Dr Seuss Birthday Party

January 25, 2015 Matias turned 1 YEAR OLD!!! It was so much fun to plan his birthday party! I planned a Dr Suess themed party. Here are a few of the things that I did...

Centerpieces

I made 8 or so centerpieces for the tables. I used $1.00 tin buckets and hot glued styrofoam balls into the bottom of the buckets, shoved tissue paper on top, hot glued cutouts of the #1 or the letter M, or Dr Suess Characters to shish-ka-bob skewers and stuck those in. Then I used curled pipe-cleaners, feathers (hot-glued to the skewers), and pinwheels to give each centerpiece its own look. The centerpieces turned out very nice and added a lot to the decorations.

Buntings and Banners

I wanted buntings for the cake and food table, the candy buffet, as well as over the windows. I used paper and my Cricut Explore to create the following buntings. 

For the #1 Bunting I cut out several large #1s, as well as printed Dr Suess "cupcake toppers" that I found online. I punched holes in these and threaded them on ribbon (I did hot glue them as well so they wouldn't slide around). Hung with balloons and ribbons on the side they worked out well. 

1-12 Months Bunting - I used my Cricut Explore to cut out circles of different sizes as well as numbers. I hot glued the circles to clothes pins and strung on a ribbon with pictures of Matias for each month. This bunting adorned the candy buffet. 

Happy Birthday Bunting - I made a template for the "triangle flags" and with a ruler and pencil drew lines and cut them out by hand. I used my Cricut Explore to cut the circles and letters. This large bunting was over the cake and food table.

Happy Birthday Matias

High Chair Bunting - I AM ONE - I used my Cricut Explore to cut out the squares and I printed the words for I-AM-ONE. 

High Chair Banner - I Am One

Quotes and Other Miscellaneous Decorations

I printed a lot of Dr. Seuss Quotes on card stock using free fronts I found online, then I glued the quotes to colorful paper and hung them on fishing line from the ceiling. 

As "filler" decorations I used Crepe Paper, Tissue Paper Pom Poms, Balloons, and Dr Seuss Cutouts. 

Truffula Forest Entryway

Tables and Stations - I had 4 tables set up to eat on, but we also had the food and cupcake table, as well as a candy buffet, and a sign in table. 

Party/Eating Room and Tables - Each table had an aqua or red table cloth, a centerpiece, two Dr. Suess books, and some Dr. Suess Character due cuts. 

Happy Birthday Book Table - I bought an inexpensive picture frame and hot glued die cuts to it, used scrapbook paper as a background and printed a sign. The sign said, "Stop here you see and write a very special message to me! A Birthday wish or just saying hi to your very favorite one year old guy! On the front, the back, or any pages it's something I will treasure all my ages.

Candy Buffet - Of course it was filled with lots of candy, but there were a few extra special touches, that made it a Suessical Candy Buffet. 

I included toothbrushes and a framed quote "Lots of sweets and candy may seem like dandy, but our teeth come in handy when we want to smile. So take a toothbrush and brush real good so you can keep your teeth around for awhile!" 

I made labels to go on paper goodie bags that said, "Today was great! Today was fun! Thank you Thank you Everyone! Love, Matias" 

Food and Cupcake Table  

We had Green Eggs (deviled eggs) & Ham

I printed the Dr Seuss circles and then used my Cricut to cut out the scallops and then hot glued them to lollipop sticks. 

I made the cupcakes - strawberry with cream cheese filling and chocolate with chocolate mousse filling. 

Nate (my husband) made this really fun and whimsical cup cake holder. 

Food - Unfortunately I didn't get pictures of the food... Things got kind of crazy right as guests were showing up and the pictures didn't get taken. We had Roast Beast (Smoked Brisket), Green Eggs & Ham, Poodle Noodles (Pasta Salad), and Chips. To drink we had Once-ler Wassail and Pink Ink Drink (Sparkling Strawberry Limeade). 

Birthday Boy's Outfit - I made a diaper cover, bow tie and suspenders. 

We had a lovely first birthday party for our baby boy and I am so glad that Nate convinced me to go with the Dr. Seuss theme! It was so much fun to plan and create a Suessical Party for my little guy!

Back to Crafting, Sewing, Quilting, and Blogging... I hope!

It's hard to believe that it has been a little over a year since our "surprise" baby boy was born. What a year it has been. So many blessings to be thankful for, but quilting, sewing, and most crafting has been very sporadic, and blogging about anything I did do just didn't happen. He keeps me busy, as do his brothers. He is so adorable and charms everyone he meets, pics included so you can see what I am talking about!

