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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party!

6/27/2016

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This year my wonderful mother turned 60 years old! Since 60 is a pretty special milestone, I wanted to do something extra awesome for her, so she would remember it for the rest of her life. We are both obsessed with the t.v show "Reign", which is a show about kings and queens, and castles, and the like, so I decided to make her "Queen for a day!"
Here are pictures from our Medieval themed party, with lots of tips and D.I.Y that you can steal for your very own medieval themed party!


How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
First things first, you gotta set the scene! I absolutely love themed things, and to pull off a themed thing successfully (whether it be a wedding, room decor, an outfit, or a party), people must know immediately, what the theme is! As soon as people enter the room, they should think that they are in a castle! We took it a step further, and made it so as soon as people pulled into the driveway, they knew they were about to enter a castle! We did that with this incredible drawbridge that my husband made out of some scrap wood from his work! Here's how we did it!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
My wonderfully crafty husband just got some scrap wood from work, picked up a saw, and cut a person-sized door our of the wood! Keep the door so you can lay it on the ground, and connect some chains to it, to make it look like a draw bridge!
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The drawbridge chains are just black construction paper cut into strips, then linked and taped together. You know how you used to make paper chains in school! For these, just make sure the strips are wide, so it looks like thick chains.
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Nick picked up cans of black and grey spray paint for just a couple bucks each, and spray painted it to look like blocks.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
We also added some "torches" to either side of the gate.
​These torches are super simple to make, and look so good! We made a bunch and also used them inside the house.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
These torches are super simple to make! All you need is; black construction paper, red and yellow tissue paper (we got these at Dollar Tree for only a dollar each), and scotch tape and scissors!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
What to do; Cut one black piece of construction paper into a square, so you can roll it into an ice cream cone looking tube, then tape. The top should be a large hole, with the bottom coming to a point, just like an ice cream cone! Then take both colors of tissue paper, and shove them into the top hole, fanning them out to look like a flame. You can also place battery operated tea lights on top of the flames, to make it light up!
​Now for the inside of the house!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Those walls!
The walls were one of the most important elements of the decoration, because that's what hid our modern day dining room walls, and turned it into an ancient castle! It even helped hide the living room and the kitchen.
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 We bought a roll of grey plastic table cloth from Party City, and me and my sister used permanent markers to draw blocks. We just rolled out the tablecloth and drew yards upon yards of this, so we could make sure every wall was covered. When it came time to decorate, we just measured out the lengths horizontally, cut the rolls, and taped them to the walls with heavy duty tape!
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
We cut a couple pieces of the table cloth and hung it vertically from the ceiling to hide the living room. We also taped purple and gold plastic tablecloths to the ceiling, and tied it with lace to act as "curtains".
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Here are some more of the torches we made! Taped to the interior of the castle walls.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Lots of pearls (from our wedding. You can buy strands of them from Oriental Trade or JoAnn Fabrics), candles, lace (also from our wedding), fake coins and jewels (bought from Dollar Tree for only $1.00 each)! Also, mounds of moss (bought from Dollar Tree!), gold vases (these were from my cousin's wedding. She just spray painted old vases from thrift stores), and golden chalices!  
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Golden chalices!
These goblets added great medieval flair! Plus, we made enough for everyone at the party, so everyone got to drink in medieval style, and! Had a great party favor to take home with them!

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We went to the Salvation Army and bought glass goblets for $.25 each. They were all matching except for my mom's, which was huge and very Queenly! 
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Nick took the glasses outside and spray painted them to perfection with gold spray paint (just don't paint the insides-you don't want your guests drinking paint!).
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
After the goblets dried, I got to work with my hot glue gun, gluing "gems" (we got a bag for $1.00 in the craft section of dollar tree!) onto them! 
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
The results of these under $.50 each handmade goblets? Royal, and super fun! Check out how much fun everyone was having with theirs (ok it probably helped that they were filled with booze!)!
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Well I guess this brings us to the costumes!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Since I wanted my Mom to feel like the Queen she is, I rented her this stunning Queen dress, complete with this gorgeous tiara! I rented it from an amazing party store in the Canton/Akron area, Akron Design and Costume. This place is the coolest costume store I have ever seen! And it's open year round!
I also gave her beautiful earrings and a necklace, from Eden.

