Melodi's First Day

I dropped Melodi off for her first day of Junior Preschool with no problems at all.  Her backpack and lunch were packed last night, all I had to do was put ice packs in the bottom of her lunch box and slip in her easylunchboxes container.  We had a pretty easy morning, we had pb&j toast for breakfast, got dressed for the day, and did our hair.  I built in enough time for some pictures, and got some good ones! 

Cream cheese, ham,and cheese mini bagel.

Mixed fruit cup.  Grape tomatoes.  Mini Oreos.

Lunch is ready to go.

My favorite pictures from this morning.  

One of the four vertical 4x6 pictures (left two and top right two) will go in the big blank spot on the sign.  I made the sign using the Cricut Craft Room, the free font within CCR, and some paper.  It says "1st day Jr Preschool, September 4 2012."  I cut the brown paper, trimmed the negative down a little, and glued it to a piece of purple paper.  The sign will go in whatever I use to organize her school stuff, probably a binder or a file box.  There were so many different ideas on Pinterest for how to do first day of school signs: free printables, chalk board, white board, lay on the driveway/sidewalk/street with chalk writing.  I didn't find a chalk board or white board I liked, and I would have to get multiples to do group pictures once Erica starts school.  I'm really not sure where I got this idea, I don't remember seeing a direct inspiration, so I probably just came up with it.  I might do a last day one on the other side, or a separate one to cap off the binder section or put on the back side of a file.

Clothes Pin and Drape Clip Magnets

The night I made the clothes pin push pins for Melodi's art board I wanted to do another cute project and decided on clothes pin magnets.  This time I didn't paint, just added a strip of paper to the clothes pin and a circle to the magnet using my Xyron for adhesive (I probably should have used Modge Podge to coat it all).  I made a nice big flower for decoration, then decided that I didn't really like it.  Most of my buttons were still out and I noticed that I had some big, chunky buttons in great colors that I wouldn't be using for papercrafting anytime soon.  I used my trusty hot glue gun to attach the magnets and the buttons.

Lately I've been using a hotel drape clip that my father-in-law got on one of his work layovers to hold my daily schedule.  Since I had just made some magnets for my fridge I decided to use the big flower (originally made for the clothes pins above) as embellishment on the clip after I covered it with paper.  I had already added a pink brad to the middle of the flower but took it off to add one of the chunky buttons so that it matched the clothes pins.

They are all up my fridge making me happy looking at decorative magnets not the stupid flat ones you get at conferences or attached to the phonebook or the ones solicitors hand out.  I do want to redo some of the flat magnets for gifts, as they are a nice flat canvas for photos.

Bag Tags!

Melodi starts Junior Preschool tomorrow, and this mama is getting everything in order to send her off.  We purchased a backpack a few weeks ago, and found a lunchbox online.  Since I don't know if Melodi will continue to use them or if they will be passed down to Erica I didn't want to take a marker or paints to either one.  Today I used 30-60 minutes to quickly create nametags for her backpack and lunchbox.

I printed off two pieces with her name on them and two with my phone number.  All the paper was from my scrap pile!  The flowered and orange paper is the same paper, just double sided.  I used flower stickers to embellish.  The stickers came from the same Girls Birthday page kit as the paper.  My crop-o-dile came in useful to punch three small holes in the laminate.  Then I got to play with how to tie the ribbon on so that the tag can be attached to a bag.

I love quick, easy, free projects!

Glove Box Clean Out

Sometimes the most simple projects take a little bit of time.  But, what can I expect, with an active two and a half year old and a nursing three month old.  I think this is probably the quickest project I've completed after finding it on Pinterest, but since we got the registration renewed on the car yesterday the state of paperwork in the glove box was at the top of my mind.

This car documents folder by Elementary Organization had been pinned by one of the people I follow.  First I started by creating my list of documents, but I didn't feel like digging out the documents in the middle of the night.  I knew I had some of the folders laying around, and I came across them as my husband I and worked to clean out the office, making this a FREE project.  Yesterday after I got the girls down for a nap I emptied out my glove box, took my draft document list, and sat down to sort through the paperwork.  I made a number of changes based on what I had and the order I wanted stuff in.  When my husband got home he brought me everything in his glove box.  Then the girls were up and I was off to try to corral them, at least a little bit. 

This morning I was finally able to finish up the project.  I printed revised lists, changed found some matting paper, and attached the "table of contents" to the folder using packing tape.  Finally, I added the stickers to the tabs and using my matching Sharpies to write the numbers (I would suggest writing on the stickers before putting them onto the tabs).

