You're Invited

Some of our friends are expecting their first baby in September, and I recently hosted a baby shower for the mom-to-be. It was small and casual, but I wanted to share a few of the things I did in case you need ideas for the future!

Taking my cue from the neutral colored lamb theme of the nursery, I made these baby shower invitations to send:

All things considered, it was a pretty simple design with minimal coloring, so they went together pretty quickly. Well, that is until I ran out of that brown ribbon. Whoops! I guess you really should measure everything before you get started, eh? No worries though. Lord knows I have enough other spools of coordinating ribbon that I could use as backups.

Here's the whole lot together. You can see that one at the front of the picture has a smaller gingham ribbon instead of the wide triple stitch brown (which I bought at Hobby Lobby yyyyears ago, and love, if anyone is curious... must get back for more...)

I held the shower in the afternoon from 2-4pm. Since it fell between meals, I didn't want to have a lot of food, but I did want to have a few snacks and, of course, a cake, too. Here's the simple tablescape and menu: smoked almonds, pretzels with horseradish dip, Cape Cod Cracked Pepper Potato Chips (have you tried them? I was just introduced in May and haven't bought any other brand or flavor since that day), crackers with a cream cheese/sweet red pepper spread, peanut butter M&M's (another personal favorite), and a german chocolate cake.

You can also see the two gifts on the table for the game winners. I contemplated buying gifts for this purpose, but in the end decided to pull from my overstocked and underused cabinet of Partylite candles. Each winner received a box of 6 votives in the "Zen" scent. It didn't even make a dent in my collection, which is pretty sad. A few weeks ago I finished burning a medium sized candle that we received as part of a wedding gift 12 years ago. This is how fast I go through candles. It doesn't stop me from buying more though! It's a sickness, I swear.

I printed up some easy nametags on mailing labels. Avery makes so many great sized labels. If you use your imagination you can do a lot of interesting things with them. I made these up using the Roselyn font, and then rolled across the bottom of each one with Mellow Moss ink to jazz them up a little.

Our first game was Name The Baby Food. We passed around ten open containers of baby food (stage 2, all having two more flavors), and guests were able to spoon a little onto their plate and taste each one. Some tasted, some smelled... In fact the girl who got the most correct (6/10) never tasted a single one. I was totally impressed. I printed sheets for each guest with ten blank spaces on the left and the names of about 20 different flavors of baby food on the right for them to match to the numbers. I pulled the names of the extra flavors off the Gerber website. I wanted to make sure they were all legitimate flavors, because we had enough moms of little ones in the room that someone would have probably known a fake name if I tried to make one up. I also made these cute little cozies for each container because the name of the flavor is printed on the outside. I needed to hide it somehow, and I'm all about pretty, so I wrapped each one with sage colored tulle and coordinating ribbon. The numbers were printed on my Cricut and then added to punched circles before being glued on to the side of the container.

Our second and final game was a simple guessing game. How many Almond Joy pieces fit into a 4 oz. Dr. Brown's glass baby bottle? Well, 167 to be exact. Mom-to-be got to keep the bottle (chosen from her registry) AND Almond Joy pieces as part of her gift.

It was a lovely afternoon with a lot of visiting and sharing of stories. I just love hosting things like this, and I also love welcoming new babies into the world! 

Gift Tags

Hey - two blog posts in two days. It's like some kind of record!

