A Birthday is a day to celebrate!!

Hi Everyone!

Hello and welcome to yet another fun filled post here at Lulupu! It’s that time of the year, when we all celebrate Lulupu’s Birthday!! I’m sure that you must be having a gala time participating in the challenges!! Join in the fun and have a blast with us. Ohh yes, there are loads of prizes to be won and a bumper raffle too!! Checkout the details of the bumper raffle here and the challenge prizes here. And in addition to this, there are some pretty awesome games hosted by the DT members and the winners for the games will receive a surprise gift from the DT’s !!! Now that is a lot of reasons to celebrate and take part in the challenge!!

Ohh, I do have a game for you in the end! Do check it out !

Birthdays are so much fun and everyone starts counting days to their birthdays days before in advance! Well, the kids start doing  that months before!! Isn’t it true that everybody looks forward to this special day in their lives?? I sure do, and I’m sure that you do too!

We have a special post here which is completely dedicated to all about planning a birthday celebration!! Since it's Lulupu's birthday month and Me and Karuna have done some Birthday theme parties, We thought it would be fun to showcase the process about the planning and deciding!

PS: This is a picture heavy post.

Lets checkout what all can be included in a birthday party celebration and then we'll move onto more detailing. Birthday parties these days are more of a theme based event and once a theme is decided it becomes very easy to pick up the elements based on the theme and incorporate into the party!! If it's a kids party, the theme is in most times based on some cartoon character the kids like or maybe a Disney movie theme. 

Some of the kids themes are.

Fairy theme

Mermaid theme

You are my sunshine

Cute as a button

Candyland theme

Soccer theme

Cartoon themes(Doraemon, Chota bheem, barbie etc)

Disney Movie theme (Frozen, Mickey and minnie etc)

Some of the teenage theme birthday parties can be 

Hollywood theme birthday party

Bollywood theme birthday party

Fiesta theme party

Movie theme parties

Teen karakore parties

Alice in wonderland

Horror theme parties etc

The themes are endless and it all depends on your imagination and budget to think and plan about what kind of a themed party you plan to do.

Here's a list of the party categories you would generally look and plan about

Birthday Invites

Birthday venue entrance

Backdrop setup of the cake table

Cake table and guest table set-up

Party props and Birthday wishes

Return favors

Kids play area

Lets checkout the ideas about the planning.

1. Birthday invites

The party all starts with planning the invites and the kids love handing over these to their friends and they sure give it with a lot of care and love! The invites can also be designed on the theme that is finalized for the birthday party. And they sure can be handmade too, checkout some of the party invites 

 A Kingdon(prince) theme invite 

A Batman theme invite

  A mermaid theme invite

Add your imagination and you can have one of the most gorgeous and lovely invites for your birthday parties. The possibilities are endless!

2. Birthday venue entrance

The entrance of the birthday venue makes for another are to think and plan about. A little planning here makes the invitees feel nice and upbeat about the celebrations. The entrance decoration also adds a whole lot to the charm and brings a bang on to the celebrations!

Here's some of the pics from a Soccer theme birthday party

The venue looks a whole lot lively with the awesome entrance and also the lovely pom poms in the below pic. Ohh yes, the pom poms mixed with the balloons sure makes a nice picture.

3. Backdrop set up of the cake table

Thinking about the presentation of the backdrop where the cake table goes is an absolute must must. This is one place where a whole lot of pictures get clicked and a nice backdrop makes sooper nice pictures to be cherished always.

There are a  lot of ways to decorate the backdrop. My most favorite way to do them is through Rosettes! these pretties makes the most amazing backdrops and combine them with balloons, the backdrop comes out to be awesome!

Another thing I love is decorating the complete backdrop with balloons with a banner. That sure looks amazing too!!

Here's a small setup that I did for my little one's 1st birthday bash at home!! It was a small affair, but I wanted a lot of handmade touch to the celebration, so I ended up making rosettes and a pretty banner for my little one!

A lovely banner matching a theme makes a lovely presentation at the back of the cake table!!! 

Below are some pretty banners!! they are simple to make, yet they add a lot of charm to the complete setup!

