tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69793453494969127542024-03-19T04:35:59.422-05:00Kidspired CreationsCaseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-48219158109117094142013-04-18T12:45:00.000-05:002013-04-18T12:45:03.525-05:00Once upon a time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.barefootphotography.biz/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM7Gf0I63dQY1bptRrc4EygAhYfQQqumWPminyQxyiMrPI2og33rVBlss3-mvwklhtqwdUqIKfQekmgjdmrw_lqLtsh0Mh9AhfcYqGRp8gZ3_yc9Xo5KqmuJ7G9tVvGlM_w6WnRvsuis/s320/logomasonjar_edited-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I am officially OBSESSED with my daughter's first birthday pictures!!! My friend, Jessica Roberts (totally name dropping here), is the owner and photographer of <a href="http://www.barefootphotography.biz/" target="_blank">Barefoot Photography</a>, located in the Acadiana area of Lafayette. She and I had been talking about a fairy tale photography session idea and started gathering props and ideas. A combination of Jess' amazing photography skills, and Lena's surprisingly happy nature during eight, YES 8, costume changes made for the most amazing first birthday pictures I have ever seen - ok so I'm totally biased, but they seriously are amazing!!!<br />
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Jess had a great vision! While I was in charge of costume changes, she was busy setting up scenes, checking the lighting, adjusting her camera... and by the time I was finished, she was ready for me to set the happy baby in the designated spot! I am so amazed that she captured so many amazing images even though each scene only lasted a few minutes before we were ready for a new scene and a new costume. Being a mom herself, she knows just how quickly you need to click before the baby has moved on to show interest in another shiny object.<br />
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She also worked amazingly fast to edit the pictures in time for Lena's birthday. You can tell she has a gift and a love for capturing the momentary "footprints for the next generation." Well, you can just see for herself how talented she is...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB15u9Zxh_RbyiZ9I70GhAkJ5zzq_y5U440EFa7KaV6zdV3KDNtVVI34NDvO56ocMwqTpN33C2uC-prxqsNWwSrK4qk5cjFnm_FLempgOcQ3YcqC6RBjMIUUTWI_QRUrfFj_4Flk0PEJM/s1600/child-portrait-fairytale-birthday-natural-light-opelousas-louisiana-disney-princess-fairy-t+%252870+of+105%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB15u9Zxh_RbyiZ9I70GhAkJ5zzq_y5U440EFa7KaV6zdV3KDNtVVI34NDvO56ocMwqTpN33C2uC-prxqsNWwSrK4qk5cjFnm_FLempgOcQ3YcqC6RBjMIUUTWI_QRUrfFj_4Flk0PEJM/s400/child-portrait-fairytale-birthday-natural-light-opelousas-louisiana-disney-princess-fairy-t+%252870+of+105%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
Thank you, Jessica, for these OUTSTANDING pictures! They truly are AMAZING!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarefootPhotographyLA?fref=ts" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgdpr2DIV2RZDpp3UqYQbU5qKI3r-po35oMgbO6MQIUswfaeYiXK8ts7ALtZrh8eKWLBNe7w2HTjaG6YjdGayxhCzeSOPMFhn1Rx1LDInhYK5R1kz1QqCxMlEwj5PC5rj4aQS8qjuXQA/s200/556088_173013076173997_725659961_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you are in the Acadiana area of Louisiana, you should definitely book a session with Jess Roberts of ! She specializes in newborn, child and family - capturing life's authentic moments. Jess goes on location but also has an 8 acre farm that is the perfect setting for shoots as well!<br />
<a href="http://www.barefootphotography.biz/" target="_blank">Barefoot Photography</a><br />
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Find her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BarefootPhotographyLA?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook and "like" her page</a> where she frequently adds sneak peaks and more!!!<br />
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Feel free to Pin any of these images!
<a data-pin-do="buttonBookmark" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-54029220950349731612013-01-20T09:39:00.001-06:002013-01-20T09:52:10.419-06:00Winnie the Pooh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">THUMBPRINT TREE</span></div>
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My friend contacted me about a Winnie the Pooh themed baby shower for a baby with a nursery of the same theme. She had this great idea for a thumbprint tree for the shower... </div>
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Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree!</div>
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Thumbprint trees are a great alternative to a guest book at showers, weddings and birthday parties!</div>
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Instead of signing a book, guests dip their thumbs in green ink and stamp the canvas. Their thumbprints look like leaves for the tree! When the ink dries, the guest signs his or her name over their new leaf.</div>
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I can't wait to see what this thumbprint tree looks like with all of its leaves!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpSHG8-f1ULuyeJbEH0nTUDa5G8RufQi4W3g97Ms3OdRZx57_SH0JPteAB8TlKJy_mvbUxPnJFqWbOkp9ZwUq7V_aV1UwZz5aGcFtA4iOQ-45a7MUEO5j2LtoM_xj1pqVZ2GbXEH2eRs/s1600/WINNIE+THE+POOH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpSHG8-f1ULuyeJbEH0nTUDa5G8RufQi4W3g97Ms3OdRZx57_SH0JPteAB8TlKJy_mvbUxPnJFqWbOkp9ZwUq7V_aV1UwZz5aGcFtA4iOQ-45a7MUEO5j2LtoM_xj1pqVZ2GbXEH2eRs/s400/WINNIE+THE+POOH.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">CUSTOM PAINTING</span></div>
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That same week, another friend contacted me about a custom painting for a pre-teen who loves </div>
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Winnie the Pooh, but is getting older and her tastes in decor are maturing. </div>
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She wanted a painting that will offer some encouraging words that can also grow with her through the years. </div>
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She found this quote by Christopher Robin that every child growing up deserves to know and hear,</div>
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and even better, it's perfect for a fan of Winnie the Pooh!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgtmgi1PtwkTjo30AYCi0Rmq5WNGtsWKgo7aOVxoB1oyeO3aCy0v5slBeSs2H-BAH9vHgbyrOP3tGr88wh6IaqG0LOkRmHW_9YFv8G5QsuL_PUcE23VBcx6gTolrriumdveKhPE2WBBg/s1600/Christopher+Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgtmgi1PtwkTjo30AYCi0Rmq5WNGtsWKgo7aOVxoB1oyeO3aCy0v5slBeSs2H-BAH9vHgbyrOP3tGr88wh6IaqG0LOkRmHW_9YFv8G5QsuL_PUcE23VBcx6gTolrriumdveKhPE2WBBg/s400/Christopher+Robin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-43865078362709418812013-01-19T21:15:00.001-06:002013-01-19T21:15:31.334-06:00Hails Angels Custom Creations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Brooke from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hails-Angels-Custom-Creations/138145246261782" target="_blank">Hails Angels Custom Creations</a> designed the PERFECT nursery for her baby girl!</div>
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I love this nursery so much, let me count the ways...</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpP-ncAnHk1UBlljzYu9nYKccWenWse0K92RRiLfYO43rImsCiNLROxcHHQ3WpNaeeoI0zqProXtD3M-IoJMYODlR_hWLyLSLaQPzMnYqRS3uLZoLqSQKsNzVVc5efLdfuJN76cs4T4/s1600/482007_3374863862975_1035626776_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpP-ncAnHk1UBlljzYu9nYKccWenWse0K92RRiLfYO43rImsCiNLROxcHHQ3WpNaeeoI0zqProXtD3M-IoJMYODlR_hWLyLSLaQPzMnYqRS3uLZoLqSQKsNzVVc5efLdfuJN76cs4T4/s400/482007_3374863862975_1035626776_n+(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crystal chandelier, for one!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCSfD0U-lulS9ISBS_qlPSlMffYsKqdH03t1uenggDCIkowZ8c3HMF0nYfX5dWtZ961s6hEzbvYQ4KAnRoqem3QKJyA7ZVHtTLF7llNQPE4hhPWKyu8ICYr10_9PB3nhzFtlT-Fdogzw/s1600/563527_3374863702971_1480385941_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCSfD0U-lulS9ISBS_qlPSlMffYsKqdH03t1uenggDCIkowZ8c3HMF0nYfX5dWtZ961s6hEzbvYQ4KAnRoqem3QKJyA7ZVHtTLF7llNQPE4hhPWKyu8ICYr10_9PB3nhzFtlT-Fdogzw/s400/563527_3374863702971_1480385941_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elegant, coral pink initials surrounded by 3-dimensional flowers...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NMNJR1tIRG_qPuideY88VzkiRxWhYWBz7DzTeRrQhC02A7yXl31ngAg17tzSTUOBFqtqlkZtOA6FME509nUcA1NFy-sn7xbCY4CVk1tMMtkxMAmbreydXF6tkO62-B_ZhQRapnWWUSk/s1600/562097_3205410826755_1068270904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NMNJR1tIRG_qPuideY88VzkiRxWhYWBz7DzTeRrQhC02A7yXl31ngAg17tzSTUOBFqtqlkZtOA6FME509nUcA1NFy-sn7xbCY4CVk1tMMtkxMAmbreydXF6tkO62-B_ZhQRapnWWUSk/s400/562097_3205410826755_1068270904_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The custom hand-made bedding:<br />the clean and simple yet elegant white bumper<br />and blue and pink dust ruffle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS1uUXd075Ztwbww6Mcc6TUtEUraaN6xtHX-ygObA_zYCcjRB1pC8dHtxYRebTKcL0p7cJ7-rE5ZnFv2l1MjMbpRxzATVC-8DQyECO5koJPcPwmd4zNO8EXESkbsNtbkph9fP0DSbbGU/s1600/563527_3374863782973_1786856798_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS1uUXd075Ztwbww6Mcc6TUtEUraaN6xtHX-ygObA_zYCcjRB1pC8dHtxYRebTKcL0p7cJ7-rE5ZnFv2l1MjMbpRxzATVC-8DQyECO5koJPcPwmd4zNO8EXESkbsNtbkph9fP0DSbbGU/s400/563527_3374863782973_1786856798_n+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue walls for a girl!<br />I also love this shade of coral pink for the pops of color throughout the room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm2y4Qh3s9C2snhiz2CctqoK_TkUULEbv7spj9uhZtjuA-duLYhU6L5OHzaJaSc19f4kb9Uhq3-xTamB4Sfo_4iRZPIcsFD1tY9dK8P-iXqPqaJPxl0s24W3qNeXv7WsknrmM5WutF04/s1600/harper1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm2y4Qh3s9C2snhiz2CctqoK_TkUULEbv7spj9uhZtjuA-duLYhU6L5OHzaJaSc19f4kb9Uhq3-xTamB4Sfo_4iRZPIcsFD1tY9dK8P-iXqPqaJPxl0s24W3qNeXv7WsknrmM5WutF04/s400/harper1.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The letter 'H' to match the window valence,<br />and custom doll handmade by Brooke.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y7L5xZVtrvcusPy-CLXqVgIN64-q-wA5r8vZD4C6hJ0uvvIzqwEhdMO6N0um09PiI1T8H6kXbsoqcZBfqzm303ZQw7sIf7LdEoWAvOeCUzW289ME_ZPSxEtcIPm1-E0F4O421hNX9aw/s1600/DSCN5587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y7L5xZVtrvcusPy-CLXqVgIN64-q-wA5r8vZD4C6hJ0uvvIzqwEhdMO6N0um09PiI1T8H6kXbsoqcZBfqzm303ZQw7sIf7LdEoWAvOeCUzW289ME_ZPSxEtcIPm1-E0F4O421hNX9aw/s400/DSCN5587.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course the simple, white wall decal and<br />coral nightstand with crystal lamp on top...</td></tr>
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Like I said, PERFECTION! And lucky me, I got to make a growth chart for this beautiful nursery!!! Trust me, I felt a LOT of pressure to make it worthy enough to find a place on the wall of this room! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCxSmQBJhRsRqJa17HNFyX3WplPsOFd_c4L3Ns5kj6l25wpRAe3IOIP3_k2LO361l-pFd2TV3ZyTEjl3OJDj2VwTHKhpaSyC7YbM7NRJhvhJfhrrKclw61AeNlk4dkoaWHGY2gN6Ti1o/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCxSmQBJhRsRqJa17HNFyX3WplPsOFd_c4L3Ns5kj6l25wpRAe3IOIP3_k2LO361l-pFd2TV3ZyTEjl3OJDj2VwTHKhpaSyC7YbM7NRJhvhJfhrrKclw61AeNlk4dkoaWHGY2gN6Ti1o/s640/IMG_4603.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_4ipBFRSWe57m-wXysElMSZfiGZt8hbRONkeH4HyihiMyiFqVP4yW71JCyZSzhM440747kVISq1LFS1fxxzqPurldf4RFhEnUDZo5ftzcsTEbiIEEmWMtjTF3MP7SUkEDZyJE70WZhQ/s1600/IMG_4605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_4ipBFRSWe57m-wXysElMSZfiGZt8hbRONkeH4HyihiMyiFqVP4yW71JCyZSzhM440747kVISq1LFS1fxxzqPurldf4RFhEnUDZo5ftzcsTEbiIEEmWMtjTF3MP7SUkEDZyJE70WZhQ/s640/IMG_4605.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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I think it'll look great in her room!!!<br />
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Stay tuned for more from Hails Angels and like her page on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hails-Angels-Custom-Creations/138145246261782" target="_blank">facebook</a>!!! There may be a new surprise in store from Hails Angels and Kidspired Creations!!!Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-18484642598093201442013-01-16T14:36:00.002-06:002013-01-16T15:00:19.683-06:00DIY [No-Sew] Baby PonchosIt's my new favorite thing!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoQRPvN2dlhnrPwa2UcuwbfXoFWa-GrBeUGs4t-IAZh0x-uhRj97aEGo8FnvEADK8eFKJBA89799zWmYczKiCUMzhdgkLS6AfNBzow6krRdxcZvRtqmBCrbpFttJYLVOxWDLw0nFv6xM/s1600/January+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoQRPvN2dlhnrPwa2UcuwbfXoFWa-GrBeUGs4t-IAZh0x-uhRj97aEGo8FnvEADK8eFKJBA89799zWmYczKiCUMzhdgkLS6AfNBzow6krRdxcZvRtqmBCrbpFttJYLVOxWDLw0nFv6xM/s400/January+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I hosted a baby shower this past weekend for my sister, and my favorite thing that she got was a hand-made baby poncho! I immediately ran to the fabric store to buy some fleece to make my own! And let me tell you, I was able to make 6 poncho's in 10 minutes! First try! So super easy and inexpensive (especially since JoAnn's was having a sale on fleece).<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's what you need:</span><br />
1/2 yard of fleece (makes 3 baby ponchos)<br />
Fabric scissors<br />
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BAM! THAT'S IT!<br />
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Here is the step-by-step made easy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzuPlR0JE2PmLGIVK3qrcHSZeJGq18COYkLS9c-A_wj1Rwfi9nwvz3VYPm9lsFpW7uYNT3QO8_xebegvaAbhjhSn4WGLJl34A_BjKWT7a7vJcLF3Vuken8biaZ3OLBgyBVKsS-mBnpBE/s1600/PONCHO+LONG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzuPlR0JE2PmLGIVK3qrcHSZeJGq18COYkLS9c-A_wj1Rwfi9nwvz3VYPm9lsFpW7uYNT3QO8_xebegvaAbhjhSn4WGLJl34A_BjKWT7a7vJcLF3Vuken8biaZ3OLBgyBVKsS-mBnpBE/s1600/PONCHO+LONG.jpg" /></a></div>
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Disclaimer: the 6" opening is for my 8 month old's head. Your baby might need a larger or smaller opening depending on his/her age. Happy Crafting!<br />
<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-73913676875875045152013-01-12T17:00:00.000-06:002013-01-16T15:00:48.525-06:001st Year Custom Painting<div style="text-align: center;">
Baby Girl Clélie (<a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/girls-can-hunt-too.html" target="_blank">check out her growth chart here</a>) isn't a baby anymore!!! <br />
This month she celebrated her 1st birthday! </div>
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Her nanny had a great idea for her birthday... a 1st year painting!</div>
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She drew up her idea and e-mailed it to me along with a list of everything she wanted included...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kidspiration:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtEIcJZKiHkRkQ_M-SH5ygfL3D-KtfZBCQuaLmYv6KBGnURzKk495du3gQ97BgRsMCVAEQWXokd_MFM0iJJ2vreJzbuDBooR41iUkfDvqJ_uGm_l9DHLS-iQamt9n3Ed3N5d3XeU4mWE/s1600/CLELIE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtEIcJZKiHkRkQ_M-SH5ygfL3D-KtfZBCQuaLmYv6KBGnURzKk495du3gQ97BgRsMCVAEQWXokd_MFM0iJJ2vreJzbuDBooR41iUkfDvqJ_uGm_l9DHLS-iQamt9n3Ed3N5d3XeU4mWE/s320/CLELIE.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customer's hand-drawn vision</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kidspired's Creation!</span></div>
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-26134908950053111452013-01-12T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-12T07:00:05.864-06:00Barefoot Photography Photo ShootI LOVE photography! I love the snippets of moments that are captured with the tiny click of a camera... those memories that you can look back on and reminisce. I always have this big goofy grin on my face when I look back at old pictures... I can't help it.<br />
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I am kind of a picture nut. I seriously am never a few feet away from my camera (it pretty much lives in the back pocket of my jeans), waiting to capture that perfect split second ::click::... wait, his eyes are closed... capture that perfect split second ::click::... MAN! He turned his head... that perfect split second ::click::... WAIT! COME BACK! <br />
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Thaaaank goodness for digital cameras.<br />
