TOP POSTS :: Best Of MAY

     

Summer, summer, summertime! Can you believe it is June already & summer has arrived! My daughter is out of school already and we are ready to start enjoying some fun outside!

So lets take a look back over what you all were reading in May & viewed the most. I would also like to say THANK YOU to all who stop by to read, comment from time to time & send me emails. I SEE IT ALL! So thanks again. xoxo

:: TOP POSTS for May 2015 ::



  WEDDING :: Floral Garden Inspiration Board

 


SHOPPING :: IKEA FINDS [May Edition]

  HAND LETTERED :: Wedding Signage
 

  FREEBIE :: Summer Bucket List

  ROUND UP :: One Smart Cookie Parties + New Colors

So now you are all caught up on some of the most read posts here on my blog. Hopefully you will just add me to your BlogLovin feed so you don't miss any posts. =) You can find it on the top right sidebar here - super easy to do!
See you next time!

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FREEBIE :: Summer Bucket List

   

It's officially SUMMER BREAK here in my house, we have completed the last week of school and I officially have a kid in junior high starting in the fall! (sigh) So for now, we are going to focus on all of the FUN we can have this summer. 

Something we started doing EVERY year, a few years back, is one of tradition: a Summer BUCKET LIST. It's the perfect way to have your kids list the things that they would "like" to do, plus I love seeing what creative things they come up with every summer. Does it mean they get to do it all? Well no, but it's a good opportunity to share with them how to come up with creative ways to maybe hit most of them. Take my advice . . . make those memories happen the best that you can for the summer, take whatever time you can to make it happen, enjoy it, be in the moment and ENJOY as they will LOVE spending the time with you and never forget this tradition every summer!

Like I mentioned, a few years back when I designed this freebie, I was looking for something that was 'blank' that my kid could write down her own things to do.  Most of the freebies out there list suggestions or activities to do with your kids, which are great too but I found NOTHING that was blank. So alas . . . I created one and a new updated FREEBIE for you was designed for your items on your Summer Bucket List for 2015!! Here you go, enjoy your summer with the kids! ;) 

This print is sized at 8 x 10. Print it out at home or take it to a printer for a larger size.

Just download your "SUMMER Bucket LIST" & Enjoy!!

 
**by clicking & downloading this subway art you ARE agreeing to the RULES & copyright guidelines below!   
 

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RULES for FREE DOWNLOADS:

• Eye Candy Creative Studio's printables are designed for your PERSONAL USE only. Please do not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
• I encourage you to share with your fans, friends, on your blog and all I ask is to PLEASE, {be kind} & post/ tag a link back to this website so I know who's enjoying them. Thanks - I appreciate it! =)
• And PLEASE do NOT remove the copyright mark - thanks!

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So HOW will you spend your summer? A couple things on OUR list to do this year are: hanging with her new school friends at the pool, planning her dog's birthday party, all day crafting marathons, planning her annual back-to-school party with her friends, sleepovers, to simple things like . . .  flying a kite, and a picnic in the park.

What is something on YOUR list? Please comment below . . . .

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Looking forward to seeing you again! :)

 

ROUND UP :: One Smart Cookie Parties

      
Planning a graduation party? What about an idea for the end-of-year school party? Back-to-school party? Perhaps a good 'ol milk and cookies get together? Today I am sharing a round up of some fun & amazing One Smart Cookie parties!

A few years ago I got a request to design this collection: One Smart Cookie, to be used for an end-of-school party and it has continued to be a BIG seller in the shop for me and I believe it's because of the versatility of the collection. Since then it's been used for many end of school year parties but also graduation parties. It is the perfect theme for a younger kid's school graduation. It's also great for a back-to-school party to get kids all psyched to head back, by using this collection and making it FUN for them. I have also had many use it for a general 'milk and cookies' type party for a birthday just by altering the collection a little.

Here it is, the original collection done in the reds, when I first posted about the One Smart Cookie collection:

I also am providing the original party post from the person who FIRST used this collection. She used it for an end-of-year party/ kick off to summer party & has lots of amazing details! I think it's fun to see what different people do with the same collection.

My friend Stefani from Everyday Party Magazine, used this collection for her kid's graduation party and had the colors changed from red to a light blue color palette and I love her ideas she did with this! My favorite is using the nerd glasses for the party favors! ;) So cute!

My friend, Michelle from Maddycakes Muse, used this collection to throw her daughter & her friends a back-to-school party! You must check out the cute ideas she incorporated into her party!

Don't you just love all of the different ideas used with this collection? I have some pretty talented friends that have used this collection. As always, I feel so honored to be a small part of their memories they are making with their kids! =)

The biggest request I have had with this collection is to customize it to the school colors of the person buying it. I have a few alternate color options in the shop but have made plenty of them in varying color schemes. I have just added a NEW color combo to the shop: a GREEN 'One Smart Cookie' collection option but as always I can customize to ANY color you may need!

The colors I have done, upon request, are: burgundy & gold, navy & gold, royal and a red, white & blue. What colors would you like to see this done in? Feel free to comment below with your thoughts . . . thanks! =)

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  Looking forward to seeing you again! :)

SCHOOLS OUT :: Traditions for End of School

 

 

 

So now that I have that song stuck in your head, you'll be singing it all day - trust me. (sorry ;) 

 

It has been a 'tradition' every year to sing this song the whole car ride home, after picking up my daughter on the last day of school. She says I'm crazy but I know she secretly LOVES it! 

