Back To School!

That's right! Summer is coming to an end and school is about to begin for another year. If you live in Oregon, you know that we haven't had much of a summer. It's hard to believe kids will be going back to school, leaves will be changing, and Halloween will be fast approaching. Stores are already putting fall decorations out! Early September not only means back to school for kids, but for teachers as well! The Girls at Eighteen25 have come up with this cute idea to give to your children's teacher adorable Back To School Goodies!

First off, grab one of these containers at any craft store. 

Next take a piece of computer paper and trace the top of the box. Cut it out and this will now be your pattern. 

Take a piece of ribbon and tie it around the box. Make sure you have enough ribbon left to tie a bow  :) 

Pick out three sheets of scrapbook paper for the top of your box.  Using your pattern, cut one piece for the top, and one piece for the bottom. 

Then cut out a 1/2 inch strip for the middle. Glue all three pieces to the top of your box. You can also use some stickers to write down the name of the lucky teacher, or even add some die cuts too! 

Once the outside is decorated, you can start filling in the inside of the box! 

Hand sanitizer, paperclips, magnets, pushpins, and chocolate! 

Enjoy this fun project with your kids!

Garden Homes for Fairy's and Gnome's

Love these hot summer days and warm summer nights. The sun has finally shown its bright light after we all have patiently been waiting upon its arrival! Summer seasons can be difficult trying to come up with new activities for you and your kids. I came across this fabulous outdoor activity from La Famille: notes from my nest blog. This is a great activity to spend some time outdoors in your own backyard! 

Supplies: 

Paint brushes

Paint

Wooden bird houses (from Michael's $1.00) 

Large Bowls from the Dollar Tree 

Potting Soil

Pea Gravel

Step1 : Begin by painting and decorating your wooden houses! 

Step 2: Drill holes into the bottom of your large bowls for water to drain through. Add pea gravel, potting soil, plants (or veggie plants would be fun), and then another layer of pea gravel to make the gardens. 

Step 3: 

Have the kids grab items from around the yard that they think can be apart of their fantasy garden. Leaves, flowers, rocks, sticks, etc. 

I love how they did this little Gnome clothes line! So cute!! 

Check out the little moss pathway!  

I hope you have fun with this summer garden activity! The boys with their Gnome Homes and the girls with their Fairy Gardens! 

Red, White and Blue!

Do you have plans for the 4th of July?!? It's only a week  away! Whether you stay in town, go camping, or visit family, there are many ways to celebrate the holiday. 

Below are a few 4th of July celebrations around you as well as some fun patriotic crafts! 

What: Waterfront Blues Festival and fireworks. Listen to live music and stay for the fireworks 
Where: Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Fireworks begin at 10:05 PM 
Cost: Admission to the festival is $10 per person per day, plus 2 cans of nonperishable food for the Oregon Food Bank


What: Annual Fourth of July Celebration at Oaks Park Amusement Park and Fireworks
Where: Oaks Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, When: Monday, July 4. Park opens at 10 AM fireworks begin at dusk
Cost: $5 ages 16 and over; $3 under 15; $3 seniors 62 and up


What: Lake Oswego’s 4th of July celebration, pancake breakfast, parade, face painting, BBQ, pie eating contest, and fireworks display
Where: Millennium Plaza Park (parade) and Lake Grove Swim Center (fireworks) Lake Oswego When: Monday, July 4. BBQ at noon; Fireworks at 9:45
Cost: Free! 

Very cute 4th of July idea from Lisa Storms! What kid wouldn't love this?!?

A fun snack for the party from Room to Inspire! RineVines for all! 

And yet another adorable idea from Eighteen25! "Oh, Snap hope you have a great 4th of July!"

Spectacular Silhouettes!

WOW! What an amazing experience to watch Karl Johnson's artistry! His hand cut silhouettes were unbelievably fantastic.  It's truly a gift to have the eyes to see an individuals profile and cut hundreds of silhouettes. 

Karl and his wife Lauren contacted us in hopes to come to Duck Duck Goose to cut silhouettes for our customers. We were thrilled with the idea and jumped on board to host them on their visit to Portland. Neither had been to the Portland area and were suggested from people in Seattle area to make the trip. 

