Paper Crafting Week - Part 2: Tissue Paper Birthday Numbers

Welcome to Paper Crafting Week Part 2!

Today's paper crafting idea is a fabulous one for birthday parties and it's extremely easy, too. Doesn't every child long for the day when they are another year older? And wouldn't an adorable and HUGE tissue paper number announcing their big milestone be the perfect party decoration?

This adorable sign from a party on the Coolest Family on the Block

features a large scale "1" sign on little Adaline's dessert table.

Adaline's mom used an artist canvas, covered it with a pink pillow case and glued small bunched up pieces of tissue paper to it in a number 1 shape. Too cute!

And here's another similar idea seen on Hostess with the Mostess from Prudent Baby using flower shaped pieces of tissue paper.

Living Craftily Ever After uses a similar technique for her daughter's 3rd birthday.

She even made a coordinating crown for the princess birthday party

she was hosting for her daughter. How creative!

And here's another cute party using a tissue paper sign from Simply Creative Insanity.

This party is filled with lots of cute ideas so be sure to hop on over for

some "Under the Sea" inspiration.

This is one of those crafts that ANYONE can do. You could even use purchased chipboard or wood numbers or letters from a craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels such as the ones above and cover them with tissue paper if you didn't want to make a sign on canvas. These smaller versions could make a simple door hanging or party table centerpiece, too.

Paper Crafting Week - Part 1: Hanging Flower Pomanders

For those of you who know me, you know how much I love "pretty" without a hefty pricetag. I've been known to craft just about everything myself, whether it involves decorating or party planning, to save a few bucks. I get this certain thrill by knowing I only spent "this" much. And besides, how much fun is it to think..... "I made that!"

But being "cheap" means having to find inexpensive materials, and one of the best crafting supplies I've found is paper (maybe that's why I'm a party printables designer!). Just like the Paper Towel Flower Wreath idea I posted about last week, paper of all types can find a variety of purposes in crafting and of course, in beautiful party tables. And with all of the amazing paper crafting ideas there are out on the internet, I thought I would take this week to share a few of my favorites. I hope they will help inspire you in your own life with parties, decorating, and even creating some fabulous gifts for friends.

Today I'm sharing an idea from Shelley Cason of House of Smiths for hanging crepe paper rose pomanders. These are simply gorgeous and could be used in a variety of ways including party decorations or even as a beautiful accent in a little girl's bedroom.

So pretty, don't you think? Shelley has a full tutorial on her blog, but I will share some of her techniques with you today.

Materials List:

- Styrofoam ball forms

- Crepe paper streamers in whatever colors you choose

- Hot glue sticks and a glue gun

- a roll of tape

- ruler

Step 1: Cut your crepe paper rolls into 24" strips.

Step 2: Crumble the strips to make them a little softer and more fabric-like. Then straighten them back out.

Step 3: Start rolling your rose by winding tightly and then proceed to wind a little looser.

Step 4: After winding around the rose center 4 or 5 times, add a dab of hot glue to the base to keep things secure. Proceed by winding a few times and adding a dot of glue.

Step 5: Keep winding and also twisting the paper to resemble a rose.

Step 6: Once you get a rose to the size you like, gather the end of the crepe paper and glue it to the outside of the flower.

Step 7: Repeat this process over and over again until you have a pile of crepe paper roses.

Step 8: Place your styrofoam ball form onto a roll of tape to keep it from rolling around while you work, and proceed with gluing the roses to the ball starting at the top center and working around the ball form until your styrofoam ball is covered with beautiful roses.

Afterward, you may leave the ball as is for a table centerpiece decoration or you can attach a piece of ribbon to the top of the ball for hanging. So pretty!!

Shelley has a few more details and tips on her blog so be sure to visit before getting started on your own crepe paper pomanders.

And while you're there be sure to take a look at this beauty -- a stunning wall hanging Shelley made using the same technique, but this time making a wreath instead of hanging balls.

And if you like this project but think a topiary might be a little more suitable for your style, be sure to check out this great idea with a similar tutorial from The Sweet Survival.

I hope you enjoyed this great project. Happy Monday everyone!

{ Party Feature } Gumball Party

I'm sharing a simply "to-die-for" set of party tables today from the creative mind of Kara Allen whom you might know from the amazing party blog, Kara Party Ideas. Kara's blog is one of the best inspirational sources when planning a children's birthday party. She features one amazing party after another, and you are guaranteed to fall in love with parties after just one visit!

