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Sunday, June 12, 2011

An Elmer's Craft Party & Giveaway!



Easel Matchbox Card

Over the weekend I was given the opportunity to throw an Elmer's Craft & Tell Party. Elmer's had sent me a bunch of products for my guests and I to try out. I decided we would make these cute little matchbox cards (picture above). The matchbox cards were a great project to make for a craft party, not to complicated but they still required a good amount of time to execute. Believe it or not, it actually took us about 2 hours to make these! Plus, the project allowed everyone to put their own creative spin on the craft (always important).

Here's how I set up the party along with a few craft party tips. We have a small house so I usually use the dining room table to craft. On the table you can see what Elmer's sent me: X-ACTO retractable knife, Designer Scissors, Self Healing Mat, Decorative Edge Scissors, Elmer's Extra Strength Glue Stick, Elmer's Craft Bond Tape Runner, and CraftBond Tape Runner.

*One thing I like to do is line the table with craft paper (kind you use for kids easels). This protects the table and also helps set guests at ease. They don't have to worry about drawing on or getting glue on your table. I usually use two sheets of craft paper and tuck it under the table and tape it down. You don't want it moving around when everyone is crafting.

*To cover up the seam and make things a little more festive, I like to add a runner. I've found the best thing to use for runners is wrapping paper. It's long enough for tables and comes in just about every color and print imaginable. Plus, you don't have to worry about it getting dirty. I used a cute little owl print.

*I'm the kind of person that tries to make do with what I have around the house. I used small pails to hold the pens and scissors. Let me just add that small pails are great for parties. They're perfect for holding utensils as well. To display all the tiny embellishments I used my deviled egg tray. It worked out perfect to separate all those tiny little craft supplies.

Grandma showing off her matchbox card. The hydrangea print was perfect for her as she is very talented in ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement).

More projects from other guests. Some of the elements used for the cards were mini gift tags and clip art from The Graphics Fairy.

Okay on to the best part. Two of you will win your own Elmer's Craft & Tell Party Pack! The pack will include:

X-ACTO Retractable Knife

8” X-ACTO Designer Series Scissors

X-ACTO Self-Healing Mat

X-ACTO Decorative Edge Scissors

Elmer’s CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick

Elmer’s CraftBond Tape Runner

Elmer’s CraftBond Glue Dots pack

Elmer’s Mini Bi-Fold Foam Board

How To Enter Giveaway: To enter, please share what you would make with these Elmer's & X-ACTO products. One entry per household. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. The last day to enter the contest is Sunday, June 19 2011. I'll announce the winners Monday, June 20, 2011. If I do not hear back from the winner after two weeks, I will choose a new winner. Open to US residents only.

Contest Closed

69 comments:

Connie | Daydream In Color said...

I LOVE your idea of making little matchboxes! I'd possibly do that or recently my BF & I made shadowboxes with sequins & cutouts into 3D scenes. It was so fun!

Unknown said...

I think I would make some greeting cards!

LizzyLovesSatan said...

Oh I love little decorated matchboxes!
If I won, I'd continue working on many altered books, and the fairy dollhouse I'm making (and plenty of other miscellaneous crafts!) <3
Thanks for the giveaway!

SongBird said...

I'd make miniature books with art in; drawings and collages.

I participate in swaps with some of my friends and we're making matchbox shrines in our next swap! These are very cool.

SongBird

Michelle L. said...

SUCH beautiful little matchbox cards! & I love your craft party tips - the runner idea is genius. I would use all the cool Elmers loot to experiment with more paper crafts.

Maeve Rachel said...

Love those! They look so great! Good luck to everyone entering the giveaway =)

Abby Glassenberg said...

We would make summertime fairy houses! My daughters would love these supplies!! I really like the tips about covering the table, too. Thank you!!

~amy~ said...

Okay, how fun is that? I love the idea of altering matchboxes {you grandma is adorable!}...I'd think about doing the same thing, I have a matchbox die from SU that I haven't used yet {ugh}...and my friends and I are chatting about a 'crafty' day with maybe a make and take spin:)

AStarrA said...

Hmmm honestly not sure what I'd make as of right now, something with my daughter though and probably animal related knowing her :)
disintegratingstarr at hotmail dot com

Chppie said...

That's a great idea for the crafting playdate. The girls would probably make doll accessories for their houses and also gifts for each other. I wouldn't have thought of little matchboxes but it seems so fun.

I remember my mom decorating "guest matchboxes" for entertaining. Of course they were real and for offering matches to guests.

Ann said...

Your party looks like so much fun - cute matchbox! I love to make cards and keep meaning to get serious about trying paper cutting, so I would definitely put the supplies to use.

Nancy said...

So cute, you are very crafty!!
I would make cards and with my daughter!

Thanks!

Genevieve said...

