Gymnastics Party Box and Favors

I made the party boxes to look like the american flag. I used oriental food boxes. They were at the dollar tree store, 3 for a $1.00.  I saw really nice ones in the wedding section at Micheals Craft Store.  I also bought some of the favors from the dollar store and Walmart.  Unfortunately, there are only 48 stars!  I would like to go back and add two of them but it will ruin the symmetry and all of my work is alway symetrical. I found the clip art on the internet for the american color peace sign.  I used the lollipop uppercase sizzix alphabet set to make the USA on the other side.  The tops are not decorated for the white and red, just the blue.

Do it Yourself Birthday Invitation

I had a hard time finding themed birthday invitations for gymnastics so I decided to make my own with my computer and printer.  I used text boxes and powerpoint but I came out with this really nice do it yourself invitation.

Make your own Olympic Medals

I made hand made olympic medals from modeling clay.  It was very quick and easy.   

The supplies I used where, Sculpey white clay, Alphabet and Star stamp, 2 different sized cookie circle fondant cutters, straw and ribbon.  You can subsititute regular cookie cutters and bead for the star stamp. I used a rolling pin to flatten the clay and a cutting board for a clean surface.

The first step is to clean off your surface as small particles can get trapped in the clay.  I used a large cutting board.  I had the birthday girl form and make the clay balls. 

Then I flattended out the clay ball into the desired thinkness with a rolling pin.  

Then I cut out the circle using a fondant circle cutter.  

Next, I used a straw to cut out the whole for the ribbon to go through.  

Then I fllipped it over and did the backside first with the olympic rings.  I used a smaller fondant circle cutter. I used the blunt end of it as the sharp end went straight through the clay. I did this side first as the other side is the front of the medal.

I used alphabet stamps and a star bead. I bought a star stamp but it was too large. My husband recommended I dip the star into flour as the bead sticks to the clay. He also glued it to the end of a piece of plastic because when I was digging the bead back out I was marking the clay with my long fingernails. I dipped it in flour each time I used it and then I made sure to dust all the flour off before spray painting them.

I followed the instructions on the clay package to bake them. I let them cool off before the next step.

My husband spray painted them on a wood board outside.  . 

Next I put the ribbon through the whole and tied it in a knot.  This was the easiest and most effective. I wanted to do a fancy loop but ribbon is not cheap and I made about 50 of these.