Birthday Countdown Ideas – Counting Down with Photos!

I love counting down to holidays and special occasions! A good countdown builds anticipation and makes any event more exciting!

Last year, for my son’s first birthday, we counted down to the “Big Day” by taking countdown photos. I set up a simple backdrop with paper chains and Christmas lights and threw a bunch of balloons on the floor. I also created clear plexi glass countdown tiles (one for each day).

Each morning, for ten days, we took some photos counting down to his birthday… We had a lot of fun making our countdown and I love the final results!

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We’re going to do another birthday countdown this year… Starting tomorrow!

Stay tuned for the final result!

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Toddler-Friendly Activities in the Quad Cities

Looking for fun, child-friendly activities in the Quad Cities? With summer just around the corner I decided to check out several of the QCA’s finest parks, venues and attractions! Here’s my review… There’s no need to hear “I’m bored!” this summer.

Family Museum (2900 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA)

Our family loves this museum so much we bought yearly passes. If you have younger children I highly recommend this venue! It’s basically a large, indoor playground for children that’s both fun and educational.

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The museum features a child-size grocery store, shoe store, post office, veterinary clinic, farm, a water area and a special gated section for young children. There are endless things to do here and they are always adding new exhibits to keep things fresh.

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*Helpful Tip: The staff here are unbelievably friendly and helpful. If you’re worried about the museum being crowded, call ahead and ask what days and times have less traffic. In our experience, Mondays are a great day to go!

*Helpful Tip: Check the Museum’s homepage frequently for free days and additional discounted admission days.

 

Modern Woodmen Park (209 S Gaines St, Davenport, IA)

Modern Woodmen is a great summer option for children because they offer way more than baseball (although baseball is always enough for us!). There is a children’s play area with bouncy houses and carnival-like games, a great view of the Mississippi River (our son loves watching barges and boats float by), and a berm seating area which allows little ones an open area to run around in.

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The River Bandits have great promotions and always offer fun entertainment before, during and after the game. Check their website for more information.

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*Helpful Tip: If you decide to sit in the berm area, be sure to bring a blanket to sit on. And no matter where you sit, bring along the sunscreen and bug spray!

 

Niabi Zoo (Coal Valley, IL)

You can see elephants, giraffes, and bears, oh my! The zoo is full of animals and attractions that are sure to capture any child’s interest.

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We especially love the petting zoo and bird area (you can actually feed the birds), and our son’s favorite is the zoo train which takes visitors around the entire property.

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*Helpful Tip:  Discounted zoo admission is offered every Tuesday. Call ahead or check out the zoo website for other promotions.

 

McManus Park (1200 Mississippi Blvd, Bettendorf, IA)

McManus Park is, by far, my son’s favorite park (and we go to A LOT of parks)! Recently updated, this park includes a large playground for younger children (handicap accessible), a seperate play area for older children, tennis courts, swings, and a basketball court. It also has three shelters (one is reservable) which is great if you’re looking for a fun place to host a birthday party or family event.

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*Tips:  This park can get very busy on the weekend. If you have a small child, I recommend going on a weekday in the morning or early afternoon. Be sure to pack a lunch and make a fun day trip to this beautiful park!

What are your favorite child-friendly activities in the Quad Cities?

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Posted in 2013, 5/22/13 Summer Activities for Kids, As Seen On..., Paula Sands Live | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chalkboard Flower Pots

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I absolutely love these chalkboard flower pots. They’re easy to make and a great kid-friendly activity for any summer day! (If my two-year-old son can help, anyone can!)

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To make your own, gather the following supplies:

  • Clay flower pots (with bottoms)
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Chalkboard paint
  • Flowers and Potting soil
  • Chalk

Step One: Dust off your flower pots and apply one coat of paint. (If you like the look of the flower pots I made, only paint the bottom dish and the top edge of the pot.) Make sure to paint about 1.5-inches down the inside of the pot as well. Once dry, apply a second coat.

