Superbowl Party Decor: How to Make Tissue Pom Poms

With the Super Bowl coming, here is a fun way to root for your team with very little time, money and effort. Make a bunch of tissue pom poms like I did for Gordon's Football 1st Birthday and scatter them around to show some spirit.

Read on to learn how to make simple tissue pom poms and then stay tuned to learn how to make a football jersey cake.


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DIY Garland Bunting: 25 Free DIY Projects to Make the Sweetest, Prettiest, and Simplest Garlands

Garland bunting has taken the world of baby nursery decorating by storm for the past three years or so, but the garland trend hasn't gotten tired yet. I hope it never does, because in the mind of this die-hard DIYer, homemade garlands and baby bunting are the ideal way for anyone (no crafty skills necessary) to customize a baby or child's room. Why? Because making your own garland is simple, inexpensive, and doesn't require an MFA to add a touch of your own style and heart to the place your kid rests his or her sweet head.

What is bunting, you ask? In the US we call them "garlands", and I'm told the UK and australia prefer the term "bunting" - either way, garland/bunting is simply a series of items hanging from some sort of string. The modern baby bunting trend took off with the traditional flag-shaped pennant garland, but there are so many lovely ways to customize your own garlands (paper flowers, crochet pennants, yarn pom poms, even cupcake liners and coffee filters). I guarantee you will be surprised and delighted by the simplicity and beauty of the 25 Free DIY Bunting & Garland tutorials we've rounded up. Now, go check them out and tell me if you can resist immediately grabbing a pair of scissors and getting to work: DIY Garland Bunting: 25 Free DIY Projects to Make the Sweetest, Prettiest, and Simplest Garlands.

How to Make a Paper Mache Table (for under $20)!

As part of My New Backyard, I decided to make a little paper mache table after spotting this one at West Elm. Paper mache is probably not the best idea for an outdoor table, but since this was made with recycled cardboard and newspapers, it cost me all of $10. Why not? I also sealed it up pretty well, and I'll show you how.

You could make a paper mache table in any style for indoor use and it would cost you a fraction of store bought furniture. And bonus: it was a really fun project to do with the kid. Learn how to make a paper mache table after the jump!
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How to Make Cascarones (Confetti Eggs)

Cascarones are a Mexican Easter tradition and a great alternative to plastic eggs for your hunting pleasure.

Kids LOVE them as much (if not more) than any candy-filled egg. We had them at the Third Birthday Fiesta and they were the hit of the party.

Many, many were smashed over my head.

AND they are super-easy to make. Find out How to Make Cascarones after the jump...
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How to Ice A Cake With A Cake Stencil

A cake stencil is a super easy and fun way to spruce up a cake. I used Jacinda's How to Ice A Cake tute, along with her Evil Buttercream Icing recipe to make this cake for Scarlet and Niko's Third Birthday Fiesta, and I added a cake stencil.

I also made the layers different colors, just for fun.

Let me walk you through How to Ice A Cake With A Cake Stencil after the jump...

Have you ever used a cake stencil? What's your method? And does the site of the yellow make you as sad as it made me? Let us know in the comments, you could win that amazing Belle & Blue Chair.
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WINNER: SWEET ON PAPER CONTEST!

We challenged you to create packaging for a sweet treat using paper in any way for the opportunity to win an 11"x17" All-In-One Brother Scanner/Copier/Fax/Printer. Your gorgeous entries blew us away. It's outrageously difficult to select a winner for these contests so we brought in a couple of experts to help us judge. Introducing...

Amanda, Proprietress At Large, Bake it Pretty
Learn more about Amanda here.


Marian, Founder, Sweetopia
Learn more about Marian here.


And of course these two, who insisted on adding their two cents.

