March 30, 2012 Ladies Creativity Night

Ladies Creativity Night 2 will be March 30th at 7pm. Hosted by Brandy Dean, where at my home.
Address will be given to anyone whom has never been to my house before. Send me a Facebook message and I'll send my address and phone number. Please call with any questions. FYI- We will be in my basement which is heated but I would still bring a sweater.
 Please remember to use a 40% of coupon at Hobby Lobby if you pull it up on your phone they will except it or you can go to Hobby Lobby's web site and print it out. Also if you sign up for Jo-Ann's mailer flyer you'll get a monthly sale flyer w/ coupons mailed to you.
 I will be provide a random beverage along with a mystery dish. It is open if you would like to bring yourself or a group beverage of your choice, along with a snack or dessert of your choice.

The following photo's will be the crafts you can make or modify to fit your needs.

The following is my craft suggestions:
 Please Facebook me with any other craft suggestions to post for the March 30th, 2012 Creativity Night.
You can get a glass candle sticks @ Dollar Tree and E-6000® Industrial Strength Adhesive glue at Hobby Lobby w/ 40% coupon, final or drawer knob for the top (be creative) and any kind of glass jar. View the several examples below:

Just any old glass jar and a drawer knob.

Glass candle stick, glass jar, final and paint.

Wooden candle stick, 2 - wooden round disc, glass jar, final and paint.

Simple: glass jar, glass candle stick.

Wooden candle stick, 1 round wooden disc, 4x6 or 5x7 picture frame, a final and paint.

Get creative here. Use chalkboard paint to add a label. These are cute for candy, potpourri, fake fruit, Betta fish bowl, plastic Easter eggs, jelly beans and kids hair pieces etc.
Here is the glue I was talking about it works well and if your gluing glass to glass it's water proof and dries clear.

Ladies Creativity Night

Ladies Creativity Night will be March 9th at 7pm. Hosted by Brandy Dean, where at my home.
Address will be given to anyone whom has never been to my house before. FYI- We will be in my basement which is heated but I would still bring a sweater. Please remember to use a 40% of coupon at Hobby Lobby if you pull it up on your phone they will except it or you can go to Hobby Lobby's web site and print it. Hobby Lobby has the ribbon 50% off Feb. 27- March 3. Pat Catan's always has great prices on ribbon.

 I will be provide  punch and water along with assorted chips. It is open if you would like to bring yourself or a group beverage of your choice, along with a snack or dessert of your choice. The following photo's will be the crafts you can choose from to make or if you prefer you can make both.

PROJECT 1 This is a faux metal tray/ platter painted with chalkboard paint. Your choice if you want to add a bow.

The following supplies will be need to make this project:
  1. Faux silver tray/ platter
(The trays at the Dollar Tree is way smaller then shown)( May have to search thrift stores)
  2. Foam brush 1" or 2 " inches wide
  3. Ribbon of choice 1" or 2" inches wide with wire edge at least 3 yards for a nice bow
(Wire edge ribbon will help the bow keep shape- the more yardage of ribbon the bigger the bow you can make.)

  4. 2-Pipe Cleaners/ Chenille stems small pk. you can get for under $1.00 matching ribbon color or as close as possible
(I do have some but not every color if that's fine with you can use one from me.)

  5. Chalkboard Paint
(Opinion is to buy a quart can at Home Depot -Black is $10.00 or you can buy Chalkboard paint that can be tinted at Home Depot $13.00 can be tinted 9 different colors. I have chalkboard paint in black and gray you can use mine unless you would like to have your own quart can this chalkboard paint can be addicting!) I have also seen this available in the craft paint section at Wal-Mart's.

PROJECT 2 This is a 10x13 picture frame w/ faux metal tray/ platter and bow. Using chalkboard paint to paint the center instead of the welcome letters.

The following supplies will be need to make this project:

  1. Faux silver tray/ platter
(The trays used for this project was purchased at the Dollar Tree)
  2. Foam brush 1" or 2 " inches wide (Only if you want to use chalkboard paint)
  3. Depending on the size of your faux metal tray is the size frame you'll need. This is a Dollar Tree Platter w/ 10x13 frame.
  4. Ribbon of choice 1" or 2" inches wide with wire edge at least 1 yard for a nice bow
(Wire edge ribbon will help the bow keep shape-If you want a different bow then more yardage of ribbon the bigger the bow you can make.)

