Gifts That Say WOW

Pet Parties

2013-04-11T19:32:00.000-02:00

Party Like an Animal

The decorations are up, the table is set, the cupcakes are iced,and the goodie bags are made. Now it's time for the guests to arrive.This is no ordinary party, pet parents everywhere are celebrating their pets with parties. This photo is from my niece's party for her pet baby Toby. Pet friends and pet parents were invited. Toby's friends were served pup cakes made with whole wheat flour, honey, peanut butter ,eggs, and peanut butter icing. She made gift bags with a variety of dog treats. She used puppy paw cups, plates and napkins and to go puppy paw cupcake holders. And each pet received a pet toy. She also made real people cupcakes and goodies for the pet parents.Here you will find many ways to celebrate your pet.. They are a very important member of our family and hold a special place in our hearts.

Pet Party Invitations

You can easily make your own invitations to send to pet parents. Here is an idea for the Female Dogs and one for Male Dogs. Invitations set the tone for a Pet Party.

Cousin Toby

Picking a Theme for Your Party

I don't know how thrilled Toby is about the party hat, but you have to admit he is absolutely adorable. If you don't know your pets birthday, pick a date.and then pick a theme for your party. How about some famous dogs like scooby doo, snoopy, clifford ,or a pink poodle party. Or you can pick a season, such as a garden party in the spring, Winter Wonderland for winter parties , pumpkins in the fall, or a swim party or backyard barbecue in the summer. Can't wait until your pups birthday....have a spaw day or a Bark Mitzvah.....you get the idea.

10 Ideas for A Perfect Pet Party

Here are some helpful Ideas to plan the perfect party for your Pet.

1.On your pets special day, dress him in a tux and her in a rhinestone collar.
2. Have pet guest dress up for a pet fashion show. Winning pet gets a prize.
3.If your party is in the summertime you can fill a kiddie pool for the pets to take a splash in.
4. Be sure to include games for your guest, have frisbees, and rope for tug a war.
5.Serve your pets water labeled Salty Dog.
6.Decorate using red fire hydrants
7, Draw paws going to the door with sidewalk chalk.
8. For safety reasons, don't burn candles at your pet party.
9. Remove temptations for your pet guests, such as shoes or any items you don't want chewed...
10. Leave aggressive dogs off your guest list and as an extra precaution, make sure your guests are spayed or neutered.

Lion Themed Birthday Party for 1st Birthday

2013-03-15T12:17:00.001-02:00

Your baby's First Birthday is a very special occasion and you want to celebrate this wonderful little person who has forever changed your life. For the Perfect Birthday Party, start with a theme and build around it. For a Lion themed Birthday, here are a couple of suggestions for invitations. One for a girl and one for a boy.

1st Birthday Lion Party Invitation by cooltees
See more 1st birthday party Invitations at zazzle.com

1st Birthday Lion Party Invitation by cooltees
Create your own invites at Zazzle

Party Ideas:

Plan for the party to last an hour to an hour-and-a-half since babies have short attention spans and run out of energy quickly.
Plan the party for late morning or late afternoon after nap time.
Have guests bring a memento like a photo of a relative with baby,a toy, or a magazine with the year of her birth. I bought
a Life Magazine when my daughter was a baby. It amazes her what was going on in the world when she was born. Put these items in a time capsule for baby to open on 21st birthday.

Make simple but very cute cupcakes by piping icing around the edges of the cupcake and using a icing pen to make the face.

Photo: Cupcakes Take the Cake

Put the children's food at eye level to make it more appealing. They love small cut up fruit, such as bananas, peaches,pineapple, and small cookies like graham crackers, animal crackers. Be sure to have some grown up food for friends and family members.

Games

Small children enjoy playing with balls. Try several different types. Small balls like these Kush balls or large beach type balls. Bean bag toss is another activity young children enjoy. While they are outside, give them some sidewalk chalk. Highlight the activities by releasing a bunch of balloons.

Catch the Tiger by the Tail Game: (Easy to set up game that the older kids will enjoy. This may be too difficult for a one year old.)

Kids sit in a circle on the floor. The child who is the lion puts a homemade Lion's tail into his waistband and begins circling the group and touching each child on the head and saying Lion. When he touches a head and says Hyena, the hyena tries to grab the lions tail. If the Lion can make it back to the hyena's seat with his tail, he is still King of the jungle.

Don't go overboard with the party, your one year old will never remember it, but be sure to have the camera ready to make pictures for your baby to see later.

Checklist for Kid's Birthday party

2013-01-23T01:11:00.000-02:00

Photo Credit: Peppers and Pollywogs

Here is a Great Checklist for Children's Birthday Parties Visit Peppers and Pollywogs for Party Ideas and tips.

For the Cutest Invitations ever visit Cool Tees and Baby World.