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My little pocket-sized camera is great for capturing our little family moments: a first tooth, a new haircut, the perfect snuggle... but what about the big picture? I want to freeze frame what my family looks like at each stage of our lives so I can look back and see how much we've grown, how much we've changed, how much we've learned, and how big our family has gotten. <br />
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With the birth of our caboose in April, I decided that this would be a great year to start sending out Christmas cards... our little family: complete! Merry Christmas!<br />
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My friend, Jess of <a href="http://www.barefootphotography.biz/" target="_blank">Barefoot Photography</a>, shares this love of photography (except she's really good at it!). She drove a really long way to my house to capture our BIG PICTURE of our little family. I wanted something frame-worthy, and much more... I wanted something Christmas card-worthy! And what Jess captured was even better than I could have imagined... she captured the essence of our family...<br />
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I absolutely love Jess' approach to family photography! My kids are NOT easy to photograph because they do not like to stay still, but that didn't phase her! She and her camera danced around my family as we played in the pasture! We did our thing, and she did hers... and she captured our family perfectly!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Also, please "like" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BarefootPhotographyLA" target="_blank">Barefoot Photography on Facebook</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jess is located in the Acadiana area of South Louisiana.</span></div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-682127244771058772013-01-11T22:23:00.002-06:002013-01-16T15:01:05.991-06:00Hoo! Hoo! An Owl Bedroom for Two!Last May, I painted a growth chart and letters for new baby girl <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/madame-butterfly.html">Kennedy's butterfly nursery</a>! Well, Kennedy just became a big sister the week before Thanksgiving to TWIN GIRLS, Kate and Klaire! I was beyond thrilled to paint letters and growth charts for our dear friends' new bundles of joy! I was also super excited to paint decor for an OWL-THEMED room! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kidspiration:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://m.target.com/p/zutanoblue-owl-brights-4-pc-crib-bedding-set/-/A-14027149" target="_blank">ZUTANOBLUE Owl Brights 4 pc Crib Bedding Set</a></span></h2>
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How cute is this bedding?????? So cute that my sister, after helping me paint the growth charts, decided to get this bedding for her baby too!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kidspired's Creation!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBHOfSPlS3_e39nYZ7qKJvWwhyphenhyphenPkeSVW0WnSX8fcoZr24RybdIiRwg68VGYhKfMYT6SlZc9-pd-7LlycPthbeiXpNwFrfCuCEIKpwtiUmiSkVCoE_UqhPYEbuu_zCmv-pGsNNRQBEhm8/s1600/556911_10101816748293885_1603901948_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBHOfSPlS3_e39nYZ7qKJvWwhyphenhyphenPkeSVW0WnSX8fcoZr24RybdIiRwg68VGYhKfMYT6SlZc9-pd-7LlycPthbeiXpNwFrfCuCEIKpwtiUmiSkVCoE_UqhPYEbuu_zCmv-pGsNNRQBEhm8/s400/556911_10101816748293885_1603901948_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband and I meeting Kate and Klaire for the first time!<br />(And Bear sneaking into our pic in the background)</td></tr>
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Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-75709672603514277052012-10-24T14:29:00.000-05:002013-01-16T15:01:16.096-06:00Cake Ideas for Boy Birthdays<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I have a confession to make... are you ready?</div>
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I don't like cake.</div>
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Phew! I said it and I'll say it again...</div>
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I don't like cake...</div>
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(at least I didn't before my last pregnancy, but that's another story).</div>
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At birthday parties, I normally keep passing the plate around and decline the offer to have my own piece of cake and it's not because I am on a diet... I just really do not like the taste and texture of cake.</div>
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Apparently my kids have inherited this trait of mine as well...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9o5w1cdyfhg-DhQbeDzQTRXY0H-qsyXBgkzmyS8PoV9RRf6YynGM4EWtGvkOzQzs10cGQLoAA_TbW4VqxiqwAKkpKeKbnqXi5mBYAp9zXqr9JdsGA8tXBjww997D9cgdH1lgMExWDJQ/s1600/217_646702391295_5853_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9o5w1cdyfhg-DhQbeDzQTRXY0H-qsyXBgkzmyS8PoV9RRf6YynGM4EWtGvkOzQzs10cGQLoAA_TbW4VqxiqwAKkpKeKbnqXi5mBYAp9zXqr9JdsGA8tXBjww997D9cgdH1lgMExWDJQ/s400/217_646702391295_5853_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PARTY TIP:<br />For a pool party, pool-shaped cake (easy peasy)<br />and for easy clean-up, just stick your kid and <br />his/her smash cake inside of a kiddie pool!<br />Hose off the pool (and your kid) = no mess!</td></tr>
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Despite not liking cake, <span style="font-size: large;">I understand that the CAKE is sort of like the keystone of the party. </span> It's almost as if it's not a real party unless there is cake. I mean, you can't really sing the "Happy Birthday" song without sticking a candle inside of what? Oh yeah, <span style="font-size: large;">a cake.</span> So, I get it. I really do.<br />
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Now, I am not a baker (perhaps my not liking cake and not liking to bake is related), so if my child's cake is not store-bought it means my sister-in-law made it... and she makes gooood cakes, or so I hear ;-) <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(She made both of the boys' smash cakes for their first birthdays shown above).</span><br />
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So here is my one and only attempt at baking my kid's birthday cake... wait... no... my HUSBAND baked these cupcakes (from a box) and I decorated them... but it was my first attempt at decorating with icing. ::sigh:: I am much better with a paint brush. Anywho, when choosing (or decorating) a birthday cake, I always have my child in mind (and I sometimes ask for their opinion, though that can sometimes ruin the whole look of the perfect food display table)...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS609XBk_yRTQEvN-Tuuw7j7Aey0D3WpuHRUKCG1okrOg3DAjI6rUMIZ3qMFqVdaYmRu5g5P93aK0JfWhbZjtOleuTqRVQB389rLGkR9663KIC_emc8OV0IQkNY5ZM87BGzjY_97HI9dQ/s1600/35376_980218671995_3959266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS609XBk_yRTQEvN-Tuuw7j7Aey0D3WpuHRUKCG1okrOg3DAjI6rUMIZ3qMFqVdaYmRu5g5P93aK0JfWhbZjtOleuTqRVQB389rLGkR9663KIC_emc8OV0IQkNY5ZM87BGzjY_97HI9dQ/s400/35376_980218671995_3959266_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me: "What do you want your cupcakes to say? 'Happy Birthday?'"<br />James: "No, I want them to say, 'Hello.'"</span></td></tr>
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At this Toy Story themed party, I let the kids decorate their own cupcakes because I figured they could do a better job than me...<br />
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And of course, because he's my child, he only ate the icing and sprinkles, but not the cake.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTgLZnJupuaQzlcNaiPVhaN1LdzTn6gJKGExIVapkYAlKkmtE8CorXGEd2YqdDWaiw5j5-YU7yj9A-oLr73ZCyedobvSJ3H9hwDfZXIrLyzrEEadislz1jMFmk2MChEl6PySHgrv_6F8/s1600/38269_983688104225_6743164_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTgLZnJupuaQzlcNaiPVhaN1LdzTn6gJKGExIVapkYAlKkmtE8CorXGEd2YqdDWaiw5j5-YU7yj9A-oLr73ZCyedobvSJ3H9hwDfZXIrLyzrEEadislz1jMFmk2MChEl6PySHgrv_6F8/s400/38269_983688104225_6743164_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ok, ok... perhaps letting my kids decorate their own cakes may be a little bit overboard for party guests.</div>
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My younger son always asks for cake and just kind of stares at it, so for his birthday parties, he always gets powdered doughnut towers instead of cake. Cupcake toppers sit nicely inside of the doughnut holes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouifbDIpUfYDuldeQUxLhoKBXLQCFoRe6lcfrL7ZqUYLFVz9UF-kQSR1GEu9XomDfLzGwZ06dq7CWJHFRqVUZdnWpP4ey8_6wuKtEIAM4W-kQE5wfoH5ZxrZuqdBubp98cjxTEKmGI3M/s1600/379489_10100784375053135_248983434_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouifbDIpUfYDuldeQUxLhoKBXLQCFoRe6lcfrL7ZqUYLFVz9UF-kQSR1GEu9XomDfLzGwZ06dq7CWJHFRqVUZdnWpP4ey8_6wuKtEIAM4W-kQE5wfoH5ZxrZuqdBubp98cjxTEKmGI3M/s400/379489_10100784375053135_248983434_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, now I've decided to start putting a little more effort into this key element of the party...</div>
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For my oldest's <a href="http://www.kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2012/07/angry-birds-birthday-party.html">Angry Birds birthday party</a>, we ordered green pig cupccakes from Target </div>
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(the bakers were so confused as to why we would want GREEN pigs), </div>
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and we ordered a cookie from The Great American Cookie Company </div>
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(they, too, were confused as to why they were only decorating the bottom half of the cake).</div>
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We then added nutter butters and green gumballs to build the piggy towers on the giant cookie.</div>
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So we there was at least a little effort on our part here!</div>
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Then we actually attempted to make cake balls </div>
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which were BY FAR the most effort we have ever put into a cake-like treat. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">See the link above for the how-to on how to make these.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5xri8G7PULZ_sQ2agRWt4F6ErQOeByII1Lw9TcEbr_d3TZDlYsRf8LRQpVQQYkUW_rdBy04ltC_hJwwGgJO9UH8yu30Jif2BDLowJbgDOvTqIJ9JkisBxrm4dBVjkeha38JeL5gvyvw/s1600/James+birthday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5xri8G7PULZ_sQ2agRWt4F6ErQOeByII1Lw9TcEbr_d3TZDlYsRf8LRQpVQQYkUW_rdBy04ltC_hJwwGgJO9UH8yu30Jif2BDLowJbgDOvTqIJ9JkisBxrm4dBVjkeha38JeL5gvyvw/s640/James+birthday1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since cakes aren't my forte', I reached out to friends to share their brilliant birthday cakes from parties past. Here are some of my favs...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">CONSTRUCTION PARTY:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkd-48Tr54sUSm4WGvKvAMua9uUxURnhIg86SPaT_xGZw2_Toj5nG0sDySlGMwTLcGASr-JxNvvKIQj1h0rWfiXKtBZbYQ1UvLnUyQ8xq49PgJ8dA3ctdo_uAL41iWthFrHFlNocwZ6E/s1600/306940_10150295601814023_2093848066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkd-48Tr54sUSm4WGvKvAMua9uUxURnhIg86SPaT_xGZw2_Toj5nG0sDySlGMwTLcGASr-JxNvvKIQj1h0rWfiXKtBZbYQ1UvLnUyQ8xq49PgJ8dA3ctdo_uAL41iWthFrHFlNocwZ6E/s400/306940_10150295601814023_2093848066_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The cake is a chocolate cake/pudding mixture with chocolate rocks purchased from a cake decorating store on top. I LOVE that the cake is INSIDE the dump truck! Brilliant!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLoXyDqV4yUniXmAi65j0DsElYMsTJ7b18n5bTixX8ft0OeBcikbpRpxXci_6lwa-dsoZxkeBVDAIAlh9C1Wy1N5bcUfHbxolLhayqKpkXPo0KWcSkfYFnRI0nr8b4Za0TIkwo5u_YXI/s1600/298219_10150295601964023_453661817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLoXyDqV4yUniXmAi65j0DsElYMsTJ7b18n5bTixX8ft0OeBcikbpRpxXci_6lwa-dsoZxkeBVDAIAlh9C1Wy1N5bcUfHbxolLhayqKpkXPo0KWcSkfYFnRI0nr8b4Za0TIkwo5u_YXI/s400/298219_10150295601964023_453661817_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">CARS/CARS II PARTY:</span></div>
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By <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CoraBells-Cakes-by-Robyn-Wimberly/126071377472445">CoraBells Cakes by Robyn Wimberly</a></div>
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River Ridge, Louisiana</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn-fL8SwjRegYPR0DVm3VbkKwSmcpr7W7GOFJmuadk_ZMrGEPCpa4LCDXAoj7536HD1-bKr1si41nsEy5gYgi_af9MsD_AOW6bqGQ1NkoGiR2P874TteXJEI5GbAbcpcwdJLvOnSx0pw/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn-fL8SwjRegYPR0DVm3VbkKwSmcpr7W7GOFJmuadk_ZMrGEPCpa4LCDXAoj7536HD1-bKr1si41nsEy5gYgi_af9MsD_AOW6bqGQ1NkoGiR2P874TteXJEI5GbAbcpcwdJLvOnSx0pw/s400/01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh my goodness this cake AMAZES me! And I LOVE the matching smash cake! Oh man, my boys would be so jealous if they saw this cake!</div>
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Robyn has a great tip for those of you who like to use fondant on your cakes:</div>
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"Wilton fondant is not nearly as good as Duff's but you get more for your money with the Wilton batch. I would recommend using Wilton for sculpting decorations and Duff for covering full cakes."</div>
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Thanks for the tip, Robyn!!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">WINNIE THE POOH PARTY:</span></div>
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Also by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/CoraBells-Cakes-by-Robyn-Wimberly/126071377472445">CoraBells Cakes by Robyn Wimberly</a><br />
River Ridge, Louisiana<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVx6dJ1zDgy57wF6r3Q0YwC5EjKv1b4Yzs1TCnCiRVl9E-8J3wbpW3-fHA7oZpuuz7eTltYxbrdcwFPlodhNU9VM1teQhkbq8fK6_druBOjrr08QoBadR0i7R1A6WXNa4Szop7qtQOJ0/s1600/263521_133679946711588_5045908_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVx6dJ1zDgy57wF6r3Q0YwC5EjKv1b4Yzs1TCnCiRVl9E-8J3wbpW3-fHA7oZpuuz7eTltYxbrdcwFPlodhNU9VM1teQhkbq8fK6_druBOjrr08QoBadR0i7R1A6WXNa4Szop7qtQOJ0/s400/263521_133679946711588_5045908_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ok, so this was for a baby shower, but would be perfect for a little boy's first birthday! Don't you just LOVE the honey pot???</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PIZZA PARTY:</span></div>
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By <a href="http://mscakecreations.com/">Margo Smith's Cake Creations</a></div>
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Goldsboro, North Carolina</div>
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GENIUS! It's a pizza! It's a cake! It's a pizza cake! This sugary delight might actually shock some of the kids who are expecting to take a huge bite into a pizza. Even as a non-cake eater, this cake looks delicious to me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XuDEG4mcb7WRHK_RwfAi4XutHm65luX1387Jibdt2fcAEBHKEg9GkN2JjRNY3o5UPXsozmN0Y4mcQKFXHoVLQFk8TplotkX8xObOKZynAetYwhyAcjSrk_GBD1mMCopSArxlqgJFgdQ/s1600/202094_2063420949694_5032674_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XuDEG4mcb7WRHK_RwfAi4XutHm65luX1387Jibdt2fcAEBHKEg9GkN2JjRNY3o5UPXsozmN0Y4mcQKFXHoVLQFk8TplotkX8xObOKZynAetYwhyAcjSrk_GBD1mMCopSArxlqgJFgdQ/s400/202094_2063420949694_5032674_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">MARTIAL ARTS PARTY:</span></div>
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By <a href="http://mscakecreations.com/">Margo Smith's Cake Creations</a><br />
Goldsboro, North Carolina<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHl8umDeqgt6fY8vEBifKYNxcAmXYWKuNQDFev2zY8LmZ2N-h_7a36MbQ-rlZr2btZFOsC0ne5bQGdoKBVqCKLV4-hbbONDLmB3SGJBcaQenYMLN_CHvqoy44L4scG8SrGHy3kp14HTQ/s1600/562433_3906175697411_151930967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHl8umDeqgt6fY8vEBifKYNxcAmXYWKuNQDFev2zY8LmZ2N-h_7a36MbQ-rlZr2btZFOsC0ne5bQGdoKBVqCKLV4-hbbONDLmB3SGJBcaQenYMLN_CHvqoy44L4scG8SrGHy3kp14HTQ/s400/562433_3906175697411_151930967_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
What a great idea for a young green belt! This cake would also be awesome to celebrate when your son/daughter advances to a new level of martial arts!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(PURPLE) BIG RED DOG / CLIFFORD PARTY</span></div>
