DIY Disney Snack Digital Brushes

For those of you digital scrappers out there, here is another free digital download! Ive said it before and I'll say it again: I love scrapbooking. I don't get to do it as often as I like, as I am sure is the case for most of us! I especially love digital scrapping. I love not having to leave a mess out, being able to customize the colors and sizes of things, and in general, making my layouts exactly the way I want them. But as I have said before, it can be hard to find Disney themed digital scrapbooking elements. So the DIYer in me has to get a little creative in this department if I don't want all my pages to look the same. And when you travel to Disney as much as we do, that can happen quickly.


If you are a digital scrapbooker too, then you know how fantastic brushes can be. Brushes are shapes that can be customized with texture, pattern, and color so that they can look like stickers, chipboard, metal, or a host of other scrapbook elements. They can even become a frame for your photo! The thing is, brushes are not hard to make if you have a little knowledge of Photoshop. If you'd like to try it yourself, check out this helpful brush-making tutorial. I was able to make three of these brushes in less than 5 minutes each. And now I have them to use in all my layouts! AND, so do you! I'm sharing my brushes with you as a FREE DOWNLOAD, for personal use only. Follow this link to download these free Disney Snacks Brushes.

I am working on an entire scrapbooking kit, but that will have to wait for another time. It's coming along though, so hopefully I'll be posting it sooner, rather than later! Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

DIY Disney Inspired Socks

Imagination by Knit Picks

I love knitting socks. I love it so much I attended a sock knitting convention two summers ago. Seriously. So when Knit Picks introduced it's sock yarn line, Imagination, I was beyond smitten! But socks take time to knit, and unless you have lots of road tripping time, that is hard to come by in this neck of the woods right now. So instead of knitting and presenting the sock to you, I thought I'd present my best ideas for this new sock yarn and let you do the knitting (or dreaming with me!).

Let me just say, this yarn is so beautiful. There is a colorway for everyone's liking. And the blend is a Merino/Alpaca with a touch of nylon. I can only imagine how soft it must feel. That's my favorite thing about hand-knitted socks: how utterly comfortable they are. Once you start you won't go back, trust me. And hand-knit socks are usually a welcome gift!

But on to the socks! First up is Enchanted Forest. These would be a lovely tribute to Snow White or Sleeping Beauty growing up in the forests of their youths. I would absolutely knit Bacchus socks with this yarn. I love all the bobbles on the trees!

Second, how about a tribute to The Little Mermaid with Mermaid Lagoon and Johnson's Wave socks? I love the colors of the Mermaid Lagoon socks. So beautiful. (It also seems to me that there are really Sully colored. I'm sure there's a pattern out there just right for Monsters U!)

Finally, I love the idea of some Alice in Wonderland socks. So I paired Looking Glass with these Vorticity socks. They remind me of the topsy turvy experience of Alice being in wonderland, and the spin down the rabbit hole.

I could go on and on, but we'll stop there for today. If you knit any of these up, I'd love to see them! Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust.

Victoria & Alberts Mushroom Ragout

It's Pescetarian June in the cottage and I couldn't let the opportunity go by without posting a fabulous Disney recipe. First off, pescetarian means eating fish along with a vegetarian diet. I was vegetarian for 7 years before having Doc. (That pregnancy was ALL about red meat!) So this summer we decided for health reasons and being more responsible to the earth, we would spend the month eating pescetarian. I think it's been eye-opening for all of us, each in his or her own way.

Secondly, I have a thing for Victoria and Albert's. We are definitely foodies here in the cottage (especially Doc!) and from the beginning have loved V&A's. Mr. Photos from the Parks and I have been three times, each was outstanding! This is a six course meal with wine pairings if you so desire. It is not to be rushed, everything is elegant, perfectly portioned, and sublime. (The costumed waitstaff is a touch over the top, but hey, it's Disney.) Guests are required to dress up and I love that too. It's one of those special experiences that stays with you. And the coffee "show" at the end of the meal is worth waiting for!

