Sale-A-Bration is HERE!!

The much anticipated Stampin' Up! event of the year is here! Starting today and going through March 31 you can earn a free and even exclusive stamp set with every $50 pre-tax merchandise you order. If you want to check out the catalog, click HERE. (Don't forget to check out the last page of this catalog. There are some regular catalog stamps sets that you can earn in lieu of the sale-a-bration exclusive sets if you'd like) If you would like to order, click HERE. If you have any questions, let me know!!

Lollipop Washcloth Arrangement

I have posted a version of this before on my blog. You can view it HERE. This was also made for my sister-in-laws shower as part of her decorations. All the decorations I made were also my gift to her (along with a few other things!) I just love showers!!!

Supplies:

• 1 pkg of baby washcloths
• 1 pkg of baby spoons/forks
• curling ribbon
• 1 container
• cricut cuts
• floral wire
• basket shred
• 1/2" ribbon
• cellophane bags (I used Stampin' Up! small flat cellophane bags item # 103104)

Steps:

1. unfold a washcloth
2. begin to fold it in about 1" until you have a long roll
3. curl the folded washcloth in on itself until you have formed the lollipop portion (looks like a spiral)
4. put the fork/spoon onto the back to create the 'stick'
5. place in the cellophane bag
6. tie at base of washcloth with curling ribbon
7. place basket shred into continer
8. arrange lollipops in container with cricut cuts
9. decorate the outside of the container
10. admire your creativity!!

Baby Shower Banner

Continuing with all the goodies that I made for the baby shower, here is a welcome banner that we hung above the cake table.
Supplies:

• cardstock in 4 different colors. Here is what I used *all from Stampin' Up!*: bashful blue, certainly celery, chocolate chip, not quite navy

• tie the knot cricut cartridge
• a child's year cricut cartridge
• 1 roll of 1/2" ribbon
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
• 1 3/4" circle punch
• paper trimmer
• scallop edge punch *Stampin' Up!*
• score-pal
• crop-a-dile
• cuttlebug folder (fleur de lis)
• sticky strip (red tape)

Steps:

1. cut the scallop pennants using the tie the knot cartridge. I cut three from a 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of not quite navy cardstock
2. cut the inside portion of the pennant from certainly celery cardstock
3. run the green inside portions through the cuttlebug to emboss them
4. attach the green embossed paper to the not quite navy paper
5. cut 1 1/2" X 11"strips of bashful blue cardstock **you need one for each pennant**
6. punch one side of the strip with the Stampin' Up! scallop edge punch
7. using the score-pal (or other scoring board, trimmer) score between each scallop
8. accordion fold the strip on each score line.
9. wrap ends of blue strip around and attach using sticky strip tape. **make sure that you attach the ends together while keeping the accordion shape matched up
10. punch a 1 3/4" circle from the bashful blue cardstock
11. attach hot glue to the circle and push the accordion strip down to form a circle shape. Hold until the glue dries.
12. cut out welcome and the baby's name and attach each letter to the blue accordion fold you just created **I attached mine with hot glue**
13. attach the blue accordion accent to the center of the pennant
14. punch a hole in each corner of the pennant
15. thread each pennant onto the ribbon leaving enough for spacing between words and enough to hang on the ends.
16. step back and admire your creativity!!!

Thanks for looking and if you have any questions, please let me know!

Diaper Cake--How To

Well, this is my fourth diaper cake to make. My husband said that I need to start selling these! We shall see about that! I have included how-to instructions with pictures in case you are needing to make one of these yourself. These instructions are for a 3 tier diaper cake which requires 2 pkgs of diapers. I have also made a smaller version that is 2 tiers and only requires 1 pkg of diapers.

Supplies:

• 1 14" cardboard cake round
• 1 pkg of newborn diapers
• 1 pkg of size 1 diapers
• 1 bottle of baby wash-28 oz
• 1 bottle of bedtime baby wash-9 oz
• 1 bottle of bedtime baby lotion-9oz
• 1 bottle of bedtime baby wash-4 oz
• 1 bottle of bedtime baby lotion-4oz
• 1 pkg of newborn pacifiers
• 1 pkg of 0-3 month pacifiers
• large rubber bands
• small rubber bands
• 1 pkg of basket shred
• bamboo skewers
• floral wire
• cricut cuts
• 1 1/4" ribbon
• hot glue gun and glue sticks
  

Steps:

1. begin by rolling all the diapers and secure with a small rubber band. I roll them folded from bottom to top.
2. for this cake, I used the newborn diapers in the middle b/c they were white and put the size one on the outside **I decided to do this after I took the picture**
3. place the large bottle of baby wash in the center of the cake round and place the two 9 oz bottles on either side if it. Put a large rubber band around all bottles
4. start arranging the diapers around the baby wash, placing them inside the rubber band. This way all the diapers will be secure as you place them. Make sure that you leave an edge along the cake round. Do not place the diapers all the way to the edge.
   
