Monday, April 28, 2014

Birthday Party Decorations

Helped out with the decorations for my nieces 16th Birthday party. Which was also a joint party with her boyfriend. 


My favorite thing I did was the balloon tower.
Which I could not have made without my amazing husband.
He used some 2x4s and made a base.
(All I can tell you is that it was shaped like an X and he screwed the pieces together)
He used a drill and drilled a hole in the middle of the boards the same size as a piece of PVC pipe. Which was purchased at Home Depot in 10 foot pieces. And we cut them down to have two 5 foot pieces.
It's as simple as placing the piece of pipe into the hole.
 
Then take 2 blown up balloons and tie them together. 
Take another set of 2 tied balloons, and twist them onto another set of tied balloons.
And they slide/twist right on to the pipe.
Keep adding these layers until you reach the top.
I made 4 of these towers. 






 I wanted to go as cheap as possible with everything, but still make it look good.
I searched and searched for ideas on what I could make using crepe paper.
I found tons of good ideas, but wasn't too happy with them for a 16th party.
So I came up with my own.

I adapted this 3D letter idea, made with poster board.
You can find it HERE
And once I had the letter made, I covered them with crepe paper.


I used the same technique for the 16. This time I covered with fringed crepe paper. 
(They looked better before transporting them to the party LOL)

I used the crepe paper and made fringe streamers. 
Following THIS tutorial from pinterest.


I made flowers for the table centerpieces using tissue paper.
I used THIS tutorial.
I found some cute buckets at the Everything's A Dollar store.
And I made some using cardboard tubes that I wrapped with crepe paper.



I made card tins using old popcorn tins. 
I spray painted them. Cut holes in the top for the cards. (Actually, my husband did that part! LOL Not sure how he did it) And added lettering with my cricut.
And making photo boards using poster board and my cricut. Super easy.



I wanted to make a sign using chalkboard paint. But I got lazy.
So my husband gave me a piece of aluminum sheeting he had sitting around. 
I taped off the edges with black tape.
My intent was to use dry erase markers, but they didn't work. LOL
So I used paint and hand painted all the words.


I wanted to come up with super easy and quick dessert ideas. So I scoured pinterest. 
The first thing I came across, where these awesome cupcakes, using cotton candy for a topper.

Made cake boxes using boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon, and crepe paper.
Wrap the boxes in wrapping paper. 
Cut the crepe paper in strips leaving about 1/2 inch from the top uncut.
Use double sided tape to stick it on. And cover the top edge using ribbon.
I also made some dessert stands using different sized vases, and glued on a cake board to the top. 

I also made strawberry brownie skewers.
I used a cookie cutter to cut up a batch of brownies. 
Used strawberry marshmallows. And strawberries.
And stuck them all on a skewer.
Melted some chocolate and drizzled over them.

I used my leftover strawberries and dipped them in chocolate. 
And I used the leftover marshmallow and dipped half them in chocolate.

 
And I made some chocolate covered pretzels using Wilton's pink and green chocolate melts.





Camper Remodel

I finished all up with the camper. Did not take me as long as I had hoped.
 (LOL I LOVE having projects to do)

I scrubbed the entire thing down.
I recovered all the valances.
Made curtains for all the windows.
Recovered the fold down couch.
Made pillows.
Made a shower curtain.
And went shopping! Got matching sheets and bedspread, towels, and rugs.

Now its time to go camping!
I am looking forward to it.

BEFORE

     The Couch BEFORE...The Couch AFTER                 
 
I could not even begin to imagine how to explain how I covered this couch. A ton of trial and error. I did remove the couch from it's frame first. Measured, measured and measured once more for good measure. (Hehe Had to throw that pun in)
Then I was able to use the wooden frame under the cushions to staple on my material.
LOTS of staples. It was actually easy, just time consuming and daunting because of the size.



Made bucket seats. 
Very simple to make! Used buckets from Home Depot. And hubby cut me a plywood topper for them. I use my bucket as a guide to measure how much material I needed to cut. And then sewed elastic in the top seam.
(I just winged mine. But HERE is a good tutorial)
You can see how I messed up the sewing for one of my buckets. I liked the more flowy look for my material. And on one of them, I cut the material too short! Oh well, live and learn.



I found a brand new sleeping bag at the thrift store in my EXACT colors! That really made my day!
 I draped it over the couch.









The BATHROOM.









The BEDROOM 

I hated the plastic room divider that was on the wall.
It easily came down.
I sewed a curtain, and hung it using a tension rod.


Have to hang the pictures yet...







KITCHEN








A couple more little things I want to do yet. But for the most part, it is finished!