Must Have Craft Supplies

For those of you who are unaware, I'm in the process of cleaning & organizing my craft room. Let's just say, it's been an adventure. Although I have a whoooole lotta stuff, some people may want to know, what do you need to get started? After all, not everyone ends up with a whole room full of craft supplies overnight, right? To help all you aspiring crafters, I've created this list of my must-have craft supplies, along with a FREE printable you can download and take with you to the craft store! This way, you can start your post-apocolyptic craft bunker too ;)

Creating your Crafting Arsenal

Ok, way back in March of 2017, I told you how to be efficient to get all our crafts projects done in time. Now, let's talk about the supplies we need to do them! Here are some of my favorite, must-have items in your craft stash.

1. Glue Gun 2. Jewelry Tools 3. Cricut Explore Air 4. Paper Cutter 5. Circle, Heart, Star Paper Punches 6. E6000 Glue and Photosafe Glue Stick 7. Glue Gun Caddy 8. Mini Iron 9. Small Scissors and Large Scissors 10. Washi Tape 11. Paper Roll 12. Self-Healing Cutting Mat 13. Fringe Scissors 14. Craft Caddy 15. Paintbrushes and Paint Tray

1. Glue Gun- this one needs no explanation, but I'll give you one. Glue guns are handy for almost everything! They're good for craft projects, sure, but you can also use them for temporary fixes, party decor, etc. I've used it on nearly every project I've done, including my Pineapple Garland, Snowcone Party Hats, and Cotton Candy Garland. I guarantee if you buy one, you'll find a reason to use it. So, go get one!

2. Jewelry Tools- I purchased these for making jewelry once upon a time, but they're just handy to have around. I've used them for several crafts projects already on the blog, like my KS Inspired Bracelets and Wood Bead Tassel Necklace, but they're also good for cutting fake flowers and even for fixing your own jewelry when it breaks! Unlike regular tools, these are smaller, so they're better for tiny objects and precise fixes.

3. Cricut Explore Air- I resisted buying a Cricut for a while, but it's so handy to have! I used it for the Rapunzel lanterns at my Disney Themed Engagement Party, for my sister's Halloween costume, and for my Mean Girls Conversation Hearts. I'll probably be using it for my wedding too! It cuts a whole bunch of materials as well, not just paper and vinyl! It's an investment for sure, but I think it's really fun to have.

4. Paper Cutter- This little gadget is perfect for cutting a straight line. It's great for making banners and cutting out Printables from the internet. I've used it for my TGIF 90's Themed Slumber Party and my Nautical Notecard Birthday Banner. It's easy to use and small to store. Remember those giant paper cutters we had in school that looked like a guillotine? This is a much smaller, safer version of that. 

5. Paper Punches (Circle, Heart, Star)-  These punches are great to have on hand if you need to spruce up a project. So far I've used them on my Nautical Notecard Birthday Banner and Rock Candy Christmas Trees. They're easy to use and small, so they're easy to store!

6. E6000 Glue and Photosafe Glue Stick - E6000 is my second favorite glue, after glue guns. It adheres to nearly everything! It's a little smelly, so you need to use it with a window open, but it's great. I've used it for my DIY Dollar Store Candy Jars, my Zebra Party Tray and my Circus Animal Drink Stirrers. The photo safe glue stick is great for scrapbooking projects, making cards, and making collages! I used them for my DIY 90' Pun Valentines.

7. Glue Gun Caddy- I actually found this product while creating this blog post, and HAD to buy it. It holds your (hot!) glue gun, glue sticks, and protects your table. It's amazing! Never again will you be holding your half glued project mid-air while trying to remember where you left your glue sticks!

8. Mini Iron- A mini iron is great for small craft or sewing projects. I used it for my Mean Girls Conversation Hearts, the eye masks in my TGIF 90's Themed Slumber Party, and for touching up a wrinkly tablecloth on my Glam Friendsgiving Dinner. It's perfect for iron-ons!

9. Small Scissors and Large Scissors- I love that these scissors are so dang cute. Can we start with that?! I don't need to tell you why scissors are handy, so I'll just say that these small ones are great for when you need to do something precise, like making tassels, since they have pointed blades. These larger ones are great for cutting pieces of paper, cardboard, or other large things that require a straight line. I've used them in nearly every blog post, but they were especially useful for my Cotton Candy Garland and Rock Candy Christmas Trees.

