Mickey Mouse Party ... Utensils and Mickey Ears

Onto day 3 of our Mickey Mouse party themed party! I'm trying to get all the small things done and out of the way that do need to be refrigerated until Saturday.  

First off I started with the Utensil Bundles in our color theme of yellow, red and black.  I found this idea for Mickey Themed Utensil Bundles on Sparklinbecks.

What you Need:

Utensils (Red and Yellow is what I used)

Napkins (Black is what I used)

Ribbon (I found ribbon with yellow and what looks like black (but is navy) dots)

Take a spoon and fork (use different colors like one red and one yellow).  Roll a napkin around the utensils. I tied mine with ribbon, you could use a solid color and add a small Mickey head you can cut out on the cricut but I went with the polka dot ribbon to tie it all together.

I hit up the Target clearance section and found this awesome utensil holder, that I can use for other parties too.  It fit perfect being red and black and you couldn't beat the price!

Next on the list was a fun headband for the kids to wear at the party.  I saw several options on Pinterest one cute one with foam for the circles and black headbands on Embellishing Life Everyday.  I didn't have time to order headbands so I went to the Dollar Tree and came up with my own version.

What you Need:

Party Headbands (I found a 4 pack at dollar tree)

Mickey Ears (Cut out using my Mickey and Friends Cartridge on Cricut)

Hot Glue

I took the paper crown off the headband. Then cut a whole to slide the ears into, I then took a hot glue gun to glue the ears to the headband.  Yup done!!!

Mickey Mouse Projects Done:

Mickey Mouse Invites
Mickey Mouse Invites #2

Mickey Mouse Head Treat Bags

Mickey Mouse Rice Crispy Heads

Mickey Mouse Crayons
Mickey Mouse Cupcakes
Mickey Mouse Cookies
Mickey Mouse Party Count Down Chain

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Mickey Mouse Party .... Invite Take 2

As most of you know Caden's birthday party is this weekend.  He was very worried that his classmates would not show since they have been out of school since 5/31.  So the week school ended I passed out these Mickey Mouse Invites to his classmates.  Since it's been a few weeks and I know not all parents keep things on their fridge so I wanted to send a second invite BUT of course I didn't want to send the same invite (REALLY stop rolling your eye's at me you so know me by now).

I found a really cute idea on Whimpsy Creations by Ann on Etsy.  I took this idea and ran with it!  Mine is a tweaked version of her's, if I of course had more time in my day would have done the fun yellow behind the party hat but I of course was running around like a nut and even had to run to the other side of town to get them in the mail since I missed the pick up time at my neighborhood post office.

What You Need:

Card Stock Paper (Black, White and Red)

Mickey Mouse Cricut Cartridge

George & Basic Shape Cricut Cartridge (this came with my machine, but use what you have)
Circle Cutter (I used my EK Success Scissor Pro)
Printer
Glue

First print on white card stock your invite info.  I was able to do 4 on one sheet, I took my circle cutter to cut them out.  (I was in a hurry and just noticed the one I showed above wasn't perfect but oh well.)  I cut out a mickey head on the circut, I could get 2 heads per sheet using the 5" size.  I then put in the George and Basic Shape to cut out the numbers (6) and triangle for the hat.  IF I had more time I'd cut a yellow triangle the same size, then take a whole punch to cut out on the red to let the yellow peak through.  Make sure you glue the white circle down first THEN put a little glue on bottom on triangle and put on.  (YES I made the mistake of doing it backwards.)  After you glue the invite info and party hat, glue the # of the birthday kid on each ear. IF doing the double color party hat, use a punch to make a few peek a boo wholes in the red and add the yellow behind (so you can see the pop of yellow behind).

Previous Card Made:

Mickey Mouse Projects Done:

Mickey Mouse Invites

Mickey Mouse Head Treat Bags

Mickey Mouse Rice Crispy Heads

Mickey Mouse Crayons
Mickey Mouse Cupcakes
Mickey Mouse Cookies
Mickey Mouse Party Count Down Chain

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Mickey Mouse Party ... Mickey (or can be Disney Vacation) Count Down

This coming Saturday is Caden's 6th Birthday party, most of you may remember from my previous post that his theme he picked is Mickey Mouse.  At the bottom of this post I'll list the projects that I've done so far.

I wanted to do something fun for Caden since every day he keeps asking when his party is.  I saw this Disney Vacation Count Down on Get Away Today's website and knew it would be PERFECT for a count down for the b-day party!

