DIY Washi Tape Cactus Pot Gift and 101+ Birthday Gift Ideas!

Today is an exciting day.  I'm partnering up with 101+ talented bloggers for Kristen Duke from Capturing Joy Birthday Celebration Week to bring you 101+ inexpensive birthday gift ideas for your friends!  All week long, Kristen is sharing birthday tips and giveaways so be sure to check out her Party. Since I love plants, I'm sharing an easy way to spruce one up for a birthday gift idea!

Washi tape is so versatile, you can use it on so many things.  I got this pack of washi tape as a gift (how funny is that?) and thought it would fun to give this plastic terracotta pot that was holding the cactus a little makeover.

This was so easy and took me five minutes! All I did was cut strips of tape and applied it to the top and down the pot until the bottom.  Do this until the entire pot is covered.   

I'm not a way crafty person and I don't make printables, because I'm lame like that.  I had a card making kit from Stampin Up from their My Paper Pumpkin and cut out a square, added some stickers and punched a hole and tied some yarn to attach the gift tag to the pot.  And ta da, you're done!

 

{Blog Hop Birthday designs by C {dot} love}

Are you ready for some inspiration? Join in on the BLOG HOP! Click on each of links below each collage to see the gift idea and printable closer, along with instructions on how to make them, like mine above. I like to open a bunch of new tabs, and Pin my favorites for later. Don't forget to follow the Birthday Gift Ideas Pinterest Board as well, to save future great ideas. 

  

1. Birthday Balloon Gift + matching free Print by Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke 
2. Stamped Cocktail Napkin + Printable by Delineate Your Dwelling 
3. Buckets of Fun gift idea+Free Printable by Craftiness is Not Optional 
4. 7 Candy Bar Love Notes to say "Happy Birthday" by The Dating Divas 
5. Have a Flippin' Awesome Birthday by Dessert Now Dinner Later 
6. Fishtail Loom Bracelet by I Should Be Mopping the Floor 
7. Lemonade Lip Balm by Pretty Handy Girl 
8. Hair Tie Birthday Gift & Printable Tag by Wait Til Your Father Gets Home 
9. Gift of Sunshine Idea + Free Printable by Sweet Charli 
10. I hope your birthday is a whole "lotto" fun by C.R.A.F.T. 
11. Chicken Spice Rub w/ Printable Tags by Over the Big Moon 
12. Birthday in a Bag Gift Idea by Seven Thirty Three 
13. Quick Note for your Birthday Printable by Liz on Call 
14. Otter Pop Gift with Printable Gift Tag by Somewhat Simple 
15. {you} Series Magnets Printable by Ruffles and Rain Boots 
16. Tea Cup Succulent by Your Homebased Mom 
17. Pretty Pincushion + Printable by Let's Eat Grandpa 
18. Lemon Bath Salts and Free Printable by See Vanessa Craft 
19. Diet Coke Birthday Kit by Pink Peppermint Prints 
20. Chocolate Filled Insulated Tumbler Gift by The Girl Who Ate Everything

   

21. Easy Funfetti Cake Balls with Printable by Salt and Pepper Moms 
22. Hands Down Best Friend Around by Eighteen25 
23. Berry Happy Birthday Printable by Stuffed Suitcase 
24. Whisk Birthday Gift with Free Printable by Cupcake Diaries 
25. Paper Plate Gift Idea by Crafting in the Rain 
26. Popcorn Gift Printable by Breezy Bakes 
27. Life Saver: Birthday Gift in a Jar by Here Comes the Sun 
28. Decoupage Wooden Pendant by Twin Dragonfly Designs 
29. Have a coffee on me: Funky Coasters by Funky Junk Interiors 
30. Swanky Black & Gold Cosmetic Bag by A Prudent Life 
31. DIY cocktail napkins by kojodesigns 
32. Nail Polish Gift by Southern Hospitality 
33. Banana Cake by Whats Cooking with Ruthie 
34. Paparazzi - the PERFECT friend gift by Sugar Bee Crafts
35. "latte" fun birthday gift by Our Thrifty Ideas 
36. Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes + Printable by Tastes Better from Scratch 
37. Pearls are Always Appropriate by Mommy Envy 
38. Girls Just Want to Have Fun Birthday Gift by A Little Tipsy 
39. Manicure Kit Birthday Gift with Printable by Blooming Homestead 
40. Orange you Glad Cup by Artsy Fartsy Mama

