Gift Ideas: Baby & Home Decor

 

Good morning!  I hope you've had your coffee because I have lots of pictures for you today!  First up is this baby mobile I was honored to make recently.  It was requested to match THESE things I made a while back for a good friend's new baby.  It is entirely made of Stampin' Up! papers, old and new, Stampin' Up! felt ribbon and a piece of plumbing pipe insulation that I bought and cut then wrapped with the dotted ribbon (not SU). 

 

The long pieces of felt that the circles are attached to were wrapped around the circle and held in place by either a button (which is hand sewn on for safety!) or a knot of tempting turqhoise ribbon.  They all very in length and the circles are different too.  I think I used at least 20 different patterns of paper. 

EDITED TO ADD:  I completely forgot to mention that the circles (all punched with SU's punches) were done like this... I punched two circles in matching paper and glued one of them to a punched chipboard circle (thin enough chipboard that it would punch).  The one with the chipboard backing was the outward facing circle.  The other was glued to the back of that with the ribbon sandwiched in between.  Some of them had chipboard behind both sides, but that was a mistake.  They didn't stayed glued nearly as well and I had to clip them with small binder clips for hours while they dried completely.  The glue I used was Tombo Mono.  Hope that helps!

 

I didn't take pictures of the entire process because I was under a time crunch.  But I have a few tips on using the pipe insulation.  It is much cheaper than using one of those wooden rings ($4) for needlepoint and doesn't have that clamp part to figure out what to do with.  I bought a piece about 5 feet long at the hardware store ($1.75) then cut off the length I needed (you could probably make 2 out of one piece).  In order to make sure your circle doesn't end up oblong here is what you should try:  hold the tube in a loop then slightly overlap the two ends.  Eyeball the angle at which they overlap then try to cut that angle off one end.  (Don't panic with my vague instructions, it isn't an exact science).  Then the two ends will meet flush and your tube will stay more circular.  Tape the connection with duct tape then cover with whatever material you want.  I used ribbon! 

 

On to project two: 

This project doesn't involve Stampin' Up! products at all (even though it could), but since I gather you are somewhat crafty or you wouldn't be here, and since I need a place to brag to a captive audience, you get to enjoy this one as well.  

So I found this frame in my barn.  No idea what it was for- square is an odd shape for a frame. 

 Decided to cover the cardboard backing for the frame with an old map (I've got tons- you'll see that in the future).  Chose my favorite saying of all time and cut it out with my daughter's Cricut in two different fonts.  Then used temporary adhesive (I used removable Dotto) to apply the letters just where I wanted them.  I also wanted a faux matt around the final project so I used painters tape on the edges.  Here's another TIP:  Be sure to destickify (yep, made it up) the tape by sticking it to your shirt or pants or couch over and over before applying it or else your map might tear (mine still did a little). 

 Then spray the entire thing. 

 We used black spray paint.  I was a tad worried that the paper map wouldn't hold up to the wet paint and let my daughter make an executive decision to not go solid black, but just enough to see the letters.  I like that you can not only see the map through the font, but also behind the paint a bit. 

 Here is how it looks on the wall.  We barely let it dry before we got it up there!  Just couldn't wait! 

 

If you're curious about where on earth we hung this... you probably don't recall but in 2010 we bought a 12x16 foot playhouse for our kids.  It has taken us two years, but it is now livable.  We've painted the entire outside, stained the deck, wired it (with a little help from an electrician), insulated, boxed in plywood walls and painted the crap out of it.  It has kept us crazy busy for many many hours!  I'll do another post on it if anyone is interested, but this is one shot of the inside.  The table, chairs and ladder were all paint projects I've worked on all this week and last.  Hopefully I am DONE painting for awhile.  Thanks to Pinterest we have many more ideas to come!

 

I am going to link a few of the ideas that inspired these projects: 

 

mobile:

http://pinterest.com/pin/198932508511198064/ 

http://pinterest.com/pin/198932508511198077/

paint over letters: 

http://pinterest.com/pin/198932508510004081/

http://pinterest.com/pin/198932508511282904/

 

Thanks for stopping by!  If either of these projects inspires you to do something I'd love to see it!  Leave me a link to your online photos or blog post!

 

Have a great day!

~Kristin



Blue Ribbon Birthday

Good morning!  I hope you have had a great week.  We've been a little hectic with the first week of school, projects around the house and a football injury for my son (dislocated elbow, but he'll be fine).  I did get to stamp a bit yesterday... I somehow ran across the Mojo Monday sketch challenge which I thought was current, so set off to use it.  Just now realizing it was last week's challenge.   Oh well.  Story of my life! 

