Doc McStuffins-inspired Invitations

I am crazy.  I will be the very first one to admit this.

My Avery is turning three very soon...and I handmade her birthday party invitations.  Again.  As if the first and second years weren't lesson enough.  Do we need a recap?

Year One  (tutorial: part 1 and part 2)

Year Two  (tutorial here)

 About a week ago though, I admitted defeat.  I faced reality and the fact that I had absolutely no time to make Avery's invitations this year.  In the past, it's something that I've done and taken pride in.  This year however, I have a lot on my plate and I did not see how it could happen.  So I got on Etsy and started looking at ready-made downloadable PDF files that I could just pay for, send off to Walgreens to get printed and call it a day.  As I started looking around, I wasn't finding anything that I liked as much as the idea I had in my head for handmade invitations.  Then I talked to my friend Heather, who is super crafty and has her own business, Sincerely Sunshine, and she was all "Devan.  You can do this.  You love making things and it'll be a special touch on Avery's party."  And I'm all "Gosh dang it.  She's right!  I love making invitations for my girl's birthday parties."  So I closed out my Etsy browsing window and Heather and I started brainstorming on how to make these invites.  Heather, do you hate me?

The result was a very, very time consuming, but I think very adorable invitation.

Doc McStuffins jacket!  Complete with lots of freaking glitter.  You're welcome, every person that opened their envelope to be greeted with a pile of glitter in their lap.  

In case you need a recap, we're going on three years now of time consuming, handmade invitations.  Obviously, I have issues. 

First, you gotta buy the paper.  For the jackets, I saved money by picking up a packet of cards and envelopes together, instead of buying pieces of white cardstock and envelopes separately.  I purchased this set of 50 from Michaels.  With a 40% off coupon, I paid $6 plus tax.  Not bad.  Then, it was time to make some doctor lab coats.  Again, thank you to my friend Heather, who whipped up something at work and then sent me step by step directions on how she did it.  I can't take credit for the idea for the folding of the jackets.

First, lay out your unfolded card landscape style (long ways). 

Next, fold the bottom part of the cards upwards.  I did probably a 1 1/2 inch fold.  Just eyeball it.

After you've folded the bottom up, flip the card over, placing the folded piece on the back side.

Then, fold your outsides into the middle, creating the flaps of Doc's jacket.  Since I purchase pre-folded cards, I used the center fold as a guide for how far to bring the sides in.  Repeat for both sides.

See how when you've folded it in, it's created the pocket's for Doc's jackets?  Genius, Heather.

Now, you're just going to fold down little flaps on the top for the lapels.

Now that you have your basic jacket, it's time to add accessories!  I used Doc McStuffins herself as a guide to decide what I wanted.  Of course, Doc's stethoscope was a necessity.

For all of my shapes, I used my handy Silhouette Cameo machine.  I'm telling you. This is only the fourth or fifth time I've gotten to use this baby, but I'm in love with it.  It makes projects like this soooooo much easier.  I wouldn't have even attempted it without one.  I just wish I had more time to sit down and learn about all the cool things it can do!  

I was a little bit rusty on how to use it and create shapes, so I did have to play around with the sizes of things first.  In the beginning, I made the stethoscopes too small (tip:  always have extra paper laying around so you can play with sizes and shapes until you find exactly what you want...that way you're not wasting the paper you bought for your project).  

Too small.

So I went back and adjusted the size.  Too big. 

Once I finally got the size just right (I feel ya, Goldilocks), I loaded my glitter paper into the machine and started cutting a crap ton (yes, that's an official unit of measurement) of these babies.  I offered to pay anyone in leftovers if they'd come help me remove them all from the sticky mat, but no one took me up on it.  Curious.  

To place the stethoscope on the jacket, I wanted to make sure that the envelope could still be opened.  So I chose to do the scope at an angle so I could cut it down the middle and glue it to both sides of the jacket.  I set the stethoscope down, cut it right down the opening line and then glued the two pieces down. 

