Stock Up On Pool Noodles Now To Make These DIY Giant Flowers

DIY giant pool noodle flower

We know school is in limbo, and our world has been rocked with the arrival and contagion of COVID-19. Spring plays were cancelled, graduations were virtual, and birthday parties became drive-by, honking car parades. Although you may not have a large school play or birthday party in the very near future, it will happen again. In fact, small, safer gatherings are happening now. When the time is right (even if it’s next spring) we have the cutest decoration, DIY giant flowers, that costs less than $5 each. We are sharing this spring and summer DIY craft now, so you remember to stock up while they are “in season,” (and store the ones you have) to make these large DIY flowers. It’s easy to do, and adds a dose of sunshine to any space, or party.

Sorry about the ‘non-professional’ photos. This was a quick project in spring 2019, and didn’t think it would be such a hit, so cell phone photos have to do.

DIY Giant Flowers Made With Pool Noodles

Materials:

  • Giant tissue paper flowers
  • Pool noodles, green
  • Industrial buckets, Walmart (they were about $2.97)
  • Cardboard
  • X-acto knife
  • Acrylic paint, green
  • Rock
  • Card stock, green
  • Wood skewer, thin
  • Glue, glue stick works fine
  • Packaging tape

walmart buckets

walmart pool noodles

Step 1: Buy stems, or the pool noodles, from Walmart. Also at Walmart, find the colors buckets that will serve as the “pots” or “planter” for the flowers.

cardboard cut out and pool noodle stem

Step 2: Cut left over cardboard packages from all those Amazon packages you’ve been buying. Trace the opening of the bucket on the cardboard, and cut it slightly inside the pencil outline. I find that an X-acto knife works better than scissors when working with cardboard. Also, trace the outline of the noodle in the center of the cardboard circle. This will be where the stems fits inside, so cut it slightly inside the pencil outline as well, so the pool noodle fits nice and snug.

green cardboard cut out

Step 3: Paint the cardboard with acrylic green paint.

diy pool noodle flower

Step 4: Add heavy rocks to the bottom of the buckets. We know it’s just a pool noodle and a tissue flower, but it’s somewhat heavy, so you will need something to stabilize them so they are not top-heavy.

diy pool noodle flowers

 

giant DIY flower

Step 5: Cut leaves from green paper (we love Astrobrights Paper), and glue two stems with a large thin wood skewer in the middle. This will look like a “leaf vein”, and also makes it easy to just stick inside the noodle so it will stay in place.

diy pool noodle flowers

Step 6: Insert the stems inside cardboard cut-outs, and then insert it inside the buckets. They fit nice and snug in the buckets. Fluff some pre-made tissue flowers from Amazon. They come with a string attached, so I wrapped it around the top of the noodle and also secured it with a piece of packaging tape.

Here are a couple flowers “on set” for a spring singing pageant.
spring school play DIY decor

cereal-ously, the possibilities are endless

Honey Nut Cheerios. Life. Frosted Flakes. You name it, my family likes it. Though cereal is not an everyday occurrence in our house, for me, it’s been a weird craving lately. All I want at 3 in the afternoon is a bowl of Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus Pumpkin Raisin Crunch with a large handful of raw pumpkin seeds and chia seeds added to it, and then Soy milk to top it off. Yummy.

So, I got to thinking…cereal is such a favorite childhood treat/snack/meal, and it’s a favorite among adults too – so the possibilities for cereal being incorporated into other areas of our life have to be abundant {and fun}?! I was right. Here are 10 ways to use cereal…other than in your bowl.

You can throw a party, like this fabulous one at Million Dollar $mile Celebrations

You can make it your menu items…literally…just like JacOlyn Murphy.

You can make jewelry like Armelle did here.

Cereal can be a prop in an invite like this one from Mer Mag.  

It can be the most adorable favor ever. You can buy the tubes here at Lola Loves A Party on Etsy.

And just when you thought it wasn’t for grown-ups or done in a vintage manner, think again. This couple featured on Wedding Chicks had a great cereal bar.

 Off Beat and Inspired shows us how to upcycle cereal boxes for lovely gift tags.

Cereal can be edible decor on dessert too, like these adorable sunflower cupcakes by Skip to My Lou.

And, let’s not forget cereal bars. This take on cereal bars, Blueberry Pecan Cornflake Bars by Momofukufor2, looks delish.

Before you throw the cereal box away, it can be re-used in such a clever way, a gift box…and its as easy as wrapping a standard boxed gift with wrapping paper. Learn more at Spoonful.

{images via Million Dollar $mile Celebrations, Jacolyn Murphy, Armelle, Mer Mag, Lola Loves A Party, Wedding Chicks, Off Beat and Inspired, Momofukufor2 and Spoonful}

Rapunzel Birthday Party

My kids love the movie Tangled, so when Renee of Renee Marie Photography, shared this darling party with us, I was smitten. All the DIY details are charming and so well-coordinated with the beloved movie. Not one detail was spared for this special birthday celebration.

This fairytale inspired party summoned everyone to ‘Let down their hair’ as they were transformed into Rapunzel’s Tangled wonderland. Talented DIY Mom, Theresa, almost exclusively created and styled each amazing detail with the help of her sister and the party girl’s Aunt, Sandy.

From sunshine cookies, and paint brushes made from pretzel rods and chocolate, to Flynn and Rapunzel jello boats and apples for Maximus, the sweet treats were delightful. The incredible donut and cupcake tower was the perfect centerpiece that ended in a 6 foot trail of ‘golden locks’ that Theresa hand braided (she is also a hair stylist so her skills were well put to use)!

The party guests each arrived in princess attire and were entertained by Rapunzel herself who led them in story telling, singing and face painting. Guests each were given their own special paint sets packaged in handmade bags created by Lorena of BellisimaSofia on Etsy.

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Renee Marie Photography
Favor Bags: BellisimaSofia

Golf and Tennis Party

Remember one of our favorite party planning couple, Kimi and Tim? They impressed us in the past with a New Year’s Eve party and now they’re back with a tennis and golf-themed birthday party for Tim!

Who could expect anything less than a draped tent, gorgeous linens, mood-setting lighting and sound, fabulous cocktails and a damn good time?

The duo used the best their companies had to offer…Tim, General Manager of EMI Audio, set up yellow and green LED lighting to match the decor and to keep the party going into the wee hours. And, Kimi, Sales, Marketing & Design Specialist for Après Party and Tent Rental, set up the large tent and decorated the tabletops with Après linen. You can find the linen choices {yellow bengaline, pucci paisley, teal poly apple wildwood} here. And for those non-Minnesota residents…good news, they do ship. {As a loyal customer, I can attest that they do ship, they arrive in time and in perfect condition…plus Kimi and the rest of the team are fabulous to work with}.

Kimi had a few DIY touches with the astro turf she cut to ‘drape’ the tabletops, found used tennis racquets and large foam golf balls and tees {previous props for a party} that she hung with fishing line, and flowers she picked from the yard and placed in cocktail glasses from her kitchen.

Happy Birthday, Tim! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!

VENDOR LOVE
crazy pants: loudmouth
linens: Après Party and Tent Rental
audio and lighting: EMI Audio

{images via Kimi Hansen and Tim Giesler}