Card Making: Birthday Card {Day 10}

I hosted a little birthday party for my friend {at a Thai Restaurant}.  I used http://www.evite.com/ to invite all of the ladies to the lunch.  It is definitely a great way to invite people if you have never used it before! 

I made her this birthday card, I did it in about 8 min., I would've been faster but my scrap space isn't organized yet.  Hopefully, I will be able to move into my new room soon!  Keeping fingers crossed!  We ran into a couple of problems that need to be fixed before we can paint.

Speaking about paint...I had Paint Anixety {is there such a thing?}.  Probably because when I was on the way to go and get the paint I happened to show the color to my hubby and he said that he would like it darker.  It was a soft tan color.  Very basic, no frills.  I thought if I have a light color on the walls then it would help my decor be the main focus.  So, I second guessed myself and didn't get it.  I think that I will stick with my original plan.

My favorite thing...Clear Envelopes!!!  I buy mine at http://www.clearbags.com/.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mantel Decor: Be Mine Banner {Day9}

I love the look of banners, so I thought it would be a perfect addition to my mantel.  Another Burlap project to check off for the week! 

Here is a current picture of the mantel so far...Looking at it now I might have made the banner longer.  The finished size is 29"x11". 

I cut a 36"x13" rectangle.  Then ironed the two long sides to get that crease.  Then I folded it in half and cut a diagonal for the ends.  I then made another crease by bringing in each side just a little to give it the waving banner look.  I also hot glued the creases...I learned my lesson on my previous craft!

I got out the ol' sharpie.  I am not good at using a small paintbrush because I initially thought about painting it.  With the sharpie, I was able to get the look that I wanted.  I just got a little bit of a sharpie smell headache by doing this, but I think that it worked fine.

I had fun designing the flower, I think that baby K might end up wearing one on her head someday soon...

I hope that you have a splendid day!

I joined in the Mantel Party over at The Stories of A to Z.

Mantel Decor Day #8: Love Hanging

Today I had only a 30 minute window to make something...so here is a little LOVE hanging.  I just attached it to one of my topiaries on my mantle.

It is starting to look more seasonal...

Y'all probably already know how to make these and make them more efficiently than I did.  I cut several strips of paper 3"x6" and did the fan fold.  The finished size is 6" in diameter.

With my scrapbook adhesive, I attached the ends to each other to form the circle.

I'm sure there are many ways to get the circle from buckling, but I used good ol' glue dots in the middle of the circle and on the burlap.  I also added on both sides a small piece of cardstock to stabilize the fan part, you can't see it when it is up.

UPDATE:  the next morning it buckled up like a cup!  I ended up hot glueing it all together, I should've done that in the first place...live & learn. :)  It is solid now!

I punched a couple of holes in the back to get the jute through & hang it.  Very simple...not fancy, but fun!

I used to work for a scrapbook company called One Heart...One Mind.  I designed and made the large fan hangings out of her new scrapbook paper line for her CHA booth in the Summer of '07.  The owner decided to close her business the next year and go to work for Michael's Craft store in their design department.  It was a fun experience to work for her, I learned a lot!

Mantel Decor Day #7: Burlap Rose Wreath

I really like how this wreath turned out, it took me a while because I was designing it as I went {about an hour, thank goodness the baby was sleeping!}.

I love making rosettes.  It is the first time that I did it with burlap...my new favorite thing to play with!

I started out with a wire hanger and formed it into a circle.  Then I weaved the burlap strip in and out {the stuff used to upholster chairs}.  I found it in the trimming section at HobLob.

Here is a link to where I learned how to make the Roses.  It was on a Studio 5 show from Salt Lake City:  Urban Corsage.  I used tacky glue & glued as I went around.

I weaved the flowers on the wire and then hot glued everything to keep it from sagging.

I was inspired to do this wreath when I saw a burlap wreath on Where the Heart is Blog found HERE.

Enjoy...I did!!

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Mantel Decor Day #6: Valentine LOVE

The only Valentine's Day decor I have is an old wooden front door hanger.  This year I am really going to try to be more of a seasonal decorator.

I found this 'LOVE' sign in the front bins at Target {it was $2.50}.  You really can't tell in this picture that it has red glitter on it.  I had a fun trip to the HobLob and got some fabrics.  I thought by using black ticking fabric it would help tone down the glitter.  This week I will be working on different elements for the mantel...I have some fun ideas up my sleeve!!

