I Made a Quilt!

I love quilts. Who doesn't? They are so warm and snuggly and comfy! I have been wanting to make a quilt for awhile; a super girly one, with frills and pinks and blues. Or something awesome like this:

Elvis Roberston Quilt

Totally love! I haven't done it yet.

However, when I found out we were having a baby boy, I decided I would try making him a quilt first. Here it is all finished (finally!)

I even made a little dress with the leftover backing fabric. Oh yes I did.

Now I have the guts to make a big one.

Picky and Picnik

So turns out our windows won't be done until this Wednesday...We will be picking them up on Thursday! We hope :)

On a different note, I forced my little sisters to do a photo shoot with me. I can take decent pictures of "stuff", but I need much more practice with people. The pictures are all edited differently because I'm playing around with this photo editing site called Picnik.  It's pretty much a super simple, way cheaper version of Photoshop. I really like it because when it comes to Photoshop I'm completely challenged. Plus, it's free! *or you can pay to upgrade. whatev.

[caption id="attachment_633" align="aligncenter" width="236" caption="Sneak attack picture!"][/caption]

I know that these are far from perfect (like the above picture--totally a weed in the middle of her face!)...but practice makes perfect, right?

Anyway, you can also do sweet stuff like this on Picnik too:

I tried doing that on Photoshop and it was a total bust. I love these little art thingys! I find quotes that I really like that have already been made into these little subway art pieces, but they aren't exactly what I want...like this:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="275" caption="Super cute, but not what I'm looking for you know?"][/caption]

But now I can make it exactly how I want! Like so:

[caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is totally going on the wall in our entry way once our house is done."][/caption]

Family Values sign by Betty Crocker Wannabe

and I'm all like, "Cute!" but it doesn't have everything I want. I told you, I'm picky. With Picnik I made this:

It's just how my picky self wants it! Yay for Picnik!

My Shabby Pumpkins

I got some little, styrofoam pumpkins from the Wal-Mart for $0.97.

Then, I made them pretty!

All covered from scraps and odd-n-ends that I had in my craft tub. I think the blue one is my favo. That's why it's sitting on my desk in the library :)

Christmas Cards

Like I've said before, I've never made a family Christmas card...and I'm totally excited to do one this year! I know, we still have awhile to go until Christmas, but I can't help myself!! I found some cute ideas:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="I love, love, love the colors on this card. The design, layering...everything!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="I like the look of this. i think I would use lace in the shape of a tree instead of embossing."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Christmas card from stamps. I love stamps!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="397" caption="Black and White."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Clicking on the image will take you to the blog--there are more! But it's totally not in English."][/caption]

You can put a picture in the card or print it right onto the card!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="399" caption="For newborns"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="298" caption="The guy looks like a really young Mitt Romney."][/caption]

 FUN!

 

You've Been Booed!

Do any of you know what this "booing" business is/do any of you do this during Halloween? I'd never heard of it until this year. Basically, it's a way to get into Halloween and spread some spooky fun...I've never really been in to Halloween, but I think this is a super cute idea.

You take one a poem like this:

The air is cool, the season fall,
Soon Halloween will come to all.

Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...
Tricky witches at your door.

The spooks are after things to do,
In fact a spook brought this "Boo" to you!

The excitement comes when friends like you,
Copy this note and make it two.

We'll all have smiles upon our faces,
No one will know who "BOO"ed who's places!

Just two short days to work your spell,
Keep it secret, hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here .
Just spread these "BOO's" and Halloween cheer.

You have been BOOED! Please keep it going by following these directions:

1. Enjoy your treat


2. Place the BOO sign on your front door or visible in a window


3. Within 2 days, make 2 copies of this note, make 2 treats & 2 BOO signs


4. Secretly deliver to 2 neighbors/friends without a BOO.


5. Keep an eye on nearby front doors to see how far and fast it spreads by Halloween.

Then you leave them with a sign to hang up that says, "We've been Booed!" and they are supposed to hang it up and pass it along. Cute, no? I think I'm going to do it and start a little tradition.

Ideas:



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="So cute"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="You can also download her printables."][/caption]

You can get free printouts if you don't want to make your own cards at these links:

Here.

Here.

These are really cute!

Here.

or here.

Oh, and consider yourself booed!