After that, I just added my other accessories.  I chose to do a nametag, pen and the bandaid from Doc McStuffin's show.  I know a bandaid isn't usually stuck to the outside of a doctor's coat, but it did make it look more "Doc McStuffin-y."  You can add whatever you want....Doc has a variety of tools to choose from.

A blood pressure cuff would have been funny.

Once you have all the pieces cut out, just start assembling.  It's a time consuming process and you'll have glitter in every opening on your body (I think my pores sweated glitter for a week), but I think the end result is worth it.

You could use this basic model (without the pockets) for a variety of different characters.  Having a Jake and the Neverland Pirates party?

Get some navy blue paper, fold the same way (without the bottom fold) and then trim with yellow to make Jake's vest.  Add buttons and his famous sword.

Having a Sheriff Callie party?

Follow the same steps with a brown piece of paper.  Add pink trim, pink bandana and sheriff star.  Maybe even a belt buckle.

Tune in soon for a how-to on Avery's birthday party favors......Sheriff Callie's Horse!

"Busy but Crafty" Monthly Challenge: Month TWO

It's time once again for our "Busy but Crafty" monthly craft challenge!

 As you may recall, our last month didn't go so well.  We're hoping for wayyyyy more participation with this month's challenge:

For this month, I'm expecting to see a bunch of wreaths.  I adore wreaths.  But.  I have an irrational fear of birds.

What's that have to do with wreaths?  I've had multiple people tell me their horror story of putting a wreath on their front door,  a bird laid a nest inside the wreath and...... *shudder*.....when they opened their front door, the bird flew IN. THEIR. HOUSE.

Therefore, I am anti-wreath.

So, this month, it was little of a challenge for me to come up with something for my door that I could make.  Usually, when I have a craft, I do research, come up with something that I like and then go buy the components from there.

Not this one.  I had a few ideas in mind, but nothing that "spoke" to me.  So, today, being the slacker I am, I went to Michaels in hopes that I could pull my door decor craft out of something in the aisles.  Luckily, I found something (obviously, or I wouldn't be blogging right now).

Here's my non-wreath door decor craft:

A boxwood door hanging with monogram!

Supplies Needed:

--Boxwood mat
--Wooden or paper mache letter
--Ribbon
--Scrapbook paper (or paint)
--Floral wire
--Outdoor Modge Podge (if you go the scrapbook paper route)

Instructions:

1.  Decorate your letter.  This can be a completely optional step.  I chose to Modge Podge scrapbook paper onto my letter.  You can Modge Podge, you can paint, you can leave it the wood color, it's up to you and your personal tastes.

2.  Tie ribbon to boxwood mat.  (tip: the boxwood mat is a little expensive if regularly priced.  I had a coupon for 40%.  I wouldn't go this route unless you can get the boxwood material for a discounted price.)
Anyway.  I chose a burlap ribbon and tied it to the back of the mat.

3.  Tie the letter to the mat.

I looped some floral wire around the front of the initial and then just twisted it like a bread tie around the back of the mat. 

4.  You're done! 

(note: this is not my door. They're remodeling my kitchen!!! and, since I waited until the very last minute, I had to put together this craft at my parent's house, you're seeing my parent's lovely front door)

I used two different suction cup hangers to hang this on the door.  One, for the ribbon to hang from.  Two, where I hung the actual boxwood from.  I did this because the initial is heavier than the boxwood and the hanger will want to lean forward.  I wanted it to be flush against the door, so I used the two suction cups. 

Now, show us your fabulous, handmade "Door Decor!!" 

We have to have some rules here, first. 

1.  You must link back to either my blog or the Year of Sarah Blog (the link co-host).

2.  Follow both our blogs.  You can do this however your little heart pleases.  Google +, Facebook  (my page is here, Sarah's is here), Bloglovin', etc.  

3.  Your link needs to be a craft blog post.  Please do not link to your Etsy page, business page, own link party or giveaways.

