Head Start on Stocking Stuffers....

Owl Pillow Family Tree

So, if you read my family blog, you might be familiar with my sweetess nephew Jude who was adopted into our family by my sister and her husband when he was born a little over a year ago. The process was recently made official through the courts, and I wanted to make him a little something special to commemorate the day. So here's what I came up with... an Owl Pillow...

...with a book flap on the back featuring his family tree. I thought it would be a fun gift to give any new mom, something that a child can keep as a memory and keepsake as they grow up.

To make this, I simply drew a sketch on a piece of tissue paper to create a pattern for myself. Then I used pellon to back my pieces, cut them out, and stitched them on. I stuffed it with batting and finished it with a top stitch. I used pinking sheers around the edges so that I didn't have to be so accurate- my favorite way to sew!

Pinwheel Decorations

Recently we had a baby shower for my sister in law and we decided to do something different than flowers for the center pieces, so we went with pinwheels. Now because we had to make so many, we came up with a quick and efficient way to make them, they were just for looks so unfortunately they didn't spin, they just sat pretty!

Quick Directions on how to make Decorative Pinwheels:

Depending on the size pinwheels you want, cut perfect squares out of decorative paper. NOTE: both sides will show, so use a paper that is decorative on both sides, solid, or at least solid white on the back. I made 3 sizes shown above in the pictures:

• X-Large Pinwheels: 8 x 8 inches
• Large Pinwheels: 7x7 "
• Medium Pinwheels: 5 x 5 "
• Small Pinwheels: 4 x 4 "

First cut out your perfect square, then cut in a line from each one of the corners to the center of the square, stopping about an inch or two from the center. A paper cutter works great for this and made it go really quickly.

Next, put a dime size hot glue in the very center of the square and pull in one side of each corner (practice before your put the glue down.)

Hold it there with your finger for a minute until it dries.

Add a button or brad to give it a finished look. With a glue gun, attach a straw, skewer, or dowel to the back of the pinwheel. We were actually able to attach our straws to the inside of one of the loops of the pinwheels so that the back of them looked more finished.

If you use straws, you can stick one inside the other to give it more length and you can also cut them to different heights very easily so that you can display them at your liking!

*** We also filled our vases with candy for the center pieces, the ones in the pictures have the following candies (which we bought inexpensively in bulk from Winco). The candies held the pinwheels in place (and served as a fun snack for guests!):

• lemon drops
• bubble gum balls
• double bubble
• cinnamon disks
• orange slices
• mini and large marshmallows
• colored, wrapped swirly balls
• giant gumdrops

.....We stayed clear of anything that would melt in the sun!...

Table Top Centerpiece...

Here's a really easy craft- it would be perfect to do with a bunch of girls on a craft night because the supplies are minimal and the prep is pretty simple. All you need is a 2 x 4 and access to a table saw. I had my father-in-law cut these for me in 4", 5", and 6" blocks. I pre-marked them with a pencil, and he cut the whole 2 x 4 in just a few minutes. After that, I gave a quick sand to the ends to get rid of any sharp edges, then painted the blocks and wrote the letters. I originally saw them in a boutique downtown (they were pink and green with yellow letters and said "SPRING") I couldn't resist the chance of making a set of my own. You could get really creative with the season, sayings, or even use names on them for a kids bedroom. Use glitter or ribbon or whatever other embellishments you want and display them on any table or buffet for your next gathering!

Crawling on in.....

Here's another set of canvases I made for someone who chose this bedding, it's darling with all it's boyish bugs and snails, turtles and frogs. I chose 3 of the characters from the bedding and made canvases to go along... a rolly polly bug, a cruisin' caterpillar, and a pokey little turtle! I wish the pictures were in better detail, the different textures of the fabrics (corduroy, terri-cloth, and chenille) really made them stand off the canvas, as well as the hand stitched swirls on the turtle's shell!

These served as the back drop for the shower, as well as the gift from the hostesses! Hope the Mama-to-be liked them!!!!

Cookie Lollipop Favors...

So here's a fun idea for a party favor for your next bash... Cookie Shaped Lollipops! They are super simple to make and are a cute and personal touch for your guests. For the recipe that I used check out "Cocky Chocolate Chip Cookies"- you can use any recipe that makes fluffy or thick cookies (so that you're lollipop stick can be held in the cookie).

You will need:

Lollipop sticks (Michael's candy making section)

Small baggies (also sold at Michael's in the same isle)

Ribbon

Cookie Ingredients

** Optional: Tags or a sign "Thanks for POPPING by!"

Bake your cookies and as soon as they come out, stick your lollipop sticks in the center of the cookies and let them cool. Then with a spatula, slide them off and into a bag, tying them with fun ribbon combinations!

A touch of cuteness to a plain bib...

Here's an idea to create a little something special and unique for a little one- great for a gift or to tie to the top of the package. It's super simple, so even if you're not a gifted seamstress, you can pull it off- just get creative!

