How to make a Candy Bouquet

 

First, meet Jack.  Jack is the grandson of one of my mom's friends.  He found out recently that he has cancer.  He is 6 years old.  He recently had to go to Arkansas Children's hospital to have his port put in his chest for treatments.  On the day he returned, we had a candy bouquet waiting for him.  He loved it.  They are fun and easy to make, so I thought I would make a blog that teaches you how I make my candy bouquets so many you could make one for someone in your life that needs some cheering up or is celebrating a fun occasion.  You can do themed ones like for baby showers or welcoming a baby.  You could do get well ones with crackers, jello, chicken noodle soup, etc or fun ones filled with candy.  There are all different ways you can make a candy bouquet, these are just some ideas.

  Below is how I made Jacks.

First gather your supplies.  Below is what I used

5 skinny dowl rods

ribbon

Candy or drinks

glue gun

styrofoam

First get the base started.  Sometimes you can put stuff around the Styrofoam, or you can just get a plastic container or basket and put the Styrofoam in there and your done.  I glued gaterade and boxes of candy around the outside of my base to hide the Styrofoam.

Next, stick a dowel rod in the styrofoam.  Angel it how you want and add some candy with the hot glue gun to the stick.

Jack's favorite cookie is the oreo cookie so I took an entire package and glued it to the front of the styrofoam.

Stick more dowel rods in to make the candy bouquet more full.  Notice the dowel rods will be too long.  You will have to cut them or break them off to make them the length that you want.  You will often be able to use the one dowel rod for 2 or 3 different sticks int he bouquet. 

If you have bigger heavier items, put these on bottom.  Sometimes you can use hot glue or you might tie them on with a ribbon.

What kid doesn't like popcorn?!  I opened up some popcorn and added that to the left side of the bouquet.  I even cut up the box to use some of the packaging as decoration.

You'll start to see the bouquet getting filled up and see where you might need to add a few pieces of candy to make it look full or even.

One trick I use is to add ribbon with hot glue to the top of each stick of candy.  

You can also make dowel rods with bows at the end and stick in teh bouquet to make it more full or to add color, etc.

Often I put a little tag on front.  Either to and from or Happy Birthday, Get Well soon, etc.

sometimes you get completely done and you need to fill some spots.  Just cover with hot glue and stuff in ribbon or tulle

Here is the finished product!  I was excited for him to get it.  I love making these for different people of different ages for all different reasons.

  Here is Jack with his candy bouquet!!

Amelia Jane turns 1!!!

It's always fun to go to a 1st Birthday party, especially when it's someone you've got to see from the belly, to newborn, to 1 year old.  Ameila Petty is a friend of our's we've met through my sister and Gran.  Chad - her dad - is actually Gran's cousin.  We get to see them when we hang out with Kelley and Gran, or visit with the Callahan's (Kelley's in laws) or at Birthday parties, etc.  They live in Bella Vista.  Hopefully now that we live close in Bentonville and not miles and miles away we can start seeing each other more over the summer since Chad and Kelli have 2 little ones and so do we!  Below are a few snap shots I took of the party.  It was at the local park It was a gorgeous day. They had a blow up bouncy house, pizza, drinks, and Shelby Lynn's cake and cookies!  How could it not be a perfect day when you have all of that?

Happy Birthday Amelia!!!

Curious Alex

While doing laundry at my parent's house I noticed Alex had gotten a little curoius and decided to put on his brother's underwear!  Oh I got a kick out of this.  I think I embarrased him a little and so he ran to hide.  I told him to just let me know when he wants to start wearing underwear all the time and go to the real potty.  

I don't think he's quite ready to potty train yet, but we have started a little.  We take him tot he potty on average 2 times a day.  It's always when he asks or before the bath.  We'll see if he starts catching on....wouldn't that be awesome?

Scooby Dooby Doo

Last night was a Daddy, Mommy and Max date night.  We got my parents to keep Alex for the night. Alex didn't have a problem saying bye bye to us knowing he was headed to his Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Max was excited to have a night all about him.  First, me and Max packed a picnic in an actual picnic baskets.  We thought it'd be fun to eat dinner on the grass outside of the Walton Arts Center where the show was held.












Max attempted to climb some trees outside.


Max loved this art exhibit outside of the Walton Arts Center.  Its a bunch of little "forts" made out of sticks.  He had fun running through these before the show and we took some photos while we were at it.











We spoiled the boy by letting him have a Scooby Doo Bobble head filled with Candy.








The show!  It was in the Walton Art Center. We had pretty good seats, right in the middle.


We took a few pics before the show started.  He was extremely excited to meet THE REAL Scooby Doo






All in All it was a fun night.  Me and Mike were excited to take him to his first play do something fun and unique with him.  He was already talking about it at school this morning telling a kid his age that he met the real scooby doo last night.  It was funny.  Can't wait til our next Mommy, Daddy, Max date night!