Oh My Gluestick

Outdoor Movie Party by Oh My Gluestick

2012-01-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we celebrated our sweet little girl's 6th birthday. She specifically asked for a movie party which got the wheels turning in this party mom's head. We live in Houston and there's always a really good chance that in January, we can party outdoors. This is how I like to do things since our yard is way more accommodating than our house. I decided we would do an outdoor movie party and things just fell in to place after that. Thank goodness for unseasonable seasons!

Sadly, I was so caught up in the craziness of hosting and accommodating a mass of 5 & 6 year-olds on a sugar high, that I didn't realize my camera was on the wrong setting. I got zilch in the awesome photo department, but the memories will last regardless.

We had a great area of benches and covered pallets set up for the kids to lounge around with pillows and blankets while tables and chairs were seated directly behind for the grownups to enjoy the movie as well.

A little photo area was set up for the cuties to pose with 'staches in front of a vintage frame. They were so cute trying to cram all together and pose. Priceless.

We ate popcorn, pizza, and a ton of sugar under the stars while watching Despicable Me.

For dessert, we served chocolate chip buttercream cupcakes made to look like small buckets of popcorn. The wrappers were made by Oh My Gluestick as were the invitations and favor bag tags, & candy buffet labels that looked like little movie tickets. Chocolate toffee popcorn served as the favors in plastic popcorn containers found in the dollar spot at Target. I stumbled across an unopened box of 500 popcorn bags at a thrift store. That was a very good day!

The birthday cake was a fabulous creation by a local bakery Celebrations and Sweet Creations who gave me exactly what I asked for and turned my vision in to a delicious chocolate mousse filled cake!

The essentials:

Outdoor movie parties call for 3 essentials in these parts (aside from good concessions). They are blankets, bug spray, and lighting. You have to be careful how much light you put out when using a projector as you don't want to compromise the picture. However, you also don't want to fall on your face on your way to get more grub. My solution was glow sticks in mason jars. I found the jars for super cheap at our local HEB back in October. They have since been sitting in the garage waiting for their chance to shine.

Favorite finds:

My favorite accents are those I stumbled upon at thrift stores. I absolutely adore the wooden Napa Valley wine box that was used to hold the popcorn favor containers. Price $8. A little iron stand caught my eye for $2 that was perfect to hold the bug spray. The "concessions" sign probably takes the cake for me. I found an old cabinet door last year and spray painted it black with the intention of using it at our Halloween party. I never got around to doing what I wanted, so I hand painted the word CONCESSIONS on it and will now hang it over our pantry door in the kitchen since my 3 year old announced to my daughter, "Concessions means SNACKS!". Priceless. And last, the blanket bucket was a curbside freebie. Yes. Someone. Was. Throwing. That. Out. Perish the thought and happy day for me!

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The highlights of my popcorn adventure:

I have never made popcorn from kernels before. That is, I've only made microwavable popcorn and managed to burn it nearly every time. It's a mystery to me how I can whip up goodies from scratch without a single problem, yet I can not operate my microwave to make popcorn. So, I googled how to do it* (see below for instructions), made a sample batch the weekend prior, and was prepared to go in full swing. I made 3 batches of caramel popcorn, 6 batches of chocolate toffee popcorn, and my sweet hubby ended up handling the 2 batches of butter popcorn so I could attend to early arrivals.

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*How I made fabulous, easy, and delicious popcorn via stove top:

Step 1:

Coat bottom of stock pot in thin layer of olive oil or Orville Redenbacher's Butter Flavor "Popping & Topping". That stuff is fab! You not only can pop your corn in it, but you can top it off after it's made. It tastes just like the stuff they use at the movie theatre. Yum! I also added a good bit of kosher salt on top of the oil, though I ended up salting at the end too.

Step2:

Pour kernels on top of oil and let set a minute to coat. I like to shake the bottom. Just pour enough corn to cover the bottom and don't overcrowd.

Step 3:

PUT A LID ON IT!

Step 4:

Turn on your burner. I have a gas stove and set mine on medium high. Within minutes you're pop-pop-popping your way to deliciousness. Once you hear things start to slow down, turn off the burner and remove.

Step 5:

Here's where it gets fun. Since I made a few sample batches the weekend before, I had time to practice to see what worked best.

Butter Popcorn:

I tried real butter and the "Popping & Topping" stuff. P&T was delish, so I stuck to that for the party and added in a good bit of kosher salt.

Salted Caramel Popcorn:

I bought two bags of the Kraft caramel meltable balls and made a ton of salted caramel corn. YUM! For this, I melted one bag of caramel, added in half a stick of butter, and 2 TBSP of water. Once melted, I shut burner off and added in popcorn. This caramel batch goes a long way! I coated two stock pots full of popcorn. Spread caramel corn on baking sheet and give a dose of kosher salt. Preheat oven to 300 and bake for 20 minutes, turning at the 10 minute mark. This gives it the extra crunch it needs and makes it heavenly.

Chocolate Toffee Popcorn:

Lay popcorn out on baking sheet. Preheat oven to 300. Take 1 cup of melted chocolate (I had some left over from the chocolate fountain though chocolate chips will work fine too) and drizzle over top. Stir around on sheet until nice and coated. Add kosher salt to taste and about a half a cup of heath toffee bits. Bake for 20 minutes, turning at the 10 minute mark.

Happy Halloween! {Sock Monkey Holiday Cards}

2011-10-12T05:49:00.001-07:00

New to Oh My Gluestick's shop! Get yours here

Super Mom, I am not

2011-09-30T07:47:00.001-07:00

The other day, we were in the car on our way somewhere. My 5 year old daughter was pointing out that I had forgotten to do something she wanted me to, or had asked for and of course I felt bad. I have so much guilt wrapped up in my mommy package. I want so much to do right by my children and don't doubt that I do. It's just very important to me that they have a better childhood than I did, so I tend to set {sometimes} crazy expectations for myself to accomplish the amazing.

Thing is, I can't always deliver the amazing no matter how good my intentions are. As hard as I am on myself, I know that I am a great mother. In that moment, I had some sort of clarity and said to my sweet girl, "Honey, I am not Super Mommy, I'm just a mommy. And while I try to do it all, sometimes I just can't. I'm human and may forget things sometimes, but I will always make an effort."

This is not always an easy concept for me to swallow, so I made a little reminder for myself. Maybe this will help other moms out there remember it's okay to not be "super" all the time.

Instant Porcelain Craft!

2011-09-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

I was in the garage the other day when I spotted a glass whiskey bottle I have been holding on to "just in case". I thought it was the bottle's day to shine. Literally. This was an ordinary looking glass bottle that transformed to beautiful white porcelain right before my eyes.

My husband needs to hurry and drink more liquor that comes in pretty bottles. I don't think he will argue.

I always have white and black spray paint around for those moments I become stricken with the desire to craft. Krylon is my favorite.
The bottom design was gorgeous painted! The flower just showed up when painted. It would have looked better had I not gotten impatient and put it down wet on the sand. Not my finest moment.

I added a little french accent to go with a new theme I'm working on. It turned out beautiful. Even my husband commented on it when he got home. I didn't think he'd even notice it. ;)

Beautiful Halloween Mason Jar Luminaries {for the kids}

2011-09-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

This was such a fun, messy craft to do with my little ones. I had seen this in a magazine with tissue paper, but couldn't find orange tissue anywhere. I figured party napkins would work well and the texture turned out so cool! They are bumpy like warty gourds. I bet crepe paper would be super cool too!

Supplies: Napkins, Mod Podge, Jars, Brushes. Prepare to get messy!Cut the napkins in to strips.Apply a small amount of Mod Podge at a time. Enough for one strip at a time.Overlap strips all away around jar to completely cover.You may have to help the smaller kids.So it doesn't have gaps like this. =)When it's all covered, let it dry.Once dry, cover completely in another layer of Mod Podge.Add embelishments of your choice in black paper.

I used the Cricut to cut out the shapes the kids wanted.

Fill with rice just enough to be able to insert and light a tea light.

Diaper Wreath

2011-09-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is easy peasy! Roll up two diapers at a time and tie to wire wreath mold. I made this one last year for a sweet friend's hospital door and it was rerouted to her front door. She loved it so much, she never took it down to use the diapers!

Boo Y'all!

2011-09-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

Enjoy a little Halloween freebie from Oh My Gluestick Click here to download freebie.

Cabinet Door Upcycled to Serving Tray

2011-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Oh my gluestick! I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Life has been fast and furious since my oldest started Kindergarten. I've been keeping up with homework, life with a three year old, and the trials of juggling a business around an infant's schedule. Life is good, but busy. In my *spare* time I still craft when I can. I need that outlet and to be brainless with something. Especially since I feel like I have no brain left.

I found a couple of old cabinet doors on our way home one day and immediately saw the potential. Project cabinet makeover ensues.

Before. Ewe.

Some gray flat paint and a walnut stain helped me get the look I wanted. {Thanks, Amanda!}

I hired an after school helper for next to nothing. Well. For nothing.

After sanding, adding a decal, hardware, and some grips to the bottom, my piece was finished!

Now, for something yummy and cold to drink to enjoy my new tray.

Teacher Gift

2011-08-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day for my sweet little Kindergartener! I can't believe it's real. Five years have just flown by in a blink. She's super excited and I am as well for her. For me, I am selfishly sad that I won't get to spend every waking minute with her as I have these past five years. She is the neatest little girl and to loose any time with her, although necessary, is just heartbreaking.

