Fresh New Prints in the Shop!

Check out some of our new digital scrapbook paper in the Etsy shop.

Summer of Bracelets!

I have been obsessed with making bracelets this Summer. It all started with a rose

that I handmade from polymer clay, which lead to molded beads,

which lead to a charm bracelet that was inspired by this artist:  Michu Coquette. And here is the finished bracelet!

More to come soon...

Dads Rock!

Today my husband did the following:

1. Watched Major League Baseball
2. Played on the iPad
3. Lounged by the pool
4. Texted his friends
5. Read Sports Illustrated

BUT, he also:

1. Made a kick-ass risotto that we enjoyed for lunch
2. Played with our 6 year old
3. Baked zucchini bread
4. Threw in a load of laundry
5. Fed the dog

Today's dads do a lot more besides watching sports in their underwear. They drive the car pool, kill spiders, fix the sink when it's clogged, make snack for the soccer team and much more. Today's dads are rock stars and we at Sugarcooky Graphics salute them. 

In short, dads do just about everything moms do, albeit often in their own unique way (chocolate cake for breakfast, anyone? Yay! Dad's in charge!) 

Word to Your Moms

She's the one who gives life, gives up sleep, cuts gum out of hair, turns pb and j's into flower shapes, kisses boo-boos, chauffeurs the kids and their friends to the mall, and stays up until midnight helping a kid make a baking soda and vinegar volcano for that science project they forgot about until the last minute. Why not return the favor and set her up with some thoughtful and adorable printable coupons redeemable for all the things a mom needs on Mother's Day? These would be a welcome gift from kids or husbands!

She's An American Girl!

Threw a party for my youngest daughter's 6th birthday today. Lots of charming little ladies in their party finery, accompanied by their American Girl dolls. I basically recreated the American Girl Cafe in my dining room. From the black and white striped curtains to the box of Table Talker cards, it was all very pink and girly; with a candy bar, a doll tutu craft, tiny little cups, plates, forks and polymer clay doll goodies, a doll hair salon and a doll house bounce house. The girls 'ordered' their lunch from the American Girl Cafe menu, and my Middle School daughter and her friend donned black aprons and served the girls everything from the Warm Welcome cinnamon rolls, flower, heart and star shaped fruit kebabs and tea sandwiches, chocolate flower pots and a four layer, pink ombré cake decorated to look like a gift box.

I never had parties like this when I was a kid, and I thoroughly enjoyed creating this one. At the risk of sounding like an old lady who walked five miles to school in the snow: we were lucky to get a sheet cake and some Neapolitan ice cream. (Not that I'm knocking Neapolitan ice cream --- I still love that pink, brown and cream combo to this day!) it's just that kids get all the cool stuff nowadays. My mom sometimes Scotch taped up a Pin the Tail on the Donkey to the wall, or if she was feeling particularly frisky, she might organize a Toss the Clothespins in the Bucket game.

My neighbor down the street threw a fantastic Wizard of Oz themed party last week, decorated with blue gingham tablecloths and colorful buckets of rainbow swirl lollipops. The tiered cake was topped with a tiny pair of glittery ruby slippers!

Sometimes I wonder if we are 'spoiling' them, but I threw amazing and creative parties for my older daughter all through elementary school and she seems to be turning out okay. This year she informed me that in lieu of a party, she and her friends are going to participate in The Walk to End Genocide, which takes place on her birthday weekend. So I guess I will continue to indulge them (ahem, myself) and be grateful that I can. I hope I'm creating happy childhood memories for them along the way. After all, as Fisher says, These Are the Lovely Years. I'm enjoying them for as long as I can.

Valentine's Freebie

Just created a couple of free Valentine's outfits for the BFF's Playing Dress Up paper dolls that are new in the etsy shop. If you'd like me to send you the freebie, just pop a note in the comments section of this blog, or send an email to me at paula@sugarcooky.com.

I modeled the dolls after my daughter and our neighbor when they were toddlers, and the girls love to play with the 'baby' versions of themselves. They can be printed on paper like regular paper dolls or you can do what I did and print them out on magnetic paper, which makes them more portable. Madeline plays with them on a small magnetic whiteboard in the car, which keeps her occupied and happy on car rides.

I also put together a tutorial (see below) showing how to use an Altoids tin to make a sweet Valentine's gift for your favorite little girly. Write a comment and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Love is in the Air

Please excuse the blatant marketing here, but Michele has once again outdone herself in the cute department and I really wanted to share it on the blog!  Valentine's Day is coming up, and we are busily creating some little lovelies to sell on Etsy for your scrapbooking, cardmaking and crafting needs. Stay tuned for more yummy Valentine's goodness, as well as a freebie and a tutorial for making some playful and kinda retro looking magnetic paper dolls for yourself or the little sweetie in your life.