My son just started kindergarten which means he had to say “goodbye” to his Pre-K classes and incredible teachers.
I found this how-to on School “Glue” stick push up pops. It was cute but I wanted to make some changes. That’s my answer to everything, by the way. I never take anything at face value. My project is what you see in the pictures.
Supplies:
- Push up pops (Michaels)
- Candy (white)
- Ribbon (orange in two different sizes)
- Cardstock
- Glue dots
- A Lifetime movie playing in the background
- Your favorite drink
- Time to yourself
This is the easiest freaking project on the face of this planet. Here’s how:
- Click HERE for the “glue” tag printables. Print on cardstock and cut out.
- Stuff the Push up Pops with white candy (just like glue – get it?)
- Wrap the thick ribbon around the top and adhere with glue dots. Do the same at the bottom with the thinner ribbon
- Stick the rectangle label on the front.
- Call it good.
- Appear amazing and pretend like this was really hard. When people compliment you, don’t blow it off like it was nothing. Be enthusiastic as if this took the better part of a week.
My son is obsessing over Monsters University. He hasn’t seen Monsters Inc. OR Monsters University. So…um.
We don’t have a ton of time before August 3rd when my one and only turns 5. FIVE? Oy. Don’t get me started on the emotional rollercoaster of starting kindergarten. Focusing on one thing at a time.
The party.
You can spend a fortune or you can get your crafty on and get to DIY-ing this sucka.
I broke this party up into parts and have listed simple, very do-able projects, ideas and printables for your little Monster to enjoy when they turn a year older. Let’s call it an inspiration blog.
“We scare because we care.”
DECOR
Balloons are inexpensive. Plain and simple. Find ways to decorate so it looks intentional and not like you’re cutting corners.
Add Mike’s eyes to green balloons
Source: Dukes and Duchesses
Create a photo booth backdrop.
Source: Momtog
Even make a balloon garland (the how-to is on our Pinterest page)
Source: Hostess with the Mostess
GAMES
Pin the eye on Mike
Source: Catch My Party
DIY Pinata. Once you know what shape you want, just start cutting that cardboard.
Source: The Sweetest Occasion
Click for tutorial
I hate/love when I see such simple projects. Hate that I didn’t think of it or realize it was so easy.
Love that someone figured it out and is willing to share.
PARTY FAVORS
I saw these Jello molds and thought about making crayons.
I don’t know if they are durable enough but it at least led me in that direction.
If you’re the crafty type but haven’t ever made crayons, HERE’S HOW.
If you’re not, Krazee Krayons sells Monsters University crayons (below)
Source: Krazee Krayons on Etsy
All kids love PEZ. These come in bulk. Geez, I miss PEZ.
Source: Candy Warehouse
CAKE/DESSERT
The kids can decorate their own cake! Instructions on our Pinterest page.
Source: Polkapics
Being smart about things (and planning ahead)
Source: Recipe Tips
How about the easiest thing possible? JELL-O! Super cute pops you can make ahead. I mean, I can make ahead. Gah. I really need (want) an assistant…and an in-house cook, massage therapist…
Source: JELL-O
Click for recipe
Going the easy route, I should do the Sully pops (above) and the Mike W. Oreo pops (below). Yesss…Now we’re getting somewhere.
Source: Petite Party Studio
Click for instructions
FOOD
Because this movie is school/university related, I’d like to make “packed lunches” for the food.
It can be in a cute little bag like below. Simple and inexpensive.
Source: Magical Boutique on Etsy
In the bags, I’d like to include something like cookie cutter sandwiches, little pigs in a blanket, macaroni and cheese cups, chip boxes, grapes (for the eyeballs) and juice boxes. Inspiration from the below images. Not all, just some of them.
I’ll wrap lil’ smokies in crescent rolls…
Fill some cupcake cups or small container with macaroni and cheese…
Source: Catch My Party
Add in chips…maybe…
Source: All the Frills
DRINK
Holy crapola! How cute are these cups? You could do mason jars…er…wait, not glass. How about clear plastic cups, toss an eyeball on it, throw in a straw and bam. A cute cup.
Source: Catch My Party
And these can go in the lunchboxes. Or not. Who knows? Just weighing options.
CLOTHING
This can be for the kids…or you!
Source: A Little Tipsy
Click for tutorial
And for the kids…for real this time.
These could even go in the take-home bags. Go to Walmart and get inexpensive shirts. It wouldn’t cost much at all.
Source: A Little Tipsy
PRINTABLES
A cootie catcher for the favor bag!
Source: The Country Chic Cottage
Click for printable and tutorial
Instead of buying expensive decor, printables can be used as your party “flair” and add some fun character. Also included is a Monsters School ID card. Um…cute!
