I like making handmade DIY goodie bags for birthday parties. Like, maybe too much. My handmade DIY goodie bags tend to be pretty quick and simple, and these DIY goodie bags for Liam’s 1st birthday party were my easiest yet. Elise and I made these DIY goodie bags to match Liam’s XOXO Hugs and Kisses …

My Perler Beads drink coasters kids craft idea for the Fourth of July is so fun to make that the adults will want to join in, too. You can make my quick and easy Perler Bead coasters for your Fourth of July cookout in less than 30 minutes! This easy 4th of July craft project …

This free printable DIY happy birthday banner sports circles polka dots in blue, orange, red and green. Just print the free printable template, cut out the circles, string and hang. The birthday banner sports blue circles with polka dots and X’s that I liked to call Liam’s XOXO Hugs and Kisses 1st birthday theme. This …

I want to take a trip to Pompom Land where animals are ridiculously adorable and everything is handmade! Myko Diann Bocek had created a world of sweet little creatures made from thick, full pompoms. In her new book, Adventures in Pompom Land: 25 Cute Projects Made from Handmade Pompoms, she shares how to can make …

These letter mini birthday cakes were a big hit at Liam’s 1st birthday party. I made them using an L-shaped cookie cutter and pound cake like these cute baby shower petit fours by Cakegirls. Then I covered the L letters with melted chocolate and confetti sprinkles that complimented Liam’s polka dot XOXO birthday theme and …

Make a DIY 1st birthday bib for your baby’s 1st birthday party! It’s a cute detail that looks great in 1st birthday photos. I’m loving this DIY 1st birthday bib that I made for Liam using Handmade Charlotte stencils, FolkArt paint, and a little bit of sewing. Plaid sent me the Party set from Rachel Faucett’s …

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. At least that’s what we are hoping for here in the Chicago area where rain has been beyond plentiful. But why wait for nature when you can make your own beautiful paper blossoms?

Our good friends at minted.com want to help you make memorable gifts for your mom. minted.com is giving 10% off plus free ground shipping coupon code to merrimentdesign.com readers to buy memorable gifts for your mom or, uh, yourself. Choose from greeting cards, personalized stationery, journals, artwork, and party decor. I love the fresh styles …

My DIY Toy Story front door welcome sign was the perfect yee-haw welcome for Elise’s Toy Story birthday party. My Buzz Lightyear obsessed daughter, Elise, wanted a Toy Story birthday party theme. Convenient for me, she was turning 3 years old which means I could knock off the Toy Story 3 logo a bit to …

This rectangular place card free printable template coordinates with my modern orange and green DIY wedding invitation that was seen in the Style Me Pretty feature “Inspiration to Reality: Modern Clementine.” You can personalize and print out these rectangular cards for your guests, or your dessert table, or heck, even a shower buffet table. Just …

This free pattern for DIY wipeable baby placemat attaches to clip-on highchairs (and restaurant high chairs too!). It covers the table …and unlike baby plates, your little darling can’t throw it onto the floor. I actually came up with this baby placemat pattern a few years back for my daughter, Elise, who is now three. …

I made these personalized printable sheriff badges for my daughter Elise’s Toy Story Birthday Party. And that means now they are yours to personalize for your own little sheriff. I’m really excited about these free printable sheriff badges because I figured out way for you to easily personalize them yourself with your child’s name and …

Try this Easter Egg painting idea with paint pens – it’s a fun and easy DIY for kids and adults! These paint pen Easter eggs are so pretty that this Easter we’re totally passing up PAAS and decorating all of our eggs with paint pen markers. My three-year-old (and budding contemporary artist), Elise, decorated this …

Looking for a fun way to express yourself? Hand lettering is an increasingly popular way to create interesting and dynamic images. Words are pretty powerful and can add a narrative element to your visual work. In Jenny Doh’s new book, Creative Lettering: Techniques & Tips from Top Artists, she enlists the help of 16 unique …

Make a charming (and edible!) chocolate candy melt Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it to add a little fashion sense to an Easter lamb cake. I’ve shown how to bake and cool your lamb cake using this lamb cake recipe and then how to decorate the lamb cake with icing and coconut grass. …