Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Star War's Party ... R2D2 and C3PO Water Bottles

Rick came home today so I didn't have a lot of free time to do a long project so I thought I'd get the water bottles done.  This was a simple one since all I had to do was glue some paper onto the bottles.  I did two different water bottles.  The R2D2 FREE template was found on Pink Peppermint Blogger.  I then did the C3PO FREE template found on I'm Topsy Turvy (you have to like her FB page once accepted you will see FREE Star War's Food Templates this is on the back page.  I'll show the other's later).

I didn't want to waste our ink so I took the files over to my local print shop and had her print them for me, quick easy and cheap!



What you Need:
Water Bottles (You can find a 6 pk at Dollar Tree for $1)
Card Stock (to print the templates on)
Glue

I took the labels off the water bottles just made for a clean look.  I took my creative memories paper cutter and cut all the strips down.  Caden actually glued for me and it took a second just to hold it to make sure it is secure, then you're DONE!



I'm pooped plus I found out the pool we are having the party on Saturday is having a roof problem and may not be open.  YUP just a tiny freak out right now!  Did find another pool part of the same organization on the other side of the city that we can do.  LORD be with me if I need to call everyone with a new location!!


Thanks for stopping by, if you're looking for more Star War's Themed items here is what I've done so far:

Monday, April 29, 2013

Star War's Party .... Pool Noodle Light Saber Tutorial

We are onto the next step of our Star War's Themed party.  Since we will be having the party at the local pool what better then pool noodles and heck even better themed like Light Saber's!!  I saw several different pictures on Pinterest but not really a tutorial.  That was until I typed in Tutorial bam ... lol.  I found Fussy Monkey Business had a great tutorial and pictures to help me figure out what I needed to do.  I'm so a picture person if you haven't figured that out by now ... lol



What You Need:
Pool Noodle
Knife (I used scissors)
Tape Measure
SHARP Scissors
Silver Duct Tape (I wish I used the shiny silver it was more expensive)
Black Electrical Tape (this is a must don't try black duct tape like I did at first)

You will want to measure your pool noodles and cut them in half using your knife (I used my scissors and eyeballed it, something I just give up on being perfect). Then you can begin taping.  Add one piece on top of noodle (covering only half on the end - see picture), Snip to the edge and overlap, all the way around each side.  Smooth bottom of pool noodle, repeat to completely cover the end.   Turn noodle on it's side and begin taping around, making sure to keep it close to the bottom of the edge.  Make sure you keep the edges lined up when you go around.  Overlap just slightly for the next row of tape.  She used 3 rows of tape, I opted for 4 rows of tape. That seemed to be the right amount for the hilt.  Cut your black electrical tape.  I made two rows of black on the bottom and then cut strips to put on the hilt.  I eyeballed the measurements ... you can always measure them :).



I thought it would be easy to cut black duct tape into strips
OK stop laughing, it didn't work so well.
Thankfully I found electrical tape in the man cave.


This really is a pretty easy thing to do, the ONLY hard part is I bought like 11 noodles so I have 22 of these to make (you cut the noodle in half ... this is also the only site I saw that did that and I think that is pretty darn cool more bang for your buck!

Thanks for stopping by, if you're looking for more Star War's Themed items here is what I've done so far:

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Star War's Party ... Light Saber Napkin Rings & Fruit Roll ups!

We are now in full on party planning mode!  I am trying to make all the small things now so I can be done before Friday and only have to worry about decorating cupcakes and the things that can't be made days ahead of time!  I found this awesome FREE printable for a Light Saber Napkin Wraps on Catch my party. Then when I was planning this party on Pinterest I came across Light Saber Fruit Roll-ups on A New Dawnn that she used the printable from Catch my party to make.  Score 2 for 1 is what I'm talking about!  I went to kinko's and printed the free printable (to save my ink at home).  And this was a pretty simple project.



Light Saber Napkin Wraps

Napkins - red, blue, lime green or purple (use all one color or a variety)
Cardstock - either a medium gray tone or white
Paper cutter or scissors
Tape - regular or double sided or Glue
Silverware - this is optional but does make it easier to keep the napkins in the shape of a lightsaber

Step 1 Print lightsaber handle image on cardstock and cut out with a paper cutter or scissors.  You can download the lightsaber file here (this a link to their website). There are 6 handle wraps per page.
Step 2 Place silverware in a stack about an inch from the edge of the napkin.  Silverware should hang down past the bottom of the napkin. Fold the napkin over the silverware and continue flipping the silverware until it is completely rolled up. Without silverware simply roll the napkin up.
Step 3 With the napkin edge facing up, place the printed lightsaber handle half way over the napkin and wrap it around the bottom of the napkin.  The bottom of the handle should cover the bottom of the silverware.


Next on my list to do was the fruit roll up which was was pretty darn easy!


Light Saber Fruit Roll-ups

Fruit Roll-ups (make sure the full length my first box was the mini's)
Red Crepe Paper
Tape or Glue
Cardstock - either a medium gray tone or white
Paper cutter or scissors

Step 1 Wrap each fruit roll-up in red crepe paper starting at the top all the way down to the bottom. 
Step 2 With a little trimming place the printed lightsaber handle at the bottom of roll-up and close with a little glue or tape.



I was hoping to get the Light Saber Pool Noodles done but ran out of steam, so those will have to go up on Tuesday's post.  

