Fabric Marble Maze

I'm baaaack! I just got back from a fab trip to Tennessee to visit family. Even better, I got to fly home without the hubs and the kiddos. :-) I am attending a Delta Zeta National Convention Dinner tonite,  and my wonderful husband supported me by helping me get home for it. 4th of July was GREAT...even without any planned fireworks. Lots of family fun. (Uncle John, I will post yard work soon.)

Last month, one of my favorite blogs "A Girl and a Glue Gun," posted a fun marble maze. While in TN, I got to work craft-lifting it. I am adding a few more details that I find might be helpful.
Step 1: I use a rotary cutter and a self-healing mat to cut two 12 1/2" fabric squares. It can also be helpful to chalk a 1/4" line along the outside to save space for the seam.

Step 2: I use a chalk marker instead of "erasable" marker because when I make a mistake (gasp...yep), I can just use a tiny dab of water to get rid of it. I mark an X for the beginning of the maze.

Step 3: The ideal width of the maze paths is at least 1 1/4". Fortunately, I find the perfect small ruler that is that exact width. LIFE.SAVER... I start with a straight path. Make a turn anytime you want.

 Here is an example of how to make a corner. I did erase chalk mainly on the corners.

Step 4: I know on the agaagg site, many commenters asked for a maze template, but I found that if you find the correctly sized ruler, it really is not that hard to engineer your own maze. My main piece of advice is to NOT worry about the "extra, blank" space around your "successful path."

Step 5: Anytime I find extra space, I turn it into a visual maze of extra paths. Here is a rectangle of open space.

Step 6: Voila! Split the space with a seam, and you have  more visual path lines. You can even erase some chalk to make the path usable as a dead end. (I should have done that...shucks.)

Step 7: After the successful maze path is done, mark the other end with an X. This ends up giving the maze two starts & ends on each side of the completed maze. I pick a spot along a straight path to mark where the seam should be left open for turning it out & inserting the marble. I fold the fabric up and mark the back, as well.

 When the fabric is turned and is now good side to good side, you can still see where the turn out "pocket" is.

Step 8: I pin the four corners because I am not a perfectionist. Feel free to pin away. You do want to ensure that the fabrics line up, so the outside seams can be sewn at the 1/4" suggestion.

Step 9: Just like a simple pillow, I sew around the square stopping before I close up the turn around pocket. I like it 2-3 inches, so it is easier to pull the inside out. When it is pulled inside out, your chalk marks should still be there.

Step 10: I find my pocket and place a pin, so to be careful when I start to trace the maze with my sewing machine.

Step 11: Now trace away with your sewing machine. Yes, there will be quite a bit of start and stopping when tracing, and don't forget to clip all the threads when you are done. I use a light tan color thread  that made one side of the maze easy and the other more difficult. I also use permanent marker to mark the start and stop points with a heart instead of an X.

Step 12: Insert marble into pocket, and sew it up.

Step 13: My daughter had a tough time at the start, so I "showed" her the maze by having her trace the path with her finger first. When the "aha" light bulb went off, she was pushing that marble around. Another good thing about this project is that my husband can use it on the plane ride home. Yes, I made a blue one for my son.

A few more ideas for this marble maze:

1. Time how long it takes to complete the maze

2. Do the maze with your eyes closed

3. Start with the marble in the middle and pick a particular X/heart to go to

Any other thoughts?
Happy Belated 4th of July!
~hurley

Party Ideas: Pin It Game (ballerina)

Yes, we take the Pin the Tail on the Donkey classic and turn it into Pin the Tutu on the Ballerina.
The set up:
I use Google to find a simple outline of a ballerina tutu outfit. I trace the outline on the back of some pink floral & pearls scrapbook paper. I then use two sided tape to stick the folded tissue paper on the outfit for the tutu. (I thought I took pictures, sorry.)

I use up all my pink construction paper, so I have to use light blue. :-( Sniff, sniff; I move onward and draw a ballerina, tree, flowers, etc. I trace the tutu image to start the drawing of the ballerina. (I am not an artist!... duh.)

Then I see her with a tutu. Pretty good.

The Game:

The birthday girl gets to go first.

 Spin her to the left; spin her to the right.

One arm behind the back rule.

Oooops, but I look cute, anyway.

End of game.

The 3 winners choose from the prize bucket.

I love me some cheesy party games. I am already looking forward to my son's birthday. Lego games anyone???

~hurley

Party Ideas: Water Bottle Decoration & Goodie Box

More party fun from this past weekend:
Water Bottle Decorations:
Although we serve pink lemonade at my daughter's party, I also want to provide a monogrammed bottle of water, so the girls can keep from mixing them up and refill them with more water or lemonade if they wish.
1. I use one inch strips of paper that fit around the mini water bottles. I also need tape, two shape punches, left over scrapbook paper and adhesive foam dots/squares.
2. When put all together, it looks like this. Cute, huh?

Goodie Bag "twist"
I want the girls to be able to store their prizes and goodies from throughout the party, and I find these awesome multi-functional PINK locker boxes at The Dollar Tree. I.love.that.place!
1. I use the locker box, tape, three shape punches, left over scrapbook paper, and a simple sharpie marker.

2. The finished box is this.

3. Ingredients to start include a pink & green pencil and a pink pail. Throughout the party they add a personalized ice pop holder, a pink, homemade bean bag, a personalized treasure hunt bag, a necklace treasure they made, and a lip moisturizer.

More party reveals soon... it was so much fun.
~hurley

Party Ideas: Treasure Hunt Bags & Clues

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We love treasure hunts at our parties!!! This year I made pink treasure hunt bags and the picture clues. Someday they will be more fun with word clues.
Treasure Bags:
1. The bags have to be PINK. I use my handy glue gun to add some pink toile and overlap it, so it can look ruffled.

2. The glue spots under each ruffle show, but they will soon be covered.

 3. I measure ribbon that can go around and overlap a bit. I start in the middle and glue on edges and then where they overlap. No more glue spots showing.

4. Next I choose 2 pink fabrics to add to the bags for the monogram. I iron Heat n Bond following the package directions.

5. Then taking a break from my awesome Cricut, I save some time by using my trusty old Sizzix machine!! It is very important to make sure the fabric touches the die cut, so the letter image is correct.

6. A few strong pumps of the arm, and presto, an iron on letter for our treasure bag in half the time (or less).

or

7. While your iron heats up, make sure to peel off the paper backings of the Heat n Bond, so it will actually apply. Yes, I tried many times to apply WITHOUT removing the paper and it does not work!

8. A MORE important reminder is that when you are ready to iron the letter onto your "flimsy fabric" Dollar Tree Store bag (still.love.it), use a cotton layer between the iron and the letter.

9. Yes, you know that I remove some pink fabric from my iron the first time! Poor iron & poor bag...

10. Here is the final product when ironed correctly. The girls love it.

11. Here it is getting filled with treasure.

Picture Clues:
Here are some pictures I take ahead of time and place in the correct order outside around our house.

The girls use a photo clue to find the next one.

My favorite picture of the party!!  (Thank you, Laura) 

At the end they find a treasure box of do it yourself homemade necklaces and pink freezer pops with monogrammed ice pop holders.

Yumm!

I have a blast planning, and they have a blast playing. The Hunt was a real hit.

Until the next party post, have a good one!

~hurley