I found these cute yet modern elephant invitations at Zoey’s Attic on etsy.

Okay, let me just get this out of the way. I’m a vegan. Yes, I know what you’re thinking and I’ve heard it all before. Putting that aside, I wanted to say that I have had a few requests for this recipe, and with permission from the hostess who made them at this party, I’m posting it here. I obviously haven’t tasted these but they have gotten rave reviews. Thanks Kim!

HAM & SWISS ROLLS

24 rolls
mayonnaise
12 thick slices deli ham
12 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 Tablespoons mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 Tablespoons poppy seeds

Slice rolls in half so they open. Spread mayo on top and bottom of the inside of each roll. Assemble rolls with 1/2 slice of cheese and 1/2 slice of ham. Place all of these in a baking pan or stone. Mix together the melted butter, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and poppy seeds with a whisk. Brush this mixture all over the tops of the rolls and cover with tin foil. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Do you have a cupboard full of vases that you never use? I say we start eliminating that. Here’s my solution. Whenever I’m planning a party my goal is to reduce as much waste as possible and at the same time to throw in something unexpected. Add in that at the time of this party IKEA had these water pitchers on sale for about $1.50 each. Ta da, a perfect solution. But, you might be asking, what does all of this mean? It means that I found a flower vase that can be reused, is fun, and all for a great price. And here’s the genius of the whole thing. After the party is over you have beautiful floral arrangements that you can give away without worry. Inexpensive vases are great for this because they don’t have to be returned. Inexpensive vases that are really water pitchers are great for this because they don’t have to be returned and they have another life after the flowers die. Inexpensive vases that are really water pitchers and that are given as a gift are great for this because they don’t have to be returned, they have another life after the flowers die, and they bring happiness to someone else. Problem solved.

I wanted to do a tutorial for this push toy, but I didn’t take any pictures as I was making them (I finished two). But I had a request for instructions and I finally caved and tried to recreate it without actually making a new elephant. Also, I took the pictures late last night so the photos are pretty bad. Sorry.

You will need:

1. Mod Podge 2. a sponge brush for the Mod Podge and and paint 3. acrylic paint, I used grey and pink 4. paper to cover the elephant body and ears, I used a grey pattern and a pink polka dot 5. a rough fingernail file 6. wooden toy wheels (you can get these at a craft store) 7. ears cut out of 1/4 inch particle board 8. two 2-inch pieces of wooden dowel (match the dowel thickness with the hole in the wheel) 9. an animal pattern, I’ve had this one for many years, I thinks it’s from a Martha Stewart Baby magazine 10. a piece of wood that fits your animal pattern

I forgot to show the wood glue, the clamp, and the sand paper. And you’ll need a scroll saw or a jigsaw to cut out the elephant pattern and a drill press or a hand held drill.

Directions:

1. I didn’t take a picture of this, but first you will need to trace your animal pattern onto your wood and trace your ears onto the particle board. Cut them out using a scroll saw or a jigsaw. Using a drill or drill press, make a hole where pictured on the pattern that is slightly larger than the dowel that you will be using to allow the wheels to roll. Sand down the rough and uneven edges.
2. Using your new wooden elephant as a template, trace two elephant shapes and two ear shapes out of your paper and cut out. It’s better if the shapes are a little bit bigger than the wooden elephant because we’ll be filing the paper down for a perfect fit.
3. Paint the edge of the elephant grey, going around the whole elephant.
4. Paint the skinny edge of the ears pink.
5. Using Mod Podge and the sponge brush, adhere the paper to the wooden elephant. I only applied Mod Podge to the back side of the paper. Repeat for the ears.
6. After the Mod Podge dries, file down the edges of the paper to meet the edge of the wood using the rough file. This will create a crisp and distressed line along the elephant. Repeat for the ears.
7. Using just a little bit of wood glue, stick both of the ears onto the elephant body and hold in place with a clamp. Let dry overnight.
8. Meanwhile, spray paint your wheels grey and cut your dowel to size.
9. When everything is dry, insert the dowel through the drilled hole and glue the wheels to pieces of dowel.
10. Tie a matching bow and find someone to give your elephant push toy to.