DIY: Cupcake or Cookie Stands

Here is one of the other projects I did for Jack's party:

  Cupcake/Cookie Stands 

Materials:

3 Plates [mine were 1 large and 2 salad size plates]

3 Martini glasses

E6000 glue

Spray paint primer & paint

This is so easy, it almost doesn't even need directions, but just in case...here's what I did:

1. Prime glasses

2. Spray paint glasses

3. Glue plates to the bottoms of the glasses

4. The end.

I told you it was easy! And only costs about $9 if you luck out like I did! 

Plates -Target $.89/ea

Glasses- Dollar Tree $ 1.00/ea

Spray paint: $3 [I had the primer already...not sure I really even needed to do that step..but I did. Also I only bought the half can size of black spray paint because I didn't need very much]

DIY: Party Piñata

A couple weeks ago we celebrated Jack's 3rd birthday! I wanted it to be really special for him, but I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a 3 year olds party. The answer? I did a lot of it myself, and I had fun doing it and planning it! I sort of pretend to creative/crafty, but really I just find ideas I like and either copy them, or figure out a way to do it myself. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, it doesn't.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the little "DIY" things I did for the party. So here is the first one: 

The #3 Piñata. 

[Disclaimer: I didn't use this as the actual candy-filled piñata, so I'm not sure how your would leave a "door" to fill your piñata, or attach something to it to hang it...maybe I'll try that next time]

Materials:

Large cardboard box
Exacto knife
Scissors
Strong masking/packing tape
3 rolls of streamers (or however many colors you want to use)
Mod Podge
Paint brush

Step 1:
Draw your number on your cardboard box [Mine was about 3'x2']
Cut it out using your Exacto or scissors
Trace it onto the other side of your box
Cut out second number

Step 2:
Cut out strips for the sides of your number [about 6" across]

Step 3:
Tape your strips to the bottom number.
If you are planning to use it as an actual piñata, make sure you really use strong tape [mine was just for decoration]
Once you have taped all your sides onto the bottom number, tape the top number onto the sides.

Step 4:
Fringe your streamers. Easiest way to do this is to fold it back and forth to create lots of "layers" to cut at once. [Also, if you have fringe scissors, that would speed things up...I didn't].

















Step 5:
Start at the bottom of your number, on the front side, paint a section with Mod Podge and lay your streamer onto it.
Cut Streamer at the edge of the number.
Repeat.
Once you finish the front, turn it over and do the back of the number, again starting from the bottom and layering your streamers.
Then you do the same for the sides. Just make your way around the number.

Ta-Da! Your very own homemade Piñata! Super easy, super cute for a decoration or our actual piñata and the best part...it's super inexpensive. Grand total: $2.61. [unless you have to buy mod podge, then add a couple dollars.]

Marshmallow Sparkle Pops

Every year my Nana has a 3rd of July party at her house. He neighborhood sponsors an amazing fireworks display, so we celebrate a little early!

I was feeling a little crafty, so I enlisted the help of one very adorable 2 year old to help me with my "project."  We made Marshmallow Sparkle Pops.  I'm listing this under D.I.Y. and not Mmm D'licious, because I'll be honest, they look much better than they taste.  My husband tried them and said, "It's like a sugar ball, dipped in sugar and then dusted in sugar...a little to much sugar!" haha. But they did make a cute decoration, and if I had had more time, I would have wrapped them individually and sent them home with people as a little favor.

Ingredients [for about 30]:

Large Marshmallows
Candy Melts {I used red and blue- 1/2 bag of each}
Sprinkles...lots of sprinkles!
Lollipop sticks

How To: 

Follow directions on the Candy Melts bag :-)
Dip one side of the mellow into the melted candy
Dip/roll in sprinkles
Set (candy coated side DOWN) on cookie sheet that is covered with wax paper
Once the candy hardens a little (you can put them in the refridge to speed up the process) repeat on the other side using the second color.
Stick your lollipop sticks in before the candy hardens. I didn't do that, so I ended up sticking them into the marshmallow part that wasn't frosted.

Super easy, super cute, it was just too much sugar for me! haha. Next time I think I'll attempt Cake balls- same idea, but edible!

Wonder where my lil baby face was while we were doing our project? She was just playing in her exersaucer! Such a good girl! We got it down out of our storage and Daddy and Jack put it together for her! I feel like Jack should still be little enough to be in there! I remember when we put him in it for the first time! ahh. how time flies! She loves it! And Jack loves showing her all the little things on it!

my lil helpers!