Photo Props | Lil Blue Boo

Top 10 Party Tips and Behind the Scenes

February 14, 2013 By Ashley Hackshaw 12 Comments

Behind the Scenes: A Beauty Salon Glam Birthday Party with Mini Doll Salon via lilblueboo.com

Here’s the behind the scenes from Boo’s party and some of my tips for preparing a similar party….or any party for that matter! You can see the full original Party Post with all the pretty photos here.

The decor was actually pretty simple.

I like to set up one main food and treat table that is the backdrop of the party…..hanging different types of poms. I bought the pink tissue poms this year but the rest of the poms are from past parties. The lanterns are great because they are large and fold flat easily. I just recycle them all and repaint them if necessary. Spray paint is a great way to get all decor to match perfectly!

I have a sun problem on our patio for early parties….so last year I bought 2 bolts of 108″ muslin to cover the entire patio and block out the sun! We hang it from the roof (a few gallon jugs filled with water are great to keep it in place if you have a flat patio…..other wise a few nails can keep it up)….it folds up easily for storage too. The best part is that I can pin bunting and other party decor to it…..and you can create a great backdrop for photos.

I always buy generic type items that can be reused year after year. I also look for items that can be packed away easily in a large bin. I just re-spraypaint items to match the new theme. I have large white bowls and platters that can be used with any theme. I use large paper mache nesting boxes and hat boxes to add height to the tables (just re-spraypaint them!)

Filed Under: Birthday, Holidays, Party, Party Printables, photo props, Random Tips, Tutorial Tagged With: birthday, birthday party, party, party decor, party ideas, party planning, printables

A Beauty Salon Glam Birthday Party with Mini Doll Salon

February 13, 2013 By Ashley Hackshaw 25 Comments

I can’t believe Boo is six years old!!! First off, I want to put a disclaimer on this post to admit that this party is just a little over the top. I’m not really a party planner…..I don’t entertain a lot…..so Boo’s yearly birthday party is something I really love putting energy into. Boo knows that while the party is centered around her…..it’s also about bringing our friends together, entertaining them and sending them home with some fun handmade swag. She also knows that I reserve the right at any time to decide not to throw a party, serve $5 pizza and stick a candle in it! I love coming up with cute ideas and sharing them with you…..and there are many ways to make a wonderful fun party with only a few elements from this post!

Boo wanted an American Girl themed party (shocker) so we talked about doing something interactive with lots of activities that her friends of all ages would enjoy and came up with the Beauty Salon theme….complete with American Girl-sized doll salon. I always borrow, recycle and improvise for parties and all of that will come in the “behind the scenes” post to follow this one. I will say one thing about this party…..the doll salon was a TOTAL hit. I was actually surprised…..but the girls had so much fun putting capes on their dolls and primping and fixing their hair. It was totally adorable and definitely something I’ll put together more often for playdates!

So here we go! I had a vision of what I wanted in my head for the graphics and Stephanie Corfee brought it all to life with her graphic design! It turned out so amazingly cute that I convinced her to offer it to everyone as a printable in the shop complete with extra graphics to make it fully “do-it-yourself” customizable.

Just a note: we called it a “DOLL” salon party…..and invited Boo’s friends to bring any favorite doll for the salon…..because not everyone has an American Girl (Boo’s only had one for 2 months). A few friends brought extra American Girl dolls too for those girls that didn’t have one.

Oh my….the day before the party the wind in the desert was over 30 miles an hour! I couldn’t set anything up until the morning of the party!

Filed Under: American Girl, Birthday, Children's Clothes, Contributing Authors, Digital Graphic Projects, doll clothes, Gifts, Graphics, Holidays, Kids Projects, Lil Blue Boo Digital, Party, Party Printables, photo props, Photography, Photos, Printables, Stephanie Corfee, Stephanie Corfee, Things I've Made, Tutorial, Uncategorized Tagged With: american girl, birthday party, party, party printables, salon party

Glue Gun Cabochons

November 13, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 23 Comments

Do you have any of these little silicon molds that you use with resin and clay? The one below is one of my favorites…. CONTINUE READING

Filed Under: Birthday, Charms and Trinkets, Christmas, Embellishing, Gifts, Hair Accessory, Holidays, Jewelry, Kids Projects, Painting, Party, photo props, Supplies, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial, Uncategorized

