Tangled Birthday Party!!

My sweet little Piper is 7-years-old this month and her "kid party" is at a local gymnastics studio where we have picked a Disney Tangled theme!  This place provides great games and supervised trainer-driven activities out on the floor, but requires the parent to do all the decorating and take care of all the food in the party room.  They don't even provide invitations, so this party is just screaming for some creativity!! 

I used some super-cheap supplies I purchased at Walmart (curling ribbon, paper bags, textured cardstock packs, treats for favor bags).  I found all of the movie images I needed via Google Images.  Along the way, I found the original Disney artwork for the movie and fell in love with Claire Keane.  Her artwork -- which was the artwork that Rapunzel painted on her walls in her tower --  was the influence for the colors for the cardstock and for the fabrics I used.  I have a link to her site at the end of this post-- check her out!

First project:  Favor Bags!

I used an image of Pascal I found on Google Images and added text using Microsoft Word for text wrapping and positioning. 

Once I created the message, I copied it several times on a single page and printed the page as a guide.  I cut white cardstock circles using Mini Monograms, page 126, at 3-1/2".  I lightly taped (barely) the top edge of a circle over each of the Pascal messages on my page and placed it back in the printer and printed the art onto the circles.  I repeated this until all the circles were printed.

Next, I cut scalloped circles for the base of the tags using Mini Monograms again at 4-1/2" (page 129).  The black flower that is layered in between the scallop and printed circle was cut from the same cart, page 128, at 3-1/4".

The printed circle and flower were attached to each other via ATG tape.  They were attached to the scalloped base with a 7/16" Ranger pop dot.  The base was attached to the bag with ATG tape.  The bags were filled with bubbles, watercolor paints, glittery bouncy balls, stampers, rings, and lots of candy, then the tops were folded over and holes for the ribbon were cut with a hole punch.  Colorful curling ribbon was fed through, tied, and curled.

Next:  the banner!
I used the scalloped pennants from Country Life (page 46), cut at 8-3/4".  I found more movie images and printed them on white cardstock.  I cut them using Mini Monograms (page 126) at 5" using the Centerpoint feature.

I knew I wanted to use paper rosettes with these to get a little dimension to give a hand-made look.  I found a great tutorial that made it super easy.  Check it out by clicking here.  I used a trimmer that I have outfitted with a scoring blade to assist with the folds for the rosettes.  For each, I cut two strips of paper 12" x 2.5".  I scored them at every 1/2", adhered the two to make one long strip and then adhered to form a circle.  I trimmed the tips at an angle to give them a bit of shape.

Instead of the button and thread used on the tutorial, I used a small square of card stock and Elmer's gummy dots on the top and bottom to hold in place.

Stickles was added to the top edge of each fold to add a little sparkle.  The printed circles were adhered on top.

The pennants with letters were made with circles cut from Mini Monograms (page 126) at 5-1/2" and 3" letters cut from Elegant Cakes with the shadow feature.  The letters were run through the Xyron and glittered with Martha Stewart glitter.

The pennants were joined with more of the curling ribbon that was used on the favor bags for continuity.  I added 3/4" dots that cut with a punch from scraps of each of the colors. 

Next:  the centerpiece!  I used more movie images that I printed onto cardstock.  Using white floral tape, I covered wooden skewers and then taped them to the back to use as picks.

I placed floral foam into a metal container, tucked in all my pictures using the skewer pick, then covered the base with Easter basket grass I found in my gift wrap stash.  I made 3D flowers on the Cricut using Pagoda, cut at 1-1/2" and my 3/4" circle punch.  

I placed these in the purple grass with a bit of glue.

I found a great picture of Flynn climbing up the tower and used ATG tape to adhere it to the container.  Narrow ribbon was tied around the container and secured the beaded purple butterfly accent.

Next:  Table Squares and Table Decor!

I found great fabrics for table squares that coordinated with the movie pictures and cardstock I used.  I have found that 22-1/2" or so squares of fabric work better for party tables and buffets.  They are cheap (5/8 yard will make 2; 1-1/4 yard will make 4), easy to hem quickly with the narrow rolled hem feature on the serger, and a snap to iron and launder. 

When serging, remember to change the throat plate for rolled hem, remove the left needle, and tighten the looper tension dials by three.

A dap of Fray Check on the corners needs time to dry before trimming the tails and pressing the cloths.

I used the inspiration picture, printing two on a page of cardstock and flipping one image, for table decorations where the kids will be sitting.  I cut out and popped up a commercially printed Rapunzel.  3D cricut roses added a fun dimension to the tent cards.  For info on how to make the roses using your George cart, check out Kathy Orta's great video tutorial!  I cut my inital shapes from George using the blackout shadow feature per Kathy's video, at 1-1/2".  I added a flower from Pagoda, cut at 1-1/2", and some layered flowers from George, cut at 1" and 1-1/2". 

I created a "Happy Birthday Piper" word art banner in Microsoft Word, hand-cut it, and applied it with pop dots.  Both sides of the tent cards are identical.

So, we have a family dinner on her actual birthday, and I've set everything up that we will using at the kid party to brighten up my dark dining room and to let Piper enjoy the decorations that we have planned for her kid party.  All that's left is the food and cupcakes for two parties... and cupcakes to take to school... and treats to take to ballet... gotta love bein' a kid!

In addition to the favor bags for the kids, I have a take-away craft project that I printed on cardstock.  This is a 3D Pascal to color and create.  Click here to link to Disney Family's pdf!  I love that website for Disney projects for kids!

Also - be sure to check out Claire Keane's site.  Her artwork is stunning.  If you loved Rapunzel's walls, then you will love her work!  Check out the video she has embedded on her site that she did with her husband Vincent, another artist from the movie.  Oh, and if you are excited by the colors she uses, you might be interested to know that their child is named Matisse.

Enjoy and thank you for looking at my blog and projects!  I am most happy with this because these projects have been a labor of love for my little Piper!