DIY Mean Girls Conversation Hearts Banner (and how to use Cricut Iron On Vinyl!)

There are some movies that you watch once and enjoy, but never really have the desire to see again. Then, there are those movies that you watch over and over again until you've memorized practically every word. Mean Girls is one of those movies. If you can't recite at least one of those memorable quotes, then you can't sit with us! It's got Lindsay Lohan at the peak of her career, Tina Fey's comedy, Rachel McAdams & Amanda Seyfriend before they were super famous, and Lacey Chabert from everyone's favorite show, Party of Five (people liked that show, right? I never watched it...). Combine that with the awesome 2004 fashion sense, the catchy lines, the harsh reality of frenemies, and the fact that you always wanted to be popular, and you've pretty much got the makings of a FANTASTIC movie. It was basically made by girls, for girls, so there's no way it wouldn't succeed. PS, can we talk about how everyone in Mean Girls wore lip gloss?! I'm not sure about you guys, but I don't wear lip gloss anymore. Is that just a high school thing? Idk...

With Valentine's Day coming up, I wanted to make something fun with some felt hearts I picked up at Target. They look to me like Conversation Hearts candy, which are usually boringly sweet. "U R CUTE"? "CALL ME"? C'mon.... But, what if they were sorta sassy instead? PERFECT OPPORTUNITY for a Mean Girls DIY. Just sayin'.

Go grab some popcorn, your Mean Girls DVD, and your glue gun. This is going to be Grool!

You will need:

Cricut Explore Air Machine (here)
Pastel felt hearts (from Target)
Iron (here)
Red iron-on transfer (here)
Cricut tool kit or Tweezers (here)
Ribbon
Glue gun

I know what you're thinking..."How do I use Cricut iron on vinyl?" I knew you'd ask, so I have just the tutorial for you. How did I know? I have a fifth sense... It's like I have ESPN or something. The iron on vinyl is actually pretty simple to use, as long as you know which way the vinyl goes and how to make sure your letters aren't backwards.

How to Use Cricut Iron-On Vinyl

1. Open the Mean Girls Conversation Hearts Candy document in Cricut Design Space. 

2. Take your red iron-on vinyl and place it on your cutting sheet, liner side down. You'll be cutting the vinyl (matte side), so that means the shiny side goes down.

3. Set up the file to cut on your Cricut machine by following the steps below. 

a. Set your Cricut machine mode to vinyl +

b. Press Go

c. Set to mirror image! This is very important, since your text needs to be backwards so that it'll be the right way when you finish.

c. Load your Cricut cutting mat and start cutting.

d. Wait for the Cricut machine to cut your file. Mine wouldn't cut the full document in one shot (annoying!) so after it stopped each time, I would remove the ones it cut from the document/cutting mat, reload the mat, and start cutting again.

Look at all those fabulous quotes just waiting to get out there into the world!

4. Once your document has finished cutting on the Cricut machine, carefully cut around each quote. It's best to cut as close as you can to the letters, and try to make the border around each side even. This will make it easier to center them on the conversation hearts.

5. Peel off the remaining vinyl, aka the extra red background. You'll be left with the clear liner and your letters. To do this, I take my Cricut hook tool and scrape a corner to make a hole.

Then, I carefully and slowly peel away the liner to reveal the letters beneath. I found that peeling the vinyl from left to right was easier, since most of the letters face that way. Otherwise, you're going against the grain. So, aka... not the way I'm doing it in the photos.

See how the E and the D in "Wednesday" are connected? That's because I'm peeling it the "wrong" way and it ripped the vinyl. It's not a big deal at all, because that's a scrap section anyway, but it makes it easier to peel if you go with the grain.

6. Once you've pulled away the excess Cricut vinyl, go back and remove the excess vinyl in the letter holes, or any that was left over. Flip it over and double check that everything is where it should be.

7. Center your quote on your conversation heart and press it down. To make sure it's evenly centered, I would look at a few things, like which word is in the center of the heart, how much distance is on either side, and how far it is from the top. If you're still not sure, take a quick picture with your phone to see if it's off center or crooked.

