Baby Shower Ideas - DIYInspired.com
30th Jul2012

Recycled Coffee Filter Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

I made this Coffee Filter Wreath a few months ago.  I came across my left over coffee filters the other day and thought I’d go online to look for some DIY inspiration.  I found some great ideas and some new favorite blogs.  Oh and by the way, here is how I made this Coffee Filter Wreath for about $5.00.

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This is perfect to pin on your lapel as a brooch; this elegant Recycled Coffee Filter Flower is by Design By Night.

An adorable craft for Spring are these lovely and dainty flower baskets from Urban Comfort.  These would make cute bridal shower or baby shower favors.

New York designer Vilma Farrell, designs these gorgeous Coffee Filter Lamps I found on Alternative Consumer.

This beautiful Coffee Filter Pom Pom Garland from Craft Gossip adds whimsy to a shabby chic birthday party or baby shower.

Aunt Peaches made these beautiful rose bouquets by mixing latex craft paint and water to dye the coffee filters.

Believe it or not, this if a milk jug adorned with coffee filters turned lamp!  What a great idea from Make Handmade.

Lastly, this fabulous Dutch Blog, By Miekk, shows you how to cleverly make coffee filter gift tags and gift wrap.

I hope you were as inspired as I was! Now… what to do with mine???

 

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Category : Trash To Treasure
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6 Comm
25th Jul2012

DIY Birthday Invitations

by Dinah Wulf

One thing I never buy anymore is invitations.  This is for two reasons: 1) I feel like I have an endless supply of scrapbook paper in my craft closet, and 2) I’m cheap.  I’ve made several invites before with spending little to no money including.  Some of them include, Bachelorette Party Boarding Pass Invites, Rocker Themed VIP Invites, and Cherry themed Invites.  This time, I made girlie invites for my daughter’s second birthday party.  I personalized them with a recent photo of her.  The only money I spent was for the envelopes.  These DIY Birthday Invitations work great for any type of party or event and are very easy to make.

Here is what you need to make DIY Birthday Invitations:

  • Decorative or scrapbook paper
  • Paper Cutter
  • Double sided tape or glue
  • One inch craft punch
  • Small hole punch
  • Brads
  • Photo Paper
  • Computer

First, I gathered several pieces of scrapbook paper that (kinda sorta) matched. And cut them in the desired size for each invite.

Budget Saving Tip: I find it most cost efficient to make six 4X6 invites out of one piece of scrapbook paper.

I printed my daughter’s picture on photo paper and cut them into 1.5 inch squares.  I used a one inch circular craft punch to cut out each circle for the front of the invitation to insert the photo. I printed the information for the party on regular paper, cut them out with a paper cutter and attached it to the inside of the invitation.  I attached the two sides of the invitation by using a hole punch and flower shaped brad.

That’s it! Super easy and cost effective :)

 

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6 Comm
24th Jul2012

DIY Floral Arrangement

by Dinah Wulf

My friend Maily is the ULTIMATE (non-professional) floral arranger.   I got a phone call from her a few weeks ago and we quickly got together to collaborate for the flowers for my daughter’s birthday party.  She has such an amazing eye, and I wanted to share some tips if one day you consider taking on DIY Floral Arrangement for your next bridal shower , baby shower, or and special event.  You can save so much money by taking this on yourself.  By the way, all the flowers shown in this post were done by Maily (I told you she was fabulous!).

Tip #1: Shop Wholesale

Lucky for us we live nearby the Los Angeles floral district.  There you will find fresh cut wholesale flowers and greenery.  If you don’t live near something like this, check discount super stores like Sam’s Club or Costco for inexpensive flowers.

Tip #2:  Use Coupons

When purchasing your floral supplies, always check your weekly ads for craft supply stores such as Michael’s.  Nine out of ten times you will find a 40% (sometimes 50%) off coupon.  If you are shopping online, don’t forget to search for coupon codes.

Tip #3: Don’t forget about embellishments

When arranging your flowers, you can easily implement beads, feathers, beautifully crafted butterflies, and even lighting.

Tip #4: Think vertically and horizontally

Depending on where you are placing your flowers, keep in mind whether you need to build your bouquet vertically or horizontally.  For horizontal arrangements use a shallow vase or container. Also think about the shape of your arrangement (oval, triangle, etc.).

Tip #5: Use creative recycled containers

A floral arrangement doesn’t always have to go in a glass vase or a pot. Consider using, a small vintage suitcase, a hollowed out book, a vintage tin, mason jars, you get the picture!

Of course, if taking on your own floral arrangement is too much, there are great sites like PickupFlowers to help.  Don’t forget to use your PickupFlowers Coupons upon your visit with them!

 

A special thank you goes out to CouponSnapshot.com for sponsoring this post.

