Pink Peppermint Blogger

So I answered the call for anyone who was “crafty” to make decorations for our Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast. I’ve been sort of noodling on what I wanted to do, what I could use to make the decorations, etc. I scored some paper party goods at Party City last week, and thought I’d try my hand at making big turkeys for the tables to use with some paper lantern pumpkins I still have. From a baby shower. Two years ago. Don’t judge.

I played around with my materials and my trusty glue gun last night, and here’s what I came up with. If this guy isn’t the most hilarious thing ever well, then I just don’t know what is.

His name is still forthcoming, but if you want to make one of your own. Here’s what you’ll need:

-One 7 to 9 1/2 inch paper lantern (red, orange or brown – mine was 9 1/2″ red)
-One 12 to 16 inch paper fan decoration (mine was 16 inch rainbow)
-One heart-shaped balloon for his red hangy thing (aka wattle)
-One 2 oz black condiment cup (you can also use a small disposable cup you use to rinse in the bathroom by covering it with black paper)
-Four sheets of paper (one brown, one black, one yellow, one orange)
-One googly eye
-One letter-sized piece of cardboard
-One low temperature glue gun/sticks
-Rubber cement
-Pliers
-Scissors

Directions:

• Print the attached template and use the patterns to cut out a yellow beak and buckle, brown head and black hat brim.
• Use the feet/base template to cut the base out of cardboard. Once cut, trace the cardboard onto orange paper. Cut out and use the orange paper feet to cover the cardboard base. Adhere the two with rubber cement.
• Unwrap the paper fan and before unfolding it, round off the pointy ends of the tissue paper with hefty scissors.

• Unwrap the paper lantern and using a pair of pliers, twist or snip off the C-shaped metal piece on one end of the metal lantern frame. It gets in the way of having the tail feathers sit snuggly to the body of the turkey.

• Open the paper lantern and insert metal frame.
• Open the fan and hot glue the paper fan edges together in open position.
• Turn the paper lantern on its side so that the smaller opening is on the left and the larger opening is on the right side of the lantern instead of top and bottom. Rotate the lantern about 20 degrees so that the smaller head opening is looking up at an angle and the larger tail hole is pointing down a bit. This helps the tail feathers to splay out at a nice angle and allows the brown piece for the head to sit more flush with the lantern when adhered.
• Align the paper fan to the larger hole in the lantern at right so that the bottom of the fan and the bottom of the lantern will sit flush on a surface. The tail feathers will protrude at an angle from the body. Adhere with hot glue.
• Once the glue is set, adhere the belly of the lantern to the circular base of the turkey’s feet with hot glue, making sure the feet show on the side opposite the tail feathers and that the circular base is mostly hidden under the lantern body.

• Take the heart balloon, and blow a tiny bit of air into it. Stop when you feel the balloon resist–just before it really starts to stretch–as shown in first picture.
• Being careful not to burn yourself, seal the balloon by using low temperature hot glue inside the stem. This works better than tying a knot because it will lie flat against the head and beak.
• Wrap the end of the balloon around the back of the beak and adhere with hot glue.

• Flop the slightly inflated wattle over the top of the beak and adhere flat with hot glue.

• Adhere a single googly eye and beak with wattle just left of center as shown here on the finished product on the brown turkey head you cut out.

• Cut a slit along the center line in the 3 inch black circle hat brim you cut out, making sure not to cut all the way to the edges.
• Turn the 2oz black cup upside down and with a tiny bit of hot glue, adhere the edge of the cup centered within the 3 inch circle brim.
• Cover the slit in the hat with hot glue, then slip the hat on the turkey’s head by inserting the top of the head into the slit.
• Once set, apply hot glue to the back of the gold paper buckle, and adhere it to the front of the hat.
• Once the turkey face is assembled, apply glue to the wide right and wide left sides on the back side of the turkey head base. At its widest part, wrap the base of the head piece around the lantern. Press and hold the sides to the paper lantern until set.

And unless something went terribly wrong, you should now have this sassy guy!

Here’s a back view.

He’s festive any way you look at him. Give thanks and enjoy!

