Fox Treats: What Does a Fox Say?

Here is my salute to pop culture.  Call it sleep deprivation, but I couldn't resist using this title.  A friend recently asked me when I sleep. "Sleep?" I responded. "What is this mystical word you speak of?"  I have a 10 month old that just recently started sleeping through the night and a two year old that drains me of energy daily.  I don't think a good night of restful sleep will be within my grasp for several more years.  I figure if I'm not going to sleep anytime soon, I might as well be productive.  Besides, after I tuck them into bed and kiss their sweet faces goodnight, it's my time to decompress and relax.  That's where this blog and the projects it contains come into play.  Although event planning can be a source of anxiety for many people, I truly enjoy all the planning, crafting, and decorating that make up this blog.  
     Tonight, I relaxed with some card stock and a glass of wine to create this little cutie.  The only anxiety I have is trying to decide if I want to use this precious fox juice box for a Valentine's Day party or a winter play date.  

Materials:
Card stock (orange, white, and black)  I used fuzzy white card stock for his stomach and tail.
Wiggly eyes 
Tape 
Glue 
Ruler 
Pencil 
Juice box 

Step 1:

Remove the attached drinking straw from the juice box. 

Cut out shapes for the fox's ears, tail, stomach (large heart), nose, and eye mask (teardrops).

Step 2: Place juice box on top of  card stock to make a template. Using a pencil, lightly mark the width of the juice box. Remove the box and use a ruler to draw straight lines to create a rectangular shape long enough to wrap around the entire outside of your juice box. 

Step 3:  Cut out rectangle.

Step 4: Tape one end of the rectangle to the juice box and wrap card stock around the outside of box. 

Step 5: Use your fingers to create a crease at each corner of the juice box. This will insure a close fit.

Step 6: Attach tape to secure the other end of the card stock to the juice box. 

Step 7:  On the front of the box, attach eye mask teardrops, nose, wiggly eyes, ears, and stomach.  Attach the tail to the back of the juice box, but be sure it's visible from the front.

Enjoy!

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Love Bug Juice Boxes for Valentines

Looking for something different to give the kids for Valentines this year?  How cute are these little love bug juice boxes?  They're a perfect addition for a classroom party, a healthy alternative to candy Valentines, or simply add them to your child's lunchbox for a fun (and refreshing) surprise.   
    To make these adorable boxes, I simply wrapped the juice box with navy card stock, added some decorative card stock circles to form a caterpillar, and used a paint pen to add tiny feet.  I attached a paper straw to the side with glue dots and topped it with a tag and pink paper flower.  I can't wait to give these to my two little love bugs. 

All rights reserved.

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How to Make Reindeer Juice Boxes

I adore these sweet little Rudolph juice boxes that I created for the reindeer tablescape.  These little juice box characters have become a regular thing in my house.  My son now ask for monster juice or reindeer juice when he is referring to a juice box.  They're such an easy addition to any party and a huge hit with the kiddos.

Materials:

Juice boxes

Card stock (light brown and dark brown)

Wiggly eyes
Red or black pom poms

Glue dots (optional)
Straws (optional)

Tape

Ruler

Pencil

Scissors

Step 1:

Remove the attached drinking straw from the juice box. 

Step 2: Place juice box on top of  card stock to make a template. Using a pencil, lightly mark the width of the juice box. Remove the box and use a ruler to draw straight lines to create a rectangular shape long enough to wrap around the entire outside of your juice box. 

Step 3:  Cut out rectangle.

Step 4: Tape one end of the rectangle to the juice box and wrap card stock around the outside of box. 

Step 5: Use your fingers to create a crease at each corner of the juice box. This will insure a close fit.

Step 6: Attach tape to secure the other end of the card stock to the juice box. 

Step 7:  On the front top portion of the box, attach wiggly eyes and a red or black pom pom.  Cut antler shapes from dark brown card stock and tape the bottoms to the backside of the juice boxes. 

Step 8 - optional:  Place two glue dots on the side of the juice box (top and bottom). 
Step 9 - optiFonal:  Attach a festive drinking straw to the glue dots. 

Enjoy! 

Find these juice boxes and more on this adorable reindeer tablescape that's perfect for the holidays.

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Make Your Own Paper Trees

These candy cane paper tree cones were perfect for our reindeer inspired Christmas play date.  They were a wonderful inexpensive addition to the tablescape.  However, the best part was it only took ten minutes to construct all four cones.  I purchased the paper mache cones at our local craft store and covered them with left over gift wrap to create a festive focal point for our table. 

