Tag Archives: Printable

St. Patrick’s Day Party Tablescape Décor Ideas (with Rainbows, Shamrocks, Money Tree, & Printable Card & Invite)

March 5, 2015 Leigh 2 Comments

Discover what is really at the end of the rainbow with these St. Patrick’s Day party décor ideas. A centerpiece filled with pots of gold will prove that money does grow on shamrock laden trees! This colorful tablescape is quick and easy to achieve with inexpensive materials and my Quick & Easy Metal Napkin Rings Tutorial, Money Tree + Rainbow & Shamrock Crafts for St. Patrick’s Day Party Décor article to guide you, and use my free printable card to invite your friends to join you for a wee bit o’ whimsy this holiday.

This celebration, I really wanted to indulge in a pure state of whimsicality. I envisioned leprechauns dining in Seussville… and this vibrant tablescape is what resulted. This may of course be toned down for your own home, taking just an idea or two if you like… but as for me and mine, it’s whimsy all the way.

I began with a crisp green field of tablecloth topped with chargers of golden coins. This was layered with green plates and rainbow colored madras plaid napkins ringed in green glittered metal.

(See how to quickly make your own napkin rings easily here.)

Utensils were adorned with metallic green washi tape, just as I had previously done for Mardi Gras. (See more on this here.) Basket gilded glassware contributed to the theme as well. (See these in a Thanksgiving tablescape here.)

The table was strewn with green pom-poms plus mylar and glitter shamrocks as confetti. (The glitter varieties were actually individual stickers that can be used to adorn something later, because their backings remained intact.)

At the table’s center was a money tree with shamrock leaf ornaments, coin-studded branches, with gold and green lights.

Rainbow archways and pots of gold were held in its arms, and its trunk was festooned with more polychromatic splendor. (Find instructions for all of this year’s St. Pat’s crafts here.)

The base of the tree was encircled with a multi-hued feathered boa and apropos greeting. Around that were glowing votive holders and more pots of gold, some complete with their very own rainbows.

A chair for the guest of honor was draped with a rainbow sash, green sequin tiara, glitter shamrock wand, and metallic beads in various shade of green. This was a device with which to further invite whimsy, because who could maintain a serious façade when someone so adorned is seated across from you? For your celebration, this spot might be reserved for the smallest family member. I confess that I have a lot of fun dressing my grandmother in such crazy holiday attire for her parties at the senior center, and it garners her much attention.

Glittered holiday signs strewn with rainbow streamers fill the window in the background. Believe it or not, I actually held myself back from adding many more rainbows… using the rest of my 81 foot roll of crepe paper would have mummified the window blocking out all sunlight!

My free 4 x 6 printable card may be sent as an invite when details like time and place are added to the inside, but it is also serves as a lovely remembrance for any one that’s cared for. The Irish blessing on the card reads, “For each petal on the shamrock. This brings a wish your way, Good health, good luck, and happiness, For today and every day.”

Simply right click on the small image, and select print. Then print it using the color and photo settings on cardstock. Here, I’ve printed them on both plain white stock and a parchment variety so that you may see how paper choice can alter the look of your card. You can also print it in black on green paper. (I’m offering it, along with my other printables free for your personal use. I just ask that my work not be used for commercial purposes.) You can even embellish it for a personal touch with glitter glue, stickers, ribbon, etc. The shamrock stickers I used on the card here are the same kind seen in the tablescape as confetti. A dab of quick dry tacky glue adhered a bow with the same ribbon used on the pots of gold.

I will leave you with this lovely St. Patrick’s Day toast, “May the sound of happy music, And the lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness, that stays forever after.”

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Parties & Tablescapes

Chinese New Year of the Sheep / Ram Party Décor Ideas (With Formal Table Setting & Kid’s Table)

February 16, 2015 Leigh 1 Comment

Celebrating Chinese New Year is always fun as each year comes with a new built-in theme to accompany the vibrant traditional colors and motifs. In this way, it’s easy to build on the previous event by adding a few new décor elements each year. Use the elegant formal table setting or the fun and playful Kid’s Table… or a combination as ideas for your own celebration. Spend as much or as little as you like, making the evening a complete spectacle or a simple affair. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the beauty of another culture, and the Year of the Ram will only return in twelve years… and well, it’s a really good excuse for having a great time!

