Thankful!

Thanks so much, y'all, for all your support and encouragement this year!! I appreciate each and every one of you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! :)

{Tutorial} Sock Hop Party! + Template

Ya'll know I have two blogs - a personal one and this - the Pressed Clovers one.  I like to put all my fun crafty things here, so if you are looking for fun crafty things, you can just keep scrolling through the pages and won't be bogged down with photos from my family and friends.

This post is THE MOST visited post on my personal blog.  The Sock Hop Party. When my sister and I wanted to do this theme we knew we had a lot of space to cover and not a lot of money.  With lots of online research for ideas, this is what we came up with, which was very budget friendly.  I hope you can use it for your own party and please share your ideas with me! Well do it again one day and I'd love to have your feedback and input. :)

Enjoy the Sock Hop Party and have a great weekend!

Sock Hop Party Ideas

When my sister and I decided to decorate for my Mom's 60th birthday party, we really wanted to do the "Sock Hop" theme.  We were, however, flat broke and couldn't spend insane amounts of money on decorations. Therefore, a little creativity came into play. :)

After searching and Pinning my ideas and thoughts, I came up with centerpieces, a birthday sign and a focal point for very little money.  Work - yes. But I can handle work.

** NOTE ** please use these idesa and abuse these ideas! I'm loading them here for you to steal and improve and enjoy! This way YOU aren't starting from scratch like I did! :)

1)  The centerpieces.  I found this picture online of records stacked up with a dancing couple on top. Loved it!


Surely I can re-create this, right?  Indeed, I can. And I did. I used one real record, purchased at a thrift store, for each centerpiece. If I would have had more time, I'm sure I could have stacked.

But anyway, I covered the labels using circles that I cut out from blue poster board. I used superglue to attach the circles to the records.

I also used spray glue and gold glitter to jazz it up, but that was a mess, smelly and a pain. I don't recommend it.

The templates for the people are below. I used their people for a guideline and tweaked it into what I liked just a bit better. Each person took up one piece of 8.5" x 11" paper.  Then I traced it onto a flat box top to use as a template, placing their hands close together, like they were holding hands.  My template piece combined the two people into one solid piece, joined at the hands.  When you print these out and cut them out, you will need to flip one over, so they are facing.  I could get three couples out of one piece of black poster board, thanks to the sticker that I couldn't remove on each piece (otherwise, I could have gotten four). GRRRrrr....

A little note about black poster board - when you cut it, depending on how you cut, there is a white outline on one side of the poster board. This didn't bother me, however, if you are a perfectionist, I'm giving you forewarning.

The long tabs are where you will bend the paper and glue it to the record. (This is where the glitter caused havoc, making my people not want to stick to the record.) I also used superglue for this. I spread their legs apart a ways to help steady them on the record.  I also tied a piece of pink ribbon around her ponytail for cuteness.  My picture is on this page... one that I didn't glitter. I do recommend waiting until you get to your location to do this, because it is very hard to travel with these.

Don't make fun of my shoes and say it looks like a drunken monkey did it. I couldn't see their feet on the example, so ... yeah. Just make yours look better, ok?

I also used this same template and a projector to make life-sized people.  Instead of carting the fridge box everywhere, I taped wrapping paper to the wall with the white side up and copied the people onto that as a template. The girl requires two strips of wrapping paper because of her skirt. Then we traced it onto the cardboard and used an exacto knife to cut. When it got dull, we used an old bread knife, which worked pretty good!  Instead of tabs on their feet, I just made them into a large rectangle at the very bottom, so I could glue/tape a box to the bottom for steadiness.  It worked great. We did have to put a brick in one box, but that was pretty much it. For the girl, just to make sure she was ok, I used a piece of cheap pipe from Lowe's and taped it up her back. This was cheaper than dowel rods.  I also bought some yard sticks for .69, but didn't end up using them. Of course, you need to spray paint your people.  I also used a scarf to tie around her ponytail. Here is the entire focal point section below.