4. Cake table and guest table setup

One of the most important planning needed is for the setup of the cake table!! Once again, the possibilities are endless and one can play with a lot of colors and ideas here. But once again, if there is a theme for a birthday party, it becomes a whole lot easier planning as the colors are almost selected and one can play with the ideas around.

Here's a soccer theme cake table! I simply love love love this setup!

I simply love those dressforms there!! Ohh between theses are chocolates and then the cover is transformed to look like a soccer jersey! Isn't that a very cute idea?

Ohh here's a pretty cake banner that goes on top of the cake!

Here's another cake banner. They sure make one pretty creation!

A few placecards and food labels makes an lovely scene to look at!

Another important thing to look and plan is the guest table! Since most parties nowadays have proper guest tables setup, it is important to pay a little attention to the decoration of the table!

Here's a few table centerpieces for a 40th birthday party!

Some centerpieces for a Batman theme party!

I also have a few centerpieces for a Doraemon theme birthday party! 

5. Birthday party props and birthday wishes

Party props is a latest trend these days!! Grab a prop and strike a pose!!! Well, a prop sure makes a nice variation to the traditional way of clicking up the party pics!! Flaunting props with cute messages add a complete different feeling and fun factor to a party!

A setup of the prop's area!! Grab a prop, strike a pose and get clicked! 

Here are a few pics of the party props!

Fun and quirky one liners makes amazing props and they are fun to hold and get clicked in that pose!!

doraemon theme props! 

One can also have a place reserved for writing down their wishes for the birthday girl/boy!! Who would not love some birthday love showers on them! and yes, they make for a lovely memento too to be cherished always. One way to keepsake all those loving wishes is a Wish tree!

Setup a little tree and some tags for the guest to write down their wishes for you!! The guest will love showering wishes on you and you will love the shower! 

6. Return Favors

Return favors are something which has endless options and it all depends on the budget and the age group of the recipients that decides and closes on what to give as a return gift. 

But yes, who says that the packaging of the return gifts has to be boring, quirk it up with some fun cards and a thank you card and make the recipient feel special

Gift them out in the cutest way possible and I'm sure the kids are gonna love it!

7. Kids play area/activites

This is one more additional area to think about a plan. Yet again, the sky is the limit and one can have a play area setup or fun games or a musical event, a karaoke event planned or even have a magic show! Now who doesn't mind seeing and playing along a Magic juggler. 

Here are some links to the blog post from Karuna's blog from which the references were made:

Superhero theme birthday party: http://www.craftingqueen.in/2013/08/superhero-theme-birthday-party.html 

Soccer theme birthday party: http://www.craftingqueen.in/2014/09/soccer-theme-party-decor-and-cake-table.html

40th Birthday  party: http://www.craftingqueen.in/2013/09/40th-birthday-party-supplies-and-cake.html

Kingdom theme party: http://www.craftingqueen.in/2013/05/customised-designer-birthday-invites.html

I have not yet written posts about the parties I have helped organizing, but you can checkout my FB page for some pictures I have already posted there!

========================================================================

I'm sure you must have enjoyed reading about the planning and preparations that goes into an awesome birthday party!!! Do pick up some hints and make your party a lovely one. Also when you do, leave us a comment on how you planned and executed your special day and we would love to hear about the same!!!!

 Okay, so now onto the game:

BIRTHDAY GAME #4

It's all about Scrapbooking terms and jargon. Now that we all love scrapbooking and crafting, I thought it would be fun to know a little more about what we do. I have a small questionnaire for you!

Here's the same:

 All you have to do is to find out the correct name and mail the list of the names to contest@lulupu.com with subject "Game#4 - Your Name". One Random winner will be picked from the correct entries.

 I hope you enjoy the game. Remember that the game will be opened up for 3 days only, so you have 3 days to submit your answers!!

Do remember to participate in our current challenge which is all about birthdays here. 

Guest Designer: Tejal. Picture Tutorial -Shaker Card

Hey Friends,

Hello and welcome to another super exciting post by none other than Tejal, the butterfly and glitter girl as our featured guest designer. Yes, we all know her and pretty well. She is an amazing person and I love her detailed reviews about products we would love to hear a review about before we get them in out kitty!! If not, do connect with her and you will be glad to know more about her and also her love for glitters and butterflies!  

