Knock, Knock Birthday Party {The Invitation}

Marin has a "thing" for knock, knock jokes. It's a recent discovery and it just so happens that this new found fascination corresponds with her sixth birthday. I'm always trying to think of party themes based on the current interest of my children. For two reasons, 1. because they are usually consumed by the item/insect/animal or curiosity and 2. it helps me archive this period of their life. What they were in to. What made them smile. Where they were developmentally. I often worry about my ability to remember details of their childhood. Birthdays are a big deal around here and so why not use them to archive not only their age, but their interest. Thus, this Knock, Knock Birthday Party theme developed.

We snapped a picture of Marin in her favorite swimming suit. She has a summer birthday and is learning to swim, so a swimming party was in order. I cut her out using Photoshop.

To pull off the theme idea, I knew a door would have to be incorporated into the invitation design. So, the first joke on the invitation has to do with a door.
"Knock, Knock." "Who's there?" "Theodore" "Theodore Who?" "Theodore is closed. Please open it!"

When the invitation is folded, you see just her face peeking through the top of the door.

Next, we needed to introduce that it was a swimming party, so we used:
"Knock, Knock." "Who's there?" "Less" "Less Who?" "Less go for a swim!"

and finally we needed to acknowledge the birthday girl so we closed with:
"Knock, Knock." "Who's there?" "Abby" "Abby Who?" "Abby Birthday Marin!"

The invitation was designed so that you can print everything on one sheet of letter size card stock, cut it in half and then accordion fold the two pieces. We cut out the window of the door and then, taped the two pieces together.

The final invitation is an odd size 3" x 4.5," so we had to make our own envelopes. However, if you shop for #4 Coin Envelope there are options for purchasing them. Here is the envelope template we created:

We spent an evening hand delivering these fun, joke filled invitations to friends and family, but also sent out an invitation via Facebook. The best part was when friends and family members sent their RSVP in the form of a knock, knock joke. Here were a few of my favorites:

Knock, knock
Who's there?
Mayonnaise. 
Mayonnaise, who?
Mayonnaise's gonna be a lotta people at Marin's party!
Tee hee. See ya there!

...

Knock, knock!
...knock, knock!!
...knock?
We're not home! We're going to Marin's party!

...

"Knock knock"
"Who's there?"
"Orange!"
"Orange who?"
"Orange you glad we're coming."

...

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Boo
Boo who?
Don't cry! We are coming!

...

Knock, Knock!
Who's there? 
Sherwood.
Sherwood who? 
Sherwood like to come.
And we plan to!!! :) Happy 6th Birthday to Marin!

Gnome Beard Bib {FREE Pattern}

This sweet little boy turned one last week. His Mommy, my friend, threw him a gnome themed first birthday party. Here is a sampling of the adorable party she hosted. (Photos by Jennifer Bradford.)

His gnome beard bib was made from soft, white Minky fabric and took about and hour and a half from start to finish to create. After searching the internet for a gnome beard bib pattern I ended up just creating one. Below is a free pattern with basic instructions for making your own (adorably handsome baby boy not included). I felt like the bib was a tad too long, so this pattern is slightly shorter in length than pictured above. Save these images and print on letter size paper at 100%. Happy sewing. 

Newspaper Themed Baby Shower {The Party}

Here are pictures from the vintage newspaper themed baby shower that I hosted at our church. The color scheme was brown and lavender. The mother-to-be's grandfather owns the local paper and she works for the company, so it was only fitting that we announce the arrival of her fourth baby girl with an "EXTRA" special edition.

The newspaper heart garland was made by cutting out hearts from newspaper and sewing them together in one continuous line using my sewing machine. The purple flower garland was purchased from Dollar Tree. I made the table runner from Brown and cream polka dot fabric that I purchased from Michales.

 Purchased the mini brown striped paper straws from the Etsy store Talking Twine and Trim and after cutting them in half inserted them into the cake pops. Simple and cute.

 The antique typewriter, camera and fan were used to put emphasis on the vintage aspect of the party. Most of the items were borrowed.

 All of the paper rosettes were made using this tutorial from Ali P on Catch My Party. Some of my favorites were made from brown paper grocery bags.

 Menu: Blueberry Parfaits, Blueberry Bunt Cake, Paper straw cake pops,
brownie bites, fruit, sugar free candy,

Centerpieces were paper flowers made from newspaper, a paper rosette and a copy of the party invitation and a 36 inch chocolate brown balloon. I made the newspaper flowers by following this rolled paper flower tutorial from Creations By Kara. I wanted to write on the balloons with a white marker, but ran out of time. Was hoping to achieve this effect seen on Pinterest.
36 inch latex chocolate brown balloons were purchased from Balloons123.

Photo by Bethany Evans.

Didn't use them myself, but these Newpaper print Paper Craft bags would be perfect for party favors. Available from a variety of sellers on Etsy.

Inspiration Color Scheme
Inspiration Newspaper Baby Shower

Newspaper Themed Baby Shower {The Invitation}

In March I coordinated a Newspaper Themed baby shower for a member of our church. She is employed by the local paper which is owned by her Grandfather. I thought a vintage spin on a family legacy would be a fun way to celebrate the new arrival. Above is the invitation design and below is my initial sketch pulling together all of my inspiration.