  5. Paint your choice if you decide to paint your frame and a extra foam brush to paint with.
  6. 1-Pipe Cleaner/ Chenille stem small pk. you can get for under $1.00 matching ribbon color or as    close as possible
(I do have some but not every color if that's fine with you can use one from me.)

  7. Chalkboard Paint
(Opinion is to buy a quart can at Home Depot -Black is $10.00 or you can buy Chalkboard paint that can be tinted at Home Depot $13.00 can be tinted 9 different colors. I have chalkboard paint in black and gray you can use mine unless you would like to have your own quart can this chalkboard paint can be addicting!) I have also seen this available in the craft paint section at Wal-Mart's.

The tray on the top is from the Dollar Tree. The tray on the bottom from a thrift store for $2.99

If you plan on hanging your master piece then a nail will do or u can purchase a wreath hanger if you plan on hanging this on your front or back door.

Day 2 on My Crafting Quest

Crafting project number 2
So these are the big thing in the party planning world and I had to make one. Well my little cousin is like a second child to me and he has a Birthday come up so perfect. I'll make Garret one. If all goes well I'll make Kaitlyn one. I have to say he loved it! These wreath are easy enough to make but can be pricey depending on how you make it and the amount of balloons you use! I used the biggest straw wreath 18" bought at Hobby Lobby $4.99 but used 40% coupon. Best price on balloons was Wal-mart a big pack 12" balloons for 72ct $4.50 I used 2 bags plus about 10 extra balloons I had laying around. Pat Catan's best price for the u shaped wreath pins you need over 200 for $2.38. Curly ribbon I have like every color on a spool but only used the colors that coordinate with my balloon colors. I also used some cheap thin cotton ribbon to cover the straw wreath with before adding any balloons to give it a finished look all the way around and hide any spaces. I highly recommend this. Now on the ribbon do not use wire edge ribbon and remember that a metal u shaped wreath pin has to be able to go through the ribbon easily and cleanly. Then a scrap thin board (can use cardboard) covered with scrapbooking paper and used my cricut to cut the letter's needed to complete. Then hot glue on last.  Love how it turned out. I will say that not covering the hole wreath with balloons and adding the curly ribbon made it different from what I have seen and I liked it! FYI the bigger the wreath and more balloons used it does make the wreath heavy. Nice thing is this wreath can be stored in a cool dry place and used year after year! Make one with just balloons and curly ribbon and hang for any one's Birthday in your family! This can start a tradition in your family!!  On my curly ribbon I cut about 10 pieces at 15 inches long & stapled them to a small piece of paper in the center of the curly ribbon and then curled away. Not crafty they sell the curly ribbon the same way for gifts at the dollar store! Why a straw wreath? Simple answer if you are not a regular crafter then you do not realize how expensive styrofoam is these days! Plus I would wonder the stability of styrofoam!! Last I used the same pins here and there when placing your ribbon to keep it in place or hot glue just do not get carried away because you'll need to stick a balloon there later with a pin and the pins will not go through hot glue same with the curly ribbon! I used about 2 curly ribbon packs per side of orande, yellow, green, red and blue.

New Look!!! Still The creative side of me...Brandy Dean

So with the New Year 2012 I thought a fresh new look was in order along with many new exciting post! Coming Soon!

My New Blog-Brandy's Butterfly Kisses Boutique

Yes, I'm finally moving forward with my Boutique idea and now my Boutique blog is up now to get picture's and description of everything I have available for sale. Please Check it out: http://brandysbutterflykissesboutique.blogspot.com/

Day 1 on My Crafting Quest

Crafting project number 1- Valentine's Day Outfit

Matching everything!! Shirt, skirt, leg warmers, purse and hair bow!!

I wanted to make leg warmers out of women's knee high socks-Done

I wanted to take a pair of Kaitlyn's old jeans and turn them into a jean purse-Done

Need a complete cute Valentine's Day Outfit- Done

The Quest

Well this is the one time of year I have the extra time to almost craft daily. So my quest is 30 crafts in 30 days! I have my crafting journal and the last few months I have compiled a list of projects I want to make. So let the fun begin!

