Happy Holidays!!!!

Wow! Has it REALLY been since the tenth of NOVEMBER since I have graced you with my presence?!? Perhaps one of my New Years resolutions should be to become better at keeping up with my blog. I mean, honestly, how am I ever going to get the kind of response I want if I don't put in a little A LOT of effort? Sigh. 

As a thank you for sticking with me, even though I haven't been there for you the way I should, I would like to offer a couple of little Christmas Printables. Now, these are really only going to be useful if you are a bit of a wrapping procrastinator like me (does anyone else out there HATE wrapping gifts?!) but, they are cute none the less! Simply print on card stock, punch a hole in the top,and attach to packages with pretty ribbon. I have included "regular" Christmas tags AND some special tags straight from the North Pole. Enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Gift Tags can be downloaded here.

North Pole gift tags can be downloaded here.

The Sweetest Things

Recently, I have had the pleasure of working on some of the SWEETEST custom designs. I love being gifted a glimpse into the lives of others through photos of their darling children. I love it even MORE when these families trust me to stop time, if only for a moment, and make them a memory. Here are a couple snippets of time. Enjoy.

The sweetest little tootsies East of the Mississippi.

The most darling trio of silhouettes.

All Hail to the Power of Pinterest!!!

I've been around, I swear it, I've just been busy with life and, quite honestly, I am CLEARLY not the best blogger in the world! I do want to share with you what has been keeping me busy. Have you heard of Pinterest? If you have, then you already KNOW why I have been a bit MIA, but if you haven't, think long and hard before clicking on the link. It WILL consume you, you WILL lay in bed at night with thoughts of spray paint, shipping pallets and Christmas decor in your head. IT.WILL.CONSUME.YOU!!! Now that I have done my part and warned you, I want to show you that some GOOD can come out of obsessing over what "all of the other DIYers are doing out there". Here are a few of my favorite little Pinterest inspired projects. I will link each title to what inspired the project and then show how my interpretation turned out. Enjoy!

Project No.1 - "Pallet on the Wall" - I would like to point out that everyone (well most people) I mentioned this to thought I was insane for wanting to do this. I got many a wary look and a lot of "are you sure you want to do this?", to which I responded, "Hey, it's free! We aren't out any money and you aren't out any time!" Then I promptly acquired my pallet (thanks to my FIL who works at a pallet company), attached to the wall (in the studs, don't worry) and decorated it all while the boys were napping and the hubs was at work. And, everyone who has seen it thinks it's AWESOME thank.you.very.much!!!

Project No.2 - "Faux Fireplace from Reclaimed Cabinet Doors" - Again, this was scoffed at by the Hubs, who thought it would look "weird". I LOVE it, LOVE it!!! My interpretation is a bit different than the original. I covered the bottom (a shipping pallet) with leather look cloth and my super talented Dad whipped up the mantle top in like 2.7 minutes, but other than that, it's just cabinet doors, an old drawer front, paint and some hardware. And, it was SO CHEAP!!! YAY!! Eventually, I will probably do something with fake logs to fill in some of the empty space, but for now, here it is.

Project No.3 - "Random Seasonal Prints" - Okay, so this didn't take much effort on my part, but I thought I would share the fun. You can find TONS of free seasonal printables online, TONS of them!!! I did change the colors and add the chevron border for these particular prints (I had to make it my own, or it somehow felt like cheating!). My plan is to change out the prints in these frames, as well as the bunting hanging over the "fireplace" each season. I mean now that there are little ones running around the place might was well look festive, right? Oh my Goodness! I almost forgot, I also put some cute family photos in mason jars. Still not sure if I like that, but for now, it stays. :~)

Believe me, there is MORE. See there? I TOLD you I was a bit obsessed!

WOW! Duct tape really CAN do anything!! :)

It's been a long time, but as there is a crying wee one in the other room, I am just going to do a quick picture post. I made this super adorable diaper clutch out of DUCT TAPE today!!! Did you know they make all kinds of really stylish duct tape now?!?! I wish I had been able to find the pink polka dots, or the black and white houndstooth, but alas, the local Wally World did not oblige. This project is super easy to customize and I actually think it would make a pretty cute baby shower gift! Anyway, here is the tutorial and some pics of the finished product! Enjoy!

I added a little detailing to the flap, and also a little chain so that it can attach to the stroller.

Mine holds 4 size 3 diapers and a hard case of travel wipes.

Redecorating, Repurposing and the Cutest Little Feet EVER!!