Today, I’m sharing a fun and unique party for three birthday boys and one birthday girl! The party mamas, who were looking to beat the July heat in Jackson, Miss., took this football- and cheer-themed party indoors! Guests were invited to dress out and “run some drills and sharpen [their] skills before the regular season.”

This entry to the “foot”ballroom was set off with this fun balloon archway made using Link-O-Loons.

Chalkboard signage throughout the party gave a nod to locker room game plans.

The scene was set with game day pennants celebrating the kids’, their ages and their favorite teams, including some memorabilia from one of the party dads.

Cheer-themed tables gave guests the spirit with flowers, megaphones and poms in pink and purple.

There was lots to keep the kids busy, including this “Game Face” station complete with spirit tattoos and eye black!

Here’s my partner Lauren and one of the birthday boys, who was all smiles and feeling pretty tough after getting his game face on!

Breakfast was served from this great buffet table complete with yard lines and goal posts in either end zone. Guests chose from Point After Pancakes, Pigskin (Bacon) and First Down Fruit. A separate game day drink table was set up with Victory Punch served in Gatorade cups.

In other sports news, in addition to a low-profile bouncy house, the party was complete with agility and tackling drills.

A DJ set the tone with an incredible mix of heart-pumping music to get the crowd into it. Two squads of local cheerleaders came out and did some stunts and tumbling as well as manning the Game Face station and leading the guests in a few dance sessions.

Here’s the amazing dessert table set up under a tailgate tent and featuring football- and cheer-themed cake pops as well as some great cakes by Fat Cake Guy. I love the pennants and pom trim!

There was a main cake for the guests as well as an individual cake to let each of the birthday kiddos have their moment to make a wish!

In the fourth quarter the players started to show signs of fatigue, and guests each left with a personalized water bottle.

They also got these mini foam fingers with Blow Pops tucked inside. And one of my favorite details from the whole party was the, “Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye…” sign from the favor table! Love.

This was another great idea! One of the party dads took pictures and set up a URL where guests could go view them and order prints for themselves.

In lieu of gifts, guests were asked to make donations of new toys, games and snacks to the UMC Candlelighters, an organization that serves pediatric cancer patients at a local hospital.

The giant box was nearly full of great items that were donated by the party goers! This game plan was Win.Win.Win. in my book.

Here’s our birthday foursome! What a great time everyone had at their Toe Touches & Touchdowns Summer Training Camp!

Special thanks to party dad, Conrad from www.ie3photo.com, for sharing his images with us!

It’s almost that time of year again–the first day of the school year! Here’s an update of the free printable signage I did last year. You know the ones you make your kids hold up in a picture on the first day of school? I have options for pre-school through senior year here and have combined files to include the matching last day version here as well.

I changed up the design for the older kids. I’m sure there will still be plenty of eye rolling.

Here’s what they look like (if you take your picture in the blinding sun).

I also designed some Seniors Class of 20– Signage. I always loved seeing those photos of a group of us in grade school who all graduated together years later. Last year, I got some of the 1st grade neighborhood boys with their Seniors Class of 2024 sign after they walk home from school on the first AND last days! It gives all the moms a lump in their throat, but I know we will all enjoy seeing those kiddos grow over time in these photos.

I have included Seniors Class of 2014 through Seniors Class of 2026. Here’s a cheat sheet for those of you who don’t want to do the math.

2013-2014 School Year

• Kindergarten – Class of 2026
• 1st Grade – Class of 2025
• 2nd Grade – Class of 2024
• 3rd Grade – Class of 2023
• 4th Grade – Class of 2022
• 5th Grade – Class of 2021
• 6th Grade – Class of 2020
• 7th Grade – Class of 2019
• 8th Grade – Class of 2018
• 9th Grade – Class of 2017
• 10th Grade – Class of 2016
• 11th Grade – Class of 2015
• 12th Grade – Class of 2014

You can download these free printables below. All signage is set up to print on an 8.5 x 11″ letter size page with the corresponding First/Last day sign now laid out to print together on a full page, each at half letter size.

First/Last Day of School Photo Signage

Seniors Class of 20– Signage Pre-school-12th

Download Jr and Sr Kindergarten Signage here.