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What do you do when your child requests a PURPLE Big Red Dog party?</div>
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You turn all of your Big Red Dogs PURPLE!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7VejQ3XmmOfpFyIuYXv6mgKXdMChygfus-AYr8Qm6rc1DB-F-HgNo_9JcN9iOpx6s6tmQ3ZB0-UFnIreTHB1qSL3CrCG1tCgnHrL9zT0MdG4kVOEFNUUECwOBEfn1El9XVZ-XYjIsz0/s1600/404036_10151085989389023_1443709187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7VejQ3XmmOfpFyIuYXv6mgKXdMChygfus-AYr8Qm6rc1DB-F-HgNo_9JcN9iOpx6s6tmQ3ZB0-UFnIreTHB1qSL3CrCG1tCgnHrL9zT0MdG4kVOEFNUUECwOBEfn1El9XVZ-XYjIsz0/s400/404036_10151085989389023_1443709187_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just a few of a little boy's favorite things: fruit roll ups, chocolate chips, whoppers and purple big red dogs!</div>
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Tip from Chesnye:</div>
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"The fruit roll ups disintegrated in the refrigerator, so they should be put on at the very last [minute]."</div>
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Another great tip! See, we can learn so much from one another's trials and errors!</div>
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Have a great cake idea? Tag @kidspiredcreations in your photo on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kidspiredcreations">Facebook</a> and I will share it on this post! Also, my next post will be about other creative party ideas (i.e. favors, decorations, etc.) so if you have a great idea, tag me in those pictures as well!</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-40160992655257478212012-10-15T11:59:00.001-05:002012-10-15T11:59:23.896-05:00Ribbon-Inspired Bow Holder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I found this beautiful ribbon that I thought would be just perfect for a teal/pink room!</div>
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I absolutely love the lime green and yellow that's thrown in there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSENpKEC6lUqPqNfP6allI64ARUh0wxBOw0OOiUbSJTRv-WGd8v9Hq9W6ZGCj41A3CUKpPTRW_1EpIJSmvVnRD6ZqHF_nGwAmNS1c9rBqyrbLBoGiRdZ1hRVboiho0jWvW_e-rVLaVGGE/s1600/IMG_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSENpKEC6lUqPqNfP6allI64ARUh0wxBOw0OOiUbSJTRv-WGd8v9Hq9W6ZGCj41A3CUKpPTRW_1EpIJSmvVnRD6ZqHF_nGwAmNS1c9rBqyrbLBoGiRdZ1hRVboiho0jWvW_e-rVLaVGGE/s640/IMG_1443.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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I also sewed loops on the bottom to hold headbands.</div>
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Now that I'm a mommy of a baby GIRL, I totally get this necessity.</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-88626206987173510532012-09-24T22:13:00.000-05:002012-09-24T22:13:19.694-05:00Mod Dot Nursery<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFpRiQoP8K-woJT7WR1OUKDQEJTvrmfue9haD-bCWt7VwGuwWn6k5zlXisZX0OeGJ-ZYfBKaO1tZAsabZcY6-NM9wumDBdfkUsXKEDLYgBaCPqlS7C6UhadAr2VpNwRB7AMj3iEJ2Uso/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFpRiQoP8K-woJT7WR1OUKDQEJTvrmfue9haD-bCWt7VwGuwWn6k5zlXisZX0OeGJ-ZYfBKaO1tZAsabZcY6-NM9wumDBdfkUsXKEDLYgBaCPqlS7C6UhadAr2VpNwRB7AMj3iEJ2Uso/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="320" /></a>My friend Cristina is about to give birth to her second baby boy any day now! Our oldest sons became best buds when they were in the same Pre-K class together last year, and now, I have the pleasure of designing her baby's nursery in her new home! I feel so honored and blessed that she asked me to help her nest because, as you can probably assume, nesting is my favorite part of pregnancy! It's such an amazing feeling to have the nursery complete right before baby comes. It makes you feel relaxed and READY! I am so happy to be a part of that experience for families.<br />
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I love the simplicity, yet the boldness of the bedding design. I went to Cristina's house and drew up a few ideas for wall decor in the nursery. Together we decided on a plan! Since her son's name is Daniel, she really wanted a Bible verse about Daniel to hang in his room, but she also wanted to incorporate a few of her favorite verses as well. Decisions, decisions... well... let's use them all!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdseZCXal1md05qKUDLR6izpp1IyY47Ydf8Ld5bgRvZ8H24hk-90eZN5HSAoYtVE1bLYW-CWimUJgZCVgO2rQDKEOXP5EJwkX-3crFZPHMKVbPp39wQVwLbSUHlwGZ_65gv_rmDilAblo/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdseZCXal1md05qKUDLR6izpp1IyY47Ydf8Ld5bgRvZ8H24hk-90eZN5HSAoYtVE1bLYW-CWimUJgZCVgO2rQDKEOXP5EJwkX-3crFZPHMKVbPp39wQVwLbSUHlwGZ_65gv_rmDilAblo/s400/IMG_0794.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."<br />Psalm 4:8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTIWnZEclR7YNeu4Lj_pNp6sE1mVsVv2ZC3K4gPuuXwlc5-UsiwRz-rmKOx3wX5aPfWJ37hlCx27EWvVhXRoZSDkcODqY5na0e6SgUU32LpNumTaGc_xwbwWJBHslQw1nvs5NV6soAGQ/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTIWnZEclR7YNeu4Lj_pNp6sE1mVsVv2ZC3K4gPuuXwlc5-UsiwRz-rmKOx3wX5aPfWJ37hlCx27EWvVhXRoZSDkcODqY5na0e6SgUU32LpNumTaGc_xwbwWJBHslQw1nvs5NV6soAGQ/s400/IMG_0795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions. <br />They have not hurt me because I was found innocent in his sight."<br />Daniel 6:22</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzHu8bCe04S8_cyg_Yq5vsy2ZktbsD2wrwo8D-_5k_1R55Bh1vRNVsQgCx1Gi-tNqpeCyIJlPn7TEAo-SdL-5JfqopGXsO5Q3REHhGqFFTlI1eb3oNYgEy2L1eolJgNrTZpGI9vOhj-I/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzHu8bCe04S8_cyg_Yq5vsy2ZktbsD2wrwo8D-_5k_1R55Bh1vRNVsQgCx1Gi-tNqpeCyIJlPn7TEAo-SdL-5JfqopGXsO5Q3REHhGqFFTlI1eb3oNYgEy2L1eolJgNrTZpGI9vOhj-I/s400/IMG_0799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, <br />"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..."<br />Jeremiah 29:11</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn7EPMX6uE4MDyMzpTzppW4YbMKsxg7FsxVxd9bRNf42-nR_Stlmq2_NV_YEL9_fLuvzzBlK2bvDbOmSq_gPsJXsVMZ5TGQF7IBVdt8PhrEXVKgk8KCx-KV3C_3infLFmd-uctl3Re-0/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvn7EPMX6uE4MDyMzpTzppW4YbMKsxg7FsxVxd9bRNf42-nR_Stlmq2_NV_YEL9_fLuvzzBlK2bvDbOmSq_gPsJXsVMZ5TGQF7IBVdt8PhrEXVKgk8KCx-KV3C_3infLFmd-uctl3Re-0/s400/IMG_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGSjHpI9_356zKDguL62_Gmh0cMqjn7RmBM4Bdhzce_bQMIOesXUWmASAz4HZCqvj-JC9h7ccoGZRnqFKifxyZHpJ15nQYEU-jtCzliixMVwQT-jkauPT-zFGeGOVSiZZ-5Nmi8j3wRQ/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGSjHpI9_356zKDguL62_Gmh0cMqjn7RmBM4Bdhzce_bQMIOesXUWmASAz4HZCqvj-JC9h7ccoGZRnqFKifxyZHpJ15nQYEU-jtCzliixMVwQT-jkauPT-zFGeGOVSiZZ-5Nmi8j3wRQ/s400/IMG_0816.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Since the circle design on the bedding is very symmetrical, I wanted to maintain symmetry by incorporating 6 paintings in a grid pattern. I also wanted the paintings to stand out so I incorporated different patterns using the same bold colors as the bedding.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj6Y0mIjagu36fsz_EhdJW2lhajzQySRTWYwJbWh9IIGC5wOBHKIWl7QVfQgaN4obEtpzlUstYttA3oBqpBVOsQ1sHRBzBXdvHk-qJSEWLCpOzO5Fg_n5w22XHuUrgwgB9ropQQKMCRY/s1600/IMG_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFj6Y0mIjagu36fsz_EhdJW2lhajzQySRTWYwJbWh9IIGC5wOBHKIWl7QVfQgaN4obEtpzlUstYttA3oBqpBVOsQ1sHRBzBXdvHk-qJSEWLCpOzO5Fg_n5w22XHuUrgwgB9ropQQKMCRY/s400/IMG_0818.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
The bedding came with two window valences, but the nursery only has one bedroom. I used the other valence to make simple wall decor using embroidery hoops that I purchased for $1.50 a piece. The circles from the bedding pattern fit PERFECTLY into the hoops. This was MAJOR coincidence!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk5NvhHYW2pGi2T3OGZX6Z_d4-yaI2j-Y4U8gkFdshs-og0u_cDANB8kr8VBfx8ilcq6rC8lLkQv_FE-eMGDddsEC5oxQawWdlLdl1V4DPRQFnjNegy9JoPbhkBAP_l5C5yGTycPCppQ/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk5NvhHYW2pGi2T3OGZX6Z_d4-yaI2j-Y4U8gkFdshs-og0u_cDANB8kr8VBfx8ilcq6rC8lLkQv_FE-eMGDddsEC5oxQawWdlLdl1V4DPRQFnjNegy9JoPbhkBAP_l5C5yGTycPCppQ/s400/IMG_0830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In addition to the circles, this collage also includes sentimental decor.<br />If placed alone on the wall, the decor would have looked smaller and bare,<br />but by grouping it together it adds interest and fills an otherwise bare space.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiIqQEaAIrCZ-_DLrRVfS1GCml4EVF7SW9HNDWDJ3sC4quXKX4N_it2x7e1tfU1bsagVrXXAv6CKDuRyReD7MTHulf2qzp9P7myEew7JEm4XFU_D15AYucgQnUMRKYDUWNffn-9K64Yg/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiIqQEaAIrCZ-_DLrRVfS1GCml4EVF7SW9HNDWDJ3sC4quXKX4N_it2x7e1tfU1bsagVrXXAv6CKDuRyReD7MTHulf2qzp9P7myEew7JEm4XFU_D15AYucgQnUMRKYDUWNffn-9K64Yg/s400/IMG_0817.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only thing missing now is a baby!</td></tr>
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<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-42334786292600661812012-09-16T16:20:00.002-05:002012-09-23T12:24:50.315-05:00Lavender Monkey Theme Bow Holder<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/coc/coc7835-854_pop1_coc7835-854.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0EO_Brr8FJQA0qgSwnlZ4a0lsB_6YMsv5UoVs-NB4woEB_dkT_R1-HjQxovHSQJAWetXDFBCk4AsNrZDjaNEhR0Csq2dbk9sEDPT97H8IzXAgXqx5ybjvphGdHShAX-dPizuZZ1ZQhc/s1600/jacana+monkey+girl.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/coc/coc7835-854_pop1_coc7835-854.html">Cocalo: Jacana Crib Bedding</a></td></tr>
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One of my college roommates is expecting her first baby! A baby GIRL! She is going to be a great mommy! </div>
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I asked her what she needed for Sophia's nursery and she hinted that this little girl needs something functional... like...a bow holder! Perfect! I mean, in the world of hair bow fashion, who doesn't need a bow holder??? </div>
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Don't you just LOVE her lavender jungle themed bedding? For those of you who follow my blog, you know how much I LOVE a good jungle theme! But the star of this theme is the adorable monkey with a flower tucked behind her ear. </div>
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I wanted to make this bow holder multi-functional, so I decided to attach the ribbons to a chalkboard so Mommy can write baby's age, or new milestones, or love notes!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kidspired's Creation:</span></div>
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It's funny how before I had my own baby girl, whenever I would make a bow holder, I didn't have any bows to model on it. Now that my house is filled with bows, I actually got to CHOOSE which bows to put on here for picture's sake.<br />
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I added four clips to the ribbons to hold wrap-around, elastic head bands. I had to think outside the box for a good way to hold these because if you have bows, you also have elastic head bands to hold them.<br />
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I sewed loops on the end of each ribbon to hold regular, non-elastic head bands.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Fl6QpILChejwhwq-DgPGr-5X9NWJunpsOyzJW3kFbSuX1fhBp2_hMEEKwHmjp6IzLO1Fr6HGXHxhc6pgqoHqRxcs_8l-GeDErLwf8cvYP3a2-HlkX80OUoKQpreaMX1qorH2Xs-xJfs/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Fl6QpILChejwhwq-DgPGr-5X9NWJunpsOyzJW3kFbSuX1fhBp2_hMEEKwHmjp6IzLO1Fr6HGXHxhc6pgqoHqRxcs_8l-GeDErLwf8cvYP3a2-HlkX80OUoKQpreaMX1qorH2Xs-xJfs/s400/IMG_0401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The clips intended for the elastic head bands can also be used to make the ribbons shorter if necessary and to add an additional loop for more non-elastic head bands. When she gets older, she will probably have less wrap around head bands, and more regular ones. Multi-functional. Bam!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXKs-158uBg9HaxXH5oh3nNfAHue_-MhE8RHA01RBuiCgkIScLAhVGx5juEy3jh7PuxGa0oHSz0eBo9EL1oYwAXoql02oqLQ4CEbOPQrYRVgiC83AQffCrgObmxzUIorfJN_3IcgSYzo/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXKs-158uBg9HaxXH5oh3nNfAHue_-MhE8RHA01RBuiCgkIScLAhVGx5juEy3jh7PuxGa0oHSz0eBo9EL1oYwAXoql02oqLQ4CEbOPQrYRVgiC83AQffCrgObmxzUIorfJN_3IcgSYzo/s640/IMG_0406.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
Congratulations, Katie! I am so excited for you!Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-78771095024123430602012-09-08T09:06:00.002-05:002012-09-08T09:06:41.599-05:00Lightning McQueen Bulletin Board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just shipped off this super fun Lightning McQueen bulletin board to one of my former Pre-K students!</div>
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When his mom asked me to paint something for his room, of course I was going to make something for him to display all of his school work!!!</div>
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Once a teacher, always a teacher...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SeFfpEbDzgmL0AhH7M0Dv0BaCpk3II-CSbL-2RB8JinlJre9sdmN0sRnbVvI3TzNPESa1uYkzV59KOO1_MUALJTwyYY5dw9Gt4S492LyGVYhACrWLYLyv1RNLhX3RjhpCegZWbiArTw/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SeFfpEbDzgmL0AhH7M0Dv0BaCpk3II-CSbL-2RB8JinlJre9sdmN0sRnbVvI3TzNPESa1uYkzV59KOO1_MUALJTwyYY5dw9Gt4S492LyGVYhACrWLYLyv1RNLhX3RjhpCegZWbiArTw/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
It was definitely hard to find a box this size, so I had to improvise by tearing a box apart and piecing it back together around the bulletin board. Sorry, you aren't REALLY receiving a 20" flat screen TV. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7bJs8k25seb0bwR_k03pcMlnJIa_vLkqxsXuGLT6eNDx4qAdjCijFWrnlIOEZ0d0Ew9jB2kDRaDRXpwV08CqZGwaoVZpzykgYGuySQZp6QE2GDw3jOW10rtLyqJfkKYYIOQXvzg4kHA/s1600/IMG_0393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7bJs8k25seb0bwR_k03pcMlnJIa_vLkqxsXuGLT6eNDx4qAdjCijFWrnlIOEZ0d0Ew9jB2kDRaDRXpwV08CqZGwaoVZpzykgYGuySQZp6QE2GDw3jOW10rtLyqJfkKYYIOQXvzg4kHA/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
My little helper carrying the package into the post office... my arms were full of more orders to ship out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJWHyhwWuhIy1uFeWudJcmo8qnWEYaYCBqK9ZlQ1j4EVcOzlgExU8fBS8DlB6R_e8uwz8uYvFPJflD0KRPf0cn0iF4Viw33SanlGySqwNDqKLuAaCgH3OmGzdoxbA-Vu9aJeUps0h2HI/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJWHyhwWuhIy1uFeWudJcmo8qnWEYaYCBqK9ZlQ1j4EVcOzlgExU8fBS8DlB6R_e8uwz8uYvFPJflD0KRPf0cn0iF4Viw33SanlGySqwNDqKLuAaCgH3OmGzdoxbA-Vu9aJeUps0h2HI/s400/IMG_0409.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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He wasn't too thrilled that I was taking the time out to take a picture while he was doing all of the heavy lifting.</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-10132142377444102222012-08-26T13:25:00.001-05:002012-08-26T13:42:08.146-05:00Craft Dreams and PinterestHave you ever had a <i>craft dream?</i> I am not always sure if I am completely asleep when I have these dreams but when I wake up I get this insane urge to craft... immediately. And if I don't do it immediately it's as if I have this itch that just won't go away. <br />
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Well, a few nights ago, I had this dream that I turned my laundry room sliding door into a huge chalkboard! It drove me CRAZY, but I had to wait a week to do it... you know, a little thing called LIFE got in the way of my crafting. <br />
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Perhaps I have these dreams thanks to late nights spent perusing Pinterest boards... perhaps...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6W8gzO1edLU5z7AokHgOJHqSzimWkiKdCvDTDzqTuspmArvsFSckqFwBshATjkgMu5XoYNaRBUJEoLFrhBbrYY1EZlGIti491JJ1joz9BoPOsxBMnkXK_a_jcpKkxbaXkL_QXfwuY00/s1600/August2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6W8gzO1edLU5z7AokHgOJHqSzimWkiKdCvDTDzqTuspmArvsFSckqFwBshATjkgMu5XoYNaRBUJEoLFrhBbrYY1EZlGIti491JJ1joz9BoPOsxBMnkXK_a_jcpKkxbaXkL_QXfwuY00/s400/August2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few coats of chalkboard paint found at the local hardware store.</td></tr>
