Ladybugs and butterflies are timeless when it comes to little girls and birthdays. So with spring just around the corner, here's a fun and easy craft to help us celebrate. These ladybug headbands are simply adorable, great for bugs and butterflies party favors or pretend play, take no time to make and are only about $3 each.
Here's what you'll need:
* ¾ inch (at least) headband * ¾ inch ribbon, grosgrain is shown * pipe cleaner (one for straight antenna and two for curly) * pom poms * glue gun
And here's how you make them:
1. Bend your pipe cleaner in the center and then again about a half inch on both sides so that you have a inch to inch-and-a-half base. Apply the base of your pipe cleaner to the middle of the headband with a strip of hot glue. (TIP: If you want curly antenna, use two pipe cleaners. Curl one end around your finger and bend the ends about ¾ inch to apply to the headband.) 2. Bend the tips of your pipe cleaner outward about a ¼ inch and hot glue on your pom poms. 3. Clip two one inch sections of ribbon to cover the ends of your headband. Apply each piece with a dot of glue on both sides. 4. Apply a dot of glue on the inside of the headband, on top of the ribbon you just placed to cover the ends, and wrap your ribbon around in a straight line to cover any exposed headband. Continue to wrap your headband angling your ribbon with each turn and gluing as you go. 5. When you reach the pipe cleaner, get your ribbon as close to it as possible and then overlap it on the opposite side being careful not to leave exposed headband. 6. Keep going until you've covered the entire headband and end your ribbon on the inside.
If you're more of a visual learner, here's our how to video that also includes a wing craft:
Jennifer Lee Wilson is a Makeup Artist turned "Cupcake Artist". She has always loved experimenting with color, texture and design, but now the canvas she works on is a freshly baked cupcake instead of a face. "It's quite interesting how similar the two careers are really. Both require a fair amount of imagination, practice and proper tools to achieve the desired outcome," says Jennifer.
"My two young children are the inspiration behind my career move; they inspired me to think outside the makeup box. As a makeup artist much time is spent away from them, either at a wedding site, or photography shoot, but with baking, they can be there right next to me (waiting for a sample of coarse!) I wanted a job where I could use my skill set, but one that would also allow me to enjoy their childhood. Baby Love's Cupcakes was in a sense created for them."
"The thing I love most about the business is that other bakers/pastry chiefs and cake decorators are super nice people! Most LOVE their job and are willing to share recipes, tips, and have an overall positive attitude. To me, that is the best ingredient in any recipe."
Currently in the works is a children's recipe book titled: Baby Love's Cupcakes for Kids with illustration by Wendy Sefcik from Broken Box Designs. "I also just completed storefront signage to be placed on the window of 'Tasty Treats' ice cream parlor in my hometown, San Mateo, California. Now the locals can stop in to enjoy a freshly baked Baby Love's cupcake." Yummy!
A fun craft for any child birthday is to create a character photo op. We made this one so that the children could stand behind it and wear the cowboy hat. All you need is:
* 48″ dowel, ¾ inch in diameter (available at the hardware store) * Two wire ties * Hot glue * Razor/box cutter * Sheet of craft board * Western shirt, jeans and vest * Plastic sheriff badge * Cowboy hat * Rope for belt * Bandana
Have your child lie down on the craft board and draw an outline of him/her. (You'll notice that our cowboy is a little bowlegged and has one arm raised). Cut the board out using the razor and then poke holes in the center of the chest and at the belt level. Insert your wire ties and secure the cutout to the dowel. Now dress your cutout and secure the clothing with hot glue if necessary. (Tip: We used an old shirt and jeans and cut them to fit the child size.) Pin on your sheriff badge, insert the dowel in the ground (in front of a hay bale if you have one) and set the cowboy hat on top. The kids will have a great time and you'll get fun pictures for your scrapbook.
Whether your little one has ever been out west or not, chances are they are quickly captivated by the thought of cowboy hats, sheriff badges and riding on the range. Encourage the imagination with these fun and easy to make favors for your little buckaroo.
Loot favor bags - Cowboys and girls will happily ride off into the sunset with these loot-filled goody bags and you'll love how easy they are to make. Here's what you need:
* Brown paper lunch bags * Twine * Sherriff badges * Black Sharpie, thick * Dollar sign template
Cut out the template and trace the dollar-sign onto your brown lunch bag (about an inch-and-a-half from the bottom). Fill the outline in with the black Sharpie and fill each bag with treats. Then simply gather the bag at the top, tie on the twine and attach the Sherriff badge (they usually have clips on the back) and you're done.
Stick pony - every respectable cowboy and cowgirl needs a trusty steed. Here's a list of what you'll need:
* ½ yard of brown felt * 2 precut felt squares of complementary color * ¼ yard of batting * 2 large buttons * Ribbon * ¾ inch dowel * Fabric glue * Scissors * Needle and thread * Stick pony template (head, nose, neck); NOTE: Print each on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and piece together
And here are the super simple steps:
1. Using the template (all three pieces), cut two shapes out of the brown felt and one out of the batting. (You'll need to trim your batting about another ½ inch all the way around so that it easily tucks into your pony silhouette.)
