Graduation Words of Wisdom

 I made these last year for a pal who was hosting a graduation party for her nephew.  The idea was totally hers, I just brought it to fruition.  She was having the graduation celebration at a pasta restaurant and she wanted to give each guest a jar of pasta.  She wanted different pastas, and she wanted each one to have a quote they could read to the graduate.

 I found a bunch of different pastas (repeated some), and a bunch of quotes and words of wisdom.  I found the free tag printable online.  Here are all the quotes/tags I used.  I put each persons name on the tag to mark their place at the table...so the link is just for ideas.

I filled mason jars and put some clothe I found on top that I cut with pinking sheers.  I attached the tag with raffia.  I got a larger jar for the graduate.  Each person read their quote at dinner, added a personal message on the back and then gave them to him.  For the table, she used real basil plants she got at Trader Joe's to line down the center.  I thought it was a super cute idea and would be good for a bon voyage or rehearsal dinner, so...sharing just because.  :O)

Mini Graduation Cap Straw Topper

I saw the idea for these little mini graduation cap straw toppers at LilLu and I had to give it a go.  I didn't have a glue gun at the time, so my steps were a little different, but the outcome was the same.  You could also grab colors to fit your graduations needs.  

I cut out long triangles (template to follow) about an inch wide and then cut slits on one side about 1/3 of the way up.

I curled it around and then folded them down.  I cut out a little triangle and used these flatted tabs to glue to the top of the square.  I cute a criss cross slit in the top to push the straw through.  

Here is a free template if you are unsure of the size to make these.
Easy.  Cute.  Practically free!

Tassel Banner

I've been eye balling these tassel banners around the net and decided it was my turn to give it a go.  This ones for graduation, but you can use any color combo under the sun to fit your party needs....and I will.  Don't.  You.  Doubt.  It.  I will.  These are so super simple to make.  You can make them any length.  I took 20 by 20 tissue paper and cut it in half.  Then I folded the two pieces and cut slits towards the center, but I left about 3 inches in the center not cut...like this...

Then I folded it over a bunch of times so that the two fringes folded over like this.

I twisted the center until it twisted in on it's self and created a loop I could string on my string.

Fast, easy, fun.  My kind of decoration.

A Book for the Graduate

I've been giving this book as a graduation gift for years, but thanks to pinterest, I added the 'have people sign the book before you pass it on' to the gift list.  This is one of my 'old' sixth grade students who is graduating high school in a few weeks...

She joined the team I went with this last summer to the Amazon...at the point of this picture, we had been sweating for a week, but....what a special memory!  Emily has been visiting me since she 'left' 6 years ago to find adventures in jr high and high school,  and I'm not sure what I'll do without my regular updates on life, school, teachers, boys, church, or crafts.  It's been so fun to watch her get into classrooms and try out her skills at teaching.  She is special to quiet a few ladies she met as she went through the doors of elementary school...so...those are the ladies I had sign the inside of this book...

 She's headed to Alabama to study education, so here's a little book to add to her 'someday' school library with a message I truly believe-she's off to great places....and I'm looking forward to long distance updates over the next four years as Alabama gets to see what this gal we have to offer....and beyond.

T-Shirt Quilt

My friend, Yolanda's daugter graduates in a few days.  She's been playing soccer since the beginning of her school career, and Yolanda has saved her shirts throughout the years.  She asked me if I could put these together into a quilt she can take to college.  Absolutely!  I've been wanting to try out this concept for awhile (I've seen all sorts of versions at quilt shows, and through friends).  In fact, I've got a stack of my own shirts from softball, high school events, travel, college shirts, and work shirts. 
She brought me her stack of shirts, and I bought a 9.5x9.5 inch grid to make exact cuts. 

 I centered the grid over the part I wanted to highlight, and used a rotary cutter to pull out my square.  For the most part I pulled out the front with the logo, and the back with the number, but in a few case, I also snagged a sleeve with a fun design, or patches indicating Alyse's successes at the goalie box. 

 I laid them out to make sure no like colors/numbers were touching. 

I bought some light weight fusible fabric from the fabric store (they sell it by the yard) and cut these into squares and ironed the 'rough/sticky' side to the back of the shirt square.  This prevents the shirts from stretching as you sew, and makes it a little less of a flimsy material. 

 You can cut this a little larger, and trim the edges to make sure the entire back is covered, but I just made sure my hem was far enough in to snag all the edges. 

I decided to add a 2.5 inch border to each so I didn't have to try to match the corners exactly, and to make this quilt a little larger so she can snuggle under it while watching TV....I mean, studying, in college.

 I sewed each row together, and ironed (just a side note, don't iron the numbers from the front, iron them from the back or they might pull up). 

 I added one long strip of 2.5 inch fabric to the top of each row. 

 I sewed all the rows together, making sure I matched the lines both horizontally and vertically as much as possible. 

