Little Birdie Secrets

Showing posts with label silhouette machine. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2011

fall wreath thanksgiving placecard and napkin ring {tutorial}

Remember those leaves from my "Give Thanks" Thanksgiving banner and bunting yesterday? I used my leftover supplies (burlap, too!) to finish off my Thanksgiving table place settings with easy place cards and napkin rings. I mean really easy. Here's how to throw together a few before your Thanksgiving dinner!

Thanksgiving Wreath Place Cards & Napkin Ring Tutorial

Supplies:

*Simple leaves cut from patterned paper (by hand or with your Silhouette machine--see below)

*Coordinating buttons

*3" circle wreath cut from card stock

*Kraft card stock for place cards

*Paper cutter

*Glue Dots or other strong glue

*Pop-up adhesive dots

*Sewing machine and coordinating thread (optional)

*Scraps of burlap or other fabric

*Hemp twine or linen thread

1. Gather your favorite fall patterned papers and cut simple leaf shapes out. I used about 20-25 per place card. You can definitely cut these by hand, but to make it faster I used my Silhouette cutting machine. To do this I made a sheet in Photoshop with a strip of some of my favorite digital papers and printed it. Then I drew a very simple leaf shape in the Silhouette software.

I duplicated the leaves in the software and arranged them on the strips of paper. Then I cut them out. Easy peasy, not to mention fast and cheap!

I cut several sheets worth (and used many of them for the fall leaves bunting in this post), then used the leftovers for my place cards.

2. Fold leaves in half lengthwise to give them depth. I also sewed down the center of a few of them with my sewing machine for some interest.

3. Start building your wreath by attaching a left to your paper circle with Glue Dots or other adhesive.

Overlap leaves so none of the paper wreath is showing.

Occasionally pop up a leaf with a pop-up adhesive dot.

Continue around the wreath until full.

4. Adhere a few coordinating buttons around the wreath using Glue Dots.

5. Print your guests' names on card stock. Cut place cards to 3" x 5.25", with the name showing in the center between 3" and 4" down. I used the CK Woodbine Swashes font for the names, and the Damask Dings1 font for the leaf (just to keep it simple and in line with my fall wreath).

Fold the cards in half. The name will be toward the top of the card.

6. Add a couple of pop-up adhesive dots to the bottom half of the wreath.

Attach to the card so the name is showing through the center of the wreath.

Arrange place cards on table or plates for a splash of color. You can also use the inside for guests to write something they're thankful for--I love when projects do double duty.

Now for the napkin ring. I used the burlap scraps from the Thanksgiving banner, a button, and some hemp twine. Wrap a 3" strip around your napkin, tie with a piece of hemp twine, and tie a button on top. I know, seriously easy. And you use up scraps. And it coordinates with your banner and place cards! You're welcome. :)

Hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Bring on the good eats!

share this on »

Monday, November 14, 2011

thanksgiving autumn wreath idea {tutorial}

I've had to curb myself from putting up Christmas decorations already, so I decided to do some fall decorating to tide me over. I needed a fall wreath, and I didn't want to spend too much, so I threw together a really simple one with a grapevine wreath and a few fall picks. But it needed something. I loved the plaque hanging in the center of my Halloween wreath, so I decided to run with that idea. I love how it turned out, and how easy it was! If you need a quick, easy, and inexpensive fall or Thanksgiving wreath idea, this one's for you. . .

Fall Wreath With Frame Tutorial

Supplies:

*Grapevine wreath
*Fall floral picks (a lot of craft stores have these on 50-60% off in late summer or after Halloween!)
*Floral wire

*Wire cutters
*Wide ribbon

*Distressed frame (or thrift store frame you can distress yourself)

*Words or phrase cut from vinyl, or printed on patterned paper

*Coordinating scrapbook paper for frame

1. I started with my wreath. Arrange floral picks (fall leaves, pumpkins and squash, orange and yellow berries, etc.) along bottom corner of grapevine wreath. When it looks the way you want it, attach picks to wreath a piece of floral wire. Just wrap the wire through part of the wreath and around the pick and twist the two ends. Cut with wire cutters.

See--easy peasy!

2. Create your framed fall phrase. I started with this awesome frame from the thrift store (sorry, I forgot to take a real "before" photo!).

3. I used the idea from this tutorial on Lella Boutique to distress my frame. First I sprayed it with a white spray paint/primer. Then, using my Martha Stewart custom spray paint tool, I sprayed it with a yellow/tan acrylic paint.

The next step is to sand it to distress it and bring out some of the color underneath. See the white and the brown? I love it.

Then I applied a light coat of wood stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then I wiped it off with a paper towel.

See how the brown parts are a little darker, and the entire frame is a bit more rustic looking?