Source: Mom Endeavors
Click to download
Alright, it’s a “go”. I’m totally doing this party. All the pieces are here and are free or inexpensive. I’ll get some color-coordinated wrapping paper and use as table runners.
Let’s throw a Monsters University party, shall we?!?!
The Botched Bakery is open sporadically. Sorry, we are unable to post our hours because we have no idea when we’re going to open our doors to another botched baking project. You just never know what’s going to happen. What shall we attempt this week? DIY Suckers!
The ingredients are simple, the instructions are simple and the taste should be great because I’m adding Jell-O. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Shopping List:
- Parchment Paper
- Candy Thermometer
- Cooking Spray
- Lollipop Sticks
- 1/4c. Butter
- 1c. Granulated Sugar
- 1/3c. Corn Syrup
- Jell-O (any flavor)
- Lollipop Molds (of any kind)
Simple Instructions:
I try to follow the instructions exactly because I just don’t do well when I go out on my own. I’m super-excited about these because I can make them and look like Martha Stewart when people come over.
I’ve got everything ready and in order.
Bring it all to a boil.
Everything smells like butter. I’m sure this is fine. I put in the candy thermometer and it hasn’t reached the correct temp. Keep boiling.
Oh dear. We’re losing control. The thermometer isn’t reaching the right temperature and my butter is now browning! I’ve run into this problem with Rice Krispy treats once. Yes, you read that right “Problem with Rice Krispy treats.” I swear I’ve got a piece of my brain missing. It’s the one that connects logic with cooking.
I’m taking this off the stove and adding my Jell-O because I don’t want it to turn to coal.
Ahhhh yeahhhh! Note to self (and you): Jello makes everything look better.
Tips: use a saucepan and let the Jell-O warm until it’s completely smooth. I thought I was close to burning the house down but perhaps if I would have been using another pan, it would have been different. Who am I kidding? I have no clue what I’m doing. It looks good so far, right?
On to the next, I have all my lollipop molds prepped and ready for the candy.
I’m going to have the cutest little fruit suckers! I added the sticks before pouring. This has been something I’ll do again. It’s quite simple.
Now pour into the molds. The candy mixture is really thick. You can always go back and flatten or scrape the top.
Okay, what in the eff just happened? Don’t give me a butter knife because mutilation immediately follows. Hopefully the backs can be fixed but the fronts look good.
Now that I’ve poured into one tray, I have a bit more I can pour into the second tray.
PLOP! This came out of the pan in one piece that weighs about 20 pounds. See the sticks on the left? They about made a run for it. Timberrrrrrrrrr! What is going on?
Waiting for the fruits to cool…
Cooling…
Cooling…
Pulling them out of the mold.
And there you have it:
What a gorgeous collection of fruit. We’ve got a pear, a banana, an apple, a strawberry and a pineapple. Perfection!
Anyone want a taste?
Bless my heart.
I can NOT wait to share this LEGO themed party with you. It’s completely DIY, inexpensive to put together and so freaking awesome!
My friend Sarah, mom to two adorable little boys (Reagan and Campbell), put this party together for Reagan’s 5th birthday. I was completely Facebook stalking her because she kept posting progress pictures. I asked if she would be willing to share what she crafted up for this day and provide any tips, instructions and templates so others could follow her lead.
Duh, I have amazing friends and she said yes.
There are quite a few quick-projects that can be worked on while watching TV, during bathtime or whenever you find that you aren’t doing a ton of other things. This may appear overwhelming but just know that you literally have an ENTIRE party planned in this one post.
Sarah has broken down each part of the party into sections and included instructions, a list of materials and printables (if applicable). I’m telling you, this will be the easiest party you’ll plan.
Friends, meet Sarah. Sarah…friends.
Without further ado, I give you…Reagan’s 5th Birthday party.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
First off, I use my Cricut machine for almost everything crafty that I do. Also one of the best tools I’ve found is this…it’s a large circular hole punch. The handy thing about it is that you can see exactly what you are punching out. I also have a ridiculous amount of card stock and other papers that I use.
LEGO CRAYONS:
INSTRUCTIONS: So much fun, but a bit messy and ridiculous! I found the Lego brick and men forms on Amazon. I bought all new crayons because I wanted the crayons to all be the perfect color. As I went along, not so important! So this is the hard part. First you have to strip all the paper off the crayons. Seems easy? Not so much. I ended up enlisting my husband to help me. We used an Xacto knife to slice the paper open and then peeled the paper off. Sometimes it came right off. Other times, not so much. My fingers were definitely in need of repair after this project. These are the directions I used, and it worked!
- Preheat your oven to 225 degrees F.
