Category: DIY

DIY Ariel Seashells Tutorial

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Learn how to make this beautiful mermaid top for less than $15!image

What you’ll need:

  • Bra or bathing suit top (preferably in nude or purple)
  • One 11×17″ piece of craft foam
  • Scissors
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • E6000 Glue
  • Rhinestones
  • Pearls
  • Purple Paint in varying shades
  • Silver Glitter paint (optional)

First trace the shape of your bra or bathing suit top on the craft foam to ensure the foam will cover the top. I added a scalloped edge to the larger side as shown below. I drew two smaller shapes as well, all with the scalloped edge. When we’re done, all three pieces will be stacked together to create the final piece. Also note the lines I drew. These were cut and layered on top of each other to create the curved structure.

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See the fully cut out and scalloped pieces below.

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Next, hot glue the slits, placing one layer over another. It should make a nice curved shape. Once all three have been glued, stack them on top of each other and glue them together. It’s important that each shell faces a different way (as shown below). Otherwise they won’t fit well on your top!

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Now it is time to paint! This is where your creativity will really come in. I painted each shell (front and back) in one shade of purple to give it a great base. I then went in with a darker purple to define the edges and the shell lines to connect the dip in the scallops. I painted a brighter, more vibrant purple on the inner part of each circular piece. Lastly, I painted silver glitter paint on the edges of each shell, the very center corner and the lines. See below.

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Home stretch! Now you want to add TONS of sparkle! I love these AB rhinestones from Walmart because they’re cheap and they have so much sparkle. I also purchased some flat backed pearls from Hobby Lobby. I tried to concentrate the embellishment toward the middle. I prefer using E6000 for rhinestone work, HOWEVER, I will caution you to only use in a well ventilated area! This stuff is STRONG and is known to cause cancer when inhaled…

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Finally, it’s time to attach the shells to the bra/bathing suit top. E6000 doesn’t dry instantly but has a strong hold. Hot glue dries quickly but can sometimes peel off. I used a mixture of the two to fix the shells to the bra top. I used E6000 toward the center of the shells and then hot glue around the outside to quickly secure the edges. I also went through with hot glue and added more pearls and rhinestones to the center of the bra top to give it a seamless look.

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And tada! You now have your very own, thrifty and beautiful Ariel inspired mermaid top. I’d love to see pictures if you made one yourself! Tag #PartyByAPrincess with your projects, email me at kayla@partybyaprincess.com or share in the comments below.

 

 

Dance Party Sparkle Letter Tutorial

Kayla1 Comment

We’re in LOVE with the look of these sparkle letters! They’re so thrifty and easy to make, learn how to spell out words for your party theme.

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You can purchase these letters from Hobby Lobby for $2.99 each. They are cardboard and thick enough to stand on their own. Occasionally, they even have these 50% off! But it’s rare 😉

First, lay the letters face down, so they should look backwards to you. Spray paint them in your base color, we chose black. Let them dry overnight.

Next paint Modge Podge on the unpainted side. Use a generous amount. Sprinkle on your chosen color of glitter and then shake off the remaining glitter. For added security, you can add another layer of Modge Podge over top to keep loose glitter from falling off.

And voila! You have your own set of adorable letters to add sparkle to any occasion!

DIY Tulle Ball Tutorial

Kayla1 Comment

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Tulle balls are so easy and cheap! Plus they make an adorable accent to any centerpiece or girly party themed decor.

I recycled an old spool from some half inch ribbon I recently used up. I ripped the two larger circles off to create two flat donut shaped pieces of cardboard. To make a tulle ball you simply wrap the tulle around as shown above until all of the cardboard has been covered up. The thicker the better!

Once complete, you carefully cut the edge around the outside circle, be careful not to lose the end of the tulle! Run a small bit of tulle, maybe 6 inches or so, in between the two pieces of cardboard, without completely pulling the tulle off! VERY IMPORTANT! Tie it securely and then slide the pieces of cardboard off.

Trim the tulle to ensure it’s all the same size and you’re done! Glue these to dowel rods or colored paper straws or hang from the ceiling with fishing line, tulle or ribbon. The possibilities are endless!

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The bigger the cardboard the bigger the tulle ball. I was able to make 20 out of one single roll of $3 tulle and it really only took an 30 mins. Such a quick, cute and thrifty decoration.

Inside Out Party Printables

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This Inside Out party was a “joy” to design printables for. A candy buffet with Bing Bong Tears, Rainbow Unicorn Cookies and more was the centerpiece to a very colorful tablescape. Guests enjoyed Disgust Veggies, Sadness Sandwiches, Tears of Joy and Mini Cupcakes. The photo booth was the perfect accent to this party with tons of characters and birthday sayings. Scroll down to see how the craft is made! Check out Girly-Girl Partea’s for more photos of this adorable party! 

