diy: butterfly cupcake flags and wall decoration

I've got my fingers crossed that spring has finally arrived.
Finally.
Because this has been one looooong winter.

So to celebrate {hopefully} the arrival of Spring, I had a little fun playing with my Martha Stewart butterfly punch and some sweets.

And when cupcake flags weren't enough, I bent some of the butterflies' wings and gluesticked {totally a word} them fluttering up the wall.

I made the cupcake flags the same way I've done before {like here and here} by punching scrapbook paper and then hotgluing toothpicks to the back.

Tulips are my fave. :)

Now let's hope I didn't jinx Spring and it's here to stay...
xoxo

This post was my monthly contribution to the #12monthsofmartha program.  To see my other projects, click here.

xoxo

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instagrammed.

Bits and pieces of our life through filtered iphone photos...
If you'd like to follow along with me on instagram, you can right here.
xoxo

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spring craft diy: floral monogram

Did you know March is National Craft Month?

Well...it is!  :)

And in honor of it, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores challenged their team of bloggers to create a project inspired by one of the trends featured in their spring craft site.  {And they've even included a coupon to get you started.  Yay!}

So in case you couldn't already tell...I chose the floral theme.

I've seen lots of pretty floral monograms and initials floating around etsy, and I've always wanted to try making one myself.

To make one you'll need:

cardboard letter(s)
enough faux flowers to cover the letter(s)
hot glue gun
scissors {optional}

Start by plucking the flowers off their stems.

My 2 year old assisted me here...for the small price of a handful of Skittles.

Some of the flowers had more stem remaining than others, so I just trimmed them with scissors to make the flowers as flat as possible.

After the flowers were all plucked and trimmed, I practiced arranging them how I thought I'd like them to be on the letter.

And then I just started to glue away.  {The whole process reminded me of when I made this wreath so long ago.}

After I glued the flowers to the top of the letter, I worked my way around the sides to fill it in more.

Such a simple project, but I love how delicate and feminine it is....I think all the moms in our life are going to be getting a floral monogram this Mother's Day! :)

xoxo

The preceding review is part of the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® National Craft Month campaign.  I received compensation for this review; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience.

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my fave birthday cake decorations

My monthly contribution to eighteen25. is up and today I'm sharing my favorite ways to dress up a birthday cake!

Click here to see them all!

xoxo

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St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends!

I hope you all wore something green...drank a Shamrock Shake...ate some corned beef and cabbage...and had an all around fun day!  {I did them all! :)}

Of course I couldn't let a holiday go by without some fun for our fave teachers, so I sent the boys to school today with some vintage {but I bought them fresh last week!} treats of pop and candy.

xoxo

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simple bento lunches for St. Patrick's Day

grapes, cucumbers, lucky charms, goldfish, peanut butter {shamrock} sandwiches

kiwi, sugar snap peas, mint m&ms, goldfish, shamrock peanut butter sandwich

Yes, I'm still making these every day. :)
Between the sun barely being up in the morning for pictures and feeling like I've shared every combo I've got...it's been awhile since I've posted.
But...
If you haven't made lunches for tomorrow already, here are a couple I made last week that have a St. Patrick's-y feel to them...basically I just grabbed my shamrock cookie cutters and whatever we had that was green and threw it in.  Ha!

xoxo

{if you'd like to see/pin some other simple bentos from earlier in the school year, click here}

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a St. Patrick's Day cake and the easiest cake topper ever

If you follow along with me on instagram, you already know I've been trying my hand at French macarons lately.

First batch:  awesomely awesome.  Taste good. Look good.  Surprised myself.  Thought it was a fluke.

And apparently it was.

Second batch: taste good, look awful.
Third batch: swear words flying.

So fresh off my frustration with the macarons, I went to something I couldn't mess up.
The cake.

And being the overly festive girl that I am, I put together the quickest toppers ever.  {Next to these!}

Just punch, hot glue to a toothpick, and call it good.
I love quick crafts that can't go wrong. :)

xoxo

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instagrammed.

A little peek into projects lately...
if you'd like to follow along on instagram, I'm @aprettycoollife 
xoxo

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Paczki Day and 40 bags in 40 days

If you follow me on instagram, you already know we spent the day stuffing our faces with paczki.  

So that means Lent starts tomorrow...and so does my annual 40 bags in 40 days.
I've always been super inspired by Sarah and her no-nonsense, no-clutter approach to things.
I'll dream about having my act that together one day. ;)

Until then...break out the Hefty bags!
xoxo

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