Enjoy! Back to School here we come!

Sharing this creative roundup of DIYs for the 4th of July with a few parties thrown in. Lots of inspiration and some free stuff too!

First up is this vintage Americana party. I lam really digging the muted colors, and I’m also swooning over that “Land of the Free” cake and the favor boxes. Check out the entire 4th of July Party by Creative Juice.

I am in L.O.V.E. with this little star wreath from my friend Do. I was totally convinced this was metal. Would you believe it’s paper?!? See the rest of this super inexpensive and visually impactful Americana star wreath by Piggy Bank Parties.

Old school games and pie! What’s not to love? My favorite little detail of this party is the wooden spoons. Enjoy the other details of this Red, White, and Pie party by Giggles Galore.

How cute are these firecracker decorations made from empty household containers? It’s a great 4th of July Crafts for kids by Design Dazzle.

How cute are these BBQ branded utensils by Tikkido? Find out how to make your own stamped utensils. Great for a BBQ or for a buckaroos at a western themed party too!

Get creative with your juice with this fun tutorial on 4th of July Layered Drinks by Creative Juice. We did these in a larger beverage dispenser at Lauren’s Firecracker 4th.

Something about bunting makes me giddy. Don’t miss another great printable that’s won’t break the bank. Get your free Americana bunting by Piggy Bank Parties.

Candy makes me pretty giddy too. I have a giant jar of gumballs at the house that I fill up the kids’ machines with, and I was just looking at it the other day and thinking about how happy it made me. I guess it’s the kid in me! And what kid wouldn’t flip over these poppin’ gumball favors by she’s {kinda} crafty? Super cute, easy and versatile for any favor occasion!

There’s lots of sweet goodness in this Modern Americana 4th of July dessert table by Spaceships and Laserbeams. I especially love the “pie fries” with dip and the pies in small jars.

Here’s a sweet soiree Patriotic Picnic by Made by a Princess. I love the bunting make from a traditional picnic check material and the seating for the little ones is too cute–complete with flags to wave!

And, of course, I am partial to this Firecracker “4th” Party by PinkPeppermintPaper.com. What else for a Yankee Doodle boy turning four in July?

I need to try these cute and easy-to-make Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes by Cupcake Wishes and Birthday Dreams. My kiddos would FLIP.

These Free Printables from Bloom Designs are a cute and inexpensive way to dress up drink bottles for your 4th of July picnic!

Here are some more cute ideas for a Festive Picnic with free Printables by Truly Chic Inspirations and Blush Printables!

I love, love, LOVE this tutorial on how to make a 3D star garland by Creative Juice. The dimension of the stars really makes them pop and would also be cute for a space- or rockstar-themed celebration!

And finally, I love the versatility of these great little Free Printable Americana Favor Tags by Piggy Bank Parties. Gift tags, drink labels, food labels. I can even see them being used to make a mini bunting to dress up a table, drink station or doorway.

Lots of great ideas here to help you get your 4th on. Get movin’.

I have to keep reworking this for my own kids to give to Dad for Father’s Day. I wasn’t really planning on posting a new one this year, but I decided I’d go ahead and share for anyone who might also like to have it. Here’s a new version with some new questions. Enjoy!

Download Dad version here.

Download Granddad version here.

Enjoy! Can’t wait to hear everyone’s answers.

How do you best celebrate a 4^th birthday in July? With a star spangled party of course. This Born on the 14^th of July celebration for Lauren’s oldest was rooted in all things red, white and blue. Setting the tone for this event was a festive invitation, which foreshadowed the main event as requested by the birthday boy—FIREWORKS!

How much do I LOVE the regrets line Lauren came up with? “Dud?” Too funny!

Here’s the spectacular front door complete with outdoor wreaths made from Red Hots and lantern-lined walkway.

There were lots of outdoor luminaries, pinwheels, banners, table bunting and other fun flag- and firework-inspired décor adorning spaces indoors and out.

Inclement weather forced many activities to the back porch of the party house, but guests were still able to enjoy an outdoor movie with quilt-covered floor seating and star spangled popcorn, as well as a round of firecracker ring toss.

