Nothing of Note

I've been staying busy it's just that nothing has quite seemed blog-worthy.

I've been doing a lot of trial and error...

I've been firmly encamped in Wedding land.  I've got 2 weddings coming up, of course one they're only a week apart.  I've been helping one commitment-phobe bride decide on decor while gently directing another bride's cabal of helpers with planning.

 

I have a sneaking suspicion this stamp won't make the final cut as part of a favor idea...

I've added a crafty touch to a baby gift.

Yea, I realize that a bib with a tie isn't very practical...but it's cute damn-it!

A birthday gift has received a Royal make-over.

Then there are the work related projects that I seem to find.

I'm the company's Blood Drive sponsor which means I coordinate getting people signed up and keeping track.  So I've decided to use themes for each drive.

I send out a quirky e-mail so the employees at least look at it before deleting it...
And then I create thank you gifts for the employees that donate as a way to keep them coming back!  The theme helps keep me on track ... and makes someone realize why there is an egg cookie and a rubber chicken on their desk!

This month's theme was 'I'm No Chicken, I Donated!' which I pulled from the Blood Alliance's Newsletter celebrating their 70th year in operation.  

The thank-you gift was an egg-shaped sugar cookie adorned with a tiny rubber chicken.

 I'll be off for a few days so hopefully I'll have something fun to report soon!

March Roundup - I may need a nap...

Babies, Birthdays, IronCrafting & that little distraction I refer to as work has got me running!  So I haven't updated recently...I owe you a little tour of my recent attempts.

Perhaps I should start with the oldest project.  It was a Christmas gift...yes, a Christmas gift.  I hadn't seen my friend since before Christmas - so what better time to give her the gift than her birthday?  Ha - that's terrible to even write...

I'm pretty proud of this.  It was material that was preprinted for a pillow...but I saw an apron.
She squealed like a 12 year old at a Bieber concert, so I think she liked it!

Of course I had a Birthday gift too.

She's been a devotee of Zumba lately so I figured a cute little workout outfit might be useful, if not ironic.

 

Who wears dessert themed work-out gear?!?

  
Apparently people that are crazy enough to be friends with me!

And last but not least, the newest Iron Craft Project:
This week's project was in honor of Fat Tuesday.  So our challenge was to make a project out of a FatQuarter.

Yep - 1.  1 Fat Quarter.

I ran through a couple of possibilities.

But I ended up deciding on a project that I took from my Sewing Calendar from last year.  The funny thing is going back through the calendar, I'm recognizing more crafters from blogs I read & that I've heard from through Iron Craft.  Funny how that works.

The project that I picked works for one of the many babies that seem to be popping up everywhere!
(Seriously people...I can't keep up!)

I gave the Pacifier Pouch from Lola Again a shot.  I say gave it a shot because she makes it seem so easy,that  my attempt feels like I'm a 3rd grader in art class.  She whips these little suckers out in under an hour.  I cannot go on enough about how cool her site is.

I'm afraid that this doesn't reflect on how easy this project was!

I am just still struggling with sewing.  I am definitely taking baby steps.  So the Pacifier Pouch is strangely appropriate.

Looking at it, these pics don't do my little pocket justice.

My Pacifier Pouch is pretty plain -- maybe I need to look at adding something a little extra...but I don't want to frou frou up a bag for a little boy.

I will say I'm happy that the vinyl I had on hand worked out.  I was a little skeptical since it wasn't the iron-on kind.  But I wouldn't recommend using jean material for the outer pouch.  I thought it'd be great for durability but it doesn't handle the little folds of creating a finished edge so well.  At least at my skill level...

I doubt this will get any Beiber-worthy squealing but I'll definitely give this project another try.  It was easy and best of all it's useful.  And those are the gifts I love to give - ones that will be useful, of course squeals are always welcome.  

So - now you see what I've been up to.  

I guess that means it's time to get back to work...

maybe I'll sneak a nap in first!

Unwrapped...Book 'Em

So with the new year before us--and Christmas safely unwrapped--I can show you some of my projects. Sadly, a few more are still being wrapped up...no pun intended (this time).  I'll show you those as I finish.

When I give kids gifts I usually try to include a book.  Yes, I am THAT person; unabashedly guilty!