She had just the black circles have Mickey ears but I wanted to give it a little more Mickey since that is our theme and made the red circles have Mickey ears also.  Off to the Cricut I went and using my awesome Mickey Mouse Cricut cartridge and printed out some ears.

What You Need:

Cartstock Paper (I used: Black, Red, Yellow & White)

Stapler / Staples

Ribbon

Glue

I started with the circle at top cut a yellow circle and then a white circle smaller.  The white circle I had the wording I used for his invite.  You could use a poem or anything fun.  use ribbon to make a loop off the circle to connect the paper links to it.  Staple paper strips together to create the links.  On the Red and Black links I cut a whole to fit the ears into.  You can tape or glue ears on, I found that if I made a half Mickey head on my cricut I could slip the bottom part of the head into the slit I made and then staple it on.  Whatever is easiest for you, you could make 2 circles and staple them on if you really wanted to.  Make as many links as you need for the days that need to be counted down.  I made mine but then we got busy with the 4th of July so I had a few extra links on my chain.  Caden's first time cutting he got to cut off a few links.  This was a simple thing to make but you should have seen Caden's face light up when he saw it.  I'm sure it would be perfect for a family counting down the days to Disney also!

Mickey Mouse Projects Done:

Mickey Mouse Invites

Mickey Mouse Head Treat Bags

Mickey Mouse Rice Crispy Heads

Mickey Mouse Crayons
Mickey Mouse Cupcakes
Mickey Mouse Cookies

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Fireworks and Boom ... Firecracker Cakelette & Flag Pretzels

On to the second day of fireworks, well at least for recipes here!  I have found some super cute things I couldn't pass up making.  You know me I just can't help myself with a theme and a party I just go all out.  I'm trying to keep this one from my usual overboard status so I promise just 2 more things to come ... lol I'm trying!

First off I found these Fourth of July Firecracker Cakelettes on She Knows.  How hard could this be ... lol. I know I always am trying new things.  I started with a White Cake Mix (I created a post of just this recipe so I don't clog up this post - click link for the recipe). 

What you Need:

Cake Mix (Split into 3 bowls - Mix one red, one blue and one leave white)

Wilton Icing Colors (I used Royal Blue & Red Red No taste)

Circle Cutters

Knife

Frosting (I used my sturdy buttercream) / Piping Bag

Pop Rocks

Licorice String

Bake cakes as directed, allow them to cool and remove from pans.  Using a round cookie cutter, cut circles from each of the baked cakes (I think the one I used was a 2-inch).  Using a serrated knife, carefully trim off the browned, baked bottoms of each cake circle.  Using a jumbo straw or plastic tube (one-half or three-quarters-inch in diameter), remove the centers of the cake circles. Be sure to save the red and blue centers to use as plugs for later. Put a portion of the red cake plugs back into the bottoms of the red cake circles. Pipe a line of frosting around the centers of the red and white cake circles. Stack the white cakes on top of the red cakes and the blue cakes on top of the white cakes. Add Pop Rocks down the hollow centers of the stacked cakes. Put a portion of the blue cake plugs back into the tops, covering the center filled with Pop Rocks.  Cut licorice rope pieces approximately 1-1/2 inches long and insert them into the centers of the blue cakes.  (put pop rocks in no more then 4 hours before they will be ate.

Next on my list is some fun and Easy Flag Pretzels I found on Passion for Savings.  I actually had everything here on hand.

Ingredients

• 1 Bag Pretzel Rods
• 24 oz. Almond Bark
• 2 Tbsp. Shortening
• Food Coloring
• White Sprinkles

Instructions

Melt the Almond Bark with 2 Tbsp. Shortening
Dip the Pretzel Rods in White Almond Bark
Divide remaining Almond Bark in half and add Red and Blue Food Coloring (I used Blue Melts & Red Gel instead easier)
Dip ⅓ of the White Chocolate Pretzels back in Blue Chocolate
Add White Sprinkles before drying
Drizzle Red Chocolate over the remaining white section to create stripes (I used Wilton Red Gel instead of Chocolate).

These are so simple to make and you can put it in clear bags and tie with a ribbon and had them out if you want. 

Simple and Easy to make and can really make your 4th party a real hit!

