Coffee filters are such a great find for artists and teachers!  These simple flowers look great when a whole class puts them together on a branch or hanging from a ribbon or string.  We have not done, but you could decorate for a bridal shower, Mother’s Day or birthday party by making into a garland and using the theme of the celebration colors.

You will need:

White coffee filters

Spray bottle with watered down tempera paint (I add until watery consistency and easy to spray)

Thin wire to twist around and tie onto stick or string/pipe cleaners

String to make garland or branch/stick to decorate for home

What to do:

Prepare an area…it will be messy

Lay out coffee filter and spray

Allow to dry a few minutes and fold to look like flower

Twist tie/wire or pipe cleaner around bottom of flower.

Add to string/branch or garland!

Each child could tie to straw or stick to bring home to mom for Mother’s Day.

Little fingers at work, twisting the pipe cleaner to complete the flower.

Adding different amounts of water and how much each child sprays leads to

a unique flower amongst the garden.

This beautiful art project looks great on your little girl’s wall after it is all dry!  The art project is perfect for birthday parties, groups like girl scouts and as a class project during spring or Mother’s Day. Oh, and how about the grandma who has everything, a precious gift this would be to hang on her wall.

I started my shopping early to utilize coupons and watch for sales, especially on the canvas.  At any craft or art supply store you can get plain canvas wraps. I used the 11×14 for our project, but it would be beautiful on a larger canvas if you have the space.  The loose flowers were a hunt. If you have a Joann’s or craft store carrying silk flowers they may give you the flower heads that have fallen off and will be thrown away anyway. It is worth asking.  A friend of mine had a manager at Michael’s tell her no, and even said they would still be throwing them away (and mind you this was for Girl Scouts.) On the other side, Joann’s collected them and had a bag ready for pick up.  If this is not an option, buy them on sale and pull off yourself.

You will need:

canvas

glue (all-purpose like Elmers)

sponge brush (any thing to spread glue)

acrylic paint (any color)

paintbrush (I used popsicle sticks)

loose flowers/petals

First:

Prepare area with paper/cloth and write name on back.

Second:

Pour generous amount of glue and spread with sponge brush over whole canvas.

Third:

Choose paint color and spread in any design, using paintbrush or sticks.

Fourth: Add flowers and press into glue.  (The flowers need to be cut close.)

Last: Allow to dry for a day or longer if paint and glue were heavily applied.

Chatting with my soon to be six year old, she mentions she would like her party at home. Hmmm.  What to do?  Our home does not hold as many friends as our hearts do around here. Another problem! Encouraging her to have a jumpy party or park party simply did not work.  It is her day and her personality to be intimate, so one thing down. Party at the home.  Now what?

Walking with my little girl through Sur la Table we were both inspired by beautiful plates and cupcake toppers!  Her sixth birthday is approaching and as we saw this beautiful set we both knew it was perfect. Well, maybe a little more me. You just never know what wonderful thing may happen during a day.  So, we have been working together on planning  and building ideas for the party just from finding cupcake liners. Once we have a few things down….I am working with a five year old, I will share the details.  I have to say, I am truly enjoying the moments with my daughter.

CATERPILLAR SANDWICH

Celebrating our one year old’s birthday we used the “spring” theme for decorations and food.  It was much more for family and friends, so we ordered a submarine sandwich and shaped into a caterpillar on a green tablecloth.   For the legs, speared pickles stuck out from the body and sliced green peppers made the antennae  and as you cam see green olives were used for the eyes!

BOWTIE PASTA RECIPE

“Butterfly Pasta”

12 ounces (340g) farfalle, (bowtie shaped pasta), uncooked
4 medium zucchini, cut into matchsticks
1 Tbsp (15mL) olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup (40g) basil leaves, coarsely chopped

Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 cup (115g) shredded lowfat mozzarella cheese*
1/4 cup (30g) Parmesan cheese*
Directions
Cook pasta in boiling water until tender. Drain pasta in a colander but reserve about 1 cup (240mL) of cooking water.
Slice zucchini lengthwise into slices about 1/4-inch (1cm) thick. Place several slices on top of each other and cut into little sticks, about 1 1/2 inches (4cm) by 1/4-inch (1cm) each. You should have about 4–6 cups (1–1.4L) of zucchini “matchsticks”.
Heat olive oil in a 12-inch (30cm) nonstick skillet and add garlic and zucchini pieces. Cook over medium heat until the zucchini pieces are tender and light brown in color. Add about half of the basil and stir for a minute or two. Add salt and pepper. Pour the cooked pasta into the skillet and stir so that the juices coat the noodles. If the mixture seems dry, add some of the reserved cooking water. Finally, add the rest of the basil and the shredded mozzarella, and stir once more. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Butterfly Pasta Recipe #2

Cold Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
1 package farfalle (bowtie) pasta

3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

3 Tbs. chopped garlic

1 sweet onion – coarsely chopped

2 Tbs. Italian seasoning

1/2 Tbs. fresh ground black pepper

1 14.5-oz. can basil, garlic & oregano diced tomatoes – lightly drained of juice

1 14.5-oz. can diced golden roma tomatoes – lightly drained of juice

1 5-oz. jar pine nuts 
1 can quartered artichoke hearts – thoroughly drained and coarsely chopped

3 Tbs. balsamic vinegar 
salt to taste
Prep. time: 30 minutes

Yield: 10 side-dish servings

Boil farfalle to al dente texture. While boiling farfalle, sauté garlic, sweet onion, olive oil, black pepper, and
Italian seasoning over medium heat in a large sauce pan. Stir frequently until garlic is slightly browned
and onions are just starting to become caramalized (clear). Then add both cans of tomatoes,
reduce heat a little, and allow to simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
After farfalle is done cooking, drain and shock (run cold water over pasta, then drain again).
Mix all remaining ingredients, farfalle, and sauteed mixture in large mixing bowl. Salt to taste. Chill.

Planning a spring party gives you many themes to choose from such as bugs, butterflies, gardening and flowers, baby animals and baseball!  I chose a butterflies and flowers birthday party for my little girl’s first birthday.  Sure, there are naysayers that insist parties should not be given for a baby since they will not remember the event.  I say, boo hiss, a first party is given for family and friends to celebrate friendship, community and surviving that first year with no sleep. So, I had to plan for various ages and food for whole families.

I started with the invitations and sent out 3 weeks prior to the party:

I learned to smile and laugh, then sit and stand
And I can walk if you hold my hand,

But the fun has only just begun
Because next I will be turning ONE!

You are invited for food and cake
And to help us celebrate!

Then listed the date, time and place.

Many store bought invitations are cute and save time for you to plan the activities and shop for food!

Activities:

Pot Painting

I purchased terra cotta pots for each child, outdoor acrylic paint and sponges and brushes.  I had this activity first so the pots would have time to dry before we planted flowers.Use a permanent marker to write names on the bottom of the pot before they start to paint.

Pot Flowers:

This is a two adult operation with little ones.  I had a tarp out for this activity which had potting soil, shovels, watering cans and blooming flowers. You could plant seeds.

Egg Hunt:

We did an Easter egg hunt since it was the weekend of Easter.  The eggs were filled with butterfly and spring themed items.  A special section was just for the one year old’s that had fish crackers in them.  It may not sound exciting, but they liked it.

Bubble time:  What little one does not enjoy a few bubbles.

Butterfly Waltz (preschool): Need balloons with butterflies drawn on them. Music. 1 balloon per child. Kids keep the balloons in the air until the music stops, then freeze with their balloon when off.

Butterfly Flutter:

Version of red light, green light where you flap your wings to run.

Coffee Filter Butterfly:

Use an eye dropper to drop paint onto coffee filter, allow to dry and then wrap pipe cleaner in the middle of filter making the butterfly wings. Leave two ends of pipe cleaner up to look like the antennaes.

Shake, shake, shake, little ones love to shake and this activity is perfect for anytime of the year!  With help from an adult children can make a winter scene or any theme throughout year in a jar or bottle.