When I saw the abundance of mushrooms in our refrigerator and then ran across this Victoria and Albert's mushroom ragout, I knew it was kismet. I substituted dried thyme for the fresh and used vegetable stock for the beef. Everything else was exactly as written, and it was lovely! We served it over mushroom ravioli. I loved it! Not only was the flavor wonderful, the memories of Victoria and Albert's while I was making it were wonderful to have too.

Give this recipe a try if you are a fan of mushrooms - it's worth the little time it took to put it all together. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Sitting With Grandmother Willow: Bizzi Kozdron

Today we have a guest in the cottage! Please meet Bizzi Kozdron of Bizzibands!

Disney by the numbers (with apologies to Harpers):

Number of trips you have made:
Well over 30.  Been almost every year since 1972. 
Date of your first trip:
1972...I believe it was October. We stayed at Fort Wilderness.  Still my favorite place!!
Date of your next trip:
January 2014, for the WDW Marathon Weekend!
Number of Resorts you've stayed in:
13 - Can't believe I've not stayed at the Contemporary...yet!
Usual number in your travel party:
2 - Just my husband, Dan, and I.
Pairs of mouse ears in your cottage:
Just 2! 

Do you prefer WDW or Disneyland (or perhaps another)? WDW.  Obviously it is much closer than Disneyland, but when you see how much there is to do at The World...4 very different parks, twice as many parades and nighttime shows to choose from!  And the resorts! You are always in The Bubble (which is what we call The World).  There is a very distinct feel to WDW, and so much of it comes from being so immersed in Disney Magic when you are staying on property.  

How do you usually travel to Disney? Fly.  Don't think I have the patience to drive there anymore!  I can't get there fast enough!

Do you have any tips for trips? HAVE FUN!!  So many people micro-manage their trips, and it really takes a lot of the fun out of going.  Of course you have to plan around ADR's, but when I see people making spread sheets for each day, planned down to the minute...I don't get it.  We've made trips to The Bubble without a single reservation, and sometimes have found ourselves dining someplace we never actually considered.  Of course maybe this is much easier, since we don't have kids, but we know families with little one's who have done this and they seem to have the best trips. Make room for spontaniety at Disney...fly by the seat of your pants, if you can!

Do you have a favorite place to eat while in Disney? Artist Point at The Wilderness Lodge.  Hands down our favorite place on property to eat.  Of course, Cinderella's Royal Table is a close second.  Partly because we love the food and have made a close friend who is a server there, but mainly because that was where Dan proposed to me!  What is more magical than that?

What is your absolute DON'T MISS attraction?  My top 2 are no longer at The World, and those were Snow White's Scary Adventures and Mr. Toads Wild Ride.  I'm heartbroken over their absence.  But, at the Magic Kingdom it is the Haunted Mansion, Epcot it is Soarin', Animal Kingdom it's Expedition Everest, and at MGM...er...The Studios it is a tie between Toy Story Midway Mania and the Tower of Terror.  Don't make me choose just one!!

Stage shows, yes or no? I don't make time to see them, but when I catch them I love them.  So, let's say...maybe??

Parades, yes or no? YES!!  The Main Street Electrical Parade is the most fantastic parade Disney has ever put on.  Also, the Boo to You parade at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is a very close second.  My favorite day time parade is the Move it Shake it parade.  Seeing the characters dancing in the street with guests is so awesome.  

Best Fast Pass to get: Peter Pan.  They have the most misleading queue area!  Regardless of the wait time posted, you look and think the line's not too bad at all!  So you get in line, then remember, or realize, the line goes around the corner by the bathrooms!  I always get sucked into that for some reason.  So, fast pass is where it's at!

Favorite park: The Magic Kingdom. I can't say enough about how much I love it!

One piece of advice you'd give a novice about WDW:  STAY ON PROPERTY!!

How do you create extra magic for your family?  I have several Disney cook books, so I like to make dishes to bring us back to a certain time or place at Disney.  My cousin Chris and his wife Kathy are huge Disney fans, as well, so when we get together we spend the whole time talking Disney.  We actually have done photo scavenger hunts, and one time we left something behind for them in a flower bed for them to find!  I also like to make little cards for my husband with Disney stickers and papers, especially before a trip! 

