Mud Pie Reviews

If you checked out my 101 Valentines Ideas for Under $5, you get the idea how easy it can be to turn just about anything into a fun Valentine with a little creativity.  Like these erasers I found in the $1 aisle of Target last spring:

Which were packaged six for a $1:

I didn’t immediately think “Valentines” when I came across these (after all, they aren’t a Valentine item).  But I knew they would make some sort of fun, inexpensive and useful prize/favor for a whole class so I couldn’t pass it up.

I decided to make some tags and put the erasers and tags in a little craft bag.  I made the tags on the computer then printed and cut them out.  They say:  “From there to here, from here to there, I’ll be your Valentine anywhere!”  It was a tie between that and “In the east or in the west, ‘make no mistake’ Valentine, I like you best!”  But to be honest I’m tired of the puns right now.

These little craft bags are available (250/$4.99) at Hobby Lobby (don’t forget your coupon) and they keep everything together nicely:

The tag, bag, plus eraser makes these Valentines about 20 cents each:

How fun is that?!  A Valentines with zero calories.   =D

Hope you’re inspired to make some one of a kind Valentines, too!

Thanks for visiting!

Today I’m sharing easy and inexpensive party favors I created for a Disney Brave birthday party.

I’ll start with the cupcake toppers…I used lollipop sticks (Hobby Lobby) and Brave stickers (Party City).  I placed two stickers back-to-back on the lollipop sticks and tied on some blue tulle bows.  So easy!

The blue tulle represents the blue wisps in the movie.

For the water bottles, I created labels on my computer with movie images that read, “Thanks for coming”.

I used clear packing tape to attach images to the bottles.

Next, I created “arrows” using red felt and pencils.  I cut out the red felt and hot glued it onto the pencils.  Then I printed text that reads, “Be brave”  and glued that onto the pencils.

The pencils were placed in a pocket I made with two tags glued together.

I printed a bulls-eye for each envelope and inked everything with a brown ink stamp and topped it off with baker’s twine.

Next, we packaged up chocolate Teddy Grahams with double-sided labels I made featuring the brothers/bears in the movie.  Here’s one side:

And here’s the other side.  It reads, “Follow the blue wisps and find your fortune.”

All the goodies were wrapped up in a drawstring burlap sack that I painted with red and white bulls-eye patterns.  You can purchase the bags here.

To create these, just cut out a circle or use a bowl to trace an outline. I painted the entire circle white first, then went back and painted the red parts.

We had a great party and the kids loved their goody bags!

Have you hosted a Brave party?
I’d love to hear about it!

What does one do with leftover Halloween ornaments that need some color? Make Halloween wands, of course.

 

I started with paper mache ornaments which I painted black and white pictures on using Cricut stencils.

Then I wrapped some wooden dowels with ribbon for a punch of color using my hot glue gun.  (Tip:   use a clothespin to hold ribbon in place at one end while you wrap.)

Next I inserted the dowels in the ornaments (paper mache ornaments are easy to puncture with a sharp pair of scissors) and secured with black electrical tape.

Then I tied various colorful ribbons to each wand.

I thought they looked pretty good standing in this popcorn bowl with (what else) corn holding them up:

And then I thought how cool it would be if they could stand on their own. Maybe in a glittered-up spool.  Like this.

And maybe I’ll have to buy some candy, and then eat it, *just so I can use the wrappers*.

Whatever it takes for the craft, right?

What do you think? Do you like them better in the corn bowl or on the spool?   

More fall and Halloween crafts coming soon!