Santa is still watching!

Elf on the Shelf Part 2

I am so behind with editing and posting these pics! But here are some more:

 

xxx

Face Painting

Imke was invited to her school friend Kelly's birthday party on the weekend, and Kelly's mom Liza had arranged for a face painter for the kids.

I have met this lady before at J's brother's birthday party, and she is just brilliant! Here is Imke in June 2011: (cellphone pics sorry!)

 Here are some of the fabulous faces Carol did at the party this past weekend:

This boy asked for a rainbow dragon, and then could not stop staring at his face for a full 7 minutes!

The birthday girl, Kelly!

 For more information about Sombrero's facepainter, Carol, check out their webpage. They do both JHB and PTA.

xxx

Santa has been spying!

Elf on the Shelf Part 1

We are doing the Elf on the Shelf this year, and it has been so much fun thinking up ways for the Elf to be mischievous but not too naughty ;-)

We also don't have the proper Elf; I looked high and low locally but our Elf was the best I could find. But Imke adores him, and loves scolding him every morning when she finds him after a huge hunt.

Here are pics from Elfie's first week of spying for Santa:

xxx

Ladies & Gentlemen!!

Our little girlie was asked to do the welcome at her schools' concert. My heart just exploded when she stood up there infront of all those people - so confident and happy!!

<3 <3 <3

Projects 2012 - Part 3 - Picture Ledges

I want to put pictures of my beautiful family all over the house, and with a 13m hallway I have enough walls to hang a LOT of frames! But I did not want to be banging nails into all the walls and try to line up and space them and all the other schlep that comes with hanging pictures.

So, I decided to make easy, inexpensive picture ledges to place my frames on. This way I can change around frames as I like, and I don't have a million nail holes to worry about ;-)

Here is what I started with: some lengths of pine, some beading, some glue and some small tacks.

First, I measured and cut the lengths to size

Then I glued the beading the the front

Clamp until dry

I used small brass tacks to secure the back piece after gluing

The raw ledges finished

Next, I primed them, then painted them with green, then washed with a bit of blue over

And here they are up on the wall with our frames on! I plan to make some more soon!

xxx

A Fairy Party - the details

For Imke's 3rd birthday, we had a fairy party as I wanted to see all the little girls with their tutus and wings while their little bodies are still soft and round (and before my girlie decided that fairies are not her thing!)

Her birthday is in June, which is the middle of winter, but we have always had beautiful sunny days for her parties. And this year was no exception. 

I wanted this party to be extra special for Imke, and I wanted her to feel special and look special and everything just had to be, you guessed it, special ;-)

Lots of the decorations I handmade, as well as the tutus for the girls and the peter pan hats, swords and belts for the boys. I started very early with the planning and making, and the invites I designed also went out early (because I am a bit OCD and because I was just sooo excited!).

Here are some photos (most taken by Karin Meiring Photography)

The invitation to Imke's 3rd birthday

Tutus & wands made by me, wings bought

A felt mushroom hiding in the grass

The boys each got a Peter Pan felt hat, belt and sword

The welcome sign as guests arrived

My sister in law as a Fairy Godmother

The fabulous Sacha as Fairy Godmother nr 2 - they welcomed the little ones and granted them fairy status for the day!

Candy Buffet

I wanted a long wooden table, and long picnic style benches for the party table - my daddy made this awesome table, and we used scaffolding planks as the seats. I also sewed pink mushroom pillows for each lil bum :-)

fairy princess Imke surveying the scene

This beautiful fairy cake was made by Jacqui - the most fab cake lady ever!

The most beautiful soon-to-be fairy waiting for her guests!

Getting dressed in her fairy get-up

with her mommy & daddy - so excited for the party!

 Here are some pics of the little fairy guests

Having everyone sing happy birthday to her just made her day!

Bless her little heart, so HAPPY!

I asked all the mommies to bring their childrens' plastic motorbikes with and I set up a craft table where they could decorate a treat box to their hearts content, and then mommy could fill it with all the sweeties and cupcakes that was available. I also gave them little plastic bottle with edible glitter and jelly powder, so they could mix their own fairy dust.

It was such a wonderful day! I just loved seeing Imke so happy and feeling so special. Makes all the hard work and late hours so worth it <3

I am already thinking of next year's party - Imke has requested a Pink Pirate Princess Party!

mwah
xxx