We put together a little gift for her teacher that I hope she will like. It's an assortment of goodies; a survival gift so to speak. I had seen one of these a while back somewhere in the world wide web {and wish I could credit the genius who came of with this idea!} and knew this would be fun for my princess to help put together. {The picture quality is not the best. It's late and the pictures are posting sideways and I am just over trying to get them to post correctly. Sorry for the odd sorts, but you get the idea.}

The front with an Oh My Gluestick original label {of course!}

The inside goodies include an assortment of chocolates, laffy taffy, pencils, personalized note cards by Oh My Gluestick, push pins, pencil grips, safe pins, pencils, and post it notes.
The note cards

The back with a message from my baby

Off to School!

2011-08-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

My sweet little princess is starting Kindergarten next week and I am just beside myself. I have been so distracted by the thoughts of her growing up and starting this big new adventure, that I have completely forgotten about a gift for her teacher. Two hours before it was time to go to "Meet the Teacher" today, I frantically whipped something up. It is inspired by the phrase "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON", something I really need to be doing instead of thinking about my baby leaving and tearing up every time I look at her. Pathetic, I know, but she is my sweet angel and this is hard business. I am elated for her and playing up the excitement to her face {but am just dying inside!}. I know I'm not alone, so here's a little something for those of you who have forgotten about the person that will be molding your percious darling 5 days a week.

This is a 3.5 x 3.5 print to fit in to an acrylic picture frame magnet. Get the FREE high res download by clicking here

Construction Digger Excavator Party Collection by Oh My Gluestick

2011-08-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Can you dig this party!? Get it now at http://ohmygluestick.com

Pretty Paisley Party Collection by Oh My Gluestick

2011-08-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

This is my new favorite color combo! Get it at http://ohmygluestick.com/

Popcorn and a Movie Party!

2011-07-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Whether it's a movie party or a get together to watch an awards show, this party collection is sure to have guests give you a standing ovation. All you need is some popcorn and a few movie treats to receive rave reviews. Below goodies are available at http://ohmygluestick.com/.

Original Sock Monkey Whimsy Party by Oh My Gluestick

2011-07-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

If you've been to the shop lately or checked out Facebook, you may have noticed this fabulous party collection by Oh My Gluestick. It's now available in the shop: http://ohmygluestick.com

Oh My Gluestick Products and Pricing

2011-06-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Father's Day Craft {Thank you, Martha}

2011-06-13T11:22:00.001-07:00

I really hope the kids and I can get to this sometime this week, because it is absolutely adorable! I have set aside some time to create a digital card, but I think this is going to have to be done as well! Thanks, Martha! You always know just what I need. Get the full instructions on Martha Stewart's website.

Get Wild!

2011-06-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

I had the most fun creating this package for a sweet client. I will be doing more leopard items very soon! Get it here: http://ohmygluestick.com/

Pool Party!

2011-06-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but it is H-O-T, HOT here in Texas! I would spend every day at the neighborhood pool if I could, and would certainly have a pool party every weekend if I had one in my own backyard! For those of you who are lucky enough to plan a pool party, here are a few items to help with the details for the Girls and the Boys!

All of these goodies are available at http://ohmygluestick.com/.

Original Sock Monkey Argyle Party Collection by Oh My Gluestick

2011-06-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

Lately, lots of folks have been copying my design. It's beyond the point of flattery and crossing the line of being inappropriate. Here's the original in all it's sock monkey glory. The entire line is available in the shop as well as any other printable goods you could dream up for me to create.

Ladybug! Ladybug!

2011-06-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Remember that nursery rhyme? It's horrible!

"Ladybug! Ladybug!
Fly away home.
Your house is on fire.
And your children all gone.
All except one,
And that's little Ann,
For she crept under
The frying pan."

My sweet little kiddos are obsessed with the real spotted bugs. I got them each a bug house from Michael's at the beginning of Spring. Shortly after, they spent hours in the grass hunting their prey. At the end of the day, my little girl had more than 20 in her house. It was amazing! She wanted to know all about them, what they ate, how they got their name, etc. My favorite answer for how they are named is found here.

I've been planning to do a ladybug theme party kit for over a year now. It wasn't until I was in the hospital last week that I actually sat down to do it. The reason was simple. My babies inspired this collection. I thought about them non-stop and the joy they get from ladybugs came to mind.

The entire collection is available in the shop. Each piece is also listed separately for "a la carte" purposes.

Another Attack

2011-05-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

It's Memorial Day and exactly one week since my last attack. Last Monday, I woke up around midnight with another painful attack.Within minutes, I was covered in sweat, the shakes, and chills. "Oh, no" I told my husband. "It's happening again!" Off to the ER I went again. Another CAT scan under my belt making it number 6. The amount of radiation at this point is a concern, but it showed surprising results that the fluid around my pancreas is decreasing which is a Godsend! The unfortunate news is I could potentially have another 2 to 3 attacks in the next 6 to 8 weeks that could land me back in the hospital. The thought is terrifying and sad.

I was released late Friday evening and am so thankful for that. When I was released from the hospital the first time, I promised my little girl I would be well enough for her dance recital. I stressed about it all last week, not being able to fulfill my promise, disappointing my sweet little girl, and the possibility of being forever sick. I feverishly pumped for breast milk at an almost over-achiever pace to try and keep up my supply which I was finally, slowly starting to rebuild. I missed another 4 days of my kids' lives and my sweet little newborn was just starting to rely on me for most of his meals. A huge setback, yes, but I am home and so very blessed and thankful to be.

Yesterday, I watched my beautiful little girl dance her heart out. She was amazing and so happy. The thought of almost missing that pains me and shakes me to my core. The words "You're lucky to be alive" haunts me and makes me fight for this life. Last night, I found one of my nightgowns in her bed. When I asked about it, my husband told me she was sleeping on my side of the bed when I was gone and had a bad dream. She took my nightgown to her bed for comfort and cried. I cried at hearing this thinking about my sweet little 5 year old worried and scared for her Mommy. My sweet and super-mushy 3 year old has always been a little Mommy's boy, but now he is more clingy than ever and afraid to let me out of his site. I pray to God for His grace to keep me healthy and to give me a long life with my babies who I wanted more than anything in this world.

I'm fearful of what lies ahead. My life is forever changed. I am more connected to how precious this life is and how important each minute of every day is.

I'm still moving forward with the shop and will continue to design and fulfill orders for as long as I can. Please keep our family in your prayers and enjoy your own families with all your heart.

A wild ride, but I'm here!

2011-05-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hey gang!

I know it's been a while since I've posted. It has been a busy few months. My sweet baby was born in the middle of March and we have been blissfully working him in to our routine. He is our third, so life has been a little chaotic and lots of fun watching my two toddlers drool and fawn over him.

Recently, things got a little hairy. Five weeks after sweet pea was born, my husband took me to the ER clinic for abdominal pain. After four hours, three painful attempts at an IV, gobs of blood work and x-rays, and one CT scan, I was released and told it was constipation. I was sent home doped up on morphine and zofran and told to drink magnesium citrate to "move things along". I went home and quickly filled the kids' Easter baskets as it was the night before Easter and all I could think about was if something happened to me, the Easter bunny wouldn't come. I followed the doctor's orders and drank the salty liquid. By then, the pain and nausea medicine had fully worn off. An hour later, I was violently ill and in so much pain I was begging for death. My husband rushed me back to the ER with all three kids in tow. This time, it was 2:00 a.m. Easter morning and I was in more pain than I had ever experienced even with three C-sections under my belt. The doctor refused to give me pain medicine this time and insisted I was "loaded" as he laughed off my pain. I begged him for help and 45 minutes later he finally agreed to admit me. After five painful hours of waiting, they said a room had opened up and I was finally taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Thankfully, I was seen by another doctor who took one look at me and knew something else was wrong. It turns out, I had passed a gallstone and it was lodged in the pancreatic bile duct causing a serious case of acute pancreatitis. Who knew the pancreas was such a mean little organ! I had my gallbladder removed and was hospitalized for 8 days. During this time, I tried as hard as I could to maintain my breast milk for my sweet newborn, but struggled as I wasn't allowed to eat and had become dehydrated. I am still struggling to nurse him and have to supplement with formula. He was the only one out of all three kids that I had successfully nursed from the beginning without having to supplement with formula. That is, until the night I was admitted. In the beginning, I was still producing, but had to pump and dump my liquid gold due to all the barium I had to drink & the contrast entered in my bloodstream for the five CT scans they had run checking on the complications from the pancreatitis.

I've been home for a couple of weeks and am taking things day by day. I've developed stomach ulcers, have 3rd degree burns internally and have a restricted diet, but I am home with my babies and that is the motivation I need to get well. I was so sick in the hospital, I couldn't bear for them to see me until two days before I was released.

I had planned on returning to the shop before now, but recovering from my little battle has been more emotional than anything else. I am finally in a place where I don't cry every day and the thought of leaving my children behind without a mommy doesn't haunt me as much as it did when I was first released. I am getting stronger each day and desperately trying to get life back to normal. I'm fighting to nurse my baby and to comfort my older babies who are scared Mommy will leave again. I have an amazing GI doctor who has a plan for me and is monitoring my development closely. I feel like I am on the mend.

On a trial basis, I am reopening the shop with the hopes to get a little normalcy back and to help with the finances. Thankfully, I'm alive and I have my babies close to me. That is all I could ever ask for from this world. Please keep my family in your prayers.

