Sweet 16 V.I.P. Sign In Board

Here's a lovely SIGN IN BOARD that

was so much fun to create.

Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp

walked the red carpet with

Samantha in her special dress for

the evening.

All our younger kids around here cracked us

up when they asked why "Larry" from

"Howie Do It" was on the board with her.

We had to explain that was Johnny Depp.

Ah....he does resemble him though.

Samantha's name was in 3 separate

cut out layers and black sparkly glitter.

It was so pretty and very dimensional.

If you'd like to view more Sweet Sixteen ideas,
you can see another blog post I did.
Here's the link to that post.

Foam Board Tools of the Trade

Here's some of tools we use over and over in making our foamcore party decorations.

X-Acto Blades

Breakaway Knives

Use sharp and fresh blades. Get good ones and change the blade often. A blade that appears

sharp and will cut your hand will often chew the edges of foamcore....can't figure that out but it's true.

Foam Board

Foamcore and Foamboard is the same thing. 3/16" works great for most applications and is sturdy and rigid and stays flat unless you get it wet. Then it bows. If that happens just add a bit of water to the reverse side and weight it down and it will flatten right out.

T-Square

A straight edge ruler is a must for cutting straight lines. Even after all this time I still don't try to cut a straight line without one. I also use a cork backed ruler that doesn't slide on the foamcore.

circle maker

Make the circle first with a pencil and then lightly cut around on the pencil line. Don't try to cut all the way thru on the first pass. On the second pass you just stay in the track you've made and focus on cutting the rest of the way thru.

Super 77 Spray Adhesive

This brand is the best. We've tried the others but we like this one by far the most. It's compatible with the foamcore. It doesn't warp it. You can glue photos or lightly mist a board with it and sprinkle glitter over it.

Hot Glue Gun

Don't get one of those mini ones. A regular sized one isn't expensive. Get the 10" glue sticks for it as well and it saves some time. Clear glue sticks have the least amount of actual glue in them. They bond just by melting. Milky white ones are good for most applications and the heavy duty tan ones will glue everything...including your gym shoes if you need to!

10" glue sticks

heavy duty glue sticks

One Shot Lettering enamel

lime green

hot pink

One Shot lettering enamel is the best paint there is. It truly covers in one shot and the colors are beautiful. They just came out with a new color called Sublime Green and it's the most gorgeous lime green ever. We also love the magenta that is like a hot pink color. The dark magenta is a great fushia pink. Try this paint and you'll love it. It's worth the extra price it is for the time it saves and it's slow drying qualities that allow you to drop glitter on it and have it stick very well.

Glitter

And last, but certainly not least....glitter. It should be at the top! We love it and use it every day. Nothing beats the sparkle. It's hard to work with those tiny 4 oz. jars. You need to drop a handful on your wet paint and do it over newspaper and then pour what doesn't stick right back into the jar. If you drop it onto spray paint you have to be really fast. It doesn't always stick too well...especially on those lovely Design Master spray colors which dry almost instantly. Some of the other sprays give you a longer working time but the One Shot lettering enamels can give you enough time to even answer the phone!

I hope these resources are helpful in getting the best results from your projects.

Past, Present & Future Candle Lightings

I think this is a lovely and fast way to do the candlelighting ceremony with just 3 candles and it covers everyone and doesn't hurt anyones feelings by being left out.

Here's some helpful inspiration from some centerpieces I've done and also some wording that I found that might be helpful to make it all come together.

FIRST CANDLE: The first candle represents the past. The people I have loved and lost in my lifetime and the relatives I was not lucky enough to have met. Mom, will you please come up and light this first candle in honor of those who are no longer with us. (Song: chorus of I Miss You by Miley Cyrus or Circle of Life)

SECOND CANDLE: The second candle represents the present. It is for the adults in my life....my parents, my grandparents, my aunts & uncles and special grownup friends. You help guide me, listen to me and just have fun. Dad, will you please come up and light candle number 2. (Song: chorus of I Learned From You by Billy Ray/Miley Cyrus or Raise Your Glass by Pink or It's a Beautiful Life)

THIRD CANDLE: This last candle represents the future. It is for all the special friends in my life and for our hopes and dreams for the future. Sister/Brother will you please come up and light this last candle for all my cousins and friends. You're the best. (Song: Chorus of We're the Kids of the Future or Whitney Houston's Greatest Love of All)

ENDING: Thank you all for coming to celebrate this special day with me. Now, let's blow out these candles and get this party started.

