Party + Wedding Ideas

DIY Floral Party Hats

Here are the instructions to make the floral party hats from the party last weekend. When I set out to make them I was envisioning a very tall pile of flowers on someone’s head, I wanted something festive and sort of over the top. There are a million ways to make paper flowers but here are two basic styles that I used. You can change the look completely of either style just by switching color, changing the shape of the petals, or adjusting the fullness. I took a paper flower class a few years ago but I couldn’t remember the instructions so I just made this one up and was pretty happy with how sturdy they were. I think they are more fun if they all look different so its good to get creative with colors and textures. I even tried to hand paint some of the crepe paper before I cut out the petal shapes to them look more interesting. It took me a few hours to make about 10 party hats so if you had a lot to make you could have a few friends over and do an assembly line.

Materials Needed: Crepe Paper in Folds (I like to get the plain colors from here and the metallic stuff from here.), Scissors, Thin Gauge Wire, Wire Cutters, Glue (I don’t use the glue in these two examples but I found it helpful depending on the style of flower), Plastic Headbands (We got cheap ones from H&M.)

Basic Rose Instructions
Step 1: For the petals, take the fold of crepe paper and cut off a 4 inch section.
Step 2: Take that section and cut it in half the same direction as the grain. (Crepe paper has a grain and this will matter later on.)
Step 3: Cut out a petal shape so that the grain of the crepe paper goes from the top to the bottom. It should look like there are lines running from the top of the petal to the base. (Choose the shape of the petal depending on the type of flower you want to make.)
Step 4: Cut long sections of wire about 10″ long and short sections of wire 3″ long. If you are making a lot of flowers then cut all the wire at one time for the process to go a lot faster.
Step 5: Take a scrap piece of crepe paper and wrap the wire around the middle twisting it very tight so the paper can’t slip out.
Step 6: Scrunch it in a ball.

Step 7: Then take a square of crepe paper (in whatever color you want the center of the flower to be) and wrap it around the scrunched up ball twisting it at the bottom.
Step 8: Now you’re ready to add the petals.
Step 9: Take the petals and with both thumbs stretch the crepe paper so it makes a nice curved petal. This is where it will matter what grain the paper is going in so that it stretches right. To go quicker you can even do this to a small stack of petals at the same time.
Step 10: Taking the center of the flower begin placing the petals around and then pinching it and holding it at the base. When you are happy with the fullness of the petals take a small piece of wire and tightly wrap it and twist it to secure it in place. When you are done you should have a nice simple flower.

Basic Chrysanthemum Instruction
Step 10: Take a fold of crepe paper and cut off a 4″ section. (If you want the flower big and puffy do a 6″ section.)
Step 11: Take the fold and cut along one side about 3/4 of the way through making thin strips of fringe.
Step 12: Repeat steps 5 through 7 to create the center of the flower. Begin wrapping the petals around the center and pinching it tight at the base.
Step 13: Continue wrapping it around until you are happy with the fullness.
Step 14: Wrap some small wire tightly around the base. Wrinkle and fluff the petals with your fingers.

Attaching the Flowers to Your Headband
Step 15: Gather the flowers you want to use together in one hand until they look pretty.
Step 16: Hold the flowers tightly together at the base and pull the wire taught.
Step 17: Take the headband and wrap the wire tightly around it until secure, trimming the extra wire if needed. Once it is assembled you can adjust the composition to your liking.

Thank you to my pretty friends Caroline, Meg, Lindsey, and Anne for letting me take their picture.

Glass Jar Typography

Here is my latest article for Project Wedding. It’s the easiest thing ever. I just used little glass jars (old yogurt jars) and then used a $5 paint pen that is made just for painting on glass to create a little typography masterpiece. These would also be cute with votives hanging on a string. See all the directions and sources right here.

all photos by Oh Happy Day

Trompe L’oeil Cupcake Stand DIY with Free Printable

by Jenny Batt

Fun with faux!  Just a little something special to add to that cake stand collection. A girl can never have too many cake stands.  Ok, maybe I might have too many, but that didn’t stop me from making my own! I have always loved the trompe l’oeil bags in black and white that pop up every once in a while and that inspired me to make a fancy cake stand, but with a tongue in cheek twist.  You will just need to download the printables, print, cut and glue. This basic stand tutorial made from artist panels, is quick and only requires one power tool, a drill, which is only a 3 on the DIY tool scale. It’s very easy, and I did all the fancy work for you!

You will need:

printable cupcake stand designs {download here}
1 each of 8” and 12” square wood painting panels
1 – 1”x1”x7” wood dowel (have cut at shop or bribe loved one)
Mod Podge
scissors
sandpaper (finishing grit , like 400)
countersink bit (for drill)
drill
2 wood screws (same # size as countersink bit)

Step 1: Sand all pieces lightly and wipe off dust with a cloth.

Step 2: Pre-drill holes with countersink bits in the center of each of the panels. This will let you screw the pieces together easier. *Don’t fret over the bit, it is cheap and gives a nice little hole for the screw head to lay in.  You use this bit exactly the same as pre-drilling with a plain drill bit.  This just makes your work prettier. Just make sure you pick the same # bit to correspond to your screw size. Pre-drill holes in the top and bottom of the dowel, just don’t go down all the way to the countersink part. Pre-drilling holes will give you a “starter” hole to put your screw into later.

Step 3: Print and cut out designs, you will need 4 copies of the sides and one each of the 8” and 12” designs.

Step 4: Glue! For each side: Coat lightly, but generously, too little will give wrinkles, with Mod Podge and adhere a side decal in the top center. Smooth gently to remove all air bubbles. Coat with a second coat of Mod Podge, work efficiently and cover the whole area lightly.  Let dry.  *Don’t work this coat too much, it will make the ink bleed.  It is better to have one light coat to seal and then go back with subsequent coats. Repeat with all four sides of the center rod. Then repeat with all four sides of each “plate.” Use the directions above to top the bottom “plate” with one side of the topper design for the 12”. Carefully attach and line up other side, the topper should look like one piece of paper, it is ok to overlap slightly if you prefer. Coat with seal coat, let dry and repeat coats like you did for the sides. Finish all sides, except for the top of the 8” plate, with 2-4 coats and fully dry to assemble. First, screw the bottom on from the under side of the 12” plate.

Step 5: Next, screw the top plate on from the top.  Fill hole with Mod Podge and let dry. Sand smooth, if needed.  Coat with a light, but generous coat of Mod Podge, adhere 8” decal in center. Let dry and finish with more coats, as before.

Enjoy and have a hoot of a good time. Could you imagine an entire Trompe L’oeil party?

Chocolate Letter Placecards

Today on Project Wedding I’m sharing a project about chocolate letters as place cards. Its the perfect graphic detail for designers and typophiles.

Photos by Oh Happy Day

Giant Confetti Bags DIY

This DIY project contains two things I am obsessed with. 1. Giant Confetti. They sell it at all the party supply stores here in France and I have to admit I have stocked up on way more than I could ever justify owning. And 2. Printing on paper bags with a home printer. It is still one of my favorite tricks ever for fancy looking favor bags. Go here for more pictures and my tips on how to do this at home.

Photos by Oh Happy Day