My first Cover Shot!

As you may know if you are a reader of mine, I recently spent some time in the American Girl doll store in New York. While I was there I took advantage of services they offer such as ear piercing for dolls and had my photo taken for the cover of the magazine. I believe that you can only get your photo done like this at two of the AG stores, so if you are there it is a really fun keep sake. Now I know I am likely way too old for this but the staff did not look at me like I was from another planet, they were totally professional. My sister Bre-Anne and friend Becky also came with me for the photo shoot. Both my sister Bre-Anne and my sister Pumpy totally encouraged me to have this photo done, so today I am sharing it with you.
I hope you enjoy it! As with all my posts please leave me a comment or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Saftey Helmet for 18 inch dolls a review

 

This helmet can be ordered from the Canadian Company Maplelea at

www.maplelea.com   

The Saftey helmet is only $14!

As you may know my sister Bre ordered the Hockey helmet for my niece Trinity's American girl doll from the Canadian company Maplelea. When the order arrived we were so surprised to see they had accidentally sent the bike helmet. They quickly sent out the correct helmet and we returned the bike helmets but we think these are a must for our next order.

With the price being so low for the helmet and the flat fee shipping in Canada for $9 our next order will absolutly contain these adorable helmets and I am thinking that the pop up tent is also a must more on that later. Maplelea has an adorable spring catalog this year with some really fantastic deals take a look at this skate boarding outfit.

http://www.maplelea.com/product_info.php?products_id=562
This outfit is $34 and the helmet is sold separately 

American girl also has a safety helmet that comes  with the inline skating set. This adorable inline skating set at www.americangirl.com 

http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/177081/uid/266

his set is $32 plus shipping.

I really like the quality items for spring that are now available from both of these companies. I also like the attention to detail and safety. 
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please feel free to leave a comment or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 So today is cinco de mayo or 5th of May, which is  a celebration of great importance to may people in the United States and in other places all over the world. Like St Patrick's day, where every one is Irish for a day, Cinco de Mayo is very similar. For todays post I have three things to share with you. I great inexpensive Party store find, a recipe and a link to a great polymer clay artist from Etsy who has created the most adorable Mexican doll meal.
I hope you enjoy these items and your day!

The hat in the above photo I picked up at a party store in the United States on my trip last month. It is a little small for our dolls but is still quite a cute inexpensive accessory and great example of how to re purpose found items into doll accessories. I paid under $1 for this hat and I think it is adorable. If you prefer to use it as a doll serving dish, you can make doll sized tortilla shells from fun foam and place them in the rim of the hat and place it in the middle of your doll table.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/fresh_tomato_salsa/

Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipe

Print Options

• Print (no photos)
• Print (with photos)

Ingredients

• 2-3 medium sized fresh tomatoes (from 1 lb to 1 1/2 lb), stems removed, finely diced
• 1/2 red onion, finely diced
• 1 jalapeño chili pepper (stems, ribs, seeds removed), finely diced
• 1 serano chili pepper (stems, ribs, seeds removed), finely diced
• Juice of one lime
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: oregano and or cumin to taste

Method

1 Start with chopping up 2 medium sized fresh tomatoes. Prepare the chilies. Be very careful while handling these hot peppers. If you can, avoid touching them with your hands. Use a fork to cut up the chilies over a small plate, or use a paper towel to protect your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours. Set aside some of the seeds from the peppers. If the salsa isn't hot enough, you can add a few for heat.
2 Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If not hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies, or add some ground cumin.
Let sit for an hour for the flavors to combine.
Makes approximately 3-4 cups.
Serve with chips, tortillas, tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, pinto or black beans.

Or for Dolls you can order the most amazing polymer clay food from
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69054101/american-girl-18-doll-food-lunch-dinner?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=doll+tacos&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

                               I really like the detailed work and theme of this great doll meal to go!

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

Doll Party Loot bags make your own or now you can order through my Etsy Store

I truly love loot bags! I love parties and if you are doing a doll party and looking for great loot bag ideas the dollar stores have fantastic deals. If you want to make some great birthday party loot bag treats take a look back at some of the polymer clay crafts, party hats, doll sized ballons and dollar store gem posts here on my blog. If however you are hosting a doll party or tea party and you would like ready made items for your loot bags I am now offering some in my Etsy store.

I have postcards that are great for party invites and some ready made loot bag supplies ready to purchase in my Etsy Store. . If you need help to find tea sets like the ones found here on my blog I would be happy to source them out for you.

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Facinated with Facinators? Make one for yourself and why not one for your doll?

If you watched any of the coverage from the recent Royal Wedding you had to notice all the amazing hats! My favorites were the "facinators". I can not get over how much fun they were to see and how they were worn with such confidence! I also thought they would be a really fun dress up accessory and a fun addition to my doll clothes collection. They are so easy to make and fun. I used a glue gun (though you can use craft glue) and supplies I had on hand, you can shop for these items really inexpensively but it is fun to see what you can make out of what you have. I also used left over ribbon scraps, wired ribbon, felt board scraps I had on hand (I am sure you can use fun foam) and a dollar store hair clip.

 

First I traced a large drinking glass on to the wrong side of the felt board, and I cut it out. I then cut a slit to the center and folded it over, I glued it in to place.

To make the "rose" I guled the wire ribbon as I went to create the flower .

Next I glued on some of the netting  to the felt board circle and tied a small bow out of the ribbon scraps I had on hand. I glued that to the netting and covered with the flower rose adhering all of it with my glue gun. I am sure you can use craft glue but I am an impatient crafter after all. To attach the metal hair clip I glued it to the inside of the now made facinator and secured it by gluing some ribbon over the metal to the inside of the felt to insure it would stay in place. 

These are so fun to make and would make a great addition to any doll tea party!

As with all my post I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Another dollar store Gem! Burger, Fries and a Drink $1.25

I  love burgers, and when I saw this set I thought my dolls would too. I found this set at the dollar store for $1.25 and though I should share it with you! What a fun set that is doll sized, burger includes bun, meat, cheese and a tomato. French Fries in a removable cardboard box, and soft drink with bendy straw. I love it and the price is fantastic! Having a doll themed burger party or BBQ? These would make the best party favors don't you think?

If you are interested in this set or any items featured on my blog and can not find them where you live I would be happy to sell you the supplies through my Etsy store. Just email me and let me know, I love personal shopping!

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

Make a Doll couch with Recycled Cardboard

If you are looking for a doll couch here is a great one I made out of recycled card board and peel and stick mac-tack also known as peel and stick shelf paper.  I used a box from the M&M meat shop here in Canada but you can use any shirt style box or strong card board you may have and bend it to fit as I have.
I started with a box, folded it into a "Couch shape" and I used double sided tape to hold the back to the front. Then I covered the Couch with strips of the peel and stick shelf paper. You could used fabric or wrapping paper to cover these fairly sturdy Couches for your dolls.These make great extra seating for birthday parties, tea parties and more.

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