Home Decor

You love to party. I love to party. We ALL love to party. And Alyssa McGrew, Little Black Dress Kit Club Design Team Member, loves to party more than most. At least, it seems like it when you see the party decor that she put together using the September 2012 scrapbook kit. A party is a party is a party, but adding the right decor to the big day can make a fun time just ridiculously fun!

Check out the party decor by Alyssa McGrew using this month’s scrapbook kit from Little Black Dress Kit Club with step by step instructions from the lady herself:

Banner:

1. Cut Pennant-shaped banners from patterned paper.  Mine are 4″ across the top, and 6″ long.

2. Using the stencil included in the kit, trace your letters onto the back of patterned paper.  Cut out using scissors or an exacto knife.

3. Die-cut or punch 2-1/2″ inch circles from mint polka dot paper.

4. Die-cut or punch 2″ scalloped circles from woodgrain chevron.

5. Layer the circles and letters, largest to smallest.  Adhere together, then to banner pieces.

6. Apply Washi to the top of each banner, trim edges

7. Attach banner pieces to ribbon.  Use ribbon from kit to form bows for the ends of the banner.

Treat bag toppers:

1. Cut base paper to 4′ time the width of the bag.

2. Fold in half lengthwise, so each topper fits over the treat bag opening.

3. Die-cut or punch 2″ scalloped circles from pink polka dot chevron.

4. Pie cut or punch 1-1/4″ circles from ledger paper

5. Print “Treats” on white cardstock, punch out with 5/8″ punch.

6. Layer the scalloped circles, the 1-1/4′ circles, and the sentiments, from smallest to largest.  Adhere to each other.

7. Cut 5/8″ strips of woodgrain chevron.  Adhere to front of toppers.

8. Adhere sentiments.

9. After filling backs with treats, staple bag topper over bag opening.

Cupcake Toppers

1. Die-cut or punch 2-1/2″ inch circles from mint polka dot paper.

2. Die-cut or punch 2″ scalloped circles from woodgrain chevron.

3. Hand cut or punch 1-1/2″  decorative embellishment from the Dear Lizzy papers.

4. Layer the circles from smallest to largest, adhere.

5. Wrap lollipop sticks with washi tape (using one strip of washi the length of your stick works best.  Lay the stick on lengthwise and roll.)

6. Glue the cupcake topper to the stick.  Add a strip of washi to cover the glue and add stability.

7. Add a small bow with Baker’s twine.

Invitations

1. Cut patterned paper from the kit to 1/2″ larger then your stamp on either side.

2. Stamp invitation on white cardstock with a coordinating ink.

3. Cut out invitaiton and adhere, centered, to the patterned paper.

4. Add a strip of washi for decoration at the top.

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Hope it was fabulous! Thanks for sharing all the fun little pieces of the big day with us here on the Little Black Dress Kit Club blog. We loved it and hope the big day went fabulously well.

Watch for more projects from Alyssa and the other Little Black Dress Kit Club design team members soon!

School’s Out for the Summer! It seems like just yesterday my son was jumping in my car yell-singing this song. But somehow, it’s almost time for school to start again! It makes me want to smile and pull my hair simultaneously. Yikes! Where did all that time go? Ginny Hughes put together a couple fantastic scrapbook projects this month using the Little Black Dress Kit Club July 2012 kit that reminded me that I’m almost out of time…well, summer 2012 time.

She may not have meant to remind me of school, but seeing her fabulous, customized folder mini album and her bookmark simply reminded me that I have to buy school supplies and get the kids finished up on their summer reading lists. Dang it.

To distract us all from the fact that we have much to do to prepare for the new school year, I suggest pulling out the latest Little Black Dress Kit and putting together something fun and special to include with the typical school supplies when the kids head off to school. Now on to see what Ginny put together to inspire all this hoopla!

First, check out Ginny’s It’s My Party kit bookmark:

Awww…I love Dr. Seuss. And I know that no kid wants to lose their “spot” when they’re in the middle of reading. Dr. Seuss is a genius and must have the respect of an official bookmark without dog eared corners. Love the use of the journaling to give the bookmark a little extra character with the “save my spot” in the bottom right corner. Also adore the use of the trim both on the top of the bookmark and as the final touch on the “flower.”

Next, check out what Ginny put together using the Heidi Swapp folder included in the It’s My Party scrapbook kit. She intended it be the beginnings of a fabulous mini album for her daughter. She made the folder for Adeline’s 2nd birthday. The plan is to put in some photos and the cards she gets on her big day and then do some journaling about the day. What a fabulous idea!