The kids table utilized printables and crafts from my recent articles (Origami Crane Paper Folding Instructions -for Get Well Wishes or Chinese New Year Décor) & (Take-Out Favor Box & Paper Lantern Craft Printable + Bamboo Lantern + Paint to Antique a Lion Fú-Dog -DIY Chinese New Year Party Décor Crafts). The projects are a quick and easy way to decorate while leaving your budget available for all the wonderful food.

Lanterns are a traditional element of the Chinese New Year because the last day of it is the start of the lantern festival. My printables are an easy way to employ that tradition in your own home. They only need printing, cutting, and gluing. The “Fú” 福 characters, decorating the boxes, have graced the entrances of Chinese homes for many hundreds of New Year’s. It is said to have originated, not just for its meaning of happiness and luck, but also because “upside down” and “to arrive” sound alike when spoken in Chinese, thus making an upside down Fú equate to “good luck arrives”. (For some, however, hanging the Fu upside down is bad luck, so I’ve decided to make the character right side up on my printable boxes!)

Use the printables as favor containers, table crayon corrals, or cut out the character to make an LED lantern or luminaria. I stacked some of them onto a vintage brass tea-light holder and stuck in paper dragon favor puppets to heighten the spectacle… with no expectation that the centerpiece would stay intact long! Using LED lights insures that no fire will catch the paper, even if knocked over… so they are super kid and pet safe. It’s also easy to use the cut-out character to embellish a bamboo lantern like those I’ve painted in the pictures. (See my tutorial for the instructions on how to complete your own.)

Origami cranes are a lovely way to bring the kiddos into the party planning while teaching a timeless art to another generation. The historically traditional crane figure is an apropos symbol of hope for the coming year. The Japanese tradition of the “Senbazuru” folding of 1000 paper cranes is said to grant the maker a wish, such as healing for a loved one. The “Tsuru” (crane) is also said to denote happiness and luck, which is the same meaning of the “Fú” 福 character. These can easily be made with anything from wrapping paper to typing paper (see my tutorial for instructions with a picture for each step).

The powerful guardian lion Fú-dog is a traditional Chinese figure of protection. The one seen here is male because he’s resting a paw on a ball that represents the earth. Usually they are presented in pairs, but I only had one in a bright lime green color. I took this statuette from modern lime lion to antique guardian in a few simple steps (detailed in my tutorial). You can do the same with any accessory that doesn’t quite match your décor. Also set on the side table was a small sheep figure as a traditional way to represent the year. The gilded platter (non-breakable) symbolized the land of the rising sun. A book with more dragon puppets (from Oriental Trading Company, see the side bar for discount links) extra coloring pages, and lucky candy completed the picture.

Decorating the background were a mix of traditionally made bamboo kites (red phoenix bird and orange karp / goldfish) and modern kites (tiger and panda). Extend the New Year’s celebration to the weekend by letting your decorations fly freely. Having something else to look forward to is a nice way to ease the post-party let down that kiddos sometimes feel. (All of these were found on clearance for a few dollars each at Cost Plus World Market.) Above them hung an inexpensive yet lovely Chinese banner (again from Oriental Trading Company) suspended on simple pushpins.

Decorative paper plates and napkins were set onto printed coloring pages depicting all of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. Red envelopes containing coin money in even numbers are a traditional gift for children. Colorful punch, lucky candy, paper cranes, crayons, and mandarin oranges completed the setting.

Orange fruit is another traditional element of the Chinese New Year, so I included them in both tablescapes. It’s an easy way to add color without the trouble or expense of a formal centerpiece. It allows the gorgeous food to remain the center of attention.

My Quick & Easy Overnight Pickled Cucumbers Recipe was another colorful element to complement the other traditional dishes. (I will be posting more Asian inspired recipes from time to time in the future.)

Next to it were longevity noodles which symbolize long life when uncut. The dish was topped with prawns because seafood is a Chinese New Year must have. (Just make sure no guest has a shellfish allergy.) A whole fish pointed in the direction of the guest of honor would have been more traditional, but I was out-voted on that menu choice.

Half-moon shaped steamed dumplings are another necessity for the year’s celebration. (The round shaped variety depicts a life that goes around in circles never completing any goals, so those are considered bad luck!) Check out my allergy-friendly recipe for steamed dumplings here.

Fried springs rolls are practically required New Year’s fare! Adjacent to those were long beans with a black bean sauce and a prawn vegetable dish served over rice.

Some of the dishes were set onto wooden stands to both protect the table and elevate the vessels to different heights.

