Birthday Countdown Board~Tutorial

Birthday Countdown Board Tutorial

When I make crafty things I tend to improvise, simplify, and use what I have laying around....keep that in mind as you make your birthday board! 

See the original Birthday Countdown Board post for more Details!

First you will need:

1/4 inch-1/2 inch Wood cut to the size you want your board to be (mine is about 28x22 and painted but if you do it 18x18 or 12x12 you can cover it with one piece of paper...Michaels has 18x18 paper!)

2x8 wood pieces (you will need one for each name/use front and back)

3 2x2 wood squares

3 eye hooks

4 knobs (I got mine in a 10-pack at Target, cut the head off of the screw so you can screw the knobs onto both sides)

1 metal hook (You can get these at hardware stores)

6 book plates with decorative brads in the holes(I got mine at Jo-Ann Fabrics)

6 fancy paper clips (I got mine at Michaels)

2 metal opening rings

1 birthday bag (you can use a gift bag or make one with a placemat and purse handles)

birthday paper

ribbon to match

mod podge

paint

Vinyl with:

names

number 6-1 [to put on the 2x2 squares]

"It's my birthday!" [for the back]

"days 'til my birthday" [to put next to the number blocks]

"birthday menu or what's for dinner?" [to put above the bookplates]

"birthday activities or let's celebrate" [to put above the activity cards]

1.  Start by painting the large and small pieces of wood or covering it all with paper.  Then drill holes in the top and bottom of the large board for the knobs. 

2.  Drill 2 holes into the name boards as well, for the metal opening rings. 

3.  Screw the eye hooks into the tops of the 2x2 squares.  Screw the hook in for them to hang on. 

4.  Glue the bookplates on with metal glue for crafts.  I like Tombo mono liquid metal glue.  You can find it at craft stores in the scrapbooking area.

5.  Then glue a large ribbon and then a small ribbon on top of it to the board and wrap it to the back.  On the back, tie it into a bow.  Glue the tops of the clips onto the ribbon too.

6.  Print your birthday activities out, back with birthday paper, and laminate.  I also punched holes in the top and added ribbon. 

7.  Rub your vinyl onto the boards when the paper or paint is dry and you are set!

                                               back                                                      front

The BirthDAY~Fun things to do on the REAL birthday

Here are 6 fun ideas to make the BirthDAY special:

1.  Here at our house Daddy crepe papers the little rascals into their rooms and they have to break out in the morning.  I decorate with crepe paper and balloons in the living area.

2.  They find a present waiting by the door but the rest of the gifts are hidden and they have to find them.  We do the HOT/COLD game for the older kiddos.  Here is my 9 year old finding one behind the TV.

3.  Give gifts of play time to each other.  Here is Daddy giving Ty a motorcycle ride on his birthday (Ty was in heaven!).  Here is Tate giving Ty a blanket ride around the hardwood hallways for a gift (Londyn snuck onto the blanket too)!

4.  For my husbands birthday I like to help the kids give him gifts of time.  I let them give him giftcards or tickets to Fun Centers, Movie Theaters, Sporting Events, etc so they can go PLAY with Daddy.  (This year we got a good one but I can't tell what it is due to the off chance that he may read this before his birthday on the 27th!)  It is so much easier than trying to let them pick a regular gift out and more FUN too! 

5.  Write on the windows!  Get some window paint like these and decorate the car!  If you have to go somewhere it is fun to have your child's window announcing the birthday! We did this to daddy's car a few years ago and we also filled the inside with crepe paper and balloons.

6.  The last gift.  Sometimes we save one last gift for the birthday kiddo to open right at bedtime.  It is a fun way to end the big day.  Her is our big five year old with her "last gift" on her birthday back in October.

The Birthday "We love you because..."

We love you because...

I just thought I would show how I do this.  I just use a 12x12 scrapbook paper and put the words onto the page with a recent photo of the birthday boy (shown).  We display it for the week on an easel.  After we all write on it, I slip it into his scrapbook.  I try to write specific things about the child that year.  It is amazing how fast I forget all of their little cuteness!

