I Love to Create - Toddler Easter Basket

Easter is a mere 2 Sundays away, do you have your kid's Easter basket filled? Sure I've hit the dollar spot at Target to load up like all the other mother's, but I also made a slew of activities to include in the basket. My goal for this year's Easter basket was to not load up on cheap toys and junk that I would throw away in a week, but to look for items that would get used, played with and educate. I was inspired by a Creative Play Easter Basket I saw on Modern Parents Messy Kids and ran with the theme. Today for I Love to Create I am going to show you my own version of a toddler Easter basket. Next Thursday I will have the baby version.

First up I used a sand pail instead of a basket. I have a friend who every Easter gives her kids a sand pail filled with a new swimsuit, beach towel, float toy - you get the drift. I thought I would steal the bucket part. I must confess I also broke down and got a smaller basket from Target for Tallulah to use at the 3 egg hunts we have coming up in the next week. I should also mention no cheap Easter grass around these parts.


Not everything in my toddler Easter basket is homemade. Here is a quick list of the readymade items...
Coloring Book (Max and Ruby themed, they are bunnies after all)
Construction Paper (crafts, crafts and more crafts)
Glue (toddlers love glue)
Max and Ruby Book (her fave show)
Bubbles (big bubbles in wand form)
Grow Kit (mini garden in an egg shaped planter)
Lip Gloss (every toddler needs lipgloss)
Train Tracks (Thomas needs to feel the wind in his hair)
Curly Straw (kick milk up a notch)
Easter Socks (I can never find a pair so I keep buying more)
Recorder (more instruments for her pretend rock band)
Ball (it lights up!)
Stuffed Bunny (she loves a snuggly stuffed animal)
Cookie Cutters (for playdoh)
Cookie Mix (she loves to bake)
Various Craft Kits (at $.99 a pop, who can say no)
Bunny Glasses (futures so bright, I gotta wear bunny shades)

Ok, onto the stuff I did make!


First up, the obvious is the Easter colors tutu. Tallulah is going through a ballet phase and often wants to listen to classical music and dance. I love to encourage a little dramatic play. I made a Halloween no sew tutu a few years ago with a full blogged tutorial.


To go along with the dance theme I also made some ribbon rings. I have seen these all over Pinterest and thought they would be fun for Tallulah.
SUPPLIES
Wooden Rings
Ribbon
Crafty Chica White Paint
Paint Brush
Liquid Fusion Glue


These were super easy. First I removed the small screws that came in my wooden rings. You could also use the metal rings from Mason Jars or shower rings. Next I painted my rings white. After the paint dried I attached some festive Easter ribbons. I used a little Liquid Fusion Glue to hold my ribbon in place. Let the maypole dancing begin.


I finally found a way to recycle all those old lids I had been saving. Using foam stickers I made them into stamps. I also bought an extra large stamp pad to put in the basket.


Tallulah loves dirt and dinosaurs so a batch of dinosaur eggs were in order. I used a recipe from Projects for Preschoolers.


I have long dreamed of making a popsicle stick puzzle since I first started seeing them floating around on Pinterest. I probably originally saw the idea in Halloween theme from Saltwater Kids. I used a photograph from Easter last year to make my puzzle.

SUPPLIES
Craft Sticks
Aleene's Tacky Double-Stick Sheets
Craft Knife
Masking Tape
Photograph


The first thing you need to do is line up enough craft sticks so that you can fit your photograph on top of them. Line your sticks up super straight and add a little tape to keep them together. Flip the sticks over. Add a sheet of Aleene's Tacky Sticker Sheets to the back of your photo. I had to use 1.5 sheets for mine. Center your photo over the sticks and press. Flip your sticks back over tape side up and using a craft knife cut the sticks apart. Remove the excess tape off the back, tie in a bow and stick in your Easter Basket.


Yet another project I found on Pinterest is dyed pasta. Most folks seem to fill sensory bins with it, but Tallulah like her mother, loves to make jewelry. We have been on a kick of making straw necklaces around here and I thought we would upgrade from white straws to colorful rigatoni. All you have to do is place uncooked noodles, food coloring and rubbing alcohol in a baggie for a few hours. I put them in a tupperware container with some yarn for threading.


I went a little crazy at Target when they had Max and Ruby stuff in the dollar aisle. It is Tallulah's favorite show therefor making it also Baxter's favorite show since he has no choice. Anyway I was glad I loaded up on the little pieces of tupperware. This cute little container is filled with cotton balls and wrapped up with a set of small tongs. I'm going to tell her it is a game called 'bunny tails' where she picks up the bunny tails with the tongs and moves them to another container. Fun and practices motor skills and hand eye coordination.