10. Washi Tape- Washi tape has so many fun uses! It's great for temporarily sticking things together, for spicing up a project, or even organizing your planner! I used it to paint my beads for my Wood Bead Tassel Necklace, and it was super handy.

11. Paper Roll- This paper roll is great to avoid making a mess. You just need to pull a sheet long enough to cover your workspace to keep it clean. Ever dripped paint on your desk, or written with a marker that bleeds? This will help prevent them from staining! Sure, you can use newspapers but that means that 1. if you take photos of your project it won't look clean and neat, and 2. you'll have to find the newspapers. I highly recommend having this on hand!

12. Self-Healing Cutting Mat- This is one of my newest purchases. I haven't really used it yet (except as a really pretty backdrop for some craft projects) but it's got a ruler, which is great for measuring projects while working on them. It's also really thick and reversible, so you get twice the use and durability! Plus, the pink is SO much fun.

13. Fringe Scissors- Back when I made my Mini Faux Pintatas, I didn't have a pair of these scissors and I regretted it. They're so handy for making pinatas, fringe, and shredding up paper. It has 5 blades, so it makes more cuts and gets your project done faster! Again, VERY good for when you're making multiple projects at once!

14. Craft Caddy- A craft caddy is great for holding all your supplies and keeping them organized. I highly recommend having a spot that you use to store everything so that you can find it when you need it. There have been so many times that I lost my glue sticks, my paintbrushes, or my paper punches when I needed them. These crafting supplies are only useful when you can actually find and use them (duh). So, be sure to find a place where they can all stay together, like one big happy crafting family.

15. Paintbrushes and Paint Tray- These paintbrushes have a variety of uses! It's great to have multiple sizes so that you can do broad strokes quickly, but also have a nice thin one when you need to be more detailed. I really should invest in a new paint palette because mine is old and full of dried paint ("invest" = probably $3!) but paint palettes are really useful for pouring out just a little bit of paint or mixing colors. I've used paintbrushes on so many projects, including my DIY Donut Party Platter, my Colorful Leaf Garland, and my Circus Animal Drink Stirrers.

How to avoid going broke on craft supplies

I know what you're thinking- craft supplies can be expensive! I recommend adding a few items at a time, or using coupons! Michael's has plenty of sales and coupons you can use. There's also stores like A.C. Moore, Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts, and Hobby Lobby. If you want to save even more, your local dollar store and even Walmart has a huge craft selection for cheap! Target also has some craft supplies, but not as many as Walmart. However, Target has some really CUTE stuff! Start small and keep adding more over time. Your crafting empire wasn't built in a day, right?

Do you already have a craft stash? What's in it? What can you NOT live without? I think for me, it's my glue gun. I even have one at work! Let me know your faves in the comments below.

Happy International Women's Day!

Happy (day after) International Women’s Day! Today I wanted to spend some time highlighting some of my fave female business owners! There are so so soooo many amazing women out there doing a variety of things, but I wanted to highlight my fave small business/shop owners! These ladies make and curate some amazing content and I felt it was only fair to give them a shout out on this holiday. So, get that credit card ready- you’re gonna want to support these ladies!!

1. Ottoman 2. Pillow 3. Sunglasses 4. Clutch 5. Unicorn Pin 6. Necklace

Joy/ OhJoy!- I’ve loved Joy’s items from the very first time I saw them at Target. I’ve probably wanted every single piece! She’s now also got an awesome shop chock full of goodies, a furniture line, luggage (!!) as well as a Cheeky collection at Target! 

Veronica/Sharptooth Snail -Veronica is a personal friend of mine that I met online through a class I took! Aside from being the most amazingly helpful person, she’s got an awesome geeky-cool shop filled with pins, resin figurines, and T-shirts. Oh, and did you know her work was used by NASA?!? Pretty freakin amazing! 

Kelly/Studio DIY- Kelly’s shop is filled with all kids of colorful, happy items! There’s so much to choose from, but my favorite has to be her Can’t Clutch This subscription! As a kid, I never had enough money for monthly subscription boxes, so this totally makes my day every time it arrives! 

Kara/Kailo Chic -Kara had got to be one of the busiest little bees I’ve ever seen! She’s always releasing new blog content, along with both handmade and designed items. I love everything she does, and I’m personally in awe of how she gets it all done so quickly! If you’re into confetti housewares and colorful throw pillows (who isn’t...?) you’ve got to visit her shop!