DIY by Brooklyn Limestone

Remember how I talked about that porcelaine paint? I was perusing on Pinterest and saw this picture:

and I was all like, "Cute!!" So I clicked on it...and the lady does a tutorial on how to make your own custom Halloween dinner sets. Love it! Just click on the picture or click here.

Reusable, Cute Halloween Deco!

I've never decorated for Halloween besides carving the obligatory pumpkin every year...but once the pumpkin is carved it sits out on the porch and you never see it, forget to light it, forget about it til it rots, wrinkles, and dies.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="and this is how I picture it."][/caption]

Then you have to get out the hazard suit to scrape it up and throw it away.

Gross.

Here are some reusable ideas for Halloween this year if you haven't already decorated. (Some people really love Halloween, okay?)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Spooky looking, but still classy. I love the silhouettes. "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="What is up with the baby carriage on the left? Creep!"][/caption]

You could probably do this with paper plates and black construction paper or stencils and stamps.

Or you could buy really cheap, white porcelain plates from a thrift store/Goodwill/D.I. and use this awesome stuff called Pebeo Porcelaine Paint. Basically, it's this paint that you can use to paint on porcelain/ceramic, then you bake it in your kitchen oven and boom! You have new dishes.

I'm pretty sure it will start to wear off if you don't use some sort of protecting sealant after it has cooled. I used it a couple of years ago on some teacups. It comes in pen and bottle form.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="220" caption="Pen form"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="bottle form"][/caption]

I got it from Michael's craft store and they have lots of different colors, but I'm not sure if you can get it there anymore. Moving on!

*EDIT* I just found this blog post about painting glass and she uses a paint called PermEnamel. You can use it on tile, glass, and ceramic and you don't have to cook it in the oven! It is also oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe. Yes!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Fun and kid-friendly! Halloween should be fun, not scary."][/caption]

If you click on the picture above it should take you to the site with a tutorial.

This site has a bunch of cute Halloween blocks you can buy--or just get ideas on how to make your own!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Like this!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="358" caption="This lady has a tutorial on how she decorated her Dollar Tree pumpkins."][/caption]

Or you could go all shabby chic and do like this:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="428" caption="This is what I plan on doing! You can never go wrong with glitter!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="213" caption="Modge podge paper onto fake pumpkins."][/caption]

For those of you who love a holiday wreath:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Use whatever colors you want! It's so glamorous. "][/caption]

and one more: Click here for how to make a "Halloween Tree".

These are all things you can do on your own and the best part is: You can keep them for next year!

Holla!

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season! but actually not for another 3 months. I'm just getting ahead of myself. I see Christmas full of glittery things. I love glitter and shine. Obviously, Christmas isn't about shiny stuff, but it is probably my most favorite holiday to decorate. Even when I lived with college girls who did nothing but whine about their hair and latest non-boyfriend, who didn't give two cents about holiday decorating or even cleaning for that matter, I still decorated.

One year I bought a little, three foot Christmas tree with miniature blue, pink, and silver glitter ornaments. I loved it. Then one year I lived with some girls (who mostly did like to clean and decorate!) and we inherited a huge, old, fake Christmas tree from a co-worker who was going to trash it; complete with ornaments! but then my little, three foot Christmas tree had nowhere to live--so I gave it to a friend who I pretty much forced to celebrate Christmas with some decor. I don't think he minded. Maybe.

I am determined to make some little glitter Christmas trees this year. I don't think we are planning on getting a real-fake tree until we actually live in our real house. So I'm trying to think 'small decorating'.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="is it weird that I really just love that there is a single ornament hanging in a frame?"][/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="These are just super adorable, unique ornaments"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Sheet music ornaments."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Chipboard ornaments. Cover in your favo paper and various stuffs. Yes, I think I might do this and make a little garland!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Framed chalkboard--you can even use it outside of the Holidays!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="I love that these "trees" are in little flower pots"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="I absolutely adore these. You could probably easily make them. If you don't have a tree hang them on doorknobs! or even from your rearview mirror. Bring Christmas to the car--oh yeah!"][/caption]

Or if you're feeling really crafty you could try this out:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Ornaments...made from BUTTONS!!!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Little button wreath. So cute!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Beaded snowflakes. These could also make a super simple/cheap gift."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Beaded letters! Love them. Could also make cute/cheap gift."][/caption]

So many ideas! Now. To think of which ones to do. Oh! and time to start thinking about Christmas cards! I've never done a Christmas card...my Baby Brain (aka pregnancy brain) is turning.