Kids Back-To-School Party Cupcakes, Annual Picture and Breakfast Traditions

Our last Friday play group/pool party before the first day of school... where did the summer go? To make it a little special we made some colorful school-themed crayon cupcakes!

 

The kids helped frost and decorate two dozen strawberry cupcakes with bright colored sprinkles. Then they stuck a new school crayon into each cupcake for fun:

The first morning before school starts, since preschool, I take my son and daughter's picture as they hold the number of their age/grade. My daughter just started first grade! Last year she held a big "K" for kindergarten:

To make the first back-to-school breakfast special last year I made pancakes shaped like the first letter of their name. This year I made their latest favorite – french toast. A custom menu waited for them at the counter with breakfast entrees listed inside:

Last year we also made paper links to count down to the first day back to school, but this year they weren't very excited about school, so we didn't want to make it come any sooner than necessary! What traditions do your kids like?

Welcome SITS Ladies!

Yay!! Today I am honored to be featured at SITS (The Secret is in the Sauce. A fabulous community of bloggers supporting bloggers.) Thank you, SITStas!

What a treat to have many new faces visiting today! I love a house full of fun gals popping into all my crafting corners peaking at projects new and old. You'll find ideas for wall decor, home accents, birthday parties, neighbor gifts, flower displays, delicious recipes and oodles more.

I am an inspirational artist, author and product designer. I've also been a graphic designer, art director and photo stylist. My career/work has adapted over the years - always artsy and always interesting! It's been a blessing to find an outlet to combine my faith with my art. I love to incorporate uplifting messages in my projects here on my blog, too, since that makes it a double joy!

I really appreciate you coming by!! Have fun exploring!!!

After just moving my blog from "blogspot" to my own domain, I've noticed blogger search is slow in re-finding all my posts, so if there's something you can't find, please drop me a note. Here are a few links to help you find out about some of the pics featured on the SITS post:

Tutorial - How To Add a Verse to a Cabinet

           

 Baby Pop Art Tutorial         Add Scripture to a Wall Mirror 

Paint a Surfboard for Little Boy Bedroom 

         

 Girls 4 Year Pink and Purple Birthday Party                Girls Jewel Birthday Party

Sharing Fruit Tree Harvest with Friends

         

 Christmas Decorating with Greens      30th Birthday Party Crispy Rice Treat 

   

Casual Stenciled Bucket Flower Centerpiece

How to Cover a Glass Vase to Match Your Room

Carnations are a timeless and inexpensive way to dress up your home with fresh flowers.

A small bouquet of carnations can make a large impact when the stems are trimmed and arranged in a short vase.

In my case, the perfectly-sized vase was a simple drinking glass with a turquoise design I had painted on it years ago. But, I didn't want the busy pattern to diminish the impact.

A little red shimmery tissue paper, a burgundy satin ribbon and a big silver button are ready for a "cover-up." Wrap the tissue around and secure with double sided tape in the back. Tie the satin ribbon around next after stringing it through the decorative button.

Extras from my craft supplies – I used simple things everyone has laying around. And now I have a bright, stylish bouquet, packing quite a punch for little money and time.

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And an update by request: a close up of my daughter's mixed-media art project done at our Saturday outing to the local museum a few weeks ago:

My daughter on the bridge, surrounded by cactus and desert flowers and plants.

Homemade Summer Popsicles

Yummmmmm!!!!!!!! Homemade berry popsicles!

• Ice Pops recipe from Allrecipes.com::
• 1 (3 ounce) package fruit flavored gelatin mix
• 1 unsweetened, flavored soft drink mix package
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 cups cold water
• 
  
• Dissolve gelatin, soft drink mix and sugar in boiling water. Stir in cold water and pour into popsicle molds or small plastic drinking cups. Freeze until hard. (If using plastic drinking cups, freeze until firm, insert popsicle sticks, then freeze completely.)

• I saw a few other recipes that added a bit of yogurt to make the popsicles creamy, so we added a small container of flavored yogurt this time and it tasted great!

Tag a Jar Vase for Summer Flowers

A little metal disc tag is just the casual embellishment needed to turn a vintage blue quart jar into a sweet summer vase. 

Use silver metal wire to wind securely around the jar lip for a hanging loop, or just wrap wire around to hold the circle tag. Write "joy" with a paint pen on the silver tag. Add flowers, et voila!

This is one of the easy flower ideas in my book Inspirational Home: simple ideas for uplifting decor and craft.