DIY Pull String Pinata!

I have seen a bunch of pins on Pinterest of DIY Pinata's so I decided to give it a try for my son's 3rd birthday party. Since we didn't need something huge so I used an empty brownie mix box (the large ones you get at wholesale stores like BJ's and Sam's Club). The ages of the kids were under 5 so I knew I wanted to do a pull string pinata and not have to worry about a bunch of toddlers and preschoolers wacking each other with a bat. The whole project was not as complicated as I thought it would be when I first started! :)

SUPPLIES:
-Cardboard Box (any size...depending on the amount of candy/treats you want inside)
-Tissue Paper and/or Crepe Paper (Whatever color matches your theme)
-Ribbon
-Glue
-Box Cutter/Xacto Knife
-Paint (Whatever color matches your theme.)
-Paint Brush
-Cut Outs or Stickers to decorate the finished pinata (Optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. The first thing I did was make a flap on the bottom of the box for the candy/treats to fall out of. And make small slits for the ribbons to go through.

2. I painted the top and bottom of the box with the black paint.

3. Next I took the black crepe paper and began to wrap and glue it all around the box.

4. When the entire box was covered I decorated it with a skull and cross bones, the words "AHOY" and the number 3. I used my Cricut machine to make all of these but you can decorate it with whatever materials you want to use!

4. Next I added all the ribbons! For the "winning" string make sure you knot it and put some tape over the knot so it will open the flap when pulled.

5. The bottom should stay closed when you push it in. If for some reason it doesn't apply some tape.

6. Fill the pinata with the candy/goodies.

7. Add a ribbon on top so you can hold the pinata from.

*The pinata worked out GREAT and it doesn't get destroyed so it can be reused!! :)

Telescopes/Spy Glasses

I made these for the kids to play with at my son's Pirate Birthday Party!

SUPPLIES:
Empty Paper Towel Rolls
Black Paint
Gold Paint
Paint Brush


DIRECTIONS:
1. Paint each paper towel roll black. (I used Americana Acrylic Paint - Lamp (Ebony) Black)

2. Paint three gold stripes on each roll. (I used Americana Gloss Acrylic Paint - Antique Gold). I did two coats of the gold so the black wouldn't come through.

*If you don't have enough paper towel rolls you can also use toilet paper rolls; just use duct tape to connect two together before you paint!

Gender Reveal!

Today we found out Elijah is going to have a little sister! Here is the announcement we used for Facebook! I took the picture myself and edited it on PicMonkey.com.

Here is another photo I took...

And here is the photo I took before we found out...

Pregnancy Announcement

I placed our Mickey ears on the staircase. I used Picmonkey.com to add in the wording & border!

Cinnamon Ornaments

INGREDIENTS & SUPPLIES:
1 Cup Cinnamon Powder
1/4 Cup Applesauce
1/2 Cup White Glue
Mixing Bowl
Rubber Spatula
Measuring Cups
Rolling Pin
Cookie Cutters
Straw
Paint/Glitter
Paintbrush
Ribbon/Twine

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix Cinnamon Powder, Applesauce, and White Glue in a bowl with the rubber spatula, then let stand for about an hour.

2. Roll out the dough.

3. Use cookie cutters to cut out different shapes or you could even do hand prints of your kids!

4. Lay them on a cookie sheet to dry.

5. Use the straw to poke holes at the top of each ornament.

6. Flip the ornaments every so often while they are drying.

7. Once completely dry decorate the ornaments with paint and glitter.

8. Tie a piece of ribbon or twine on the top and hang on your tree or attach to a gift!


*I did this with my 2 year old son. I mixed the dough and cut out all the trees. I painted them all green and let him put the "decorations" on each tree. We will be keeping one and giving the rest as gifts to family and friends!

**Original recipe from http://www.marthastewart.com/907577/cinnamon-bird-ornament

Cookie Dough Truffles

INGREDIENTS:
 1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/4 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
White, Dark, or Milk Chocolate for coating.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix ingredients in bowl.

2. Place dough in refrigerator for 30 minutes or until firm enough to handle.

3. Form dough into balls about 1 inch big. Arrange on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4. Place cookie dough balls in the freezer for 15 minutes.

4. Melt chocolate and coat entire cookie dough ball.

Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

SUPPLIES:
Paint (Brown, Orange, Red, Yellow, White, Black)
Cardstock Paper (any color but we usd off white)
Paint Brush


DIRCTIONS:

1. Paint toddlers hand and have them make hand prints on the cardstock using the yellow, orange, and red paint (2 hand prints in each color).

2. Paint toddlers foot brown and have them make a footprint in the middle of all the hand prints (feathers).

3. After all the paint is dry help your toddler draw a cute face on your turkey! You could also substitute the black and white paint for googly eyes!