Sincerely,
Tommie

St. Patty's Day Freebie from Oh My Gluestick

2011-03-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last year, the kids and I had such a blast throwing an all green party for St. Patty's Day. With the baby due any day, we won't be able to pull it off this year. I hope you can use these freebies for your own fabulous green party!

Get your free download here

It's time!

2011-02-18T18:28:00.001-08:00

Yep! I am 4 weeks (or less) from meeting my sweet baby. In an attempt to keep my sanity and prepare the family for our new addition, I am taking the shop down and going on a "maternity leave" of sorts. I have no idea when I will be able to reopen since I haven't met this person yet and have no idea what life will be like. Judging the past 8 months, this kid will never sleep and judging my life with my other two, I will be so head over heels in love that I will neglect all other avenues of life.

Please feel free to reach out via email, but know that you may get a very delayed response. Thanks to all the support and encouragement I have received over the past two years and especially the past several months. I have made some incredible connections through this venue and look forward to keeping you posted through the sleepless rants and delirium.

With love and graditude,
Tommie
ohmygluestick@yahoo.com

Sock Monkey Valentines

2011-01-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

For the sock monkey fans, this one's for you. My sweet Hubby has been encouraging these for over a year now, so here you go!

These sweet valentines are available at http://ohmygluestick.com/

A cupcake takes a stand

2011-01-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who makes fabulous cupcake stands. These are no ordinary cupcake stands. These are exquisite, elaborate, and beautiful stands that glorify the beloved cupcake. Recently, she designed one close to my heart and sent it to me. It's a sock monkey themed stand and I couldn't love it more. I was blown away when I opened the box at how well-done this stand is and how absolutely adorable it is. Even my husband was impressed!

Luckily, she made another one in likeness for a lucky winner. It's boxed and ready to go. The giveaway started on my Facebook page last week. If you missed it, you still have a chance to win! All you have to do is go to Joplin-Designz Facebook page and become a fan. Then, go to

Oh My Gluestick's Facebook page , find the below post and comment on it to let me know you're a Joplin-Designz fan:

You have until 3:00 CST today to enter. A winner will be announced this afternoon and will get a box of beautiful shortly.

Sock Monkey Polka Dot Twin Collection

2011-01-12T11:36:00.001-08:00

Sock Monkey Polka Dot Twin Collection now available at: http://ohmygluestick.com

Preggers is getting stressers

2011-01-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

I'm sweating this pregnancy a little bit. Not because our lives as we know it are about to change. Nope. I'm not so much worried about that, because I welcome the challenge and know I can handle it. I'm sweating the business. Yep. I've become that crazy work-a-holic who takes her laptop to the hospital with her, not because she wants to upload pics to share but because she wants to get orders out.

Now, I don't really foresee this happening. My husband will be there, after all, and would never allow this. However, I am sweating this "maternity leave" stuff. With my first child, I couldn't wait to get the heck out of the office when I worked my corporate job. With my second, I literally worked my last day when I conceived him. This is a different situation for me. I LOVE what I'm doing. I am finally at the place where things are taking off for me business-wise and I have to stop. I keep asking myself "How long do I really have to be off? I wonder when I will get to sneak off to the computer and get stuff done". When I have these thoughts, I immediately wonder how I got this crazy. I mean, this is my newborn I am negotiating time with as well as my beautiful, sweet toddlers. I guess I am having trouble with letting go for a bit from the independent part of me that I thought was gone the minute I decided to be a stay-at-home mom.

I've tried to find local help, but the great candidates who would be a good fit don't have hours that would be cohesive to sharing some of my work load. So here I am, with these crazy worries and feeling really stupid because I am concerned about this stuff at all. What I should really be focusing on is when this amazing little person is coming and how I can't wait to have that time.

So I digress and feel silly for sharing this at all.

FREEBIE: Valentine Party Circles

2011-01-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, here's a little OMG Valentine freebie!

Click here for your freebie. PDF file will be watermark free.

Sock Monkey Brown Polka Dot Collection

2011-01-10T15:19:00.001-08:00

Invitaiton

Sock Monkey Brown Polka Dot Collection now available at http://ohmygluestick.com/

Sock Monkey In Bug Car Green Party Collection

2011-01-10T15:15:00.001-08:00

Invitation

Sock Monkey In Bug Car Green Party Collection now available at http://ohmygluestick.com

Sock Monkey In Pink Bug Car Collection

2011-01-10T15:11:00.001-08:00

Invitation
Party Circles for Cupcake Toppers and More
This Collections is available at http://ohmygluestick.com

Sock Monkey Original

2011-01-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

This sock monkey design is Oh My Gluestick's original brand and is copywritten. Copying, sharing, selling, or stealing this or any other Oh My Gluestick design is illegal.

Invitation
Treat Bag Tags
Buffet Labels
Party Circles for Cupcake Toppers and more
8 Inch Hanging Sign

The Sock Monkey Original Collections is available at: http://ohmygluestick.com/

Sock Monkey Argyle Party Collection

2011-01-10T14:44:00.001-08:00

InvitationParty CirclesGift TagsBanner Letters

Now available at: http://ohmygluestick.com

It Takes All Kinds!

2011-01-06T12:19:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've dealt with some real weirdos, stalkers, and just plain mean people. I guess that's the nature of the business when you do something people like. You catch an eye and all hell breaks loose. Fortunately, there are laws and legal ways to protect yourself in these situations and I am fortunate to have support.

Thank you, to the amazing people who have stood by OMG for the past two years and thank you to the newest supporters. I truly am a blessed girl. I have an amazing family and because of them, I do what I do. I have fun with what I am doing and until it stops being fun, I will continue on this road.

I think you've hit success when you have someone who wants to ride your coatails, no matter how frustrating that concept is or the process is to get them off. I hit success long before all this madness when my sweet four-year-old princess told me she wants to be a designer just "like Mommy" when she grows up. She is constantly in awe of anything I create no matter if I think it stinks or not. What a wonderful gift I have in her.

Because I am full of love and mush, I thought I'd create a little freebie for the supporters. Again, thank you. I am humbled by your comments, your emails, and your continued praise. XO

Click here for your freebie.

Blueberry Hill Giveaway: Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

2010-12-27T17:59:00.001-08:00

After a weekend of horrible computer issues, I am SO happy to finally be able to select and announce a winner! Thanks to the Random number generator, for selecting the lucky winner! Congratulations, Addison K.A.T. and thank you so much for entering!

Jenn, thanks so much for providing us with such a spectacular giveaway! Your creations are amazing, and I LOVE my "Sam" hat! Thanks again.

Goo goo for this baby hat and a fun little giveaway!

2010-12-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever received something in the mail that was so delicious and adorable that you were just giddy with excitement? It happened to me earlier this week when I received this absolutely sweet little sock monkey hat from The Blueberry Hill. I squealed with delight and then immediately gushed to all my friends about how wonderful this shop was and how this little cupcake of a hat was SO going to the hospital with me in a few months to photograph my sweet little baby in! It's absolutely the cutest little hat I have ever had my hands on. The hat is super duper soft and was obviously made with the greatest of care. Jenn from The Blueberry Hill has some major skills when it comes to handcrafting a beautiful, durable, and charming little gift. I have pulled it out three times this week just to rest on my baby bump imagining what my sweetie pie will look like in it. I can't wait!

I am totally partial to sock monkeys for a number of reasons, but I absolutely can not get enough of Jenn's site. There are so many sweet little treasures to choose from in a variety of themes, colors, and sizes. I will be purchasing the "Sam" Brown Bear hat next for my little one and have my eye on the "Taylor" Brown beanie for my little girl. Jenn even has the most delightful assortment of children's fedoras. Is there anything cuter than a tiny mite in a fedora!?

The prices are so nice, but to be even nicer, Jenn is offering 20% off her entire site from now until December 31st. Use coupon code GLUESTICK at checkout to get your discount.

If that isn't enough already, she is giving away the "Max" Knit Sock Monkey hat to one of my lucky readers! Bonus! All you have to do is go to her site, check it out, and come back to my blog and leave a comment on this post about what your favorite item is. The giveaway ends next Thursday and the lucky winner will be announced on Christmas Eve!

Jenn will send the lucky winner the prize, but in order for me to get her info to you, you must have your email address available so that we can contact you.

Good luck to all and happy shopping! Don't miss out on the coupon!

Snowman Baggie Tags- Holiday Freebie

2010-12-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

These were a hit on snack bags filled with red & green holiday M&Ms for my daughter's ballet class. Fill them up with whatever you like for an inexpensive and adorable treat.

Get the free printable here.

Whoopie for Cookie Exchanges!

2010-12-11T06:56:00.000-08:00

Last night, I attended a super fun and yummy cookie exchange. It's a pregnant girl's dream, though I lusted over the beautiful candy cane martinis and thought, "If only". Not being able to drink didn't hold me back by any means. It only allowed me to enjoy the many delicious treats that were literally served up on silver platters. Oh my goodness, I hope some of the other girls share their treat recipes today as well!

My Gingerbread Whoopie Pies seemed to go over pretty well. There were none left, so that's always a good sign. I also served Chocolate Earthquake cookies that are not only tasty, they're pretty and easy peasy too.

I read the cutest bit about how Whoopie Pies got their names. It's said that children would get so excited to get these yummy treats that they would exclaim, "Whoopie!" in excitement. Adorable and I totally believe it! They are just that good.

Here is just one of the many, many sites providing more info on the Whoopie Pie.

And without further ado, here are the goods. Enjoy and happy eating!