The checkerboard backdrop was purchased at Party City, 40 feet for $20.  I didn't use all of it. (The green you see is a chalkboard - our event was held at an old school/now community center). The "records" were huge pieces of round cardboard that I got from work. But with some spray paint and labels from poster board added, they made a great decoration. Superglue didn't work well for paper-to-paper, so hot glue and spray glue was used. The Rock and Roll sign was part of a set of "Scene Setters" at Party City, which included a huge jukebox, 2 guitars (which I didn't use) and the Rock and Roll sign.  The jukebox is at the far side of the stage, but I didn't get a picture of it. Sorry!

For the Happy Birthday banner, I did buy a "make it yourself" type of banner at Party City, so I would have the vinyl background and sticker letters.  Then I used black poster board to make records and orange paper for the labels, so Mom's name would stand out.  So it wasn't quite as cool at my original idea (see below) but it was an acceptable substitute on short time.  Another thing that you want to finish assembling at your venue.

The original idea...



My substitution

I found this great decoration idea somewhere that was a clock/record that had this "Rock Around the Clock" theme. I had to have it. But not at that price.  So, with another piece of round cardboard, I tried to be creative and do a shortcut. I glued a black plastic tablecloth to the circle.  Just don't do that. It's wrinkly and messy.  Spray paint instead. Oh well, live and learn.  However, I found these record plates at Party City on sale!!! Small ones and big ones, which was perfect! More blue poster board and some hot glue and we have our very own Rock Around the Clock theme!  Again - finish it at the venue. This was a very last minute thing, so make yours look better, ok?

Their clock

My clock

In honor of mom, we did a photo collage of pictures throughout the years.  Added a record from poster board from the top with the words, "Barbara's Greatest Hits" on the label.  This cardboard came to our office with posters inside, so it was a solid back and the two sides folded to meet in the front. Perfect - it would stand on its own. You can get these display boards at Wal-Mart, too.  I glued a themed tablecloth from Party City to the cardboard and made the border from black poster board.  We glued each photo to black or blue paper to make it stand out on the background. This is what people loved - photos of mom from baby to 60!  I'm so glad we did this.  Thankfully, I had already scanned in many of her baby pictures and 20's pictures for another project and could just print them at Walgreens for quick pick up. 

For the tables, the venue had white paper tablecloths and we just used cheap plastic ones for the dollar store, cut into diamond shapes, to add some color.  Add the centerpieces and you are good to go! We later added the smaller records (45's) to each side.  The kids loved them - they had never seen records!!

I really hope this helps someone have a great party - at least using this as a jumping off point.  We had a great time, add some oldies music on an ipod with some decent speakers and my Mom and her family danced half the night!!! It was great!

If you do use any of these ideas, or if you have some great ones of your own, PLEASE SHARE some pictures or just the ideas themselves!! I'd love to see in case I ever do this again! :) Thanks!!

Autumn is {Finally!} in the Air!

Ya'll, it's finally cooling off in the South, and we are getting a touch of fall color in the trees. I've been waiting to switch the AC over to heat and - although I haven't done it yet - I'm thinking surely before THANKSGIVING I'll be able to make the great switch (right?!).

So here is the latest in pumpkins on the hill.  The hill consists of three houses - mine, my sister and her family, and my parents.  Katie has made three pumpkins for gifts so far.  I've decorated the office with an extremely tacky pumpkin and this one is for the house.

I know I have other "tutorials" on how to make fru fru pumpkins on this site, but let me tell you about this one.  I didn't see burlap ribbon in the dollar store so I had to improvise.

Here is how it goes:

• Buy a cute pumpkin
• Visit the dollar store for cheap leaves. Either the pack of leaves or pictured are leaves from two "bunches" so I could get green, red, orange and yellow
• Grab some hot glue sticks or straight pins
• Find a cute kitchen towel 
• Grab some packaging tape

To make my own ribbon I shredded a kitchen towel! Simply snip one end (I wanted shorter strips) and pull really hard. It makes the great frayed ends.  For one strip I put packaging tape down the length to make it stiffer.  This was used for the bow. 

