Brandy's Amazing Nachos

 

Today Brandy shares with us her Amazing Nachos set. As always I am so impressed I hope you will be too!

Inspired by AG's new set!

Whenever the American Girl company comes out with a new line of items I
can't help but wonder how I can recreate those ideas into a similar product
at a much lower price.  And best of all I have fun crafting and my daughters
get something new to play with.

The nacho plate from American Girl's new Fun & Games Tables set is super
cute.  With some thought I came up with a creative way to get the same look
at a fraction of the cost.

 Here is how I did it:

Items needed: yellow craft foam, black card stock paper, glue, puff paint in
orange/white/lime green/red, scissors, 1/4 inch hole punch, 1/8 inch hole
punch, tan Sharpie marker.

First I cut many small triangles out of the yellow foam paper to create the
nacho chips.

Then I took a tan Sharpie and added a few spice accents to the top and
bottom of each triangle.

I put the triangles into a bowl and added enough glue to completely cover
each piece of foam.  I mixed them up by hand.  I took a piece of wax paper
and light sprayed it with cooking spray.  I clumped together the foam/glue
mixture and set on the wax paper.  I also did a few smaller clumps to make
individual servings.

Once dry the pieces will adhere together in one mass.

I then took the orange puff paint to resemble melted cheese and sporadically
spread it over the mound of nachos.  I let that dry.

Next, I took the red puff paint to resemble salsa and dropped that over the
mound of nachos.   I took a piece of black card stock and used a 1/8 hole
punch and a 1/4 inch hole punch to make black olives.  While the red puff
paint was still wet I laid the paper black olives in place.

Finally I took the lime green puff paint to resemble guacamole and the white
puff paint to resemble sour cream and squirted a dollop of each on the very
top of the mound of nachos.

To finish it off I paired it with Payne Street Doll Boutique's Table and
Hodge-Podge Cushions set.  A Target dollar bin game is a perfect size.
Please see how I made the root beer floats in this previous blog post:
http://karenmomofthreescraft.blogspot.ca/2012/06/brandys-special-surprise-fo
r-her-girls.html


A huge thank you to Brandy for this wonderful idea! My favorite part has to be the Lime Green Guacamole! So ingenious!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

For The Love of Boys! Welcome my first 18 inch Boy Doll, from Harmony Club Dolls!

I am so excited to share with you the first photos of my new 18 inch Harmony Club Boy Doll!

 

I have loved Harmony Club Dolls since I first saw them on line and I am thrilled they have Boy Dolls!  They have listened to what doll lovers have been saying for years and now we have these adorable boy dolls to add to our doll families!

Harmony Club is offering these wonderful boy dolls on their website starting at $40 for Modeled Dolls and $65 for their newest 18 inch Boy Dolls Click here for on line store and listings.  

Harmony Club Boy Dolls will be in stock at the end of March! Pre Order yours today by clicking here
and don't forget to "Like" them on Facebook by clicking here!

I am so looking forward to the many adventures this new boy  "Ethan" (named after my new nephew) is going to have with all the dolls in our doll family!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Looking Ahead to St. Patricks Day, My Etsy Favorites

 

Barbie Boutique Basics is offering this adorable dress for St.Pattys Day click here for shop and listing! 

Erin Go Bragh!  With only a few short weeks until St. Patricks Day I though I would share my Etsy Favorites with you.

I love doll socks and underwear and my friend Buffy over at Aunt Bee's Old Sew'N'Sew makes wonderful and affordable doll play items and this year she has a great selection of socks and underwear for dolls to celebrate St.Patrick's Day. Click here for her shop and listing.

Seriously cute underwear! Love these!

Springfield Doll Olivia looks stunning in this St. Patricks Day Dress that matches her eyes! Offered by American Doll Clothes on Etsy this dress reminds me of the kind my cousins used to wear! Click here for shop and listing.

I have long been a fan of this Etsy Shop and I love this T-shirt from Sew Fun Doll Clothes Click here for shop and listing.

Simply Smart this set is Reversible and offered from Off The Hook by Lora, two outfits in one for $14!  Click here for shop and listing.

Camelot's Treasures is offering this stunning St. Patricks Day sparkling Dress. This fashion forward holiday dress is offered at $12.99 Click here for shop and listing. This is truly a favorite of mine!
There is still time to order some fun holiday wear for your dolls in time for St. Patty's Day, Remember Everyone Is Irish On St. Patrick's Day!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tell a Fairy Tale Day!

Today on Halmark's calender is Tell A  Fairy Tale Day! Madelon shares with us some fun photos of her Doll dressed are Dorothy as well as some of her Etsy Fairy Tale Favorites!

 Toto hides !

Check out these Hansel and Gretel Doll Cookies from Mouse Mart's Etsy shop click here for shop listing.

