Rapunzel "Hair" Party Decorations

This was the first year I wasn't going to do a theme for my daughter's birthday. I was just going to put together a bunch of desserts she loves and have a good old fashioned party.

That was until my (almost) 4 year old set me straight. She asked ever so politely if she could have a Rapunzel party, and when she said, "Please Mama? PLEASE??"...then how could I say no?

So, there will be a theme, and that theme will be Rapunzel. I have to admit...it's one of my favorite Disney movies too and planning a princess party has been pretty fun:)

In lieu of just buying every licensed product at the party store (which is crazy expensive), I wanted to make some fun decorations that were unique. One thing that you think of when you think Rapunzel is long hair...and we will have plenty of that!

I wanted to string a bunch of "hair" all over the house, but I had to think about what materials to use that would be durable and cost effective. At first I braided together yellow crepe paper...but it wasnt the right color...and my daughter ripped it.

Then it hit me...yellow plastic table clothes!

I found this perfect yellow color at Walmart in their party section for $.98, cut it into 12 long strips and then made 4 long braids out of it. I taped together the ends and covered those spots with purple ribbon that I found at Michaels for $1.

To braid each section, I took 3 strips, taped them together with clear tape at one end, taped THAT taped end to the top of a door jam (so the strips could hang down easily), braided them together, and then finally taped the end of the braid with more clear tape.

One tablecloth makes 36 feet of "hair"!

I will be showing you more of the DIYs for the party as the weeks go on:)

I'm linked to:

Sugar and Dots

Friday Fun Party @ Craftionary

Chicken and Spinach Pasta Casserole

It was that time of day again. The husband was on his way home. Both kids were crying (we tend to loose it around these parts about 20 minutes before Daddy gets home) and dinner needed to be made.

I had to grocery shop the next day (and we get down to bare bones right before that happens) so I reached for what I had left in my pantry and cupboards...and actually made something edible! Hooray!

Interested in the chicken and spinach pasta casserole recipe? Then read on!

Easy Walnut Sticky Buns

As soon as I saw this recipe over at Smashed Peas and Carrots, I knew what I had to make for breakfast this weekend. I changed it up a bit and used walnuts instead of pecans just because that's all I had in the pantry but I still think they turned out pretty darn good:)

Get the recipe after the jump!

I'm on Facebook!!

Ok so I FINALLY joined Facebook this weekend! I know...about 5 years late, huh?

Anyways, feel free to visit me on

 The Vintage Honeybee Facebook Page

and say hello if you stop by!

Happy Saturday

Saturdays make me happy. My husband is home for two whole days with us, I weigh in to see how much all my hard work all week paid off (3lbs this week! Woo-hoo!), and we find a fun new activity to do as a family.

I like to reflect on the week and things that brought joy (amidst the occasional temper tantrums, burnt dinners, and staying in our jammies some days).

Taking my daughter to see Beauty and the Beast in the theater made me happy:

New tights made me happy:

And wiping drool from this face made me pretty darn happy too:

And of course there is the second season of Downton Abbey, vintage shopping with  my mom, a date night with my hubby tonight (with NO kids), and a baby that is sleeping through the night that all brings a smile to my face.

So, what makes you happy? 

Simple 7-Up Cupcakes with Whipped Cherry Frosting

 I got the urge to make cupcakes last night.

This was not a good idea.

I have my weekly weigh in on Saturday morning.

Let's just say I might inhale one of these the second I step off the scale tomorrow morning:)

I wasn't in the mood to get all the ingredients out to make these...so I used the Diet Cherry 7-Up trick with a yellow cake mix. It's just so simple and it's OK to let my daughter lick the bowl since there is no egg in it:) Or maybe I lick the bowl...just a little...

I also wanted to try my favorite whipped frosting in a cherry version.

Cupcake Ingredients:

yellow cake mix

12oz can of Diet Cherry 7-Up (or 1 and 1/2 cups if you are pouring it out of a larger bottle)

Mix together both ingredients and bake per box directions.

Frosting Ingredients:

1 tub of cherry frosting

1 tub of whipped cream

Mix both ingredients together and let sit in the freezer for about 20 minutes before piping or spreading on.

These cupcakes didn't have much cherry flavoring in them. I think it's just because I only used the soda this time and no cherry juice. They still are super moist and the cherry icing on top tastes like soft serve....SO good.

Keep the cupcakes in the refrigerator (so the icing doesn't melt) and notice how many are gone the next morning when you get up. I thought it took a while for my husband to come to bed last night...

And maybe eat one in your pajamas after breakfast. It is Friday after all...

Have a great weekend!

I'm linked to:

Tatertots and Jello

DIY Chevron Shoes

Here's a fun DIY that can be completed in one night. I took a pair of shoes that I found at the thrift store for $2.50, washed them (I put them in the washing machine and then let them air dry), a fabric pen, and fabric paint.

I cut a chevron pattern out of paper to use as a stencil. I traced it onto my shoes with the fabric pen, and then painted in the lines with the fabric paint.

All done!