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I can't take credit for dreaming these next two up on my own. I definitely found these on Pinterest...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1XHJA9cd88SMuKS629LujTSwxZA0C0tDQ8FbZBUDryylO40pWZAKEzW-Xl5xm_1ZSsEeCzbz6SSJKancyudd07Krj0SCcvGUWYrPpUu18dMDfYd-ZpY6kkMziLHwnhVrKkKXYxsW8Ks/s1600/August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1XHJA9cd88SMuKS629LujTSwxZA0C0tDQ8FbZBUDryylO40pWZAKEzW-Xl5xm_1ZSsEeCzbz6SSJKancyudd07Krj0SCcvGUWYrPpUu18dMDfYd-ZpY6kkMziLHwnhVrKkKXYxsW8Ks/s400/August.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A place for a family of 5 to place our used cups so we don't go through so many throughout the day.<br />
A scrap of 1x6 board, drawer handles and coasters.<br />
I first painted the board black, then painted it <i>sea grass</i>,<br />
then lightly sanded the board to expose some of the black paint.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdy1flHQdJYBQM_EcEaM0914fRs5vLHYxEtI-JSYzycr7h9tiSFVky1ZW2XHmRqVNZ5GqklQMjmswgUAwXAfp32T5LkTKq0o4gX3lYFRTLuU85oUjsiKwWjblVfYAfvD9NubWz2qNz8/s1600/IMG_9858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdy1flHQdJYBQM_EcEaM0914fRs5vLHYxEtI-JSYzycr7h9tiSFVky1ZW2XHmRqVNZ5GqklQMjmswgUAwXAfp32T5LkTKq0o4gX3lYFRTLuU85oUjsiKwWjblVfYAfvD9NubWz2qNz8/s400/IMG_9858.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new prayer board.<br />
<span class="text Lam-2-19" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">"Pour out your heart <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20352A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>like water</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-2-19" style="position: relative;">in the presence of the Lord. <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20352B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Lam-2-19" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Lift up your hands <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-20352C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>to him</span><br />
<span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-2-19" style="position: relative;">for the lives of your children..."<br />Lamentations 2:19</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">I saw this on Pinterest a while back. My sister had actually given me a few of these frames and I decided that since I was already crafting, may as well finally do this project, especially since I already had the paper and letters as well.</span></td></tr>
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Speaking of Pinterest, please follow Kidspired Creations @ <a href="http://pinterest.com/kidspiredcre8/">kidspiredcre8</a>! And feel free to <i>pin</i> any pictures on my website... just make sure it is linking back here! Thank you!!!Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-1296034281382030262012-08-14T12:02:00.001-05:002012-08-14T12:02:26.241-05:00Who Dat Jerseys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The thing I love best about Kidspired Creations is that it's ALWAYS something new.</div>
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There are no limits to creating kidspired decor and no two creations are the same!</div>
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And even better, I love CHALLENGES! </div>
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Something different from painting stripes and polka dots.</div>
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But when my friend sent me this email...</div>
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I wanted two saints jerseys with a personalized name. But the company will only do one. Could u paint something similar with two jerseys with a personalized name?</blockquote>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1LvSGMHKdU/UCp8d8_6SXI/AAAAAAAAFws/vgOW85Tev1k/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1LvSGMHKdU/UCp8d8_6SXI/AAAAAAAAFws/vgOW85Tev1k/s640/photo+%252810%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I kind of doubted my abilities.</div>
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However, this is <i>KIDspired </i>Creations and </div>
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I got her permission to use some <i>kidspiration</i> to make this painting...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vrzDxhbr9WWvGwzM9keBgcMNes9wNYVMs63U9w7NL131zTVLqC8z9Fyyoen2OjKV228796UC9PVGxRWALF39JWfMcrMfyUDYjfp_JxW1_gmb2p1UJhpH-_GvAQHKko6HPW8cpPJoP_c/s1600/IMG_9254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vrzDxhbr9WWvGwzM9keBgcMNes9wNYVMs63U9w7NL131zTVLqC8z9Fyyoen2OjKV228796UC9PVGxRWALF39JWfMcrMfyUDYjfp_JxW1_gmb2p1UJhpH-_GvAQHKko6HPW8cpPJoP_c/s640/IMG_9254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Did I mention this is a teacher appreciation gift???</div>
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Now those are two very special teachers!!!</div>
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This customer had the great idea to put the numbers 20 and 12 on the teacher's jerseys to represent the year</div>
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(and of course it had to have the school's name on the bottom).</div>
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I love using multiple brains to put a project together!</div>
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If you have an idea for a project or painting and do not see an example on my blog, </div>
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please feel free to e-mail me and I am sure we can work together to create a great design!</div>
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kidspiredcreations@gmail.com</div>
Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-18363146845488615442012-07-22T17:10:00.000-05:002012-07-22T17:10:25.477-05:00The ULTIMATE Kidspired Creation!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Last summer, my husband came home one day with this...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzZIH9I5PaXDJKweyH132mnRxAh2UazC7k098NOtgfHYcN8suP3L-72l5hgsYXxG6ZzFpMJfpBu-T96BoyX47Ttkj7op_3Y5SSh4QG8FKDovgzbrrYq04cCRrojcuNFLUClH2N_I195w/s1600/205577_10100432442508775_6093948_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzZIH9I5PaXDJKweyH132mnRxAh2UazC7k098NOtgfHYcN8suP3L-72l5hgsYXxG6ZzFpMJfpBu-T96BoyX47Ttkj7op_3Y5SSh4QG8FKDovgzbrrYq04cCRrojcuNFLUClH2N_I195w/s400/205577_10100432442508775_6093948_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...a disassembled crate from a large shipment at work.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOqQtal6Ez8LFHc26XSTWyXdIqGb_zBPxz5Tyqlaq1peIluY7P7grOMPo5r4sL_UUNsO1JXE8xA7JnPk7tyT6JcxXEVhhPw7cercPoIxxB0cyuhskjjjTKx48vFUqbxo5TrdzLTIs6rI/s1600/206735_10100432443037715_2322187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOqQtal6Ez8LFHc26XSTWyXdIqGb_zBPxz5Tyqlaq1peIluY7P7grOMPo5r4sL_UUNsO1JXE8xA7JnPk7tyT6JcxXEVhhPw7cercPoIxxB0cyuhskjjjTKx48vFUqbxo5TrdzLTIs6rI/s640/206735_10100432443037715_2322187_n.jpg" width="467" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My oldest son saw the possibilities <br />and began taking measurements...<br />"It's 3 and 1/2 measures."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULKNnqkIOscfsXtGLT9j9m_CXnqfvCWHSsjEPQxPpVHixGE4Rhh2KQBlMAH8j5Y47LHIVE53uEN-DqGsISEtqbwt2jFIcNpih0XcGqW4Xo1bu3nN1sddoEPCr4qM5kHt3YPMn4zSnmDE/s1600/208274_10100432441895005_6234051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULKNnqkIOscfsXtGLT9j9m_CXnqfvCWHSsjEPQxPpVHixGE4Rhh2KQBlMAH8j5Y47LHIVE53uEN-DqGsISEtqbwt2jFIcNpih0XcGqW4Xo1bu3nN1sddoEPCr4qM5kHt3YPMn4zSnmDE/s640/208274_10100432441895005_6234051_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So we carried the base to the back yard<br />and set it on cinder blocks....</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGoK8VSYV1kmJDqtLZFN4VLdyZd4QEhVEtiON59R7OLJrHo7HLJEVUb5lVvNkaXEAQ5W5x2pA5RH40R35yiZxrowkBWcBLyJf33V-N9tqHhBAagrE3tUFIJD-HeE9IgRjqNMpyxd1oGA/s1600/216282_10100432444504775_7018171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGoK8VSYV1kmJDqtLZFN4VLdyZd4QEhVEtiON59R7OLJrHo7HLJEVUb5lVvNkaXEAQ5W5x2pA5RH40R35yiZxrowkBWcBLyJf33V-N9tqHhBAagrE3tUFIJD-HeE9IgRjqNMpyxd1oGA/s640/216282_10100432444504775_7018171_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and everyone loved it...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSZYESKiEVReZkeSh_NIVYWzarUaMUyqEZXQ-CRS795-VxBpzpIGgFA0OXJ3-PmXasyBW4ju6sJ-FEjOLDVxOO-cKQH_GAKuCwdMC3nZbeYW-TQFmxFTZEpf-m9369uJU03hpichJ53I/s1600/217390_10100432443980825_1208633_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSZYESKiEVReZkeSh_NIVYWzarUaMUyqEZXQ-CRS795-VxBpzpIGgFA0OXJ3-PmXasyBW4ju6sJ-FEjOLDVxOO-cKQH_GAKuCwdMC3nZbeYW-TQFmxFTZEpf-m9369uJU03hpichJ53I/s640/217390_10100432443980825_1208633_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...especially Pirate the dog who claimed it as his own...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGENHTKOLOB24QsB8w_DYJntOxFOpxe95YdZw0-zLVeK39jMC3qpMeGJGkAppIT__c4TtCHR4evxSSSCU-Kiv2wwObt22t1F44yCAf4uIIZe48hwGWUJcdXtEQVSSFMece4jk4ttHn-v0/s1600/223589_10100432456615505_5579310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGENHTKOLOB24QsB8w_DYJntOxFOpxe95YdZw0-zLVeK39jMC3qpMeGJGkAppIT__c4TtCHR4evxSSSCU-Kiv2wwObt22t1F44yCAf4uIIZe48hwGWUJcdXtEQVSSFMece4jk4ttHn-v0/s640/223589_10100432456615505_5579310_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and we had big plans...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyulVEp8BPCQFWAf0Pi4uFIUIwr2r_Ko8Czim41rVmpgo84YGwkvU-zQYCH5xuSmfcSs14dzHymVP11TJxIWHYlcxJlk7f6IprEZaQJAeM0dKEvog_1dIbRajZCxgvc7z6y5PuYOfRHZE/s1600/282139_10100633473081895_665145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyulVEp8BPCQFWAf0Pi4uFIUIwr2r_Ko8Czim41rVmpgo84YGwkvU-zQYCH5xuSmfcSs14dzHymVP11TJxIWHYlcxJlk7f6IprEZaQJAeM0dKEvog_1dIbRajZCxgvc7z6y5PuYOfRHZE/s640/282139_10100633473081895_665145_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...then this happened...</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvU-gYwNXB1QlFjGO3K7nkoJApE2D1GyCO_hUQwKu1EZWYiL6n6EUP7Q82BTcRlWL3LtdsQj-c6rJT-Pj0NUqAkbZozmng69I956U1RgjXvgVnhosBuS3t6pwUStatEsP_rYfpPABStw/s1600/547971_10101218973858645_285609189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvU-gYwNXB1QlFjGO3K7nkoJApE2D1GyCO_hUQwKu1EZWYiL6n6EUP7Q82BTcRlWL3LtdsQj-c6rJT-Pj0NUqAkbZozmng69I956U1RgjXvgVnhosBuS3t6pwUStatEsP_rYfpPABStw/s640/547971_10101218973858645_285609189_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and then THIS happened...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqDrPNm_3bVCDb8CsZBv1Pht5ICh9pC_4BerF4FhDC4DTDtKJKUESnoPA4wQki8R4MN_f0xG4-lVSgl4dX-McHgiAIQnUykCUsFcJKUfFIoMWImYEvUt9NvSTP4xGZ0Dx_0mE5BiGdNw/s1600/224844_10100432443741305_4703613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqDrPNm_3bVCDb8CsZBv1Pht5ICh9pC_4BerF4FhDC4DTDtKJKUESnoPA4wQki8R4MN_f0xG4-lVSgl4dX-McHgiAIQnUykCUsFcJKUfFIoMWImYEvUt9NvSTP4xGZ0Dx_0mE5BiGdNw/s640/224844_10100432443741305_4703613_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">...so this was our fort for nearly a year...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qNlNGarUVMZ1dp3LaEgzZWOsc3fUJpPo1eMQv98bPQ6s5MFpPheC3xov2fpmilDeY3u8e6lSm0x1q8LISC4hRQOkNlD7wkXn5HG4kEvKpwNEBueuVK6qMH1luMH_k3OuHykabtUodQ4/s1600/401936_10101473592755335_262300847_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qNlNGarUVMZ1dp3LaEgzZWOsc3fUJpPo1eMQv98bPQ6s5MFpPheC3xov2fpmilDeY3u8e6lSm0x1q8LISC4hRQOkNlD7wkXn5HG4kEvKpwNEBueuVK6qMH1luMH_k3OuHykabtUodQ4/s640/401936_10101473592755335_262300847_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and then baby girl came home from the hospital <br />and Daddy got back to work...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSmJAviG5p-j-XttwGQ5v3yD6-aWvrToZG0pyx6X6MMXL8EhaCoXEhHOx6KLBkfkQ2fm0qr0uAWTPDpXzd_oermYChiOxuZg1rW7y9Svf6qigzqoao-3HkxRMwcbesnUrkWkmraiJga0/s1600/486463_10101476105963845_289813598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSmJAviG5p-j-XttwGQ5v3yD6-aWvrToZG0pyx6X6MMXL8EhaCoXEhHOx6KLBkfkQ2fm0qr0uAWTPDpXzd_oermYChiOxuZg1rW7y9Svf6qigzqoao-3HkxRMwcbesnUrkWkmraiJga0/s640/486463_10101476105963845_289813598_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and the boys "helped" every step of the way...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS7sDL2PTK7bPz04gwfUZ-ZZOrSfWAwVXZp9KVkYK0q2_YwHg5R5l3DJn4UwIRAZSqNqy9UAgf75UHxxhmVyfVM4KhMq7sCvuhTRKD14bMqNi6QaLcaewF8u76QccXWHrpsf8ehO4iGA/s1600/IMG_6688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS7sDL2PTK7bPz04gwfUZ-ZZOrSfWAwVXZp9KVkYK0q2_YwHg5R5l3DJn4UwIRAZSqNqy9UAgf75UHxxhmVyfVM4KhMq7sCvuhTRKD14bMqNi6QaLcaewF8u76QccXWHrpsf8ehO4iGA/s640/IMG_6688.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and I did my fair share too...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb13j11QhDXz0c-UsZdx9oySb1fN-ECN3rLvfPem3oOo4Emd3HTlb6Q7skiQKBmsi5YnCn_iXrLPIPvwwNVbg_-Z1kfBYDWcM1EeCVlntpMJTtxnVSm-oE6oY1r9s52rz81CM74YNDa0/s1600/563265_10101478462970385_232328259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb13j11QhDXz0c-UsZdx9oySb1fN-ECN3rLvfPem3oOo4Emd3HTlb6Q7skiQKBmsi5YnCn_iXrLPIPvwwNVbg_-Z1kfBYDWcM1EeCVlntpMJTtxnVSm-oE6oY1r9s52rz81CM74YNDa0/s640/563265_10101478462970385_232328259_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...making sure we were EXCEEDING safety standards...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJfoVl-AG19YqU0OqAArWOhYzId0HQVH7rAx5XLiVoZonI_q9KSOdw9i_tetQwHhSLKMU31chFh3uOxgbbt8R5bl6SQLaM_7mZsc6Dn-n5K-7H1Mqoyc0hUsvsnFBOt6rgGk-EhI3XVA/s1600/541757_10101487172581255_1734068266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJfoVl-AG19YqU0OqAArWOhYzId0HQVH7rAx5XLiVoZonI_q9KSOdw9i_tetQwHhSLKMU31chFh3uOxgbbt8R5bl6SQLaM_7mZsc6Dn-n5K-7H1Mqoyc0hUsvsnFBOt6rgGk-EhI3XVA/s640/541757_10101487172581255_1734068266_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...for several days and several nights we worked...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxLXMSl91m6HF9vxdN70igCT9VxPo1iDSutIZLllKkCSQS_N1b_Da7NPnGJTAEsYVjBSCk6MG82pPJwzQZWfDwyZfOGnGmJEjmAeVwuOozIyUmMncmZuScjRpqGbauZXqTOwqRN6gfok/s1600/545320_10101491356232185_1689587319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxLXMSl91m6HF9vxdN70igCT9VxPo1iDSutIZLllKkCSQS_N1b_Da7NPnGJTAEsYVjBSCk6MG82pPJwzQZWfDwyZfOGnGmJEjmAeVwuOozIyUmMncmZuScjRpqGbauZXqTOwqRN6gfok/s640/545320_10101491356232185_1689587319_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and the boys were set to explore...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrbAmJDjkvVwRadU1lwSB9EoIGwptDL4deqHS4_2l8em9G3LoNQ4CFPhDrCUMK1v0aiLQNDyrJSUwTl9G6qepqjisz0Z0K5Cm3GAnMj6fPEKGixb3VkWbNcD_BKqnKVlitpR4i-W2yRA/s1600/IMG_7190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrbAmJDjkvVwRadU1lwSB9EoIGwptDL4deqHS4_2l8em9G3LoNQ4CFPhDrCUMK1v0aiLQNDyrJSUwTl9G6qepqjisz0Z0K5Cm3GAnMj6fPEKGixb3VkWbNcD_BKqnKVlitpR4i-W2yRA/s640/IMG_7190.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...life beyond the fence...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfESOcJ3df_Sq16plV_LX8yN17MQsPNshvmZqL41CeCFbkgoPVcZS8YCFMRoyJD5bJdGfwkCqtfOZ1gPZ9T8jZXwQSlgfh9nw0brlUbfJtG13U6WcvVk74OlssvNToPnl7Rq9uQ7W-I/s1600/IMG_7241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyfESOcJ3df_Sq16plV_LX8yN17MQsPNshvmZqL41CeCFbkgoPVcZS8YCFMRoyJD5bJdGfwkCqtfOZ1gPZ9T8jZXwQSlgfh9nw0brlUbfJtG13U6WcvVk74OlssvNToPnl7Rq9uQ7W-I/s640/IMG_7241.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and we all went on a trip in our favorite rocket ship...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQotyGH75aKUhbXnSKbGdu7qILbu8CjHsfOxXBy8mPKj_myfNjwRQt51NLBmHMaQCOzGbHeW8oP5qcYI9he23x79mJbDDFP4JwDG5jsYpXWah81HWjiL48ne6wNXQMp1J4GNtZhESQyg/s1600/IMG_7410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQotyGH75aKUhbXnSKbGdu7qILbu8CjHsfOxXBy8mPKj_myfNjwRQt51NLBmHMaQCOzGbHeW8oP5qcYI9he23x79mJbDDFP4JwDG5jsYpXWah81HWjiL48ne6wNXQMp1J4GNtZhESQyg/s640/IMG_7410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and watched fireworks light up the sky...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcg5aRLpD2iUMCCl3eAg1kBByn13tJrbeU69DyZMN5Mo33Oj2uyb1PqoUGOGRSHzbd2Dbonvh_b7g8QaRSStQ2IK7R-cHuOVmzzvpEyuTuTAk-MPlON5bSijUXbyUMjvPV0FlO0bYvLg/s1600/391401_10101488012662725_750073137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcg5aRLpD2iUMCCl3eAg1kBByn13tJrbeU69DyZMN5Mo33Oj2uyb1PqoUGOGRSHzbd2Dbonvh_b7g8QaRSStQ2IK7R-cHuOVmzzvpEyuTuTAk-MPlON5bSijUXbyUMjvPV0FlO0bYvLg/s640/391401_10101488012662725_750073137_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and rode horses through the cane fields...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGFrZ2VwV0i7swDSUaxEZh_OBh8aYekCUMKlhYRBghkffRu6j_rhDDhTMBSJKe73oZqnvcoVg6Trj8eC_LLoYjUjYRoEo6eGhPjqVQYin1iXOFBcYaB1rZJtl_g53WeGO3o6X2bvctM0/s1600/IMG_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGFrZ2VwV0i7swDSUaxEZh_OBh8aYekCUMKlhYRBghkffRu6j_rhDDhTMBSJKe73oZqnvcoVg6Trj8eC_LLoYjUjYRoEo6eGhPjqVQYin1iXOFBcYaB1rZJtl_g53WeGO3o6X2bvctM0/s640/IMG_7281.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and won battles in the War of the Water Balloons...