Tell us about your blog/Etsy/website:  My website is www.bizzibands.com.  I make and sell fantastic no-slip headbands, keychains, lanyards and pacifier clips. The website only has headbands, at this time, but I am also on InstaGram and Facebook, where all my products are featured. I've begun doing more with Disney inspired ribbons, and they've been a real hit!

How can we connect with you? My website is www.bizzibands.com; my Face Book page is Bizzibands; and I'm on InstaGram under Bizzibands.  Anyone with questions or comments can contact me via email - bizzibands@gmail.com.

Thanks Bizzi, for taking the time to let us get to know you! Looks like you have a lot in common with the Disney fans here at Merryweather's Cottage! 

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

From Belle's Library: Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination

Today we start a new recurring column: From Belle's Library, where we will review certain Disney books we have read. If you have read any of these, we encourage your thoughts and comments. And if you have a favorite book you'd like to review, drop us a line. We'd be happy to have a guest post here at the cottage! There are so many a Disney books to be read out there!

Perhaps the first thing you should know about me is that I am a fan of audiobooks. My life is crazy and if I didn't use audiobooks, I should think I wouldn't have read a book since 2010. That would never do. I love story. And I have always loved being read to; so audiobooks have saved me. If you don't already know about audible.com, I highly recommend them. If it's available as an audiobook, they have it. And their subscription service is reasonable. If you're like Belle, you might find it to be just the thing.

So, we begin at the beginning, with a biography of Walt Disney himself, Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. A most thorough biography. I have to say, I'm glad I was listening to this book, because at times, it was tedious and I am afraid I might have put it down for good. I loved all the personal information about Walter E Disney, his family, and his creative process. That was quite interesting. I was not, so much, into the business details, as much as they played into the overall story of who Disney became. But the arc of this story was exactly what I had hoped for: insight into what made Mr. Disney the Mr. Disney. The good and the bad, the relationships he forged and broke, the reasons behind his actions, his visions, and his persistent need for order and creation. I loved finding out about Mickey Mouse and how he came to be, why his was so obsessed with trains, who the 9 old men were, and the stories behind so many of the names in the credits of those classic Disney films. It seemed like a retelling of a familiar story, but one I hadn't ever really known.

Reading this book was not just insightful, but it has made watching Disney films more delightful. And seeing the way Walt's visions have taken on a life of their own is interesting as well, knowing the backstory. It certainly has given me a larger appreciation of what it took to make these things happen and what it meant to be Walt Disney. It was NOT an easy job.

Overall I recommend reading this if you are a Disneyphile. I'm not sure the average reader would find it interesting enough to stick with. It's a long book. But if you are a lover of Disney magic and want to bring as much of that into your life as possible, this book should definitely be on your reading list.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

DIY Disney Mickey Mouse Sippy Cup Leash

Mickey Mouse Sippy Cup Leash

This is one of those things that makes a huge difference with little effort. The last time we were in Walt Disney World, our 2-year-old loved throwing his sippy cup down when he was done with it. Chasing those rolling cups in the parks was not fun, and not a thought I relished doing again. But never fear, Make It & Love It has a tutorial that will save the day! I love that this little sippy cup leash is extremely lightweight and won't take up any extra room in the storage compartment when you are done with it. So, so smart.

This tutorial is so easy that I was able to bang it out in less than 20 minutes. THAT'S a project I can love! I scored this ribbon at Walmart, prepackaged in 3 yard increments. Unfortunately, I don't remember the cost, but I'd be surprised if it was more than $5.00. I've since seen it at JoAnn's too. I've also had luck with Etsy and Ebay for deals on Disney ribbon, some really rare, some not so much. Shop around; I assure you, you'll find more than you bargained for!

