Here are some super easy fall napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags that you can easily make the night before your Thanksgiving feast. And these Thanksgiving napkin rings double as place cards.

Elise and I went grocery shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and I totally forgot to bring our cloth bags. We walked out with about 8 big brown paper grocery bags and I instantly felt a little guilty about it. So I thought I’d recycled them by incorporating brown paper grocery bags into napkin rings for our Thanksgiving table decor (and if you don’t have a grocery bag you can always use Kraft paper, butcher block or brown paper).

To save time I re-used the free leaf shape template from Thanksgiving past. Remember these Thanksgiving placecards?

And another bonus? I used up some of the scrap paper that I’d saved from making Elise’s birthday party hats. Yeah, I kept the scraps from her birthday party. I have a serious pack rat problem. But when things like these napkin rings actually turn out cute I’m glad I kept all that stuff. Happy Thanksgiving!

WANNA MAKE IT? Free pattern, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making my Thanksgiving napkin rings using recycled brown paper grocery bags –>

Supplies:

• Free leaf template – from the retro place card project (PDF)
• Free printable name pattern in Microsoft PowerPoint (works 1″ craft punches) and free Goudy Bookletter 1911 font from The League of Moveable Type
• Brown paper grocery bag (or Kraft or butcher block paper)
• Ball point pen
• Round hole punch
• Assorted colored paper scraps or sheets (I used orange, metallic bronze, yellow and luxe cream)
• Self-healing mat, rotary cutter and clear plastic ruler
• Good paper scissors
• VELCRO Adhesive dots
• 1″ inch circle craft punch
• Craft adhesive

Please post a comment if you use this project and let me know how it works for you. And you can post your photos to our “I made it!” flickr photo group.

Cut open a brown paper grocery bag so it lays flat. Try to choose one with few wrinkles.

Cut brown paper bag napkin rings 7″ wide x 1.5″ tall using a self-healing mat, rotary cutter and clear plastic ruler.

Measure 1/2″ from the left side and cut a slit halfway through (so your slit will be half of the 1.5″ tall). Repeat on the right side, but make sure the slit is opposite like in the photo above.

Download the free printable name pattern and open PowerPoint. You’ll need to download and install the free Goudy Bookletter 1911 font from The League of Moveable Type  or change the font to one that you prefer. Use your 1″ circle craft hole punch to punch out names. You will need to do a little trimming to get the punch close enough to punch the inner rows.

Print my leaf template. Now here’s a neat trick. Just put the pattern on top of the yellow paper that you want to cut. Trace around it using a ball point pen. The ball point pen will press into the yellow paper

Here you can see the faint trace lines. Cool, yes?

And now you just cut! No worrying about seeing messy lines around your cut leaf.

Use your 1″ circle craft punch to make assorted circle colors. Glue three together with the name circle on top.

Slip the leaf between two circles. Let it dry.

Peel the backing off of a VELCRO Adhesive Dot and press onto the back of the orange circle. Peel the other side of the backing and press onto the brown paper bag napkin ring.

Wrap the napkin ring around the rolled fabric napkin. Hook the two sides together using the slits like so. Happy Thanksgiving!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how t0 step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment if you use this project and let me know how it works for you. And you can post your photos to our “I made it!” flickr photo group. Craft and pass it on!

Looking around our house it’s clear that “stickers” was the perfect theme for Elise’s second birthday party. Last year it was monkeys and bananas but like many kids her age Elise is a sticker junkie — the proof is on our refrigerator, furniture, clothing, floor and pretty much everywhere else. So “stickers birthday,” yeah, she’ll love it.

We bought oodles of stickers that we used on party decorations and of course for the kids to play with during the birthday party. I also made some 1″ custom stickers for the party sign…

…as well as 2″ circle stickers for birthday party guests to wear on their shirts (and to decorate the tablecloth on the food table but I forgot to take a photo, arg).

I made name stickers for the birthday party favor bags and tucked some inside with more stickers. The possibilities are almost limitless with sticker printing from PsPrint.

WANT TO SEE MORE? “Stickers” birthday party theme for kids {with free custom sticker template} –>

I decorated a white cupcake stand for Elise’s sprinkle cupcakes

My mom and I made party hats that the kids decorated at the party.

And after the party Elise loved making her own thank you notes — covered in stickers, of course.