Photo Source: BrendanCaoPhotography.com

 

 

 

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Category : DIY Budget Party, DIY Tips and Tricks, Special Occasions
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2 Comm
16th Jul2012

DIY Cupcake Stand

by Dinah Wulf

The BEST part of this DIY Cupcake Stand project is that I bought these blue trays years ago for $2.00 a piece on sale.  I have used them MULTIPLE times for baby showers, birthday parties, Super Bowl parties, and everyday entertaining.

I wanted to use them again for my daughter’s birthday party.  This time, however I wanted to create more height and dimension to the table to make the presentation better. I purchased two candlestick holders from a local thrift store for $1.25 each. I added a small wooden circle cut out so that the platters would be more stable and glued it to the top of the candlestick.  I decided to paint them white with paint I already had.  I simply attached the candlesticks with E6000 adhesive.

You can purchase E6000 here: E-6000 Med Visc 1-Ounce Adhesive

Here are some tips when completing this DIY Cupcake Stand Project:

  • Make sure that the platters you choose are food safe.
  • Wash all platters and candlestick holders and remove all stickers before you begin.
  • When aligning your platters, place them against a corner for more accurate alignment (see photo).
  • Place something heavy on top of the top platter until it dries completely.
  • Follow the directions on your glue as directed for drying times.
  • Do not wash your Cupcake Stand in the washer, rather hand wash them.

Here are some more after photos.

 

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9 Comm
10th Jul2012

Hand-made Clothes for Your Little One

by Dinah Wulf

Written By: JoEllen Krauss

 

BIO:

JoEllen Krauss is a freelance writer for 1800WheelChair.  In her spare time she enjoys decorating and designing new room layouts for friends and family and making clothes for her little ones, Matt and Shona.

 

Mama Does It Best: Hand-made Clothes for Your Little One

 

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The arrival of a new baby automatically puts a new strain on the family budget. Diapers, formula, doctor visits and daycare take a huge chunk out of any extra cash or savings. When it comes to the amount of money new parents spend on clothing for newborns and infants, the family budget gets eaten at an alarming rate. Small children outgrow clothing almost as fast as they are buttoned or fastened on their bodies. Moms who wish to fight the expense may be able to save a little money by making clothes for their child.

First, moms will need to know how to sew, knit or crochet in order to make clothing. If these are not skills she already has, mom will need to take a class or teach herself through online tutorials, educational CDs or watching others who are already good at it. The first projects will be simple ones: diaper bags, bibs, blankets and hats. Mastering any one of these beginner-level projects leads to a natural eagerness to see what else can be made. Classes and tutorials will teach the basics of using patterns to make clothes, taking proper measurements to make patterns and trying new techniques to add flare to clothing.

Once a mother knows how to make clothing for her newborn, it is time to make sure she has the right tools and work space. A designated space in the house is best so that making clothes does not interfere with regular family rituals. A guest room, attic, shed or bonus space above the garage are ideal locations. If this is not an option, it is best to buy supplies that can be tucked away easily to preserve space.

For sewing, a sewing machine will eventually be necessary, and for crocheting and knitting, mom will need sturdy needles. Depending on her comfort level, she may choose crochet or knitting needles made of bamboo, other woods, plastic, aluminum or other metals. The key is to find needles that can withstand her work habits and that she can be comfortable holding for long periods of time. Otherwise, the urge to create new clothing will die often.

Fuzzy puppy onesie - back

Fabric and yarn can turn newcomers to sewing, crochet or knitting into fiber addicts easily. There are so many alluring patterns, colors and textures to fall in love with for a baby. The best practice is to buy enough of a particular fabric or yarn to make your project and store it in a safe place until it is time to use it for a new project. It is never good to lean toward hoarding fabric, yet there should always be enough in a personal stash to complete a new garment for the baby.

Although it might seem a bit extreme, the best way to start learning how to make clothing for a baby is to practice with doll patterns. This does not cost as much as ruining baby clothing patterns because it requires much less fabric. Doll patterns also are a great way to learn about how clothing is put together. It is also a great idea to be surrounded by other moms who sew or community groups of crocheters or knitters. Most who love the craft are eager to offer suggestions, give feedback or assist with difficult projects. The key to fabulous new baby clothes is usually just one single help request away.

 

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2 Comm
09th Jul2012

Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

Recently, I wrote a post on DIY Butterfly Wall Art from items I found in my craft closet.  With my daughter’s garden themed birthday party coming up, I decided to make another craft scrap art piece.  I wanted to use it as part of the decorations at her birthday party, as well as hang it in her room after.

