Wedding Invitation Keepsake Ornament

With all of the weddings I have attended, I have a surplus of wedding invitations lying around that I can't bring myself to throw away. On the other hand, my house is cluttered enough, and I certainly don't know where I'll store them with the limited storage space we've got. Finally, it dawned on me (about 25 weddings too late)...I could give the invitations back to the bride and groom in the form of a keepsake ornament that they could hang up around Christmastime year after year. With my friends Sarah and Steve getting married this Saturday, I thought they'd be fantastic guinea pigs to receive the first edition of this gift! Here's how it's done...

Materials:

-wedding invitation

-scissors

-round pencil or pen

-clear, glass ornament

-ribbon

-lighter

-charms

-split ring

Instructions:

1. Cut invitation into thin strips so that there is one line of script per piece cut (refer to picture below). Since this particular invitation had cardstock 

    behind it, I decided to separate the cardstock from each of the strips and use them for added color inside of the ornament.

2. Using a rounded pencil or pen, curl each strip of paper tightly around it and slide off the pen or pencil to avoid unraveling

3. Place each of the "curls" inside of the glass ornament.

4. Cut about 8" of ribbon in a corresponding color and tie to the loop at the top of the ornament, creating a way to hang the ornament from a Christmas 

    tree. Fray the edges of the ribbon using a lighter.

5. Cut about 14" of ribbon and tie around the top of the ribbon, creating a bow in the center of the ornament. Trim off excess ribbon. Fray the edges of 

    the ribbon using a lighter.

6. Place the charms on a split ring and close the split ring around the center of the bow so that the charms dangle in the middle of the ornament for 

    added embellishment.

Here's to a lifetime of happiness and wedded bliss!!!

Bunny Bag (template included)

Last Easter, I posted these adorable bunny bags and thought I would revamp them a little and post them again this year! The best news? I have made it even simpler by creating a printable (includes ears, nose, and four paws) that you can simply print and cut out and then adhere to the bag! Doesn't get any simpler than that, and its perfect for a last minute, Easter craft!

Materials:

-bunny printable

-scissors

-white paper bag

-double-sided tape

-black permanent marker

1. Print out bunny template.

2. Cut out bunny ears, nose, and feet (I cut out the black lines, as I don't like the overall look with them)

3. Using double-sided tape, adhere the ear, feet, and nose pieces to the bag. Adhere google eyes and draw on a mouth, teeth, and whiskers with a black, permanent marker to complete!

Hope you've enjoyed all my bunny-inspired crafts and that you have a wonderful, Easter holiday filled with family, fun and lots of CHOCOLATE!!!

Bunny Gift Bag

     I have to be honest in saying that I have NOT been in much of an Easter spirit this year, which is a shame, since its my little one's first Easter, but it just doesn't feel like Peter Cottontail is hippity hoppity on his way (or however the tune goes). This may be partially because of the fact that Easter has come so early this year, but the majority of my melancholy-ness is because it is SO FLIPPING COLD and DOESN'T FEEL A BIT LIKE SPRING!!! Yes, I know that I live in Pittsburgh, PA and that cold is to be expected, but its almost April, and I am declaring a legit breakup with Mother Stupid Nature!!!

     Aaaand, now I will carefully step down from my soapbox and get back to the point. The weather has (finally) been warming up a bit, and I am actually starting to get excited about Claire's first Easter (and not a moment too soon, since its on Sunday), so I present you with a simple, quick, and inexpensive gift bag for Easter goodies. I simply bought white gift bags (2 for $1 at my local dollar store, HOLLA! Yes, folks, I did, in fact, just say holla, and I am not ashamed!) and used white cardstock and scissors to cut out bunny ears and bunny feet and pink cardstock to cut out the insides of the ears, nose, and paws. Using double-sided tape, I stuck all of my pieces on accordingly, used a permanent marker to draw on a mouth and eyes and put my little gifts and tissue paper inside. This would also work for a classroom project, egg hunts, or gift bags for an Easter party! And speaking of gift bags, here is a sneak peak at the gift bags for the kids attending Claire's panda-themed, 1st birthday party! In case anyone is keeping track, she will not be 1 until July 1st, but I love an excuse to throw a themed party filled with craft projects, so BACK OFF!!!

HAPPY EASTER, FRIENDS!!!