My Top Mama Picks: Homemade Gift Tutorials for Children

I'm always looking for great gift ideas..whether it's for my little ones or for anyone else! I came across these great diy ideas to do that are as charming as they are budget friendly. :)

MY TOP MAMA PICKS:
Favorite Gift Tutorials for Children

Counting Sheep Bean Bags

via fowl single file

Toddler Friendly Paper Doll

via make it work or do without

Crocheted Animal Friends: Teddy

via red ted art's blog

Doll Bassinet

via twelvecraftstillchristmas

Pin the Candle on the Cupcake!

via jane of all crafts

Toddler Friendly "Board" Game- using paint chips!

via thrillingly thrifty

I think these would be perfect for upcoming birthday presents...or even just as a "because i'm an awesome mama" present to your little ones! :)

Centerpiece/Wall Tissue Paper Flowers: TUTORIAL

I created these for my daughter's birthday party.. great inexpensive detail! i lined them up along a table runner i made with ikea fabric...really gave a pop of color on the table without much effort..or money... at all! these would also look lovely smaller and taped on the wall in a creative way for a backdrop! 

i've seen that done and it's so cute.

here's how i ended up using them.. 

when i was making them sophia saw them on the table and responded ::gasp:: "i luv it!!!"...awesome.

RANDOM COMMENTER ETSY GIFTING!

Brie from Breezy's Blog

Sara from JC's Loft

Shannon from Webbisodes

I'll be in touch to ask you what you want from my etsy shop! 

thanks for the comment love! More random picks coming all this week!

My Top Mama Picks: Favorite Fall Decor Tutorials

Some fall decor can end up being a bit tacky...but i love fall decor when done in the right way! 

Here's some of my favorite fall decor tutorials from around the blog world. :) I think they are festive and tasteful at the same time. You can end up spending a bunch on fall decor but these are great inexpensive options to DIY!

MY TOP MAMA PICKS:

FALL DECOR TUTORIALS  

Maple Leaf Garland

via sweetsomethingdesign

DIY vintage Mercury Glass Candle-holders.

via this blessed nest

Modern Fall 3D Wreath Tutorial

via tatertots and jellow

Mod Podge Pumpkins

via random thoughts of a supermom

TP Pumpkin

via the sweetlife

Candy Corn Bunting

via funkypolkadotgiraffe

be sure to become a follower via google connect or via feedburner to get more fun tutorials sent to you instantly! i'm always coming across great ones that i want to share! the blog world is full of amazing creative people! so fun to see their creations. send me any of yours! i would love to check them out. always looking for new things to add to my 

to-do/to-try-list. :)

RANDOM COMMENTER ETSY GIFTING!

Ashley from The Appraiser's Wife

Sara from August Fields

The Pepper from The Pepper and her Pups

I'll be in touch to ask you what you want from my etsy shop! thanks for the comment love! More random picks coming all this week!

WE'RE MOVING! - Pittsburgh Mama's: cardboard box village for sale!

So you all know it's been in the works..but we are moving on thursday!

closing day is fast approaching.. so i must part with my sweetopia village. :)

if you are in the PITTSBURGH AREA and think you could use it, send me an e-mail! I have an ad up on craigslist here. going to the best offer! 

This backdrop could easily be transformed to go with any theme! 

It is waiting at our church hall for it's next home!  :) 
please pass this along to anyone you know that might be interested!

Now i must go box up my life..haha. i've found that i'm detaching more and more from everything.. the trash/give away pile is getting bigger. :) but i've also come across some sentimental items
 i had forgotten about and placed them in a special spot. 
Fall cleaning is being pushed upon me with this move..not a bad thing!

via

Pray for Baby Max

I recently found out that some friends of my husband and i were asking for prayers for their newborn son Max. Dave and Amber are an amazing witness to ben and i of their holiness and faithfullness in God through these tough times... 

I asked dave if I could share his post from his blog on mine..

