May 30, 2011

Our Virtual Baby Shower!


Have you heard of a "Virtual" Baby Shower?  
Let me tell you about ours . . .

My sweet sister Judy organized this unique baby shower for our daughter Katie, who is expecting a Baby GIRL on July 4th.  Katie and her hubby have moved several times and have family and friends around the world.  Because of this, it was next to impossible to plan a baby shower where everyone could attend.  So, Aunt Jude came up with the plan to hostess a Skype shower and asked me to create the invitations.  Since everything else would be online, we thought a nice handmade invitation would be the perfect personal touch.


I borrowed my friend Vicki's Little Hellos stamp set by Stampin' Up to make the invitation.  Isn't that just the cutest little giraffe you ever saw? :)   There are several layers to this, but with my creative daughter-in-law Jami helping me, they didn't take us long at all.   Jami had the idea to use the baker's twine to tie it all together and I just love how they turned out.


The inside of the invitation was drafted in Word and printed on regular copy paper.  It took a little while to figure out how to explain this unique shower, but I think we got the message across.  If you click on the photo, you should be able to read it.   If you want to do something like this and have any questions, please feel free to ask me.   My sister lives in California, but she traveled to Las Vegas where she was joined by KT's mother-in-law.  They got everything decorated and the laptops set up for the big event. 
Here at my home, I had a luncheon for friends and family and we were able to watch her open her gifts live via the computer.  In addition to us, she had girlfriends and family in other parts of the country contact her too.  Oh, the joys of technology!! It was wonderful! 
Here are a few photos my sister took at Katie's home:  (I didn't think to take any of us. dang it!)   Do you see how she's sitting in front of the laptop showing us a cute little "wild thing" onsie she opened?   Funny...my daughter-in-law and I sent the same one!  :)

The cute little teddy bear quilt was handmade
 by her Grandma Jeanne.
This will be her first great grandchild.


Baby showers are just so much FUN! 
Thank you for letting me share ours with you today!

Smiles,

~Quote for Today ~
A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. 
Carl Sandburg

May 22, 2011

{SSSC118} SEW Happy for You!


The card I'm sharing with you today was created using the SWEET SUNDAY Sketch Challenge hosted by Karen Giron at The Sweetest Thing.   Here is the sketch if you want to play along this week...  you'll notice I turned it to make my image work with the design.  



This is a standard 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card using chocolate chip cardstock as the base.  On top of that I've stiched one of the oh so pretty floral designer papers from the Basic Grey Sweet Threads collection.  Best of all, and the most FUN, is my button card ~ a new digital set ~ Vintage Button Cards by Paper Fashions, Etc.  

Basic Grey - Sweet Threads 6 x 6 paper pad

a closer view of the front



On the inside I've used a leftover scrap of the floral dp and stitched it right on top of the natural ivory cardstock.  The sentiment is from Paper Fashions, Etc. ~ Sew Sweet Sentiments.

I'm SEW Happy you stopped by today and I hope you like the card I've shared.  If you have a minute, please leave a comment as I really do enjoy hearing from you!  ♥  Maybe you have a suggestion on another way to use this set or the sketch.  If so, I would love to hear it!

*Smiles*

~ Quote for Today ~
Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.
{or we could easily replace "Sewing" with "Cardmaking"!}
~Author Unknown

May 21, 2011

{ColourQ 85} May Your Day be Blessed With Happy!

Hello Peeps!   I'm patiently waiting for the SUN to SHINE on my weekend, but in the meantime I decided to play along with Arielle Gordon's "challenging" Colour Q #85 Challenge!


These are colors I would never put together on my own, but they really do work.  Be sure to visit Arielle's blog and look at all the beautiful samples her Design Team has created to inspire us.  As always, I am simply *amazed*!

My card is a 5-1/4" square of sahara sand, folded at the top.  I've layered on basic gray cardstock and zig zag stitched on a coordinating plaid print from Basic Grey {Sweet Threads 6 x 6 Paper Pad.}  The scalloped edge is peach parfait cardstock and the sentiment is printed on naturals white.


The sentiments on the front and inside are digital images from Paper Fashions, Etc.  Aren't they great?  I simply printed directly onto the cardstock.  They are so convenient, and best of all, you can resize them to whatever you need. 