These “pucker suckers” are a throwback to my own childhood. Our school’s PTA used to sell them as a fundraiser during Field Day. To make your own, just kneed the lemon, slice off the top of one end, cut a small “x” in the center of the top and insert a soft peppermint stick. Then, use the peppermint stick as a straw to suck up the lemon juice. So yummy!

How do you like our ring toss made from scrapbook paper, empty Pringles cans and some inexpensive dowels from the craft store? I thought they turned out pretty cute myself!

For dinner, good, old-fashioned 4^th of July BBQ fare was served in red diner baskets with a blue gingham wax liners.

Food items included hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, corn pinwheels, watermelon stars, blueberries and strawberries served with flag picks, “Call it Macaroni (and Cheese)” bites and mini cherry pies.

Tin cans and empty paper towel tubing were made into firework decorations using colored Duck Tape, washi and deco mesh tubing for the fuses.

Guests were also offered a range of red, white and blue of drink options. Kids could choose from American as Apple Juice, Firecracker Fruit Punch or Teetotalers’ Red, White and Blue Brew served in firework cups (complete with mini-cupcake liners made into fuses) while adults enjoyed Star Spangled Sangria served in mason jars with patriotic paper straws.

Here’s our Yankee Doodle Boy! Once the birthday boy blew out the firework candles on his fabulous red, white and blue flag cake by Crumb Gourmet, guests were able to enjoy a slice along with vanilla ice cream served in patriotic paper cups with “Happy 4^th” stamped wooden spoons.

After dinner was served and darkness fell, the Yankee Doodle Birthday Boy and his guests stocked up on fun glow-in-the-dark items and flocked to the front porch for the main event…a firework display set to a playlist of traditional 4^th of July favorites.

Thank goodness the rain held out long enough for the kids to watch the party dads set off some pretty spectacular fireworks and have a little fun of their own with sparklers, complete with cup guards to protect little hands.

While outside, guests got campaign-style favor stickers that said “4 More Years.” Too funny! After the fireworks grand finale, the kids rode off into the night with their own supersized firework favor made from white mailing tubes, Duck Tape and washi. Like the firework cups, these too featured a fuse made from fringed cupcake liners. A personalized favor card was attached thanking guests for “making it such a happy 4th.”

Inside the favors was an assortment of themed items like Pop-Its, a cherry or blueberry pie-shaped cookie and watermelon sucker, all a fun reminder of our birthday boy’s star spangled 4th.

CREDITS

Party inspiration and styling: Pink Peppermint Parties

All paper good including invitations, signage, food and drink cards and favor tags: Pink Peppermint Paper, LLC.

Cake and cookies: Crumb Gourmet

Photography: Kirk Giessinger

Custom wooden spoons: InTheClear Packaging

Custom appliqué shirt: Thread Serious

Favor tubes: Uline

OK, so I totally (and I mean TOTALLY) forgot I’d done these for the first day of school. A kind soul reminded me, and so I wanted to go ahead and post for you since our last day is this Friday. Sigh. These are just like the First Day signs – Pre-school through 12th grade with a few generic use ones thrown in. Links to download are included at the bottom of this post.

Also available are these “Seniors Class of 20__” signs for K-12. I took a picture of my son and several of the first graders in the neighborhood on the first day, and I’m hoping to catch them for another photo on the last day too!

2012-2013 School Year

• Kindergarten – Class of 2025
• 1st Grade – Class of 2024
• 2nd Grade – Class of 2023
• 3rd Grade – Class of 2022
• 4th Grade – Class of 2021
• 5th Grade – Class of 2020
• 6th Grade – Class of 2019
• 7th Grade – Class of 2018
• 8th Grade – Class of 2017
• 9th Grade – Class of 2016
• 10th Grade – Class of 2015
• 11th Grade – Class of 2014
• 12th Grade – Class of 2013

See. I even did the math for you! Enjoy and have a great summer!

Download Last Day of School Picture Signage here.

Download Seniors Signage here.

OK, so the Father’s Day printables that I’ve done over the years are literally blowing up my blog and on Pinterest. Well, not literally blowing up, but it’s my most popular post. Every Day. Of. The Year. So, you know. Try not to look. It’ll be kind of like a surprise. Shoot this link to Dad. Or print x number of copies and put it in his hand with writing utensils. Make it happen. I think the answers are going to be pretty funny!