So there you have it. My husband will say I went overkill as he always does (and most times he is right). However, I think this is a wonderfully entertaining candy-less basket to behold. What are some things you are putting in your toddlers Easter basket? I still have another week and a little bit of room left.

Remember to stop back by next week when I show you the baby Easter basket I am making for Baxter!


Looking for other suggestions of handmade toddler gifts that would go great in an Easter basket? How about playdoh, lacing cards, bubbles, soap, wash rag puppet, crayon cupcakes, rubbing plates - check out the kids section for more suggestions.

***This is a sponsored post by I Love to Create - I was compensated & given free supplies. Mama has gotta pay the bills somehow and really who in their right mind would say no to free craft supplies***

I Love to Create: Creating a Customized Little Lumberjacks and Jills Birthday Party

How does one create a Little Lumberjacks and Jills birthday party? I'm here to tell you that you can't run down to the local Party Pig and pick up supplies. Oh no. You have to put on your crafty hat and make your own. Tuesday I showed you pictures from kid's lumberjack themed birthday party, Wednesday it was all about the lumberjack breakfast and today for I Love to Create I'm gonna show you how you can make your own Little Lumberjacks and Jills party.


When I throw kids parties I like to have lot's activities for everyone to do. I've been known to whip up batches of homemade Playdoh, have coloring stations, chalkboards, sensory bins, bubble machines and more. For the kid's lumberjack themed birthday party I toyed with an idea of a 'pin the beard on the lumberjack' game. In the end I decided to make a flannel and felt story board instead.



SUPPLIES
Liquid Fusion Glue
Easel
Felt
Scissors
Flannel
Tulip Slicks Paint

Tallulah has a Little Tikes easel that she rarely uses. I picked it up at the thrift store for cheap so I had no problem converting it into a storyboard. Using Liquid Fusion Glue I attached black flannel to the front and the back. Luckily, my mother was in town to help me make a lumberjack face and accessories out of felt. There were different beards, hats, a log cabin, axe, trees, even a blonde flip for a little lumberjill. We used Tulip Slicks Paint to add detail to the felt. Tallulah can still use her easel (not the chalkboard side). I plan on making some other story boards and paper doll type activities out of felt so she can continue to use her board. When Baxter is older he can join in too.



As mentioned it is not as if you can walk into Party Pig and find yourself some buffalo plaid party hats. I did however think I would be able to walk in to a scrapbook store and find plaid paper. Wrong again.



SUPPLIES
Party Hats
Red Paper
Wide Sponge Brush
Crafty Chica Paint Black
Stapler
Scissors

Turns out buffalo plaid paper is pretty easy to make. Using a wide sponge brush and some black Crafty Chica paint I striped pieces of red scrapbook paper. I bought readymade party hats to cover. I took one apart and traced it onto the sheets of paper. Cut the red paper out, wrap around the hat and staple together and to the readymade party hat all at once. It took a lot of will power not to add earflaps and fur trim for the full lumberjack effect.


We had goodie bags for the kids and mixed CDs for the adults. No readymade goodie bags around these parts. I was inspired by this paper bag fireplace I had seen on Pinterest.


SUPPLIES
Paper Bags
Green Construction Paper
Scalloped Edge Scissors
Black Markers
Brown Crayons
Stapler

My mother, husband and I all decorated the paper bags. I decided my husband was the best log artist of the bunch. We hand drew logs and a door on the bags and then using brownish crayons made them look more wood like. Once the bags were filled with loot it was time to seal them up. Using a sheet of green paper I measured it so that it would fold over the bag and look like a roof. I trimmed the edges with scalloped scissors. Once the folded paper was in place I used a stapler to attach it to my bag.

For the CD I did a little digital scrapbooking with Cosmo Cricket goodies. The CD had hits like "Baxter" by Superchunk and "Talulah Gosh" by Talulah Gosh.


Speaking of digital scrapbooking I used some elements to make one of the two banners at the party.

SUPPLIES
Computer
Kitschy Digitals Calico Dream Kit
Aleene's Tacky Glue Dots
Scissors
Forest Scrapbooking Paper
Father-in-Law

The first thing I did was hunt down a font that looked like twigs. Once I found that I printed up the letters with a backdrop from the Kitschy Digitals Calico Dream Kit. Next my father-in-law and I furiously cut out squares that I had traced onto the paper. I wanted the letters to be slightly smaller than the tree paper I got in the scrapbooking section at Hobby Lobby. Using Aleene's Tacky Glue Dots I first attached the letters to the forest paper. Next, also using the glue dots, I stuck my letters to a mirror.


This party had not one, but two banners. I love making banners what can I say. The second banner hung in the dining room behind the food table.

