Cupcake Birthday Party - DCC & Little B™ Blog Hop

“Little B™” Cupcake Birthday Party 

This month the Designer Craft Connection is having a blog hop featuring products from Little B™ LLC.  Each participating Designer got a big box full of creative products to work with - dies, punches, dimensional stickers, Washi tape, paper flowers, and more!  It was like Christmas in September!    The themes of the boxes varied with each Designer so there are sure to be a great assortment of projects to inspire you.  

My box was primarily Birthday themed - with lots of fabulous cupcakes.  So I decided to create a variety of party projects for a Cupcake Birthday Party.  A table display, treat holders, a jar to hold plastic utensils, and cupcake decorations.

Little B™ is also sponsoring an amazing give-away as part of this hop!  $150 worth of product!  Enter using the Rafflecopter link below.

To enter, you must "like" the Little B™ FB page and comment on the blog posts. It's 2 pts for each comment, so the more comments the better the chance you have to win!   Enter until  10/29/15 at 12:00 AM CDT.

Rafflecopter - Little B Giveaway

Be sure to click on the link in the column on the right to find out what the other Designers are sharing too! 

Materials:

These are the Little B™ products used to create these projects

Little B™ Dimensional Stickers 

                - 100144 Cupcakes 

                - 100157 Birthday  Cupcakes 

                - 100167 Birthday 

Little B™ 100600 Happy Birthday Cutting Dies 

Little B™ 100407 Perfect Positioned

Little B™ 100357 Silver Foil Diagonal Stripes Washi Tape - Specialty Foil Tape 

Little B™ 100369 Scallop Circle Punch

DCWV Solstice Stack Patterned Cardstock

Westcott® Scissors 

Toner Fun Wire™ - Marshmallow 

Sizzix® Big Shot™ Machine

White Duck® Tape                  Beacon® 3-in-1 Adhesive 

Instructions:

Table Decoration  

Note:  This die is meant to cut a single piece which is folded to form a card.  Because I wanted to attach several together and create a tabletop decoration instead, I cut the card stock into squares, and placed the first and last pieces face down, and the center piece face up so the words would all be readable on the colored side of the patterned card stock.  If you are using card stock which is colored on both sides, you can cut them as a single piece and cut apart afterwards.  Use Sizzix® Big Shot™ machine and Little B™ Happy Birthday cutting die to cut four different colors of each word. (Little B™ dies come in a fantastic magnetic storage folder - this thing is genius and all of these type of dies should come packaged this way!  No more hunting through a box or bag of dies that have fallen out of the paper packet they come in!)  The Little B™ Perfect Positioner made it easier to die cut because it made it simple to align the die straightly for a perfect cut.   

Attach the words to spell out two sets of Happy Birthday To You.  I placed a small piece of white Duck® tape on the back of each set to hold the words together. (I used Duck® tape because it is a bit sturdier than regular tape would be for holding the pieces in place.)  Repeat with second two sets.  Add Little B™ Silver Foil Diagonal Stripes Washi Tape along bottom edge of both sets of words. 

Add medium sized cupcake from Little B™ Birthday dimensional sticker set to each set of words as shown.  

Cut rectangular piece of 4 1/4" x 3" piece of coordinating patterned card stock and strip of another card stock about 1” wide x 4 1/4".  Mount strip to rectangle as shown using Beacon® 3-in-1 Adhesive.  Mount large cake from Little B™ Birthday set of dimensional stickers.

Attach a set words to each side of rectangle with cake.   Fold, using mountain and valley fold technique, to create table decoration.

Treat Holders 

The size of these treat holders can be adjusted accordingly.  These were made to hold a small bracelet which was made for each guest.  

Cut pieces of coordinating patterned card stocks for however many party goers you expect.

I cut mine 3 1/2” x 9”, then ended up trimming them back a bit afterwards.  

Use Little B™ Scallop Circle punch to punch each piece of card stock on one 3 1/2” end.  Save punched circles for later.

Cut squares of plastic sheet from sticker packaging and use 3-in-1 Adhesive to mount on back side of each piece over punched out area.  

Create two scored lines about 1/4” apart approximately 3 1/2" from edge with punched circle.  Fold and glue together on

sides, letting the scored lines form a bottom for each holder (these will be a small gap - this did not matter for my treats as they would not fall through the gaps).  (This is where I cut the extra from the top - as I said - adjust your size according to the treat that will be given out - my finished holders are about 3 1/2" top to bottom.)

Add a Little B™ cupcake sticker from the Cupcakes set to each window on the treat holders.  Add a piece of the Silver Foil Diagonal Stripes Washi Tape to the top and bottom of each holder.  Place bracelets inside.

