Last year I was in a mad dash to find something to give to my husband's partner teachers for teacher appreciating week. I was down to the wire and had NO thoughts whatsoever, so I decided to take a spin around Staples in hopes of some creativity jumping right off the shelves into my basket. And it did, in the form of these tiny clipboards. I spraypainted them white and used Mod Podge to adhere the papers (and to add a shiny finish) then attached the notepads and wrapped them up. Definitely a keeper idea!
Friday, May 6, 2011
teacher appreciation gift
ETA: Turns out I gave these to G's preschool teachers, not Kev's co-workers. I'm mentioning it because later I'll want to remake these and make sure I didn't send them to the same people again. :)
Last year I was in a mad dash to find something to give to my husband's partner teachers for teacher appreciating week. I was down to the wire and had NO thoughts whatsoever, so I decided to take a spin around Staples in hopes of some creativity jumping right off the shelves into my basket. And it did, in the form of these tiny clipboards. I spraypainted them white and used Mod Podge to adhere the papers (and to add a shiny finish) then attached the notepads and wrapped them up. Definitely a keeper idea!
Last year I was in a mad dash to find something to give to my husband's partner teachers for teacher appreciating week. I was down to the wire and had NO thoughts whatsoever, so I decided to take a spin around Staples in hopes of some creativity jumping right off the shelves into my basket. And it did, in the form of these tiny clipboards. I spraypainted them white and used Mod Podge to adhere the papers (and to add a shiny finish) then attached the notepads and wrapped them up. Definitely a keeper idea!
cards
Here are some random cards I've done over the years, too. The ducky card was really early on, and makes me laugh to look at it now because it's so basic. Live and learn, I guess! This first one was a card set I made for my husband's partner teachers for Christmas one year. Each set had 8 coordinating cards with envelopes and a holder to keep it all together. They were a hit!
Yes, this last one was a card -- printed on 5x5 photo paper and sent to all our friends and family as a thank-you card for my son's 2nd birthday. It was also my first digital layout ever . . . a two-fer!
Yes, this last one was a card -- printed on 5x5 photo paper and sent to all our friends and family as a thank-you card for my son's 2nd birthday. It was also my first digital layout ever . . . a two-fer!layout unload
Today I was going through some old files on my computer and found these layouts. They're from all different times and I had been meaning to post them on here as they were finished but the best laid plans, etc. . . 
I don't scrap in chrono order because I am totally moved to action by inspiration, not planning. I don't like to have to finish up a set of photos just to get to the ones I really want to scrap right now. I'd rather scrap a page I'm excited about right this minute and then put them in the albums in order.
I don't scrap in chrono order because I am totally moved to action by inspiration, not planning. I don't like to have to finish up a set of photos just to get to the ones I really want to scrap right now. I'd rather scrap a page I'm excited about right this minute and then put them in the albums in order.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
a baby shower
Recently my mom and I had the pleasure of throwing a baby shower for our close friend Valerie. She was expecting her 3rd little boy (who has since arrived safe and sound, and adorable!!!) and she had most everything she really needed for the baby but I personally believe that every baby deserves a shower, no matter how many siblings he or she has, so we themed our party around restocking her diaper bag. They had no idea what to name this little guy, and no big plans for decorating his room, but Valerie wanted teal and green incorporated somehow . . . so we ran with it! 
I sewed the flag banners the day before the party using cloth fat quarters and bias tape. We held the party in the back room of our church (since most of the invitees attend there, we wanted a central location that was large enough for everyone . . . and the place was packed!) My mom made the blue and green puffs to hang from the ceiling and we tacked up the banners in different places. 
Valerie also has a deep love for argyle, so the invitations (oops, photo of those to come) were argyle paper diaper bags. And since it was a brunch party, we had fruit and juices and we made muffins and frosted them with cream cheese. The diamonds are blue and green fruit roll ups cut up and the stripes were just more cream cheese dyed with neon food coloring. 
The invitations explained how this was a shower to restock the diaper bad and listed ideas of things to put in it. Mom and I picked out a diaper bag set for her and were able to find it in her colors . . . score!