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies:
(recipe adapted from McCormick's recipe)

Makes 30 mini cookies (These are not your normal size whoopie pies. The dough would only make about 12-15 normal size sandwiches, so double up if you want larger ones.)

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Refrigerate Time: 4 hours

Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes per batch (I baked them for exactly 8 minutes for each batch and they came out chewy. This is the goal, so don't over bake them. They should feel like moist little cupcakes right out of the over)

Ingredients
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

(1/4 cup granulated sugar-for rolling balls only. Not to be added to cookie dough)

Cream center:
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow cream
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
4 ounces (1/2 package) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (The recipe calls for lemon extract, but that is a lot of flavor going on with the gingerbread and peppermint, so I adjusted to vanilla instead)
Note: No matter what I did, the consistency of the cream center would just not hold up. I feel like the marshmallow cream kept me from being successful with it. I tried two attempts to make it and each time, the texture was gooey and runny; not what you want for such a delicious cookie. I ended up nixing the whole thing and opting for a can of cream cheese frosting at the last minute which was exactly the consistency I needed.
Next time, I will leave the cream out and try just an ordinary cream cheese frosting recipe with butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream cheese.

"Dressing"
1 cup crushed Andes cream peppermint candies

Directions
1. Cream wet ingredients. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.
2. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 1/2 to 1-inch balls (remember there is not enough dough in one batch to make the larger cookies).
4. Roll in granulated sugar to coat.
5. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
8. For the Cream center (see note above before making this), mix marshmallow cream, butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract in medium bowl until well blended.
9. To assemble whoopie pies, place about 1 tablespoon filling on the flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies.
10. Roll edge of cookies in crushed peppermint candy.

Store whoopie pies between layers of wax paper in airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days.

Chocolate Earthquake cookies:
(recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com)

Makes approximately 24 cookies
Prep Time: 1o minutes
Refrigerate Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes per batch

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup shortening
1 tablespoon water

(3/4 cup confectioners' sugar-for rolling balls only. Not to be added to cookie dough)

Directions
1. Cream wet ingredients. Gradually beat in cake mix on low speed until well mixed.
2. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 375°F.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, roll in powdered sugar.
5. Roll in powdered sugar to coat.
6. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Reindeer ornament craft

2010-12-09T16:10:00.001-08:00

I woke up in the middle of the night and thought about this ornament. I don't know why it occurred to me in the middle of the night, but luckily, I had all the goodies to whip these cuties up with the kids today.

Here's what you need:

popsicle (craft) sticks

brown pipe (chenille sticks) cleaners

red poms

hot glue gun

no sew glue

brown felt

buttons

brown ribbon

magnets (for second version)
brown card stock (for second version)

We did two versions. The first was the felt reindeer ornament. These is way easy for your four year old. She can do it with simple instructions. The two year old is going to need a teeny guidance.

Step 1: Lay popsicle sticks out in a triangle on the felt to get an idea of how big to cut your felt. Use the first triangle you cut as your guide to cut the other triangles out until you have enough for each kid.

Step 2: Give the kiddos their supplies. To assemble 1 felt ornament, they will need:

1 brown felt triangle

3 popsicle sticks

2 button eyes

1 red pom nose

1 brown pipe cleaner

no sew glue

Step 3: Glue each popsicle stick to the edge of each side of the triangle with no sew glue. The sticks will need to lay directly on felt to stick well.

Step 4: Glue red pom nose on one of the triangle's corners.

Step 5: Glue button eyes on felt.

Step 6: Bend brown pipe cleaner in half and shape antlers however you choose.

Step 7: Once the reindeer is dry, flip it over and hot glue (mom) the antlers to the back.

Step 8: Loop ribbon and hot glue to the back.

Step 9: Don't forget to write your kid's name and year on the back! I just used a sharpie and wrote it on a scrap of white card stock and hot glued to the back when I did the ribbon and antlers.

Version 2

Everything is exactly the same except replace brown card stock for the brown felt. Instead of a ribbon hanger, hot glue a magnet to the back.

Reindeer hands -Kids' Craft

2010-12-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

~December 7, 2010~

The pictures don't do these near the justice. They are SO cute and the paper is sparkly and gorgeous. However, I have 5 minutes to get this post out, so they will just have to do.

I have always done this craft with my kids in some fashion or form since they were born. I try to mix it up every year and do it differently while still showing the progress of how big their little hands and feet get each year.

Sometimes, I do paint. Sometimes I trace their hands and cut out fabric and sew a reindeer together with their outlines. When we were kids, my mom made my grandmother a sweat shirt with all the kids hands and feet painted on in reindeer fashion. Another year, she did the same for her except traced and sewed on fabric instead of painting. The sewing is absolutely less messy, but by no means quicker.

This year, I wanted to do paint. It's quick, to the point, and I can decorate with the print any way I like.

Materials needed:

white card stock
decorative card stock
decorative ribbon
glue dots
craft paint (brown, red, black)
craft paint sponge
wipes (have these handy from the beginning or you may be sorry)

Directions:

1. Using paint sponge, spread brown paint on one of the kid's feet and press (toes up) on to white card stock.

2. Wipe paint off immediately. I learned the hard way the first time I did this with my infant daughter. There is absolutely no time to go and get the wipes once the paint is on. Trust me. Keep them next to your kid from the get go.

3. Hands are next. One at a time and repeat step 2.

4. Set aside to dry.

5. Once prints are dry, use your finger to paint on a red nose and two black eyes (googley eyes can be substituted and are way cute. I have no idea where I hid them this year). Let dry.

6. You can be done or move on to mounting the print like I did.

To mount:

I decided to mount the dried prints on a 12x12 sheet of glittered card stock scrapbooking paper from one of my many paper packs. To keep this project cute, but still short and sweet, I used glue dots for everything. After mounting the print, I used glue dots to attach a ribbon outline to the print and give it a three-dimensional border. Next, I punched holes in the top corners and ran a string of wide ribbon through each hole securing the back with glue dots. Last, I took another piece of ribbon and tied a big Texas size bow on the top right hand side, directly on the hanging ribbon.

Easy peasy and it only took minutes. They are hanging on our show board in the kitchen where the kids' projects are displayed.

Fun and Funky Christmas tent cards

2010-12-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

Anyone throwing a hot cookie exchange party this year? Have you thought about cookie labels? Perhaps the fun and funky Christmas tent cards will fit in to your theme.

These are inspired by a vintage invitation I created for a client yesterday. I love these colors together and thought they would be fun as cookie exchange cards, place cards, gift tags, or whatever you can come up with!

All you do is print the file, cut the cards out and fold them in half. Even the back of the tent card is designed. The file is blank and comes with four to a sheet. Print as many as you want and enjoy!

Get your *freebie here.

*These are for personal use only.

Dear Santa,

2010-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago (probably before Halloween), the sales papers and booklets started flying in advertising every toy under the sun. My sweet hubby gave each of the kids a different color crayon and told them to take turns with the Target toy booklet (my brother carried around the JC Penney winter catalog for the entire month of Dec when he was little) circling what they want Santa to bring them. He reminded them that just because they circled an item did not mean they were getting everything they circled. He explained that this was just to get an idea of what they want so we can narrow it down in a letter to Santa.

Today we are all sick. We have been sick for a week now, and the best way to get over those icky feelings in to shop! Not really, but we are going to go back through the Target toy booklet and write our letters to Santa.

Every year, I write a letter to Santa and every year he writes one back. He leaves it either on the Christmas tree or next to the plate of half eaten cookies and carrot sticks (for the reindeer, of course!). I always design something different for the letter to him. This year, it's *free for OMG readers. You can download it here. Enjoy!

*For personal use only.

OMG Designed some to & from labels and wanted to share!

2010-12-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I buy these every year. I am totally capable of creating these for literally pennies. This year, I decided to do it and so glad I have these handy! I am ready to start wrapping the goodies that Amazon delivered this week!

Enjoy a sheet of 30 labels featuring 13 different designs! These were created using Avery printable labels, template 5160.

You can get your *freebie here.

*These are for personal use only as are all of OMG's free designs. Please do not sell, copy, or redistribute in any way.

Happy Holidays! Snowman Door Sign

2010-12-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

When I was little, I lived where we used to get snow. It wasn't the best snow. It was more like snow, then immediate frozen ice. However, on occasion, we would get a really nice snow perfect enough to build a snowman. This was one of my favorite things to do as a little girl with my Granddaddy. I have the best memories making these white men and dressing them up with our old clothes, Granddad's hats, and even an old corn cob pipe my uncle brought back from some trip.

I created this door hanger as an homage to Dear, Granddaddy. This snowman is pretty close to what we used to make; button eyes, carrot nose, tree branch arms wearing mittens, a funny hat, and the corn cob pipe. I left the pipe off since I am sharing this with other families. I don't want to introduce a pipe and what it's used for to my own kiddos though I realize we will probably catch Frosty the Snowman this year and will be asked then.

Go get your free one here!

Shoes off, please

2010-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

I am fanatical about having a shoe-free home. I'm also a bit of a germaphobe, so there you go. I have two toddlers and a baby on the way and the thought of any of them crawling around on a floor covered in germs from places I am not allowed to clean, repulses me. Anytime someone dares to wear shoes in my house, all I can think of is, "What public bathrooms have those shoes walked across?" or worse!

Being so adamant about shoes off in my house also leaves me with a bit of a challenge. I want people to feel welcome in my home and hate policing my policy. I feel like a meanie asking people to take off their kicks, but at the same time, I want my floors safe for the kids. I just don't have time to bleach down every surface after a guest leaves, so I came up with a fun way to get the message across loud and clear without feeling like the shoe police.