Once again, I didn’t have to buy anything new.  I had every item already sitting in my craft closet.  I even had another ugly painting that I inherited when my husband and I moved in together.  If you don’t have an old ugly painting, blank canvases can be purchased at any craft store.  Also consider going to a thrift store and recycle an old one.  It may even come with a frame you can reuse.

Here is what I used for my Stenciled Butterfly Wall Art project.

  • Old painting or canvas
  • Burlap
  • Staple gun and staples
  • Craft paint
  • Spouncer
  • Stencils
  • Paper plate
  • Glue gun and glue sticks
  • Craft Butterflies

I started off by covering the painting with burlap that I had from my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project by attaching it with a staple gun.  Make sure you pull the fabric taught as you staple it.  Next, I laid out my stencils and butterflies in the order I wanted them placed on the canvas and took a digital photo of it.

I stenciled my daughter’s name on the bottom right and stenciled a butterfly in the center.  Check out my Stenciled Burlap Placemat project for stenciling tips and tricks.  Next, referring back to my digital photo, I hot glued each butterfly onto the canvas.

Both quickly and easily I have a unique and personalized party and room decoration that didn’t cost me a dime!!

 

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Category : DIY Artwork, Kid Stuff
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8 Comm
03rd Jul2012

Last Minute Party Appetizers

by Dinah Wulf

Every year we go to my best friend’s house for the Fourth of July.  It’s a casual potluck style get together and I always have a ton of fun.  This year I was assigned appetizers.  Although I didn’t know this until yesterday I was able to put together some fun festive last minute party appetizers.

Finger foods work best, in my opinion, at casual outdoor parties like this one.  You don’t have to worry about supplying/holding/throwing away utensils.  My favorite “party utensil” is the toothpick or skewer.  It’s so easy to put together and they look great too.

This year, I went with the red, white, and blue theme and made raspberries, star shaped marshmallows, and blackberries on toothpicks.

I also make skewers with cold tortellini with Italian dressing, salami, and cheese.  I made little festive flags on my computer and printed them on address labels.

Some other toothpick/skewer last minute party appetizers to consider are:

  • Any combination of fruit
  • Any combination of veggies
  • Cucumber, olives, blue cheese, and tomato
  • Mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomato
  • Gorgonzola, apple, bacon
  • Deli meat, cucumber, tomato
  • Any combination of gummy candies
  • Any combination of deli meat, cheese, and tomato

Tips:

  • The more colorful the better
  • Consider using a small cookie cutter for fruit and such
  • Marshmallows are inexpensive and can be dipped in chocolate, sprinkles, or melted candy to fit any party theme.
  • Gummy skewers are fun for candy bars.  They can also be wrapped in a clear plastic treat bag, tied with ribbon, and given as a party favor.

 

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6 Comm
25th Jun2012

Repurposed Plant Hanger

by Dinah Wulf

Oh my! This may be one of my most fun projects to date!

When my husband and I moved into our home, I found this pile of junk lying on the ground on the side of the house.

The first thing that caught my eye was the rusty iron plant hanger.  I didn’t quite know what I was going to do with it, but I knew I wanted it in the “keep” pile.  Fast forward five months later, it hit me.  I would turn it into a chandelier for my daughter’s 2nd birthday party.  I thought it’d be cute, hanging above the food or dessert table for her garden inspired birthday party. Here is a before and after shot of my Repurposed Plant Hanger.

 

But get this… the BEST part is that I spent $10.50 on the entire project.  I ransacked my craft closet and only needed to buy one can of spray paint and some plastic beads.  I had everything else!

The first thing I did was rinsed the plant hanger down with the garden hose.  I brushed it slightly with a wire brush from our metal gate project.  After it dried, I spray painted it a glossy turquoise color. I hung it to dry and touched it up as needed.

 

Decorating it was the fun part. I used green flower gems I had from scrapbooking, wire earring hoops from my DIY Wine Charm project, butterflies from my DIY Butterfly Wall Art project, and I strung the beads I bought on the hemp string from my hanging Mason jar lantern project.  The hot glue gun I used worked fantastically and I didn’t even use two hot glue sticks!

Here are some after photos.  It turned out so well, that I am going to hang it in my daughter’s room!

 

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12 Comm
04th Jun2012

DIY Butterfly Wall Art

by Dinah Wulf

One of the things I do when I’m bored is stare at my craft closet to see if there is anything I can make without purchasing something new.  I had these wooden frames left over from a Wine Tasting Bridal Shower party I did and these butterflies I bought from a craft store that was going out of business a while ago (I bought 80 of these butterflies for less than $10).  These butterflies are great to adorn gifts, my initial intention for their use.  Anyway, with left over craft paint and scrapbook paper, I decided on DIY Butterfly Wall Art for my daughter’s bedroom.