Looking for more holiday table ideas? Check out this reindeer inspired tablescape and these cute reindeer juice boxes for the kids.

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Make a Holiday Centerpiece from a Cakestand

I saw this centerpiece in a magazine a few years ago and decided to replicate it for our Christmas dinner with friends.  I ended up keeping this on the table all season long.  This snowy scene was staged on a domed cake stand that normally goes unused.  I added fake snow, a package of miniature snowy pine trees, and two deer ornaments that I painted silver to match our decor.  The end result was an inexpensive centerpiece that we enjoyed all season.

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Simple Fall Napkin Rings

When it comes to preparing the table for Thanksgiving, I'm always at odds with stores and their fall dinnerware in hues of brown, orange, and red.  It's not easy to find silver fall items among the sea of gold, so typically I make my own decorations.   My days are filled with potty training my 2 year old, yanking my 9 month old away from the cat litter just in time, and starting the laundry in the dryer for the third time because I just don't have time to fold it when it finishes.  My time is limited, so unless a project is well worth it, I try to keep my projects simple.  These fall napkin rings are about as easy as it gets AND they match my china, which makes me one excited mommy! 

Materials:
Card stock in a coordinating color 
Pre-cut fall leaves (Michaels)
Glue dots

Step 1:
Cut card stock into strips that are 1 inch wide and 6 inches in length.  

Step 2:
Take each individual strip and overlap the ends to create a circle that will snugly fit around your napkin.  Secure ends with a glue dot and trim any extra card stock.  

Step 3:
Select a pre-cut fall leaf, attach glue dot to the back, and place leaf in the middle of the card stock napkin ring.  

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Chalkboard Placemats

For the kid's table this year, I've been searching for activities to occupy my rambunctious two year old son before Thanksgiving dinner.  However, the most common activities seems to involve crayons and coloring sheets.  Unfortunately, the second I turn away to take the stuffing out of the oven, my sweet boy will have toddler hieroglyphs drawn in crayon all over the kitchen wall.  He's a true artist at heart.  Thankfully crayon does wipe off so there's no harm done, but we just moved into a brand new house and I'm not quite ready to christen the freshly painted walls.  Don't worry, their time will come.  
    These placemats were created in hopes that the chalk would be a fun alternative to crayons and not quite as destructive.  I used an acrylic chalkboard paint (it's what I had on hand), however, next time I will do some additional homework and use a paint a little more suitable to the slick surface of the placemat.  To make the turkey drawing I used a marker specifically made for chalkboards.  Teachers, if you haven't seen these yet, you're missing out!  I used them when I was teaching and LOVED them. You can erase the chalk but whatever you draw with the marker stays in place until it's wiped away with a damp cloth.  So the kids can color and erase the turkey as many times as they like and this little gobbler will  stay in place.  
     This is one of the ideas I'll be keeping stored away for when I return to the classroom.  How easy would it be to create a classroom set of chalkboard placemats for everyday use?

Materials:
Kid's placemat ($0.97 at Wal-mart)
Chalkboard paint 
Chalk
Optional: Chalkboard marker 

Steps:
Simply follow the directions on the bottle/can to paint the placemat.  Let dry completely before using.  
Optional: Use a chalkboard marker to add a turkey or other fun Thanksgiving icon for the kids to color. 

Looking for more ideas for your kid's table this Thanksgiving?
Check out these adorable centerpieces and juice boxes.

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Make Juice Boxes into Turkeys for Your Thanksgiving Kid's Table

I loved the monster juice boxes that I created at Halloween so much I just couldn't resist turning the juice boxes into waddling turkeys for the kid's Thanksgiving table.  These would make an adorable addition to any classroom Thanksgiving feast. 

 

Materials:

Juice boxes

Card stock

Wiggly eyes
Craft Glue 

Tape

Ruler

Pencil

Scissors

Step 1:

Cut out shapes for feathers, a triangular beak, and a wattle from card stock. 
Step 2: 

Remove the attached drinking straw from the juice box. Place juice box on top of  card stock to make a template. Using a pencil, lightly mark the width of the juice box. Remove the box and use a ruler to draw straight lines to create a rectangular shape long enough to wrap around the entire outside of your juice box. 

Step 3:  Cut out rectangle.

Step 4: Use tape to secure 3-5 feathers on the back of the juice box.  Then, tape one end of the rectangle to the juice box and wrap card stock around the outside of box. You may need to cut a small slit in the rectangle to fit the card stock snugly around feathers. 

Step 5: Use your fingers to create a crease at each corner of the juice box. This will insure a close fit.