 I then added a row to both sides so it was completely framed. 

She selected some flannel fabric for the back that's really soft to help with the comfort factor. 

I left it with a lady to quilt the soccer ball pattern. 

I made a bag to house the blanket I'll post about tomorrow. 

I'm motivated to get a quilt going for my own shirt collection now, it was much easier than I thought it would be, and it makes me feel less guilt about slicing up those old memories. 

Linking To: Be Different Act Normal  Fun to Craft 504 Main Show and Share  Sassy Sites Night Owl Crafting Free Pretty Things Tea Rose House Sugarbee Cherished Bliss Blackberry Vine Running with Glitter Today's Creative Blog Crafty Soiree HOH Gluesticks Shabby Chic Cottage Remodelaholics Tatortots and Jello Funky Junk Gingersnap

Graduation Gift: Pizza and (Root)Beer

Pizza and Beer...sort of a staple on college campuses around the world....minus my alma mater, of course ;o). But really, this present is rated G because there is a little Baptist girl in me that just insisted on the 6-pack of root beer....it helped that it was much cheaper than a 6 pack of beer.
My Mom needed a graduation gift to take to a party recently, and I have an ever growing stack of things I want to 'try out,' and there are only 365 days a year, and as many reasons to celebrate, which is about 203 less than the ideas in my craft folder. I decided to pull one out I've been wanting to try for awhile. As usual, I manipulated the project to meet the needs of the occasion, as opposed to looking for a project to fit the occasion. I saw this idea . They had the cute cinnamon bun-on-a-stick idea I took, and fed crack to until it became a gift, and I did the same with this idea. Crafts on Steroids-sorta my speciality.

for pizzas-on-a-stick on my new, imaginary best friends' website artisanbread

I also adapted their recipe for the pizza bites, but for the 'real version' hit the link above. Here is 'my version.' It's the easy way out. I'd say 'easy' is my middle name, but that just doesn't come out right. How about simplified?
MAKING THE PIZZA BITES
I BOUGHT a can of pizza dough, and spread it out to about 1/4 inch thickness.
I then grated about 4 oz of cheese (1/2 a block) over the entire dough.
I added two rows of pepperoni in a long line down the middle (this used up about half a package-so it would be REALLY easy to double this with another thing of pizza dough).
Leave space between the two rows of pepperoni (leave the cheese lines), which help all the dough stick together, and hold tightly in the rolls-on-the-sticks.

I rolled tightly, and I cut about 16 pieces 1/3-1/2 inch thick. I didn't get out my ruler.
I added this step: I sprayed the tops of each roll with spray butter (0 calories, because, obviously, calorie count is important to me, ha!....and it's easy). I then sprinkled the tops with garlic salt. This makes it pretty salty, but that's how I like it, but be warned if you don't, and adapt as desired!

I baked at 425 for about 10 minutes.
As soon as they came out, I poked bamboos skewers into each roll before they cooled. The bamboo skewers I found in the grocery section hanging on the end of an aisle, ready for summer cook outs. I cut them down a bit because they were a little long, but I liked having the 'pokie' end, it slid into the dough nicely. You could also use popsicle sticks or sucker sticks....I was just feeling really daring.

I then put little bags over each pizza bite so I could make a bouquet. I think life is best delivered as a bouquet. I also think life's events are best told in song, but I'll leave that for another time.
I tied off each bag with raffia, because I heart raffia...still....no new news there.

I got a metal can from the dollar section at Target, stuck some styrofoam from the dollar store in the bottom, and then poked my pizza bites down. I did super glue them into place since they'll be traveling with my Mom....I worry when other people deliver 'my crafts' that they the delivery 'person' won't know to rearrange the shifted product.

I attached a card. I'm going to write Greeting cards if this not-for-profit blog thing doesn't work out. You'll be able to get them two for a dollar at the dollar store, but still, they'll be mine. I won't claim them either, but still...mine.
My 'beautiful' graduation inspired poetry:
The attached card reads:
Instead of studying until 7 am, you'll head to work at 7 am.
Instead of taking out study loans, you'll begin paying student loans.
Instead of listening to the professionals, you'll be the professional others are listening to.
Instead of looking forward to summer vacation, you'll begin counting the days until retirement.
Instead of pizza and beer for dinner...
Never mind that one is pretty much universal no matter what stage of life you find yourself in.
"There is no facet, no aspect, no manner of life that can't be improved with pizza." Dario Morgendorffer
And thus completes another episode of-what I do at about 1 am on a work night. P.s. I think this would be a fun Father's Day Gift as well, AND we did a shower once at work for a 'guy' with the pizza, and root bear theme, and then Home Depot gifts, it was fun...just a little random aside.
Linking To:
Night Own Crafting
Trendy Treehouse
Just a Girl
Fun to Craft