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.

Questions

Make your own Table Topics, using the questions I've come up with and found. Decorate a pretty jar or box to keep them in, and make them more personal than just buying the store bought edition. Use them at a family reunion, get together, first date, etc.

Who is your favorite athlete, and what do you like about them?

Tell us about your two best friends

What was the best moment of your day today?

When you were little, what did you most look forward to being  able to do when you grew up? How do you feel about that thing now?

Where would you like to retire? What hobbies/activities will you participate in?

If your family was depicted in a movie, what actors would play each family member?

What is the most adventurous thing you've done this year?

What was your very first paying job?

What do you spend most of your money on?

What's the best compliment you've ever received?What's a subject you wish you knew more about?
What did people tease you about growing up?
If you had to eat 1 thing for the rest of your life, what?

Has someone ever spread a nasty rumor about you?What's the habit you're proudest of breaking?
What are your favorite 3 Websites and why?
Where do you get your news? How often?

Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Have you ever requested a song on the radio?
Last movie you watched?
Have you ever made a career move you regretted?

What's the last thing you purchased?
The highlight of your week?
Are you named after anyone, or is there a story to your name?

Where/how did you meet your spouse? How long did you know each other before your first date?  How long did  you date before you got married?

What are you afraid of?

What's most often the cleanest room in your house? The messiest?

What gift would you like for your next birthday?

What star/celebrity do most people say you resemble?
How many car accidents have you been in? How many were your fault?
What did you dress up as last Halloween?
About how many friends from high school do you still talk to?
What was your first car?
What three items will always be found on you?

What experience has changed your outlook on life?
What bill do you hate paying the most?
Dumbest purchase you ever made?

Awesome Products

Ok so here are the awesome products I promised.

Cardboard can organizer's- Better than anything I've seen in the store...available here (set of 4 for $12)


(Through JULY 15 you get 10% off any order with the coupon code "CRAFTS")

New editions of  table topics (available at bookstores- $25) include questions to ask and  conversation starter sets  "Dinner Party," "Girls Night Out" and "80'S"

Rorschach In Color...I want some...$16 from Uncommon Goo

Scratch Map available from Uncommon Goods here $24

Also from Uncommon Goods, this is a great way to savor the funny things kids say, $19.95.

Like and Dislike stamps from ThinkGeek....great for teachers...if they were allowed...

New Inspiration Blogs, a forgotten Old Project, and Awesome Products

I forgot to post this old project I did as a valentines gift circa somewhere around 2004.

I purchased a tile board (I'm just calling it that, I have no idea what the real name is) and painted it black, then printed photos to be the perfect size (this was during the era that digital cameras had become big but easy online ordering and ordering precise sizes was not yet widespread, so I printed them myself on regular computer paper to get the right sizes) Then I lightly glued them to the "tiles" and poured Easy Epoxy on, and let it sit over night. What is that in the middle you might ask? A beautiful Led Zepplin quote (I still like Zepplin, but was especially into them at the time).

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.

If the mountains crashed into the sea, there would still be you and me.

By the way, can you tell I just learned photos can be resized and arranged at different parts of the page?

New Blogs I Love

I've added these to my blogs on the right, but these blogs are new ones I've found and am now in awe of

Tip Junkie- By far the largest blog I've found as of yet. Even has a free Ipad app, which I'm downloading "as I type" See if it makes the great on my upcoming post "Best IPAD/IPHONE apps."

Bakerella- Such pretty food!

Skip to My Lou- hundreds of  free downloads and ideas

Craftaholics Anonymous- Nuff said

Frugal Life Project- I hate the word frugal. It sounds so ugly, tastless, and just down right  "nails on the chalkboard-ish" but this blog has not only great DIY ideas, but things to do for fun ideas and decorating tips.

AWESOME PRODUCTS
I got my second issue of PARENTS magazine today and saw this in it, and just had to share. While I myself do not have an Iphone, I would have loved to have had something like it for my phone when Peyton was 6-12 months old. Definately getting this for the next person I know having a baby.

 

Fischer Price iPlay, $14.99

 

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

Fathers Day Part II

Now I know if you've been to a craft show in the past 5 years you've seen these all over the place. But...little did you know there was a link to free images to use in it. (Below). You can use these for anything, but specifically for father's day you could spell "dad", "pops", "Insert man's first name/last name".

Album of "letter" photos

Make him checks that say things like "free lawnmowing" or "free trash takeout" here

Homemade "treat of the month" gift tutorial here

No real explanation needed for this one, other than to say that you can get a spare scrabble set at your local thrift store for about $2. For the word enthusiast, like my dad is.

Make your dad an "info sheet" Printable here

How cool would this printable card have been in 1995?

And last but not least, make your own dad-to-be survival kit with any of the items below::

Father-to-be Kit

A roll of quarters

Dr. Spock's book
Baby sitting coupons so parents can get out for some time to themselves
A small cloth frustration ball - for the times we needed to throw it on the floor.
Hand Lotion - to remind you that babies need lots of soft touches
Safety Pin-- to help remind you to be safe
Marbles - to replace the ones you will loose
Lifesavers - to remind you that parents are lifesavers
Pen and paper - to write down your thoughts/memories to share when they are older
Wipes - for cleaning up those little messes
Candle - to remind you, you will be the light of that childs eye
Peppermint - to remind you you are worth a mint
Brag Book - so you will always have your child near
Sweet & Sour Candy - to remind you that every child can be both
Clock - to remind you that time passes to quickly...enjoy every minute
Mounds Bar - for the mounds of wisdom you will pass onto your child
Hershey's Hugs & Kisses - because you deserve them~!
Happy Face (Sticker) - to remind you to keep smiling
Paperclip - to help hold it all together
Balloon - to remind you to teach the children to reach for the sky
Rubber band - to remind you that flexibility is the key
Tissue - to dry those tears, the babies and yours.
Fireball - for times when you are burnt out
Lollipop - to lick all your problems
Eraser - to remind you that every new Dad made mistakes
Playing card - Raising and educating children is a gamble
Cotton Ball -- for times when you can't hear yourself think
Rope - in case you get to the end of yours
Puzzle Piece - to remind you that you are an important piece in the journey of your child
Tootsie Roll - to remind you to roll with the punches
Candle - so you never feel in the dark
Do Not Disturb Sign - to remind you that you need time to yourself
Aspirin - for when all else fails...take two

Father's Day Printables Etc. Part I

Need a last minute father's day idea? (I know I do...) below are some free printables and links to easy ideas for that special dad in your life....

Free printable at Seven Thirty Three

AWesome Dad (or AWesome Teacher) Free Printable at Nothing but Country

Another soda printable

Use these free printables for banners, gift tags, cupcake pics.

This one from the blog that started my obsession, Tatertots & Jello, Free Printables 

Subway art printables here

GREAT idea. Do with one kid in three different settings/poses or with different kids. Another idea, if you have multiple kids is to photo them from above on the grass, making "D", "A", "D" with their bodies.

More subway art printables here

These are sooo cute! Get them here

Ok so I love the fortune cookie idea, and tutorial here. However, if making it myself, I would buy one of  the sturdier "chinese take-out" boxes from Container Store or Party City and I would also include a gift card inside the box for PF Changs with the cookies. My husband LOVES Changs but I'm not so much a fan. He gets upset I will never go there so he would really appreciate the gift card along with the promise of accompanying him there.

So back to the cookies. If you want to make REAL fortune cookies I like the recipe below.

Recipe

(I've yet to try, but it doesn't sound too hard, I really need to do it as homemade fortune cookies could be modified for almost gift occasion).

Well that's all for Part I. Part II to follow later this weekend.