Little Birdies First Birthday Party

2 / 27 / 1810 / 26 / 19

It was my twins’ first birthday that inspired me to start this blog and open my shop. The girls are about to turn three, so I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and wanted to share a look into the “little birdies” party that ultimately launched Sprinkles Studio.For my husband and me, the twins’ first birthday was a celebration of survival. First-time parenthood is hard enough as it is, but we had the added challenge of a high-risk pregnancy that landed me in the hospital for two months of monitoring. The girls were delivered at 34 weeks and spent the next two months in the NICU. When we finally came home, we had two babies who were generally healthy, but extremely fussy. They refused to nap longer than 20 minutes, and they didn’t sleep through the night until they were about 11 months old.

Through all of this, we were blessed by the overwhelming support of family and friends. They said lots of prayers, made lots of meals, and welcomed our crying babies with open arms whenever we needed a break. So, with the first birthday came a sense of accomplishment for us as parents, but we owed so very much to the “village” that came alongside us. That’s why I wanted to host a big birthday bash and invite everyone who touched our lives during those first 12 months. We weren’t just celebrating our miracle babies — we were honoring the people who had seen us through our most challenging year ever.

The twins were born in early March, so the “little birdies” theme was a fun way to usher in spring. Like every party I’ve hosted since, the planning process started with the invitation design (find it here, in my shop). By pure luck, I stumbled upon a value-priced scrapbook stack with birds and birdcages in the pink and aqua colors I chose for the invite. I used these papers to create a banner, buffet cards and other embellishments.

Purchase a plain wood birdhouse and embellish with paint, decorative papers and little birdies.

For a simple spring centerpiece, paint a wooden birdhouse and pair with fresh flowers.

Spring decor is readily available (and on sale!) this time of year, so it’s easy to find cute, inexpensive items that enhance the little birdies theme. I picked up a ceramic egg crate from TJ Maxx, a set of ceramic birds from Hobby Lobby and a white birdcage from Michael’s, which served as a card holder. With a quick coat of paint, cheap wood birdhouses turn into adorable centerpieces. The best part is, you can repurpose all of these items to decorate your home for Easter.

Speaking of Easter, you’ll find plenty of seasonal candy to adorn your dessert table in precious pinks and blues. From Marshmallow Peeps to chocolate eggs, there are lots of options that work well with this theme. These charming no-bake birds nests are sure to catch the attention of your guests, and they’re easy to make, too. Plastic eggs can be filled with sweets for guests to take home.

This little birdie t-shirt transfer is available from SprinklesStudioShop on Etsy. Purchase the digital download and create custom onesies at home. All you need is iron-on transfer paper and an inkjet printer to create these cute first birthday shirts. The set includes one pink and one aqua birdie. Perfect for twins!

These DIY birdseed ornaments make the perfect favors for a "little birdies" birthday party.

As a thank-you to everyone who attended, I made birdseed ornaments, which were displayed on tree branches in a vase. A framed poem accompanied the favors, encouraging guests to take one for the little birdies in their own backyard. On the same table, I provided note cards with instructions to leave a “tweet” message for the girls, which would be placed in a time capsule to be read on their 18th birthday.

We ended up with a full house — to the point that people had to sit on the floor to eat because we ran out of tables, chairs and couches. To be honest, it was a bit chaotic. Kids were running around like crazy, and I was too, in my attempt to keep the party flowing smoothly.

It was exhilarating.

The atmosphere was one of joy and laughter, and as I looked around the overcrowded room, I was reminded just how much our little family of four was loved. My heart was full.

You’ve Been Booed! Free Printables

10 / 24 / 172 / 14 / 18

With Halloween just a week away, it’s the perfect time to “boo” someone on your street. No, I’m not suggesting you sneak up on your unsuspecting neighbors and scare them. If you haven’t heard of this concept, it’s pretty simple: Leave some treats on a doorstep along with a ghost, which indicates to everyone that the house has been visited by friendly neighborhood spooks. You’ll brighten someone’s day, and with any luck, you’ll start a chain reaction through your community.

My family recently got “booed” for the first time. I opened the front door one morning to find a bag full of goodies perfectly selected for twin toddlers. There were stickers, glow sticks, lip balm and just a little bit of candy (which I appreciated). With the gift was an anonymous note wishing us a happy Halloween and instructing us to hang the included paper ghost on the front door.