Make A Wine Barrel Inspired Tray

November 6, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 13 Comments

I wanted to make something handmade and personal for my friends’ wedding recently and I decided on an oversized wine barrel inspired tray. I used a precut wood table top from the hardward store. They actually come in several sizes. This was the medium size: CONTINUE READING

Filed Under: Birthday, Christmas, Garden, Gifts, Holidays, Home and Garden, Home Decor, Home Projects, Painting, photo props, Printing/Stenciling, Silhouette, Supplies, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial, Uncategorized, Wedding Tagged With: DIY, furniture, gift, tutorial, vintage, wedding, wine barrel

How To Make Resin Pendants

October 24, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 15 Comments

Here’s a fun, easy way to make resin jewelry without the scary chemical mixing! First I bought these silver plated bezels: CONTINUE READING

Filed Under: Birthday, Charms and Trinkets, Christmas, Embellishing, Gifts, Hair Accessory, Holidays, Jewelry, Kids Projects, Party, photo props, Supplies, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Trinkets, Tutorial, Uncategorized Tagged With: DIY, gifts, handmade gift ideas, necklace, party, party favor ideas, resin, resin supplies, tutorial, where to buy resin supplies

Bohemian Princess Crown | a Free Printable

October 4, 2012 By Stephanie Corfee 3 Comments

If I had a little girl, I would just love to host a Bohemian Princess party. We’d do a nature walk, and turn our found treasures of leaves, twigs, rocks and feathers into an art project and deck ourselves out in costume jewels. We’d braid each others’ hair and tuck daisies behind our ears. And we’d eat wild berries and cream in big bowls! In that vein, i thought it would be fun to make a little paper crown printable for all of you and your princesses. Have a Boho Princess Party of your own! CONTINUE READING

Filed Under: Birthday, Contributing Authors, Embellishing, Hair Accessory, Holidays, Kids Projects, Party, Party Printables, photo props, Printables, Stephanie Corfee, Stephanie Corfee, Things I've Made, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: birthday crown, bohemian princess, kids craft, paper crown, princess crown

Paper Mache Animal Heads (A Tutorial)

April 14, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 108 Comments

Another addition to Boo’s playroom….a paper mache unicorn head! It took about 4 hours total to make….over 3 days. I love that it’s whimsical 3-dimensional artwork appropriate for a child’s room.

To make the animal head I started with newspaper and masking tape:

I crumpled up newspaper and kept wrapping it into a ball until it was the size needed and secured it with masking tape:

I made three different sized newspaper balls to make up the entire head…..

….and secured them together with tape.

I wrapped the pieces in newspaper to help secure them and used tape to contour different sections:

I formed a neck out of newspaper and attached it:

I cut a heavy piece of cardboard to be the backing for the neck (the flat piece that will lie against the wall when mounted):

The cardboard was secured with masking tape:

I use a boiled paste for my paper mache mixture. 1 part flour to 4 parts water works for best for me but you can experiment with your own mixture to see what you prefer to work with. I bring it to a boil stirring constantly until it’s a soupy mixture.

Pouring the soupy paper mache into a bowl I let it cool for about a minute and then start tearing paper towels into small pieces. I use paper towels because they are easier to sculpt.

I dipped pieces of paper towel into the mixture…..

…..and then slowly covered the entire head.

I press and sculpt the head as I go to give it the shape I want:

Once the head has been coated completely I let it completely dry overnight:

The next day, I cut out some ears…..

…..and made a horn by wrapping a sturdy piece of paper into a cone. I used masking tape to secure them into place.

I made another mixture of paper mache and used paper towel pieces to secure the horn and ears securely to the head:

Paper towels are great for sculpting….so I used pieces to create nostrils and more bone structure. It doesn’t matter what it looks like except for the basic structure because I’m adding another layer of nicer paper on top for the finish coat.

I built up layers and layers until the head looked like I wanted it to.

Then I let it dry overnight again!

After the paper mache form had ample time to dry….I took an old book and some Mod Podge and used it to cover the entire form.

I cut up the pages into small piece and just started layering them over…….

….and over…..until the form was covered entirely.

I bought a pre-cut wood plaque from Michael’s for $5.00 using my 50% off coupon and spray painted it hot pink.

The final step was to attach the unicorn head to the plaque! I used industrial glue and a staple gun to secure it. The staples are easily covered with some more paper and Mod Podge.

I can’t decide what animal to make next!

Check out the entire Project Playroom series by clicking the image below!

