Make It Monday: Paper Rose Bouquet

I’ve decided to start something new with my blog: a weekly Make It Monday post.  Along with my other random blog posts about my parenting exploits, every Monday I’ll share with you a craft or DIY project.

In keeping with a romantic February theme today’s Make It Monday post is a sweet bouquet of paper roses.  Over the past few years I have accepted the fact that I will rarely have a fresh bouquet of flowers on my table (due to my husband's determination not to "set the bar too high"), but that’s fine by me because my success rate with delicate flowers is not so good.

I found this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect to add a little pizazz to my dining room table in true Valentine’s Day spirit.

Here's what you'll need:

Here is a photo with directions on how to make the paper flowers from Oh Crafts. 

1. Draw a spiral on a square sheet of paper  - I used 3.5” square pieces of cardstock (red, pink & white)

2. Cut out spiral along lines

3. Begin rolling it up from outside to inside

4. Keep on rolling until there's no more left to roll

5. Put a dab of hot glue at the base of each flower to secure it

6. Using a straight pin, make a hole at the base of each finished flower

7. Use a wooden skewer to make the hole large enough so the flower can slide onto the stem

I attached all of the flowers to a plastic stem from a dollar store silk plant; I just pulled off all of the little silk flowers it came with so I ended up with a bare branch.  You could easily hot glue the little roses to your branch; I chose to just slide them on so that I can easily take them off when I’m tired of it and try something new.

The “vase” is a Vodka bottle that’s been sitting on my counter for the past few weeks just waiting to be used for a DIYer.  I'm still contemplating whether or not I should spray paint it in a matte white finish.

There you have it.  A beautiful bouquet that will never wilt.

Happy Monday!

The Toddler Diaries: Fashionista

If there was a TLC show titled What Not to Wear: The Toddler Edition, Sophie would definitely be a candidate.

I loved it for the first two years of her life when I could choose her outfits and make sure she was always wearing something that matched and looked cute.  The transition to independence started with Sophie deciding that she would pick out her own shirt to wear, which for about 2 months was a pink shirt with a Chihuahua on it.  Sometimes I wonder why I buy new clothes at all when she always wears the same darn thing.  At one point I attempted to tuck away that Chihuahua shirt so she would pick something else, but the resulting meltdown was not worth it. 

During those early days of fashion independence I was at least permitted to choose coordinating pants, but alas those days are over and now my presence is only required to get her into her chosen duds.  Which means at least they aren’t on backwards and inside out, I’m sure that will come soon.

Her outfits range from red tights, the aforementioned Chihuahua shirt and her bike helmet to her much loved tiger costume, which she insisted on wearing every day during the week before Christmas.  She is also very creative with accessorizing, her dad’s toque and her 3D glasses from the movie theater are some of her favorites, but bowls, baskets, and everyone’s shoes other than her own are not uncommon.  And on those days that she’s particularly proud of her clothing ensemble she’ll be in and out of the bathroom giving herself a once over in the mirror.

Days that we have company coming over or are heading out of the house I make every effort possible to influence her clothing choices.  This is one of my go to strategies…

“Sophie, do you want to wear tights today?”  Mommy says with excitement.  (This question almost always results in the desired response: “YES!”)

“Okay, if you’re going to wear tights then you need to wear a dress.” 

The times that this strategy works the result is wonderful.  The times it doesn't are epic failures; meaning Sophie ends up wearing transparent tights that show off her princess underwear and that freaking Chihuahua shirt!  Hardly suitable for dinner out.