Yummy Food

So many things going on in my kitchen! Today we rolled the chocolate peanut butter cake pops and I just pulled out the most amazing gluten/dairy/corn free peanut butter cake for the allergy friendly cake pops. This is delicious, so much better than my gfdf sugar cookies. They sort of taste like dinner.

Vintage Luau Tablewares

I'm having so much fun! In vintage luau fashion, here are some pics of the eating utensils. I did find some flower decked, non bright enough cups for the grown ups to sip out of. I made the kids out of smaller $ store cups and each has their own vintage Hawaiian picture. I think they are so cute, I found a great website that puts the pics on postcards and other stuff. Here's a plug since I feel a little guilty using all their awesome photos without actually buying their stuff: http://www.islandartcards.com/. I also printed some of the same images on stickers for the plates. The plates are recycled cardboard and stuff (probably made from corn, which is funny only if you're me) and therefore a little brown like cardboard. They already match great and make me feel all green and stuff, too.

My napkins were on clearance at Party City, straight out of the luau section, and the "silverware" is also green/corn/etc so it also has that natural feel. It was very time consuming to wrap it all up, but I love them! The basket is $ store, and the raffia, which has so far tied all my cards and all my silverware and isn't even half way gone, was also from the $ store. Talk about stretching  a buck! Makes me feel better about spending more on the recycled stuff. Why does green stuff cost more?? so annoying.

First Birthday Party

So here is the big reveal, the  baby's first birthday party theme. I love parties, expensive, every little detail counts kind of parties. I do try to be as thrifty as I can on all the details, and darn it, I feel like sharing how I did it all. So the big reveal......drum roll...... Vintage Luau. Oh ya. Like some old school Hawaiian surfing ladies and no bright colored flip flops and beach balls. Theres nothing wrong with it, just not for this party.
I'll start at the beginning with invitations. I found beautiful, fancy wedding invitations on clearance, 30 for $10. Not too shabby, and half the work is done already. I put back $15 worth of scrapbook paper and these are super fancy. Plus I can use the rsvp envelopes for thank you cards later. I used the rsvp cards to print my handsome baby's photo on. Check em out.
And I tied the card in raffia instead of the brown ribbon that came with the cards to add some beach flair, though didn't get a pic of it, sorry.

Crochet Lion

Another cute critter from Vanna White!

He looks a little Chinese, but adorable nonetheless.

Crochet Critter

Look at the cuteness!

I got this pattern from Vanna White. We go way back. I plan to have these dudes on sale at the Mad Science Fair where I will be a vendor along with my husband. He's selling bacon. Check him out at http://www.homesmoked.webs.com/. Mad Science with bounce houses, blood donations, etc. Lots of fun on March 31st. Contact me for more info! Want a cute giraffe? How about a lion? Love them!!! Hopefully I'll a get a slew done in time. $12!! What a deal. And until I'm done fundraising, a portion goes to LLS. So you can feel good about the cuteness.

Scrappy Owl Fundraiser

So I joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. They teach me how to run a marathon and I raise money to help cure cancer. Win-win! I'm trying to put to use my crafty enough skills to help raise money. These adorable owls are all made from scraps of fabric I have lying around. And believe me, I have enough fabric lying around to make one for everyone I've ever met. They are custom made to whatever color palate you want and I just love how each one turns out different and with they're own tiny personality. Available for only a $5 donation on my fundraising website http://pages.teamintraining.org/ncfl/cmc12/kaitlynpatterson, everyone can have their very own Scrappy! I love him. Keep posted for updates as there are at least 2 more Scrappy's  in process. And just in case someone doesn't like owls (crazy!), I've also started a scrap flower for the same $5 donation. I only have the one done now, but plan to have a few more on hand for my big vendor opportunity in late March! So excited. These projects are super fun to make.

Crochet Headband

I had a tiny bit of sparkly yarn left over and thought I'd give an earwarmer headband a try. My sister in law had a beautiful one she got somewhere and I thought, "hey, I could make that!" It turned out quite different but it was easy and I thought pretty darn nice if you happen to have chilly ears. I made it to fit my head to give to my SIL, but my niece walked in and seemed to enjoy it. She was much cuter in it anyways.  My SIL did end up wearing it to work and people loved it. I was so excited that a few even asked for one. We came up with $8 for the price of it, so if you want one, I can "hook" you up! Get it? Hook? Like crochet hook? I am so funny.

Here's what it looks like on your head:

And buttoned up (the button goes in the back)...

And layed out...