Happy Easter!

The Chocolate Bunny - drawing by B.Nute productions

Happy Easter. I hope your day is filled with Easter egg hunts, family, and lots of chocolate bunnies!

Holiday Traditions: The Easter Dress

Holiday Traditions: The Easter Dress by B.Nute productions

I can still remember my daughter's sweet little yellow Easter dress she wore one year when she was a toddler. The bright yellow pressed cotton, the smocking with tiny adorable embroidered flowers on it, and the precious peter pan collar. She looked perfect for a bright Easter morning brunch!

Each year, my mom continued the tradition she started when my daughter was born by getting her an Easter dress to wear. It's always been the same, sweet traditional style I just love, until more recently. Although I couldn't be more proud to watch my daughter grow into a young woman, it's hard to say goodbye to those sweet dresses!

I did tuck a few into a box to save for her when she's a mom. With such a timeless style, perhaps her daughter or daughters could wear one as well. I can only hope she'll keep up the Easter dress tradition. With such a casual lifestyle we lead, it's always fun to get dressed up once and awhile!

Gettin' Crafty: Front Door Collage Art

Create Your Own Front Door Collage Art to Celebrate Your Home

For some reason, on my walk today I started paying attention to everyone's front door. Each house I passed, I mentally analyzed their entryway. Was it welcoming? Was it colorful? What did it potentially say about the family that lived inside?

Once home, my obsession continued. I decided to create a project that would celebrate my very own front door. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It's the perfect collage to be framed and sit near

Free April 2014 Wallpaper: Pastel Easter Eggs

Free April 2014 Wallpaper for Desktop & Mobile Devices by B.Nute productions

Spring has finally sprung and April is here. For this month's free wallpaper, I drew an Easter egg calendar - filled with playful pastel colors and whimsical doodles. It's the perfect look to brighten up your day, even if it's raining. So, be sure to download on your desktop, iPad and/or iPhone and enjoy the month.

Free April 2014 Desktop, iPad and iPhone Wallpaper

Free Easter Egg Desktop, iPad and iPhone Calendar Wallpaper from B.Nute productions

Desktop Wallpaper (Widescreen) - 1920 x 1200

Desktop Wallpaper - 1600 x 1200

iPad Wallpaper - 2048 x 2048

iPhone Wallpaper - 640 x 960

To set as your desktop image
Click on the 1900x1200 link above. When the image in view, on a PC, right click and select “Use Picture as Desktop Image”; For a Mac, Control-click and select “Use Image as Desktop Picture”.

To set at your iPad and iPhone wallpaper
Click on the 1980x1600 link above. When the image in in view, click and hold. Select "Save Image" from the popup menu. Once saved, select your "Settings -->Brightness & Wallpaper" and change your wall paper to the newly saved image in your photos.

Digital wallpaper are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's wallpapers can not be sold, altered, or provided in any form for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Poisson d'Avril: April Fool's Day Tradition in France

Poisson d'Avril - France's April Fool's Day Tradition

I love learning about different traditions celebrated in other countries. When I first heard how the French celebrate April Fool's Day I was quite confused. The day is called Poisson d'Avril and the tradition is to tape a paper fish drawing on to your friend's back without them knowing. It has the same light hearted silliness as a prank one might play on April Fool's Day in the United States, but the prank never changes. It's always a fish. So, why the name "April fish" and how did the tradition come to be?

Free Printable Candy Jar Coloring Page

Free Printable "Fill the Jars with Candy" Coloring Page by B.Nute productions

Spring vacation time is happening now all around the nation and kids will be out of school. From a mom's point of view, that either means plane rides, car rides, or time at home where the kids will be looking for things to do. Be prepared for those "I'm bored" moments by printing out this free printable Fill the Jars with Candy coloring page. There's nothing like dreaming up jars filled with colorful candy to get your kids happy. Perhaps entice them with a candy once they finish the drawing. Nothing like a little incentive to get them going!

Free Printable Candy Jar Coloring Page

Fill the Jars with Candy Coloring Page by B.Nute productions

Instructions for Making Your Coloring Page
1. Select each link above, and print out the coloring page on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper (print in landscape mode). 
2. Place on a table with crayons, pens and other art supplies.
3. Watch the jars of candy fill up!

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

1940's Swing Dance Party Invitations and Party Ideas

40's Swing Dance Party Invitations by B.Nute productions

I can just hear the big band playing... the drums start with a lively beat. In come the trumpets, showing their flare. Next up is the trombone, sax and cymbals chiming away. In pops the clarinet for a solo, and then the sultry voice... and what a voice it is. This is 40's swing music and it's the perfect theme for your upcoming party. Whether you are having a milestone birthday, hosting a retro gal gathering, or organizing the school dance, this theme and these 40's Swing Dance Spectacular invitations are just the ticket.

40's Swing Dance Spectacular Invitation by B.Nute productions on Zazzle

So, lace up those shoes, pin up your hair and let's get started on planning your big spectacular!

40's Swing Dance Party Decoration Ideas
To style your 1940's party, you can take lots of cues from a 50's sock hop, but instead a soda shop theme, your looking for something with a little more bebop and boogie woogie! Here are some suggestions for decorating your space:

• Records - Head to the thrift store and pick up a bunch of old records. They are great to use as decoration on the walls, or fun to hang from string from the ceiling. You can also get creative and use records for your table, if you are having a sit down meal. Use them as a charger to set your plate on-- or for that matter a placemat for each guest. Records can also be used to decorate a buffet table.
• Record Covers - While looking for records, be sure to look carefully for record covers too! Specifically, look for big band music and and other 1940's music. The album covers are perfect for decorating your space.
• Sheet Music - Don't stop with just records and album covers, sheet music also makes a great decorative item. It can be used as a runner on a table or buffet, it can be strung up as a banner, or fill an entire wall as wallpaper. The wallpaper of sheet music can make a great backdrop for impromptu photos.

1940's Photo Booth
Set up an area of your party as a photo booth to take playful candids of your guests. Stock the area with plenty of props to enhance the scene. Here are some ideas below:

1940's Photo Booth Ideas & Props

• backdrop of sheet music or dark velvet curtain
• old fashioned microphone (perfect for pretend crooning)
• 1940's men's hat
• 1940's women's hats
• Flower hair accessory for a woman's hair
• trumpet
• pin up girl wig

40's Swing Dance Party Activity Ideas
Of course, for this party, few activities or entertainment is needed, since dancing should be the spotlight! But, if you're looking for a few more ideas to entertain your crowd, look no further:

• Have a Dance Contest - You can decide how competitive you'd like this to be. It can be as simple as judging by style or original moves, or you could judge for accuracy of guests performing a specific dance, like the Lindy Hop.
• Have a 40's Costume Contest - Ask guests to dress in 40's attire and award the best outfits with some prizes. A classic pin up girl, a member of a big band, or a sailor all make great 1940's outfits!
• Croon Like a 40's Star - Hold a crooning contest. Provide a few lines from a 40's tune and have guests give it there best shot. This can provide loads of laughs!
• Hire a Dance Instructor- There's nothing like teaching the crowd some real 1940's dances like the Jitterbug or Boogie Woogie! If you need to stay in budget, hire a local college dance student to help out.