 

Click here for Etsy shop listing on Enchanted Designers Website

Click here for this Cinderella inspired stunner on Enchanted Designer's Etsy S

hop

Check out this fun set from Tip Toe Fairy's Etsy Shop by clicking here

Name this Fairy Tale.... from Enchanted Designer Click here for listing.

This is outstanding I love this set from Enchanted Designer don't you? Click here for listing.

Tiana's Dress beautifully made by Enchanted Designer

Enchanted Designer Classic! Click here

Robin Hood perfectly created by Enchanted Designer  click here for listing.

Little Red Riding Hood Mastered by Enchanted Designer...click here

Have fun telling your Favorite Fairy Tales today and every day through doll play.
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

March 1st is Read Across America Day

March 1st is Read Across America Day according to the National Education Association
"To honor Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) on the anniversary of his birthday, NEA, in conjunction with Random House Children's Books has created this wonderful event.

 "Seuss-themed reading parties are the celebration of choice for many of the millions of participants in NEA’s Read Across America. While you can’t beat the combination of birthday cake, Dr. Seuss titles and guest readers wearing the Cat’s traditional red and white striped stovepipe hat, if you’re looking for more ways to celebrate, consider some of these tried and true ideas of NEA members"

Dress by Penguin Creations offered at $9 click here for shop listing.

Our very own guest blogger Madelon has researched a bunch of wonderful items that can be re-purposed into doll play items as well as some Etsy Fun Finds to help us all get ready for this wonderful day.

 Over at Sunshine Knit and Sew Madelon found these wonderful Dolly and me hats! Click here for shop listing.

How about an entire set of Tea with Cat in the Hat offered by The Queen's Flamingo click here for listing.

Keeping with the dolly and me them Madelon found this child and doll sized Thing one and Thing two shirts! Click here for shop listing from LaGabbyzrella

If The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is your favorite Story check out this adorable frock from ZeeFunStuff it is never to early to start your holiday shopping!

 

Madelon picked up these snack containers last year thinking they would make great dolly side tables.

They work great don't you think?

Chrissa even has her own Cat!

Madelon also picked up these little books at Target last year, perfect for dolls

My dear friend over at Aunt Bee's Old Sew'N Sew makes these wonderful hats seasonally, view her shop by clicking here

She is so talented don't you love this! Click here for her shop.
Be sure to pick up your favorite Dr. Seuss book March 1st and join in the fun! Thank you Madelon for these wonderful fun finds!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Birthday Party Loot Bag Ideas,Cupcake Toppers and More Do It Your Self Ideas!

 I was recently asked for some ideas for loot bags and party favors. Here are some great do it your self ideas....

Doll Hair Elastics,Pony O's  and Hair clips  (Party City or your local dollar store)

Doll Sized Food (erasers work great, Target has a great set in their party section.)

Doll Sized cameras (Party City)

Doll Stickers (Michaels and Walmart have AG stickers or you can make your own with Avery and print)

Baby wash cloths and make up sponges for wipe washing dolls face. Click here for my tutorial on this skin and hair care party favor.

Empty small spray bottle (for water) to help with styling dolly's hair or you can use fabric softener and make this  from Doll Diaries  create your own label for the spray bottle. My dollar store and Walmart carry these in travel size.

Doll bracelets! Make them from seed beads, dollar store beads, craft or glass beads the ideas are endless and result is always great! Click here for my Doll Diaries Tutorial.

For cupcakes and cakes you can make.

 

I made this sponge cake out of polymer clay click here for how I did it. 

I made this sponge cake out of a sponge you can view the tutorial on Doll Diaries by click here

 Make cupcakes from polymer clay from my Tutorial by clicking here

 Or round ones like these I made click here

Or make a wooden doll cake as a party craft or take home gift from my Doll Diaries tutorial Click here to see how.

 

 I recommend making Doll Themed Cupcake picks for the edible people cupcakes , Click here for my tutorial.

Please feel free to copy and print this image above for your own party favors~ Karen Mom of Three

A big thing in the dolly world is doll Posters, I had my favorite doll photos made into postcards, but you can always just use a photo you have taken of your child and her doll or of just her doll and then on PickMonkey's Free Edit Site edit it and write "thank you" or what ever you would like on the image then have it printed at your local Walmart or where ever you can have photos printed, include these in your loot bags. Make sure to leave space on your photo edges as some of the places you print may cut off some of your writing.

I always do clear loot bags and tie them with curly or fabric ribbon to match the color of the party.
**Thank you to my friend Deena for sharing her idea of these mini photo frames from Micheal's with me. I love them.**

 Make a party hat for your doll from felt or paper with this early tutorial I did. Click here for post on sewing a party hat.

Click here for my post on Doll Diaries for more info on how to create a doll play party set.

Having a doll themed birthday party is a wonderful idea and even if you can not get to an American Girl Doll Store to celebrate you can celebrate at home and still have a wonderful doll theme.
I hope you are inspired by today's post.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com