This was a fun and easy project and I love my new shoes. I already got a few compliments on them when I ran errands today:)

I'm linked to:

Sugar and Dots

Tatertots and Jello

Universal Pacifier Clips

I don't have a lot of time to craft or sew these days...so when I do, I like to make things that are useful to me. And after my son spit out his pacifier during church and it rolled down under the seat in front of us...I thought maybe pacifier clips would be useful!

I wanted to make some that would adapt to any type of pacifier. Baby J keeps changing his mind on what kind he wants to take. Currently we are on the Gumdrop version so I needed to make something that would attach to the hole at the end. Here is what I came up with:

Materials:

scrap fabric

1/4" wide elastic

mitten clips

(I got the mitten clips in the $1 section at Target.)

1. I cut out a piece of fabric that was about 2" x 10". I also cut the elastic pieces off my mitten clips and cut a 3" piece of 1/4" elastic.

2. I folded my fabric lengthwise with right sides facing and sewed up the raw edge side with a straight stitch creating a tube.

3. I flipped the tube right side out (by attaching a safety pin to one end and slowly moving it through the center of the tube) and ironed it flat with the seam in the center of one side.

4. I folded in the raw ends of one side, folded my elastic in half and placed the ends inside the tube. I then sewed across a few times to secure it in place.

5. On the other end of the tube I folded in the raw edged and fed it through the mitten clip, folded it over, and sewed it in place.

Here is the front view of the clip:

It was a super simple project that took me about 30 minutes (to make four clips) and now I can attach it to a pacifier with a ring:

A button pacifier:

And the current favorite, an all silicon pacifier:

Best part...I made four clips for $1.00 and now I won't have to pick up his pacifiers off the floor anymore! Hooray!

I'm linked to:

Tatertots and Jello

My Memories Winner!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the My Memories Suite giveaway! The winner is...

#3: Julianne!!

Please send me your contact info at:

honeyscrapcrafts@yahoo.com

so I can give you the code for your free copy of the software:)

Also, for those of you who didn't win and still want a copy of the software, My Memories has hooked up my readers with an amazing promo code for $10 off the software AND a $10 coupon code for their store once the software has been downloaded!

You can use the code: STMMMS65350 when checking out.

My Memories Giveaway!! (and Promo Code)

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

I have mentioned on this blog before how I love to scrapbook digitally. I was introduced to it a few years ago and I have never looked back. I enjoy it over traditional scrapbooking for many reasons, such as it's a lot faster and cheaper. I also feel more creative since there are so many different combinations I can make with the elements.

With that said, I was SO excited when I was contacted by My Memories to review their My Memories Suite 3 software! It is digital scrapbooking software that is super easy to use and create unique items in a short amount of time! They supply you with papers and embellishments and they add new items to their store regularly so you can always add more to your software!

I put together a baby announcement for our new little guy in about 10 minutes! That's faster than taking the time to upload a photo to another website and pick one of their templates that ton's of other people have used as well.

Here is my announcement card:

I made this in a 4x6 size so that I could upload it to my local Walmart photo center and get it printed for just $.15 for their standard 4x6 copy size! See what I mean about it being so cost effective?

There are so many things you can do with this software. It goes beyond just scrapbooking. You can make invitations, wall art, announcements, cards videos and basically anything else you can think of! I have made all my Christmas cards and daughter's birthday invitations this way for the last few years. All I have to do is design one copy and then print out as many as I need.

My favorite part about scrapbooking digitally is how convenient it is. No storing boxes of paper and embellishments, only to be used once. No having to print out photos first. Most of all...I don't have to try and find a huge amount of time to get out all my supplies and then have to put them all away when I'm done. With this software I can sit on the couch, pop open my laptop and scrap away! Then, as soon as one of the kids is fussing or I am done creating...I hit the "save" button, shut the computer and I'm done! Also, since my laptop can go anywhere I go...it's great to take on a long road trip or to a friends house so we can scrapbook together!

So, do you want a change to win your own copy of My Memories Suite?? I have 3 different ways you can enter to win! Do one...or all 3!

1. Become a follower of this blog (or let me know if you already follow!).

2. Go to the My Memories website and then come back here and tell me what your favorite paper pack or template is.

3. Follow My Memories on Facebook or Twitter

Leave a comment here for each entry you do and I will randomly pick a winner on Monday, January 9th!

OK...time to go enter...now:)

PS- Even though I can only give away one free copy of the software, My Memories also wants to share a promo code for a $10 discount to all my readers. Plus, when you use the code to order the software you get an ADDITIONAL $10 coupon for the My Memories Shop!

Just use the code: STMMMS65350 when checking out.

Pillowcase Challenge #8: Diaper Bag

I haven't done a pillowcase challenge in a while! One of my goals this year is to clean out my craft closet and use up what I already have before buying more. I had been holding onto this pillowcase for a while, not sure what to do with it, but wanting to do something useful since I love the print so much. I decided to make a larger tote that could be used as a diaper bag since I seem to need lots o' stuff with me these days!

The outside of the bag is made with one pillowcase and the lining is part of an old vintage sheet I had. Want to make your own tote? Then let's go!