I thought I'd share these little gift bags I whipped up over the holidays. Literally the only stamping I've done in months. The tags are stamped on Kraft paper (SU!) that was cut with a nestie. I layered two different snowflake punches (Martha Stewart) and then slapped a button in the center with a little green organdy underneath. Then I stamped the paper bags to match. HA. KIDDING. I totally bought the bags that way at Hobby Lobby on clearance last winter. I had you going for a minute though, didn't I? :o)

I'm hoping to get started on a very special set of Valentine's cards soon. I'm going to get a little card ministry off the ground in Henry's name. We have to travel to the Children's Hospital in Milwaukee on a regular basis for Jack's infusions (they infuse antibodies into his bloodstream due to his immune deficiency disorder) and I would like to take a batch of cards with me each time for the two floors that have helped our boys - PICU and Cardiac. I'm thinking I'll alternate between the two, and just drop off cards that can be used by parents or children or nurses or whomever needs or wants them. I'd like to put a label on the back of each one noting that it's from this so far unnamed card ministry and maybe a link back to here or my family blog. SO, this is where you come in... what should I call it? I would like something with Henry's name in it, and I'm kinda diggin' the aliteration right now, so I'm thinking, "Hugs from Henry", "Henry's Heart", "Hope from Henry", etc. What do you think? Do you have any other ideas? Please share if you do!

Another Use for Cardstock

My mom recently gifted me a subscription to Midwest Living magazine. This month's issue features "26 Heavenly Homemade Gifts" and one of them is homemade bread in packages made from cardstock. How cool is that? Click HERE to see a picture of the package, and HERE for a template to make some of your own! What a cute holiday gift idea!

I soooo wanted to share the picture here, but was afraid I'd be violating copyrights, so the links will have to do. Click 'em though! You won't be disappointed!

Baked With Love

The last time I posted a card using this Changito the Baker set from i {heart} papers, one of my blogger friends left a comment saying it would be cute to use for gift tags on baked goods. Right you are, my friend! In fact, the stamp set actually comes with this perfect little tag stamp, and you can stamp other images inside of it however you'd like. So, I used it to help decorate this box of cookies. These are my Mom's all time favorite cookies... Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies. I found these cute Wilton cupcake boxes at Hobby Lobby (3 for $5, I think - maybe a little less), and picked them up hoping they'd work for cookies too, and they do! Just leave out the cupcake inserts, and you're set! I made a double batch of the cookies to give to her as part of her Mother's Day gift today. Henry is very excited to go give Grandma her cookies after nap time. hee hee. I *think* he might be hoping to score one or two for himself, but I can't be sure. :o)

Here is a close up of the tag:

The tag is colored with my Copic markers, and tied on with some 5/8" Pink Twill Ribbon. The ribbon is PERFECT for this kind of project because it's a sturdy ribbon (and, it matches!) and really works well to help hold the box closed.

There's a little sad news though..... :o( .......... This is my last "official" post as an i {heart} papers Design Team member. My term ended, and it's bittersweet. Bitter, because I love Kate and the whole IHP team, but at the same time sweet, because I know summer is going to be super busy, and I probably shouldn't be spending as much of those beautiful summer days locked up in my stamp room! I will miss everyone though!

I also have another book to share with you! I just finished Jennifer Weiner's Certain Girls last night:

Weiner (pronounced Wine-er, before you start giggling too much!) is one of my favorite authors. I've read everything she has written, and have enjoyed all of it. Although I enjoyed this book, I have to say it was one of my least favorite by her. Not because it wasn't a good story... it was... it just took me a long long time to really get into it. In fact, while I was reading the book, I was thinking about blogging and decided that from now on I'm going to share my "point of no return".... meaning, the page I got to when it became nearly impossible for me to put the book down. For this book, sadly, it was page 245. That's a whole lot of reading to go through before being really sucked in! BUT... the interesting part is that not only was I totally hooked from 245 to the end, I also found myself crying through most of those final 100(ish) pages. So it's not that I didn't like the story, and it's not that I couldn't relate to the characters, it just didn't really draw me in like some of her previous works have. I would still recommend it if you enjoy Chick Lit... but maybe start with one of her earlier books like In Her Shoes, or Good in Bed (which, by the way, is not as racy as the title implies!). OH! Actually.... do read Good in Bed first, because it's something of a prequel to this novel. Same characters.... :o)

Happy Mother's Day!

100% All Boy!

