Family Gift Swap - Baltimore, MD - November 2011

I can't believe I'm already thinking about Christmas gifts.  reason number one is that it's in the 60's out side and I didn't even wear a coat today.  Reason number two is, if it's almost Christmas than I have less than 3 months till we meet this sweet baby! Yay!

After doing the family Christmas crazy dance last year, my siblings and I chattered about potentially doing a name swap this year so that we could concentrate more on the season rather than the mad dash to be sure you'd gotten everyone a gift.  So a few weeks ago I reintroduced the idea and everyone was still game to give it a go, so I volunteered to organize.

First off, I found this website which made it super easy to randomly generate the swap.  It allows you to set exceptions so that you don't draw your spouse or the same person you drew last year.

Second, I wanted to find a cute way to let my family know who they'd drawn. Yes, e-mail is "easy" but a cute card in the mail is WAY more fun!!!

I got these great "I Am Thankful For" cards from this Jones Design Company post.  This isn't how she used the cards, but I thought they were perfect for what I'm calling "Swap Cards".

I found these colorful blank cards at Target and stuck the "thankfulness" cards to the blank cards 

This is the finished product. 

(NOTE: The lower "eat-drink-be merry" card was from this JDC Free Christmas goodies post and I used it to communicate the "swap" details.)

I sent them to each family member with instructions to include the card with a message when they gave their gift.  This may sound silly to some, but this year more than ever I'm really feeling the need to stay connected to my family as we aren't going to be able to return to Tennessee for Christmas and both of my younger siblings could very likely be deployed fighting for our country next Christmas.

It was my goal to make it as easy as possible for each of us to know how much we are loved and to know that each of us hold a VERY special place in our family.

I miss and love them like crazy!

Till next time,

Bon Voyage

A Thanksgiving Craft C/O JDC Monthly - Baltimore, MD - November 2011

I joined JDC Monthly's printables a couple of months ago and have really enjoyed the cute calendars and note cards.  Another fun part is that she does a really cute DIY craft each month.  The first month she made her own envelopes.  Mine didn't turn out nearly as cute as hers.  The corners were all wonky  and none of my lines were straight (probably because I can't make a straight line to save my life) but I'm sure I just need more practice.

Each month generally has a theme, and this month had a hint of Thanksgiving.  I LOVED how cute it turned out in her house, so I decided to give it  a whirl.

So, after last year's whirl wind of putting up and taking down Christmas decorations with an infant under foot and only really getting to enjoy them for a few weeks, i decided that this year I'd start decorating after Halloween.  By doing this, our home would look festive and beautiful all the way through the holiday season.  So I started with our fireplace.

Before craft: This garland came from Sams Club last year and the "PEACE" letters were an after Christmas bargain 5 years ago from HomeGoods

 Craft in progress: I printed and cut out the letters from heavy card stock, then glittered the fronts...

 and backs of each letter.

 I used spray glu and fine glitter.

(I started using a glue stick, but the glitter didn't stick very well at all.)

 After letting everything dry for about an hour I punched two holes in the top of each letter and  threaded some twine through the holes to connect the letters.

FIRST LESSEN LEARNED: I think I'll let the glitter dry a little more if I do this again, because there was a little more glitter lost than I would have liked when I threaded the twine through the holes.

SECOND LESSEN LEARNED: When possible, do all gluing and glittering OUTSIDE!!!  Even after vacuming 3 times there is still glitter in places that I didn't even know existed.

After all the glitter settled, I hung the letters from the hooks that will eventually hold our stockings

Definitely don't needs stockings before Thanksgiving! =)

I LOVE IT!!!

(And it is note worthy to say that the Hub actually said it looked really good and he REALLY liked it too! YAY!!!)

Another (LESS SPARKLY) Thanksgiving craft coming soon!

Till next time,

Bon Voyage!

I Made This!!! - May 2009

So there's been a box of Funfetti cake mix in the pantry for a couple of weeks now and today, with a few hours on my hands I decided I'd bake.

Note to Reader: This baking in my spare time is NOT normal.