Polar Express Train Ride 2011

 Well I never heard of the Polar Express Train ride until my Aunt Nancy told me about it right before last Christmas. It runs out of Akron or Cleveland Ohio. It's the Cuyahoga Valley Cuyahoga Scenic Railroads. I took the following off their web site:

The Polar Express, Rockside-Independence Departure

Pajama Clad families board the train for this magical journey. This fun-filled excursion includes hot cocoa and cookies, a reading of the classic story, a lighted North Pole Village, caroling and a visit from Santa himself - all set to the music soundtrack of the motion picture!
Well as a joint Family Christmas gift my Aunt Nancy got us tickets to take the Polar Express ride but it was mostly for my daughter Kaitlyn. Well it ended up Hubby and I had as much fun as my daughter. I just can not say enough about this program. The hole thing is done through volunteers and the lead elf volunteer we had she was full of energy and spirit and she made this a great experience for us!!! She did a great job making the story come to life and keeping the kids involved. My 4 year old daughter has a short attention span and 2 1/2 hours plus wait time so 3 hours and she only got jittery the last 15 min. so over all hands down one of the best family activity to do before Christmas!!

You come in pajamas ready to ride like the Polar Express movie. The kids get a gold ticket just like the movie to board the train with. They play music and sound clips from the movie over a pa system in your train car. They narrated the store from Polar Express. They give the kids pencils and paper for them to make their Christmas wish list with questions they have to answer for Santa. Later they will collect this papers to drop off to Santa at the North Pole. The hole thing is based on heading to the North Pole. They stamped believe on Kaitlyn hand and when the train started to move they instructed the kids to blow on the believe stamped on their hands this is what gives the train magic to get moving!! They serve hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Ask the kids Christmas and movie related questions? The trip to the North Pole went fast before we new it we where there. They even have a little game they play with the kids to get them to clean the windows before getting to the North Pole. At the North Pole they have it all decorated with Christmas lights, a Christmas tree like the movie, elf's, snowman, Grinch and I can go on... lots of people in costumes outside the train waving as you pull into the North Pole. Santa Pulls up next to your train on a train with him and his sled on the back of the train. You never get out of your train but boy was it fun! Then the train heads off back to the original train station. You sing Christmas carols until Santa makes it to your car. He visits with each child and gives them a silver bell as a keepsake (like the movie...super nice we hung Kaitlyn's on Christmas Tree) and Santa asks the child if her or she believes in Santa if so they will enjoy the ringing of the bell. A little side joke he ask them to place the bell in a safe place not in a pocket with a hole. Before you know it the trip is over. They also had on the train a gift shop and a snack shop.

 I can not thank my Aunt Nancy enough for this Christmas gift. It is something we have not stopped talking about and will be a great Christmas Memory for my family!!

This picture was taken at home before heading off to the Polar Express!

Kaitlyn with her golden ticket to ride the Polar Express! The train can be seen behind her!

On the Train!

This is Santa visiting with Kaitlyn on the train!

Made with Love Christmas Outfit

Looking for that cute girly Christmas skirt and shirt but I never seem to find what I want or if I do they want way to much money! So I made a skirt for Kaitlyn at Halloween with tulle, satin and ribbon and it turn out cute but not full enough for me so this time 4 yards of tulle and  4 layers....perfect! I bought a plain white turtle neck shirt and made cute fleece flowers with ribbon. I just learned how to make these flowers off the web. I glued pins on my flowers so they can be taken off the shirt so the shirt can be washed and reused after Christmas. I also used the same flower and hot glued it to a hair clip for a matching hair piece. I made a cute fleece hat to match. Which I need to go get more fleece so I can make some more hats and flowers my daughter loves this soft and warm fleece hat and the hair barrette. I found these cute green hair bands at Pat Catan's with bells and instead of using them in her hair we used them on her shoes. I loved how cute this outfit came out so many complements!! Waiting in line at Wal-Marts today I was approached by a women who just loved Kaitlyn outfit and wanted to know where I got it. After she found out I made it then she want to know if I made them to sell she wanted one so bad for her little girl!! Does make you feel good to know people like your work!!

My own personal cute and lovable elf!!

Christmas Decor 2011

If you follow my blog or know me then you know I love to decorate for the holidays! This is my 2011 Christmas Decor! I love the country, primitive look and feeling.

Our home all festive!!

My snowman tree is my favorite!

Dining room tree is done in patriotic theme to match my dining room decor!

Master bed room tree my primitive angels!

Kaitlyn's Frosty the snowman tree!

Yes, even the bathroom has a tree!