But back to the big announcement. The winner is...
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Cookie Decor: How to Make A Cookie Board & Cookie Bunting

I used to detest paper projects and cookie decorating because of the precision and attention to detail they require. I don't know what happened, but lately I'm totally Sweet on Paper. Since we asked y'all to create paper packaging for a sweet treat for our Sweet on Paper Contest to win a new Brother All-in-One 11X17 Printer/Scanner/Fax, I thought I'd try to do the same. And once you spend this much time making cookies, what's a few more hours?

Here's my entry, find out How to Make A Cookie Board Display and Cookie Bunting after the jump...
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April Fools Prank: The Fake Parking Ticket with Free Downloads

Doesn't that look official? If you got that in the mail, would you not be like "what the?? how did I get a $400 parking ticket!?!?"

Well, it's not official. I made it all. And now I will share it with you, so you too can torture your loved ones and maniacally cackle while they curse you.

Last year I shared with your our April Fools Prank, the Fake IRS Audit with Free Downloads. HA HA HA, sorry I laugh every time I think about it. Maybe I'm mean, but I just LOVE april fools pranks. Anyhoo, that was two years ago. Last year we pulled another successful prank on our friends and family, but I couldn't tell you about it then for fear of spoiling it. But now all is revealed: we sent them a faux parking ticket in the mail. For $401.09. Like Scarlet's birthday that year, and the date of April Fools 4/01/09. They all fell for it! Except for one, but she was expecting it. They fell for it even though the fine prints says "19119040108119220411140.10360.9840104040109040110APRILFOOLS2132689975142323447950HAHAGOTYOU".

We created a template based on a parking ticket I got in the mail, then we added the address of each friend and the seal of their local city, which I found via google image search. We didn't use their license plate number or any more personal details than their addresses, and they still didn't catch on. Duped!

Now it's your turn! There's still time to customize my templates and send out your own. Get the April Fool's Fake Parking Ticket tute and free downloads after the jump...
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Sweet on Paper: Paper Bias Tape Bags

Here is a quick way to make little paper bags for sweet treats! It uses the same technique as bias tape (with a little cheat) but made with paper. I used my new 11"x17" All-In-One Printer from Brother. The same printer that we are giving away in our contest, to scan a beautiful vintage (and possibly hand-made?) doily from my mom and got to work!

Read on to learn how to make Paper Bias Tape Treat Bags.

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Paper Pinwheel Cupcake Toppers

These cupcake toppers were my first stab at using my new Brother printer-scanner (the fancy 11"X17" one we are GIVING AWAY in this month's contest) and they were so much fun! I used mine to decorate some cupakes (umm, well, to decorate A cupcake... somehow the others disappeared before the pinwheels were complete. Guess I will need to make more cupcakes, darn).

Anyhoo, you can use this tute to make simple paper pinwheels for any occasion at any size. It's so much easier than you would think.

The first thing I did was ask Jacinda to scan some of that awesome bonehead fat quarter she's giving away as our Friday Surprise Prize this week. She also scanned an embroidered dress of Clare's from Mexico for me. I printed out the images on two sides of cardstock to make my pinwheels.

Get the full Paper Pinwheel Cupcake Topper Tutorial after the jump and leave a comment if you love skulls and want a bonehead fat quarter to call your own...
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Last Minute St Patrick's Day Treats w/ FREE PRINTABLES!

We loved the little Jelly Bean Pods from the 4th of July so here are more for St. Patrick's Day! This time we have free printables to make us all look extra Mom-tastic. But really they take like 3.5 seconds to make. Shhhhh...


Get the FREE PRINTABLES and EASY INSTRUCTIONS...
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Valentines Poems: Love Poems for Every Personality

As you ladies know, I have been collecting my favorite poetry for years, some of which is included in my book and on my other website. In honor of Valentines Day I’ve collected some favorite Valentines poems for your perusal. I’ve included Valentines Poems for lovers, friends, exes, children, photographers, cooks, and all sort of personalities. Print one out, or better yet write it by hand on a lovely Valentines Day card and watch your loved one swoon (or giggle). Find a compilation of Valentines poems, from funny to sweet here: Valentines Poems: Love Poems for Every Personality. Also, you can find the embroidery pattern for that awesome anatomical heart at sublime stitching.