 

I also checked out the Free 4 All challenge on Splitcoast to "Show us your colors"- use lots of bright colors.  Well, I do think I've accomplished that here.  The scalloped circle with the birthday sentiment, as well as the Polka Dot Parade DSP, were sitting on my desk from a card I never completed last week, so I decided to put them to use.  

 

See those three (crooked) embossed dots at the bottom left corner?  Those were part of the sketch and the rhinestones I had there originally were just over the top so I decided to do these instead.  They are easy to do by using the main part of the Crop-a-Dile... but obviously not so easy to line up.  Since they were the last thing I did I wasn't about to redo.  Crooked it is! 

Here's a shot at the inside.  Had fun with it, using markers to color the sentiment from It's Your Birthday.  The tiny owl piece is all from A Fitting Occasion.,, a fun set for adding a little detail! 

Well, lots to do today.  Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

 

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Blue Ribbon, A Fitting Occasion, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired), It's Your Birthday

Colors:  Midnight Muse, Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories:  Circle Scallop punch, circle punch, tag punch, Circle brads (retired), Crop-a-Dile, White Baker's Twine, Triple Layer Flower punch

Wedding Invitation & Beaded Jewelry Gift

I think I mentioned in the past a wedding invitation I helped a friend on and since a few of you have requested to see it, here you go.  I hesitated to post before because the wedding hadn't occurred yet and because it didn't photograph nearly as well as it looks in person.  This bride wanted very natural and simple and she chose all the details. 

 

The soft suede cardstock was cut to fold over the vellum cardstock by 1.5" so the final size is 4.25" x 5.5" just like a standard card, fitting nicely into a standard envelope.  It was tied with a bow of twine (I used linen thread for my example here).  

The piece underneath with the printed details is Naturals Ivory cardstock.  We incorporated the green (Wild Wasabi) from her wedding colors by stamping this image from Inspired by Nature (it is stamped off once so not too distracting.) 

 

I didn't take a picture but the programs were this exact style but ended up being 4.25" by 7.5" finished, including the 1" folded over piece at the top.  This way we were able to efficiently use an entire piece of cardstock!  I am a tad anal about being efficient. 

 

In case you missed it, HERE is the card I made for the happy couple.  Of course I had to make sure it coordinated in color and style!

 Up next is a gift I've been working on for my best friend Nicky for a LONG time (her birthday was in June!).  I finally gave it to her yesterday after several setbacks so I'm able to post it now without spoiling her long awaited surprise.  This is the first set of necklace, bracelet and earrings I've ever made and I'm super pleased with how they turned out.  Her daughter told me her favorite color was purple (how did I not know that after 30+ years??) so that was my starting point- these beautiful natural polished purple stones. 

Funny story about the necklace... after I had it all done, and realizing that I didn't really know what I was doing, I decided I should wear it around for a little bit to make sure it wasn't scratchy etc.  So I put it on and proceded to sit at my desk to check a few emails.  Approximately five minutes later it suddenly without warning snapped and beads flew everywhere!  I honestly was only moving my fingers so I'm SO GLAD I thought to wear it.  That is one of the reasons it was so late, I basically had to start over!

 

Now that my kids are back in school you'd think I'd be stamping every day but I've still got so many projects to clean up from and catch up housework that it might be a few days still.  We've finally gotten our playhouse/game room painted and started putting furniture in so I've been cruising Pinterest obsessively trying to come up with cute ideas.  Now to put them all to use!  Maybe I'll have some fun pictures to share once we're all settled in. 

 



Well, that's it.  Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin

Thinking of You

Hello again!  Quick post for you.  I made this card last week with the Color Q challenge to use Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green and Certainly Celery (love this combo!) and also the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Of coures I missed both deadlines by not posting until now.  Humph!  I need to find challenges that give us a month to participate! 

I love the combination of these two challenges- pushed me to get creative- yeah!  Notice my paper piercing?  Used my new Paper Piercing Essentials Pack as well as the new large paper piercing matt.  Didn't think I needed it but am so glad I didn't have to use my tiny one for this.  I even prettied up the inside, but forgot to photo it.  It was cute, just trust me. 

Sadly, had a need to send this to a family friend that recently recieved a pretty devestating diagnosis.  My heart is out to him and the family. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  See you soon (school starts Monday so you know what that means- more stamp time!)

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Moving Forward

Colors:  Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green and Certainly Celery

Accessories:  Fancy Fan embossing folder, Create a Cupcake punch (for clouds), 2.5" circle punch, Comfort Cafe DSP, Paper Piercing Essentials Pack

Twins!

Have a friend and downline who had twin baby girls recently (hope she doesn't see this, haven't mailed it yet).  Had to rack my brain to come up with a baby card for two babies!  None of my stamps are twin related whatsoever...  Found this sketch on Freshly Made Sketches and decided to take it for a spin.  And now I'm realizing that I missed the deadline already.  I thought it was yesterday's card that I missed.  Ah well, story of my life!  