I already had my elastic on hand, so this project was well under $5.00. I consider that a great deal! You could use this in the car on a road trip as well as on the stroller or backpack in the parks. We've tried it on a number of different sippy cups, and all of them seem to work well. These Nuby ones are Happy's favorites, so I made sure it would hold these easily. We'll be taking several with us again this October! If you see our decked out stroller, stop and say hi! We love to hear from our readers.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Happy Father's Day Mousekateers!

Happy Father's Day from Merryweather's Cottage

DIY Disney Stroller Cup Holder

Who doesn't need another water bottle holder at Disney? I know we never seem to have enough places to store everything when we are in the parks, and I love the idea of having the stroller do most of the work for us. This is one solution I just had to try.

I used this tutorial from Sew Can Do to create my cup holder. I love that it's large enough to hold my aluminum water bottle and this combo snack/sipper cup I found through Zulily!

I did tweak this pattern a bit. Instead of using oil cloth, I used quilting cotton. To give it a little more heft, I inserted a piece of scrap canvas (you could use a bit of denim from an old pair of jeans as well) between the two sides, and one in the bottom; and I used pellon interfacing on all the cotton pieces. Pellon is an iron-on interfacing and I use it for a LOT of sewing projects. If you can't find it in your local fabric shop, ask at the cutting desk. They will know exactly what you are looking for. I loved the stiffness and absorbency of the fabric when it was all done. I hate sweaty drinking glasses and bottles.

I also made an extension piece for our stroller handlebar. I thought about making the entire piece bigger, but I like the idea of having the size option. The only caveat to that is with the extension, the holder swung around a bit, and Mr. Photos From The Parks says it hits him in the navel whenever he uses the stroller. I'm a bit shorter and it doesn't seem to do that for me. You may want to make some adjustments according to your own stature.

A note about water in Disney:
I think the water in Disney (well, in Orlando) is a bit skunky. I am usually a fan of filling my own water bottle at the drinking fountain wherever we are - or at least out of the tap. But in Disney, that just won't cut it for me. I need the filtered water to get the odd smell out. If you are opposed to paying "Disney prices" for water, there is another solution. Almost every Disney Resort room has a mini fridge. Stop and get a case of water before you arrive on property. This is obviously easy if you drive, but even if you fly (as we often do), it's not as complicated as it might seem. Tiffany Towncar - a company we HIGHLY recommend - will make a 30 min. grocery stop as part of their ground transportation service. If you would rather take the Magical Express, you can always have Garden Grocer deliver groceries right to your room. In either case, you have water at your disposal and much cheaper than if you would buy it in the parks.

Flag Day DIY inspired by Disney's Animal Kingdom

DIY Tibetan Prayer Flags Inspired by Disney's Animal Kingdom

Flag Day is intended as a celebration of the adoption of the American Flag - it is always celebrated on June 14th. As it happens, the US Army's "birthday" is also on this day. If you are interested in more history on Flag Day, you can check out this Wikipedia article. But for Flag Day this year, I decided to take a more non-traditional track.

I have always loved the themeing in the Animal Kingdom of Walt Disney World. Even as a new park (when it was not very fun for our family - and SUPER hot) the themed areas seemed superior to much of the rest of the Disney Resort. I have especially become a fan of the Tibetan prayer flags near Expedition Everest. I've always been a spiritual person, and drawn to these flags and their purpose wherever I see them. They are meant to be torn and impermanent items. If you want a little more information about them, you should check out The Peace Flag Project. I think they are just beautiful. So when I found this tutorial for making miniature prayer flags from Small World Land, I knew I had found a project for me.

For this project, I used the printable document supplied in the tutorial. I sized it to 150% and printed it directly only my fabric. If you've never printed on fabric, it's a very simple process. I used these instructions from Instructables. I didn't have any freezer paper, so I used Silhouette's Sewable Heat Transfer Fabric Interfacing. I'm glad I did. I was able to print on it with no problems. I was even able to iron two small strips of flags together to make them double sided. I then just cut them apart and strung them on button-hole thread. (It's thicker thread than what you usually sew with.) And I love the result! I have my own little string of prayers hanging in my studio. They are a lovely reminder of the prayers I wish to offer up to the universe.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!