Tutorial Tuesday- Guest Post: How to throw a meaningful baby shower with Czyka!

Hello all you lovely bloggers!! Welcome once again to Tutorial Tuesday at The Little Birdie, with another great guest poster, Czyka Tumaliuan!

Czyka is a full-time mother, writer, frustrated artist and a foodie. She plays volleyball to keep fit and sees joy in cooking for her family. She works as a writer, specializing in arts, music, literature, food and promotional items.

Professionally, Czyka contributes to this blog: http://blog.branders.com/ and she also has a personal blog: http://pilosophia.tumblr.com/. Go check them out for more fun ideas and crafts! Take it away Czyka!

3 Tips on How to Throw a Meaningful Baby Shower

A baby shower is a milestone in every pregnant woman’s life. It is the time where every person close to her heart officially welcomes her baby by showering her with cute gifts. Traditionally, baby showers were intended to be a time where mothers can share their wisdom on parenthood. For most of us though, it’s the day we announce and shout to the world, “I’m having a baby!” If you are throwing a baby shower sometime soon, here are some tips so that yours will be as meaningful as your pregnancy.

Think Theme.

When I had my baby shower approximately 2 years ago, I had a theme—“life is what you paint it.” I wanted an artistic event where people can express their creativity as they welcome my baby. So I bought blank canvasses and made them table cloths during the shower. People can draw and write anything they want my baby to see on the canvasses while they eat and chat with me. I placed different palettes of paint on each of the tables and lots of brushes, which they can take home as shower souvenirs or party giveaways. Most of my friends are artists and humanities people so the guests had fun! So that’s the key—know who you are and express that in the baby shower, if you are a musician, go for a theme that will echo that part of you. This is your baby shower, so it’s all about you.

Consider Potluck.

A lot of people don’t want to have kids because of they feel that they’re still financially incapable. Really, having a baby can be demanding monetarily. So as much as you can, save, save, save. Ask your friends to bring food and drinks for the baby shower. But the catch is, every food they will give will symbolize something. It’s like your own version of the gift of the Magi. I’m sure your friends will be excited about this idea!

Plan activities.

It will be fun to have games during the shower. Of course, it’s great if the game has something to do with motherhood and babies. The bottom line is to perk up your guests and make them happy. Making your guests happy will make this a memorable experience.

Making your baby shower meaningful and unforgettable is just easy—just let your imagination soar to put your creativity at its peak!

Now it's your turn! So, go ahead... link up, grab yourself a button, and spread the word! :)

<a href="http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpWehEcQYkr_bcTNwQtjMs-pSV-lbAnKMq0wQAbpkfm8Vn6I1fmUjYtVvzwqfTuazi67qG1Z7SWKRWPfgV3kkRVaYGnhKP7LJ0txiH6AQQj2x8KUcYdEuPtOudXo4oDmxEdFyxqjJ7RO/s800/Tute%20Tues%20LB.png" height="150" width="150" /></a>

XOXO

Pinned {free!} Printables!

A few weeks ago I mentioned my newfound love for Pinterest... well, despite my ridiculously busy schedule these days I am still pinning like crazy. There is just no shortage of awesome on the web, and I feel like I need to capture it when I see it or I'll never find it again!

Today I wanted to share a few of my favorite wordy "pins" with you guys. I'm on the lookout for some fun new printables for my new bare-walled house. These pins are all of printables I've found recently that I love, and most of them are free! Yay!!

{click photos for links} 

Happy printing!!

XOXO

Linky Party Features!!

Still unpacking, and still wishing for that magic wand to make it all happen like... well, magic! haha! In the meantime, I am enjoying keeping up with all of the pretty projects popping up in blog land. Here are some of my favorites from last week's linky party!

{stenciled doily table runner @ Jessa Jill}

{vintage seed packet art @ Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom}



{summer chafing tips @ Rock 'N Regalia}
You'll giggle, but then you'll try it!



{chalkboard shopping list @ Little Lucy Lu}



{cheaters strawberry jam @ Frugal Upstate}

Be sure to go check out everyone who linked up, there are so many great posts I wish I could share them all! :) Have a great week, and look forward to another guest post on Tuesday all about baby showers!

XOXO

Tutorial Tuesday with Tori from Busy B Family!

Welcome back everyone! We are finally all moved in, and have some MUCH needed internet access. I have seriously been having withdrawals for the last week. Ack! So without further ado, I would like to turn this week's Tutorial Tuesday over to the super sweet Tori from Busy B Family. Take it away Tori!

...

