Non-Babyish, Baby Shower Invitations

I made these simple, clean and sophisticated invitations for my friend Chrissy’s baby shower; the idea can be used for any type of event, just select the colors and accent papers of your choosing!

Blue Baby Shower Invitations

Items You Will Need and Why

All of these items were purchased at Paper Source Stationery

• Size A6 Envelopes: 4 3/4″ x 6 1/2″
• Size A6 Notecards: 4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″
• Accent Paper: You will use the accent paper for lining your envelopes, for the border of your text page and to wrap your invitation enclosure (the white sheet you see here with the baby feet). You can either purchase a pack of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper or the full sheets of 25″ x 19″ Fine Paper… depends on the paper pattern you like and what they have available. For the envelope liner, the larger sheets may work better for you.
• Invitation Paper: This will be the stock that you print your invitation text onto. This will not be a standard size so it would be best to purchase  8 1/2″ x 11″ packs of a light stock that you will ultimately cut down to 3 1/2″ x 5 1/4″.
• Invitation Wraps: This will be the paper stock that you wrap around your invitation and fasten with the accent band and ribbon. Get 8 1/2″ x 11″ packs and trim the paper down to 6 1/4″ x 11.
• Ribbon: I used the 3mm thick satin ribbon –  21″ for each invitation.
• Printable Address Labels
• Paper Cutter
• Glue stick
• 1 sheet of card stock: You will use this as your template for your envelope liner.

Assembly

Invitations

1. Print your invitations onto your 8 1/2″ x 11 light stock and cut down to two 3 1/2″ x 5 1/4″ rectangles.
2. Cut your accent paper into 4″ x 5 1/2″ rectangles.
3. Glue the accent paper onto the note card and the invitation onto the accent paper.

Invitation Enclosure

1. Cut a sheet of paper to 61/4″ x 11″ and wrap around the invitation. The font flaps will overlap, which is what you want, just make sure it’s even.
2. Cut a strip of accent paper down to 2 1/4″x10″ to wrap around the enclosure, glue the two ends together in the back (even though you see them overlap in the front, on the images).
3. Cut your ribbon 21″ and tie around your enclosure, over your accent paper.

Envelope

1. Open your envelope and trace it on a piece of card stock.
2. Trace inside your outline about 1/2″ and take off about 1 1/2″ off the bottom (it’ll be a little house shape).
3. Cut out your envelope liner shape from the inside line you just drew, this will be your template for your liner.
4. Glue just the back of the top triangle portion of your liner, slide the liner in the envelope and press so the liner adheres to the envelope.
5. Print your labels and stick ’em to the back of your envelopes.

You’re all set to mail out your invitations!

Blue Baby Shower Invitations

Textured Wall Canvas

Toddlers little brains absorb everything around them. I love teaching my daughter, Kinsey, about textures & colors and how to be creative by making a variety of different fun and crafty projects for her to interact with or  simply by incorporating interesting and bright objects into her play space.

Textured Wall Decor

Items You Will Need and Why

• 8×8 canvas: You can really do any size you want, just make sure you adjust the quantity and sizes of the rest of your items. Michaels and Aaron Brothers both carry a large selection of canvases. I would suggest getting a thicker, wrap canvas (the cheaper ones usually show the staples on the border, which don’t look that great and the thinner one don’t always mount flush to the wall).
• Acrylic Paint: Making Memories scrapbook paint or any acrylic paint from Joann’s
• Flat Zinc Washers: Find at any hardware store – 4mm rondelles flat washer, #6 x 3/8in, #8×7/16in & #10 x 1/2in.
• Liquid Glue: Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue – fast drying
• Large Letter Print-out 
• Scissors
• Pencil

Assembly

• Paint your canvas and let it fully dry.
• Cut out your printed letter and trace it onto your canvas.
• Glue the Zinc Washers onto your canvas, inside the traced letter.
• Let glue dry over night and enjoy your work!
• If you touch up any pencil marks from your outline with some paint.