Also before I ask Tejal to take over, I hope you are enjoying Lulupu's 3rd Birthday bash celebrations and do make sure to check out all about the celebrations here and do not forget to follow all the guidelines to be eligible for your entry into the bumper raffle draw.  The Challenge for this month is 

Lulupu Challenge # 47 Mood Board Inspiration

Theme- Birthday- Turning 3

Lets checkout what Tejal has in store for us.

Hello, its Tejal here joining the Birthday celebrations here at Lulupu.

We have a wonderful mood board up for the celebrations and the first thing I thought when I saw it, was I wanted some confetti somewhere...and I wanted balloons!! So combine that and I have a shaker card for you!!

 Let me take you along as I create not one but two shaker cards.

I started with two, because I wasn't sure how I wanted to go with it...so I played with both the cards and it may go from one card to another, but I'm sure you will get there in the end, and hopefully not confused by it! Let's do the shake it shake it baby!

So, it being Lulupu's 3rd birthday, I started with a cake...stamped it in Archival ink and colored with my distress inks. The stamp is from Hampton arts (and its on sale!! )and comes with a fabulous pennant stencil.

So now, I'm creating a background for my shaker card. I masked the cake with a post-it cut out.

The great part about this pennant stencil, is that it is SELF ADHESIVE..yes you read that right, no need to add masking tape to secure it down. Just peel and paste it on your work surface and you are good to go. Once you are done, just paste it back on the backing and it safe and secure!

I used two shades of distress inks to create my pennants..,shabby shutters and mowed lawn. (Please excuse that washi tape on my inkpads...I usually stick them on the inkpads after using stencils)

So this is what we get. Now this is where I went a little hay wire. I jumped from this background to the next card. Please forgive me for that. But here is where we start making the shaker component of our card.

This is my second card.. I simply masked off the edges with a 1 inch masking tape and used the pennant stencil to create a background. For the shaker window, I'm using a card piece which is slightly smaller than the background. You can use the same size card piece too, in this case

4 1/4 x5 1/2.

Using my exacto , I cut off an area in the centre to create my window.

TIP - You can use your square dies, oval dies, rectangle dies, word dies etc., to create fancy looking windows too.

 Now, cut a piece of transparency the same size as your window piece, (you can use Vellum too).

Run some red tape/score tape down the sides of the window.

Dry glue is always better with glossy surfaces like vellum or transparency.

 Over the transparency, we are now going to create a space for the shaker confetti!! So use double sided foam tape and add it around your window frame.

Keep it 1/4 inch away from the edge of the window, you don't want the foam showing through.

The most important part I feel for a shaker card when you are using double sided foam tape, is to make sure the confetti does not stick to the sides of the foam, which is usually sticky. 

I love love my new EK Success powder tool...just run the brush tip along the inside sides of the foam tape and your confetti will never stick to the tape! I even brush it across the inside of the transparency so there is no static on the plastic.

Since it is the 3rd birthday, I picked up some number confetti and just took all the number 3 from it...

and I glued a few on the transparency too!!

Remove the foam backing and stick your window piece on the background and your shaker card is done.

Now to embellish the card and ready it up!!

showing the scattered confetti

So here is my finished card...I took the 2nd  birthday cake (scroll back to the first picture) fussy cut it and glued it to the window.

Took a piece of vellum and gold embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment.

Stamped and fussy cut balloons, added twine. To finish up the balloons, I added Wink of stella in clear and glossy accents over the balloons!

The whole piece is glued on a black card base.

The piece which I abandoned in the 3rd step, here's how I finished that too..

scattered stars confetti

Here I took the window piece and stamped stars over it...stamped 3 balloons from the Hampton Arts set and fussy cut them.

Heat embossed sentiment on vellum, with Gold embossing powder and hid the glue behind the balloons!

On the right, is how the confetti shakes out!!

Again, this whole window was glued to a black card base!

And we are done!! If you are still with me, Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

So here are how I interpreted the mood board..