 Materials Needed:
Empty small jar (like a baby food jar) or plastic water bottle with cap

Hot glue gun or Epoxy glue

Small plastic toy animal (depending on scene)

White rocks for winter scene

Glitter (small cuts of ribbon can be used)

Water

Food coloring, if desired

Directions:
Use hot glue gun to glue rock and animal to the bottom of jar.
Fill with water and add food coloring if desired.
Spoon in some glitter and glue lid onto jar.
Shake to make it snow!

Other Themes:

Birthday: Find cake toppers such as balloons and use colorful confetti, ribbon or glitter.

St. Patrick’s Day: Use green food coloring, green glitter and you may find small items such as shamrocks to glue to bottom.

Easter:  Use a cross to glue to bottom with gold glitter or use red to represent the blood. Pastel colors can also be used with any Easter confetti.

This recipe is a good one for the little ones, just in case they feel like tasting it!

Ingredients:

2 cups     flour

2 cups     water

2 TBLS    oil

1 cup        salt

2 tsp         cream of tartar

Food coloring and/or glitter, the color you desire to make.

Stir ingredients and place over medium heat in a pan. I like to use my large fry pan, it seems to cook more evenly.  Cook until the dough pulls away from the side of the pan and is not sticky.  Cool the dough and then knead thoroughly.  Store in plastic bag or airtight container.  The dough will keep for about three months unrefrigerated.

I like to double the recipe if we are planning for playdates or classrooms.

The play dough can be used for free play, making letters, shapes and number or small gifts for friends.

Go for the Gold with this fun party theme. Plan a fun summer get together or a birthday party using the summer Olympics as your theme. Children will enjoy being a part of their own Olympic games!

Invitations:

Start by sending the guest their first gold medal. Cut circles out of gold poster board or cardboard sprayed with gold paint. Attach a colorful ribbon so children can wear their new medal around their neck. Write the party details on one side and “winner” on the other side. Or you can write the invitation on a separate piece of paper and have the child wear their medal to the party.

Gold Medal Cake:

Bake two round layer cakes and cool. Use yellow frosting to decorate and then place second layer on top. Cover the top layer with the yellow frosting as well. Attach a large ribbon to make the medal’s neckpiece. you can write “Happy Birthday, Winner!” or Go for the Gold for a summer party. You can find tiny country flags to decorate around the cake.

Or, you can bake three round cakes and color three separate colors with ribbons to represent the Olympic medals.

Ideas for Prizes or Gift Bags:

• Ribbons and trophies
• Chocolate gold coin medals
• Inexpensive sporting equipment like hula hoops, frisbees and balls.
• Any items you may find relating to the United States or other country flags or olympics.

Decorations:

• Any Olympic memorabilia or posters.
• Posters or items from around the world to create an international atmosphere.
• Hang medals and ribbons or make a large one out of paper to decorate.
• Use a trophy as a centerpiece.
• Make place mats out of different country flags.
• Red, white and blue streamers (or the country colors you are from)
• A podium with three levels, you can use steps or stools for this.
• Make a banner with the Olympic rings on it to welcome guests.

Use sports, patriotic or Olympic themed plates and decorations. All available at party stores or on-line stores like Birthday in A Box. Click below to see more themes and ideas.

Baseball

Games and Activities:

Decorate Flags
Have outlines of country flags available to color for a beginning activity to keep the children involved while waiting for all of the guests to arrive. The children can use these to tape to a wooden dowel to use in the opening ceremony.

Opening Ceremony
Have the birthday child lead a parade with a torch, a paper towel tube wrapped in foil and stuffed with orange, red and yellow tissue paper. The other guests follow with their country flag. The birthday child ends up where the games will begin!

Olympic Games
Set up a series of games or events for everyone to complete. Depending on the age of the children you can design an obstacle course or mini-games. Some examples are crab walk, hopping on one foot ten times, walking on a balance beam (or a piece of rope or tape), throwing a ball through a hoop, long jump, etc.

Silly Olympics
Use fun games to create a silly Olympics such as pie eating, wheelbarrow races, balloon popping, egg toss, three legged race, sack race etc.