8. Use your iron to carefully iron your quote onto the heart. Use the wool/low setting and place a cloth over it so you don't scorch the felt. Then, flip your heart over and iron the underside. If you have a small craft iron, you may be able to do it without a cloth like I did.

9. Let it cool, then peel the liner off from the corner. Do this carefully to make sure all the letters fully adhered. If not, go back over it again, let it cool, and continue peeling.

Once all your quotes are ironed on, you can begin arranging your banner! See how I did that below.

Making your banner

1. Arrange your hearts in the order you'd like to see them, or by color.

2. Cut a small piece of ribbon. This will act as a "tape" to hold the hearts together.

3. Glue the ribbon onto the hearts at the widest part. Be sure to hold them as close together as you can to prevent a gap from forming between the hearts. I used pink ribbon, but a white one will probably camouflage the best. You can't really see it when you flip the banner over, so technically it doesn't matter.

I also recommend adding some extra ribbon or twine at the ends to hang it. I originally didn't want to do that, but taping felt on a wall is basically impossible.

Woohoo! Now, hang up your banner and revel in the joy of a Mean Girls Valentine's Day. You can also paste up some hearts as a party backdrop! This is my best Mean Girls face. Slightly friendly, slightly fierce, 100% Fetch. 

P.S. "And none for Gretchen Weiners. Bye!" is basically my favorite Mean Girls quote, and I use it in everyday life. It has so many practical uses.

So you agree? You think you're really pretty?

I really need to start wearing pink on Wednesdays. I mean, that's just like, the rules of feminism

So what's your favorite Mean Girls quote? Is it one I missed? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Cotton Candy Garland

Ok guys, I have a confession to make. I'm a cotton candy addict. I loooove cotton candy. I know I shouldn't love it quite so much- it's pure sugar, and I'm a 27 year old woman. But something about that magical and fluffy cloud of candy tastes so good. Yes, I actually still eat it. Most people just admire it or decorate things with it, but I eat it. The only negative thing about cotton candy (besides the inevitable cavities) is the fact that the colored ones turn your mouth all kinds of colors. Then I get to walk around all day after a sporting event with blue lips, while people stare and my fiancé laughs at me. Oh well, c'est la vie. Luckily for you guys, this cotton candy won't turn your mouth any kinds of colors! Well, unless you try to eat it... I can't speak to that. With only a few steps, this garland is the cutest and easiest way to display your love for cotton candy. 

You will need:

Cotton Candy Picks (from Oriental Trading)
Ribbon (Mine was from Michael's on clearance)
Glue gun
Scissors (here)
 

1. Peel the sticks off the cotton candy picks. I recommend starting at the bottom tip of the cone, since it's the most delicate part. 

2. Cut off the tabs on the fluffy part of the cotton candy that keep it open. They're the teardrop shaped parts in the photo above.

3. Glue the honeycomb top open. Hold in place for a few seconds until the glue dries.

4. Once you've glued all your honeycombs open, grab your ribbon. Leave a few inches on the end so that you can hang it up. Then, glue the cotton candy evenly spaced out.

5. Hang it up and enjoy!

And there you have it! A quick and simple banner DIY that'll sweeten up any party. It would also make a really sweet addition to a little girl's room, your desk at work, basically anywhere you'd want to declare your love for cotton candy.

Do you still eat cotton candy, or do you have a different guilty snack you love? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY 90's Pun Valentines

Remember when you were younger and you'd be watching TGIF while flipping through a magazine to find your favorite celebrities? Then, once you were done reading, you'd cut them out of the magazine and stick them onto everything and anything you owned? Well, this year we are making Valentines that your 13-year old self would approve of. Plus, since the pictures are being printed (instead of cut out of a magazine) you can make as many as you need. These Valentines are so fun to make because pretty much everything is computer-based these days, and these are so hands-on. You can't center the text or copy and paste. Each letter has to be placed on individually. It's equal parts horrifying and enjoyable. In the end, you've got a one-of-a-kind Valentine for all your BFF's.

