Happy Birthday to My Mom

My mom would have been 71 years old today and she has been on my mind all day long.  I just wanted to post a few of my favorite photos of her.  Wasn't she stunning?  We miss her sweet ways so much and ache for her. 

If you still have a mom or a mother figure, take time to let her know how much you love her and spend time with her. 

Cheri

P.S.  Here is a link with some birthday poems for moms:

http://www.special-birthday-poems.com/mom-birthday-poems.html

How to Build a Leprachaun Trap for St. Patrick's Day

This was our first attempt to make a leprechaun trap.  We took a Girl Scout cookie case and covered it in different patterns of American Girl scrapbook paper and zebra-patterned duct tape.  Isabella made "gold" by crumbling up gold pipe cleaners, which disguise a booby trap (a hole to capture a gullible leprechaun), colored a rainbow, made a ladder out of pipe cleaners, a sign, and clouds out of Christmas fleecy snow.  We also stuck some gold leaves in the bottom corner to entice a little green guy. 

I hope to post some photos of the leprechaun's visit soon.  Happy early St. Patrick's Day!!!

Cheri

How to Make the Paper Bag Princess Costume

Every year my daughter's school has a book parade.  She decided to be the Paper Bag Princess, Elizabeth.  Robert Munsch wrote this clever book about a witty and determined princess who sets out to rescue a boy from a dragon.  The dragon burns up the castle and Princess Elizabeth can only find a paper bag to wear among the rubble.

My dad found a huge paper bag at Home Depot.  They sell lawn and refuse paper bags.  I carefully peeled the layer with the company's logo and removed the plain paper bag, cut out holes for her head and arms, and trimmed several inches from the bottom.  I also let her wear a crown that my grandmother gave to me when I was a little girl.  I also teased her hair to make it look messy like Elizabeth's disheveled hair do.

This is a very easy and economical costume.  The only negative thing is that no one had ever read the book, but she loved her costume.

Here are 2 photos.

Thank you for reading this post and stopping by ViBella Inspirations!

Cheri

The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes

I read The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes when I was in 2nd grade and thought about it from time to time as an adult. I tried to find it for years and was thrilled when I finally found a copy.  I still love the book as much as I did when I was 8 years old.

The Witch Family is about two best friends, Amy and Clarissa and their bumblebee friend, Malachi.  The two girls make up stories and have incredible imaginations and a grand sense of adventure. The story takes place at Halloween and the girls meet witches and mermaids.

Amy and Clarissa have banished a wicked witch to a bare glassy hill as punishment for being so wicked. They only allow her off the hill on Halloween night. They soften up her punishment and send a witch girl, who is their same age, to ease the witch's loneliness.

The witch girl changes the witch's life and transforms the glassy hill into an enchanting land with other whimsical creatures.

This book is perfectly written for young girls and those who are still young at heart.  It is full of magic and charm and it is an especially fun book to read at Halloween time.

Happy reading!!

Thank you for stopping by ViBella Inspirations!

Cheri

How to Make a Mermaids Welcome Sign

I usually buy plain white art canvas at Hobby Lobby for about $10 or $15. I used an 8 x 10 canvas and painted several coats of an ocean shade on the canvas. I used white paint to paint the words, Mermaids Welcome onto the canvas. It was so simple, easy, and inexpensive. If you're uncomfortable painting words freehandedly, you could use scrapbook chipboard letters or use a stencil. Your child's writing would add a lot of whimsy and charm too.

Thank you for stopping by ViBella Inspirations!

Cheri

Mermaid Dreams Book Review

My daughter and I are both big fans of mermaids. Just tonight, she told me that when she grows up she wants to be a "beautiful mermaid." Luckily, there are so many good mermaid books available. One of our favorites is an adorable tale about a girl who hates taking a bath.

The book illustrations are gorgeous and the writing is clever and features a twist at the end of the story.

Mermaid Dreams is written by Mark Sperring. This book is a must-have for mermaid fans.

Thank you for stopping by ViBella Inspirations!

Cheri

Mermaid Nesting Dolls Fun

I bought a set of 6 plain nesting dolls from Hobby Lobby for about $8. This was my first attempt to paint nesting dolls.

My daughter and I brainstormed different themes for nesting dolls. I think it would be fun to do a Halloween theme with a ghost, witch, pumpkin, mummy, black cat, and a bat. You could also draw an outline of a shape such as a pumpkin and let your child color it with markers or paint pens. The possibilities are endless for holidays. You could paint Santa, Mrs. Claus, reindeer, and elves for Christmas; bunnies, chicks, and candy for Easter; pilgrims, Indians, and turkeys for Thanksgiving, etc.

You could do fairy tale themes such as Cinderella and paint Cinderella, the prince, the fairy godmother, a wicked stepsister and stepmother, and a mouse or a bird.

It was more time consuming than I thought...but isn't that how all projects are? Most importantly, it was fun, relaxing, and a lot cheaper than buying nesting dolls online.

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Thank you for stopping by ViBella Inspirations!

Cheri