Do it yourself zebra picture frame, light cover, wall borders.

You will need:
one roll of Zebra printed duct tape
FRAME: A picture frame, of any size
LIGHT SWITCH: any light switch covers or outlet covers
Sizzors

To start off decide your direction.
Take out your frame and remove your glass and cardboard sheets from the openings.
starting with the edges and working towards the center, cover each edge with one long strip. (either vertically or horizontally based on the direction you choose). continue to work towards the center, you may completely cover the openings or trim as you work. do not change direction.
If you do not wish to cover the openings (harder but saves material) simply cut a shorter strip, and fold the edges around threw the opening to the back.
If you cover the openings you will simply cut a slit where the openings are all the way to the edge of the openings and then fold the extra into the back of the frame.
You may overlap or trim the width for smaller sections.
In my case, I trimmed smaller sections for around the openings, and covered the sides and center with a long strip.
Place your glass and cardboard back inside,be sure to tuck any extra tape between your photo and cardboard so its not seen ;)
LIGHT SWITCH
You can also use the same techinque to cover a light switch or outlet cover ;)
in this case, I covered it horizontally. using two strips edge to edge I covered the top and middle, for the bottom I only needed a half a strip. I then cut a slit for the light switch and bent it backwards. the screws easily pushed right threw the duct tape. and it was ready for use.
ADDITIONAL DECORATIONS
Duct tape will also make a cute thin border around a room, or can easily add decoration to dressers etc.
With one roll of standard duct tape I was able to cover my frame, my light switch cover, a middle room border for a 12x12 room, and I had just enough left to make a small decoration on my door hanger. Tons of ZEBRA Decor for under $5.00. If I happen to pick up more I plan on doing my outlet covers and possibly some dicuts for my dressers.
addtionally I plan on making a zebra print lamp in the future, so check back soon for updates and a tutorial!

ENJOY!
and if you have your own tips or techiniques or you try the ones listed above, please be sure to share them with me! I love pictures and feedback!

finished frame with original package

empty frame with duct tape-materials

frame with strips of duct tape vertically

duct tape light switch, wall borders, embelishments

duct tape light switch.

do it yourself custom party horns/blowers Transformers

So, most of you know that a pack of character party horns can run about $4-$6 for an 8 pack.

Well here's a tip to get them at less then half the price, PLUS have them customized.

I first bought 2 packs of plain sports themed blowers at my local dollar store, for $1 each.

Then using paintshop pro (or another paint program) I made circles about 3.5 inch in size with a transformer and the writing "Happy 3rd Birthday Jeaven".
I was able to fit 2 circles on a 4x6inch background to print on photo paper.
You can also copy paste them into a word program to print 8 on a full 8x11 sheet. The easiest way to make the circle is to copy a full sized photo from the internet, use the selection tool in the shpe of the circle to select a part of the picture to use, and then write over the circle with the text tool. additionally some cliparts online may already be circle, saving you a step.

After printing I simply cut out the circles and attached them using a glue gun right onto on top of the sports shape already on the blowers.

And there you have it! For just $2 and some ink/paper, you have perfect custom party favors!

traditional "sports" party horns

3inch circle photos cut from 4x6 sheets

NEW PERSONALIZED PARTY HORNS

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Spanish Stew/Soup over rice.

A nice thick low broth stew to eat over rice or potatoes, or to serve as a main/side dish.
Meat of choice: I used shrimp & boneless chicken. You can use any mix of shrimp, chicken, ham, spam, pork, hamburg etc. You can also use meat still on the bone, but I prefer not to asyou have to pick it out while eatting.
Put 4-5 cups of water in a large soup or rice pan. Add a few shakes of adobo, onion salt, garlic powder, and salt. Add a package of red sazon and one chicken boullin cube (or a spoonful of the fridge kind)
Bring the mixture to a boil. Add meat & cover, boil until cooked.
Add veggies.
I peeld and cubed 4 small potatoes & drained a can of corn and a can of carrots. You can use canned or fresh & you can add other veggies/beans as desired.
Add noodles. I choose dintalini noodles. Anything small works best, rice, abc noodles, small shells etc.
Taste your broth & add seasons or more water to desired taste. This is ment to be a low broth dish as it is served as itself or on top of rice/potatoes rather then eatten as a soup. However you can also surely add some more noodles/water to eat as a soup.
Allow to boil for about 5-10 then reduce to a simmer until ready to eat. (Be sure to make sure your potatoes are soft, if not give it a few more minutes)
I boiled a pan of yellow rice to serve under my soup, & also made crescent rolls. If you don't know how to make yellow rice you can use a boxed spanish or chicken rice, or boil in bag white rice.
Enjoy :)

CAKE POPS! CAKE BALLS!

You will need:

1 baked cake prepared from box cake mix or from scratch.

1 plastic tub of frosting or equal amount of scratch frosting.

