I wish I had a really good remake to share, but unfortunately not yet.  I have about 3 projects in the garage “under construction” and hope to have them finished soon!

This week though my friend Holly and I threw a baby shower for our dear friend Shandra.  I’ve seen so many ridiculously amazing pinterest images of the most creative showers!  Ours however was keep a little simpler. :)

Weeks prior we decided on having some bunting flags.  First we were going to make them in different cute fabrics, then we decided on patterned paper, but then as of last Monday I still had no paper or fabric.  Luckily Holly saved me by texting me a picture of a store front she was passing by that had cardboard bunting flags in the window.  It was perfect!  Inexpensive and a close cousin to cardboard, chipboard, is pretty easy to cut with an exacto knife.  Tuesday I ventured out to the art supply store and bought a 20x30inch piece of chip board for $1.95…steal!  Unfortunately I over looked the paint brushes and went straight for the paints.  More on that a little further down.

Wednesday evening I put on some TV and started cutting.  I cut long 7″ wide strips of the chipboard, and then basically penciled zig-zag lines kind of like this.

The flags were 7 inches tall and 6 inches wide.  I found it easiest to mark every 6 inches along one side of the chipboard and on the other side, measure out 3″ from the same end, and then mark every 6 inches to evenly stagger the points that I then connected with penciled lines.

Then I used a ruler and exacto knife and started cutting along the penciled lines.  I ended up with about 36 flags.  I didn’t use the whole piece of chip board, but will save it for another occasion.

I was going back and forth on what to use to cut out the holes.  I thought a regular hole punch would have some difficulties, but then suddenly I realized the quickest method would be to use my drill.  I love using tools for simple craft solutions!  I stacked up all the flags and held them tight as I ran the drill bit through the stack.

I have to say, I think it worked pretty well.  Then I penciled the letter that I would then go over with paint.

Speaking of paint, remember how I said that I over looked the paint brushes at the art supply store?  It was only at this point that I realized I didn’t actually have a paint brush.  I don’t know how I don’t have one, I went through every craft box in the house and garage.  And at 9:30pm, I didn’t feel like venturing out.  Luckily though I stumbled upon an eye shadow brush.  It was one from some free make-up gift a few years ago.  It wasn’t perfect and didn’t have the fine tip that I had hoped to use, but I made do!  The strokes just ended up being a lot thicker than I planned.

I strung them together with cotton string.  I had initially planned on using twine, but as I threaded it through the hole, it started to split.

And here they are strung up and hung!

And with the food spread!

Pretty table set up, huh? The food was wonderful.  I was in charge of the muffins, and let me tell you…they are the best blueberry muffins I’ve had.  They are the best of everything, large gooey blueberries, moist sweet muffin, with a wonderful crumbly top.  I found the recipe on allrecipes, they are actually called To Die for Blueberry Muffins…and they really are!

And the best part – so very easy to make:

Makes 8 large muffins, or 12 medium muffins.  The photo above is what I call a medium muffin.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl mix:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

In a small bowl add:

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk

Pour the oil, egg, and milk into the large flour mixture bowl, and mix.  Fold in:

• 1 cup fresh blueberries (recipe technically called for fresh, but I used frozen and they were wonderful)

Spoon batter into well greased muffin pan.

For the crumble, mix with fork:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Sprinkle crumble over the top of the muffins, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until done.  For the larger muffins that spilled over the edges, I had the best luck letting them cool completely in the pan and then giving them a gentle twist to get them out.

And as proof, look how happy we were  :)

It was a wonderful shower filled with fun and old friends!  Now I just can’t wait to meet little baby Nelsen in a few weeks!