Birthday Party

Zac's Birthday Party was a pretty big success, if I don't say so myself!

The kids enjoyed themselves, the adults were able to talk amongst themselves and everyone seemed pleased as they wished Zac a happy day and went home.

Our church was kind enough to loan us the building and all the goods that went along with it.

We had access to all the tables, chairs, kitchen, toys and even a blow up castle. It was great because it allowed the kids so much more room to run around and play then my house ever could have and... 

a blow up castle.

Seriously people... get the blow up castle.

 It makes for remarkably easy entertainment!

I had the room set up to allow for a lot of running room and with different stations so the kids would be relatively self entertained allowing the adults a bit of a parenting and social break.

I had a table set up for eating, which I decorated with Superhero heads (Halloween trick or treating tubs) filled with chips/cheesies/corn twists. I had another table set up with colouring books and crayons and another with felt/foam stickers and felt masks for the kids to decorate.

I didn't exhaust myself too much with the food, serving hot dogs, fruit, veggies, vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, Lucky Charm squares (Rice Krispie squares substituting the Rice Krispies for Lucky Charms! brilliant I tell you!) and oatmeal peanut butter chip cookies.

The highlight of the party was a surprise visitor who made the birthday boy feel extra special!!

I sent each of the kids home with a cape I made for them and the mask they made (using this template). I also gave each family a bag with a colouring book for each child, some spiderman gummies and stickers each and a puzzle to share.

When I plan parties for my boys I always try to think of it as a super cool play date. I like the kids to have fun and enjoy each other and I like the parents to be able to relax and visit.

I think I accomplished all of my goals with this party!

Too see the crafty prep I did for the party check out here, here and here.

Superhero Capes

 You simply can't celebrate a superhero's birthday party without the assistance of a superhero cape.
It's like celebrating flowers in winter... you can do it, it just makes very little sense.
In my mind a superhero party without superhero capes, makes very little sense.

I made a cape for each of the kids invited to Zac's party and am SO happy I decided to take on the commitment! It really was a simple and quick task that I think all of the kids enjoyed even more then I had anticipated!

I started by measuring Zac from his shoulders to mid calf (roughly 26").
I then went to my 1 meter of fabric and used my measuring tape similar to a protractor. I anchored it at the top corner and drew a line with a fabric marker swinging the measuring tape from one side of the fabric to the other.
I did this same thing using a 2 1/2" length at the top to form the neck hole.

When you unfold the fabric you will already see the cape shape!

If you would like a single sided cape, move on to the collar now, or if you would like a double sided cape (like I did), cut another piece to match and pin right sides together. Sew around the entire cape leaving only the neck hole open. Flip right sides out and press the edges flat.

To make the collar, cut 2 strips of fabric in a rectangular shape measuring 3" wide by 17" long. Pin, right sides together, and sew leaving one long side open.
Clip the corners on an angle, to avoid bulk.

Keeping right sides facing turn the fabric up roughly 1 inch and iron,

then turn the collar right sides out and press flat.

Stuff the neck of the cape into the opening of the collar and pin. This part can be a bit tricky but just go pin crazy and it will hold just fine. Top stitch the bottom of the collar.

You could sew velcro into the collar but I took a short cut and hot glued it.

You could also do an alternate collar by using a store bought quilt binding and tie it whenever your child goes to play. I have choking fears given that my kids pull the backs of capes all the time so I opted for the velcro.

My kids love them!!

 Even straight out of bed!

Photo Transfers

Are you familiar with The DIY Dish?
If you're not, and you like crafty things, then you totally should be.

Way back in April of 2010 a mixed media collage was featured and I have been itching to do the photo transfer ever since.
The trouble is that I have a mad fear of commitment when it comes to hanging pictures in my home and I simply could not decide what photos I wanted to try the technique using!

Recently I decided I wanted to put some sort of Superhero pictures in Zac's room and was leaning towards vintage tin signs, however I was indecisive enough about committing to specific Superhero's I decided it was the perfect time to try the technique so I could have limitless options!
It's super simple to do and looks super cool once it's completed.

(impressed by my fancy photo up there?? yep... I'm getting pretty handy with a computer if I don't say so myself!)
1. You'll need a painters canvas, gel medium, paint brush and your photo. Your photo must be laser printed and if it has words, printed in mirror image.
2. Cover your canvas with a thick coat of the gel medium and then press your photo, image side down, onto the medium, pushing out as many air bubbles as possible.
3. Allow to dry completely, overnight is a great time frame.
4. Dip you fingers into water and rub off the paper. This step takes some time but it's when the magic happens. Your image will stay on your canvas while you wash/scrub away all the white paper backing.

Once the canvas was dry from the water I covered it with a thin coat of mod-podge and allowed that to dry.
After the first picture was completed I got a little excited and embraced my fear of photo commitment and made a few more...

I took the glass out of a few dollar store frames and popped these babies inside for the party...

 and then to hang on the walls in both boys bedrooms.

I am so excited with how nicely they turned out!

A few weeks back Elsie used this same technique on material and I couldn't help myself so I made me and the mister matching shirts, for the party, as well.

(I don't recommend washing in the washing machine though... even on the gentle cycle...)

I'm kind of kicking myself for waiting so long to try this technique, it looks so cool when it's done and it's practically effortless!
Now to decide on the next photo to do this with!!

Superman Bunting

 I love buntings.
I have been looking for an excuse to make one for some time now but always found the task to be quite daunting. It seemed like it would take so much time cutting out all those triangles and sewing them all together to then connect them all...
But I could not have been more wrong!

I had some superhero-ish material sitting around so I decided to bite the bullet and try my hand at a bunting for Zac's party.
It took about 2 hours to make this baby and I love it.
I love, love, love it!

If you've ever thought about making a bunting you totally should, it's pratically effortless and so freaking adorable it's a must make in life

I took a standard size piece of paper, and found the middle of one end. I drew straight lines from the top corner of the sheet to the middle of the bottom.
Cut that out and voila! your template!

Decide how long you would like your finished bunting to be (how many triangles) and cut out double, one for the front and one for the back.

Pin 2 triangles together, right sides facing, and sew, leaving the top open.
Flip right side out and iron flat.

Once you have done this with all of your squares lay them out and measure how long they are once lined up.

Add additional length (I added 14" on either side) and cut a strip of binding your final length (I used store bought binding).

Then just sew your binding on as you would for a quilt!

Couldn't be easier!

I used it to decorate the wall above the food table at Zac's party...

and once the party was done I hung it up over his bed.

I think it's too cute!

Superhero's

My boys think they are superhero's.

I love comics and superhero's so when they started showing an interest, I will admit to being very excited. I really wanted the boys to come to their own love of superhero's though and didn't really encourage or focus on the masked crusaders to see how far their enjoyment would go.

It has gone further then I ever could have expected and it's officially gotten slightly embarrassing.

Both boys no longer answer to their names.

Zac has started introducing himself as Green Lantern. Occasionally he puts on his Batman cape and insists on being called Green Bat.

Eli switches his superhero up daily, Wednesday he was Captain America, yesterday Batman and today Superman. He has been running around the house this morning saying "Up, Up and Away!". 

Zac's birthday party is this weekend and it was a natural fit that it be a superhero theme. 

I've been working like crazy all week, sewing decorations, cutting masks and planning the food. 

I do love planning a party!

Next week I'm going to share each craft I made for the party and a few recipes, along with some cute photos of the party.

I'm pretty excited about it and hope you'll come back and check it out.

Have a good weekend!