Hello, friends! It’s Meghann Andrew with you today, and I am so excited to be here with you on the Pebbles blog as the guest designer this month! I’m working with the most fun new release around—Big Top Dreams! This summer, take your circus-themed party to the next level by creating with these spectacular new products, and your guests won’t even realize how easily the decor came together. Let me show you!
From the invitations all the way to the guests’ grab-and-go favors, your party will be perfectly coordinated to create that “under the Big Top” feel. To begin, first set the circus tone of your party by inviting your guests with customized invitations!
When I create customized invitations (meaning, each one is individually created), I do it in a simple way by following the same equation for each card! Even though the individual elements may be different on each card, I use the same elements to make creating them fast and easy. I started these single-sided A2 cards by printing the details of the celebration on one side of smooth, white cardstock. Next, I grabbed an embossing folder with a frame design, to add a textural element to the cards, and ran each one through my die cutting machine.
The next steps were the most simple! On each invitation, I added a piece of patterned paper to fit inside my embossed frame, a phrase ephemera die cut with a mini staple at the top, an icon ephemera at the base (along with a small phrase sticker from the sticker book), three gold puffy star stickers, three rhinestones, and a few extra accent stickers. By adding the same elements to each card and keeping to a similar design, I saved myself time by not re-creating the design on each invitation, but was still able to make each one individual and special with similar elements.
Once your friends have arrived, you’ll want to “wow” them with the party details, and you can do that just as easily as you created your invitations! A few store-bought paper fans and lengths of burlap will add to the circus feel around the room. An easy banner, created with folded baking cups and icon ephemera die cuts adhered to each one, will add a handmade touch.
Carry your big top theme all of the way to the refreshments too! Plain milk bottles full of juice can be dressed up with a few simple layers of die cut patterned paper circles, an icon ephemera piece, cardstock star and a puffy letter initial—just to add a bit of personalization for each guest. Arranging them in a pyramid on your refreshment table makes them look like the classic carnival game.
You’ll want to send your guests home with something to remember your party by, and a lovely, layered tag on a goody bag full of in-shell peanuts or kettle corn is the perfect treat! When I create tags for favor bags, I always remember to layer, layer, layer. Just like my invitations, I follow the same equation for each goody bag tag. On these, I started with two layers of patterned paper, cut into banner shapes and a sentiment cut from the Best Day Ever patterned paper. I adhered each of these layers with an adhesive foam tab and stapled the top. Next, I added an icon ephemera piece, a cardstock or puffy accent sticker, a gold puffy star sticker, and a gold cardstock heart. Adhering these layered tags to a colorful treat bag will provide that final, lasting detail for your guests!
Step right up and grab the Big Top Dreams collection to create the perfect celebration that your guests will be talking about for years to come! I hope I’ve given you some ideas on how to craft your summer circus celebration. Thanks for stopping by the Pebbles blog today!
Meghann Andrew is a mom to a 6 year-old former micro-preemie and big Golden Retriever, wife to a Brit and a maker who lives outside of Houston, Texas. She documents her family’s adventures on layouts, in pockets, and loves to throw a party! Meghann currently designs for American Crafts and Scrapbook and Cards Today Magazine, and designs and coordinates for Elle’s Studio. You can find more of her work and class lineup on her blog, Brioche and Blessings, her latest projects on her Instagram feed, and check out her process videos on her YouTube channel!
Project Supplies | Big Top Dreams collection: Best Day Ever paper (734120), Confetti paper (734122), Carousel paper (734130), Pinwheels paper (734126), Circus Fun paper (734129), Circus Treats paper (734125), Tightrope paper (734123), phrase ephemera (734117), icon ephemera (734116), stickers (734114), accent stickers (734113), matte puffy stickers (734112), foam phrase stickers (734111); Other supplies: Bazzill Coconut Swirl paper (302247), Core’dinations cardstock Intense Cobalt (378142); Sticky Thumb double-sided super sticky red tape (340264), Sticky Thumb adhesive foam tabs (340273), Bling adhesive rhinestones (346673), Homemade with Love treat bag kit (351420), Homemade with Love baking cups (351404, 351405)