DIY Aurora Crown & Necklace

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All materials can be purchased at hobby lobby, michaela, joanns, any kind of craft store really!

I use individual foam craft sheets. The thinnest ones, I believe there are two thicknesses, I always pick the thinner one. I use two sheets for the crown and one for the necklace.

I made a master crown and tiara shape by sketching it out on paper first, that way I didn’t waste foam. I always fold the paper in half so that I ensure it is symmetrical. I would play with it until you think it looks good, holding the paper up to your neckline and head.

Once you have the shape you like, trace it onto the foam. For the tiara, as I said I use two pieces, I cut one slightly smaller and glue it to the back to give it more stability. You’ll want to crease the crown down the front center. You can do this by simply folding it in half and applying pressure. That way it gets the right shape 😉

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Once you have the foam cut out and the shape you want it. Draw using a pencil the swirly designs. If you Google “aurora Disney parks crown” there’s some good reference images. Or you can use mine if you want 😉 I try to make the tiara symmetrical in design but the necklace pattern is more asymmetrical.

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Using puff paint, fabric paint, or even elmers glue, carefully trace the pattern you’ve drawn. As well as all along the edges to give it that raised look. If you mess up you can wipe it off with a wet rag before it dries.

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Let it dry for 24 hrs. Spray paint the front and back using metallic gold spray paint. At this point both pieces should be relatively flat, with the exception of the slight crease in the crown.

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Once the paint is dry, add rhinestones. I use e6000 glue for this. I prefer the ab crystals but you can use whatever you want!

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I usually let that dry for another 12 hrs or so. Finally, using hot glue I bend the crown around a headband just like a plain tiara. I also hot glue a 12″ gold colored chain to the necklace. The more glue, the more secure.

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North Pole Breakfast with Elf on the Shelf

‘Tis the season….to throw the perfect party! Check out this adorable Elf on the Shelf themed North Pole brunch hosted by Girly-Girl Partea’s. I just loved having the opportunity to craft these unique printables! Learn how to make your own NORTH POLE sign at the bottom of this post.

IMG_2899NORTH POLE TUTORIAL: To make the North Pole I recycled an old shipping tube, though wrapping paper rolls or PVC pipe would work too. I spray painted the base color (silver) and then wrapped ribbon in different colors (using hot glue to attach it). I pushed the bottom into a styrofoam block I purchased from the Dollar Tree and then covered the block of foam in Modge Podge and sprinkled fake snow and some iridescent glitter on top to give it a frosty shimmer. I made the ‘North Pole’ sign and glue it to the pole. The top is actually a plastic Snow Globe from Hobby Lobby (the ones you can insert a picture in and design yourself). I filled it with some gold tulle and battery operated lights I found in the dollar section at Target. My tube was actually the perfect width for the globe base to sit in nicely. A clear ornament would work too with any size tubing. That’s what I used for the top of the directional sign.

Wonder Woman Inspired Party Printables

This adorable girl power, Wonder Woman inspired party was hosted by Girly-Girl Partea’s, with printables by Party By A Princess. This party theme is the perfect way to include boys and girls and create a unique, memorable experience for the birthday girl and her guests. Scroll to the bottom to see our mini tutorial on how to make superhero cuffs for your guests for next to nothing!

*PARTY TIP: cut toilet paper rolls in half (one roll per child) and then spray paint them silver or gold. Have guests decorate them with stickers and then wear them as superhero cuffs! Easy, thrifty and fun.

Sleeping Beauty Redesign

Although Sleeping Beauty is one of the rarely booked princesses, she still merits a beautiful gown! When a good opportunity presented itself, I just couldn’t resist.

The dress is from Angel Secret, purchased NEW from a separate seller on eBay for nearly half of the cost new. The tiara and necklace were made using foam sheets, gold paint and crystal rhinestones. You can purchase a set of your own from our Etsy store. The wig is actually a restyled Barbie wig I had in the costume closet. A few curls, some bobby pins in the bangs and ta-da! I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

TUTORIAL: Seahorse Straw Accents for Mermaid Party

IMG_0991It’s the little touches that really set a party over the top! Here is the inspiration for this project, Seahorse Straw Decor. These were made using a 12×12″ sheet of aqua glitter scrapbook paper (cardstock is preferred) and my Cricut Explore machine.

See instructions below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, use paper straws (purchased from Michaels for $1.00) and a hot glue gun. Place one dot of glue near the head of the seahorse and wrap the tail around the straw. Place in cup and enjoy!

Fairy Themed Party on a Dollar Store Budget

FairyPartyThe Dollar Tree is my absolute favorite store. So many wonderful items for such a cheap price. It is my go to for craft projects and party decor. I’ve found so many items that would be perfect for a fairy themed party.

