Decorated Cookie with Mason Jar Meals! LOVE! We are packing up to go to our beach condo for the long 4th of July weekend and this is a perfect idea for meals to go! I will keep you posted on what I come up with.

Robin Hood party

This is a super duper cute Robin Hood party by Amanda of Tout Mon Amour. I just love the tree stump cake!

It can be hard to find themes for boys that can be really cute....well this one is! Cute bullseye cookies complete with arrow! Cake and cookies made by A Little Slice of Heaven.

The color combo of green and brown for this theme is great! I really like the use of grapevine wreaths as food containers.

Candy wrapped in wanted wrappers.

My favorite thing besides the cake would be the personalized cups wrapped in burlap with the leaf on the straw.

Favor pouches complete the look! I am always amazed how totally creative people are.

Owl Themed Baby Shower for Twins

I am so into earthy, woodsy type parties these days. I really have a need to go camping but since it's over 100 degrees here in Arizona...I think that urge will have to wait until Fall! This adorable baby shower has 2 things I really love owls and the use of "inside" furniture for the dessert table.
I really must do this one day~ pull out the old buffet!


I love the use of the rustic burlap with the elegant chiavari chairs. What a cute way to dress up plain bags...just use your stamps. More pics here. I have been asked by many of you to start back the Dollar Day Creations...that is where I go to dollar stores and dollar bins and repurpose/create stuff that can be used for party decor and accessories! I have heard you and will start back next week. I'm thinking about having a designated day that way I will stay on track!

Madison's Toy Story Western Party Part 2

Madison truly enjoyed her Western theme Toy Story party. Here are the rest of the party pics. I got this used saddle and saddle stand at an auction 4 months before the party for only $40! I was too excited. It was my first time being at an auction and definitely my first time being around so many "real" cowboys! You know I'm not originally from Arizona~ I'm a northerner!
Of course I had to do wanted posters! Madison calls herself my super helper.
Here is the table for the kiddos.

For the centerpieces, I found children sized pink cowboy boots at the Goodwill. Pink wasn't exactly in my color scheme...nothing spray paint can't fix! So I painted my 2 pairs of $2.99 kid's cowboy boots a shiny color of red. I put a plastic cup in the boot with water and flowers.


I like putting fruit in waffle bowls. It entices the kids to eat the fruit to get to the waffle bowls.

The bandanna was the napkin and wrapped twine with sheriff's badge as the napkin ring. The tin pie pans served as their plates.
The kids received "Mad" money for the activities they played and were able to spend the money in the General Store. The more they played the more money they could get. Some kids really wanted money!! This money was made by scanning a dollar bill and adding my daughter's face and shrunk down to the size of monopoly money for easy handling by little hands.
The kiddos received a Toy Story bag that I got from the Disney Store and were able to select from the 14 items in the General Store.
I bought mainly toys with a few baskets of candy.
The kids scored major loot so besides the items from the General Store they also received their stick horse, bandanna, cowboy hat, sheriff badge and got to take home items from the dessert table. I think that favors and activities are my most favorite thing to create during the party planning process. It's definitely the kiddos favorites....I think we do a lot of the "styling" of parties for us. :) I really hope you got some muses from this party....on to the next one! Don't forget to check out part 1 here.

Linking up to Tatertots & Jello

Madison's Toy Story Party Activities & Food

I have so many pictures that I need to divide Madison's birthday party into 2 posts. So this post is the activities/games and food. Since Madison's favorite Toy Story characters are Woody and Jessie this party was a Western Toy Story theme. There was a 4 pony ring~luckily I have great neighbors and was able to put it in our cul-de-sac.

We had lasso the pony. There is no picture but I wrapped a hula hoop with rope and left rope at the end. The kiddos lassoed the rocking horse. I got Madison's shirt from Made to Order Mother ETSY shop.
Stick horse races and snake in my boots game. I had panning for gold and cowboy necklaces for activities as well but ran out of time setting up....I really missed my assistant she was out of town for a wedding! I hand painted the Woody and Jessie boards.
I even found a Woody and Bullseye bounce house. Jumpy houses as my daughter calls them are a must at all her parties...she loves them!
I filled the pool with blue and red (colors of the party decor) beach balls and swimming rings. Got the swimming rings from Dollar Tree and got the beach balls from Oriental Trading.

There was a watering hole and Saloon. Can you see our bartender's shirt?? I made Madison's Round Up shirts for the bartender and my helpers. Every year for Madison's birthday party, my next door neighbor provides me with girls from her church group to help the little kids with their activities. This year her whole group wanted to help so we had many girls ranging in ages from 12-14 helping the little ones. I will post a picture of shirts tomorrow with the decor post.

My wonderful husband did an awesome job with all of the BBQ. He made chicken, sausage, cheeseburgers and hot dogs.
The BBQ sundaes were a huge hit. BBQ sundaes consist of pulled pork, BBQ baked beans, cole slaw and a pickle spear. I bought the forks from Garnish and hand stamped Howdy on them and attached with twine. Don't you just love my label signs?? I got them from the ETSY shop~ The Green Grass Grows.

She did all of my printables. I LOVE them so much plus Andrea is a gem to work with.

Next to the dessert table I had a milk stand with Cowboy/Cowgirl cookies (thanks Bakerella) to give the the adults as a favor. I will share the kiddos favors tomorrow.
The food buffet was set up outside in the hot Arizona heat so I got these inflatable buffet servers from Oriental Trading which you could fill with ice to keep food from melting! I also enlarge photos of Madison to put along the back of the buffet.


I got an Ice Cream Truck from Big Daddy's Ice Cream to come to the party. I think this may have been one of the biggest hits of the party! The kids totally freaked out with delight! Big Daddy's Ice Cream stayed for 2 hours and if you live in Phoenix/Scottsdale ~ I highly recommend them...great prices and really good people!!
My baby could not have been happier!
Dessert table consisted of mini pies, cake pops, smore's buffet and Madison's cake.
I love the Happy Birthday banner from ETSY shop Cardboard Sheek. Cardboard Sheek has rustic, woodsy and shabby chic banners for every occasions. All of the items are made from cardboard and recyclable materials.
I got the banner from the ETSY shop Blu Embellish! Love, Love, Love it!!!

Not but not least we played Toy Story 3 at sunset on a 16 foot screen. It was awesome.
What a perfect day celebrating my little one turning 4 with friends!

Vendors

Woody Bounce ~ Sir Bounce A Lot

Ice Cream Truck ~ Big Daddy's Ice Cream

Outdoor Movie ~ Funflicks

Pony Rides ~ Little Tots Pony Rides

Rental Items ~ It's A Celebration

Cake ~ 3 Cake Lane

Mini Pies ~ Chocolate by Kim

Cake Pops ~ Heavenly Cake Pops

Cake Banner ~ Blu Embellish

Printables ~ The Green Grass Grows

Happy Birthday Madison banner ~ Cardboard Sheek