You are My Sunshine Birthday Brunch

 A friend and I created this sun made from balloons for her daughters' 1st birthday party. It was a "You are My Sunshine" themed brunch. The balloons were attached to the wall with tacks and the rays were made from yellow paper chains. The hearts were made of felt and sewn together using a sewing machine. We set it all up the night before and it still looked great the next morning.

Pregnancy Mad Gab {Baby Shower Game}

I recently hosted a baby shower for my sister. It was an "I Love You {Eeehoo*}" themed shower. My sister has creative hearing and it's something we love about her and we often times get tickled at what she THINKS she hears. So, what better than a round of Pregnancy Mad Gab?! My mom went through our Mad Gab game and pulled out any phrases that were pregnancy, labor or birth related. Below is a list of the phrases we chose for the shower. I was a really fun ice breaker and I was pleased at how interactive the girls were, plus, we giggled a lot (and that's what shower games are meant to do, right?).

(*Eeehoo is how my sister said "I Love You" when she was a toddler.)

Long overdue

Lawn Gopher Do

It gets worse and worse

Hick Hits Worsen Whirs

Wholesome ingredients

Hole Summon Greedy Hence

I need a laxative

Eye Needle Ax Eight If

A mini-van

Aim Any Fan

On a scale from one to ten

Onus Gale Firm Won Toot Hen

It’s Heaven sent

Hi Seven Cent

How sweet the sound

House Wheat This Hound

Did you hear the news?

Chew Ear Think Ooze

A great recovery

Ache Ray Tree Cover He

Peace and quiet

Pea Sank White

More than I can stand

Mower Thin Hike Handstand

A sleepless night

Ace Leap Lesson height

A labor of love

L.A. Burr Oval of

Change of clothes

Chain Chuckle Owes

High fiber diet

Hi-fi bird High Yet

I Love You Baby Shower {Eeehoo}

My sister is having her first baby and on Sunday we celebrated with a shower. What a wonderful day we had celebrating her path to motherhood. I tried to think of ways to really personalize the party, starting with the theme which was "I Love You!" or "Eeehoo!" which is how Elizabeth said "I love you" when she was a toddler. She loves bright colors and tulips. So, pulling inspiration from the anticipated arrival of spring and the holiday that screams I love you, Valentines day, we created this super bright, cheerful, pleasant party that couldn't have reflected my beautiful, sweet, happy sister any better. 

The invitation is a recreation of this invitation design I saw on Etsy. I wanted the colors to be a tad more vibrant and less pastel, so I just recreated it for our event. 

The cake is an original design. Well, at least I can honestly say I didn't see it on Pinterest! We had a local cake designer bake and ice the cake for us, and then my sister Katherine and I bought three bags of the Brach's Tart & Sassy Conversation Hearts candy and separated out the pink, peach, yellow and white hearts. Katherine came up with this beautiful spiraling pattern and she and Marin placed each candy into the icing one by one just moments before the shower guests arrived. The cake had been refrigerated and we were worried that the candy might bleed or worse fall off the cake if we did it too early. The candy did sweat a little, and I think if it had not been cold when the candies were added this might not have been a problem. Even so, the candies stayed in place and nothing fell off before the guests enjoyed it. Katherine was so kind to include Marin in the decorating, so keep in mind that a five year old assisted in the placement of the candies!

I saw this beautiful paper garland background used at a summer wedding reception by Floridian Weddings and I was in love. So, if you like what we created here, you've got to check out their super duper amazing creation here.

How adorable is that "e"? Elizabeth's Sister-n-law made it for the baby's room and we decided it was a perfect addition to the mantle decorations for the party.

We played a round of Pregnancy Mad Gab which was a HUGE hit and ooed and awwed over the gifts.

That's one happy and excited Granny!

Did I mention that Elizabeth is having a girl? 

Marin is super excited about the new baby and was very helpful to me the day of the shower.

Speaking of girls, look at my baby girl Coralee. Sweet, sweet baby Coralee. Time flies...

Silent Hunting Theme Baby Shower {The Remix}

The hunting baby shower that I hosted in December of 2010 is still the most popular post on my blog. So when the the same girl was pregnant with baby number two (another boy) I was quickly inspired to create a more low key remix version of this same theme. After all, it's hunting season!

It's often, with baby number two, that parents have all the necessary items but who doesn't need diapers?! So I created a "silent" baby shower for members of our church to participate in. The baby's name is DAX and so Diapers for Dax was born. For three weeks this 20x30 poster was hung on the wall in the foyer of the church with a box below it.

I ordered the poster ($19) and 50 4x6 prints from Walmart and distributed the 4x6 prints to the congregation. Participants or "guests" were asked to bless the family by "bagging a pack of diapers or wipes" and were given "pamper permits" to tag their score. This allowed them to put their name on the gift without the effort or expense of wrapping it.

This same concept would work for an office setting or for a teacher. Besides the initial time invested in the design and theme, it was a simple, easy way to bless this family. PLUS, it really worked! Let's just say, I think the hunters all hit their bag limit.