I was excited to repeat the gesture and surprise another neighbor, so naturally, I consulted Pinterest for ideas. The examples I found had very specific instructions: recipients should boo two houses within 48 hours of receiving their gift. While I understand the motive behind these “rules of the game,” I find them slightly off-putting. In my opinion, a genuine gift comes with no expectations. Most people will feel compelled — without any prompting — to pay it forward, but if they don’t, that’s okay. Choosing to give is more satisfying than being coaxed into it, and receiving a gift with no strings attached is better than getting one with a disclaimer.

I digress.

Once our ghost was up on the door, it was time to choose our lucky victims. The nearby neighbors with small kids already had their ghosts, so we decided to target the older couples living on either side of our house. Their grownup treats included a bottle of sparkling cider, Honeycrisp apples, individual packets of caramel dip and a cute little fall bowl I found at the dollar store.

Speaking of which, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on this project. The dollar store can be your one-stop shop for trinkets, toys, sweet treats, seasonal items and even the bag to put it all in. There’s no need to spend a lot of time, either. I could have easily made copies of the note we received, but my creative side just wouldn’t allow it. I had to add my own personal touch, and now you can download my printable file, too!

When it comes to Halloween, I lean toward lighthearted and fun versus creepy and macabre, and that is reflected in this design. (I mean, have you ever seen a friendlier ghost?)

This happy apparition is large enough to be seen from the street, but small enough that it won’t detract from someone’s existing front door décor. The poem gets the point across without explicitly spelling out the instructions:

Fall is here, the air is cool;
’Tis the season for ghosts and ghouls.
Instead of tricks, they’re bringing treats
To neighbors up and down our street!
So hang this ghost for all to see
That you’ve been “BOOED” this Halloween!

So what are you waiting for? Subscribe to my email list below for immediate access to these free printables, and share some autumn joy!

Easy Easter Chicks Cookies à la Cheryl’s

4 / 10 / 17

These sweet little Easter chicks cookies couldn’t be simpler, and they’re inspired by the queen of cookie-making herself, Cheryl. If you’ve never tried one of Cheryl’s famous cut-outs, add it to your bucket list. The soft sugar cookies are covered with rich buttercream frosting, and they’re like nothing else I’ve ever tasted.

I was first introduced to Cheryl’s Cookies when I worked for a company that received them as corporate gifts. Every year around Christmastime, the break room table would overflow with these delicious confections. There were chocolate chip cookies, brownies and shortbreads, but the buttercream frosted cut-outs stood above the rest. Biting into one of those little wonders was (and is) like a taste of heaven. Simply divine.

My adoration of these cookies may sound like an exaggeration, but I assure you it is not. Case in point: A couple years ago we had Easter dinner at a banquet center. During one of several trips to the buffet, I spotted two individually wrapped Cheryl’s cookies, seemingly abandoned on a neighboring table. I couldn’t believe that anyone would leave these treasures behind, so I wondered if maybe the rightful owners were just getting another plate of food. I kept a close eye on that table, and when no one returned, I resolved to make those cookies mine. Never mind the fancy dessert spread offered with the buffet.

I knew I’d have to act fast before the table was cleared and the cookies ended up in the trash. (That would be a real travesty!) But I’m not without pride, and I worried what people would think if they noticed me picking through someone else’s leftovers. I thought it through and realized there was only one option: I’d have to recruit my husband to do my dirty work.

That Easter I went home two cookies richer.

We’re on Cheryl’s mailing list because Joe buys me a tin of cookies on special occasions now and then. When I saw the spring catalog, I knew I’d have to make my own version of their adorable Easter chicks cut-outs. They’re incredibly simple: just an egg-shaped cookie with yellow frosting, diamond-shaped beak and candy eyes.

If you’re scanning this post for a recipe, you can stop right here. I’m not sharing a recipe, because Cheryl’s cookies cannot be duplicated. I’ve tried the copycats, and they don’t do justice to the real thing. If you want to make your cookies in the style of Cheryl’s, just use your favorite sugar cookie and buttercream recipes, and follow these tips:

Don’t roll the dough too thin. It should be at least 1/4- to 3/8-inch thick.
Bake just until set, not brown. If your cookies don’t quite look done, they’re probably perfect. Keep in mind they will continue to firm up as they cool.
Pile the frosting on thick!

For the Easter chicks, I found it best to decorate each one from start to finish rather than doing the whole batch in stages. When applying the yellow frosting base, try not to get hung up on how smooth it spreads. I’ll admit this is a struggle for me and my Type A tendencies, but even Cheryl’s are somewhat irregular. For the beaks, I mixed a small amount of orange frosting and used a squeeze bottle to draw a diamond shape. Then I placed a candy eyeball on either side. That’s it! Display them in an egg carton for added charm.

Do you share my affinity for Cheryl’s Cookies? Let me know in the comments below!

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