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A friend of mine gave me the greatest idea in the whole wide world for Mia's birthday party. A mini-sleepover.

It goes like this: They come. They play. They eat. They stay later than normal. They go home.

See? Best idea ever.

After we did crafts, pizza, cake, and games they watched a movie until their mom's picked them up between 10 and 11. So fun.

This is the first time Mia has been ok with having a small girls only party. She normally wants everyone to be included b/c she is sweet like that. This year, though, with a little coaxing from her tired-of-big-parties mother, she agreed to a small arts and craft party. We invited all of the little girls from her class which was odd for me b/c I don't really know them or their parents. But it worked.

We did three crafts. Two were mostly a hit and one was down right disastrous..sort of. First, the hits.

I'm giving you some valuable information so listen carefully. For $5.xx you can buy a can of joint compound and create fabulous awesome totally rad texture to a canvas, let it dry, then paint it. You don't even realize how valuable that info is do you?

I bought a 10 pack of 8x10 canvases for $20! That is incredible. Thank you Michael's. The night before the party I sketched a heart on each canvas then went over it with the compound. You just scoop it on your finger and get it on there as best you can. It takes some getting use to but it is SO fun to do. Then I added a tiny bit of texture using a palette knife to the background but not the inside of the heart. This stuff needs to dry at least 8 hours. BTW I used maybe 1/6 of the can...it doesn't take much. And even though that pic makes the can look huge it is the SMALL can (maybe not smallest). Don't buy enough to spackle your whole house.



Next you get a bunch of scrapbook paper scraps and have your children rip them to shreds:


Using mod-podge and cheap-o sponge brushes, decoupage the scraps inside of the heart. They will have to tear some pieces to get the right fit around the edges.

Don't you see what potential those little canvases had. Well, erase all potential from your head b/c it came to a screeching halt once I introduced paint to them...oh, brother.

I had each child choose two colors. One for background, one for the heart. I should have chosen the colors for them. Oh, man. You would think they would have taken my wise advise to choose coordinating colors with their paper. But, no. And then, THEN, one little girl yells out...CAN I DO POLKA DOTS? and then all the little girls squeeled...OH MEEE TOOO MEE TOOO!



Once the paint dries (I set them in front of a table fan..they dried super fast) go over the entire canvas with Mod Podge to seal it. I then added slick paint swirls in a futile effort to save them. The finished product looks a little shocking, but they had fun...right?

I know they are kids. I KNOW. But this hurts my heart, y'all. Can't even lie about it. Mia chose black. BLACK. Seriously? And, of course, Jules chose pink and purple b/c that's the only two colors she chooses to recognize. All other colors are scum. Is there pink or purple in her paper? Um, negative. O.k., I need to get over it. I think the girls loved doing it, and that's what matters. a-hem.

Next up is scrappy journals. I got these most precious journals from Jo-Annes for $1 at the front by the registers. I almost did a cartwheel when I saw them and then proceeded to BEG Mia to let me get them instead of the cheap piece of crap dance ones from the dollar spot at Target. She is so good to me.

I bought 3 of the fabric swatches for a $1.99. They have a TON of them to choose from and what a great deal. I'm not talking about the quilt scraps...these are different...just ask them to help you find it. I folded them and cut strips with pinking shears just like I did for that wreath. I did use a little bit of ribbon but not much, maybe 3 pieces per journal for an added touch. I counted out the scraps and tied little bundles with twine.

Then they tied them on. Some girls did great. Some whined like a mother. But we got it all done nevertheless.

I found an 8 pack of gel pens at Target for $2 and we tied a few scraps to the lid:

The next project was not successful despite the cute pics. Getting the beads on the safety pin was not the problem. Stringing the bracelet together was a nightmare. I got the silver stretchy stringing. MISTAKE. It frays SO bad and I was so MAD. They shouldn't sell it in my opinion. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble by getting the white b/c it wasn't even going to show.

Anyway, most girls got a dangle bracelet simply b/c there was no way they could do the cuff-looking kind and there was no way we (Lexi and I ) could string them all together for them like that. We both decided...forget it. Dangle bracelet it is. But can you see how cute! I was so excited about these too...I think 8 years old or older would be better for this craft OR just doing it with one or two girls.

The cuff-look:

The dangle look:

I only spent $60 for supplies for 3 super cool crafts for 10 kids. We ate pizza for $25. Koolaid for $1.00. Cupcakes and icing for about $7. I did not buy ANY party decorations b/c Mia is the most easy going precious thing in the world. Her daddy asked her if we could skip that stuff and use our own plates etc. and not only did she agree..she agreed with the sweetest and excited SURE! She's the best.

So, birthday party for 10...under $100.

Mia's Birthday Cupcake Tower: To see my tutorial on icing cupcakes like a pro click HERE.

And just FYI, I went shopping on Friday afternoon and prepped all of the supplies Friday evening. That's it.

Check out these Link Parties:

DIY Project Parade
DIY Day @ A Soft Place To Land
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2010/03/welcome-to-craft-schooling-sunday-an-international-blog-party.html
http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-hodgepodge-friday_18.html
http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/friday-fun-finds-flower-y-spring-y.html
http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/03/weekedn-wrap-up-party.html
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2010/03/sns-22-brings-you-your-highlights.html
http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-has-sprung-party-2.html
http://www.lovinmylovebugs.blogspot.com/?
http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2010/03/creative-cats_19.html
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/?
http://lifeaslori.blogspot.com/?
http://www.somewhatsimple.com/2010/03/strut-your-stuff-thursday-with-sevi.html
http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/2010/03/we-did-it-wednesday-and-last-weeks.html
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2010/03/11th-power-of-paint-party-6-month.html
http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/?
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2010/03/whatever-goes-wednesday-5.html
http://meandmybucket.blogspot.com/2010/03/show-us-what-youre-workin-with_16.html
http://mybackyardeden.blogspot.com/2010/03/make-it-yours-day_17.html