Each platter should have its own set of chopsticks or spoon. Serving chopsticks are typically longer and more decorative than those one eats with, but I only had one set of that type.

A lovely soup tureen was set into another platter to catch spills. This also contained a serving spoon and a few fortune cookies… an American tradition only, but why not celebrate the blending of beautiful cultures. Scattered around the center were some vintage boxes containing lucky candy.

Many Chinese tables are fitted with “lazy susan” turntables at the center so that everyone can reach each dish. I have a couple of these, but opted for a different style of arrangement this year. Hanging in a circle from the chandelier, was another red banner like the one in the other room.

Down the center of table ran a length of metallic sprayed mesh fabric to coordinate with my grandmother’s china. She actually purchased the tableware when she lived in Taiwan for a time. A simple white tablecloth anchored it all. I was hesitant to use white, because it can be considered a funerary color (yikes), but it was the only thing I had that suited the china… which was incidentally made the year of a ruler’s death, thus the color of the teacups were made white instead of the normal red (according to my grandmother).

Tea is the drink of choice for such a celebration, and its cup is placed to the right just as in a Western table setting. The bowl for soup or rice goes to the left where a Western bread plate would sit. The flat bottomed spoon is set into that if there is no double rest for spoon and chopsticks. At the top and center is a small rimmed plate for dipping sauce. Usually only one variety is served universally, but I served 3 kinds from which guests could choose from.

Seated on the side table in the background were three of my grandmother’s dancing statues, an orchid, and one of my painted lanterns.

Above that were two of her woven hats that she requested I hang on the wall as décor. There really was something here for everyone.

In celebrating this Chinese New Year (slightly early so that I could post it for y’all), I tried to incorporate traditions and symbols while adding some playful American touches. In this way, I believe we can pay special recognition to the beauty of our blended cultures.

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. If any of you live near Frisco, Texas… be sure to check out “Tasty Garden Chinese Restaurant” whose kind individuals would love to make your party preparations easier by adding a beautiful dish or two to complete the setting. Who says you have to make every recipe at the table? They’ve said they would be happy to work with individuals to avoid allergens… which is always appreciated! http://www.tastygardenonline.com/

Arts & Crafts

Take-Out Favor Box & Paper Lantern Craft Printable + Bamboo Lantern + Paint to Antique a Lion Fú-Dog (DIY Chinese New Year Party Décor Crafts)

February 16, 2015 Leigh

The “Fú” 福 character has graced the entrances of Chinese homes for many hundreds of New Year’s. It is said to have originated not just for its meaning of happiness and luck, but also because “upside down” and “to arrive” sound alike when spoken in Chinese, thus making an upside down Fú equate to “good luck arrives”. (For some, however, hanging the Fu upside down is bad luck, so I’ve decided to make the character right side up on my printable boxes!) Use them as favor containers, table crayon corrals, or cut out the character to make an LED lantern or luminaria. Use the cut-out character to easily embellish a bamboo lantern. I’ll demonstrate this along with how to paint a modern lion Fú-dog statuette to make it look like an antique.

To make your own favor take out boxes or lanterns, simply right click on the small image and select print. Print them on a photo and color setting. One page makes one box, so just print as many copies as boxes you need.

Next you need to cut out the black boxes… this is a great time to enlist help from the family!

To make the paper lanterns, you will want to cut out the Chinese character before gluing the box together. Use an x-acto knife if you’re brave… I always seem to slice my thumb with these so I opt for rougher cuts using scissors. Simply poke a little hole with the pointy tip of a pen, compass point, or scissor tip then use it as a pilot hole to begin cutting each section of the character out. (If you’re short on time, just skip the cutting + vellum part and place an LED tea-light inside an open box. They still look adorable this way.)

The paper lanterns, with the cut out characters, glow when little squares of vegan vellum are glued to the underside/inside of the boxes. Use the photo to check how the “Fú” 福 character is supposed to look like from the outside, and place that outside edge down onto your working surface. Cut a piece of vegan vellum to fit the box’s side and cover the character completely. Use a permanent glue stick along the edges of the vellum and place it over the character face down. Press it down flat to adhere it fully.

To make both the favor boxes and the paper lanterns, glue the tabs to the sides with a permanent glue stick. Use the photos as visual reference for how to do this. Note that 2 sides will be wider than the others. These should be glued opposite to each other, so that a narrow side is in between each.