Utensil Holder 

Even though cupcakes were the focus, a side of ice cream was still on the menu, so we offered forks or spoons to our guests.  This decorated jar was a fun way to hold them.

Place large cupcake from Little B™ Birthday Cupcakes large dimensional sticker set on the front of the glass jar.  

Add a strip of Silver Foil Diagonal Stripes Washi Tape to the top and bottom of jar.  The tape and the sticker will easily remove from the glass after the party. 

Insert coordinating color of tissue paper an add forks & spoons. 

Cupcake Decorations  

This is an easy and fun way to add some pizazz to the birthday cupcakes without purchasing expensive pre-made decorations.  There's even a special cupcake for the birthday girl.

Cut 14, 6” pieces of Marshmallow/white Toner Fun Wire™.  About 1/2” from one end, coil around straw or pencil ending about 1/4" from opposite end.

Cut apart Birthday Party banner from Birthday dimensional sticker set to create individual letter pennants.  

Use 3-in-1 Adhesive to mount each pennant letter to the 1/4” straight end of wires. 

From punched scalloped circles cut apart and mount together to make one multi-colored circle as shown.  Insert coiled wire without a pennant letter through center.   This will hold a birthday candle for the birthday girl to blow out on her cupcake.

Add each embellishment to the center of a cupcake.  Arrange on table or serving tray to spell out Birthday Party.  

Tip:  If your party goers can’t agree on where to sit at the table - arrange them in order according to which letter cupcake they chose to spell out Birthday Party!

Trick or Treat Goody Card - DIY Video featuring Judi Watanabe

This week's WCK All-Star Designers Holiday Series episode features Judi Watanabe from Judikins!  Judi shares this adorable trick or treat Halloween card with a pocket for a treat!  

etchall® Day of the Dead Decorative Mirror

Day of the Dead crafts are growing in popularity - this mirror combines a variety of mixed media for a finished piece which will make a colorful accent to you home.

Materials:

9" Darice Mirror 

etchall® - Etching Cream, Squeegee 

              - etchnet® stencil - Sugar Skull 

Painters tape 

Makin’s Clay® - Red, Yellow, Green 

                        - Leaves Push mold 

Smoothfoam™ Disc 

DecoArt® Americana® Multi-Surface Satin™ - Deep Turqouise 

Beacon® Adhesives Tacky Glue 

Toner Plastics™/The Beadery® Skull Beads  Paintbrush 

Instructions:

This was my first time working with the new etchnet® stencils with etchall® cream - and I’m happy to say that the results were absolutely fantastic - one of the cleanest, crispest etches I’ve ever achieved!

Apply etchnet® sugar skull stencil to left side of mirror.  Use painters tape to securely tape in place, ensuring there are no ripples in the stencil. 

Pour etchall® cream on the side of the stencil - NOT ON THE OPEN AREA - Use squeeegee to pull etching cream over onto open areas of stencil, pressing slightly to ensure the cream is evenly applied though the net of the stencil.  Once you are sure you have a good even application over the open areas of the stencil, apply an additional coat of etchall® over the stencil.  Let set 15 minutes.  Return etching cream to bottle, rinse to remove remaining cream and remove stencil.  Clean any remaining cream from stencil and set aside for later use (etchnet® stencils are re-usable). 

Create multiple roses approximately 1” in size from red and yellow Makin’s Clay®.  There are multiple tutorials online for making roses with polymer clay and/or fondant - it really is quite simple!   

Use leaves push mold and green Makin’s Clay® to create multiple leaves for the roses. 

Use Beacon® Tacky Glue to mount roses and leaves as desired on left edge of mirror, extending above and below the etched skull.   Leaves and flowers can be mounted when the clay is still fresh, or after dry (normally the clay will be dry in 24 hours). 

Use Tacky Glue to mount blue skull beads randomly amongst the flowers.  Let dry.

Paint sides of Smoothfoam™ disc with Turquoise Multi-Surface Satin™ paint.  Let dry. 

Apply liberal amount of Tacky Glue to top of Smoothfoam™ disc and mount mirror.  The disc will give added depth when the mirror is mounted to a wall. 

Haunted Mausoleum Birdhouse

This week for my Cindi's Simple Solutions project on When Creativity Knocks - I'm sharing this creepy fun project.....

Just in time for Halloween, add a little spooky glow to your mantle this season with this Haunted Mausoleum Birdhouse!  