SUPPLIES
Fabric
Packing Tape
Tacks
Ribbon
Photographs
Aleene's Tacky Glue Stick
Green Tulip Fashion Glitter
Sticker Letters
Paper Pinecones
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Clothes Pins


I bought a large faux pine tree from a local teacher supply store to decorate with that just so happen to come with some random pinecones. I was inspired by a banner I saw on Pinterest by Eleven Cupcakes that used clothespins.


First I decorated my pinecones. I found these sticker letters at JoAnns that you can run through your printer. While the sticker was still on the sheet I covered it with my glue stick. Next I put the letter on the pinecone. Once it was centered I quickly covered it in glitter while the glue was still wet. Every three letters or so I shook off the excess glitter. When all the letters were glittered and dry I used Aleene's Tacky Glue to attach the pinecones to clothespins.


I have a large framed piece of glass from a vintage pin ball machine that hangs in my dining room. I wrapped the glass in a yard of fabric like a gift and used packing tape on the back. Once I had a blank canvas I used push pins to attach two strands of green ribbon. I selected a few of my favorite pictures of the kids over the years and hung them on my banner spelling out "Happy Birthday Baxter and Tallulah".


No lumberjack themed party is complete without a log cabin to play in. Luckily my husband Chris was nice enough to indulge me and make one.


SUPPLIES
Crafty Chica Paint
Level
Knife
Scissors
2 Large Cardboard Boxes
Duck Tape

The first thing you will need are some large boxes. We went to a packing store and bought two wardrobe boxes. They have used boxes for sale too. Chris taped two boxes together to make the cabin large enough for a gaggle of kids.


Chris used a knife, scissors, level and more to create the little fort. There was a door on one side, two windows and a roof. He also cut out the sides of the boxes that joined so you could walk all the way through the cabin from end to end.


Chris used Crafty Chica paint to give the cabin some faux wood, green roof and a red doormat that said "welcome".


All that was left to do was tape the cabin to the floor for stability and let the kids have at it. And have it they did!

I hope you can tweak some of these ideas and use them for your next party. It just goes to show that with a little bit of paint and glue you can create a party with any theme you can think of!

***This is a sponsored post by I Love to Create - I was compensated & given free supplies. Mama has gotta pay the bills somehow and really who in their right mind would say no to free craft supplies***

Little Lumberjack and Jills Pancake Breakfast Party Food

What do little lumberjacks and Jills eat? A lumberjack breakfast of course! For those of you following along my 1 year old son and 3 year old daughter recently had a birthday party with a lumberjack theme. Yesterday I showed you a bunch of fun pictures of the shin dig and Monday I warmed things up with some lumberjack loot here and on BlogHer. Today I wanted to tickle your taste buds with all the scrumptious treats I made for the party. Plus my husband Chris pops in to tell you how to make maple syrup flavored ice cream served on silver dollar pancakes with candied bacon crumbles on top. Ya, it is as good as it sounds.



The guests of honor both graced the food table. My mom found these wood frames at Home Goods and they fit the theme perfectly. We had a photo shoot at a local park with the kids in their buffalo plaid to use on the invites, thank you cards, party favors and table decor. Other fun table touches included some of my vintage thermos collection, old lanterns and more.


Since we were going with a breakfast theme for the party mini quiche seemed appropriate. I busted out my vintage floral paper plate holders. I bought axes for cupcakes we never got. Instead the axes marked the quiche with meat for all our veggie friends.


I think my favorite thing I made was candied bacon on a stick. I tried a couple of different recipes (here and here). We also made a giant pile of veggie candied bacon that was snapped up mighty quick. Fruits, cheese and that bowl of nuts sends shivers down my spine now that Baxter has since been diagnosed with a peanut allergy. That is a whole different blog post in it's self. Anyway, my mother once again contributed to the table by bringing me several tree stumps she rescued from a vacant lot. With a swing of a hatchet a centerpiece was born!


I found the recipe for these donut hole acorns on Pinterest and they were by far my daughter Tallulah's favorite thing on the table.


Any type of pastry that is made in a roll form is easy sliced to look like log rounds. There was an assortment of Little Debbie treats sliced into cross-sections.



You can't have a kids party with just bacon and quiche. I found both of these candies on Pinterest. I love the little white chocolate bacon and eggs. The candy axes gave me quite a bit of grief but I was determined to make them happen. The lovely Britt Gordon of Cupcake Kisses and Crumbs who came up with the idea was kind enough to hold my hand through making them and give me some tips. It's all about the coconut oil with your candy melts.


The best part of any party at our house is always my husband Chris's homemade ice cream. Without any further ado I am passing the mic to Chris.

Hello there! This is Chris and I’m going to give you the scoop on how we made this little ice cream and pancake concoction. We thought this would be much more fun than cake or cupcakes and much more in theme with the lumberjacks (and jills)!

