Stuff I've been up to lately.

With Father's Day and a milestone birthday celebration so far this month, I've also been busy learning how to use my Silhouette. Here are a few little easy projects I've done.

 Embelished placemat for birthday dinner.

Cutesy items in a bucket for the same birhtday. "A watch for always having time for me" and "Smarties because you are oh so smart" etc. More examples and ideas for similar "kits" here. Includes hundreds ideas for specific people and gifts including new mom, coach, teacher, fireman, bride, cheerleader etc etc  etc

Three part frame for my husband including photos of both of his daughter's on their first birthdays

We won this silly plastic tie with an elastic necklace so it can actually be worn at a carnival, and I knew I would need to use it for something someday. We are going to make my dad wear it at church tommorow.

I couldn't beleive it when Target had this full toddler golf set in their $2.50 bargain bin. Although P isn't quite ready to play with it, I couldn't pass it up as a "gift" for her golf loving dad. The tag is one of the free printables on my previous post, saying "You're a TEErific Dad."

My version of the "Make a Wish" card referenced on a previous post.

In addition I've spray painted the base coat for Peyton's Redskins Chair im working on, and the crate I'm using to make a name wall hanging that is also going to store seashells Im collecting. I'm going to start saving one shell from each time we go to the beach, and write the location and date it was collected with a sharpie. In addition, depending on if there is room based on the shell, I will write something memorable at that beach trip. For instance, all of my current shells are from my honeymoon. Perhaps I will write something funny to remember like BANANA BOAT ADVENTURE on the shell I select from that trip. The finished product of this crate will be a cross between this and this.

July 4th Ideas

The Fourth of July is only three weeks away! I tried to find some unique ideas, and not the standard "cake with strawberry and blueberries on top" flag. I myself will be driving back from Charleston on the 4th (after 10 days of vacation I have to work on the 5th) so I will not be planning any shin-digs.

Rustic Beadboard Flag from Brown Paper Packages (Full Tutorial)

I made similar skewers for Memorial Day, but I used Strawerries, blackberries, and bananas. (Although I do like marshmellow idea). I realized blueberries cost about 3X as much as blackberries. You could even shape these like a flag if you want to do the whole flag thing, like so

Good idea for any holiday! Dollar store votives+ vinyl+ Silhouette

Free July 4th Printables, including this cute silverware holder above.

Pretty Patriotic Paper Pinwheels Printable (say THAT 5 times fast)

Recipe at Oopsey Daisy (if you can't figure it out on your own).

Champagne or Wine Cooler with blueberries/blackberries and strawberries in it....brilliant

I LOVE this bleach shirt idea! Full tutorial to make any occaison bleach shirts from Fireflies and Jellybeans

Dollar store candles and colored rubberbands to make these pretty patterned votives!

DIY Tin Can Windsock your kids can help with from Under the Table and Dreaming (just typing that phrase has put DMB in my head for the remainder of the day)

Make a candle crate as seen at Frugal Life Project

More free Fourth Printables from Tweedle D Designs

Cheesecake bars- this includes a full cheesecake recipe

The best looking trifle I've found

Brilliant favor idea from Eighteen 25. Printable here.

Sand candles tutorial abridged from Martha Stewart at Social Couture

Things that are awesome

Random cool things I found recently

How many times do you argue or stare blankly when it's time to go out to eat? Or when it's time to oplan a date? Problem solved and it looks pretty too! (ps there's something I just love about any craft involving mason jars)

Link to printable

Cool Garland!

Pretty Pudding Pops (Another triple P)



Lawn Art- I never thought of this

Pretty Banner

I would use this more likely to wrap letters for a name or monogram sign

Soo making these next year

I need to use my Silhouette for things like this as my most recent endeavors involving paint have failed.

 

Early Projects

Below catalogs some early projects I did when pregnant with P, or even before. I've also got links to some "improved" versions I would do next time. I think I'll put these in piecemeal so here's part one.

My First Silhouette Cuts

All you need is paper, a frame, and a Silhouette!

I made these letters that hang over my mantel with 8" 3D cardboard letters from the craft store, fabric which i cut into various scraps, mod podge. I used white paper (or you could use paint) on the sides to create a shador effect. Hot glue and ribbon loops and they're ready to hang on the wall.

Wooden letters, paint,glitter, embelishments,hot glue to create a pretty bow holder! I put a wooden shape at the bottom to add weight. Also doubles as a "ponytail rubberband" holder.

I love it!!

Thank goodness for my Silhouette, which my wonderful husband got me for mother's day! It allows these dreams below to be actually possibilities!!

Pimp Peyton's Ride

Goodbye expensive decal stores...