A Hot Air Balloon Themed Baby Shower

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Oh what fun we had this past weekend celebrating the anticipation of the sweet baby girl we are awaiting with a Hot Air Balloon Baby Shower!

I made these miniature hot air balloons using super inexpensive 12″ white paper Chinese lanterns that I attached to quart-sized cardboard pulp berry baskets with wooden skewers and embellished with all the pink ribbon, yarn, sequins, buttons, lace, or pearls I had in my craft stash.  I added a tiny battery operated tea light to each basket and hung and placed them all over the house.

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It was such a collaborative effort of all the girls involved.   Check out this amazing Aunt Squad surrounding the beautiful momma to be!

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We had a hot air balloon cupcake cake,

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Hot Air Balloon Cake Pops in a puffy white cloud,

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and Hot Air Balloons, clouds and cherubic baby faced sugar cookies.

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The favors were made using Eos Lip Balms to thank our guests for sharing their time and love with us.

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A Hot Air Balloon banner with baby pictures of the mom and dad to be as babies themselves was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

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An Extra Large Basket Lady Pole Handle Wicker Storage Basket with pink and white balloons tied to it was filled to overflowing with children’s books guests brought in place of cards to start a wonderful library for baby.

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The books were requested by a special insert in the invitation, and the overflowing abundance of new and extra special, well-loved books from people we love will be so cherished.

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The time and love put into gifts blew us away.  A very special Gram blessed Mom and Dad to be with this amazing handmade Hot Air Balloon quilt.

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We also had a Hair Bow Boutique…

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where guests were invited to create a hair bow (or two or three – like sweet Ella did) for baby.

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And they surely blew us away with their talent and love.

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Instead of a guest “book,” we had guests add their fingerprint and name to a hot air balloon watercolor painting that can hang in baby’s nursery as a sweet reminder of all who shared in her special party.

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A simple game of “Guess the Baby Item  in the Bag” had guests brainstorming

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on what the heck starts with an “O” or “W” or “H”

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while munching on fruit from a hot air balloon fruit tray (which we forgot to get a picture of – 😦 – sorry Jen!) – but looked a lot like this inspiration from Pinterest, as well as Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders and Chicken Salad with dried cranberries and walnuts in miniature croissants, veggie pizza, and Strawberry Spinach Salad.

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and yep – we had that yummy Salted Caramel Apple Sangria too!

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My heart is surely overflowing!

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Balloons are now popped, and the house is back in order.  Grandma is still glowing, though, as we await the arrival of this already abundantly loved baby girl.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS  Thanks to BFF Jill for being event photographer for Grandma-to-be who was simply too overjoyed and excited to even think about snapping pics!  What would I do without you!?  ❤ 

Come Fly Away

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Come fly away with me

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to a place we want to be

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up high in the cottony clouds

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where anything is allowed

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where soft winds blow

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and spirits glow

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where life is free

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for he and she and me

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we’ll take flight

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toward the light

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and smile and laugh and sing

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in a basket tied with string

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we will float

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in our air-filled boat

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with the utmost ease

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in the gentle breeze

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and leave behind

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the ties that bind.

A couple of weeks ago, Hubby and I spent a Saturday evening watching a multitude of hot air balloons lift off and fly away at the Western Pennsylvania Balloon Quest in New Castle, PA.  The weather was a bit “iffy,” and take-offs were delayed, but Mother Nature cooperated, to our great fortune, and we were able to experience this beauty.

I’m a bit of a ninny poo poo when it comes to daring adventures of height like this, but oh how I wish I were brave enough.  Maybe some day.  For now, it was lovely to experience from the ground and dream of far away places that can only be reached by going where the gentle wind blows us.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Oh the Places we will Go!

Watercolor Pink Hot Air Balloon 8x10 140lb Arches Cold Press Quin Magenta & Quin Gold - Rekab 320s Brush

Watercolor Pink Hot Air Balloon 8×10 140lb Arches Cold Press Quin Magenta & Quin Gold – Rekab 320s Brush

Oh the places we will go….
Oh the things that we will do….

Oh the beauty we will see…..
Oh the love that there will be.

Dreaming of the the places, things, beauty, and love that I will experience upon the arrival of my first grandchild – my granddaughter – in just a few short months…

Oh how happy I will be!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This watercolor was done using 1 brush (Rekab 320s Size 2 Squirrel Mop that Debi Riley creates magic with), 2 paint colors (Quinacridone Magenta and Quinacridone Gold), and a splash or two of rubbing alcohol on Arches 140 lb. Cold Press Paper using a wet on wet technique.  I added the words by simply writing with a Stabilo Aquarellable #8046 Pencil.

painting watercolor hot air balloon with rekab 320s

When I originally bought this Rekab 320s brush after reading how much Debi loves it and uses it (and which I could only find via mail order from an art shop in Australia), I liked it, but basically only used it as a “mop” for big, wet washes. It was the second “good” brush I bought.   It holds an amazing amount of water and paint, and I was amazed at the difference painting with such a high-quality brush makes.

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After inquiring a bit more about how Debi does so much with it, she mentioned it can be used in many ways, even to create fine lines by simply flicking off the excess water and allowing the hairs to form a tight point.  Well… Wow – was she right!   I have discovered the magic of this amazing brush and am so thrilled.  Thanks Debi!  I still can’t create amazing painting like you, but I sure do understand why you love this brush, and I plan to play with it a lot more.

And PS – do you see my awesome #WorldWatercolorMonth mug in the photos above?! Isn’t it pretty sweet?  You can have one too, as well as a number of other fun #WorldWatercolorMonth SWAG at Charlie O’s Doodlewash Society 6 Shop.  And the BEST thing is – 100 PERCENT of the proceeds from your purchases go to the The Dreaming Zebra Foundation, where you can provide art and music supplies to under-privileged children throughout the world.

Research has shown that art education has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child and has proven to help level the learning field across socioeconomic boundaries. Unfortunately, arts education programs are too often the first to be cut when cuts are necessary, so more and more children each year are missing out on the important benefits of art classes.

Please keep in mind that beyond having fun and sharing our watercolor painting adventures this month, a bigger and higher purpose is to help affect real change and begin to reverse this trend.   Please consider even a $10 donation.  Imagine what a difference we could make if we all gave just the cost of a lunch out.