I’m giving you my free printable custom sticker templates and step-by-step DIYs from the sticker birthday theme party. Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting:

• Free custom 1″ and 2″ stickers (used on the party sign, cupcake stand, favors)
• Free pattern for handmade party hats (kids can add stickers or you can use them plain)

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how t0 step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment if you use this project and let me know how it works for you. And you can post your photos to our “I made it!” flickr photo group. Craft and pass it on!

Thanksgiving is around the corner so I thought I’d round up some of my favorite Thanksgiving free craft project tutorials.

First: Some easy ways to dress up your turkey table this Thanksgiving with napkin rings and placecards:
- Thanksgiving felt leaf napkin rings free craft project tutorial
- Thanksgiving felt and paper leaf placecards free craft project tutorial
- Thanksgiving retro embossed label maker placecards free craft project tutorial
- Fabric and paper sewn placecards free craft project tutorial

And then some wreaths to decorate your door:
- Urban wreath for fall using Polaroid photographs free craft project tutorial
- Paper and fabric fall leaf wreath free craft project tutorial

I just love fall colors – I used them all over our wedding decorations too. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I made these yellow and pink bubble labels to coordinate with Elise’s 1st birthday party theme – Pink Monkey and Bananas. Elise just loves bubbles – she has a little menagerie of “bubba” blowers that she especially wants at bath time.

I can make custom labels for you for a minimal cost. Just send me an email.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free pattern, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making my bubble label favors for kids craft project –>

Supplies:

I can customize this printable template for you for a nominal charge – change year, add names, change colors and more – or create a custom party invitation. Just send me an email.

• Kathy’s printable free bubble labels for party favors template (PDF) – coordinates with the Pink Monkey and Bananas birthday party theme
• Full-sheet white sticker label paper
• Paper cutter OR Xacto basic knife set (this is my kit and it’s great), ruler and self-healing cutting mat
• Computer and printer
• Pink Monkey Security Blankie (by Angel Dear) – every child should have one!

For all free printable templates, you can either print it at home or do what I do: Send it online to FedEx Office.

Please post a comment if you use this project – it makes me smile. And you can post your photos to our “I made it!” flickr photo group. Craft & pass it on!

Print my free bubble labels printable template onto full-sheet sticker paper using a laser printer (like at FedEx Office). Cut the labels into strips using an Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing mat.

Peel the original label off of your bubbles – I got mine at Party City.

Peel your label from its backing and adhere, pressing down from the center to the outside.

Repeat.

You can optionally cover the labels with a piece of packing tape cut-to-fit to “laminate” the labels onto the bubbles. I didn’t do this and over time, the label started to get wet from bubble dribbles.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free pattern and step-by-step tutorial instructions for personal use with the request that you post a comment below. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers. Craft and pass it on!

I made this pink monkey birthday hat for Elise to wear on her 1st birthday. She was a good sport about it and I think she looked adorable especially when she dug into her matching monkey birthday cake.

It’s really easy to put together and attach the white ribbon ties. The free printable PDF below says “Happy Birthday” instead of “Happy Bday Elise” and I can customize it for you for a nominal charge – change year, add names, change colors and more – or create a custom party invitation. Just send me an email.

This birthday hat coordinates with Elise’s other free pink monkey 1st birthday party printable templates:

• “Happy 1^st Birthday” banner free printable hanging sign template
• Month-by-month photo display of how Elise has grown (coming soon)
• Front door happy birthday signs (coming soon)
• Bubble favors
• Monkey thank you cards

Happy 1st birthday, Elise!

WANNA MAKE IT? Free pattern, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making my pink monkey printable birthday party hats for kids craft project –>

Supplies:

I can customize this printable template for you for a nominal charge – change year, add names, change colors and more – or create a custom party invitation. Just send me an email.

• Kathy’s Pink Monkey Birthday Party Hat free printable template (PDF)
• White cardstock paper – 8-1/2 x 11
• White grosgrain ribbon – 1/4″
• Good paper scissors
• Regular Scotch Tape
• Paper cutter OR Xacto basic knife set (this is my kit and it’s great), ruler and self-healing cutting mat
• Computer and printer
• Pink Monkey Security Blankie (by Angel Dear) – every child should have one!

For all free printable templates, you can either print it at home or do what I do: Send it online to FedEx Office.