So a little back ground is that I got a pampered Sheff Icing gun a few months back along with a couple of round baking pans. The Hub and I have sort of been splitting the duties of cake creation.


This one is one of our first, and all I remember about it was that there were about 4 different icings on it because:

A.) We couldn't agree on one,

and

B.) We ran out and the store nearest our house didn't have the kind that we started with.

But as the Hub napped on the couch and absorbed the Bolton vs. Wigan game via osmosis and I listened to the announcers going wild, I baked a whole entire Funfetti cake all by myself!

Additional Note to Reader: There's more about what I really think about European soccer announcers coming soon in a future post.

I even searched You Tube for an instructional video on icing and learned this "basket weave technique. The icing got a little melted, so it isn't perfect. but it's not bad for a first try.The Hub said that it's almost too pretty to eat!


Till next time,
Bon Voyage!

All Aboard!!! - February 2009

Note to Reader. As I’ve said a hundred times before, I really don’t feel like I am a crafty person, but once again I’ve boarded the crafting short bus and produced something far too cute not to talk about.

In an effort to save money, since we have a million friends getting married and having babies this spring and summer, I decided that I would try to make at least the baby gifts. So I started searching the blogesphere for crafts and I didn’t have to go far. Back in August, one of the blogs I follow, SabbeSpot did a tutorial on an Easy Baby Quilt and I thought to myself, “Self, you could do this!”

So after spending 4 hours with two of my BFFs, at the brand new Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts, picking out my fabric, then chickening out and putting it all back, and then forcing the Hub to go out there again a week and a half later to get what I’d chickened out on and put back, I had all the tools necessary to finish this project.

Additional Note to Reader: I need to say that although I got the idea for the project from Mrs. Sabbe Chic I did take a few creative liberties to put my own spin on it.

I used the following
1 yard x 42” Printed Cotton Fabric (Large print old fashened trains)
1 yard x 42” fleece (Red Tie Die Fleece)
NOTE: Prewash and iron all of your fabric. (This prevents it from doing funky stuff when you wash the assembled blanket for the first time.)
1 yard x 42” quilt batting
2 packages of COTTON Double Folded Bias Tape
1 spool of COTTON thread (color should coordinate with the tape)
1 package of 6 thread string.
1 can of spray adhesive

Step 1: Sandwich the batting between your fleece and printed fabric and pin. (I used a spray adhesive that really helped keep things together till I could get it all pinned)

Step 2: Sew around the outside of the fabric joining the top print and the bottom fleece together.

Step 3: Take the double folded bias tape and pin it around the edges that you just finished sewing.

Corners and Junctions
The corners were a little tricky. I folded and pinned them instead of cutting and sewing them back together. Either way works just fine. Since my blanket was a little bigger, I also had to join two packs of Bias tape together. HINT: A trick I learned half way through was that it was a lot easier for the machine to go over the corners and junctions if I pinned it going the same direction I was sewing.
Step 4: When you have everything pinned, begin attaching the bias tape. Try to sew as close to the edge as you are able, maybe a quarter of an inch) Make sure that you are covering the stitching below on the top and underside of the blanket.
The final step is to knot the blanket.
Step 5: I first cut a piece of the 6 thread string that I felt was long enough to do all the knots and used a needle with a large enough eye to fit the thread. HINT: Make your knots by making one stitch from top to bottom and then back to the top. Tie a square knot and clip the remaining string to leave a quarter of an inch or less of length.
NOTE: Your batting will indicate how far apart the knots need to be. Mine were every 5 inches, so I alternated spacing so that every other row lined up and that alternating rows were in the middle.

That’s all there is to it! It literally took about 5 hours start to finish, but it must be said that I am a novice sewer and wrestled with setting up my machine for 1 of those 5 hours. I hope the mommy, daddy, and baby like it.

Giving Credit Where it’s Due:
I have two people to thank for the completion of this project.

