Lori's Baby Shower

My sister had been thinking of a baby shower ever since she got married (three years ago). Since she didn't exactly get the wedding she wanted (due to some cultural customs and superstitions on behalf of her in-laws), the baby shower was going to be big.

The guest list was about 80 people. I'd say that's pretty big.

Their wedding was pretty small (it started out as family only, and then eventually got bumped up to include some close friends), so for the baby shower, my sister wanted to invite everyone she couldn't invite to the wedding. It started off being simple... and then escalated into quite an ordeal! I will spare the details of the "OMG what is going on?" parts of the baby shower, and focus on the invitations at this point. Because I'd like to leave some events of that day locked back into that day.

I started doing some invite mock-ups for my sister in November and after some back and forth, we ended up combining various elements to form this:

My sister is all into the pinks,  browns and polka dots (good thing she was having a girl!) so after finally getting confirmation of the location of the event (it was supposed to be at their house, but in the end, it was held across the street at the church/school where my brother-in-law's nephews all attend, which ended up being much easier...!), 45 invitations had to be created and sent off by the end of the week. We went with a chocolate brown folder with a scalloped edge on the front and a pink with white polka-dots ribbon to break up the flatness of the brown... and adorned with a cute little silver charm with baby feet stamped into it (bought at Michael's). Adorable!

The invitation itself was printed onto white cardstock (actually I used sheets of Bristol paper) where I created various sized (and shades of pink) polka dots for the background. And then... more scalloped edges. And then the white sheet was double-sided taped onto a brown backing (same paper as the folder). I also made a smaller version to accompany the invite stating where they were registered. Yes, the phone number is blurred out, for their privacy.

The invitation and folder fit into an A6 envelope. Or maybe it was A7. Something like that.

And then for Thank You cards, I used some leftover pink wedding paper from Sherri's wedding, and cut into small 4-bar sized cards. And more scalloping. You'd think I'd be tired of scalloping with a pair of scissors. But I just couldn't help it. 

On it, I taped a piece of brown ribbon (from Michael's 3 for $1.00 sale) and with a Fiskar's "seal" punch, punched out little flowers from leftover brown paper. I found a random pack of old diskette labels in my drawer (yes, DISKETTES), and assuming I will never have use for them ever again, printed little "Thank You" on the same pink polka dot motif from the invites onto the diskette labels, and punched them out using a 1" circle punch. Then I peeled back the handy dandy sticky-backs and taped them onto the brown "flowers", and double-sided taped them all to the card.

After making around 80 or so of these cards, I then realized I should have made them as folded cards so my sister could write on the inside instead of the front. Oh well. She got free cards, couldn't argue with that!

*Apologies for the lighting in the photos... I do most of my work at night at my computer desk where my only source of light is this 10-year old desk lamp.

Birthday Magnets

Back in February, we celebrated Olivia's birthday. Every year for Christmas and for her birthday, it's always such a struggle to find a gift for Olivia. The girl pretty much already has what she wants (or so it appears that way to me). So for awhile, my only option was gift cards. I know she likes the gift cards because she will use them. But after seeing Olivia receive so many great personalized gifts (she absolutely adores her family) and after partaking in a scrapbooking party at her house (where the goal was to sort through her 1000+ wedding photos from 3 years prior)... it was time I attempted to join the "personalized" bandwagon.

With some tips from Candice, my work neighbor crafter, and a quick visit to Michael's, I attempted my first round of personalized magnets. For Olivia, how more personalized can I get than use her family photos and pictures of her baby boy (yes, I admit it... I swiped some images from her family photographer's site and some more photos from her facebook page despite the possibility of there being the words "copyright" somewhere on the page... but I have good intentions!).

Not too shabby, in my opinion! I was actually surprised at how super easy it was, and how decent it came out, without prior knowledge of how to assemble them. For the images, I scaled them down (after attempting to remove the words "proof" from some of them :/ ) to sizes of about 1-1/2" in diameter and printed them out from my "free with purchase of a computer" printer. I should have printed them with actual photo paper, as the glass marbles really emphasized the inkjet printing. 

I bought two sizes of clear flat-backed marbles: one that is about 1/2" diameter and one that is about 1-1/2" diameter. With a clear super bonding glue (bought at Michael's), I squeezed a small amount onto the flat back of the 1-1/2" glass marbles and then pressed it onto the individual images until the glue oozed its' way in between all surfaces where the marble touches the image. I then took an exacto and cut the image around the marble to fit and set aside to dry for 1 day. I then used the coil of magnetic tape (bought at Joann's) and cut pieces to fit the back of the 1-1/2" marbles: the magnetic tape is perfect because it is already sticky-backed.

I then searched online for various black and white damask prints, and used them as a background for the smaller 1/2" marbles, which I also printed in green each letter of their last name per marble (with each marble having a different damask print background). Like the photo magnets, I glued the marbles to the print, cut around  it and set it to dry. For these smaller ones, I used the small round super magnets (bought at Michael's) as it was pretty similar in size. As these are not sticky-backed, I had to use (the same) glue to glue the magnets to the back of the prints.

