Las Vegas Theme Ice Show

For the last 30+ years I do a disappearing act for 5 weeks in the spring. No, it's not a vacation.The only place I can be found is in an ice rink. Planning starts in the Early fall, but rehearsals begin in in the spring. Costumes arrive, hair bows need to be made, hats need elastic, props need paint and glitter, music needs to be edited, the list is very, very, very long. Because I am the director for the show, I really don't have much time for any kind of personal crafting.
This post features the set that my friend Michelle Goodnetter made, from scratch! From plain white 1/4 inch foam board sheets into the awesomeness you see pictured here.

Each of the cards features a Vegas performer. Left to right- Fran Sinatra, Elvis, Cher, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.

The dice are wrapped in giant plastic wrap, the kind  the movers use on furniture. We have moved so many times, I happened to have a roll of it at home. It keeps the dice from getting wet and soggy on the ice.

This Magician is soooo adorable!

Tight rope walker is suspended from the ceiling.

I will add a full set photo when we take one this weekend, and I will be posting the how-to on the creative hairpieces, costumes, and design after the shows this weekend - promise.




Here are pictures of the gifts I give to my students to wish them luck on the show. (to be clear, I usually give a little something to all of the kids I teach private lessons to, not all 100 kids in the show). Because I was short on time this year, I shopped for the show theme colors of candy at Party City, filled the cello bags, and voila. Much less time than last year's Movie-themed gifts. The tags are made from playing cards.

Inside-out Thank You Card/Tag/Bookmarks

I feel so lucky and grateful this year, because I have many students, and many Thank you cards to write. I needed a quick and inexpensive card. I came up with this Inside-out Thank you card because I wrote the message on the envelope, and not the card. The card is a bookmark made from a tag, so it could also be hung from a tree or tacked on a bulletin board.

Inside-out Thank you card/tag/bookmark

Supplies;
Box of 100   4  3/4 inch  x  2  3/8 inch  shipping tags from office max.
A stack of coin envelopes I had from a friend (available at office max)
1 Mr. Huey's color mask
Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spray in Primrose
Ribbon on hand
Border Punch on hand
Thank You  rubber stamp
Powder Puff Chalk Ink in Tahiti
Tape Runner (Xyron 5" if you have one)


First take the wires out of the tags and put them aside for later craft project. Lightly mist the tags on one side with Color Shine. I wish I was a better photographer and you could see the amazing shimmer that these Heidi Swapp mists have, The colors a beautiful! Try a bottle and you will be hooked.
Step two flip tags over and spray through a Mr. Huey's Mask. (It's a plastic sheet with a pattern cut into it and the color does not go where the plastic is laying. See Heidi Swapp's page for technique video)

Find a quote that you like, print and cut to fit tag. I always go to Quote Garden.com
I wish I had that 5" Xyron for all the sticking of quote to tags, but I just used a tape runner.   After tags are very dry, punch edge. I have an Oriental Trading border punch.  Chalk ink the bottom edge of tag. Cut ribbon in 6" strips and add to finish.
Stamp "Thank You" onto the outside of the coin envelopes and write your message.
Tuck tag into the coin envelope. If you want to mail these out, you must put the coin envelope in a standard size mailing envelope. I have a lot of students that I will see on a daily basis and will be handing these out in the coin envelopes.

Scrabble Tile Door Hanger or Ornament

I saw this cute idea on an episode of My Craft Channel which I watch EVERY morning, really. (I have applied to become a My Craft Channel SuperFan and I'm crossing  my fingers they pick me!)  
This was a Xyron sponsored video. I took it a step or two further by turning the ornament idea into a door hanger and adding a bell (12 for $1 at Dollar Store) to the bottom. Call it a "Green" personal door alarm!

I used goop glue instead of Xyron's sticker machine because I knew that hanging on a door would take a lot of bouncing around, and Goop or E6000 hold the best.
I also inked the edges of the scrabble tiles, and added a spray mist for *sparkle*.

DIY Gifts

It's that time of year! Actually, for me, it's gift giving time all year! I love making gifts for family, friends and students. These are examples of gifts or "extras" that make a gift special.

Scented Key chain

It's SEW easy to make these key chains. I have made them with lavender, but for this season I've stuffed them with crushed cinnamon scented pine cones.
Pine cones (Purchase at any craft store, one bag fills tons of key chains. I chose not to make the pine cones myself due to lack of time)
Scrap 2 inch wide, 8 inch long ribbon
Eyelet
Key ring
Tool needed- Crop-a-dile or an eyelet setter.


Fold ribbon in half and sew all the way down the sides. I prefer grosgrain ribbon because it doesn't slip in the machine. Stuff with lavender or other scented stuffing, sew closed about 1/2 inch from the top. Punch hole , set eyelet, add key ring. I added an ice skate charm to this because it is for one of my skating students.
They look really cute on packages and give it thet extra special something.

Skating Students' Gifts

Iv'e been teaching figure skating for a very long time. Every spring and winter I give a little something to all of my girls(ages 9-14) for working so hard. because I have to give to so many girls, it could get expensive so I have become very creative. This year I am giving a "mini-spa treat" which includes a little bottle of lavender oil, a lavender filled sachet and a battery powered tea light. The sheer sachet bags, the gift box/bags, and the tea lights are all from The Dollar Tree.  The white boxes are found in the wedding section. I used Heidi Swapp's AWESOME "Color Magic Spray" in mint green and chartreuse to add a little sparkle and shine to the boxes and the ribbon. (This is the first time I have used Color Magic and I think I'm addicted. I ordered a starter kit from "My Craft Channel" and I can't wait to play with it more!)
I used some silver washi-type tape with inspiring words around the candles. I hope the girls will enjoy them.

These photos look a little funny because the acrylic reflects back, and the paper is ModPodged to the back. They awill be a gift that was inspired by both a Theresa Collins and a Lori Allred (Inspired by Pinterest) demo on "My Craft Channel". If you haven't checked out that daily web-show yet, you are really missing out!  I found a huge box of these acrylic 7"x 9"clip-boards at a local rummage sale for a few bucks. You can purchase then at office supply stores, I just got lucky. I used ModPodge to glue double sided paper to the back side of the board. Then addded assorted ribbon and bling on-hand. I'm lucky to have a crafty husband who made stands for them so that they can be used as a display for a picture calendar, or notes. I used hot glue to attach the ribbon and bling.

 We are going to give them with a 2013 calendar (free printable on-line at calendarlab) and a photo greeting.

For these I used  Graphic45 "Bird Song" papers.