Mind you, this idea came to me yesterday while I was, in fact, bleaching down the floors.

Attention fellow shoe police people:
The sign is free and available for your personal use here

Handmade Advent Calendar

2010-11-26T15:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We were so blessed in so many ways that it really made this year the best yet.
Now that November is coming to a close, it's time to really gear up for the holidays. For the crafty people who would like to do something a little special or different this year, I created three files full of December calendar days for you to create your own advent calendar. Cut out the square or punch them in to circles or scallops and attach to little envelopes filled with treats. If you have a better idea, leave us a comment letting us know how brilliant you are!

Remember to download all three. Get your files here:
File 1
File 2
File 3

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

2010-11-20T13:32:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year and this is one of my absolute favorite desserts to make. Enjoy!

Ingredients for roll:

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
¾ cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
½ tsp cinnamon

Mix ingredients. Grease cookie sheet then line with wax paper. Spread batter evenly on cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 375. Powder sugar a tea towel with sifter. Turn baked pumpkin onto towel. Gently peel off wax paper. Roll pumpkin up in towel. Let cool.

Ingredients for filling

1 pkg cream cheese
1 tsp butter
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix filling ingredients. Unroll pumpkin loaf from towel once cooled. Spread filling evenly over pumpkin, then re-roll. Cover with wax paper and saran wrap; store in refrigerator, or it can be frozen.

Makes 1 roll

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole (A yummy recipe for your holiday leftovers!)

2010-11-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

Last night, I tried a new recipe. It basically combines everything you would separate as dishes and throws it all in to one dish. Sold!

This recipe would be super perfect for your left-over turkey and dressing! Enjoy.

Ingredients (my way):
2 chicken breasts
1 bunch fresh broccoli
1 box generic cornbread stuffing
1 can cream of mushroom
1 cup milk
2 cups of cheese

1. Broil the chicken breasts at 500 for 8 minutes on each side. Don't put raw chicken in your casserole! Yuck!

2. Cook the stuffing mix according to box and set aside.

3. Wash veggies, cut, etc and set to side.

4. In small bowl, combine milk and cream of mushroom.

5. When chicken is done, dice into chunks.

6. Grease 9x13 casserole dish. Toss in veggies, stuffing, and chicken. Pour soup and milk mixture and stir to coat veggies, stuffing, and chicken.

7. Bake at 400 for for 20 minutes.

8. Add cheese to top and let melt in oven for 5 or so minutes until melted.

9. Watch it disappear!

Thomas's wall letters get yet another make-over!

2010-11-18T11:32:00.000-08:00

These letters have been green, black, and now brown. The first theme was frogs, then monkeys, now they just match his adorable, colorful animal bedding. So far, I like them this way the best.

Make your own wall letters with OMG's free tutorial !

Tay's Butterfly Mobile

2010-11-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

I finally got a chance to sit down and make my daughter's butterfly mobile for her newly (two months ago) painted and redecorated room. It has been a process since I have been so busy with orders and the pregnancy that I haven't been able to get to the really fun stuff. Like this!

To assemble the hanging part of the mobile, I used two freshly cut branches from one of my giving trees, the Crepe Myrtle. She always allows me to cut her branches throughout the year to craft something fun. I crossed the branches and used string in the center to strengthen and tighten them. I used a bit of Elmer's glue to hold down the end of the string and set it aside to dry while I cut my butterflies out.The supplies I used to create the butterflies were:

My Cricut
the Serenade cartridge (LOVE THIS ONE!)
the DCWV Sweet stack

The supplies I used to hang the mobile and the layers of butterflies were:

Fishing wire from Granddad's old tackle box (this stuff has lasted forever and I am always crafting with it!)
Eye hooks (#212 Crown Bolt brand)
Glue dots

I cut out eighty 2" butterflies to assemble to the fishing line. Once I this branches were dry, I added the eye hooks to the top of them, one in each branch. I then ran the fishing line through the eye hooks and tied them together at the top to created my "hanger".

To start the assembly of the butterfly part, I did the following:

1. I hung the branch hanger from my light fixture in my kitchen so I could work on the mobile while it hung. This was the easiest way for me to assemble the lines of butterflies without them getting tangled.

2. I started with four lines, each about 22 inches long and tied one in the middle of each branch between the outside edge and the middle joint where the branches intersect. From there, I went ahead and assembled each of them with 6 two-sided butterflies (12 total paper butterflies).

3. To attach the butterflies to the line, I adhered one glue dot in the middle of the butterfly on the white, non-design side (the back). I then attached it to the line, making sure the line stuck to the glue dot and attached the other butterfly side. When attaching the second butterfly side, make sure they line up as much as possible. Then, gently fold outward to create the 3d look.

4. After each line of 6 where created, I went around the ends of each branch and tied a line approximately 20 inches long. I repeated the above steps, but kept the outside lines to 4 two-sided butterflies each (8 total paper butterflies).

Free Turkey Place Cards! Gobble Gobble!

2010-11-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Make your Thanksgiving table look fabulous with a little extra detail. For free! Just download from here, print, cut, and add to a place card holder or create a tent card to glue these to for an inexpensive way to "dress" your turkey day table!

Vintage Monkey in Airplane {Party Goods}

2010-10-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

Now available at: ohmygluestick.com

Noah's Ark Invitation

2010-10-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Celebrate your sweetie pie's (or pies') birthday or baby shower with this Noah's Ark Invitation. It's customizable to suit your needs. Matching items can also be made to match.

Boo or Be Boo'd!

2010-10-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

Have you been "Boo'd" or ever "Boo'd" someone else? It is a fun little way to extend a little Halloween treat to neighbors and friends. Oh My Gluestick has created a free little kit to get you started. Get your free downloads and get started enjoying a little sneaky fun!

You will need to click and download the:
1. Instructions
2. Poem
3. Sign

Life of its own

2010-09-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today, I am just a little overwhelmed, a little hormonal, and a little pregnant! I spent the morning giving 7 viles of my blood for all the necessary pregnancy screenings and then the afternoon in the ER when my sweet boy split his eye open on one of our wooden barstools. It seems the more days that go on, the busier life gets with kids, work, and just living.

The shop has taken a life of its own and I am finally going to have to do what I have been putting off for months. Hire help! I badly need an assistant to help sort the masses of emails and free up my time to not only complete orders, but allow me to design new things; the very thing I am most passionate about (aside from my beautiful family, of course!).

If you or anyone you know who lives in the Houston area and is interested, please shoot me an email (gasp). Hesitating to publish this post, but too desperate not to....

Sincerely,
Tommie
ohmygluestick(at)yahoo(dot)com

Halloween Tree

2010-09-20T14:08:00.001-07:00

You might have remembered the Easter tree I did earlier this year. Well, I've made one for Halloween and love, love, LOVE it!

All you need is:

branches from your tree

an empty coffee can or bucket

plaster of paris or rocks (to weigh it down)

ties or fabric strips

2 cans of spray paint

tulle

decorations of your choice. I used my party circles.

Cut your branches. I used a young oak tree from my back yard. The same oak provided for the Easter tree as well.

Remove all leaves and cut to the shape you like. I combined clippings this time from three branches.

Place your branches in clean, empty coffe can or bucket.

Mix your plaster of paris. (unless you prefer to anchor your branches temporarily with rocks) This step is permanent and you will have to either store the tree or toss it.

Pour into coffe can or bucket.

Arrange branches in plaster mixture. You may need to use ties or strips of fabric to temporarily hold your branches together in the middle until the plaster sets. I let the tree rest and set overnight.

Paint entire tree including coffee can or bucket; even inside where plaster is. This will take several attempts. Tree branches are tricky to cover the first time around. It took hubby four attempts to get full coverage and used about 1 1/2 cans of spray paint.

Once tree dries, decorate! Tie on tulle and hang party circles with string. I doubled my party circles so the designs showed on both sides and were visible from any angle.

Prepare to wow! I used my tree as a centerpiece in three shows so far and have had more people stop, stare, and take pictures.

It's such a simple and inexpensive project. Your kids will love to help too!

Halloween Style

2010-09-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

If you've been following, you know I have been slammed with craft shows, orders, and kids! It's been a great ride, but I am ready for things to slow down long enough for me to plan for Halloween. It's my absolute favorite and I am SO ready to haul out the massive bins of decorations from the garage. I think I added an extra 2 bins last year and have lots more planned for this year!

I came across this fun quiz on Martha's site today and thought I would share. Of course, I took it and here are my results!

Of COURSE I'm a DIY Designer! I am so happy Martha confirms. If you haven't seen the latest Halloween DIY goodies I have to offer, check them out here!

"For the love of Pete!"

2010-09-07T15:21:00.001-07:00

I don't know who came up with this little saying, but it is so suiting for me today. I think I am just a little tired and a bit overwhelmed. I have three craft shows and a party featuring my work coming up and I have been overhauling the past 7 days straight. I thought I had reached a good place yesterday of "getting ahead" and it turns out I still have a ways to go. I feel like I am stretched in 1800 different directions with planning, creating, stocking, filling current orders, parenting, and being a good wife and mommy. Though I have listed good wife and mommy last in my list, they are my number one priority. Although I can honestly say I feel like I am slacking lately. I just had an arguement with my daughter about her not wanting veggies for dinner. She insists she is not going to have them tonight and I just stopped the conversation leaving her with the impression she isn't getting them. She is and I will have to fight her later, but I just don't have the energy right now.

