A Crazy~Classy yet Inexpensive Invite~ it OOZES STYLE!

I am crazy in love with having parties and entertaining friends. I love to clean, cook, wine and dine my friends and family in FINE STYLE. And part of the entertaining process is the making and sending of the invitations. I am never one to buy a premade invite, as I like an invitation to be super crazy 'ME'! So I thought I would show you one of my recent invites, with pics and instructions, and hopefully you will realize how much money you can save and how much fun designing your own invitations can be!

When I am shopping for the body of the invitation, once again you will find me hitting the Michael's $1 bin... and I never come up empty handed. They always have cute blank note cards & envelopes, that I recreate into something that is unique and crazy cute. By adding my own embellishments, it becomes personalized and the person receiving it feels EXTRA special! ;) So I purchase my $1 blank invites (6 in a pack) and use the coupon that I can USUALLY find online for 20% off, and that adorable little package of invites costs just $.87. With embellishments, the entire invitation costs no more than $.40 a piece... AND they are personalized to boot. You just can't beat it!

A Budget Conscious “Classy & Crazy Creative” Christmas Gift!

I Love gift giving at Christmas time, but I go CRAZY over giving handmade, thoughtful gifts created with my own little hands and that remain with in my holiday budget!  I will be starting my CRAZY HOLIDAY BLOGGING with a 

“Classy & Crazy Creative” little Christmas Gift for any special gal on your list!

One of my favorite places to shop is the Michaels or Joanne Fabric $1.00 bins.  You can find some cute little gems in these bins- that with a few inexpensive additions will look like a beautifully crafted gift fit for your bestie, or someone to whom you simply want to show some appreciation.

http://www.joann.com/

http://www.michaels.com/

I ran to Michaels to search the $1.00 bins, and found these ADORABLE blank lined note pads.  I knew with a little jazzing up these would make the perfect little gift for some of my girlfriends.  I searched for a rubber stamp that would be a perfect message for the front of the notebook… and as you know, I always close every blog with ‘live, laugh, love’, so this stamp was perfect.  I know I will be using this rubber stamp OVER AND OVER, so I really cannot put a price tag on what it would cost for the project, but I know it will be pennies.  The rest of the necessary items I already had at home!  But in case you don’t have all of the items needed, here is your list of supplies:

Notebook

Rubberstamp

Clear stamping ink

Gold Embossing Powder

Heat Gun

Ribbon

Aileen’s Tacky Glue

Button

Embroidery Thread to match your ribbon

Or anything YOU WANT to decorate and embellish your notebook!

Step 1: Place the rubber stamp on the ‘clear’ inkpad and apply pressure to completely cover the stamp. 

Step 2: “Eyeball” where you wish to place the stamp on the notebook.  Place the rubber stamp in place and apply pressure to completely apply the ink.

Step 3: Pour the Gold Embossing Powder over the stamped area, and gently shake off the excess.  To make your embossing powder last longer, place a piece of paper under your project to catch the extra, so that you can return the left over embossing powder to the jar. 

Step 4:  Using your heat gun, turn it to high heat.  Hold it close to the stamped area and watch as the powder changes to the ‘liquid gold’.  Do NOT overheat, as it will burn, just make sure all of you powder has turned gold.

Step 5:  Using whatever ribbon you have chosen, glue it to the notebook closest to the spiral.  A contrasting color, or a color within the theme is always good.

Step 6:  Using an embroidery thread that matches your ribbon, lace it through the button holes and knot it on top.  Glue your button, or whatever fun objects you have chosen in place

Step 7:  WRAP and DELIVER WITH LOVE! 

This is a FUN, INEXPENSIVE, QUICK and EASY project, perfect for Christmas, or ANY time of the year, a gift needs to be given.  Handmade and from the heart is the way I roll!  Why not give handmade gifts this year!  Your family and friends will cherish the gifts, knowing that you were thinking of them while you were creating!

Living, Laughing, and LOVING my handmade gifts,

Patti

Next FALL FAB INSTALLMENT: a FALL/FANTASTIC FAB EASY WREATH!

When people walk up the steps to my front door, my desire is for them to see my LOVE of FALL, and to immediately feel a FALL welcome as they announce their arrival.  I created a Fall Fab, Easy Wreath that ANYONE can recreate! NOW is the time to create your wreath, as most fall décor is marked down anywhere from 40-60% and THEN, with some online coupon searching, I always look at the Michaels online page for their current sales and coupons! I also always purchase the Sunday newspaper for the Michaels coupons! 
Searching, maximizes your savings!!! 
P.S. if you are a teacher or military, ask Michaels if they offer a discount.  I get a 15% discount at all times as a school teacher! 


http://www.michaels.com/

 I found my coupons, and headed off to Michaels.  I spent just $18.00 making this gorgeous wreath, which will be good for years to come, and is very individualized...

with the letter “E” for Easton!  :)

The supplies I used are as follows:

Grapevine Wreath

Pumpkin/ Beaded 5 ft garland

Small decorative Gourds

A bunch of Sunflowers

Green Wire Ribbon

The letter “E”

Krylon Glitter Blast Paint

Americana Gold Paint 

Krylon Matte finish Spray

Glue gun and sticks

http://www.krylon.com/ 

I started by using the Krylon Glitter Blast on all of the floral and decorative components, except for the letter and the ribbon.   After the objects had dried, I laid the Pumpkin/Beaded garland 
on the wreath and hot glued into place.

