$1 Elmo Bucket (template included!)

The time has finally come...my child is officially on the Elmo bandwagon! Don't get me wrong, we still love Disney Junior and all of the characters that come with it, but after a few times watching that furry, red monster on tv and one Ipad app later, Claire is now one of so many millions of children who simply can't get enough of Sesame Street's cutest resident! When I discovered this cute red bucket at the Dollar Tree, it took me just seconds to figure out exactly what I would use it for!

Using felt scraps and a low-temp glue gun, I cut out eyes, a nose and mouth and adhered them to the bucket. I am including a printable template for those of you who would like to make an Elmo bucket of your very own! 

Once the bucket was hers, Claire has used it for everything imaginable...storing crayons and coloring books, a hat for herself and the dog (who was not a fan), a chair, a boat...you name it, she's done it! Stay tuned in the upcoming months for other Elmo-themed crafts, as it will be our 2nd birthday party theme!

Mickey Mouse Gift Bucket

My sweet nephew, Royce is obsessed (actually...what do you call the level beyond obsessed??? He's that!) with Mickey Mouse and the entire Clubhouse gang, so I knew I would need to theme his birthday gift accordingly. After purchasing Mickey-themed letters to spell his name and making him a Toodles pillow, I just needed a container in which to put these gifts. I found a cute, red bucket at the Dollar Tree and jazzed it up using felt and a low-temp, glue gun to make a personalized, Mickey Mouse gift container that can be used again and again! I'm also including a printable for you to use to make one of your very own. Here's how...

Materials

-red bucket

-printable template

-straight pins

-yellow, black and white felt sheets

-fabric scissors

-low-temp glue gun-glue sticks

-adhesive felt letters

Instructions

1. Print out template, cut out shapes and pin to coordinating felt sheets

2. Using a low-temp glue gun, glue buttons to the middle of the bucket, about an inch apart.

3. Glue feet to the bottom of the bucket so that they are sticking out about 3" beyond the bucket

4. Glue ears to top of bucket so that 3-4" of felt stick up above the bucket

5. Adhere letters to top rim of bucket. Using a black, permanent marker, draw four "button holes" in the middle of each button.

From start to finish, this project took me about 20 minutes. How awesome is that?!?! Enjoy!

Garfield party decorations

As promised, here are some highlights of my Aunt Rene's 50th birthday party. I mentioned in my post from last week that Rene is a HUGE Garfield fan but had a lot of difficulty finding Garfield decorations..Enter her craft nerd niece (aka-ME)! Here are some pics from the party and of the birthday girl herself.

50 looks good on this girl!

Garfield buckets-made from orange sand pails, felt and hot glue and used for MANY different purposes, like centerpieces...

and cake pop holders...

and wine buckets!!!

Centerpiece, candles and Garfield message book for all of the party peeps to sign

This circular placemat was found at my local dollar store and, with a little craft foam, became more decor for the birthday girl!

Pool noodle Garfield wreath-instructions can be found HERE!

Despicable Me Minion Popcorn Bucket

In celebration of Despicable Me 2, in theatres NOW, and the return of the MINIONS (who...in my humble opinion, are some of the best characters ever created), I've created a bucket resembling these adorable creatures to use for movie theatre popcorn, snacks, or simply to shovel sand on the beach. Whatever your mischievous little heart desires...

Materials:

-yellow, sand pail (I found mine at Michael's for a little over $1...Whoop!)

-felt (white, black, gray, red, and brown)-one sheet of each color is plenty and scraps will suffice for the red

 and brown parts if you've got 'em!)

-low-temp glue gun and glue sticks

Template:
(be sure to expand picture to 8.5"x11" size for correct sizing)

How-To:

1. Use templates above to cut out felt shapes in colors designated.

2. Determine which side of the pail you wish for the face of the minion to be and glue the white circle

    (eyeball) in the center of the side chosen. Be sure to glue only the middle of the circle, as you'll need to

    place the goggle straps under each side of it.

3. Glue one of the goggle straps behind the eye on one side and around to the middle of the opposing side of

    the pail. Do the same on the opposite side so that the straps connect in the middle. Cut off excess if the
    straps overlap.

4. Place the gray felt (goggle) on top of the white circle and glue down entirely

5. Glue the brown circle in the middle of the white circle.

6. Glue the black circle in the middle of the brown circle.

7. Glue the red tongue to the bottom of the black mouth.

8. Glue the teeth along the top of the black mouth.

9. Glue the entire mouth to the bottom of the bucket.