Mother’s Day DIY Party Hats

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos

Mom. Chef. Wife. Friend. Housekeeper. Chauffeur. Therapist. Teacher. Coach. Hair Stylist. Nani.

Moms wear many hats. We know our mom did. She amazes us everyday with her energy and love. Sometimes she can wear 5 hats at the same time!

Celebrate all the many hats mom wears this Mother’s Day with DIY photo party hats. The kids will love to help create them and everyone can wear them to celebrate mom.

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos

Materials Needed:

  • Astrobrights Papers
  • Photos
  • Decorating accessories – sequins, paper, yarn, ribbon, flowers, tissue paper, pom poms, etc
  • Hot glue gun
  • Ribbon
  • String
  • X-acto Knife

Directions:

  • Download a hat pdf online. Print, then cut out the template.
  • Print images of your mom with family and friends on heavy paper. We found it best to re-size the images in Microsoft Word to fit an 81/2 x 11 size paper. Some of the photos worked best with a small border around the edge – it just depends on the photo. Make sure images are horizontal.
  • Trace the hat template onto the image and make sure everyone’s beautiful faces fit in the template {if not, adjust accordingly}, then cut the tracing and use your X-acto knife where the slits are.
  • Gently bend the hat to place the tab into the slot. If it doesn’t fit easily, you can always use a hot glue gun to keep the paper hat in place at the tab seam.
  • On each side of the hat, use a small hole punch or use an X-acto knife to make a X cut mark for the ribbon. You can always glue the hat onto headbands, too.
  • Push the ribbon through the X and tie a knot on the inside of the hat.
  • Embellish, embellish, embellish. We used all the sparkly and pretty things we had around the house. Use the hot glue gun to glue all the embellishments to the hat.
  • For all the ‘hat labels’ we painted watercolor circles with watercolor paint, and glued them to the hats.

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos

diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos Mom. Chef. Wife. Friend. Housekeeper. Chauffeur. Therapist. Teacher. Coach. Hair Stylist. Nani.  Moms wear many hats. We know our mom did. She amazes us everyday with her energy and love.  Celebrate all the many hats mom wears this Mother's Day with DIY photo party hats. The kids will love to help create them and everyone can wear them.  diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos  diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos  Materials Needed:  Astrobrights Papers Photos Decorating accessories - sequins, paper, yarn, ribbon, flowers, tissue paper, pom poms, etc Hot glue gun Ribbon String X-acto Knife Directions  Download a hat pdf online. Print, then cut out the template. Print images of your mom with family and friends on heavy paper. We found it best to re-size the images in Microsoft Word to fit an 81/2 x 11 size paper. Some of the photos worked best with a small border around the edge - it just depends on the photo. Make sure images are horizontal. Trace the hat template onto the image and make sure everyone's beautiful faces fit in the template {if not, adjust accordingly}, then cut the tracing and use your X-acto knife where the slits are. Gently bend the hat to place the tab into the slot. If it doesn't fit easily, you can always use a hot glue gun to keep the paper hat in place at the tab seam. On each side of the hat, use a small hole punch or use an X-acto knife to make a X cut mark for the ribbon. You can always glue the hat onto headbands, too. Push the ribbon through the X and tie a knot on the inside of the hat. Embellish, embellish, embellish. We used all the sparkly and pretty things we had around the house. Use the hot glue gun to glue all the embellishments to the hat. For all the 'hat labels' we painted watercolor circles with watercolor paint. diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos  diy-party-hats-paper-mom-mothers-day-heart-photos  {images via j. sorelle}

See more creative last-minute Mother’s Day ideas at Cre8tive Compass.

{images via j. sorelle}

Breastfeeding Support and Gift for New Moms {free printable and giveaway}

boob aid kit_jsorelle

We are talking boobs today ladies and gents. Yes, you heard us right…boobs! Get excited. And for all you soon to be mama’s and new mama’s, you have an opportunity to win some great goodies. Make sure to read below.

If you follow us, you know we have almost 7 children between us. What you may or may not know is that all 3 of us chose to breastfeed our babies, experiencing the gamut of emotions – from joy to pain.  We wrote a humorous poem about our breastfeeding experience, which you can see here.  Here’s what we know to be true about breastfeeding…Some love it, others don’t, and some can’t do it {and its all ok}. It’s a personal decision and a really hot topic! It’s a lot of work {and can be quite painful}. It’s an amazing bonding time only you and your baby can share. And, it’s an unbelievable power that women possess.

To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, and mothers everywhere, we created the perfect gift to give to a new mom – to save her, and her boobies as they adjust to breastfeeding. Welcome, Boob-Aid. A ‘kit’ that includes all the necessities – soothies gel, nipple butter, nursing pads, a water bottle and our funny poem. You can buy the label and get the poem as a FREE bonus here.

boob aid_jsorelle

boob aid_jsorelle

boob aid_jsorelle

boob aid_jsorelle

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week,  Nesting Days Newborn carriers are hosting an incredible giveaway with top brands and bloggers. One lucky winner will take it all! The prize is valued at over $300! Enter for yourself or for a friend and share the giveaway with all of the amazing mamas in your life!

Giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on August 10th at 12am.

One winner will receive :
(1) Nesting Days carrier in her choice of size and color
(1) Undercover Mama shirt in her choice of color
(1) Multi pack of Bamboobies nursing pads
(1) Teething Necklace from GumiGem
(1) Infinity Nursing Scarf from Abbie Grace Designs
(1) Bottle of Nipple Cream from MotherLove
(1) Hands Free Pumping/Nursing Bra from The Dairy Fairy (1) Sleep Nursing Bra from The Dairy Fairy

Estimated retail value : $330

world breastfeeding week giveaway

Enter the giveaway below and then click through to read stories, see photos, and enjoy other fun goodies from all of our partnering bloggers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Boob Aid images via j. sorelle}


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1. We have some incredibly amazing opportunities, adventures and projects in the near – very, very near – future…so be sure to follow us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop. It’s going to be good.