I was so excited to find this picture because it was in a Better Homes and Gardens a few months ago but it was only a tiny the pillows and the lamp...I found a larger picture and who designed it!  I was on House of Turquoise and the designer is Tobi Fairley.  This is the color palette that I want in our master bedroom.  {Mr. B's favorite colors}

Enjoy your day!

Craft Project Day #5: Coasters

I actually did this craft last month, today I am getting my craft room ready to be primed and painted tomorrow.  I am crossing my fingers that we will be able to get a lot done...I am ready to move in!

This is a fun project that I found on Becky Higgins blog {Click here for her blog}.

I had my vinyl makin' friend, Beth, make some little monograms to put on the coasters.  I gave a set to my Mother-in-law and my Magnolia Chick friend, Leslie.

Enjoy your weekend!  We are freezing here...stayin' inside!

Organize Day #4: Magazines

I found a fun website http://www.wordle.net/.  You can put in words, your blog address or a website & it will scramble it up in a fun way.  The one on the left is the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" that I found that someone did, it is from my church {LDS} that I thought was awesome.  The one on the right is one that I made by typing in words {some of my goals for '10}

Today I went through my magazines and ripped out the pages that I wanted to keep. 

I LOVE MAGAZINES!!

I am a little obsessed!  I found some cute folders in the $1.00 bin at Target, so I am going to be more organized with the pages that I keep for reference.  It was good timing because I found a couple of ideas that I want to use in my craft room.

Hopefully this weekend we will be able to paint and really get my room put together.  I am getting excited to get my stuff out of all of my hiding places, purge and then organize in a fun way!

Enjoy your day!

Craft Project #3: Dishtowel Stitch

I went through my stitching basket and found over 10 stitches that I haven't finished.  That is why I have this blog and goal to do something creative each day!  So, this is what I finished today.  My sister-in-law, Mrs. L, sent me this dishtowel all ready to go about 4 or 5 years ago.  I was a part of a stitch group a couple of years ago and we met monthly to do stitches and have some girl time.  Good times!

Enjoy your day!

Craft Project #2: Flower Barretts

I found a little time while Baby K was asleep, the boys playing the Wii, Baked Potatoes in the oven, Mr. B. on a conference call to do this project:

Flower Barretts

I am still learning how to do stuff like this.  With 3 boys then having a little girl, it has been a new world for me. {I have been enjoying pink more than I thought I would}.  My oldest,Big A, came up to me when I was making these and said, "Mom, aren't you glad that you have a girl finally that you can do princess stuff?".  What a goofball, I told him that I was making them for him to wear...:)

Hobby Lobby last week had 50% off all of these items!  I couldn't resist these cute brads!  {I really like the flat style of barretts that you can get...easier to work with}

So, I got out the good ol' glue gun and attached matching ribbon to the barrett.

While I was feeding Baby K her bottle, I was watching Barefoot Contessa.  She was making Black & White Angelfood cake.  I really don't like angelfood cake, but this really looked yummy.  I love Ina Garten's kitchen and house, I think that I could live there!  Watching her make something chocolate, I couldn't help myself to make some brownies...not as fancy...just out of a box.  Yum!

Enjoy your day!

Decor Project #1: Old Window

I created this "family tree" large scrapbook page about 3 years ago {I covered up the names, it is really cute with the generations on there}.  It became outdated this year anyway with the addition of another baby, so it was time to move on to another use for the window.

One day as I was driving in an older part of town, I noticed a house was getting new windows and they had the old windows just stacked up on the side.  I just had to stop...  I asked the guy if I could have a couple and he said that was okay because he was going to trash them anyway.  He said that I was the 3rd lady to stop and ask for some.  I told him that they cost about $20 or so dollars at the Flea Market.  I don't think he was happy to hear that he could've been making some sweet cash from the windows he was going to just throw way.  Oh, well I guess sometimes you have to learn the hard way.  I was lucky that day for sure.

 Here is the updated version.  My friend has a vinyl machine and I had her make this large monogram for me {12"x12"}.  The window is 24"x24".  It was kind of tricky because there were several air bubbles that I had to pop with a needle.  But I think it turned out great.  I just have to find the perfect wall for it now.

Stay Warm!