In September school started and my middle son began Kindergarten. It is my first time home schooling Kindergarten, as my older son didn't begin home schooling until First grade. Any "free time" I had was put into researching and executing fun learning activities, and LOTS of laminating and cutting! I have completely fallen in loved my laminator!

In October I helped with our church's Harvest Fest. As usual it was a lot of fun, but many late nights spent at the church as a family. All 3 boys were troopers! I wanted an inexpensive way to bring "Fall" into our church so I learned how to make Tissue Paper Pom Poms... I think everyone thought I was nuts when I kept saying, "no we need more!" BUT I think they turned out so beautiful. My husband and I spent 2 weeks making these trees out of a paper mache type clay.

I chose a theme for Baby Boy's first birthday in October and whenever I could steal a minute on Pinterest I was pinning away! I was so excited about doing a Dr Suess party. Unfortunately I really couldn't start executing any of the ideas until after Christmas.

I agreed to teach a women's Bible Study at our church in November and December, and I had the idea to do a study through the Jesse Tree and by the end of the study each woman would have her on set of 24 felt ornaments. Much of November and part of December was spent cutting out felt pieces for the ornament kits. I must admit that was quite an undertaking while working my accounting job, homeschooling, keeping a home, and taking care of a baby who still nurses every couple of hours. The ornaments were very simple, but since I had to cut 480 felt circles, and all of the pieces for 240 ornaments, they had to be fairly simple! I am so happy I did it and I really think the ladies in the study enjoyed it.

6 of the 24 ornaments

My Jesse Tree

I had plans for several Christmas presents that would involve sewing and some other crafting aspects... But my husband had an ATV accident the day after Thanksgiving and I had to make some hard cuts on the homemade Christmas gifts! He injured his wrist and was unable to move it, so he couldn't help with the baby and he couldn't cut some of the wooden pieces I needed for a couple projects. The only handmade gift I finished was for my In-Laws. I made a Family Celebrations board for them. There are a lot of us, with 7 kids, spouses, grandkids, and one great grandbaby. I really wanted them to have this wall hanging for their home.

Christmas was lovely, we spent it in Minnesota and Wisconsin with Family and Friends. The day after we arrived home I went into full-on PARTY PLANNING MODE! The party was scheduled for January 25th and I had 24 days to execute all of my ideas!

My next blog post will be all about the party, the pic below is just to show off the Star of the Show!

With a Bushel and Peck of Love,

Jessica

I've Been Busy... And NOT Quilting!

I can't believe it has been months since I have blogged. That's because it's been months since I have really sewn/quilted. I have done a few quick things here and there, but nothing big or too fun! I knew that having a baby would slow down my sewing and quilting, but I don't think I realized it would bring it to a screeching halt.

Matias is already 6 months old and he is wonderful and has brought so much joy into our home. He seems a lot more advanced in his gross motor skills than my other two boys. He started crawling at 5 months and has just started pulling himself up at barely 6 months! He is so curious and into everything.

Over the past few months my "quick" projects have included a couple of aprons that I donated to a silent auction/fundraiser and I did make that Summer/Spring Wall Hanging out of Joel Dewberry Botanique that I mentioned in my previous post back in March.
 I found that working in 15 minute increments is not a good way for me to sew/quilt. I would forget what I was doing once I stopped, and getting started back was difficult and I made so many mistakes. It took me a couple of months to make something that should have taken a few hours!

Quilted Wall Hanging - Joel Dewberry Botanique Fabric

Child's Apron - Joel Dewberry Botanique Fabric

Mother Daughter Aprons - Joel Dewberry Botanique Fabric 

While I have not been able to sew as much as I might like, I have found a new/temporary "hobby" to satisfy my love for fabric.... Woven Wraps for babywearing! I am now completely obsessed with these gorgeous woven wraps used to wear babies. What began for me as a necessity to get things done around the house while taking care of the baby, has become oh so much  more.

Above - Kokadi Elephant Parade Turquoise (100% Cotton)

Above - Oscha Okinami Morgan (50% Hemp/50% Bamboo)

Above - Oscha Okinami Blue Ice (50% Egyptian Combed Cotton/50% Cotton)

I am in love with the patterns, the colors, the weaving, the blends... and wrapping my sweet baby boy close to my heart! He loves it to, as you can see from some of the pictures.

So while some days I wish I had time to sew, quilt, and craft my heart is so full and I am so thankful that I was blessed with this surprise baby boy that I had no idea how much I needed in my life! Time has already flown and before I know it I am sure I will be back to my sewing room, but for now I am treasuring my busy days with him... and his brothers too, of course!

Hug Around The Neck - Jessica