Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Valentine's Day Centerpieces

Guest Post from my Mom Doris!

It’s always wonderful to go all out on table displays and settings, but sometimes it just isn’t practical to use  real dishes with chargers , cloth napkins with napkin rings or expensive centerpieces.    When  you do a lunch for 80 people, once a month,  you are doing  a lot of tables on a low budget.  This is where we will share ideas for tables when you are on a budget and have limited resources.  One thing for sure, we always want to make sure those coming to our event walk in and say “Wow, these decorations make me feel special”.  
*Purchased a 1.00 container in Target's dollar area.    Filled a paper cup with plaster of paris putting a wood skewer painted black in the middle and let dry.  
Make fun puff balls then glue onto the wood skewer.   Place the cup inside the cute square box and aAdd paper filler to top to cover the cup.   This way, the cups can be removed and the cute square containers can be used again for a different centerpiece another year.

Directions for Puff balls can be found here:

One important thing to remember when doing a centerpiece is to keep it under 11 inches tall so that people can see the person across the table without having to move the centerpiece .

We love to give the guests a little favor.  These woven hearts made a great favor to fill with chocolate!!  The are fun to make!
You can find instructions to make the woven hearts here:

We try to decorate a little around the room.  Not too much because we need to take down fast and make the clean up easy.

Cowboy Theme Centerpieces

Guest Post from my Mom Doris!

I think the best way to do decorations is to have a theme.  Sometimes the theme is based around a  holiday or the speaker or program we are having.

One of my favorite themes:   "Cowboy" Theme.

I used bandanna's from the dollar store layering the red and blue.  These lanterns from IKEA are so versatile to use for many occasions.  They are well worth the investment initially.   We added a battery candle with bandanna paper around the center.  The final touch was some rope available at any hardware store.   

I like to have something on the table for the guests to munch on so I added a basket of yummy Chicago Mix Popcorn  available from Costco.
 
Add even just a simple paper band to the napkins  for a touch of color and a way to say "we went the extra mile for you"

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Young Women Value Posters

I created these a LONG time ago, but thought they might be useful to someone.  An 8X10 print for all the Young Women Values.







Lady Bug Themed Nursery

My daughters nursery received more compliments then any other room in my house!  People loved to go in her room, because it simply made them happy!  It was so hard to find baby bedding for a little girl that wasn't PINK PINK PINK... finally I found this one from JOJO designs. I found it on Ebay for a lot less though... 

One we had the bedding, the room came together piece by piece.  I love a themed room!
My amazing husband and I hand painted all those white circles... Now it would be so easy to cut vinyl circles using a cricut or silhouette machine!  The walls are what made this room.  Paint can do amazing things!




Ladybug hair bow holder.  Found the lady bugs in the craft department at Walmart, clued black and white poka-dot ribbon onto them, and it created the perfect bow holder for super cheap!

When she got bigger, we kept the lady bug theme because we loved it so much!  Such a fun room for a little girl!

Monday, January 25, 2016

Midway Ice Castles


If you are looking for something to cure those January Blues, this is it!  It is such a unique experience, and something fun to do in those cold slow months!  Amazing Ice structures, fountains, fire and lights set to fun music, ice slide, and gift shop!   Located in Midway, Utah!
www.icecastles.com/midway
Tips and Tricks:
*Always purchase your tickets online.  They sell out many nights.  Buying your ticket online reserves you a spot!  www.icecastles.com/midway
*If possible don't go on a weekend.
*If possible go early!!! I think 5:00 is the perfect time. You beat the rush, and you are able to see the castle in the light and in the dark. Seeing it in both is a must!
*First things first. Hit the slide!! The line gets longer and longer as the night goes on! So let the kids (and adults!!!) go 5+ times, and then move on to the rest of the castle!
*DRESS WARM! Wear snow-pants not only for warmth but you want them for the slide. Otherwise... you don't slide so well... 
*Take a good camera... it is a photographers paradise!! 
*It's not HUGE, but its AMAZING! 
*If you didn't get discount tickets this year, watch for them on Groupon in November/December, and jump on them quick!




Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies


Peanut Butter and Chocolate... they just belong together!!  These cookies not only taste amazing, but look great too!  Another one of my Grandma Armatage's recipes!  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour 
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Cream sugars and butter.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Shape into balls and roll in sugar (optional).  Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.  
Option:  Instead of using chocolate chips, cook the cookies without chocolate chips then put a Hershey Kiss in the middle of the cookie immediately after removing cookies from oven.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Bubble Gum Birthday Party

My daughter is obsessed with gum.  So for her 4th birthday we did a Bubblegum party!  It was so much fun!
I had her hold a little balloon in her mouth for a bubblegum picture for the invitation

Made these fun yet easy cupcakes!  Here's how; Make cupcakes.  Frost with white frosting, and put M &M's on for the "gum."  Turn an ice cream cone upside down, put a skewer through it, and slide the cupcake sideways onto the skewer.  Add a little M&M on the cone with frosting for the last touch! 

Decorate with pictures, gumballs, gumball machines, and your cupcakes of course!

Pin the quarter on the gumball machine was a hit!  We also had a bubble blowing contest!

This party would be fun for almost any age!!

Grandma's Famous Applesauce Cookies

Whether you are looking for the perfect cookie, or just a way to make your house smell amazing, this recipe is for you!  I love these all year round, but especially in the fall!
Grandma Armatage's Famous Applesauce Cookies
1 pint applesauce
1 tsp. baking soda
Mix applesauce and soda and set aside.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1/2 cup oatmeal (optional)
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 package chocolate chips

Mix all other ingredients together adding the applesauce mixture last.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. 

Girls Room Printable

Made this for my little girls room!  I had mine printed on a Canvas.  It turned out beautiful!
8X10

To print your own
-click on the picture you want-once it appears bigger, right click on the picture and save to your computer
-have it printed at your favorite place
*If you print pictures at Costco, make sure the auto correct option is turned off.  It is something you will see on one of the last pages before you order that is titled Review and Place Order.  Towards the top of the page you will see Print Options.  Click on the edit link to the right and check the box "Do not Autocorrect my prints."  If you don't do this, the prints will turn out darker and the colors won't be as nice.

Goodbye Party/ Trial Mix Bar Printable

 Our dear friends moved away to Washington this month.  We thought it would be fun to host a little goodbye party for them so all their friends and neighbors could come wish them well on their next adventure!  They are bike lovers, so we choose the theme Happy Trails, and had a trial mix bar!

Feel free to use these printables below for your next goodbye party, or even for a trail mix bar before a hike, or bike ride!
8X10

8X10

Everyone loved filling their cute chevron bag with pretzels, multigrain cheerios, popcorn, M&M's, chocolate chips, marshmallows, craisens, dried bananas, raisins, almonds, and cashews! (wish I had a better picture!)

Free Baptism/CTR Pintables

My son was baptized last year on the 4th of July... hence the patriotic themed prints!

To print your own
-click on the picture you want
-once it appears bigger, right click on the picture and save to your computer
-have it printed at your favorite place
*If you print pictures at Costco, make sure the auto correct option is turned off.  It is something you will see on one of the last pages before you order that is titled Review and Place Order.  Towards the top of the page you will see Print Options.  Click on the edit link to the right and check the box "Do not Autocorrect my prints."  If you don't do this, the prints will turn out darker and the colors won't be as nice.

8 1/2 X11

4X6

4X6

Here is some a friend wanted;
5X7

5X7
5X7

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Printables from the Past

I found a file of printables I made a long time ago, and thought I would share!   :)  Sizes are listed below the picture.
5X7

4X6

8X10

5X7

5X7

4X6

4X6

5X7

 
5X7

4X6

5X7

4X6

5X7

5X7

4X6

4X6

4X6

4X6