IMG_9320CRAFT TUTORIAL: Gumball necklaces are such a popular item for kids. Typically these necklaces are made of plastic gumboil size beads, but DID YOU KNOW you can actually make them out of REAL gumballs?! Purchase multiple gumball colors and use a hand held drill to drill holes in the center. This makes a mess so be sure to protect your table, but isn’t too time consuming or difficult. Using a knitting needle (very important!) thread thin (quarter inch or smaller) ribbon through the holes. Tie knots on either side of the gumboils to space them out or stack multiple gumboils together for a fuller look. The back simply ties into a cute bow and voila! For this party, the colors were all attributed to ‘memories’ (purple was fear, red was anger, yellow was joy, etc). This craft can really be used for any party theme to make cute necklaces for guests to wear and take home.

DIY Aurora Crown & Necklace

Kayla1 Comment

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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.

Wonder Woman Inspired Party Printables

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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.

TUTORIAL: Seahorse Straw Accents for Mermaid Party

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open up http://www.cricut.com/design. Login and create a new project
Click on upload image
Use the basic upload function
Upload your image (search sea horse on Google and take your pick)
Click on the white to knock out the background
Select the seahorse icon to insert onto canvas
Copy and paste until you have the number you need.
Be sure to select CUT not PRINT (default)
Click the Cricut Go Button
Feed in your paper and select the thickness. I chose poster board
Watch as it cuts your design
Use the included tools or a razor knife to gently separate the paper.

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

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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!

DIY Maternity Nurse Gifts

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In preparing for the delivery of our little princess, it has felt like a never ending list of to-dos! Clean this, wash that, pack this for the hospital, leave that at home. So many lists!

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One of the things I really wanted to do was make little gifts for the nursing staff. Nothing too big of course, because with a new baby we are on a budget. But still something sweet and individual for the people who would be taking care of me and my precious baby girl for the short time we’re in the hospital.

My aunt is a nurse and when I asked her opinion on the matter she said anything chocolate is a big hit and, of course, little individual gifts are so appreciated by the staff.

I decided to make little baggies with two types of chocolate, Reeses and MnM’s. I purchased the candy from Walmart for less than $10, and still had plenty leftover for those late night chocolate cravings.

I opted for Individual Portioned Baggies (these Great Value Brand bags to be specific) since I already had them in my cabinet and then designed labels to attach to them. These bags are actually the perfect width of a business card, so using them to potentially promote a business in the future may come in handy! Just staple your card to the top and go, but that’s a topic for a different blog post 😉

While I know, without a doubt, that we are having a girl, I figured some readers may be having a boy or may not know at all (kudos to those moms who can wait until birth to find out, the suspense of that would kill me!) may want other color options besides pink. I have included the FREE printables for pink, blue and yellow if you would like to recreate these for your own use.

PINK Hospital Tags
BLUE Hospital Tags
YELLOW Hospital Tags

Once printed, I cut the labels out, folded them over and stapled them to the bags. Super easy and quick! All together, I made 20 little baggies in less than 30 minutes.

DIY Ballerina Cupcake Topper Tutorial

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20150119_212757Nothing is more girly than a ballerina themed birthday! In this tutorial, we’ll show how we made these adorable silhouette cupcake inserts for a Prima Ballerina themed birthday party. To get started you’ll need:

  • Pink Tulle
  • Lollipop Sticks (purchased from Hobby Lobby)
  • Cricut Explore Cutting Machine (or similar product)
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Your choice of 12×12″ Cardstcok (I chose light pink)
  • Rhinestones (optional)

I purchased cardstock from Hobby Lobby and used a svg file I created in Illustrator to cut out the ballerina silhouettes. Click here to download the PDF file I used. *Note: this is saved as PDF, if using with Cricut, you will need to save it as a svg or as a jpg in order to upload it.

Utilizing my Cricut Explore cutting machine I was able to cut out the ballerina shapes very quickly! (I am not endorsed by Cricut in any way, shape or form, I received the machine as a Christmas present and LOVE it!) After a little trial and error (the cardstock ripped on the tiara and hands the first time), I was able to successfully cut out the shapes using the “Light Cardstock” setting.

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Next I used my hot glue gun on low temperature to secure the lollipop sticks to the back of the ballerina shapes. Make sure you glue the stick at least halfway up the shape for support. You don’t want a floppy ballerina!

Once glued on, I then cut two little inch long strips of tulle. I placed a small dot of glue in the center of the figure’s waist (right where the top of the stick was). I secured each piece of tulle on the glue and then creased and folded it over until I had a tutu textured look. I overlapped the front and back piece to give it a more uniformed look. Lastly, I added another small dot of hot glue to the front for a rhinestone. After all, you can never have too much sparkle!

Your daughter can steal the show at her birthday with our Prima Ballerina themed printables (all designed to match this same silhouette design). Click here to see the listing on Etsy. Enter coupon code BALLERINABLOG to save 10% on your order!