Cutting Mat Tips for Beginners

Are you looking for tips on how to get the most use out of a Silhouette cutting mat? Maybe you’re like me, and rushed to make that first cut, and now your mat is in rough shape! Here are cutting mat tips I wish someone would have shared with me when I started my Cameo crafting journey.

Cutting Mat Tips

  • Use Silhouette branded mats to keep your manufactures warranty in tact!
  • Keep the blue film that comes with the mat. You can save it as a cover when you’re not using it to keep, dirt, dust, and other mystery items off!
  • De Sticky the mat when it’s brand new with a clean cotton cloth by dabbing it all over a few times. This will make removing those first few cuts much easier, and prevent delicate items from tearing.
  • When the top half of your mat becomes less sticky from use, rotate it, and cut from the bottom half if your in a pinch.
  • Resticky the mat when you need to. Over time the mat will become less sticky, which makes it harder to make those perfect cuts. Instead of buying a brand new mat, you can try restickying your mat. This involves using a crafting spray to lightly coat the mat, allowing it to become sticky again!
  • Keep more than one mat on hand. In case of catastrophic mat accident in the middle of the night, which involves a deep cut, that goes a little too deep, or to avoid contaminating every project you ever make after you try glitter card stock. What I mean to say is, if you decide to cut glitter card stock, it will stick to your mat. When you make your next cut, it is possible that some of that glitter transfers to that project no matter what you do…#becauseglitter!

For those of you who are more visual learners here’s a cutting mat tips video! I made for my Cameo Craft Class members! Every month we share tips like this with a community of crafters just like you! You can follow us on Facebook!

I hope these cutting mat tips help you get the most of of your mats! If you have questions shoot us an email at info@cameocraftclass.com!

Here’s a link to the mat, and the spray I use in the video!

Products from Amazon.com

Happy crafting,

Kathy Whimsy Willow Creations

How to get the Free Shape of the Week in Silhouette Studio

Getting free files is awesome, but with so much to learn with a new machine, it can become overwhelming to keep up!

Check out this video. I will walk you through the process for accessing, downloading, and installing the Free shape of the week that Silhouette provides all Cameo owners!

Check it out here!

If you’re looking for more free stuff, check out my favorite place to get free commercial use fonts!

Happy crafting,
Kathy Whimsy Willow Creations

Amazon Prime Deals!

Check out these awesome Amazon prime deals for the kids! Do you think 6 year olds are too young for a microscope? It has great reviews and is almost 50% off! They have tons of toys and things on special, so I thought you might be able to find something for the next Birthday or Christmas! Tons of slime making kits, and it looks like the Bob books might be on sale too!

Fossil dig kit

 

Microscope

 

 

 

Let me know what you think…I’m gonna order these for our house!

 

Kathy

 

Using Cricut Design Space to Change an SVG File

Have you bought a digital cut file from me, and you’re having trouble editing it? Please never hesitate to reach out! I have recorded a video below with step by step instructions on how to change the name on the Frankenstein Monogram Box File. I hope it helps you!

 

 

Craft Happy,

Kathy Whimsy Willow Creations

Quick and Easy Pizza Party Favors

Pizza Party Favors

When one of your best friend calls from 520 miles away in need of pizza party favors for her kindergarteners first class party, you have to help. Did I mention the party was less than a week away, and she has another little one to keep busy?! Amazon Prime to the rescue!

I immediately thought it would be cute to do little rolling pins with play doh. Something the kids could use at home to help build muscles in their hands for all of that letter writing practice they are doing, however I didn’t want the kids to be able to open the pizza party favors at school. In case the teacher didn’t appreciate it. With that in mind,  I decided to make a tag that would cover the top of the ziploc bag. You can download it here: pizza my birthday printable.

Supplies for Pizza Party Favors

The pizza party favors go together super quick. One mini play doh, one mini rolling pin, and one snack size ziploc bag

 

Fill the bags, and print the bag topper, cut them out, and staple 2 staples to the top of the bag.                                                     Pizza Party Favors Idea  free printable pizza party favors

The pizza party favor tags pizza my birthday printable file turned out super cute and is available for download here! You can print 2 on a page in any color you like. I recommend using a thicker cardstock so they hold up better, but plain paper is fine too!

Look at her finished product! So cute! She said all the kids in the class loved them!

pizza party favors

 

I hope this helps some of you last minute moms put together quick and easy pizza party favors your kids will love! Don’t forget, if you don’t have Amazon Prime yet, you can sign up for an Amazon Prime free trial, and get free shipping on everything you order. I have saved hundreds of dollars in shipping fees from everything we have ordered over the years, not to mention all the money I saved not buying toys and candy in the grocery store check out line while shopping with my kiddo.