Materials:

Plaid® - Wooden birdhouse 

            - FolkArt® Home Decor Chalk Paint - Maui Sand, Rich Black

            - FolkArt® Home Decor Antique Wax

Makin’s Clay® - Black

                - Cutting Mat 

                - Ultimate Clay Machine™

                - Professional® Clay tools 

                - Texture Sheet Set D - Woodgrain Sheet 

                        - Easter Clay Cutter - Cross Cutter

Beacon Adhesives® Tacky Glue 

Spellbinders® Grand Calibur™ Machine - Graveyard Scene & Shapes Die 

X-Acto craft knife 

Skull mold (special thanks to my Fairy Craftmother for mine!) 

Skull bead 

Paintbrush 

Paper towels 

Spanish Moss

Charcoal grey paper/card stock 

Battery operated votive 

Spiderwebbing 

Plastic wrap 

Instructions: 

1. Paint entire birdhouse with Plaid® FolkArt® Home Decor Maui Sand Chalk Paint.  Let dry. 

2. Roll black Makin’s Clay® with Ultimate Clay Machine™ to setting #7 (or hand roll very thin - about 1/16”).   Use Woodgrain texture sheet to gently impress texture onto rolled clay.  Using cutting mat as a guide, use cutter to cut 2 x 2cm squares.  Apply Beacon® Tacky Glue to surface of roof, then begin applying squares, overlapping some, to create look of shingles.  Let dry. 

3. Dry brush shingles with Maui Sand chalk paint.  

4. Use black clay in skull push mold to create skull. 

5. Flatten piece of black clay (I used my fingers, as I wanted an uneven appearance) to about 1/4”.  Place plastic wrap over clay, and cut cross using clay cutter. (Tip - Plastic wrap makes it easy to remove the clay from the clay cutter!) 

6.  Dry brush skull and cross with Maui Sand chalk paint.

7.  Use Tacky Glue to mount skull to front top of birdhouse, over opening, and cross to roof peak.

8. Flatten piece of black clay (I used my fingers, as I wanted an uneven appearance) to about 1/4”.  Use clay tool to write/etch desired word into clay.  Trim around word.  Dry brush with Maui Sand chalk paint.  Use Tacky Glue to mount to birdhouse beneath skull. 

9. Mix small amount of Rich Black and small amount of Maui Sand chalk paint to create darker grey.  Paint door onto front of birdhouse over hole on bottom.  Outline door in black, and paint center line to divide door.    

10. Use paper towel to apply small amount of Antique Wax to all surfaces except roof.  Wipe to remove excess.   

11.  Use Spellbinders® Grand Calibur™ and Graveyard Scene & Shapes die to cut 4 graveyards from charcoal paper.

12.  Apply Tacky Glue to top of bottom piece of birdhouse, mount Spanish moss.  

13.  Apply Tacky Glue to outside edge of bottom piece of birdhouse, mount graveyard scenes over edge around base, leaving a space for the “front step” of the mausoleum. 

14.  Add skull bead accent to front step. 

15.  Add spiderwebs as desired. 

16.  Optional:  To make your Haunted Mausoleum glow - use a sturdy craft knife to cut an opening in the bottom of the birdhouse.  The birdhouses are made from lightweight wood so this is possible if do with caution. (or else your mausoleum will come complete with blood stains!) 

Hard Liquor and a Hammer Oughta Fix That!

Hard Liquor and a Hammer oughta fix that!  Every girl should have her own tool box..... for so many reasons lol!   Created this card with another fun Jimbo Lojik™ verse and Makin's Clay®!  

Materials: 

KellyCraft™ - Jimbo Lojik™ Set E

            - Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square

                    - Multi-Mat™

Makin’s Clay® - White, Tools Push Mold 

DecoArt® - Dazzling Metallics™ Shimmering Silver, Crafter’s Acrylic™ - Raw Umber 

Tool patterned paper, white crackled paint patterned paper

Gray card stock

Beacon Adhesives® Tacky Glue 

Clearsnap® ColorBox® Crafter’s Ink - Night 

Foam tape 

Westcott® Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors, Trim-air Trimmer 

Instructions:

Open package of white Makin’s Clay®.   Press clay into tools push mold, remove and let dry.  Store unused clay in zip lock bag with damp paper towel or bay wipe.  When I am push molding pieces, I always make extra with remaining clay so I have a stash to go to for future projects…..

Paint hammer with Dazzling Metallics™ Shimmering Silver and Crafter’s Acrylic Raw Umber.  Let dry. 

Cut gray card stock to desired size and fold in half to form card. 

Cut piece of tool patterned paper and use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and mount to center of card front.

Ink Hard Liquor and a Hammer verse with black ink and use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and stamp onto white crackled paint patterned paper.  Trim around verse. 