Kids' Birthday Party Checklist

SIX WEEKS BEFORE
Choose a theme with your child
Determine the guest list
Reserve your party venue or hire a party entertainer
FOUR WEEKS BEFORE
Prepare your invitations
Ask for an updated class list from your child’s teacher
Determine games, activities and menu to match your party theme
If ordering a cake, place your order
THREE WEEKS BEFORE
Mail invitations
Purchase party supplies, especially if ordering on-line
Arrange for extra help, if necessary
ONE OR TWO WEEKS BEFORE
Create a party flow schedule
Purchase more party supplies as needed
Call families who have not yet responded to your invitation
THREE DAYS BEFORE
Purchase food
Purchase batteries for camera
Charge video camera
Call entertainer to confirm appearance and expectations
Call party venue to confirm all details
Assemble party favors
ONE OR TWO DAYS BEFORE
Bake cake or pick up pre-ordered cake
Confirm help if using extra help
Decorate home or gather decorations for party venue
Prepare make-ahead food
ONE WEEK AFTER
Send thank you notes!

How to Stop Junk Mail

2013-01-17T03:27:00.000-02:00

Want to stop all the junk mail coming into your home daily? Send a letter with all possible spellings of your name, address and signature. Mail it to: Mail Preference Service / DMA ATTN: Dept. 9407644 P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512. Or Call them at 212-768-7277.

Glass Etching Tutorial

2013-01-10T14:41:00.000-02:00

This is just one of the coolest projects I have seen lately. This site has step by step tutorial on how to etch on glass. She uses the subway art which is awesome but you could use monograms or cute graphics for children's glass mugs. There are a lot of ways to use this technique. Visit her site at A Girl in Paradise for this easy tutorial.

Printing on Fabric

2013-01-04T17:55:00.003-02:00


Photo From My Repurposed Life

I am so in love with this pillow. This is on my project to do list as soon as I buy the supplies. The graphic is from the graphics fairy site. I have been to that site hundreds of times but my mind never conceived an idea like this. I found this while I was looking for sewing ideas. I cleaned out a back room today and dug out my sewing machine. As soon as I locate my bobbins, thread, and machine needles, or most likely go and buy some, I'm going to do this. She warns about using your printer to print on fabrics, but I have printed on paper bags, tissue paper, and many other items not associated with printing. It is just the matter of not leaving ends that will get caught in the printer. If you are interested in learning her technique visit her site at My Repurposed Life. Don't forget to visit The Graphics Fairy for free graphics...we would love see any projects you make.
Here is a site called Instructables showing how to use freezer paper to print on fabrics. Lots of good info here.

Cupcake Ornament

2012-11-13T01:20:00.000-02:00

Bake It Pretty Blog

These are my new favorite thing to make. I just glued and rolled 6 styro foam balls with tacky glue and snow flakes and am letting them dry. Tomorrow I will make the cupcake ornaments. Everybody loves them. I made 2 for a friends children and now she wants one. I'm going to make some of them with zebra cupcake wrappers. Can't wait to see how they will look. This idea came from the Bake It Pretty Blog. She has a step by step tutorial. I will post my pictures tomorrow when I finish making them.
These are so cool for Christmas gifts. Everyone says they look so real, they want to eat them....

Not a good picture but here is my attempt at cupcake ornaments: A friend wanted chocolate on her so I took black paint and drizzled.

Cute Christmas Reindeer Goodies

2012-11-02T00:08:00.000-02:00

Melt almond bark, and dip nutter butter cookies. add edible eyes or make them with white and black icing.Use a red m&m for the nose. Before the chocolate dries add broken pretzels. Idea from Munchkin Munchies

Bake cupcakes and frost.
Use pretzel for antlers. You can also break them

Use a Vanilla Wafer for the face,

White white candy for the the eyes or make from icing.

Use red candies for the nose or Chocolate balls

Photo: With Sprinkles on Top

Reindeer Candy Bars are made by covering a candy bar with a plain wrapper and cutting out red noses, antlers, and gluing wiggle eyes. Photo: Kerry's Paper Crafts.

Use a roll of sugar cookies found in the dairy section. Cut sugar cookies into triangles and bake. Frost triangles with chocolate and decorate with pretzels and round candies. Photo: All you.
More Christmas Ideas

Organizing the Home

2012-10-27T12:42:00.000-02:00

My Newly Organized Pantry

I am in the zone for organizing this week. Cleaned my pantry yesterday and I keep opening the door and looking when I go by it....lol I love these baskets with the handles, they are big enough to hold a lot of stuff, but not too big that everything gets lost. I love that they slide out easily. I also used a wire rack for my cake mixes and put the frosting cans under them. This rack alone added a lot more space.

I'm ready for my next project which may be this cool idea from Lady Goats. Love, love this drawer organization. She made drawer dividers with rulers and there are no tools required to make this. She uses a box cutter to make a guide to break the rulers. Just too cool. Click HERE for her tutorial.