I love being a mommy and I love crafting. I know I will get balance soon, but for the love of Pete I'm ready for some now!

Pam's Party Tricks & Tips Tuesday

2010-08-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hi it's me, Pam from Party Starters!

Today I wanted to share some great places to find party inspiration.

Catch My Party is a fantastic site where you can sit and look through a gallery full of every imaginable party out there. A fun place to check out if you are trying to figure out a party theme.

The Party Animal is a great source when planning children's parties. They cover everything from themes to games and supplies.

Hostess With The Mostess is a gorgeous site where you will find recipes, gifts and of course lots of beautifully inspired party and shower photos to browse through.

Pizzazzerie has just about everything as well to get you party bound. The feature a Children's Gift guide, Gourmet guide, Paperie guide and a Hostess Gift guide. Along with of course fabulous photos and party features.

Check out these sites when you are getting ready to plan your next event and make sure you hop on over to Oh My Gluestick's Etsy shop to buy all of your party decor!

Thanks so much for stopping in.
Pam

A lemon affair

2010-08-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Guest blogger: Sharon of Cupcakes and Cutlery

My name is Sharon. I am the mom to two amazing little boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Some women like shoes, I enjoy a well designed, coordinating party pack.

A while back, Target had a seasonal line of products for summer that were all lemonade themed. I immediately bought out all the stores in the area as that kind of stuff goes quick, especially when it's super cute. I thought I was going to be saving it for my friend's baby sprinkle early next year (yes, I save stuff for that long...). But when my mother in law asked me to help her plan a baby shower for a friend of her family, to be held in August, I decided to use the items for that instead. As I am only marginally good with graphic design, I decided that I would need to find someone to help me with at least the invitation. I found Tommie at Oh My Gluestick and was elated. I knew that she would be able to deliver exactly what I was looking for. I sent her a very basic inspiration board and we went from there. When I first approached Tommie, we didn't know if the baby to be was a boy or a girl. We set out to do an invitation that was unisex, which was pretty easy considering the theme. But just before we were finishing up the final revisions, we discovered the baby was to be a little girl. This news was amazing since the party was leaning a little feminine already. Tommie was delightful to work with and rolled with the punches as we made tweaks here and there to the invitation. We got so many compliments on it once the guests started receiving it in the mail.

Although I don't enjoy games at baby showers, the mother to be and grandmother to be really enjoy them. As it was their party of course I relented but gently demanded that I create a game card. :) I asked Tommie to provide me with a blank template so that I could add the games later as we decided on them. The game cards consisted of three different games held together in the corner by a brad and turned out so cute! Tommie's custom design was used in a few more spots. The grandmother to be had written a letter from the baby's point of view to the guests and in a sentimental gesture, we copied it on to the template and framed it as a gift for the mom to be. In lieu of a guest book, we asked for advice for the guest of honor and framed the directions. And finally we shrunk the template to create a tag for the favor area. Tommie also created an adorable banner that said "It's A Girl!" but I didn't have enough time to put it together. (I moved the week prior to the shower which made it very difficult to put a ton of time on any one area of the party).
I truly enjoyed working with Tommie and look forward to future opportunities to use her designs. I'm so happy I could share her great design with you as her guest blogger!

Pam's Party Tricks & Tips Tuesday {Halloween}

2010-08-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

The trees are just starting to show signs that fall is approaching. That also means Halloween isn't far behind. Make sure you check out OMG's fabulous Halloween collection.

I created these fun cake slice favor boxes using party circles as tags to dress them up. Why not use cupcake picks to spruce up a bunch of apples...kids will grab these for sure!

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom for a couple of fun and festive recipes!

Here are some great recipes for classroom parties or a spooky gathering you might be hosting at home.

Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

Makes about 56

4 quarts popped popcorn
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 ounces marshmallows
6 ounces white chocolate
1/3 cup sliced almonds
Vegetable-oil cooking spray

Directions

Sprinkle popcorn with salt. Melt butter in a large pan over low heat. Add marshmallows and chocolate; cook, stirring until melted.
Remove from heat; stir in almonds and popcorn. Shape into balls using a 2-inch ice-cream scoop coated with cooking spray. Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Let stand 30 minutes. Can be stored airtight up to 1 day.

From Martha Stewart Kids

Spiced Almond Wafers

Ingredients

Makes about 6 dozen

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed dark-brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup sliced blanched almonds

For Direction go here From Martha Stewart Living, April 2008

Now wrap up these goodies in cellophane or place them into a plastic bag. Use either OMG's party circles or bag toppers to decorate! Voila...a super cute way to decorate your treats!

I hope these ideas helped to get you in the holiday spirit, even if Halloween is still 6 weeks away!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Pam
Party Starters

Puppy pool party

2010-08-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend Darlene asked me to design a puppy pool party for a her sweet little girl, Emily. I absolutely loved creating this design! I was a little worried since I had never designed a dog before, but I figured if I can do a Rhino, I can do a dog! My favorite part of delivering the goods to Darlene was her telling me Emily was so excited and said the puppy looks just like her real one! Adorable!

This party is available for your puppy party in the shop!

Christmas Decorations

2010-08-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Decorate your home or office this year with items from Santa's Quarters. They have a wide variety of Christmas decor to meet your decorative needs and have been in the business for over 30 years. They carry artificial trees, commercial ornaments, wreaths, garland, and lights to name a few. Santa's Quarters has been spotted in O At Home magazine, HGTV, and the Food Network. With Christmas just around the corner, you'll want to check them out!

Pam's Party Tricks & Tips Tuesday {week 2}

2010-08-17T03:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Pam's Tips & Tricks Tuesday. Every Tuesday I hop on over here from Party Starters to share with you fun tips and tricks on how to make your upcoming party or shower...a little less stressful. This week I wanted to share this great tool I found on Evite.com You don't have to have an account to use this tool.

This budget calculator is great! Its not perfect, but it does give you a great start on how much things might cost when planning a party or shower. Simply fill out how many guests and how long the party will last and voila...the calculator gives you an estimate on how much you will spend on food, drinks, decorations & entertainment. You can play around with the dollar amounts to better guide you on where you want to spend money and where you don't. Again these are estimates, but a great way to start creating a budget of your own. Try is out and see what you think.

Again if you have any tips or tricks you would like to see posted here on Tuesdays leave us a comment!

Best Wishes,

Pam

Happy Halloween {early}

2010-08-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

I have been working on Halloween items this weekend and wanted to share the party circles. For $10, you can really turn your Halloween party in to a beautiful and spooky success. Combined with Pam's party planning guide, you almost have the party done. You just need to hop on over to the shop, purchase, and print! Here's a peek at the two choices you have so far:

Yep! Eight designs of Halloween goodness. I can't wait to use these for our annual costume party this year! SO excited! Halloween is my favorite holiday. I think it's the dress up part that gets me so excited! However, the decorating really gets my juices going and it just gets better every year.

If you still haven't embarked on using party circles yet, here's a tutorial to help you get there from start to finish.

And just added to the shop, check out these fun baggie tags. These are such a cute inexpensive way to hand out favors at your Boo Bash or to pack up treats to pass out Halloween night!

Tuesdays Party Tips & Tricks With Pam

2010-08-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Pamela Smerker. I am a 30 something wife, a SAHM to three kids and the owner of Party Starters. I am thrilled and honored that Tommie has asked me to be her guest blogger every Tuesday to bring you tips, tricks and fun stress fee party ideas.

What better way to kick of Tuesdays then to share the essential party or shower planning guide. Print out this list, use it for all of your celebrations as reminder of what do to and when to do it.

When Planning a Birthday Party Or Shower

The very first steps you want to take when planning a party or shower

Pick a date and time for your party
Plan on how much you want to spend on this occasion and make a budget
Create a guest list

Decide whether your budget allows you to serve a meal or simply desserts and beverages. If you want to have a meal, then plan your party for the noon hour or between 5-7PM. If you choose to serve just a snack or desserts make your party time from 2-4pm OR 8-10pm.
Once you have decided when, where and who its time for the fun, the design!

Decide a theme and or color scheme
Choose invitations
Make a list of decorations and favors you might want to purchase or make
Decide Menu & Drinks
Decide on activities or games

Now that you have the hard work done get out your calendar and write down what needs to be done and when.

3-4 Weeks Before

Send out invitations
Start shopping for decorations, favors
Create a grocery list

2-3 Weeks Before

Purchase decorations & party favors including paper goods, balloons etc
Order any rental equipment
Gather up your own dishes, utensils and platters you might use for the party. This will give you a good idea of what you may still need
Make a list of supplies still needed to purchase

1 Week Before

Do your heavy cleaning now don’t wait until the day before.
Order cake or bake your own and freeze
Purchase non-perishable food, beverages and of course candles (for birthday)
Call non RSVP guests to confirm

2 Days Before

If you are creating a dessert table, set up a dry run. This will allow you to create a blue print in your mind. It helps you decide whether or not you need to purchase more food or candy and less stress the day of the party.
Check your camera’s battery and charge it needed
Put together party favors

1 Day Before

Clean up bathrooms & do a light cleaning through out party area
Prepare food that will keep well in the refrigerator over night
If party is indoors go ahead and decorate party area
Gather up serving pieces and wash
Frost your cake or cupcakes and refrigerate
Iron table clothes or napkins
Take the night off from cooking and eat out or order in!

