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May 15, 2013 2 Comments

banner ~ how to hang with no wall

So you know when you have a fun party planned, but there is no place to hang the banner… Oh yeah. With as many parties as I’ve hosted and styled I’ve been there a ton of times!

Sometimes there is no wall… or even a front of a table! {ugh}

So here’s what I suggest! Make a simple wooden stand to string your banner between.

Here’s what you’ll need to make a banner stand:

two small round wood bases,
pack of dowel rods,
white spray paint,
drill, and
wood glue

And here are the simple DIY steps:

Drill a hole in the center of each base.
Paint the two bases and two dowel rods.
Place a bit of wood glue in the hole and insert the dowel rods. Let dry.

That’s it. Easy as one-two-three!

You can find the banner, beverage wrappers, napkin rings, dessert tags and more for my Pool Party Splash Bash in the shoppe. I’d love for you to stop in and browse!

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Seen here with Kim Byers of The Celebration Shoppe first.

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Join The Celebration Shoppe on facebook, sign-up for the daily ideas to come right to your inbox (never miss an idea, giveaway or free printable!), connect with Kim on twitter, pinterest and on instagram. And don’t forget to shop the party store for birthday, baby shower and holiday party supplies. Oh, and now you can follow the blog with Bloglovin too! Hope to see you around!

party hat ~ video tutorial

Party Hat

Hi everyone! I’m really starting to love making video for my You Tube channel. Today I’m sharing a quick video tutorial for party hats! We’ve all bought the general party hat for a birthday party and now I’m going to show you a super simple way to dress it up. {grin}

Fringe!

You only need a few supplies and few minutes and that regular old party hat gets a make over!

This little project was part of my craft series with JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores for their Creativity Made Simple initiative. If you’ve not already, please hop over to read my Q&A feature, see more craft projects including how to make simple beverage wrappers, a circus cake topper and more. Plus learn about how JoAnn and the Craft and Hobby Association are helping us reclaim our craft time!

And if you like what you see I’d love for you to help a girl out and subscribe to my You Tube channel! {big smile}

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

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how to make a wreath ~ video tutorial

Want to learn how to make a simple wreath? Rather watch a how to craft video than read my tutorial? {smirk} It’s okay, I’m visual too. Bring on the photos and the video please! {grin}

Well, no worries. If you like to read the tutorial (and see step-by-step photos) I’ve got you covered and if you’d rather watch a craft video, I’ve got you covered there too!

Today I’m sharing the second craft video that I made with the JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store team for their Creativity Made Simple video series.

how to make a wreath

Here are a few shots of the wreath. The blue and gray chevron was perfect for a blue bird baby shower I was working on and the yellow and gray is hanging in my kitchen right now! {smile}

I’d love for you to subscribe to my You Tube video channel and JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store’s channel too! And you can learn more about my projects with JoAnn and their Creativity Made Simple campaign, all about helping us find the time to be creative even when life gets busy, at JoAnn.com.

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

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how to make a cake topper video

Want to learn how to make a cake topper?

As I shared in my behind the scenes with JoAnn post last week, I’m working with JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores as their craft influencer for the month of May!

JoAnn and the Craft and Hobby Association are on a mission to help us cre8time! I don’t know about you, but crafting and creating relaxes me. And before you think it, nope. Not everything in my craft room turns out right the first time. As a matter of fact, sometimes half the fun for me is making a mess and learning how I could have done something better!

As part of the cre8time initiative, JoAnn has started the Creativity Made Simple project, sharing fun and easy ideas that we can make in 1-2-3!

For my first Creativity Made Simple idea, I’m sharing how to make a cake topper! Watch the how to video and hop over to JoAnn for a complete list of craft supplies.

And I’d love for you to subscribe to my You Tube video channel and JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store’s channel too!

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

behind the scenes with JoAnn

Today I’m sharing a bit about a project I’m working on with the amazing team at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores.

JoAnn is talking Creativity Made Simple. It’s all about finding the time do what you love when life gets busy.

