Create-Celebrate-Explore

Get Creative With The Lorax: It's Party Time

I am the last stop on the Get Creative With The Lorax Blog Tour, so please stay a while and enjoy some treats because it's party time!  We are not only going to be celebrating Dr Seuss' The Lorax which is being released on March 2nd, but also celebrating Dr. Seuss Birthday, which is the same day. 

 

There is a wonderful environmental message behind The Lorax, so I wanted to incorporate some tips for greening up your Dr. Seuss party plans.

 

Even when it comes to baking delicious cupcakes, you can be kinder to the environment by using  cupcake liners that are biodegradable.   I just love my silicone baking cups too, they are easy to clean, and can be re-used over and over again.

Note: The cupcake toppers were made by printing The Lorax Reflection Activity Sheet, cutting out the discs and attaching them to toothpicks.

When celebrating with children, it is not always possible to use plates that won't break, but that doesn't mean you can't use more eco-friendly products such as bamboo, or the ones that I have used for this party which are compostable and made from wheat stalks.   The cutlery is compostable plastic made from plant materials.  And of course if you do use straws, I prefer paper ones as they can be recycled. 

 

Instead of serving juice boxes (with plastic straws), or soda to the kids, fill a beverage dispenser and leave out glass bottles of water.  Serve beverages in re-useable glass bottles or jars.

My party tip:  If you are using jars instead of bottles to serve beverages, turn your straws into truffula trees that tickle your nose when you are drinking.   Kids will love it. 

Note: The Lorax face on the beverage dispenser was made by printing the pumpkin carving template available on The Lorax Movie site, under downloads.

 

I thought the chocolate 'seeds' were a nice touch for the party treats.

   

Glass vases, hurricane candle holders, bowls, and canning jars are another great way to present your party treats.  Finn and Gil's jelly pond treats were made by pouring the jelly into canning jars and refrigerating until set.  The lids help protect your treats from bugs, and little fingers, plus you can pop these jars into a shallow ice bucket to keep the jelly cold.

Another thing I love to use for parties is fabric, bed sheets, or tablecloths for both back drops, and to cover tables rather than plastic table covers.

When planning your party food, get to know what your characters like.  Do you know what the characters of The Lorax love to eat?

Finn and Gil: Marshmallows

Bill: Truffula Fruit

The Lorax: Truffula Berry Pancakes

Pip: Mini Marshmallows

These should give you some great ideas for your Dr. Seuss' The Lorax party. 

I made some delicious blueberry pancakes for our party table.  I used my standard pancake recipe, then added in about 1/3 of a tub of fresh chopped blueberries.  Then I used circular metal rings in the pan to make the perfect little round pancakes pictured.  Note: Make sure to spray the rings before using so the pancakes don't stick to them.  Once you flip the pancakes, carefully remove the metal rings (not with your fingers silly), and set them aside to cool for a few moments before making your next batch.

Now a party doesn't just begin or end with food.  The other ladies on The Lorax Blog Tour have lined up some fabulous things to do that would be a great addition to your Dr. Seuss' The Lorax party.

 

Today’s Creative Blog:

The Lorax Mustaches and Temporary Tattoos     

 Katydid and Kid:

Recycled Puppet Theater

 Zakka Life:

Truffula Tree Pencils

 Smashed Peas & Carrots:

Roll A Dice Lorax Game

 WhiMSy love:

Vinyl Mustache Pillow

 Little Birdie Secrets:

A Garden Pot Wrapper (or party hat)

 Art Projects For Kids:

Truffula Trees - Yarn Pom Pom’s on Twigs

Dabbled:

The Truffula Tree-Shirt

Prudent Baby:

“UNLESS” Garden Stones 

Tonya Staab: 

waving hello, you are currently here.     

 

 

 

Follow The Lorax on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.

 

Disclosure:  This post was written as part of the Get Creative With The Lorax Blog Tour in support of Universal Pictures’ DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX that is in theaters on March 2.  I was compensated.

 

Kitchen Thrift Store Finds

I am a little addicted to finding thrift store items and making them over.

This wooden rack I found the same day, and at the same Goodwill store, as the one I used for Marisol's kitchen.   At the time I wasn't sure which one I would use for her kitchen, but knew that I would use the other either in one of the bathrooms, or in our own kitchen.  It was only $2.99, and was unfinished wood, so I freshened it up with a pop of color.

I had found the banana stand a few weeks earlier at the same Goodwill store for 99c.  It had a painted yellow wood base but needed to be brightened up a little, so a few coats of red paint were applied.

I found a lot of the items for the shelf at the same Goodwill store.  The yellow jugs were $2.99 each (from memory), the little gold apple bell was 99c, the white vase/utensil holder (I'm not quite sure what it is intended for, but I think it's perfect for tea spoons and stirrers for a tea party) was $1.99, and the lovely plate above the shelf was 99c too.