Sigh...I know, it's been a long time. I'm starting to see that I am not really cut out for the "every day blogger" lifestyle. The days just keep flying by and before I know it, it's been TWO WEEKS since my last post! We've been pretty busy here: painting the bedroom, getting carpet, repurposing old decor into new decor, getting one-year-old photos done, crafting a bit AND the wheels are still turning for all of my NEXT projects (much to the chagrin of my husband). I haven't forgotten you, I HOPE you haven't forgotten me. Here are a couple of pictures of some of what has been keeping me busy. ENJOY!

First, I apologize for the poor picture quality - it really doesn't do the finished product justice. I think I forgot to use the flash and what's that they say about love growing best in small homes? Well, the room is TINY, so I was butted up against the dresser as far as I could go!! Because we were getting carpet, I figured I had better get some painting done so there would be NO WAY I could ruin our new investment! As you can see, the entire room was a camel color before, which made the book page collage blend in to the wall (not to mention it was super blah). I wanted an accent wall and something to make the collage POP. I thought about a nice orange marmalade color, but decided on the marine blue and then just to do orange accents in the room (I will find a place for our wedding silhouette very soon). Notice the lampshades in the "before" picture? I have always hated those boring things so I decided to jazz them up a bit. For the one on the left, I did a ruffled burlap technique (girlie for "my side") and on the right, I simply wrapped the shade in jute, YAY for hot glue!!

 

And here is a little crafty goodness I did JUST.FOR.ME. My sweet boys' footprints, shrunk down to a teeny tiny tootsie size and saved in epoxy for posterity. Close to my heart, even when I am not near them. XOXO

And the Dreams that you DARE to Dream Really Do Come True.....

Some time ago, I made a gift for a friend of mine, but I was unable to share it for fear that she had not yet received it. My Friend is the mother of two precious baby girls, two beautiful sisters.  Tragically, Big Sis arrived too early and her moments on Earth were too few. This summer, Little Sis entered the world and was enveloped by the love of her Sweet Mama, her Proud Papa, her Big Sis and her Aunties around the world. When a new baby is born to a family after the loss of a child, that new baby is often referred to as a "rainbow baby". Here is one of the best explainations of why "rainbow baby" is such an appropriate term:

"In some circles, babies born to families after the loss of a child are referred to as "Rainbow Babies." The idea is that the baby is like a rainbow after a storm. "Rainbow Babies" are the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn't mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope."

After seeing this beautiful definition, I knew I needed to do something with it. So I scoured the interwebs for ideas and came across some lines from the song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". The words were perfect. They were drenched with meaning and with hope. I knew I had to use them.  This one is for My Friend and her perfect daughters. ENJOY!

 

And the Moon up Above and This Thing Called LOVE.

Today's design inspiration is brought to you by my love for my awesome husband, Matthew, and my love for silhouettes (see more of my silhouette designs here). While frequenting one of my favorite sites this morning, I came across an idea for a design made from a picture of a couple, complete with their names and wedding date, which immediately made me CRAVE one of the designs for myself! I thought, "I must try this!" (I imagine kind of the way a sailor yells, LAND HO!). So I began rummaging through our wedding pictures to find the perfect silhouette ready photo. I found it. It was taken just minutes before our ceremony, right before it got a bit too chilly to be outside on that GORGEOUS November day. Matt was smirking at me as I gave him "the pouty face"; I'm somewhat of a master when it comes to this face, topped only by our dear sweet Emmett. The photo captured a sweet yet silly moment and that's exactly what I wanted for our silhouette. If I must say so myself, I think this turned out brilliantly! ENJOY!

PS - If you think this is brilliant too, feel free to order a custom silhouette of your own by clicking on the ETSY link in the right sidebar or by contacting me directly. Sorry for pimping myself here, but this Mama is saving all her "Wordy Bird Monies" for a really cool toy! Again, ENJOY!

The Final Result

The Original Photo

Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the FLOWERS and the Trees...

You may (or may not) have noticed yet another lack of posts over the weekend. Last week, my excuse was the 1st birthday of my sweet boys and this week, the excuse is the birthdays of my dad, brother, and sister-in-law as well as a couples wedding shower for one of the most awesome-est couples I know. Needless to say, we were busy, busy, busy! One of the things that kept me busy was creating a couple of homemade gifts, the first of which was a pair of singed flower shoe clips to dress up the MANY pairs of flats owned by my sister-in-law. These are not really a Wordy Bird Design, in that they don't contain any actual words, BUT they are flowers and I LOVE flowers!!! What goes better with sweet little birds and a cherry tree than some flowers right? Not only are they flowers, but they are flowers for your SHOES!! And as we all know Flowers + Shoes = A Happy Mama!!! ENJOY!

