Pirate Swords

So as you know we are knee deep in birthday party planning.  This weekend we finished up several projects including pirate swords!

These are super fun and so easy to do.  All you need is 2 sheets of newspaper, a little tape and a piece of scrap cardboard the size of a cd.

Pirate Party Post #1

Over the next month I will be posting several pirate party ideas. My little girl, K's third birthday is coming up. I know, I know a pirate party for a little girl? This is how the conversation went -

Me - your birthday is coming up. What kind of party do you want? A princess party?

K - no, a pirate party.

Me - pirates?

K - yeah pirates, you know mommy, like captain hook and swords.

Me - I know what pirates are, but how do you? Are you sure you don't want a princess party?

And so it goes that we are having a pirate party. So far it has been an absolute blast to plan! Like I said, this will be the first of many more pirate party posts. Say that three times fast will ya?

So for today's first post I am going to show you the weathered bottles we have made.  This is a great way to recycle empty spaghetti sauce jars or other glass jars.  All you need is a glass jar, some regular masking tape and either brown shoe polish, brown paint or a distressing ink pad.

This one is being made with an empty wine bottle.

Tear the masking tape into small pieces.  Don't cut the tape, you will want the irregularity of the torn edge.  Layer the tape all over the bottle until you cover the entire thing.

This is a great activity to let the kids help with.  I lined up several pieces of torn tape for K and she went to town covering the bottle.

Once the bottle is covered, take your medium of choice - we used brown paint because that is what we had on hand, and blot it on your bottle.  Don't paint it on there, you want it to be uneven to give the bottle a worn look.  I found that with brown paint it works best to crumple up a paper towel and use that to blot the paint on the tape.

Cover the entire bottle and let it dry.

We have also made this project with a Coke bottle, spaghetti sauce jar and a pizza sauce jar.

Happy crafting ye landlubbers!

Up-cycle Silverware Holder

I think this is a great little party & picnic trick that can be customized for any event.  Take a cardboard drink holder from your favorite restaurant.  (6-pack holders work as well)

Spray paint the holder or cover it in scrapbook paper to match your theme. 

We painted this one gold to go along with a Pirate Party I am in the depths of planning.

Below is a Mickey themed carrier that was covered in scrapbook paper for last year's birthday party.

Then put your silverware and napkins in the holes and voila - a silverware holder that is portable and inexpensive.