July 30, 2009

Rainbow Birthday Party part 4: games/crafts/activities

Here you can find part 1, part 2, and part 3. So we have our theme and we have the cake, invitations and decorations but what will the kids do once they get there. Here are some of the things I found.


Zoe has specifically asked for a pinata and getting a rainbow pinata like this

can cost anywhere from $14.99 to $35 not including shipping. A cheaper option is to make your own.

Here is a great tutorial at About.com to make a very easy pinata and no messy paste is involved.

Remember this bubble gum vase from the post on decorations. Well here is a game that I can use it for from Party Game Central called Sweet Spot. Basically you have everyone guess how many gumballs are in the vase. I love it when I can double things up.


Here I found the idea to make a rainbow fridge magnet. Instead of using Polymer clay though I will probably use Crayola model magic which is an air dry clay that is very light and easy for kids to use.

Another game that I found at Party Game Central is called Balloon Stomp. It is where you tie balloons to your ankles and stomp on each other's balloons and try to pop them. I plan on have tons of balloons all the colors of the rainbow and this would be a good way to put some of them to use. I also like to have at least one game that is very active to help get some of the wiggles out.

The next craft I found in a science book.

It shows you how to make a rainbow spinner. The directions say to use a piece of cardboard but the problem I had with that is the brown color of the cardboard dulls the colors so I wanted to use something white. The key to these things is the disc needs to have some weight to it. The heavier the disc the easier it is to make it spin. So I was trying to come up with something white that had the weight of cardboard. Poster board was not heavy enough so I tried foam board. It was the perfect weight but a pain to cut out and to punch holes in.

What I came up with is to use thin card board that comes in packages and stuff and to sandwich it with card stock cut to the same size. Here is what I did.

I used my circle cutter and cut a 3" circle out of the cardboard.

Then I cut out two circles the same size out of the card stock.

Then using a glue stick

I glued the card stock to either side of the cardboard.

Then I drew lines to make seven spaces as equal as I could get them.
At this point is where I will let the kids color them using markers.

After I colored mine I punched out the holes as close to the center and as close together as I could get

Then I threaded the string through and there is my spinner. This is a very nice weight and the kids will have an easy time spinning it.
The last craft that I have is called The Good Luck Rainbow and I found it at About.com

You use small squares of colored tissue paper and glue them to a paper plate that has been cut out to form a rainbow shape. Then you use cotton balls to make the clouds. Then if you want to you can use Christmas tree icicles to make it look like rain. I will probably leave that out because I don't have any icicles and the only time you can get them is at Christmas time.
Hopefully this will be enough activities to keep them busy at the party. If you have ideas for any crafts or games please let me know. Thanks

July 28, 2009

Blog Hop Tuesday: Favorite Photo of Kids

I have several pictures of my kids that are favorites of mine. You can see some here. Here is another of one of my favorites and it is the one that I have set as my desktop wallpaper.



I don’t know why l love this picture so much. It was very impromptu. They were all playing when I gathered them in. If you look closely they are all armed. Mia (far left) has her toy bow and arrow beside her. Zoe (far right) has a toy gun in her hand. Lea (beside Zoe) has a toy pirate sword in her hand. Ali (beside Mia) I think was the bait to lure you in with her charm. I didn’t realize this until after the picture was taken. Makes you think what exactly what were they playing before I gathered them in?

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July 27, 2009

Quotes to Remember... 7/27/09

I am a collector of quotes. I love it when I read something that inspires me. So in honor of the quotes that I love I officially name Mondays "Quotes to Remember..." day

Here's your quote for today

"Worry is a misuse of imagination." -Anonymous

Share your favorite quotes with me and it just might show up on Quotes to Remember...

July 24, 2009

Small Talk Six: Talents



A new weekly meme on MomDot called "Small Talk Six" where each Saturday has a topic and you can respond to each topic with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, or 6 photos.

Today's topic is 6 talents you wish you possessed

1. Public Speaking

2. Knitting

3. Crocheting

4. Woodcarving

5. Mechanic

6. Making people laugh

So there is my 6, now go blog about yours and visit momdot.com to join in the fun.

July 23, 2009

Rainbow birthday Party part 3 Decorations

I'm still on my hunt for ideas for Zoe's party. You can read the first two parts here and here. Today, I am going to focus on decorations.

To help keep costs down I plan on using lots of balloons and streamers with other little things added in.


I think this would look awesome done in all the rainbow colors.


I came across these cool paper lanterns on Dollar Store Crafts. There is a link to the tutorial to make these with popsicle sticks and tissue paper.


Here are the ones I made. They were very easy to do and I had all seven of them done in just a few hours. Waiting for the glue to dry takes the longest. They fold flat so storing them until the party will be easy. These are going to look good strung across a wall.


or maybe I should hang them vertical like this. What do you think?


I found this mobile at Inna's Creations (you have to scroll down to find it) and immediately wanted to make one. Let's just say that it took forever. It looks really cool but I think one is all I will make.

Here is my version

(Thanks honey for stretching your arm at an impossible angle so I could get a clear shot)

A close up of the top part. I use beads as stoppers.

underneath the top part.
Next I found these at Martha Stewart Crafts. They look so elegant. Should be easy enough, they are just made with tissue paper, right?

Well maybe not. Mine didn't turn out so great. I think what I'll try next time is to make one of each color instead of multicolored.

My next project will be this mobile which I found here at Dollar Store Crafts made with craft foam.

I also what to try these coasters as soon as I get some curling ribbon. You can find these at Chica and Jo's site with complete instructions. I'll post a picture as soon as I have a chance to try it.

The last thing I found is this bubble gum vase found here at Party Wishes. I just love it. I have a tall clear vase that I will use this for and maybe put tissue flowers in it.

Well that is all I have for decorations. If anyone has any good ideas or places to go to get more ideas please send them my way. Thanks a bunch.

Part 4

July 22, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Sleeping kids

These are all the pictures I have taken of my kids sleeping since we went digital. I now realize that I have not taken a picture of Zoe sleeping in quite awhile. She is never one to just zonk out somewhere. I'll have to sneak in one night and get one of her.

Mia February '03

Zoe May '03

Mia July '04

Zoe July '04

Mia August '04

Zoe August '04

Lea March '05

Lea April '05

Zoe June '05

Lea May '06

Lea December '06

Ali December '07

Ali February '08

Ali June '08

Ali July '08

Ali January '09

Mia (with Wicket) February '09

Lea May '09
Ali May '09