Pass the Sand
Divide the group into 2 teams and line them up. Have the person in each line grab a handful of sand from a container. They must pass the sand to the next player, who passes it to the next, and so on down the line. The last player pours what is left of it on a plate. The team with the most sand wins the game. (You may have to weigh the sand on a food scale.)

*Try to include group games so everyone has a chance to win and make sure everyone gets a medal throughout the party.

This popular book and movie has made Horton a fun themed birthday party and now it is so simple to plan a great birthday party with companies that sell all that you need in one package!

Horton Hears A Who

Click on Horton to see the available product and more party ideas.

Choose a few activities for the party and plan one more “back-up” activity. This can be as simple as a large piece of butcher paper and crayons or having music available for freeze dance.

Decorate a Pot

Terracotta pots are easy to find at any of the craft stores or garden centers and then buy several colors of outside paint. I found paint at Michael’s and written on the label it says for use on terracotta. Write the child’s name with a permanent marker on the bottom before painting. Decorate at the beginning of the party so the paint can dry before planting a flower. I suggest potting the flowers outside, so the children can do most of the activity on their own. What a neat little gift to take home.

Pin The Trunk on the Elephant

Your good old pin the tail on the donkey with an elephant. This can be made with an elephant or if you have the talent make Horton and his trunk. For the little kids, you may want to let them do this without the blindfold. Other versions, pin who-ville on Horton’s trunk or pin the tail on Horton.

Save Who-ville Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course appropriate for the age of children attending the party. Each child gets an inflated balloon, otherwise known as Who-ville and they must complete the obstacle course while hitting the balloon in the air and not allowing it to touch the ground. The little kids can just hold the balloon.

Horton Hatches an Egg Contest

Use water balloons for an egg toss, or do the traditional egg race with an egg on a spoon. Split the children in two groups and have a relay race.

Animal Crafts

Animal crafts such as animal safari puppets, animal foam frame and animal beaded bracelets can be bought from an online birthday store, just click Horton below. You can also check any craft store for related craft ideas.

Make an Elephant Trunk

Gray Paint
Paper Towel Roll
Yarn

Paint the paper towel roll gray. When they are dry punch two holes near one end and tie on some yarn to tie around head.
Elephant Ears Headband

Construction Paper
Crayons or Markers
Stapler or Tape

Cut a strip of paper about 2 inches thick and long enough to wrap around child’s forehead (make sure you make it an inch or two longer so you can staple the ends together.) Now, fold another piece of paper in half and cut out a set of large, floppy ears.
Put the bottom edge of each ear up against the strip of paper and staple or tape them in place. Once the ears are attached, staple or tape the ends of the strip together to snuggly fit around forehead.

Think round and round for this fast and fun party!

Stop Lights
Frost graham crackers or other rectangular-shaped cookies with yellow icing. Add red, green, and yellow M&Ms to make stop light snacks. This was abig hit at our four-year olds party.

Tortilla Roll Ups or “Wheels”

I took out the seasoning and green chiles for the chlidren.

2 8oz. pkgs cream cheese
1 packet taco seasoning
black olives, chopped
green chiles, chopped
shredded cheese
package of large flour tortillas
Allow cream cheese to soften. Combine first five ingredients and spread on tortillas. Roll up and chill.
Slice into 1 inch rolls and serve with salsa.

*You can add thinly sliced deli meat such as ham or turkey to your tortilla roll ups.

Sandwiches

Use a car cookie cutter to cut out sandwiches and serve. Peanut butter and jelly work well. Another option is to buy wheat and white bread and cut out the car shape and swap the cut outs. The wheat cut out would be placed in the white bread and vice versa.

Pasta

Wheel Pasta – Use the type of pasta that looks like wheels and serve plain, with butter, mac and cheese style, or just add into your favorite pasta salad recipe.
Cake

Bake a sheet cake, and frost it white. Use black gel frosting to draw a road around the cake. Place small toy cars on the road as cake toppers. In addition, you can purchase miniature road signs to add to the cake.

Click on picture below to buy race car cake mold and decorating ideas.

Cars – The Movie

Jello

Use a round object (e.g. a cookie/biscuit cutter or the top of a glass) to cut out green, yellow, and red “Stop Light” Jell-O Jigglers.