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghy4vRorzQdytYM28Qv66C24feq_gbkft2VuNZ49SsJLflGNcaG1mjjrXcdQwRe9oVszF-f2auh3kBGbW42vlR6wRBt9dmJ4D9v8llP6iWxDg7UOgVmPEnj7bJJU33PvW_5Zdlv57ZPUo/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghy4vRorzQdytYM28Qv66C24feq_gbkft2VuNZ49SsJLflGNcaG1mjjrXcdQwRe9oVszF-f2auh3kBGbW42vlR6wRBt9dmJ4D9v8llP6iWxDg7UOgVmPEnj7bJJU33PvW_5Zdlv57ZPUo/s640/IMG_7666.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...and as if the fort weren't cool enough</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">we added death-defying feats...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRht84BDZw9bE1RUidnJrXBpXSGPkij-MhgPXAlt2HdiKB9MuFhhy2FfTam4RH9iF9qqSw3AFwWA1INEJ5vIrWD6suE4-LP4iKrBsEclHcQU58ynU-A7kpW3lRzRqfepacwf5f4n8gmY/s1600/IMG_7627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRht84BDZw9bE1RUidnJrXBpXSGPkij-MhgPXAlt2HdiKB9MuFhhy2FfTam4RH9iF9qqSw3AFwWA1INEJ5vIrWD6suE4-LP4iKrBsEclHcQU58ynU-A7kpW3lRzRqfepacwf5f4n8gmY/s640/IMG_7627.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...that leave you face down in the mud...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCthDyOg5zIRjRgHVd8noueHwJCLCy_I_peSGCQvUthZvhGNttp_Z9gUe5H8EPKGwV23Q_55I54RxIJ3sDI9wttkHgY1_Hn41FzuqRm5Us6KmxoyuBbUlXKMw0jd2IyG_n9zwexE3waI/s1600/382547_10101514715934155_1387911999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCthDyOg5zIRjRgHVd8noueHwJCLCy_I_peSGCQvUthZvhGNttp_Z9gUe5H8EPKGwV23Q_55I54RxIJ3sDI9wttkHgY1_Hn41FzuqRm5Us6KmxoyuBbUlXKMw0jd2IyG_n9zwexE3waI/s640/382547_10101514715934155_1387911999_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...but there was still more to be built...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1hIBAveFtmupZfeR3BY18G8K8FpDvUbsDyF8CZ4fD4AjxSdz4gQfaNXPBIdL7kfZgn6D09uKTgNJ14oPAJ09KzEeT1mlh-L9iLmK24ql9JbYH0K8WF6rIzkYIBLFL2EP0acEMnP71uM/s1600/IMG_8253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1hIBAveFtmupZfeR3BY18G8K8FpDvUbsDyF8CZ4fD4AjxSdz4gQfaNXPBIdL7kfZgn6D09uKTgNJ14oPAJ09KzEeT1mlh-L9iLmK24ql9JbYH0K8WF6rIzkYIBLFL2EP0acEMnP71uM/s640/IMG_8253.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">...so this is our fort...</span>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tsiILwQMvrKPx3tyvI9TWZnqlS2XrjNQLEuUYgxE487hmJYTwTew0uu2ejiCQW_B-0rXqwiPOaZoU38OxplV2x0494pRvfQ9gpLsol-hYjh1r26SwYhFKVHYaVXaAnGLSEAdx-jbWxs/s1600/IMG_8044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tsiILwQMvrKPx3tyvI9TWZnqlS2XrjNQLEuUYgxE487hmJYTwTew0uu2ejiCQW_B-0rXqwiPOaZoU38OxplV2x0494pRvfQ9gpLsol-hYjh1r26SwYhFKVHYaVXaAnGLSEAdx-jbWxs/s640/IMG_8044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">...for now...</span></td></tr>
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</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-72380803082830479892012-07-16T01:05:00.001-05:002012-07-31T15:19:51.093-05:00Angry Birds Birthday PartyMy oldest son celebrated his 5th BIRTHDAY this weekend! And what better way to ring in the BIG FIVE than with an Angry Birds themed birthday party? Everyone had a blast, especially the birthday boy!<br />
<br />
The "problem" about an Angry Birds themed birthday party is that the Angry Birds section at a party store is about 6 inches wide [I measured] and shares the space with WWE party supplies. On top of that, it costs over $5 for a pack of 8 cups, or a pack of 8 plates, etc. RIDICULOUS! However, this type of "problem" means that I get to be super crafty, which I love!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgpZwxUfTi6jZRQDnhlFBUZGC6oWhMO68VdjPP8kfjfW53Abx2z74wHeQSG0phZi_zSaVKTzyoUqJPzVthPq6q4nzid2meaqz-H-fMff9lAo1qW7Is4e2AtDu8fXvsb07TUpNczoYBkM/s1600/IMG_2534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgpZwxUfTi6jZRQDnhlFBUZGC6oWhMO68VdjPP8kfjfW53Abx2z74wHeQSG0phZi_zSaVKTzyoUqJPzVthPq6q4nzid2meaqz-H-fMff9lAo1qW7Is4e2AtDu8fXvsb07TUpNczoYBkM/s640/IMG_2534.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
I am so excited to share all of the super fun party details!!! Thank goodness for Pinterest because I really feel like my creative brain is mush after having the baby... it's slowly coming back to me now ;-) Feel free to steal these ideas so you can throw an awesome [inexpensive] birthday bash too!!! P.S. This party cost UNDER $300 including food, so it totally beat having a party at the local inflatable warehouse! This was made possible by recycling the table cloth from our Tractor-themed birthday party in October (YIKES! I just realized I never blogged about this one!) and all of the wood was left over from the construction of our fort (blog post on that to come soon) and cups from <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/swheat-budget-wedding-ideas.html">my sister's wedding</a> over 2 years later.<br />
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INVITATIONS: I downloaded a free printable and used Publisher to personalize it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ09ksz1rwnC3bpdygR8YHxUqVcIMOnhxqvs4JNftf4Aw5V2iVZObP0ZFRjggPM-zG0up2Ddh7pYXCD0jUxzV3A-rkzWMWTZERgzSYhTIDY9fWiY9eqWu_O-qZ_jb_NjuMiUPZUCu0miw/s1600/IMG_7719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ09ksz1rwnC3bpdygR8YHxUqVcIMOnhxqvs4JNftf4Aw5V2iVZObP0ZFRjggPM-zG0up2Ddh7pYXCD0jUxzV3A-rkzWMWTZERgzSYhTIDY9fWiY9eqWu_O-qZ_jb_NjuMiUPZUCu0miw/s640/IMG_7719.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free printable <a href="http://www.digitalmomblog.com/blog/2012/01/11/download-free-angry-birds-invitations/">here</a>!</td></tr>
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FOOD TABLE:<br />
These Angry Bird balloons made me so... so... ANGRY because they wouldn't all face the same way at the same time... so after 100 pictures, I finally got the majority of them at least semi-looking in my direction!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2seXEZCJKjyVmzKA5LhCmKOowKGaNrAwTTiAAsPNcOLcy8oX-x7pM3GyazIDJcDwJDuu4IBHNUBtD3a4irHC55XRtBZ4zCShc_lgWTVM-grbil9EEGELOW6Q3X58fvXMO8hyphenhyphenJXlBRge0/s1600/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2seXEZCJKjyVmzKA5LhCmKOowKGaNrAwTTiAAsPNcOLcy8oX-x7pM3GyazIDJcDwJDuu4IBHNUBtD3a4irHC55XRtBZ4zCShc_lgWTVM-grbil9EEGELOW6Q3X58fvXMO8hyphenhyphenJXlBRge0/s640/IMG_2507.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Birds balloon faces template found <a href="http://www.thepartyanimal-blog.org/Downloads/Angry_Birds_Balloon_Templates.pdf">here</a>!</td></tr>
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FOOD:</div>
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Bird food vs. Pig food = all of it was gone by the end of the party!</div>
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Bird food: fruit on a stick and veggie cups</div>
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Pig food: skittles, chips & salsa, cheese balls, popcorn, pretzels and trail mix</div>
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SIGNS/LABELS:</div>
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I found these little watering cans at the Dollar Tree and because they just HAPPENED to be the same colors as all of the angry birds/green pigs, I decided to buy them and use them. I put a styrofoam craft block in the bottom and stuck a chop stick (also from the Dollar Tree: $1 for 5 sets) in the middle. I stuffed the cans with shredded tissue paper and printed little signs on the computer. And BONUS!!! I found a FREE download for the Angry Birds font "Feast of Flesh" <a href="http://www.dafont.com/feast-of-flesh-bb.font">here!</a> I got the stickers from Hobby Lobby...so much cheaper than the party stores.</div>
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Lesson learned: putting fruit on cardboard/paper sticks is a bad idea. The sticks absorb the moisture from the fruit and they bend. But it <i>was</i> a really cool idea! Strawberries (red bird), blue berries (3 blue birds), pineapple (yellow bird), green grape (pig)... all on a stick!<br />
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CAKE TABLE: <br />
Cupcakes: I am NOT a baker and am truly amazed by people who are able to make such cute things that are also edible, so I entrusted the bakers at Target to make the green pig cupcakes (however, they were quite confused about the whole "green pig" concept and made <i>pink </i>pigs at first... long story...).<br />
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Cupcake stand: Bits of wood left over from our backyard fort that we just completed.<br />
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Cookie cake: Half of the cookie cake was designed by the Great American Cookie Company. I asked them to leave the top half bare so my husband and I could build piggy towers with nutter butters and vanilla wafers. We used green gumballs to represent the pigs, and blue, red, white and yellow ones for the birds. And because of the pink/green pig controversy (as mentioned above) we got the Angry Bird cake kit from the Target bakery to add to our cookie.<br />
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Cake balls: My awesome friend Megan has a great <a href="http://megmadecreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-hour-martini-cake-balls.html">step-by-step recipe for cake balls</a>! I followed her recipe and then immediately after dunking in the almond bark I added candy eye-balls from Wal-Mart and shaped beaks from bits of orange Starburst candy, then after they cooled in the fridge, used black gel icing for the eyebrows. (1 box of cake makes about 40 cake balls... 34 if you ruin the first 6 ;-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUeDFNKAsEo9x6m0N6rMuLZEnlG2L2ncTAzwaQK0HjnDdp395WKjYwmAMTSGOxh5gecvPshIFFhXXNYuxp89TZVF4X6xOOX454hhLifvBe_gev0ZF3Hq7oPHC0CMOiGC7NtFUmgO6WEg/s1600/IMG_2551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUeDFNKAsEo9x6m0N6rMuLZEnlG2L2ncTAzwaQK0HjnDdp395WKjYwmAMTSGOxh5gecvPshIFFhXXNYuxp89TZVF4X6xOOX454hhLifvBe_gev0ZF3Hq7oPHC0CMOiGC7NtFUmgO6WEg/s640/IMG_2551.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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BACKDROP: I recycled the backdrop I made for my husband's company family picnic to use for behind the cake table. I painted over the flags and added some Angry Birds to jazz it up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMaUXyMiT_LLFTRWpUokYKnVPoPgbqVhr-Lmt7nEvh2tRHTHzHW4pMn1QmdwoXCt6tC_N_mdoOB5jQB67SavEsD4RH7P4dU0AsIPQxKUsJ-FvcESkYiV1hmD3pxJw6iJK8FkRtxvFcj0/s1600/backdrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMaUXyMiT_LLFTRWpUokYKnVPoPgbqVhr-Lmt7nEvh2tRHTHzHW4pMn1QmdwoXCt6tC_N_mdoOB5jQB67SavEsD4RH7P4dU0AsIPQxKUsJ-FvcESkYiV1hmD3pxJw6iJK8FkRtxvFcj0/s640/backdrop.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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T-SHIRTS: I used iron-on transfers to make their T-shirts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI0b6nap_kwphrWZjTrAF4Qg-zBvjDteI_JTgFpau7nYDPtkyXnMul25huwyU3Iz2nXoo51PFiEFcPs8jBsm05_2-vuckqmkLa4CAHRMjK4atMDmp6o3py1SY09Lh_zlqHj_KAy_yMBo/s1600/James+birthday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI0b6nap_kwphrWZjTrAF4Qg-zBvjDteI_JTgFpau7nYDPtkyXnMul25huwyU3Iz2nXoo51PFiEFcPs8jBsm05_2-vuckqmkLa4CAHRMjK4atMDmp6o3py1SY09Lh_zlqHj_KAy_yMBo/s640/James+birthday2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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PI<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Ă‘ATA: My husband made it and I painted it; we make a great team!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">SLING SHOT: What would an Angry Birds party be without a sling shot?!?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV6JtTZofsjKJaQKlwCJxPzrE41reHNgaehSpUUFR7vHEVGcG4Kp4dO9a2FUzSFI-bnts-C98hLKRsbphB0vmU5mRJvTKWh2o3zm4Gg9cX3Z2tAo8mI5GXBriYNbVm7k8cQJAzBbpJks/s1600/James+birthday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV6JtTZofsjKJaQKlwCJxPzrE41reHNgaehSpUUFR7vHEVGcG4Kp4dO9a2FUzSFI-bnts-C98hLKRsbphB0vmU5mRJvTKWh2o3zm4Gg9cX3Z2tAo8mI5GXBriYNbVm7k8cQJAzBbpJks/s640/James+birthday3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Pigs: I found these beach balls for $1 each at a local party store and the great big googly eyes at Wal-Mart!<br />
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WATER BALLOON EXTRAVAGANZA!!!<br />
A few [hundred] water balloons (600 to be exact), a couple of sprinklers, a plastic pool... what more could a kid want in a birthday party???<br />
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FLAG: Found at Wal-Mart in the tinsy tiny Angry Birds section. This was the only thing (besides stickers at tattoos) name-brand that I bought. I think it was $10... or around that. It has now found a permanent home on the fort.<br />
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This party was such a blast for both kids and adults! Not too bad for starting the party planning just 2 weeks ago! It makes all the hard work worth it just to hear my big boy say, "Mom, this is soooo cool!"<br />
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HELPFUL HINTS:<br />
1. Latex Balloons: Dollar store balloons break easily or have holes already in them. I know this because every party I try to save money by buying balloons from there... BUT NOT THIS TIME! This time I bought the really expensive ones from the party store, you know, the ones that come like 75 to a pack and are all separated by color? BROKE MY BANK ACCOUNT! But lo and behold... HOBBY LOBBY sells balloons in assorted colors and they are a good quality that don't already have holes in them! So guess who went BACK to the party store to return on the balloons I bought from there? So, spent a LITTLE more money than normal, but got more bang for my buck... or better balloons for my buck.<br />
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2. Water balloons: <span style="background-color: white;">Party stores sell bags of water balloons with different amounts inside. For some strange reason (probably because stores bank on our stupidity to earn more money), it was cheaper to buy packets of 60 balloons versus the ones with 250. Be sure to check the math before purchasing them!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">3. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Lesson learned: Do not EVER serve gum or gumballs at a birthday party! Kids do not know what to do with gum and either swallow it or spit it out in your back yard... or maybe it's just my kids since it was the first time they had chewed gum.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">4. Fruit on a Stick: I am going to reiterate this one here. Because we wanted to keep the fruit fresh until the very last minute, we did not test the fruit on the cardboard/paper sticks until minutes before the party started. Still a really cool idea! Maybe I'll get chop sticks next time.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">5. Cake Pops: dipping the sticks first in the melted almond bark before sticking them into the cake balls helped the balls stay on the sticks... if not, they just slid down them. Thank you, Meg, for your <a href="http://megmadecreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-hour-martini-cake-balls.html">amazing tips and step-by-step instructions</a> on all things cake balls! (That's 2 plugs on my website).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">6. Reuse/Recycle: Find whatever you can around your house (i.e. an already-painted sheet of plywood) to use/make over for the party! You will save mucho dinero!</span><br />
<br />Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-21101888100777532902012-05-03T19:57:00.000-05:002012-05-11T08:10:29.264-05:00A Little Birdie Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MCbHPO3cZBsYA7PwrVnqt3KyZFqnLhizcrssxkBC8l_aYGcJgVh3lf0ofZ03FKdNbkG93t_7LI_3Onpo1MfsOklrEgnBkd5qcnC8kUPB2efxPS6e67PglR0bRXqhmSSQ-phRm694tG8/s1600/9+MONTHS+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MCbHPO3cZBsYA7PwrVnqt3KyZFqnLhizcrssxkBC8l_aYGcJgVh3lf0ofZ03FKdNbkG93t_7LI_3Onpo1MfsOklrEgnBkd5qcnC8kUPB2efxPS6e67PglR0bRXqhmSSQ-phRm694tG8/s400/9+MONTHS+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After 9 long months, our precious pink has finally joined our nest of blues!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyRM0Klz_v0jiVl1Kfh-tDRQN1rZxaGrXaL982YEGjbAw_lP93ZvQ4J6HdNEq0CK0CfRrGbB5_VqnLS3XdL-w50WsGGThHG2pkI4zXuKwph2eDX69_jQ0XO9U6nhAyldkDZx5z5GP1BY/s1600/IMG_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyRM0Klz_v0jiVl1Kfh-tDRQN1rZxaGrXaL982YEGjbAw_lP93ZvQ4J6HdNEq0CK0CfRrGbB5_VqnLS3XdL-w50WsGGThHG2pkI4zXuKwph2eDX69_jQ0XO9U6nhAyldkDZx5z5GP1BY/s400/IMG_0367.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Lena Marie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz8ZKGpOumK4qmMg5ek0vTZa20qKGX65_BxFWte_GutTd64JEh_O3aJCcPSztI01rYVmdaJCkMoq_zAhWIbxfIhikBVjSrk8mRW9Hy8MRshnpwpZJPYxndHyOHPoK-R0ac1wVziJsoK4/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyz8ZKGpOumK4qmMg5ek0vTZa20qKGX65_BxFWte_GutTd64JEh_O3aJCcPSztI01rYVmdaJCkMoq_zAhWIbxfIhikBVjSrk8mRW9Hy8MRshnpwpZJPYxndHyOHPoK-R0ac1wVziJsoK4/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Brothers, Little Sister</td></tr>
