The Paisley Farmhouse

By Emily Kirk at http://perkybird.com

1) Have your friends help you remember those unforgettable moments. Have a memory book ready and have each guest jot down one of their favorite memories with you from high school. Make this memory book even better by adding snapshots from the memory, or from you with them at the party!

2) Load up on some disposable cameras and have them lying around at your party. Let your guests know that you want to capture all the candid moments you can, because it could likely be one of the last times you're all together.(Don't worry, you can usually get a CD of the images when they're developed, so you can upload them to your Facebook.)

3) Make a display of all your yearbook photos through the years. Don't be embarrassed we all looked that way at one point or another.

4) Theme your party! What was one of your favorite memories or events from over the last few years? Recreate that moment with food and decorations that will bring you right back to that unforgettable memory.

5) Say cheese when you say thanks. To make your thank you's a bit more personal, add a photo from the party to their thank you, to let them know you appreciate them being a part of your party and a part of your life.

by Emily Kirk

Ribbon is perfect for gifts and bows, but there are plenty of other uses. Whether it's an accent on a scrapbook page, a trim on your little girl's favorite jeans, or a way to tie together a springtime bouquet... you're going to love coming up with new uses.

Ready to take ribbon up a notch? How about some starter ideas? Let's walk through 3 fun and easy ribbon projects.

Spruce up your Shade

Supplies:

• Lampshade
• Hot glue gun
• 1 1/2 - 2 yards of your favorite Paisley Farmhouse ribbon (This will cover a lampshade of about a 12" diameter.)

Directions

1. Start at the seam of your shade and put a dot of glue.
2. Adhere the end of the ribbon to the glue, so that the end of the ribbon and the lampshade seam line up.
3. Place another dot of glue about 3/4" from the original dot. You can continue around the lampshade like this if you want a straight ribbon edge.
4. For a ruffled effect, you will overlap your ribbon as instructed.
5. Where your ribbon adheres to your second glue dot, place another dot of glue in the same spot, this time on the ribbon itself.
6. Lay the ribbon back on top of that to glue it down. This will overlap the ribbon creating a ruffle.
7. Now place another dot of glue 3/4" further on the lampshade.
8. Continue gluing like this all the way around the lampshade (glue the shade, glue the ribbon) and voila, you're done!

Create a Candleholder

Supplies

• Plain glass candleholder
• Tissue paper
• Modge Podge and a foam brush
• Enough of your favorite Paisley Farmhouse ribbon to wrap around your candleholder.

Directions

1. Start by tearing your tissue into small pieces.
2. Paint Modge Podge onto your glass, using the foam brush.
3. Begin layering your tissue paper over the candle holder. (You can cover the entire glass or just select areas.)
4. Modge Podge again over the tissue paper.
5. Brush on a layer of Modge Podge where your ribbon will be placed, and then Modge Podge over the ribbon.
6. Let dry, and you're all done!

Fancy a Frame

Supplies

• Photo frame
• A photo
• Adhesive (glue, tape, whatever you'd like to use)
• Your favorite Paisley Farmhouse Ribbon (as much as you want to use!)

Directions

This project is all about your creativity. If your frame has matting, you may choose to just use ribbon there. If there's no matting, creating a frame with your ribbon on the photo itself may suit you. Another idea: use the ribbon as spacing in a photo collage. Play with your design until you're happy with it. There is no right or wrong way to do this!

So that's how we feel about ribbon. The opportunities are endless! What are your favorite ribbon projects?