Please post a comment if you use this project – it makes me smile. And you can post your photos to our “I made it!” flickr photo group. Craft and pass it on!

How to Make Birthday Party Hats

Print my free birthday party hat printable template onto white card stock – yours will say “Happy Birthday” rather than “Happy Bday Elise.” Please send me an email if you’d like to change the age, colors or add a name for a very nominal cost.

Cut it out along the outside markings and along the two notches on the side.

Carefully cut the two slits in the notched tab using your Xacto knife.

…and also carefully cut the slit.

Curl the hat onto itself, tucking the notched tab into the slits. When you slide it up, it will look like this:

Cut two pieces of white ribbon about 12-16 inches long each.

Tape one ribbon to the inside of the hat on the right side. Repeat on the left side.

Place the birthday hat on your monkey and tie.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free pattern and step-by-step tutorial instructions for personal use with the request that you post a comment below. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers. Craft and pass it on!

I made this “Happy 1st Birthday Elise” pink and yellow hanging birthday banner for Elise’s pink monkey and bananas birthday party. I hung it over our living room curtains using three kinds of ribbon – vintage yellow ric-rac, yellow solid ribbon and yellow and white polka-dot ribbon, then I added pink and yellow balloons on the sides.

This free happy birthday banner hanging sign printable coordinates with Elise’s other free pink monkey 1st birthday party printable templates – monkey birthday party hat, month-by-month photo display of how Elise has grown, front door happy birthday signs, bubble favors, monkey thank you cards, and monkey party cake:

Happy birthday banners seem to be all the rage on etsy right now but I figured, why pay for what I can make my way for free? And now it is yours. Just email me if you’d like it customized — add names, change colors, change year and more — for bananas …oh, I mean peanuts.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free printable, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making my DIY happy birthday banner free printable hanging sign craft project –>

Supplies:

I can customize this printable template for you for a nominal charge – add names, change colors, change year and more – or create a custom party invitation. Just send me an email.

• Kathy’s “Happy 1^st Birthday” banner free printable hanging sign template (PDF – 11″ x 17″ tabloid size I also included a ’2nd’ birthday plus an exclamation point)
• White 11″ x 17″ cardstock paper – cardstock is thicker than standard paper
• Yellow dots grosgrain ribbon – 7/8″
• Yellow grosgrain ribbon – 1/4″
• Yellow ric rac
• Pink balloons and yellow balloons
• Round hole punch
• Paper Trimmer OR X-Acto basic knife set (this is my kit and it’s great), ruler and self-healing cutting mat
• Pink Monkey Security Blankie (by Angel Dear) – every child should have one!

NOTE: This free templates do not include the large bananas that I hung from the Happy Birthday sign or put next to her refrigerator sign because I bought that illustration on iStockPhoto.com and then altered the colors and number of bunches. So if you’d like to use the large bananas, please buy the illustration at iStockPhoto.com or search for free banana clip art.

How to make ‘a Happy 1^st Birthday” Banner Hanging Sign
Print my “Happy 1^st Birthday” free printable template onto card stock weight white paper. You can either print it at home or do what I do and send it online to FedEx Office.

Cut out the letters using an Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing mat. Lay the letters out in order like this:

Punch holes in the upper corners where letters join.

Cut a piece of ribbon about 5” long. String through the holes and tie, being careful not to tighten too tightly and break the paper. Repeat for Happy and 1st and Birthday. If you use bananas, put bananas between the words.

Using yellow ribbons and vintage ric rac, hang the sign, adding your child’s name underneath asymmetrically, balancing it with cut-out hung bananas.

Add three balloons at each end, tying with ribbon.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free pattern and step-by-step tutorial instructions for personal use with the request that you post a comment below. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers. Craft and pass it on!

I was totally stumped trying to think of birthday party theme ideas for Elise’s 1st birthday. And then Shane suggested having a Pink Monkey and Bananas 1^st birthday party theme and it just felt perfect.

Elise has snuggled with her adorable Pink Monkey Security Blankie (by Angel Dear) since she was just a few months old – he’s her lovey and #1 bedtime friend. So I drew a Pink Monkey illustration and used the heck out of it on invitations and front door signs…

…birthday party hats, monkey thank you cards, bubbles favors, a monkey cake for Elise and bananas-filled layered sheet cake for her guests…

…as well as a a month-by-month photo display of Elise growing up…

I also created a “Happy 1^st Birthday Elise” banner free printable hanging sign and hung it up with yellow dot ribbon, solid yellow ribbon and vintage yellow ric-rac.

