DIY Ornament

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, This past week I visited my daughters class but 1st I had to come up with a holiday themed arts-n-craft project.

I wanted to do a project that wasn't just going to be thrown out once it got home or at the end of the holiday season. I had volunteered during Halloween and another parent had taken great photo's of the kids so I thought it would be fun to turn a memory into a lasting memory.

Prior to visiting the school, I created frames for the kids with their pictures already cut and glued on the base so that they could decorate the frames.

Ingredients:

- 2 different colored poster board - ruler - sissors - razor blade - paper cutter (optional) - hole puncher - ribbon - rubber cement - pencil

Steps -

1. Print out photo's 2 Cut a frame template - you need a base and the frame ( I choose a red base and a green frame) 3. Cut pictures to fit the frame size 4. Glue pictures on base 5. Cut hole 6. Kids decorate frame 7. Glue frame to picture/base 8. Add string

Teacher Gifts

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, This years I went with homemade pumpkin bread wrapped in a nice tea towel with some simple ribbon and packing label.

Sources:

tea towel: your local kitchen store or www.williams-sonoma.com ribbon: www.paper-source.com gift tags: www.staples.com

Pumpkin Bread Recipe:

Pumpkin Bread YIELD: 2 loavesPREP TIME: 20 minutesCOOK TIME: 60 minutes INGREDIENTS: 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups sugar 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8.5 x 4 x 2.5 inch loaf pans. 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, vanilla and sugar until well blended. 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined. 4. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour batter into the prepared pans. 5. Bake in preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

DIY POINSETTIA BASE

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, Make your poinsettia POP by sprucing up the base with an easy DIY project.

Ingredients:

-poinsettia - fabric -ribbon -rubber band -scissors

Steps:

1. cut fabric into a square. Make sure it's large enough. 2. Place poinsettia in the center of the fabric. 3. If fabric appears too large cut excess 4. Pull fabric up and use rubber band to hold in place 5. Tie bow to cover the rubber band & style to desired look.

Recycle any left over fabric as a bow on a package.

Gingerbread House Party

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, My friend Molly & I hosted our 2nd annual gingerbread house decorating party with our Mommy group.

A few ideas incase you want to host one:

1. I ordered the house from: http://gingerbreadtraditions.com/

2. This year we simplified it and had everyone bring 2 bags of candy and or cereal. I delegated items so we didn't have overlapping candy and it also helped in reducing the email train.

3. We hosted it at Molly's restaurant, www.eleavenfood.com which was really helpful.

4. Put together the houses at least 1 day before the party.

Happy Holidays!

A special thanks to my friend Airin who got me hooked on this party idea.

HOOT HOOT

Hi there, it's me, that girl katie, Here are some source tips and pictures too on ideas for having an Owl Birthday Party.

I am not a fan of pinata's but I found one that didn't require hitting it, instead you just pulled a string.

If you make the cupcake/cake, I recommend using mini marshmallows instead of coconut for the Owls belly.

Sources:

Raptor Center - http://www.tetonraptorcenter.org Invitation http- //www.almostsunday.com Owl key chain party favor- http://www.paper-source.com Party supplies http- //www.karaspartyideas.com