Ella's Elmo Party

 My Sweet daughter Ella Grace turned 2 this weekend.  It is hard to believe that she is already two.  If you missed her miraculous birth story, you can read it here.

We had a small family party for Ella.  Since Ella loves Elmo right now, the party had an Elmo theme. 

My friend Eileen made Ella the most adorable Elmo birthday cake.

The filling of the cake was red velvet and it was delicious.

I made goody bags for Ella's siblings and cousins.  I bought red lunch sacks at the dollar store and filled it with a small toy.  I cut out  circles from white card stock and used a black Sharpie to color the eyes.  I cut an oval from orange card stock for the nose. This was inexpensive and super easy to make. 

My students made this banner for Ella.  I made one flag as a sample and two of my students stayed after school one day to help and make the rest of the flags.  One of my friends and fellow teachers cut out the letters for the banner.  It was a real team effort.  I think it turned out great!

Ella's Nana bought Elmo balloons to add the finishing touch to the Elmo theme.  Ella loves balloons!

Ella wore her #2 shirt that was lovingly made by her Aunt Becky

With a little help from Daddy, Ella was able to open her own presents this year.

Ella loved opening presents this year.  You can tell by the look on her face that she really understood what was going on.

 Then it was time to sing happy birthday...

Ella did not enjoy the birthday singing.

She calmed down pretty quickly.

She was feeling better and trying to sneak a lick at the cake.

It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed celebrating the blessing that is Ella Grace. We thank the Lord for the gift that he has given us!

Patriotic Washi Tape Banner

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I love banners!  I make a banner for every season  to hang on my stair railing.  

For the summer, I decided on a patriotic theme.  I searched Pinterest for ideas.  I found several that I liked that were too time intensive for me at this time.   I continued my search and came up empty.

In the meantime, I was also searching Pinterest for Washi tape ideas.  I had just received the cutest rolls of Washi tape in the mail from Pick Your Plum.  As I was searching Washi tape ideas I found this pin posted by someone who obviously orders from Pick Your Plum too.

 

I love how it turned out and it was super easy to make! 

Scalloped Spring Banner

If you have been following my blog, you know that I have become obsessed with banners.  I loved having Christmas stockings hanging in my front entryway. 

 When January rolled around and the stockings came down, my banister looked bare and empty.  I decided that I would make a banner to hang there for each holiday or season. I made a St. Patrick's Day Banner, a First Birthday Banner and an Easter Bunny Banner.

Since Easter is over, it is time for a new banner.  I know that in May I want to hang a patriotic banner but for the month of April, I needed something.  I decided on a Spring banner.

I searched Pinterest for banner ideas to inspire me.  There were so many wonderful projects but nothing seemed just right.  These were some of the cute ones that I saw:

I decided again to design my own banner.  I made the banner in just a few easy steps:

Step One

 I gathered coordinating paper.  I chose the Basic Grey Lily Kate line.  I chose 6 different patterns and 3 coordinating solids.  The Lily Kate line came with pre punched letters that match the paper.  I used them to spell out SPRING.

Step 2
I cut out the scalloped pattern.  I found the template on Pinterest and printed it out in two different sizes so that I could create a layered look.

Step 3

 I traced the larger template onto the patterned paper and the smaller template onto the solid paper.  I punched out the letters that I needed to spell SPRING.

Step 4
 I layered the patterned paper, the solid paper and the letters.

Step 5
I strung the letters and hung them on the banister in the front entryway.  I think that this project was a success.  

Now I need to start my Pinterest search for a Patriotic banner for May!

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DIY Easter Bunny Banner

I have been a little banner crazy lately.  I made this St. Patrick's Day banner 

and then I made this First Birthday Banner

So I started searching Pinterest for an Easter banner.  Of course I had to make my life more difficult by deciding to design my own instead of just copying one off of Pinterest.

This is the final project:

1. I gathered up all of my pastel colored scrap paper to use for the banner.

2. I found a template that I liked and was easy to trace.  You can print yours here.

3. I free handed the inside of the bunny ears and drew a face on that I liked and was easy to replicate.  I also drew some faux stitching around the edge of the flag.  I also free handed the flag so that it would be the exact size I needed.

4.  I hit my stash of fibers for some rainbow pastel colored twine and hung it on the banister.

I think it turned out really sweet and was super easy to do!

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