First up is a sucker bouquet, made for a first grade teacher. The flowers were printed on the computer, laminated, and cut out. I cut out the faces from photos, using a circle cutter, and glued them to the flowers. Hiding behind each flower is a sucker. I used a recycled small coffee can for the base.

Second up is a candy bouquet that I made for my sons’ karate instructors. It was part of their birthday karate party when they were 7 years old. (That’s a whole ‘nother post full of birthday ideas… will get to that later). 

The base is a recycled can wrapped in white fabric and tied with a black felt belt. The candy consists of mini hershey bars wrapped in karate themed wrappers, as well as some suckers with karate clip art in front. Green cellophane is sprinkled in for color.

 Have you made any candy bouquets? Please feel free to share:)

How to Age Imperfect

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging..

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 70’s & 80’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love …. I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free.. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

The End.

Note from me. With that being said, I’m still waging war with those wrinkles and gray stuff…. so I’m drinking my Fountain of Youth Water. You can too… Have one on me. Just click on the label below for a larger view, then save to your computer. Print out, laminate if you wish, and tape to a water bottle.

The party is over and the memories begin. Time to send out those thank you notes. Here is an easy one for your child to complete. Before printing, add the child’s name (who will receive the thank-you note) at the top, using the giddyup font or something similiar. The finished size is 5.5 x 4.25 (invitation or post card size).

And finally, here are a few scrapbook pages. Just print out and add your photos.

Enjoy!

~Continued from Cowboy Birthday Party Extravaganza ~

You’re going to need some favors for the party, of course. Here are some easy ones to get you started..

How about a sheet of cowboy related stickers. What kid doesn’t like stickers? Just print on full-sized label sheeets, or print on plain paper and add adhesive with a xyron machine. (I couldn’t live without my xyron machine. If you don’t have one, check it out here: Xyron 900 5-9? Machine 9? with Idea Book)

Bookmarks are quick and easy. Here are some cute cowboy and cowgirl bookmarks that I made with paperdolls. Two are ready to print, and the blank ones can be personalized before you print, making them even more special. (I used the giddyup font). Just print on cardstock, laminate (I use my xyron machine, but you can also use contact paper), and cut out. Then punch a hole at the top, and thread some cord or ribbon through for a tassel.

Candy wrappers are next! These are for the hershey mini candy. Just add text, print out, laminate if you wish, and cut out. Then wrap them around the candy and tape ends together. The kids will think you are Martha Stewart!

Another cute idea for party favors are horseshoe photo frames. If you can get some used horseshoes from a riding stable or a friend who has horses, you’re in luck! Just spray paint them gold or silver. Take photos of each child riding the horse, and glue the picture to the back of the horseshoe!

Stay tuned…. Thank you notes and scrapbook pages are next!

So let’s get started with the invitation. Here is how it will look when it’s finished. The cowboy is actually a paperdoll magnet that attaches to the invitation. I still see them on friend’s refrigerators, and it’s been 5 years since the party!

Click on the invitation to the right, and you will be taken to photobucket, where you can print out the card. Use 5.5×4.25 cardstock (half of a letter-sized sheet). This is the outside of the card.

Then print the cowboy on magnet paper or cardstock and cut out. If you used cardstock, glue a magnet to his back. Also glue one on the card, then attach the doll. (I used a sizzix machine to cut out the paperdoll and clothes. Then I glued rope to his hand.)

If you want an even easier way to do it, print out this next card instead. It has the cowboy on it already. It won’t be 3D looking, but it will still look great!

Ok, now for the inside of the card. Before printing, save it to your computer and open it in some kind of a print program (I use PAINT SHOP PRO PHOTO X2) and add the personalization information. The blank blue box can be for any additional information (I used it to say to bring back the permission form to the riding stable). Then take the card, and feed it into your printer according to your printer’s instructions for printing the back side. Now you have the Birthday Invitation finished!!

You can mail them in plain invitation sized envelopes, or print the envelopes as well. Just choose the cowgirl or the cowboy, save to your computer, and take it to your print program. Add the name inside the lasso, and of course the address. Print out according to your printer’s instuctions for envelope printing.

But wait! There’s more… We haven’t covered party favors and thank-you notes yet, so Stay tuned for Part 2!

Please feel free to ask questions or comment below. I will answer:)