Well this week has definitely been a busy week! We mostly worked on getting my daughter fully prepared and confident for her dance competition as Disney Princess Tiana. There are so many things to think about and get together for the big day. We have always done the regular dance recitals at the end of the year. Competition is a whole other level of stressful. This was her very first competition, so mama was extra stressed making sure everything was perfect.

To top it all off, my husband was out of town for work, so it was just me at this competition, along with my toddler. I decided to make my daughter a dance competition card, so my husband could congratulate her right after the dance. I made this card specific to my daughter’s dance. She was dancing as Disney Princess Tiana to the song “Dig a Little Deeper”. Her prop for her dance is a pink shovel, so I had to bring that into my card design.

Before we get into how I made this cute little card, take a look at this updated picture of the rocks! We are almost done listening to this rock tumbler constantly. Just one more week tumbling with grit #4, and they will be ready to make jewelry. The picture below was taken after a week of grit #3. Now lets see how I added Disney Princess Tiana to this congratulations card.

Disney Princess Tiana Dance Card

First of all, let me show you my daughter’s outfit and prop for her dance. This will help you understand why I designed the card the way that I did. It turned out just perfect, in my opinion!

Supplies

• Blank card and envelope
• Cuttlebug
• Sheet Music Embossing Folder
• Cricut Machine
• Cricut Pens
• Medium to Heavy Cardstock in black, pink, light pink, shiny ivory
• Glue Dots
• Glue Stick
• Pink Sheer Ribbon
• Pink thread and sewing needle

Step 1: Embossing

First you want to pull out your Cuttlebug machine! I used a sheet music embossing folder to add a 3D texture to the front of my card. Just place the front of the card in between the folder, and send it through! I think this adds a great touch to a simple background!

Step 2: Cricut Design Space

For the next step, I created my design in Cricut Design Space! I personally like to find free svg files online, if I can. If I am selling what I am creating, I am more willing to pay for an svg file. For the most part though, I find what I want to use for free.

First, I found the perfect ballerina! You can find it at https://www.svgheart.com/product/ballerina-ballet-dance-svg-file-5/. Since one of the ballerina’s hands is down, I got the idea to put a shovel in her hand, since my daughter’s prop is a pink shovel. I got so excited, and thought how perfect it would be! I welded the shovel to her hand so it would cut out in one piece. You can find the shovel at https://svgsilh.com/image/2024533.html.

Once I found those two items, everything just fell into place design wise. I created a star in Cricut Design Space. I offset it, so I could have a larger layer behind. Then I added the words, “You dug deep and came out on top!”. The font I used was Monotype Corsiva. I continued with that font on the inside of the card to say a Disney Princess Tiana inspired congratulations. I wrote: “Princess Tiana would be proud. More importantly, we are beyond proud of you. Congratulations! You completed your 1st dance competition!” I then added a little shovel between the words. I set all of the words and the tiny shovel to a “Draw” setting. Everything else was set to a “Cut” setting.

Lastly, I made two larger hearts in the Cricut Design Space to cut out for places to write in. Make sure everything is to a size that will fit in you card. Sometimes it is easiest to create a rectangle the size of your card, send it to the back, and fit all your details onto it. Then you can delete the rectangle before you cut. This is how my Cricut Design Space looked before cutting.

Step 3: Cut

Now it is time to cut everything out!

First, I cut my Disney Princess Tiana inspired ballerina out. The silhouette was cut out of black cardstock. Then the tutu, ballet slippers, and bow were cut out of the darker pink cardstock. The bow would not cut for me. It was way to small, and just ripped during the cut. I had a plan for a different bow anyways, so I just left it alone.

Then I cut the larger star out of a shiny ivory cardstock. I used light pink cardstock and a black Cricut pen on the smaller star. The same black pen was used for the lettering on the inside of the card. I placed the card onto my mat, and looked at the measurements to see where it was at. Then I moved the writing to the center of that measurement on the preview mat. It worked out perfectly! I also had it draw a tiny shovel with a pink pen.

Lastly, I cut the hearts out with one in the light pink and one in the dark pink.

Step 4: Glue

Let’s get to gluing it together!

I started by using the glue stick to put the tutu and the ballet slippers onto the ballerina silhouette. Using glue dots, I placed them all over the back of the ballerina and shovel. In the skinnier spots, I pulled small pieces of the glue dots off. It worked out great for adhering it to the textured surface of the front of the card.

Next, I used glue dots to attach the two stars together. I then positioned the star just slightly tucked under the arm of the ballerina, and attached it to the card with more glue dots.

On the inside of the card, there wasn’t too much to do. I just adhered the two hearts at different angles and overlapped a little with glue dots. Then I used my pink Cricut pen, and colored in the tiny shovel.

Step 5: Final Detail to the Disney Princess Tiana Inspired Card

I could have stopped there, but I felt like it still needed something a little extra. In my craft room, I found a sheer pink ribbon with lines of glitter in it. It was perfect for this little ballerina!

Using thread and a needle, I wove my needle back and forth through the ribbon until it was slightly longer than the skirt of the tutu. I pulled the thread a little bit, so the ribbon would ruffle. Then I tied the thread on both ends and cut the ribbon.

Next, I folded the ends to the back, and overlapped them. I then connected the ends with glue dots. This step took quite a few tiny pieces of glue dots, to make it just the way I wanted it. Place glue dots wherever you need them to make the skirt lay just right.

Lastly, I cut a short piece of ribbon, and wrapped thread around the center of it. I tied the thread, and cut the tails to make a bow for the ballerina’s hair. Then I just glued it onto the bun with glue dots!

I hope you enjoy how this cute Disney Princess Tiana inspired card turned out! My daughter sure loved it! I know this is very specific to my daughter’s dance, but I hope it inspires you and gives you some ideas for the dancer in your life!

Give Control to God!

Do you ever get the feeling that something is about to happen that you have zero control over? Then you try everything you can to make that something not happen, or make it perfect. This is how my week has felt. I was so nervous for my child, and I tried to make sure everything I could do was done to make her first competition perfect. I was going crazy!

The night before her competition, we held each others hands, and prayed. We asked God to help her remember her steps, and have the best time on stage. We asked Him to help us have a safe drive, and that the day would go smoothly. Well, the day was perfect!

Give it to God! I know it is incredibly difficult to do as a parent. You want the best for your child. Guess what!!!! God want’s the best for His child too! Sometimes, it just takes a quick reminder from your daughter, who says that God will be watching over her as she dances. I’m so grateful for our God, who gives us peace in a time of chaos.

There are so many other things going on in our life right now that are also hard to give up control of, but we have to. I can’t control what happens with my husband’s career. One of my family members is very sick, and I can’t control that either. I can vent, and cry, and stress over it all. Eventually though, giving all of that to God, helps me find some peace. Knowing that He is in control, helps me know that I am not alone. He is always watching over us!

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7

Have a wonderful week friends!