The Birthday Tablecloth

Birthday Tablecloth and Table Runner
The tablecloth is an easy tradition!  Just put the birthday child's table cloth on every birthday and have friends and family sign it with a sharpie or a fabric marker (just dont forget to put a plastic tablecloth under it to protect your table!).  I also like to note what their birthday themes were that year so we remember what they were into.  It is also nice to protect it with a clear plastic on top to keep the stains and messes off and help preserve the cute writing!  If you liked the idea but dont want everyone to have their own, you could do one for the whole family to share on birthdays.

And here is a super mommy secret:  I bought mine at linentablecloth.com from the bargains section, and used a coupon code that I found at slickdeals.net.  My linen table clothes were only $4-$8 each and free shipping!  I got the boys blue and the girls pink or purple.

(My mother-in-law quilted the cute table runner, of course!)

The Birthday Chair Cover

The Blue Dotted Chair Cover
I think it is fun to decorate the table and the chair for birthday week!
Here is how I did it. First measure your chair from seat height in front to seat height in back. Then cut a piece of fabric to that size using pinking shears (no hems yeah!!). Then cut 2 pieces of tulle (or other fabric) into 12 inch wide by the length of the large piece sections. Next fold the tulle in half so you have 6 inch by length of the large piece sections. Pin the tulle to the insides of the large piece the long way and make a straight stitch. then fold your large piece of fabric over and sew up the sides as well. Last use your pinking shears to make slits for the ribbon to come through both in the front and the back. This is probably way more explanation than is needed! Just look at the photos.

I found my fabric at Home Fabrics.  It is heavy decorator fabric. 

Then I cut some felt into a 2 and stuck it on with double stick tape. 

Here is a view of the pinking shears.  This was a very easy project!  If you want a chair cover go for it!  Improvise and simplify where needed! 

The Birthday Banner

The Birthday Banner

This is a crafty piece that we hang at every birthday!

I wish I could claim credit for this because it is so cute but I have to give credit where credit its due.  My good friend Candace designed this for a monthly craft group that we are in together.  She even put most of mine together for me since my baby was 4 days old on craft night that month!  Isn't she sweet!  She is also one of the most talented Super Mommies I know.  She can look at almost anything and then go make it!  Check out her blog here.

I did iron on my own letters and string them onto jute rope.

I should have her guest post to how-to's but I think the photo shows the details.  Cut out squares of coordinating fabric.  Sew them inside out, then turn them right side out and trim with pinking shears, then fold over the tops.  Sew and then string onto rope.  I put ribbons between each letter because I have a thing for ribbon right now.  Then cut out letters and iron them on with a heat-n-bond or stitch witchery from a fabric store.  Candace, feel free to correct me!

The Birthday Book

Happy Birthday  to You!

I found this book a couple of years ago and I just love it!  I have given several out as gifts because I think it is so cute.  It is filled with silly rhymes and adorable pictures about all of the things you can do because it is YOUR birthday!  We like to read it the night before the birthday so they can have visions of birthday fun dancing in their heads!

You can look at the pages inside of it or order it here.

Birthdays~Celebrate Your Super Mommy Friends!

I think we all know that as the MOM we rarely get much attention paid to our birthdays....thats why we are friends with other Super Mommies who do their part to make us feel loved!  Since it is birthday week here at Secrets, I thought it would be fun to post some things I have done ( or had done for me!) on birthdays.  Hopefully this will inspire you to do something great for the birthday Super Mommies around you!

1.  Sing to the birthday girl, first thing in the morning at the front door (with a candle lit cake) .  Six or so of my friends did this to me last year and I thought it was so thoughtful!  It really made my day.  My husband had an early morning meeting that day and my kids didnt even know it was my birthday!  It wasnt a huge time commitment, lots of decorating, or planning either.  It was simple but so appreciated!

 I wasnt ready with a camera to snap a photo them!  I did get one of my mini cake though.

2. Go out for breakfast on Saturday morning.  There are a lot of fun brunch buffets on Saturday.  This year we celebrated my neighbor, Caroll's, birthday at a fancy little tea cottage.  Venture out and find someplace fun!  Eat some yummy food with no kids needing theirs cut, spilling their drinks, throwing a tantrum....Ahhhh.