Here are the materials you need:

  • Wooden frames
  • Craft Butterflies
  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Paper cutter or scissors
  • Craft paint
  • Paint brush
  • Hot Glue Gun

Yet another fun and easy project was complete while my daughter watched her one hour episode of Sesame Street (she LOVES Elmo and Baby Bear).

First, I painted each wooden frame.  By the way, you can purchase these frames in packs of three from IKEA for $1.99… cheap!  Meanwhile, while the paint was drying, I cut out scrapbook paper to fit the frames (4X6) with a paper cutter.

I assembled the frames when the paint was dry and using a hot glue gun, attached the butterfly to the center of the frames.  You have to hold the butterfly in place for a few seconds while the hot glue dries.  I hung them above my daughter’s window in her room.

Here are some AFTER photos.

What’s in YOUR craft closet??

 

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9 Comm
07th May2012

Embossed Cherry Thank You Cards

by Dinah Wulf

Written By: Jennifer Hostetler

As a mom of two already you don’t expect anyone to want to throw you a baby shower, but when I found out I was having twins my girlfriends stepped up and threw one of the best baby shower ever. The baby shower was Cherry themed and they left no details to spare.

I decided that with all the work they put into the shower that I needed to hand make thank you cards to them and the guest. I had never embossed cards before but I thought this would be the perfect time to try and I found that it was very easy and a lot of fun!

Here is how I made Embossed Cherry Thank You Cards.

Materials:

-Embosser (Martha Stewart Crafts Embossing Starter Kit)
-Embossing Powder
-Clear embossing ink
-Red stamp pad
-Thank you stamp
-E6000 Multi-Purpose Adhesive-3.7 Ounce  (one of my favorites)
-Brown String
-Scissors
-Foam Brush
-Toothpicks
-Card Stock
-Envelopes
-Paper Plate

1st I used a red stamp pad and thank you stamp and placed it on the card stock. I positioned the stamp in three different locations; the bottom left, bottom right and middle.

2nd I used the clear embossing ink to make two circles next to each other on the card stock. (I was lucky that the top of the embossing ink was the perfect size circle I needed. Otherwise, you can use a 1” circle stamp.) Then, I sprinkled the embossing powder over the circles. I found that if you use a paper plate you could put the embossing powder that doesn’t stick back in the container. Tip: If you flip the paper over and flick the back of the paper the loose powder will fall off. If any remained on the paper I used the foam brush to remove it.

3rd Now is the fun part. You use the embossing tool to heat up the embossing powder. It only takes a few seconds; once you see it begin to bubble you are done. If you hold it to long you will notice the embossing powder start to move.

4th Cut the brown string to about 5”. Then I folded the string in half and tied a knot about ¼” from top of the string. Then I cut the loop that was created by tying the knot. The string now should look like two cherry stems. Then glue the stems to the card stock so they are just touching the red dots embossed previously.

This completes the card! Here are a few examples of the finished product!

I cannot thank my girlfriends enough for showering the twins with the most beautiful thoughtful Baby Shower ever! I truly appreciate you and your friendship!

 

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2 Comm
30th Apr2012

Recycled Water Bottle Butterfly

by Dinah Wulf

Recycled Water Bottle Butterflies (23) (560x420)

I was originally inspired by this great post from Instructables, one of my favorite websites. I am throwing a garden themed party this year for my daughter’s birthday and thought that these would be perfect. They would also make cute adornments for gifts.

Here is how I made these cute Recycled Water Bottle Butterflies.

Materials:

  • DASANI water bottle
  • Utility knife and scissors
  • Sand Paper (I used 100 grit)
  • Craft paint
  • Glitter
  • Plastic Beads
  • Twine
  • Hot Glue

Make sure your DASANI water bottle is clean and dry. Using a utility knife, cut off the rounded top and bottom of the water bottle so that you have a perfect cylinder.  Next, cut that cylinder in half, lengthwise to make two pieces.

 

Next, cut each piece in half to make four pieces.  This will now be four butterflies.  Fold each piece in half as shown. Cut a “V” shape on the top and bottom, and then another on each side.  You can cut and shape the butterfly wings as you like.  Gently sand each butterfly.  This will help the paint to adhere nicely to the plastic. Make sure you clean off any debris before you start to paint.

 

I used craft paint and glitter to decorate each butterfly.  For the bodies, I hot glued black plastic beads together and then hot glued twine in a “V” shape for the antennas.  IMPORTANT: When hot gluing the body to the butterfly, place the hot glue on the bead and then glue onto the plastic.  Do not put hot glue directly onto the plastic or it will melt.

 

Here are some after photos. The tutorial is for the liter bottle; however I made some with the small 12 oz. bottles too! Check them out (bottom right photo)!  If you add a few more beads, the 12 oz. bottles make perfect dragonflies.