How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
I also bought this Knight's armor vest from Akron Design and Costume for only seven bucks, and forced my dad to wear it for a little bit (look how thrilled he is about it)! 

How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Those great vests and jester hats you see being worn by everyone? I made them so everybody could feel involved with the theme! I was so glad I made these, because it was a blast seeing everyone get dressed up, and get involved in the theme! Here's how to make your own jester hats and vests, for less than $5 for everything!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Let's start with the vests!
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
At the Salvation Army (love that store!) I purchased a large red tablecloth, and a large piece of yellow fabric, for only two dollars each.
It's important to get two different colors of fabric, so you can make the crosses on the vests. 
All you need to do is; lay the fabrics out on the floor. Cut the fabric into strips. Make the strips wide enough to go from shoulder to shoulder. You can make them as long or short as you wish. The yellow ones are shorter because they were for the girls, and plus the fabric was shorter. Then measure from top to bottom, and side to side, to get to the exact center of the vest. That is where you cut the neck hole! Just fold it in half, and cut a half circle to make it even. After you have done this to all of the available fabric (except for a couple small strips), it's time to make the crosses!
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Cut out crosses from each color of fabric, and hot glue (it's faster than sewing!) it to the opposite colored vest!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
The crosses make such a difference, and really make it look like a knights vest!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
And now for the Jester Hats!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
All you need is green, yellow, and purple construction paper (we just bought a large multi-colored pack at JoAnn Fabrics and used that for all construction paper needs!), and scissors and scotch tape!
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Cut the different colors into shapes shown above. The long yellow strips are for the band. You will need two strips per hat. The green and purple triangles are for the hanging pieces. They do not need to be pointy at the top, because the yellow circles will be taped onto the tops of them. You will need two green and two purple for each hat. You will need four yellow circles per hat.
Tape two yellow pieces together for the band. You can measure your head for reference. I made varying sizes of hats. Then alternately tape the purple and green pieces to the inside of the yellow band. Add the yellow circles to the top. Bend the green and purple pieces slightly, to make them bounce around. They look so cute!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Now that your home and your guests all look like they belong in Medieval times, what are you going to do to keep everyone occupied?
Since my mom's birthday was in February and it was pretty cold, we didn't want to do a lot of things outside. So here's what we did for entertainment!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
We took pictures of everyone!
I cut the center out of a large poster board that I got for a dollar at Dollar Tree, decorated it, and wrote the occasion on it (Ellen's 60th!). When people came in, and after they put costumes on, we took a picture of them holding the "frame". It was a fun way to get pictures of everyone that came, and turned out super cute! 
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
The giant mace pinata!
This was also my husband's idea, and he made it perfectly!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
He first blew up a giant balloon we got at Party City, and then mod podged pieces of scrap paper over it. He did one layer, leaving a small space empty at the bottom of the balloon.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
While we left the first layer of paper mache to dry, we made these little spikes you see here. We made them by cutting out, rolling, and taping together, cones of black construction paper. Leaving a small flap of paper to tape onto the balloon. Once all spikes were attached, Nick did a second layer of paper mache, going over the flaps. Once that layer of paper mache is dry, it's now time to pop the balloon, from the small empty space you left at the bottom. Then take it outside and spray paint it black.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
We filled the pinata with cut up pieces of tissue paper (leftover from the torch flames), and plenty of candy and fake gold coins.