3.  Plan a party luncheon with friends.  I planned a backyard garden party last July for my friends, Stephanie and Angie.  There were about 8 of us that got together for lunch outside in the backyard.  We let the kids play in the water and we sat in the shade talking and relaxing.  Then we put sparklers on their Oreo Cheesecakes and sang to them.  My friend Angie then threw an indoor luncheon party for me last month.  It was so nice of her to let everyone bring kids and go crazy inside her house!  I really appreciated it.

4.  Go for a spa treatment together!  We did this last year for my friend Amber's and my birthday.  It was so nice.  You can go to a cosmetology school and get pedicures or facials very inexpensively, or get a package deal or group rate.  It is so nice for the Super Mommy to be pampered!

5.  Plan a girls trip together!  Two years ago my friend, Monica invited a few of us to her house in Portland to celebrate my 30th birthday and have a girls trip.  I had my little Ty less than a month after this trip (he was 3 weeks early!) so it was so great to be able to go hang out with the girls...go shopping, out to fun restaurants, and to the spa! before I had a new baby.

Here are some other fun ideas!
Throw a surprise party: Choose a theme, a guest list, and a date.  Then go for it!
Go shopping together.  Shop for my favorite, JEANS!
Have a girls night out for dinner, yummy drinks, or icecream.
Plan a monthly lunch out to celebrate everyone's birthday in that month.  Plan the year (ie.every 4th Tuesday)
Do a gift of service every birthday:  Clean her house, bake her a cake, babysit for the afternoon


I hope you feel inspired to get your friends birthdays onto your google calendars and celebrate them when their birthdays arrive!!!

The "I am thankful for you" Birthday Treat

I am thankful for you!

On the Monday before the birthday, I let the birthday boy choose his favorite dessert and we play a little game with it.  Here is how it works.

First we serve up the dessert. Then I give each non-birthday person a candle. Before we eat, we pass around the birthday person’s dessert. Each person takes a turn putting in their candle and telling the birthday boy/girl something about them they're thankful for or why they are glad that he/she is in our family. It continues until everyone has added a candle. Then the birthday boy finally gets his dessert and we light the candles and sing Happy Birthday. (Super Mommies, write down the cute things they say!)

Oh Yeah, and then Everyone gets to KISS the birthday boy!! 

(thanks to Catharine K for inspiring me with this fun idea!)

Super Mommy Secret~The Present Game

The Present Game

Here is a new tradition we practice at birthday time!! 

A few months ago I was sitting in my car at parent pick up and I happened upon this amazing article in my Family Fun magazine.  It is called The Present Game.  It is a great way to help your kids to learn how to receive a gift and be kind and gracious about it (My kids were not very good at this at Christmas time!). Here is how I did it. 

First I gave my kids each a beautifully wrapped gift.  Then I gave them the rules.  First you have to give a sincere thank you for the gift.  Then you open it and pay a compliment to the giver, adding in why you like it or what you can do with it.  (I also let them know that these items were just for fun, not really for keeps.)

Inside the packages were silly items like a plastic cup, a measuring spoon, and an unsharpened pencil.  I am sure my kids had grand expectations from these beautifully wrapped presents so it was great fun to see them open the gifts to find something silly. 

When my son received the pencil he really thought about the gift, then gave me an appropriate compliment like "I love this pencil, I can use it for my homework!"  Then, when my daughter opened her single purple sock and seemed stumped as to what compliment to pay me, my son whispered to her, "Thanks, Mom, purple is my favorite color!"

They had a great time when I then let them go "shopping" around the house for each other AND they did a great job finding nice things to say to each other about each gift.

I was ecstatic that they were getting this!!  It is exactly how I imagine them acting when receiving a gift from someone.  That is why I thought we should practice at every birthday!  I added it onto our Birthday Countdown Board activities so that I wont forget.

The Birthday Pillowcase

The Birthday Pillowcase Tradition!

We have a lot of fun Holiday pillowcases at our house, thanks to Grandma Sue!  None is more coveted than the Birthday Pillowcase.  It is the only one that we have to share.  Putting the pillowcase on one of the activity cards on the Birthday Countdown Board.  It is fairly simple, just put the birthday pillowcase on sometime during the birthday week.  Every morning it will remind your little sweeties that their special day is coming up soon!!

