How about let's take a peek at each element in the ensemble a little closer, beginning with the invitation?
I started the invitation by trimming the bottom edge of a piece of brown, designer, patterned paper with a punched strip of blue, star, patterned paper and its top edge with a punched strip of Real Red cardstock and that same, blue, star, pattern paper; machine stitched, with blue-threaded, straight stitches, to the brown, designer, patterned paper side of their connections; and adhered it in the center of the distressed, with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, Crumb Cake, cardstock, card face. I then stamped "LE CIRQUE", in White ink, several times, across the card face, just below the lowest, punched edge and flanked each word with a blue gemstone.
The "COME ONE, COME ALL" sentiment was stamped, in White ink, slightly at an angle and left of center, just above an angled, JAN Bingo card, which had been distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks.
The banner was hand cut from a multi-colored, patterned paper; adhered, with foam tape, draped across the top of the card face; and secured, at its points, with blue, Baker's Twine bows.
Finally, the ticket was stamped, in Pacific Point ink, on Whisper White cardstock; filled in, in Pacific Point ink, with the "NAME" and "DATE" stamp and, in Real Red ink, with the word "friend", from Defining Words, (Keep in mind, this could be handwritten in or printed with any party guest's name.) and the 1.22.12 date, from Postmarked, which just so happens to be my birthday, before being distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks and tucked behind a stamped, in Real Red and Pacific Point inks, on Whisper White cardstock; hand cut; and distressed with Tea Dye & Antique Linen inks, circus tent...to complete the look.
The party hat...
was made from that same, blue, star, patterned paper from above. I then machine stitched, with red-threaded, zig-zag stitches, a pleated, red, polka dot ribbon around its bottom edge...
and glued a handful of red and gingham ribbon lengths, as well as a trio of white pom-poms, to its top.
The frame was stamped, in Real Red ink, on a Whisper White die-cut, which had been distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks; filled in with a stamped, in Pacific Point ink, on a Baja Breeze die-cut, with the ring master; and adhered it, with foam tape, in the center of the hat, just above a stamped, in White ink, on a Crumb Cake, banner die-cut, which had been filled in with the stamped, in White ink, "CELEBRATE" word and, once again, was adhered with dimensionals.
Now, how about a few, party treats?
A box of animal crackers was dressed up with a bunch of the same ribbons from above, tied in knots, and another ticket, prepared in the same was as above minus all the fill-ins except the word "friend" and laced with a length of blue Baker's Twine.
And finally, I dressed up a bunch of caramel popcorn, tucked into a red, muffin cup, with a banner, patterned paper, fan flower, adhered to a toothpick and dressed up with a stamped, in Real Red ink, on Whisper White cardstock, hand cut, distressed with Tea Dye and Antique Linen inks, and glittered top hat, as well as a red, gingham, ribbon bow.
That's all for today, folks! Please be sure to take a peek back here tomorrow for a birthday card, which coordinates with this party ensemble and shows a little more from Le Cirque and its coordinating, Le Cirque and Scalloped Oval Frame dies. Until then, be sure mosey on over to the rest of the Wplus9, girl genius' blogs to see what they have created, just for you all, today. And thanks so much for stopping by!
Cristina Kowalczyk
Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Kerrianne Gwin
Savitri Wilder
{Supplies & Tools}
Stamps: Le Cirque, Postmarked, & Defining Words (Wplus9) Paper: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Baja Breeze, & Whisper White (SU); banner & brown designer (The Girls' Paperie); blue star (Best Creations) Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, & White (SU); Tea Dye & Antique Linen (Ranger) Other: blue & red thread (Coats & Clark); sewing machine (Janome); Le Cirque & Scalloped Oval Frame dies (Wplus9); Big Shot (Sizzix); red polka dot ribbon & lacy & 3/8" Handheld Circle punches (SU); blue Baker's Twine (AR Designs); foam tape (Scotch); score board (Martha Stewart); blue gemstones (Paper Studio); red & gingham ribbons & white pom-poms (Hobby Lobby); Scalloped Scallop punch (EK Success)