SSShhhhh...It's a Party!! Its a Craft!!

I'm very excited for this upcoming week.  I have a very double top secret hush-hush surprize party to help out with.  I'm excited for two reasons:  1) The food and decorations are going to be SWAG (super, wonderful, awesome, great) and 2) I'll be glad to be finished obsessing over it!!  I love the planning and organizing and details of planning stuff like this, but it comes with an OCD pricetag. I TOTALLY  overthink and over-analyze everything.  It keeps me up at night....BUT, it goes without saying that the crafting of the table centerpieces are the most fun!!!  They are my go-to centerpieces.  So easy, so clever, so cheap and so so cute.  Here it is:

Aren't you thinking "WOW!!" I'm intrigued...what is it? how did she do that? how can I make one?  Of course you're thinking that!  It's one of those things that when you see it explained, you automatically think "DUH!  I could do that!  That's just way too easy!"  And you couldn't be any more right. You can do this. AND....wait for it.....its an eco-recyclable craft!! Yeah, I'm green like that. :)

Here's the what for and the how to of it: 

 Go get:  3 different colors of tissue paper, curling ribbon, 1 roll of toiletpaper



Step 1:  lay one tissue paper flat on the table. Grab another color of tissue paper and lay it over the first--at an angle. Grab the last color of tissue paper over the 2nd--at an angle too.

←See my angles?  Try to offset the papers so that you have an oddly shaped star.  I try and only use 3 sheets of paper/colors. I don't have a special reason and certainly no scientific theories to back me up. I just like it with 3.  I've also done this centerpiece using the same colors--still using 3 sheets.

Step 2:  put your roll of toiletpaper in the center of the tissue papers. 

Step 3:  holding a length of curling ribbon in your mouth, use your hands to gather up the corners of the tissue paper. Gather and hold the papers at the top of the toilet paper. (I know, its a little bit of coordination and determination. It will work out for the cute--promise)

Step 4: use the ribbon to tie the gathered tissues at the top. Take a look at my first picture if you need to.

Okay, I stuck in a picture of me gathering the tissue around the top of the toilet paper...once all the sides are gathered, then tie it together with your ribbons.   this way...look over here→

Doesn't it just crack you up that the base of this happy centerpiece is a roll of toilet paper? I chuckle every time I go to make them.  I've made some for a big Spaghetti Dinner at the kids school; I've made them for a Preschool Party, a Baby Shower....they're fun. And when you're finished with your party you can use them in the potty!!! Bawahahaha!!

I can't wait to do this surprise party!  It's for a wonderful woman that encourages and inspires children everyday. Who better to have a party for?

Another Little Decoration

Looky! Looky!

I can't even tell you how much I love this little Soldier Man!  I found him laying upside down on a shelf in the outside at a local thrift store. I know...SAD! Sometimes I feel like I'm rescusing misforgotten extras from the set of Toy Story or something. Why would anyone want to give away a sweet little soldier is beyond me. Yeah! So, I snapped him right up, re-crafted him and gave him a home.  I did a little touch-up painting, added some spiffy bling to his uniform and gave him a puff of spoof on his face. (I also gave him a funny moustache--which was my son's, but he gave it to me for the greater good of Christmas decorations. Such a good boy!!)

And now he sits Oh So Pretty at my front door with my re-crafted lamp post. I put him out last night. This morning when hubby and I got back from running errands, he looked over and started howling!! Laughing like a Loon, he was. Because even I have to admit, my little Soldier is a funny little character. I think he is adorkable! and I love him to pieces!!

Putting Out the Christmas....

Ba-nee-ner! I'm done waiting for an appropriate time to put out my Christmas stuff. Just done.  I've been patient through Halloween and even Fall/Thanksgiving. But I'm finished waiting. So tomorrow I'm going to recruit the family for some good old fashioned Christmas decorating.  I know the kids will be eager to dig into everything, but the hubby? eh, probably not so eager. But he follows directions ♥ and will grumble and moan and eventually get it done. :) Yeah!!  I re-crafted (not so sure that's a valid word, but it fits my meaning well) a Fall/Thanksgiving decoration into a Christmas decoration. I'm so absolutely tickled happy about it, I'm going to take pictures tomorrow morning and post it. :o) I know, I'm very sharing of the crafts this week.  I love my new re-crafted deco. And I'll have to tell you why I love it even more than normal tickle-love tomorrow--it has to do with my two neighbors and a little unofficial contest we have going....hehe!! I'll tell you about tomorrow.