Wednesday, April 24, 2013

birthday fun!

Guess who had a birthday?

Yep, my number one baby :) She was full of excitement on her birthday morning -- I'd organised a little party for her at Build-A-Bear (more on this later)!

Satisfied customers! See more here :)

That evening, she opened all her presents. That one there was from a friend who had been invited, but couldn't show up because she'd fallen sick; another friend had brought the gift along with her. See that wrapping paper? It's Japanese, covered in bears and cats. I was struck by how sweet it was, and decided I'd make something out of it for the girl who had missed out on the party.

There wasn't a lot of it that wasn't folded or crumpled, but I decided to milk it for all it was worth -- hey, Earth Day should be every day right?

So I cut out what I could. And mounted them on thick reclaimed board. 

I embellished them with shiny stars, and made them into pins.

And since I'd gotten started, I made some more.

These ones got bought as party favours.

But I still have these, and I've decided to pop them into the shop. The Panda one has been sold, but the one in the top left corner -- with the (to me) intriguing phrase "days marked with a white stone" -- will go to the first reader who expresses an interest in having it (teeny giveaway here hee hee!).

Then I felt inspired to make these lol. They're crazy collages of multicoloured goodies, little OOAK pieces that could you could wear, or hang, or prop up on a shelf or door. I'll be getting them listed in the shop soon -- happy Wednesday everyone :)

25 comments:

The Cranky said...

Me! Me! But even if not, this is a fabulous idea...what a way to upcycle!

Btw, I'll be posting the recipe for the cherry almond bread tonight, but you have a standing invitation if you ever visit Indiana. =)

Sulky Kitten said...

Happy Birthday to the lovely Rebecca! I'm not ashamed to say that I have one of those bears myself (with a special message inside from my husband!)i hate to see pretty or unusual paper go to waste so I love what you've done with it. I love your work, so consider me up for the giveaway - if you can stand the shipping! You're wonderfully creative, Jan!

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter! What a great way to spend it - at build-a-bear! I threw a party there for my younger daughter a few years back and it was a lot of fun.

You are amazingly creative, and make the most adorable things. I would love to be the recipient of your 'teeny' giveaway.

Christine Altmiller said...

Hope the Birthday Girl had a great day :-)
What a great idea to take that adorable paper and make it into something else! The pins are so cute! The little girl who could not come must have been so surprised to receive one of those great pins.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday to your pretty daughter! Those pins are super fabulous! Recycling and upcycling is the way to go!

Venus-Suburbia Soup said...

Happy Birthday Rebecca! A Build A Bear birthday is always fun... everyone goes home with a friend! The pins are sooo cute! I especially like the multicolor collage ones. I LOVE everything you make!!!!

p.s., I'm more than happy to make a cat's meow T! Let me know...

Sara said...

This is so adorable! So I guess me and her have our birthdays very close :D How awesome is that?!
I love what you did here - at first I thoutgh you were going to use them like bookmarks, but this is excelent too! I also reuse birthday papper, you produce less waste and at the same time you are creating really amazing things!

A Very Sweet Blog said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! That is so wonderful. Build A Bear parties are so sweet. It was a great place to host her party. I have so much admiration for you. What a nice gesture you did for that sick child that couldn't attend. Your project came out lovely. Glad everyone had a great time.
http://www.averysweetblog.com/

The Dainty Dolls House said...

So sweet, lovely pictures. Happy Birthday wishes to her xox

Rosemary said...

Your daughter looks so happy standing with all her friends at the build-a-bear party :) And now she'll have the bear as a special reminder.

Unknown said...

this is such an amazing DIY and recycle project! So so creative I love your talent for making something out of seemingly nothing!

-Nico

www.SatinAndSalt.com

Marlen said...

aww happy birthday to your baby! she must had sooo much fun at build-a-bear, I'm 23 and I still love that place, haha! and how sweet that you made a little gift for the girl that couldn't come, that was super thoughtful :)

And in my India trip I went a *little* overboard with the souvenirs haha I was definitely regretting it every time I swung my backpack on =P

Fundy Blue said...

You are so creative B&R! Wow! I enjoyed your post, and Becky's birthday post was darling! I'm way beyond first ~ :( , but, I too, find that saying intriguing. Have a happy day!

Brooke said...

so cute. you did a great job! i love them. sometimes seeing stuff like this makes me so very sad that i don't have a girl. Then I remember the drama that comes with girls (sometimes) and i'm happy i'm a boy mama all over again! ha ha ha Happy Birthday to your very big girl! xo

Dee said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter. It looks like her day was truly a happy one spent with her friends. You are so clever and talented and a very thoughtful mom.

Magic Love Crow said...

What a fun birthday party! Smiles all around! I love your little creations from the party and would be honored to win any of them. But, I think I'm too late? Big Hugs ;o)(Love your daughter's blog!)

Miss Val's Creations said...

Happy birthday to your little one! Build a Bear is brilliant. I have been to a couple of children's birthday parties there and they are so much fun! You are so creative with that wrapping paper!!!! The bears are super cute. Yes, everyday should be Earth Day.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I love birthdays!! Mainly cause there's cake :)

Beth said...

A belated Happy Birthday to Becky! Build-a-Bear looks like so much fun. You are so wonderfully creative, Jan...I love your dear little pins. You were very thoughtful to make such a treat for the little girl who missed the party.

Naville said...

cute girls!
lovely pictures

xo

Inspirations Have I None

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I LOVE what you did with the wrapping paper!



Kristin said...

You are so creative and talented, my friend. Those favors are so sweet!!

It looks like it was a wonderful, special birthday! :)

Unknown said...

Such a sweet idea! I love how you upcycled the paper!

Jo said...

Happy belated birthday to your sweet daughter. I'm so thrilled by the wrapper too and even more thrilled to see what you had churned out with the wrapper. It is really lovely of you to have made something for the child who could not attend. I'm really in awe with your simple but beautiful craft work.

Libby said...

Happy Belated Birthday wishes to your daughter. Sounds like she had a fantastic day with friends. And those pins you made are fantastic. You're so creative...and I love it!

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