We were really happy with how the shower turned out! And I love the colors . . . I dreamed in teal and green for weeks afterwards!
I sewed the flag banners the day before the party using cloth fat quarters and bias tape. We held the party in the back room of our church (since most of the invitees attend there, we wanted a central location that was large enough for everyone . . . and the place was packed!) My mom made the blue and green puffs to hang from the ceiling and we tacked up the banners in different places. Valerie also has a deep love for argyle, so the invitations (oops, photo of those to come) were argyle paper diaper bags. And since it was a brunch party, we had fruit and juices and we made muffins and frosted them with cream cheese. The diamonds are blue and green fruit roll ups cut up and the stripes were just more cream cheese dyed with neon food coloring. 
The invitations explained how this was a shower to restock the diaper bad and listed ideas of things to put in it. Mom and I picked out a diaper bag set for her and were able to find it in her colors . . . score! 
We were really happy with how the shower turned out! And I love the colors . . . I dreamed in teal and green for weeks afterwards!I really wanted to do a blanket for her that fit with her argyle-ness and that was in the teal and green, but I couldn't find anything online in the way of a pattern. There were TONS of purchase-able argyle things online, but none in the colors I wanted and none in crochet. I looked for fabric that might work for a rag quilt or a tag blanket but there was NOTHING good enough. So I took matters into my own hands and came up with my own:
I crocheted the squares in the colors and in brown for a background, then set to work on making the half-squares to fill in the edges. Funny thing . . . half-squares are really just triangles (yes, I sucked at geometry) but crocheting them isn't as easy as it sounds. I tore out quite a few attempts before I got one that looked right. Perserverance, right? Finally the whole thing was done and I did a simple border to finish it off:
I love that the border looks like the bottom of an argyle sweater -- total accident! I think I'll write up what I did in pattern form and list it in my Etsy store . . . I can't be the only one out there who wanted to crochet an argyle blanket.
I crocheted the squares in the colors and in brown for a background, then set to work on making the half-squares to fill in the edges. Funny thing . . . half-squares are really just triangles (yes, I sucked at geometry) but crocheting them isn't as easy as it sounds. I tore out quite a few attempts before I got one that looked right. Perserverance, right? Finally the whole thing was done and I did a simple border to finish it off: 
I love that the border looks like the bottom of an argyle sweater -- total accident! I think I'll write up what I did in pattern form and list it in my Etsy store . . . I can't be the only one out there who wanted to crochet an argyle blanket.Anyway, Valerie loved the blanket and took it to the hospital with her . . . and I got a txt picture of him wrapped up in it, which is the part of making blankets that I LOVE!
betcha this doesn't make you as happy as it makes me
I love yarn. And a pile like this makes me happy. I'm in the middle of transforming it into something fantastic. Photos coming soon . . . . . Friday, April 8, 2011
new stuff in the Etsy shop!
New to my Etsy shop........ta DAHHHHHH! Boo Boo Birds and Ouchee Owls! They are hot/cold packs, made of felt and fabric and filled with flax seed. 
Lots of colors/patterns to choose from.....come by and check them out! You can use the link to the right or come to www.etsy.com/shop/spicytuesday?ref=pr_shop .Thanks for looking!
Monday, March 21, 2011
ruby's blanket, etc.
Some close friends from church had a little girl about 4 weeks ago and I got this little set finished just in time for her shower! They picked gray and white for her room, with small orange birds accenting so I came up with this giant granny (goodness, I hate that they are called Granny Squares. There's got to be a better name out there...) and added the tiny flowers for a splash of color. 
I also included a tiny hat for her. When I get to shoot newborns (in my photography business) I so love it when the parents bring tiny crocheted hats . . . they add so much fabulous texture compared to the smoothness of new-baby skin! 
And since the mom loves orange as much as I do, I threw in a few stripes just for her!
And of course, a tiny orange bird to hang on her door handle. . .
And when she arrived her parents took a photo of her all wrapped up in the blanket and sent it to me . . . cuddly and huggable! That's my favorite part!
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