Under the Sea Invitations {and party sneak peek!}

Last weekend was Connor's Under the Sea party.  Coming up with the invitations is always one of my favorite things to do when I am in party planning mode...

These invites actually went together pretty quickly especially considering  that I had 12 of them to do!

MATERIALS

• cardstock {royal blue, green, lighter blue, white}
• google eyes
• double sided tape
• glue
• fish template {download HERE}
• circle punch {I used a 3 inch and 2 inch punch}
• baker's twine

TO DO

• Print and cut out the fish template {download HERE}.  Cut out your fish from the blue cardstock.  
• Cut 1 1/4 inch x 6 inch strips from the lighter blue and green cardstock.  Cut scallops along one edge.  {I cut one that I liked and then used that as a template for the rest}
• Apply double sided tape along the straight edge.  The scalloped part should be free of tape.  Starting at the tail, add your first strip.  When you apply your second strip slide it underneath the scalloped edge of the first piece.  Repeat until all 6 strips are completed.

• Turn your fish to the backside and trim the strips down buy cutting along the shape of the fish.
• Add a google eye.
• Punch two 3 inch circles and 4 2 inch circles from white cardstock.  Cut a piece of baker's twine approximately 8-10 inches long and attach to the back of three of the circles {one 3 inch circle and 2 two inch circles} using double sided tape to form the bubbles.  Glue another circle to the back of each of the circles to cover up the baker's twine.  The Number 6 tag that I used for my invitations was part of an awesome printable package from Dimple Prints that I used for the rest of the party.  I wrote all of the party details on the back of this "bubble".

• To attach the string of bubbles to the fish, cut a strip of the royal blue cardstock approximately 1/2 inch x 3 1/2 inches.  Apply a small piece of double sided tape to attach the bubble string to the strip.  Use two more small pieces of double sided tape to attach the strip to the back of the fish.  This will form a little "pocket" for the bubbles to sit in.  

The bubbles can then be pulled out to reveal all of the party details!

If you are looking for more Under the Sea ideas, you can check out my crab cupcakes here...

...and stay tuned for more party details!

{printables all from Dimple Prints}

There will be lots more to come when I actually get a chance to go through all of the photos!!

Just keep on swimming...

I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Tidy Mom and The Frugal Girls.

The Creative Spark {No. 92}

Welcome back to the last official night of The Creative Spark! After almost two years of hosting this little party, the time for change has arrived.  I have LOVED getting to know all of you better and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to share your ideas and  encourage others on their blogging journeys.  I know that there are many wonderful parties out there, and I am so grateful that you were able to be a part of mine.  I know that many of you have been around since my first party so thank-you so much for all of your support and comments each week.  I love you guys!!!

With all of that being said, I'm not really going anywhere.  The party will be back next week but it will have a new look, a new name, and some new faces!!!  I will be teaming up with some of my favorite bloggers to make this party bigger and better!  Please give a warm welcome to...

 Jen from City Farmhouse

Kristin from Yellow Bliss Road
and

Kristen from Ella Claire

So even though there are four of us, you will only have to remember 2 names! :)

One of my main goals with this party was to give you guys a chance to gain more exposure for your blogs.  Now when you link your ideas up to one of our blogs, it will be seen on all FOUR of our sites and open things up to some new readers.  Hopefully this will also give you a little more time to visit each other's blogs as well.  The more we are able to share and encourage each other, the more beneficial the party will be!  I hope to see you all there!!!

Now on to this week's party!!!

This past week was very busy around here getting things ready for Connor's Under the Sea party.  I have so much stuff to show you from the party but that will have to wait just a little bit longer!  Here's what I did manage to get up on the blog though...

Connor's crab cupcakes that he took to school on his birthday.

My little summer lemonade bar!

And some of my favorite black and white inspiration photos.

And don't forget to check out last week's fabulous features!

*****************

 Okay, so now it`s your turn!! What have you all been up to? Feel free to link up anything that YOU have created - crafts, DIY, scrapbook projects, organization ideas, decorating, recipes - anything goes!

Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar} OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Follow along with Facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week and pop back on Sunday for my feature post.
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!

Lemonade Bar

Summer is almost here so it is time to whip out the lemonade!  You may remember my hot chocolate bar turned bunny bar...

Well, it got a little summer makeover!

The bottles are filled with lemonade crystals, some paper straws, and cherry Kool-Aid.  I was actually trying to find some pink lemonade crystals but I couldn't find them anywhere.  The Kool-Aid mixed with the lemonade actually tastes pretty darn good though! ;)

I purchased the bottles last fall at Decor Steals but you can also find them over at Farmhouse Decor {along
with lots of other fabulous goodies!}.  The sign is just a wooden rectangle that I purchased from Michael's and sprayed with chalkboard paint.  Chalk pens make it SO much easier to draw on little signs like this one!

 I made the labels for the bottles, punched them out and and glued them onto some patterned scrapbook paper.  I then tied everything on with some baker's twine.  If you would like a copy of the labels, you can download them HERE.  I added a pink lemonade label for you just in case!

Now all that's left to do is make a cool glass or lemonade and relax!!!  Happy Victoria Day to all of my Canadian friends!  I hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Tidy Mom, The Frugal Girls, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Home Stories A to Z, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Lolly Jane and Today's Creative Blog.

My Sunday Sparks {No. 91}

Happy Sunday! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We are recovering today from Connor's birthday party yesterday and I am hoping that the house will magically be put back in order.  So far no luck...