Keys to My Heart Lollipop Valentines

Scarlet holds the key to my heart, obvs.  This year she is very excited about her Valentines Day party at school, and she insisted there be lots of pink.

She also adores lollipops, so it was only natural to make lollipop valentines.

With a few paper cut outs and some time, we pulled these little Valentines together.

Learn how to make Keys to My Heart Valentines after the jump...

And be sure to leave a comment, because this week's surprise prize for fave comment wins that amazing embroidery pattern!
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Color-in Valentine's Day Cards: Free Download!

Aren't these color in Valentines Day cards we posted last year the sweetest? This would be a fun little activity to do with your kiddos this week, so I wanted to remind y'all about them. Get the full details and download these cuties here: Color-in Valentine's Day Cards: Free Download!

Silhouette In Action

I am working on a little Valentines Day tute for you, and I thought I'd shoot a video of my Silhouette in action so you can see what the fuss is all about. Don't laugh at me!

What do you think? Don't lie to me, you know you want one. And now you can CUT FABRIC WITH IT TOO. Don't even get me started, all I want to do is lock my family in a cage somewhere and play with this machine until the wee hours of the morning. Sigh. If you want to learn more or get your own head on over to Silhouette America.

DIY Blooming Heart Valentines Decoration

While I was "working" (i.e. scoping out the web for cute Valentine's day tutes) I came across this gorgeousness on Punkin Pattern. I'm so glad I discovered this site, there's so much cuteness there!

I asked the creator, Vanessa, if she would share the tute with us, and she agreed.  I see so many variations on this, I just love how it's sweet but not as saccharine as some traditional Valentines day decorations.

Get the full Blooming Heart Valentines Decoration tutorial after the jump. What are you planning for v-day decor? Let us know in the comments, you could win some pretty potholder fabric and bias tape.

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Tissue Paper Flower Tutorial

Alissa from 33 Shades of Green is here to share how to make a lovely tissue paper flower, which is a perfect way to top off a gift!

If your gift will be transported, you can leave them flat while you travel and puff them up when you get to Grandma's House.

Take it away Alissa! Learn how to make a Tissue Paper Flower after the jump...
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DIY Fabric Clothespin Gift Tags

The mod podge fabric clothespin is such a cute and quick project to bust through scraps with, and so useful. I was thinking about gift wrapping this year and it occurred to me it could be cute to clip the gift tag on each present with a cute fabric clothespin.

 Then it occurred to me to glue a magnet to the back of it, so the giftee could use it on their fridge later on.

This is a great little project to use up some fabric (or paper) scraps as well.

Get the Mod Podge Clothespin Gift Tag Tutorial after the jump...

Is this worth the effort?  What are you doing for gift tags this year?  Let us know in the comments and you might win those five amazing embroidery patterns!
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Thankfulness.

We hope you all enjoy a magical and fulling Thanksgiving Day. We thought we'd share this fun family activity from Gina of The Daily B. She and her tots traced some leaves onto construction paper and cut them out.

Then they wrote things they were thankful for on them and piled them into a bowl.

During their meal, they will read from the bowl as a family. Lovely. Thanks Gina from The Daily B. And Thank You to all of our Prudent Mamas for the joy you share with us every day!

DIY Cameo Plate Part 2

I whipped up another one of these silhouettes on a vintage plate yesterday. They are so easy & quick and make for a great little gift. You can hang them on the wall or use them for your keys or other trinkets. All it takes is a plate, some paper, and some mod podge. I used a patterned paper for this one, but maybe I like the traditional black I used in the original tutorial better? Get the tutorial here: Vintage Cameo Plate Hanging.

And remember, any comment you leave this week could win you a little mod podge of your own so you can give it a try...