Step 6: Attach tape to secure the other end of the card stock to the juice box. 

Step 7:  On the front top portion of the box, attach wiggly eyes and the rest of your little turkey's features with craft glue. 

Step 8: Optional
Use glue dots to reattach the drinking straw to the side of the juice box.  

Enjoy! 



Looking for more Thanksgiving ideas for your kid's table or classroom party?  Check out this cute and simple turkey centerpiece and these Pilgrim activity pockets. 

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How to Make Pilgram Activity Pockets

The holidays are a special time for children.  It's an opportunity for us to pass down traditions and share the meaning behind our celebrations and customs.  I love that my son is old enough this year to start understanding and participating more in our Thanksgiving Day celebrations.  However, when it comes time to eat and fellowship with family and friends, he is still a two year old with a 30 second attention span.  I don't know if it's because he's two or because he's a boy, but he can get into trouble faster than I can rid my pantry of chocolate.  So giving him some constructive activities to channel that creative energy is a must.  
   These little activity pockets are perfect for holding construction paper, stickers, crayons, chalk, etc. for little ones to dig into before dinner.  I love the little Pilgrims on the front, but you could easily change the cutout to a turkey, the Mayflower, or other Thanksgiving icon.    

 

 Materials: makes four pockets (two girls and two boys)
Felt (I used 8x11 sheets of felt: 4 tan, 1 white, 1 orange, 1 yellow, 1 ivory, and 1 black)
Craft Glue 
Pencil
Scissors
Extra fine permanent marker 

Step 1: 
Cut out your shapes.  Fold the tan felt in half (top to bottom) and cut along the seam to make two rectangles 5x8. Use your scissors to trim the top of the rectangles by 3 inches so you are left with a 5x5 square.  Cut out the shapes below from the coordinating felt pieces.  You will need: 4 orange tops, 4 white collars, 4 ivory circles, 2 bonnet pieces and blond curls, and 2 hats with a ribbon and buckle.  I first traced the shapes on paper to make sure I was happy with the size and shape, then transferred them by tracing the paper shapes with a pencil onto the felt sheets.

Step 2:
Make the pockets.  Lay one tan square flat and make a thin line along the sides and bottom with craft glue.  Lay a second tan square on top and lightly press the sides and bottom.  Repeat for the remaining pockets.  Let dry completely.  

Step 3:
Assemble the Pilgrims.  Use craft glue to assemble the cut out pieces to make the Pilgrims pictured below.  Start with the orange tops and ivory circles/heads.  Then, glue the white collars on top.  Last, glue on the hats/bonnets and hair/curls. Let pockets dry completely.  When Pilgrims are dry, use an extra fine marker to draw two eyes, a nose, and a smile.

Step 4:
Stuff pockets with items the little ones will enjoy before dinner such as construction paper, stickers, crayons, and chalk. 

For more kid friendly Thanksgiving Day ideas, check out these turkey centerpieces.

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Kid's Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece

Thanksgiving is just days away and I've been searching for ideas for the kid's table.  Unfortunately, most of the table ideas I've come across involve word searches, glass mason jars, and tall autumn tree centerpieces.  All of which are wonderful ideas, for a ten year old.  But for a two year old who can hardly sit still long enough to say grace, those ideas are just not going to cut it.  The glass mason jar would be knocked on the floor within seconds of sitting down, spilling milk across the table (did I mention we'll be using a vinyl tablecloth). The tree is just begging for my son to balance himself on the chair to reach up and grab a paper leaf (bringing it crashing to the ground).  
     For a table full of toddlers, I need a table that's fun and durable.  This little turkey is the perfect centerpiece for wondering little hands that can't sit still.  His body is made from card stock attached to a plastic container filled with black beans.  The "tail feathers" are individual paper cones filled with popcorn for our little munchkins to snack on while we pile their plates with roasted turkey and cornbread stuffing.  

Materials:
Clear plastic vase/candy container (Party City) 
Card stock: Brown, yellow, red, and multiple patterns/colors for "feathers" 
Googly eyes 
Black beans or other vase filler
Favorite snack
Double-sided tape 


Looking for more Thanksgiving table ideas?  Check out these  elegant painted pumpkins and kid friendly Pilgrim activity pockets. 

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Who Says Pumpkins Have to be Orange?