I ask that you just take one minute out of your day to say a prayer for Baby Max and for the continued strength of his parents. I pray that they may have peace throughout all of this and give them the grace to trust in God and his plan for them. 

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

On Wednesday afternoon my wife and I were told by doctors that our new baby, Maximillian Elijah VanVickle, (born august 16th 2 months early) has substantial brain damage on both sides of his tiny little brain. The doctor said that from what he and his team can see Max is likely to have cerebral palsy and has a high likelyhood that it will be severe. While describing the disease he mentioned the possibility of things like crutches, wheel chairs, and braces which is obviously horrifying to a parent.  The doctor also said that there is no cure…
What the doctor should have said is that medicine cannot cure little Max’s brain damage but we know that Max can be cured by The Healer of healers. My wife and I believe firmly in the God of miracles and I ask you now to join with us in praying to the God of miracles, the Healer of healers that little Max will be healed if it be God’s will. Remember to pray with confident expectation. I ask that you would bring this intention to your families, bible studies, prayer groups and parishes.  "

I have seen first hand the power of prayer..so please pass this along. i have a button for you to grab if you want to post it in a blog post or on your sidebar. Thank you!

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.thebusybudgetingmama.blogspot.com" title="Mouseover Words"> <img src="http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae81/busybudgetingmama/prayforbabymax-1.jpg" alt="Alternative Name"/></a>

Hanging Tissue Pom Poms- TUTORIAL

Most of us have seen these in party posts...but never tried it.

i finally made some up for the first time this summer for sophia and siennas' party.

they were an easy, fast and affordable party detail! I think i'll make some for the girls' room once we move. they are so cute! and sophia loved them.

I can't find my receipts...with the craziness of packing up to move they dissapeared before i posted this. but i looked up options/the closest thing to what i got.

1 PACK OF TISSUES CAN GIVE YOU 10 POMS!
 (you can get 80 sheet packs like i did..or 60/50.. depending on where you end up buying.)
would love to see any of your pom creations!

Renew Your Heart: Video Post-Parenthood

Parenthood definitely brings its stresses..but one thing that it brings that i LOVE...is the laughter. we are laughing all day long.  It's amazing how little ones can fill the house with joy! and make you forget or not worry about the stresses of life. now that sophia talks so much she really entertains us. Our girls are such blessings in our life right now..teaching us how to love and to be simple. We have so much going on...but these little ones are our world and i can't imagine my life without them and their giggles. :) 

I think the deliriousness of being exhausted also adds to the laughter in the house. we crack up at pretty much anything. haha. 

Sophia now wakes up from nap time quietly saying "mamaaaa...... where are youuuu?" this goes on until i go in and get her.

ben makes fun of me, reminding me of when she was little and i would say " oh i can't wait till she can talk and tell us what she is thinking!!"......and now we can't get her to STOP telling us what she is thinking haha. but we love it.

Lately Sophia has been really into being polite. she says please, thank you and welcome.(welcome is the favorite.) the other day i asked her if she wanted a spoonful of my soup..and she replies all daintily..no thank you.......?!?! haha. cracked me up.

While eating a snack my mom asked her "is that yummy??" and she goes.."no..it's deliciousss" ;)

do you have some little gigglers in your house?? 
sometimes we need to just stop with the busy of life and enjoy the giggles with our little ones. be simple like them and see the joy in life.

Featured Client-Bird Theme Baby Shower

I was recently sent photos from a client of mine! I was so happy to see how the party turned out! She asked me to create some little touches for the party to go with the theme. She sent me the invitation and i created some graphics to go along with it!

the invitation they chose can be found here at tinyprints.com

i love how the cake ties into the theme as well!

love how they presented the beverages.. a sangria along with a mamajito!(non-alcoholic mojito.) 

congrats mama to be! happy to be a part of your day... you have some fabulous friends!

when they were first going with these napkins i made up a design off that...but we ended up going with the invitation as inspiration. just an example of how you can customize your event based off anything!