Party Day

Pick up ordered cake, balloons, flowers, ice, rental items and any last minute must haves
Prepare Food
Get your camera out and ready
Finish up any last minute decorating
Check bathrooms one last time
Empty trash and recycling bins

You have done all you can so remember why you are celebrating! Turn on some music, have a light cocktail, relax and have fun!

I hope this list helps you when creating your next party or shower. I will be back next Tuesday with some more fun and helpful tips.
Have a specific party question or topic you would like discussed, please feel free to leave a comment on this post and we will do our best to find you an answer or hit on that topic.
Thanks for stopping by!
~Pam

Copyright Infringement

2010-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

As a designer, I am often asked to create items with Disney and PBS characters. The reason I won't is copyright infringement. It is illegal for me to use anyone's images without permission. It is almost impossible to gain rights and become a licensed reseller of Disney images. Many people who have used them (stole them) without Disney's permission have resulted in a lawsuit amounting to sums of money well over the amount they made in distributing Disney images illegally. Legally, you can't even copy an image of a Disney character to make your own personal T-shirt.

Copyrighted, restricted images from any designer are off-limits for commercial use unless you have a written agreement with the copyright holder. Doing so is stealing. Anyone selling someone else's work without permission is stealing that work and will likely be hit with legal action when they least expect it. Copyright infringement is a serious offense and can result in legal fees far more than you make selling stolen images.

Franchises like Disney and PBS have email addresses for people to report possible illegal use of their images.
Disney: tips@disneyantipiracy.com.
PBS: http://www.pbs.org/aboutsite/designated_emailform.html

All of Oh My Gluestick's images are copyrighted by me and protected under copyright laws. Under no circumstances are my images available for personal or commercial use.

Guest Blogger

2010-08-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you've been reading OMG's Facebook page, then you probably saw the announcement that Pam with Party Starters is going to guest blog for us on Tuesday. I am so excited! Give her a big OMG welcome. She is going to give us weekly tips for parties such as planning a great party,
how to get started, how to not get overwhelmed with details, how to pull a party together, popular themes, where to shop and more! Welcome, Pam!

Sweet Rhino

2010-07-16T14:08:00.001-07:00

This sweet little Rhino party is now available at http://ohmygluestick.com

Bloggers wanted

2010-07-16T14:07:00.001-07:00

If you or someone you know has a great party, craft, decorating, mommy, or family blog I want to hear about it. Please submit to ohmygluestick (at) yahoo (com).

I ♥ Baking

2010-07-02T16:12:00.001-07:00

I think I developed a love for baking when I was very, very young due to the fact I was always in the kitchen with my Granny. By the time I was nine, I had perfected the Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe and was hungry for more. I started tearing out recipes for tortes and trifles from magazines soon after.

Now as a Mommy, I truly enjoy sharing my love of all things baked and otherwise with my babies. They always want to help and I enjoy their presence in the kitchen (as long as they aren't fighting over counter space). I especially love that I can tempt my sweet hubby and great friends with tasty treats and don't have to eat my victories alone.

Last weekend I celebrated my sweet friend Kim's birthday by making chocolate cake balls and a divine yellow cake with butter cream icing from the Cake Bible. Thanks to

Bakerella for arming me with ample ideas, how-tos, and most importantly, the recipes! I have since decided that cake balls are the perfect solution to play-dates and parties. I will be serving up quite a few different takes on them and if you're local, you will definitely be sampling them.

Last night, I took a leftover layer from the yellow cake, crumbled and mixed with the with butter cream icing that was left. It wasn't much, but exactly enough to moisten the cake and still have a generous cake-like texture that I was aiming for (last week's balls were great, but too much icing for my taste). I cooled them in the freezer for an hour and then dipped them in melted Ghirardelli milk chocolate and rolled them in heath toffee bits. Oh. Dear. Lord. They were bliss. Just yummy pieces of heaven for my enjoyment.

Next, I am trying a homemade strawberry ball with cream cheese icing dipped in white chocolate. I can't wait!

I have a serious problem....

2010-06-30T12:34:00.001-07:00

Magazines! I literally can't get enough of them. I barely have time to read them, but order, collect, and buy them every chance I get. It's a problem, er, obsession. It's has brought me to the point of hoarding them. I have them crammed in drawers and baskets all over the house. I hate throwing them out or recycling "just in case" I "need" something out of them like an idea or a recipe. I have been on a huge cleaning sweep lately and hopefully will feel up to the challenge of tackling this crazed obsession of mine. Are you a hoarder? What do you hold dear and collect lots of? These are just a few of the many I have neatly stashed around the house.

Vintage Pedal Car Driven by Sock Monkey

2010-06-23T13:58:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist this! I've been doing vintage inspired designs all week and this one had to be done!

Available at ohmygluestick.com

Sock Monkey Flying in with a Parachute

2010-06-23T13:56:00.001-07:00

This is a different take on "Storks delivering babies". It would also make a cute birthday invitation.

Available at ohmygluestick.com

A Sock Monkey Shower Invitation for any sweet baby

2010-06-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

Available at The Sock Monkey Studio:

http://etsy.com/shop/sockmonkeystudio

Sock Monkey Obsessed

2010-06-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

If you are an OMG reader, you know I am obsessed with sock monkeys and have been since my sweet little Thomas was a teeny tiny baby. It gives me such comfort creating new sock monkey designs as it allows me to reminisce about when he was a baby. This one is my favorite as of yet. It reminds me of his sweet face and his always hopeful expressions. Enjoy! This invitation is now available at http://etsy.com/shop/sockmonkeystudio

A vintage inspired School Bus Party

2010-06-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

A vintage school bus party is perfect for your bus lovin' birthday kid or a back to school party. Invitations and banner available at ohmygluestick.com.

Get on the Retro Bus!

2010-06-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Available at ohmygluestick.com.

A Vintage Firetruck Party Inspired by a School Bus

2010-06-21T10:58:00.001-07:00

While creating a School Bus themed party for a friend, I couldn't help but transition in to a firetruck. My son is totally obsessed with them and we have plans later this week to take icecream sandwiches to our neighborhood fire station. I guess they are just on the brain. Here's a peek at what's available at the shop with this vintage style firetruck a la Thomas.

Sweet Cupcake Photo Invitation and Party Circles

2010-06-17T16:57:00.001-07:00

These are available at: http://ohmygluestick.com

Sock Monkey Baby Girl - Baby Shower

2010-06-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

Available at http://etsy.com/shop/sockmonkeystudio

Matching Party Circles coming soon! Also available for a boy or gender nuetral. Just ask!

Celebrate July 4th with free party decor!

2010-06-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

Go get your free July 4th Party Circles and take your holiday party to the next level! For free!

Don't know what to do with these? Check out the tutorial

The Little Red Vintage Wagon - Updated

2010-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

As promised many moons and eight months ago, this little party line will sport the OMG sock monkey really soon! Stay tuned. Meanwhile, this line is available at http://ohmygluestick.com/

Little Duck Party or Shower

2010-05-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

How sweet is your little duck's party going to be with these invitations and party circles!? Now available at http://ohmygluestick.com/

Sweet Cake Party!

2010-05-25T16:03:00.001-07:00

Brand new to the shop, the Sweet Cake Party designs including a digital invitation and matching printable party circles and tags! Available at http://ohmygluestick.com

The Little Vintage Red Wagon Birthday Party

2010-05-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Brand new to the shop is this sweet little party set inspired by the little red radio flyer I had (and still have) when I was a little girl. Available at ohmygluestick.com

Tricycle Birthday Party

2010-05-24T15:21:00.001-07:00

Check out the latest in the shop! The tricycle party is perfect for a birthday or baby shower! Available at http://ohmygluestick.com

From trash to treasure: A set of lamps reformed

2010-04-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Some people call it dumpster diving, some call it a treasure hunt {me}, but mostly I call it a rush! The thrill of finding a "treasure" waiting for me to transform it is exhilarating. I pretty much know when I see a curbside beauty what I will do with it. These lamps were a prime example. I saw them in the dark on the way home from the grocery store. The next day was trash day and someone put these lonely lamps on the curb as if they didn't have any more life left. I saw two gorgeous silhouettes and yelled, "Stop!" to my husband. "Those will be perfect bedside lamps!" Seriously, we were in need of bedside lamps. I blame my poor reading sight on squinting at the pages of books from a very dim Ikea paper lamp that should really only be used for decoration and ambient lighting. They were thrown in the room the last time I redecorated for just that. Ambiance, not function. I have been resting the little Ikea "lamp" on my pillow and holding the book close to it so I could see.

I saw an opportunity in those silhouettes and I saw light! I couldn't wait to get them home and see what condition they were in. By the trunk light, they looked great. I chatted eagerly with hubby the last few blocks home brainstorming what I would do with them. He offered his suggestions and we were on our way to much better lighting in our room. He checked them over when we got home and announced they needed to be rewired. All I cared about was how they would look. With his help rewiring {Thank you, hubby! That was not as easy as I thought it would be} and taking them apart so I could paint, they turned out lovely. They were just what I had in mind and look like they were made for our room. Which, in a way, they were.

