Reader Birthday Party Dilemma

We all know how much work birthday party planning can be - add in two classes worth of 4 year-olds as party guests, and the task can be quite daunting!

Christy wrote to me needing help with favors:

"My daughter is having a "polka dot picnic" as her 4th birthday party. I want to make something to coordinate with the theme for party favors. However, we will have both boys and girls and won't know the exact number attending... we are letting her invite the preschool group from church AND her preschool class. Therefore, it can't be something too elaborate or expensive. Any cute suggestions?"

My first thought was to fill bags with all sorts of round toys and treats - bubbles, bouncy balls, etc. Once again, though, I discovered that my idea was not all that new - Martha had already thought of it (imagine that!). 

She suggested using a bubble wrap "bag" (actually a shipping envelope) and filling each bag with candy dots, gum balls, rubber balls, yo-yos, pots of lip gloss, or any other round object.

A variation of this idea would be to have a favor buffet. Each of the above items (yo-yos, candy, etc.) could be in brightly colored containers (the dollar store has tons of cute baskets and buckets) displayed on a "buffet table." Then each child can go down the line filling their own bags. 

I'm all out of ideas, but I know that you aren't. Tell us what favors have been a hit at your parties!

Reader Craft Room Dilemma - Can you help?

Hey guys! I wanted to alert you to an awesome new exercise! You won't even realize you are working out until the next day! 

It's called... Quiltersizing!

  

Be sure to work on a hard wooden floor rather than at a table top (hunched over is the best position). To get the full benefits of this exercise, cut with a dull rotary cutter so that you really have to PUSH to slice through the fabric. Finally, bend and squat, bend and squat - with each random piece that you cut out - bring them over to each square (also on the ground) that you are working on, and test out sizes and patterns, over and over again. 

I promise, by the next day, you will think that you had spent some serious time at the gym (which, I know, is pathetic! I promise I will get back on that elliptical machine... next week, but at least I got all 24 done!). 

Now let's move on to a reader dilemma:

Leslie contacted me a few weeks ago saying that she needed some inspiration for decorating her new scrapbooking/sewing/gift wrapping/crafting/office/guest bedroom. 

She is planning on using a "lime/sage-ish" green for the walls and wants to incorporate black and white as accent colors.

My first thought for high impact wall decor with low impact on her budget would be to frame scrapbooking paper (using varying colors and patterns that match her color scheme) in a grouping of coordinating frames, like this: 

Next, I would address the bedding. Because she would like to paint the walls green, I would keep the bed simple. This bedding from Target would be a great addition. 

This shelf system from Ikea would be a great place to hold all of her crafty supplies. The slots could be filled with decorative boxes and baskets that would work as organizers for each type of craft. If modern lines are not her taste, it is easy to add white crown molding around the top, which can really transform the overall look into something more traditional. Also this is just inspiration; any sort of shelving unit could be used. 

Now that I have added my very unprofessional opinion, we need your help. I told Leslie that my readers always have the greatest ideas - so send them in! Tell us what you have done to make your multi-use spaces more functional and beautiful!