3/30/12

Spring Has Sprung

No matter how much effort a person puts into their spring decor,


 no one can top 'Mother Nature'.


 She knows just where to add a pop of color


 and where more texture is needed


 The shades are brilliant


 and she knows just how to 'accessorize'.


 I love how Spring seems to decorate itself.


 Looking to make a burlap wreath like the one on my front door? Cut 3-4 yards of burlap into 3 inch strips, then weave it back and forth onto a wire hanger. Finally,  add a nest and a few eggs.







What has Mother Nature done around your home? 

Sharing my outdoor spring decor at Southern Hospitality, 5 Days 5 Ways, Home Stories A to Z

3/29/12

Crafty How To: Camping/Glamping Party

I promised to share with you a few 'behind the scenes' tutorials from our "Camping/Glamping" Party that I posted about on Monday. It was such a fun party, with lots of handmade goodies.



TREE CAKE
I found the inspiration for the tree stump cake here. Of all the cute camping desserts I found on pinterest, my daughter liked the tree stump the best. I couldn't find a tutorial for the cake, so I just winged it!


 I used a small round cake pan (I had originally bought it to make Afton's smash cake when she turned 2- time sure does go by quickly!).  I baked 4 of the little 6-inch cakes using a yellow cake mix. I like to add a teaspoon of vanilla and an extra egg to give the cake a more 'homemade' taste.

After they cooled, I leveled the cake tops to make them flat using a bread knife. Then I stacked them on top of each other with thin layer of chocolate frosting in between. I saved the parts that I cut off and used them to make the roots of the tree.

The best thing about this cake is that the frosting does not have to be smooth. So rough it up- makes for a better 'bark' look!


 I made the tent from crackers and then iced them. (I started with 4 and ended up just using 2 crackers) I added a vine, flowers, a M&M campfire, candles, and "Camp Afton". Then I frosted the big pretzel sticks to make a few branches too. The girls were really excited about the cake. It's not every day you get to eat a tree stump!

CAMP BUNTING
You can see my bunting tutorial here. Basically cut scrapbook paper into triangles and hot glue it to sisal twine. I always make a little extra, the more bunting the better!


CAMP HEADBANDS
I found these cute felt headbands at Hobby Lobby. Then I used colored felt and cut it into shapes of leaves and feathers. I machine stitched them into place on the headbands and hot glued on a few rhinestones. The girls looked so cute wearing them!


CAMP WREATH
I made this wreath by wrapping a styrofoam wreath form with ribbon. It is held in place by straight pins. I used the cupcake wrappers for the party to make flowers. These are also held in place with pins. Finally I cut scrapbook paper into tiny triangles with pinking shears to make the bunting. A little hot glue and jute twine finished the job.



CAMP MARSHMALLOWS
I melted some milk chocolate Almond Bark and dipped the marshmallows using sticks we collected from the yard. 



CAMP PURSES
These could actually work for boys or girls. If you call them 'satchels' or pouches- you could easily use these for the boys too! I found these at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 each. They can be decorated with fabric markers or even colored sharpies.



Other fun details:
-Personalized Birthday Shirt: Ella Bella 
-Rosette Headband: Samantha Conner Designs on Etsy
-Grass Tablecloth: Party City
-Cake Table Fabric Backdrop:An off-brand shower curtain I found on sale at TJ Maxx! Woohoo!

And because you know I love a 'little truth in blogging'- I thought I would share this story. Originally I wanted to have a real tree stump to use as the cake stand and then add a few more tree stumps to the 'campsite'. So I was thrilled when one of my neighbors cut down an oak tree and left tons of beautiful stumps out on the curb for pick-up just a week before the party. I had my sweet husband haul several home for me. Sadly the tree stumps were actually covered in poison oak. And Jeff broke out in a horrible case of poison oak! Needless to say the stumps never made it to the party. And my poor husband is still a bit itchy :)



Thank you for all your sweet comments about our Camping/Glamping Party:) Hugs to you all!










Linking up here: 5 Days 5 Ways, Home Stories A to Z

3/26/12

Cowgirl Up #8



Welcome to Week 8 of 
 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs



Hi friends! Linsey from the Farmhouse Porch here! It's beginning to feel like spring in my neck of the blog. Here are some of the fresh ideas that caught my eye from last week's "Cowgirl Up!" party...


I have the blues...in a good way! I'm loving this robins' egg wreath  by Uncommon Design Online


 






MISS FLIBBERTIGIBBET shows us how wax can add the perfect finishing touch to a painted hutch. Didn't this turn out fabulous?


 





Here we have a charming example of cottage DIY artwork. This collage style piece looks great with a robins' egg blue and brown classic color combo. By Noting Grace


 





I love jar dispensers don't you? I always forget to make them but after seeing the neat ones Anne made at Design Dreams by Anne it's on the top of my to do list!


 


Spring will certainly send you out into the yard for a project or two soon. Samm at Little House in the Big D shows us how to turn a small forgotten side yard into a lovely  landscaped space. I just wish I looked this good while gardening...check out those guns! : )


 

Let's see what you've got for us this week!


♥Linsey


If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also. 





Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs. 
 More exposure, less time. 

We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories.  Anything that you are proud to show off.

Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.  Doesn't get any easier than that!

What blogs will your link appear on?  Check us out below!
Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch
Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch
Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up!  You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!
Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:

(Please read the guidelines before participating)
*  When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.  Awesome!
*  Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC and the new linky follow.
*  You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.
*  You may link as many links as you want.
Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post.  
*  Be courteous and visit the two links before yours.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!

Camping 'Glamping' Party

My girl turns 6 on Wednesday, so to celebrate we had a little "Camp Out" with her friends from school.

Birthday shirt, party tips and tutorials here
The party was a great mixture of all her favorite things- girly fun, crafts, and playing outdoors. A bit camping... a bit glamping :)

 

We set up a few tents in the backyard, hung some bunting, and made a 'tissue paper camp fire'. 


The table held the 'tree stump' cake, cupcakes, chocolate covered marshmallows, trail mix and the party crafts.



 When the guests arrived, we started with a little snack. First the girls made 'rainbow fruit kabobs'. And you can't have a Camping Party without marshmallows. But since the girls are in Kindergarten, I decided to skip making s'mores over a live fire :) Instead I dipped the marshmallows in chocolate before they arrived.





Next, we headed out to the front yard for a 'Nature Hunt'. The girls searched for the pinecones, magnolia leaves, seed balls, and butterflies that had been hidden for them. I printed the 'hunt list' directly on brown paper bags.


When all the items on the list were found, the girls earned their official "Camp Afton" headband.


After the hunt, the girls played in the backyard, danced, and did few rounds of 'duck, duck, goose'.


Then it was on to "crafting". Prior to the party, I had used fabric markers to write "Camp Afton" on each canvas purse. The then girls added their own flair to the purses by using markers to decorate the other side. 

The camping fun continued with nail painting and making 'god's eyes' from yarn.



The party wrapped up with cake and presents.

Cake tutorial here


For favors, each girl left with her headband, craft, and purse. I think "Camp Afton" was a success!



Special thanks to my mom for all her help during the party. And to my husband who was a good sport through all the girly-craziness :)






--See the inspiration for this party on my Pinterest board by clicking here.
--For cake tutorial, diy party tips, and more click here.

Linking up at : The Lettered Cottage, Too Much Time on My Hands, Home Stories A to Z , Tatertots and Jello, The 36th Avenue, -Whipperberry, Serenity Now, Be Different Act Normal
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