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Step Two: Paint the remainder of your pot with chalkboard paint. Each chalkboard paint brand is a little different, so be sure to read and follow instructions carefully. (Mine required two coats.)

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Let the paint dry (the paint I used required 24-hours of dry time) then reassemble the pots.

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Step Three: Gather your potting soil and flowers.

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Plant your chosen flowers inside each pot.

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Step Four: Now decorate the chalkboard section with chalk!

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These pots are so adorable and you can change their appearance daily if you like! They make great Mother’s Day gifts and are a fun craft for any child!

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Posted in 2013, 5/22/13 Summer Activities for Kids, As Seen On..., Crafting, Holidays & Celebrations, Mother's Day, Paula Sands Live, Tutorials | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hair Bow Organizer Tutorial

Who knew having a little girl also meant having a plethora of hair bows?

Having no previous experience with little girl accessories, I kept finding myself with an unorganized drawer full of bows. Digging them out was a mess and they were always getting tangled up.

So I set out to find a better way to store them. Here’s the solution I came up with: a super easy, super cute hair bow organizer!

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And believe it or not, it all started with a broken picture frame…

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Want to make one of your own? Follow these simple steps.

Step One: Find a frame. (My son accidentally knocked over a large photo frame and broke all the glass, so I was left with a sturdy frame that I could no longer use.)

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Step Two:  Take apart your frame. Remove the backing and set aside. Use a fine grit piece of sand paper and lightly sand the frame. (Most frames have a waxy protective layer on the surface, and in order for the paint to dry properly you’ll want to sand it off.)

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You can see in this next photo, I didn’t take all of the paint off, just the top finishing layer.

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Step Three: Prime your frame. This step takes about 15-minutes (including dry time) and is so worth the extra effort! Trust me, from years of experience, save yourself the headache of having to re-paint and prime first!

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Step Four:  Once the primer is dry, paint the frame your desired color. I used Martha Stewart satin acrylic paint in the color “Blue Calico” (I love this color!). Once the first layer is dry you can apply a second coat, if needed.

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Step Five:  Iron your fabric of choice until it’s completely smooth and wrinkle-free. Apply a generous layer of Modge Podge to the backing of your photo frame. Make sure the coat is even and covers the entire surface.

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Before the Modge Podge dries, quickly place your fabric on top. Make sure there are no bubbles or wrinkles.

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Once dry, you can trim the additional fabric.

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Step Six:  Cut your drawer liners into strips. I found this inexpensive drawer liner at Bed, Bath and Beyond and it’s worked wonderfully! The non-slip grip is perfect for hair bows!

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I wanted four strips for my bows, so I measured and cut mine into 1-1/2″ sections.

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Step Seven: Lay your strips out onto your photo frame backing. Make sure they’re evenly distributed. Once you like the look, fasten the strips to your backing using a hot glue gun or a staple gun. (You only need to staple or glue the strips at the top and bottom of the backing. DO NOT apply glue all over the strips. You’ll want the middle of the strips free for your hair bows to clip onto.)

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Step Eight:  Reattach the backing onto the frame. And you’re done!

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Now you just need to hang on the wall and add your bows!

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Isn’t that adorable? I just love walking into my little girl’s room and seeing this piece on the wall. Enjoy!

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Creative Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Several of my friends are in the process of starting their families – which means I’ve been going to quite a few baby showers lately! If you’re searching for some creative and thoughtul gift ideas, look no further! Here are seven of my favorite gift ideas for moms-to-be!

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Gift Idea #1:  Monthly Onesies

One of my favorite gifts to give! It’s a unique and wonderful way to track baby’s growth for the first year of their life. Here are a few photos from my son wearing his monthly onesies…

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…and my niece!

Hailey May

If you’re interested in a monthly onesie tutorial, let me know! I’d be happy to post directions on how to make your own!

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Gift Idea #2:  Books!

My in-laws threw me a baby shower and asked guests to bring a book in lieu of a card. By the end of the shower we had received over fifty books and had a book shelf full of great stories for our son.

