Brown Paper Packages

"Brown paper packages, tied up with string... these are a few of my favorite things!"

I like to keep a roll of brown craft paper on hand to create my own gift wrap.  I'm sending out some of the baby bibs to a friend who just had a little boy, and I used my Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle with the Baby Tees Wheel to stamp the images onto the paper.  I finished it off with some white satin ribbon.

Stampin' Around Wheels are fun to play with - here's a little video I came across on You Tube that shows how to use them (no idea who this gal is but she's very cute and I love her "wheel" puns!)  

Note that if you're using a wheel for wrapping paper you'll need to use a cartridge and not an ink pad (she demonstrates both).  Also note that the ink cartridges come un-inked, and you need to use an ink-refill (I used chocolate chip) to color them.  If you're interested in picking up some wheels for the first time, drop me a line so I can make sure you have all the stuff you need!  You can order everything you need right on my demonstrator website.

Oh, and I'm thinking I'd like to start trying to flim some short video tutorials - what do you think?  A video tutorial would work great for projects like this wrapping paper - it wouldn't be very clear in step-by-step pictures...

Happy Tuesday!

Baby, baby, BABY!

I'm not sure if it's something in the water, the time of year, or just the time of life most folks my age are entering into but boy are there a lot of babies on their way into the world right now!  Several of my close friends are expecting baby number 2, and many other folks I know are getting ready to welcome their first.  I think between November and April I know of almost ten impending arrivals.  So exciting and so crazy!

I realized this weekend that I needed to step up the baby gift making in order to keep up with all of these folks!  I'm working on a stock of (mostly) gender-neutral congratulations cards (some for now - congrats on being pregnant, and some for later - congrats on the birth) since most friends are not finding out the gender of their babies, and sewing up baby bibs like it's my job!

(I used Stampin' Up!'s "Baby Bundle" stamp set with Chocolate Chip cardstock and accent colored cardstock in Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Pretty in Pink, and Bashful Blue.  I inked around the edge of my white circles in Chocolate Chip ink to add a little texture)

(Baby bibs galore!  A couple of my current faves below - I love the soft green flannel backing with the little animal images!)

I also saw this post over at UCreate, by the amazingly talented Anneliese of Aesthetic Nest.  If you haven't been over to her recently made public blog yet, you MUST!  She makes beautiful things.  Anyhoo, her guest post is a tutorial for the "Luxe Lovey" and it is so lovely.  It just so happens that JoAnn's has a big sale this weekend - and you can bet that I'll be over there stocking up on fabric to try my hand and making some of these.  What a great idea!

What are your favorite gifts to make for baby?  Or if you're a mom yourself, what do you love to receive?

Stamp A Stack - Tomorrow!

It's not too late for my West Michigan friends to get in on the fall stamping action this weekend!  I'm hosting my September stamp a stack on Sunday (tomorrow!) afternoon at 2pm at my home in Grand Rapids.

Make 8 cards for $10, 12 cards for $15 or 16 cards for $20.  If you bring a friend who's never stamped with me before - you both get half off the class fee!
We're using the Trendy Trees stamp set with the polka do embossing folder, new taffeta ribbon, and funky forest Stampin' Around wheel.  It's going to be a lot of fun!

Simply drop me a note at joanneroehm@yahoo.com to RSVP for Sunday's class!  Happy Stamping!

Summer in Review: What my blog friends have been up to!

If you didn't catch my "Summer in Review:  Ready, Set, Craft!" post be sure to check it out here, I took a little look back at the crafty things I accomplished this summer - which turned out to be a lot more than I realized!  Now that summer is over I'm getting back into the swing of all things blog-related, and catching up with all my blog friends and seeing what they've been up to.

I've said it once, and I will say it again, I am constantly inspired by all of the crafty women I've met through blogging - it's hands down been the best part of thie experience.  Check out what some of my favorite crafty bloggers (and friends!) have been up to this summer - you'll be inspired too!

angelina la dawn tomato is special to me because she was a real life friend before she was a blog friend.  Now that she lives states away from me - her blog is a great way for me to keep up with her - plus she has such wonderful taste and is always sharing innovative and creative projects.  Check out her Fabric covered button earrings...

and this is how she decorated her living room wall - she created Contact paper wallpaper!  Amazing!

