Art Party- My 6 year old's party!

For my daughter's 6th Birthday,

I threw an Art Party at the park.  

She picked the theme months ago. I loved the idea. 

Bright and rainbow colors were the theme of the day.  We went to our favorite neighborhood park for my daughter's birthday.  It was a good lesson in being flexible.  Not all things turned out the way I wanted, but I know my daughter loved it!

Blowing out "candles".  I couldn't find the candles, so we used colorful licorice instead.  Of course I found them as I was cleaning up the party!  I found sugar crayons and decorated along with rainbow sprinkles.

Favors and silverware.  This was a great way to get rid of all my extra silverware and napkins from other parties.

For the favors, I kept my eye out during back to school shopping to find inexpensive art supplies.  I had rainbow rulers with the alphabet on them, rainbow pencils, crayon erasers, crayon decorations, and rainbow fruit snacks. The simple red bags were topped off with rainbow ribbon.

"Starving Artists Snack Table".  Rainbow colors were bright and cheery.  Colorful licorice, fruit loops, sweet potato chips, gum balls, veggie sticks, rainbow fruit platter and colorful roll-up's were served.  I found the table fabric at Ikea.  It worked out perfectly.

Rainbow fruit platter, and artist palette turkey and ham roll-ups.  I used spinach and orange southwest wraps to add color.  Excuse the plastic wrap.  There were bees buzzing all over.  I finally had to hide the fruit loops.  They loved the sugar and bright colors and didn't want to leave us alone!

My attempt at the (easy) Rainbow Cake.  I will share directions in Part II!

The kids made their masterpieces on letter sized canvases I found at Big Lots.  $3.00 for 3 canvases!  My daughter's is the bottom left.  Each kid got to take home their masterpiece ready for framing or hanging.

Another game I planned on playing was an art relay.  You pick a theme- such as a beach. One child draws a part of the picture - such as the ocean, another adds something to it - a dolphin and so on.  It slipped my mind until all the kids went home. 

Festive Group.  I asked everyone to wear their favorite color.  I lined the tables first three different color tablecloths, and butcher paper in the center then added crayons, markers and paint ready for the artists to create.

 My Big 6 year old!  Where does the time go?  My friend made the rainbow bows!

Stay tuned for Post II where I share my Rainbow cake directions, and what not to do!

Thanks for looking, I would love to hear your comments!

Kari

Sweet Inspiration - Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year - the Year of the Black Water Dragon!

My friend Becky shared with me a little about celebrating Chinese New Year.

"The Chinese New Year is a festival celebrating the beginning of the new year in Lunar Calendar. It celebrates with festivals, lanterns, parades, and the color Red. This coming year will be the year of the Dragon. People usually tidy up their house and decorate the house with red and live plants and flowers to welcome the new year. Married people will give out ‘Red Envelope’ (with money) to kids for good luck and good fortune. Also families and friends will come together during this time to celebrate."

Favors by Souvenir Suitcase



Handbag by Glad Ragzz


Beautiful Romantic Handmade Jewelry Mei Gui Designs


Photo print by Eye Poetry Photography


Card by LaBelleVie Design


Dragon notecards by Eden Creative Studio



Chinese Lanterns in San Fran by Raceytay


Edible Fondant Toppers by Liens Royal Icing


Red Envelopes by Shut Up and Fold


Vintage Dragon plates Casa Wabi Sabi


2012 Year of the Dragon Calendar by Blush Face


Boy at door by  Gianni Anelli

Wishing you good fortune and luck in 2012!

Sweet Recipe - Cookies!

Sweet Recipe

shared from my friend, James Wood

Combined from two recipes in "The Great American Cookie Cookbook"

Says James:  I have been making these cookies every day for a week now...
 
325 convection oven 10 minutes or
350 still oven 10 minutes
 
Combine in mixing bowl with paddle attachment
1 butter flavored crisco stick
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
 
Mix until creamed together.  Then add:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup of smashed up Whopper candy
Mix on low until combined
Bake at either temp depending on oven and rotate at 5 minutes

*Tips from James:  The malted milk ball candy makes a chewy toffee texture into the cookies.  Cheap store brand chocolate chips won't do it.   Next I'm going to get some high quality milk chocolate candy bars and smash them in the food processor with the whoppers.

Thanks James for sharing your delicious recipe! 

Anyone else like to share any recipes!  Just email and I will be sure to post it on my blog.  thesweetestmemory@cox.net.

Congratulations - we have a winner of the Yellow Pony   giveaway - Valentina Liebe!

Valentina Liebe said...

I love this necklace!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75170267/lets-bike-to-hayley-the-ballerinas-life

Valentina Liebe

True Random Number Generator


Result:18  Powered by RANDOM.ORG


Thank you so much for participating!

Kari

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower - Easy Recipe

Need a new healthy side dish for dinner?  Try this easy, and healthy dish.  Even the kids will like it!