Do you {heart} papers? I do! There are so many awesome things you can do with all of the different papers out there. If you have followed my blog for awhile, you may have noticed that I am first and foremost a card maker. I rarely alter anything, because to be honest with you I don't know that many people who would appreciate the time and effort that goes into the finished product. But I knew when I saw some of the following stamps and papers at i {heart} papers that I had to haul out the Mod Podge and make something... FOR ME! Woot! So, I ask you....

What happens when you take one picture frame from the Dollar Spot at Target....



Add some super cute All Boy designer paper (which, by the way, happens to be on sale right now!) and a few random buttons:

Some 1/4" White Glimmer Ribbon (reminds me of sparkly stars) and these adorable Changito in Space stamps (also on sale! ...just sayin'...lol!)????

The cutest little boy frame!!

I made this for my desk. I know which pics I want to put in it, but have to order the prints yet, and wanted to get it posted so I just wrote in where the photos will go (as if you didn't know - doh!) for now.

It's amazing how a little paper and ribbon can jazz up a $1 find, isn't it?!

Betcha Didn't Know...

....That I crochet, too. ;o)

One of my toddler mom friends on Splitcoast had a baby yesterday (WOOT! Welcome Luke!), and this is the blanket I made for her. Don't ask me what got into me. I haven't crocheted in AGES. I didn't even make blankets for my own kids, much less any other my other toddler mom friends (Sorry girls!), but for whatever reason decided to go ahead and whip out the yarn for this one. She had been posting pictures of different bedding sets that she was considering, and all of them had a sage-y green in them, so I picked the closest thing I could find to that color in a soft yarn, and went for it.

It took me about three months to finish. I used to be able to whip a baby blanket out in about three weeks, but that was b.c. (before children *wink*). Here is a close-up of the card I attached to the blanket. I swear to you, it says "Happy Snuggling"... not "Happy Smuggling". LOL!

And here is the "real" card that was also included. Just a quick one layer card using SU!'s Wild About You set:

She has mentioned in the past that she likes elephants, so that was my inspiration. And I wanted to keep it simple, because I spent enough time on the dang blanket. HA. Kidding. :) Actually, I had been wanting to try a one layer card forever, so I did. I think it's kinda boring, but it works! Plus, she'll be all doped up on pain meds for a few weeks, so she'll never notice. hee heeeeee.

Enjoy the day!

I Chews U

Guess who's ba-ack?! BUBS! Here he's paired with another senitment from the set - "I Chews U". I love the sentiment, and thought it would be especially appropriate for an edible valentine. I found this little clear plastic box in my stash and filled it with red tinsel and Reese's Peanut Butter Hearts (all of which are conveniently hidden by the foil). I thought it would make a cute valentine for someone special.... and let me tell you, they have to be dang special to get my Reese's hearts!!! I lovvvvve Reese's peanut butter cups to the moon and back.

Pretty much everything I used is from i {heart} papers, and Kate is having a HUGE sale right now to make room for all of the things she is going to order at CHA. Be sure to click over to the store and take advantage of the sales when you get a chance.

i {heart} papers supplies:
Bubs The Beaver (Our Craft Lounge)
Labels 2 Nestabilities
Flying High DP
Coffee Shimmerz
5/8" Pink Twill Ribbon

Wrapping Paper

Today is another Belli Challenge day, and the challenge is WRAPPING PAPER. You can use wrapping paper on your card, or make your own wrapping paper, or..... You decide! Just make sure it has something to do with wrapping paper.

Remember that card I made yesterday? And how I said I had something to show you today that coordinated? WELL... Here it is....



I actually used the remainder of that 12x12 sheet to wrap a small gift in. Have you ever used DP as wrapping paper? It turns out so cute! And check out how fun the coordinating gift and card look together:

The gift (and card) is for one of my girlfriends. It's someone I don't normally exchange Christmas gifts with, but I saw something that I thought she'd like, so I bought it for her. I would tell you what it is, but she cruises through here sometimes so I don't want to blow the surprise! Anyhow, I hope she likes it!