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The Kidspired Creations shop is still closed while we attempt to adjust to our new life as a family of FIVE, but for now, I am super excited to FINALLY share the completed nursery with you! Ever since I first learned I was pregnant with #1, I began to plan both a baby girl and baby boy nursery. Well, I got to use the baby boy nursery twice, so this nursery has been 5 years in the making! Enjoy!!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I am not a great photographer... I apologize now.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7432yqgXxd7MaclTBZQPbXmHGPHhO3J-wv1SJMxxRh2JUxyRyVGj2mnt4t9AQPv-I_dT9O01lj-u2oNGTWdtly8iYa3ZeTdz6dI8VrB5jCcMNd_yG2NfZph1OiLQY29DhCuwCinR1NR0/s1600/IMG_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7432yqgXxd7MaclTBZQPbXmHGPHhO3J-wv1SJMxxRh2JUxyRyVGj2mnt4t9AQPv-I_dT9O01lj-u2oNGTWdtly8iYa3ZeTdz6dI8VrB5jCcMNd_yG2NfZph1OiLQY29DhCuwCinR1NR0/s400/IMG_0196.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very special heirloom:<br />
The crib was given to me by my Grandma Lena when I was a baby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYP1EnI8d575Q3G4oerE3eKlH0JnfwKcwN1t3a5lNM0_Ba8O_E0zDvugBUKYuIJ_BAS8MgHkBFL_cWcrNArrMbj2Ly_1-3G5kOetDBiXhUF-1sfSA5kPFx2PB5_CCnssFB3ZdTIBa0Ag/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYP1EnI8d575Q3G4oerE3eKlH0JnfwKcwN1t3a5lNM0_Ba8O_E0zDvugBUKYuIJ_BAS8MgHkBFL_cWcrNArrMbj2Ly_1-3G5kOetDBiXhUF-1sfSA5kPFx2PB5_CCnssFB3ZdTIBa0Ag/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore the light fixture... it is still a work in progress. <br />
I am waiting to recuperate before climbing on a ladder.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQkxaFYtdKn6qfOkNGnYGBpu07FPAyleALhh4_ZKrKiYlkrzW7OBby52vOp6tAc8SluKcKLPoMdvFCDRgu2r1kR57yWqaknN6kJ8v6aBqVhPD6HzPZbXx6v_vJ-fhiFI53xcyUP1SkSI/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQkxaFYtdKn6qfOkNGnYGBpu07FPAyleALhh4_ZKrKiYlkrzW7OBby52vOp6tAc8SluKcKLPoMdvFCDRgu2r1kR57yWqaknN6kJ8v6aBqVhPD6HzPZbXx6v_vJ-fhiFI53xcyUP1SkSI/s400/IMG_0248.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The armoire and two end tables on either side of the crib<br />
were great garage sale finds: $40 for all 3 pieces!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEOox3WO-RHV2O0smAX2BOqkLKJzcEv_rygFlMy3V3SFWk3oh_Km7bgSTpXOhUALLsbpbO9kxVk21l_KyZA-lZwGTmnAdqYpXNY51TEt2gPLYtzdtHGrkJeneClMZwA2p-C9P7Pf8F-w/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEOox3WO-RHV2O0smAX2BOqkLKJzcEv_rygFlMy3V3SFWk3oh_Km7bgSTpXOhUALLsbpbO9kxVk21l_KyZA-lZwGTmnAdqYpXNY51TEt2gPLYtzdtHGrkJeneClMZwA2p-C9P7Pf8F-w/s400/IMG_2678.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total room makeover: just under $300.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's how it all went down...</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fantastic Finds:</span></h2>
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a. BIRDHOUSES: On sale at Hobby Lobby for 50% off!!!<br />
b. BIRD BLANKET: Gift from Mimi from Pottery Barn Kids<br />
c. BIRD CAGES: Antique store find + spray paint<br />
BRANCHES: FREE - from a vine that was growing on our back fence; once the leaves fell off, I rescued them from our burn pile before my husband could turn them all to ash<br />
d. BIRD CAGE SILHOUETTE: Gift from Aunt Crista from World Market<br />
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Re-Purposed Finds:</h2>
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a. PICTURE FRAMES turned ARTWORK: 30% off at Kirkland's: scrapbook paper birds instead of pictures</div>
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b. WOODEN FRAME turned WINDOW: $13 from the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby!</div>
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LETTERS: 50% off from Hobby Lobby: wrapped in yarn with hand-made burlap flowers.</div>
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c. 1/2 of a WOODEN CHAIR turned SHELF: Antique store find: $4! </div>
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Cashier: "You do realize you're missing most of this chair?" Why, yes. Who needs a seat anyway?</div>
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d. BIRD CAGE HOOK turned BOW HOLDER: 30% off at Hobby Lobby; hot glue + 3 ft. of ribbon = bow holder!</div>
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Hand Made Touches:</h2>
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a. BURLAP ALPHABET: hand-stitched yarn letters on dark/natural burlap, then spray glued on a piece of cream burlap, hung by a branch found in our back yard</div>
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b. GLIDER COVER: Thanks to You Tube and several long-distance phone calls to my aunt, I learned to sew. I recovered this glider that before had a very boy-specific cover.</div>
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c. BLANKET: <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/107523509823264605/">Pinterest-inspired</a></div>
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d. PAINTING: I painted this months before I was even pregnant. Perfect painting of a "seasoned tree" giving fruit to a new, spring tree... I think it represents me and my daughter.</div>
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e. BURLAP CURTAINS: Just cut and hang, pretty much! The only hand-stitching I did was to re-enforce the holes for the tree branch rod so the burlap wouldn't fall apart there.</div>
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f. BABY BUMPER: Using the same materials as the blanket, I recovered the boys' old crib bumper to save money.<br />
PILLOW LETTERS: Hand-made by my super talented Aunt Barbara (see above [b.]... that's her).</div>
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<h2>
Finishing Touches:</h2>
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a. LAMPS: $14 from Ross - these shades were originally white with the black flower outlines. Using acrylic paint, I painted inside all the lines.</div>
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BOOK: Gift from Mimi: <i>Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids </i>by Sarah </div>
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b. BURLAP BIRD: Not on sale from Hobby Lobby (I couldn't resist and forgot my coupon)</div>
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c. CHALKBOARD: This is the same chalk board I used for all of my monthly maternity pictures.</div>
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d. BIRD: I used scrap material from the glider to make this bird.</div>
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e. TUTU: Same material as her bedding and blanket. I made it adjustable for her monthly "Watch Me Grow" pictures</div>
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KNOBS: 50% off from Hobby Lobby - added a cute touch to the armoire, end tables and closet doors.</div>
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f. NESTS: 50% off from Hobby Lobby - perfect for socks balled up to look like bird eggs, and hair accessories</div>
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Oh, and P.S., this Mommy and Baby needed the perfect matching accessory to tote around town...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A BURLAP DIAPER BAG!</span></div>
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Made by my dear friend, Jess, of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/southernhinh">Southern Handmade in Heels</a>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlx6I2g1TEUbJELpTHXg1oYcaCkUuup5XyMG2kyu_7YMbTdhFS_R3TWoXTUs5sfbPdhEn3_jgXAuUgFOyFL8KUasoPpj2cNsIGShJXN_tLH7pFc4DoHaJRqHCnbrSPY1ePMCxxxrwYA8/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlx6I2g1TEUbJELpTHXg1oYcaCkUuup5XyMG2kyu_7YMbTdhFS_R3TWoXTUs5sfbPdhEn3_jgXAuUgFOyFL8KUasoPpj2cNsIGShJXN_tLH7pFc4DoHaJRqHCnbrSPY1ePMCxxxrwYA8/s400/IMG_2689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRKC_7T6sUgmJgnxq74lw7DfsvdlsiKWl2c4obnj1Ad1PdiPOb9wy98I-MAVex-haZIQJXV2vd02IwhvaW9owzhL1Nqg1ChxwCU4yt_KshMRnMVkGIm0eTEcIOJivJfXPi5dg7YKqBdM/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRKC_7T6sUgmJgnxq74lw7DfsvdlsiKWl2c4obnj1Ad1PdiPOb9wy98I-MAVex-haZIQJXV2vd02IwhvaW9owzhL1Nqg1ChxwCU4yt_KshMRnMVkGIm0eTEcIOJivJfXPi5dg7YKqBdM/s400/IMG_2690.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br/><center><a href="http://naptimecrafters.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFnz1Xdzfler3HuO6u2fR7GtI6OQb8zVOlsnmNxmF3pbEy1_cJ8m9zmaQ7iot-9hJSalY_0CwMrepLldCL9NilgfKBS8Ler0QqotJpQ3NDNr07Dvmd6sOA7bx_3RKTE4qWb7uFv8J2uXX/s1600/Friday+Fav.jpg"/></a></center><br/>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-30566424749694970852012-04-11T14:34:00.001-05:002012-05-05T15:12:41.851-05:004th Shipment for Ordinary Grace**************<br />
If you are new to the Kidspired Creations community, then check out the work we do for <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/p/ordinary-grace.html">Ordinary Grace</a>. You can also check out our <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/04/1st-shipment-for-ordinary-grace.html">1st shipment</a>, <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/05/2nd-shipment-for-ordinary-grace.html">2nd shipment</a> and <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/11/3rd-shipment-for-ordinary-grace.html">3rd shipment</a> to learn about each of the cancer warriors and their siblings.<br />
************** <br />
<br />
I have just mailed the 4th shipment of grace boxes for Lauren to fill with lots of goodies for FOUR cancer warriors and SIX of their siblings. FOUR families with a total of TEN children whose lives are affected by this terrible disease. Please lift these children and their families up in prayer as they make these extremely difficult journeys. <br />
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Being 9 months pregnant with Baby #3, I asked for some help in painting all 10 of these boxes. I want to thank Jess R. for taking time out of her busy mommy schedule to help me finish these grace boxes! Also, a HUGE thank you to our donors Jessica D., who covers the shipping costs involved with sending the boxes to Lauren in Tennessee, and to Jana W., who covers the cost of each of the boxes that are personalized for each child. Your time and donations are a huge blessing to me, Lauren, and each cancer warrior and their families! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR EACH OF THESE FAMILIES!!! KEEP 'EM COMING!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwK4AVdhZ62NdhB-9J4Gwwf0upoYkzlUkWA8VtQadhys433JZ9aK430hRBzddIZpE7RsGvHSj6kZucrvW645vHNz4ectqN8zyRqqs1Tla8LxHDbYvDvzZPGg5BOV_ra4tHDdbVX9boxQ/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwK4AVdhZ62NdhB-9J4Gwwf0upoYkzlUkWA8VtQadhys433JZ9aK430hRBzddIZpE7RsGvHSj6kZucrvW645vHNz4ectqN8zyRqqs1Tla8LxHDbYvDvzZPGg5BOV_ra4tHDdbVX9boxQ/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cancer Warrior Mia, age 6</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Siblings: Charlie (5) and Genevieve (18 months)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mia is battling Medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer</span></span></div><br />
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</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.carepages.com/carepages/ElizabethBrooklynBlair/">Cancer Warrior Elizabeth</a>, age 5</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Siblings: Bryce (9) and Kate (7)</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Elizabeth is battling Lymphoma.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cancer Warrior Shelby, age 7</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Siblings: Zoey (7) and Harlee (5). </span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Shelby is battling a rare form of cancer called LCH.</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cadenmonster">Cancer Warrior Caden</a>, age 4</span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Caden is battling ALL (Leukemia).</div><br />
(You must have a Caring Bridge profile in order to access Caden and Elizabeth's Caring Bridge links.)<br />
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Update from Lauren, founder of Ordinary Grace via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/graceordinary">Ordinary Grace's Facebook Pag</a>e on Grace kids who we have sent grace boxes to:<br />
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March 13, 2012<br />
"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I am heart broken to share the news that our Grace kid, Ava Nichols, has lost her fight with brain cancer at the age of six. I had the honor of meeting Ava the year before last and it is a memory I will never forget. Ava had an adorable smi</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">le and contagious laugh that captured the hearts of all who met her. Ava was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) in March of 2010 and fought long and hard for almost two years. Suffering a stroke last year, Ava faced many set backs but she never gave up. Please keep the Nichols family in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time."</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">April 5, 2012</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Urgent prayers needed for our Grace kid, Collin Henry: 'Super scary is what the last few minutes have been, his heart rate is over 200, fever is too high for the thermometer to read, shaking violently and screaming about his tummy hurting, <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">kid is really wigging me out...I had to put a nurse on guard to keep Lacey and Patrick out so they wouldn't freak out if they saw him....kid totally wigged me out there! They did some labs, a stomach xray and gave some more morphine.'" (Message from his family.)</span></span><br />
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</span></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-40907931782388070462012-04-11T10:38:00.000-05:002012-04-11T10:38:10.828-05:00June Bug<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTG1YDdOAE8YUHp9UXXZYEaJGWJAul8ozpCar379XjjLvRvjhgfmueHYUeDuJv2jmTNPFmvwzmagx-6ZMYKstF-YLnIMLPfcYxx67t-6Rp61nEJ60mWDS3Gg43P9LhNY-03AnzvDHrz8K/s1600/cute+as+a+bug+bedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTG1YDdOAE8YUHp9UXXZYEaJGWJAul8ozpCar379XjjLvRvjhgfmueHYUeDuJv2jmTNPFmvwzmagx-6ZMYKstF-YLnIMLPfcYxx67t-6Rp61nEJ60mWDS3Gg43P9LhNY-03AnzvDHrz8K/s320/cute+as+a+bug+bedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Baby Jeremiah will be making his world debut this June and what better nursery for this little June Bug than a bug-themed room? I have fallen in LOVE with this <a href="http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/kli/kli5704bed8.html?gclid=CK7pwZeLra8CFQSEnQodkyFHmQ">Cute as a Bug bedding set by Kidsline</a>! I love the vibrant colors and all of the adorable bugs! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jeremiah's parents came to me with an idea for a painting to hang in his room with the perfect Bible verse from the book of Jeremiah. How perfect?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Td_ps9v5qKBG2QUj13tuWHKoPKufQOvqePMYtKQFprhyphenhyphenNiqhsADvs-HM1gv_N2grsFrj0wY8SspIc1GC6Mgd4JmNpkQL2eEuPcnAUWdeYIgxlMTlhtxnicnGJtq74E7EeWLvTjlTCuw/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_Td_ps9v5qKBG2QUj13tuWHKoPKufQOvqePMYtKQFprhyphenhyphenNiqhsADvs-HM1gv_N2grsFrj0wY8SspIc1GC6Mgd4JmNpkQL2eEuPcnAUWdeYIgxlMTlhtxnicnGJtq74E7EeWLvTjlTCuw/s400/IMG_2408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i>"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." </i>Jeremiah 29:11</blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">They also found the perfect storage solution for his nursery and handed it to me to see if I could do anything with it. Um... of course! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIOeeXPUXQHz8VoM_RJqjAqoPEHCgMpjcNxmPQzHbpxt6kYz4wyiSG_OTJpaZcXDR1vJyIZQYHj7jN5WLdBvTSG0hOSlXcS5loeVghlynNdQ-TmSSakHO5zsMW1gO8-Hz3grAukxL58N6/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIOeeXPUXQHz8VoM_RJqjAqoPEHCgMpjcNxmPQzHbpxt6kYz4wyiSG_OTJpaZcXDR1vJyIZQYHj7jN5WLdBvTSG0hOSlXcS5loeVghlynNdQ-TmSSakHO5zsMW1gO8-Hz3grAukxL58N6/s400/IMG_2484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOtgaMv_xkkYxuC8vwcXVvoRydQkhFL2SWB5pflk9aU9Pax_YgLIIukqbfhMWKiGMVbc7Nt29M8Mz3i1eQdtryQwFhsMc8I2JcdhLprQ_wyQtpws9j0FXKKOicBoNJrlXW-8bAoOM6gEi/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOtgaMv_xkkYxuC8vwcXVvoRydQkhFL2SWB5pflk9aU9Pax_YgLIIukqbfhMWKiGMVbc7Nt29M8Mz3i1eQdtryQwFhsMc8I2JcdhLprQ_wyQtpws9j0FXKKOicBoNJrlXW-8bAoOM6gEi/s400/IMG_2485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oNSrH_miY-H65Dt0oBNdHQZ3uQ1eh9KdV56f0ZUW4M6_w1rXAeRxOjmMAxwUFu5TCOM9bOSxJlblRppZLCu-SKXOK4eoVlA7GA8LrxivFm2xTktFqq8bxd6OmF_17c2hQhkjfB8LKO5_/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oNSrH_miY-H65Dt0oBNdHQZ3uQ1eh9KdV56f0ZUW4M6_w1rXAeRxOjmMAxwUFu5TCOM9bOSxJlblRppZLCu-SKXOK4eoVlA7GA8LrxivFm2xTktFqq8bxd6OmF_17c2hQhkjfB8LKO5_/s400/IMG_2589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot WAIT to see how everything looks in his completed nursery! </span>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-49737905646160184622012-03-27T11:19:00.001-05:002012-03-27T11:23:17.454-05:00Under the Sea Thumbprint "Coral Reef"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69fy5KFmugUOZffrWFo-fxfLsXQOKzZhX9muPGt-HMlhyphenhyphen2k3N6uNIAyB-r4W2cMJVnMjEaT6mEhThEkJyutjD0RVEsnWihFwwuiVcmOb3ek9KaMfutkCjzorA8YW0TGXWNDa5FhsLu8iP/s1600/Photo09201037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69fy5KFmugUOZffrWFo-fxfLsXQOKzZhX9muPGt-HMlhyphenhyphen2k3N6uNIAyB-r4W2cMJVnMjEaT6mEhThEkJyutjD0RVEsnWihFwwuiVcmOb3ek9KaMfutkCjzorA8YW0TGXWNDa5FhsLu8iP/s200/Photo09201037.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Thumbprint Trees are a hot item to have at baby showers and are quickly replacing the traditional guest book. Using a green stamp pad, guests use their thumbprints to make leaves on a bare tree and then sign their names on top of the leaves when they dry. At the end of the shower, the Mommy can frame the canvas and add it as a special, personalized touch to the baby's nursery. (Check out the "Thumbprint Tree" link to the left to see different trees made by Kidspired Creations.)<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>But, what do you do if a tree would just look really out of place in the baby's nursery, yet you love the concept of the thumbprint tree? You think outside of the box!</div><div><br />
