More Party Prep

I didn't think that one cake would be enough, so I wanted to make owl cupcakes. This is what I ended up with.

Does it look more like an owl or a Jim Henson Muppet?

For the actual cake, I wanted to make a "log", so I decided to do it jellyroll style. This was my first time ever attempting a jellyroll type cake, so I was a little worried how it would go.

It came out of the pan and rolled up while it was warm, just fine. When it was time to fill, things didn't go as well. As I unrolled the cake, it cracked and broke apart several times. (I think I needed to let it cool more and maybe use a different recipe. I just used a cake mix.) But because it was going to be a "log" I didn't let that stop me. I slathered on the fudge filling, kind of gluing it together, then carefully rolled it up and put it in the freezer.

The morning of the party, I took the log out of the freezer and frosted it with chocolate frosting, going for the bark look. I also used some large stick pretzels covered with frosting for a branch.

Next I stuck wooden skewers into the styrofoam owls and popped them onto their log, along with candles and Taylee's name.
Voila!

Taylee and I made extra owls using the invitation template. I used them to make a banner.

Rylee bought this balloon for Taylee. It was a perfect addition to the party.

This was one of our first ideas when planning the NIGHT OWL party... a bed table.

I like how ours turned out, but check out our inspiration party...amazing!

My "crazy" doesn't even compete with her CRAZY. :)

Project #1

Taylee wanted to MAKE something, with the girls at her birthday party.

I found a stuffed owl pattern on the Internet, dug up some fabric scraps and started cutting. Taylee LOVES the eclectic, homemade look, so we put lots of different combos of fabric together to make each owl unique. Taylee had invited 12 girls, but I ended up cutting out about 16...for options. I felt crazy at the time, but soon discovered that cutting would be the least of my problems. Sewing the owls proved to be a little challenging. Taking something flat and sewing it into something curved or 3-D is not all that easy.

The hardest part was tail in back, not pictured.

Once cut out and sewn, we carefully folded them and put them into eggs.

Our plan was to give one to each girl and let her "hatch" the owlet.

When "hatched" each girl stuffed their owlet, added buttons for eyes and felt shapes (stars, flowers, guitar, sunglasses, etc.) to further personalize and decorate. Some also added ribbon bows for the CUTE factor.

They also filled out Birth Certificates for each of their owlets. They got to choose a name, date of birth, place of birth and put their own name down as "mother".

I wasn't sure if everyone would be into making something, like Taylee, but they all seemed excited to create their own owl. I heard girls say, "This is SO much fun.", "I can't believe we get to MAKE these!", "Your family seems crafty...and that's a good thing." :)

Each one was very unique and personalized. I think the funniest accessories were the sunglasses/guitar and the "nerd glasses". One of my favorite names was "Lemon Drop".

So cute!

Project # 2

From felt, a styrofoam ball and googly eyes.....

to cute little owls.....
to Taylee's birthday cake decoration.

I loved how they turned out!

What a HOOT.

Pinewood Derby 2011

The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was this week.

Jason, helped Treyson, execute the "Cubola Crayon" derby.

Pretty cute, don't cha think? ...or cool, I mean.

The night of the Pinewood Derby, we discovered that our irrigation pipe, in the back yard, had broken. Gallons and gallons of water sprung out of the back corner of the yard. Jason, and a team of neighbors, worked on getting the water shut off and investigated the problem. Somewhere, some how, there was a broken pipe or valve or something.

As Jason was working on solving the problem, Pinewood Derby time was approaching quickly. I had been sick on the couch, most of the day and still had several details to attend to for Taylee's party. I had not planned on going to the Derby. At the very last minute, it was decided that Jason couldn't go. So I dropped Treyson off at the church and asked a favor of a ward member to bring him home. It was a bummer we missed the Derby, but Treyson came home all smiles with a "Jamba Juice" in hand. I don't think he missed us much... or "Jamba Juice" made it all better. :)

He was happy to report, that his car came in second......

at least once. :)

Up Next...

I abandoned the last project, part way through, to work on this...

This birthday craft was much easier and way faster to complete.

Whew! Now back to sewing. Ugh.

Coming Soon...

I'm CRAZY... I guess in a good kind of way.

I'm creating A LOT of work for myself!!!

Here's another project for Taylee's upcoming birthday party. It's going S-L-O-W, but I think it will be worth it.

Can you guess what I've been up to?