Smores Angry Bird Cake

Usually I make the cake from scratch, including all the icing. 

Last year, I was feeling overwhelmed and ordered the base of the cake from a big box store.

Then we followed our tradition of decorating the cake together.

This year the decision was chocolate and from a mix.

I wanted to add something special and for the cake to be a little thicker/dense.

What I did to accomplish this was mix, cake and brownie.

Followed the directions for each, then mixed them and baked. It worked exactly right.

For the something special, I wanted to make it a smores cake, I did this by adding a layer of marshmallow creme, icing and angry bird graham crackers.

Then added the second layer and iced again.

We then had fun decorating with angry bird figures and candy.

To make the pig structure, 

we used mini Kit Kat and mini Aero bars, 

both imported from Canada, as these are peanut-free there.  

(Not made in factory that also processes peanut products)

I thought about using the Toothpicks to help with the cake decoration. But then decided to just use the game we already had.
The yellow bird is on a stick to make him look like he's flying!

After the candles were out, then bomber bird was flung, the cake was cut.

A hit!

Share the Day!

Also shared here.

Angry Bird Party Slingshot

Making the slingshot, not as difficult or as costly, as I had initially thought it might be.

Used 2 boxes (6 tension elastic exercise bands) found for $5 each box and had 2 bungee cords and last used a mesh laundry bag from the dollar store for the middle.

Wrapped bungee cords around the trees, tied double bands to bungee cord then to red band, which was in turn tied to laundry bag.  Made two holes on each side so it made a small basket/cradle for the birds.

This was fun for young and old.

It also turned out to be fun exercise, 

pulling the tension on the slingshot and of course going and gathering up the birds and pigs after complete annihilation was achieved and then setting up for another round.
You look over here to meet the rest of the birds and pigs.

This was so much fun.  

Kids had a great time, and we did it again for our church youth group. 

It's easy to set up for us now, 

and when the weather is good, we have taken it out several times to play. 

It's a great way for some family fun and to get the kids off the electronic game. 

Another plus was we were able to incorporate some physics/critical thinking discussion into it and no one was the wiser (shhh!) We were just having fun-right??

Do I hear a cheer for fresh air!

Share the Day!

Meet our Angry Birds and pigs

I painted these free-hand using craft paint.

Tip, start with beak or snout, then eyes.

Red Bird

Yellow Bird

Blue Birds

Meet the Pigs. King Pig, Helmut Pig, Grandpa Pig and Piggy Pig
You may see some pen ink also, Birthday Boy wanted to help.
Hey- I can't have all the fun!
For more fun about the birds and party, check here.


Share the Day!

Easy flag banner

Flag banners are all the rage, for our most recent celebration, 
I wanted to add some to the backyard tree line.  Something fun, something colorful, something cheap, something not too time-consuming.  

Have I mentioned before my sewing skills are minimal, I'm sure I have.  
It's on my to-do list.  

I've made fabric banners in past, 
I will admit last one was made with stitching glue, 

yes, stitching glue and proud of it!

It worked just right.

  

I use that flag banner on almost every family celebration and sometimes just for fun.

Anyway, back to this years decorations, needed something not time or cost consuming, after looking at some options decided on my materials.  

Scissors, hole puncher, paper cutters,
 twine from hardware store and colorful cardstock paper.  

First I measured the trees the easiest way I could, 

I tied one end of twine to one side and strung it across to the other tree.  

Cut the twine.  
I cut the cardstock into triangles as large as possible and making two on each sheet. 

It went pretty fast.

Then using hole puncher, punched two large holes on each and passed twine through each. Day of event we strung them up and spaced the flags apart, placed a paperclip so they wouldn't twirl or move side to side.  They turned out pretty good.  Added the color needed,  for under $8.

Then while I strung them and when it was time to take down and then re-string for a later occasion, used a piece of cardboard to wind it up and keep it from tangling.

The birds and pigs made more of the decorations, as well as the Birdy Bags and the Birthday water and the Toothpicks.

Share the Day!

Shared here.

Angry Bird Goody Bags

Many things found in bulk at dollar store (straw, bubbles, punchy ball, and popper), and got very lucky to find the water balloon slingshot on clearance at the grocery store, whoohoo! You can see our memo pads and added little minipens and some healthy-type snacks. Kids also added more candy found during a "Golden Egg Hunt". The bag faces were downloaded and cut out from here. They posted fantastic templates which you can also use on balloons, or balls or bags or to make props/masks. 

Childhood is a blessed time, and we plan on making it fun!

We appreciate if you could also take a look at this post too. Thank you so much!

Angry Bird Toothpicks and Memo Pads

At the recent Angry birds party, I reused certain items for decor, namely, I printed out clipart faces on paper used for mailing labels 8.5x11 adhesive paper.

Then using my paper cutter cut out the sizes needed.

I folded the stickers over on paper party toothpicks. I found these at the discount market, they were rock party themed, which didn't matter, because I was covering them. They were $0.40! 

(Yeh!)

Here's how we used the flags.

Yum, marshmallow treats, aka "bird food."

Cute, right?

Same discount market had memo pads for 4 for $1. 

I used double sticker length to cover the memo pad writing on the front, 

this idea was seen here.

These were for the goody bags.

Share the Day!

Would you also consider taking a look at this important post?

Have joined parties listed here.

Make your own water bottle labels.

Well if you are wondering how I've been doing on my projects and where I've been, 

I'm here, 

nose to the craft mat.  

We have had some great fun and celebration, esp in planning one our infamous birthday parties.  We have picked the theme this year to be....drumroll please......ANGRY BIRDS.

So after some great ideas from other parties with similar themes, we decided what to do, which included food, decorations, goody bags and of course a Giant Slingshot with Lifesize Game outside.

I'll show you how we did it all.
Let's start with the water bottle labels!

First, using my document maker I made two sizes of rectangles measuring 8.4in x1.32in for the standard tall bottle and 7.88in x 1.79in for the shorter kid-size water bottles.

I designed my labels and added some clipart.
I then printed 4 labels to each piece of paper and then cut them out.



Once cut, I stretched my clear packing tape across the paper label on my cutting mat (it's easier to remove from the mat versus the table, trust me)



Then it's time to attach to the bottle.
Carefully find the ridges and encircle the bottle and press down.



Ta-da!

You can make these for any occasion, or holiday.  

Recently made some for our church youth group get-together.

Some effort, not costly, big impact.

Share the Day!

If you can please visit this post, thanks.