You will need:

Sticker letters (I got mine from Michael's, similar here)
Blank cards (from the Dollar Tree for only $1, or similar here)
Photo glue stick (this one is my fave!)
Scissors (here)
Rhinestones (here)
print outs of your fave celebs
an awesome 90's playlist

How to:

1. Find your favorite pics of 90's celebs, and put them in a word doc to make them an appropriate size. Print.

2. Cut out the images around the celebs' heads, cutting off the backdrops. If you're anything like me, you're a seasoned pro at this, and it'll be a piece of cake. If not, don't worry, the memories will all come flooding back to you ;)

3. Arrange the cutouts and letters onto your card and adhere. HINT: Make sure you are sticking things on the right way otherwise your card will be upside down. 

4. As a bonus, add some awesome yet cheesy stickers onto the card or the front of the envelopes. I got my heart shaped rhinestone stickers from the Dollar Tree (similar here).

Related: TGIF 90's Themed Slumber Party

Although they take a little time, these cards are super cheap to make. Plus, it's so different than everything we are used to. Once you stick the letters down, they're pretty much stuck there. It won't be perfect, and that's what makes them great. If you want to add some super fun straws, try these!

Fact: I had this Mandy Moore song stuck in my head for a solid 2 weeks while I was creating and posting these Valentines. I still have it stuck in my head, and I listen to it at least twice a day now. There's some debate as to whether Mandy Moore was as successful as some of the other pop stars of the 90's. Ummm... she became a Disney Princess in my favorite movie, so that makes her most successful in my book!

I'm not sure if No Doubt did a Valentine's Day shoot, but this photo is quite perfect for Valentines. Plus... I still want pink hair someday!

There are tons of pictures of NSYNC out there, but I think using ones with heartthrobs holding puppies is so classically 90's.

This is a perfect Valetine to give your crush, because I think all the guys had a crush on Britney at some point in the 90's.

Aww, Zack and Kelly. Even though they may not have remained together, we were always rooting for them as a couple.

The best part of this card is that the video for All the Small Things is basically mocking all the 90's boy bands we loved in the best way possible. PS- Travis will forever be my crush.

In the classic *NSYNC vs BSB fight, I always picked *NSYNC. It was the first CD I ever bought, I had the biggest crush on Justin Timberlake, and I thought their songs were better. But, I always thought AJ was kinda cute. I think I had a thing for bad boys as a pre-teen.

Aww. Christina Aguilera before she got Dirrty. She used to have such a boho vibe. But I guess everyone did in the late '90's.

Did anyone else watch the Clueless tv show? I think I saw it before I saw the movie, so I was pretty confused as to why the Horowitzes seemed to shape shift. Interestingly enough, pretty much everyone else stayed the same.

And, of course, my personal FAVORITE, The Spice Girls. Any other Spice Girls super fans out there?! I had so many dolls, stickers, and magazines about the Spice Girls. My dad just kinda brought home the cassette tape one day because he saw that it was popular and wow... my sister and I were hooked! My favorite was Ginger Spice ;)

So what were your favorite things about the 90's? I'd also add in TGIF, platform shoes (which I wasn't allowed to wear), roll on glitter, and butterfly clips.

Are you planning to make some 90's pun Valentines for your BFF? What would they say? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Circus Animal Drink Stirrers

2017 is off to a wild start, huh? Call me psychic, but I see a lot of drinking in our future. It's best that we get prepared and start crafting the cutest barware, starting right here with these circus animal drink stirrers. These party animals are sure to brighten up your day, no matter what's going on. As a bonus, they're so easy to make that you can create a set for yourself, and a few additional sets to give your friends as gifts. These are easy enough to make on your own, but I had the assistance of my handy fiancé. If you've got a guy (or gal!) in your life, this could be a fun bonding experience and a cool thing to whip out at parties. You'll excitedly proclaim "we made these!" as all your friends ooh and ahh. It'll be magical. Ok, enough talk already. Let's get to crafting, shall we? ;)

*Contains affiliate links

You will need: 

Plastic circus animals (here)
Clear plastic stir sticks (here)
Glossy acrylic paint (similar here)
Drill (here)
11/64 inch drill bit (here)
Slip joint pliers (here)
E6000 glue (here)
Electric tape (here)
 

Step 1: Take your circus animal and place the drill bit against it at desired depth. Put a small piece of tape at the stop point to make sure you don't drill too far.