My little helper loved them, hope you do to!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Fireworks & Booms ... The Bomb Cupcakes & Red, White & Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

4th of July is almost here, not that my neighbors would know this since they have been lighting off fireworks for the last few days.  We will be doing our normal plan of going to my parents house on the lake to watch all the other people blow off their money!   Of course I want to do something fun for the food so I found some fun cupcakes and then I also made a dessert for our neighbors who had the kids over all day yesterday and let me work and clean in peace!!

I'll start with the Bomb Pop Cupcakes, I saw them all over pinterest but no real step by step so I winged it like usual!  Here is what I came up with I think they turned out pretty good!

What you need:

Baked Cupcakes

Frosting (White, Red & Blue)

Popsicle Sticks

Clear Cups (This is optional but I swear it's the only way I do cupcakes these days)

Clear Bags (This is optional but I swear it's the only way I do cupcakes these days)

Alexis Notes: I made a batch of my homemade yellow cake mix and sturdy buttercream frosting (I've created a page so each recipe has their own post no more weeding through my ramblings).

Frost cupcakes with blue first I did a good amount of blue.  Then I went to the white frosting (I wish I would have made another batch and made this layer a bit thicker).  You then top with red frosting.  Last stick a popsicle stick into the center of the cupcake.  I now put my cupcakes in a clear cup and put in a clear bag.  Tie off with a ribbon (I used red, white and blue - Well my red was a burnt red but I wasn't making anymore trips out tonight).

And we end with a special gift I made for my neighbors.  Those who know me know I'm a complete lover of strawberry cheesecake so this of course was a killer to make but I made sure it went straight out the door.  This Red, White and Blueberry Cheesecake Bars on Recipe Girls Website.  It smelled so good, I so wanted a bite but I resisted.

Yield: 16 servings

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 35 min

Nice lower fat option for weight watchers.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick (4 Tablespoons) butter, melted
1 1/2 packages (12 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup 1% milk
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
zest of one lemon
3 large eggs
1 cup fresh raspberries (more or less, as desired)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries (more or less, as desired)


Directions:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch pan with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

2. In a small bowl, mix crumbs and melted butter. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.

3. In a food processor (or with an electric mixer) blend cream cheese, eggs, milk, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest just until smooth. Do not over-beat.

4. Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of the crumb crust. Scatter raspberries and blueberries on top.

5. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until touch to center feels slightly firm and set.

6. Cool completely before cutting. Use foil to lift cheesecake out of pan and onto a cutting board. Use a thin, sharp knife to cut into clean-looking bars (wiping blade clean with a paper towel between cuts). Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Points Plus Program: 5 Old Points Program: 5

Source: RecipeGirl.com

I hope you give one of these a shot both pretty easy to make and both look so yummy!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

Dolphin Cake (Easy Step by Step from 2 round cakes)

My friends daughter was having a dolphin themed party this weekend and instead of buying a gift, I thought it would fun to make her a cake.  I asked my friend if she had already ordered a cake if not can I make it?  They had not to off I went on the search to find the best and easiest dolphin cake I could find. I found many different versions and a lot of them saying you could do it with 2 round cakes but no real step by step.  That was until I came across Something Edible and the great tutorial on how to make a dolphin cake (He included a pdf that you can print cut out and then put together like a puzzle.

What you need:

• Double batch of Homemade yellow cake mix (or your favorite)
• 2 - 9" Round Cake pans (Mine was 10" so I had lot's of left overs)
• Buttercream Frosting (dirty Icing and glue to hold pieces together)
• Rolled Buttercream Fondant (or your favorite - White & Blue)
• Delphinium Blue Icing Color
• Black Wilton Icing
• Licorice Strings
• Cake Board

Instructions:

Bake the 2 round cakes as directed, let cool.  I just had mine cooled but I have heard that they are easier to cut if frozen.  Print the pdf pages from Something Edible.  I then cut out the pieces of paper and laid them on each round cake and got to cutting.  I then like a puzzle piece put them together, each paper was labeled (a,b,c etc).  I then took buttercream frosting and glued the pieces together and dirty iced the top of the cake to be able to put the fondant on.  I rolled out white strips to put on the front of the cake (the stomach & bottom fin of the dolphin , I also made a circle that went up the side for the dolphin.  I rolled out the blue icing and covered the dolphin.  Cutting off the edges and the part that was white.  I took a little black and to a small ball of fondant to make an eye.  I then cut some licorice string to be the eyelashes.  I took some fondant and made letter's to write out Happy Birthday.

Hope you make this for someone special!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.