How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
We also had jousting tournaments to keep everyone amused!
We got these great little swords at Party City, and everyone had such a blast fighting with them!
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Other activities included; dancing to medieval music (just look it up on youtube!), and playing Taboo (cuz Taboo is just awesome!).
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Here are more photos of the party.
"Jewels" for everyone. We got them at Dollar Tree.
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
To make this throne, we just wrapped my silk bed sheet around an armchair.
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How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
Hahaha my Dad is the greatest.
How to Throw a Medieval Themed Party
I hope you enjoyed looking at our Medieval Party Pictures! We sure had a blast doing it, and so will you!
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​Peace Love and Medieval Times
Jess <3

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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial!

12/21/2015

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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Welcome dear friends!
I truly hope that today you are not stressed, frazzled, or in any way Grinch-like because of Christmas!
So today I have for you, a fun little project that you can do to take your mind off of things, and relax.
These decoupage notebooks are super easy to make, take almost not time at all, and do not require a ton of expensive, weird craft supplies! Do I have your attention yet? No? Well, they also make great last minute (very inexpensive) gifts, that basically tell everyone that you are a crafting goddess, who makes her own gifts!!! 
How about now?! 
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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
What You Need;
-A notebook. Big, small, any kind works, I like spiral notebooks.
-Mod Podge, or any other kind of decoupage goo.
-A spongy brush. I got mine at JoAnn Fabrics.
-Scissors.
-An old book or magazine, pictures, lace, or anything that you want to collage onto the front of a notebook! If you're making this for a gift, try to get things that the person likes! For example, I made a Beatles notebook, a Bob Marley notebook, and a James Dean notebook. These would be great gifts to people who love The Beatles, Bob Marley, or James Dean! You can even use pictures of you and the person you're gifting it to!
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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
What to Do;
First you will need to plot out the desired look for your notebook.
Cut out pages and pictures, and arrange them on the notebook until it looks totally awesome!
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Some decoupage inspiration!
Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Next, squirt a large pile of your decoupage goo onto a piece of cardboard, or an old magazine. Coat your brush in it, and completely cover the back of your paper or picture. 
Carefully lay the paper onto the notebook, and flatten it out. Then put another layer of goo, on the top of the paper or picture.
Do this for all the papers, until your notebook is covered.
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If you want to add lace to your notebook, make a large pile of goo, then make sure your lace is completely saturated with it. Like, completely! Then place it on your notebook however you want, and since your fingers and hands are already covered in goo, use your fingers to put more goo as needed on the lace, and make sure it's secured to the notebook!
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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Let your diy decoupage notebook dry, and then you have a one of a kind kick butt notebook that you made all yourself! Whoop whoop!
Here are some of the notebooks I've made! 

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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
I love both of these notebooks! The first one is my 50's Housewife notebook, and the second my "The Beatles are Coming!" notebook. You can actually purchase the Beatles notebook in my Etsy Shop!
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Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Decoupage Notebook Craft Tutorial
Some more adorable Japanese notebooks!

Now go get your craft on! 
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​Peace Love and Decoupage
Jess <3
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7 Ways to Make Your House Halloween Ready!

10/5/2015

2 Comments

 
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Hello ghouls and ghoul-etts!
The Halloween Season is upon us!
Cult Classic Horror Films, the Monster Mash, Blood, and Haunted Houses are here! I am so excited!!! Is your house ready? Well, here I have for you my 7 tips for making your house Halloween ready! Yaaaay!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Before you do anything, first you must turn on Pandora, and turn it to "Halloween Party" Radio! This is the greatest collection of Halloween, and creepy music! Coin Operated Boy, Thriller, Nightmare Before Christmas, even Witchy Woman by the Eagles, and I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow, how cool! And of course, Little Shop of Horrors!
So turn on the music, get in the Halloween Spirit, and start decorating!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Candy Dishes.
During Halloween you absolutely must have at least one candy dish sitting around!
For something very different and cool looking, I use record bowls! 
Check out how groovy they look!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Get your House Halloween Ready!
I actually make these awesome record bowls, and you can buy them on my Etsy Shop, only $13.99 for a set of five!

