Fun Kids Project: Homemade Gak

Gak is an amazing product. The texture is confusing and exciting to everyone. It is slimy but not sticky. I recently made gak for my son and afterwards realized how easy it was so I decided to let him make it himself. We made gak at a playdate and it was a hit. My son's friend thought this was the coolest play date. I found the recipe here: http://lilluna.com/homemade-gak-recipe/. I also love her Gak Gift tutorial here: http://lilluna.com/gak-gift/. I am planning to do this for a few play dates we have soon. Such a cute gift idea and soooo cheap.

Obsessed: Pools

I am obsessed with getting a pool in my backyard. This is probably never going to happen, but with Pinterest, I can dream. I love a long and skinny modern pool with a hot tub at one end a beach entry (on some days) on the other end. You can follow my obsession on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/aedepp/backyard/). Below are a few of my favorites.

 http://minimalisthomedezine.blogspot.com/2011/05/private-swimming-pool-design-modern.html

 

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/projects/pictures/la-boyita/36107/312173/

DIY Stamped Ice Cream Spoons

I am so excited to share with you these adorable ice cream spoons I stamped. I am obsessed with Sucre Shop (http://www.sucreshop.com/) but wanted to do a bit of crafting. So I bought plain spoons from Sweet Party Shop on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetpartyshop) and got started.

 

My color inspiration was from the AndersRuff FREE Welcome Summer printables (you can download here: http://www.andersruff.com/custom-printable-parties/diy/ruff-draft-welcome-summer-and-free-printables/) . I am creating these sweet packages for my son's teachers as an end of summer gift. 

 Since I had these pens and the chevron stamp from a previous project, I decided to use them here. I wasn't sure if the stamp would hold onto the wooden spoon, but as you can see it did perfectly.

 

I picked up some ice cream stamps at Michaels to add to the theme.

 

I just colored onto the stamp. It was so simple. 

 

Once the stamp had all the right colors, I placed it on the spoon handle and rolled it to get the best color result.

Obsessed: Sharpies

So this is an old and new obsession. I have been obsessed with Sharpies forever but with Pinterest I feel like I have refound my love for this pen. Sharpies can literally be used on everything. My latest obsession - a brown sharpie to color away the grey in a pinch. :)

 

Very cool art project for kids. 

 

Fabric pens that I have not yet used but look amazing.

 

A look I am familiar with as a young adult but not yet as a mom, thank goodness.

 

Not sure I will ever try this but love the concept.

 

Never thought about pumpkin decorating but love the idea. Perhaps I will try.

Fisher Price House Party Play Date

Many moons ago I hosted a Fisher Price House Party (www.houseparty.com) and the kids and parents had a blast. House Party is an amazing company that brings together advertisers and consumers to try products and talk about them to their friends, families and followers. The Fisher Price party was amazing. Fisher Price sent me the grill table, all of the food items, a princess castle and a race car track. I set up everything in the backyard, added snacks and kids and the party was ready to go. The kids and moms enjoyed playing tea party as well as watching the cars zoom down the ramp. The baking elements still get used often as my son and his friends love to set up a bake shop.

Super Hero 4th Birthday

Over a year ago, I assisted my sister on my nephew's 4th birthday. The party was at a local bounce house place but she wanted to do a Super Hero theme. It was just after my gorgeous Western party for my son's 2nd birthday so I knew I had to use Anders Ruff (my go to party printables). In case you missed it: http://www.craftynotartsy.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-lil-buckaroo-turned-two.html 

My sister gets very stressed out when thinking about doing a party like I do so she wanted something small. I convinced her to let me do a dessert table and got her to order super hero capes for all of the kids. It made a big impression but was simple and easy to execute.

 Capes from: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupcakeCutieKids

I found these adorable small initial cookies online from Sunshine Bakes, you can order them here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunshineBakes

 The printables package is adorable and the colors matched the party room perfectly. The cupcake toppers were from Two Sugar Babies, which you can find here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoSugarBabies

I made the small cake pops and these were a big hit for the kids. They were the perfect size for 3-4 year olds.

We also made plan cupcakes with the cute cupcake toppers. The polka dot boxes and red suitcase were used at the western party and were purchased from Paper Source. 

Overall the party was a total success and the set-up and take down were simple and quick. My sister loved it all as did the guests. She even got into the spirit for his 5th birthday and did the bowling patry all by herself and it was amazing. Future post to come.

Obsessed: Succulent Garden in Cement Planters

Welcome to a new weekly feature called "Obsessed." Each week I will share my current obsession. This is not a craft that I want to try as I will blog after I try it but rather something that I covet and most likely will never actually own.

This week's obsession are cement planters with succulent gardens (check it out here: http://www.craftynotartsy.blogspot.com/2013/05/mason-jar-succulent-gardens.html). I first started my blog with a DIY succulent garden. When I saw these cement planters I just about died. Perfect for my front yard. I absolutely hate how the bushes grow crazy and the flowers die. A succulent garden looks great and is super easy to maintain. 

I did a quick online search and could not find any planters like this so if you happen to see any please post me a message.

 

Update: I saw these gorgeous mini planters in a shop window in South Coast Plaza and had to add them to my blog entry. So simple and yet so impactful.

Kids Movie Night

I recently hosted a kid's movie night for a screening of Monsters, Inc. A group of us are going to the El Capitan to see Monster's University and we wanted all of the kids to be prepared.

I have always wanted to host a movie party and when my son gets older I plan to do just that in the backyard for a birthday party. But until then, I can practice on my party planning.

I knew I wanted to do kids trays of popcorn and candy. I had saved take out containers and they have come in pretty handy (see cupcake decoarting party). I bought Monster's U cups and small toys for each child. I filled the cups with popcorn, placed a small amount of candies (10 skittles & 5 chocolate mints) into tiny cups with lids, added a granola bar, graham crackers and a water and we were done.

I told moms to bring the kids favorite pillow and blanket and a snack for the adults.

As the kids enjoyed themselves inside the mommies sat outside and chatted and drank wine.

The kids loved the movie and afterward they enjoyed dinner as a group in the dining room before going outside and playing.

This was a fantatsic party and one that I will definately do again.

Cookies & Milk 2nd Birthday

For my nephew's 2nd birthday, my sister wanted to keep things small and simple (do you see a theme yet?). I, of course, love to throw a party so as usual I convinced her to let me set-up a small (was told I could only use the kitchen table) Cookies & Milk party. The party was in the afternoon and included only the desserts. 

Since I had just hosted my son's cowboy birthday (check it out here: http://www.craftynotartsy.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-lil-buckaroo-turned-two.html) I had a lot of the red and brown decor. I chose an adorable printable package from Anders Ruff, printed, cut, glued and taped my way to an adorable and simple party.