Parties Handmade with Love...

Create a party made with Love...

handmade decorations for your

soiree will surpass anything

you find at local discount

store...
Here are some great party ideas to
get you inspired..

Previous posts have great directions

for the pom poms and buntings

groupings with lanterns

and pom poms look amazing!!

Love Love Love the paper drink straws...

and what is better than pairing the cute

straws with mason jars for guests

to drink from...

These adorable straws can be

found at:

shopsweetlulu

Here is a new fun type of pom pom..

seems simple..cut pieces of

tissue into many circles

and glue onto lantern..

look at these adorable cones

made from cardstock and added

frill!!!

or simple to hold snacks..



Not feeling crafty

this etsy shop will take

good care of your handmade party needs

BlissfulNestStudio

banners are timeless for homemade parties...

This above setting has it all...

 pinwheels add whimsy..

and make great additions and

are easy to make yourself...

cute on the wall too!



What You’ll Need (for the pinwheels)

Several sheets of 12" x 12" double sided scrapbook or decorative paper (a lighter weight paper, not stiff, heavy card stock)

Round-headed pins

12" wooden dowels

Hot glue gun and glue sticks

A push pin

Flower shaped craft punch

A pair of scissors

A ruler

 

Pinwheel Instructions

1.  Begin by measuring and cutting several 6" inch squares out of your paper.

 

2.  Find the center of your one of the squares and mark it by poking a hole through it with your pushpin.  (see figure 1)

 

3. Lay your paper pattern side down, and use your ruler to draw
diagonal lines from each corner to make an "X".    (see figure 1)

 

4.  Cut along the diagonal lines, from all four corners,  stopping
one inch before you meet the hole in the center of your paper.  (see
figure 2)

 

5.  Use your pushpin to make a hole in the right hand corner of
each side of the square, just to the left of the line you just cut.
(see figure 3)

 

6.  Use your punch to cut out a paper flower.    Stick your round-headed pin through the center of the flower.  (see figure 3)

 

7.  One by one, bring each of the four pin-holed corners to the
center and stick the flower and pin through each of the four holes.
(see figure 4 and 5) 

 

8.  Next, put the pin through the hole in the center of the square and set aside.

 

9.  Make a pilot hole, using your pushpin,  1/2 inch down from the end of the dowel.    

 

10.   Put a drop of hot glue on the hole, and quickly insert the
pin that runs through the pinwheel center into the glue and dowel. 
(see figure 6 and 7)  Be careful not to let the pinwheel paper touch
the glue on the dowel while it’s drying.  If it sticks, it can’t spin.

 

11.   Arrange your completed pinwheels in a vase or container like flower stems. 

Themes are endless but most of these

decorations can work for any theme...

use your imagination and create with

love...

 

 

Living Rooms Inspired by Anthropologie...

With the weather blowing rain and cold in the Pacific Northwest

I feel the need to make my most used room in the house

 Anthro Inspired!

Each of us have different uses for our living room. 

I personally have the need to

create a space that I can cuddle with kids or read a good

book on a rainy day with my sweetheart...

Hopefully these pics will give you some great ideas as well!!!

A couple of main rules of thumb to create

Anthro style is:

1. Vintage: furniture that have the look and feel

of a different era (the 18th, 19th, 20th centuries)

2. Worn look: as in washed out look for fabrics and furniture

3. Patterns: look for fun floral or ethnic (prints from India or Boho style) for rugs, curtains

and throw pillows, and if your bold a chair or sofa

4. Raw: Leaving materials rustic,  both wood and metal. Such as

table, frames, shelves, lamps...

Some prefer warm tones and darker colors:

Which gives the look of a warm and cozy...

If you need a space with more bright colors and

the illusion of light...

I am a bit of an in-between girl...

Here are a few of my fave items to pull in..

Love this...this ebay seller

has an eye for refurb furniture

Black/white chaise sofa

Another great place to check out fun furniture

besides garage sales

and flea markets is retro furniture stores

they are becoming more popular in larger

cities!!!

This sofa is from a great store in Portland

Check out this link:

vintage pink

Some more of my faves:

There are several books on decorating

that fits into the Anthro Inspired

category, Anthropologie itself

often carries great idea books!!