Photo: Lady Goats

Make Your Own Transfer Paper And Tracing Table

2012-10-22T13:48:00.000-02:00

Photo: Home Frosting

Make you own Transfer Paper with this cool idea from the Home Frosting site. Transfer paper is very expensive but this sure takes a bite out of the cost. This site has a step by step tutorial. Great idea for the crafter that transfers graphics to t shirts and other fabrics. She says you can also use this method to transfer to wood.

Photo:Here Comes the Sun

And then, check out this do it yourself light table that can be use to trace graphics. You can go to her site at Here Comes the Sun.

Blessing Bags

2012-10-09T11:02:00.001-02:00

My niece sent me a link to a site that makes blessing bags. Love this idea. You can make these bags up as a group and put them in your trunk. We have all seen homeless people that we have wanted to help but have held back because it's not a good idea to give them money. Click here to visit the site for ideas of what to put in the bags. Be sure to read the comments, there are a lot of great ideas there. One idea was to put wipes instead of the soap so the smell of the soap doesn't transfer to the food. Coupons are a great way to get products for these bags. They can end up costing next to nothing using coupons.

Fall Decorations

2012-10-02T13:32:00.000-02:00

Personalized Pumpkin

Mums and Scarecrow

I came into the kitchen late one night and my daughter was tying a ribbon on a pumpkin. I thought, oh my dear...The thought of a pumpkin and a ribbon just didn't click for me. The next day I had a change of heart. She cut out letters on card stock and used colored pens for the dots and background. I must say, I was pleased with the finished product. We have this cute little pumpkin on our front porch..that and this adorable scarecrow she put in a pot of mums. I loved both ideas. Never underestimate the creative abilities of others.
These fall decorations would be perfect for the fall cookout or party using these invitations.

Fall BBQ Wedding Reception Invitation by cooltees
Create an invitation online with zazzle

Halloween/Fall Party Invitation by cooltees
More Pumpkin Invitations

Ideas for an Over the Hill/Grim Reaper Party

2012-09-14T18:05:00.001-02:00

Want to throw a memorable Over the Hill Birthday Party? Why not plan a grim reaper party. Here are some invitations and matching postage stamps to get your party started in high gear. If you need a Grim Reaper Invitation for your Halloween Party, Contact me at Cool Tees and I will design an invitation without the numbers. Scroll below to see some fun decorating ideas for your Grim Reaper Party.

50th Grim Reaper Birthday Invitation by cooltees

50th Birthday Funny Grim Reaper Stamps by cooltees
Make custom us stamps on zazzle.

Decorating Ideas

Black table cloth, black foods such as olives, caviar, black beans blueberries, licorice, chocolate dipped fruit, etc.
Visit a thrift store for vintage items like old phones, floppy disks, and anything that is old. Use them as decorations around the party room.

Be sure to bring out the ensure, adult diapers, false teeth (the toy kind) walkers, canes, laxatives, denture cleaners, prune juice, and brainstorm for other fun party items.
Make an adult diaper cake,similar to the baby diaper cakes. Use black ribbon around the diapers. Decorate it with reading glasses or a magnifying glass, denture solutions, Bengay, laxatives,or whatever you think would be funny to the birthday girl or guy.

40th Grim Reaper Birthday Invitation by cooltees
See more Grim reaper Invitations

40th Birthday Funny Grim Reaper Postage Stamp by cooltees
Order custom made postage stamps at zazzle.com

Halloween Cupcake Platter

2012-08-20T23:35:00.000-02:00

Cute Attention getter cupcake display. Hand crafted cupcake holder is great for Halloween Parties. Click on tutorial at Pure Joy Events for step by step instructions. She also has some great ideas for a Halloween Party. Send these cool invitations out to get the party started.

Funny Halloween Party Invitation by cooltees

Haunted House Halloween Party Invitation by cooltees

Funny Halloween Party Invitation by cooltees

Back to School Supply Cake

2012-08-16T14:42:00.002-02:00

This is my attempt at a teacher supply cake for a special teacher as a back to school gift or as a teacher appreciation gift later in the year. This would be cute for a primary school teacher since they are always running short on supplies. Click on this Tutorial to learn how to make this fun and useful gift for a teacher you know. Looking back, I would have used a wider ribbon but we are giving this as a door prize at a back to school blast at our church. I doubt they will care if the ribbon is wide or not.

Milkaholic Baby Shower Idea

2012-08-13T09:59:00.000-02:00

Photo from hwtm site

Another great idea from HWTM Website. You can visit the site to see all ideas for this Milkaholic Baby Shower. What a neat idea for a baby shower. Babies love milk so what better way to celebrate their arrival or pending arrival. It doesn't get much cuter than this. See baby bottle stickers below.