Of course, with my mind all stuck on back to school, I have to point out that customizing such a folder would make for a great addition to the kids’ binders. Better than a note in their lunchbox any day. Sometimes they don’t even USE their napkins at school (much to our despair).

Thanks for the inspiration Ginny!

For more projects from Ginny check out: Facebook, Pinterest, and all the other posts here on the Little Black Dress Kit Club Blog.

Folder Project by Valerie

I put together a handy little “good to know” folder this month with the Heidi Swapp file folder included in July’s kit. It has room for all that handy information you might need for an emergency, and would be especially helpful for a baby-sitter.

First I decorated the outside of my folder. I used mists by Maya Road Studio Calico. I let them dry a bit and then wiped down the folder with a paper towel to reveal the resist area. You will need two baseball card trading card protectors (available at most craft & hobby stores) along with your file folder. I simply cut the third column off the protector and it’s the perfect size.

Then I took a couple strips of washi and taped the page protector down along the side that I want to sew down. Tape down and sew the back page first. Once that’s done, add the front sheet, tape it down, and sew along the edge. I used washi tape because it comes up cleanly and won’t tear the folder.

Next I went to the computer and made a document for the inserts. You can download my document HERE. **(for personal use only).

Print it out on some pretty patterned paper included in the kit, write in your info, cut to size, and you’ve got a great little organized folder with all your important info. …And pretty enough to display on the refrigerator!

Guest Post from Valerie O’Neall – Little Black Dress Kit Club Designer:

Not that I don’t always love the colors in the scrapbook kit each month, but this month I LOVE LOVE the colors in this kit. It might have to do with the simple fact that I have a son, a son whose birthday we got to celebrate a couple weeks ago. I used this month’s kit to make some birthday party decorations. A travel theme was chosen due to the contents of the kit (June 2012 Less Work More Play), and I also threw in some bright randomness and confetti just for fun. I used almost the entire package of Glitz Happy Travels Whatnots to decorate the table with, and honestly I didn’t know what else to do with them since I’ve never been to any of the locations featured (except for Washington D.C. back in eighth grade). But they are absolutely perfect for a travel themed party!

I used Silhouette Studio and my Silhouette to create a banner and some garland for the wall. The “Happy Birthday” banner is available for you to download (birthdaybanner.studio)**. The banner is only available in Silhouette Studio format right now. I used a Silhouette shape for the garland, but it is really simply just 1 1/4” circles folded in half and glued together. You don’t need a die-cutting machine for the garland—any circle punch will work. The twine was placed through the middle before the last circle was added.

The cupcakes were decorated with the pins in the My Mind’s Eye Miss Caroline pins & buttons package, as well as an airplane and clouds cut with a Silhouette. Information on the airplane shape can be found below in the supply list. The clouds I drew myself in Silhouette Studio. If you’re serving the cupcakes to young children, please make sure you remove the pins for them!!! I wouldn’t normally put pins in cupcakes, but I think they’re cute and they kind of look like little raindrops.

A confetti effect was created with the Glitz Designs Whatnots, as well as random shapes cut with the Silhouette.

**The studio file needs a download link. Only people with Silhouette Studio (people with a SilhouetteSD or Cameo) will be able to use it. Here’s a download link for the file: http://www.voneall.com/LBD/birthdaybanner_voneall.studio Compliment of Valerie. THIS FILE IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. Thanks!

Supplies —Little Black Dress June Kit—patterned paper: October Afternoon, Bazzill Basics, Crate Paper, Basic Grey, Pink Paislee | Glitz Whatnots: Happy Travels | straight pins (in cupcakes): My Mind’s Eye [non kit items: baker’s twine: Martha Stewart | font (for banner): Blackout | toothpicks & wood skewer | Silhouette SD | Silhouette Shapes: 9_starburst_seal_set_C01751_20509, circles_1580, 3d_airplane_C03108_1, scalloped_globe_garland_C03098_1]

Christmas trees and ornaments are the most fun, aren’t they? I’m a little obsessed and can’t stand to stop adding new ornaments to the tree each year. The kids all get a new one each year and I can’t stay away from the after Christmas sales that leave me with a ton of new ornaments for the next holiday season. Then, of course, I can’t stand not to put together unique versions of my very own. Here are a few that I put together this year using the Rubies and Sapphires scrapbook kit from Little Black Dress Kit Club this November.