2. Determine where you want your button eyes and stitch them into place on both sides.
3. To create the mane, use the curve of the pony's head/neck as a guide and lay the precut felt square along the back of the pony's neck so that it overlaps about an inch. This part of the felt will be tucked into the pony silhouette. Take your scissors and cut (shorter at the top and longer at the bottom) off a half moon shape on the right of the felt square. (You may have to trim the bottom off a bit more for the mane to end at the neck.) This should leave the shape of a pony's mane. Now, cut thin strips, to resemble hair, all the way up the felt.
4. For the top of the mane, use roughly a quarter of the second square of felt and lay it over the ears and forehead. Trim the felt in a curving motion allowing the mane on top of the pony's head to be longer and to gradually get shorter on the forehead. Again, cut thin strips to resemble hair.
5. To assemble the pony, tack the batting to one side of the pony with fabric glue and then tack the mane pieces into place. For the final pony silhouette, use a solid stream of glue around all edges except roughly an inch in the bottom where your dowel will be inserted. (TIP: If you get glue on the felt or if it spills over the edges, let it dry and then snip it off with your scissors.)
6. For the bridal, select a thick ribbon and cut two pieces. One to go the length of the nose to the bottom of the neck and the second over the head between the ears. Apply the ribbon by tacking it into place with fabric glue.
Every little girl wants a princess birthday party at some point in her childhood and we as moms (and dads) will do our best to make that dream come true. And let's face it, we want our little princess to feel special and for her royal court (aka her girlfriends) to be in awe from the invitations to the cake.
Oh yes, the cake. How do you create a castle, a tiara or a fairytale dress (with a Barbie sticking out the top) molded from flour and layered with sugar without collapsing from stress? Well, there are moms out there who can do it and I say, "you go girls," but for those who are looking for a fun approach without the hassle, I've got the princess cupcake castle for you.
Here's what you'll need in addition to your cupcakes (which can be from the box, or better yet, from the grocery store):
1. Cake plate embellishing: * For the bottom tier, using a scallop ruler cut out the design on thick craft paper (DCWV green embossed polka dots shown). Apply to the cake plate with a glue gun and then trim with a fuchsia ribbon. (NOTE: Apply the glue to the paper, not the plate. To clean up, simply pull it away.)
* For the top tier, apply the same ribbon as the bottom tier using hot glue.
2. Castle towers - melt pink chocolate (available in the baking section of craft stores) in a double boiler and apply to sugar ice cream cones using a silicone brush. (TIP: Place the cone on a lollipop stick so that you can ice all the way to the bottom of the cone.)
3. Castle flag - using the same craft paper as the scallop, cut two rectangles (1 ¾" x 5/8") and then trim a triangle out of one end. Pipe hot glue to the inside of the paper; insert a toothpick and then top with the second rectangle.
4. Princess scepter/wand - take a lollipop stick and apply a dot of (non-toxic) glue about 1 ½" from one end. Apply an end of green curling ribbon and then roll the stick in your fingers to stripe it like a candy cane to the top of the stick. Apply another dot of glue to secure the ribbon. Curl 6" strands of green, blue and pink curling ribbon with a pair of scissors. Starting with the green and ending with the pink, layer the curling ribbon on top of the stick.
5. Embellishing cupcakes - ice each cupcake with pink icing and sprinkle sugar around the edges of each. For the cupcakes in the middle tier, tie them with the fuchsia ribbon. (TIP: Apply the ribbon before icing.) Insert your princess scepters in every other cupcake on the bottom and middle tier, alternating positions. (Do not insert scepters in the front facing side of your tier.)
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Holiday baking can make such wonderful memories with your kids. And with Valentine's Day only a few weeks away, so is another opportunity to pull out the cookie cutters and sugar cookie dough. That said, I don't know about you, but for me there is nothing more frustrating than placing beautifully shaped cookies into the oven and getting blobs back out. With that in mind, here are a few tips to having perfect shapes to decorate:
Dough thickness - it doesn't matter if you mix it yourself or use the stick from the dairy case, the key is to roll out your dough so that you have a consistent thickness across your cookies so that they cook evenly.
Cookie size - make sure all of your cookies are approximately the same size or your little ones might burn and your big ones will be gummy.
Dough temperature - it is critical that you slide your baking sheet into the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking the cookies. The dough needs to be cold to hold its shape; the process of rolling and our hands warms it up.
Don't overcook - it is so easy to peek at a sugar cookie and think it isn't done. Don't guess, time your cookies, and once the oven and pan are warm, you might want to cook later batches even less. My rule, take them out before they brown at the edges, usually 7 minutes.
Cooling racks - many people don't use cooling racks... I highly advise that you do. Cookies will continue to cook on the pan and you don't want hard and flaky cookies!
When I was growing up birthdays consisted of a cake, my parents and if I was really lucky, my best girlfriend. Now, birthday parties are elaborate, and I'm hooked. When my first son was born I spent two months planning what the theme would be, looking for just the right decorations, making the things I couldn't find, designing the birthday cake and trying to find treats for the goody bags. (I can't stand those dime store goody bags that you have to snatch from your kids the instant you leave a party for fear that they'll choke to death on the ride home.)