One is the rockin’ sales assistant at the Jo-Ann Store who prevented me from buying the wrong thread, the wrong binding, the wrong batting, the wrong material to do my ties, and pretty much everything except the fabric that I had to swap out because I’d gotten it all wrong.

Second is my friend Sarah, without whom I would have never gotten past threading the bobbin wrong. To you both, Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!!
I am so happy with how well this turned out and I am inspired to make a few more for some deserving mommies and babies. In fact, the hub liked it so much that he has requested one in camouflage!!!

Till next time,
Bon Voyage!

Crafty Christmas Cards - December 2008

Note to Reader: Okay, as you may know, I’m a pretty creative person, but I’m not always the best at turning creative thoughts into actions. A lot of times they stay thoughts, but every once in a while, I like to “get my craft on!” This Christmas was one of those times. Contributing factors may have been that I haven’t done anything crafty in some time, combined with the fact that due to interviews, the Hub has been away more than he has been here.

So there I was admiring my good friend Nancy’s Christmas card from this year (which BTW I received on December 5th… Dude, she was on the ball!) And also admiring my friend Sarah Dime’s card from last year (handmade and SUPER cute) and I got to thinking; this can’t be too hard to do myself. My criteria were that I wanted it to be handmade (like Sarah’s card), look very classy yet simple (like Nancy’s card), and have a photo of the hub and I, like both inspiring cards. Another reason for the photo is that my dear friend Robyn told me the she never keeps christmas cards unless there are photos of the couple on them and to be quite honest... I wanted her to keep our card! Oh and one more thing, the handmade cards must cost less than printing photo cards at XXX’s Club.

So after outlining a tentative design in my head, I got up early Saturday morning and hit the XXX-Mart, printed 75 photos (the Hub and I have big families and lots of friends far far away that we hardly ever get to see). After happily and leisurely wandering through the aisles for about an hour and a half (something I NEVER could have done while shopping with the Hub), I not only had all the tools necessary for my project I’d come in UNDER budget by $10.00! I really had a TON of fun making these cards. The best part was that when my sister arrived for the holidays I put her to work and after a last minute run to the store for tape and after calling several relatives for addresses that were nowhere to be found. The project was a HUGE success!

So here’s my first attempt at a tutorial.
I used:
75 pgs Black Card Stock
75 pgs White Card Stock
75 3x5 photos
1 Holiday Themed Punch (I chose a snow flake)
2 rolls Double Sided Scotch tape
1 Red Sharpie Marker
1 Green Sharpie Marker
1 silver gel pen
1 Glue Stick
1 slide paper cutter

Start with 1 page of black cardstock.


Fold in half and smooth fold so card lays flat. (The side of the Sharpie Marker works GREAT for this.)

Punch a design into the front of the card and set aside for now. (This design will eventually show through as a white design.)

Using a paper cutter, cut one page of white card stock in half. (One half will be the Photo Mat and the other half will be the white insert inside the card.)

Stick photo to half page of white Card Stock.

With paper cutter, trim the cardstock around the photo leaving about a ½ in. boarder. Then stick matted photo to the front of the card above where the designs were punched.

Trim ½ in. from around the edge of the insert page. (I also punched an additional snowflake into the top center of the insert page.)

Glue or tape the insert page to the inside of the card.

Write a colorful message on the inside of the card.

Add any additional personal touches. (I added our monogram in silver gel pen on the back. Oh so PRETTY!!!)

The card is now ready to be slipped into an envelope, addressed, stamped, and mailed off for friends and family to enjoy! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Till next time,
Bon Voyage!

It's Really Going to be a Blanket - November 2008

Note To Reader: I've been keeping this one a little bit under wraps, but am finally confident that it's going to actually turn into what I want, so I am no longer worried about showing others.

So a few, (maybe 5) months ago I went to a crafting brunch at one of my BFF's house and was taught (please notice I didn't say I learned) to crochet. I literally started with a single line that looked a lot like this...And for what felt like months, probably because it was, this thing never grew. It felt like when ever I actually made the time to sit down and work on it, I ended up pulling out what I'd done because it looked like a GIGANTIC mess.