 

Why I chose DASANI:

DASANI has partnered with a variety of organizations to promote the importance of recycling:

• Coca-Cola Recycling: Since 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling has worked with the Coca-Cola system and community partners to increase the collection of beverage packaging for use again in North America. They currently manage 30 dedicated recycling centers, a commercial brokerage network, an online recycling bin fulfillment site and the execution of hundreds of local recycling programs around the country.

• Recyclebank: Since 2006, Coca-Cola has partnered with Recyclebank, a meaningful rewards program that motivates people to recycle by rewarding them for their efforts. Recyclebank Points are earned based on the weight of the recyclables and are redeemable for valuable discounts, free products, gift cards and movie tickets, to name just a few.

• Keep America Beautiful/Bin Grant Program: The Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Bin Grant Program donates recycling bins to kick-start recycling programs for local organizations. Through your support, you’ve helped us grant bins to non-profits, government, civic organizations, schools and for profit corporations.

Check out this quick YouTube video!

DASANI’s PlantBottle® Saves Energy

Thanks to DASANI for sponsoring today’s post!

 

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Category : Crafts, Kids Craft Ideas, Trash To Treasure
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12 Comm
24th Apr2012

Cherry Themed Twin Baby Shower

by Dinah Wulf

Earlier I shared a sneak peek into this Cherry Themed Twin Baby Shower, showing you the invitations that I made and the game prizes that doubled as centerpieces.  We had such a great time and I wanted to show you a little more of some things my girlfriends and I did.

Party Favors

I found these cute little baskets and filled them with a liner and round red chocolate candies.  I simply made a label on my computer that said, “Double the Sweetness”, printed them, and used ribbon and cardstock in pink, red, and green to embellish each basket.  We had a favor at each place setting and scattered a few on the buffet table.

Food and Drink

We wanted the shower to be casual and fun so we decided to serve a buffet and had each guest help themselves.  I made signs for the drink table outside.  One for the guest of honor’s sweet tea craving and one for the Champagne punch.

I also made simple signs to “Please Help Yourself” so that guests would know they did not have to wait to dig in.

Instead of having a messy fruit bowl, I made individual fruit cups with cupcake liners and used a circular craft punch to line them with foil.

For dessert we had red velvet and chocolate cupcakes with two cherries on top.

 

Decorations

Outside we hung a clothing line with pairs of matching clothes for the twin babies.

The game prizes doubled as centerpieces and graced each table with two “twin” balloons to represent two cherries.

Small pink and red lanterns were hung in pairs with green ribbon to look like giant cherries.

We also had a cherry themed shirt made for the guest of honor to wear at the shower. Congratulations, Jen!

I LOVE MY GIRLS!! BTW, Watch out because I’m rallying for the favorite Auntie position!

 

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5 Comm
17th Apr2012

Cherry Themed Party Sneak Peek

by Dinah Wulf

My girlfriends and I are throwing a baby shower for one of our best friends who is having twins!  I was too excited to wait until after the party show you pictures so I thought I’d do a quick sneak peek of some of our Cherry Themed Party ideas.

We decided on a cherry theme because cherries are fun, vibrant in color, and typically come in pairs! Our mommy-to-be and guest of honor is having twin girls so we chose to use both red and pink for our color scheme.

Easy DIY Invitations

Of course I couldn’t BUY the invitations! I had to make them myself! So I followed my own Easy DIY Invitation tutorial, bought these supplies, and made these adorable invites.  See? I told you this tutorial would work ANY theme!

Baby Shower Game and Prize Idea

Next, I want to show you what I did for the baby shower party game gifts.  One of the games we are playing is called the dice game.  For this game, all you need is five or more prizes, a pair of dice, and a plate.  The game is timed, typically fifteen minutes.  Each guest takes turns rolling the dice one time per turn.  If you roll doubles, you take one wrapped gift. The gifts are not unwrapped until the game ends. Once all the gifts are taken, the gift stealing begins! If you roll doubles, you continue to take a gift until the allotted time ends.  It’s possible for one guest to end up with more than one gift.

Anyway, instead of using a gift bag and tissue paper, I wrapped each gift in a small picnic basket and used a cherry dish cloth to cover or hide the gift. Also, these prizes double as table centerpieces, cutting the cost of the party!

Can’t wait to show you the rest! Stay tuned :)

 

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2 Comm
16th Apr2012

Tea Party Inspiration

by Dinah Wulf

I have been contemplating what to do for my daughter’s 2nd birthday party.  For some reason I keep going back to a tea party theme.  I know she’s a little young, but I think it may work.  It’ll be a small and simple party anyway… we won’t go big until she turns five years old (at least that’s what I’m telling my husband).

