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.

Kid Stuff

Today first a project that I created to capture my daughter's weekly growth, and then one of HER first projects.

During my pregnancy I found this awesome idea to make a photo book with a photo for each week of her first year. I found several versions, with most of them being fancy "computer printed" albums. I wanted this one to look more "homemade" and have my husband help as well. You could also have an older sibling help. So I used the classic medium construction paper, and had my husband HAND WRITE the weeks on the side of each page. To bind the book I used a hole punch and ribbon.

Sad that stores no longer sell the traditional "paint with water" books that I remember having as a child, I used the classic construction paper medium again, and handed P a paint brush dipped in water. (She is still at an age where I need to dip the brush in water for her, otherwise she will drink and/or spill the water).