1lb chocolate melts or chocolate of choice

1/4 cup oil

Popsicle sticks (optional)

Sprinkles, candies etc for decorations

Airtight container and wax paper/tin foil.

You may also want plastic bagies for decorating.

Step one, BAKE:

After you have baked a cake allow it to cool completely, no warmth. 

Step two, MIX:

Crumble your entire cake into a large bowl, and add the contents of your frosting container 

(flavor of your choice) using a spoon or gloved hands, mush the frosting and cake together, it will look like a crumbly cookie dough when mixed. You will use about 75%-85% of the can, possibly more depending on the cake. once it is able to mold in your hands, you've got enough frosting.

COOL!!!

This step is very important. The mix should always be cool before you try to work with it. Once your mix is combined cover it and allow it to cool for 2hours in the fridge or just under an hour in the freezer.

SHAPE:

Shap your mix into balls, or push into cookie pans or cut with cookie cutters to desired shapes. I rolled balls and inserted into a greased 12 heart shape cookie pan, sealed with plastic wrap for them to cool.

After you shape,

COOL!!!

Back into the fridge! THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT! if your balls/shapes are not 100% cool, almost frozen, they will crumble or fall off their sticks when you dip them. I use the freezer for cooling after they have been shaped and I allow them to freeze so they are more stable.

STICKS

If you want them on sticks you would now melt a small portion, like a spoonful of chocolate, dip the end of your sticks into the chocolate and then into your shaped balls. And COOL.

NO STICKS:

if you are making just balls without sticks skip the above step, for the lower steps you will need to drop your balls into the chocolate and rotate them with a spoon.

TO MELT THE CHOCOLATE:

In a microwave safe bowl melt chocolates using 30second increasements. If using traditional chocolate add oil as needed to thin. 

DUNK

Dunk completely cool pops into hot chocolate, then lay them on a sheet of wax paper, add any decorations and put them back into the fridge.

The balls must be completely cool/frozen or they will fall off the sticks and smush.If this happens you can recool and try again, or your chocolate may be too thick, in which case you can add more oil and melt it down some more. 

If you cannot get them to stay on the stick try spooning the chocolate over the ball instead.

Extra mix can be stored up to 5 days in the fridge, longer in the freezer. Pops can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days or in the freezer for 1-2months. Move from the freezer to the fridge a few hours before needed. Use within 3 days of dethawing.

DRIZZLE

For a drizzle affect melt a second color/flavor chocolate and put it in a freezer bag cutting off the very tip of a bottom corner. Squeeze th bag gently an zigzag over your cooled coated pops.

Enjoy!

STROMBOLLI! (Sort of like a calzone)

You will need:
Sauce
Cheese
Toppings
Pillsbury italian bread dough
I bought a tube of pillsbury italian bread dough. Pop the seal & find the seam of the loaf, once its found you should be able to roll out the dough flat like a pizza.
Spread sauce, add shredded cheese & desired toppings.
Roll back up into a loaf and place on greased pizza pan.
Pinch the top seam to be sure its secure, and cut 4-5 slices into the top of the dough.
Preheat oven to 400 and bake until golden brown & desired crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before slicing, using a sharp knife or pizza cutter cut into 1inch slices & serve.
(Left overs should be heated in the oven, not the microwave. They can be stored for up to 3days in the fridge, or frozen for later use)

Make your own balloon weights!

Having a party but don't want to pay $1+ each for balloon weights?, or don't like the stores selection?
Try these!
All you need is tissue paper, small rocks or stones & ribbon.
For mine I used light & dark paper tissue, and small white rocks that I took from a local parking lot.
Use 1 sheet of each color tissue (or 2 sheets of a single color)
Place a rock in the center or a small pile of stones, should be able 3inches wide/high.
Fold the tissue corners up to the center above the rocks, and grab the tissue with your hand securing it like a sack.
Cut about 20inches of ribbon, place the center of the ribbon onto the stem of the sack behind your hand, wrap it fully around once & secure with a knot or a bow.
Curl your left over ribbon.

On party day simply tie the end of your balloon ribbon around the same stem.

More pictures to follow!

Justin Bieber Bubbles personalized bubble favors

For my daughters Justin Bieber themed party, I bought packages of small clear party bubbles.
With my home computer & printer I designed and printed "address labels".
Address labels are the perfect size for these bottles, however due to some bottes having some type of writing and not completely smooth sides, you will also need hot glue. In addition you could print on regular paper and cut them out, bu I find the address labels to be much easier.
Simply dab a spot of hotglue onto the bottle, and stick the side of the address label to it, roll the rest of the sticker around the bottle, place another dab of glue under that edge & secure.
Add ribbons or bows for extra decoations.
You may also glue a line instead of a dab/spot if you think you need more. The middle of the label does not need glue.

(More pictures to follow)