So not only is Kara a talented blogger, but she's quite a party stylist as well. Earlier this month, her gumball party was featured on HGTV, and I couldn't wait to share it with you all as well.

In describing the origin of her gumball party idea Kara says, "HGTV contacted me in December to see if I would be willing to submit a party for an online kids party idea feature. So fun!

I chose the gumball theme because I wanted the party to be bright and colorful..... something that any child would adore.

I wanted to go with a vintage gumball fee. While planning the party I pictured a gumball machine in a old fashioned soda shoppe.... the ideas then kept coming from there."

Isn't this adorable? Here are some of the details of Kara's finds and DIY projects:

GUMBALL CAKE: Yes! That amazing "centerpiece" is actually a fondant cake by Dippidee.

BANNER: Kara took a banner from Gwen Wasson Designs and added a crepe paper ruffle (she gathered a little with a sewing machine) to the top and some pom poms to each of the triangular pennants to make it a little more festive.

GUMBALL TOPIARY: Kara hot glued some small gumballs to a styrofoam cone which added some height to the table to balance the tall gumball cake.

GUMBALL MACHINE: She found this in her local classified online ads along with the table and the wooden coke boxes, too, that she used for vintage props.

NAPKIN RINGS: Adorable curly ribbon napkin rings from Hobby Lobby also add a festive touch.

STAMPED LID MASON JARS: Kara used these adorable daisy shaped cut-out lids on her mason jars and added a striped straw from Hey Yo Yo.

GUMBALL COOKIES: These adorable cookies are by The Cookie Jar and can be delivered straight to your door. How wonderful!

CUPCAKE LINERS: Sweet blue and white polka dot liners from Hey Yo Yo fit right in with the vintage party feel.

GUMBALL CAKE POPS: These cute little pops were made by Kara -- see her tutorial here.

SMALL SUITCASES: Kara purchased these from Amazon.com and drilled holes in the red one to display her cake pops.

GUMBALL GAME: Every party must have games, and Kara made it simple and sweet..... Guess how many gumballs was the perfect party activity.

WANDS: Kara also made these ribbon wands by attaching various coordinating ribbons to painted wooden dowels and propping them up in a large mason jar (Hobby Lobby) filled with gumballs.

CHOCOLATE COVERED OREOS: These delicious treats by Sweeties by Kim are wonderful for all kinds of party themes as they can be customized to match your own party colors.

LARGE GUMBALLS: Not knowing exactly where Kara got her large size gumballs, I did a search and found them in many colors at Party City.

MINI GUMBALL MACHINE FAVORS: Again, not knowing Kara's source, I found these two places to order mini gumball machine favors: Beau Coup and Windy City Novelty.

FELT CIRCLE GARLAND: Kara made these by cutting various sizes and colors of felt circles and gluing them to fishing line.

DIY "GUMBALL MACHINES": Kara made these using terra cotta pots and small glass jars. She says she hopes to post a tutorial on the craft project soon.

GUMBALL FLOWERS: She made these using gumballs in two sizes and balloon sticks based on the tutorial here.

ANIMAL GUMBALLS: These came from a local shop near Kara called Peppermint Place, but lucky us -- they can be ordered online, too.

Be sure to visit Kara's Party Ideas for more details on this and other fabulous parties. You are sure to be inspired!!

Paper Towel Flowers

Take a close look at this fabulous wreath......

What's your best guess on what it's made from? Crepe paper?

No.

Tissue paper?

Not quite.

Amazingly enough, it's paper towels! Paper towels my friends, dyed in beautiful spring colors and fashioned into unique and spectacular paper flowers. I saw this fabulous idea on Made By Nicole and thought you all would enjoy reading about her technique.

Nicole gives us a great tutorial on her blog, showing 2 different ways to make the basic flower forms. From there, it's just a matter of a few found objects around the house (buttons, pearls, burlap, silk flowers, eyelet trim, etc) and some creativity. Nicole even found a use for the mesh bag her grocery store onions came in! (See the mesh under the flowers below?)

I can only imagine how gorgeous these would be as a party garland! If you'd like more details and more information on her flower technique, head on over to Made by Nicole.

Happy Thursday -- only one more day til the weekend - YAY!