2. My hubby was sweet enough to make this for my mom for mother’s day. One flower per grand baby {7}…and she loved it. Check out the free plans to make this DIY for someone you love thanks to the sisters of Shanty 2 Chic.DIY sunflower centerpiece

3. If you love shutters as much we do, your heart will swoon when you see this.

4. Look out, DIY Geronimo!!!

5. I HATE to fly. Period. But this made me laugh.

DIY Homemade Lavender Body Butter Recipe and Planter Gift for Teacher

thank you for helping me grow teacher gift

I’ve been loving lavender lately. Can’t seem to get enough, so it was my inspiration for the kids teachers, ‘end-of-year, thank you for everything’ gift. This week the kids happily handed their teachers a lavender plant with its roots planted in a DIY decorated terra-cotta pot with the phrase, ‘thank you for helping me grow,’ along with homemade lavender body butter. Teachers need to relax, so hopefully lavender body butter in a mason jar {who doesn’t love a Mason jar} they can rub on their hands at feet at the end of a long day does the trick.

For the Lavender Plant
You’ll Need

terra-cotta pot
Sharpie oil-based paint markers from Home Depot
lavender plant
dirt

How To
Find a free printable or ‘art’ inspiration for your quote. I used this as an inspiration from Somewhat Simple.
Free hand your art on the terra-cotta pot or you can cut shapes and trace {you can lightly use a pencil or chalk first, and then trace with the Sharpie markers, which I loved}.
I re-traced the words and shapes 2-3 times so the Sharpie colors were darker/brighter…just wait until the first coat dries, which is about 15 minutes or less.
Have your child sign his/her name in the back of the pot.
Then, plant the lavender plant.

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

For the Body Butter
You’ll Need
mason jar with a wide lid
1/2 cup shea butter, raw and organic {from Amazon}
1/2 cocoa butter, raw and organic from Amazon}
1/2 cup olive oil, organic
1/2 cup coconut oil, organic and unprocessed
40 drops lavender essential oil {doTERRA brand} or whatever combination of oils you enjoy

How To
Add the oil ingredients into a double broiler, or add a glass bowl onto a pot with boiling water in it.
Mix with a whisk until completely melted.
Remove the bowl from the pan, remove whisk and let cool for a couple of minutes, then place in the refrigerator until it is chilled {hard on top}, which took 1.5-2 hours.
Remove from the refrigerator and begin to blend with a hand mixer for a whipped texture. Add your essential oils. Whip until you have a nice texture and then place in mason jars.

note: I am not a body butter expert, but I read that the butter can lose its whipped texture and harden slightly, but it’s still good. And, it will last for several months. It will likely melt in hot temps above 70, so keep it around room temperature. I’m only a week into trying it and I think its lovely. I use coconut oil daily as a lotion, so I’m use to the oil texture on my body, but your dry skin will thank you.

steps to homemade body butter

homemade body butter

homemade body butter

DIY lavender teacher gifts

{images via j. sorelle}

Breastfeeding Support and Humor for New Moms

pregnancy photo shoot

It’s May, so we are still celebrating mothers everywhere! We hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day. My 5 year old ran into my room at 6 a.m. to be the first to wish me Happy Mother’s Day, and on this day, it was a beautiful wake up call.

For all you mothers out there, you know motherhood is the most rewarding and exhausting job in the world. You know what a miracle each and every child is. You know the worries and prayers that we pray hourly for our children. You know that no matter what you do, they will continue to grow up. You know that if you have boys, your most likely going to get peed on. And, you know that breastfeeding is amazing and a ‘whole new world’ in and of itself.

For all of you who are about to become a mother, you’ll see…

or you can read an honest opinion of it here…

breastfeeding
written and produced by Jessica, Jenna and Jodi…the sisters of j. sorelle.

9 months of nourishing and painful hours of pushing,
but wait the sacrifices to your body have just begun…now its time to breastfeed your little one.

it’s another miracle of what our female bodies is capable of,
in addition to nurturing, strength and unconditional love!

though it can be beautiful and amazing, there are some things we must say,
there’s some joys and pains to it at the end of the day.

you will walk around the house topless and full of milk,
and not like the steamy nights of your honeymoon draped in silk.

when you pump, the thought of a cow may pop into your mind,
just stop yourself…remember…be kind.

nursing pads are a necessity if you are a leaker
yes, there are times, you may feel like the neighbors sprinkler.

in the next months/year or so your boobs will be free,
but expect that they may sag down to your knee.

i never knew something that caused me much pleasure would one day cause me pain,
but, as a mom, there is simply to time to be vain.

 if it’s too hard to do, don’t feel guilty about stopping one bit,
in fact, a happier you is a much better fit.

please remember to give yourself a break,
because as a mom you will give more than you take.

try to stick with it for several months – they say the lucky number is 3,
just remember, your milk is not only healthy, but it’s FREE

i promise the toe curling pain will soon begin to fade,
and hopefully it will be the best decision you’ve made.

it’s bonding time only you and your baby can share,
and time alone with your baby on your lap soon will be rare.

we do it all because having a child means to love like no other.
for your about to experience the pure joy of being a mother.

 #Alt Summit believes every mother counts

{image via Meredith Moran Photography}