Friday, December 18, 2009

It's almost Party Time! We aren't really having any special theme pulling together the party, just a bunch of fun, festive elements that have a playful vibe. The dining room table is covered in various candies placed in a mix of containers (from old jars and tiered cake stands to a set of duck measuring cups from Anthropologie) and we have a wide variety of cupcakes coming on Saturday to also stack around the dining room on cake plates.

This hutch is currently the main focal point in the living/dining room so I really wanted to make it special, but not spend any money! I came up with these easy to make, CHEAP garlands that can be customized to any words you like for any occasion.
I started by just typing up my words in size 100 font, but you can do any size or style you like. I then printed them out on our laser printer.

Since I was in a rush and didn't have time to sit around and let tea steep and the paper soak I tried using half a Starbucks via coffee and it really did the trick! There weren't any little "grounds" floating around that discolor the paper unevenly that I sometimes see with tea and the paper took in the color in seconds.

I didn't want my paper too dark since I was using greys/silver and blue instead of browns or an other color.


Once the paper was dry I took a glass to trace perfect circles around all my letters.

To give it some weight and another texture I traced slightly larger circles on the inside of a cereal box. You can use cardstock as well.

Keep in mind that it doesn't matter if you see the pen trace marks since we will cover them later.


Now it was time to glue the letters to the cardboard. I also picked out 2 colors of glitter but you can do more or less.


All glittered! These definitely don't have to be perfect, and I actually like that some have thicker spots or uneven glitter. It just gives it character, right?



This is the part you want to be careful to not get burned! Just take crepe paper and gently crimp one side as you glue it to the back of the cardboard. You can get REALLY creative here, cutting patterns along the edge of your paper or doing 2 or more colors. The sky is really the limit!


And to hang I just used the glue gun to attach a string of ribbon to the back side!

Total cost? Absolutely nothing since I had it all laying around at home!

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

pk @ Room Remix
Clever, clever, clever and SO cute!

Kelly | Fabulous K said...

I am completely impressed with the garland! So clever. Can't wait to see more!

Courtney said...

Wow! Very creative!

Amanda said...

What a lucky little girl Wren is to have such a sweet (and pretty) and creative mama! What a lucky gal I am to have all of these ideas of yours to store and use later! ;) It looks PERFECT!

Have a wonderful celebration of Wren's first birthday! Can't believe it's been a year already, right? My 'baby' is 2 and let me tell you, time doesn't do any slowing down.

Hold on to her a little tighter as you reflect on the first year of her life, and your first year as a mother. Wishing you many many Happy (and beautiful) Birthdays to come Wren!

~Amanda and my little clan :)

Jen said...

Love this! I have a rather big birthday coming up and would love to have someone make this for me.....to bad I might have to make for myself! Hee, hee. Love the candy, it's wonderful how much color it adds and give off such a fun feel. And, it's yummy. Can't wait to see more pics. Happy Birthday!

Maeve James said...

How great! Love it! I have a birthday coming up as well, I can't wait to give it a whirl!!!

Melissa said...

beautiful!! you are so creative! You are a beautiful blend of martha stewart and rachel ashwell! =)

Simple Sage said...

SO cute!! My little ones first bday is next month, I am definitely going to do this! Thanks Holly! Happy Birthday Wren!

A Wedding Story said...

You are so fabulously creative and I LOVE your blog design. I added your button to my blog. I also saw the knobs you used on the white chest at Anthro today!

Thanks for the inspiration! Would you mind if I higlighted some of your furniture on my design blog?

Anonymous said...

You are one cool, crafty girl! I have decided I am just not cool with the craftiness. It's a gene I did not inherit...but maybe over time I can make myself learn to be crafty! :) Her birthday banner looks great! I can't wait to see pics from her big party! Happy, happy first birthday sweet Wren!

The Book Addict said...

So pretty!! I love the garland... I wonder if coffee filters would actually work too, instead of crepe paper?

Happy Birthday Wren!

beachvintage.com said...

Love this idea, looks so pretty.

Anonymous said...

love it!

Donna said...

That is SO cute! I love it!!

Krystal Wight Armstrong said...

My mom has those duck measuring cups! But I thought they were from Avon as a kid.
And those garlands are so pretty and special. Thanks for the tutorial. Did you use some blue mesh or lace with the crepe paper on "Birthday?"
And there's always something fun and funky about brightly colored candies as decor. I always kept 3 clear jars of gummy bears, crispy m&ms and some other candy on my dorm-room shelf to have something fun and inviting for friends to munch on; plus I loved the colors :) And they look so pretty on your table. I'm sure her party will be a blast.

Unknown said...

How clever and adorable. thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I can't believe little Wren is a year old already! The garland is so cute, I love your style!

Love Being A Nonny said...

Good grief girl...is there anything you can't do!!?!! How cute is this!!!!

Cassie Bustamante said...

my daughter's birthday is next month- i can't wait to try it out! we are doing a pinkaliscious pink cupcake decorating party, so i will have to adjuest to pink glitter, but i can't wait! ;) what a great idea!

Shannon Dew said...

How adorable!!! Hope the party went GREAT! Is she really 1 already?!

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

Free and fun~ I LOVE it!

icandy... said...

this is such a pretty banner!
happy holidays to you and yours,
christina

MrsKBJ said...

Very Pretty Holly! I might have to try something like that next year! Thanks for the tutorial! Can't wait to see more party pics and of course Wren pictures!! :O)

MrsKBJ said...

Very Pretty Holly! I might have to try something like that next year! Thanks for the tutorial! Can't wait to see more party pics and of course Wren pictures!! :O)

Radostina // 79ideas.org said...

Lovely.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
for sharing this with us.
I love it.

Raru
79ideas.org

Amber said...

Such a cute idea! Definitely tying this out!

Little Lovables said...

its so pretty and clever!!

great tutoiral. love the new blog design

Kate said...

What a perfect banner! I love it!

Joi said...

Lovely! I will definitely have to remember this!

J @ The Look 4 Less said...

I love that garland! So creative!

Hello said...

so cute. Thanks for the idea. Might have to use it for our daughter's 1st birthday :)
Happy Birthday Wren!

jvw home said...

what a brilliant garland idea!!!
i'm so happy to have found your blog via Cote De Texas!
Happy New Yr!
Jeanette
jvw home

http://jvwhome.blogspot.com
www.jvwhome.com

q-bella said...

I love your blog, and I love this garland. I posted it to my blog and liked it back to you.
Thanks,
Shauna

Amanda Bee said...

LOVE IT! Now you've got me...I'm going to be a follower!

Creative Raisins said...

I love it, this is too cute

 
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