Pancakes and Maple Syrup – Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie

Most of my favorite children’s book not only have a cute story but beautiful illustrations; Toot and Puddle is one of my new favorites. On one January day, Toot headed off to see the world while Puddle stayed home at Woodcock Pocket and did some of his own exploring – come March, Puddle collected Maple Syrup from the trees and wished Toot was home to share the syrup and pancakes with him. This morning, I was inspired and shared the same breakfast with my family.

Simple Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Items You’ll Need and Why

• All Purpose Flour: I cook a lot but don’t bake all that much, however, I do always make sure to have APF on hand. It’s useful as a thickener, to dredge meats and occasionally I use it to make play-dough for my daughter! Just make sure you keep it in an air tight container and note the expiration date!!
• Baking Powder: Another item to just keep on hand, along with baking soda (which you can store in your fridge for freshness).
• Sugar: Keep on hand for anything from coffee sweetener, to baking to cutting acid in marinara sauce.
• Unsalted Butter: Always just keep unsalted butter on hand. If you need butter for a savory dish, you can add your own salt.
• Maple Syrup: Make sure you pick up maple syrup at the store and not just plain syrup. Brands like Eggo, Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima are sugary, butter syrups and not made from maple. In my opinion, maple tastes much better but also has some health benefits too! Maple is an excellent source of Manganese and Zinc – in other words, it contains antioxidants that help to support your immune system!
• Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Bean scraoings: Either will work just great in this recipe!
• Salt
• Milk
• Eggs
• Large enough pan to cook your pancakes

Ingredients

A side note – when baking, don’t mess with the measurements. I have found that there is a very specific, scientific purpose for the ratio of wet to dry ingredients. Pancakes are pretty forgiving but it’s good to stay in the habit.

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp of baking powder
• 3 tbsp of sugar
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 3/4 cup of milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup of melted butter
• 1tsp vanilla (optional) – vanilla bean scrapings would be even more delicious!
• Maple syrup

Assembly

• Mix your dry ingredients.
• Combine the eggs, butter and milk and then slowly stir in your dry ingredients. You can use a fork or your mixer.
• Grease a large pan with either butter or cooking spray. Keep your stove on a medium to med-high heat. You want the pancakes to cook through but if the heat is too high, they’ll burn on the outside on not cook properly on the inside.
• Make whatever size pancakes you like. When you notice your cakes to have little bubbles throughout, it’s time to flip them.
• Top with maple syrup and even some of your favorite fruit like berries or bananas.

Makes about 8 servings of small-medium pancakes

Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie

Making a Toddler Knot Tutu

Tutus are fun, girly, whimsical and easy to make. Of course, you can buy tutus pretty much anywhere but it’s also fun to make one custom for your daughter or your friends’ daughters in custom colors and designs.

Toddler Tutu

Items You Will Need and Why

These instructions are based upon an 8-inch long tutu for a small toddler, you’ll have to tailor the measurements to fit your child.

• Determine measurements: Measure your child’s waist to determine how long your elastic needs to be and measure and how long you want the tulle skirt to be before you head out to the store or place your online order.
• Tulle: You can typically find a roll/spool that’s 6in x 25yrds at Fabric.com or Joann Fabric (it’s about ½ the price on fabric.com). For an infant you will use about 1 roll and for a toddler, 2 rolls.
• If you don’t order your tulle ahead, pick up about four yards at the store. It’s cheap so err on the side of getting too much.
• Ribbon: 1-inch thick x 17-inches long (you want the ribbon as long as your tulle). Start with a spool of at least 4 yards but you’ll have to measure how much you’re really going to need depending upon the size of your tutu.
• One-inch thick flat elastic for the waistband. At the fabric store you can usually buy elastic by the inch or yard so shop prepared with your measurement.
• Thread to stitch your elastic ends together
• Sewing needle
• Scissors
• Ruler/ measuring tape
  

Assembly

Making the tutu is really quite simple, it only requires three simple steps:

1. Sew your elastic the circumference of your child’s waist
2. Cut your tulle into rectangles the appropriate size (see below)
3. Tie your tulle rectangles to your elastic using a “larks head knot” (see below)