You can see the links to all of the other Belli Challenge Girls in my sidebar (*finally* got everyone loaded! Woot!). Be sure to click over and take a look at what everyone made. I'm thinking this is going to be a fun challenge, in terms of creativity! If you play along, be sure to link your card back to Chrissy's blog. :o)

Also, before I go, remember those Holiday Pretzel Rings I made and posted a few days ago? I've gotten a few comments and emails stating that some of you are having a hard time finding the rings. Well! Check this out! My blogger friend Sue made the same thing with square pretzels (she calls them "waffle" pretzels, but at my store they are called "snaps" and are by Snyders) and plain M&M's!

AND, I changed my banner AGAIN. I went back to the old one this time, with new photos of the boys in it. I just wasn't feelin' any of those wintery/Christmas ones I made. Hmph.

Dude.

Hellooooo blogger friends! Long time, no see! I can't believe I took two days off from blogging. It felt odd not to be crafting and sharing, but with Halloween tossed in there life kind of took over for a few days. If you'd like to take a sneaky peek at my little farmer and his cow, click on over to my family blog for pictures. I even went so far as to digi-scrap our evening, so I guess I did get a little crafting in after all! I'm VERY new to the whole digi-scrapping world, so don't go expecting anything phenominal... Seriously.

Ok, on to today's card. This little guy is from a set of witty stamps by Inkadinkado. I think it's called Birthday Characters? Maybe? I'm really not sure. I can check if you'd really like to know. Anyhow, I needed a masculine birthday card, and this is what I came up with. I stamped the "dude" with my Karen Foster Snap Stamps. I really wanted to add glitter to the bunny tail, but that just didn't seem to fit the whole dark masculine look, so I skipped it. Maybe I should still add it for a little whimsy? What do you think?

The DP is Basic Grey, from my Scarlett Letter pad. The base of the card, ironically, is basic gray, by Stampin' Up! Funny how that works.

Before I go, I want to direct you to some super cute cards made by my fellow i {heart} papers design team members:

Cathleen made a gorgeous pink wedding card here. You have to check out the ribbon/bow on it! To die for!

Lori made a super fun cupcake card. The colors and layout are just perfect... not to mention the cupcake DP she used.

I finally have the DT blog list uploaded on my sidebar, if you'd like to take a peek and see who all is on the team. I'm going to try to remember to continue to link you to specific cards as they are posted throughout the month.

I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween!

You're The Berry Best

Today's CBC Challenge is to make anything but a card. I have seen these little packets around the blogsphere for awhile (usually with a KitKat bar inside), so I thought I'd try my hand at one.... Except to be different (you know how I love to be different!), I put something else inside:



I saw these near the check out at Michael's one day, and I had to buy some because they totally took me back to my childhood. I bought a pack for me, and a pack to give as a gift in this little pouchy. :) The pouch is super easy to make. Basically just measure your cardstock so it is big enough to wrap all the way around, with an inch or so overhang at the ends, then secure it with adhesive and crimp each end. It's hard to see the crimping in the photo, but it's there, I swear.

And again, don't the new Tart n' Tangy and old Fruity Phrases sets go so well together? It's one of my new favorite combinations.

The designer paper is from SU's Summer Picnic line. I've had a few comments from people saying that they'd wished they had bought that paper when it was available in the summer mini.... but don't forget it's also in the current catalog! It's not too late!

Don't forget to click the links in my sidebar to see what the other Challenge Chicks have created this week, and if you play along link your work on Courtney's blog for a chance to win a little prize. :)

Finally, I know, I know, this is the third day in a row that I've posted since I said I was cutting back. In my defense though, I made this a few weeks ago. It was included in that final package that was sent to my summer sister, Lorie. ;o)

Enjoy the day!


Details:
Stamps: Tart n' Tangy, Fruity Phrases (both Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DP
Other: Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers (on strawberry), Stickles, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Chiclets, Paper Crimper