Grad Series: $$$ Lei

Where was this idea when I picked up my diploma?  Nice.  I don't know this young man.  In fact, the person who took the picture doesn't know him either.  She just HAD to get a picture of that crafty lei around his neck.  I have to admit...I have walked up to many strangers myself, asking to take pictures of their fun creations.  Then, I'd pick at it, trying to figure out how it was made, asking a list of questions.  I bet most of you can identify with that curiosity.  I'm happy to report that the picture taker got all of the sweet details.  You can see what she found on her blog:  http://yourhomebasedparties.com/graduation-lei-669

The only drawback is that you have to provide all of the cash to make this.  But, wouldn't you have been so excited to get something like this on your big day?  I actually think it would be a great gift for a bachelorette party or a wedding dollar dance...a birthday party.  There is no reason it has to be limited to graduations.  GREAT idea!!  If you spot any fun ideas at your upcoming graduation parties, pass them along.  We'll be sharing fun ideas  to honor the student in your life, for the rest of this week.  If you happen to use this idea, we'd love to hear your story.  Come back and tell us about it.

Photo Rewind

When my grandfather turned 80, the family decided to celebrate his long-term survival with a big party, complete with balloons, banners, and belly dancers.  That's how we roll.  The belly dancers were grandma's idea.  I won't even tell you what she considered first.  Anyway, the family knew from day one that they wanted me to make the invitations.  As soon as I saw an old black and white picture of grandpa in his military issued Daisy Duke inspired short-shorts....I knew I had my cover.

If you want to mark a milestone moment, rewind your mind.  Go through your albums and pick fun moments from the past for your invitations.  Not only did I have a great time seeing all of the old pictures of my pops, I took time to scan each photo so they would be preserved long after the original copies get lost or fall apart with the toll of time.

I didn't have much time, so the challenge was making something simple, but memorable.  I picked out a glossy and glittery brown paper for the card.  Be sure to get thick enough paper.  You want the card to hold shape on its own when someone holds it in their hand.  I measured the paper so that, once folded, it would be small enough to fit in the envelopes I bought.  Otherwise, you risk making a beautiful card that is way too big for any envelopes you can find in the store.  Also, postage for bigger mail is higher.  Small is fine and affordable.  I used my scrap paper to add a couple of strips as a border for the picture.  I   bought buttons as an embellishment where my strips meet.  Just cut off the bottom of the button so it lays flat.

I printed the time, location, and other details for the party on coordinating paper to put inside the card.  The corners of the paper are held in place by metal brads.  I added texture on the other side of the card by adding a strip of fun brown string next to a sweet portrait, labeled at the bottom with Grandpa's name.

Because I just couldn't choose two, I opted to add one more photo to the pack of my invitation.  Photos are a quick and easy way to produce a large volume of invitations and fill the space, while still giving people a thrill when they open the mail.  As you can imagine, my Grandpa's image as a young soldier in only shorts and boots was a hit with his long-time friends and the bellydancers.

Happy Birthday Chef Donavan

Happy birthday to Chef Donavan! You're used to getting recipes from him every Tasty Tuesday but today we're cooking for him! Chef Donavan is blowing out another candle on his cake and we just wanted to take a moment to say we love him and appreciate all he does to make this little blog so great! Happy birthday Donavan!!

Birthday Boy Banner

My friend recently asked me to make a sign for her son's birthday party.  At the age of two, he loves two things:  Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.  His mom tried to get him to choose one...but toddlers aren't real decisive.  So, I incorporated both themes. 

I had limited time, but hoped to make something that was more than a simple poster board.  I also wanted a sign they could adapt and reuse in the future....like a banner.  With this blog in mind, I chose to create something budget-friendly, totally handmade, and using only stuff I had around the house.  I started with a few empty boxes.  I drew all the letters for HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM freestyle and used an exacto knife to carve them out.  This was definitely time consuming...but the cardboard was free and gave the sign a little weight and texture.  Shrek is an ogre.  I wanted a rough feel.  Cutting cardboard by hand gave it that jagged-edge feel.