• Measure around your child’s waist with the elastic, cut and sew ends (I like to make it snug so the tutu stays up).
• 6-inch Roll of tulle directions (easier option): Figure out how long you want the tutu, double the measurement and add 1 inch. My daughter is on the small side, so I make more work for myself and cut the tulle into 3-inch (wide) X 17-inch (long) strips. Normal toddler size the 6-inch width is perfect.
• Buying from the bolt, instructions: If you end up buying your tulle at the store, you’ll likely get it off a 54-inch bolt, so fold your strip in 1/2 so it’s 27-inched wide.
• Cut a piece of cardboard the width and length of your intended strips; i.e., 6″X17″ and wrap the folded tulle around the cardboard so you have even rectangles of 6″X17″ tulle. (You may need to tape down the tulle when you first lay it on the cardboard so it doesn’t slip out.
• When you have wrapped all of your tulle around the cardboard, cut the excess tulle form the bottom, off; cut along both sides and trim like 1/4-inch off the top. You will end up with even strips of 6″X17″ rectangles of tulle.

• Take the elastic and either pull it onto your leg or find an object that will make the elastic stretch to the largest it will go. You can use a large book, box, a sturdy piece of cardboard or even the back of a chair.
• Make a “Larks Head Knot” with your tulle by folding your piece of tulle in half, with the loop part on top; on the inside of the elastic, pull the ends through the loop and tighten (keep that knot at the bottom of the elastic)
• I like to add ribbon after every 3 or 4 pieces of tulle by tying the same “Larks Head Knot”.
• When the elastic is completely covered you’re done!
• If you find any long pieces just trim it up.
• side note: I find the shimmery tulle to be better tamed

Toddler Tutu

Toddler Tutu

Toddler Tutu

Canvas Button Letters

I am obsessed with monograms, which you will quickly see as I continue to add projects to this blog! Right now I’m working on making a wall of different shapes, sizes and textured “K”s for my daughter, Kinsey’s, room.

Canvas Button Letter

Items You Will Need and Why

• 8×8 canvas: You can really do any size you want, just make sure you adjust the quantity and sizes of the rest of your items. Michaels and Aaron Brothers both carry a large selection of canvases. I would suggest getting a thicker, wrap canvas (the cheaper ones usually show the staples on the border, which don’t look that great and the thinner one don’t always mount flush to the wall).
• Acrylic Paint: Making Memories scrapbook paint or any acrylic paint from Joann’s
• Coordinating Buttons: You can find buttons at your local fabric store, Joann Fabrics and at Michaels.
• Floss: Also called”crochet thread.” I use DMC floss from Joann Fabrics.
• Sewing Needle: Make sure you get a sturdy enough needle to run through the canvas material. I used a We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Needle – it’s a longer needle with a big eye.
• Glue: US Art Quest. I also like to use Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue. These are both liquid glues and work well with chunky or thick embellishments but note this glue is not to be used with photos.
• Print out of a letter in your favorite font.
• Scissors

Assembly

• Paint your canvas and let it fully dry.
• Cut out your printed letter and trace your letter onto the canvas lightly with a pencil.
• Apply your buttons by either gluing or sewing.

1. Sew buttons onto canvas inside your outlined letter (you don’t have to sew the buttons on but they tend to lay flatter and stay on really well).
2. If you choose to glue your buttons, as opposed to sewing them, you will want to thread the floss through the button holes to give them a finished look before gluing them down. Because of the knot from the floss, the buttons may not lay as flush like they would if you sewed them.

• I did have to glue down some of my buttons, as they were too close to the wood frame on the back of canvas to thread through.
• If some of your pen markings show, take a tiny paint brush and touch it up.

Jamberry Salad – Jamberry by Bruce Degen

I’m very picky about my fruit salads! I prefer flavorful and nutrient rich fruits, as opposed to your pedestrian melon and grape mix. Berries are colorful, flavorful and antioxidant rich and make for a gorgeous dish or accent to any meal. This Jamberry Salad was inspired by the fun and whimsical “Jamberry” by Bruce Degen.

Berry Mint Jamberry Salad

Items You’ll Need and Why

• About 64 oz of your favorite berries
• Note for Strawberries: you want to cut them about as small as the other berries so you get equal bites of all fruit.
• Mint leaves: this is optional but totally makes the flavor and adds a little brightness to the salad.
• Vanilla Bean: They can be expensive so I always make sure to buy a few at Trader Joes around the holidays because they have the best price. You can skip the bean but I would advise against it. The vanilla gives the salad a nice, creamy touch and a unique flavor. Do not use vanilla extract, it’s too alcoholy.

