doily business cards + packaging ...

i decided to whip up some fun doily business cards for the utah bloggers meet and greet last week!

i used my new doily nesting die cut from lifestyle crafts* to cut out the perfect size doilies for my business cards using kraft paper.  

the stamp i made for my business cards for alt came in handy, because i can stamp my information on anything!  so, it was fun to be able use the doilies for cards, plus it was part of the theme of the evening, so that was a bonus!

i also was able to use the lifestyle crafts antique doily die* to dress up my packaging for some armelle jewelry items i gave away at the event!

 i have always loved to use doilies to dress up a package, so it was fun to be able to create some doilies in any color i want!

stay tuned for pictures of the meet and greet!  it was such a fun evening!

*as always, you can receive 20% off you entire purchase from lifestyle crafts by using code ARMELLE at checkout!

{all photos by me}

lifestyle crafts ...

a few fun things this week from lifestyle crafts!

they are having their huge warehouse sale this weekend.  but, don't worry if you aren't in the area.  type ARMELLE at checkout, and you can get the warehouse prices online as well!  click here to shop, nov 4 & 5th!

also, this week kicks of their "i made this" challenge and giveaway!
the prizes are amazing!  i'm talkin' a slr camera, a new mac computer, and more!  all you have to do is submit a photo of something you made using a lifestyle craft product!  read more about the contest, and for all the details, go here.

this week, they will be giving away a canon 60d camera and a jo totes bag, and all you have to do is sign up for an account with lifestyle crafts.  so easy!  be sure to head on over and sign up to win by nov 7th !

you can also get extra entries by:

- posting about the contest on your blog and leave a comment on the lifestyle crafts blog with the URL of the post, and let them know you saw it on the armelle blog.

- mention the lifestyle crafts contest on your tweet.

good luck!

be stuffed ...

i know it's only september, but really thanksgiving will be here before you know it.  the months just tend to fly by these days. (seriously, how is summer already over?)

anyhow, i wanted to share with you a fun thanksgiving table setting i put together using the new be stuffed release from lifestyle crafts.

i was able to incorporate (my favorite kind of paper) vintage book pages, with simple brown craft paper card stock, as well as turquoise.

i used dies from the release to cut out a mayflower boat (that doubled as a name place setting filled with corn nuts), a pilgrim hat (perfect for holding little colored pencils for the kiddos)

i used the place setting kit die to make a fun little collar for my sparking juice.

to finish off the place setting i made a menu with the place setting die kit, and embellished the setting with a few feathers from the feather headband die, a turkey leg, and a turkey.

this fun new release made it simple to create this fun thanksgiving table setting.  i just rolled them out using my epic six machine with the dies.

i am excited to use these on my thanksgiving table this year!  be sure to check out the lifestyle crafts blog for more thanksgiving inspiration.

{photos by me: caroline drake}

*also, exciting news for my readers!  lifestyle crafts is offering you 20% off your entire order from their website!  just type in the code ARMELLE at checkout!  

a wreath ...

i wanted to share with you a fun wreath i made for my door.  
i've been needing to make a new wreath for a while, and since i was getting ready for norah's red, white, and two party, i decided to make a festive one.

here is a quick how to:
supplies
straw or foam wreath (found at the craft store, i found mine at hobby lobby) *if you do the straw wreath, just keep the plastic on.
cotton batting by the yard cut into 5 inch strips (about 3/4 yard)
1/2 yard fabric (cut into 3 inch strips), i used black and white striped fabric from hobby lobby
pin backs (optional)
hot glue gun, glue
wool blend felt (various colors for flowers, green for leaves) *i used the wool felt because it's better quality and thicker, and when i use the die cutters, they cut out better.
scissors

directions:
wrap the wreath with the strips of cotton batting and glue or pin into place.  you can do one layer around the entire wreath, or more depending on how thick you want it.  next, take the strips of fabric and start wrapping around the wreath, and glue the ends into place with the glue gun, then keep wrapping until finished.

next, i used my lifestyle crafts epic six tool and the nesting blossoms cutter from the new possibilities release to cut out my flowers in various colors.  then, i used the nesting leaves to cut out the leaves.

next, i glued the flowers together, and glued the leaves to the flowers. then, since i wanted to be able to change out the flowers, i glued them to little pin backs and pinned them onto the wreath where i thought they looked good.

i'm excited to be able to change out the flower colors for different season!