4. I cut the words "Give Thanks" with my Silhouette machine, along with a little leaf. (The font is from Creating Keepsakes and is called CK Woodbine Swashes, and the leaf came from the Damask Dings1 font). You could also use phrases like "Happy Fall," "Gather Together," "Friends Welcome Here", etc. Use transfer tape to transfer the letters to the glass. NOTE: if you don't have a vinyl cutter, you could always print the words on the patterned paper and put it behind the glass--it would look just as good!

Cut a piece of patterned paper to fit inside your frame and place it behind the glass.

5. My frame had a hanger on the back, so I inserted the ribbon through it to hang it from the wreath. If your frame is not equipped with a hanger on back, try threading the ribbon through the frame before you put the glass in!

Tie the ribbon to the top of the wreath. I added a double bow because my ribbon wasn't as wide as I would've liked it to be. I hung my wreath from a Command Hook (they're strong and removable!) that I added to my front door. Happy fall!

I can't believe Thanksgiving is only 10 days away! If you're looking for last minute fall and Thanksgiving ideas, check out the collection of our past posts, found at the top of the page. Enjoy this fabulous season!

share this on »

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

monster birthday party & painted chevron platter {tutorial}

READ THE REST OF THIS POST -->>>» |

It was a birthday weekend (a little belated so dad could be there) for my boys, and we had a monster birthday bash! After a joint party, the boys and I went to the U of Iowa game and ate our way through four awesome quarters of college football. I was more-than-exhausted by the end of the night, but what a fun way to celebrate my big boys!

The boys wanted a monster theme, which I was excited about after seeing this cake on Pinterest. I made a cake platter for the occasion that I thought would be perfect for Halloween decor after the party. . .

Painted Chevron Platter Tutorial
Pin It
Supplies:
*Plain plate (mine was $4 at Walmart--check thrift stores, too)
*Vinyl cut into chevron or other pattern (I used my Silhouette to cut my chevron pattern)
*Candlestick or other base for your platter (I found mine at the thrift store for $.88)
*Alcohol and cotton pad
*Acrylic paint suitable for ceramics (like Martha Stewart Craft Paints or Folk Art's Enamel paints)
*Sponge brush or roller
*Ceramic glue (I used E6000)

(Sorry for the weird photos--sometimes I have to craft at night and I didn't bring my photography lights with me to Iowa!)

1. Clean plate with alcohol and cotton pad. Allow to dry.

2. Using transfer tape, apply your vinyl stencil to your plate.

share this on »

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

easy halloween banner and bunting {tutorial}

It's almost October--time to break out the spiders and skulls! This is definitely a favorite holiday around our house. This week I made a quick and easy Halloween banner and a couple of buntings to hang in my kitchen (I don't really hang it outside, I just can't get a good pictures of it because it hangs in front of a window, hence the outdoor arrangement). My boys came home from school, spotted it immediately and said, "Does this mean it's almost Halloween?!" followed by much hooping and hollering. I may have let out a little "hoop" and a "holler" myself. I'm not ashamed to say I'm looking forward to all those Almond Joys they're going to be handing over.

The only thing that could've made this banner (and the accompanying buntings) easier is if I had bought them ready-made! I made it all out of paper supplies I already had, so I saved money, too (all the patterned paper is by Making Memories). That's worth at least a few Almond Joys, right?

I started out by cutting letters to spell "Trick or Treat" on my Silhouette machine. I used the Rococo font found here (and on sale for $1 through today!). The black card stock I had on hand was not Stampin' Up!, which is what I usually buy, so it was a little thinner than I like. I solved the problem by cutting two of each letter and layering them to make them a little stiffer.

Next I sprayed them with spray adhesive (you could also use glittering glue or Mod Podge, but the spray is way faster and less messy--just make sure you work in a well-ventilated area!). I like to spray my things in a cardboard box to make sure the surrounding area doesn't end up sticky.

Then I set it on a paper plate and dumped Martha Stewart's fine glitter all over it. Tap it off and you have a sparkly, happy letter! Love it!

To string the letters, I punch two holes in the top of each letter with my Crop-A-Dile,

and used a yarn needle threaded with sparkly glitter ribbon to pull the ribbon through the letters.

To make the paper pennant bunting, I cut strips of patterned paper into 2" x 1.25" pieces. Then I cut them into pennant shapes by hand (do it while watching TV and it will be done in no time).

Using my sewing machine, I stitched them all in a row, leaving 2-4 stitches between each pennant. If you haven't tried this before, don't be afraid to try it! Sewing on paper is one of my favorite things to do, and so far I haven't ruined my machine or any needles. I love how this bunting turned out. I wish I could have these hanging all over my house, all year long. . .they're so festive.

For the paper fan bunting, I used the leftovers from my Halloween bat mobile / chandelier and strung them on a piece of thread with a needle. (See our tutorial or video tutorial for the accordion circles for instructions).