I would make cards for family/friends and I'll definitely try making the matchboxes. The matchboxes are so cute!

orcaqt@hotmail.com

cBeaner said...

Hmmn, I think I'd make some birthday cards or collages!
cbeaner7@gmail.com

Caseymini said...

I am a fan of both Exacto and Elmer's. I make miniatures for dollhouses and would love to win. I have been following your blog for a couple of months now and really like the ideas that you put in your blog. That matchbox pattern will come in handy for all sorts of things miniature! Thanks!

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

That is the sweetest idea!

Have a happy new week x

Robyn said...

I would use the kit to make personalized cards.

robyn.geddes (at) gmail.com

Jessica said...

I love your matchbox cards, they are quite clever!

I am just getting into scrap-booking and card making. I have a few supplies, but we all know how much more fun *lots* of supplies are. ;-D

Jessica
snowpumpkin at gmail dot com

bluekaeru said...

I've never seen matchbook cards before. What a neat idea. Those supplies would go a long way towards helping me finish the teacher's scrapbook for my son's favorite teacher.

Hippy Goodwife said...

favours for my sons Root Beer Keg party!

Jingle said...

That is such a great idea! I would use them for my card making!

Suzie Button said...

I would love to win! I think a fold out accordion book would be a great project for these goodies! Susan purrpage3 at verizon dot net

Jennifer Rzasa said...

These would be absolutely PERFECT to use in my cardmaking! Thanks for the chance to win!

Lindsay Conner said...

Handmade cards with the kids in our neighborhood after-school program!

Sara said...

I am a children's librarian at an urban library, so i would use these products to work on crafts with the kids. We are always looking for less messy alternatives to white glue, even for the older kids. The sissors would especially come in handy for the future holiday season. Card making and wrapping paper are always a popular craft with my kids.

mrs. c said...

i am a pre-k teacher and work with at-risk children and their families. I would like to use these products during my first parent meeting. We will be 'repurposing" cereal boxes and tin cans to decorate and use to make a work station at home. My parents save containers and bring them in, I use wrapping paper and the elmer's giveaway would be wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Michelle said...
I would love to make Thank you cards. I know that my kids would all come up with something different.

coupon freak (at)ymail (dot)com

Megs said...

What a cute Idea! I would love to throw my own craft party some day. If I was to win these great products I would use them to make personalized cards for Birthdays and and special holidays (especially Chinese New Years, those cards can be really hard to find in the suburbs). Thank you for all your wonderful ideas!!

mphfoil@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Darn, I'm not eligible to enter :( Oh well I think your matchbox cards are really sweet. Great idea for a craft party!

lisa said...

The matchbook cards and your obaachan are very adorable!! I am a preschool teacher and I would use the xacto knife for prepping stuff and the scissors and glue making messy art with the kids or practicing some cutting for fine motor skills... The ideas are endless!! Thanks for the ideas and the giveaway opportunity!!

Michelle - You Are Glowing said...

I'm just getting back into cardmaking. I've missed it! Thanks for the giveaway! Michelle @ you are glowing!

loralie said...

the foam board would make a good sign for my table at the local Farmers' Market.

slmartin at vtc dot net

Katie said...

I have no idea what I'd make at the moment. I'm so full of ideas that I have no idea what to pick!

You can reach me at:
kgrant [at] gmail [dot] com

Michelle said...

I think my oldest would want to make some miniature books, and boxes to house them in... while my youngest would probably want to make little fairy homes out of recycled cardboard, tp rolls and lots of sequins and glitter.

Bonnie in SC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bonnie in SC said...

I think I would use all the different products on making paper flowers. I'm having a "welcome summer" party and want to make lots of paper flowers to decorate every where.

msbjr_2000@yahoo.com

Cheryl said...

Every October I host a "witch"themed Halloween party for all the amazing women in my life. I want to make personalized paper badges for each girl at the party. The Elmers and X acto supplies would be perfect tools for whet lI have in mind.

Anonymous said...

I have so many summer birthdays in my family so I need to get moving making all the cards and gifts.

kauffmanpak(at)aol(dot)com

suev said...

I would use the kit at a camp I am volunteering at for special needs adults in August. I want to have unique nametags with a salt water theme. The products look like they would be easy for the adults to use.

Anonymous said...

I would begin making my daughter's first birthday party invitations... I have an idea but just need the inspiration to begin. A new bag of goodies would do the trick!

scherne72@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

When our two daughters were teens and preteens, our favorite winter family tradition was always "Santa's Sweatshop." Magnetic Santa Mice from walnut halves with red felt hats, we made them by the dozens. Same goes for reindeer with twig antlers and cinnamon stick legs and arms and little beanbag Santas, festive tree garlands, ornaments from blown out eggshells with decoupaged designs covered with glittery snow, pine cone ornaments, little dolls from beads and chenile stems, greeting cards, and much much more. Now we plan activities and new creations for our five grandchildren and for my mother, who lives in senior, independent living. We would use this treasure trove from Elmers and XActo to throw a crafts party at the apartment building where my mother lives and invite the residents for tea, craft and tell.