Babies R Us sells packages of plain white bibs (and colored ones too) so you can pick up a package and use your imagination. For this girlie bib, I cut out different sized petals, and two coordinating leaves, tacking them in the center with a matching button (which I hand stitched). Once your flower is assembled, run two stitches (like an X) threw the center of the flower to tack it to the bib. I left my edges frayed, and didn't back it with anything, but if you don't want it to fray you could iron on some pellon to keep it from unraveling.

Happy creating- and if you come up with something cute, email it to me and I will add it to the post!

Trees and more critters...

I actually haven't done a set of canvases in a while, I guess the holidays really did sweep us up!! My sweet friend from college had a request for a set of canvases that match this ADORABLE shower curtain from Target (see below picture), so here's what I came up with. I think they turned out pretty close to the original design, thanks Target for the inspiration! Hope you like them Krissa, they will be on their way to San Diego this weekend!

Christmas Wrapping Tips

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday- so I thought I would share with you some of the favorite things I do in preparation for the holiday. One of my favorite parts of the holiday is wrapping presents. (Yes so much so that I volunteer to wrap other peoples- honestly, I love it- want me to wrap yours??? I am not kidding, drop them off, I'll do it, serious!) We aren't doing many gifts this year, we are trying to give less stuff and give more of ourselves relationally with our time and our talents, but the few things we are giving should look pretty darn cute and festive right??? Here are some holiday gift wrap tips, simple and inexpensive.

1. When buying wrapping paper, try to buy in coordinating rolls so that you can mix and match and create stripes on the packages. This especially comes in hand when you cut the paper too short or need to add a patch on extra large boxes, make it look like you did it on purpose! (In the photo above you can see that I wrapped a box in one sheet and then added a complimentary strip of paper in a coordinating color, and a ribbon on top of that. My husband refers to this as the "racing stripe".)

2. Get creative with your bows! Use left over bows (yes, I recycle ribbon!) and think out of the box- use twine, string (like old fashion packages), non- Christmas colors work as long as they match the paper and don't be afraid to add chatter- you can see a package wrapped in plaid and tied with a polka dot ribbon.

3. If you want to spice up your gift tags but already have the "sticker" kind, simply apply them to a piece of colored card stock and cut out a shape, hole punch, and tie with a cute ribbon. (I cut corners this year and didn't do it- kinda wishing I had- oh well!)

4. And last but not least, have fun! Make yourself some coco and turn on a Christmas flick and get all your supplies out so you don't have to keep getting up. Enjoy it or bring it on over and I'll help you out!

Framed Fabric...

So here's an easy way to dress up some walls with fabric and frames! And the best part about it is you don't have to hunt around for that perfect print you won't get sick of. All I did was buy some large black frame that had matting inside, cut a piece of the fabric an inch large than the whole and then taped it on the back- you could use masking tape or blue painters tape. I also added some fake flowers (that I pulled apart and laid flat) and glued a rhinestone in the center of each flower for some added sparkle. These were for a teenage girl and all three were hung right above her bed. And if you get board with them, an inexpensive fix- change out the fabric! Think out of the box- could you use these anywhere you have a bare wall??? use fabric or dishtowels or an old sentimental piece of clothing??? Have fun with it!

Shower Favors...

Here's a inexpensive favor for a shower, these were used for a baby shower and the tag on them says "Thanks for coming to celebrate this little peanut!" I just had friends save their glass baby food jars, I ran them threw the dishwasher and then cut paper to cover the jars. I just used sticky tape to adhere it to the jar and a dot of glue on top for the button. Then, I filled them with "peanut" m & m's! Easy peasy!

Critters in the Tree...

Here's another canvas for my sweet friend Annah, she is having a little boy, Will, due around Christmas! This canvas has so many different creatures; owls, birds and their nest, a worm, a badger, squirrels, and even a snail!

Rollin' In....

Here's the latest canvases that have rolled in, a set of 3 tractors that match the Christopher Construction Bedding from Pottery Barn for Kelee who is due in December. Her little boy is going to have sweet dreams of digging, mixing, and plowing with these hanging over head!

Completed Nursery...

So, my sister just sent me this picture of Joshua Jude's completed nursery with the tree canvas all hung in place, so I thought it would be a fun post to show you all the final product! Didn't it turn out cute??? I love it!!! Thanks for sharing, it's always fun to see the canvases in their element!

Car Seat Blanket...

I just had to post this, I know a lot of people make these, but I LOVED these fabrics from Strawberry Patches, I loved the colors, the prints, the fat ric-rac and the texture of the gray velour- it's so incredibly soft! (I have one for sale if you know of a little boy who is in need of a bold and bright snuggley blanket- for you or a gift- just leave me a comment.)

This was a very special blanket, given to my newest nephew whom I met and feel in love with today, Mr. Joshua Jude Stokes.... covered him in kisses and this blanket!