Tuesday, December 10, 2013

TUTORIAL!!!! Pretty Little Washi Tape Christmas Cards

Every year I like to send a photo Christmas card to everyone I know. Especially since most of my family doesn’t live here and my daughter is growing up so fast. Sometimes it’s the only way to see us. Yes, not everyone has Facebook. (Grandpa get on the ball with that! Hee hee!) But this year I didn’t have any great pictures to use, so I was going to skip it. Then Pick Your Plum posted their fabulous Cyber Monday sale…. And washi tape was included! OMG I am addicted to washi tape! I probably have 40+ rolls of it. I think it goes along with my obsession with office supplies. So washi tape…. It can do a million and one things and everything looks adorable with it when you are done! LOVE IT!! Well.. this year, I took my newly found Christmas washi tape and handmade cards for the family! It was super easy and I did 16 in about 3 hours. Each one is a little different. And I thought I would share with all of you what I did and maybe you could make some for yourself too! 

First, the washi tape. Start a collection of several different tapes that coordinate with each other. I used 13 different tapes. 

Second, you need blank note cards. Now you can get them in the scrapbook section of your local craft store, or you can use plain ones and cover them from the $1 section or $1 store. If you do that keep in mind that A LOT of washi tapes are mostly transparent, so don’t pick a card with a lot of detail to cover. The ones I grabbed were ivory with thank you embossed on them. 

Third, select the tapes that you want to use for this particular card. You can reuse the some couple over and over or you can use different ones for each line! It’s your card, there is no wrong way! 

Fourth, start laying the tape down! You can so horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines… whatever makes you happy! When you get to the edges, flip the card over and press down the excess tape. One of the great things about washi tape is that it rips really easy! You don’t need scissors unless you are super picky about having straight flush edges. 


Fifth, when you are done covering the card, you may need to cover up the design under the tape if it is peaking through. I made circle images to cover the “thank you” on my cards. I made these a FREE PDF download for you! You can also make your own, print small pictures to cover or even use bottle cap images you can find in various shops in etsy. Heck you can even use glitter and glue! Glitter makes everything better, right?!?! 

That’s it! You’re done! If you used a blank card, write a nice message on the inside, put in the envelope and send it one it’s way! 


Mine will be going out this week! If anyone has some that they would like to share, I would love to see them. You can post them on our Facebook page or email us at prettylittlepartieslv@gmail.com. 

XOXO!! 
Happy Holidays to Everyone! 
Ali

PS- Now what do you do with all this left over washi tape? Try the closet!!

PPS - If you really did read this to the end, please leave a comment with your favorite Christmas treat! I just want to see who is paying attention! :-P

Monday, December 9, 2013

Monday Funday: Cakewrecks

Monday Funday - Cakewrecks


If you have not yet had the privilege of experiencing the hillarity over at Cakewrecks, you owe it do yourself to check it out.  I highly recommend NOT having food or drink while viewing for risk of choking.  Most of the disasterous cakes featured are "professional", but I'm sure we can all relate.  I know I have had my share of cake wrecks.  Which is why I prefer to leave the cake baking to the professionals.  We are fortunate to have several fantastic bakeries in town that we can rely on for amazing creations. 


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Bits of Pretty and Inspiration: Snow in Vegas


It's snowing in Vegas!!! 
So, when you hit an obsticle today just remember
that anything is possible if it can snow in Vegas.
 

Friday, December 6, 2013

A Bit of Pretty Inspiration: Ballerina Tutu Party

Pink Ballerina Tutu Party

Who wants one???

I'm crying that my daughter is officially too old and cool for one of these.  I'm itching to make a tutu table skirt.  -E


Thursday, December 5, 2013

A Bit of Pretty: A few of my favorite things

I CANNOT WAIT!!!


I am SO SO SO excited for the Sound of Music Live with Carrie Underwood tonight.  That movie is a fav, she is a fav.  Plus its the inspiration for one of my all time fav sets  "Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens"

Party Recipes: Christmas Cookies

Cookie Exchange: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Will you be participating in a cookie exchange this year?  Or baking for your family?  We will be posting recipes for some of our favorites over the nex few weeks. 

We are starting with one of my favorites, Chocolate Crinkle cookies. There are several variations like lemon and even red velvet, but the classic chocolate remains at the top of my list.  -E

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Elf on a Ledge



That's me. I'm on a ledge! I'm super excited to do the Christmas Elf again this year. I got so many compliments on my little details last year that I developed the Christmas Elf Prep & Idea Kits for everyone. (https://www.etsy.com/listing/170418293/elfs-choice-christmas-elf-prep-idea-kit & https://www.etsy.com/listing/170413526/santas-choice-christmas-elf-prep-idea

I got a bunch of feedback from friends who have done the elf thing and got lots of support for doing it. Everyone agreed it was spot on and priced perfectly!

Well guess what... Nobody else seems to think so! I've sold one of them. One. We have 2k fans! Talk about a flop!

So what did I do wrong? I just don't know. Maybe you can provide me some feedback. Maybe. If you want to. 

So after spending dozens of hours making it perfect and listing it for sale, it's now November 30th. North Pole Breakfast & Our Elf, Jovie, are scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am soooooooo unprepared! I have no groceries to make a breakfast. And I went to the store! But I didn't buy anything for the North Pole breakfast! Sheesh. 


Well let's make do with what we've got, right?!?! And I've got the decorations covered. After all I spent dozens of hours for nothing. Someone may as well use it!

Guess who's printer runs out of ink at midnight?!?! THIS GIRL!! I got a few things printed. Enough to get started. Let's do this!

Table covered in wrapping paper? Check!
Elf out of storage? Check!
Paper cutting supplies? Check!
Just a few holes from being ready to assemble... The freaking hole punch breaks! Like it's not even repairable!! JUNK IT!


So I sit here laughing at my failure wanting nothing more than to go to bed and try again tomorrow. 

But then I remember... My daughter doesn't care if it's not perfectly hole punched. She doesn't care that it isn't magazine ready! All that matters is the joy of Christmas and the fun that can be created with practically nothing. 

Meh. It is what it is. And all will be ok!

So since I can barely give these things away, we are sponsoring Day 1 of Star Light Creations's 25 Days of Christmas giveaway. Where you can WIN A FREE COPY of the Elf's Choice Prep & Idea Kit... Just in case you want one!

Link to the Star Light Creations Facebook page:

So even if you aren't following along with Pretty Little Parties or even using our kit, please follow us on Instagram (prettylittlepartieslv). You can see my disaster unfold as I go! And I'd love to see your Elf Hijinks as well!! Tag any photos you would like to share with #PLPelfhyjinks 


Happy Elfing & Merry Christmas!
-Ali