Baby days

Well, it seems I hit another creative dry spell... HA! But the summer has been fun. We even managed to get a quick weekend get away in.

One of my co-workers is about to be a dad for the first time. We finally got him to agree to a baby shower. So, off to Pinterest I go. I found some A-DORABLE diaper cakes, wreaths, etc. I also found a great Dad's survival kit.

So if you go to Pinterest and type in Diaper Wreath.. you will get a wealth of ideas. I kind of took a little from a lot of pictures and made mine.

I bought a styrofoam wreath "frame" from Hobby Lobby.  I used two different size diapers 2 and 3's.  The 2's covered the base and the 3's filled in the gaps :-)  Since we don't know the sex, I had to go neutral.  I added just a couple of little things to the wreath for some added interest (Baby Magic Bath, Baby Magic Lotion,  Baby Shampoo, Johnson and Johnson Bubble Bath, a teether and some pacifiers.)  The baby's last name will begin with a G so I bought a Chipboard letter G (also at Hobby Lobby).  I used sticky strip to cover the letter with wood grain designer paper on both sides.  I used felt ribbon to cover the edges.  This was so super easy and fun to make. 

I also thought that a first time Dad should have a little survival kit, as if all the women haven't been giving him advice for the last 6 months... Again.. a ton of ideas on Pinterest, but this is the one that I really used as inspiration and a little copying...  Go tip junkie!!  Now she made super cute little tags for each of her gifts.. I just wrote the reasons for the choices in a card..I ran out of time :-(

For this kit, I picked up the little basket at the Target dollar spot.  I figure it can be used in the future for something.  What I included was:

1. Coffee mug and Via instant coffee, for when Dad needs a pick me up and fast
2. Granola Bars for the breakfasts he will miss
3. Burp cloths for the messy stuff that comes out of baby after eating
4. PB crackers for a midnight snack
5. Hershey's hugs and kisses to remember that both Mom AND Baby will need lots!!
6. Rubber Duck for Daddy/Baby bath time
7. Lifesavers to remind Dad that he can and should be Mom's lifesaver (at least sometimes)
8. Book for when Daddy puts baby to bed (Hello Bugs!; cute board book in black, white and gold) and...
9. Adult beverages in shot size - no explanation needed :-) (4 different kinds as I wasn't really sure what his preference was)


The card I included is a little ducky.  The image is from Gina K Designs and colored with copics.  I used some Spellbinders to cut out some ducks out of felt and colored it.  I used faux stiching on the designer paper to simulate a quilt.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hopefully I'll get some creative mojo going now :-)

The issues with Papercrafting

Let me just say.. Christmas is an excellent time to get into Papercrafting. Many people send Christmas cards, sometimes it is the only time said people catch up with other people. I got into papercrafting right around Christmas a number of years ago. I started off with a couple of all around great stamp sets and a couple packs of paper from SU. I mean really, once you have one stamp set that has a holiday stamp, a happy birthday stamp, a thank you and a congratulations.. what more do you really need? You can make any type of card with those... Yeah right! I, and I think some others, have a compulsive need to add to my stash. I remember that we used to have stamping days at my SU consultant's house. I started out bringing a clear tote that contained all my supplies.. then it grew to two... now it's to the point that there is no way I could ever take all my supplies somewhere.. so what do I take, what am I going to need? Perhaps I should trim down some so that I don't need to make these difficult decisions........ NOT! I have, and I will admit this, enough Christmas/Winter stamps to make individual cards for people I know for YEARS to come. Why is it then, that I eagerly await each new year's Christmas/Holiday line... what is it that FORCES me to spend money on more Christmas sets? Why is it that I decide in August what I think my cards should look like.. until I see something else and that would look so cool? The reason I bring all this up, is that I had a coupon for Michael's where from 4-9 pm yesterday I could get 25% off my entire purchase. Hmmm.. I am in a secret santa exchange (I have everything for that)... I am hostessing the winter VSN (already have everything for that)... but, but... So I went. My secret santa recipient now has a little more bling... Did I need anything I bought? No! Do I want it ALL? YES! It's an addiction and I think it should be treated as such. Oh and by the way.. just because you might need this someday in the future AND because it's free (So who cares if you'll need it at all, it's free, you can't pass that up): Free "Santa's Magical Sleigh" card making template from Card Carousel To claim your free card making template, please do at least one of the following things: TWITTER USERS: Follow us and retweet this tweet; or FACEBOOK USERS: "Like" our Facebook pageand Share this post; or BLOG & FORUM USERS: Write about us on a blog or forum. Include the following text: Get a free "Santa's Magical Sleigh" card making template from Card Carousel. Just visit www.cardcarousel.co.uk/free/sleigh.html

Longer than I thought

Wow, it's been longer than I thought. I actually do have some new cards to post, but it will have to be later tonight or tomorrow. I *think* and *hope* that the sickies have run their course through the house now and things can get back to normal. I'll be back later or tomorrow morning with a project!

