6

So my oldest is turning SIX next week. :-) That number seems really big to me. Ya know? Like anything 5 and under they still feel like babies... but 6? Not so much. I have to say that I'm really really enjoying this age with Cooper. He is just so easy. And Cooper has not always been easy! He was quite challenging from about age zero to FOUR!

So i really am enjoying him these days. He gives me relief from my Terrible-Two-Year-Old. He's got a great sense of humor, he's smart, he's really good at Wii games, and he's observant almost to a fault (when he calls Mommy out on something that she tried to slide by him. ;-) He reads so well at his age. It amazes me. I remember sitting in Kindergarten thinking "i don't know how to read. This is bad right? shouldn't I be, like.... reading?" I swear kids do things so much earlier now!

For his birthday party, he wanted to have a bowling party. So while looking at bowling alleys online, i TOTALLY lucked up when i stumbled upon this amazing vintage style bowling alley right here in Atlanta! I had never heard of it. It was recently renovated in a 50's style. It's so family friendly, but cool for adults too. And it has the coolest backdrop ever!

I took Coop last weekend to take some photos of him for his party invites. It was super fun and Cooper's motivation was that we'd bowl a game after photos. Of course that didn't stop him from whining most of the way through the shoot, but we still had some fun and some laughs (i had to resort to some potty humor to get him to smile and laugh, but what are ya gonna do, ya know?)

And we did a little of this too, which he loved...

Sorry i can't stop it because it's an animated gif image.. i just took still shots and made it into a little movie... but it's cute, right? :-) If you look in the bottom left-hand corner you can see where i did a shotty job of photoshopping out a car that got in each shot... i didn't take the time to do a good job, but i kind of like the effect it gives to the overall movie! That's a bowling ball on the ground, not a basketball.. i actually changed the color of it for the invites because it looks so much like a basketball in orange!

Here are the invites.. i designed them as 5x7's and just had the front and back printed individually at Sam's and then glued them together with spray adhesive. He invited a small group of kids so it made more sense to do it this way instead of having them press-printed (cheaper this way!). I had to find some larger envelopes to fit the 5x7 size and I found these manilla envelopes I've had forever... I felt like they sort of *fit* that old school theme well.. I had the last minute idea to add a little diamond design to it (to mimic the diamond motif throughout the bowling alley) and I went ahead and added the "to" and "from" addresses so that i wouldn't have to handwrite them all! I just used scotch tape to temporarily adhere the envelope to regular printer paper, then ran it through the printer making sure my design and the envelope lined up just right.

I had to add the orange washi tape to the end of the envelopes because the printer didn't like me running them through the printer so much, and they came out with some ink stains on one end. But it worked out fine - the tape was the exact color of the envelopes. Then i adhered the printed Coopers and little word bubble stickers a la Martha Stewart Crafts, and handwrote the "i'm 6!". Even though they were a bit of work, i love how they turned out. And i only had to do 10. :-)

I've got more pics to share later, and some from our bowling game too... here are some pics I took with my Fuji Instax Mini at the bowling alley... so fun!

In other news, I have some SUPER*CUTE little kawaii single credit-card (or anything credit-card sized!) holders that I'll be adding to my Tiny Bazaar orders while supplies last. Just a small (free!) "thank-you" from me. :-) They are so adorable, i wish i could keep them all for  myself! this is only a SMALL sampling of the 40 unique designs I have.. i think this little feathered redhead is my favorite. :-)

I found this AMAZING crochet project while blog hopping the other day and it totally stole my heart. :) I found it on Vanessa Cabban's blog.. she is a children's book illustrator and also creates the most gorgeous crocheted projects.. her blog is just truly delightful and full of eye candy.

This project looks totally doable and i definitely want to ATTEMPT it so I can wear it by the time cold weather comes along (which shouldn't be too soon around here). We FINALLY bought our pop-up camper this week (YAY!) so i predict ALOT more free time for Danielle to work on projects for *me* on our camping excursions... things i always put off that I want to do, like crochet and embroidery. I'm definitely going to attempt this one. Her color choices are right up my alley and so inspiring!