Get your House Halloween Ready!
Fake spiders and skulls!
Fake spiders and skulls are great, inexpensive ways to add a little spooky-ness to your house! 
I bought this skull (the eyes light up and change colors!) at Dollar General a couple years ago after Halloween was over, for only $5.00, and my husband bought a pack of fake spiders this year at Dollar Tree for only a dollar!


Get your House Halloween Ready!
Zombie Sheets!
This is one of my favorite way to decorate for Halloween, because they are so versatile! You can put them on your bed, on your couch, or even on a chair! Take a look!

Get your House Halloween Ready!
We used the sheet and two pillowcase set and arranged them on a chair, to get this chair to be the focal point of our living room!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Throw the Zombie Sheet over your couch to get this simple and awesome look! 

Get your House Halloween Ready!
And here are the sheets on an actual bed!
I hand paint these great sheet sets, and you can purchase them starting at only $49.99!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
How to Make Your Home Halloween Ready!
Creepy Pictures.
​Holographic Halloween Photos!
I don't care if these things are cheesy, I love them!
We have three of these in our house! We bought two of them at Dollar Tree for a dollar each, and I bought the other one at a flea market.
Etsy is also great place to find creepy paintings and prints! 
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
How to make a creepy standing figure.
I love this little guy! He's super creepy, and super cool!
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-Get a tall lamp stand, and take the light bulb and shade off of it.
-Get a long dress or nightgown (I had this when I worked at the Factory of Terror. I got it at Goodwill for a couple bucks after Halloween was over a couple years ago).
-Leave the dress on the hanger, and hang it over the lamp stand.
-Get any mask that you have laying around (believe it or not, we already had this mask!), and place it over the top of the lamp stand, so that it covers the hanger.

And there is your super cool and super creepy standing figure!
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^^^Having trouble finding Halloween decorations you like? Check these out!!! ^^^
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Take a look around your house for things you can re-purpose and make into Halloween Decorations.
Me and my husband are both very kooky people, so we used a lot of items that we just happened to have laying around; they weren't even originally for Halloween decorations!
So take a look at some of the things we found and used for our decorations, and see if you have anything similar laying around that you can use, or think of your own original and crazy ideas!
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Get your House Halloween Ready!
Get your House Halloween Ready!

-Mannequin Heads
I own two mannequin heads. Don't ask me why, but I love them! I use them when I'm vending at a festival to show off my headbands, and I just leave them around the house 'cuz I think they look cool!
You can find mannequin heads at beauty supply stores, or get one from someone who attended cosmetology school. 

-Old Suitcases
I got mine at a thrift store, and my sister bought me one from a vintage store. They were already out in my living room, so I just put a mannequin head, a fake hand, and some fake cobwebs on it to make it look creepy and old.

-Fake Cobwebs
There is no easier way to Halloween-ify a room than with fake spiderwebs! We bought a pack at Dollar Tree for only one dollar! And that one pack went far! Just pull it apart, and put it everywhere!

-Old dried roses
I dry all the flowers that my husband gets me, and they look great put into a vase and set out with all your Halloween stuff.

-Black Roses
We used fake black roses for our wedding, so we just dug out those!

-Old Pictures

-Posters from haunted houses, bands, and concerts. 
I have posters from when I worked at a haunted house, and my Misfits poster that I mounted on an old frame.
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Get your House Halloween Ready!
Now get to thinking of your own terrifying creations!
Have a blast!

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Get your House Halloween Ready!
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Tattoo Blanket; Tattoo Cover

​Peace Love and Halloween
Jess <3


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    I'm Jessica!

    I've traveled all over the world, but Ohio is where I call home. I'm a lifestyle & travel blogger, and author. I love setting goals, reading, and snuggling up with my fur babies. I can usually be found at my local thrift store, or in the hammock in my backyard.

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