 

Then on the left side of the wreath, I began hot gluing the glittered leaves and then hot glued the sunflowers on top.  I glued and spaced the leaves and flowers out along the top left to bottom center part of the wreath.  I then hot glued in any 
extra leaves that I had left over.

After hot gluing the flowers in place, I hot glued the gourds into place, spacing them out amongst the flowers.  Make sure all pieces are firmly in place, and that you have removed all ‘strings’ of hot glue… they do not ‘add’ to the beauty of the finished wreath! :)

I then took my wired ribbon, and tied it around the wreath, knotting it on the bottom right side of the last sunflower.  I tied one bow, and then another bow on top, and then one more bow on top!  This is the EASIEST way to make a pretty bow.  I corner trimmed the edges and then fluffed the bow out to make a nice shape.  A pretty bow with little effort… the wired edged ribbon really makes all the difference!

 

 

 Finally, I took my letter “E” and painted it with the gold paint.  Because of the surface texture of the letter, it usually takes 3 coats of the paint. Make sure as you are brushing your paint on, that you are applying the paint in long even strokes that all move in the same direction. To speed the drying process, I use a hair dryer in between coats.  Make sure you paint all sides and edges, as these will be seen!  When the paint is completely dry, spray with your Krylon matte finish, and allow the letter to dry completely.  I then hot glued the letter in place on the right side of the wreath above the ribbon. 

Once you have completed all of this take a piece of your wired ribbon, as long as you need it to be to hang your wreath properly.  I simply made around the top part of the wreath and hung the wreath from a nail in the top of my door.  And FANTASTISIMO!

Wreath supplies- on sale, Time to create- minimal, Fun creating- too much, Final Results when hung on door- PRICELESS.  

Hope you will take this idea and run with it.  The wreath is FAST, FUN, and FALL FABULOUS!  Hope you are enjoying your Fall Season…

Living, Loving and Laughing,

Patti

Next Fall Installment: My "CRAZY FALL CHRISTMAS TREE"! SO! FALL FAB!

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  

~Albert Camus

Fall is my FAVORITE time of year and I love decorating for the holidays! So here I am, continuing my 'Crazy Christmas Tree Around the Year"  blog, for FALL!  This tree reflects my love of fall, and my love of everything Fall represents!

I started with a trip to the Michaels, searching for 50% off items, to decorate my tree, and on the hunt for something to add that "CRAZY EXTRA SPARKLE"!  I found fall floral picks, miniature gourds and pumpkins, and silk leaves.  I located a pre-made wire bow, and picked up a bag of raffia for that 'extra' Fall touch... BUT! the "Extra Sparkle"?  I knew I had to head to the Krylon Paint Aisle, and there it was!  

http://www.krylon.com/products/glitter_blast/

Krylon Glitter Blast!!!!

This product is Fantastic! and I ended up using it on each item placed on the tree.

To start with, I laid newspaper down, and placed my gourds and picks on the paper... and then the glittering began!  I was CRAZY THRILLED with the results!  These cute, but plain tree decor items, took on a life of their own as I applied the glitter!  What a FAB way to dress up the tree!

After the paint had dried, I attached raffia to the leaves and the gourds and pumpkins to attach them to the tree.  I needed to punch holes in the silk leaves, and loop the raffia through to tie them on the tree.  The gourds and pumpkins, I merely tied the raffia around the stems.

Naked Tree: check, "CRAZY SPARKLING" Decor: check, Raffia & Ribbon: check, Determination to Dazzle: OH YEAH!

I began by inserting the picks into the tree, spacing them around for a balanced look.  I then  started tying the silk leaves and pumpkins and gourds on to fill things out.

I then tied on raffia bows and added the bow on top for a well balanced Fall look!

I was SO PLEASED! with my Crazy Fall Christmas Tree, but knew I needed to add those 'little' extras to complete the look, so I added a candle, some Fimo Clay Creations that I have created, and another little 50% off pumpkin to complete the look under the tree!

I am SO CRAZY PLEASED with my FALL CHRISTMAS TREE... hope you enjoy it, and will find inspiration to keep YOUR Christmas Tree up YEAR AROUND!

I leave my Christmas Tree up year around, NOT because I am lazy, but because I LOVE Creatively Celebrating EACH and EVERY season in a special way!  And there is NO better way to express your creativity, than by hanging your creations from the branches of a tree!  Happy Fall, and Happy Creating!

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

Living, Laughing and LOVING FALL,

Patti