You ask, Designers answer (July 08)

Our popular "you ask" article is back, and we've got more answers to your questions. In keeping with our theme this month, three designers answer some of your crafting questions on the subject of parties and celebrations.

When you are planning a party sometimes things can get hectic!  So if Iwant to make your own party decorations, how do you create some clever items with limited time?  ~ Lisa in Wisconsin

Designer: Becky Novacek

Great question Lisa! It seems like I am always last minute with party decorations, so this question fits with me perfectly! I usually not only am short on time, but I am usually trying to keep costs down too, so these ideas should be cost effect too. I always like to make custom banners for parties. I think it makes the guest of honor feel like you put real effort in and really thought about them. With this banner you could make it much more custom, by spelling a child’s name or age. The party favor is personalized with an initial. Creating the banner and one favor box took less way under an hour. Creating additional party favor boxes would take very little time. I’m glad you asked this, because we’re hosting our granddaughter’s 2nd birthday party here in a couple of weeks and I plan to do this for her party!

For Banner:

1. Use Fiskars Ultrashapexpress to create 5 tags(or customize this for your party/phrase)from white cardstock for banner.
2. Punch a hole at the top of each tag using Fiskars ¼ inch Circle Hand Punch.
3. Adhere Lil Davis Invisible Glitter Monograms to each tag.
4. Adhere pompom trims to bottom edge of each tag.
5. Thread Heidi Grace Ribbon through holes and you have a banner!

For Favors:

1. Use Fiskars Tag You’re It Squeeze Punch on white cardstock.
2. Adhere Lil Davis Epoxy Alpha Sticker to tag.
3. Add Black Trim to bottom of tag.
4. Use Fiskars ¼ inch Circle Hand Punch at top of tag and thread ribbon through. Set aside.
5. Adhere Lil Davis Glitter Flower to favor box
6. Tie ribbon tag onto favor box.
7. Tuck favor in with tissue paper.

What would be a party craft that you could do at a pre-teen (or teen) birthday party? Marla from Oregon
Designer Deb Perry answers:

One thing I’ve noticed that teens and pre-teens alike have in common is their love for photos! My 3 teens are constantly taking and collecting cool shots of themselves and their friends to decorate their rooms and their lockers.  So for the party, why not take cool 4x6 headshot photos, print them out* and then have the kids personalize their very own frame! You don’t need to be a great photographer or own a fancy camera either…any point and shoot digital camera is more than fine! In fact, it doesn’t matter what party theme you choose, this decorated photo-frame craft fits in with them all. Also having the right Fiskars tools on hand makes the project simple and fast to complete, so even your boys will join in!
*option: if you don’t have the resources to take/print photos at the party…the teens could still make the frames and fill them with a photo they print out at home.
Before the party: I like to pre-trim the cardstock and cut out the inside of the frames so all the teens need to do is decorate the frame and insert a photo. Start by using a portable trimmer to cut each piece of cardstock to 5x7 inches. You will need 2-5x7 pieces for each teen. Next divide your stack of frames in half  (1/2 the frames will be used as tops and ½ the frames will the the bottoms) Using only the TOPS, center the pre-cut piece of chipboard (see supply list) on top of each frame and cut around the outer edge using the craft knife.(ie: for 12 frames you will have 6 cut-out toppers). Next, using your stack of BOTTOMS apply glue stick to TOP EDGE ONLY.  Place frame TOPS on to BOTTOMS and press firmly with fingertips. These pre-assembled frames are now ready for a photo and to be decorated at the party!

At the party: Have one or two tables set up with two stations. Station 1 will have the pre-cut and assembled frames. Here they will choose their frame and then insert their 4x6 photo using a small amount of glue stick. Station 2 will have lots of embellishments for them to personalize and glue on to their frames. I used Li’l Davis rub-ons and chipboard embellishments which were fun for the kids to paint and adhere their decorations with foam dots. So many fun combinations are possible that no two frames come out alike.