I chose to hot glue everything for this pumpkin. Just a few dots to hold everything in place.  And I tried not to over do it with the leaves, which is usually my downfall.  I have a few more decorative items I can use on it tonight, but I'm liking it ok as is. 

I love these - great inexpensive centerpieces for Thanksgiving and they last forever (not really forever, but through the holidays, for sure!).  

Sweet Baby Boy Book

I realized as I watched my baby boy paper supply getting low, I've done several baby boy books and not so many baby girl books! And what do I get an order for today - another baby boy book! Ha! Sounds like I may need to go shopping. :)

This one was a gift to my b-i-l's niece.  She's having her boy in October, naming him Lane.  Isn't that sweet? Anyway, enjoy the pics!

Cute cover for baby Lane.  All Boy! Judging by the amount of Carhart this child received at the shower... all boy describes him well! (And he isn't even here yet!)

I tried adding more than one pic to some of the layouts because honestly, when you have a new baby - especially a first baby - you take a million photos!  19 pics just won't cover it! So this added a few more photos to the album.  I'm not sure I'm sold on it, but it's all good.  You can let me know your thoughts.

I have an order for a Girl Scout inspiration scrapbook, then will dive back into baby boy world! :) You know I'll take you along for the journey.

As always, feel free to visit http://pressedclovers.etsy.com to see what I have going on there!

{Tutorial} Autumnal Goodness - The Fru Fru Pumpkin

Ya'll, I'm am SO READY for some Fall Weather.  I wore my pumpkin colored top today with some brown pants and the required gold sequined flip flops to celebrate cooler temperatures this morning. I want soup & cornbread, chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter and ... now that I'm thinking about it, I'm going home and diving into some hash and rice tonight. Oh my gosh, I love fall.

Anyway, all this to share with you these Fru Fru pumpkins that I dearly adore.  Cuteness and fall combined, how can you not fall in love?? Exactly, that's what I'm saying. Let me admit to something: I totally am cutting and pasting this from my other blog, but you can still enjoy it the same here at Pressed Clovers.  So go buy you a pumpkin, gather your supplies and get to gettin'!

 -- The Fru Fru Pumpkin --

Welcome to Autumnal Goodness. This is the easiest and most fun project that makes a big wow ...Fru Fru Pumpkins!  Everything you see here, minus the pumpkin, came from the dollar store, so this project is great on the budget, too.  What do you need? Depends on your nature.  

I suggest any of the following: 
          Ribbon
          Fake leaves in various colors and shapes
          Lots of straight pins
          Sequins if you are oh-la-la
          Picks, meaning little sprigs of autumnal stuff, berries, leaves, sticks, etc
          Curling ribbon

What to do now. You have a pumpkin (the one in the top picture came from Wal-Mart and was definitely NOT perfect, but who cares? I was covering it up anyway!)  Then decide if you want the ribbon to go all the way around (see the pic above) or only partial hanging down the sides, whatever! Or do you even want ribbon?  Anyway, use the straight pins to fix the ribbon at the top of the pumpkin and either on the bottom or on the side - wherever your ribbon stops. 

The fake leaves can be added, not added, massive or sparse - it's all your taste. The first picture, I went crazy with leaves.  The one just above and below - not so much.  The top picture is from this year and is sitting in my office.  These two (above/below) are from my sister's rehearsal dinner at her wedding. More elegant and less tacky. :)  

Mom added sprigs of sticks, berry picks, etc to give some height around the stem.  Or sometimes a little bow.  Everyone loved the pumpkin centerpieces and they were really inexpensive.  We had a great time decorating them and gave them away to key people from the wedding.  They loved them. 

Just so you can see the overall picture of Katie's rehearsal dinner - it was held outside in a covered picnic area with one wall of stones making a huge fireplace.  The white lights twinkled enough with the fireplace to light up the entire area just perfectly.  Brown plastic table clothes and the pumpkin centerpieces were just awesome! :) 

So where did this pumpkin mania begin? At my old job, we were planning a fru fru ladies luncheon with an autumnal theme - WHA-LA! Awesome pumpkin centerpieces!  And, of course, at each table one of the agendas had THE DOT - you know, the special dot that means you are a WINNER! So someone received the centerpiece as a present, which the ladies loved! 