Glue all of the sides, and leave the top free to be filled with crayons, good luck candies, fortune cookies, LED tea-lights, or even small condiment bowls for sauces… just let your creativity run with these! Just try to let them dry well before loading them up with goodies. I let mine sit overnight, and they became super sturdy.

I stacked some of the paper lanterns onto a vintage brass tea-light holder and stuck in paper dragon favor puppets to heighten the spectacle… with no expectation that the centerpiece would stay intact long! Crayon filled favor boxes sat at the base of the structure to be used on Chinese New Year coloring pages. (See more from the Chinese New Year of the Sheep / Ram Party Décor Ideas (With Formal Table Setting & Kid’s Table.)

The top of the tower held an inexpensive bamboo lantern that I painted to coordinate with the theme’s colors.

Simple red acrylic craft paint covered the whole structure well.

Gold paint made the handle and base appear as a richer metallic surface.

I glued a cut out “Fú” 福 character to a strip of vegan vellum with a permanent glue stick. You may use the red symbol cut from the printable, or just use it as a template to draw by with black marker, or cut out a black character from cardstock.

This strip can then be set into any clear votive cup… lantern or not! It doesn’t even need to be glued or taped. The vellum just expands to fit the glass securely. Using LED lights insures that no fire will catch the paper, even if knocked over… so it’s super kid and pet safe.

The best part is that I retain the option of removing the vellum strip and repainting the lanterns for a new color scheme in the future. I just love redoing and reusing… it’s so much better than merely recycling!

I also set a lantern onto the side table of the formal tablescape. (The bamboo lanterns originally came from Cost Plus World Market for a few dollars on clearance. See the sidebar for coupons and free shipping links.)

I began to turn the resin into metal by first using a gold Rub-n-Buff paint all over its surface. I gently wiped away the excess and let it set for a couple of days. Then I used a paper towel to rub/shine it up.

Next I coated that layer with the same red acrylic craft paint that I used on the lantern. I gently wiped off the excess, leaving an interesting pattern of color… green, gold, and red.

I let that dry overnight, then took some bronze glazing paint (called Elegant Finish by Deco Art) and coated the whole piece. I really gently dapped at the piece in spots to lightly remove some of the paint. For any of you who have ragged a wall, this is similar to that technique. I let that dry for another night.

The last layer is the one you actually have to pay attention to. It requires plain old black acrylic craft paint and a really messed up “scruffy brush”. Never throw away those brushes that your loved ones mess up, don’t wash well, and leave in a horrible condition… they are your new besties. They’re great if you barely dip them into paint, pounce off the excess onto a paper towel, then “stipple” paint onto your surface. This is a sort of haphazard pouncing of the brush perpendicularly to the piece. It’s the easiest way to paint an antique looking surface… and it’s actually a lot of fun.

I took this statuette from lime lion to antique guardian in a few simple steps. You can do the same with any accessory that doesn’t quite match your décor, or looks a bit cheaper than you’d like. This is especially great to do when you see a fantastic find on clearance that just has a ding or two… paint it up! You will have created your own one-of-a-kind upcycled beauty that will have people thinking it’s an antique.

Happy crafting in the New Year!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Parties & Tablescapes

Mardi Gras Masquerade Themed “Fat Tuesday” Dinner Party Tablescape Décor Ideas

February 14, 2015 Leigh 3 Comments

This Mardi Gras Masquerade themed tablescape for a “Fat Tuesday” dinner party was instigated by the desire to go all out like the big Krewe celebrations in Louisiana… but on a tiny budget! Not finding what I wanted in a suitable price range, I opted to remix what I already owned and make the rest. It turned out to be even more cost effective than if I had gone with paper and plastic… which was not only more elegant, but better for the environment too. Use some of these ideas as inspiration for your own festive fête, and read my other article… DIY Fast & Easy Mardi Gras Glittered Napkin Rings Craft Tutorial (+ Ribbon Votives, Centerpiece, Free Place-card & Invitation Printables)… for craft instruction and free printables.

I organized my theme according to the traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, purple, and green (representing power, justice, and faith respectively). Then I pulled out everything I had in glittery versions of those colors. I used a leftover fabric remnant as a festive table topper, and layered that with gold placemats and my grandmother’s gold-rimmed china (also seen here in my Christmas / New Year’s Eve tablescapes).

Atop that, I placed vintage green plates that matched my grandmothers crystal stemware. If there was ever a time to pull out fabulous drinking vessels… it would be for Fat Tuesday!

