Liam Van

This post is a little belated...can't believe this project is nearly 2 weeks old. So, this little guy & an out of state move have been keeping me pretty busy. I may post a few things here and there, but for the most part, all of my creative tools are packed away in storage until the end of May. And that's okay...cause I just want to love on him all day long.

Airplane Art Binder

Or church art binder. Or doctor's appointment art binder. Or road trip art binder. Why limit ourselves!? How about just, "Art Binder." You can find the tutorial here.

I finally get to take something off of my "to do list" on the side bar. I let Kai pick out the fabrics & though there are a few things I would do better next time (don't look closely at my binding!!), he's 5 and will love it.

 

Thanks HEBuddy for the free twistable crayons!

 

Now to make one for T. Without skulls and flames.

Hand Towels

I hit target clearance when these dish towels were 50% off. Then found more at 75% off & go the price adjustment. This will be my new birthday gift for the year (I sort of bought a bunch). Inspired by this. Though, I made a tube & turned the fabric, otherwise, the ruffle is the same. I was going to do two ruffles, but I think one keeps it nice and simple. I've got a lot more to make!!!

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Inspired by this and used the tutorial from here. Darn, I wish that this Valentine wasn't all over blog world this year! Hopefully, Texas moms are not quite craft-blog followers. We found the idea last year, so this is Kai's second year of this Valentine...it won't be his last!

Shrinky Dinks

So Friday was a snow day...minus snow. I didn't have anything planned, but knew I needed to kill time somehow (not like you really want to go to the zoo on a snow day). So we spent some time doing crafts--we made bouncy balls (out of a kit--could never replicate without), and shrinky dinks. Shrinky dinks were the biggest hit of all.

 

This little guy loved them. And yes, he's in his ninja outfit. Our biggest bargaining chip has now become shrinky dink time.

 

Cinderella loved them too.

 

My kids have gotten much better at the whole coloring concept. I've always been one to "let them color as they will" with a blank sheet of paper. But, since Kai has been in Kindergarten, he's learned about coloring in the lines & it's quite impressive. T is following suit. I was SO impressed with her little flower!

If you want to make some of your own out of recycled plastic, you can see a tutorial here. We found our kit on clearance at Target, but if they don't have more paper at Hobby Lobby, I'm going Green (actually, I have some #6 plastic ready to try out, whether or not they have more shrinky dink paper at hobby lobby!).

An I Spy Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Well...I didn't actually intend to post this. But, since google reader doesn't give you ANY room for error, why delete it! So here you go :) I did something! A little Eye Spy Book. Not sure if I'm totally done or not. I got the idea from here. Thought it might be fun for little ones!

The Quilt

Ever have a present that you wanted to keep for yourself? This was mine. After it was pieced, quilted, washed and dried, I wasn't sure I could part with it. But it was less than a week before we were leaving for my parents and what else would I get them? So gift it, I did.

 

Here's the front. It was supposed to be this quilt. But I switched it up a bit. I used an old bundle of fat quarters that I got on clearance. I love them. But that was also part of the reason I hated to give it away...it's not like I can go out and buy more fabric to replicate this quilt! It's a one of a kind for sure.

 

Thanks to my friend Diana, who JUST started quilting (crazy mad woman made 3 quilts in about a month!), I had to add a cute strip to the back. Extra work, but I love it!

 

It got plenty of use this trip. Especially because it was winter. And we got snowed in. And lost power. It really was fun, but I sure was grateful for any extra blankets :)

And I still think it would look awefully nice in my house.

Oops

I forgot to post this. Guess I was enjoying whisking my kids off for a surprise ski trip & failed to click post. But here it is anyway, albeit 2 weeks late!

Merry Christmas!

 

Love designing my own holiday cards. Love Vistaprint sales. Love how cute my little girl's flower girl dress turned out. And LOVE this picture of my darling kiddos. Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Scrapbook Paper Ball Ornament

 

I'm actually surprised that I have "followers" besides my friends and family. But I do. Just a couple, but they are out there :) And I went to one of their blogs the other day & found this on their front page.

Last year at Hobby Lobby, I bought a few glass ornament packs on clearance. Not that they are expensive to start with, but at 90% off, why not? So, I need to now do something with the & this just seemed perfect for me. Next time I'll add some more paper, but I think they turned out super cute. Thanks for the idea!

Luggage Tags

We have some good friends moving to the land down under next week. Our family is so sad, but at the same time, so excited about all of the great adventures they will have! Their girls have been big sisters to my kids & Teagan sometimes even prefers "That Daddy" to her own (and old term...now she just calls him Adam). No offense to Ryan...it's just that Adam is a package deal that includes three fun girls and a dog. What's not to love?!

So, since they're travelling during the holidays, and hopefully doing lots more travelling once they arrive in Australia, I thought I'd make them something to help them out during their trip(s). Luggage Tags!

 

I used the tutorial at Skip to my Lou. I used ribbon instead of fabric...less steps, just as cute.

 

Hopefully, this will make their bags easy to find as they sit waiting at the baggage claim. No lifting huge bags just to find they belong to someone else!