I decided to get some inspiration from the World Wide Web and… man… there are some GREAT ideas out there… TONS of tea party inspiration right at your fingertips! I love it all!

Check out what I found.  The Better Homes and Gardens Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter party is tremendous!  One of my favorites is using colorful vintage tins as flower vases.  I found a ton of cool ideas from party favors to decorations, and centerpieces to finger food ideas.  I also dug up some of my past ideas that I thought would go nicely.  I added links at the bottom for tutorials and for sources for your reference.  I hope it helps.

If you have more ideas, please comment! I’d love to read them.  I need all the tea party inspiration I can get.

Tea Cup Candles

Mad Hatter Tea Party

Stacked Tea Cups

Pink and Purple Dessert Table

Fabric Flag Banner

Tea Party Dress Up

Accordion Flowers

Tea Cup Dessert Display

Mini Cupcakes in Tea Cups

Party Pinwheel How To

Paper Dahlia Favors

Tea Party Favors

Tea Pot Flowers

BHG Mad Hatter Party

 

Did anything on this inspiration board actually inspire you? Please fee free to leave a comment! :)

**Don’t forget to enter to win a $50 gift certificate to iStencils.com! The giveaway ends soon!

** Thanks to Amy from Pound For Pennies for featuring an article I wrote today for her Green Theme!  Check it out and peruse her site for some awesome coupon deals!

 

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Category : Special Occasions
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4 Comm
26th Mar2012

Natural Fibers Inspiration Board

by Dinah Wulf

I love projects using natural fibers like, sisal, burlap, jute, and rope.  It’s eco-friendly, chic, and inexpensive.  What more could you want? It also goes with several types of décor styles from industrial to rustic and from nautical to French country. So, I created a Natural Fiber Inspiration Board for actually several reasons: 1) I am obsessed with Pinterest and Houzz and I can look at pictures for hours, 2) I wanted to share my favorites with my DIY Inspired readers, 3) My blog is my virtual diary, and also my virtual to do list.

I decided that it would be fun to do my own versions of inspiration boards so for now, I’ll try and use Monday’s posts for that… we’ll see how long that lasts!

I did my best to find the correct DIY tutorial for each photo.  Some of the photos on this inspiration board are from Etsy.com or other online retailers, so the link will tell you where you can purchase it (woo hoo!), because sometimes we don’t have time to make everything ourselves! Scroll all the way down; the links are below at the end of the post.  If there is no link, I couldn’t find it. Sorry! However, hopefully the photo itself will still give you some do-it-yourself inspiration anyway!

Links for Natural Fibers Inspiration Board DIY Tutorials

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4 Comm
01st Mar2012

Baseball Themed Baby Shower

by Dinah Wulf

Throwing a themed baby shower doesn’t have to break the bank.  My girlfriends and I hosted a small baseball themed baby shower for one of our best friends years ago and I came across some old pictures.  Here are a few quick and easy ideas.

Invitations:

Make DIY invitations that look like game tickets or scoreboards.  Here is a simple invitation tutorial that will fit any party theme.

Budget Party Decorations:

Borrow sports equipment like baseballs, bats, and gloves from friends or family to use as props, scatter them on tables, or use them as part of centerpieces.

Decorating with scrapbook paper is very inexpensive.  Print out each letter of the baby’s name and cut and paste it to a 12X12 piece of scrapbook paper to resemble blocks. Suspend the “blocks” with fishing line. Don’t forget to do both sides! Total cost of this preject? Less than $5 bucks!

Print out black and white photos of the Mommy and Daddy to be. Paste them on scrapbook paper and scatter them around the room and on tables. There’s no need to use photo paper.  Regular printer paper works just fine.

Party Favors:

Cracker Jacks and Peanuts make great party favors.  Tie them in a pretty bow and add a tag that says, “Coming to Home Plate!” Another option is candied or caramel apples.  Shopping at a club warehouse store for these bulk items will significantly cut down on costs.

Serve All-American Food:

Consider serving traditional All-American finger sized foods such as pigs in a blanket, sliders, and French fries in small paper cones or potato salad.  Fill cupcake liners for individual servings with peanuts, popcorn, or caramel popcorn. Use plastic colored baskets with paper liner as plates.  If the budget allows, rent a nacho warmer and have a nacho bar or rent a cotton candy machine.

More fun ideas:

Label areas around the venue:

  • Make a sign that says “Welcome to home plate!” or “Celebrating an All-Star Baby Shower!” by the front entrance.
  • Locker Rooms: Hang a sign above the gift table
  • Rest Rooms: Hang Women’s and Men’s restroom signs or symbols on the bathroom door
  • Bleachers: Hang a sign above a seating area
  • Concession Stand: Hang a concession stand sign above the dessert or food table

 

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Category : DIY Budget Party
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4 Comm
26th Jan2012

Baby Shower Message Cards

by Dinah Wulf

This project was SUPER easy, but since I did it, why not put it on my blog? One of my very busy friends was throwing baby shower for her girlfriend and I gladly made these for her so she would have more time to do other projects.  She showed up at my house with all the supplies, and with the help of my craft closet, I busted them out in a couple hours while I watched The Biggest Loser.