Echoing my printable Mardi Gras masquerade place-cards (which may also be used as invitation cards, get my free printable here) were sequin fleur-de-lis masks which were positioned on each setting, for reveler donning should the desire arise. I found an inexpensive set of 12 of these at Oriental Trading Company online. (Find a free shipping coupon from them at the link in the sidebar.) I added the 6 extra masks to the centerpiece as ornaments.

I wrapped green metallic washi tape across the decorative elements in my flatware to jazz them up for the occasion. Washi wrapping is an easy way to embellish your everyday utensils for a special occasion, and it is so much cheaper than buying a new set. (You can see the same technique used on the flatware in my Herb Themed Luncheon by viewing the picture in the Upcoming Projects Gallery in the sidebar.)

I didn’t have any napkin rings that would tie into my theme besides the gold varieties I had recently used this winter, so I made my own in a matter of minutes from glitter ribbon and washi tape. This is so much easier than it sounds! (Find my crafting instructions here.)

Squares of shiny fabric, purchased with a 40% off coupon, were used for napkins. A fleur-de-lis shape was achieved by first folding the gold square in half and pulling it through the ring forming a loop. I then folded the purple square in half and formed two loops which I subsequently pulled through the ring over the gold. Lastly, the uneven bottom edges were tucked under.

I made the centerpiece with trim from my Glitter-ween Party Décor (see it here) and a few new sprigs wrapped around a metal tree base. (Incidentally, I had previously painted this gold from its earlier pewter and bronze incarnations. (See how to use paint to change the color of metal and to age a piece in my upcoming lion fu-dog décor for Chinese New Year.)

The base of the tree was swathed in the same purple fabric remnant from Glitter-ween’s spooky tree, and then draped with yards of Mardi Gras trim. (See how to hike up a chandelier to accommodate a tall centerpiece here.)

Though it’s hard to tell from the pictures, the tree centerpiece actually didn’t obstruct any person to person viewing. This is why I only draped the bottom with some Mardi Gras necklaces and wrapped the trunk with ribbon.

I hung embroidered Christmas crown ornaments, snapped up at 10 cent clearance, along with glittered musical instruments, green mirror balls, and a mask garland. (See more on the centerpiece here.) I try to plan all my holiday themes in advance of the after Christmas sales to snag a year’s worth of décor deals at 90% off. I keep my theme collections in labeled bins that I add to as I accumulate finds so that I’m ready to craft and decorate when each holiday arrives.

Surrounding the tree are 4 standing glittered metal masks that I scored at a post-holiday clearance sale for less than 2 dollars each… no kidding folks. I couldn’t have made them for less. To do as I did, scope out this year’s merchandise then pounce as soon as it gets marked down. The purple mercury glass crown votive holders were also found this way for less than a dollar for all 3. I wrapped the other gold votive holders with the same ribbon as the tree trunk to customize them for the holiday. (See how easy it is to do that here.)

The side table has another clearance mask sign hanging near it on the wall. I placed a variety of my other mercury glass candlestick holders with swirling gold tapers to further accent the tablescape. A theme appropriate pot was filled with faux doubloons to add a dash of New Orleans to Texas. (These will reappear as pot-of-gold coins on St. Patrick’s Day.) All of this was set upon an extra placemat.

So you see, it’s really not difficult or expensive to celebrate Krewe-style with your own crew… just don’t forget to serve up that king cake!

Laissez les bon temps roules!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Arts & Crafts

DIY Fast & Easy Mardi Gras Glittered Napkin Rings Craft Tutorial (+ Ribbon Votives, Centerpiece, Free Place-card & Invitation Printables)

February 14, 2015 Leigh

Create your own elegant Mardi Gras themed glittered napkin rings for mere pennies with this fast and easy craft. The tutorial includes how to embellish votives to match your theme, free masquerade place-card and invitation printables, plus more details on the centerpiece from the Mardi Gras Masquerade Themed “Fat Tuesday” Dinner Party Tablescape Décor Ideas. These DIY projects are an easy and inexpensive way to bring the look of an authentic Krewe’s fête to your own crew!

The secret element to an inexpensive napkin ring form is the core of a wrapping paper roll. You can’t do better than free! Mark and cut sections that are smaller than the ribbon you choose to cover it with.

Then cut lengths of ribbon long enough to wrap around those cores.

