Guess What?

Whimsy Lane is in the May issue of Pregnancy & Newborn magazine!

Rosebud Earrings in Seafoam

Featured is the allergy-free version which has no metal. Both versions are available in the shop right now although quantities are limited.

♥

I'm so excited to see my first item in print! I've been featured in magazines before (including this one) but on their websites. To see it in the pages is surreal.

And I couldn't be happier that Rosie Pope is on the cover! I loved the first season of her show Pregnant in Heels! (New season starts May 15th on Bravo)

♥

Oh, and don't forget there's still free shipping goin' on! ;D

New stuff & Newer stuff!

Hello and Happy Friday!
I just added some new stuff to the shop! And some new stuff as in, never before in there!

Small Pouches

These are bigger than the former Tiny Pouches so they make great organizers and can fit all your essentials discreetly and in style. The flat shape slides easily into diaper bags or purses.

Sunnies Cases

These cases are interfaced and padded to protect your cute sunnies!

New Clutches are in there in this feminine print aptly called Femme.

These double as a clutch and a flat long pouch perfect for sliding into diaper bags or purses.

New Medium Pouches are in the shop too in this fun, colorful print.

Rosebuds are fially listed and there are 12 colors to choose from!

Allergy-free option is available in limited quantities.


And TOTES! Totes are in the works and will be restocked soon ;D 

::COMING SOON TO THE SHOP::

More Friendly Monsters!

Meet Gary, Marvin, Harold, Bertha and Wanda!

♥♥♥

What I Wore Wednesday

This is my first WIWW post!
I've been really trying to add more pizzazz to my ensembles. For me, that means bright pops of color in my usually-neutral outfits. I've been pretty good about it- but pretty bad at photographing it! 
This is the only outfit I managed to capture this week, but I got lots of photos and check out the crazy shoes!

Work: 

Black dress capris (old)

White shirt- Victoria's Secret

Persimmon Wrap- TJMaxx

Silver shoes- Old Navy

 I love weird shoes. Maybe because I feel like feet can get away with more. I generally don't take too many fashion risks except with my feet!

 $7 at Old Navy

I am going to try to remember to take photos this week. 
The problem is before work I'm too rushed and after work I look like a hot mess (see above). Oh and please excuse the dirty mirrors, I have a three year old! ;)


Wanna link up?
<a href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/" _mce_href="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/"><img alt="pleated poppy" height="125" width="125" border="0" src="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/wiww125.png" _mce_src="http://thepleatedpoppy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/wiww125.png" /></a>

::Paper Tree::

I made one of these last year in our Pre-K classroom and it was so easy I decided to make one for Sam's room. It's not entirely done- I still need to add a few more branches and leaves but you get the idea.
The whole tree is made entirely out of paper.

 Brown butcher paper was twisted for the trunk and branches. The paper stays twisted so it's super easy. Green scrapbook card stock for the leaves. The whole thing was attached using an ordinary stapler- no need to poke big holes in your wall- the paper is lightweight so a regular stapler holds it up just fine and you only need about two per branch. Just staple a part of the paper you can sort of flatten to the wall that's out of view. A stapler leaves smaller holes than a thumbtack.


The evolution of a tree...

I had to use a step ladder- it's 9 feet tall! (I'm also so ridiculously short I had to grab the thickest book in our house and stand on that on top of the ladder. Not so safe, but what's ironic is that the biggest book in our house was "The Stand" ha!)

 I decided to extend the branches out on the ceiling to give the look of the tree growing right out the top of the house. I still need to add a couple more branches on the ceiling.

If you've ever wanted to see your kids' eyes pop out of their head, put a life-sized tree in their room! Sam loves it and can't wait to show visitors. Here it is still without leaves.

All I did was free hand cut leaves out of card stock in different green tones. You could also change out the leaves to orange and red in the fall and maybe take them off altogether in the winter for a seasonal effect. In the classroom I put cotton balls on top of the branches to look like snow piles.

This tree can be made in one afternoon, it's so easy. Butcher paper can be found at teaching supply stores but first see if you can trade some for a Starbucks card with your kids' teacher. Schools have tons of this stuff and if she/he can smuggle some it would be a lot cheaper than having to buy a whole roll.


Feel free to share this project! It makes a huge impact in a room and the creative freedom is endless! If you make one would you please let me know so I can see it? :) 

♥♥♥

Sam's Third Birthday! ::'Stache Bash::

I can't believe my little rotundous, huge baby Sam, is already THREE!

(Click here to see how to make your own free invites)

Since it fell on a Saturday, we got to have his party today on his ACTUAL birthday!
It started off as a bit of a blunder. The Bounce House hubby had booked (you know, those big inflatables that keep kids entertained for hours?) Yeah the guy mixed up the days and didn't come.
But never underestimate the power of chalk, balloons and crayons!

 Just in case, I had this last-minute game thrown together. I grabbed three jars with different sized openings. The smallest one (a Frappucino bottle) was worth the most points, hence the "3" and the biggest opening (a mason jar) was worth only one. The one in the middle was an alfredo sauce jar that was worth two points. The kids stand on a chair and drop straws (or whatever will fit) into them and the kid with the lowest number at the end wins. I remembered doing this game once at a birthday party when I was a kid and it blew my mind. I still remember it. Such a simple concept.

I made little mustache & lips photo props by cutting them out of cardstock paper and gluing them to shish kabob skewers. Then I taped up some white butcher paper and got out my camera tripod. You can get butcher paper at teaching supply stores or just ask your kids' school for a sheet- they have tons of it. The kids had a blast being hams in front of the camera!

What's a party without poms? Don't buy the expensive Martha Stewart kits at Michaels! They're TOO easy. 
Click here to make some.

Mustache cupcake toppers were done the same way as the photo props except smaller and glued in the center to toothpicks instead.

Everybody hates coming home from a party with a bag full of junky party favors your kids wont play with anyway right? Instead of wasting the money, I instead set out candy jars and plastic treat bags and let the kids make their own candy mix to take home. Someone's gonna eat it right?

I ended up liking the vintage-y look of the candy jars so much two of them took up residence on my counter.
It's gonna really suck having to eat those leftovers ;)

Like how I disguise the outlet with flowers?

A staple at all of Sam's parties has been the paper-covered coloring table. The paper roll cost us $4.99 at Ikea and not only does it keep the kids busy, but it also protects the table from spills. And yes we're still using our patio table in the kitchen. I'm still hunting Craigslist for the perfect kitchen table I can makeover!

Sam & mommy photo shoot

Opening presents. Such a lucky boy!

Instead of sending out standard thank you cards I printed out a photobooth pic for each family and sent that photo instead. I used Picnik.com to add the words at the top.

Happy Birthday Sam! ♥♥♥  

Happy Easter!

From this totally un-creepy bunny!
;)