If you like this tradition, Super Mommies, (and you dont have a Super Mother-in-law like me) get some birthday fabric and make one for your kiddos!

The Birthday WISH Letters and Photo Display Tradition

Display your child's photos for the week Tradition. 

I love photos and I LOVE this tradition (so do my kiddos)!   (thanks Angie!).  

 

These WISH letters are how I display our photos.   I ordered them from my friend, Candace, whose sister makes them.  First I covered them with cute paper, then I glued wooden clothepins to the back of them.  When I use larger photos I need a piece of chipboard to hold the photo straight. 

If you want your own WISH letters like these you can get some from Candace's sister, Nikki, at craftysistersnc@gmail.com. Check out their cute craftiness at their crafty sisters blog.

The Birthday Countdown Board

It is birthday week at our house so I am going to be posting birthday ideas, traditions, and crafts galore. 

The birthday board. 

                     Front                                                                                Back                                     

A couple of years ago (when my oldest started first grade) I started thinking that ONE day is not quite enough time to celebrate a birthday!  There are too many fun birthday things to do for just ONE day, especially when they are gone at school for 7-8 of their waking hours!

I recruited some friends to help me and we designed a Birthday Countdown Board. 

Here is what I do with it:

We put the birthday boy's name up (or girl's) and then we count it down: 

Each day the little square number tells how many days until BIRTHDAY, until the birthday arrives and then we flip the board over to the back (shown above).

We let the birthday person choose dinner for a week prior to the birthday:

Dont worry super mommy's, this usually makes dinner each night EASIER!  My kids usually pick things like mac and cheese, quesadillas, pizza, cereal, half priced Happy Meals at Mcdonalds, you get it....Easy kid food. 

We have a special activity each night.  

I put them in any order depending on what is happening during the week:

1.  Have a family night of fun at home.  Watch movies, make cookies, play games, whatever the birthday person chooses.

2.  On the Monday previous to the birthday we have a special night when we celebrate the birthday child by looking at the child's pictures, baby scrapbooks, watching the home video of the child as a baby (kids LOVE this), and telling the story of when the child was born.  I start it out once upon a time....and make it as entertaining and elaborate as I can.  My kids just eat it up.  They love hearing about themselves!  We also play the Present Game,  eat the "I am thankful for you" birthday treat, and then display an assortment of photos from baby to present time of the birthday child on our WISH letters.

3.  Put a birthday sign on the front door so anyone coming over will know there is a special day coming up in the family, put the Birthday Tablecloth on, and decorate the birthday child's chair with The Birthday Chair Cover.

4.  Have a special birthday date with mom and/or dad.  This is a time when we try to do something special one on one.  Here are some of my ideas:  Dinner and a movie, Icecream and Shopping (for a new birthday outfit), Donuts and Pedicures, or Hot chocolate and Hockey.

5.  Make a "We love you because" sign.  I like to do 12x12 scrapbook paper so that we can easily save the nice things people write.  Here are some other ideas:  make a cutout of the birthday child with butcher paper and cover it with nice comments, cover their bedroom door with post it notes of good qualities of the person, or hang little cards with ribbon from the bedroom door molding with special birthday messages. 

6.  Put on The Birthday Pillowcase, read The Birthday Book, and get rid of a few old toys or clothes to make room for some new ones.

We have a birthday bag that is stocked with a small gift each morning for 7 mornings: 

We keep these really small.  We dont want to over do it and ruin the real birthday gifts.  Here are some of my ideas:

1. The birthday child's favorite box of snacks, cereal, or cookies.

2.  A gift of freedom like:  "You dont have to do the dishes today" "You get to stay up a 1/2 hour later tonight" or "I will clean your room for you."

3.  Birthday decorations, like the birthday party themed balloons, crepe paper, or party blowers .

4.  A fun candle with the number they are turning.

5.  A card game, book, or DVD.

6.  A treat with a fun note, like a package of gum with a note about how you would "chews" him/her again if you had the choice.

7.  A new shirt to wear on their birthday. (I usually do this one on their birthday)

This was a big project and I had lots of fun doing it with friends.  Alison helped design the wood and vinyl, Amber shared lots of her fun ideas and did the painting, and Missy made the cute placemat bags!  Thanks Gals, you are true Super Mommies!