Graduation: Party planning -- Making the favors!

So graduation is coming. In 5 weeks I'll be crossing the stage, receiving my diploma. It's been a long road, but at the age of 19, getting a bachelors degree is quite an amazing testimony to God's grace and provision.

- We wanna celebrate. Along with 3 friends, we're gonna paint the park red.. or vintage, or something and celebrate with loved ones-- friends and family from across the states!

Our theme is Brown paper/ and summer/spring colors.

--if anyone has sweet ideas, please let me know! We have some things in store :) Pendants galore. Fun memories from school. Pictures. Life. And sharing what God's done in our lives through these years!!

For the favors, we took scrapbooking paper. and LOTS of it-- to make envelop packets.. I think we made the pieces something like 4x6? maybe larger, maybe smaller. depends on what you wanna do!
Folded them all in half
and made little card stock cards with a grad cap -- saying Thanks :)

Then we combined the two! by Sewing :)-- we sewed around the perimeter and left about 1-1.5 inches open so we can fill them with sweets!

Finished they look like:

(we're not putting in the sweets til closer to the party but when they're full we'll clothes pin them to a metal grid :)

multiply that by like 150 and you've got our project! 

It's done. It took an evening and a morning.. not too bad for some personalized favors.. (unfortunately they'll probably be ripped up in no time by hungry little ones..)

Oh well! They're super cute :)

Next: working on the invites!!

**thanks to Linz for helping with this project!! you rock.

-Joji

Ties Galore

I went to one of my favorite stores yesterday. Last chance!
I was going to buy a few ties to do some fun stuff with, but then my mom called my attention to a grab bag of ties. Hello? YES! The price was right and the selection is excellent.

If you love crafting with neckties and love getting them for less than a dollar a piece. Head on over to my etsy shop!

I love passing on savings to other people! So enjoy

<3 Joji

p.s. that is a necklace made with a tie. and  let me tell you, its awesome! Get crafting folks.. :D

What do do with those tin cans- [tutorial]

Well, Here I am again before I head off to teach ESL tonight I'll give you a quick tutorial.
This is a great way to use those tin cans you have no idea what do do with! I saw the idea in a recycling magazine but there were no step by step directions. This can be altered in just about any way and they are super quick and fun to make.

This is the finished product that we're aiming for.

All of these items are recycled:
Some sort of cloth- mine is from an old pair of knee-shorts that just didn't look right.
A scrap of fabric to put around the middle
Tin can (any size, preferably not a can with the tab on the top where you pull the lid off: because those tend to be sharp, but its up to you)
Embellishments- I used button and wire
and of course, the skiz (err. scissors)
(and Hot glue. my bff)

When cutting the fabric, measure the circumference of the can and add a 1/2 inch so that you have enough to overlap when gluing

Here we are with the materials ready to go
In 5 minutes you'll have a sweet craft
ready.
set.
k

First puncture holes into the top of your can - to make the handle.
I would suggest using something OTHER than the knife. the tip might just break off. I speak from experience. cough.cough.

Now run a seam of glue down the side of the can and adhere the fabric to it starting at one end. then roll the fabric around to the other side. You can put a few "placement dots" along the way for more secure fabric.

(I used the inside of the fabric because it looked cool)
Now the can is wrapped
Now for the wire.

pop it through... and twist it to secure it on one end (for this size I would suggest about 9in of wire)
Then put it through the other side to make the handle.

I used wire to thread the button to use for the next step. It might be easier to just use thread-- but its up to you.

Glue the fabric strip around (really you can use anything to deck the can)

I started by threading the wire [under] the strip of glued down fabric

Then I popped it back up through and took pliers and worked it all together (twisting and twirling and so on)

Now its done, sorry the one side is blown out.. but its white over there (and um.. make sure you center things properly.. I'll try a little harder next time ;)

You can't really see it, due to -- said lighting -- but I put a tag on there with my friends initial and i hope to give it to her at school tomorrow. She's been begging me to make something for her.

wah-La (i know its usually spelled viola okay, internet, I really do!)

-- I made another one after dinner with a pop can- yes it IS called pop.. -- but i made some rolled flowers and bows and such. its cute too. I used a piece of khaki canvas to make the handle and I used safety pins to attach it to the sides. super cute rendition. 

Okay. Now to go teach some English, and love those that God's called me to love.

It's almost V-day. I don't have  a V-- yet. but in due time, i'll wait patiently for him to come. In the mean time, i'll get to see my Nephew, ty, for Valentines day. Sweet valentine in my humble opinion!!!