Birthday Banners for Kid's Parties

Please forgive the HORRIBLE lighting in my basement studio.  My cousin (in-law, but who's counting) Jen has two adorable kids who are both having a birthday this fall!  James will be turning 4 in November and Olivia turns 2 today!  Happy Birthday Olivia!  Happy Birthday James! 

Jen and my cousin Ryan (her hubby) are two of my favorite people and given that they have lovely red-headed children, their family makes 4 of my favorite people!  Ryan and I lived together for a while before either of us were married, so I love the guy like a brother.  Then, he went and married Jen, who is just the sweetest!  Really, none of us could've picked a more perfect wife for him.  But, then they had kids with red hair!  I loved it on James, but only really appreciated it when my own little guy's hair started to get more red!  I don't get to see James or Olivia very much, as they live in a different state, but Jen always shares pictures with me, so I feel like I know them better.  When Jen asked me for ideas about non-commercial Toy Story type decorations, I was so excited.  (She'll totally back me up as I sent her about a million pages off Etsy!!)  I really wanted to make them something, so I was super excited when she asked me to make them each a banner!

They're having a Buzz Lightyear - Jesse themed party!  The James banner is made from paper, ribbon and tissue paper.  I got this awesome scrapbook paper that looks like sheet metal (my girlfriend Brigett's Cricut didn't love that paper, but it did a pretty great job of cutting everything out!) for the letters.  Then, on the rocket flames, I used several layers of tissue paper so it'll kind of flutter and look a bit more flame-y.  The Olivia banner is made from denim pockets, fabric, paper and bias tape.  I cut the cow print fabric in long strips, made them into bows and sewed them on the tape.  The pockets are just stitched together (and to the bias tape).  I glued the letters on.  The bandanas are stiched into the pockets.  I had some little cowgirl cutouts, but I couldn't figure out where to put them, so I left them off. 

I love taking commercial kid's party themes and making them a bit more homemade!  The colors and the textures are a good place to pull ideas from and it's just so much more fun to me than a bunch of pre-printed merchandise from China.  No offense China.  ;)

Hope you like them.  Jen liked the pictures (though she's so sweet, she'd never say she didn't like them) and I hope she loves them when she gets them in the mail!  Do you have a party you've thrown that mixed commercial and handmade?  I'd love to see them.  Throw me a link in the comments and I'll come visit you ;)  I know I'll love all your creativity!!

PS - To Ryan and Jen's baby on the way, I will still love you just as much with another hair color, I promise!

Handmade Gifts for a Bobby Birthday!

We went to a birthday party for my friend Nicole's oldest son Bobby.  He turned 7 and really likes science.  I've been trying to keep up my all-handmade gifts committment and though I don't always remember to take pictures, I have been pretty good about sticking to the commitment part.  For Bobby's love of science and learning, I thought he might like to do some screenprinting.  I got him two plain t-shirts.  I embellished one with this truck material I already had.  I left the other plain so he can design his own shirt.  I told Nicole they can come over sometime once he draws what he wants on his shirt and we'll screenprint it with the Yudu together.  I think he'll love it!

I just made a simple strip of the fabric in case he wants to screenprint his name across it or something else fun.  I made the bag of the same truck fabric as I don't like to use wrapping paper if I can avoid it.  It was also good practice for french seams.  Here's everything I included in the bag.

The party was at a local aquatic center.  It was so much fun!  Holden really enjoyed the water and the sand.  It was a great day for it!

Happy Birthday Bobby!  We had a great time at your party and we think you're a great kid!  I'm so glad we get to be friends with you and your family!

Super Mario Bros. Party Decorations on a Budget

My youngest son who is turning 6 really wants a Super Mario Bros. Birthday Party. I'm not a huge fan of commercial themed parties (I like simple classic party themes:) but it's not my party so I will do my best to do what I know my son will like.

I didn't find any Super Mario Bros. party decorations in my local stores. I searched the web and found various websites that carry the decorations, but they are pretty pricey. I ended up ordering 3 packages of dinner plates which cost $19.91 with shipping.

I purchased these plates online at Celebrate Express.

I found a Nintendo site with free downloads of iron on's and stickers. I printed several out and cut them out to add to party favor bags and two pinatas I made.

This is cut out from one of the plates.

I made two pinatas from cardboard boxes (one was the one my plates came in!) One pinata cost $19.99 + shipping from the Internet. I made 2 pinatas for about $7!

I used a circle punch and made circles with bright paper. I also used yellow streamers and glued them in a ruffle onto the box which I covered in yellow tissue paper.

I made a Happy Birthday banner using colorful card stock and the printouts from the Nintendo website. I cutout the circles using a 5" circle cutter. (I cut my finger length wise straight through the nail...it was horrible!) Ah well, the price we pay for motherhood!

I wish my son a very Happy 6th Birthday! I love you, Bryce!

Custom Bunting for a Cowboy, Cowgirl, or Farm Theme

Heather just finished this cute cow print banner and I took some photos of it for the Etsy shop and I wanted to share with ya'll also!

We're going to stage out a Cowboy party one of these days when the grass gets a little greener and we find someone with a barn and haystacks we can borrow. For now we have just been brainstorming some ideas. If you have any please leave us a comment. You craft bloggers have the best ideas around!

I hope the weather has been as good for you as it has been in Michigan for the last few days...

also we've chosen our Lucky Linky winner and will be posting later tonight!

Centerpiece Idea Using a Themed Fabric

I'm sorry my picture quality isn't the best...I took these photos at night. I usually take my pictures during the day but it's been such a busy weekend I haven't had time. Right now my kids are finally in bed and everyone is relaxing. We had a carnival fundraiser yesterday for our school district and today two soccer games and baseball practice. It was a lot of fun and it's nice to stay busy for the kids (and husband :))


To make these, cut out a cardboard circle and a piece of fabric about 1" larger in diameter than the circle. I added a felt circle in between the fabric and cardboard to give it a little more dimension. Use your hot glue gun and pull the fabric tightly around the cardboard and felt circle and glue the excess to the back.

Next cut a 12" x 12" piece of scrapbook paper in half and fold back and forth like a fan. I cut the fan in half again while it was folded. Tape or glue the ends of the accordion folded paper together on both ends and flatten into a circle. Put some hot glue in the middle and hold while it dries.

I glued the monkey circle in the middle and then added ric rac trim around the edge using white craft glue. I don't like using hot glue on the front part of finished projects....it's so messy.

I also glued a circle on the back in card stock covered felt. If you put hot glue on the end of your stick and it will fit nicely in between the layers of paper/felt and paper fan.

I like the proportion of the smaller one better. It's about 4.5" in diameter. I think I will try a few of these with an embroidery design on the fabric next.

(........Tomorrow we'll be having a giveaway so stay tuned!)

Embellishing Party Favor Boxes Made with Card Stock

Heather's friend, Bridgett, does die cuts and she sent these awesome purse boxes and star cups to see what could be done with them. I only had one template of the purse...so I traced it and cut it out with scissors (it looks like garbage compared to the die cut one but you can't tell in the picture.)
This one I embellished with three flowers punched with a simple flower punch that I bent a little for dimension. I glued a button in the middle.

This one I added a die cut letter, flower and button.

The ribbon attaches through two slits in the top.

I thought this one would be cool for an Oscar Party with the star and bling.

I love stars so this one is my favorite. It would be cute with some crinkle paper and a star shaped frosted cookie wrapped in cellophane as a party favor.

We'll soon be adding these dies cuts to the Etsy shop so check back!

Have a beautiful creative day...

Erin