4.  Must be your own original work.

5.  Show some other blogs some love.  Don't we all get the warm fuzzies when we see new blog comments??

(NOTE:  Inlinkz decided to change their rules and isn't showing thumbnails for your link you submit.  We're not happy about that, but it's gotta be that way for this month's challenge.  We promise, we'll have it back to the old, thumbnail view link up next month.  For now, if you want to see what someone else has created, click on the green link in front of their name.  Apologies, a million.)

"Busy But Crafty" Monthly Craft Challenge: House Numbers Challenge

It's finally time for mine and Sarah's very FIRST "Busy but Crafty" Monthly Craft Challenge!!  We're so excited about this.  We're both just two moms of young kids that wish we had more time to craft....voila!  That's how this link up was born.  Each month, we want to give you the opportunity to take a little time out of your busy schedule to get some crafting therapy going.

This month, we challenged you to make a craft using your house numbers.  We asked you to be creative, and now I can't wait to see what you've come up with!  **scroll down to the bottom to join the link up party**

For my craft this month, I chose to bring a little Springtime inside my house (since the winter here in Kentucky has decided that it never wants to end.  Ever.).

Moss Covered Numbers!

This craft was fairly simple to execute, but very, very messy.  You've been warned.


Materials Needed:

--Paper Mache letters or numbers.  (I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby, but any craft speciality store should carry them)

--Moss mat/adhesive backed moss sheets (Also picked up at Hobby Lobby)

--Super glue
--Scissors

That's it.

How to make these fabulous mossy letters for your decor:

1.  Take your letter/number and lay it down on the back side of the moss mat.  Be sure to trace the number backwards, otherwise, you'll have moss for the back of the number/letter you're wanting to trace, not the front.

2. Trace around the shape with a permanent marker.  I tried pen at first, but the backing is too thick and I couldn't see where I was marking.

3.  Cut the shape out.  The particular moss mat I purchased wasn't hard to cut through, so I just used regular scissors.  I would think an exacto-knife would work just as well, just make sure you have something to protect the surface you're cutting on. 

4.  Glue the moss to your shape.  Continue cutting pieces to cover the sides as well.  

5. You can take some of the extra strands of moss and glue it on where you can see the seams where you glued individual pieces on. 

6.  Clean up your mess.  Because this crap will be everywhere.  It's pretty bad when my 2 year old tells me "Mommy, you made a BIIIIIIG mess." 

7.  Enjoy!

Some of you may be wondering, why 139?  Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I talked about paying homage to our old house?  Well, I printed out the picture that I Waterlogued.  139 was our house number when we lived in Bardstown.  I wanted it to be represented along with the picture.  For now, I have these numbers sitting beside the picture of our old house.  Eventually though, when I get the courage to do it., I want them to be a part of the gallery wall I'm going to build around my giant clock.

There you go.  There's so many possibilities that can happen with this project.  A monogram.  A single initial.  Words on tables at a wedding reception.  When I was in Hobby Lobby to buy my supplies for this project, they had an entire leaflet on craft projects with moss.  I'm particularly loving the stenciled moss glued onto a canvas.  So unique.

Now, it's YOUR turn!!  We want to see what you're doing creatively with your house numbers!  First though, let's get a couple of rules out of the way.

1.  You must link back to either my blog or the Year of Sarah Blog (the link co-host).

2.  Follow both our blogs.  You can do this however your little heart pleases.  Google +, Facebook  (my page is here, Sarah's is here), Bloglovin', etc.  

3.  Your link needs to be a craft blog post.  Please do not link to your Etsy page, business page, own link party or giveaways.

4.  Must be your own original work.

5.  Show some other blogs some love.  Don't we all get the warm fuzzies when we see new blog comments??

An InLinkz Link-up

Elbow Patches are the Easiest.

I know Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I still wanted to share this craft with you all, so bear with me!