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My favorite part of this idea is that each guest wrote a little note inside their book, so everytime we read a book we have a special note from our family and friends.

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Recordable Books:  One of my favorite books we received was from Casey’s Great Grandma Evelyn. She purchased a recordable book and recorded herself reading each page. She glued a photo of herself inside the front cover. I love it!

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Old Books:  Another great surprise was that my mother-in-law saved some of my husband’s books from when he was little. She gave them to us at my shower and now we get to read the same stories to our children.

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Interactive Books:  One of our favorites is the “Tickle Monster” Laughing Kit. It includes monster gloves for you to wear while reading the story. My son thinks they are so funny!

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Gift Idea #3:  Baby Binder (Extremely Useful and Inexpensive!)

One of my friends gave me a “Baby Binder” at my baby shower. It was a simple, white binder with divider tabs inside and clear plastic protector sheets. I am not kidding when I say, it may be the most useful thing I received!

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There is a tab inside for each of the following:

  • Furniture
  • Strollers & Car Seats
  • Baby Gear
  • Activity Sets
  • Indoor Toys
  • Outdoor Toys
  • Bath & Potty
  • Books, Music & DVDs
  • Toddler Gear
  • Clothing Receipts
  • Gift Cards
  • Coupons

At the end of my shower, when I was unpacking all of our gifts, I simply placed all of the instructions, warranties, and manuals under the proper tab. Now all of our baby paperwork is in one place! Whenever I need to find out a weight limit, how to replace batteries on a toy, etc. I go to one place. It’s so handy!

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Gift Idea #4:  Big Brother / Big Sister Gifts

Now that we’re expecting our second child, the cutest gift I’ve gotten so far is a “Big Brother” t-shirt for our son and a “Big Cousin” onesie for our niece. I really want the little ones in our life to feel included as we welcome our latest arrival. This is a great way to make them feel special!
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Gift Idea #5:  Growth Chart

It’s not something I thought about when I was first expecting, but I’m glad someone else thought of it for me! A growth chart is a great way to track a child’s growth and makes a super cute decoration for your home.

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The best part is: they are inexpensive and adorable! Interested in making your own? I’d be happy to post instructions!

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Gift Idea #6:  Grandparent’s Basket

Before my son arrived I gave my mom and mother-in-law a “Grandparent’s Basket”. Any mother will tell you, the first year of motherhood is a lot of work! These baskets were a way to simplify packing when visiting Grandpa & Grandma’s house. There’s a lot to remember when visiting family and I knew I’d probably end up forgetting one of these common items…

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Inside each basket I included:

  • Play mat
  • Receiving blankets
  • Small toys
  • Teethers
  • Extra bottles
  • Diapers
  • Wipes

It really did make my life easier! When I dropped my son off for quality grandparent time, I had less to pack and knew he’d be well taken care of! These make great gifts for any mom-to-be (or grandma-to-be)!

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Gift Idea #7:  Photo Session Gift Cards

Another one of my favorite gifts to give! Several new parents want to have professional photos taken of their little one, but many don’t think to ask for a photo session as a gift.

One of our friends bought a newborn photo session for us and taped it to a cute baby picture frame. When our son was born, it was so nice knowing the photos had already been taken care of! Now it’s one of my favorite gifts to give as well!

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This is such a thoughtful gift idea and most parents won’t expect something so personal!

Do you have any favorite gifts for new moms? If so, head over to our Facebook page to share! I’d love to hear your ideas! 

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Posted in 2/12/13 Baby Shower Gift Ideas, 2013, As Seen On..., Baby Showers, Gift Ideas, Paula Sands Live | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Random Acts of Kindness Tree

Did you know there is a Random Acts of Kindness Day? It’s celebrated every year on February 17th… But why limit yourself to one day a year?

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I came up with a creative and fun way for our family to spread random acts of kindness year-round: a Random Acts of Kindness Tree! The concept is simple: each month we take down a Random Act of Kindness card and complete the task as a family.