Ingredients

• 8oz. Strawberries: hulled and diced down to the size of the other berries
• 8oz. Blueberries
• 8oz Blackberries
• 8oz Raspberries
• about 12 mint leaves (chiffonade; cut with scissors or a very sharp knife into tiny slivers)
• half a vanilla bean: scored lengthwise down the center with the material inside scooped or scraped out.

Assembly

• Wash all of your fruit and dump it in a bowl.
• Mix in the chiffonade mint leaves.
• Add the scraped gunk from inside the vanilla bean into the salad.
• Leave the whole bean in the salad to add some additional flavor.
• I let the salad sit for at least a few hours so the flavors meld together a bit; overnight will give the salad an even stronger vanilla taste and aroma. It’s great served on waffles, yogurt, ice cream or just by itself. Do not add sugar! Berries are filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber and are very powerful antioxidents, adding sugar will take away from the healthfulness and amazing flavor of this salad.

This recipe makes about 10 servings as a side item

Jamberry by Brice Degen

Retro Toddler

In keeping with the theme of planning a 3rd birthday shoot for Alexandra, following are pictures from her 2nd birthday photo session. The shoot was inspired by a swimsuit I saw at Janie and Jack but I got the suit, top and cardigan at Baby Gap, the glasses at Janie and Jack and I made the skirt. If it wasn’t so makeshift, I would provide you with instructions!

For additional info on photography services, visit www.feliciaperryphotography.com

Retro Toddler

Retro Toddler

Retro Toddler

Retro Toddler

Blue Beach Baby

My daughter, Alexandra, is about to turn three and I need to come up with a creative idea for her 3rd-birthday photo shoot! For every birthday and most major holidays, I come up with a cute outfit and complimentary backdrop to photograph her in. On her first birthday, I found this adorable outfit at Janie and Jack and took her down to our local beach, where it was freezing cold and windy but she was a trooper!

for additional info on photography services, visit www.feliciaperryphotography.com

Blue Beach Baby

Blue Beach Baby

Pinkalicious Cupcakes – Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann

My daughter LOVES pink and we love the “licious” series by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann; they’re silly, colorful and have fun little messages included in each story.

Vanilla Cupcake with Berry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting

Items You Will Need and Why

• Granulated white sugar
• Unsalted butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract or fresh vanilla from the bean: I love using the scraping from inside a vanilla bean but it’s not always easy or convenient, so go ahead and use extract. I find that the flavor from the bean is creamier.
• All Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder: Not baking soda
• Milk: It’s up to you what type of milk you use. I typically just use a low fat, since that’s what’s usually in my fridge.
• Pink food coloring
• Frozen raspberries and strawberries: You can use fresh berries but frozen tend to break down a little better.
• Granulated Sugar and Powdered Sugar
  
• Cream cheese: I like cream cheese frosting, as opposed to regular frosting, I think it’s more flavorful.
• Cherries (maraschino or fresh): A cute topper for your cupcakes
• Hand-mixer or Cuisinart mixer
• A 12-cupcake pan
• Paper cupcake cups
• Pastry Bag with tip: You could try to use a spatula or spoon for the icing but a pastry bag is much easier.

Ingredients – Cupcake

• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter (room temp, it will mix better than cold butter)
• 2 eggs (room temp)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• pink food coloring – 1 drop, maybe 2

Ingredients – Cupcake Filling

• 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries and strawberries.
• 1 tsp granulated sugar

Ingredients – Icing

• 2 bars of unsalted butter (8oz) (room temp)
• 8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 drop of pink food coloring
• a jar of maraschino cherries or you can use fresh cherries too.
• Mix ‘em all up in the mixer. I use a pastry bag to frost the cupcakes and then top with a maraschino cherry.