Here's a quick shot of the inside.  Thanks for stopping by!  I've got another one for you tomorrow assuming I get it photographed in time. 

~Kristin

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Itty Bitty Banners, Congrats (very old and retired)

Colors:  Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Butterfly punch, Top Note die, Big Shot, Basic Pearls, Bitty Banner Framelits, Scallop border punch, Floral District DSP

You Mean So Much

I'm back today with another pair of earrings I made myself to match this bracelet and a necklace that my mom had made.  These natural polished stones are so shiny and smooth- they are just gorgeous in person!  More practice needed for me though.  But once I'm good at this I'll have trouble giving things away I'm afraid. 

The Clean & Simple sketch challenge FTL 202 came in handy for getting my stamping mojo going.  These are some of the new In Colors:  Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse not to mention the lovely new Natural Composition Specialty Designer paper in the background there (the Crumb Cake with a shiny raised floral pattern on it). 

 I made a fun discovery while playing around for this card:  the large flower burst from Betsy's Blossoms punches out nicely with the Blossom flower punch.  The little center piece is "fussy cut" from another stamp in the same set. 

Other details include the blue pattern from Comfort Cafe DSP, sentiment from my new set One in a Million, topped off with some linen thread on a mini library clip. 

Here is the sketch challenge.  Think you might try it?  I missed the entry deadline but am glad I found it.  Lots of possibilities with this one!  (Edit:  Turns out I didn't miss the deadline, silly me!)

Thanks for stopping by.  Must run now.  Spent all morning putting 36 freezer bags of sweet corn up.  Had 51 ears left and I told my husband we didn't need that much corn- PHEW!  Now my daughter is waiting for me to help her with some painting projects (shelves for her room and some wooden letters that spell out her name).  Stop back tomorrow for a quick post with a baby card for twins. 

Have a great day!

~Kristin

Oops, forgot my supply list: 

SUO Supplies

Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms, Flowering Flourishes, One in a Million

Colors:  Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit

Accessories:  Comfort Cafe DSP, Natural Composition Specialty Designer paper, First Edition DSP, Modern Label punch, Mini Library Clip, Linen Thread, Blossom punch, Top Note Die, Big Shot

Excuses, a card and some jewelry!

1. Painted a chair.
2. Two baseball games (Little League State Playoffs- 12U District Champs!!!).
3. Canoed down Crystal River in Northern Michigan.
4. Camped at Interlochen State Park.
5. Climbed the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.
6.  Dentist appointments, doctors appointments, vehicle appointments.
7.  Helped with wedding programs.
8.  Measured, cut and installed plywood walls in kids' playhouse.
9.  Made some jewelry.
10.  Attended a wedding.
11.  Put together my new Ikea bookcase. etc. 

These are the reasons I've not posted on my blog, nor stamped anything of significance in over 2 weeks!  Am I excused?  I do have some fun pictures to share proving some of my excuses. 

Is anyone else so overflowing with creative, crafty ideas (Pinterest is evil!) that they just sit spinning those ideas instead of actually doing them?  That's how I'm feeling right now.  Possibly because I have laundry and other responsibilities that must come first but I'd rather be painting all these wonderful pieces of furnture and making all these jewelry pieces and cards in my mind....

.... well, that was the post I started about a week ago.  Finallly getting around to adding some pictures to my excuses and actually posting. 

Here are some of them, and even a card I made recently (I actually have one to share tomorrow too!) 

Here's my quick card featuring my fun new set: Flowering Flourishes, and the new Paper Piercing Essentials pack! 

HERE is the before and after on my rocking chair project.  I bought this chair with the ripped out seat when I was pregnant with my first child, which would've been about 13 years ago, intending to have it redone in time to rock him in it.  Well, this summer I decided it was time (now that he no longer fits in my lap) to do something with it.  Inspired by the local Amish, I painted it yellow and stuck in my pot of flowers which by now are humongous and flowing over the arms and front of the chair!

Here is a picture of us at the Sleeping Bear Dunes taken before we climbed down that giant cliff to Lake Michigan. 

And finally, my first attempt at beading.  Well, second attempt counting my Artisan Award entry.  I made this pair of earrings to match the necklace that my mom had made.  I can't wait to find the perfect occasion to wear them!  Let me know if you are at all interested in future jewelry/beading attempts because I have a feeling I'll be making more.

Thanks for stopping by!  I've got more to show you tomorrow assuming I get it posted.  I have a certain young lady who is "SO HOT" and really needs to go swimming before she dies of heat exhaustion.  Couldn't I just turn the AC back on?? 

Thanks for stopping by!
~Kristin