Use hot glue to adhere a strip of ribbon around each core. Here I’ve chosen gold glitter ribbon to coordinate with my Mardi Gras theme. (You can see the same technique used on the rings in my Herb Themed Luncheon by viewing the picture in the Upcoming Projects Gallery in the sidebar.)

Next, I cut and attached layers of green and purple glitter washi tape in different widths atop the gold base. Layers of ribbon would have also worked well, but I already owned the perfect sized tape.

Read how to make your own fleur-de-lis shapes with napkins at the article on Mardi Gras Masquerade Themed “Fat Tuesday” Dinner Party Tablescape Décor Ideas.

I made all six napkin rings for way less than a dollar, in a matter of minutes, and they coordinated perfectly with my theme’s décor… Awesome!

Now for those ribbon votives… simply start with any type of votive holder or small jar. You can leave them plain or apply glitter paint to them. I went with gold glittered glass. Cut lengths of coordinating ribbon long enough to wrap around them and overlap. You can attach one end to the other with a dot of glue or double stick tape. Because my ribbon was wired, I merely twisted one side over the other like a twist-tie. (See more twisty ribbon action here on my DIY Rusted Rooster Chicken Wire Votive Holder Craft.)

In this way, I can unwrap the ribbons and reuse both them and the votives for a future holiday in a different way. I think they turned out great, and they literally took me minutes to complete… Yea!

Create a dramatic centerpiece without a lot of drama by merely starting with a basic tree form from another holiday. (For example, use a black one from Halloween or a white one from Easter.) I used a metal votive holding tree that I had previously painted gold from its earlier pewter and bronze incarnations. (See how to use paint to change the color of metal and to age a piece in my upcoming lion fu-dog décor for Chinese New Year.)

I wrapped it with trim from my Glitter-ween Party Décor (see it here) then added a few new sprigs.

I painted simple purple ball ornaments with a glitter mist (not the blast variety) to impart both gloss and glitter shine to the previously satin sheen.

I set these onto the rings that would normally hold the votive holders. (You’ll likely see these in a future article.)

I hung embroidered Christmas crown ornaments, snapped up at 10 cent clearance, along with glittered musical instruments, green mirror balls, and a mask garland. I even hung the same sequin fleur-de-lis masks used at each table setting as ornaments. I try to plan all my holiday themes I advance of the after Christmas sales to snag a year’s worth of décor deals at 90% off. I keep my theme collections in labeled bins that I add to as I accumulate finds so that I’m ready to craft and decorate when each holiday arrives.

The base of the tree was then swathed in the same purple fabric remnant from Glitter-ween’s spooky tree and draped with yards of Mardi Gras trim. (See how to hike up a chandelier to accommodate a tall centerpiece here.)

Surrounding that are 4 standing glittered metal masks that I scored at a post-holiday clearance sale for less than 2 dollars each… no kidding folks. I couldn’t have made them for less. To do as I did, scope out this year’s merchandise then pounce as soon as it gets marked down. The purple mercury glass crown votive holders were also found this way for less than a dollar for all 3… Score!

Last but definitely not least, are my free printable Mardi Gras masquerade place-cards which may also be used as invitation cards!

Simple right click on this small picture and select print. Print these in best color photo on thick cardstock.

Then simply cut on the solid black lines to separate the images for invitations. For place-cards, use the pictures a guide for how to cut out the top and crown while still making a tent folding card that will stand upright.

Poke a point into the paper just above the crown with a pointy pen, or compass point, etc. Use that as a starting point for your scissors to cut a V shape above the picture. Then cut one side close to the top and crown next to the image. Don’t cut all the way to the ends. Stop where the curve meets the flat top. Those flat parts are what join the front and back together. Then fold it in half. Cut through both pieces around the image. Again, a picture speaks a thousand words… use it as a visual guide.

Simply write names on the bottom with a gold sharpie marker or paint pen… Voila!

See more of my Mardi Gras Masquerade Themed “Fat Tuesday” Dinner Party Tablescape Décor Ideas here for more holiday inspiration!

