Car Themed 1st Birthday Party

Birthday parties don't come around too often at our house.  We always do something small with the family, but usually I barely even decorate for those.  So, when I have the opportunity to decorate for a "real" party, I get so excited!  I get to add decorator, baker, caterer, and designer to the usual hats that all moms wear on an everyday bases.  Thank goodness it's only for a little while, because I'm busy enough!  I sure love it though.  

My son recently just turned one, and I'm pretty sure this party was more for me then it was for him.  What one year old actually cares about decorations?  Am I right?  Regardless, I love how everything turned out, and I wanted to share it with you!

You can't have a party without cute labeled food!  Ok, maybe not, but it sure adds a cute little touch.

Now, before you look at this next picture, I need to add a little disclaimer: I am NOT a baker.  I like to pretend sometimes, but usually my creations look better in my head then when I actually try to execute them.  That being said, here is the car smash cake that I made.  For some reason the buttercream frosting separated, and I didn't have time/the ingredients to make it again.  So, I had to use what I had.  Lamo-o...  Anyway, here is the completed car.  Honestly, I think it looks like one of those "Pinterest Fail" photos.   I almost cry laugh every time I look at the one I attempted.  Oh well.  You can't win 'em all, right? 

(If anyone has an amazing fool proof buttercream frosting recipe, please send it my way)

Here's what I was going for... 

For some reason, it is absolutely impossible to find checkered paper!  I don't know why I had such a difficult time, but not a single store had anything even remotely checkered.  What's a girl to do?!  I ended up just finding a checkered background and printed my own paper :).  These flags were made with toothpicks and the folded over paper.  Super easy, and much cheaper then buying them from a specialty party store.

This kid had no problem digging into his cake.  I sure love him to pieces!

(Please be careful when putting a Bumbo on a chair like this!  They are not very stable, so please stay close to your kiddos while they sit in them!)

The table cloth was super easy!  All it was was a black $0.97 table cloth, which I then taped yellow paper to to make it look like a road.  You could use yellow duct tape too!

This was my favorite decoration!  It was fun to see the month to month growth progression.

I don't know when my next party will be, but I'm already looking forward to planning it!

Thanks for stopping by!

(You can find this invite or request your own custom design at Puddle Design on Etsy)

All You Need is Love

Whether Valentine's Day is your favorite holiday, or you would rather refer to it as "Single Awareness Day", there is one thing that is true for everyone: All you need is love!  Can you imagine what the world would be like if we just simply loved each other? 

You can love your spouse, your parents, your kids, your friends, or your dog, but I believe that it is important to love someone and receive love from someone.  Now, I'm not talking about lust, or sex, or whatever else some people try to replace with love.  I'm talking about the true love that you would walk through fire for.  Love that no simple one night stand can create.

I admit, I am a hopeless romantic, and I may or may not have had a crush on a couple of fictional men (Mr. Darcy *sigh*).  I also believe and know that love is real!  I feel it everyday when my husband looks at me and simply smiles his special gorgeous smile.  I feel it as I play with my children, as I read them stories, as I change their diapers (I do not love this task, but I do it because I love them.)  Love is not easy!  As with anything worth having in life you have to work for it.  You have to fight for it!  But believe me, it is worth the fight.

Anyway, that's my quick two cents.  Enjoy the free printable.  And Happy Valentines Day!

You can find this printable in both 5x7 and 8x10 sizes here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween Printables

Happy Halloween!!

This has got to be one of my favorite times of the year.  Probably because it finally dips below 85 degrees here in Arizona.  That, and my kids get free candy (which I get to eat too!)

I wanted to celebrate by giving away these Halloween printables.  You can print one, print two, or print all of them if you want!  It is my Halloween gift to you!  No tricks here!  Just treats!

Find both the 4x6 and 5x7 size files here.
(Just click on the link and it will take you to Google Drive.  Select the file for the size you want, and download each design.  If you need help, just send me a message and I'd be happy to help!)


Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Disney Couples

Next month my husband and I celebrate our sixth anniversary!  Depending on where you are in your own relationship, you may think that I am still a baby learning the ropes, or a seasoned pro.  Honestly, there are some times that I feel like both (when are you officially not considered a "newly wed" anyway?)  All I know is that I am still head-over-heals in-love with my husband, and that's enough for me.  

Ok, enough with the gushy "newly wed" talk...

Last year we celebrated our anniversary at Disneyland!  That place is truly one of "The Happiest Places on Earth."  I'm a such a kid at heart!  

I created this printable to help us remember how wonderful our time at Disneyland was (as if anyone needs a reminder about how awesome that place is.)  Have I told you how much I love Disneyland yet?

I really believe that everyone's love story is as special and magical as any fairy tale.  So, your name definitely belongs beside all of these Disney couples too!

 

Do you love this lamp as much as I do?
I followed this tutorial when I made it.  Such an easy DIY project!

Thanks for stopping by!

You can purchase your personalized Disney couples printable here at Puddle Design on Etsy.