First, let’s talk about the ice cream. I combined ¼ cup of maple syrup, 2 eggs, ¾ cup of sugar, 2 cups heavy whipping cream and 1 cup of whole milk. I beat that with electric mixer until nice and frothy and then put into the chilled ice cream maker.


Next, I elicited the assistance of some of my most senior associates to help with the actual task of freezing the ice cream by adding the salt and ice to the maker. After it was done, we scooped individual balls of ice cream into a muffin tray and put that in the freezer. That way, all of the ice cream would be ready to serve during the party.


I was also in charge of making all the silver dollar pancakes. I bought of box of pancake mix from my favorite wholesale store and made two batches. Then with a tablespoon, I began the process of making about a jillion silver dollar pancakes in two different skillets. These were also wrapped in foil and frozen until the day of the birthday.

We also made candied bacon as a garnish if desired. This is made by boiling bacon in sugar water, then adding spices and finally by putting on a cookie sheet in the oven to crisp. After this was done, we put it in the fridge, wrapped in foil.


At the party, it was time to put it all together. A few pancakes, a scoop of the maple ice cream, and voila! We left the crumbled candied bacon and additional maple syrup on the side in case anyone wanted to add this to their dessert.

Now try and tell me your not hungry! Be sure to stop by tomorrow to get crafty, lumberjack style!

How to Throw a Little Lumberjacks and Jills Birthday Party

Today is the big reveal...are you ready...wait for it...the pictures from Tallulah and Baxter's joint birthday party with a Little Lumberjacks and Jills theme! The kids birthdays are a mere 9 days apart so it worked out perfectly for a boy and a girl.

I must admit I swiped this cute title from a wedding shower I saw on Pinterest. I added the 'little' part and the rest is lumberjack party history.


Say it loud and say it proud with a banner. I always do. Love the log font it was perfect. A Lincoln Logs centerpiece was a must. The goodie bags (filled with rubber ducks dressed as lumberjacks - yes they exist, pancake mix & bubbles) were made to look like log cabins. We also had mixed CD's for the adults with songs like "Feed the Tree" by Belly, "Start Chopin" by Dinosaur Jr. and "Lumberjack" by Johnny Cash. It was later brought to my attention that I should have included songs by Kenny LOGgins and Justin TIMBERlake & I am still kicking myself.


I've written entire blog posts about how I change out the vignette in this corner of my dining room regularly. For the lumberjack party I used an old lantern of my mothers, a stump saved from a curb, some branches and ball moss from a nearby park and a couple of mossy letters inspired by this party that I later converted into a St. Patrick's Day craft.


Is there such a thing as too many banners at a party? I think not. Come back Thursday to learn how to make your own pinecone and pictures banner.





I will go into gory detail about the food tomorrow, but here is a sneak peak. We went for a lumberjack breakfast theme serving silver dollar pancakes in place of cupcakes, candied bacon on a stick, maple syrup ice cream and more! Another salvaged trunk and my husband's axe made the perfect table dressing.


We thought better of buying a log cabin playhouse and instead made our own out of a cardboard box. Full details on how to make your own Thursday. All the little lumberjacks and jills enjoyed playing in the cabin and quite a few people posed for pictures.



I love to have various little stations set up for the kiddlets scattered around the parties I throw. This felt storyboard was a big hit. There were different color beads, beanies and bows to dress your lumberjack or Jill with.



A 3rd activity station was a lumberjack themed sensory bin. Toddlers love them a sensory bin. I filled a large tupperware with birdseed, pieces of wood, scoops, faux saw, nets, ball moss and let the kids have at it. I still have flocks of birds in my backyard gobbling up left over sensory bin bits.



Needless to say lumberjack themed party hats were hard to come by. I didn't let that stop me, I just made my own. More details on how to make your own on Thursday.


This might be the last year I get to pick an obscure theme for a birthday party (remember Tallulah's fawn themed first birthday party? Refresh your memory here and here). She will be 4 next year and I'll be forced to throw a Dora or Diego party. I had to squeeze one more party o' kitsch in before opinions started forming.


Don't forget to stop back all week long for more buffalo plaid covered lumberjack fun! Tomorrow I will talk about all the food and my husband Chris will be sharing one of his scrumptious homemade ice cream recipes. Thursday will be all about how to make party hats, log cabins, felt boards and more. Friday I'll show you some of my other favorite parties from around the web that inspired me. Oh and don't forget Monday I showed you some of my fave Lumberjack themed goodies from Etsy here and on BlogHer.

What is the most obscure party theme you have ever thrown? How about most obscure that you have attended? Who knows I might get lucky and get to pick the theme next year too. I had been thinking about and planning this party for almost a year so I need to start planning ahead for the kids 2nd and 4th birthdays.