Next, I used a hole-puncher, so I could string together the letters.  In order for the letters to hang down straight, I needed a hole on each side of each letter, otherwise they'd hang crooked.  I spraypainted each letter ogre-green and let them dry completely.  Finally, I used a thin rope or twine to give it a natural and boyish feel.  I fed the rope through each hole to create my first banner with the words HAPPY.  Since it was so long, I decided to make three different banners for each word...which could be layered on the wall.  Make sure your second and third words have longer rope so they hang lower than the HAPPY banner.

I printed out cute pictures of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda to frame each end of the sign.  I used a color printer and cut-out cardboard to glue them to.  I used mod-podge as my glue under and over the paper.  The layer on top protects the paper too.  Just be prepared for the color to run a little.  Be okay with it...because it will happen and it will actually add a funky feel to the picture.

Initially when you glue the paper down, it may look bumpy with a lot of air pockets.  Put your top layer of MP on right away and try to smooth it out.  Don't panic if it bubbles up more.  It actually smooths itself out somehow.  Punch holes on each side of each picture and add them to your banners.  The next year, you can replace them with whatever new theme your child likes...superman pictures, elmo, etc. 

Finally, you can decorate the letters however you want.  Because the child I was making this for likes Kung Fu Panda...and pawprints appeared on both his babyshower invitations and the thank you cards his mom sent...I thought the little prints added a sense of personal history.  I grabbed my paw puncher and mod-podged paw tracks all over the letters.  That was a lot of work.  I'd recommend pawprint stickers if you plan to do the same.  Bettyer yet, the theme of your banner can inspire your own embellishment.  This is personalized, made the way you want it with stuff you can find around the house, and best of all...it is made with love.

40 Wonderful Reasons

Guys can be hard to buy gifts for.  My father always tells me to save my money and insists he wants nothing.  Then, there are the men who want the world...a boat, a motorcycle, and apparently someone else's income.  Let me share with you a sweet little gift that doesn't cost a penny, but never fails to impress.  Identify a milestone moment that is approaching...a 40th birthday, a 15th anniversary, or even one year of dating for the newly in-love couple, marking every honeymoon moment.  Big pressure right?  Solved.  Tell them 40, 15, or 12 reasons you love them and package the message up in a bottle.

Here's what you will need:

1-A tiny (yes tiny) glass jar from the dollar store, with a lid.

2-A few pieces of colorful paper.

3-A fine tipped black marker/pen.

4-A piece of ribbon

5-A piece of cardstock to make a small card.

6-Hole punch

7-Glass beads optional

Punch a hold in the corner of your cardstock and slip your ribbon through it.  Then, write a message to your honey or daughter or sister.  Need an idea?

To my husband,
     You have enriched my life beyond words.  Each day I am more grateful for the time we've shared.  Now, as you mark four decades of life in this world...I want to celebrate each year of your life by sharing 40 reasons that I love you.

Now you need to come up with those 40 reasons.  Yeah yeah...I know that seems like a lot, especially if you've been married for 20 years and you are overplaying sweet.  But, it isn't that hard once you get going.  It can be as simple as "I love your beautiful blue eyes" or "I love you for being a great dad" or "I love your grin".  Just make sure the words will fit on the paper square you're about to cut out.  If you have been married for 15 years, come up with 15 reasons.  If you've been dating for a year, come up with 12 reasons...one for each month you've shared together or even 52 reasons for each week, if you are really in full throttle puppy love.

After you cut several squares out of the multi-colored paper, write each of the things you are thankful for on the paper.  You can also buy a heart-shaped punch if you prefer that instead of squares.  Fold the pieces once or twice, just to give the paper some volume in the jar.  My jar is rather large, so I padded the bottom with glass beads.  Tie the ribbon attached to your card around the top of the jar and throw on the lid. 

Then, be prepared to carve out alone time for this special gift, so you can express the sentiment on the card and then pull out each piece of paper one by one to read to your loved one.  Trust me...you will knock their socks off.  It will only cost you a few dollars to make, but the results are priceless.  Your hubby, friend, or parent will say it was the best gift they've ever gotten.  Please let us know how it went if you try it.