But after a few telephone tutorial s and an onsite demonstration on how to properly negotiate and stack the Double crochet, I actually think I got it. I mean for lack of a better word, I was zooming!!! See the picture below of my progress after only a few months. (STOP Laughing! Yes, I really did say months as a positive!) What do you think of my helper? =)
Everyone I showed it to told me that I was on the right track. Every one that is, except this really mean lady on a flight from Baton Rouge, LA that told me my technique was just okay for a beginner and my stitches were way too loose. She honestly said “well it’s good for a beginner, but let’s just say I wouldn’t give that one away.” Necessary… I think NOT!!!

Anyhow, I started crocheting everywhere; while watching TV, sometimes on my lunch break, and my number one favorite place… while waiting in airports and on airplanes!

My one problem is that my blanket is mysteriously growing in width… it’s actually supposed to grow in length… hmmmmm… not sure why my blanket doesn’t seam to know these rules, but from what I’ve been told a baby will never notice.
Anyway, so here’s my progress as of tonight. I’ll be starting on the 3rd skein before I go to bed. Yahoo!!! They Hubby keeps saying that it’s a really big blanket for a baby, but I think that by the time I’m done with it, it’ll be just right.

Till Next time,
Bon Voyage!

Upon My Return – Just back from San Diego, CA. – June 2008

It’s taken a bit, but I’ve discovered that whenever I return from a trip for work there is a sort of routine that ensues. It begins the moment I come through the door. First, if my Hubby is home, from around the corner of the door to his office, I hear him shout, “T-ROD YOUR HOME!!!”

Note to Reader: Don’t laugh, but as a family, my Hub, myself and our two cats Kitty Sticks and Malchek we have the most nick names for each other then anyone I know. We try to embrace creativity and really we pretty much answer to anything even “Hey You!” Just wait till we have kids.

Second comes the pitter patter of little feat, the four legged ultra curious type. Now, depending on how long I’ve been away the following events unfold...

Three days or less: they freeze at the sight of me then begin sniffing the air and quickly move to my travel bags, all the while meowing up a storm telling me all about how they have missed me like crazy and don’t ever go away for that long again.

Longer than three days (even if it’s only by a couple of hrs.): it’s a completely different story. After their race to the door and the same freeze mid stride, as soon as they realize it’s me, I can tell that a pact between the two of them has been made to ignore me for as long as it takes for me to never leave for that long again.

Kitty Sticks is stead fast and will actually sit backwards in the living room recliner so as not to have to look at me. She’ll walk all the way around the perimeter of the room that I’m in to keep from having to walk past me. I try bribery with treats and she doesn’t budge. She’ll go sit on the couch and snuggle with my Hub while shooting me dirty looks. The only way I can get back into her good graces is to let her sit on the edge of the bath tub and give her her own special water bowl that’s full of “magic” water (water from any bathroom faucet… don’t ask…).

Malchek on the other hand can be bought. He us such a cuddle bug that all I have to do is scoop him into my arms and rub on his head between his ears for just a little longer than normal and he has completely melted. I honestly think his favorite pass time is exploring the bags and suit cases that I bring home. He’s a complete hoot. He really likes to get inside of everything to hide then when you least expect it he’ jumps from said hiding place (in this case a shopping bag or our bedroom comforter) and attacks your ankles.

This trip in particular was the longest thus far just over five days and the kitties were in rare form. Malchek was into EVERYTHING and as you can see Kitty Sticks couldn't even be bothered to wake up. I walked in the door, she cracked her eyes, saw it was me, and then promptly returned to her nap.

The biggest suprise from returning from this trip is that my Hub had had three photos of our kitty cats printed and framed. they are the one's at the top of this post. I actually got a little misty at his thoughtfullness. YEAH!!! I am a lucky girl!

Till Next Time,
Bon Voyage!

My Crafty Diaper Cake!!!

OK Here's the proof...

The Diaper Cake I made for Amy's baby shower (with Jeremy's help)!!!