Anyways, I am just popping in today to show you some of the amazing projects linked up at last week's Creative Spark.  There were so many fabulous ideas  - I wish that I could highlight you all!  

I love this colorful flower sign from The Happy Scraps!

Laura's Crafty Life turned some dollar store baskets into beautiful faux metal baskets.  Perfect for organizing!

So Much Better With Age created this awesome kitchen office space.  My favorite part is definitely their charging station - brilliant!

How fabulous is this DIY Herb Garden from Ginger Snap Crafts?  She has a great tutorial for you too!

2 Crafty 4 My Skirt made this amazing potting bench from some old pallets.  Check out her post for lots of other pallet projects too!

I have never made my own soap but I really want to try this oatmeal goat's milk soap recipe from Essentially Eclectic.  My skin could definitely use a little love.

And, finally, my food pick of the week is these cheesecake filled strawberries from Happier Than a Pig in Mud.  A perfect, easy-to-do summer treat!

Thank- you so much to all of you that came out to the party last week.  You are ALL amazing!!  If you haven't had a chance to check out the links, you can head on over HERE and all features {past and present!} can always be found on my Pinterest board.  If you were featured here or on my Facebook page, please feel free to grab a button from the sidebar.

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!

Black and White Inspiration

It has taken me some time to figure this out, but I LOVE black and white together.  I used to think of myself as being drawn more towards whites but ever since I re-did our master bedroom last year, I realize that I have a bit of a dark side too.

Right now I am still working on finishing off our dining room and have continued on with the black and white trend {with a few wood tones and some color thrown in there too!}  Today I thought that I would share some of my black and white inspiration with you....

{Traditional Home}

{Harmony and Home}

{Em for Marvelous}

{Canadian House and Home}

{Better Homes and Gardens}

{Clean and Scentsible}

{House and Home}

{House and Home}

{The Bright Life}

{The Kitchn}

{Copy Cat Chic}

So what do you think?  Do you lean towards white, black or a little of both?

I linked up with Tidy Mom, The Frugal Girls, Lil Luna, Savvy Southern Style, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Home Stories A to Z, Lolly Jane, Alderberry Hill, Uncommon, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Flamingo Toes and I Heart Naptime.

Crab Cakes {cupcakes}

My little dude turned SIX on Monday and I am still trying to figure out where all of those years have gone! It makes me a little sad to see him growing up so quickly but I know that there will be lots of new and exciting adventures with each new age.   We will be having some of his friends over for his birthday party on the weekend but he wanted to bring some cupcakes to school on Monday for the whole class.  Since we are doing an Under the Sea theme for his party, I thought that I would make some "sea inspired" cupcakes as well...

When I first saw these cupcakes over at Cutest Food I knew that they would be perfect.  Decorating cakes and cupcakes is not a strong suit of mine but these guys were so cute and easy to make!

INGREDIENTS

• cup cake mix {or you can be fancy and make your own!}
• white icing {vanilla or cream cheese}
• 1 C graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1/4 C butter
• candy eyes
• gummy orange slices
• gummy fuzzy peaches
• round orange gummies {I had to buy a multi-color pack for these and pick out the orange ones!}
• toothpicks

To Do

• Bake and ice cupcakes.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and butter.  Sprinkle on the top of the cupcakes for your "sand".
• Slice fuzzy peach into a crescent shape
• Use toothpicks {they will need to be cut down} to add the fuzzy peach "claws" to the orange slice "body".
• Use icing to attach the candy eyes to the round orange gummies.  Use toothpicks {that will also need to be cut down} to attach the "eyes" to the orange slice body.

I just love these little guys!  Too bad they were quickly gobbled up!

Enjoy your day! 
 I linked up with Be Different Act Normal, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Home Stories A to Z, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Lolly Jane, Today's Creative Blog, Under the Table and Dreaming, Craft-O-Maniac, Alderberry Hill, Uncommon, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Flamingo Toes, I Heart Naptime, Tatertots and Jello, Whipperberry, Crafty Scrappy Happy, Love of Family and Home, The Frugal Girls, Becoming Martha, Tidy Mom, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue and Stone Gable.

The Creative Spark {No. 91}

Welcome back to another night of The Creative Spark!  I can't wait to see what you have all been up to!  

 I just want to give you a little heads up that there will be a few changes to this link party in the near future.  I really do appreciate all of you coming out to party with me each week and I am always looking for ways to promote your wonderful ideas even more.  I am so excited to share all of the details with you but I just have a couple of things left to work out!  Stay tuned!

This week I showed you some Spring changes that I did in our front entry... 

...and I shared a sweet memory album to write little notes back and forth between you and your kiddos.  Remember to start that communication while they are still little! :)

There was also a free printable that could be framed for a nursery or baby shower gift.

*****************

 Okay, so now it`s your turn!! What have you all been up to? Feel free to link up anything that YOU have created - crafts, DIY, scrapbook projects, organization ideas, decorating, recipes - anything goes!

Want to link up?

• Link directly to your specific post {not the homepage}.
• Please add The Creative Spark button to your post or blog {the code is in my sidebar} OR place a text link at the end of your post. I would love for you to help me spread the word!
• Follow along with Facebook to see if you have been featured throughout the week and pop back on Sunday for my feature post.
• Check out some of the other fabulous links. A few nice comments always inspires us to create more!