To package, I found a simple silver pencil case holder at a nearby stationary store that was the perfect size (it was a two-sided pencil case holder, so held all of my magnets).

I hope she likes it. I know I do! And just an FYI... clear your refrigerators everyone! Personalized magnets are accompanying your birthday cards!

...and anniversary cards and Christmas cards and Halloween cards and Happy Independence Day cards and...

Too much Valentine?

So the hubster and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. And it's not because "everyday is Valentine's Day!" -- seriously, gag. If/when I celebrate Valentine's Day, it's not to share it with that special someONE, it's to let my friends know that they mean a lot to me. 

And it also coincidentally coincides with the hubster's birthday. Well, his birthday falls just a couple of days prior, but that's close enough. And this year in particular, the 14th was shared with Lunar New Year (of which I am fully aware of and alert to, yet not a big participant of). So with both the birthday (and birthday party on the 13th), and Lunar New Year (and all the preparation, celebration and traffic jams around my neighborhood), Valentine's Day was kind of forgotten. 

Until I went to Party City to pick up some of those little fuel canisters for the chaffing dishes. The moment I stepped into the store, I wanted to turn and run. Is there such thing as "too much Valentine"?

Photo doesn't quite do it justice - it was a SEA of red and hearts. Good thing the balloons were all mylar or else I would have needed a medic.

Last minute holiday attempt.

So last minute, it came and went!

Every year I tell myself, I'm going to be on top of things this year! and proceed to purchase my Christmas cards... in August.  And then I tell myself, Oh, there's plenty of time until Christmas! I'm doing good. And like every year before (and probably every year after)... Christmas comes and goes, and the box of Christmas cards is still sitting there. Well, somewhere.  So this year, I didn't even make an effort to buy cards. But what do I do? I decided I'd make them. Yes, because that is even less cause for procrastination? 

But you know, I actually did do it. Well, some anyway. I made precisely enough to hand out at work... and never got around to making more. I'll make them as 'Thank You' cards then, I fooled myself. Yes, another thought, blown away.

But while they were still here:

 

I started off with red cardstock paper in 4-bar size (since I had just purchased some gold 4-bar envelopes at Paper Source's super clearance) and surprise surprise, I scalloped the bottom edge. Then I looked around for something and pulled out two ribbons: a thin green ribbon, which I double-sided taped onto a slightly thicker brown fringed ribbon. And then topped off with two beige flower cutouts I had leftover from a bridal shower over 2 years ago (like a reverse poinsettia flower, I convinced myself). And then I found a little tiny Christmas tree embosser thing I bought years and years ago from Michael's dollar bins, which I used on the back flap of the envelopes. 

Sorry I never got around to making more and actually sending them out. But I thought about it the whole time!

Snips n snails, and puppy dog tails

About two and a half weeks ago, the hubster received a text from his former co-worker that his wife (the former co-worker, not my hubster) was going into labor, and that he would text again once the baby was born.

Not hearing anything all day, we finally received word that she had to undergo an emergency cesarean and thus... little Baby Evan was welcomed into the world! Wanting to be prompt in sending our congratulations (as I'm usually such a procrastinator), I sat down at my desk and rifled through my bookcase looking for appropriate items. They were mostly scraps and I had to make do:

The brown textured paper were leftover scraps from my sister's baby shower invites (more on that later), which I cut and folded in half to a 4-bar size. I found a scrap of the giant polka dot paper about an inch wide, and a sheet of corresponding dog-related scrapbook paper that came from Target's $1 section. I covered the paper edge with some teal ribbon I picked up during Michael's ribbon sale some time ago, and at the ribbon intersection, added a little footprint charm which I also had leftover from my sister's baby shower. I love those charms! And then... what for the largest area? *shrugs* So I just starting typing... and then printed onto a cream sheet of paper (leftover from a friend's wedding program), and, who'd have guessed I'd scallop again after all the scalloping done for my sister's baby shower?

And then I realized how late it was, and the card would have to be "good enough".

Hannibal Jasper

My first art entry won't be on one of my own, but of baby Jasper's.

I woke up the other morning and the curtain was partially drawn back, allowing just a bit of light to enter our bedroom. It was overcast and I could hear the raindrops falling. I stepped onto the carpet, and saw a trail of stuff. I wasn't sure what it all was, it looked like "stuff" - bits of random scraps and whatnot. I walked around the bed and saw a bigger beige-colored blob on the floor. I stared at it, unsure of what to do (I was still partially asleep and was therefore, not entirely coherent). I touched it with my foot. It was soft. I looked over to Jasper, our 10-month old German Shepherd, snoozing away against the door. I flipped the soft beige blob over with my foot, and stared again. 

Wait, I thought to myself. That looks... like... a smile...??? And then it dawned on me. I looked at Jasper again, and spotted a teddy bear (which I clearly do not remember ever giving to him, much less remember having it) by his front paw. I flipped the teddy bear over and... *gasp*!!!

It looked like a brand new teddy bear, except, there was no face. Our little baby Hannibal Jasper ripped it clear off. And left everything else. Including the bow.