Bachelorette Party Invitations!

I've held off posting these for as long as I can stand it! I was trying to wait until people received them in the mail - but I couldn't wait any longer! (Note I blurred out the details so Alison couldn't peak when she reads this!)




As you can see, I'm organizing Alison's Bachelorette Party - it's going to be SUCH a great day! I was really pleased with the way these invites turned out.

More crafty fun coming this weekend. Now that I'm done with Mariah's Get Better box - I have a whole host of projects in the works. Stay tuned - and Happy Friday!

Mariah's Surgery

I gave Mariah her Get Better Box this morning and she loved it! It definitely helped alleviate some nerves before she went in for surgery...



I just got word that she is in recovery and that all went well. Thanks to everyone who made something for the Get Better Box, sent well-wishes, or gave me ideas and/or inspiration for projects and gifts to put in it.

This has been such a fun project to work on -- it's always wonderful to make things for others. Here's to Mariah making a speedy recovery! : )

Mariah's Get Better Box FINAL UPDATE - Thanks, Mum!

My wonderful mother made a blouse for Mariah. It's a long tunic she can wear with jeans or over leggings. So cute! The photo really doesn't do it justice at all. She is so talented -- I can't wait to learn how to sew! (note to self: must purchase sewing machine first)


And that was the final piece of Mariah's Get Better Box. Here are some photos (I apologize for the quality, I'm tired and in a hurry - I'm going to work on a light box next week so my photos in general will be much clearer for you all!)

The Get Better Box and all of its contents

Everything packed inside

Packed up and ready to give!

Whaddaya think?!

I've been wanting to spruce up this blog for a little while now, and am proud to unveil its new look to you today! I'm a little bit in love with it. Do you like?

Mariah's Get Better Box Update 6 - Thanks, Alison!

I was going to include with this post a text message dialog between Mariah and I (yes, she text messages!) yesterday evening with Mariah asking me questions and talking about her nerves regarding her upcoming surgery... but I am too tired to type it all out (damn flu!) so you'll have to wait for tomorrow's post for that. It was incredibly cute though - the poor thing is all stressed out.

I'll leave you though with Alison's fantastic submissions to Mariah's Get Better Box - bangles and bookmarks. I love everything, but especially the bangles - I'm going to need to make some of those for myself! : )

Scarf Update

I'm fighting this flu bug with all my might - but it seems to be winning out! :( I'm nowhere near as sick as a lot of folks have been - there are people at work who have been off for days - but I'm just sick enough to feel not right, tired, and achy. Not a great start to the week!

As a result, there's not much new and crafty to report, other than an update on my latest scarf. It's eerily similar to Meg's purple scarf actually - using thick and thin wool and just the basic knit stitch.



I started it as a gift for someone, but the longer I work on it the longer I don't think the colors and style fit this person. Sooo... I'm going to finish this one off for myself (a get better gift for me?) and then knit an entirely new one for a gift.

After that, I swear I'm going to move on from the scarves onto something more interesting...

Mariah's Get Better Box Update 5

I made my final contribution to the Get Better Box this weekend. Three quick cards, blank inside, with envelopes, that Mariah can write in and give to friends (per Alison's suggestion!) I'm looking forward to receiving a few more items in the mail - and then giving the box to Mariah. Her surgery is this Thursday.


I may post again later with more weekend projects, we'll see. I'm home with the flu today - and although I'm trying to work from my home office, I have a feeling I'll end up back in bed shortly. Blah... : (

Mariah's Get Better Box Update 4 - Thanks, Stephanie!

I found the Pandacub Etsy Shop through Futuregirl's blog and just HAD to order Mariah some of her music note hair accessories. They reminded me of all the little hair things I had when I was a child. I received my order in the mail yesterday and they are so darling!



Etsy seller Stephanie was great to work with, and even sent an extra set of ponytail elastics from herself as a get well gift for Mariah. How sweet! Thank you, Stephanie!


So what are you waiting for? Go check out the Pandacub Etsy Shop and place your order today!

Mariah's Get Better Box - Update 3

Friday's are just the best days, aren't they? : )

I made some stickers this afternoon to include in Mariah's Get Better Box. I was inspired by a sticker post earlier this week over at The Swell Life. I felt like a kid making them - it was fun! I can't draw to save my life, but I can doodle with the best of them - and that worked for these. I love how saturated the color is - Sharpies are the best for coloring!


And then... (drumroll, please!) ... I finished Mariah's scarf! My first completed knitting project EVER. I think it's such a fun little scarf - perfect for a young girl. I hope she likes it!



I hope to finish up all of my pieces for Mariah's Get Better Box by the end of the weekend. I've got some more goodies coming from Etsy next week, and contributions coming from both Alison and my Mum as well... : ) Surgery day is Thursday - so I'm thinking of taking the box over on Wednesday, so she can have something to look forward to when she gets home from the hospital.

Happy Weekend!

Mariah's Get Better Box - Update 2

I received one of the items I had ordered from Etsy for Mariah's Get Better Box today.