Caca said...

these are great tools for my paper cutting projects!

Rebecca E. Parsons/Cre8Tiva said...

i would so make a fabric book with these tools...a book was just leaping into my mind as I saw these materials!!! how fun would it be to have a craft and tell party???

Emily said...

I think I would make some homemade cards and bookmarks!

Emily said...

I think I would make some homemade cards and bookmarks!

Anne in NC said...

What a nice giveaway! I'd use these supplies to make a miniature blackboard for my daughters -- they're always playing school with their dolls. Thanks for the chance to win!

Tia said...

Wow! What beautiful and inspired matchboxes those are!
I would use the tools for my collages. My favorites are from flower catalogs, but I've made a lovely one from pictures of birds from a page-a-day calendar.
I think my stepdaughter would make a fairy house, but I can't really guess at what pretties she'd make with her young creativity and enthusiasm!
tiasweepstakes@gmail.com

Laurinda said...

OOO- I would love to make those little matchboxes for my slipper swap partners, what a nice surprise they would be!

Laurinda said...

OOps! Forgot my email: Laurpud@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

These would be great for making gift tags! Thanks for the chance.

roxysnoxy said...

I'd probably make some sort of altered project or mini album with the products. But your matchboxes were truly adorable also! Thanks for the chance to win!
-Paulina

paulinaluck94@gmail.com

bbphoto said...

I would actually use these in my art classroom for my students to have access to.

dollproject said...

Looks like fantastic fun! I would make cameo inspired notecards and collages with this set. And of course I'd invite some friends over!

jessicaLacosta (at) gmail.com

leeannbailey@hotmail.com said...

I'd love to win an Elmer's craft party! The thing I'd like to make with my party would be FRIENDS! Although I've lived in my house since 1981, we have several new families in the neighborhood and I could invite the new gals for a neighborhood mixer and Elmer's crafting shindig. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

~Alesha~ said...

I would make pop-up cards! I've always wanted a desk set for that. I have a self healing mat, but it's for quilting. It isn't easy to use that for paper crafting. LOL Thanks for hosting!

RudeMermaid said...

What a great giveaway! I love Elmer's glue dot runners but I can't find them anywhere anymore :/
If I won I'd use the Elmer's products to make more swap gifts on swap-bot, as well as, as many matchboxes I could get out of these products haha.

victoria.navarro.garcia@gmail.com

Nekoyumi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nekoyumi said...

I have wanted to make handmade cards for a while now, but don't really have the money for supplies, as I am a university student. I live in Guelph, Ontario, which is pretty far east; all the family I grew up with lives in Washington, which is basically the opposite end of the country! I want to keep in touch with them with cards and postcards, but feel store bought ones don't express my feelings well. So if I received the Elmer's package, I would use it to make cards and keep in touch with my family better.

My e-mail adress is bkok@uoguelph.ca. I live in Ontario, but my mum lives in the U.S. as well, and I am visiting her this summer, so I am hoping that her address may count as my U.S. residence.... And if not, thank you anyways c:

Your blog always has such interesting ideas, and it is a delight to read!

Julie said...

I am not crafty but my daughter is..she enjoys making cards and scrapbooking-thanks for the chance to
win this for her
aunteegem@yahoo.com

Judy B said...

We'd probably make some July 4th themed cupcake toppers. Looks like fun!

judychrz at gmail

Forget Shyness Reviews said...

id use these to work on my scrapbook :)

littleheathen9109 @ yah00 d0t c0m

silverroses2 said...

I would use it to make items for my wedding. Maybe cards to go with my bridesmais gifts...great giveaway!
silverroses2 at hotmail dot com

LeeAnn P. said...

my kids and I love to make greeting cards for holidays and birthdays so that's probably how we'd use this!
murphykatt[at]yahoo[dot]com

Nancy said...

I have joined a card-making and scrapbooking group that meets Sept. - May. Each month we make cards to trade with each other. We also each make a card every month to donate to a charity. These products would be great for my card-making and scrapbooking. Thanks for this opportunity!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

tina reynolds said...

The kids and I would make cards, and scrapbook pages thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

Georgia Mist said...

If I win, I'm passing this on to my Mother. She makes cards, wreaths, boxes... you name it! This would be perfect for her craft table!

Thank you!

outofthemist AT gmail DOT com

Viva said...

Wow, these tools are great. I'd use them to make Christmas cards and Valentine cards...maybe with some 3d effects. Contact info on my blog, thanks!

Kristie said...

My daughter and I would have fun making cards and projects with these if I were to win! :-)

khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Kimberly said...

I would like to get started on our Holiday cards
Kims2312@verizon.net

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