Since this was a tad bit fru fru, we needed to bring out the bling with sequins, feathers and rhinestones. Sometimes, you just have to pull out the big guns: the hot glue gun that is.  Straight pins just won't do it with the rhinestones so ladies, grab the gun and glue away! 

Awesome results, no matter how you do it. So run out and buy your pumpkin, then look around your yard and house for the trimmings and have fun! I promise you there will be a WOW factor that tickles you pink. :)

Boy to Teen Scrapbook

I will always stand by this:  My customers come up with the coolest ideas - much more creative than what I could think of on my own.  Here is a great example! A grandmother is giving her grandson this cool scrapbook that follows him from birth to his teen years.  What a treasure! Love it!

All the photos from the book are featured on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/pressedclovers.  You should follow- I post coupon codes and giveaways on my facebook page.

Admit it, this is a neat idea.  I added extra lines and space for journaling so grandma has plenty of space to share her thoughts with this special child.  I want to squeal every time I look at it! Love it!

Birth Month Goodness.

September is my birth month.  That's a big deal in my world, because I pretty much celebrate my birthday all month long.

For the past several years (2011 and 2012) I've made a simple birthday wish on my personal blog, Whiskey Tango Hello, asking that you send a letter to someone you love, to our troops, or to give to the USO.

This year, I'm stepping it up a notch.  To help celebrate me, please consider a gift to the USO via my USO page at http://www.teamuso.org/create/bethcovington.  Here you'll find an easy way give a donation - any size of donation will mean the world to me and to our troops and their families.

To say thank you for giving, I'm giving away this "Inspire" paper bag scrapbook to one lucky contributor!  For every $5 you give through my page, I'll enter your name in the drawing.  For those who give $25, you'll get 10 entries!

It's truly just a "Thank You" because the real gift is knowing a military family is staying in touch while mom or dad is deployed, tired troops are getting a morale boost from Robin Williams, Toby Keith, tor the Dallas Cowgirls, a wounded warrier is being visited by Jessica Simpson - it's just amazing what all the USO provides for our troops. So much more than this.

So I hope you'll consider joining me in helping our troops.  And Celebrate my birthday with me! :)
http://www.teamuso.org/create/bethcovington

Notebooks

Thinking about my Sweet Niece and wanting to give her something cool to get her excited about 6th grade, I came up with notebook covers for 3-ring binders.  You know the ones I'm talking about with the clear plastic sleeve so you can slip in your own paper to personalize the notebook? Well, I used some of the digital papers I've purchased and put something together for her. 

I liked them so much I created a few others for people - my penpal's daughter, my aunt, ME! But they are so stinkin' cute! and easy to make.  What do you think? I decided not to sell them because I just didn't know what someone would spend on this?? But I do think they are snazzy. 

Seriously EASY to make.  The colored band covers up where the two types of "papers" meet, so you don't have a random rough edge there.  Add a white circle, a text box, and you are ready to go!

Otherwise, I've been busy on a scrapbook order for a friend, then I think I'll make up a few to add to my Etsy shop for any interested buyers.  My next one may be a beach theme because I have some cute papers. :) 

Mother's Day Book - #2!

This weekend I wrapped up the second Mother's Day book and I do really like it.  As the folks in my office said - it's more sophisticated than most of my other books.  This is true, but it makes sense being that it's for a mom and not a child. :)

So, what do you think??? Mommy enough without screaming great-grammy? Fill me in on what you think of it!  And view the entire shop here.

 I have to tell you - this is one of my favorite pages EVER.  

 This is my Mom's favorite page from this book. :)

So there you have it!! :)  Any thoughts?  Leave me a comment so I can keep learning and growing from the feedback.  I'm working on a baby - 15 years right now, but then what?? Baby books, baby registries, beach book? Not sure. 

Want to see my shop? It's located here!