I’m giving you my free templates to throw your own Pink Monkey and Bananas 1st birthday party. I’ll be posting these free DIYs over the next couple weeks:

• “Happy 1^st Birthday” banner free printable hanging sign template
• Pink monkey birthday party hat with ribbon ties for kids
• Month-by-month photo display of how Elise has grown (coming soon)
• Front door happy birthday signs (coming soon)
• Bubble favors
• Monkey thank you cards

I can customize these printable templates for you for a very minimal cost – add names, change colors, ages and more – or create a custom party invitation. Just send me an email.

Happy 1st birthday, sweet Elise!

It’s well-documented that I’m a pack rat when it comes to items I think could have another life. When Elise transitioned from breast milk to formula, I was amazed at how we flew through cans of formula! True to form, I stashed some away in my craft closet.

I whipped up these no-flame Halloween luminaries from flameless battery-operated flickering votive candles

, empty baby formula cans, oatmeal containers or other cardboard cans, tissue paper, a Black Sharpie markers an Xacto knife in less than 30 minutes. You could also use oatmeal containers or other cardboard cans. Kids could help too for all steps other than cutting.

My nighttime photos aren’t the best quality but you get the idea. I put these in our entry way to greet today’s trick-or-treaters. Next year I think I’ll add more to go all the way down our front stairs. Boo!

WANNA MAKE IT? Free supply list and step-by-step instructions for creating my DIY Halloween luminaries from recycled baby formula cans –>

Supplies for making Halloween luminaries lights from recycled baby formula cans:

• Empty baby formula cans (I used Earth’s Best Organic Infant Formula), oatmeal containers or other cardboard cans
• Flameless battery-operated flickering votive candles that run on batteries but flicker like a real candle
• Xacto knife
• Orange tissue paper
• Green tissue paper
• Rotary fabric cutter, self-healing cutting mat and clear acrylic ruler
• Black Sharpie marker
• Double sided tape
• Rocks to weight down cans (optional for windy days)

Please post a comment if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Peel off the label from the empty baby formula can. There will be some adhesive remaining on the can back which you’ll actually use later. Turn the can so the adhesive is on the back.

Draw a pumpkin face using a sharpie pen.

Carefully cut out the face using an Xacto knife. I liked the look of the black highlight, so I cut inside the lines to keep that emphasis, but it’s up to you.

Cut a slice of tissue paper the same width as your can. Mine was 5″ wide.

Place one side of the orange tissue paper on top of the can’s leftover adhesive, or use double-sided tape.

Roll the paper taught around the can. Affix using double-sided tape, cutting off any extra.

Cut a piece of green tissue paper slightly larger than the lid. Roll the paper inside.

Cut off any extra. I didn’t even use tape here.

Now it should go without saying here that you can’t use a real candle but I’ll say it anyway. Put a flameless battery-powered votive candle inside. You can also put rocks or sand in the bottom if it’s a windy day. Repeat for a bevvy of silly and spooky Halloween luminaries!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free idea and step-by-step tutorial instructions for personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment below if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

This original Fourth of July craft was created for Daily Candy Kids. Welcome, Daily Candy readers!

I mourn sparklers. The City of Chicago banned sparklers in 2007 joining most other ousted fireworks.  Yes, I understand that sparklers can be dangerous especially for small children yet my nostalgia for dancing sparks runs deep. What’s a Fourth without them?

In the spirit of all things wavy and shiny here’s a craft for making safer spark-free sparklers personalized for your family’s Fourth of July celebration. And it all starts with an unused pair of wooden chopsticks…

This project can be easily adapted to making fairy and wizard wands, birthday party shakers or pom poms in your school’s colors.

Yankee doodle indeed!