Filed Under: Home Decor, Kids Projects, photo props, Project Playroom, Recycled, Things I've Made, Tutorial, Upcycled Tagged With: animal head, paper mache, unicorn

Photo of the Day: Graffiti

February 19, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 21 Comments

Boo and I spent all day watching movies. I had Mr. LBB move my thrift store desk find to right by the back patio and every once in a while I’d walk out and graffiti it with a few words. Layers and layers and layers of spray painting later it looks just right! It’s going in Boo’s playroom so I can work there and she can use it as a homework desk one day. I’ll show more photos of the process when I can get photos of it in its final place! It would make a cool photo prop right?!

Filed Under: Embellishing, Kids Projects, Painting, photo props, Project Playroom, Recycled, Things I've Made, Thrifting, Work Spaces

Boo’s Krispy Kreme Doughnut Party

February 4, 2012 By Ashley Hackshaw 93 Comments

Disclaimer: This post may cause cravings and/or obsessive doughnut thoughts.

Today was Boo’s big doughnut party! I put it together in about a week….only with the help of my friends and family and Krispy Kreme. We had about 4o kids and adults and the day was all about Boo! She’s been such a trooper the last 6 months with my surgery and chemotherapy…..I wanted to do something big for her.

I grew up on Krispy Kreme donuts so when Boo said she wanted a donut party for her birthday I immediately envisioned the red and green theme!

If you’ve never had a Krispy Kreme donut…..you. are. missing. out. They melt in your mouth!

Here’s Boo in her “donut shop”……with her donut hat and a hand silk screened apron. I bought the apron at Michael’s and added the “Bestest Everest” artwork specially designed by Stephanie Corfee:

I even enlarged the neon “HOT NOW” Krispy Kreme sign to make it authentic. I printed it at Staples and used spray adhesive to attach it to foam board:

Lisa helped me with all the little Krispy Kreme themed tent cards for all the food:

The doughnut table….complete with little vintage-themed mini milk bottles! I found them at Sav-on-Crafts for about $15 for a dozen!

“To-Go” bags for the guests to take a doughnut home!

The coffee station:

Krispy Kreme hats for everyone!

The food table:

Boo and Mr. LBB….I had white aprons for about 6 adults so that we would have some donut servers:

No cake….just donuts!

A few of Boo’s friends….all wearing LBB!

For some of the entertainment I spray-painted doughnuts and games onto our yard:

Hopscotch:

My little niece Sawyer playing in the doughnuts:

I was SO excited for everyone to get their favors! Gicela helped me silk screen doughnut t-shirts for all the kids and Lisa made the cute little tags:

Little favor bags with stickers and pencils…..easily made with plastic bags and stapling printed paper over the opening:

Boo’s Choose Joy tee was made by Cristy of Paperlili! Isn’t it adorable?

I love this photo of my in-laws and Boo’s cousins. Boo’s mouth is full of doughnut! My father-in-law was in doughnut shop character:

Look at all the Choose Joy bracelets at the party!

A few behind the scenes notes for planning your own party:

The awesome tower of doughnuts? I found it at the thrift store and repainted it! The platters were found at the 99 cent store and fit it perfectly!

I spray painted various frames and added chalkboards to them for table decor…..easy and inexpensive!

I made large stencils to spray paint the doughnuts and games on the grass. Hours of entertainment was added for the cost of 2 cans of paint!

A special thanks to Lisa, Gicela, Gale, and Jenn for helping me put all this together in such a short time! A VERY special thanks to our family friend Jim Morgan of Krispy Kreme for all the little details that made the party possible!!! Every little detail was just perfect….including the fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts that we had brought in from Ontario more than an hour away. Thank you Jenn and John for picking them up for us!!!

It was a great day of hanging out with friends and family that we haven’t been able to spend time with in quite a while!

This is the best party I’ve ever had.
-Boo

Filed Under: Cancer Chronicles, Choose Joy, Donut Chronicles, Party, photo props, Things I've Made, Thrifting, Toys and Accessories, Tutorial Tagged With: Doughnut, party, tutorial

Circus Party!

October 17, 2011 By Lisa 27 Comments

Elle celebrated her 4th birthday over the weekend and the kids had a blast and left on a sugar high. Here is a preview of her circus themed party! Elle loves reptiles, and this is as close as she will ever get to owning any! So much more to come: pictures, tutorials, and free printables! We will tell you more about her outfit and show you the cutest, and easiest party favor bags you can make! Stay tuned!

Circus Carnival Birthay Party via lilblueboo.com