I'm telling you all of this because by the end of those two months I was frustrated. I wanted specific things and I couldn't find them anywhere. I schlepped all over the place in a large city and at the end was exhausted. Long story short, I decided to help out the mom like me who wants to throw a great celebration and just needs the resources. Hence, The Celebration Shoppe and party planning blog was born. Starting this week, I'll offer fun ideas and crafts right here to help you plan your next celebration. And if you have something coming up, birthday party, baby shower, wedding shower, holiday, post a comment and I'll do my best to work up a few ideas for you.
So, without further adieu, here's this week's craft idea: No-sew pirate flag
If you have a boy, you're likely going to have a swashbuckling bash on your hands at least once. This super easy craft is a must have. Let's face it; every respectable pirate must fly his colors. Here's a list of materials and step-by-step instructions.
pirate flag how to Materials:
* Black standard size pillowcase * 1/2 yard white cotton fabric * 1/4 yard red and white stripe fabric * 1/2 yard Heat n Bond * 3/4 inch diameter dowel * Gold bobble/earing * Gold thread
1. Iron all of your fabric. 2. Iron the Heat n Bond Iron on Adhesive to the back of the white fabric. (Make sure and turn the steam off on your iron or it will bubble the adhesive and fabric.) 3. Cut out the templates and trace the skull and crossbones onto the back of the white fabric, on the paper side of the Heat n Bond. (NOTE: The crossbones template is only half of the design. Use the same template for both sides and cut it as one piece.) 4. Cut out the designs in the fabric and lay it on the black pillowcase for placement. 5. Next peel the backs off the designs and iron them into place. 6. Using the top half of the skull (cut slightly larger than the top shape) on the skull template and the tie template (on the same page as the crossbones), cut a skull cap out of the red and white fabric. 7. Apply the skull cap with a glue gun. To give it a 3-dimensional appearance, pipe the glue only around the top of the skull leaving the bottom of the cap open. 8. Apply the skull cap ties by gluing them at the corner of the skull and leaving the bottom of the ties to hang loose. 9. Finish the cap with loops of gold thread (about 10 times around two fingers). Simply hot glue them where the ties and the skull cap connects. (See picture.) 10. Finally, add a little bling by hot gluing a bobble earring to the right side of the skull. 11. Now for the flag pole, turn your flag over and pipe glue along the open seam of the pillowcase. Line the pole up with the top of the fabric and lay the dowel down on the line of glue. Roll it a half turn, pipe another line of glue and roll the pole again. Repeat until the pole is completely covered.
This great craft is not only fun decoration for the party, but also doubles for play or bedroom decor after the party is over. Happy crafting!
When my daughter announced a few days before her ninth birthday that she wanted a "Barbie" cake, I had one of those semi-frequent moments of Kinky Friedman-style self-delusion (Kinky, a Texas singer songwriter/author ran for governor a couple of years ago. His campaign slogan was, "How Hard Could It Be?"). You've seen those cakes, right?
Sure! I could do this! How Hard Could It Be? I got one of those, whatchamacallit, bundt pans? I could slap some M&M's on there, pipe some icing...
Had to go get a Barbie, first, though, or a reasonable facsimile. Off to Target. Cooked cake. While cake is cooling, I inadvertently left it in the Serving Area, that is, the part of the counter where our basset hound can reach. Result: Total, Delicious Destruction. Count Down Til Guests? Two hours.
Quickly cook a second cake. (Of course it's from a box! My Martha Stewart delusion is quickly fading.) Go get Barbie. Release her from the imprisonment of the box. Stick her in the center of the cake. Guess what? Barbie is easily three inches taller than the top of the cake! No amount of frosting will cover this particular error. What to do? What to do?
I know! I call my husband and tell him Barbie has to have an immediate amputation. He takes the poor condemned soul out to the garage, fastens her to the workbench...and saws her legs off at the knees.
Now she's a little too short. Her arms barely touch the top of the cake. But it's too late to do anything about it. I stuff her in the center and quickly frost around her. The result looks absolutely nothing like the picture above.
Guests arrive. Typical merriment ensues. Finally, it is time for the cake. I bring her out, set her in the center of the table, carefully placing nine candles around her dress. It doesn't look too bad... until the candles are lit.
Barbie is surrounded by flames. My friends begin laughing their fool domestically-competent heads off. Soon I am laughing myself. "Heretic!" I yell, "Confess!" The little girls are confused. What's worse, Barbie's long synthetic, and might I add, highly flammable locks are beginning to smolder.
I react quickly. I yank Barbie out of the cake, forgetting that she had recently undergone the emergency amputation. The little girls scream. Barbie is dropped face down in the red fruit punch bowl. Her singed hair billows about. She looks as if she has suffered some sort of shark attack. And did not survive.
The next year, I gladly forked over the $20 bucks for a nice, safe store bought cake. I am still not sure if I'll be paying for therapy bills, however.
Ladybug Birthday