</div><div>That's exactly what I had to do when I was presented with the idea of making a Thumbprint "Coral Reef" for an Under the Sea themed shower to complement a baby girl's nursery with the same theme. I'm not going to lie, I had NO idea how to even attempt to paint a coral reef/tree for thumbprints, so I was a bit intimidated by this request. However, I absolutely LOVE how it turned out and cannot wait to see it hanging in Baby Starlee's nursery!!! Instead of the thumbprints making leaves for a tree, the thumbprints were turned into FISH that swim around the reef! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltu5Ss-N2_68q6i4gU2Fv5U-qOX1bpoC8f3RT-zYjlEG_HG5_j07um4JLm2C5pRinqCqnXb4HYqW02nSe4O9CcK7yftFUfpv85QSeq7cprjpMzntGTFrIcPpMqSpTX76rzYWjfIM4Ima/s1600/419457_10150625712409023_582504022_9267892_1052370206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvltu5Ss-N2_68q6i4gU2Fv5U-qOX1bpoC8f3RT-zYjlEG_HG5_j07um4JLm2C5pRinqCqnXb4HYqW02nSe4O9CcK7yftFUfpv85QSeq7cprjpMzntGTFrIcPpMqSpTX76rzYWjfIM4Ima/s640/419457_10150625712409023_582504022_9267892_1052370206_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div>After all the thumbprints and signatures dried, tails and fins were added to the prints to make them look like fish - my mother and sister-in-law's idea, not mine, so I cannot take credit for it. And since I was not able to make the shower myself, my sister-in-law added the finishing touches (and some sparkle) to the fish! I think it turned out fabulous!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Speaking of fabulous, the shower looked AMAZING!!! My mother and sister-in-law are truly talented when it comes to decorating and even catering showers, banquets, birthday parties, and other events. Here are just a few pictures:</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EZbLZ0z-ogxXlgXVEL_ztGgoBzAliV2j85_DstK-tIG9DBsypqL21HRodPUy7XkTygi1egeQTt0l76N7e9wRTgeXeSLeXwQ1VzHTo9nOUVPeZIbVYoKZFE08XsfkJ9LNdvlFKgJnR1y9/s1600/402448_10150590516124023_582504022_9145252_1108706677_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EZbLZ0z-ogxXlgXVEL_ztGgoBzAliV2j85_DstK-tIG9DBsypqL21HRodPUy7XkTygi1egeQTt0l76N7e9wRTgeXeSLeXwQ1VzHTo9nOUVPeZIbVYoKZFE08XsfkJ9LNdvlFKgJnR1y9/s400/402448_10150590516124023_582504022_9145252_1108706677_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign-in table</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iLOL76E-guYoetBkV_Hr2H0KDqrPeQHer5XzSPGy52wNunzV4FZTwT2BekrRRCkzEVEZfYklORittMLhHv9Mgrbfnwt8mV1FJIoGQM3hssFJ3pnDK9ZH-fouAPIjgajKyVi8Nvo7CfNN/s1600/404224_10150590509199023_582504022_9145201_886369148_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iLOL76E-guYoetBkV_Hr2H0KDqrPeQHer5XzSPGy52wNunzV4FZTwT2BekrRRCkzEVEZfYklORittMLhHv9Mgrbfnwt8mV1FJIoGQM3hssFJ3pnDK9ZH-fouAPIjgajKyVi8Nvo7CfNN/s400/404224_10150590509199023_582504022_9145201_886369148_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCZzlH_IZFAPrjQl5-5npJGass2GqQBrm0NIgoDNSXtEMdJLvvIIaZ3282v0Eva_vT5trHPh1-bsvZh_teE7c9J-XkUn88Zak3XVKOkp5jyPh0g94Yomaxp2l29n-4SIzMXT-Wisomwsa/s1600/406455_10150590508179023_582504022_9145197_879678541_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCZzlH_IZFAPrjQl5-5npJGass2GqQBrm0NIgoDNSXtEMdJLvvIIaZ3282v0Eva_vT5trHPh1-bsvZh_teE7c9J-XkUn88Zak3XVKOkp5jyPh0g94Yomaxp2l29n-4SIzMXT-Wisomwsa/s400/406455_10150590508179023_582504022_9145197_879678541_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cake from La Baguette, decorated by my sister-in-law (Caruso's Catering)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk52O6ckSJVsbVC06Dy6hW4dPSHLanmF0n3lU_2zR6Yidk8UbMnVGUj9bzx0igisvA9LHKlP81_e-9M5WllRVrxssgcGaVJy73OVw1u7mB9_HT36tY-ilWuNEzvkHhyphenhyphenhOIpIco-I9pdDsl/s1600/416883_10150590515794023_582504022_9145250_54502867_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk52O6ckSJVsbVC06Dy6hW4dPSHLanmF0n3lU_2zR6Yidk8UbMnVGUj9bzx0igisvA9LHKlP81_e-9M5WllRVrxssgcGaVJy73OVw1u7mB9_HT36tY-ilWuNEzvkHhyphenhyphenhOIpIco-I9pdDsl/s400/416883_10150590515794023_582504022_9145250_54502867_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lollipop Starfish displayed in "coral" made by melting sugar!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLEvIYS349_8ye4rdw9-g8ZqwjxzrTdxsJE_q6IbKN3HfsLkCZwr5AJ1wCPj-FlVPBUOMi9V0pTvqIk_M4FRKR61Vketbf8b4KefAu1oa94bOcArSBW9ZclS7mFAKxhbstcmjBoURIoXD/s1600/417162_10150590506959023_582504022_9145188_1201652862_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLEvIYS349_8ye4rdw9-g8ZqwjxzrTdxsJE_q6IbKN3HfsLkCZwr5AJ1wCPj-FlVPBUOMi9V0pTvqIk_M4FRKR61Vketbf8b4KefAu1oa94bOcArSBW9ZclS7mFAKxhbstcmjBoURIoXD/s400/417162_10150590506959023_582504022_9145188_1201652862_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Coral!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHuuRZVIhpGTDWIcZBg6-U11N3ucvtsK_RkcMxafTIO4NbvDzuVehzYd-V1E22akVwJlQyQukiMXMbDnYVcvby1iz5-9FH1OY-NmMemQBxpc3W9KMhGGMyaPSIe93uAf3zWNRrUEW5Eng/s1600/420209_10150590507374023_582504022_9145192_735838025_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHuuRZVIhpGTDWIcZBg6-U11N3ucvtsK_RkcMxafTIO4NbvDzuVehzYd-V1E22akVwJlQyQukiMXMbDnYVcvby1iz5-9FH1OY-NmMemQBxpc3W9KMhGGMyaPSIe93uAf3zWNRrUEW5Eng/s400/420209_10150590507374023_582504022_9145192_735838025_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jellyfish paper lanterns hung over the centerpieces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLp5JAmJYk4UlAFwc5o2EVq6HwawTOYW3qU9ZnJkP4oayIVK57Jm31QlMRrOKmwI3-JvWPuBVIcWFZ2G0KuuWVFppqW1sjYkgPVACbCdAguWns77MoEQcfmqqR3a-UURwtBzGy69XPBRA/s1600/424786_10150590507629023_582504022_9145193_1186317315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLp5JAmJYk4UlAFwc5o2EVq6HwawTOYW3qU9ZnJkP4oayIVK57Jm31QlMRrOKmwI3-JvWPuBVIcWFZ2G0KuuWVFppqW1sjYkgPVACbCdAguWns77MoEQcfmqqR3a-UURwtBzGy69XPBRA/s400/424786_10150590507629023_582504022_9145193_1186317315_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign-in table for the thumbprint coral reef</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaf9iCDclqRe2TdxZQhmF6SCLZKpEzmFjtMZq3gsjAIKT8OIs-ZlLAvAqud3cc4zX1Qjaq8xVmlTH1S3GA47X6-XU-c_uiXCEba1PSiUDUu3jjz7ohGp1Pa8WsiQ1YdsPlSpSLmYfnCga/s1600/428270_10150590507159023_582504022_9145189_1812713198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaf9iCDclqRe2TdxZQhmF6SCLZKpEzmFjtMZq3gsjAIKT8OIs-ZlLAvAqud3cc4zX1Qjaq8xVmlTH1S3GA47X6-XU-c_uiXCEba1PSiUDUu3jjz7ohGp1Pa8WsiQ1YdsPlSpSLmYfnCga/s400/428270_10150590507159023_582504022_9145189_1812713198_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gift table. I LOVE the jellyfish paper lanterns!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-30971782559516503802012-03-05T11:10:00.000-06:002012-03-05T11:10:24.552-06:00Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Baby Wayne will be making his world debut within the next few weeks and if he is anything like his early bird big sister Ava (see her <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2011/03/bubblegum-and-tootie-fruity.html">Bubblegum theme here</a>), he'll be here any day now! <br />
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Wayne and Brooke are about to take a leap from a world of pink to all boy! Since boys are always on the go and flying high, airplanes make a really appropriate and ADORABLE nursery theme! If Baby Wayne is anything like my boys, he is going to LOVE all things that zoom across the sky!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kidspiration:</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1490622936"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECZQtscX_znd0KGPFjXmuW-vOPyxlWfaxO2ruD6LkiOfbA5OjcnwrK69w60Zd2DX3zwddcW4LY0uv8pLcuJ5cx8z7jSPbluK4SKjytlT6Hskxq6GMUOyxNsf8r57truA7hjGfRLtHacr8/s400/wayne+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/lai/lai6606v.html">Lambs and Ivy Wings Theme</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kidspired's Creation:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhalOJS0dF1JAs-VWQ1W_ENvciCfbgBB-R3WV3ISpffG88BvNAsaoU1_jvvMfrH3cMhc8Soicp0RUyINWzsFxcNZ3eTZqDyDhTfb-FYzFvn3kuk3Ecee152WQfCbuiLLaOgTmQYQ7Wi4K/s1600/wayne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhalOJS0dF1JAs-VWQ1W_ENvciCfbgBB-R3WV3ISpffG88BvNAsaoU1_jvvMfrH3cMhc8Soicp0RUyINWzsFxcNZ3eTZqDyDhTfb-FYzFvn3kuk3Ecee152WQfCbuiLLaOgTmQYQ7Wi4K/s400/wayne.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtN-nV5Vyso7O3McoL8Jjg4a2cc0_eitS-Yh_-dZuDZb5__HZ1hJTc6bQUJ5i3-9jRTn41OgHQIMBy9meiiopNFOBEZ0AWY4WaF2rAs1PKgJlCwFlq0U-k36Z9UKpDMW6UI8adNmfgeRr/s1600/IMG_2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtN-nV5Vyso7O3McoL8Jjg4a2cc0_eitS-Yh_-dZuDZb5__HZ1hJTc6bQUJ5i3-9jRTn41OgHQIMBy9meiiopNFOBEZ0AWY4WaF2rAs1PKgJlCwFlq0U-k36Z9UKpDMW6UI8adNmfgeRr/s400/IMG_2067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4hNnvX5yj288JrJ1pVYHJYfXHdcU2pGFiyCvpV_-uHZeNgayhCjdVWgbX3F0dyv4ffbq188HxixBsO030kDHKXlaoPrsWCD_K0JkG-LLPOIUVFyEi_DBQuI9qUwG92KBBsX_inicGYZF/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4hNnvX5yj288JrJ1pVYHJYfXHdcU2pGFiyCvpV_-uHZeNgayhCjdVWgbX3F0dyv4ffbq188HxixBsO030kDHKXlaoPrsWCD_K0JkG-LLPOIUVFyEi_DBQuI9qUwG92KBBsX_inicGYZF/s400/IMG_2068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The world, especially Mommy, Daddy and Ava, cannot wait to meet you, Wayne!!!Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-13375380182009109852012-02-28T16:51:00.000-06:002012-02-28T17:32:08.440-06:00DIY Distressed Wood and Name Decor<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3Z3QJ9vbZOkZXv5YEI5eLxrH7OmcfVG4gFDafIHQUiV3fksp4P9TlXnxM3UrX8pCZhyX93tpOBVAWxXXsK8dotR-6eH7vWX8OsRp2JbA8XATzfoqDdNCdfrpTp2RmAWNem2h77L5I3Ew/s1600/Noah%2527s+Name+-+Pic.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3Z3QJ9vbZOkZXv5YEI5eLxrH7OmcfVG4gFDafIHQUiV3fksp4P9TlXnxM3UrX8pCZhyX93tpOBVAWxXXsK8dotR-6eH7vWX8OsRp2JbA8XATzfoqDdNCdfrpTp2RmAWNem2h77L5I3Ew/s320/Noah%2527s+Name+-+Pic.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I am so excited to introduce you to my friend, Casey, a fellow mom-treprenuer from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Whatley-Photography/160851017299338">Casey Whatley Photography</a>! Casey and I not only share a super cool first name, but we go way back to our college years at LSU and now each have two pre-school age boys.<br />
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I fell in LOVE with the wall letters she made for her boys' nursery and asked her to please please please share the step-by-step process for this super easy and inexpensive DIY project! <br />
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Lucky for us, she said, "sure!" Thank you so much for sharing, Casey!!!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #1: </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Cut the boards off of a crate. I opted to do various lengths and various angles on the edges because I wanted a rugged, non.structured look. </span></blockquote></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Step #2:</span> Nail them onto a piece of 1x6.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step #3:</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">To get the look of my boards, I spray painted them gray...they were already weathered and grayish looking, but some weren't as gray as others. I spray painted them gray so they'd all look more even with the grayish weathered look.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #4: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Then, I poured white paint in a cup and put some water in it so it gets runny. There's no set formula I used,, just make it to where the paint isn't so thick. From there, just paint the white on until you get your desired look. If too much gray is coming through, just do another coat of white. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #5:</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Next is the letters. Mine came from Babies R Us. I distressed them by hitting them with a hammer (the side you'd use to pull out a nail), and hit them with a flat head screw driver. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #6:</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">I then picked out my colors...for Noah's name I used blue. The letters were already primed in white. I spray painted the letters blue and after the paint dried, I put the letters face down on my driveway and drug them on my driveway to give the paint that scratchy look. Basically, at this point you just scratch them until you get the desired look you want. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #7:</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">I got sandpaper and sanded the edges of the letters down to the brown wood. </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Step #8: </span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Lastly, just nail them to your crate boards in whatever pattern you like! If your child has a long name, you could always just make a name sign that is their initials. </span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJkZqO92dKDtihDySp1AJdl2LD-7FhS8rcVJBQ0ZngZlX36MFl5ggCuFNjRjkykKVqCF0-ihFaQ8AuSh7b9M2xdW-0ocoQuyO_svvpMBzJhkZ_ealBPMVFECaITrtzWhP_8AjQooPfN6W/s1600/Joseph%2527s+Name.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJkZqO92dKDtihDySp1AJdl2LD-7FhS8rcVJBQ0ZngZlX36MFl5ggCuFNjRjkykKVqCF0-ihFaQ8AuSh7b9M2xdW-0ocoQuyO_svvpMBzJhkZ_ealBPMVFECaITrtzWhP_8AjQooPfN6W/s400/Joseph%2527s+Name.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Thank you so much, Casey, for this super classic, rustic, and high-end look! This design can look great in many different colors and in a number of nursery themes for boys or girls! If you live in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, check out <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Whatley-Photography/160851017299338">Casey Whatley Photography</a> for your family, baby, child, senior/graduation, bridal, engagement, or wedding sessions!Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-4412520179555978942012-02-08T18:00:00.001-06:002012-02-08T18:00:00.674-06:00Personalized Slate Wall Decor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgE_PU55z4k44sr_qnEPLFmEpofOMroM-WZFzs67iHf0Nek9vgTO9cQxwYYfgC_AgaS1IGNWeH-I3pNP8gE1kzFgiPN1KIpWVXfR6mVzn0VokSfKp92uBYZiPJMD1hP-9sEoigZbp5FyB/s1600/IMG_9873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgE_PU55z4k44sr_qnEPLFmEpofOMroM-WZFzs67iHf0Nek9vgTO9cQxwYYfgC_AgaS1IGNWeH-I3pNP8gE1kzFgiPN1KIpWVXfR6mVzn0VokSfKp92uBYZiPJMD1hP-9sEoigZbp5FyB/s400/IMG_9873.JPG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYee5cOe2eLAn35ofcy3bzNo1rfbPqfFwKdn-aLRTikh2pggpT4XzRZs_d4bVNOtamfsuren0wetlKRRxoCSO8JAEdAs_94M_xM60PoAa0fPGM9Nzfp3uXS7LpN9svOgoUyIhGTzf4FrFK/s1600/IMG_9874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYee5cOe2eLAn35ofcy3bzNo1rfbPqfFwKdn-aLRTikh2pggpT4XzRZs_d4bVNOtamfsuren0wetlKRRxoCSO8JAEdAs_94M_xM60PoAa0fPGM9Nzfp3uXS7LpN9svOgoUyIhGTzf4FrFK/s400/IMG_9874.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44Mn0doo36QV_mpnCsFeVEa4TqFz6ZXf5j6zjlvC-6Ju5SxuaaGe77GWSDK0XjzohKO3um1MQfRYnv5WswcL4bJD0G2Z2uu1Amchn8lvlfbisrELT28L-rS8iXFg1PAFF_vr7t2eDcikX/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44Mn0doo36QV_mpnCsFeVEa4TqFz6ZXf5j6zjlvC-6Ju5SxuaaGe77GWSDK0XjzohKO3um1MQfRYnv5WswcL4bJD0G2Z2uu1Amchn8lvlfbisrELT28L-rS8iXFg1PAFF_vr7t2eDcikX/s320/IMG_9686.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgPNBhjSZS4PRbIt0FoRKBaylr4C6joXpv9OkC5wfgoJsedAmjO92EoE0q9DZ8v7Ln-3nCRR4E_8fDAC8oFQqgfVFaDSdPfBlxSNfTDY07lqoYsnslwTQMlz09UTRKPrxk8etKqBeQeL2/s1600/IMG_9687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgPNBhjSZS4PRbIt0FoRKBaylr4C6joXpv9OkC5wfgoJsedAmjO92EoE0q9DZ8v7Ln-3nCRR4E_8fDAC8oFQqgfVFaDSdPfBlxSNfTDY07lqoYsnslwTQMlz09UTRKPrxk8etKqBeQeL2/s320/IMG_9687.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">$35 + shipping</span></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-43772151866119853182012-02-08T11:20:00.001-06:002012-02-08T11:27:39.394-06:00DIY Silhouette Wall DecorHappy New Year (a month late)! I have been planning this post since the new year but I just found all the pictures that I thought I lost. Huzzah! Still missing a bunch though :-/<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7pOs9Fnc0_Pkmxp_4gENrO-9lDYmJGQx-9fEsveqqMWFFHV9lb2ETztSAvchuTLSwyOma1yr4YLF5-Nb_C8nUBI2yDYCNPAPcUzqZn_-z1qQP_GaDUluQkPSDZOLzFFZlAfS22HTyKO/s1600/IMG_9870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7pOs9Fnc0_Pkmxp_4gENrO-9lDYmJGQx-9fEsveqqMWFFHV9lb2ETztSAvchuTLSwyOma1yr4YLF5-Nb_C8nUBI2yDYCNPAPcUzqZn_-z1qQP_GaDUluQkPSDZOLzFFZlAfS22HTyKO/s400/IMG_9870.JPG" width="400" /></a>Yesterday I posted the first of a multi-part series on <a href="http://kidspiredcreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/season-of-handmade-giving.html">gift-giving in 2012</a>: creating more personal, handmade gifts for your loved ones. <br />