My idea was to spread some happiness and teach my little one about the joys of giving.

Want to make your own tree? Let’s get started!

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Materials Needed:

Step One: Decorate your tree with a base layer. (Don’t have a tree? Learn how to make one here.) For my base layer, I used a string of pearls – I wanted a simple and clean look. You could also use lights, ribbon, Swarovski crystal strands… Whatever reflects your personality!

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Step Two:  Add some hanging ornaments to fill up your tree. I added my family Initial Ornaments first (find instructions here)…

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…and some personalized Photo Ornaments (want to make your own? find instructions here).

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Step Three:  Print Random Acts of Kindness cards. I printed twelve; one for each month. Cut down to size using the guidelines provided.

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Step Four:  Fill out your Random Acts of Kindness cards. Hang on your tree using small clothespins.

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Step Five:  Start enjoying your tree! Take a Random Act of Kindness card down each month and complete the task assigned.

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Need some ideas to get inspired? Here are a few suggestions:

  • Deliver flowers to a friend.
  • Leave a generous tip for a deserving waiter / waitress.
  • Offer to babysit for a friend.
  • Bring coloring books and crayons to the pediatric wing of a hospital.
  • Drop off baked goods to a neighbor.
  • Share a memory. Mail an old photo and note to a family member or friend.
  • Leave extra change at a vending machine.
  • Send an anonymous gift to a friend.
  • Donate blood.
  • Shovel snow for a neighbor.
  • Tape $10 to a gas pump.
  • Donate used clothing.
  • Bring coffee to a friend.
  • Bring baked goods to your office to share.
  • The possibilities are endless!

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Did you make your own Random Acts of Kindness Tree? Head over to our Facebook page to share your photos and ideas! Enjoy!

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Posted in 2/5/13 Valentine's Day Ideas, 2013, As Seen On..., Crafting, February, Free Printables, Holidays & Celebrations, Home Décor, Months, New Year's Day, Paula Sands Live, Random Acts of Kindess Day (February 17), Tutorials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo Ornament Tutorial

Last year I started a memory tree for my son, Casey. I made a photo ornament for each month of his life, starting the month he was born.

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The project turned out so great I thought I’d share a tutorial on how to create your own photo ornaments!

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These are great decorative items for your home, can be used as gift tags, or would make an excellent and personalized addition to your Christmas tree!

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Gather your supplies and let’s get going!

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Materials Needed:

  • Wood squares (4″ x 4″)
  • Sand Paper
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Screw Eyes (15/32″)
  • Family Photos (cut down to 3″ x 3″)
  • Modge Podge
  • Ribbon
  • Hot Glue Gun

Step One:  Sand the front, back and sides of your wooden blocks.

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Step Two:  Lay down a paper bag or painting canvas to protect your tabletop and gather your paintbrush and paint.

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Step Three:  Paint the back and sides of your ornament (depending on the color, you may need two coats).

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Step Four:  Flip over and paint the front of each ornament. Let dry.

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Step Five:  Grab your Modge Podge, paintbrush and photo. It’s time to finish up the front!

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Step Six:  Put a little Modge Podge on your paintbrush and apply to the back of your photo.

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Step Seven:  Turn your photo over and place in the center of your ornament. Press down firmly and allow to dry.

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Step Eight:  Add more Modge Podge to your paintbrush and cover the entire photo and front of your ornament. The Modge Podge will look creamy at first…

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…but after a few minutes, it will dry clear!

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Step Nine:  On the top of your ornament, take a ruler and find the center. Mark an “x” with your pencil.

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Step Ten:  Take a screw eye and twist into your ornament where you marked an “x”. Using your fingers, continue to turn into the wood until it’s secure. (It may be difficult getting the screw eye started, but once you get going it should screw in easily.)

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Step Eleven:  Cut ribbon and thread through the screw eye. Tie a knot to secure.