Ink edges of verse with black ink. 

Cut grey card stock mat about 1/8” larger on all sides than verse.  Use Laser Square to mount to bottom front of card about 1/4” from bottom edge. 

Use Laser Square to align and mount verse centered onto mat.

Cut mat for clay hammer and mount hammer with Tacky Glue.  Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and mount on top right front of card as shown.  

Offray® Ribbon Blog Hop - Polka Dots & Sparkle Little Girl's Apron

The Designer Craft Connection group is participating in a blog hop featuring projects made with Offray® Ribbons.  We each received as shipment of pretty ribbons to create our designs with.  I used the pretty pinks they sent for the hop, along with some other fun polka dot Offray® ribbons I had from a prior project, added some pretty fabric from ADORNit® and just a bit of BLING with Connie Crystal crystal sheets to create this "Polka Dots & Sparkle Little Girl's Apron"!   And of course, for those of you who follow my creative projects, you know I very seldom actually sew - I use Beacon®'s Fabri-Tac™ Adhesive to hold it all together!

Be sure to click through the DCC link on the right to see what the other participating designers are sharing with their Offray® projects!

And - Sign up for Offray.com email newsletters to receive information about new products, project ideas, and special savings. Plus, receive 15% Off your first order at Offray.com when you sign up for email!

Materials: 

Offray® Ribbons - Gross grain - assorted polka dots, solid pale pink sparkle

ADORNit® Basics Fabric - Tiny Check - blue 

Connie Crystal White Crystal Sheets
Beacon® Fabri-Tac™ Adhesive
Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors

Instructions:

Cut fabric to 18 1/2" x 22".   Fold in left and right edges approximately 1/2", fold over top edge approximately 2", iron to make crease.

Cut bottom edge with pinking shears, or create small folded seam and glue in place.

Use Fabri-Tac to glue down folded left and right seams.

Place Fabri-Tac on outer edge and glue down top edge to create pocket for ribbon to tie apron.

Cut several pieces of assorted ribbons approximately 4".  Fold in half, use Fabri-Tac to glue ends together to form loops.   Glue loops along bottom edge of apron extending approximately 1/4" beyond bottom of apron.

Glue light pink sparkle ribbon along top edge of ribbon loops.

Cut piece of white crystal sheet about 1/2" wide (3 rows) x width of apron.  Glue in center of pink sparkle ribbon over ribbon loops.

Create pocket by cutting piece of fabric 5" x 6".  Fold all edges over to make 1/2" seams and iron seams.   Use Fabri-Tac to glue strips of ribbon over front of pocket, wrapping top edge over and glueing to inside of top of pocket.   Glue pocket in place on apron.

Cut strips of 1/2" (3 rows) of white crystal sheets to create monogram letter and glue in place.

String pink sparkle ribbon through pocket at top of apron to create ribbons to tie in place. 

All-Star Designers Winter Series: Valentine Treat Mason Jars

This week in the WCK All-Star Designer Winter Series I'm sharing three versions of "Valentine Treat Mason Jars featuring products from Makin's Clay®, Etchall®, DecoArt®, Kunin Felt, Beacon Adhesives, JudiKins, The Buckle Boutique and more.

Decoupaged Ornaments Cluster Swag

The theme for this month's Designer Craft Connection blog hop is "last minute" holiday decorations.  This simple cluster swag is easy to make with just a few materials.  You can use patterned paper, fabric, or decorative holiday napkins like these I found in the $1

bin at the local craft chain store!   

Be sure to click through the Designer Craft Connection link in the right column to see what other projects participating designers are sharing! 

Materials:

Three 4" Smoothfoam™ balls

FloraCraft SimpleStyle™ Burlap Garland

Beacon Adhesives® Fast Finish Decoupage 

Aleene's® Fast Grab Tacky Glue 

Jute 

Foam brush

Instructions: 

1) Tear decorative napkins into assorted pieces about 2".   Pour Fast Finish Decoupage in bowl and use foam brush to apply to each Smoothfoam™ ball, then apply napkin pieces to ball, leaving hole in ball open, overlapping to cover the balls.  Coat surface each covered ball with Fast Finish Decoupage to seal.  Let dry. 

2) Cut 3 strands of jute 16", 3 strands 13" and 3 strands 10".  

Squeeze Fast Grab Tacky Glue into hole in ball, twist ends of each group of jute strands, insert into hole (use tip of scissor if needed to push strands into hole).  Let dry. 

3) Make large bow from burlap garland.   Insert piece of wire through back of bow loop and twist to create hanger loop.  Tie ends of jute together and tie to wire loop on back of bow.   