Traditional Thanksgiving tables are usually adorned with the colors of the season: yellows, oranges, and reds.  Although I love the colors of fall, my formal china is completely out of place with its silver lining and wisps of gray.  Each year, I search through isles of fall decor looking for anything that might compliment the china that I love using for the holidays, but I always come up empty handed.  I finally decided that if I wanted something out of the ordinary I would have to make it myself.  Besides, who says pumpkins always have to be orange anyways (besides Mother Nature)?  I easily found some lightweight pumpkins that were absolutely hideous.  I picked them more for their shape and size since I knew they would be getting a new coat of paint.  I picked up some paint, glitter, and glue and within an hour I had three finished pumpkins, ready to display alongside my china for our family Thanksgiving dinner.  

Get the look:
Pumpkins (Walmart) 
Paint (I used Martha Stewart Living paints, but any paint that matches your decor with do) 
Glitter 
Craft glue


Looking for more Thanksgiving table ideas? Check out these little turkeys for the kid's Thanksgiving table.  

read more "Who Says Pumpkins Have to be Orange?"

Tutorial: Pinwheel Garland

These simple pinwheels are the perfect addition for a baby shower, bridal shower, or outdoor event.  Since they're budget friendly too, I made tons of them for my son's nautical birthday party.  Take these directions a step further and make the pinwheels into centerpieces and garland by simply attaching them to ribbon or wooden dowels.  To make your pinwheel functional, use a grommet instead of brad.

Materials:

Card stock (double sided is preferable but not necessary as you can see from the pictures below)

Scissors 

Brad or paper fastener (I used the plain old bronze ones but you can purchase colored brads or even attach jewels and other decorations to the front of the brad using hot glue)

Optional: hole punch
Optional: ribbon, lollipop sticks, or wooden dowels (Don't have any on hand? Use chopsticks instead.)

Step 1:
Cut out a square from your card stock.  It's up to you how large or small you'd like your pinwheel to be, just make sure your square is even on all four sides. 

Step 2: 
Fold your square into a triangle by bringing the corner on the top right to meet the corner on the bottom left.  Unfold it and fold it again diagonally using the other two corners.  Unfold.  Your fold lines in the center of the square should make an "x. 

Step 3:Using your scissors, cut your square along the creases.  Start from one corner and work your way towards the center along the fold line.  Stop about 1/4 - 1/2 inch from the center.  Repeat for the remaining three corners.  This will create four triangles.

Step 4:
Starting with the top right triangle, bring the bottom right point to the center of the square without making a crease.  Repeat with the other three points.  Hold the points in place with your thumb.  Fasten with a brad/paper fastener, making sure the brad goes through each point and the center.   

To make this step easier: use a basic hole puncher to punch a hole in the middle of the square and in the bottom right corner of each triangle. Follow the steps above so that each hole punch overlaps the other and fasten with a brad.  
Sometimes it's difficult to get the paper to stay in place so I connect the brad as I go (adding on one triangle point at a time then connecting it to the center).  

Step 5:
Close the brad ends by bending them outward to secure the pinwheel. 

Pinwheel garland: Follow the directions above to make several pinwheels.  Close the brads around twine or ribbon at equally spaced intervals.  Use hot glue or double-sided tape to help secure the pinwheel if needed.
Pinwheel Centerpiece: Close the brad around a wooden dowel and place dowel into a vase/container.

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Tutorial - Decorative Life Preserver

For my son's 'B is for Boat' birthday party, I wanted to decorate the bait shop dessert table with nautical decor but couldn't find anything for a reasonable price.  So instead, I decided to construct the decorations myself.  This life preserver was an easy and affordable decoration made using a white foam wreath from the local craft store, red acrylic paint, and thick twine that I already had on hand.  The end result was a realistic life preserver that can be used for any nautical, summer, or beach party.  

Materials:

White foam wreath 

Red acrylic paint 

Paintbrush 

Painters tape (optional) 

Thick twine 

Hot glue gun 

Pencil 

Step 1:

On the foam wreath, use a pencil to mark where you will be painting the red stripes (make each stripe 3 inches wide).  If you're not very steady with a paintbrush, use painters tape to mark off the stripes.  Paint stripes with acrylic paint and let them dry thoroughly before beginning the next step.

Step 2:

Once the paint has dried, turn the wreath over so the back of the wreath is facing upward.  Use a hot glue gun to attach twine to the back of each painted stripe.  Allow a small amount of excess twine between each contact point.  After glue has cooled, cut off excess twine.  