Ashley/Sugar & Cloth- Aside from her cutest creation, little baby Gwen, Ashley launched a gorgeous collection with Amazon!! If that’s not goals, I’m not sure what is! Some of her items sold out immediately and I’m not surprised- they’re gorgeous! 

Caren/Caren Kinne Artwork- Caren’s abstract, colorful paintings are the perfect addition to any space that needs a little excitement! Her fun figures are often based on real people, and to me they’re reminiscent of the Little Miss Sunshine- type books from when I was a kid. If artwork isn’t your think (who are you?!) Caren also offers her paintings on tote bags, etc. 

Jenni & Leah/Love & Lion- Taking temporary tattoos to. Whole new (adult) level! I love all their amazing designs and they even do custom tattoos too!  

Natalie/Cultivate Love LA- Natalie’s Smart and Pretty Club obliterated the idea that a woman has to be either/or. Her shop is filled with books and it’s only growing! Stop by to grab your next read or my personal fave, this pin! 

Marisa/The Neon Tea Party- I met this sweet little lady at a NYC meetup with Jeff and Kelly of StudioDIY. I actually thought she was someone else but my opening line to her was “do you make jewelry?!” Interestingly enough, she did! I really love her fun Pom Pom arts but if you’re itching to learn, she teaches classes in NYC too! 

Emma & Elsie/ABM & Oui Fresh- ok, what don’t these girls do? They’ve got their Oui Fresh Shop, happy mail, natural makeup and essential oils line, cookbooks, an app!! 

Mary/Uncustomary Love- despite the fact that she’s a child of the rainbow, Mary spouts positivity in all the best ways! From a stuffed animal slumber party to sending snail mail, her  shop is full of quirky and amazing things you can’t find anywhere else. One of her best offerings has to be her body positivity course! In a world where we are taught to hate our bodies, it’s so important to give it some love. 

Amber/Dixie and Twine- from banners with all the trendiest sayings to adorable confetti, Amber’s ship has everything you need to make your party hip! Plus, you gotta love her amazing product photography!

Abbey/Daily Disco- If ever there was something that seemed like a fun hobby-turned-career, this is it! Abbey’s chainstitch embroidery is colorful, cool, and coveted! She does amazing custom jackets for brides, moms, kids... it’s adorable! She also sells patches that you can add to any item you want. 

Jess/The Knit Knack Shop- my husband has known Jess’ husband since elementary school, so I have the pleasure of knowing her in person! She’s a teacher by day, crochet-er by night. My favorite things from her shop have to be her little cactus plants! I kill every plant I get, so having something that can’t die seems perfect! She’s also a huge Harry Potter fan and makes all sorts of adorable amigurumi animals, characters and monsters. 

Cathy/PartyHarDIY- Yep, that's me! I opened my shop in December 2017 and it's filled with colorful statement jewelry and fun keychains! And, I have big plans to expand it this year. You can save 17% off with the code MARCH17 until St. Paddy's Day!

There you have it! Some of my very favorite shops from my fave biz babes out there on the interwebs. Who are your favorite female-owned businesses? Let me know in the comments below!

Spice Girls Rainbow Spa Slumber Party

Happy 20-year anniversary of the Spice World release in the US!!! That's right, the movie itself is almost old enough to be able to drink!! Do you remember the first time you went to see it? We waited just a little bit too long and it was out of most theaters, but there was this small theater by my grandma's house in Hells Kitchen and they still had it on! So my parents took us along with grandma (who barely spoke English, since she was from Greece) and we all watched it together. After watching it, my sister and I literally wanted to re-create the whole thing with our Barbies, so we turned our doll house into the Spice Tour Bus and made our Barbies into the Spice Girls. Ugh, it was such a magical time! This movie brings me so much nostalgia.

Anyway, before I start to REALLY ramble... one of my favorite scenes in Spice World was the one where the girls are all laying in robes under a magically colored tent. It's such a short scene, but I always wanted to recreate that party and hang out there! Unfortunately, it's winter here in NYC and it's fudging COLD so I decided to virtually create this scene for anyone to attempt! 

1. White Paper Lanterns 2. Toe Separators 3. Orange Robe 4. Nail Scrub Brushes 5. Pedicure Slipper 6. Green Robe 7. Yellow Robe 8. Chupa Chups Lollipops 9. Diet Pepsi 10. Purple Robe 11. White Tent 12. Pink Robe 13. Orange Blanket 14. Blue Pillows 15. Cow Print Pillow Cover 16. Curtain Panels

Setting Up

To set the scene, you’ll want to set up your tent in the grass, or even indoors if it’ll fit. Lay down your orange blanket (1 or 2, depending on the size of your tent) and throw some pillows around to make it comfy. If you’re putting the tent on the grass, you may want to get a waterproof liner for your blanket so you don’t end up with a moist blanket and wet butts!  Then, take your curtain panels and go around the tent to hang them for some privacy and color. Depending on the style of your tent, I recommend using hook clips for an affordable and easy method of hanging! 

