Photo Booth

If you're on a budget or if you don't want to hire a professional photo booth company, you can make your own photo booth like we did.

"Click here to download instructions"

For the backdrop you can use fabric or a sheet but for this I used two plastic tablecloths I found from Walmart (in the party aisle). While there I saw some iridescent fringe door curtains which I cut in half and added it to the sides. I just draped all of it over the top of the PVC pipe and taped it down in back.

I used my Sizzix Eclips machine to cut out various sizes of flowers and "2014" out of cardstock, attached some ribbon to the back and hung it from the top of the booth (you can tie it on but I just taped it to the back of the booth).

I also made little cards to leave for guests with information on how to view the photo's we took. I just uploaded the photo's to a photo sharing site, and added the url to the card. You can also use a QR code generator to make your own QR code for guests to scan, which will take them directly to the site!

Mason Jar Centerpiece

There are many variations for mason jar centerpieces, here's my take on it. 

The cover was the hardest thing to paint! I used a self-etching primer, then painted with a metal spray paint then a clear.

I painted inside the bottom of the jar with Mod Podge, poured glitter in the jar then shook it to cover the glue. I also added another coat of Mod Podge over the glitter to seal it. I HATE loose glitter! They get on everything!

I glued a flat back volleyball resin to the center of the daisy (she played volleyball) I gathered up some black sparkle tulle and glued it on the cover, drilled a hole in the center and stuck in the stem of a gerbera daisy.

Added some pictures of the graduating senior on a strip of paper big enough to roll in the jar. I used young and current photos. (I printed it in grayscale only because I wanted the colors to be black, silver and pink...very vintage and classic)

Here's the jars with the photos taped to the inside.

You can't tell from the photo but I have a tea light inside the jar...

Here's the finished project!

Clothespin Magnet

So I'm helping a friend with her daughter's graduation party and instead of doing a picture collage I thought, what about hanging individual pictures from ribbon using clothespins? So I went on Pinterest (THE go-to place for ideas) and boy, did I find ideas!

Her theme (sorta) is black with pink daisies, kinda like a classic-retro look. So I figured, why not jazz up plain clothespins, add magnets to the back and give them to the guests as a gift?

I soaked clothespins in 
clothes dye instead of 
painting (tip I got on Pinterest)

Cover pins with paper, ribbon or whatever you want. If you use paper be sure to seal with a coat of Mod Podge. 

I used Tim Holtz' small rosettes die, it kinda looked like daisies! Ink the edges using black ink and a sponge dauber. Then I jazzed it up with a rhinestone center

I had some issues gluing the magnets to the back of the pins. (I used magnetic tape strips) I originally used E6000 glue but the next day they peeled right off, so I used my hot glue gun.

Finished Clothespins

Graduation Card Book

This is a great idea - using your greeting cards (Birthday, Graduation or Christmas cards) as scrapbook pages!

After my daughter's graduation, she had mentioned that she'd like to save her cards. Now I've saved cards before for birthdays and Christmas and they stay in a box for a few years until I throw them away.

So I got this idea that if I bind all the cards into a book then they will stay together. Then as I looked at the back of the cards I thought, if I cover the back (usually the back has the UPC and price) with cardstock, I can use it to add a photo! Voila! I just made a scrapbook!

When you open most cards there is only writing on one side, leaving the blank side free to add more photos. 

On some of the cards I cut it on the fold and glued it back to back with the front (I did this with the horizontal fold cards because you won't be able to open them if you put holes on the sides)

Here I added a pocket page for her announcement.

You can also use the pockets on those money cards to add pictures or small tags. Just be sure to cut them open on the fold and glue back to back so the pocket opening is not on the inside.

For the front and back cover I measured one of the larger cards (it's okay if some cards stick out on the sides) and cut some chipboard to the desired size. I decorated the front cover with a photo of the Lei's she gave out to her friends at commencement.

 After I put all the pages in the order I wanted, I use my Cinch machine to punch holes and bound it with binding wire.

Here is the finished book.

giant crepe paper roses...

for Graduation

So I saw these giant crepe paper roses while doing my usual surfing of crafts online and thought to myself, "that looks fun to make!"

HA!

After watching numerous youtube tutrorials, my first hurdle was trying to find the right kind of crepe paper. Now living on an island, it's very hard to find anything. I mean ANYTHING!
So, it's back to surfing the web to try and find the things I need...

...two more...

mini scrapbooks...