 

Her last day of 5th grade was last Friday. AND it was her LAST DAY of elementary school as well. To say that I am beyond sad is an understatement but life keeps moving forward whether we want it to or not.

Here are a couple pics of the FIRST day of 5th grade and then her LAST . . . 
 

Seriously? I need to protest to someone since I gave them a little girl at the beginning of this school year and they gave me back a young lady. (sigh) It's just not fair, anyone else dealing with this? It is so hard.

Trust me being a momma is the greatest honor in the whole world and I LOVE it but these HUGE life changes your kid goes through . . the milestones, they are great and sad all rolled into one and sometimes momma's just need another minute (or two) to let it all sink in. ;)

Knowing that this was the last year at this school before moving to a new school (middle school), we both promised each other to DO everything we could this year to be involved, go to everything they planned and to be PRESENT in this school year as it was the last elementary school year she would ever have. So that's exactly what I did. I volunteered for everything. Went to everything. And I know at times when they bring another paper home saying this or that is happening, we roll our eyes a little or maybe groan a little too loud BUT it only happens ONCE. This life of ours. This life of our children, we all have that in common - only ONE shot at this life - make the MOST of it. I am so grateful I did too as we have soooo many memories now to look back on. I don't have that mommy guilt that sometimes sets in when we feel like we are overextended. It feels great to have been present and I encourage YOU, if you are still reading, to make yourself that promise as well, regardless of WHAT age or grade your child is in. Be present. Take the time to do it all as they are only in 1st grade once . . . only graduate from 5th grade once . . . only have one high school graduation. Make it count. Everyday.

I am all about traditions! Starting new ones, keeping old ones but just doing them as that is what memories are made of! So like I said at the beginning of this post, I sing that song "Schools Out" the whole way home after picking her up on her last day EVERY year and probably will until she graduates high school, because ya know what? If I stopped doing it, she would probably ask why because we all know secretly our kids love these corny little traditions that we do as it makes memories for them and makes them smile when they look back on what they have experienced in life. =) 

We also write out a summer bucket list so we have things planned out and can look forward to having some fun together as a family. Stay tuned with how I can help with that. ;)

We always go for ice cream after the first day of school AND on the last day as well. This year was no different but first, I had to think of something to make moving on from THIS school to middle school a lasting memory. I asked my fans, I asked family & friends and lots of people had great ideas but I ended up doing a car full of balloons. I attached them all to the door handles on the right side of the car (as that is the side she gets in on) and rolled the windows up until I got there. Once I was getting "close" to her in the pick-up line, I rolled down the windows and pushed them out and boy did it look festive! She loved it (along with me beeping my horn the whole time) and it's something she is telling everyone about. I'd say this momma scored again on memory making! ;)

 
I am happy to tell you that I will have a FREE download for you all within the day - a new "Summer Bucket List", so you can start making those memories this summer and stay on track! ;) Trust me - stay on track, make those memories because if you need more proof that just one short school year can change your kid a LOT, here ya go . . .  {sigh} I took this photo on the left a few days before the start of the school year and the one on the right, just about a week ago.

Do YOU have any traditions that you do with your kids every year? Something to mark the end of school? I would love to hear what you all do as I love hearing about new ideas . . . .let me know below!

 

 

 

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DIY CRAFT :: Crayon Wreath

It's that time! Time to get your craft on! I am loving how my latest craft turned out so I am sharing it with you today & showing you just how easy this one is to make for yourself or someone else. It's a simple craft DIY using just a few supplies & about an hour of your time. For my daughter's end-of-year teacher gift, we wanted to do something a little more "memorable" and something that she would want to keep in the classroom and could enjoy for many years. So we decided on a "Crayon Wreath"! And yes, I realize this is NOT an original idea but we took an old idea and made it our own and loved how it came out!

 
 My daughter had an absolute gem of a teacher this year and I am so grateful to her, just as I am with anyone who cares for my child and leaves an impression. Those people need thanked because they are rare gems in today's world. ;)

This project only requires a few supplies, can be made for just a few dollars and takes about an hour to complete and trust me, the recipient will LOVE it! At least my daughter's teacher did! Hi Mrs. Forbes!!!! (waving hand) 

You just need to grab a few supplies: letterboard wreath shape, 4 boxes of crayons, hot glue gun, ribbon and embellishments. I picked up this wreath shape at Hobby Lobby and the crayons I picked up on clearance last year at Target right after the back to school rush.

I highly recommend purchasing Target brand crayons for a project like this. Wanna know why? Just LOOK at them . . . they are so cute! Just their simple bold colored wrappers with those adorable white dots on them! Too cute!

 
The first step is to grab your ribbon and decide how long you would like the wreath to hang and attach that first BEFORE gluing the crayons on.
 

The next step is to start gluing on the crayons, all away around the wreath, until you get to the end. A couple tips: I personally glued the name of the color down, so it did not show and left a little space between each crayon. I would even suggest to "lay out" all of the crayons to get a rough idea on how much space you want between each.

 

This is what it should look like when you have them all glued down on the wreath. Now you could stop at this point but I wanted to add a little something extra to this . . . an element of fun! So I grabbed a large red daisy head from my flower stash and a mini chalkboard, to glue down as well. What's so nice about this is that you can change what the chalkboard says when you want! The teacher could change this to 'welcome' when school starts back up & add it to her room door. BONUS! ;)

Super easy and quick right? Now who's gonna go make one? Raise your hand . . . please let me know below if you think you will try this project as I would love to know if anyone was inspired. Or maybe you have already done a crayon wreath before or another cool project using crayons . . . let me know what you did below . . . ;)
 

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