The final step to this project is going through the extra stuff that was in my husbands glove box.  It's amazing how much more stuff he had in his than I had in mine, but considering that we've had that car for two more years which included two moves and a extended road trip, it really isn't surprising.

Next I hope to make another folder like this to corral the paperwork that comes from a military move.

Graduation!

We attended a couple graduation parties last month.  One was for a cousin of mine and the other was for a neighbor.  I looked through my card pins on pinterest and thought I would do a patchwork card (like this one from The Paper Stamper or this one from Stuck on Stampin') for each of them, but when I sat down to craft I didn't find enough patterns that I liked in the schools' colors.

Sitting on my tables were three sets of felt flowers from Three Bugs in a Rug (The Back Porch, Luke & Lola, and Chalk Garden) that I got at the LSS Trash & Treasure sale.  Since I had just looked through my pins I had this one in mind from all things paper.  I don't think I've ever used stitching on a card before, even though I've had my Sew Easy for quite a while now.  The stitching was all done with the Sew Easy straight stitch (I added an extra hole between each standard hole) and white thread.  Everything I used was in my stash.

I really like how these turned out.

Button Snake

I was organizing my Pinterest boards earlier this week and later that night I was watching shows on my computer.  My hands needed something to do and I remembered seeing this idea and since I had everything I needed sitting in front of me I figured I had something to work on.  It wasn't on my original list of busy bag projects, but rather quick and easy.  There are several different ideas out there, I did a google search for "button snake" and clicked on one of the images that was listed at the top which took me to Jonah Lisa Land's post.

Not too much to write so here are some pictures.  My supply list and directions are below.  I'll do another button snake using smaller buttons and felt pieces once Melodi has mastered this one.

Supplies:
5/8" grosgrain ribbon (about a yard)
2 buttons (about 1")
Thread
1.5" square felt pieces

Directions:
Sew the buttons onto the ends of the ribbon.
Cut a bunch of felt squares.
Cut a slit into the middle of each square, just big enough for the button.

Easter Photo Props

Since we didn't do Christmas photos in 2011 or get birthday photos done in February, we decided to go to an Easter Mini Session hosted by Danette Kay Photography to catch up.  This means I'm completely ready for Easter, as far as Melodi's outfit goes with a dress, decorated basket, and hat.

My first instinct when looking at buying clothes for Melodi online is to go to JCPenney's website because I'm partial to Penney's.  Of course the one I liked was only available online and I didn't have time to have it shipped.  My next thought was about a gift card I had in my purse for Sears.  I will definitely have to start shopping at Sears more for cute dresses because they had a lot to choose from.  Since I had found an idea I liked at Penney's I went into Sears looking for the same design and had a few choices that were similar to the dress I found at Penney's.

JCPenney Dress

Sears Dress

This is the first Easter (even though it's her third) that Melodi is walking by herself so she gets a real Easter basket.  I wanted to find a plain basket that would be easy to decorate each year to match her outfit.  Target had the basket in several colors so I decided on a white one over the brown one.  I wove two layers of fuchsia tulle that I had on hand and two ribbons (one solid green, the other pink with white pokadots) through the weave of the basket and finished it off with a bow.

Recognize the grass?  It's from the Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party we had for Melodi in February!  I love having supplies on hand to make a project more cost efficient.  We did put some eggs in the basket for the photo shoot, and we're lucky to have found some in the "right" colors.  I went to JoAnns, Target, and Walmart in order to find eggs that would work, I probably could have stayed closer to home by going to Hobby Lobby but it was Sunday so they were closed.

For Melodi's hat I had one of those crocheted hats on hand that was the right color to match her dress.  I based my design off a Lollitop that Melodi received from a friend at Easter last year.  This was another project that I had just about everything that I needed on hand.  The only thing I had to buy was dowels to make the curly ribbon and thicker white ribbon to weave through the hat, I didn't even have to buy starch since hubby spray starches his blues shirts.  The bow (directions below, sorry no step by step pictures) is a removable hair clip that can be used on the hat, on a headband, or in Melodi's hair.

I had a blast doing these projects and it is always nice having a hubby that support my crazy crafting crazes.