   

41. Donut Gift Tag by Pretty Providence 
42. Rainbow Inspired Birthday Gift + Printable by Thirty Handmade Days 
43. Drink Topper and Tag by LandeeLu 
44. DIY Bath Salts using Essential Oils by Unskinny Boppy 
45. Friends are Like Chocolate Chips by Delightful Deets 
46. Paint Can Succulent Planters by East Coast Creative 
47. A Bundt Cake Gift & Printable by Dukes and Duchesses 
48. Jam Birthday Gift & Printable by Happiness is Homemade 
49. Jazzed up Frames by House for Five 
50. Favorite Things Gift Ideas by inkhappi 
51. Toe-tally Cool Nail Polish Gift Idea + Free Printable by Simply Designing with Ashley 
52. Quote Book by Reasons to Skip the Housework 
53. Iron On T-Shirt Gift by Becoming Martha 
54. DIY Humorous Girlfriend Gift by Brassy Apple 
55. Tea-riffic Birthday Gift Idea & Printable by Mom Endeavors 
56. Turn Today Into A Celebration by Dolen Diaries 
57. You're A Lifesaver Printable by Live Laugh Rowe 
58. Happy Birthday Jar {free printable} by Kiki and Company 
59. Mason Jar Flower Vase + Printable by R & R Workshop 
60. Easy $5 Wooden Charm Bracelet by Craftily Ever After

   

61. Polka Dot Mason Jar Vase by The Cards We Drew 

62. Free Printable Mini Notes by Confetti Sunshine 

63. Bath Bomb Easy Birthday Gifts by Tried and True 

64. Ball Jar Printable Tags by The Country Chic Cottage 

65. Eat More Cake Birthday Gift Idea and Printable by Play. Party. Pin. 

66. Have a "berry" happy birthday by The Contractor Chronicles 

67. Merci Chocolates + Hey Birthday Girl french girl printable by Handmade in the Heartland 68. Five Minute Leather Necklace Tutorial + Birthday printables by Delia Creates 

69. Ah-Mason Birthday Gift Idea by Lolly Jane 

70. Simple Dangle Earring Tutorial by Bombshell Bling 

71. Symphony Bar Brownies by Among the Young 

72. Wishing you an E "straw" diary Birthday by Ginger Snap Crafts 

73. DIY Washi Tape Cacti by Fry Sauce and Grits 

74. State Pride Cheese Board by Addicted to DIY 

75. Reusable Monogrammed Solo Cup by Mom 4 Real 

76. go-to gift…EARRINGS! by A Girl and A Glue Gun 

77. Embroidered Mixed Media Bookmarkers by The Creative Goddess 

78. Beyond Measure Birthday Printable by Like Mother Like Daughter 

79. Birthday Facial Kit Gift by The Benson Street 

80. DIY Jewelry Bookmark by Design Dazzle

   

81. Birthday in a Jar - Birthday Printable Tags by A Pumpkin and a Princess 

82. Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Party Cookies by Crazy Little Projects 

