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I have been in full-fledge party mode since January to prepare for my daughter's birthday! She'll be turning 2 in the beginning of March and I really want to have a little friend party because she has a lot of little friends. So, shortly I'll be sharing how the party went and everything I designed for her party.

But for now, I'll be sharing what I did for her first birthday party! We just had family over, but it was her first birthday so I really wanted it to be special, without breaking the bank. She has always loved animals so I went with a soft pink zebra theme.

White chocolate party favors in re-used baby food jars.

Food place card

Cupcake toppers

My lovely grandma modeling the dessert table.

 What helped keep the cost at bay was designing everything myself: invitations, place cards, cupcake toppers, jar favor/water cup wrap, plus a "Save the Date" that I sent through email.

Lately I've been involved with some of publication/marketing design for Caring Cans. Caring Cans is a nonprofit organization that collects aluminum cans and then donates the money made from recycling to local charities.

Right now they're trying to raise $500 to donate to Purrfect Pawprints, another nonprofit animal shelter organization in Tooele, UT. 

This can collecting campaign is running now until March 31st. So if you're having a party or just love your daily Coke, drop your cans off to Green Box Recycling or to me if you don't live in Tooele! And I'll make sure they get to where they need to go. 

My family is awesomely supportive of me. What can I say - they're awesome! And after Allie wanted a poster, my mother-in-law also asked me to design a print of family rules for her home. I've never done a poster like this with the words going in different directions, so it racked my brain for weeks until I finally got it to work and look good. David helped me tweak some things to really make it perfect. What would I do without him!? And thanks, Ellen, for asking me to do this. I had a lot of fun and I'm glad you love it!

Last year I made some little bow-ties for my friend's baby and they turned out super cute. I used the tutorial from here and now just decided to use the same tutorial but tweak it into making them as baby/little girl headbands. Her tutorial is great with step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make the bows. So before adding on the neckband, stop! Come back here and I'll show you how to turn it into a delicious headband!



1. Choose your headband material. Pictured here is a skinny elastic. Measure, cut, and hand sew it together, (Sizes vary, but these are good guidelines: Newborn: 10in, 3-6mo: 12in, 9-12mo: 13in, child: 15in, adult: 18in.)


2. Before adding on the middle piece, scrunch the bow together and hot glue the elastic band on.



3. Add on the middle piece over the elastic and bow and hand sew it together.


4. Enjoy a big, perfect bow!

Skinny elastic   -   nylon band