(Scroll for more pictures.)

We can do one of our freestanding cutout

and glittered names. Simple and easy.

Or, we can add other elements with 

the cutout name....like these guitars.

Or, we can add themed items.

Each one is unique and different just as

people are. 

Email us and we can design one

that is created just for you.

marlyss@mac.com

Jungle Safari/Rainforest dangers

When I deliver a sign I snap a picture when it's all hung in place.

When I ship a sign...like this one was....I don't get that luxury.

This was a big sign. (4ft. x 8ft.) All the pieces were not glued on so that it could fold for compact and safe and most importantly... economical shipping costs.

"Rockin' Rainforest" was painted on and also the same for the "and". "Morgan" and "Shelby" were each one unit and needed to be glued on when it arrived. The advantage here is that the names can be used after the party for a bedroom wall design. The same for the animals.

But here's my big issue. I have to stand on my counter to take the picture. (In this picture I didn't crop out the rugs and chairs because it gives you scale and also shows that it was on the floor.) I have to hold the camera near the ceiling AND lean WAY FORWARD so it doesn't distort too much. There's been moments when I have thought .... please don't let me fall on the sign! I haven't yet. I'm careful how far I lean forward but it still makes me queasy.

It's so much easier to take a picture of a sign hanging in a party facility....no leaning forward there. But then I have to climb a ladder to hang it...so again my life is in peril. (lol) Who knew I had such a dangerous job???

White Wedding Guitar Centerpiece

Oooh...la...la.....these were so pretty. All white for wedding centerpieces.

Pearly white guitar...iridescent shred in the pole.....white gloss and clear iridescent poufs at the base...and a pretty bow.....so pretty.

I think these guitar centerpieces could work for a wedding or a Sweet 16 party or just an all white party.

We have lots of different all white or off-white guitars to pick from and make a nice variety at a wedding or shower or Sweet 16....maybe even a rehearsal dinner?

I heard from our last bride that the guests took them off the tables and were dancing with them. I'll bet that made for some fun photos. She did say they managed to keep a few and they are hanging on her wall with her wedding invitation.

MY FAVORITE THINGS: PART 1: My Keurig and K-Cap

2012 UPDATE to the older 2009 post:

I've found the K-Caps shown below crack and break too easily and too soon and they
don't replace the broken ones for you. So I've found a better option.

Try these: (click the picture for a link to Amazon or check out Cafe Cup.) They work great and are super easy to clean and re-use.

I really like my morning coffee. It has to be strong and tasty. Usually that means Starbucks French Roast or Serona or Komodo Dragon. It's usually a Decaf or a bit of both. (I'm going for the flavor. I'm already awake so I don't need the coffee to wake me up.) Those are my favorites. I'm so spoiled by making it exactly how I like it that I don't ever order coffee out...unless, of course, it's at Starbucks.

Stacey hooked us all on the Keurig coffeemaker. Each of our houses have one. The kids make hot chocolate with it or tea.

The hot water dispenser is great for adding hot water to Costco's hashbrown cartons that need to have water added and let sit for 10 minutes to turn into some outstanding hashbrowns.

I grind my own beans and refill the little Keurig cups with my own Starbucks coffee and put a handy little plastic K-Cap on it. (If you have a Keurig you might want to check out these K-Caps.)

I also have a favorite Panera coffee thermos with the perfectly designed drinking spout.

I'm very fussy about my morning coffee. It's a simple pleasure but such a pleasure it is.