Get Pool Party Ready!

This post is underwritten by Old Navy. Whether you're looking for a tankini, bikini, or a one piece, Old Navy has you confidently covered at a great price.

 I am thrilled to share some party ideas with you using Old Navy's new swim collection. Old Navy is my favorite place to buy swim gear for myself and the buggers.  I can tell you that the boys play extra hard all Summer long in their swim suits and rashguards -- these suits hold up!

Here are a few of my favorite looks. 

Love the bright colors and patterns this year.

I chose the fun, flirty green ruffle swim suit as my inspiration {and official outfit} 

for a relaxing Pool Side Party! 

Some Quick Pool Party Ideas...

1. Make sure your pool party outfit is as rocking as your party! I picked this Old Navy Ruffled String Bikini not only to wear but I also used the preppy green color and ruffled texture of the swim suit as my inspiration for my pool party decor. 

2. Send Pool Party invitations to let your guests know the where and when details.

3. Create a signature drink for the party like this Mojito Recipe, rather than opening a full bar. Give your signature drink a fun name. 

4. Hang some party decorations in the backyard. Tissue poufs, festive fringe garland, and tissue fans add flair without breaking the bank. 

5. Serve appetizers and kid friendly snacks. Filling party cones with popcorn takes no time at all and is always a big hit at our parties. 

6. Set up an area where people can refuel and refresh with cold waters, sun screens, bug sprays, mists, sunglasses, and towels.

7. Have plastic bags available for party guests to put wet suits in and a place for guests to change.

Most importantly have fun relaxing and swimming with all your pool party guests!

......

Green Candles: Cupcake Wrapper : Fringe Garland

Tissue Pouf : Fans : Party Cones

Cups : Clover Treat Bags : Mini Tapers

Thank you again to Old Navy for sponsoring my post. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

Fishing Bobber Wreath for Oh Goodie Designs

I was contact by the ultra fabulous Joanne from Oh Goodie Designs to make some fishing decorations for a special 1st birthday celebration. The party is going to bright and fun primary colors with accents of polka dots, ric rac, and stripes.

Here's how the fishing bobber wreath turned out... I wanted it to be playful and fun.

Such a cute birthday theme!
The wreath would also be perfect for Father's Day.

Special thanks to Piggy Bank Parties for the rustic ware mini bunting, found here.

Next up, time to make more of my paper lantern fishing bobbers!

If anyone is interested in purchasing a fishing bobber wreath or paper lantern bobbers, contact me for pricing.

Linking to:

One Week Till Dad's Day!

One week until Dad's special day.

Have you planned anything special?

Last year we made Daddy this wreath for the front door.

This banner, held together with golf tees

And these cupcakes.

My hubby loves, loves, loves cutting wood. 

So we bought him this card 

and are going with a manly wood theme.

Father's Day Lumberjack Card 

from Two Pooch Paperie

For more Father's Day ideas visit my We ♥ Daddy Pinterest Board

Monday Morning Craft Space

My craft projects always end up all over the dining room table.

The table inevitably looks like this by Monday morning.

Nope, no place to eat in here, 

please try another table I tell the family.

Do you have a designated place to craft?

A craft room? 

If so, I'm totally jealous. 

My Week in Instagram

I love streaming my instagram photos live on the blog, 
it's a fun way to share the smaller, more personal events that happen each week. 
Last week I celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary with a quiet dinner out and trip to Construction Junction. 
We found some solid old doors and beautiful crystal door knobs. 

The buggers had their school concerts. They of course sported bow ties and even made bow ties for their besties. 

Speaking of school, I finally finished these teacher gifts (a week late and no one is at the school to pick them up, oops)

Received super fabulous favors for J Bugger's Birthday from Whimsical Boutique. I can't wait to show you. J bugger jumped up and down screaming this was going to be the best birthday ever, that good. 

 I even shared a sneak peek of the party theme, t-minus 2 weeks until party time!

Happy Friday everyone, what are you up to this weekend?