These Baby Shower Message Cards are a way for the guests to write a message or wish for the guest of honor. Here is what you need:

Cards

  • Scrapbook Paper or Card Stock
  • Craft Punch of your choice
  • Glue
  • Paper Cutter

Sign

  • Wooden Frame
  • Craft paint
  • Paint brush
  • Computer
  • Scrapbook paper
  • Craft punch

The pastel colors for the shower are pink, yellow, and green. I used craft paint and painted the inside and outer edges yellow, and the main part of the frame pink.

I printed out a sign that said “Please write a message or wish for baby” (the baby’s name is a surprise!). Once the paint was dried (minutes), I punched and glued paper butterflies to the frame.

I used 12X12 scrapbook paper and used a cutting board. I was able to cut out six 4X6 cards for each sheet. One by one, I glued the punch butterflies on each card, making each one a little different.

Here is the after.

I tied them all up in a pretty yellow bow to give to send off with my friend.

That’s it! SUPER easy!

 

 

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Category : Special Occasions
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5 Comm
02nd Jan2012

Wine Bottle Frames

by Dinah Wulf

I made these wine bottle frames out of recycled wine bottles for a wine tasting party.  It was also a bridal shower party, so I used them for a “who knows the bride best game”. I framed each question and placed the wine bottle frames all over the room so that the guests could mingle, talk, drink their wine, and play the game at the same time. Each guest wrote their answers next to the corresponding question number on their wine scoring card.

These wine bottle frames are very simple to make. The materials needed are, an empty wine bottle, a wooden frame, picture frame hangers, and string or ribbon.  I purchased the wooden frames from IKEA which were only $1.99 for a set of three…CHEAP!

The pictures speak for themselves, but all you need to do is to screw each picture frame eyelet into the wooden frame by hand in the desired area.  It takes a little pressure at first, but it should screw in fairly easily.  Use a ribbon or string to hang the frame onto the wine bottle.

Also consider, decorating the bottle with wallpaper remnants or scrapbook paper, or ribbon or you can also paint the inside of your frame with chalkboard paint.  I preferred to remove the wine label with warm soapy water.  There is something beautiful about a plain wine bottle.  Arrange your display with other wine bottles of different colors and sizes.

Another option is to frame a letter and place several bottles in a row to spell out the bride’s (guests or honor’s) new last name.  Use decorative paper as a boarder.  Make displays by using other recycled wine bottles and recycled wine crates.

 

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4 Comm
29th Nov2011

DIY Apothecary Jars

by Dinah Wulf

I love the look of apothecary jars.  They are so beautiful and can serve several display purposes.  You can use them for candy, holiday decorations, or even display your collections. They look pretty on a mantel or kitchen island or even a bathroom filled with sponges or shells.  I like to use them for candy on a candy bar dessert table for parties.

Because I’m so cheap, and apothecary jars start at about twenty dollars apiece for the small ones, I decided to try a little do it yourself project.

I found a box of four glass canisters at a discount housewares store for twelve dollars.

On one of my recent thrift store ventures, I found some candle holders for $1.50 apiece.

Additional materials needed are 1) spray paint of your choice, and 2) a strong adhesive.  In my case, I chose a metallic silver spray paint and Gorilla glue.

Before you start, make sure your candle holders are clean and free of wax.  When you spray paint them, every little bump will show (I learned this the hard way).

Spray paint your candlesticks holding the can about 12 inches away in a well-ventilated area.

When the paint is completely dry, approximately two hours, glue the candlestick to the canister. I let the glue set overnight before picking it up, just to be safe.

Voila! Instant DIY apothecary jar! Fill it with whatever you like… pinecones, peppermint sticks, or ornaments for the holidays are perfect for this time of year.

 

You may also like these other crafty eco-friendly centerpiece ideas:

 

 

 

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Category : Crafts, Trash To Treasure
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7 Comm
10th Nov2011

Budget Butterfly Birthday

by Dinah Wulf

Having a party and hosting a party doesn’t have to break the bank.  There are always alternatives to spending a lot of money on party decorations.

One of my best friends had a butterfly themed party for her daughter’s first birthday.  On a strict budget, we had to get creative. Here are some creative party ideas for a budget butterfly birthday theme (or any theme for that matter) for less than fifty dollars.

Rule Number One: Use your resources.