Hello all Little Birdie Blog readers!  I’m Tori from Busy B Family and Rachael was kind enough to let me invade her space today!  I started my blog as a “scrapbook” when my little boy was a few months old and instead of having a separate blog for crafts, I just throw them on here every once in a while!  (So if you go there and don’t want to see my kids, just click on crafts and you can see them there!)  Before having my own blog, I was strictly a blog stalker for years, which was great but I LOVE having a little outlet for creativity and memories all in one place. 

A few months ago I had a whole bunch of those cute little mini cereal boxes and made some storage box magnets for my fridge.  They were SO easy and quick, and I have gotten so many compliments on them!  Even better, you really can use stuff laying around your house to decorate them!

After making those, I thought it would be nice to have a specific place to put all those pesky take out menu’s from restaurant's.  Cause if you’re anything like me, I never can seem to find the one I need when I want it!  So why not make something?!  So, here we go!

For mine, I used a graham cracker box and Pop Tart box  (since I’m a good daughter, my mom gets one!)

Here’s the supplies you’ll need:

Boxes –whatever size you want!

Cute paper

Glue stick (or Mod Podge – that’s what I used on the cereal boxes, either are fine!)

Magnets

Decorations of your liking

Letters of some kind

Transfer paper

I cut the top off the box and about another 3/4 of an inch

Mark on your paper about where you’ll need the height to be

Cut your strip and glue it on

Go ahead and glue it around the sides and onto the back.  I used 12” paper and this is how far around the back it wrapped.  It’s okay that it doesn’t cover, cause you’ll never see the back!

Front

I originally cut out 2 strips of contrasting paper but only ended up using one

This is what it will look like after gluing your paper on

For the Pop Tart box, I did the same thing.

I added a few decorative stick on jewels to each box and then got my letters ready.

I used my Make the Cut software for the letters and cut them out on my Cricut (love that thing!).

After peeling off the excess vinyl, use either transfer tape or contact paper to stick it on your box

Pop Tart box

Graham cracker box

I had a leftover magnet sheet, so that’s what I used but you could use any type of magnet, just make sure they’re strong enough to stay up!

Cut it close to the size of the back of your box

Mine has a sticky back but you can definitely use hot glue to attach it

Here it is compared to my original mini cereal boxes

And the final products!

Easy enough right?  And best of all, you can pretty much use up your scraps and recycle your kids snack boxes and breakfast cereal boxes!

My next idea?  I wonder if file folders would fit in a regular size cereal box (ya know, turned on its side?)?  I think it would be great for each family member to have their own folder, so you’d always know where “stuff” was! hmmm.

Thanks SO much Rachael for having me today! I’m so extremely flattered you’d allow me to take over for the day!

I hope you’ll come visit me at Busy B Family! Stop in and say hi and let me know if you make these (or any form of them!), I’d love to see them!

Tori

...

Thanks so much Tori! What an awesome idea! I know at my house when it comes to take out (which unfortunately, happens alot!!) I am always finding myself rummaging through drawers for the menus. I will definitely be trying this one out!

Be sure to go check out Tori's blog for her other great projects and tutorials!

Now it's your turn! I am so excited to be re-launching the Tutorial Tuesday linky party after our little hiatus. Like I said, I am in serious withdrawal!! haha! So link up, grab yourself a button, and spread the word! Tute Tuesday is BACK! :)

<a href="http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpWehEcQYkr_bcTNwQtjMs-pSV-lbAnKMq0wQAbpkfm8Vn6I1fmUjYtVvzwqfTuazi67qG1Z7SWKRWPfgV3kkRVaYGnhKP7LJ0txiH6AQQj2x8KUcYdEuPtOudXo4oDmxEdFyxqjJ7RO/s800/Tute%20Tues%20LB.png" height="150" width="150" /></a>

XOXO

Merchandise Monday - We have a WINNER!! {Freschetta Giveaway!}

Good morning all!! Before we get started, I need a little whoop whoop! for getting some internet in this new house!! I have been feeling like I was missing an appendage without my internet. I mean, I have internet capabilities on my phone, but I am touch screen impaired so I felt like a mute all week, haha!

However, we are up and running again and I am so happy to be re-connected! So now, first things first... you guys have got to be ready to hear about a winner on this Freschetta Giveaway... also known as the longest giveaway EVER. ;)

Without further ado, and according to our lovely little counter at random.org our winner is...

#12 Kaytee, who said...

Congrats Kaytee! I'll be sending you an email shortly, so be looking for it! I'll need your mailing address so I can send this baby out to you along with your coupon for a FREE Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza!

Look forward to our first tutorial guest post tomorrow along with the resurrection of Tutorial Tuesday! I have LOTS of new things coming up, and I can't wait to hit the ground running again. Boy, oh boy, have I missed you guys!!


XOXO