I really wanted this party to have that same cozy feel as the one in the movie, plus the really bright and quirky 90’s ridiculousness we all loved. Since we don’t really have an occasion to set up a tent and sit around lounging in the grass like the Spice Girls, I figured a slumber party/spa day would be the perfect excuse! You can get some super affordable items, like spa flip flops, scrubber brushes, and colorful toe separators. Invite each girl to bring their favorite shade of bright polish, or order a set of these rainbow nail polishes so everyone can choose their fave. It would make a great party favor!

Getting in the 90's Mood

Play your favorite 90’s playlist, or blast some Spice Girls as you get pampered in style. Or, you can even grab a portable DVD player or your laptop to play Spice World in the background.

The girls all wear these plush, oversized robes in bright pink, orange, green, yellow, and a purplish-blue for Posh. Super appropriate, right? Haha. The girls are drinking Pepsi and enjoying their candy of choice, chupa chups, so I included those as well.  You can always opt for something healthier, like cucumber water and a fruit and veggie platter. Or, go all out 90's with some of your favorite 90's snacks, like Fruit by the Foot, Gusher's, and Ring Pops.

Say You'll Be There

Are you guys just dying to throw this party?! It's fulfilling all my 90's dreams, I'll tell you that much! So, which scene from Spice World did you want to recreate? And, which Spice Girl was your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! (PS- I loved Ginger!)

Make a Statement: The Shop is LIVE!

EDIT: The shop is now closed. Read more here.

YOU GUYS! Remember back in October when I relaunched the blog as Party HarDIY? Well, I told you there were some big plans in STORE (hah, see what I did there?) and I’m sooo excited to announce the launch of our shop! I’ve always wanted to have my own shop full of cutesy things, and I’ve always had a love of jewelry! Well, now the two have come together in one magical, glimmering place.

So, what’s available?

A collection of unique and colorful jewelry, sure to add a pop of color to any outfit! The holidays are coming, and these pieces are perfect for adding some sparkle to your outfit, a fun touch of Christmas colors, or to change up an outfit that’s already been worn a bunch of times! Because let’s be real, these pieces are WAY cheaper than buying a new dress!

Um… Tell me more about this collection!

Well, ok! This all started back when I was in my favorite jewelry shop in the city. I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a collection of fun and colorful necklaces that are affordable? There are SO many expensive jewelry shops out there, and my opinion on costume jewelry is the more, the merrier. So, I decided to curate my own collection of fun, bold, and most of all BRIGHT jewelry. There will also be some new items coming to the shop as well, but for now I decided to start small for the holiday season!

Where did your love of jewelry come from?

My grandma! My yiayia had the most insane collection of costume jewelry. I don’t think I ever saw her wearing real jewelry, haha! She had a bunch of bold necklaces and earrings. Fun fact- her ears weren’t pierced! She only owned clip-ons. Here's a picture of us when I was a kid. She's dressed very on brand, and I'm the one in the tutu. I took ballet for a hot minute, but I was AWFUL at it.

Um… am I brave enough to wear this stuff?

YES! I used to be shy about wearing bright things too. I finally realized that it’s fun to be bold and daring. People notice! I get compliments on my jewelry all the time, and in a sea of people, it’s fun to stand out a bit. You can always start small with a pair of colorful studs!

Ok, you’ve convinced me! What do I even wear this stuff with?

My very favorite thing to wear bold jewelry with is a basic tee! It’s really adds a pop of fun and sass to an otherwise casual item. Try pairing the Daisy Dreams Statement Necklace or the Fringe Benefits Earrings with a basic tee. Another great way to wear these is with a Christmas sweater! Try the Rudolph the Red Nosed Rhinestone Tassel Earrings with your ugly Christmas sweater, or the Worth The Tassel Earrings with a warm, cozy sweater! Heading to a holiday party? Try the Chic-a-Boo Rhinestone Earrings for some added glitz and glam, or the Dragonfruit Dilemma Earrings for a fun, unexpected touch.

Can I get free items?