Thrift Store Shelf Makeover

Over the years I have been adding to Marisol's kitchen set.  We bought her a sweet Kidcraft pink kitchen when she was 2 (so about 3 years ago).  Each year since I've given her new accessories to build on the basic set so she never tires of it.  And she hasn't.  She loves having tea parties for her dolls, and for us, and is often in her bedroom whipping up something fabulous.

For Christmas I had planned on giving her a small rack with some more wooden food items but time got away from me and although I had picked up a fabulous towel holder with shelf above it for only $1.99 at Goodwill, I didn't seem to have enough time to get it sanded and painted.  So today, she got a belated Christmas gift.

This was the towel rail with shelf that I purchased ... fabulous deal for $1.99.

After a lot of sanding, applying a sealer, and three coats of paint, it was looking lovely, but needed a little something extra.  So I painted the towel rail silver to match the silver on her kitchen and then cut pieces of scrapbook paper and attached them to each section of the shelf using mod podge, you can see the subtle pattern in the second photo below.

She was thrilled with the results.   I loved the addition of the tea towel, which although was a little expensive at $5.99 from Marshalls, was just perfect and I couldn't resist giving it to her.

I can't wait to finish decorating her bedroom and share photographs.  It seems to be a long process though.

This post linked to:

Multiples and More: Holiday Crafting with Kids

Kids love to be involved in entertaining.  When they see you decorating, they want to know if they can help (at least little ones do, once they get older, not so much).   Have your kids make something they can be proud of this holiday season.  I have a tutorial for these very sparkly napkin rings over at Multiples and More.  This project is quick, easy and the kids will love it.  Plus, who doesn't want to add some sparkle to their holiday entertaining.

Kidzui Blog: Tree Art

Come on over to the Kidzui Blog to get the tutorial on how to make this fun Fall Tree Art craft with your kids.

Multiples and More: Eyeball Photo Prop

Looking for a last minute Halloween craft project for the kids?  I'm over at Multiples and More today sharing how to make a fun eyeball photo prop using egg cartons.

How To: Organize Fabric Scraps

I picked up this lovely old cassette tape tray at a thrift shop a month or so ago for $3.  

Before I had even left the store I knew what I wanted to do with it.

Store all of those lovely scraps of fabric that I hang onto for various projects.

How do you organize fabric scraps?

 

Kidzui Blog: A Halloween Craft

I'm so happy to announce that I've joined the blogging team at Kidzui.  I will be regularly providing  craft activities that parents can do with their children (or that children can do on their own).  Subscribe to the Kidzui blog and stay up-to-date with all the fun things they have going on over there.  And if you aren't using the Kidzui Internet Browser when your kids are on-line, check it out and download it because our kids really don't need to be accidentally stumbling onto a site that they should not be seeing.  And, it's FREE!

My first post How to Make a Fun Halloween Activity for Kids went live today and I would love it if you could swing by and say hello and use the tutorial to make this fun activity with your kids this Halloween.

AS SEEN ON:

Babble ... Modern Parents Messy Kids ... VolunteerSpot

Tea Party Tableware

I don't think it's any secret that I am a huge fan of Marshalls.  I shop there frequently.  I always seem to find great bargains, especially items for the house.

A while ago I found some very pretty tableware, however there were only 4 small plates, 4 cups and 1 dinner plate left.  I wandered around the store picking up other bits and pieces while debating whether I should grab this too.  It was just too pretty to leave behind though and I spent less than $10 for it.  Who can possibly pass up a pretty bargain.

I decided in the store that I would turn the larger plate into a cake stand and then this set would make lovely tea party tableware for when I have girlfriends over to visit.

This project of course had flitted to the back of my mind recently, you know, with moving house and my office/craft room being in a right royal mess still.   Then, whilst staring starry eyed at Pinterest the other day I came across this.  It seems that Brenda of Cozy Little House has the same tableware, she has found some lovely co-ordinating items too.  It jogged my mind that I still hadn't done anything with my lovely set.  So I dug it out of one of the boxes in my office, then headed to a local thrift store where I found two lovely candle sticks for $1.99/set - I now have a spare for the next lovely plate I find to build on my dessert plate obsession.

You are going to need some seriously strong glue to hold this together, but isn't it lovely.

Such a pretty pattern.  In the words of Miss M: "I like flowers".

I like cake too.

This would also make a lovely dessert stand, don't you think?

Now who is going to come over and enjoy cake and tea with me?

A Fall Banner

Today I am over at Multiples and More with my monthly Crafting With Kids project.

This month the kids and I made a fun apple banner in preparation for Fall.

I am also over at the CheapSally blog today talking about the location based app Foursquare and how you can save money where you live.  So come on over and say hello.

 

AS SEEN ON:

Babble ... Today's Mama ... Fun Family Crafts ... My Blessed Life