DIY Eiffel Tower

I'm pretty sure, if you are throwing a Paris themed birthday party, the expectation is that there will be Eiffel Tower decorations.  I mean, who goes to Paris, without even glancing at the Eiffel Tower, right?

I have plenty of small Eiffel Tower statues but when I think Eiffel Tower decorations, in my opinion, bigger is better.

If you are crazy enough that you'd want to make your own Cardboard Eiffel Tower, keep on reading...

Grab a ladder and some large cardboard boxes.  With your first piece of cardboard propped or pinned to your ladder, from behind, begin to trace the bottom of your Eiffel Tower.  The space between the inside of the ladder legs is perfect for the cut out at the bottom center of the Tower.  Trace along the inside using the ladder legs to guide for width. 

After tracing each section or part onto the cardboard, I'd cut that section out before moving on to the next section, adjusting my design as I went. I used the outside of the ladder to determine the width of the Eiffel Tower, again, tracing from the ladder side to determine the shape I used.

At the base, I also kept the flap, folded backwards for the ladder to rest on, providing additional support.

I used two pieces of cardboard to construct my Eiffel Tower.  At the base the cardboard piece went width-wise and the top {connected with tape from the back} I used length-wise.

I would have been happy keeping the Eiffel Tower propped against the ladder but the Mister didn't like the idea of 14 nine year old girls being able to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower so he made a stand.

But, really, if you want to save yourself the trouble of making a stand, simply keep it clipped to the ladder...just like the picture below, the Eiffel Tower is propped against the ladder.

Once I finished tracing out the shape and cutting it down, I started working on the design. My ruler, pencil, eraser and some Google images of the Eiffel Tower were all that I needed.

In pencil, I drew out the design I thought worked best. I started with the bottom, which is why one side looks a little wonky, by the time I got to the middle, I worked out the kinks.  The key is to draw lines in sections all the way across the tower and work your Xs {or grid} spaced evenly between the lines.  

When my design was completed, I painted over my pattern with black paint.  I left the cardboard in it's natural state.

Once it was finished, I topped it with the French flag.  The perfect finishing touch.

Then, I let the Mister worry about how we would transport this 7 1/2 foot tall Eiffel Tower to the Paris party. 

Like any tourist, I was busy on getting the typical tourist pictures...because, if you are going to go to Paris, you need to get a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Gift Baskets On a Budget

'Tis the season to go broke. Falalala la la la. 

Well, hopefully that won't happen which is why I try and think of thoughtful yet frugal things to give as gifts.  This was the case when we discovered we were getting new neighbors!  They closed a week before Christmas when my gift giving budget is at its lowest.  I wanted to give the new neighbors something to make them feel welcome to the neighborhood all while on a budget.

So, I made a trip to Goodwill.  Not necessarily my go to when shopping for gifts but I hoped for some inspiration.

Goodwill generally has a large selection of baskets.  Though I initially worried Goodwill would let me down, I spotted this basket for .99 cents!  It was the perfect size, big enough to fit a few thoughtful things inside but not too big that I'd go broke trying to fill it up.

Having lucked out with the basket, I decided to see what else they might have. It just so happened, the day I went to Goodwill was the same day they marked down all Christmas items 50% off.  Our new neighbors just so happened to be closing the week before Christmas so why not fill their gift basket with some festive finds.

If you're keeping track, the basket was .99 cents, the bough of holly was .99 cents marked down to .50 cents, the believe vase was .99 cents marked down to .50 cents, the gold sleigh was .99 cents marked down to .50 cents, the red ornament was .50 cents marked down to .25 cents and the package of chalkboard tags were .25 cents. I also bought myself a shirt (I couldn't resist browsing for something for me as well!) but that doesn't factor into the $2.99 I invested in the welcome to the neighborhood gift basket I was making.

I also bought a package of cocoa for a few dollars, wrapped some ribbon around a few packets and tucked them into the gold sleigh.

I had some plaid fabric in my 'never seems to dwindle fabric stash' so I quickly sewed up a basket liner and then filled the basket with all my frugal finds.

 

I might be wrong but I'd like to believe my new neighbors will enjoy their welcome to the neighborhood basket.

With the basket loaded...

*We proudly delivered our gift basket.

All for less than $5.

During this gift giving season, even frugal gifts can have a big impact and be heartfelt.