Let the good times roll!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

Arts & Crafts

Fast & Easy Glitter Heart Wand Centerpiece, Foam Ornaments, & Faux Chalkboard Valentine’s Day Décor Craft Tutorials (+ Printable)

January 31, 2015 Leigh

This mélange of fast and easy crafts were made to decorate a Valentine’s Day Party, but you can adapt them for any purpose you like. The faux chalkboard craft is an inexpensive way to decorate for the holiday, but also makes a quick Valentine for a love one. The chalkboard idea can also be extended to other favors quite easily. The glitter heart wands effortlessly gather into a dramatic centerpiece, and can be taken home as favors by each Valentine princess at the party. (Make these with foam hearts or my free printable from the Valentine’s Day banner craft.) Also, make Valentine ornaments with the kiddos in your life using foam Conversation hearts in a matter of minutes.

Let’s begin with the simplest project first, making Valentine ornaments out of foam conversation hearts from the craft store. (I used the white ones only, so as to coordinate with my theme colors, and reserved the other pastels for the candy-land themed party which will appear in an upcoming article.)

You can either glue the hearts back to back, sandwiching twine or thin ribbon between them, or simply tape twine loops to the heart backs. The latter is the quickest way to make them, and the easiest for a little one to help with.

The next project is a faux chalkboard sign, that also makes an inexpensive Valentine, using the unexpected material of a paper party plate. The square metallic disposable plates are lovely yet extremely budget friendly. Why not pick some up for the party and reserve one or two to fill in as décor.

Merely use dots of glue to layer square doilies onto the plates. Simply trim down the doilies to fit the smaller plate sizes.

Then cut a square of matte black cardstock to size, and glue atop the doily.

Use a white paint marker to write whichever sentiment, poem, or quote you wish.

Use a hole-punch to add 2 openings with which to slip a strand of coordinating ribbon through. Simply tie the two ends in a bow, which also serves to further decorate the sign.

Similarly, cut squares of black cardstock to adorn gift bags and boxes, using the same white paint marker to write your sentiment in “chalk”. If the writing doesn’t seem clear enough, simply go over the letters until they do. The uneven edges make them look even more like chalk, but won’t come off on your clothing while delivering them to your recipient.

Moreover, in this way you can ride the chalkboard trend without spending as much on readymade tags, stickers, or chalkboard paint. (The bags I made were machine cut from construction paper then adorned.)

The last project is a centerpiece of glittery hearts meant to be taken home as party favors at the end of an event. You can even print, cut, and glue these onto tiny wooden dowels using my free printable at the end of the article.

I sandwiched a thin dowel between 2 glittered foam hearts with the aid of hot glue. The thinnest dowels are really easy to just snap in half where you want to section them. Trim with a bow of glitzy ribbon if you like. I used readymade glittered bows from an after Christmas clearance sale.

The open hearts were made from inexpensive styrofoam and red glitter blast spray. For the largest ones, I simply jabbed in a cut section of wire hanger as a handle, but a thin dowel would be better if gifting them. I added glittery bows to some of these as well. All of them will sit securely arranged in a vase filled with marbles. This way they can be easily pulled out one by one at the end of the celebration as favors. I just pilled on an unraveled skein of glittery red yarn atop the marbles to hide them.

♥ Happy Sweetheart’s Day!

Faithfully yours,

Leigh

P.S. Here is the Glitter-Doily Heart Printable. Simply right click on the image and select Print. Print them in the best color photo setting.

Arts & Crafts

2 Fast & Easy Valentine’s Day Banner Décor Craft Tutorials (Doily & Glitter Hearts + Printable)

January 31, 2015 Leigh 2 Comments

These Valentine’s Day banner crafts are so fast and easy that even the busiest mama can make them with her little ones. The glitter heart and doily printable only needs the addition of letters to spell out any message you wish. The second banner is comprised of layered doilies and extra valentines. Both are so inexpensive yet add a lot of heartfelt sentiment and party atmosphere. Plus, they’re lightweight enough to stick in a big envelope and send to a loved one whose away for the holiday. You can even use the printables as stand-alone Valentine Cards!

First let’s make the doily valentine banner. This is a great project to use up any leftover schoolroom Valentine cards from your kiddo’s class. You can even save the received ones to make banners for next year’s celebration.

One only needs to add some low-cost paper doilies in varying sizes. I used leftovers from last year along with some Holly-Hobby Valentine Cards from my childhood.

Merely use dots of glue to layer the doilies and Valentines. Then add a ribbon bow for dimension.

Tie circles of twine, yarn, or ribbon through the holes in the doilies and knot together. Hang it up and enjoy!

The glitter heart and doily banner is one that can be easily made by two different methods. You can print and cut out all the glitter doily hearts you need, using my printable at the end of the article. You can also use inexpensive glittered foam hearts from the craft store, and use hot glue to layer white doily hearts onto them.