I just happened to have these big Bazzill Basics paper flowers in my stash and they were the perfect peach parfait color!  I've embellished with a chocolate chip corduroy button and more of the ultra purpose brown and white baker's twine.  Love this stuff!!  {If you need any, I'm selling it in my ETSY Shop!}


Well, I do believe the SUN has come out and that means that I need to get outside and do some yardwork today.   Thanks so much for blogging by . . . and like the sentiment on my card says . . .

May your day be BLESSED with Happy
All day long! 


~ Quote for Today ~
Happiness often sneaks in through a door
you didn't know you left open.
John Barrymore

May 19, 2011

Did someone say BLOG CANDY?!

My stamping buddy and Nebraska neighbor ~ Gail Slagle ~ is giving away a *sweet* assortment of BLOG CANDY this week! 

Please visit her blog What a Load of Scrap and More! and leave a comment for a chance to WIN!  Please tell her I said Hi! : )

May 15, 2011

{SSSC 117} Tickled Pink!


Happy Sunday!   I hope you're all enjoying your weekend and finding a little creative time for yourself!  

Today's card was created using the Sweet Sketch Sunday layout by Karen Giron.  Isn't it great?!  Always is! 


Love that little branch of leaves across the bottom, but I wasn't able to work that in on this card.  Maybe next time!   It's fun to make different size cards and this one is a 6-1/2" square of pink passion folded in half to make it 3-1/4" wide x 6-1/2" tall.  I've layered it with embossed pixie pink cardstock and a scrap of coordinating designer paper.  The lilac is a 2-step stamp set - Blossoms Abound - by Stampin' Up!  The little sentiment is from Very Punny, another Stampin' Up! set.  My embellisment was created using the 5 petal flower punch, an ivory crocheted flower and a button and linen thread to tie it all together! 




What is the weather like in your corner of the world?  I hope you are avoiding all the rain and flooding!  We've had the strangest weather in Nebraska this week!   We've gone from spring to summer and back to winter!  Now the SUN is shining and I'm hoping it's going to hit 60 this afternoon.  Hubby trimmed the trees a few days ago and the limbs are still waiting to be gathered up and disposed of! 

Thanks so much for blogging by and do come back again soon!
 
Happy Stamping! 
~ Quote for Today ~
The smallest act of kindness is worth more
than the grandest intention.
Oscar Wilde

May 08, 2011

Sharing a Baby Quilt on Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there! 
And wishing you ALL a most joyful day!!

We had a fish fry with the kids Friday evening and I had lunch and spent the afternoon with my mother yesterday, so today I'm enjoying a nice quiet day to get a few things done around the house and yard.  I thought it might rain, but the sun is out and calling my name!  : ) 

This is the card I created for my mother.   I made it last week using the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #115, but I never got it posted until now.  


The card is a standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" using Melon Mambo as the base.  I love black and white with a POP of bright color and I thought she would really like this.  

Another terrific sketch by Karen Giron...one I will use often! . . .


And here is another look at my card . . .



Now, I've got something else to share with you that I know you'll enjoy!  A couple months ago I visited a local quilt shop and picked out some darling fabrics for a baby quilt.  My mother is an unbelievable quilter and within days she had this finished for her soon to be first GREAT grandchild.  My daughter Katie is expecting a BABY GIRL in July!!!  :)

I didn't know how much fabric to buy, but there was plenty.  Mom added some "scraps" she had on hand to complete 2 baby quilts!   This first one was a printed panel, but she quilted all around the grass, trees and animals to make it look like it was pieced together.  Don't you think this one will make a great wall hanging in the baby's room?


some close ups....




The second quilt was made with blocks and panels of printed fabric she pieced together and quilted by machine.   It is a nice large size for baby to lay on. 

click on photos for a larger view.


I couldn't wait to show these to you, but I assure you that I'll be sharing more photos when BABY G arrives!!   Thank you for letting me indulge in my "Going to be a GRANDMA!" excitement.  I'm happy you stopped by today and hope you'll come back again soon! 

Smiles 2 U.!

Quote for Today ~

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs...
since the payment is pure love.
~Mildred B. Vermont