CRAFT - Making Tissue Paper Balls

Saw these and Pinterest and LOVED them, and decided to make them for my daughters birthday party.

You will need:

20 pk of tissue paper (for two balls)

pipe cleaners 

fishing line

scissors

To begin buy a 20 pk of tissue paper in the color you want the tissue paper balls to be in, in my case I got pink. You need 10 pieces of tissue for each ball so each pack will produce two. 

To being take your ten sheets and lay them flat on a table or something. Begin at the bottom of one of the short sides and start to fold the tissue paper like in the picture. About and inch is good a little more is fine too. 

Once you have gotten to the end of this step take a pipe cleaner that will match your tissue paper and fold it over the center of the folder tissue paper (see pic below). Then take your scissors and round of the ends. 

Now you want to spread out the folder tissue paper like so:

The next part you need to be gentle. You are going to pull apart the tissue paper one by on starting with the outer most and working in. 

I think it looks best one you pull apart the first 5 sheets in one direction and the other 5 in the other direction. Once all ten sheets have been pulled apart you have your tissue paper ball! Use the fishing line to hang them from the ceiling.

CRAFT - Simple Girl's Pinata

My daughter turned 5 today!!! Happy Birthday to her :) 

Her party is tomorrow and I've been working on a simple pinata for her party.

To being I cut up some cereal boxes into the shape I wanted (in this case a circle) and then taped it up. Don't laugh at my tap all I had was my son duct tape, ha. Here is the finished produce: 

 I also added a wire hanger with the tape because last time I made a pinata my hook attached to the top of the pinata did hold so I needed something stronger and more sturdy and more 'attached' to the pinata so it doesn't beak off at the first hit. 

After this id done I took a newspaper and cut it into strips.

Then it's time to make the paper mache. I chose to do flour and water since it was all stuff I already had. Make sure its 1 part flour to 5 parts water. For this size pinata I did 2 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup flour and still had extra each time.  Use a non-stick pot (easier clean up)

Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. STILL CONSTANTLY (seriously don't even walk away, I did once and my 2nd batch got clumpy). Also use a wooden or plastic spoon because this stuff will stick to the bottom of the pan, you need to be able to scrape the bottom as you stir. After you've let it boil let it cool down, not completely, just enough to where you can handle the stuff. 

When it's cool enough to handle take a strip of the news paper and dip half of it into the paper mache, then place it between two finger and run your fingers down the strip to take off any over abundance then do the same to the other side. Don't pull on the strip too hard or it will rip. the more paper mache that is on the strip the longer it will take to dry. 

Place each strip on your pinata and make sure to not overlap if you can. Once the pinata is covered hang it to dry over night. 

Check in the morning and make sure completely dry before making the next layer. Repeat these steps until you have 3-4 layers (use your judgement on how strong you want it, it will get harder when full of candy).

When all layers are done and pinata is completely dry, take a sharp knife and cut a tab out of the top of the pinata to put the candy in, then put the candy in it :) (sorry no pic of this) 

Time to decorate the pinata. 

Get whatever color streamer you need. For this particular pinata I used pink and I started on the sides first. Make strips that will fit and cover the area you are going to be covering. 

Then take the strips and cut little slits in them like so:

Then place a THIN line of glue across the top of the strip that is uncut.

When beginning to place streamers on pinata ALWAYS START FROM THE BOTTOM. 

Complete all sides. 

Now i did my strips long enough that I don't have to do the center because I'm putting a picture there. 

FINISHED PRODUCT:

Very simple and not too crazy , my daughter loves it. Will get more extravagant as kids get older :)

MOTHERHOOD - My kids first day of school!

So to just kind of kick start my blog I decided to share this pic from the my kids first day of school. They started school Sept 3rd; Meah started 4th, Preston 1st and Isabelle is in Pre-K. This is always one of the best memories a mom has at this age your 'little baby' going to the next grade it's the other reminder aside from their birthday that they are growing up....fast. Some people think I take too many photos, but I never think I take enough I want to capture and remember every single moment with my kids because even though at any given moment I think this is awesome I will totally remember this, a year later I have forgotten. I wish I could retain every single memory, every moment I spend with my kids, but it's just not possible... so for everyone reading this I will never stop taking pictures, I will never decrease the amount I take I will only take more and more and more. 

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. I used to have a blog about 2 years ago and then just stopped. I've gotten back into following other people's blogs and I thought that I would start a new one up again. 

This time instead of using blogspot as strictly a diary I thought it would be more enjoyable to share the things I love most in life, being a mom, all my crafts mostly done with my kids, and my career of choice... photography. Can't get much better than that. 

Obviously this is Day One of blogging and I'm mostly spending my initial time customizing my blog and then I'll be able to actually start blogging from there.  I hope you enjoy and check back to see all the progress the blog makes and of course follow if you like my blog. Thanks!