DIY Strawberry Decor from Lucky Pineapple Lantern

Materials needed:

~lucky pineapple lantern
~pair of scissors
~double-sided tape
~extra string

Step 1~ Lay the folded pineapple lantern down flat on a table.

Step 2~ Outline the shape to be cut with a marker. You would need a sturdy pair of scissors as you                   would cut through folded layers.

Step 3~ Cut the marked areas. Carefully detach the dangling charm and knot back the string. In case                  you cut the string too short, replace it and knot at about 2 inches from the hole.

Step 4~ Since the part of the leaf with one of the rings will be cut off, poke a new hole at the edge                   with a blunt object. Put in the ring.

Step 5~ Reinforce with added double-sided tape before assembling.

Step 6~ Unfold carefully and attach both ends.

Retro-themed Surprise Party Invitations

A retro-themed surprise party invitation.

As I was scanning some of my old files I saw this picture of the invitations I made for a retro-themed surprise birthday bash. The record invitation was printed on photo paper and the cover/envelope design was printed on a finely-textured specialty-paper.

Butterfly Decor from Paper Umbrella

The holiday season is over and so is the string of parties, family gatherings and dinners. You've probably got your hand on a paper umbrella in one of your drinks. Here's another way of using parasol picks to decorate a future party, because one can never plan early enough. 

(1-2) Pull the tiny rubber band up to fully open the umbrella, (3-4) make 3 cuts toward the center with 3-2-3 umbrella spine intervals (paper umbrellas have 8 spines). Mind which two umbrella spines to assign as the butterfly's antennae (as most of these are irregularly spaced).

(5) Carefully tear paper where 'antennae' spines are projected, trim antennae to proportionate length. (6) Cut curve at the sides where the two lower wings are supposed to be, you can also cut the tiny part of the spines that peek at the sides. (7) Cut the wooden pick right below the band. (8) Decorate with them anyway you like: make a wall statement by using a double-sided mounting tape; or string them together to make a dainty garland.

Very simple to make, craftventure your way to these butterfly's papery transformation.

Here's to a colorful year ahead.

Ninjago Birthday Banner

Make your own D-I-Y Ninjago Birthday Banner

1~ Print this free pattern at the back of an 8" x 11" colored paper. The flap at the head is for the string. You can paste the edge of the flap at the back or simply staple.

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2 ~ Cut, then fold the flaps.

3 ~ Print this free Happy Birthday letters on an 8" x 11" copy paper.

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4 ~ Cut and paste on the Ninjago silhouettes.

5 ~ String and hang.

Ninjago Birthday Give-away Kit

Just recently, my elder son celebrated his 7th birthday. It was themed after his favorite Ninjago characters. I was able to come up with this semi-cloth-wrapped give-away kit with a ninja-ish ballpen-sword as accent.

The cloth part of the package, supposed to be evocative of the traditional Japanese wrapping called Furoshiki was designed to later double as ninja headband; it was an instant hit among his classmates...

...but the best part is, my son thought I was clever.

Ninjago Birthday Give-away Kit

I got lucky to have found this novelty item from a local store, not exactly the Ninjago weapon but did the job fairly well.

Wrapping the cloth is very simple but the idea is to make it really neat.

And they come in other Ninjago colors too.

Dress Up Bottles: Plants vs. Zombies

If you ever think Plants-vs-Zombies characters are cute (except the zombies anyway) and you're planning a themed party based off it, well here's a tip on creating decorations that are not that complicated and overly time-consuming: simply dress up some empty bottles to play the part.

Things you'll need:

• crepe papers of the right colors
• cartolinas or construction papers of the right colors
• clear tape/double-sided tape
• pair of scissors
• craft knife
• plastic jar lids of the approximately right sizes 
• wooden sticks or used toothbrushes (you may pull out bristles first: dip in hot water then remove manually with a pair of pliers.)
• old newspapers
• clean empty bottles
• plastic bottle (choose one that is shaped somewhat like peashooter)
• black marker 

SUNFLOWER

To make Sunflower

1. Attach stick or old toothbrush on top of a bigger-than-mason-jar lid. An 800 ml ice cream tub lid is about the right size.
2. Fill the hollow part of the lid with newspaper or used brown bag.
3. Cover the 'face' part with two to three layers of orange crepe paper.
4. Cover the bottle stand with green crepe paper.
5. Put petals and face parts using cartolinas or construction papers.
6. Put paper leaves at the bottom part of the bottle. If the paper you're using for this is not sturdy enough, attach a folded strip of  paper at the other side of each leaf, make it bend a little.

MARIGOLD

To make Marigold

1. Attach stick or old toothbrush on top of this time~ a mason jar lid. 
2. Fill the hollow part of the lid with newspaper or used brown bag.
3. Cover 'face' part with two to three layers of yellow crepe paper.
4. Cover the bottle stand with green crepe paper.
5. Put petals and face parts using cartolinas or construction papers.
6. Put paper leaves at the bottom part of the bottle. 

PEASHOOTER

To make Peashooter

1. Cut the appointed plastic bottle that will assume the head of peashooter at the right size. 
2. Cut a hole that will fit the mouth of the glass bottle that will serve as its stand.
3. Customize the shape by adding layers of newspaper pieces where they'd be needed.
4. Cover with green crepe paper.
5. Put face parts using cartolina or construction paper.
6. Cover the bottle stand with green crepe paper
7. Put paper leaves at the bottom part of the glass bottle. 

Cars Birthday

Some ideas to add personalized touches to your kid's Cars themed birthday party, enjoy!

Lightning McQueen Expressions Lollipops

Materials Needed:

•  lollipops
•  red candy wrapper
• photosticker paper
• black pen

Procedure:

Double-wrap the lollipops in red candy wrapper. Draw several Lightning McQueen eye expressions on photosticker paper, then cut and stick on the lollipops.

Plastic Cup Trophy

 

Materials Needed:

•  a 6-liter plastic water-bottle or any container wide enough for the "cup"
•  400 ml water-bottle for the trophy's "body"
• any round old food container or ice cream tub with lid for the stand
• styrofoam or sturdy board for the wings
• gold spray paint
• gold glitters (optional)
• hot glue

Procedure:

Cut the upper portion of the 6-liter water-bottle and score a hole into your ice cream tub large enough for regular-sized bottle to fit in. Assemble these materials using hot glue. Make the wings using styrofoam or any sturdy board. You might need to cut or slit the sides of the "cup" to insert and fit the wings. When everything's glued securely, spray with gold paint. 

Cars Candy Cake

Materials Needed:

•  cookie tins in various sizes or any round old food containers
•  double-sided tape (the thin type)
• candies and chocolates
• cling wrap or candy wrap (optional) to protect container from the adhesive

Procedure:

Apply double-sided tape all around the side of the cookie tin. Attach the candies neatly. Cover the top with candies too and /or put another tier. Decorate.

Jungle Junction Birthday Banner

Here is the Jungle Junction banner I made for my son's third birthday. 

You can download and print the letters off this page if your child loves Jungle Junction too:

Jungle Junction Piñatas

Here is something from my son's last birthday: pull string piñatas I  made using 6-liter water bottles as bases for Crocker and Zooter; and a shoe box base for Ms.Jolly.