Flower Clips - A Photo Tutorial (Sort Of)

A New Addiction

Confession time: in the clutter that is my mind, there is a special storage space for FONTS! Yes, you heard me correctly, out of all of the important things I could should be using my brain for, I have chosen to keep a little nook, just a small corner, dedicated to my love of fonts. Lately, I have found myself watching commercials, looking at billboards or reading some of my favorite online "news" and wondering, "What IS that font? I MUST have it!" Then the wheels start turning, I start imagining all of the uses for all of the new fonts I simply must add to my collection. My love for the written word has transformed into something dangerous, an addiction. And so it begins, a brand new addiction, healthier than some, but equally time consuming and frustrating when I can't find my "fix".  Here are a few of my favorites. ENJOY!

A Girl Needs Shade on a Day Like This!

Just FYI, it's been 100 degrees with about 400% humidity for right around two weeks. In case you are wondering NO this is not "normal" for our part of the country (the Midwest - in case one of "my four" doesn't know). The heat, along with being trapped inside with ornery CURIOUS one year old boys got me thinking about the outdoors and how much I am currently longing to bask in sunlight without suffering a 3rd degree burn. Which, in turn, got me thinking about one of my favorite activities EVER, a nice sunny stroll through the trees. It's when I am walking with nature that I feel the most at peace, at peace with myself, at peace with the world around me and at peace with my spirituality. There is just something about hearing the trees whisper to each other while feeling the sun kiss my shoulders that let's me KNOW that there is something more, something bigger, something to explain all of this. Those thoughts of peace, stillness and the feeling of cool grass between my toes inspired the following print. ENJOY!

1st Birthday Blowout = No Crafts for Mommy.

How can I start a blog and then just "go missing" for a few days? That's not responsible blogging at all! I am sure my FOUR followers have been completely distraught looking for me, checking constantly for updates, etc etc. HOWEVER, the search can be called off, here I am, and HERE is my explanation. I am a mama to two SUPER adorable twin boys and those fabulous boys turned ONE this weekend! The first year has been quite the wild ride, and making it through, while still maintaining some degree of sanity, called for a celebration!!! It's as simple as that, mama duties ALWAYS trump "crafty fun time". But, because I know you are here searching for something, some little tidbit or window into someone else's world, I will share with you, "my four", the project that kept me up at night this weekend.....THE CAKE!! It started with an idea and a recipe for marshmallow fondant, continued with a GIANT kitchen mess and a Salvidor Dali-esque cake disaster, and ended with one of the most fun experiences ever - proving, that even when things go wrong, they can still end up "righter" than you ever imagined. ENJOY!

Just Wanted to Share This

I just spent a bit of time working on a little "nap time" project. After much fighting with my scanner and photoshop, I think the end result is quite fantastic! ENJOY!

Cute Owen's 4th Month Silhouette

Sweet Emmett's 4 Month Silhouette

Decoupaged Tile - A Tutorial - This is for You Amy!

A wickedly funny , immensely imaginative (how else could you make a belt out of medical supplies?),  yet self-proclaimed "anti-crafter" came to me with a challenge this afternoon; to take one of my most popular Wordy Bird Designs and shrink it down so that it could fit in her pocket, or rather into a 4X4 inch square so as not to add clutter to her mother-in-laws already highly decorated walls. I thought, "wouldn't it be cute to put the picture onto a tile for display?" and the answer of course was a resounding YES! So here, for all the world to see, is my FIRST EVER tutorial. ENJOY!

1) Supplies: Mod Podge,  foam paint brush, tile from the hardware store, Wordy Bird Design (or other photo you like, I suppose) - make sure the photo is printed on photo paper or it will run!
2) Cut photo to fit tile and make sure tile is clean. I cleaned my tile the high tech way, by wiping it on my pants. :~)
3) Pour a small amount of Mod Podge into a container. Do you like my "re-use" of baby food containers?
4) Apply a base coat of Mod Podge to the clean tile, allow to sit and get tacky for about 30 seconds. You will know it's tacky when it starts to wear socks with sandals.
5) Carefully place the photo onto the tile, weight it down with books (or something else) for the length of one The Band Perry song and one Mumford and Sons song.
6) Apply a thin topcoat of Mod Podge, making sure to get the edges.
7) Allow to dry for at least 20 minutes and then apply a top coat.
8) Proudly display (or gift) your new art! 

What's in a Name?

 There is something I adore about hearing a new baby's name for the very first time, the way it rolls off of a new mother's tongue or jumps out of a proud papa's facebook post. Whether it be decided while the child is still rolling and kicking in mama's belly or after the little bundle has taken her first breath, there is just something delicious about adorning a precious little face with a brand new NAME. Whether is has a special meaning or simply a beautiful ring to it, whether it is old or new, whether we become instantly enamored or have to "grow to love it", there is just something about a NAME. So without further ado, I would like to share with you some of the names that are dearest to my heart. ENJOY!

 

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