New Year's!

Happy New Year's Eve!  Or, "Noon Year's Eve" as it was for the youngest in this home... :)

Toddler Friendly Headband Craft

Here is the end product of a fabulous and flamboyant headband craft that is perfect for play time.  Fancy Nancy would be proud.

Start with assorted colors of pipe cleaners, cupcake liners in various colors and patterns, white coffee filters and colorful stretchy headbands (these can be found at Hobby Lobby -- see picture).

The only rule is: There are no rules!  Our motherly instincts to direct them to pick certain color combinations should go out the window.  This is the time to have your little person exercise their own decisions and tastes. :)  The crazier the combination, the more spectacular the piece.

Step 1: Have your child pick 1 pipe cleaner, 3 coffee filters, 3-4 cupcake liners and 1 headband.

Step 2: Layer the 3 coffee filters , separating the layers for a "flower" affect.

Step 3: Wrap the pipe cleaner around the headband (or weave it through) and poke through the middle of the 3 coffee filters with both pointy ends of the pipe cleaner.  Try to keep both ends close together as you poke through.

Step 4: Layer the 3-4 cupcake liners in the middle of the front of the 3 coffee filters.  Poke through the middle of the cupcake liners with both pointy ends of the pipe cleaner that were pushed through the coffee filters.  Again, try to keep both ends close together as you poke through.  Separate the layers of the cupcake liners for a "flower" affect.

Step 5: Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner to secure the coffee filters and cupcake liners in place.  Curl each end of the pipe cleaner.

Voilà!  Your toddler has created a headpiece fit for the tea party attending, make believe playing, princess that she is.

3rd Birthday Party Inspiration

To say that my youngest loves Winnie the Pooh would be an understatement.  She lives in the Hundred Acre Wood.  She composes and sings her own Christopher Robin songs.  She cares for her Pooh stuffed animal like as if it were a baby.  She watches the latest Winnie the Pooh movie, over and over, and over and over and over... again (and again).

It's pretty precious.  So, when I was thinking of themes for her next birthday party, it seemed almost ridiculous to not embrace Pooh in all his glory.  It's just that...I was hoping for more than a commercial character-driven theme.  Alas, I found this party by Lynlee's Petite Cakes below.

It was love at first sight.  So, I will (with the party creator's approval I already received), copy MANY of the details of this party.  It is beautiful.  My upcoming birthday girl agrees.

So, here is the draft of an invite and some party staging details.  Graphics Fairy provided the free gorgeous tree image, I purchased the balloon image and I created the silhouettes (the little girl is actually my little one marching).  All fonts are free as well.  So, I am designing the majority of the party paper decor.  It is in the spirit of a Hundred Acre Wood classic feel.  I will introduce the reds and the golds in the party ware and All the Roses has designed a stunning dress for the party as well as a tutu and other accessories.  Patricia Minish designed the cake topper and it is exquisite.