Techniques - Embossing

Materials - Twine

Embellishments - glitter (wink of stella and glossy accents)

Plus I have used the number 3 in first card, also 3 balloons on both the cards!!

Happy happy birthday Lulupu once again!! 

Wow, loved both the cards Tejal and thank you for the lovely tutorial. I'm sure you all are definitely gonna try the shaker cards now!! They are quirky, fun and yes, very very easy peasy to make! And yes, do not forget to take part in the celebrations !! Come join us in the fun!!

Hugs!

Manu

Guest Designer : Nikkita Jain with a Mixed Media Card

Hello and Welcome to another exciting post for the Birthday Special Month. 

I  hope that you all are enjoying the inspiration shared by the DT and the guest designers and are making lovely projects to link it up for the monthly challenge. There are are super awesome prizes to be bagged. 

Challenge # 47 Lulupu's 3rd Birthday Special - Moodboard Inspiration

So, without any further delay, please welcome this week's guest designer - Nikkita Jain. 

Lets get to know a little more about her , before we jump to the lovely inspiration she has for us!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Hello! I am Nikkita Jain from the city of joy-KOLKATA. I am a fashion and accountancy graduate and now a full time crafter. I stay with my parents and little sister.

2. How did you become interested in crafts and what inspired you to start blogging?

Since school days I had keen interest in art and crafts. I always loved colors and had urge to learn something new all the time. I am still in the learning process and I got inspired by Tim Holtz blog and Indian challenge blog and started blogging since, August 2013.

3. What are some of your "go-to" supplies for crafting?

My must haves supplies are scoreboard , trimmer, tacky tape , stamps (the lists goes on...)

4. What is your favorite crafting technique?

I love stamping and trying new techniques with dies.

5. How would you describe your crafting style?

Don't have a particular style , I love experimenting and trying out new things .

6. How long have you been crafting?

Its been a year and half since I am crafting and loving every bit of it.

7. My signature style

I love colors, so being bright and colorful is my style and I like to keep clean.

8. Who are some of your influences? Who has been your inspiration?

I am inspired by many international and Indian crafters to name a few- Jennifer McGuire, Tim Holtz, Emma Lou, Liz Walker, Rajni Chawla (aunty), Darshana Savla, Anita Kejriwal.

9. When not crafting , what keeps you busy?

When not crafting , I love to read novels.

10. What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a layered card with handmade flowers

Thank you Nikkita, it was really nice knowing more about you..Now, lets jump right into what Nikkita has created :)

A mixed media card 

This is a PICTURE HEAVY POST with step by step instructions.

1. Watercolor paper or heavy gsm card-stock size 4 by 6 inches, apply gesso and heat set it or let it dry for few hours.

2.Using Lindy's magical teal and pine green and ranger's perfect pearls to add more shine , randomly spray over the card-stock and let it dry or heat set it using heat tool , repeat the process to get bright shades.

3.Mix gesso with magical and perfect pearls and using a stencil randomly apply to the card and pour ranger's sticky embossing powder ( this is an amazing product ) and heat set it .

4.Pour rangers glitter clear rock candy over the embossed areas and heat set or let it dry, you will get a shiny texture.

5.Spray the mists to get more shaded hues on the cardstock and let it dry.

6. After the mists are well absorbed by the cardstock generously apply a layer of mod podge to get a clean finish, let it dry and the card base is ready.

7.Embellish as desired , here I have done matting with black cardstock.

From the mood board I picked up..
Colors- white, black, green and blue
Techniques- Mixed media with gesso and mod podge, heat embossing
Embellishments - metal charms, feathers, butterflies (punch outs) , doily die cut (heat embossed), flowers, crystals, pollens, stamped sentiment
Shape- rectangle , circle
And I have lot of 3 going on- 3 roses , 3 single pollen flowers, 3 charms, 3 crystals and 3 butterflies.

Hope you like this easy peasy tutorial if you have any further queries drop in a comment will surely reply. Happy Crafting. Love NIKKI

Thank you once again Nikki. It was super fun to know more about you and the inspiration you shared, I hope it has many people grabbing their crafty stuff to create something beautiful!

So folks, what you waiting for! Lets get creative. See you soon with another exciting post!

Love

Dolly