I found the original idea over at the Night Owl Blog .

Heart elbow patches for Valentine's Day!

I didn't take step-by-step pictures this time.  Normally, I modify a craft I find to suit my tastes/needs/supplies.  But Kimberly at the Night Owl Blog makes this craft SO easily and so easy to follow that I didn't need to modify anything.  

If you don't want to hop on over to the original tutorial, here's the steps I followed:

Supplies needed: 

--Felt (I found mine at a craft store in individual 8 1/2" x 11" sheets...every color imaginable was available)

--No Sew Fabric Glue

--Paint pens

--Scissors

--Tshirt in the color of your choice

1.  On the felt, draw the shape of a heart.  Cut original out and then trace to draw the second heart.  You do want them to look the same, afterall.  

2.  Once both hearts were cut from the felt, I took the paint pen and mimicked stitches all the way around the edge of the heart.  

(this isn't the best picture in the world, but it gives you a better idea of what I'm talking about....)

3.  Decide where you want to place the hearts on your child's shirt.  To do this, I put the shirt on my daughter and then made a dot on each elbow where I wanted them to go.  She thought it was the funniest thing that Mommy was marking on her shirt.  Insert lecture about how Mommy can draw on her shirt to make something pretty, but Avery isn't allowed to.  That was fun. 

4.  Follow the instructions on the back of the glue bottle and glue the hearts onto the designated spot. 

5.  Let the glue dry for 24 hours before wearing the shirt.  A full week before you can wash it.  

And there you have it.  You can literally do anything your little heart desires with this project.  Have a son that's into sports?  Make baseball, basketball, soccer or football elbow patches.  Or just do a regular circle on a printed shirt to add a little flair.  I'm loving this project.  And it took all of 5 minutes to complete. 

And it's Avery-approved too. Note:  I didn't tell her to pose like that.  I just asked if she would stand still so mommy could take a picture of her new shirt.  *sigh* Can we just all stop for a second and be in awe of how my 2 1/2 year old looks SIX in this picture??

And then she was over it. 

Ahhhh.  Life as a toddler mom. 

Invitations at last!

I have a dream that one day my daughter will tell her friends that she's so thankful that her mother put so much work into making her birthday perfect. 

Probably won't ever happen.  But hey, I can dream can't I?

You'll be happy to know that the Great Pooh Invite Search is finally over.  But it ended in a very time-consuming, sticky conclusion.  For those of you that want to make your own special Winnie the Pooh invites that are different than everything else out there on Pinterest and Etsy, this post is for you.

After I wrote about not being able to find anything I liked for Avery's party invites, I literally went to bed and dreamt about them that night.  As soon as I woke up and got to work, I grabbed a piece of computer paper and whipped up a quick idea of what I wanted it to look like:

A hunny pot!  Not just any plain old hunny pot, but one that, when the lid is lifted, it reveals the invitations!


Hooray!!  I'm so pleased with how these turned out.  If you like them, here's how I did it...

Originally, I was going to cut out all the shapes by hand.  Such a stupid idea.  I'm incredibly blessed with parents that love me a whooooole bunch and got me a Silhouette Cameo machine for Christmas.  And I gotta say...a Silhouette Cameo is God's gift to the crafting world.  It's fantastic.  If you have a project like this that's going to take a lot of cutting, find a friend that has a Silhouette machine and see if they'll let you use it.  SO much easier than cutting everything by hand!!  Obviously, if you don't have a Silhouette, hand cutting is also an option--it's what I did with Avery's 1st birthday invites.  Not impossible, just takes longer.  So!  Let's get to it.

I found a honey pot shape on in the Silhouette store and downloaded it.  I figured out what size I needed the honey pots to be to fit into my envelopes and resized them accordingly. 

I continued doing this with other shapes until I ended up with all the shapes I needed.  When all the cutting was done, I ended up with two drips of honey, a honey pot and lid, a square for the invitation, bee wings and a body, and the word "hunny."  To ensure that I could put the invite down into the honey pot, I made sure to cut a line going across the top of the honey pot.