As part of Creativity Made Simple, JoAnn has selected one crafter to feature each month all year long. And they asked me to be their May craft influencer! {Yep, that’s my face on the homepage of the Creativity Made Simple!} I couldn’t be more honored.

You see, when I was still in my corporate career I would escape to JoAnns and a book store (located just next to my office) for a long lunch break to dream of starting my own company and to browse the isles for all the crafty things I was going to get into on the weekend. And to have such an amazing brand ask me to be a craft influencer only five short years later… well let’s just say that I feel incredibly blessed!

So as part of my role as craft influencer for the month of May, I created a new circus party idea for JoAnn. As well shot three videos showcasing easy ideas to help viewers craft their way to a fabulous party! Over the next few days I’ll be sharing the videos and more! {giddy}

Kim Byers

In the meantime, here’s a peek at the behind the scenes of my video shoots!

The JoAnn team was not only kind, professional and super helpful, they were also a riot. If only I had some of my out-takes to share with you. Oh the faces I made when I messed up! {smirk}

Kim Byers

For those of you that follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen these before. And if you don’t, I’d love for you to join me. I’m under “The Celebration Shoppe.”

Kim Byers

Much more coming about my projects and videos with JoAnn and Creativity Made Simple. Until then, and as always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Happy Thursday!

how to make marshmallows

Ever wonder how to make marshmallows? How to decorate marshmallows? How to color and cut marshmallows?

Well I’m happy to share that my friend, Alejandra Morin, author and creator at The Marshmallow Studio, has a book coming out and it will tell you everything you need to know about marshmallows! It’s called mARTshmallows. Clever name right! When you see all of creations you will absolutely think ART!

Pre-order your copy at mARTshmallows.com today! She has special gifts for her first 1000 orders!

And make sure you visit her blog, The Marshmallow Studio, now. She has tons of ideas and tutorials for making creative marshmallow treats!

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

teacher appreciation week party

This teacher appreciation week party is just a little peek at all the amazing ideas you’ll find in the latest issue of Bird’s Party Magazine. Bird has curated ideas from many amazing party bloggers for each issue and this issue offers ideas for everything from fairy parties to mermaid parties to ice cream parties. It’s just packed with fun ideas.

This adorable teacher appreciation week party was styled by Karen Ayars, photographed by Nicole Alberston, with printable teacher appreciation party décor from Sunny by Design and Day Signs by Day.

Hop over and scroll through Bird’s Party Magazine for all the party details including links to all the amazing creators and vendors.

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Mother’s Day picnic + gift ideas

We always celebrate with a picnic. It’s my way of getting to enjoy the day too. No house to clean, grab some awesome goodies from the store, pick a patch of grass and call it a party! {wink}

Mothers Day party

My family celebrated Mother’s Day a little early this year. See, my brother and his beautiful family live down south and I live in Ohio. We only get to see each other a few times a year and so when we do we try to cram in all the holidays and celebrations we can. Well this week he’s here!

Mothers Day Picnic

I normally would share my awesome mom with you when talking Mother’s Day, but this year I want to honor my sister-in-law. My brother and his wife were blessed with three girls and a boy. All of which are now in college or in their last few years of high school. Then along came baby!! They were blessed with one more. And did they hit the lottery!

Mothers Day

My sweet little niece is so incredibly precious. Bouncy red hair, a sprinkling of freckles and a loving personality. And what makes her even more special, she has Down Syndrome.

I’m sharing this with you today for a few reasons. One, I love my sweet little niece and I want to show her off.

AND, because my sister-in-law, her mom, deserves some praise. She’s a calm and relaxed personality by nature. When she and my brother were in high school he used to take me along on their dates sometimes… yep. My parents were getting divorced and he and I lived in two separate homes at the time so we didn’t see each other as much as we wanted so he’d let me tag-a-long. And you know what, she never seemed to mind. As a matter of fact, she even acted like she enjoyed having me around. Even though I was 12 and they were 16. They’re just kind hearted, loving people.

And now I watch them with their little girl and I think God chose this little soul especially for them. My sister-in-law with her gentle nature, never ending patience and big heart makes me proud to call her family.