Personalized Family ABC Book

Now that the holidays are over, I am kind of in a crafting slump...  I hope I'm not the only one suffering from a crafting/baking/sugar hangover.  That would be embarrassing!  What do you do to try and bounce back after the holidays are over?  I'd love to hear any ideas.



Before Christmas, I was working on multiple projects in the hopes that I completed them before Santa arrived Christmas Eve.  I'll probably share most of them with you sometime in the future, but for now I just wanted to share with you my daughter's favorite.  

We live far away from many of our family members and don't get to see them as often as we would like, but I still wanted our little munchkin to know the names and faces of all her aunts/uncles/cousins, etc.  And what toddler doesn't love letters and books?!  So I decided to combine all three ideas into our very own Family ABC book.  Genius!  

In an attempt to make it more educational, I included items that started with each letter.  (My parents are both teachers, I gotta do my part :) 

 The total cost for this entire book was under $7 in supplies!  All you need is a cheap photo album (with at least 12 pages in it), then the photos for each letter.  Easy peezy!  I found my blank photo album at Wal-mart for $1, and each photo cost about $.20 to print, making a grand total of about $6.50.  Not too shabby.

And let's be honest, I would have loved to create one of those cute hardbound books that you see all over the place.  But with those you can't change out the pictures when people grow up, or more family members join the family.  This is the perfect solution to that dilemma!  I love when you can make special gifts without breaking the bank!    

As an added bonus, my daughter LOVES this little book!  It is a borderline obsession.  She insists that we read it before every nap and before she goes to bed.  She even likes to snuggle with it while she falls asleep.  I'm pretty sure that that's not the most comfortable option, but who am I to complain.

If you are interested in creating your own family ABC book, send me a message and I can help you get started!

Owl Nursery Printables

"Star Light, star bright, first star I see tonight."  This adorable printable art set is now available!  

As with any of the designs at Puddle Designs, everything about this is customizable.  The colors of the owl can be changed to better match the color scheme of the room.  The sky can be lightened or darkened.  I can even add or take away stars if you want.  Just to name a few options.  

Any size is also available!  Print as 8x10's and display them in their own frame.    

Or print as 5x7's and display them all together in the same frame.  So many options!

Like 'em?  You can find them at Puddle Design on Etsy.  Thanks for stopping by!

Personalized Family Subway Art Printable

I just recently had a friend move into a brand new home, and I wanted to create a special design for her and her family.  I am kind of a sucker for printables just because they are so dang easy to print and can easily be made into a special and personalized gift.  That's probably why I make so many of them.  It's a surprise that I don't have my house covered from wall to wall with printables...  I just love em'!

Everything about this design is customizable.  And, let's be totally honest, pretty much everything at Puddle Designs is customizable.  I am very easy going, so if you see a design you like, but there is something about it that you would like changed, all you have to do is ask, and presto!

Anywho, back to this printable.  The colors can be changed, the fonts can be changed, even the words can be changed to better fit your family's personality.  A photo of your family could even be used as a backdrop to the subway art if you like.  So many options!

 

Like it?  You can find it at Puddle Design on Etsy.


Thanks for stopping by!

Dinosaur Printables

Here are some more printables coming your way!

The inspiration behind this design is my cute little nephew Landon (if that wasn't obvious by the name included in the design :) ).  He is now the proud brother of not one, but two little brothers!  I can't believe it!

I know that he has to share a room with one of his brothers now, so I designed these with the idea that he could have his name on one dinosaur, and younger bro could have his name on another.  Plus, what 5 year old little boy does not love dinosaurs.  Am I right?

I hope you like these as much as I do!


The colors of each dinosaur are totally interchangeable.  You can have a pink T-Rex if you wanted!  You also don't need to include any birth information.  You could put a quote there, or stats of the dinosaur, or nothing at all.  The sky's the limit!

  
Love 'em?  Find them at Puddle Design on Etsy.

Printable Bathroom Owls

I created these Bathroom Owls for Cassi at My Newfangledness.  Not only is she my sister-in-law, but she is a super talented seamstress, and crafter extraordinaire!  You should check out her blog.  She's pretty awesome!

So, we all have her to thank for this design!  It's one of the most popular items in the shop.  

I get a lot of requests to change the colors, because lets be honest, how many people have those exact colors in their bathroom decor.  Am I right?  I even had someone send me pictures of some of their decor items, and asked if I would make the owls to match.  Such an ingenious idea!  Here are the altered owls with the decor to match.  (I think I may like them more than the originals... sorry Cassi.)    

Any printable can be created to perfectly match the decor in whatever room you are decorating.  Just send me a picture, and I will create the printable art to match!  It's that easy!

You can find the printable bathroom owls here in the shop today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monster Boy Bathroom

I get lots of requests from family members asking if I could create a specific printible or other design for them.  And I love it!  It is so amazing having such a supportive family!

These monster printables were created for my sister-in-law and her adorable little boy.  She wanted to do a monster themed bathroom for him, because he loves all things monsters!  Plus, what kid doesn't need reminders about these things!

You can find these printables here in the shop today!

Or, do you have a theme in mind, but can't find the printable you need?  Let me create one just for you!  Send me a message, I'd love to help!