Enjoy and Happy Mother’s Day! We survived another year of Cheeto fingers and selective hearing – with some good stuff in between.

Download Mother’s Day printable here.

Download Mother’s Day printable from Scribd.

My friend Lauren is expecting her third boy, Baby Jack! We recently surprised her with a small, informal gathering of friends at a local restaurant. I wanted to do something to make it special but with the timing and limitations of a restaurant setting we had to keep it simple. I planned each element so it could be done beforehand since we only had 30 minutes before guests began to arrive.

The guest of honor’s place was set with a copy of the invitation since it was a surprise to her. We invited friends for “dinner and a little potty talk.” C’mon. Funny.

We had a decorative beveled paper mat with a ribbon accent that coordinated with the invitations at each place setting. Each mentioned her older two boys by name and welcomed Baby Jack to make three! Not your traditional use of the phrase, but he will make three boys! Wallace, party of five.

Simple vases brought from home were filled with blue hydrangeas.

They stretched down the length of the table and were interspersed with these over-sized jacks I already had from this Sip and See for Lauren’s second son. Seriously. How perfect!

We surprised Lauren good, had a a great night of food, funny conversations and opened a few gifts in celebration of baby no. 3, who is scheduled to make his debut this week!

Here are the coordinating thank yous I gave her as part of my gift.

And each guest left with a little something sweet.

I think his would be pretty for a bridal shower as well, sweet to change colors to match the honoree’s color scheme and easy for anyone to recreate using store-bought paper and a circle punch to bevel the edges of a square page.

I’ve been waiting for Easter to roll around again to share this adorable Egg Hunt First Birthday that Lauren and family hosted for her youngest son.

Here’s the invitation I designed with a custom bunny die cut. Lauren added a tiny blue bow. She does love some detailed hand work. “Hippity Hoppity, there’s a birthday on its way.”

There are lots of sweet little details sure to make everybunny weak in the knees.

Lauren took a class and learned to make these deco mesh wreaths, to which she attached bunnies in the center. I’m impressed.

There was signage letting guests know which way to go.

The festivities were around back so guests were pointed in the right direction with this giant carrot pointer and Egg Hunt signage.

Lauren made these great yarn eggs and hung them from the trees. I love what great visual impact they had for relatively little cost. Except time, that is. I recall that they took a while to make!

Sweet white child-size tables covered in burlap and topped with these white egg trees planted in candy were set up on the back porch. Love.

I’m pretty sure this is the cutest place setting I’ve ever seen. I love the addition of flowers and mini eggs to the grass mats. And don’t get me started on the bunny napkins. I am TOTALLY stealing that.

Each guest chair had a yarn pom bunny tail—blue for the boy bunnies and pink for the girls. Swoon.

The hungry little bunnies munched on sliders, carrots in flower cups with ranch dip, cheese, mini cream puffs, Annie’s bunny cereal dry in flower muffin liners, and assortment of fresh fruit, cheese, bunny pops, and plastic eggs for the littlest bunnies were filled with puffs and yogurt melts.

Thirsty rabbits drank from these lidded cups with bunny straws.

There were sippy cups on hand for the little ones.

Adults even got in on the fun with these cottontail drink cups.

The kids all brought their baskets and took turns hunting eggs, letting the crawlers and new walkers get in on the fun too!

There was a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! The birthday boy was a little unsure.

Then it was time for cake.

And a sweet little Easter smash cupcake for the birthday boy!

This is one of my favorite photos. Look at the delight in his face!

I love the birthday banner too, made from kraft letters affixed to egg-shaped doilies. “Hippity Hoppy Birthday!”

Inside the house, there were more sweet decorations to be found.

Complete with a play space for baby, no less.

When it was time to pack up their eggs and go home, guests each left with a keepsake egg hand-painted by a local artist who donates proceeds to a local not-for-profit.

As we’ve come to expect, Lauren did an amazing job. Her attention to detail is unparalleled, and what a special day it made for her baby boy’s first birthday!