Vanilla Bean Designs

Summer has been busy, busy, busy...

for Vanilla Bean Designs.  We're taking this week for some much needed brainstorming, planning, and creating.  Be back next week with some super cute NEW art and creative tips!

Please, please, please...

not again... is what I usually think as I pull out the favorite bedtime books for my daughter.  Longing for something new in the rotation, I pulled this book, that I had originally bought for my classroom because of its repetitive text, off the shelf because of her new found fascination with dogs. Lily went wild at the beautiful depictions of little faces and a rambunctious 'dod' (as she says with renewed vigor every time I turn the page).  

 

Kadir Nelson, the genius behind these pictures, is, quite possibly, the greatest illustrator ever.  Check out his work in:  one of my top 5 favorite stories, Salt in His Shoes (about a young Michael Jordan... told by his mom and sister) and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (which puts Kadir's amazing work behind the classic tune.) I picture his illustrations in my head for all of the stories that I write... which is why my own never measure up!

Now, I am usually not a fan of celebrities who think they can also be children's book authors, but Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee put rhythm to simple words and tell a hilarious story in Please Puppy Please and Please Baby Please, with words like"Go back to bed, baby, please, baby, please" ..."Not on your HEAD, baby baby baby, please!" ... we can relate, too. 

These books will be favorites for the baby bedtime routine now and for MANY childhood years to come!

Raindrops on Roses

and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...these are a few of my favorite things. This is a fun, super simple craft for you and your child to do together. 

Just gather several magazines you have around the house, a pair of blunt-edges scissors, and some glue. With your child, flip through the magazine and find things that they love. My daughter LOVES our yellow lab, so as soon as she saw a puppy dog that looked just like him, she wanted to cut that out. Some of the others I helped with :) But she knew when she saw jewelry, or apple juice, that she wanted to clip those, too. Each time we cut out a picture we glued it down right away - this helped keep her interested. When we had a good amount on the paper, I cut out letters to spell her name and let her glue those down at the top of the page. Then I wrote in marker "favorite things," and we hung it on the fridge for display.

Star Spangled Snack

Fourth of July picnics and barbecues make the perfect excuse to create a fun snack with the kids. I almost always do my fall-back "flag cake." But this year, I'm excited to try a twist on the old "cake ball" recipe! (thanks suzanne) :)

To make the cake balls a little more festive, try using red velvet cake mix. That way, when friends and family bite into your scrumptious snacks, they not only get a mouth-full of yummy dessert, but a tribute the red, white and blue.

recipe and photo from bakerella

Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper
1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

 

Flag Cake

1 angel food cake

1tub cool whip

1 package instant pudding mix

strawberries

blueberries

1. make instant pudding using shaker method (kids can do this)

2. tear up angel food cake into bite size pieces (let kids tear away)

3. mix pudding and angel food cake and dump in 13x9 pan

4. smooth on cool whip layer

5. arrange sliced strawberries and blueberries to form a flag

Personalized Patriotism... in a snap!

Blame it on my daughter being born on the 4th of July... but I've become obsessed with red, white, and blue outfits.  However, I was having trouble finding the perfect shirt that told the world... "HEY... It's Independence Day AND my birthday!"

 

My solution was a pack of iron-on transfers.  I designed my daughter a shirt using photoshop elements and the 'liberty' kit from Little Dreamer Designs.

This would be especially good for matching shirts for the whole family, birthday parties, etc.  It's too easy NOT to do it. 

Just buy a plain t-shirt or tank top and a pack of iron on transfers. 

Use a photo or fonts to create the t-shirts image or text. 

Flip the image. 

Print it out. 

Cut around it. 

Iron it on.

Or just borrow this design...

 

Birthday memories... for the children of the memory-keeping challenged.

Not every mom has the time or energy to be the super scrapbooker that our kids deserve. This book, that I picked up at Pottery Barn Kids, is set up in a way that allows you to write down minimal facts one year at a time, easily store memorabilia (like invitations and cards), and let's your kid do the talking.  The important thing is that it records memories of your child's life from birth to age 18 in a unique, concise way that all moms CAN do and kids will enjoy having.

I love that this book has interviews with your child that you write down, gives you ideas of ordinary but special things to keep in its time capsule envelopes, and has space for a few pictures of your child at every age.  The only thing left up to you is recording these precious memories every year on your child's birthday...even a mom with a late start could catch up with this one!  

The Afterlife of a Formula Can... (Vol. 4)

I'm celebrating my child's first birthday and switch from formula to whole milk with a ceremonial formula can...

Birthday Party Centerpiece

Gather your materials:

clean can, dowel rods, patterned paper, colored cardstock, glue, ribbon, photos, acrylic paint, sponge brush

 

 

Remove and trace paper label to create new wrapper

 

 

Decorate paper wrapper with photos of child throughout the year.

(I used photoshop elements and digital papers to create mine... but you could easily do the same thing with regular scrapbook paper, photos, and stickers)

Spread or spray adhesive evenly over the back of the wrapper and attach to can.

 

 

Cut 'X' slits in the plastic lid to place dowel rods in.

 

 

Paint the dowel rods and can lid green with acrylic paint and a sponge brush.

 

 

Cut out flower shapes out of colored cardstock. You will need a front and back for each one.  (Any asymmetrical shape will need a mirror image for the back)

Cut photos of child in circle shapes to create the flower center.

 

Spread glue over the back of the flower, place dowel in position and press the back flower down evenly. For different heights of flowers without sawing the dowels-- just cover more or less of the dowel with the cardstock flower.

 

Spread glue over the back of the leaf. Attach the back leaf shape part of the way and press the rest together on the dowel.  Use the stem to wrap around the dowel for support.

 

 

After they are completely dry... place the dowels into position through the can lid.  You may need something inside the can to hold them in place.  I ended up using macaroni noodles... because I didn't have any styrofoam.

For a boy birthday, create different shapes on the dowel rods. Try, an airplane and clouds, cars on a racetrack, frog pond with lily pads and cat tails, mickey mouse or other favorite character heads printed out from the internet.

Happy Birthday

In less than two weeks one of our little bean babies turns one! Shauna's Lily-bug celebrates her birthday on the 4th of July, and Shauna's been doing some really cool, crafty things, to makes the party extra special. So this week is all about the birthday around Vanilla Bean, beginning with a new addition to our mint tin magnet sets - Happy Birthday! 

Happy Birthday - with magnets in bright, fun, party colors and a happy birthday message, these birthday magnets scream fun...the perfect, thoughtful gift for that special friend, co-worker, teacher, or neighbor on their special day.

Keeper of the Keys

Ever since I first opened the little package that arrived from etsy seller Jimmy Pickles, I've been in love with their cute wristlet key chains. As a mom of two youngsters, I'm always leaving the house with my arms full, and I get to the car only to drop things one at a time as I attempt to locate my keys. This cool key fob slips easily on my wrist and stays there while I juggle the kids, bags and accessories. They come in so many fun, funky, stylish, modern prints that you're sure to find the perfect one for you - and a few friends.                         

 

Seaside Pool

Before my family left for the beach, I was worried about taking two young children to spend all day in the surf and sand. But once we arrived, I discovered the perfect solution - a blow-up pool. We bought a small inflatable pool at walmart for five bucks and filled it with cool faucet water. I threw in a few water/bath toys and we put it under the shade of our umbrella. It worked perfectly - keeping my nine month old son out of the sand and gave my two year old daughter a place to play with water in the shade. So next time you trek to the seaside - remember the best five dollars you'll spend, aside from sunscreen, will be on a pool with an oceanfront view.