Steph's Curly Bow Directions
Materials

Ribbons
Dowels
Clothes pins
Spray starch
Alligator clip
Hot glue
Needle and thread

Steps

1. Wrap dowels with ribbon and secure each end with a clothes pin.  Do not overlap the ribbon.
2. Spray starch on each ribbon wrapped dowel.  Place on a foil lined baking sheet.
3. Bake at 275 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Let cool and remove from dowel.
• While baking the ribbon cover the alligator clip with ribbon using hot glue.
4. Trim ends at an angle since they didn't get sprayed with starch.
5. Cut ribbon into smaller sections, 3-4 inches each.
6. Stack ribbon holding the centers together.
7. Put a small stitch into the center and secure.
8. Hot glue the bow onto the covered alligator clip.

Sources
Adapted from several pins and web search directions.  Some starch and bake, others just bake, and of course there is little consistency with baking temperatures or times.

• Glorious Treats
• Notes from the Patch  

There is one more (from a general how to site) that I remember looking at but I can't find right now, and it's time for bed, so goodnight and I will try to find it tomorrow.

One Sheet Wonder

I have a few sets of cards on my list of Insane Goals.  One Sheet Wonders is an easy way to get many different cards made in a short period of time, with a small amount of materials.  There are tons of templates available.  I used this cut template and these card samples.  These are all done with the exception of stamping a sentiment and writing inside.

Materials:
12x12 patterned paper, cut to 8.5x11 (template called for 8.5x11, but I chose a 12x12 paper)
3- 8x8 solid cardstock (used most, but have some scraps
A2 card bases (premade or an 8.5x11 cut to 8.5x5.5 and folded)
Vellum scrap
Various ribbons
Paper flowers
Jewel stickers
Eyelets

The best part is I didn't buy anything for this set of cards!  I picked up three more masculine patterned papers and cardstock to go with them, as well as two more feminine sets.  One thing more that I need to check into is the price difference between premade card bases and using cardstock.

Card Making Machine

This weekend has been busy with card making.  I made up a set of thank you notes for Melodi's birthday earlier in the week and finished them up this weekend, they are at the bottom of the Melodi's Second Birthday Party post.  A couple of birthday cards were also on my to do list, one for my grandma and one for my bestie Liz.  Finally, I finished up my Christmas thank yous, but that was only because the last package arrived and I had some extras from December/January left laying around (I really did get the rest of them out earlier than 2 months after Christmas).

Birthday Card for Grandma
This is an original design of mine.  I used the Cricut cartridge Straight from the Nest for the bird and used the CCR for to cut all layers.  Any sentiment could be used, I used the same "happy birthday" as on the next card, stamped in brown on the inside.  I used the brown card from the DCWV Solid Box of Cards, a Bazzill brown from my scraps, the cream and green both came from the DCWV Latte matstack, and the red goes a long way back as it was in my scraps from my WSU graduation announcements.  The green ribbon is from an Offray microspool.

Birthday Card for Bestie
I found this pinned for a hello card and when I was looking through my Papercrafts: Cards board for a quick and easy card it is the one that won.  Once again the card is form the DCWV Solid Box of Cards.  The pink and green ribbons are from Offray microspools and the yellow is from an Offray Spoolo' Ribbon.  The flowers are form the $1 bin at Michaels.

Christmas Thank You Set

This was a pin that used a ladybug and the sentiment "thank you."  The cards are from the $1 bin at Michaels.  The green paper is from a cardstock stack of basic colors, embossed using my Cuttlebug.  I don't remember where the red ribbon came from, but there are two different sizes there.  The patterned paper came from my scrap stash as I used it for photo ornaments and layouts for Christmas 2010.  When I started writing them I decided that I needed to score a line in so that the card front could flip up easily, so I scored the line and glued down the top.

Did you notice the new watermarks on my photos?  I did them in FotoFlexer.  More on that in my next post.

Pinspired Project: Paper Bag CD Envelope

A year ago, between my mom, husband and myself, I bought three Mixbook $15 Groupons good for a total of $150.  I finally finished Melodi's first year book and got 6 copies made (me, my and my DH's parents, and three sets of our DD's great-grandparents) .  Since I couldn't fit all of the favorite pictures from her first year into the book I made CDs for everyone as well.  This project is pinspired from A Beautiful Mess Blog who did this for music CDs. 

Fold a normal size paper lunch bag (NOT jumbo) in half.

Add paper layers as desired.

Embellish as desired.

This is the sizing of the paper bag envelope to CD.

Tie with bakers twine, crochet thread, ribbon, etc.

As you can see I used a variety of embellishments, all from my stash.  The letters were all stickers, but I used stickers, felt buttons, buttons and chipboard for the decorative portion.  The original put them into clear bags but I was unable to find the right size the the local Hobby Lobby so left that step out.