*In my mind, I had imagined passing the basket along to our new neighbors instantly bonding. In reality, the new neighbors must have decided not to move in prior to Christmas.  Grace got sick and I sat by her bedside tending to her every need.  This pretty basket sat on my counter being admired by me.  I began to worry my festive gift wouldn't get delivered until after Christmas. SO with strict instructions, I told my husband if he had any neighbor spotting to bring them the basket.  Such a spotting was made, while my husband was in tattered working in the garage clothes, wearing what he describes as his 'thug' hat.  The basket was brought over, while in those same tattered clothes and thug hat and the neighbors ignored his knocking.  I suspect they worried he was a random homeless person :)  The basket was left just outside their door and eventually retrieved after the "homeless man" left their front porch...but I'm sure we'll be best of friends as soon as they realize the "homeless man" is harmless.  Then, as soon as Riley starts incessantly barking at them, I'm sure they'll start to avoid us again :)

DIY Mounted Beach Treasures

With summer coming to an end, you might be wondering what to do with your summer vacation beach treasures.  Worry no more.  With this easy to follow tutorial you can turn those beach treasures into beautifully mounted beachy home decor.

Collect those seashells, starfish or coral and proudly display them, adding a subtle beachy charm to your house, even when the beach and summer seem like distant memories.

Using the same process we used for the Salvaged Architectural Display Pieces, which can be found here,

a small hole was carefully drilled into each of our beach treasures.  Most beach treasures are more fragile than architectural pieces, so take care in drilling and use a small bit.

Another hole was then drilled into the custom base we built {again, the tutorial for the base can be found here}.  Insert some JB Weld into both the hole in your beach treasure and the hole in the base.  Insert a post into both and allow time to dry. 

Once dry, proudly display.

And remember, just because summer may be months away, it doesn't mean you can't surround yourself with happy beachy memories and mementos of warmer days in your home decor. 

*Make sure to check out more of the mounted architectural pieces for sale in the While Wearing Heels Etsy Shop.

I heart fake food - Felt Sugar Cookie Tutorial

Believe it or not, I still heart fake food.  And, sometimes, felt fruits and veggies just aren't enough.  I crave felt sugar too.

No fake kitchen is complete without a set of sugar cookies.  With this easy to follow tutorial, your little baker will have so much fun whipping up their own batch of felt sugar cookies.

  
Felt sugar cookies are also the perfect accompaniment for any tea party.

To make your own zero calorie sugar cookies, grab the following supplies:

 

To make the your cookie dough and cookie base:

Start by tracing your cookie cutter pattern onto the tan felt/cookie dough.  Trace along the outside of the cookie cutter.  Using a pair of sharp scissors, cut out your cookie shape.   

*Optional.  Felt tends to stretch the more you use it.  To give the felt more durability, I layered another layer of tan felt beneath the layer I cut the cookie shapes out of.  I applied a little bit of glue around the shape outline and pressed it into place onto the solid piece of felt.  Sew around the perimeter of the dough.  Cut the shape out of the solid layer of felt, using the top layer as an outline.  These shapes were not kept intact as I cut them out.

**If you opt to add an extra layer to cookie dough, you may want to cut add a second layer to the cut out cookie shape so it will fit back inside of the dough evenly.

To make the icing.

Select the color icing you want to use.  Again, use the cookie cutter as the pattern, this time tracing from inside the cookie cutter.  Cut out enough to cover all your cookies.

Optional:  To embellish your cookies with 'sprinkles', using a needle and thread, sew beads onto the 'icing'.

If you have extra sprinkles, you can fill up an empty sprinkle container.

Glutton free, calorie free felt sugar cookies.

Package these homemade felt sugar cookies up with a rolling pin, measuring cups, measuring spoons, recipe cards and extra sprinkles and you have a great gift.

A gift that encourages imaginative play.

The inner baker is bound to come out in anyone who plays with these cookies.

Felt sugar cookies...

the perfect addition to any play kitchen.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, make sure to check out more I Heart Fake Food Tutorials by clicking here.

DIY Garden Trellis

A garden trellis, a year in the making.

Last year, we bought a few free standing garden trellises in hopes of giving the corner of our yard some charm and create some additional privacy.  

Admittedly, I'm getting a bit spoiled.  My husband's competency is now raising my bar of expectations. 

So, when a year went by and the garden trellis sat so beautiful and yet so woefully neglected, hidden behind our garage.  My expectations became that said garden trellis needed to be completed asap.

Dutifully, the master got to work.

A structure was created.

Details were added.

A charming garden trellis was built...in a day!

And, then, a big gust of wind came by and this beautiful garden trellis was knocked over.  

That didn't deter the master, though.  He persevered.  He created.  He conquered.

The garden trellis is now complete.

The bar has been raised again.