Happy Crafting,

Kathy Whimsy Willow Creations

You may also be interested in:

https://whimsywillowcreations.com/best-disney-princess-party-ideas/

Disclaimer: The links in this blog pay me a small commission that I in turn use to create more fun, inspiring, crafty ideas for all of you. Thanks for your support!

Best Disney Princess Party Ideas

Are you looking to create a magical Disney Princess party for your little girl? Read below for a complete list of everything you need to throw the Best Disney Princess Party Ever!

Invitations for a Disney Princess Party

Whether you make your own, do a Facebook invite, or go all out with a Royal Scroll Delivery,  the first thing you need for a Disney Princess Tea Party is an invitation. I love creating Facebook invites using Canva. They have so many options, and you can make an invitation for free! Here is a sample I put together in 5 minutes! I love how you can change the colors of everything to match your decor!

Next Up, we need dessert! Check out these ideas!

Disney Princess Party Cake

Every Princess needs a cake on her special day. Go easy with Princess cupcakes topped with royal crowns, or put together a fondant masterpiece with her favorite Character diaplayed. I love this Belle Dress Cake my talented neighbor made, and we stacked it on top of a book stand. They are so cute! For a tutorial on how to make your own book cake stand stay tuned!

 

  

Cute Cupcake toppers and Cupcake Stand for Princess Tea Party

     

Set the Table for a Disney Princess Party

Moving on, Here is everything I used to set the table for our Disney Princess Party. It turned out so cute, and everyone asked where I got everything, so for your convenience, here is a list!

  1. Table Cloths: These 8 foot ones will drape nicely on our long table. You may only need 6 foot. I am getting the cloth ones, so I can reuse them over and over for baby showers, and holiday parties,: White Cloth Tablecloth 8 foot
  2. Table Runner this comes in multiple sizes and colors and great price! 12×108 Gold Table runner
  3. Chargers: Use 10.5″ doilies as chargers. Inexpensive, beautiful, and kid friendly!  Paper Doilies
  4. Plates Gold Plates adults used or Blush Pink 9 inch plates
  5. Tea Cups (2 sets)  Floral Paper Teacups
  6. Knight Party Mugs if you have little boys coming these are so cute! Knight Party Cups
  7. Forks(Ariels Dopligangers) Gold Forks
  8. Dessert Plates Floral Princess Tea Party Plates
  9. Napkins Floral Napkins
  10. Gold Candle Holders with white candles. I picked these up at the local thrift store and spray painted them with this. I also used it to paint the gold frame backdrop over the table! Rustoleum Gold Spray Paint

 

We decided to use less expensive plates for adults and they made excellent dinner plates for the princess table. These were the perfect size to place under my pretty floral plates, and they served as chargers. Our table was only 23 inches across, so I needed something smaller for each place setting, but they were the perfect size for our tea party sandwiches, deviled eggs, and fruit wands. Do you need help planning a tea party menu?

Disney Princess Party Games and Activities Ideas

After you set the table, make sure you have something to keep your royal guests entertained. Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning.

  1. Do a relay race on setting the table properly
  2. Practice walking with books on your head
  3. Decorate your own tea cup, crown, or cupcake
  4. Have a pro come in and teach table etiquette.
  5. Special Visit from a Character Princess
  6. Castle Bounce House
  7. Princess Story Time How to Behave at a Tea Party

 

 

Disney Princess Party Favors for Girls, Boys, and Babies

Finally, check out this awesome combo with a crown, wand and ring! The Girls absolutely loved these! They served as party hats and favors and even the boys liked the wands! In addition, I used the rings as table scatter! You cannot go wrong with these. The crowns fit 3 and 5 year olds without problems, and the grown ups tried them too. I used bread bags to put everything together and tied them with a pretty bow. 100 bags for $6, and I can use them for other treats too!

 

Party Favor Kit for Girls

 

For the boys, You can easily please them with crowns, candy, and swords!

Click on the pictures and it will take you right to the products!

 

Princess Tea Party Favor Ideas for babies

Everyone thought the little frog favors were so adorable, and were a fun addition to the Princess themed party. Kim and I tried to kiss the frog and turn it into a prince, but it didn’t work.

Frag Party Favor

 

 

A few other Disney Princess Party Things we used

Use painters tape to hang it on the wall

Trays for fruit kabobs and sandwiches

Spray Paint for Frame backer and candlestick holders

 

I hope you loved getting ideas for your Disney Princess Tea Party. If you have any questions let me know and I will try to answer them!

 

Happy Crafting,

Kathy

 

*Links in this post pay me a small amount so that I can continue to spend time sharing with you my pictures, ideas, and love for planning awesome parties! Thanks for your support!*