Step 2: Using your slip joint pliers, hold the circus animal steady.

Step 3: Slowly and carefully drill a hole in the middle of your circus animal until you hit the tape marker. Repeat for all your animals.

Here's a little behind the scenes sneak peek of my fiancé in action. He's so handy and I'm so lucky to have him! All I did was briefly explain what I needed. He led me to the garage (his version of my studio), searched around his workbench and collected a few supplies. Then we did one drink stirrer as a test and bam! It came out perfectly :)

Step 4: Paint your circus animals using glossy acrylic paint. You can also use spray paint (which would be faster and probably better coverage), but I'm in NYC and it's freakin freezing outside haha.

It took me about 2-3 coats of paint to cover them. I did one overall coat, then a thicker coat on each side. Finally, I did touch-up where I covered any missed spots, or anywhere that I accidentally touched.

This reminds me of that scene in The Lion King where all the animals gather at Pride Rock to see Simba for the first time. But the much more colorful version. The circle of life.

Step 5: Assemble your stir stick by putting the smaller side into the hole you drilled. It should be a fairly tight fit and not even need glue! If you prefer them to be in more permanently, put a tiny dab of E600 glue on your stir stick before assembling. Let dry according to directions. 

And now you're ready for a day at the circus! I think these stirrers would make a perfect gift for friends, along with a couple of cute drinking glasses. I'm also trying to stop myself from bringing some to work so that I can have a party with my morning cup of tea ;) So what day you think of these drink stirrers? How do you plan to use them?

Rock Candy Christmas Tree Cake Topper

No one knows exactly why rock candy has gotten so popular, but I have some theories. 1, it's gorgeous and it's like glitter candy on a stick. 2, it tastes delicious. 3, it's a classy addition to any cocktail. But really I think its popularity is due to 4, its uncanny resemblance to a Christmas tree. Yes, you read that right. No, I'm not crazy. It's like Christmas in disguise, a tree hiding in the ordinary candy we all love. Subliminal messaging at its finest. And somehow no one noticed. We went around all these years blind to the fact that Christmas was right under our noses, disguised as something as ordinary and unassuming as rocks.

Full disclosure: this post was supposed to go live around Christmas time, but I wanted to give it the cake it deserved. Since I'm not really ready to give up on Christmas quite yet, and it's pretty darn cold here, I'm posting it now. Let's call this a winter tutorial and suddenly it's right on time ;)

One of the things I like most about this project is that it's like a magical glittering Christmas forest! Plus there are so many color options out there for rock candy, so you can match any decor.

You will need:

Rock Candy (here)
Toothpicks
Scissors (here)
Glue Gun
Glitter Paper (similar here)
Star Punch (similar here)
Nail File

Directions:

Using scissors, carefully cut the sticks off your rock candy, leaving about 1/4 inch of wood. I recommend cutting while holding it up off the table and twirling the stick to prevent pieces of candy from breaking off.

Ta-da! A perfect little tree in the making.

Use the star punch to cut the glitter paper. I picked neutral colors that would enhance the colors of my trees without clashing with them.

Cut a toothpick in half, then use the nail file to sand the edge smooth.

Using your glue gun, stick the star and toothpick onto your tree. I recommend gluing the toothpick to a large and covered crevice of the rock candy to create a strong but hidden base. Use varying lengths to keep it interesting.  

So cute! That white one marches to the beat of its own drum though....

Once they're all done, carefully nestle your rock candy trees into your cake. You can keep it simple with just a few for a pop of color, or create your own little forest.

These are super cute for a winter birthday party or holiday gathering with friends. They really would fit in well all winter, especially if you put a different shape at the top of the tree. Maybe a heart for Valentine's day?!

And that's all there is to it folks. Once you're done, you can probably still eat the rock candy. Ya know, if you don't mind eating around the glue and paper ;)

I hope you enjoyed Cathy's crazy/amazing idea of the week. If you create your own toppers using this tutorial, I have to see it! Tag me on instagram and your picture might get featured. So what do you think? Do you see trees in your rock candy now? Let me know in the comments below!