Miss K turns 8!

Miss K turned 8 on Saturday. I have an EIGHT year old daughter. Once again we hosted a Birthday Party on a Budget. Total spent on party- $55!

I made the invitation in PicMonkey. Had them printed at Wal-Mart as 4x6 prints and invited 9 friends.

I picked up canvases and acrylic paints from Michaels and ordered paint trays, brushes and aprons from Amazon. I then used masking tape and taped off each girl's first letter of their name. Letters like "R" and "S" are hard y'all!

The girls painted over their taped off initial. They painted their way. Girls are creative that way.

The birthday girl hard at work. 

The final masterpieces! So adorable!

For the "birthday cake", I made cake balls. 81 cake balls to be exacts. Only 79 ended up getting decorated, and 45 ended up on the cake plates for the girls to eat. I served Miss K's favorite Cherry Limeade in Mason jars and Cheddar Cheese Bugles.

Each guest got their picture taken with the birthday girl. I really should have thought and had a better background other than the garage door. I will print these pictures out and send as the thank you card. 

 My sweet little sassy, artsy dancer is EIGHT YEARS OLD! Yes, we butt heads- like mad, but each day it is like looking into a mirror of myself at that age. I often wonder aloud about where she gets her independence, about where she gets her energy, her constant need to be doing something. I find more often than not that her need to do something involves creativity, either through a craft or through dance. I mean really, what 8 year old asks for duct tape and rubber bands for her birthday? She truly is my mini-me. She reciprocates everything I do, yet still embraces her own individuality. She is growing into a beautiful young lady, and I thank God each day that He chose me to be her mother.



P.S. Do you see the chalkboard easel in the first picture? My friend Glenna gave it to us. A huge shout of thank you goes out to her for that party decoration and toy. Also, what I didn't mention in the post was my trip to urgent care the morning of Miss K's party. My boy took over the heavy lifting and clean up of this party. I could never have pulled it off without him. My kids are AWESOME!

*This post contains affiliate links

An American Girl Birthday Party for my Littlest Star & A Giveaway- Closed

My Littlest Star is Seven!!!

I blinked. It happened. And I think she grew another inch over night. 

She wanted an American Girl Birthday Party for her big day. 

Even more she wanted the new American Girl Doll of the Year, Isabelle. 

The dolls are so expensive, parties are even more expensive. I mentioned in an earlier post my strategies for making this happen on a budget.  I am happy to say, I pulled the party off with about $40, a lot of hard work, and finally the help of great friends and family! 

THANK YOU!!!

Life size doll box for the girls to pose in. So much fun!

Paper plate name banner. 

Party hats, drinks and  tea light cakes for the dolls!

Goody bags. There were lots of things to take home. 

Doll & Girl Craft Station. Red & White doll tutu's and...

felt top hats for the dolls and girls from Punch Place Plus. 

A doll hair station. Because every doll must have great hair.

The Bistro & Goodies table. 

Yum! Cake balls, PB&J, Bologna, wavy potato chips, gum balls, candy cane heart suckers, bottled water, and homemade cherry limeade!

I love these little sandwiches. But seriously, the waste. Needless to say, we saved the outer edges and fed them to my husband and son!

The water bottles. Love these. I made them in Word. They even had a bar code on them with her birthday. You can download my printable here. 

10 giggly girls. Actually we had 11, my niece is in the high chair. 

Miss K showing her friends how to make the tutu's. 

11 beautiful STARS with their dolls. Donned in their hats and tutus. Adorable.

It appears that all of Miss K's birthday wishes were blessed upon her. She had a wonderful birthday and I pray that I can continue to instill upon her that birthdays are about sharing your joy with others. I also pray for my daughter that her light and inner star shines for Jesus wherever she goes. 

Would you like more of my tips on saving money on parties? On February 4, 2014, I will be chatting it up on Twitter at 1pm with Offers.com during their #STSMchat (save time save money). We will be discussing party planning on a budget further. I cannot wait to hear more ideas to help me save time and money. Be sure to go read more about it on their blog!

Now, who is ready for a GIVEAWAY??? Did you see the cute top hats the girls made? My friends at Punch Place Plus sent them to me for the girls to create.

And one of my readers is getting a....

The mandatory entry is to visit their site and tell me in a disqus comment what craft supplies you would want with your $25!!! Entries will be collected on the easy Rafflecopter form below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What I Love About Blogging..

Want to know what I love about blogging? My blog loves me. It doesn't matter if I have a single follower, or person who cares what I have to say, my blog is always there for me to write when I am ready. I have been gone for a week. Usually when I am gone, it doesn't mean I am not wanting to share my activities, it just means I am too active to sit down and write. How can that be you ask?

SICK BABY GIRL

PARTY PREPARATION

Miss K ran fever ALL last week, from Sunday until Friday. The doctor said it was just a nasty virus. Really? Tell me something I didn't already know and give me a magic cure all. I hate when my kids are sick. She must get better I told them, she is turning 7 on the 31st and we have a FOUR hour birthday party with her friends.

FOUR HOURS? What can anyone do in four hours with 12 giggly girls. Oh I promise you, it will be busy. The picture above is just a hint of what is to come. Stay tuned.

On February 4, 2014, I will be chatting it up on Twitter at 1pm CST with Offers.com during their #STSMchat (save time save money). We will be discussing party planning on a budget . I cannot wait to hear more ideas to help me save time and money. Be sure to go read more about it on their blog!

Also in the birthday post, there will be a special giveaway from Punch Place Plus. Be sure to go like them now on Facebook!