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Step Twelve: Tie a decorative bow and adhere to the front of your ornament using a hot glue gun.

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And you’re done! Now hang your ornaments on your tree and enjoy!

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These ornaments are perfect for home décor or for a Christmas tree!

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Are you going to make your own? Head over to our Facebook page and share your photos with us! Enjoy!

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Posted in 2/5/13 Valentine's Day Ideas, 2013, As Seen On..., Christmas, Crafting, Holidays & Celebrations, Home Décor, Paula Sands Live, Tutorials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Initial Ornament Tutorial

I’m in the process of making a real family tree and needed an initial ornament for each member of our family. So I headed to the craft store to see what I could come up with…

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…I ended up with these glittery initial ornaments! They turned out so great I wanted to share an easy tutorial with you. These would be great for home decorations, could be used as gift tags, or will make an excellent addition to your Christmas tree next year!

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Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

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 Materials Needed: 

  • Wooden letters
  • Sand paper
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Drill (with an 1/8″ bit)
  • Acrylic paint
  • Glitter paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Ribbon

Step One:  Start by sanding your wooden letters. This is always my least favorite part, but it’s worth the time and energy in the long run! 

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Step Two:  Using your ruler and pencil, mark an “x” in the center of each ornament about 1/2″ down from the top. This is where you’re going to drill. 

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 Step Three:  Drill a hole in the top of each ornament where you marked an “x”.

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 Step Four:  You may have rough edges around the hole you drilled.

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 Use a little sand paper to smooth out any rough patchess… Much better! 

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Step Five:  Gather your paint supplies (acrylic paint and paintbrush). Lay down a paper bag or painting canvas to protect your table top. 

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Step Six:  Paint the bottom and sides of each letter. Let dry. (I always paint two coats for maximum coverage.) 

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 Step Seven:  Flip each letter over and paint the front. Let dry. 

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Step Eight:  Paint the sides and back of each letter with glitter paint. (Note:  Glitter paint is usually transparent, that’s why it’s important to paint with a solid color first.) Let dry. 

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Step Nine:  Flip over and paint the front of each letter with glitter paint. Let dry. 

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Step Ten:  If you want a little more sparkle, paint a second coat of glitter paint. (I always want more sparkle!) Let dry. 

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Step Eleven:  Cut a piece of ribbon (about 8″ long), fold the ribbon in half and string through the hole of each letter. Leave a loop at the top. 

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Step Twelve:  Take the bottom two pieces of ribbon and pull through the top loop. 

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Step Thirteen:  Tighten the ribon to secure to each letter. Tie a small knot in the top of the ribbon. 

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Step Fourteen:  Enjoy your sparkly creations! (Need a place to hang your initial ornaments? Check out our Manzanita Tree Tutorial!) 
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The pictures don’t really capture the sparkle, but these letters look amazing in the sunlight! Enjoy! 

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Manzanita Tree Tutorial

I’ve always wanted a potted tree for my home to decorate throughout the year. Something sturdy to dress up for different holidays and special occassions… I recently saw one online for $150 (plus shipping costs) and thought, “There has GOT to be a more affordable option out there!”

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After some research and a lot of experimenting, I found an affordable (and surprisingly, easy!) way to make one. I’d like to present to you: a Manzanita Tree tutorial!

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If you can set aside $20 and 1-hour, I’m confident you can make one yourself! Gather your supplies and let’s make a tree!

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Materials Needed:

  • Flower pot
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Styrofoam ball
  • Branches
  • Garden clippers
  • Plaster of Paris

Step One:  Select the right size flower pot. Square pots have greater stability, so if you decide to get a round pot (like I did), make sure it’s 6″ in diameter or larger. Once you find the right flower pot, paint the outside with acrylic paint. (Depending on the color you use, you may need two coats.) Let the paint dry thoroughly.

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Step Two:  Paint the inside lip of the flower pot as well. You won’t see the entire inside of the flower pot once you’re finished, so you only need to paint 1″-2″ down from the top. Set aside to dry.