So now that I’ve gotten a bit teary-eyed, let’s talk Mothers Day picnics. As I mentioned at the beginning we’ve been hosting them for years at a local park. The kids play, we eat — no mess, no fuss. This year we took my niece to the zoo, but no matter where you go, you can host the day with style!

World Market Store Ohio

I chose to shop World Market. Everything in the store is just so bright and bubbly right now. And there is tons of chevron… hence the aqua and white chevron throw we used for our picnic. My little niece took a liking to it. It will be going home with her (and her momma). {grin}

And not only does World Market have lovely décor for the day, they have some awesome Mother’s Day gift ideas too. I would suggest looking at the jewelry and the Scarves!

By the way, World Market is hosting a “My Amazing Mom” Sweepstakes - just like them on facebook and nominate your mom or other deserving mother figure for a chance to win a $5,000 World Market gift card. You’ll upload a photo and tell what makes her special. You can find World Market around the web too: Store, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and even Instagram.

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and World Market, but all my opinions are my own. I would have it no other way! #pmedia #MyAmazingMom. http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

cala lilies, easy Mother’s Day craft

Cala lilies were my wedding flower. Such an elegant and beautiful flower. AND, such an easy flower to recreate with crepe paper for a Mother’s Day craft!

I’m talking Mother’s Day on Red Barn Blog this week. Join me for the quick 1, 2, 3 (pictorial) of making this easy crepe paper craft!

Plus, download my FREE Mother’s Day subway art print and gift tags (that you can personalize before you print!) while you’re there.

See you there! And as always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Mother’s Day craft – monogram pots

My little alien and I made a Mother’s Day craft yesterday. {grin}

He’s six now, so he’s incredibly independent and always wants to do everything by himself.

Mothers Day Craft

As you ladies know, when it comes to paint we can cringe a little sometimes. But guess what?! The new Modge Podge Washout… washes out… of clothing and furniture with soap and water, even when it dries before you get to it! It’s perfect for us and teachers. Just machine wash whatever it is. No pre-soak needed. And I use Apple Barrel paint all the time because clean-up is so easy when it’s wet.

So I set him up with a few supplies and let him go. There is something to be said for just letting kids be creative. For this project you’ll need:

Mod Podge Washout
Apple Barrel paint (we used Candy Pink and Lime Tree)
Stencils
Sponge brushes
Tape
Fabric
Wooden sticks
Permanent pen
Plants and soil

Mothers Day Craft

We started by making plant markers. He dipped them in Apple Barrel paint and then we stood them upright to dry in a cup of uncooked rice.

Mothers Day Craft

Next we moved on to decorating flower pots. He wanted to monogram one with an “M” for Mimi, what he calls my mom.

Mothers Day Craft

And then he wanted to monogram one with an “L” for Love. I think the “L” was also the easiest letter to cut out of the fabric. “G” for Grandma seemed like too much work. {wink}

As you can see, he painted over the “L” but it does take a while to dry. If you’re in a hurry, you could also just douse the letter in Mod Podge Washout and apply.

Mothers Day Craft

Now on to planting. He chose these Begonias from our trip to the nursery. He and I both loved the deep and bright orange color!

Mothers Day Craft

By the time he was done planting the plant markers were dry and he wrote sweet little messages on them.

Mothers Day Craft

One of the things I loved most about this project is that my little guy can claim that he truly did this project on his own, which of course will make it that much more special to his Mimi and Grandma. Now, if you know them, just don’t ruin the surprise. {wink}

Want more Mother’s Day craft ideas? Follow my Mother’s Day Ideas board on Pinterest. You can also

As always, I hope you’re inspired to craft, bake, create and celebrate!

Big thank you to Plaid and Blueprint Social for letting us test drive their new Mod Podge Washout product and for the bit of payment. Yes, I did get paid to craft with my kiddo. I know. I love my job! But all opinions are my own of course. You ladies know I would have it no other way!

banner ~ how to hang with no wall

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behind the scenes with JoAnn

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