birthday bags (p.s. i'm back!)

I'm back!

I took a longer break then expected, I had a lot going on and I just wanted to be able to focus on life and not even think about the computer for a while. I have a tendency to get VERY sucked into the internet. 

Little J graduated from Nursery School last week and since I was one of the class parents I had a lot to do for his last day. We went away for the weekend last week and then this weekend we had 2 birthday parties for some of Little J's friends and I had his family party. 

I try really hard to make a point to always give a handmade gift, even if it's only a small part of the present. I saw this tutorial on MADE a while ago and I loved these little bags. As a matter of fact I need to go back to Michael's to see if they have these back in stock so I can make 2 for my boys. 

I added a little flower to Isabella's and a shark to Daniel's. 

I filled up both bags with some art supplies from the dollar store. I have an awesome dollar store close by and I got all sorts of Crayola products for an excellent price. I was able to fill up the bags with tons of fun things! 

I always get a little shy when I give handmade gifts to people who don't know my obsession with crafting and sewing. I always feel like they must think "Wow, this chick must have A LOT time on her hands!" I wish! I do all my crating after 8PM and I usually stay up way too late. 

Now I am off to read blogs, reply to e-mails and stalk flickr and pinterest. ;)

mia

I just wanted to check in really quickly and say I am still here! I am so sorry I haven't responded to e-mails. (Especially you Jennifer, I am so sorry!) Life got a little nuts and we have had a lot going on and the first thing I neglected was computer time. I hope to be back next week.

pinterest goodies

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I love pinterest. 

Happy Weekend!

4th birthday invites

Every June I start planing a little family party for my oldest son. I like to make a big deal out of birthdays because growing up my Mom always made birthdays a big deal. My husband on the other hand doesn't get it. Birthdays for him were always small and he never had a birthday party, ever! (In his mothers defense she had 8 kids, so she always made a birthday dinner had a cake and gave a present. When you have that many kids every meal turns into a party!)

Birthdays also give me an excuse to bake, baking is my first love. I love to bake pretty things. I had to stop because I was gaining weight and lets face it, vanity won and I put my beautiful kitchen-aid mixer in the closet so I wouldn't see it and get tempted to bake. This year my son asked me for a spiderman cake. This should be fun!

I made some very simple invites because I am on a tight budget this year. I am going to buy a whole bunch of balloons and streamers and decorate the whole backyard with them. It's cheap and it's what my little guy requested.

Here are the invites:

Want to see some other birthday parties I have thrown? Go HERE & HERE.

Have a great weekend!

bunting wreath

I just love this wreath! I was walking around the dollar store today and I saw the wreath form for a dollar so I grabbed one (and it took a lot of willpower not to grab 5, I like to hoard crafty things lol.)

I have been eyeing this bunting wreath tutorial from Pickup Some Creativity for a while now and I wasted no time getting started. (Chris has really awesome tutorials, a whole page! And the cutest robot pattern for sale. I'm making a set for my boys.) It only took me a couple of hours to make and I am so excited about how it came out! 

Don't mind the dirty front door. I wish we didn't rent, because I would totally have a red or turquoise door!