Etsy seller Delane from It's All About You Too designs jewelry for girls, specializing in pendants made from scrabble tiles like this one. She also has another pendant store for grown-ups, It's All About You.

Check out her Etsy shops today!

Mariah's Get Better Box - Update 1

So I know, I lied about posting last night, but I'm here now - with the aforementioned colorful post!

As I've been assembling items for Mariah's Get Better Box, I thought a lot about what the actual box was going to look like. I couldn't find a direction to take until I was inspired by Lollychops' Butterfly Project post.

So I grabbed a couple of flower punches, a stack of old Martha Stewart Living magazines (they have such beautiful color-centered photo spreads), a photo archival box, and went to work.

Since I wasn't using a frame I glued the flowers flat onto the box, instead of incorporating a 3D element. I figured it had less chance of getting ruined that way.

I finished it off with a healthy layer of glitter mod podge - I mean, we are talking about a pre-teen girl here - glitter is what it's all about!

Here's the finished product...




I'm a little bit in love with the whole project really. If you haven't looked at Lolly's Butterfly Project (link above...) you really must - it's beautiful. I plan on attempting a similar version myself sometime soon, along with a box similar to this one for me as well I think - sans glitter :)

PS) If you're new to the Get Better Box project - check it out! I'm still looking for crafty contributors, and ideas for more home-made items. Feel the homemade love? I sure do!

Help!

This will be a short post, and unfortunately photo-free (boo!) as well. Not to worry though, I promise a fun and colorful post by the end of the night! (I guess I'd better not promise -- but you get the idea!)

I've got a few crafty things on my mind, and need your help!

1) I'm working steadily on my scarf for Mariah's Get Better Box, and hope to have it finished in the next day or so. I've purchased a necklace and some hair accessories from Etsy, I've got the aforementioned scarf, bookmarks, a lovely felt-pin, and a couple of you fine folks are working on some things for the box as well. Time is running out, and I need to get this box well-stuffed by February 25th, but I DON'T want to purchase any new supplies (hubby might kill me!) Therefore, I need ideas for quick and easy handmade items to throw in there - that I can likely make from my existing craft stash - no new matierals required! Any ideas?

2) I really want to spruce up this blog with a sassy header. Something more than text in the header, with some color and fun fonts and maybe even a logo of some description. I have NO IDEA how to do this. Do you?!

3) After my scarf is completed, I'm anxious to start knitting other things. I've got my knit and purl down, and the stockinette stitch is therefore no problem. I'm looking for easy patterns for projects to start on - in particular I'm looking for a baby hat pattern, and really simple purse or tote patterns. I found a baby hat pattern that I liked - but I can't decipher it to save my life (Meg, oh wise knitting one, expect an e-mail in the not too distant future for interpretation!) So I guess I not only need very easy patterns, but also some references on how to read the "codes"...

I'd appreciate feedback on any or all of these! Thanks in advance, my crafty blog friends!

FABULOUS Felt Pins - Thanks, Dot!

Ever since Dot at Dabbled posted her darling felt-pin tutorial last week, I was itching to give it a shot.

While I know next to nothing about felting (yarn and knitting related, something to do with washing it I think? It's on my list to explore...) I used regular store-bought felt. I have a feeling that actual felted yarn would be more dense, and hold its shape better for a project like this.

The first pin I made I did straight off the tutorial, but without the die-cutter (I wish, I wish, I wish I had a die-cutter!) or even pinking shears (why don't I own a pair?!) and using a heart-shaped button in the center:


Then I made a couple of flowers... recognize that color scheme? They may pop up again...


The final pin I made is for Mariah's Get Better Box and it's my favorite:


Quick, easy, and adorable - my favorite kind of project! This one will be used again and again I'm sure. Thanks, Dot!

Mexican Tissue Paper Flowers - The Tutorial!

I made an oversized flower for this tutorial, in hopes that the step-by-step directions are easy to see and understand. I used 8x10 paper here, but used 6x12 for the flowers in my original post.

Measure and cut five sheets of tissue paper (same or different colors.)

Stack them on top of each other.

Fold shortest side of paper (6 inch side) end to end accordian style in approx. 1 inch segments. The finished accordian should measure approx. 1x6inch.

Fold in half so paper stack is now 1x3inch.

Round corners of the non-folded (open) edge.

Cut two triangles diagonally from the folded (closed edge) leaving at least 1/4 inch paper attached in the center.

Open back to original 1x6 folded stack.

Fold a green pipe cleaner in half.

Insert center of tissue paper stack so that the fold in the pipe cleaner overlaps the stack. Twist pipe cleaner to secure.

One side at a time, fan out the paper.

Then *very carefully* separate each layer of tissue, bringing towards the center of the flower.

To make the stem longer, attach another pipe cleaner by twisting it on to the end of the existing one.

Mexican Tissue Paper Flowers

I worked on these paper flowers last night that are serving as inspiration for the Pinata Project.



Then I worked on emulating some of the two dimensional flowers from the original photo...

Here's what I came up with:


I'm thinking I want to completely cover the pinata with tissue flowers, both 2D and 3D, of all different shapes, color combinations, and sizes. What do you think?