It always helps to have fellow mommies as best friends.  We borrowed these butterflies from some of our best friends who also has a young daughter.  These wire butterflies were decorations that were in her daughter’s bedroom.

We also borrowed these lanterns and butterflies from another friend who recently threw a pink and purple baby shower.

Rule Number Two: Raid the dollar bin and the dollar store!

It’s amazing what you can find for parties in the dollar bin at major retail and craft stores.  These purple butterflies were perfect and only a dollar and doubled as party favors for the little guests!

Rule Number Three: Get Crafty on the Cheap (my motto)!

I made this DIY party banner from ribbon and scrapbook paper already in my craft closet.  I printed the butterfly pictures from Google Images.

The hostess spent half the budget on colorful party napkins.  We made over 60 napkin tissue paper flowers and dispersed them throughout the backyard; super cheap for such whimsical decorations.

Rule Number Four: Repurpose and recycle your party supplies.

The hostess had her treasures showcased in her China hutch, however it distracted from the party theme.  We used an inexpensive plastic table cloth to cover the glass windows and created a pretty butterfly and banner display.

For the cupcake dessert display, we used cardboard cupcake towers from two previous parties and added a topper to fit the theme.

Click here for a DIY tutorial on making your own butterfly wings!

 

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Category : DIY Budget Party, Kid Stuff
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4 Comm
29th Sep2011

Napkin Tissue Paper Flowers

by Dinah Wulf

For some reason, my post on how to make tissue paper flowers is my most popular post. To put that into perspective, that particular page on my blog has been viewed well over 3000 times in the last 60 days!

I am always looking for ways to save money, even if it is a few cents. I mean, cut me some slack, I like to help my friends and family with parties and decorations and when you have two or three parties a month, the cost adds up!

I decided to experiment with making tissue paper flowers since it is so popular. Man I am such a nerd, but here are my calculations.  A package of 100 sheets of tissue paper is about $10.00.  You need 12 sheets to make one flower, so the final cost of one flower is about $1.25.  If you buy cocktail party napkins instead, which run about $1.00 for 16 napkins (when you can find them on sale), the cost is only 50 cents per flower because it takes only 8 napkins to make one flower because they are thicker.  That’s a savings of 75 cents a flower! See? I told you I was a nerd… a cheap nerd at that! Also, napkins come in a greater variety of colors, themes, and patterns. Using orange and black is perfect for Halloween.

So, here is the tutorial on making COCKTAIL NAPKIN tissue paper flowers.

Step One:

Stack 8 cocktail napkins on top of one another.

Step Two:

Make an accordion fold, approximately one inch in width and tie the end of a ribbon or string.

Step Three:

Gently separate each layer one by one.  If you accidently rip the paper, clear tape can be hidden easily in the ruffles (I learned that the hard way).

Step Four:

Fluff the tissue paper flower to your desired shape.  If you are hanging them and one side of the napkin is white, make sure the printed side of the napkin hangs down. Cut the ribbon or string in to your desired length.

Here are some after pictures.

 

 

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4 Comm
05th Sep2011

Easy DIY Invitations

by Dinah Wulf

 Easy DIY Invitations

do it yourself DIY

I made these easy DIY invitations in a jiffy. If you are a fellow crafter, you probably already have these items in your craft closet.  These invitations are perfect for any party, and cost less than pre-packaged invites.

Do it yourself blog

Materials Needed:

  • Card stock and/or decorative scrapbook paper
  • Light weight Computer Paper
  • Hole punch
  • Ribbon
  • Double stick tape
  • Paper Cutter
  • Computer
  • Pre-packaged envelopes 4.75” X 6.5”

 

Step one:  Start by choosing the wording for your invites and type up the information in the desired font, style, and color on your computer.  Print on a lightweight paper and cut out.  The size of this information page should be 3.5” by 5.5”.  Another option is to use vellum paper.

Tip: There are several websites online with wording samples for any occasion if you get stuck!

Step two:  Prepare the rest of the paper by cutting out 4” X 6” base card stock for the bottom piece and 4” X 1” strips for the top strip.

Note: Three sheets of scrapbook paper will be needed for the bottom layer in order to make 24 invitations.  Less than one sheet of scrapbook paper will be needed for the top strip.

Step three: For 24 invites, cut 24 pieces of ribbon at 12” in length.

Tip: To save time, wrap your ribbon around a twelve inch ruler and snip each end.

Step four: Create an assembly line. Layer the 4X6 card, then 3.5X5.5 info sheet, then 4X1 strip in the desired position and adhere with double sided tape, on the top of the invite only.

Step five: Using a small hole punch, punch two holes approximately one inch apart in the top center of the invitation, thread a ribbon through the holes, and tie a bow.

 

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