This fun and fancy Christmas tree ornament to adorn your own Christmas tree was made using the Rubies and Sapphires kit from LBD Kit Club in November. Items used from the kit include: book pages, music notes paper, corrugated cardboard, Glitz Design Whatnots (already shaped as a circle), cream lace star, embroidery thread to hang the ornament. Supplies used not from this month’s kit include: buttons (I used buttons that I had hanging around since they weren’t going to be displayed prominently in this project), silver glitter, Elmer’s glue (to adhere glitter on edges), hot glue gun (to put the project together), ink (to add a bit of distressing), Dymo labeler/labels (to add words: PEACE, JOY, HOPE on varying levels of the tree), turquoise tulle (from a previous month’s kit).

In this close up you can see the green ink/paint used to alter the corrugated cardboard, the Dymo labels that add to the project with words of your choice, the gold ink/paint applied to the vintage book pages, the accordion style flower created with the red music note paper, and, of course, the silver glittered edges.

This ornament is probably my favorite of the bunch. It is also created using the same kit, Rubies and Sapphires. The vintage children’s book page included in this particular kit was of Little Red Riding Hood. It was a MUST for a tree decoration. Fairly tales should decorate every aspect of life…and Christmas trees are no exception. You can see that the project fully featured the children’s book page included in the kit, the cream tulle (accenting Red Riding Hood’s skirt), the turquoise and pearl button/embellishment, Glitz Design Whatnot (as the background to the floating title), paper from the kit as the background for the picture, and the yellow/cream pom/pom strand is used as the ornament hanger (you can’t see, but the bow at the top displays the pom poms perfectly. It’s a great finishing touch). Also used for the project were the following items: silver glitter, Glassy Accents by Ranger, Bronze Mod Podge (homemade using Ranger bronze powder, Elmer’s glue and water), bronze Stickles by Ranger.

This ornament was made in pieces. The title was created separately from the main ornament. The main ornament was made as a circle until nearly completed and was then bent and hot glued to a piece of corrugated cardboard to hold the “bent” shape. The pom pom strand was then the point at which the floating title was glued into the point between the picture and its corrugated cardboard foundation piece to “float.” It’s difficult to explain in writing, but you can see in the picture the finished ornament can twist and turn on the tree and create a lovely effect.

In the closeup you can further appreciate the fun addition to the tulle/button on the skirt, the dusting of silver glitter, the Stickles, and the unique shape 0f the ornament. I just love a twisty turny addition to my tree!

One of my all time favorite sayings, “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” This fun Whatnot is created by Glitz Design and was included in the November kit. You’ll also notice the Victorian sticker, additional Glitz Design WhatNots (layered), navy pom poms, various buttons, Glitz Design epoxy stickers (Adventure, Wish, Dream), the red polka paper, and the blue bird button all from the LBD Kit. Items used not from the kit include: wire (for the hanger), Glassy Accents, bronze ModPodge (as described earlier) and hot glue to ensure the cone shape holds for the long run.

Here’s a closeup:

You can’t make just ONE cone…check out the full set!

Bronze modpodge and silver glitter combine with fabulous damask paper, huge red ric rac, a wonderful crystal button embellishment, a corrugated cardboard star, an accordion flower created using the red music note paper and vintage book page (all the from the kit) to create the second cone ornament for the tree.

We dubbed this one the “L O V E” cone because of the Glitz Design epoxy stickers across the top above the corrugated cardboard (embellished with silver glitter and lace from the kit) and topped with an accordion bow made using a brad from the kit and the mini vintage book page.

And never miss out on noticing the tassel inserted at the bottom of the cone using a coordinating paper from the kit:

And the last cone, “Celebrate every single day.” This is a simple ornament. Create the cone shape out of one of the gorgeous papers included in the kit, cover it with bronze ModPodge, let it dry, gather up the cream tulle from the kit, glue it vertically to the cone. Add a button (from the kit) to the bottom of the cone on top of the tulle. Space the Glitz Design epoxy stickers along the tulle for the “title” and then add a bluebird button at the top. I left a little bit of tulle sticking up at the top just for fun! I absolutely adore tulle!

Looking for new ornaments this year, but not able to find exactly what you’re looking for? Maybe you’ve already got the inspiration you need and it’s time to get started making some Christmas tree ornaments all your own! It’s far more fun than you realize.

Merry Christmas!