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I love these silhouettes I made of my boys and my niece for my mother-in-law's Christmas gift. This was a fun and simple project. The hardest part was getting the kids to stay still enough to get the perfect profile shot! I found that the best shots were the ones where their lips were parted just slightly... so after 100 shots, we finally got the perfect profile pictures (I exaggerate... just a little).<br />
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Materials:<br />
11"x14" canvas<br />
paint<br />
brushes<br />
Mod Podge<br />
scrapbook paper<br />
clear acrylic spray sealant<br />
scrapbook letters<br />
camera<br />
computer<br />
printer<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step #1: </span>First paint your canvas in a color that coordinates with your scrapbook paper. You can paint it a solid color, or choose another coordinating color to frame it out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1llQefB9a8qyLpNZgfY3h8dsKqpQHoHgFmNPiMX6pdrOy271_jNXYEnEzeVJJ4A1HBRyYUoy_ymMPDAx1F1iv5hKKWUvGFfkx2-a7DONJtu-ZeNrP7dL3CpfuHygcaQts5S0Nq_EIol1W/s1600/IMG_9703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1llQefB9a8qyLpNZgfY3h8dsKqpQHoHgFmNPiMX6pdrOy271_jNXYEnEzeVJJ4A1HBRyYUoy_ymMPDAx1F1iv5hKKWUvGFfkx2-a7DONJtu-ZeNrP7dL3CpfuHygcaQts5S0Nq_EIol1W/s400/IMG_9703.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Step #2:</span> Profile picture: it is easier to be able to see details if your profile picture is against a light, solid background. Upload your picture onto your computer and blow it up to fit on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper. Print it out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgqU0h_JFhVNr26K0suy2J1skXlb9c9nKwpo4DR17n8lAZ0zMqjACRR4JK_NbFi_8GZ0ex2LKWZklIwCMhqVSecZ_QkRVGVJyB0EqXFnkH88I8daBU2DW18HPMyqReknaqWf5fciQchGu/s1600/IMG_9707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgqU0h_JFhVNr26K0suy2J1skXlb9c9nKwpo4DR17n8lAZ0zMqjACRR4JK_NbFi_8GZ0ex2LKWZklIwCMhqVSecZ_QkRVGVJyB0EqXFnkH88I8daBU2DW18HPMyqReknaqWf5fciQchGu/s400/IMG_9707.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Step #3:</span> Once you have printed your picture out, cut out the outline of the profile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWkOLQsQW2QbolKCbIkgMLcscl_qT0bOMijjHYAE0YfrODV_PheGxnRwus3fAQ2APt7HkfBtkNUJ6um4nj8QR6_d4HMBQyZgTN_s7SHJKEVS0gYiV4iop1TMlh19HsasVxec6WQSpefst/s1600/IMG_9708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWkOLQsQW2QbolKCbIkgMLcscl_qT0bOMijjHYAE0YfrODV_PheGxnRwus3fAQ2APt7HkfBtkNUJ6um4nj8QR6_d4HMBQyZgTN_s7SHJKEVS0gYiV4iop1TMlh19HsasVxec6WQSpefst/s400/IMG_9708.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can tell, I was almost out of printer ink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Step #4: </span> Trace the profile onto the back of the scrapbook paper and cut it out. Spray the clear, acrylic sealant on both sides of the scrapbook paper. This protects the thin paper from the moisture of the Mod Podge so it will not tear easily.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step #5:</span> Bust out the Mod Podge! Paint an even layer of Mod Podge onto the middle of your canvas and another on the back of your scrapbook paper profile. No need to be stingy, but don't glop it on either. Place your profile picture in the middle of your canvas. Using a credit card or clay roller, smooth out from the middle to the edges. Keep rolling until it is completely smooth and there aren't any bubbles. Wait about 15 minutes for it to dry.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Step #6:</span> When your first layer to glue your profile to your canvas is dry, add a second even layer of Mod Podge on top of your entire canvas to seal it. Place your scrapbook letters on your canvas before the Mod Podge dries. Even if your letters are self-adhesive, the Mod Podge will give them a permanent hold.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjK5e5vXG6sVj9MjpwpM8Qzqn9M0t0dpL-8GSYJwBVazEaL4JoE0Y7PtQ39PK2uQ9vtjmBXicz51K45HUb5WH9i4kuihqWFY4OGvtsf4RxgOR9MvTg7k8k-rQQIuL04PBTtT9YawNJCWF/s1600/IMG_9711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjK5e5vXG6sVj9MjpwpM8Qzqn9M0t0dpL-8GSYJwBVazEaL4JoE0Y7PtQ39PK2uQ9vtjmBXicz51K45HUb5WH9i4kuihqWFY4OGvtsf4RxgOR9MvTg7k8k-rQQIuL04PBTtT9YawNJCWF/s400/IMG_9711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Aaaand you're done! Well, after you wait 15 to 20 minutes for it to dry, but THEN you're done! Just add a frame or decorative ribbon to hang it and it makes the perfect personal gift from the heart!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7pOs9Fnc0_Pkmxp_4gENrO-9lDYmJGQx-9fEsveqqMWFFHV9lb2ETztSAvchuTLSwyOma1yr4YLF5-Nb_C8nUBI2yDYCNPAPcUzqZn_-z1qQP_GaDUluQkPSDZOLzFFZlAfS22HTyKO/s1600/IMG_9870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf7pOs9Fnc0_Pkmxp_4gENrO-9lDYmJGQx-9fEsveqqMWFFHV9lb2ETztSAvchuTLSwyOma1yr4YLF5-Nb_C8nUBI2yDYCNPAPcUzqZn_-z1qQP_GaDUluQkPSDZOLzFFZlAfS22HTyKO/s400/IMG_9870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6979345349496912754.post-14768429067619852732012-02-07T11:33:00.003-06:002012-02-08T10:04:29.687-06:00Season of Handmade GivingWith the growing popularity of <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>, a website designed for you to create virtual bulletin boards of your favorite internet finds with back links to the picture's original URL, gift-giving and decorating has made a shift into the world of DIY (do it yourself). I LOVE making gifts for people, which is kind of how Kidspired Creations got started. I find it is (1) cheaper if you just make something yourself and it (2) means a little bit more to the person when you put a little time and energy into making their gift. <br />
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</div><div>Now if you feel you are not the crafty type, do NOT be afraid to take a small step into the DIY world! You, too, can be crafty I promise!!! For the next few posts I will show you some past DIY gifts that my sister and I have made. Some are more difficult than others, but think about ways that you can adapt this to your crafting style. When I see a new DIY craft, I first like to look at what materials are needed and try to tweak the project a bit so I can work with what I already have... to save money and a trip to the store, of course.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I recently walked around my mom's house and took pictures of the decor my sister and I have made for her over the years. She LOVES when we make her gifts... and most often requests home-made gifts from us... and like a typical mom proudly displays them on her walls.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Picture Matte</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can purchase a blank picture matte of any size from any craft store (hint: some frames come with white ones already). Stores like Hobby Lobby will custom cut the matte for you if your frame is not a standard size. Hand the paint and brush over to your kids and let them paint away! For my mom's mattes I gave my kids 3 colors that I knew would match my mom's decor.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt7ezqZ4w6t_sIWSVLMYpoAWDGS1Zy8gUoobdsLS8jz68qHsMluBp59hyEAGM27ZUxckjXRI8wLh542eHi3mV30RnTAiGjVZsZtO5wQPLSBVLCH99A5RhAFCxIlj7xr2zpNwAb0_HB3LJ/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt7ezqZ4w6t_sIWSVLMYpoAWDGS1Zy8gUoobdsLS8jz68qHsMluBp59hyEAGM27ZUxckjXRI8wLh542eHi3mV30RnTAiGjVZsZtO5wQPLSBVLCH99A5RhAFCxIlj7xr2zpNwAb0_HB3LJ/s400/IMG_0830.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Clothesline Frame</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">My sister found this beautiful old frame that has been in the family for a while. She removed the backing and created horizontal "clotheslines" out of wire by using small nails or staples on either side of the frame and tying the wire between them. She then printed her favorite pictures from my parent's wedding, my wedding, and her wedding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVNtfcT0FTMBLKdTF9yRDISB6hB64XDMjVDTf6FPEI57-FalFTRzLUGEeyGHpyU8Vu6zT6NnyTMoF7aZeoV5nmHxGCqVrPVCX0IB1cILZvAA8ONjm7l4mMRUC7mk9o7hxypLkTE1Fq_G_/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVNtfcT0FTMBLKdTF9yRDISB6hB64XDMjVDTf6FPEI57-FalFTRzLUGEeyGHpyU8Vu6zT6NnyTMoF7aZeoV5nmHxGCqVrPVCX0IB1cILZvAA8ONjm7l4mMRUC7mk9o7hxypLkTE1Fq_G_/s400/IMG_0806.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Necklace Holder</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Handy women of the world UNITE! Super simple if you know how to work a drill and a bolt cutter. This particular plaque came from Hobby Lobby. Dab some paint on it and to make it a little more rustic, gently sand the edges to make the natural wood color show through. These knobs came from Hobby Lobby and World Market. Drill a hole through your plaque, screw in your knobs and use a bolt cutter to cut the excess screws so they don't stick out the back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9lnLXMercnKxDni9FA39kb5POXEqRHAdbNyF2NestiD01kWcqcH5321HQ9tBQEF5pQNvc9FZXELkR4_eYfRzZXrRtklSB5p0qWEVcB0h9rtZLDcy_qvylGV2x2dQPI93XatH1HnCv0_3/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9lnLXMercnKxDni9FA39kb5POXEqRHAdbNyF2NestiD01kWcqcH5321HQ9tBQEF5pQNvc9FZXELkR4_eYfRzZXrRtklSB5p0qWEVcB0h9rtZLDcy_qvylGV2x2dQPI93XatH1HnCv0_3/s400/IMG_0807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shadow Box for 3D Memories</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I purchased this shadow box at Hobby Lobby to display my sister's and my Christening gowns. I screwed a little hook into the top to hang the gown from and used double sided tape for the hat, bib and shoes. If you find a good frame sale, this is a super cheap project!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZHsbxiXV4xhdqpGAF_F1n5mVDpWFjP6E4bo6PM-LIb-N7P8nWQU2AzB_n8RRi3WPxiR5PXsgbAaFKk8_r47bGiICRSMfm-AJfEJFmhWrDOBsLyJa03w2i0M6hY2oiLNxGZF8LSfobn69/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZHsbxiXV4xhdqpGAF_F1n5mVDpWFjP6E4bo6PM-LIb-N7P8nWQU2AzB_n8RRi3WPxiR5PXsgbAaFKk8_r47bGiICRSMfm-AJfEJFmhWrDOBsLyJa03w2i0M6hY2oiLNxGZF8LSfobn69/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Decorative Hooks</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Joann's each sell different types of unfinished wood products that are just waiting for you to add a personal touch. This plaque came with the knobs already attached so all you need to do is paint!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ1RQ-SUKx_D4CuXauC5YSgbJ7oG1fMgVDFCjI1Ev8Oy0Ucek3nJAlddiAaeYxEUbA4TcAjUvj4yah8CGbtBfLgQn1bcM0KnpeWndr318wk3307JdK0yRQCzMgM0Xjs2Oo5XDG4Tb_kAh/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ1RQ-SUKx_D4CuXauC5YSgbJ7oG1fMgVDFCjI1Ev8Oy0Ucek3nJAlddiAaeYxEUbA4TcAjUvj4yah8CGbtBfLgQn1bcM0KnpeWndr318wk3307JdK0yRQCzMgM0Xjs2Oo5XDG4Tb_kAh/s400/IMG_0825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Family Tree</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This one is so easy a child can do it! I painted a simple tree on a 11x14 canvas and my 4-year-old son made the leaves with his finger prints. I then added our family names, a birdhouse - a special way my family likes to remember my dad, and my parent's wedding anniversary date.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UIESPHaz6ZKv2sIW-j3Lf26gbk8Pw-kuH1JE6vJVYDG-IMrs31-p-bl9rGJNXp2tKdPpEvQ7BkIe4MC2vBfh4iRHCjxgrpLoMPlRZdWzgRQtfgWTTx61IuVrZzMxXpNbk7lty7jQB_ki/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UIESPHaz6ZKv2sIW-j3Lf26gbk8Pw-kuH1JE6vJVYDG-IMrs31-p-bl9rGJNXp2tKdPpEvQ7BkIe4MC2vBfh4iRHCjxgrpLoMPlRZdWzgRQtfgWTTx61IuVrZzMxXpNbk7lty7jQB_ki/s400/IMG_0829.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An Original Painting</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">My mom requested a Casey original to hang above her bed. Now I am not the best painter of landscapes or anything realistic, really... I try to stick to <i>kidspired</i> doodles and polka dots ;-) However, I did try my hand at a swamp landscape for my mom and she and I both love how it turned out! It doesn't matter how good you are at painting, try a simple design or pattern to put on a canvas and you might impress yourself! I think I need a lot more practice, and maybe some painting lessons, before I'm ready to hit art galleries!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOmSaYJjXd8/Tv-FII2nP8I/AAAAAAAAB7U/LzcaiqYltDQ/s1600/IMG_9926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOmSaYJjXd8/Tv-FII2nP8I/AAAAAAAAB7U/LzcaiqYltDQ/s400/IMG_9926.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coffee Table Picture Top</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This personalized project is only semi-DIY. This coffee table has been in my family for a few generations. Over the years, it has acquired some not-so-pretty kicks and water spots from not using coasters. My sister and I decided to finally make this sore sight a fun conversation piece! First I printed out pictures of my boys, my mom's grandchildren. I took the pictures to the Hobby Lobby framing department and gave them the dimensions of the table and all of my pictures. In just an hour they had cut a custom matte with openings for all the pictures that fit perfectly inside my mom's coffee table. My sister then went to a glass store and had glass cut to fit the table. It looks AMAZING in her living room!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kyoSctay6p6tTTMLbmgBd_FasRwpsthFUkihedzuwbkQfGP80f0ftDwDHD4Zc58J-hLSOalIF2_YMCgqRnQjAoQSnmY4VGf2L2tDhrx72GkQaOy6evP1aBEGIbtJuG1I8iy5E4XOnoB_/s1600/IMG_4030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kyoSctay6p6tTTMLbmgBd_FasRwpsthFUkihedzuwbkQfGP80f0ftDwDHD4Zc58J-hLSOalIF2_YMCgqRnQjAoQSnmY4VGf2L2tDhrx72GkQaOy6evP1aBEGIbtJuG1I8iy5E4XOnoB_/s400/IMG_4030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned for more DIY projects that made great Christmas presents for my family and friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. I would LOVE for you to follow me on <a href="http://pinterest.com/kidspiredcre8/">Pinterest: username KidspiredCre8</a>! And feel free to "pin" any of the pictures you see on my blog, just please make sure that it links back here and not to a generic search engine. Thanks!!!</div></div></div>Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061678464267009409noreply@blogger.com2