- Peel the labels off of 16 crayons and cut the crayons into smaller chunks approximately an eighth-inch in size. Cutting the chunks into a uniform shape will help the crayons melt evenly.
- Fill all of the individual ice cube molds with the crayon chunks until they are even with the top of the mold.
- Place the ice cube tray onto a cookie sheet and place it in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the crayon pieces are completely melted. Since the ice cube tray is made out of silicone, it can easily withstand the oven temperature.
- Remove the ice cube tray from the oven and set aside to cool for approximately an hour.
- Carefully remove each crayon from the mold by pushing them out from the front with your fingers. If the crayons aren’t able to be removed easily, it is likely because they haven’t completely cooled. In that case, set them aside and try again later.
***Note***Line baking sheet with foil unless you want waxy crayon residue all over your baking sheet.
MATERIALS*:
- Crayola Crayons
- Patience
- Mold
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
LEGO COLORING BOOK
INSTRUCTIONS:
Download the coloring book here. Print and staple it together.
[paiddownloads id=”18″]
MATERIALS*:
- Cardstock for the cover
- Copying paper
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
LEGO GIFT BAGS
INSTRUCTIONS: I got a pack of assorted gift bags and simply cut out circles using my gigantic hole punch and glued them to the front of the goodie bags to look like Lego pieces.
MATERIALS*:
- Gift Bags
- Assorted cardstock
- Large Hole Punch
- Glue
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
LEGO BANNER
INSTRUCTIONS: I traced the Lego silhouette (download available below) onto different colored paper, cut out letters from my Cricut Machine and strung together a banner that read “Happy Birthday” with alternating Lego pieces and Lego silhouettes. For the Lego pieces I used a rectangle and cut out circles using my handy dandy hole punch.
[paiddownloads id=”19″]
MATERIALS*:
- Cricut – or a steady hand for cutting out letters
- Multicolor cardstock or scrapbook paper
- Large hole punch
- Small hole punch
- Ribbon
- Lego Silhouette pattern
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
LEGO CUPCAKE TOPPERS
I created a document with digital scrapbook paper, printed it, cut it out and made fun cupcake toppers (download printable below). I glued two circles back to back with a lollipop stick in the middle.
MATERIALS*:
- Multicolor cardstock or scrapbook paper
- Large hole punch
- Glue
- Lego Cupcake Topper Printable
- Lollipop Sticks
*supplies (including cupcake stands) can be purchased HERE.
Editor note: Just Google “scrapbook paper” and look through the images. Once you find what you need, copy and paste it to a document and hit print. You’ll now have a scrapbook paper-looking printed document that you can cut into circles by using your big punch.
[paiddownloads id=”20″]
LEGO CUPS
I used a sheet of label paper to print off the Lego heads and used my hole punch to cut them out. Viola…cute cups. Oh and I always get my cups and things at the Dollar Store.
MATERIALS*:
- Dollar store cups in color of your choice
- Full sheet labels
- Lego Cup Printable
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
LEGO COOKIES & GOODIE BAGS
Sugar cookies – I’m mildly obsessed with making sugar cookies to fit a theme for pretty much any birthday party. I used a rectangular cookie cutter to make LEGO pieces and then used a circular cookie cutter to make the Lego faces. I used royal icing to draw on the Lego faces.
MATERIALS*:
- Circular Cookie Cutter
- Rectangular Cookie Cutter
- Royal Icing
- Food Coloring
- My awesome cookie recipe
- Goodie bags
- Ribbon
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
Want to make the cookies?
[paiddownloads id=”21″]
LEGO MAN GAME
Throw back of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”
I traced the Lego Silhouette onto butcher paper. I cheated and used a projector at school…not sure how I would have done this at home? Cut it out and glued it to poster board. I cut out a bunch of “5’s” with my Cricut to pin onto the Lego man The child that came the closest to the “5” on the Lego man won.
MATERIALS*:
- Lego Silhouette pattern (below)
- Steady hand and/or projector
- Poster Board
- Multi-colored cardstock or scrapbook paper
- Tape
- Glue
- Cricut for cutting numbers
*supplies can be purchased HERE.
[paiddownloads id=”22″]
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Even Sarah can’t believe she prepped so much for this party. I, for one, am grateful that she did because that means I don’t have to. Yes, I’m lazy at times…many times.
As if being a super-creative mom, teaching our future and being an awesome mom isn’t enough, she’s also a Stella and Dot Personal Stylist. Let me warn you before you look at her page – you’ll want more than one thing. Please support her business by clicking HERE.
For all supplies listed in this blog (and even a few more), visit our Amazon store. It’s the most simple way to shop. It also saves on gas money and time. Click the image to browse through all products.