Karl lives in the Los Angeles area and has cut silhouettes for a number of celebrities! I loved listening to his stories about cutting silhouettes for Tom Cruise's birthday and Katie Holmes assisting him during the day, or Reese Witherspoon's wedding just months ago, or Colin Hank's wedding and meeting Bruce Springsteen!!!! 

It was simply an amazing experience! I hope to meet Karl again during his next trip to Portland. 

Below are a few pictures took during the event at Duck Duck Goose! If you were unable to attend but would like a silhouette done, you can visit his website at Cut Arts. You can email him a side profile image and he can send you the finished product! 

Amazed by the finished silhouette of Brinley! 

Moya sitting patiently while getting her silhouette cut. 

Cavan was a little concerned at first. But loved his finished silhouette! 

Showing off their finished silhouettes!!

Some people where unable to attend the Silhouette Event but email their photos in. Here are some side by side pictures of the hand cut silhouettes and the profile pictures! 

Ultrasound photo! AMAZING!! 

Beautiful pictures of a big sister and her little brother!

Thank you again Karl for sharing your talent with our customers. These are truly one of a kind! 

A Little Something for Dad!

Whether it is his first, fifth, or fifteenth  it is always fun the make it a special Father's day! With a week to go there is plenty of time to plan the perfect gift. Here are some fabulous gift ideas to help celebrate the Dad's in your life :) 

Silhouette Art:


The Tuesday before Father's Day, June 14th we are having an event at Duck Duck Goose! Karl Johnson, a celebrity silhouette artist will be in the Portland area. 


525 NW 23rd Ave in Portland
Tuesday, June 14th Starting at 11 am


Original silhouette $25.00
Duplicate of the same person $15.00
Optional framing $16.00


He is a 3rd generation silhouette artist and has worked with celebrities and their children including Tom Cruise, Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Lopez! He can also be seen in national publications such as In Style, People, Martha Stewart Weddings, and O Magazine.


Karl will create a stylish and thoughtful gift, perfect for Father's Day! His work is so elegant and simple, it only takes minutes to produce a timeless gift! For more information on Karl's work, you can check out his website at www.cutarts.com

Space is limited so please contact us today to schedule an appointment. 503.916.0636. Appointments are highly recommended but not required. It only takes 5 min! Squirmy children are welcome! 

An example of Karl's amazing work! 

Karl's work is featured in a new Restoration Hardware Baby & Child store in California. 

A party for a Tie-riffic Dad! 

I love this adorable tie shaped Father's Day banner and tie center piece signs! Shindig Parties to Go!  provides you with the Tie-riffic free set of printables.  

Father's Day POP:


For all you pop lovers, this is a fantastic Father's Day gift for you! All you need is your favorite soda and the adorable fun free printable labels from WhipperBerry and you are set! 

"Pop you put the FIZZ in my life!"

Jars Full of Summer Activities!

Memorial day is this Monday, which means school is almost out for summer! Can you believe it?!?! It's an exciting time for kids, but can be very stressful for the parents! What to do with your children during the summer? Everyone has good intentions and fun ideas to do at the beginning of the break, but we all forget how summer seems to fly by soo quick! Where does the time go? 

The ladies at The Crafting Chicks did it again! Here is a simple, fun, no cost idea to get the ball rolling for those summer activities! 

List of supplies: 

3 glass jars (clean spaghetti jars are used here) 

colored paper

Begin with your jars. You can always use more than 3 jars or only a couple. It's up to you! The ladies divided their activities into three categories. 

Next make a list of activities to do over the summer. Sit down with your kids and write down what is on their "wish" list for the summer! You can either print them out or hand write them. Separate each activity into the correct category and colored jar. Kids are very visual and seeing it displayed in different colors is perfect for any age! Below is a list of activities you can use for your jars :) 

Cut paper into strips and place them into the correct jars! 

Create easy labels for the jars on your computer and place on the front of each jar! 

"Activities and Games"

"Let's Eat"

"Oh the places we'll go!"

Have your kids draw a piece of paper out of the jar and see where your next adventure awaits! 