Flowers?? Is this for real?

Happy Labor Day!! My birthday last month. My daughter brought me flowers. If you only knew my husband. He and his family don't believe in buying flowers... it's not practical. *BIG EYE ROLL*. I was floored to see my little one bring in the boquet. It was so thoughtful, even more so because of the flower prejudice ;-) I took a few pictures so I wouldn't forget. They really are pretty.

An SUO card AND BLOG CANDY!!!!

So, I've been feeling a little guilty that I have been ignoring SU a bit. I have a couple of friends who are not feeling well so I decided to make a get well card for them using Stampin' Up! I got the images from a good friend in Ohio. This is what I came up with.



NOW, I was fortunate enough to be the receiver of some PIF blog candy from Sandy! So, in true PIF tradition, I will be forwarding some yummy candy (yet to be determined) to the first 3 people with BLOGS who comment on this post. You need to have a blog AND be willing to pay it forward! Have a good night all!

ARGHHH!

Ouch! My allergies are really getting the best of me this year. The sad part is I don't know what I am allergic too. I would think it was an allergy to spring, but sinced we had SNOW yesterday, I'm not convinced that spring is here yet. So, I decided to make an April showers card as a tribute to the spring that isn't :-) The braid is retired SU! Organdy ribbon. The image is popped up on dimensionals and the rain drops have icicle stickles. The background is SU! Pretty Petals (very springy) and the colors are Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. Big thanks to AJITZI for the PIF'd image. LOVIN' these Precious Moments. Wish I had the money to buy some of my own... but until then, I have good friends that are willing to share :-)


Did you notice??? I figured out how to create a watermark of sorts, thanks to SCS.. Really, what would I do without that site?!

Arte Y Pico Award

Wow, Can I just say... I am awed! My friend Sandy(Swap4Fun on SCS) just awarded me the Arte Y Pico award. Sandy is so talented. You should definitely get over to her blog and check out her awesome work!! I am also in great company of some other blogs that have received this award!

Now, the rules of the award are:

1. Pick 5 blogs that I consider deserve the award for creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte Y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

Tania - Poekietoe's Corner -- I was introduced to this blog through SCS. I really love all her projects!

Amanda - Inkspirations -- Amanda has some amazing creativity. Her cards are beautiful and she has recipes as well!! Definitely worth going to visit!!!!

Bensarmom - Trusting in the Lord for all Things -- You just have to go visit this blog for some great inspiration.

Cambria - Stamp a little Love Baby! -- While I feel almost certain that this blog has probably received this award, it is definitely worth it. I LOVE visiting Cambria's blog!!

Pam - Pam's Pride -- You just have to see what this lady can accomplish. She not only papercrafts, she also sews the most beautiful clothes and makes awesome kid's jewelry! Make sure you stop by!!

Don't forget about the candy offer below!!!!

Hi! I was at a demo meeting yesterday and was so impressed by the awesome cards they came up with for Make-n-Takes and swaps! I'll have to take pics to share!

I have a couple of blogs that y'all really need to visit this week.

1.) Pam is offering some YUMMY blog candy, including a handstiched bag.. it's to die for... run enter. While you're there, check out her Etsy site for the awesome kids jewelry and bows she has!

2.) You HAVE to check out Kim's blog candy. It's a great prize, but even better, it supports an awesome cause! Kim is offering one entry in her blog giveaway for every 10 Christmas cards that are submitted for Cards for Heroes. Cards for Heroes is an organization that sends cards overseas to the military personnel. Some are cards for the soldiers/airmen themselves and many are cards that these brave people can send back to their families. Check out Impress Yourself for all the details.

New Stamps!

I've been neglecting already? This isn't good. Last night I started working on my swap cards for next Tuesday. I have to do full card - invitations. I was looking through SCS and saw the tutorial for Double Pocket Cards -- (under the Monday challenges). I thought that was perfect!!! I made all the bases last night (don't have pics yet). Just wait till you see. They are soooo cute!

Does everyone know about GinaK's new release on Sunday? I was just over on her blog and she has the sneak peek for the One Free with Three stamp set! IT IS PERFECT for when you don't really know what to say! You just have to check it out! The story behind the stamp set is great too! Way to go Erin!!!!!