I made sure to pick a glue stick that would dry clear because I would be applying a whole bunch of it.  First, I attached the honey drips near the cut I made towards the top.  Then, I glued the "Hunny" words in the middle of the honey pot.  I attached the invitation I printed towards the bottom of the yellow square and then glued the lid to the top of the yellow square.  Finally, I glued the wings and the bee's body to the top of the lid and attached the RSVP information to that.

I slid the square invite into the slit at the top of the honey pot and voila!

Normally, when I have a creative idea in my brain, the finished project doesn't turn out like I envisioned it.  But this one was EXACTLY how I imagined it.  Pumped.  Best part about these?  Every invitation I found on Etsy that I halfway liked was like $3 apiece.  These invites (not counting postage or envelopes) were only 30 cents apiece.  Hooray for being cheap!

iPhone Customization--Part TWO!

Holy iPhone Customizing Batman.  Apparently, I'm not the only one who was on a desperate quest to make my iPhone screen prettier.  As of time of this post, I've had 45,768 views on my iPhone customization post ALONE.  I'm averaging like 15,000 views a day.  That blows me away, considering my little blog gets a little over a 1,000 views a week.  So, since you guys are so pumped up about making pretty icons, and I promised you a post on how to make the icons for some of the pre-downloaded apps, here it is!!

To start, I'm going to do an icon for the App Store.  This is an app that comes already downloaded on your iPhone and you cannot delete it.  The steps below are going to be for apps like that.  Ready?


Just like in my last post, go to the Cocoppa app.

Make sure you're looking at "Icons" instead of "Wallpapers" or "Stamps."

                         

Scroll all the way down to the bottom and search icons by typing in "App Store." 

Go through all the selections and pick your favorite icon.  Click on it. 

Next screen, hit "Set up link." 

Next, you're going to assign the short-cut link for your app.  In the previous tutorial, you would search for your app that you downloaded.  Here, we're going to scroll to the bottom and hit "URL."

 Now, here's where it's going to get a little complicated.  You'll have different URL codes for different apps. These are the ones that are available so far: 

iTunes--  http://itunes.apple.com

Maps--  Maps: 

Messages--  SMS:

Music--  Music:

Photos--  Photos-redirect:

Safari--  pick website homepage (I picked www.google.com)

Enter the URL and hit "Done" at the top. 

Correction:  This is the URL for iTunes, not the App Store.  I haven't located the correct URL for the App Store, if anyone would like to post that in comments!

Next screen, you're going to name your icon whatever your little heart desires.  Then hit "OK."

A box will automatically pop up, asking you to go to Safari and add the icon to your home screen.  Click "Yes."

Almost done!  Hit the "share" button on the next screen.  It's near the bottom and looks like an arrow coming out of a box.  

Next screen, hit "Add to Home Screen."

Last screen, name the app--again.  Not sure why they make you do it twice.  Hit "Add."

Shaboom.  There it is. 

 Hooray pretty screens and icons!  Now, just like any other app on the market, this one has its flaws.  There are no URL codes yet for some of the other pre-downloaded apps like Phone, Calculator, Notes, Calendar, etc.  The codes I listed above are the only ones I've located.  

Also, warning numero dos.  Don't do too many of these.  Since you do have to keep your original icon (or it'll delete the app completely), it does take up memory space on your phone.  I learned the hard way that if you change all your icons to ones from Cocoppa, your phone will run crazy slow.  So I picked my favorite apps, the ones I use the absolute most, and transformed them.  I left some of the others, like App Store and iTunes, alone.  Your call though.  If you'd rather have a pretty phone that runs slower, go icon ca-razy! 

Enjoy :))) 

Disclaimer: I do not own the Cocoppa app. I am simply doing a review of the app and how it works on my personal phone. I am not responsible for the app or how it may work on your phone.