Here is a list of ideas for you and your kid this summer:) 

1. Have a cupcake picnic
2. Go on a walk
3. Collect Bugs and find out what they are
4. Bake brownies
5. Do each others makeup
6. Paint rocks
7. Put curlers in your hair
8. Plant some seeds
9. Movie night with Mom
10. Movie night with Dad
11. Write a letter and mail it
12. Bowling
13. Color pictures of the family
14. Take silly photos and put in an album
15. Do a photo scavenger hunt
16. Go on a bike ride
17. Make breakfast for dinner
18. One night at Grandma and Grandpas!
19. Dress each other up (with no complaints from the person being dressed)
20. Paint each others toe-nails
21. Bake cookies for someone and deliver them
22. Try a new recipe together
23. Make a time capsule (including predictions for the future)
24. Cut sponges into shapes and make sponge paintings
25. Make a silly video
26. Make a count down calendar for something you are looking forward to
27. Make play dough
28. Take your meal and eat somewhere fun
29. Make breakfast in bed — even if it is the middle of the afternoon
30. Make sock puppets
31. Make macaroni necklaces
32. Make a junk tree — collect trash and trinkets from around the house and glue them onto a paper cone and make a “tree.”
33. Make musical glasses and try to play melodies
34. Create bath paints with shaving cream and food coloring — and then create masterpieces
35. Write a story together and illustrate it
36. Build and indoor fort with blankets and cushions
37. Make your own Memory game and then play
38. Make an indoor put-put course using newspaper rolled up for clubs and masking tape rolls for holes.
39. Play a game of “hotter/colder” by hiding things around the house and having the kids try to find them
40. Play red light/green light
41. Build a robot with cardboard boxes and paint
42. Create an indoor treasure hunt complete with a map
43. Make popsicles with juice, fruit, and ice cube trays
44. Have a taste-testing party — blindfold the kids and have them try various foods and see if they can guess what they are.
45. Make a watermelon bowl with various fruits
46. Make homemade peanut butter with shelled peanuts and a blender.
47. Make sugar cookies and then decorate
48. Make popcorn and watch a movie
49. Make an obstacle course and then time yourselves
50. Make (and play) hopscotch
51. Make mud paintings
52. Make a long and winding road for your Matchbox Cars using construction paper and markers
53. Make mud pies and decorate with flowers, rocks, and grass
54. Have a water fight and have everyone (including mom!) participate
55. Plan a dream vacation together and look up airlines, hotels, and site seeing activities. Make a travel brochure for your trip.
56. Buy or print out a world map and mark on it all the places people in the family have been in one color and all the places people want to go in another
57. Have a grocery store scavenger hunt.  Make a list of items the kids have to find and have them check them off and write the price as they find them.
58. Switch roles — parents act like the kids and the kid act like the parents.
59. Make edible necklaces with food you have in the house.
60. Display kids artwork on the wall using string and clothespins
61. Make the alphabet out of play dough
62. Create sculptures using toothpicks and raisins
63. Teach kids North/South/East/West in your home and then hide toys and direct them using only directional commands
64. Have the kids draw a map of the house and/or neighborhood
65. Color flowers using food coloring and a carnation or daisy
66. Make tambourines using paper plates and beans or pasta.  Staple together and decorate.
67. Create a chore chart for the whole family
68. Collect leaves and then do paper rubbings with crayons or pencils
69. Trace your hands and then color and decorate them with “jewelry” and “nail polish.”
70. Blindfold the kids and then have them draw pictures of certain things
71. Have a tea party and have everyone dress up
72. Cut up photographs of each kid and make into puzzles
73. Create a menu for the week letting everyone have a turn picking what to eat.  Post the menu in the kitchen or dining room
74. Create a pizza parlor at home and serve up homemade pizza
75. Make play dough jewelry.  Create beads, make holes with a toothpick, let try, and then coat with nail polish. Then thread into bracelets and necklaces.
76. Make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and string.
77. Make a pasta picture with dried pasta and paint
78. Create party hats and then come up with a reason to celebrate
79. Make homemade napkins rings and use for dinner that night
80. Make place mats for dinner
81. Create a pancake parlor with pancakes and lots of toppings.  Better yet, invite some friends to join you
82. Make masks out of paper plates
83. Change out all the photos in your picture frames with current favorites
84. Rearrange the furniture in one of your rooms for a new and updated feel
85. Make a bunch of birthday cards for people so that you have them ready for when the time comes
86. Create a “people we love” photo album
87. Have everyone write out ten fun activities to add the the activity jar