Sunday, December 30, 2012

How to make elf shoes.

Not really too hard to make.

I used an old pair of sandals so the bottom
sole would be waterproof and firm.

Then I cut out the shoe shape from green
vinyl fabric matching the width of the
shoe with the sandal.

I put the right sides of the vinyl together and stitched all 
around leaving the bottom open.

Then I turned the vinyl right side out.
I folded over the bottom of the vinyl about 1/4" and then
used a heavy carpet thread and a strong sewing
needle to hand stitch it to the shoe.

Then I hot glued upholstery gimp trim around
and on top of the stitching.

Then I stuffed the curvy toe of the shoe so 
it would stay upright.


I sewed a bell to each tip and hot glued fluffy fur
around the top.
  
Voila! Sturdy waterproof and durable
elf shoes that were comfortable to wear.

The lovely gold frame design in the top picture was  
compliments of a fellow blogger in France.
http://elfeerique.blogspot.fr/2012/12/mes-ptits-templates-n3-cadeau.html

Friday, December 28, 2012

PEACE. LOVE. LIFE. (party decorations)

Peace.
Love.
And the Important Things in Life.

This is just a wonderful theme. It's so versatile and can
be so personalized to fit the party person.

Here's some ideas from this year.

Coincidentally one was for "HALLE" and
one was for "HALEY".


FOR HALLE:
Here's the logo created by Laura at Party Perfect for 
HALLE in grunge-style lettering.

We made the centerpieces.

Here's the table centerpiece for 
Peace, Love, Laugh.
Peace, Love, Trust.
Peace, Love, Harmony.
You get the idea?
Peace, Love, Adventure.


Each placecard matched a 
centerpiece design.

Here's a bunch of the designs.

www.marlyssandstacey.com

Peace, Love, Out. 
(until next time)




Saturday, November 3, 2012

NY Broadway Theater Playbill Party Decorations

Broadway is such a great party theme.
We've done it for boys and girls both.

We've started with placecards.
Then done Welcome Signs.

And moved into the room with
centerpieces....both low on 
the table and elevated up on a pole.
(Notice that we added the Bar Mitzvah
girls face into the design above and in the one 
below there is a picture from the actual
play the Bat Mitzvah boy was in.)


Or...here's a broadway stage with an working foamcore
kleig light that runs from 2 AA batteries and a golden
envelope with the 'winner' for the table name card.

We've done large DJ signs.
This was one of my favorites.
It was 4ft. x 8ft.

We've also made a kids area sign with 
a Broadway theme.

And....of course, a Sign In Board.

And a Gift Card Box.

This is a theme we always have fun with
and enjoy the end results.




Monday, October 15, 2012

SIGN IN BOARDS for Parties.

One thing we do often make are Sign In Boards.


I think they make a wonderful party props to set
the tone of the party and let people in on the theme
of the night and highlight that special person.


They also are a great spot to grab a picture.
(This happens to be my Eagle Scout grandson Ryan.)


 It really isn't so much about the signatures or
the messages. The messages left are usually the same
as people have already told you in person...like "great job!" or
"Happy Birthday" or "Mazel Tov" or "proud of you".


But it does gives folks another opportunity to congratulate and
also see that you have taken the time to have something
fun and interesting to make the party personal and lively.

I often hear...."But what will I do with it after
the party? I might get a memory book instead because it's easier
to keep." 

Well, memory books are fine. I like them. We also make them.
(You can view a blog post I made about them here.)

But, personally, I like Sign In Boards better.They are BIGGER.
Big things at a party just have more impact and pizzazz.
That's just a fact. They are more memorable. 
That's why you're getting a Sign In Board. 
To have something cool at the party. 
You wouldn't be having a Sign In Board if you weren't having a party. 
So don't worry about later. 
Take a picture of the board and save that.
You don't have to save the board forever and ever.

Another good thing about a Sign In Board is that it's standing
right there at your eye level when you walk into the party.
You really can't miss them. You CAN miss a book.

I hear often that not that many people signed the book.
Maybe they did miss it. Or...maybe they didn't.
A book is intimidating. Writing in a book means you should
comes up with something clever on the level of what 
J.K. Rowling would write in a book. Most people aren't prepared
for that much pressure. They are there to PAR-TAY or celebrate.... not
be profound and clever in writing something beautiful in 
a book that will be kept (hopefully) forever and read and
reflected upon the words left there. Oh dear...such pressure!
Where's the Sign In Board???? 






You can view more Sign In Boards on
our website.





Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Life before Google



I have all these artwork resource books I used before Google 
and all their wonderful images came out. 

Yes. 
I've been doing party decor artwork that long! 

I remember the 'olden days'.

They use to be called 'morgue' files and my files
spilled over even into 2 tall file cabinets of pages 
I had torn out from magazines that I kept in labeled folders...
just for inspiration or to place on my overhead projector 
and to help me draw up designs.
That was before I even had a computer.
OMG...times are so much better now!
I LOVE my computers....both of them and my ipad 
and my iphone. I'm in 2012 with both feet!


But...It pains me to even think about throwing out these books.


Ahhhhhh...do I have to???


Well...I've decided I don't have to do it today.
But some day soon.



THIS is what I need in front of my house.
Or at least in my town.
http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/index.html