Quick and Easy Dish

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes

6 servings

     2 tbl minced garlic

     3 tbl olive oil

     1 large head cauliflower, separated into florets

     1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

     salt and pepper

     1 tbl chopped fresh parsley

- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 

- Grease large casserole dish.

- Place olive oil and garlic in a large resealable bag.

- Add cauliflower and shake to mix.

- Pour into prepared casserole dish. 

- Season with salt and pepper.

- Bake for 25 minutes.  Stirring half way through.

- Top with Parmesan cheese and parsley.

- Broil for 3-5 minutes until golden brown.

118 calories, 8.2 grams of fat, 4 mg cholesterol

 

*My tips: If you use a smaller head of cauliflower, reduce the amount of garlic and Parmesan cheese.  It can be overwhelming.  Cook for the full amount of time for best texture of cauliflower.*

 

Disclosure: I pulled this recipe on-line but did not record the author.  Thank you for the great recipe.  The pictures are mine.

Snow Day! A novelty for us.

I love living in Arizona. 
All last week the temperatures were in the mid 70's where I live.  (A little too warm for January.  But, I will take it!)

But, just a short 1 1/2 hours away, we were in the snow yesterday.  The snow was beautiful.  My girls were so excited when we first saw our first sight of snow.  As we climbed higher and higher, the snow was greater just like our anticipation.

My youngest looked a little like a tick.  Or the little brother in "The Christmas Story".  I felt bad but I don't like to be cold and didn't want her to be either! 

They had a lot of fun sledding.  But, after a short time my youngest was done.  I realized it is a really good work out!

Until Next Time!

Sweet Shop - Dita Maulani

Introducing my latest Sweet Shop -

talented {and sweet} Dita Maulani. 

Creative Artist of many things!

I am so impressed by Dita's motivation, multiple talents and age {only 24!}.  Did I mention she sang for the president of Indonesia where she lives?  Learn more and enter to win TWO beautiful necklaces and fabulous earrings!


1. What products do you make/sell?

I make necklaces, rings, bracelets, I sew pouches too, also sewing tote bags.   I'm making anything I'd love to wear and buy and try to sell them.

2. What inspired you to start creating?

My surroundings inspire me, also from reading magazines or watching fashion stuffs but sometimes it's just a spontaneous idea that comes across in my mind.

3. What medium do you like working most with?

Felt


4. What time of day do you work best?

I don't have any particular time to work. It's really random. I can wake up at 6 in the morning and jump to my crafting area (which is just 3 steps from my bed) without drinking any glass of water and crafting till brunch time or 2 pm but then sometime i can't sleep I craft like a vampire from 1 am to 6 pm.


5. What room do you do your creating?

My bedroom. It's all messed up you know.

6. What is your favorite organization tip/ tool?

I love recycling my body butter container for my beads and findings after.

7. What tip can you give others interested in making/selling similar items?

Make something you really like and you think you'll buy and people will see it the same, they can't resist your item and end up buying your creations.

8. What is your day job?

I'm a teacher, and sometimes I sing in weddings too.

9. Describe your ideal weekend.

Staying at home with a cup of coffee, sewing, listening to Bob Marley, and it'll be perfect with sprinkle outside my window.

10. What is a day like in Indonesia where you live?

I live in Bogor, a small town with lots lots lots of rain which I love the most about Bogor. That's the best thing I can describe about town I live in.

11. What other activities do you enjoy?

I enjoy making music with my friends for MonoChromatic.

{Click for Free Music Download! to four of her songs.  What an amazing voice!  I enjoyed listening to them while reading this!}  (http://facebook.com/monochromaticmc)

12. What is your sweetest memory from childhood?

I sang in front of the president! It was B.J Habibie back then.  I still have the photograph hanging in my living room.


13. What is it like to sell Internationally?

It's been fun but sometime frustrating when the item is not trackable or the post office returned it to me without further notice or information.

14. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

I really love the simple woodland necklace, just simple and whimsical.

Link to Listing

15. What are your tips for having a successful blog?

Well, commenting back on bloggers who visit your blog and buy sponsorship or swapping button ads work for my Handmade Nest (blog).

Find Dita here:

Facebook  .  Blog  .  Twitter  .  Etsy  .  Another Shop  .  Free Music Download!

Now the Exciting Part! 

Dita is giving away TWO beautiful necklaces and
a fabulous tote bag!

Here's how to win!

(Leave a separate comment for each entry. 
International entries are welcome.)

Mandatory entries:

1.  Follow Dita's Blog Handmade Nest  - Blog

2.  Follow my Blog, the Sweetest Memory - Blog

Additional Entries (Extra chances to win!  Yeah!):

3.  Add Dita's Etsy shop to your favorite - Etsy

4.  "Like" the Sweetest Memory on Facebook - Facebook
5.  Favorite an item in Dita's Etsy Shop, let us know what you favorited. - Etsy

Thank you so much for participating!  Entries close Saturday, January 14th at 9:00 pm Arizona Time.  A winner will be announced January 15th.  Good Luck!

**Would you like your shop featured in my Sweet Shop, please contact me for more information at thesweetestmemory@cox.net**