First Birthday -- 12 Month Banner

This was my absolute favorite thing to put together for our girls first birthday.  I saw variations of these all over pinterest and it instantly became my must have decoration (and keepsake) for their birthday.  I went off of this one from Modern Parent Messy Kids but with a definite variation as I wanted circles and a little background color/paper.

Materials Needed:

- 13 Large Paint Chip samples (per banner) - (FREE)

- 1 or 2 sheets of scrapbook paper ($1)

- 1 pack of number stickers ($2.50)

- 1 pack of letter stickers ($1) 

- pictures galore (1 picture for each month - $1.50 or FREE if you already have some on hand)

- 3 round objects in various sizes (I used a tin candle can, a spool of ribbon and a measuring cup)

-scissors

-glue stick

Step 1: Cut out rounds of your pictures, paint chips and scrapbook paper.  I used my largest circle to cut out the paint chip, then next largest for the paper and then smallest circle for the picture.  You could do this in different order.

Step 2:  After figuring out your layout preference; Glue your bottom layer to your middle layer.  After gluing I placed them under a heavy book to prevent curling. 

Step 3:  Once your bottom/middle layer are dried then glue your pictures onto the paper.  Once again I dried these under a heavy book to prevent curling. 

Step 4:  After all layers of paper and pictures are dried then add a number to each picture to display the month that it represents in your child's life.  I put month 12 in a larger middle picture and then NB (newborn) through 11 months on the sides.  This made an even 6 pictures per side. 

Step 5:  Tape, staple, clip or otherwise fasten your pictures to yarn, string, wire, crochete thread (my choice), hemp string or whatever else strike your fancy or decor motif.

I couldn't help but share pictures (close up) of both banners I made.  I can't be playing favorites now can I??  Love these girls!!

*I had most of my materials on hand so I am putting this down as an Under $5 project (it might cost a couple dollars more if you have to buy supplies or pictures).

First Birthday -- Cupcake Wreath

Due to the girls birthday being 3 days after Christmas I wanted to get rid of anything Christmas related (at least upstairs where the party was held) and add a bit of birthday decoration and fun color.  One thing I came across that I found fun when dealing with cupcake liners was a ball with cupcake liners stuck into the middle with pins and glue.  I didn't have time or patience to do a bunch of balls but I thought this would be cute as a door wreath.
I stole another idea to use pipe foam covers to form a wreath.  It bent as was the prediction on one site and so I inserted a wire hanger through the middle to maintain the shape.  Then I went to town with my cupcake liners and straight pins.  I didn't use glue as I only expected this to last a day or two and didn't want to take the extra time.  I enjoyed how it turned out and I still have it hanging up (in the house of course now...it would have never lasted in the snow)

Also loving a couple other ideas for cupcake liners...check these out.  Oh the things you never knew you could do with a cupcake liner:

found here

&

here

Birthday Party -- Tiered Plate

I raided pinterest.com for birthday party ideas.  I wanted to do cupcakes and I wanted something fun and in the color scheme still to put the cupcakes on.  I found many different tiered plate ideas (candlesticks, small juice cups, etc) but nothing stood out to me.  Then I found this project and fell in love with the look and the idea.  I won't be posting a tutorial on this as I think Backless Shirt blog has an awesome instructional.

my finished products

tiered plates at hard work...holding up delicious cupcakes

First Birthday Party...

Our twin girls turned 1 year old just after Christmas.  I prepared early...I wanted to have a cute birthday party and I wanted to enjoy our first holidays with them also.  I decided on a cupcake theme.  I planned on making cupcakes for their party and slightly larger cupcakes for them to eat...nothing fancy but something a little fun.  I picked out some paint swatches at my local store to keep my color theme in check and also to make birthday banners out of.  I found cupcake wrapping paper, matching cupcake liners, balloons, a tiered dessert tray craft for cupcakes, iron-on cupcakes for a birthday shirt and even little cupcake plates.  Yep I went with it and it came together pretty nicely (I think).  Here are some pictures of the event.  I will be sharing links and tutorials on how everything came together throughout this month (I hope...that's the plan).

 Seren playing with her cousins by the presents as the party began

 Tiered plates with cupcakes in hot pink, green apple and teal

 Singing happy birthday while keeping candles at bay

 Seren loving her first real taste of sugar

 Kendall with her sugar buzzed look

 Seren in all her cupcake and icing glory

 Kendall with her demolished cupcake and icing

 Back of their personalized birthday shirts

 Family photo op before opening presents

 Kendall playing with her cousins and a toy from Christmas

 Seren playing with the cousins

 Kendall's birthday banner -- these were my favorite touch/decoration

 Seren's birthday banner 

the aftermath --balloons hanging over the kitchen table