And I know I've featured this Recovered chair before - but I just love the colors and patterns she chose!

Sarah over at Auburn Street and I met through blogging and our mutual friend (above!) and even managed to get a puppy playdate in for our pups while she lived here in Grand Rapids.  This summer she packed up and moved to Chicago - what an exciting place to be!  Before she left though, I was excited to stop in and support her at her first craft show here in town, Bizzarre Bazaar.  She makes the most wonderfully repurposed envelopes and stationary...

She's in the midst of getting her apartment set up, and improvsed this Chalkboard calendar.  So clever!

Gabrielle at i craft at Bee Wise Bags is such an inspiration to me as a crafter and businesswoman.  I'm amazed at how much she juggles!  I just love these fabric Hair clips...

and she spent a lot of summer getting her garden ready for a Garden tour - and boy did it look spectacular!

Lollychops has been a favorite crafty blogger of mine since I first discovered the world of blogging.  Her projects are always so detailed and thought out, and so well done.  I'm absolutely in love with these Necklaces she's been making lately...

and check out this Messenger bag using stencils.  Sooooo pretty!

Abby over at Steinway Street was also a real friend before we started blogging - she and I spent a summer together at Interlochen Arts Camp back in high school - where we were the coolest campers, ever!  It's true!  I know I posted her Coffee filter wreath from the beginning of summer before, but I just love it!

I about died when I saw these Rock monsters!  They are so ridiculously cute!  Take a peak at Abby's post about them to see what she ended up doing with them - so cool!

My favorite knitter Marie has had a busy (and stressful!) summer, but I always love checking in with her over at Permission to Unwind.  She always shares such beautiful photos of the projects she's working on.  I wish I had half the knitting talent and mojo that she has!

Jane at Maiden Jane is my go to blogger for all things sewing related.  I just love all of her totes - she and her daughter are so creative and talented.  Check out this Placemat bag for example...

and you know I love her Oversized beach totes.  This polka dotted one is so fun!

My Cupkins cohort Meg at MegaCrafty has been busy as well.  I was absolutely amazed by her glass etching projects this summer.  Check out this Etched glass vase/candle holder.  So beautiful!

And she had a wonderful to make a "Scrapbox" for her husband - a runner - to commerarate all of his races.  It was such a neat idea - I love the way it turned out.  What a great gift!

Oh, and if you haven't been over to her Halloween blog, MegaSpooky, yet - you must.  Meg is crazy for Halloween and has amazing ideas, decorations and projects.  Head over there to get inspired!

So tell me - what have YOU been up to this summer?  Leave a link to your favorite project!  Happy Friday!

Summer in Review: Ready, Set, Craft!

I haven't been quite as crafty as I would have liked to have been this summer - but I am letting it slide since I spent plenty of time outside, enjoying friends and family in the beautiful weather, and wrapping up another semester of graduate school work, too.

In case you missed anything, here's a little recap of my crafty pursuits and projects from the summer months...

Cupcakes... Chocolate banana Father's Day cupcakes, Red, White and Blue July 4th cupcakes, Pina Colada cupcakes, and S'Mores cupcakes.

Articles at Babble.com... Father's Day, July 4th, and Back to School crafts...

Baby Bunnies, a la Martha Stewart Living...

Super soft baby bibs...

Favors for baby showers and weddings...

Stamped card sets galore...

Growing tomatoes for the first time...

Patriotic Pillowcase dress  and Bandana Picnic Blanket a la Aesthetic Nest...

and Get Better Boxes for dearly loved little ones...

You know - now that I look back - maybe I had a craftier summer than I thought!  To find out more about these projects (and many others!) head to the June, July, and August archives over here ------------------>

to check them out!

I'll be back tomorrow with a summer recap from my friends!  That's right, I'm finally catching up on visiting all of my dear blog friends' blogs and will be posting with highlights from THEIR crafty summers for you to check out!  You don't want to miss this!