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Step Three:  Select the branches you’d like to use. I prefer Manzanita branches because they are the strongest and most durable branches available – perfect for home décor! Place your styrofoam ball into your painted pot. Starting with the largest branch, push the stem into your styrofoam ball. Depending on the thickness of the stem, this step can take a little muscle. Try to get the stem at least half way into the styrofoam ball.

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Step Four:  Repeat step three with your smaller branches until you have a full looking tree. You may need to use a pair of garden clippers to trim away access branches to get the desired effect. (Note: Remember, Manzanita branches are VERY strong. Be careful when trimming branches.)

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Step Five:  Mix up your Plaster of Paris. (I ended up using about 1 pound of plaster mix.) Carefully read the directions and follow all instructions - especially if you’ve never used plaster before! Pour your plaster mixture into your flower pot. Cover the styrofoam ball and get in between the branches. I filled my pot until it was 1/2″ from the top edge. Then I used a plastic spoon to move the plaster around, trying to get it as flat and level as possible.

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Now let your plaster dry for 24-hours. NOTE: Plaster can get hot while it’s setting. Do not touch the plaster while it’s drying and wash your hands thoroughly after mixing and pouring. Never touch the plaster with your bare hands.

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After the plaster dries you’ll have a gorgeous and sturdy tree to decorate! The possibilities are endless:

  • Fresh or faux flowers
  • Teardrop crystals
  • Hanging votives
  • Strands of pearls or Swarovsk crystals
  • Photo ornaments
  • Holiday decorations
  • Lights
  • Ribbon

Did you make your own Manzanita tree? Head over to our Facebook page and share your photos and decorating ideas! Enjoy!

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Free Valentine’s Day Tags!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And, if you’re like me, you’re looking for cute Valentines that won’t break the bank! Well, look no further, I have exactly what you need!

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I created ten different Valentine’s Day tags to go with different types of Valentine’s Day treats. The best part is, they are all free and easy to make!

Let’s get started!

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Materials Needed:

  • Tags (see your options below)
  • Snacks
  • Hole punch
  • Curling ribbon
  • Paper corner rounder (optional)

Step One:  Print the tags onto thick paper (I always use cardstock) and cut down to size using the guidelines provided.

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Step Two:  Round the corners (optional), punch a hole in the top of each tag, and string with ribbon.

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Step Three:  Tie the tag onto your Valentine’s Day treat and deliver!

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We have several options for you to pick from:

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Tag:  I “chews” you to be my Valentine. Attach to a pack of gum.
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Tag:  I love you a “hole” bunch. Attach to a bag of donut holes. Perfect for an office setting!

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Tag:  You are a star! Attach to Starburst. If you use Starburst mini-packs, these could be perfect for an entire classroom!

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Tag:  I love you “beary” much. Attach to a bag of Teddy Grahams. A great option for toddlers and pre-schools!

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Tag:  Thanks for making me snicker. Attach to a Snickers bar.

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Tag:  You are a great catch! Attach to a bag of Goldfish. Another great option for toddlers or pre-school aged children!

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Tag:  I “soda” think you are amazing! Attach to a can of soda. Great for coworkers!

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Tag:  I like you “berry” much. Attach to a batch of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. Great for the health-conscious people in your life!

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Tag:  You’re the apple of my eye. Attach to an apple. A healthy alternative to this sugar-filled holiday! Another great option for the health-conscious people in your life!
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Tag:  I’d pick you as a friend any day. Attach to fresh flowers. I love this idea for grandparents, day care providers or the lonely neighbor down the street!

I hope these tags make your Valentine’s Day a little bit easier, more affordable and enjoyable! Have pictures of your Valentine’s Day projects? We’d love to see them! Head over to our Facebook page to upload your pictures and share!

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Posted in 2/5/13 Valentine's Day Ideas, 2013, As Seen On..., Free Printables, Holidays & Celebrations, Paula Sands Live, Tutorials, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment