5 ways to celebrate National Donut Day!

Marissa Lundeen

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May 25, 2023

5 ways to celebrate National Donut Day!

Why we love National Donut Day

We are firm believers in the power and transcendence of creating. Okay, maybe that sounds a little hokey, but are we wrong? We wholeheartedly believe as we create with our hands we get in touch with our soul, and as we get in touch with our soul we live a more abundant life. Creating something beautiful or delicious and putting it out into the world is an act of courage and celebration, and we are BIG FANS of all of the above. The donut lassies, pioneers of National Donut Day, are perfect examples of the good and lasting impact that can come from creating. Continue reading to discover their incredible story and how you can celebrate this fantastic holiday for yourself!

The Story of National Donut Day

During World War 1, a group of Salvation Army volunteers left with the American First Division of soldiers with the directive of providing the troops with entertainment and support. After arriving at camp and inventorying their limited supplies, these women realized they had a good amount of flour, grease, sugar, and baking powder: the perfect ingredients for donuts.

They brilliantly used wine bottles and shell casings from large guns as rolling pins and put smaller shells to use by using them to cut out donut holes (innovation at its peak). They eventually fried anywhere between 2,500 to 9,000 donuts a day, supplying soldiers with a little taste and comfort of home.

As you celebrate National Donut Day this year, we hope you take a second to remember the incredible donut lassies and their stories. And what better way to honor them and one of our favorite food groups than to create something fabulous? We’ve put together some of our favorite donut crafts and recipes here to help you have the best National Donut Day yet!

National Donut Day Crafts and Recipes

1. Donut Flower Bouquet

Our cut-and-attach donut bouquet is a cute and simple way to dress up your favorite donuts! With minimal supplies, this is probably one of the easiest bouquets you’ll ever make and the yummiest your friends will ever receive. Beware, because once you try a donut bouquet you may never return to traditional floral arrangements again.

2. DIY Donut Rug

If you have a bit more time and are looking for a way to incorporate donuts into your decor, look no further! This donut rug is exactly what you need. If you can get your hands on an Ikea rug, spray and acrylic paints, blue tape, and a paintbrush, you’re ready to get going.

3. Donut Garland

Can a holiday be properly celebrated without a themed garland? I mean, Donut Day is simply not Donut Day without a garland. Luckily, we’ve created a donut garland template to help you celebrate this most important holiday in the style it deserves. All you’ll need is the template, scissors, string, a needle, a glue stick, and a hole punch.

4. Mini Baked Donuts

Before you write off making donuts as being too demanding and time intensive (oh awkward, was I the only one doing that?), check out these awesome baked mini donuts! They are just small enough to eat 5 at a time (because we know eating just one donut is like eating just one Oreo; impossible. Don’t try to tell me otherwise) and are healthier than your average donut with zero processed sugar and no frying. This guilt-free donut recipe is likely to become one of your Donut Day favorites.

5. Donut Macarons

If you’re ready to zhuzh up your National Donut Day celebrations and are feeling a bit ambitious, these donut macarons are perfect for you! These yummy French treats have achieved mega-popularity status in the past couple of years, and this pairing of the decidedly American donut with the French macaron is one of our favorite French-American duos yet.

We are outspoken, lifelong, shout-it-from-the-rooftops advocates of the goodness that is put into someone’s life and the world at large when an individual takes the time to simply create. The Donut Lassies were champions of this and used their creative skills to lift the people around them. This Donut Day, we hope you’re able to create something fun or delicious and share it with the people around you because sharing is caring! Just be careful to save a couple (or 10) donuts for yourself.

Happy donut-ing!

Summer Strawberry Party

Brittany

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July 28, 2022

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Strawberry Party Suite

For our summer strawberry party, our designer, Garet, designed the most adorable strawberry party suite ever! I’m in love with all the little details, like the perfect color palette of those strawberries. Or those tiny ants?! Complete with invitations, strawberry toothpick toppers, and box wrappers, this suite will do the trick perfectly for all your strawberry party needs. The best part is that there are plenty of variations with this party suite. Not interested in the toothpick toppers being attached to toothpicks? Print them out on sticker paper instead and hand them out as party favors!

Here’s what to do with our strawberry party suite:

Download, print and cut out the files from our shop here.
Next, fill in those invitations and send ‘em out! Then you can start prepping the other party details.
Now hot glue them to one end of a toothpick.
For the box wrappers, wrap them around the box and secure with hot glue.

Strawberry Surprise Garland

Oh, and don’t forget that amazing strawberry surprise garland–we altered our original strawberry surprise balls to make them into a garland that will make you want to make this strawberry party a tradition for years to come. Because what’s better than GIANT strawberry decorations?! They definitely make it feel more like a party.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve been to parties and have been unsure where the party is (this is especially tough at parks where there are a million parties happening at the same time). Maybe it’s just me (though I have a feeling it’s not), but please, help a girl out and make your party eye-catching so it can be seen from afar. That was definitely the point with this garland; your guests won’t be left guessing when they arrive at the party–they’ll know exactly where to go. Plus, it’s just so fun.

How to make a strawberry surprise garland

Download the garland template found here (it’s part of the strawberry party suite).
To make the balls, follow the instructions found here. The only difference is that each strip is made up of two separate pieces, since it’s bigger. Glue them together and then follow the rest of the instructions!
Lastly, to add the string, just thread it from one side to the other on the opposite side of the ball. Keep adding strawberries until it’s as full as you’d like!

Summer Strawberry Party Food

It wouldn’t be a party without food! Take this opportunity to go all in with the strawberry-themed foods. That means strawberries (duh!), cupcakes with strawberry frosting, mini pb & j’s (strawberry jam, of course!), etc. You know what to do! Those adorable little toothpick toppers are perfect to poke in the tops of the pb & j’s and cupcakes. You can also use them for those plain ‘ol strawberries–why not double up? There are so many strawberry foods that would be so cute. So just have fun.

Now tell us: what are you going to do for your summer strawberry party?

More Inspiration

Want to make your summer strawberry party into a picnic? Try your hand at making one of these two simple quilt hacks! Also see this watermelon picnic blanket, duffle/picnic blanket, and autumn picnic blanket. And don’t forget to check out our shop for all your go-to party needs!

Paper Flower Garland

Brittany

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July 25, 2022

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Flowers Forever

Flowers can/should never go out of season, right?! Well, that’s my personal motto anyway. I came up with this paper flower garland tutorial and loved how it turned out. And you may not have noticed, but the technique is pretty much a riff off of a paper fan, so it’s easy! It’d be perfect for a birthday or garden party. I love having a supply of garlands on hand just in case I need to throw a party or shower someone with love for a day. It seems to happen more often than I expect.

How to Make a Paper Flower Garland

Making the Flowers

First, do a 3/4″ accordion fold with an 8.5×11″ piece of paper. Cut off any excess paper.
Next, fold the folded paper in half (use this fan tutorial to see how it’s done), then staple the mid point of the folded paper.
To form the petal design, cut the edges of the paper so that it forms a fun design (kind of like making a paper snowflake).
Repeat steps 1-4 to create a second one, then glue them together to form a circle.

Adding the Flower Centers

Cut 1 1/2″ circles for the center of the flowers. You’ll need three per flower.
Paint a fun design onto the circles if desired for the center of the flower.
Glue the front circles onto your flowers, but leave the back circle off for now.
In the circles you haven’t attached yet, use your hole punch to punch two holes about 1/4″ apart in the center of your circle.

Making the Leaves

First, cut out your leaves using a Cricut maker or scissors, if you don’t have a Cricut maker (template here).
Now paint a fun design on them as shown.
After you’re happy with your design, cut two holes about 1/4″ apart in the center of the leaf with a hole punch.

Assembling your Garland

First, thread the string through the two holes in one of the leaves and pull the extra through.
Now thread the string through the two holes in one of the circles. Keep alternating, threading leaf, then circle, then leaf, until the whole garland is threaded through the string.
Once all the circles and leaves are in place on the string, go ahead and hot glue the flowers to the circles, so the circles you already glued on are facing towards the front.
Now all that’s left to do is pick somewhere to hang up your finished paper flower garland and you’re done!

Styling your garland

This is one of my all time favorite paper flower garlands. One of my favorite things about garlands, in general, is how versatile they are. Make them as short or long as you like, and hang them pretty much anywhere. My favorite places are around doorways or entryways, relaxed and drapey against a wall or over a table, on a mantlepiece, along bannisters, and so much more.

Enjoy! And drop any questions or comments below!

Photography by Trisha Zemp

More Inspiration

Loved this paper flower garland and want more where that came from? Try this lovely summer flower garland, our tea stained flower garland, or this eucalyptus garland if you’re feeling a little more leafy. Want more flower content? You won’t want to miss this compilation of all our paper flower tutorials, or our learn to draw: flowers course.

Sewing Basics: How to Clean your Sewing Machine

Brittany

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July 19, 2022

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Sewing Basics: How to Clean your Sewing Machine

Why Clean Your Sewing Machine?

With all those sewing projects you’ve probably been working on now, chances are your sewing machine could use a little TLC. It’s crazy how quickly the lint builds up in a sewing machine! Did you know it’s standard to clean your sewing machine pretty frequently? (If not, no shame. I only learned how to clean a sewing machine this year, so you’re not alone). Though your sewing machine will probably do okay even when it’s a little dirty, it can lengthen the lifespan of your sewing machine quite a lot to follow these simple steps to cleaning it every now and then. Upkeep like this will make sure your sewing machine stays in pristine condition so you can sew to your heart’s content for years and years.

How to Clean your Sewing Machine

Happily, cleaning your sewing machine is simple, not to mention quick, as long as you do it consistently. As with our other tutorials, we’ll be using a Singer Heavy Duty machine. While that may not look exactly the same as your machine, the basic principles still apply. Here’s what to do:

Prepping your Machine for Cleaning

First, remove the thread spool and bobbin thread spool from your machine and set them aside. Note: you’ll be removing a lot of small parts during this process. Make sure you’re careful not to lose them or knock them onto the floor! If it helps, you can store them in a small bowl or ziplock bag so they’re safe in one place.
Now, remove the presser foot by pressing the lever behind the presser foot.
If desired, you can also remove the needle so it doesn’t poke you during the cleaning process.
Next, use the small metal screwdriver tool to remove the needle plate (this is the metal plate that surrounds the feed dog, directly below the presser foot. Put the plate and screws into the ziplock bag or bowl for safekeeping.
Once you’ve removed the feed dog plate, you’ll see two screws and a metal arm holding the bobbin case in place (if your bobbin loads into the top). Without pulling the screws completely out, loosen them enough to remove the bobbin case.
You’re ready to start cleaning!

Cleaning your Machine

Starting from the outside moving in, use the mini brush (this accessory should come with your sewing machine) to clean in the cracks and crevices. Use a simple, dry cloth to wipe dust off the larger areas of the front, sides and back of the machine.
Once you’re done with the exposed areas of the machine, you can move into the area underneath the needle plate.
For this, use the mini brush and work your way around the nooks and crannies, removing lint as you go. Be careful not to blow into those areas (it’s tempting, I know!) because it will push the lint further in. Just gently work your way around with the brush, and cloth when needed, until all the lint is gone.
Remember to clean off the parts you removed, as well, like the needle plate and bobbin case, before putting them back into your freshly cleaned machine.

Putting your Machine Back Together

First, put the bobbin case back in place and tighten the screws you loosened.
Next, put the needle plate back on and screw it into place.
Now you can put the needle, presser foot, thread spool and bobbin thread spool back into the machine.
Done!

How did cleaning your machine go? Let us know in the comments!

Past Sewing Basics Posts

For more in our Sewing Basics series, see For past weeks of our Sewing Basics series, see how to thread a sewing machine, how to choose the right fabric, how to sew mitered corners, buttons and buttonholes, and basic stitches.

More Inspiration

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial on how to clean your sewing machine. Now that you’ve completed the first six weeks, you should be fully equipped to make any sewing project on our blog! For things to wear, try our new team outfits, Mother’s Day apron, Easter outfits, quilted face mask, quilted sleeping mask, quilted coat, and Funky Town projects. Looking for home decor options you can sew yourself? You’ll love these Shaped throw pillows or our Celtic knot pillow. Also, here’s our quilted shower curtain.

Need a new bag? See our Lemon Tote bag and duffel bag picnic tote. Don’t forget about our Reusable lunch sack and DIY beeswax wrap for back to school, while you’re at it! Speaking of kids, have a baby at home? Try this adorable mushroom playmat, baby bonnet, bunny bonnet, and stuffed Easter bunny.

Want to make clothes but need a pattern? Try Friday Pattern Company or Birgitta Helmersson (click here for discount codes for both!)

But don’t worry, we’re not done sewing yet. We’ll keep our series going with more tips and tricks to take your sewing projects to the next level, so stay tuned!

DIY Custom Puzzles

Brittany

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July 13, 2022

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Nufun Transfer Paper Puzzle

This Nufun transfer paper puzzle is such a fun way to make a custom puzzle. That’s right! With the right materials, you can pick the image of your choice (there are so many cute prints from our shop to choose from!), print it out, and transfer it to your blank puzzle with an iron or heat press. You can even make a matching bag to go with it! I love how surprisingly easy it is to do this. It’s a great craft you can make with your kids that then becomes a cute activity they can do to stave off the boredom.

Here’s what to do:

How to Make a Custom Puzzle

Printing Your Image

First, choose a design (see our print shop for some great options). Make sure to mirror the image before printing.
Load the transfer sheets into your printer so the image is printed on the non-glossy (unlined) side.
Now print the image! Use the following settings: HP: Iron on Transfer, normal mode; Epson: Plain paper, photo mode; Canon: inkjet paper, standard on high mode.

Preparing for Transfer

Keeping the puzzle intact, hold the puzzle and cardboard sheet together. Slightly bend the puzzle sheets to loosen the pieces so they break cleanly after ironing.
Now cut a small corner (about 1cm) of the transfer paper to aid in the peeling process.

Transferring your Image

There are two options for transferring the image of your custom puzzle. The first is with a heat press machine, and the second is with an iron. Here’s what to do for each:

Heat Press

First, preheat the press to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, place the puzzle with fabric side up on the press.
Now place the printed image face down on the puzzle (the lined side should be face up).
Press for 25 seconds.
For best results, peel immediately (while it’s still hot). Wait 5 seconds, then remove the backing paper from the transfer using a smooth, even motion. That’s how to make your custom puzzle with a heat press!

Iron

First, preheat the iron to the highest “Linen” setting. Lay a pillowcase on the ironing surface. We’d recommend not using an ironing board for this!
Next, place the printed transfer sheet face down on the felt puzzle.
Using firm, steady pressure, hold the iron with both hands and apply your body weight. Iron for a total of 2 minutes 45 seconds. As you iron, slowly glide the iron across the puzzle in a left to right pattern. Pick the iron up to return to the left to right pattern and repeat to cover the entire sheet. Make sure to also cover all the edges and corners.
As with the heat press, wait 5 seconds, then remove the backing paper with a smooth, even motion while still hot. You now have your very own custom puzzle!

Breaking the Puzzle Apart

To separate the puzzle pieces, hold the puzzle sheet with both hands. Carefully and gently snap apart the edge pieces on all four sides of the puzzle until the border is separated. Discard the border. Tip: for a crisper look, use the iron set to the hottest setting and repress with the parchment paper for 30 seconds with the same left to right pattern. Make sure the border is removed and the parchment paper covers the entire puzzle as direct exposure with iron and transfer could damage your masterpiece! Wait to peel the parchment paper until the puzzle is completely cool.
Now, one vertical row at a time, loosen and separate the rest of the puzzle. Carefully separate each puzzle piece by pulling apart gently. Repeat with each row until all pieces are separated. Done!

How to Make a Matching Bag

Follow the steps in the “Printing Your Image” section above to print your image.
After printing, trim your image from the transfer sheet to remove excess area. Round all sharp edges. This will make transferring the image easier!

Transferring the Image

As with the puzzle, you can use either a heat press or iron to transfer the image. Here’s how to do both:

Heat Press

First, preheat the heat press to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now press the fabric to release moisture and remove wrinkles.
Next, place the printed image face down on the garment with the lined side face up. Set to 40-60 PSI or use firm pressure for best results.
Press for 25 seconds, then peel immediately for best results. Wait 3 seconds and remove the backing paper from the transfer using a smooth, even motion while the transfer is still hot.

Iron

First, preheat the iron to the highest “Linen” setting for 50-100% cotton blends, and “Cotton” setting for fabrics less than 50% cotton or stretch fabrics like Lycra. Lay a pillowcase down on ironing surface. Remember, we’d recommend against using an ironing board.
Now pre-iron the fabric to release moisture and remove wrinkles.
Next, place the printed image face down on the garment (lined side face up).
Now use firm, steady pressure to glide the iron in a circular motion over the entire transfer for the following time durations: ¼ sheet: 1.5 mins, ½ sheet: 2.5 minutes, full sheet: 3.5 minutes.
After ironing each section of the transfer, glide the iron once more over the entire surface to heat evenly.
Once that’s done, peel immediately for best results. Wait 3 seconds and remove the backing paper from the transfer using a smooth, even motion while the transfer is still hot.
If any image lifting is observed while peeling, stop immediately and glide iron over the transfer to heat evenly while focusing on the areas that have lifted. Then repeat step 6.

Washing Instructions

Turn the bag inside out and wash in cold water separately from other clothes using a delicate cycle. Dry on low temperature or hang to dry. If drying in the dryer, take it out quickly when it’s done.

When you’re not using your puzzle, store it in the adorable matching bag you just made!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make a DIY custom puzzle and matching bag? Check out this post where we’ve compiled other great kids activities to keep them busy all summer!

Bastille Day Roundup

Brittany

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July 11, 2022

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History of Bastille Day

But do you know what Bastille Day is, or its significance? Well, long story short, it’s France’s national holiday, marked by the storming of the Bastille prison. It was a pivotal day in the French Revolution, one that changed the course of the French revolution and eventually transformed the republic. Since 1880, the French have been celebrating July 14th as their national holiday. And it is well worth celebrating! See this article for a full history of Bastille Day.

Here’s our Bastille Day roundup from years past:

Bastille Day Roundup

July 2018 Desktop Wallpaper and Print

The blog’s first mention of Bastille Day, here’s our July 2018 Desktop Wallpaper and Print! This was the year we celebrated with fun, whimsical illustrations featuring quirky berets. They reminded us too much of France not to use to celebrate Bastille Day!

Printable Paris Crown and Invitations

These Printable Paris Crown and Invitations are another great blast from the past to celebrate Bastille Day! Who says you need to be in Paris to celebrate? Bring Paris into your own home and have a Bastille Day bash featuring these crowns and invitations.

Printable Parisian Placemats

What better excuse to eat a pile of delicious French pastries than Bastille Day? That’s where these Printable Parisian Placemats come in. They’re the perfect compliment if you’re in the mood for a few macarons or croissants. And really, does anyone not like those delicious pastries? The French knew how to do something else besides win revolutions: bake.

Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash

In 2020, we dedicated a blog post to tips on Paris-Inspired Design: A Bastille Day Bash. Because I’m not sure there’s a better day to talk about Paris-inspired design. Except really, isn’t every day a good day? Parisian design is that good.

Celebrating Bastille Day

Most recently, here are some tips on Celebrating Bastille Day.

We’ve reached the end of our Bastille Day roundup! And now, we want to hear from you: what are you doing to celebrate Bastille Day? Drop your answers in the comments below!

Camp Lars: Summer Activities for Kids

Brittany

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July 8, 2022

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Crafts

Crafts are at the top of our list of summer activities for kids. We’re all about crafts! So obviously we made some with kids in mind. And don’t limit yourself to this list! See our blog archives for more craft ideas. There are plenty we left off the list that your kids would love to try. Some are advanced enough that older kids will enjoy them more, but don’t fret. There are plenty for all ages to enjoy.

Here are our picks for best crafts for kids:

Courses

Another must-have on our list of summer activities for kids are our courses. Since your kids are out of school, it’s the perfect time to try a fun, easy course to keep their brains in gear! Our Great Artists courses are designed to get kids thinking creatively. They get to learn about different artists, with lots of great kids crafts to compliment what they’re learning.

Another course that’s great for older kids is our Learn to Draw Flowers course. This course will teach your kids all about 31 different types of flowers and how to draw them. Once they’ve nailed this course they can move onto some of our other crafts, like these nesting eggs or our classic nesting dolls (here are the plain wooden nesting dolls to paint).

Art Supplies

These art supplies made for kids are the perfect compliment to the courses we just mentioned! Not only are they a great way to keep your kids busy this summer, they’re also an important developmental resource to boost your children’s creativity and kick their imaginations into action.

Here are some options from our shop we love:

Other Kids Toys/Activities

Our shop is full of other summer activities for kids! From puzzles to bug hunting kits, we have something for every type of child, so take a look and see what suits your child’s fancy.

For the Littlest Ones

We didn’t want to leave the littlest ones out of our list of summer activities for kids! While your older kiddos are off on a bug hunt or playing with puzzles, here are some things that are cozy and fun for even those who can’t walk yet.

Home Decor for Kids

Last but not least is our print shop. Summer activity, you ask? Hear me out: we have a shop full of kid-friendly art just waiting to be put to use somewhere in your home. Are your kids old enough to help decorate? Enlist them! What better way to decorate your child’s room than with art they love to look at? Even if your kiddos are too little to pick out their own art, consider it a great opportunity to decorate your baby’s nursery.

We hope we’ve given you some good ideas to keep your kids happy and busy this summer! Now we want to hear from you: what summer activities are your kids doing this summer? And what other kids crafts and activities would you like to see from us? Let us know in the comments below!

New Team Outfits (and discount codes)!

Brittany

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July 6, 2022

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Our New Team Outfits

We are SO excited to be sharing our new team outfits with you! It’s been a long time coming, since all the outfits were sewn by hand here in the studio. Carrie took charge of this project, with help from Sophie, Jane, and our interns (more formal introductions to come)!

Custom Spoonflower Fabric

We’ve wanted to make team outfits for a long time, and releasing our own custom fabrics with Spoonflower just seemed like the perfect opportunity. Our designer, Garet, worked long and hard on the designs for the release of our debut Casetify collection last fall. Of course, those designs were too wonderful not to use again! So we got to work turning phone case patterns into fabric and wallpaper. We added quite a few exclusively fabric and wallpaper options, and eventually our custom Spoonflower fabrics were born. Here are the choices we went with for our outfits:

Brittany:

Peach and Yellow 1” Stripe

Jane:

Olive 1” Checkers, Lilac 1” Checkers. Jane took things one step further and instead of just one pattern for her outfit, she did half and half!

Garet:

Garet was originally going to make her own outfit, too! Sadly, with all the crazy projects she had going, she wasn’t able to finish in time. So for the shoot she’s wearing a lovely linen dress she bought instead.

Amazing Pattern Companies

Since pattern drafting is so time-consuming, we weren’t able to make our own patterns for our team outfits. But we did find patterns for our outfits at some amazing companies! For tutorials on each of our outfits, purchase the specific pattern to see how it’s done. My favorite thing about buying patterns? You can make as many clothes as you want from just one pattern! Definitely worth the investment.

Friday Pattern Company

We are thrilled with the patterns we chose from Friday Pattern Company! We went to them for the Patina Blouse and Davenport Dress. But don’t stop there! Feel free to peruse the site for your favorite patterns–there are so many beautiful options to choose from. Oh, and they’re offering a discount code to Lars readers, so head over to get 10% off with LARS10!

Birgitta Helmersson

I have to talk about Birgitta Helmersson for a minute. Not only are these patterns amazing and beautiful, they’re zero waste! That means no scraps to go in the landfill. You don’t even have to print out a physical pattern. Instead, count on detailed instructions and visuals to help you map out the cuts of each pattern. For the month of July, use the code SEWJULY for a discount on Birgitta Helmersson’s beautiful and environmentally-friendly patterns!

Merchant and Mills

A company based in Great Britain, we are obsessed with Merchant and Mills’ patterns. We chose to use two of their trouser patterns: the 101 Trouser and Eve Trouser.

Here’s the complete list of our team’s pattern choices:

Brittany:

Birgitta Helmersson ZW Gather Dress

Jane:

Top: Friday Pattern Company Patina Blouse

Trousers: Merchant and Mills 101 Trouser

Jenny:

Top: Friday Pattern Company Patina Blouse

Trousers: Merchant and Mills Eve Trouser

Carrie:

Top: Friday Pattern Company Patina Blouse

Trousers: Merchant and Mills 101 Trouser

Sophie:

Friday Pattern Company Davenport Dress

Meet Our Team

And now, here’s a little introduction to each member of the House that Lars Built Team!

Brittany

If you want a full introduction, you can go to this page! But long story short, Brittany is art director and founder of The House that Lars Built. She is the heart and soul of the Lars team!

Jane

Jane has been working at Lars for almost 5 years now! She is the photographer/videographer & manage the studio and online Lars Shop. Jane loves design and living an artful life. That includes collecting beautiful things, interior design and fashion.

Garet

Garet started out as an intern and is now our graphic designer. Yep, you got it–she designed all our amazing fabric! She works fully remotely in South Carolina (soon to be North!) and is such a great part of our team. She loves all things creative, but especially sewing, illustration, and designing things for The House that Lars Built!

Carrie

Carrie started as an intern and is now the Editorial and Content Manager at Lars. She manages the blog content and makes most of our projects. She loves the mountains, running, hiking, backpacking and all things outdoors. Piano, art and sewing are all favorite hobbies, too. It’s been almost a year since Carrie started here at Lars and she’s loving it!

Jenny

Jenny is the Brand Manager here at Lars — she handles communication with brands, product development, project management and marketing! She has been at Lars for 7 months. In her spare time she loves to ski, climb, run, surf, read and tuft!

Sophie

Sophie is our studio assistant here at Lars. She’s been here since last fall and helps everything run smoothly in the studio. That means organizing and helping with all kinds of projects and crafts. Sophie loves Las Vegas, warm weather, and is such a fun and bubbly person to have a round!

Hannah (not pictured)

Hannah is our other studio assistant who just started a few weeks ago. We already love her! She’s amazing at crafting, sewing and all things creative and is so fun to have around.

More Inspiration

Loved our new outfits and want to see more sewing projects? We’ve got you covered. Have you seen our Sewing Basics series yet? Check out weeks one, two, three, and four and stay tuned for the last two weeks soon! Interested in some projects to apply what you’re learning in our sewing basics series? Check out these past sewing projects: Easter outfits, Casetify inspired projects, shaped throw pillows, Mother’s Day apron, quilted shower curtain, quilted face mask, rainbow buttons, reusable lunch sack, and DIY beeswax wraps.

Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Brittany

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July 2, 2022

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Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Fireworks and the Fourth

Can we all agree that the best part about the Fourth of July is fireworks? I am always mesmerized by amazing firework shows–the colors, the lights, the sparkle! I could do without the loud noise (not to mention stress of toddlers and babies around fire!) but there are pros and cons to everything. Well, if you’re like me and are not so crazy about mixing real fireworks with your kids and their all-too-eager hands, these paper cake topper fireworks are for you. It gives you a beautiful, festive display without the noise or the worry!

Perfect for your Fourth of July celebrations, these red, white and blue fireworks are a stunning scene when arranged atop a cake. All you’ll need to make the magic happen is colored paper and some skewers. Cut them on your cricut maker or by hand, these little beauties will be the stars (or should I say fireworks?) of the party this Fourth of July.

How to Make Paper Cake Topper Fireworks

I love how easy these paper cake topper fireworks are to make. They’re the perfect solution for a last-minute craft that definitely doesn’t look it. Here’s how to make them:

First, cut out the firework templates using scissors or a Cricut Maker. We use our trusty Cricut Maker for everything!
Next, layer the larger fireworks to give them some dimension and glue together. To recreate our cake toppers, see the photos for reference!
Now glue a skewer onto the back of each firework. Vary the heights of your skewers.
Last, arrange atop your cake and enjoy the view!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper fireworks and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! Try this other variation of our cake topper fireworks for the Fourth! Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

Cake Topper Sparklers

Brittany

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July 1, 2022

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Sparklers and Fireworks on the Fourth

You can’t get much more classic than sparklers and fireworks on the Fourth. And I happen to love that these cake topper sparklers, in addition to being adorable, are not a fire hazard. With two little kiddos, I don’t love the idea of sparklers and fireworks that could cause injuries and fires with a simple accident. Jasper has just enough energy that I’d rather err on the side of caution, know what I mean?

The other perk about these cake topper sparklers is that you can keep them for years to come! Make them a tradition and add them to cakes and cupcakes every Fourth of July. Don’t live in the U.S.? Not to fret! Use these sparklers to celebrate any occasion. And that goes for those in the U.S., too. Once the Fourth of July is over, keep using these pretty little sparklers to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions all year long.

How to Make Cake Topper Sparklers for the Fourth

Here’s how to make your own cake topper sparklers:

First, cut three 12 inch by 5 inch strips of cellophane. We used red, silver, blue and pink. Gold, this iridescent option and this colorful set are all great options, though! You can also use ribbon or tissue paper.
Now create a fringe effect with each strip by cutting parallel lines down the full strip, making sure never to cut all the way to the edge of your material.
Once all 3 strips are fringed, take your dowel and begin gluing one strip on to the top of the dowel. Start on one side and twist it around the skewer, adding a dab of glue when needed to keep it in place.
Do that for each strand creating 3 tiered layers at the top of the skewer.
Last, simply add 1 thin piece of cellophane around the bottom of the 3 tiers for the finishing touch!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper sparklers and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! You can try out these Paper Firework Cake Toppers, to start with. Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

How to Celebrate Your 40th Birthday

Brittany

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June 10, 2022

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My 40th Birthday Plans

Leading up to my 40th birthday, I had lots of plans. Specifically, I wanted a big Europe trip to celebrate! But we are in up to our necks in behind-the-scenes projects here at The House that Lars Built, which means a trip to Europe just wasn’t in the cards. At least for now. Maybe in the fall? I’ll keep you all posted. There’s noting wrong with a belated birthday trip, after all!

I’m not the only one turning 40 here, though! Despite my lack of exciting birthday plans for now, all my friends are also soon-to-be or already over the hill, which means I’ve attended some great 40th birthday celebrations in the past year. I couldn’t just not share those ideas with all of you! So today I’m giving you the lowdown on all the things my friends did for their 40th birthdays, plus a few extra ideas.

How to Celebrate Your 40th Birthday

Birthday Trip

Birthday trips are a classic way to celebrate a big milestone birthday like your 40th! (hence, my hopes to make it to Europe this year). But if you can’t make it internationally and still want a weekend getaway, try something closer! It’s amazing what a quick trip to somewhere new can do. And of course it’s always better with friends or family to come along for the fun.

For your enjoyment, here are some photos from our most recent trip to Denmark (and I promise to post more once I make it back to Europe for my birthday trip)!

Karaoke

So I don’t know if you were aware, but there’s something about 40-year-olds and karaoke that is just magical. I’ve been to a handful of karaoke parties to celebrate the big 40 and I have to say that a bunch of moms singing karaoke are a different breed of unparalleled fun. What are you waiting for?! Warm up those vocal chords and get ready to sing yourself into your 40’s!

Spa Day

A birthday classic for a girls day out especially, a spa day can be the perfect, relaxing way to usher in the 40’s with some self care. Pamper yourself; you deserve it! Go for a mani/pedi, massage, the whole nine yards. We promise you won’t regret it!

Here are some spa essentials to get you going:

In-person Parties

Post COVID lockdowns, it feels that much more triumphant to have a party IN PERSON with people you love! So even though parties aren’t unique to a 40th birthday, there’s a reason we have parties for every birthday. It’s a classic way to celebrate that never really gets old!

Speaking of parties, we have some great party decorations for your to peruse in our shop! Check out our birthday suites, and all of our birthday content here!

Learn a New Skill

Your 40th birthday is such a milestone that it can be great motivation to learn a new skill or take on a new hobby you’ve been wanting to try! It’s never too late, and 40 seems like the perfect time to try. Turn it into a party and invite someone to teach you and your girlfriends how to knit, cook something fun and fancy, or even make a punch needle rug! The options are endless. What do you want to learn how to do?

Movie Night

Movies are a classic way to celebrate anything special, so why not your 40th birthday? Go out to the theater with the gals (maybe even rent it out if you’re feeling ambitious!), or take the party home and have a marathon of your favorite series! Personally, I’ll be watching Bridgerton. What are your favorites? Send the recommendations my way! I’m always game for a fun new show.

Game Night

The options are endless with this one! Just because it’s your 40th birthday doesn’t mean you can’t have a simple game night. So many categories of games. Are you more of a board game or card game person? Or do you prefer a combo of both? If you’re like Paul, you’ll be hanging around those old classic arcade games all night. Whatever gets you most excited is what you should do!

Here are some game night options to get you started:

More Inspiration

We have plenty of ideas to get you started on 40th birthday decor! It starts with our five birthday suites: animal menagerie, garden party, lemon, rainbow, and floral. Click here to see the rest of our birthday shop! Also, don’t forget to check out our past birthday blog content, like our Flower Lane birthday crowns, twisted birthday candles, or DIY birthday felt pennants.

Hopefully we gave you some good ideas to get you started planning your 40th, if you haven’t had it already. And now we need to know: what did you/are you doing to celebrate your 40th? Let us know in the comments!

Customizable Father’s Day Portrait

Brittany

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June 8, 2022

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A Customizable Father’s Day Portrait

We’re so excited to share this tutorial with you! What could be better than a fully customizable Father’s Day portrait in the form of a collage? It’s simple, promotes creativity, and keeps kids busy when it’s just too hot to be outside all afternoon.

No matter how many or how diverse the fathers in your life are, you can make a fun, playful portrait for them with this customizable collage!

Here’s how to make your own:

How to Make Your Own Father’s Day Portrait

First, download our Father’s Day Portrait template found here.
Note: If you don’t have a cricut maker, print and cut out the template with scissors. If you have a cricut maker (well worth the investment for this project), simply select the color of paper and shapes you want to cut out and go to town customizing your dad’s portrait!
For our portraits, we chose a variety of colors. Let your kids make it as bold and fun as they want! No color is out of bounds here, but if you want, you can use our photos as a reference for some fun combos.
When you’re done cutting out the pieces, assemble them onto a plain white sheet of cardstock (we’d recommend 8.5″ x 11″ or 12″ x 12″), gluing as you go.
After you’ve glued all the pieces down, you can frame it if you want, or leave it as is.
Done!

I love that this customizable Father’s Day collage is so versatile and playful. I can’t wait to see what you and your kids come up with. Let us know in the comments!

More Inspiration

For more Father’s Day inspiration, see our Father’s Day Gift Guide. Also try our Father’s Day tie and bowtie, Father’s Day lollipop prize ribbons, and our Father’s Day origami shirt gift bags.