Baby Accesory Bonaza

Here are a few more ideas for some baby gifts. (see tutorial for making these in a January 2010 post.

Frame your favorite quote

Here is another quick and easy gift idea.  Make a transparency of your favorite quote (at any copy shop).  Add some decorative paper as a background, and put it in a 8x10 frame.  You can use a frame you already have to save money, if you don't like the color, just spray paint it (this frame was originally brown, I added a little black paint to distress it a little).

Beaded Bookmark

If you are looking for an inexpensive gift idea, you can make a beaded book mark.  All you need is some beads and some string  (also optional is a tube of fray blocker, which makes the edges of your string stiffer and easier to work with for beading.) Last Summer I made almost 100 of these bookmarks for girl's camp, once I got the hang of it, I could make a bookmark in just a few minutes.









Usually I put 3-4 four beads on each end and tie a few small knots to keep them in place.  You need to make the string long enough to go into whichever size book you want to use it for plus space for the beads and knotting.  Have fun:)

Decorating for Fall

Decorating for Fall is one of my favorite things, probably because I LOVE Fall colors so much. Here are a few of my ideas......



Use what you already have and add a Fall Flair by making a sign or saying our of scrap book paper or other inexpensive supplies you may already have.

Add a few Fall items to an existing center piece to make it look more festive.

Spruce up your bathrooms by changing the hand towels to a Fall color and adding a pumpkin or gourd.

Add some Fall color to a wreath that you already have by attaching dried artichokes, some Fall leaves or anything you can find that looks festive.

Use, pumpkins (real or artificial), gourds, cornstalks, Fall flowers d hay bales to decorate your front porch.

Little Girl Fun

Every Summer we have my niece stay with us which gives us some cousin bonding with one of our favorite cousins and helps my four boys to learn what it's like to live with a girl. This time around (can you tell how behind I am with my posts?), we had so much fun making little girl hair accessories and I embellished/monogramed this fun blanket that I had bought for her. I can hardly believe that soon I will be making fun girly things for my own little girl (due in early January)!!!!!

Summer Wedding

A dear friend of mine called me to tell me that her daughter was getting married, (the first to marry of her 11 children!) I told her I would love to help her in any way I could, but didn't hear back from her. Then the week of the wedding she called and asked for help setting things up. I told her I was willing to offer decorating help if needed, so with just a few days this is what I came up with...
I was pretty nervous when she gave me the colors, mostly because I don't usually use bright colors and I wondered if I was capable of doing anything outside of my comfort zone. Although I was less than confident with the colors, I ended up having so much fun with it!



We went to a thrift store and bought a whole bunch of inexpensive frames which I spray-painted white, you would never know what they had been!


I had a bunch of deep gift boxes which I dressed up and put on the display table with the initials of the Bride and groom.


My friend found this little basket at the thrift store and thought it would be nice for holding gift cards. I sprayed it as well and it turned out nicely (wicker can be stubborn to paint sometimes).
Adding a ribbon and a small flower made it look like it belonged.

By far the biggest make over of all was to this Mexican tapestry-type picture which I bought only because the frame was just the right size....
To make this sign with the names of the Bride and Groom. This is the fourth one I've made (to see the others check out my older posts under weddings.)

They had done a lot of cute things with Thule and Gerber daisies.

After helping with that wedding ( a real switch from what I have been used to ) I feel like it really is possible to create things that are not your own style as long as you have a clear idea of what you need to do:)

Spice up your kitchen with designer dish towels!

All you need is: some scraps of fabric,
coordinating ribbon and a couple of dishtowels.

If you are giving them as a gift, you can add a special
touch by creating a card that matches your project.

Windows:Venice and Padova Part 2