Thursday, January 19, 2012

90 Years Young

Yesterday, Jim's Aunt Ruth turned 90.


You might remember Aunt Ruth from my posts about our Annual Turkey Trot, Run, Amble, Walk or Crawl that we hold every year with Jim's family at Thanksgiving.


Ruth is always rip-roarin' and rarin' to go at the starting line, wearing the snazziest pants.

She usually walks about a block to everyone else's mile but she gives it her all. She just shows up and does what she can.


I love her jazzy spirit so when I heard it was her 90th Birthday, I wanted to celebrate her in a special way. It's not every day that someone I love turns 90!

We couldn't fly down so instead we put together a Birthday-in-a-Box...and I spent a good deal of last Saturday and Sunday making these two party hats.


I LOVE party hats and, since I never had a girl to make birthday hats for, I decided to whip one up for Ruth and her little sister.


Her little sister would be Jim's Mom. She's 12 year's younger than Ruth and they've been living together for the past 10 years or so. Jim's Mom was the youngest of 10 children and 7 of her siblings were girls...


I had SO much fun making a mess and making these two hats.


I just rolled cardstock into a cone...trimmed around the bottom and cut off the point to make the size I wanted...and then embellished 'til my embellisher was sore.


I couldn't figure out how to do the hat topper...I wanted the fringe to kind of explode out of the top of the hat...So I sandwiched some tissue paper together, included some old mylar balloons that I cut up to add the shimmer...


I have trouble throwing away those mylar balloons (ok, I have trouble throwing most things away) so I was thrilled when I finally had a use for them.

I cut the strips and rolled and stapled...


Et Voila! The hat topper was born.

Thank goodness it worked because I didn't have a plan B.

The rest was just plain fun.


Jim's brother picked up a cake from a local bakery and we sent along all the party horns, extra hats, signs, flower leis, party sunglasses...you get the idea...so that when she opened the box, it was instant party.


They called last night and said the box was a big hit!

I can't wait to see a picture or two of Ruth in that hat...and the two of them together too. I promise to share them when I get them.

There's just something about people in party hats that makes me smile...or maybe it's the smiles of the people wearing the party hats that's infectious.

Well, whatever it is...I just hope to make more of them.


Happy Happy 90th Birthday Aunt Ruth!

I hope when I'm 90, I'm still doing the Annual Turkey Trot, Amble, Walk or Crawl.

And I'll try to do it in snazzy pants.

33 comments:

Teresa said...

WOW! She looks great for 90. Maybe it is the snazzy pants that keep you young. I am sure your hats will be a big hit. They are fabulous.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Linda H said...

Susan, I PROMISE when you are hitting 90, I'll make you an equally amazing party hat!!! You are so awesome - LOVE the hats! Lucky Aunt Ruth - can't wait to see her smilin' face under that hat!

Linda H said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
http://thankfullga447 said...

What a great idea, those hat can come in handy for any age. God Bless her, 90 and has all this energy.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

More Hats!! I love them. They are so festive. I can just see her face when she opens it, she's such a sport.

Another great idea that will be so appreciated.
xx, Carol

Lisa Boni said...

Happy birthday to Aunt Ruth! Looks like we share the date! Hope I'm half so energetic as she when I get to that age! Your party hats were fabulous! Love the idea of a party in a box!

Dolores said...

Good for her and I hope she had a great time. Looks like you had fun.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Not only are you an amazing stitcher, photographer, but also great at paperart ! Love those hats ! Wow, I hope I am as energetic at 90 !

coral-seas said...

Happy Birthday Aunt Ruth. Wish I could come to the party because I just know that it is going to be FUN, FUN, FUN!

Moonsilk Stitches said...

What a wonderful idea! Brilliant! It's so very thoguhtful and just FUN! What a wonderful hat! Thanks for sharing.

Jennifer said...

I love the hats! And Ruth is so cute! I see some spunk in her eyes in the phot you attached today!

Please let her know I said:

Happy Birthday Ruth! I hope I have half the spunk you have when I'm your age! You are truly an inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Who needs a plan B when plan A was such a cracker?
My congratulations to Aunt Ruth - I hope I'm doing half as well at her age!

flyingbeader said...

LOL! What a fabulous idea. I bet it WAS a hit!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Those are wonderful party hats and I know they were much appreciated. You did a fantastic job and what a blast they must have been to make.

She is so spry, happy and looks like a fun person.

Belated Happy Birthday Aunt Ruth.

FlowerLady

Lynn said...

I'm sure Aunt Ruth Rocked that hat! Such fun~*~

Elizabeth said...

What a treat for Aunt Ruth!! how lucky she is to have you and Jim and for you to have her!! Your hats are the BOMB!!! BTW my birthday is at the end of May................................. Great Job YOU!!!

Suztats said...

What a wonderful surprise--a party in a box! Happy Birthday wishes for your Aunt Ruth!

JoWynn Johns said...

Yea, Susan!

Mosaic Magpie said...

Those snazzy pants are perfect for her! How fun of you to fix up a party in a box. I can hear them laughing from here!
Deb

Shirley said...

Totally awesome! No wonder she's 90. She does what she can and lets the rest take care of itself!! TFS

gracie said...

What a great idea/gift!

Catherine said...

You totally rock!! Those hats are awesome! Can't wait to see a picture of the girls wearing their party gear!

Createology said...

Happy Birthday for certain. What an inspiration Aunt Rith is for all of us!
I love those party hats you created.
I will need to back up and read your posts I have missed. I am on a borrowed computer for a short few minutes and I was missing you.
Happy Hugs Dear...

char said...

What a beautiful gift. How could you not have a fun party with all that you did. Wonderful! Happy Birthday to your Aunt Ruth!!

Vicky aka Stichr said...

to think ruth had to wait 90 years to get a hat that great!

that lucky ducky.

Gerry Krueger said...

I might just have to live to be ninety to get one of those great hats... How nice they can live together... Ger

Mouse said...

ohhhh wow she looks better than I do ..lol and snazzy pants are the best .... well done on the party hats they are just fun and fabulous and glittery and bright ... just brill really ..lol ... can't wait to see some photos :) love mouse xxxxx

Joansie said...

Lucky Aunt Ruth.......absolutely awesome decorations. Lots of love at that party, for sure!

NickiLee said...

I'm always amazed by your talents - is there anything you can't do! The hats are aboslutely FABULOUS! 90? AUnt Ruth looks Fabulous too - what spirit!

Barbara C said...

What beautiful hats! I'm sure the birthday girl and her sister wore them with panache. I want to know where she got those pants. I need to put some away to wear when I'm 90.

Margb said...

Love those hats! 90 is special - Many happy returns to Aunt Ruth.

Shirlee Fassell said...

Happy Birthday to Aunt Ruth!! You can make my party hat anytime.

Chris Daly said...

What a fantastic gift made with love, flowers and sparkly bits. I bet your gift made the day.

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