Outfits for Guests

No fairy party is complete without dress up clothes for the guests. The Dollar Tree has fairy wings, tutus, tiaras and wands, all at an affordable rate. Altogether, you can expect to spend $3-5 per guest and give them a complete outfit to take home.


Activities for the Kids

20150801_181311Activities for the kids are also incredibly important when planning a party. Once your guests are dressed in their fairy attire, use some glitter eyeshadow to make them sparkle. The Dollar Tree also sells foam fairy wands (though they don’t appear available for purchase on their website, but I took a picture of them at our local store). These wands are the perfect activity to let the kids decorate and get creative with, especially with these adhesive craft stickers. Another great activity is painting nails. Little girls LOVE having their nails painted so grab a few fun, fairy colors from the make-up aisle and maybe some loose glitter or press on rhinestones to accent their mini manicure.

Pixie Dust Necklaces

Another great activity is to make “Pixie Dust” necklaces. With these (found on the nail care aisle) and some pretty ribbon or twine, you instantly have a beautiful necklace for your guests to take home. And they come 8 per pack so they’re very budget friendly.

Decorating the Table

The table decor is one of the staple items of any party. The Dollar Tree has tablecloths and dinner ware in nearly every color imaginable. Green, pink and purple would be the perfect color combination for a fairy themed party. Select one main color as the tablecloth. Purchase a second tablecloth in a contrasting color to use a table runner.

For centerpieces, take your pick of flowers and use these some moss accents in between. Odds always look better so choose either one big centerpiece or three (maybe a big one in the middle with two smaller ones on the outside). The Dollar Tree sells vases too, or use one from your home to save extra.  These beautiful flowers/butterflies can also add a whimsical touch to the overall look. Finish your table

Finish your table setting with color coordinating cups, napkins, plates and utensils. Setting each place gives a better overall look than leaving items at the food table. You can purchase extra fairy wings (or use the ones you will give to the guests) to tie to the backs of chairs for an added touch of magic. Alternatively, you can hang wings over the table. Mix in streamers or make tissue paper pom poms for an even grander look.

You always, always, ALWAYS want to make your food presentation decor worthy. Don’t just throw a bunch of food on a table. Give your dishes cute names and decorate accordingly. The Dollar Tree has a ton of serving ware that can really give it a polished look. Add butterflies or flowers to the plates to give it a beautiful garden fairy inspired look.

A few more tips to save money….

Keep your guest count low! Don’t invite your daughter’s entire class. Keeping it to 8-10 guests really makes the environment more enjoyable for you and the guests.

Plan your party outdoors (if the weather permits). A fairy party is perfectly set against a natural background. The more you can use nature for decoration the less you have to spend to make the space look the part.

Use what you have! If you have rustic decor in your home, use it! Does your daughter already have fairy toys, outfits, dress up clothes? Use them! The more you incorporate what you already have the less you have to spend.

Happy planning! Hope your fairy party is flitterific!

Princesses on Vacation

It has become a tradition to do “princess on vacation” pictures for the Fourth of July weekend. We try not to book any parties/visits that weekend so that everyone can enjoy some time off and spend it with their families. Each girl chose a character and designed her own bathing suit themed to suit the wig/accessories. This was the end result. Such a fun project! Photos by the talented Madi Mack Photography.

Wishing you and your family a Happy and Safe Fourth of July!

Jake the Pirate

11351290_10153409932424756_1571180302864279683_nWe had a client request Jake the Pirate. After googling to see what the character looked like, it seemed easy enough to accomplish. Here is a basic tutorial on how I put the costume together.

The vest was made from some stiff blue, linen-like fabric. I made the basic shape by using one of my husbands tank tops as a guideline. The vest was edged using yellow cotton edging purchasing from Walmart’s sewing section. The vest was completed with yellow buttons, two sewn to each side.

I purchased a brown scarf from Goodwill and cut the edge to give it that pirate touch. The performer simply tied it around his waist. The white undershirt was another Goodwill find. It was actually an XL underarmor shirt. I cut the edge of the sleeves in a zig zag pattern and cut out the neck line with a slit in the center of the chest. I used two black hair ties with hot glue to fix them to the top of the shirt. I cut small slits in the shirt and cut the hair ties so they would lay in one straight line. I glued on the underside of the shirt so it wouldn’t be noticeable 😉

The red headband was also purchased from a second hand store. It was a cotton scarf that I cut and frayed the edges of to look pirate worthy. Lastly, the boot covers were purchased on Amazon for $15. The performer wore his own blue jeans and brown shoes to complete the outfit.

A pirate isn’t a pirate without a sword! This sword is foam and was actually purchased from the Dollar Tree. It had a bright green handle, so I used black electrical tape (also a Dollar Tree find) to wrap the handle and give it a more neutral look.

For a last minute, low budget costume, I was quite pleased with the outcome. Have you made a ‘Jack the Pirate’ costume before? I’d love to see yours in the comments below.