My Mantle

 

Ta da! Here's my finished mantle. I made a total of six stockings...just in case. Four will work splendidly for this year! The two other stockings I had to tuck back into storage before I could take pictures... Teagan was dragging them around the house and stashing things in them. Cute...but I'd like them to be useable for the next 20 years at least?!

I love adding to my Santa collection, or should I say, my mom likes adding to my Santa collection & I'm grateful that she does! One of those is even hand made by a childhood friend's grandma!

Now if only I'd found the motivation last January to make a tree skirt & advent caledar...

Hourglass Stocking

 

There's a tutorial for an hourglass quilt here. I'm pretty sure that's NOT how I did mine, but at least you have something to go by. Since I couldn't clame the Ticker Tape as my own, this one will have to do as "my" stocking.

Scrappy Stocking

 

Inspired by this. This one was chosen by Teagan for Ryan. It actually drives me a bit nuts that the cuff is so like the color scrap right below it, so I might have to switch it out!

Ticker Tape Stocking

 

Inspired by this. The ticker tape quilt MIGHT be one of my favorite designs...or not a design, but you know. This one was Teagan's pick. I was a little jealous, though...I was hoping to save this one for myself!

Zig Zag Stocking

 

Inspired by this. A zig zag quilt was on my to-do list...I think maybe this project will take it off my to-do list for a while. This one was Kai's choice.

Happy Owling

 

I had grand ideas to make these for neighbors and friends. But if you're my neighbor or close-by friend...don't expect one of these on your doorstep. I think I'll max out at the 4 I've already cut! But they sure are cute!

Hmm...and I stuffed mine a bit more than she did. Not sure which one I like better. And mine aren't hanging from a tree yet either. Maybe this weekend?

I am working...I promise

But no pictures to show for it. A family has hired me to help them with their adoption profile, and since that's pretty confidential, well...that's that.

Can I just say what a fun experience this has been?! I really have loved being a part of this & seeing everything come together. They already had great pictures and a sweet letter, but needed a little help in putting it all together. I hope they are pleased when it's all finished. More importantly, I hope they are quickly blessed with the baby they so desire! I feel invested in them now & really hope this helps.

I should wrap this up soon...and then on to finish the quilt.

A finished Quilt...Top

 

My quilt along quilt was supposed to look like this, but I was worried it would be too busy. So now it resembles more of a coin quilt. But I love it just the way it is. And I may never quilt with velvet again.

Happy Halloween

 

From the Monster's Inc crew--Sully & Boo

About 8 years ago, I saw a little boy at the grocery store at Halloween wearing this Sully costume & he was adorable! I knew I had to have one for myself, so when I saw one listed on ebay for not very much, I jumped on it (it was off season of course!). Better yet, when the seller went to mail it, she realized there was a little hole in the horn, so she refunded me the cost of the costume & just had me pay shipping. Gosh...that was really unfortunate because a little thread fixed it up perfectly ;o) Kai couldn't fit into it until now (even though it's a 2-4T Costume!). And even though we purchased an Iron Man costume for him this year, once we pulled this out, it was over. Luckily it was cool enough to wear it too (just barely).

Of course, if I have a Sully, I have to have a Boo!

 

Here's my cute girl as Boo! She was totally on board with being Boo instead of a princess...until the day of our Trunk or Treat. And then she told Ryan (repeatedly) "I DO NOT WANT TO BE BOO." So, since I'd already made the costume, Ryan told her she couldn't get candy if she wasn't Boo...she quickly decided she was more than happy to wear her princess dresses around the house & Boo at our Trunk or Treat.

 

I was going to do a zipper or velcro down the back, but when I watched the movie, I realized the monsters just clipped her shut! So, here you have it...binder clips :)

 

They got lots of attention all night. This little boy went RUNNING up to Sully. So cute. Even a Mom asked if she could "pet" Kai. A little weird, but I guess it was just cause he looks (and was) awfully soft.

Happy Halloween to all of you!

bummer

Did I tell you that Ryan broke my camera lens?  I don't think I did.  And taking pictures with my kit lens is just not as fun.  The good thing about someone else braking your treasured item is that they have to replace it...before Christmas!

Did I tell you that then I broke something of Ryan's?  Only his was more expensive.  So now we're even.  And I'm trying to get some motivation up to take pictures again.  Without my little lens that won't be replaced until Christmas.  Bummer.

Not much going on in the craft world here, but I'll hopefully get something done soon!  I am working on my quilt a long quilt that I started this summer.  I should have the quilt top pieced tomorrow :).  Then I'll have a photo to post.

Oh, and Chloe is finally going home.  Hopefully today!!  The first surgery did not work & they had to redo the process the following Tuesday.  To say I was stressed last week was an understatement.  And I am not even her mother!  She did look adorable in the gowns.

I'm working with the pattern creator to start a non profit together.  I even talked to the cardio Child Life Specialist while I visited Chloe & I'm feeling pretty positive that we may have found our first donation location.  Now, to register for a non-profit & to come up with a name!  Then you can all get to work making gowns & have a tax write off for them too!  Think 2011 :)