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Use Tissue Puffs to Create an Inexpensive Centerpiece

At the moment, one of my favorite centerpieces to make is with tissue puffs.  They’re so easy to construct and the cost is minimal.  These centerpieces can be as casual or elaborate as you want simply by adding ribbon, changing the vase/container, or changing the vase filler.  They’ve been used as bright festive centerpieces for my son’s 1^st birthday fiesta and created for an elegant ladies’ brunch.  The best part is that by using materials I have on hand, these centerpieces only cost between $3-5 each!

Materials:

Tissue paper (1 package per centerpiece)
Pipe cleaners or yarn / string
Wooden dowel
Vase
Vase filler (shredded paper, coffee beans, rocks, etc.)
Paint (spray paint or acrylic) – optional
Ribbon – optional
Hot glue gun – optional
Double sided tape
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil 

Directions are for one centerpiece.  Repeat steps as necessary to make additional centerpieces.

Step 1: Optional
Wooden dowels come in a variety of sizes and are usually a natural wood color.  To change the look of the centerpiece or customize it to fit your event, simply paint the wooden dowel with spray paint or acrylic paint.  Let the dowel dry completely before attaching the tissue paper puff.

Step 2:  
Decide what size tissue paper puff would compliment your vase / container.  I normally cut a square with 8-12 inch sides. Remove the tissue paper from the packaging, unfold, and layout on a clean flat surface.  Keep the tissue paper layers stacked one on top of the other.   Use a ruler to draw out a square on the top layer of tissue; make sure each side of the square is the same length.  Cut out the square with scissors, making sure to cut through all the layers of tissue paper with eat cut. 

Step 3: 
Keep the tissue papers stacked together as you begin these next steps.  Do not separate the layers of tissue paper.  Once the squares have been cut out, remove all excess tissue paper from your work surface.   Next, begin folding the square stacks of tissue.  Start with one side, folding it like an accordion every 1-2 inches back and forth until the entire square has been folded.  Optional: to give your puff some added texture, keep the tissue square folded and cut each end to make it rounded or pointed.  Find the center of your folded tissue square and tie the yarn, string, or pipe cleaner tightly around the center and secure it leaving some extra to tie around the wooden dowel.   Then, starting with the top layer of tissue paper carefully pull the top layer of tissue paper toward the center.  Continue with each layer to create a rose like tissue puff.  This will be ½ of the tissue puff. Repeat with the remaining square of tissue paper to create a sphere shaped tissue puff.

Step 4: 
Tightly secure the first tissue puff to the top of the wooden dowel using the extra yarn, string, or pipe cleaner.   Use double-sided tape or hot glue to help secure the string to the dowel, if needed.  Attach the second puff to the opposite side of the dowel so that the backs of each puff are together.  Tear off pieces of double-sided tape and attach to the back of the puffs to connect the back layers to one another.  This will help eliminate the seam between the two puffs and create a sphere shaped tissue puff.

Step 5: 
Fill the vase with desired vase filler and place dowel in the center of the vase.

Step 6: 
Add matching ribbon around the center of the vase using double-sided tape or a hot glue gun or tie ribbon around the  wooden dowel.  

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Halloween Banners Under $2

These little banners are perfect for any Halloween party and each one was less than $2! 

Materials:
Spider Boo Banner: 
Glitter spider cutouts ($.97 at Walmart) 
Ribbon for hanging ($.50)
Card stock ($.50)
Glue 

Skeleton Banner:
Plastic skeletons ($.97 at Walmart)
Ribbon for hanging ($.50)
Hot glue gun & sticks

Halloween Banner:
Polka dot banner ($.97 at Walmart)
Green card stock ($.50)
Glue 


Looking for more Halloween party ideas? Check out the Eat Before You Treat tablescape and monster juice boxes.

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Make Store Bought Decorations Your Own Creations

It never fails, I get something specific in my mind that I want for a party and I go on a mad search through every store within a hundred miles (with both of my boys in tow) and spend hours looking online but I just can't find EXACTLY what I want.  This is also the downfall of being a perfectionist.  I finally realized the best way to get the look I want without driving myself insane and dragging two screaming children into a million stores, is simply to do it myself.  Sounds daunting, right?  It's actually the complete opposite.  It's been incredibly easy to customize decorations to my specific needs, it's less expensive than having something custom made, AND I love the creativity it allows.  So don't fret if you can't find the exact cups or banner you want for your next event.  Look at what's available and embrace the possibilities.  With some scissors and little card stock your can make any decoration your own creation.

These centerpieces (top left) were created with a word document, printed on white card stock, cut out, and attached to lollipop sticks.  The safari baby shower cups (top center), treat bags (top right), and kid's cups (bottom) were all created by attaching shapes cut from card stock. SO easy and so cute!!

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