Bedtime Story Book Baby Shower Ideas

2012-08-10T17:15:00.001-02:00

I am totally in love with this theme for a baby shower. Super Cute Theme for Book Lovers. Great for a Baby Shower that you want the guests to bring bedtime story books as the gift. The tables are set up like a bed. I had to do a double take when I saw the glasses and place setting on what I thought was a bed....lol...I am amazed by the creativity of ladies throwing baby showers. This idea is from HWTM . See below for baby shower invitations and Stickers that fit the occasion. Stickers can be used for gifts or baby shower favors. Click on pictures to enlarge and to purchase.

Little girl bird Bookplate label for baby showers Square Stickers

Train Plane Book Plate Label Blue Green Dot Square Sticker

African American Baby Shower Invitations

2012-08-08T17:35:00.000-02:00

Looking African American Baby Shower invitations? They are sometimes hard to find. Here are Trendy Invitations for the Moms to Be. You are sure to find a style that is just right for the occasion. The right invitation can set the tone for a great baby shower. Click on each invitation to enlarge the image and purchase.

Uses for Coffee Filters

2012-07-18T13:34:00.000-02:00

Wanted to pass this list on, There are some great uses for coffee filters, Never knew there were so many. Don't know who originally made this list. If you do, let me know so I can give them credit. Thanks to Mary Alice for sending it to me.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers.."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18 Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car..

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

26. Great in the tool room when separating nails and screws then use in to bottom of containers to remove moisture and prevent rust.

OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS TOO

Sailing Themed Birthday Party

2012-07-09T15:50:00.001-02:00

If you are planning a Nautical theme party for your favorite sailor, here are some great party invitations, stickers, cake picks, banners, and much more to get your birthday boy excited about his birthday.
Here a a few Party Ideas: Use clear glass cylinders, add sand and fill with seashells. Use a fishnet over the table cloth and put toy crabs and other sea creatures. Use round gummies as life savers. Place in a clear glass and label. For Snacks serve goldfish crackers and make submarine sandwiches with all the trimmings.
Here are some of the items available. Visit the shop to see all Sailing Theme Party products.

Sailing Birthday Invitation by babyworld
Create an invitation online with zazzle

Personalize Sailboat T Shirt by babyworld
See other Sailing T-Shirts

Sailing Cake Pick by babyworld
See more Sailboat Cake Picks

Personalized Anchor Banner Poster by babyworld
Make your own large poster at Zazzle.

Personalized Sailboat stickers by babyworld
Create one-of-a-kind picture stickers online at zazzle.com

Watermelon Baby Bassinet

2012-07-05T11:00:00.000-02:00

What a sweet idea for a baby shower. This would make a great center piece that your party goers will never forget. I don't know what site this originally came from, so there are no instructions. The head appears to be a peeled uncut cantaloupe, grape halves for the eyes, cantaloupe balls for the ears, and various fruit inside the watermelon and on the tray. I love this idea

Fun and Easy 4th of July Treat for Kids

2012-06-27T21:35:00.000-02:00

Love this easy idea for the 4th of July festivities. Kids will love putting red, white and blue sprinkles on Ice cream sandwiches. Use a dish with sprinkles and put the ice cream side into the dish. Cover all sides and stick a ice cream stick in the end. Add fun and colorful cupcake liners. For less sprinkles add them to sandwiches by sprinkling on the sides.

4th of July Tees by cooltees
Learn how to sell t shirt designs on Zazzle

Recipe from spoonful.com

Gordon Ramsey Lens

2012-05-28T12:39:00.000-02:00

Check out my Gordon Ramsey page. I just started using Squidoo and it is so much fun. So far I have 2 lens. I will post them as I finish. On the Ramsey page you will find a lot of chef gifts that are humorous

Click Here to See Gordon Ramsey Lens

Fun Graduation Food

2012-05-26T11:33:00.000-02:00

Here is a cool idea for graduation parties. This photo and cheese diploma is from Family Fun.

Sandwich Meat (1 slice per diploma)
Sliced cheese (Swiss or provolone work best)

Scallions
Red, orange, and green bell pepper (optional)

Instructions

For each diploma, stack a slice of sandwich meat on a slice of cheese.
Roll them up and tie each diploma with a scallion.
For a festive presentation, jazz up the plate with chopped pepper confetti.

Fake Daiquari for Kids

2012-05-14T15:07:00.000-02:00

Sweet Strawberry daiquiri just for kids. Let them join the 4th of July holiday festivities with these fun summer drinks
Ingredients:

6 ice cubes
16 strawberries

1/2 cup frozen concentrated limeade
1/2 cup water

Crush the ice cubes in a blender and then add the strawberries, limeade and water. Pulse, pour into a decorative glass, Add a sliced strawberry on the rim, and a straw and let the fun begin.

**photo by acidman