*exciting news for my readers!  lifestyle crafts is offering you 20% off your entire order from their website!  just type in the code ARMELLE at checkout!

red, white, and two: the party ...

finally, i wanted to share the actual red, white, and two party with you!
we had a really great time at her party!  and, norah ran around eating as much junk as she wanted.  so, i know she had fun too!

since you bloggers are a curious bunch, i'll be sure to share sources for everything at the end of the post :) and, apologies in advance for so many pictures..

it is no secret that i love food, so i knew that i wanted to have some great food for the party.  i decided to stick with classic barbecue food, and a few red, white, and blue things!

fresh cut watermelon

corn on the cob on a stick

baby back ribs

various flavored barbecue sauces

red, white, and blue fruit

red, white, and blue salad

cupcakes

red, white, and blue cake

red raspberry lemonade

red, white, and blue goodies- i'm just trying to forget how much junk my kids ate that night..

details on how i made the paper wrapped around the glass jars below..

red, white, and blue bomb pops

red, white, and blue s'mores {which never made it out, we had way too much food..}

it was a little hard to get a picture of the fun paper decorations with the window light behind them, but you get the idea..

the birthday girl in red, white and blue

blowing out her candles

 we ended the night with sparklers and fireworks, great entertainment!

such a fun day!  it was fun to use the red, white, and blue theme since her birthday is july 1st, it worked out perfect, and there were so many options available this time of year! and, good thing that i love planning a good party, because it's a lot of work!  and, i tend to go a bit overboard for norah's party, because really summer birthdays are the best!

i know i say it every time my kiddos have a birthday, but i really cannot believe my norah is two?!!

party sources

paper accordion decorations- dollar tree, zurchers, party land

red striped table cloths- target

cake stands- martha stewart for macys

salad bowl- walmart

white platters- walmart, target, tai pan trading

bbq squeeze bottles- orson gygi
white portion cups- orson gygi

individual ice creams- wal-mart

candy- winco foods (red white and blue gummy candies, large gum drops), costco, orson gygi (gumballs, jelly bellies)

bomb pops- wal-mart

red and white cup cake liners- etsy

glass beverage dispensers with stands (they came black, but i sprayed them white)- winco foods

striped straws- orson gygi (available on etsy too)
striped plates- target

striped napkins- ikea
paper food baskets- sams club

aqua and white table cloth- thrifted
milk glass- thrifted

aqua glass vases- target
striped bowls- target
glass candy containers with lids- hobby lobby

norah's dress- crazy 8
norah's shoes- puddle jumper shoes

norah's headband- lou and lee

barbecue ribs recipe

cake- made by me
salad recipe

garlic herb butter 

specialty barbecue sauces- holy smokes bbq and grill, and jdawgs

paper decorations and labels
i was excited that lifestyle crafts asked me to use their new possibilities release for norah's party!  it really made all the finishing details so fun and easy to make!

all of the food labels were made using the possibilities release.  i printed the food label with the stripes and used this nesting die to cut them out, then i stick it onto a tooth pick and used a large gum drop candy to hold it up.

the flags for the cake were made with the striped paper i designed and printed out, and cut out with the party flag dies from lifestyle crafts.

i also wrapped the candy jars with paper that i cut out using the petals wrap, the lattice wrap, the trellis wrap, and the diamond wrap.

*exciting news for my readers!  lifestyle crafts is offering you 20% off your entire order from their website!  just type in the code ARMELLE at checkout!

see more of the red, white, and two party, here.