{Funtastic Friday} St. Patrick's Day Ideas and Printables

TGLIFF, bloggies!!!

What? You've never seen it with an "L" in the middle and two "F's" at the end? Really?

That's just a little acronym I like to use instead of shouting Thank the GOOD LORD it's FINALLY FRIDAY!! *insert audience clapping*

So, next Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and the blogosphere is abuzz with lots of green ideas and fun freebies. Of course, most people don't constantly search the internet looking for cute ideas and freebies.

That's where I come in! *insert smile and wave here*

TomKat Studio has these darling printables you can use as cupcake toppers, gift tags, napkin rings and more!



Fiskars shows you how to make fun hair and photo accessories.


Anna and Blue Paperie also has cuuuuuute printables.



How cute is this rainbow cupcake from Cupcake Mania?? Too, too cute. That is the answer.


It Is What It Is created these adorable Pot O' Gold and Lucky bag toppers and gift ideas. You can download the toppers for free (my favorite price)!




How about some St. Patrick's Day Cookies? Just darling. I don't know one. single. kid. who would turn these down.


A Little Tipsy created this festive mantle of crafts.


The Hands-On Housewife created this image that can be printed and framed for a fun display.


The Artist Woman made these beautiful tissue paper rainbows.


One Charming Party whipped up this funky green smoothie.


Katherine Marie made a leprechaun hotel and about 40 other glorious green projects with her kiddos.


And, one more set of free tags from The Crafting Chicks. Love them!


I found these cute treat ideas at Pebbles in My Pocket.


So there you go! Consider yourself prepped and ready for St. Patty's Day!

Hope you guys (all three of you) have a wonderful weekend!

Big Green Hugs!

{Things I Love Thursday} Bento, baby!

At this point, we've clearly established my fondness for all things cute.

It shouldn't be any surprise that I like my food the same way. Okay, maybe not my food, but the kids' food. Healthy, colorful food with a side of cute just seems to speak to me.

When they were really little, I had big dreams of making lunches like these for them:






Yeahhhhh...obviously *that* didn't quite pan out.

What I did (instead) was learn to make cute lunches my way. {My way = quick and easy.} I spent many days looking through all the cute bento websites and decided I could at least do a few of the tricks to spice up our lunches.

So, when Whit started kindergarten, I purchased some small food cutters and began cutting out fun shapes for his lunch. Bless his heart, he barely eats enough to keep a bird alive, so I have to be creative in the lunch department!

I digress.

Anyhoo - I went back to Michael's this week to see if I could find any small cutters and sure enough...they have plenty!

You have to look for them in the clay aisle or the baking aisle.

Here's what I found:






Plus they have even more small cutters at Hobby Lobby!

The key here is SMALL. Anything small! My kids are bigger now, but if you have picky eaters that are tiny, you should definitely give these cutters a try. I have our deli guy slice our lunch meat a little thicker and cut it into shapes. I do the same with our cheese.

Whit is in second grade now and I won't lie. If I still made his lunch this way, he'd throw the whole ensemble (lunch box and all) in the trash to avoid being seen with "baby food." But, Olivia still loves it (she's in Kindergarten). And, apparently her friends and teachers do too, from what I hear!

Here was her Valentine's snack box (just ham and cheese made waaaaaaay cuter with cookie cutters):



Here are some awesome bento sites for you to check out. Beware, though! You just might die from all the cuteness.
Mothering Corner
Another Lunch
Casa Bento
Funky Lunch

Happy bento-ing!

{Par-taaay Wednesday} Ava's Birthday Bake Shop

Since I looooooove parties, I thought I'd start a regular feature here on ye ole' blogaroo of my favorite parties around the web.

It's a sickness, really. I'd have a party everyday if I could only manage the stress!! (Oh, and the cost.)

This one caught my attention right away. I loooooooove the colors and everything put together is just perfection!

To get all the juicy details, you have to visit our daily obsessions. Seriously, this girl is awesome! She even made little aprons for all the guests!
















Isn't that just lovely?? I am in awe! If I hadn't already hosted a baking party, I'd totally be re-working this little number into our plans (minus the sewing because...well...we can't be well-versed in *all* areas of craftiness and sewing is the one area I sort of forgot to learn).

And, again with the flower bakers hats??? KILLING. ME. Seriously.

Go! Run! Check it out and leave her some love about her wonderful event!

Until tomorrow, peeps!

{Trendy Tuesday} Cupcake Liners: They're Not Just for Baking

So, since we're already on the topic of cupcakes, I figure we might as well discuss the award-winning best supporting role: The Cupcake Liner.

Betcha didn't know cupcake liners could be trendy, did ya?

Mmmmhmmm. They are, people! THEY POSITIVELY ARE!

Take a look at all the ways you can transform these little lovelies!

Martha uses them as gift toppers! She's so crafty, that Martha. Love her.


Apparently Sweet Paul had the same idea, but with TEENY TINY TASSELS! (Squeeeeee).

Urban Comfort uses them to dress up homemade cards. Love that!


Baker's Royale made them into Oreo's on a stick! (Oh my...the cuteness!)


The How Does She Gals made them into cuuuuuuuuute pom poms (and even made a tutorial to go along with it)!


Domestifluff shaped them into classy trees.


My Creative Departure whipped up this incredibly fun and festive wreath.


happy: blissful! made a simple and sweet cupcake garland.


How about a sweet little bouquet? I found this one on The Cupcake Blog.


And, this one on anna and blue paperie (with a tutorial).


I think topping your fluffy cupcakes with liners is just genious! Apparently Icing Designs thinks so too!


And, finally, my very favorite idea of all...flower baking hats. OH SWEET MERCY! The preciousness makes words escape me.


Okay, that's it for this Trendy Tuesday! I mean, really, that's just about all the cuteness I can stand.

The next time you see festive cupcake liners, pick them up, whip up something cute and be proud, people. Because now you're all trendy like that! And, that alone, just makes me smile BIG way down deep in my heart.

Big hugs and happy cupcake liners!