Llama Llama Red Pajama Craft

Hi to all! I know that Llama Llama is a favorite (past or present) in a majority of your homes. It is the book that will just not stop in our home! I have been wanting to do a Llama Llama Craft for awhile. Giggles and Crayons did a craft for another book that got me thinking about it! Ella also associates the quilt to the Llama Llama Book. So, I could relate to their post!!

I had some left over curtain lining in white and lots of felt. I cut a rectangle and the ends were frayed. I was just going to hand stitch the ends, but the Hubby chimed in (more about that later). I cut various colors of felt into 4X4 inch squares. I then cut smaller squares from scraps of felt. I glued the scrap pieces on the white rectangle with proper spacing to place the squares.

Elle then matched the large squares to the small squares by color.

After she had them all placed, we glued them down. It took FOREVER, but was fun ( I am also not sure why my hand is missing from my sweatshirt sleeve in the pic???)

We used it for a scavenger hunt too! Elle came back with little trinkets from around our home and placed them on the corresponding colors. I am planning to print out color words and have Ella match them to the quilt.

Girl Scout Thin Mint Cheesecake

Hi to all! I am not sure the origins of this recipe. My Mom sent it to be about 7-10 years ago. She cut it out from her local paper and mailed it to me. It was one of those small gestures that instantly made my day. Nothing fancy. It was just a newspaper clipping with a simple post it note attached. I even kept the post it note. That is what I love about food and recipes. They always originate from the heart. Amazing how food can generate so much love. This is a favorite in our home and I hope in yours too!

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup Thin Mint Crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

3 Tbs Butter Softened

Filling Ingredients:

2 Pounds, cream cheese, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

5 eggs

1 tsp peppermint extract

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup chopped Thin Mint cookies

1/2 cup chopped Andes candies

Topping Ingredients (Optional- I prefer it without the topping):

1 cup semi sweet chocolate pieces

1/2 cup heavy cream

Crust: In a medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter. Blend well with fingers. Press onto the bottom of a 10 inch well-buttered springform pan. Chill in freezer for 30 minutes.

Filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and whipped. Add sugar. Mix. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add peppermint extract and heavy cream, blend until smooth and creamy. Stir in cookies and candies. Pour mixture into the springform pan. Place the pan inside larger pan filled with 1 inch of water and bake in preheated 325 F oven for 1 1/2 hours. Turn oven off, open door, leave cheesecake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove and cool completely. Refrigerate overnight.

Topping: In a small saucepan, place cream and chocolate pieces. Heat over medium heat until chips are melted. Stir frequently. Remove from heat just after it comes to a boil. Let cool for 30 minutes. Pour over cooled cheesecake. Refrigerate.

ENJOY!

Sesame Street Birthday Party

I hope that you enjoy the pictures from the party! Check out the blogs and businesses that helped me with it.
We had a picture taken on the stoop of Sesame Street at Sesame Place. That is what gave me the idea for the cake. Sheri at Delicacies by Sheri turned it into a reality! We could not be happier with it. 

Wide shot of the cake, cupcakes, E's & 2's  and the die cut characters.

I saw this invitation on Etsy and a few blogs during the summer and knew it would be a super way to invite everyone over! You can find this invitation at Less Ordinary Designs.

I found these Favors Bags over at Cherished Blessings.

Close up of Grover Bag by Cherished Blessings. 

Elmo loves his goldfish.  Elmo diecut from Taz's Scrapping Fun House.

He of course loves his crayons too!!! The Elmo Crayons came from Gaddy Nipper Crayons. They have a huge selection of recycled crayons. They make fantastic favors or gifts!! Great customer service!!

Ella's Grammy made each child a hat that looks like Big Bird, Elmo, or Cookie! Thanks Grammy! They were a hit!

These "so adorable" (as Ella would say) cookies came from Amanda B. Head over to The Barwick Crew to support this super Mama of two sets of twins on her new adventure!! 

Amanda's Cookies and the cupcakes waiting to be passed out. The cupcake toppers are from Shindig Parties TO GO. (another talented Amanda that I will give more details on it a bit....sorry to both Amanda's for the blurry picture)

The work of the two Amanda's coming together!

 The printables came from Shindig Parties TO GO.  Go over and check out It's Always a Party at the Parker's. She was such a joy to work with on the party! 

The Birthday Girl in her Tutu Set from The Couture Baby. Another great seller who worked with Ella's measurements to perfection!!

Dada worked his magic on these cut out feet of Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie. He even spaced them out so that Big Bird had the longest strides and Elmo the shortest! Haha! 

They lead to the party and die cut faces of Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie. All the die cuts that you have seen came from Taz's Scrapping Fun House. 

The tables for the children with crayons and coloring books.

Party Hats!

Drink labels also from Shingdig Parties TO GO. 

More of the fun by Shindig on the lollipops (Abby's wands)

More of Amanda's yummy cookies and Jigglers in E and 2

Yummy homemade marshmallows from Grammy's good friend.

Chocolate covered oreos made by Mama. 

Goldfish and Zoe's Candy Necklaces.

Slimey's Pudding Pots.

Wide shot of the dessert buffet. The Birthday Banner is from The Spoiled Wall. 

Help cover Cookie in Fur game. This is Daddy's handy work too!! He made the paper in to the shape of Cookie and used contact paper in the middle.

We had a pile of napkins cut in quarters and the kids balled them up and added them to Cookie to cover him in his fur.

Cookie all finished. It was a fun and non competitive game too!

Singing to the birthday girl!

End of the day! Cookie, Ernie, and Oscar made it through the party! It was a magnificent day spent with family and friends. Thanks to all of you for all the love and support that you give Ella and our family every day! We love you and appreciate you more than words can say!!!