This Christmas the book I found for my little cousin Cole shaped the whole gift.  This book is really cute.

My favorite part is that Jake stays black & white in a color story!

So to go with this nursery noir, I made the little guy a 'police academy workout uniform': royal blue sweats and an academy t-shirt.  Here is a close-up of the 'Storyville Police Academy' seal that I drew on the t-shirt.

               

I checked out Police Department seals and realized they often mix in the state emblems so I realized I needed to use the Landmarks of 'Storyville'.  

I really wanted to put the seal on the cobalt blue pants maybe in a yellow or white outline.  In the end I wasn't sure how that would end up looking so I stuck with only decorating the t-shirt.  Besides when it comes to doing stuff for boys--less is more.

Next up: A Cuppa' Joe

Hmmm...shoulda had this done already...

So just when I thought I was through the most recent wave of baby showers...I realized I didn't take care of one.

Heehee -- whooops...

And so this week I'll set things right and get some fancy baby onesies drawn up and sent off!  I mean it's not like the kid won't come out if I don't hook 'em up.  Actually that's pretty presumptuous to assume the little one even wants to wear one of these.  Then again, it's destined to be puked on, among other things...

So, this is what I'll be working on this week!  Onesies just beg to be drawn on in my opinion.  Honestly babies grow so quickly that even if Mamacita isn't a fan of your art, the baby will probably only be able to wear it once anyway.  But you should stop by regularly juuuuuust to be sure they get a little air-time.


These are a few onesies that I made for my little cousin:

I told you -- I worry about making boy stuff too girlie so a dinosaur seemed like a safe bet!

 
Of course some humor makes sure Dad will slip at least one of your creations on the wee one.

And of course, storybook and nursery rhyme characters are always a welcome addition amongst all the, 'Mommy's Little Angel' and 'Poop Happens' themed gifts.  

Well...it's back to the drawing board for me -- just in case that kid does hold out for some onesies...

Baby Bento Box

Since I'm showing off baby gifts, I found one that I made awhile ago for a friend's first baby.

It really started with a cute little memory book of baby's first and I thought it would be a good idea to have something to collect all those firsts.  I came up with a memory box with separate boxes for different keepsakes. 

I attached the memory book to the box lid with ribbon. I glued one end of a length of white ribbon inside the box lid and attached velcro on the other side.  I covered the spot where I attached the velcro to the ribbon with a small wooden star.  

 
The added challenge was the fact that I had no idea if it was going to be a boy or a girl...
So I decided to go with a star theme.  I painted a wooden keepsake box a light yellow and embellished it with white ribbon and rub-on stars.

I painted the smaller boxes white and trimmed each box with thin yellow ribbon.  Each box was titled with a sharpie and embellished with the rub-on stars. 
(I have to give credit to my Mom for her lovely handwriting!)
The smaller boxes correspond with pages in the baby book.

The book had pages for news from when the baby was born.

There was a page for everyone's inspirations and suggestions for names for the baby.

It included space for keepsakes like the bracelet from the hospital.

Then there were places to record baby's first impressions.

And who could forget the first tooth and the curl from the first haircut!

It took a little (ok, a lot!) of maneuvering and switching out box sizes and shapes to get them all to fit in the large box.  ...I'm probably on some watch list at Michael's...  But eventually I got the combination and got everything to fit just right.

So now that my friend is due with her second little one...I guess I had get to work again!

What a baby...

So my Memorial Day Weekend was spent with a bunch of babies...
Literally!

I got to meet a few new additions to the family.  So since the babies are on the brain, I'll show you a gift for showers that I've done recently.

It's a pretty easy project and even better - I usually don't have to worry about someone else bringing one of these to the shower!

I also make sure the diapers can actually be used...you know, in case...

Admittedly, doing a wreath for a little boy and not making it too frilly can be a little tough.
However a theme like this Star Wars Wreath helps a bit...

I came up with the metal initials since I thought a bow would take away from the theme.

And strangely enough it's always little details and last minute additions that I like best from each one.

One word of caution however - Parents have been known to change the baby's name...(Yes that did happen here...ah well!) So if you know the parents to be are a little indecisive, go with 'It's a Boy/Girl' or maybe skip that sort of thing altogether!