It still surprised me that it came out as good as it did. Maybe one day I will craft again! I've already got a few ideas of different things I can do for the next Diaper Cake. I'm not sure I'm good enough yet for a cookie bouquet, but this really gives me hope! =)

Till Next Time,
Bon Voyage

P.S. See post below, "I Just Might Be Crafty" for more info.

I Just Might Be Crafty! - May 2008

Note to Reader: I am side stepping a little from literal travel here and moving in the direction of figurative travel. This is a sort of “right of passage” story on my way to becoming a more well rounded (not ROUND!!!) woman. So this is more of a life journey rather than a road trip.

OK, so I’ve never really thought of myself as a “crafty” person, “creative” maybe, but “crafty” nah…, but lately I’m finding myself surrounded by obscenely crafty people. They make clothing for little children that aren’t even theirs. They make perfect little tiny crocheted shoes for perfect little tiny babies! They make burp cloths and blankets for expectant mothers, cookie bouquets for birthday girls, recycled grocery sacks (both ironed and braded)… and more. Anyhow, being friends with these girls has a tendency to make me feel like I am under achieving and as though I need to definitely be doing more.

All of this crafting pushed me a few weekends ago to start searching for a project to prove myself among these super crafty women. I looked high & low, and far & wide for such an occasion that would require the need of my craft… (By the way, at this particular point in time I had no idea what the heck my craft would be. However, I was positive that talking someone’s ear off and texting would not qualify as a craft worthy of display at any event in the near future.) As I sat studying my calendar an idea jumped into my head! I literally felt electricity shoot through my mind!!! If I could pull this one off I just might make it into the rookie crafter’s Hall of Fame! My good friend Amy’s baby shower was scheduled for May 10th and that would be the day that I’d make my crafting debut with the most AWESOME diaper cake the world has ever seen!

PAUSE! Additional Note to Reader: I know that the words Diaper, Awesome, and Cake probably don’t appear together in the same sentence very often, but these “cakes” although not edible are simply amazing. I was inspired by my friend Kristin because of the cake that she made for another friend’s shower that looked incredible and she really made it sound pretty easy. So with that, I embarked on my first serious crafting adventure.

So I don’t know if this is the right way, but this is my recipe for a three tiered diaper cake ha ha… that turned into four! =)

Kristin said that the cake was really just a large package of diapers, lots of rubber bands of assorted sizes, and some. ribbon. Other than that the diaper cake is really what you want to make of it. You can make it as simple or as extravagant as you like. So with husband in toe (primarily to keep my spending in check) we hit the super Target for the needed supplies. Kristin had said “a large package of diapers, so I found the largest package of diapers in the whole store, which was a box of 154 swaddlers for 7-10lbs babies. This would prove to be more than enough diapers! =) Then a quick stop in the office supplies and the to gift wrap for ribbon. I got one spool of ribbon and had a small crisis when I ran out, but thanks to my husband, who we discovered had a hidden talent for splitting ribbon perfectly, we actually doubled the length of ribbon and every thing worked just fine. Then we were off to the baby supplies section of the store.a couple of pacifiers, a bottle, some hats, onzies, and bibs, and a baby first aid kit that was approved by the Red Cross. Oh and I almost forgot the softest little green froggie blanket buddy that literally jumped into our cart and refused to leave. (What are you going to do!?)

The assembly was definitely a challenge but remember, I am not that crafty. I snapped myself about 30 times with rubber bands. I kept launching diapers across the dining room like a sling shot which sent my kitty cats scrambling for cover then returning to investigate the ammunition. I had to ask for assistance from Jeremy about 5 times, so really the credit for this cake is actually half his. After about four hours of assembly, disassembly, and then reassembly, searching You Tube for an instructional video, then disassembly, and then the final reassembly, the result was really AWESOME! I can honestly say that I am impressed that I actually created something that cool and useful!!!

Till Next Time,
Bon Voyage

P.S. These Diaper cake photos aren't the cake that I made. I'm waiting to get photos of my cake, because I forgot to take my own pics before I left the house. I'll post them as soon as I get them =)