And i love how she documented her color choices on her blog...

Make sure to check out her freebies in her left-hand sidebar and her etsy shop!

And also check out the new post over at the Kitschy Digitals blog... I've shared LOTS of new artwork by Creative Team members.. some really inspiring stuff! Here's a preview of everything.. check out the blog post for a closer look. :-)

Comments

[Chelsea Ann]

I just ADORE YOU! I wish I was throwing gutters with the gang...

[Karli Plant]

oh man! Cooper is such a lucky boy! great invites D. . . you explained how you did it. . . and i still don't understand!?! just amazing stuff.
bowling is so kitschy. . . fits perfect for your wonderful kitschy family! :)
Cooper is all grown up and looks so dapper in his bowling shirt! where in heavens did you get it? just spectacular.
as always. . . in love with all you do.

[lanne]

Cooper rocks that look and his Mum rocked the invites ;) SOOOO cool. Love them!

[Beth]

"First-time, longtime" here. Your family is so fortunate to have you as such a creative mother and wife with such wonderfully vintage taste, I wish I could grow up in a house as colorful and retro as yours! Beautiful job on the party invitations!

[Amber]

I LOVE reading your blog...you always are so inspiring and those are just the coolest invites ever!

[Mikaela]

Those invitations are totally amazing, I blogged about them =)

[Lu]

I can't stand you! You always put something on here that makes me either have to have it or do it. I am so in with making that scarf. Love it. I pulled out my crochet hooks and yarn the other day and it felt so good to sit down with a cup of hot cocoa and play with the yarn. Your little man is just that...a little man. Wow.

[Mandy Ford]

What a cutie Cooper is - and those invites are AWESOME! He is one lucky kid :)

And that scarf! Gorgeous! My mother-in-law started teaching me how to crochet but the farthest we got was the basic chain stitch. I would love to learn how to do granny squares.

[ChantaleP]

First of all, AMAZING invites! That bowling party is awesome idea. My girl's birthday is coming up and you've inspired me! Now to find the time... Going to check your etsy shop for some goody bag ideas. Love this blog!

[Crazy Mom Tats!]

Cute - I work right around the corner from that bowling alley. It's fun!

Age 6 - oh, the good old days!

[lisa]

yay! cooper is such an adorable wee man! i LOVE that outfit you have him in for the photoshoot! and those invites are amazing. excellent, as always.

love you!

[Talia]

Okay, Danielle...you are just PURELY amazing. I love looking at your blog. Total and complete eye candy and full of so much inspiration!!
It's all amazing!!

[missy Cornell]

ok, you are crazy wonderful. Everytime I checkout your page, I just want to...Clap for joy!! I know that was really lame, but seriously, you have the coolest and most original ideas ever!!!

[Susie Q]

Danielle, you've done it again!! love those invites!
Hey happy b-lated b-day to your lil BIG guy:)
6 is fun I remember when my boys were that age & your right kids learn way tooo much too early these days

[Allison Waken]

Those invitations are crazy perfect!

[mandie segura]

those invites are precious! :)

[Terese]

LOVE the invites. Too cute. Where is your favorite place to get fonts? I have a few from DaFont and Two peas, but nothing I totally love.

[suzanne]

Oh my gosh....I'm dying here. SOOOOO much inspiration all in one place. So happy to find your blog...exactly what I needed at the end of a long day!

ABSOLUTELY WOOOONDERFUL!

[Danette]

Great pics of your boy. I know what you mean, about this age being so fun. My girls are 6 and 4 and I am really having a great time with them right now.
Love your blog and shop and vibe.

[Susan]

You are so talented!!! The whole bowling alley idea and theme is amazing and the pictures couldn't be more perfect. I also love the wee fuji pics too :)
The little card holders are such sweet little trinkets. I always love seeing what you come up with next.

[Nancy Deliz]

Awesome invites. I love them. Your photos are gorgeous.

[Carla]

omg, he is so adorable and I love the pics and the invites! You are super cleaver!!

[tiffany]

Awesome post! Fabulous photos. Very cool bday theme. And a big 6 to boot! Bitter sweet... :o)