DIY: Nautical Party Table Projects {Part 2}

Yesterday, I shared a tutorial on making a cake plate out of a pie tin. Today I thought it might be fun to show you more DIY elements from the Nautical 1st Birthday theme I styled for Bird's Party Magazine.  I love a good DIY project, so I tackled making the gold cake plates, cake, high chair captain's wheel, peg dolls, a gold number one, and some monkey fist nautical knots. 

Gettysburg Address Plate and Candlestick

Hand Painted Peg Doll named Sam

My attempt at ruffled frosting, not completely terrible for a first try

Don't ask how many hours of online knot tying tutorials
it took me to learn the monkey fist nautical rope knots, way too many

DIY Nautical Party: Pie Tin Cake Plate Tutorial

Even though I had many wonderful vendors involved in this party, I still incorporated many DIY elements into this Nautical Party Table. Below I am showing you which elements are a total DIY such as the ruffled frosting smash cake, hand painted Pirate peg dolls, large gold #1, and cake plates. 

My preference was to use any many gold cake plates on the dessert table as possible, so I made my own to save money. Today I am going to show you how I made a cake plate out of a pie tin.


Materials to Make the Fluted Pie Tin Cake Plate:

Fluted pie tin

Candlestick

Gorilla Glue or epoxy

spray paint

Directions:
1. Spray paint pie tin and candlestick separately. Let completely dry in a well ventilated area. 
2. Mark the middle of the inside of pie tin. Place the candlestick top over your pencil mark and trace a bigger circle on the inside of your pie tin so you will know exactly where to add glue. 
3. If using gorilla glue, wet both places of contact on the candlestick and pie tin.
3. Apply a small amount of glue (it will continue to expand as it dries) and press pieces together firmly. Leave cake plate upside down with a book on top, let dry overnight. 

Linking to: 30 Days Handmade & Tatertots and Jello

Mason Jar Soap Dispensers {Teacher Gifts} & Coupon Code Included!

This year I decided to give mason jar soap dispensers as teacher gifts. 

Who doesn't love mason jars & clean hands?

 I have 8 wonderful teachers to buy for, 

so I am always looking for cute and economical ideas. 

Very Jane offered mason jar soap dispensers pump lids as their deal of the day, 

so I scored them for $5 each (regularly $6.50) from The Country Barrel

I didn't have time to make my own soap pumps lids, but there is a great tutorial for the DIYers.

You can even buy them already made for around $10.50-24.00 a piece depending on style. 

Cost of buying the lids and pint jars for me totaled $6.00 each. 

I even added this super cute (free) mason jar tag and my favorite Whisker Graphics Air Mail Divine Twine. 

Hope the teachers like their gifts! 

....................

Great news! The Country Barrel has generously offered 20% off anything from their store using coupon code: VERYJANE 

Wrapping Up a Week of Features & 9th Anniversary

It  has been one busy week around here...
I gave the blog a new look for Summer,

The Mail Party was featured on Lil Sugar Monday
and Thursday Lil Sugar featured it again in the Top 50 Best Kids' Party Themes!

Also this week, DIY Mail Box kids' craft tutorial was featured on ediTORIal!

Tuesday my submission to Spaceships and Laser Beams Boy Bash on a Budget Challenge was featured

(I will feature the entire tablescape here next week)

Tuesday, a shared a new craft project on Whisker Graphics for organizing with mason jars

And today is my 9th Wedding Anniversary!
Remember last year how I did these balloons & love notes (pinned almost 100K times already, wowza!)?
Not sure how to top that this year, feel free to leave some ideas!

I'd call this a busy, productive week!

TOP 50 KIDS' PARTY THEMES {featured on Lil Sugar}

Lil Sugar just announced the

  Top 50 Best Kids' Party Themes and guess what? 

A certain little mail party I just threw made the list!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I am honored to be among such inspiring and amazing party people such as:

Tori Spelling (Ghostbusters and Hello Kitty)

Kate Landers and TomKat Studio (Wizard of Oz)

Anders Ruff (Legos)

Peas and Thank You's (Cowgirl Chic)

and so many more great themes worth visiting,  

so head over and check out all 50!