Recap of today's projects:

Links to what has been done so far:

May the force be with you :)


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

Friday, April 26, 2013

Walking Path .. Let's All Get Along

I try to go walking 6 times a week, I like to get 3 to 4 miles in during those days.  I have a walking buddy that meets up with me a few times.  We have been talking about common courtesy that seems to have gone out the window.  A few things we have noticed!














Hope you have a great weekend!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Field Trip ... The Seattle Aquarium

I was a chaperon for Cole's class to the Seattle Aquarium.  I also drove 3 BOYS to there, I swear they talk more then girls do!  I think the dad that rode with me was going to go crazy with me.  The hour long drive was one of arguing, sing and very few quiet moments .. hehe.  Each chaperon only had 2 kids (only 18 kids in the class 3rd / 5th Grade) so it actually worked out great.  I had a very nice 5th grader that went with me and Cole.  We had a fun time and lot's of pictures!  Just a quick post of some pictures, I'm too pooped for anything else!

Seals & Otters
Marine Talk & Feeding Time

Seals & Otters

Touch with one Finger
& Lunch

Octopus time
& Special Talk for just our class

Underwater dome!
Sharks & Scuba Divers
We End with Class photo ... Lot's of smiles

Hope you have a great day!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Star War's Party ... Princess Leia Cookies & Chocolate Darth Vader - Made into Cupcake Toppers

And we end this week of treats for Cole's class with the cupcakes made.  NOW don't worry we still have the actual party to come and that will be more post of we have Light Saber Napkins, Light Saber Fruit Roll ups, Light Saber Pool Noodles, Light Saber Pretzels, Wookie Cookies, Storm troop Cupcakes, Jabba Jigglers, Space Ship Watermelon and whatever else I can fit into these next two weeks. 

So now  on to the cupcakes made for the class. I thought it would be fun to do two different kinds one for Boys and one for Girls.  I bought a Darth Vader mold of amazon so I had that already to go for the boys cupcakes.  But for the girls I saw really cute Princess Leia Cookies on Favor's by Lauren's on her Etsy site.  Now her's totally rock and look professional, mine are cute for a class party ... lol.  Let's just say I have to master my skills on this one.  I do plan on making them again for the party in 2 weeks so we'll see how those turn out.


I made the homemade yellow cake mix recipe I'm not going to put it here again since I've already done 2x you probably are sick of seeing the recipe ... hehe.  I took half and dyed it black and left the other the white/yellow.  I wanted to do a black and white cupcake kind of like the good vs evil.  

What you Need:
homemade yellow cake mix recipe (or your favorite or boxed)
Black Gel Food Coloring (Wilton's)
Cupcake Liners

Fill cupcakes 1/3 with white/yellow and then top with a 1/3 black.  Mine came out a little funny looking but hey it's still fun!


Next on the list to make was the chocolate Darth Vader's.  This one of the most simplest things I did for these cupcakes.  I swear by Wilton's Candy Melts, you can find them at Walmart, Target or Michael's for around $2 to $2.50.  They melt the best and easy to work with.



What you Need:
Candy Melts (black)

I put the melts in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes, don't let them burn!  Stir them around and then put a glob in your greased mold (I use cooking spray). You can put in the fridge for 1/2 to 1 hour or if a hurry like I usually am put in freezer for 10 minutes.  Be careful when taking out of the mold, they can break!

I used the Darth Vader's on top of the cupcakes I frosted with the white so they would pop.


Next on the list was my most challenging one yet!  These Princess Leia cookies look so easy.  WELL that could be the case if you found white chocolate dipped oreo's which I DID NOT.  Then the darn hair was a pain in the butt!  I think the more I practice the better mine will look.  But for a first attempt I say not bad!



I also made a version where I just drew the hair on
SOOO much easier and I think she is cute :)

What you Need:
Oreo's - White chocolate dipped if you can find them
White Candy Melts / Almond Bark - if you can't find the chocolate dipped oreo's
Mini Oreo's
Black Candy Melts
Wilton's Black Licorice Strings
Wilton's Edible Pens (MUST be the Candy Melt Version)
  1. Dipped Oreo's in melted almond bark or White Candy Melts (IF you can't find white chocolate coated Oreo's).  Put on a silicone mat in fridge to firm up.  
  2. Dip a mini Oreo in melted black candy melts.  Put on a silicone mat in fridge to firm up.  
  3. When White Chocolate is firm, Add the licorice strings for the hair. I added a dab of chocolate to hold them down and just made it look like hair.
  4. When the licorice is set, put in fridge if you need to help firm up.
  5. Add a dab of frosting to the chocolate covered mini Oreo.  Add one to each side of the face (to resemble buns).
  6. When everything has set up, take a edible Pen, use black to make eyes and red to make the mouth (you can make a heart and it's a cute mouth).
Here is step by step.  LOT's of steps!
Click on picture to enlarge and help :)


ALEXIS Notes: NEXT I will use white melts instead of almond bark, melts nice and looks cleaner. Also NEXT time I will use some gel food coloring to make little swirls on the black mini Oreo's to resemble the buns in her hair.

There you go it was a lot of work but the kids really did enjoy them and it helped me do a practice run for the actual party.  I did the cupcake in the clear cup (dollar tree 10 for $1) idea again and put it in the clear bags I found at the dollar tree (25 pk for $1).  I have come to the thinking that this is the best way to serve cupcakes for parties!

Here's a recap of what I did :).
Again click the picture if you need it will help to see details.

For the invites and RSVP's I made click HERE



Have a GREAT day!
May the Force be with You!!

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