Assembly

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line the cupcake tin with paper liners. I suggest also spraying the pan, especially the top in case there is a little fold over during baking.
• Make your cupcake filling with the frozen berries and sugar. Fill a bowl with hot water and place a smaller bowl with the frozen berries and sugar into the larger bowl. This will defrost the berries without making them hot. Use a spoon to occasional mix and break the berries apart. In the meantime…
• Sift together flour and baking powder and set aside.
• In a mixer, with the paddle, cream the sugar and butter. Then, add the eggs one at a time. Add your vanilla. Add the flour and baking powder and then the milk. Finally add 1 drop of the pink coloring and then add more to your desired color.
• Spoon your mixtures into the cupcake cup. I like to fill them 3/4 full so they get a little muffin top.
• Use a small spoon to press the berry mixture into the center of the cupcakes. As it bakes, the filling will seep down into the cupcake. Yum!
• Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let cool completely before you ice.

This recipe makes 12 cupcakes.

Pinkalicious by Elizabeth Kann

Mac and Cheese – Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anne Dewdney

This recipe was inspired by “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anne Dewdney. Llama Llama does not mention Mac and Cheese but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t inspired to make a comfy, cozy, family style dish. Believe it or not, Mac and Cheese can actually help your little Llama fall asleep! The tryptophan in dairy and complex carbohydrates in pasta work together to relax you by producing melatonin. In this recipe, I avoided ingredients that could disrupt a calm sleep like garlic and onions.

Crunchy Gooey Mac and Cheese

Items You Will Need and Why

• Medium shell noodles: You can really choose your favorite noodles here but the size and texture of these noodles are perfect because the cheese melts into the little crevices.
• Cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan Cheese: These cheeses are perfect in meltiness and a balanced flavor. You can just do cheddar but the flavor of your casserole will be pretty boring.
• Unsalted butter: Splurge for the unsalted, in fact, always have it on hand. It’s sweeter than regular butter and you can always add the salt, if you want to.
• All purpose flour
• Milk: I decided to do low fat because I felt the dish was rich enough but you can choose the milk you like.
• Fresh ground pepper: Fresh ground pepper tastes so much better than the pepper you pour out of a little container; it’s not as “peppery” and just has a rounder, better flavor and texture.
• Fresh ground sea salt: Again, freshly ground has a better overall flavor to me than the stuff your just pour out.
• Cheddar Chips: Because the crunch and the flavor is soooo good next to the soft creaminess of the noodles.
• a 9×13 Casserole dish: This is a pretty standard size. If you don’t have one, pick up an aluminum one at the grocery store.
• Cheese grater

Ingredients

• 1 lb of medium shell macaroni. Alexandra picked these noodles and I agree with her choice!
• 8oz [.50lbs doesn’t have to be exact, get close] Cheddar Cheese – grated ( I did a white Vermont Cheddar but you can choose your favorite)
• about 10 – 12 oz Gruyere – grated (Gruyere is a milder cheese so you’ll want to use a little more of it than the cheddar)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 stick of unsalted butter (8 tbsp)
• 1/2 cup of all purpose flour
• 3 cups of milk
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1/2 tbsp of ground salt
• A small bag of cheddar Kettle chips, plain kettle chips or Ruffles cheddar chips. Crush about 11/2 cups of chips.

Assembly

• Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees.
• Drizzle olive oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the noodles and cook according to the directions on the package. My package says 8 minutes so I’ll boil it for 7. I want the noodles a touch al dente so they absorb a little more of the cheese flavor when they bake. Set aside
• In a pot, melt the butter on a medium heat. Do not make it too hot. When the butter is melted, whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth. Don’t burn the roux, turn down the heat if you need to when you add the flour.
• Stir in the milk until thick and smooth. You don’t want any floury clumps
• Take off the heat and add your cheese and mix until smooth.
• Add your salt and pepper and your noodles. Mix everything up and pour into your casserole dish.
• Bake uncovered for 30 minutes
• Top with the crushed chips and bake for another 5 minutes, until chips start to brown a little.
• Rest and serve!
• You can always add greens like broccoli or asparagus to your recipe in order to sneak in some extra nutrition.  Add about 1-1 1/2 cups of diced and sautéed greens to your mix before pouring it into the casserole dish and baking. Tomatoes would also be a yummy addition.

Serves about 8

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anne Dewdney