Question: How can I create a layout for a kids birthday without using the standard balloons and candles/cake embellishments and papers? ~ Amy in Minnesota

Designer Lisa Storms answers:

Birthday layouts are a fun way to use your tools and use any papers you like!  Try punching triangles for pennant banners, ovals and circles for balloons, squares for gift boxes, and small circles for confetti.  Here I also twisted strips of paper around a bamboo skewer to mimic twirling streamers.  Another angle is to focus on the birthday age.  Have fun decorating your page with numbers.  Here I used the fingertip craft knife to cut out a large number 6 to house my title and journaling.  A quick tip is to ink the edges to cover up any leftover lines while cutting and no one will ever know!  Your decorative edged tools can be used to create whimsical cupcake and cake icings, and crimped-at-an-angle strips of cardstock with the ridges inked white make quick textured candles (crimp the bottom of a paper-pieced cupcake while you're at it!). Top your candle with a 'Bling Bling' punch or Cloud 9 teardrop rain dot for a flame.  Custom festive touches can make a truly special birthday page. 

Whatever you are crafting, for whatever occasion, enjoy the process and have fun with it! Below are the supply lists for the projects shown.

I take so many pictures at a celebration and I while I don't want all of them on a page - I want more than 3 or 4.  The problem is there are so many different types of pics from the same celebration (blowing out candles, opening presents, games, guests etc).  How do you scrap all those different pictures without having a layout that looks totally disjointed?  ~ Amy in Texas

Designer Valerie Salmon answers:

We take so many photos during an event, such as a birthday celebration.  With pictures of all the activity and the guests, narrowing them down to select just the key photos that represent the day can be a challenge.  Focus on selecting ones that are important in telling the story of the occasion.  If you are scrapbooking a birthday, perhaps select photos that mostly include the celebrant, so that the photos will be cohesive with one another.  Crop into the photo subject, rather than what's in the background.  Sure, you will have to include photos of the cake, blowing of the candles, opening presents, etc. -- but just select 1 from each significant activity.

To fit the main activities in my layout, I decided to create a collage of photos using my photo editing software.  This way, I can include more photos and size them to my liking to fit on an 8 1/2 x 11 photo paper.  By choosing vital photos to tell my story & having them grouped together as a whole, showing a connection is evident.

Using products from the same line that coordinate with the colors of your event photos (Heidi Grace Designs:  "A Little Bird's Tale"), also helps tie everything together.

I used a variety of punches & decorative edges to add more detail to the page, such as  the threading water border punch, rotary scallop blade (F), Round 'n Round squeeze punch is L & XL,  and Oopsie Daisy XL Squeeze punch.

Supplies for projects by Becky Novacek:

Fiskars Products: 48007097 Ultra Shapexpress
Fiskars Products: 48577097 Tag Template
Fiskars Products: 23527097 ¼ inch Circle Hand Punch
Fiskars Products: 12-74157097 XL Tag You’re It Squeeze Punch
Lil Davis Designs: Invisible Glitter Monograms
Lil Davis Designs: Glitter Flowers
Lil Davis Designs: Epoxy Alpha Stickers
Heidi Grace Designs: Aqua Ribbon Card
White Cardstock (one sheet is enough for 6 large tags for banner)
Favor Boxes
Black Trim

pompoms trim

Supply list for "teen frame" by Deb Perry:

Fiskars Tools: 12-98937097 12 in Portable Trimmer
Fiskars Tools: 12-25967097 Foam Dots
Fiskars Tools: 12-63057097 Fingertip Craft Knife
Fiskars Tools: 86067097 12.5 x 12.5 Cutting Mat
Fiskars Tools: 27227097 Glue Stick

Other: 1-4x6 photo for each guest, colored or plain cardstock (1 sheet for each teen invited), 1-3 ½ x 5 ½ in. piece of chipboard, colored craft paint,  small brushes.

Supply List for "turning six" by Lisa Storms:
Fiskars Brands: 12-74327097 L Squeeze Punch - Nice Tri
Fiskars Brands: 12-73177097 XL Squeeze Punch - Block Party
Fiskars Brands: 23507097 Hand Punch - 1/6" Circle
Fiskars Brands: 23527097 Hand Punch - 1/4" Circle
Fiskars Brands: 12-63057097 Fingertip Craft Knife
Fiskars Brands: 86108397 9x12 Craft Mat
Fiskars Brands: 12-99027097 Desktop Rotary Trimmer
Cloud 9 Design: Christie & Friends and Cinnamon Sticker papers and stickers
Other: white string, blue cardstock, black ink, chipboard, foam adhesive dots

By Fiskars Design Team