83. You are the Bee's Knees by Love the Day 

84. Birthday Candy Jar by Inside BruCrew Life 

85. "Hip Hip Hooray, today is your birthday!" printables by The Crafted Sparrow 

86. Treat Yo Self Printable by Girl Loves Glam 

87. Chocolate Facial with printable by TidyMom 

88. Happy Birthday Sweets by A Night Owl 

89. Quick & Easy Hydrangea Cake by Sweet C's Designs 

90. Sweets for the Sweet by Simply Kierste 

91. Citrus Whipped Honey Butter Jars by Sand and Sisal 

92. Diet Coke Gift for a Friend with Printable by Sweet Treats and More 

93. A Latte for Two + printables by One Krieger Chick 

94. Cookie Monster Birthday Gift Tag by I'm Topsy Turvy 

95. Root Beer Float Cake in a Jar by Giggles Galore 

96. Treat Yo'Self Printable Watercoloring Box by Persia Lou 

97. Fruity Body Scrub with Printable by Mad in Crafts 

98. Magnetic Necklace Charm by Sowdering About 

99. Happy Bee Day with Printable by Just Another Day in Paradise 

100. Manicure in a Jar by That's What {Che} Said... 

101. UBER lucky to have you in my Life by Maybe I Will 

102. Free Happy Birthday Printable by NoBiggie 

103. DIY Wine Bag & Charms Gift by Sypsie Designs 

104. Crispy Crunch-y Pie with Printable by Just Rhonda 

105. "You're the Silver Lining" Friendship Nail Polish Gift by The Happy Housie 

106. Tie One On for Your Birthday (Hair Tie Gift Free Printable) by illistyle

Did you have a gift idea that stuck out to you? Go ahead and visit your favorites and let them know you love it!

Follow the Pinterest Gift Board now!

Follow Capturing Joy with Kristen's board Birthday Gift Ideas on Pinterest.

Swig Sugar Cookie and Dirty Diet Coke Birthday Party

Last week was McKay's 31st birthday.  I kind of waited to the last minute to plan something for his birthday, like the day before.  So I didn't have much fun to prepare anything extravagant.  I love to throw get togethers with our friends, but I'm not the type of party planner who has exquisite looking centerpieces, arrangements, and food hutches like you see on Pinterest.  Nope, that's not me.  I try to strive for simplicity because seriously, all that people care about at a party is that there's good company and good food.  Nobody is going to care about the printables, matching colors, and goodie bag.  Last month we traveled to Southern Utah and fell in love with Swig and I thought it would be so fun to throw McKay a Swig themed party full of cold sugar cookies and dirty Coke's!  I texted a bunch of our neighborhood friends letting them know of the birthday party and we hung out in our backyard, ate, drank, the kiddies ran around while the men played basketball and the girls chit chatted.  It was the perfect, non stress, relaxing, and carefree birthday party.  This is a great last minute birthday party idea because it's so easy.

Happy Birthday Caity Poo!

Caitlin is 22 today! What would we do without our fiery little sister Caitlin?  Our lives are so much more hipster with Caitlin.  Caitlin puts the red in red head.  I can't believe she'll be a wedded woman in a couple weeks, and we can't wait to welcome Sam into our family.  Melanie and I wanted to pay tribute to Cait by listing our top 10 favorite things about her:

10. She's extremely smart and likes to have really intense and intellectual conversations, it sometimes blows my mind, and half of the words she uses I don't understand.

9. She has all of the music talent in the family in her little pinky, hence her operatic voice.

8. Caitlin has a red head temper and I feel really bad for the time she got frustrated at the AT&T customer service rep man over the phone.  I saw steam coming out of her ears, it was pretty funny.

7. I love her thin "string" lips.

6. I love how she chases her dreams and is adventurous, like the time she au pair for a family in Germany she didn't know and traveled around Europe for a summer.

5. Caitlin is strong willed and isn't afraid to stand up for what is right, for herself, for others, and doesn't take anyone's crap. 

4. She has the most beautiful red and curly mane 

3. She's a spitting image of a model from the 1950's.

2. She's a potato chip head, enough said.

1. She's a living example of being Christ-like, forgiving, generous, and is so easy to love and adore.

Happy Birthday Caitlin!

Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe

This weekend, we celebrated a milestone in our lives.  Amelia had her first birthday and we had both sides of the families come over to our house to celebrate this special day with us.  We were surrounded by those we love, good food, and it was the perfect weather for a party.  It was a reminiscent day for me.  I remember a year ago how scared, excited, anxious, and ready I felt to do the whole labor thing.  I've been dreaming of this moment my entire life to meet, hold, and love this little baby.  A year has gone by so fast.

It's a tradition on my dad's side of family to make this a particular cake for birthdays.  I remember seeing pictures of my 92 year old grandma and my dad eating this cake for their birthday as children.  I grew up eating this cake too.  I wanted to keep the tradition alive for Amelia's birthday.  

This cake is a perfect dessert for a birthday or any kind celebration because it's light and not heavy, it's easy to make, and is absolutely delicious. If a cake recipe has been passed down for multiple generations, you know it's that good.