On the Set of When Creativity Knocks All-Star Designers' Summer Series

On Monday, June 30th, Ana Araujo, Scott Pfeiffer, Judi Watanabe, Marisa Pawelko, Elena Lai Etchevery and I taped the WCK All-Star Designers' Summer Series!  We had 11 sponsors this time - and it was a true challenge combining all of their creative product into our projects!  Thanks to Westcott, JudiKins, AdTech, Beacon Adhesives, Makin's Clay, Rowlux, The Buckle Boutique, Etchall, DecoArt, MercArt, and Sizzix!
You are going to be amazed at some of the projects these creative artists have in store for you - and I am amazed, as always, at how Scott Pfeiffer performs the magic of transforming 9 hours of taping into streamlined episodes of the show!   The first episode airs on July 8th so stay tuned!

Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror - Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop

This Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror would make a great gift for any girl who wants to celebrate there inner princess!  Sparkling crystal accents, etched glass fleur-de-lys, a glittered monogram letter, and coordinating ribbons bring it all together.  Be sure to click the Designer Craft Connection Blog button to see what other creative hand-made gifts are being shared today as part of this month's blog hop!

Materials:

12" Round Darice Mirror
Connie Crystal white crystal sheets
DecoArt® Americana® Gloss Enamels® Stick-On Stencils™ - Fleur de lys
etchall® Etching Cream
Chipboard glittered monogram letter
Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ Adhesive
Coordinating ribbons, scissors, foam brush
Command™ mounting strip


Instructions:

Place fleur-de-lys stencil onto lower right area of mirror.  Apply etchall® cream and let set 15 minutes.

Remove and place etchall® cream back into bottle for re-use.
Clean and dry mirror.  Repeat with stencil above and to the right of first image, then repeat again to create 3 diagonal images.

Cut three strips of 3 crystals from Connie Crystal sheet.  Use Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ to mount to straight area in center of each fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount glittered monogram letter centered on fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount single strip of crystals around outer edge of mirror.

Cut multiple pieces of coordinating ribbon about 2" long.  Fold each piece in half to create slightly-off centered loops.  Use Quick Grip™  to back edge of mirror to create ruffle around mirror.


For easy mounting anywhere, use a removable mounting strip.

Ann Butler Designs Blog Hop - Spring Bloom Topiary

I am excited to be a part of the Ann Butler Designs blog hop!  In the midst of all this snow and ice in North Carolina, I felt like I needed a little touch of spring so I designed this cheerful flower topiary!  Be sure to check out the other participating designers to see what they've created too!

Ann Butler http://www.creativitystirsthesoul.com/2014/01/ann-butler-designs-january-blog-hop.html

Amy Bowerman http://wp.me/p1xj8L-1ub

Candice Windham http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-do-i-love-thee.html

Cheryl Boglioli http://wp.me/p2zUiu-1cE

Eileen Hull http://www.eileenhull.com/2014/01/ann-butler-blog-hop.html

Jen Goode http://www.100directions.com/pretty-as-a-peacock-ink-colors-from-clearsnap-and-ann-butler/

Madeline Arendt  http://madelinesthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/01/ann-butlers-stamps-blog-hop.html
Sharon Rienhart http://smrdesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/delicate-valentine.html

Materials: 

Ann Butler Faux Quilting Stamps by Unity Stamp Company - 1” Leaves All Over
Clearsnap® ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler - Lilac
White cotton fabric 
Lavender embroidery floss, needle 
1 1/4” Smoothfoam ball 
Yellow Blumenthal Lansing button 
Wooden skewer 
Darice tin watering can 
May Arts ribbon - yellow print, green print 
Beacon Adhesives Tacky Glue 
Iron 

Instructions: 

Ink 1” leaves stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Ink stripe stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Heat set with iron. 

Cut out each stamped square, leaving approximately 1/8” on all sides. 

Place 2 leave images back to back, straight stitch embroider around image.  Repeat with remaining stamped leave images and striped images. 

Use fingers to gently remove threads around stitching to create frayed edge. 

Thread each square, through one corner, onto needle, overlapping.   Fan out to create flower. 

Place small amount of tacky glue on yellow button.  Place in center of flower.   Embroider through flower ot hold in place. 

Place Smoothfoam ball into bottom of watering can with hole facing upward. 

Place small dab of glue on top of skewer, wrap with green ribbon.   Place strip of ribbon around stem, tie, then tie ends in knot to create leaf.  Repeat on other side. 

Insert skewer into ball. 

Glue flower to top of skewer.  

Tie strip of yellow ribbon around watering can ending with a bow. 

Add Spanish moss to top of watering can opening to cover ball.