Um, heck yea!! I’m hosting a giveaway! To enter, follow the instructions on this post on Instagram. Tag a friend for an extra entry! One winner will get all 4 jewelry ornaments- perfect for giving out as Secret Santa gifts, hanging on the tree, or keeping them all for yourself!

Eek! I hope you guys are as excited about this as I am! I've been working on this for MONTHS, and I'm so happy to see the store is finally live! So, go sign up for free shipping, and enter the giveaway!

Gift Guide for the Barbie Girl

Are you a Barbie girl, in the normal world? It's a pretty dull place to be, when your head is full of dreams for pink homes, great fashion, and trendy accessories. Alas, there is a way to bring your Barbie World love back into the normal world. And that's by grabbing as many pink items as you can!

1. Sneakers 2. Makeup Brushes 3. Barbie Necklace 4. Barbie Backpack 5. Pink Sunglasses 6. Barbie Purse 7. Pink VW Beatle 8. Lip Stickers 9. Dog Bone Bowls 10. Pink Glitter 11. Dog House 12. Fling Tumbler 13. Bow Heels 14. Pink Planner 15. Heart Hangers

Sneakers- We all know Barbie loved her shoes. Unfortunately, she usually did it Cinderella-style, because we somehow managed to lose one them. With these sneakers, it's almost as if you found those missing doll shoes. Plus, this counts as wearing heels, right?

Makeup Brushes- Barbie wore a lot of makeup over the years. With these brushes, you can have that flawless look too! They’re perfecting for trying out the newest trends. I don't know how well they work, but they sure are pretty! 

Barbie Necklace- Since nameplates and Barbie were all the rage when I was younger, this seems like the best of both worlds. Wear it when you need a pop of color, to show your affiliation with the Barbie brand, or to convince creepy bar guys that your name really is Barbie.

Barbie Backpack- A teeny pink Barbie backpack to hold all your cool essentials. I remember the days when tiny backpacks were the “in” thing. They need to make a comeback! We don't need half the things we carry in our oversized purses. Who do I talk to about this?!

Pink Sunglasses- These sunglasses are so ridiculous to me because they really remind me of the cheap plastic sunglasses that came with Barbies in the 2000’s, and I love it. I had several pairs of sunglasses with funky colored lenses, and I wore them until they weren’t cool anymore. Ah, the good old days.

Barbie Purse- for those of you that aren't willing to embrace the tiny backpack trend, try this purse! It’ll hold all your essentials, and then some. It’s got a girly shape and sporty stripes, so it’ll match with any outfit, plus it adds a pop of color!

VW Beatle- I think Barbie cemented our tweenage desire to own a VW beetle. This car was THE car to own back in the days. Now you can commemorate it and enjoy the beetle without, you know, having to drive it everywhere. 

Lip Stickers- Barbie is known for her iconic pink lips, and now you can be, too! Just place these stickers on everything and everyone you interact with and they'll be sure to remember you. 

Dog Bone Bowls- What else would your purse pooch eat from? This has one bowl for food, one for water, and one very cute bone-shaped tray to keep your floors clean. Because although Princess is adorable, she’s pretty sloppy sometimes.

Pink Glitter- Everything is better when it's covered in pink glitter. That is a fact! Use this pink glitter to add a little sparkle to note cards, tea light holders, and just about anything, really.

Dog House- Barbie has had lots of pets in her lifetime, but I imagine her favorite must have been some sort of small puppy. With this, your pampered pooch can have her own Barbie Dream House. Dream car not included.

Fling Tumbler- since Barbie is getting married to Ken every few years, I bet she would love this tumbler. She puts the Kardashians to shame with the sheer quantity of weddings she’s had. Oh Barbie… never a bridesmaid, always a bride.

Bow Heels- Barbie loves her heels, and so do we! They’re pink and have a bow, which is all you need in my book. Plus they’re Kate Spade! I mean, if Barbie could walk in heels with her disproportionate body, you can too, right?

Pink Planner- This planner is perfect for jotting down all your hopes and dreams, like Barbie and her very many career paths. I feel like if Barbie taught us anything it’s that you can have any job you set your mind to, and look damn good doing it!

Heart Hangers- These hangers are amazing because they remind me of some doll ones that I had way back in the day. Barbie would clearly hang her clothes on these! It might be a little much to get a whole closet full of these (or not) but I think hanging your party clothes on it would be a perfect use for them.

So which one of these items do you like the best? Do you have any items you own that stem from your Barbie collection? Let me know in the comments below!