Either way, the next step is add letters spelling out any sentiment you’d like. I cut out letters with a machine from black card stock to coordinate with my chalkboard theme. You can also use a stencil to trace and hand cut them, or buy them readymade at the craft store. (Michaels has them in every color and texture you can think of. Click on the affiliate link in the side bar to snatch the latest coupons.) I added a knot of ribbon to each dip in the heart to further tie in with my theme’s color palette. Feel free to add any other elements you’d like from paper roses to stickers. (You can even skip the letters and let a kiddo color in pictures to use the printables as Valentine Cards.)

Next add holes to both sides of each heart with a hole-punch. Then use ribbon or twine to string them together. Add a loop at each end to hang the banners by. Voila!

♥ Happy Heart’s Day!

Faithfully yours,

Leigh

P.S. Here is the Glitter-Doily Heart Printable. Simply right click on the image and select Print. Print them in the best color photo setting.

Arts & Crafts

Easy DIY Upcycle Décor or Personalized Toy Using Printable Craft Film

December 16, 2014 Leigh

This DIY craft is a really easy way to personalize either a toy for a little one, or room décor for a love one using printable film. It can turn a lovely vintage find into something truly extraordinary, because of the care it takes to go that extra mile and upcycle a gift just to really suit someone. I think it’s that willingness to spend time and energy to deliver happiness is what makes crafting so special.

With all of that being said, I really must state that I can’t take the credit for the spark of this idea. My delightful neighbor and her daughter-in-law found a metal plane and wanted to personalize it for the piloting patriarch of the family. I was asked if I could help out… well of course I would!

I just needed to find something that would adhere to what appeared to be lacquered looking high shine industrial enamel paint. After doing some useless internet research, I decided to wing it. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.) I thought I’d try “Jewelry Attitude” which claims to adhere to a plethora of surfaces including metal. If it works on smooth shiny metal, why wouldn’t it stick to shiny paint?

I ordered a package online, and went to work on producing the requested moniker in a suitable typeface. I actually found a Star Trek font (at daFont) online for free. I typed out what I needed on a Word Document, imported it to a Corel Program to resize, and then mirror flip it so as to print in reverse. This is only necessary when printing words, in order to keep them legible after completion.

I also imported other images to print with it. There is no need to waste money by only printing one project at a time. Organize future projects and print them on the same sheet. You can just cut out the one you need now, and put aside the rest until you’re ready to undertake them. I have a bunch of fun jewelry projects planned with these which I’ll share with you in the future! I continued by organizing my images by moving them around on a print layout page so as to maximize every centimeter of space. I’m obviously big on getting big bang for my buck. I selected color photo printing on glossy paper. They suggest loading each sheet individually and also to avoid touching the glossy side. This is exactly what I did. It prints glossy side up, so I suppose lotion or oil from your hands might smear the inkjet ink being laid onto it. They also suggested doing a trial run by printing on paper before using up your film, which is actually a good idea if you’re unsure with your computer skills. I just didn’t want to waste any ink, so I flew by the seat of pants as usual. It looked great with all the words backwards. I was supposed to let it dry for 2 hours. I waited 4… just in case. I actually wished I had waited overnight because the ink appeared a tad smeared after I used the permanent glue-stick on it. That’s how you attach it, with a simple non-toxic glue-stick.

I cut out the words carefully, then applied glue to the ink side, and peeled off the backing as directed. I’m not sure why I couldn’t just peel it off after I stuck it the plane instead of before, but I did it the way it said since this was for someone else’s gift. Next time, I’m going to experiment a little… of course. If you try this yourself, be really careful not to let it flop onto itself. It really sticks hard! I smoothed them onto both sides of the tail section.

It sets immediately, so there is absolutely no repositioning. It stays where you put it whether you like it not. This actually reassured me that it wouldn’t get messed up later by handling. I decided to let it dry fully overnight before pronouncing my final judgment of the product though. And what do you know… it was successful!

Don’t be intimidated by the digital work, it really was easier than the directions make it seem. I’m sure my next try at it will surely be a breeze. And hey, if you do need help with the computer stuff… well, maybe you have a crafty neighbor too!

Merry Christmas to All Y’all!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. I just couldn’t resist dressing it up for Christmas and adding a gingerbread wing-walker for the photos.

Living Faithfully ~ Embracing Creativity