{Brass might have worked 30 years ago, but I wanted something totally modern}

{Home Depot sells a lamp kit for $10.00. It's amazing. You just really need to make sure you put it all together correctly before you lock in the bulb base. Unfortunately we learned the hard way and had to purchase another kit.}

{I thought I would paint the base, but it goes so well with our trim, baseboards, and doors that I left it as it was. All in all, the shades were $25 each from Target, the lamp kit is $10 at Home Depot (You should definitely rewire something like this. You never know what's going on with the cord and switch.), and the paint for the brass was $3.50. Not a totally free project, but I literally stumbled across something I wanted and got to create it in a fun and custom way with my sweet husband. Nothing purchased from a store would give me that.}

A rose by any other name....is still as sweet

2010-04-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

My sweetie pie, Tay, is totally obsessed with roses. She is only 4, so I can only imagine how this obsession will grow. I had the same fascination with them at her age. My grandmother had an amazing green thumb and produced gorgeous roses every year in every color imaginable. They were large fragrant flowers that we filled with vases from spring to late summer or as my grandmother always referred to "The last rose of Summer." I remember my mom cutting them before school to have me take to my teacher. We were always photographed in front of them for Easter and family pictures throughout the time they graced our presence. I get the same giddy feeling when I see my own bush full of blooms as I did when I was a little girl.

My daughter is thrilled when I surprise her with the first bouquet of Spring and always asks for more each day after. I don't think our bush can bloom as fast or as plentiful as my four-year-old would like. Nor do the cut blooms. She gets so upset when the rose wilts and is "on it's last leg" as Granny always said. I have figured out a way to make them last a tiny bit longer in a pretty way, even though they aren't as stiff and graceful as they were when cut. I cut the heads off {sounds dreadful} and put them in a martini glass full of water. This only buys me an extra day or two, but for the time, it has kept the princess from tears.

Happy Mother's Day! Free Party Circles to celebrate such an important day

2010-04-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Show your mom how crafty and caring you are with these
free little party circles celebrating Mother's Day! Show ME how crafty you are with these freebies and I will feature your work!

Need help getting started? Check out the tutorial!

A sweet little Easter craft the kids will be eggstatic over! -An Easter Tree

2010-03-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

This little art project is fun and super quick! The longest part is waiting for the paint to dry. Estimated time: 1 hour

Head over to Michaels (with your 40% off coupon) and pick yourself up a cute little bucket. Before you leave, hit up the Easter Section and grab some pretty decorative Easter Eggs for 99 cents each.

You will also need spray paint (the color of your choice for your tree. I chose white), styrofoam (I used a ball cut in half), a plethra of newspapers or plastic grocery bags, and a pair of scissors.

Go out and cut yourself a nice little branch. I snipped a good one from our youngest Oak Tree, but Crepe Murtle trees rock for this kind of craft!

Take your branch outside and paint it until you are satisfied with the finish.

I used this paint
This is the cute bucket I snagged from Michael's with my 40 off coupon! What a bargain! It was regularly $17.99.

The worst part of this project is getting all these annoying tags of the eggs. Each one had 2 or 3 each.

But they were SO worth it! So pretty and SO cheap!

Ok, you can use the styro ball like me or this green squishy stuff, but beware. It is messy!

I was undecided until the very end which "grass" I would use. I chose the peet moss.

Getting ready to start constructing.

The ball (half ball) worked great.

Use your newspaper or plastic grocery bags to wrap around the base of the styro ball and branch. This is to secure it and keep if from wobbling in the bucket. Place that part in the bucket and stuff it as tight as you can with news paper or the plastic bags (I used bags). Once your satisfied that it's locked in place, cover the top with the "grass".

Now it's time for the kids to decorate!

My sweetie pies had an absolute blast. They love crafts and this was just perfect for us.

Look how proud they are!

I ♥ Oh My Gluestick's Party Circles. Now what? Mini tutorial

2010-03-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

You ask, "These party circle files are adorable, but I have no idea how to get started!?"

I can help! Here's a mini tutorial on how to get started and how to create a cupcake topper. Once you start, you will not be able to stop. The ideas are endless! All you need is an adorable design by Oh My Gluestick to get you in party mode!

Here are the basic supplies you will need.

The printed party circle file of your desire
Something to cut them with: Scissors or a cutting device of your choice
Tape or glue
A 2 inch scallop or circle punch
Sucker or popsickle sticks
Additional items could be a mini hole punch & ribbon (to make tags), adhesive (to make stickers), the possibilities are truly endless

Cut your file in to three columns

Once your columns are cut you are ready to punch with your circle or scallop punch. I like my Fiskars punch, but any punch will work as long as it's 2 inches. In seconds, you are on your way!Here I have one of each design from the Happy Easter freebie file
Take your stick, tape it to the back...
And voile! A cupcake topper. The only thing missing now is your cupcake.

If you need help with other ideas or want to see more of what you can do with these, check out the St. Patty's Day Party post.

St. Patty's Day Party Pictures 2010

2010-03-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Me and my little sweetie pies The craft...Marshmellows, popcorn, and the paint. Paint = food coloring + sweetened condensed milk. These kids were so hopped up on sugar despite all the fruits and veggies that were at arms length.
My sweet girl painting her marshmellow so maticulously

The pigs in a blanket were brushed green. Suprisingly they were eaten super fast without so much as an eyelash bat from the kids even though they were green and clearly not the prettiest.

The pretty table

Delicious treats

A yummy spread

Rice crispy treats taste better green!

A few recycled beer bottles make for spectacular green vases

Cupcake toppers

A candle with a little party circle
Pencils decorated in party circles. Great take-aways for the kids
Bubbles decorated with cupcake toppers

The party was a huge success and so much fun! We ate green food, drank green lemonaide, played to our heart's content and then did a craft which was painting marshmellows and popcorn...you guessed it, green! Decorating was so much fun, but watching everyone enjoy was my favorite part.

Happy Earth Day! Free Party Circles and Tags

2010-03-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day! Celebrate with these cute little Earth Day freebies that deliver a great message while making your celebration look fabulous!

Get your free download here. Please don't forget to rate my on Scibd and let me know what you created! I'd love to see pictures!

A Perfectly Polka Dot Pony Party

2010-03-22T15:36:00.001-07:00

Items are available to purchase at http://ohmygluestick.com

Bumble Bee Invitation, Party Circles, and Tags

2010-03-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Oh My Gluestick! This is by far my favorite set yet! I love this color combo and have been dying to do a bumble bee design for my sweet girl whose doctor always calls her "a little honey". I finally had the chance to design the bee in my dreams for a sweetie pie in Arkansas.

These are all available for purchase at http://ohmygluestick.com

More designs are on the way. Make sure you're connected for the latest! Follow the blog or fan Oh My Gluestick's fan page on Facebook!

I LOVE custom requests, so please reach out if you want something you don't see in the shop.

Sock Monkey Photo Invitation, Tags, and Note Cards

2010-03-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

These are all available for purchase at http://ohmygluestick.com/

Free Butterly Party Circles - Summer Collection

2010-03-20T10:08:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist putting together a collection with a summer feel to it. Enjoy this free kit! I'd love to see pictures of what you create with them! Click here for the free download.

How to create Wall Letters - Free Tutorial by OMG

2010-03-19T15:43:00.001-07:00

I've done so many of these for my kids and for friends that I thought I would share a "how to" for those to create their own. It's super easy and takes a total of approximately 3 hours to complete everything depending on how many you do. If you like the style and would like me to create them for you, send me an email. I hope you enjoy the tutorial and if you have any questions, let me know!

Start with a blank canvas. I like to use wooden frames. It's important to test all the letters in the name in the frame you like to make sure each letter will fit.

You will want to take the inside out before painting to make sure you get the inside edges. Any paint will work, but keep in mind craft paint will take many coats to get a consistent finish. This is the part that takes the longest although you can move on to the next steps while your coats are drying.
Paint or select designed paper for the inside {background} of your wall letter. To apply paper as shown in this tutorial, you will need a paper cutter, sponge brush and Mod Podge. I prefer the Gloss finish.

Cut your paper to fit the inside piece of your frame. It will need to be exact so you can apply the paper to the entire surface. The frame used here is an 8x10 with a 5x7 insert.

After cutting, it's time to apply the Mod Podge.

First apply a nice thick even coat to the insert.

Then to the back of the paper.

Carefully apply paper to insert.

Smooth out any bubbles.

Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the top of the paper after it has been applied to the insert. Allow these to sit out and dry for at least an hour. In the meantime move on to the next steps.

Paint your letters! Any craft paint will do, but remember that several coats may need to be applied.

Once your frames have dried you are able to do the fun stuff!

For these letters, I used a strip of ribbon on each frame. I precut these to wrap around the edges of the bottom so I could secure on the back. Hot glue under the ribbon will show on the front.Place the ribbon where you want it.

Carefully flip the frame over and apply the hot glue.

Secure one side and pull the other super tight before gluing it down.

Flip the frame back over to accessorize with a flower.

Put a dab of glue on the flower in the center.

Hold down for a few seconds until secure.

We are ready to add the inserts once they are dry!

Pretty.

Carefully add insert to the frame.

Secure.

Now we are ready to center the letters!

Apply hot glue to the back of the letter.

Make sure you know where it's going and that it will be centered before gluing. Otherwise, removing it could tear the paper.

All done! Awaiting to be hanged.

These frames had pre-drilled holes in the back, but you can easily glue ribbon to the top corners of the back of the frame to hang from. Even better, tie a bow on the top of the hanging ribbon for an additional decorative look.

Links to other examples of wall letters:

http://ohmygluestick.blogspot.com/2009/04/thomass-frog-wall-letters.html
http://ohmygluestick.blogspot.com/2009/02/baby-jacks-wall-letters.html
http://ohmygluestick.blogspot.com/2009/04/thomass-refurbished-wall-letters-monkey.html