WANNA MAKE IT? Free template, supply list and DIY step-by-step instructions for creating my Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland after the jump –>

Supplies:

• Unused wooden chopsticks – the disposable kind you would break apart if using to eat; alternatively, an unsharpened pencil or a dowel rod
• White 3/4″ electrical tape
• Grosgrain ribbon in various widths (I used 5/8” blue, 3/8” red, 1/4” white and 1/8” tri-stripe royal all by Offray)
• Foil fringe multi-color party garland (mine was 15” x 20 feet at Party City for $6.99)
• Scissors

Please post a comment below if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Optional supplies to personalize your sparklers:

• 1-1/2” wood letters (comes in packs of 2)
• Colored markers or kid-safe paint
• Strong craft glue like Gorilla Glue

WARNING: This project contains potential choking hazards due to small parts. It is intended for ages 3+ and assumes parental supervision. Please decide if your child is old enough to use scissors; if not, parents should cut all pieces.

1. Cut your sparks.

Cut 10-14 pieces of grosgrain ribbon at varying lengths, snipping 45-degree angles on one end to make them pretty. I used four 8” blue, four 10” red, two 12” white, two 12” tri-stripe and two 8” tri-stripe.

Unroll the foil party garland.

Cut 1-1½ inches of silver, blue and red strips, keeping the connected base intact. Stack them into a pile.

You could substitute anything shiny here – leftover Christmas tinsel, curling giftwrap ribbon. Personally, I like using foil fringe garland because it’s easier and faster to work with and you get a range of colors in one package – red, blue, gold, silver, green and purple – that you could use for fairy and wizard wands or pom pom shakers in your school’s colors.

Be creative! Each child can have their own combination of sparkles and ribbon depending on how shiny or wavy they’d like their sparkler to be.

3. Bundle sparks.

Make two even stacks of ribbons, making sure the ends are even.

Place the foil stack on top of one of the ribbon stacks. The foil base is long so I staggered the pile so that the ribbon started 1/2” below where the fringe begins (or you can cut it but it works fine this way). Place the other ribbon stack on top. Your foil is now in a ribbon sandwich.

3. Attach sparks to your wand.

Unwrap the unused chopstick. Gently slip the ribbon and foil stack between the sticks, making sure to avoid breaking them apart.

Starting at the ribbon end, wrap the electrical tape around the wand.

Wrap the tape around ribbon until secure…

…then go down the stick by overlapping tape a bit on an angle, just like you would change a tennis grip.

Trim the foil pieces to various lengths so they complement rather than overpower the ribbon.

3. Personalize (optional)
Decorate your wooden letter using markers or paint.

Once dry, glue the letter securely to the base and allow to dry completely before using. Happy and safe Fourth of July, everybody!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this idea and project instructions for personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment below if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

When Shane told me that he wanted to host our sixth annual Thanksgiving dinner I didn’t quite know what to say. Baby Elise was born on October 20th and I was crazy sore and beat.

Flash forward a month and we’re all starting to get the hang of things as a family. So what better way to celebrate than to have everyone together for Elise’s first Thanksgiving? Ah, once again Shane was right…

I saw this Dymo retro embossing label maker this summer and I just had to have it, not quite sure at the time what I’d do with it. It was just like the one I used to play with when I was a kid :)

Being none too mobile right now with the new baby I made these placecards out of materials I already had in the house — the embossing label maker, pre-cut placecards left over from our wedding, and pearlized copper shimmery paper that I got as a gift years ago.

Supplies:

• Kathy’s free leaf template (PDF)
• Retro embossing label maker
• Rubber cement or glue stick
• Pearlized copper shimmery (or other metallic) paper
• Thick black paper
• Pre-cut placecards
• Paper cutter

Start by spelling your guests’ names using your label maker. I used black label maker tape but it does come in several colors.

Using your paper cutter, slice squares of the bronze pearlized paper that are smaller than the pre-cut placecards. Don’t worry about making them the same size; it adds to the handmade feel.

Put a little rubber cement on the back of the pearlized paper and affix it to flush left on the placecard. There should be some orange on the bottom and the right side like in the above photo.

Use my free leaf template to cut leaves out of your black paper. There are two leaf shapes so you can either choose one or make a mix like I did. Be sure to put the trace lines face down on your final placecards.

Peel the backing off of the name stickers. You’ll be placing the names on the seam of the pearlized paper with a little overhang on the right like in the photo above.

Now before you stick the name down, slip a bit of the bottom of the black leaf under the sticker. Now you can stick it down. Notice that the rest of the leaf is loose; this is intentional and adds to the feel.

Happy first Thanksgiving, sweet baby Elise, from your family!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern template for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!