5. 
6. add another rubber band to the top of the bottles.
7. start adding your second tier of diapers
8. you want to add until you can only see the outer layer of the bottom diapers
9. 
10. add your two four oz bottles around the large baby wash bottle
11. put a rubber band around these
12. begin adding your last tier of diapers. The 4 oz bottles with stick out at the top, and that is ok. It gives you a place to add your topping!
13. 
14. for the top decoration, I cut a piece of Styrofoam to fit between the two 4 oz bottles
15. attach the cricut cuts by placing the wire into the styrofoam
16. cover the styrofoam and bottle lids with basket shred
17. 
18. place the pacifiers along the top row by pushing the "handle" part down into a fold of the diaper.
19. wrap the 1 1/4" ribbon around the center of each tier to hide the rubber bands. You can tie it in a knot or a bow and trim the ends. You can also glue end to end to hide to make a smooth ribbon wrap.
20. attach cricut cuts to the ribbon with a hot glue gun
    
21. begin putting basket shred between the tiers by gently lifting up and stuffing the shred between the layers. (I put the bottom layer of basket shred on when it was placed on the table at the shower)
    
22. step back and admire your creativity.

Helpful Tips:

• don't glue anything together or to the diapers. If you do, mommy won't be able to use them or take it apart!
• put the rough edges of the rolled diapers on the inside so that you have a clean look on the outside.

Shower Centerpieces

I made two center piece vases for the shower. I used the theme from the baby bedding and matched up colors as close as I could. Thanks for looking
Supplies:
two glass vases
1 1/4" ribbon
basked shred
styrofoam
glittery tulle
cricut cuts
floral wire (heavy gauge)
various floral sprays

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Baby Shower--Door Wreath

My sister-in-law is having her first baby in February. Her shower was this past weekend. My gift to her was to do all the decorations. Well, being the 'cricuteer' that I am, I hand crafted all the goodies. Here is one and check back later this week for the rest!! Thanks for looking!

This is my first attempt at making a door wreath for a baby. My sister-in-law wanted me to create something to hang on her hospital door after the baby is born. Since they live 3 hours away and I might not be able to be there right away, I wanted her to have something she could take to the hospital with her. I gave her a paint pen so she can write in the stats after the baby is born.

Supplies:
* grapevine wreath 14"
* blue ribbon
* bear
* small chalkboard
* vinyl--baby blue and certainly celery-Stampin' Up!
* green floral spray
* cricut machine and cartridges (everyday paper dolls (car), a child's year (lettering))
* floral wire (to hang the chalkboard and to form the bows and to attach the bear)
* decorative wire wrap (I used a blue star one I bought at Walmart during Christmas time)
* hot glue gun and glue sticks
* craft staple gun (you can use a regular one, but the crafting one will be ok)
* wire cutter
* paint pen

Steps:
1. create the bow for the top of the wreath and form
2. wrap blue ribbon around the wreath and hot glue the ends on the back of the wreath
3. tie a hanging loop around one or two of the branches in the wreath
4. wrap the decorative wire around the wreath
5. attach the bear by wrapping floral wire around his neck tie and wrap around the branches of the wreath **this way, mom can remove the bear later if she chooses**
6. cut letters from vinyl and attach to the chalkboard as desired
7. take a piece of wrapped floral wire (I used brown) and run through vines at the top, right of the wreath
8. staples the ends of the wire to the top of the chalkboard corners
9. glue the right side of the chalkboard to the wreath to stabilize it
10. hot glue the floral spray to the wreath under the bear
11. stand back and admire your creativity! :)

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Occasions Mini

It's here and you can start shopping today! It is packed with lots of great goodies! I can't wait to play with all the new things!! Click HERE to start looking and shopping!

Happy New Year

God truly blessed me and my family in 2010. I'm looking forward to what he has in store for us in 2011. Thanks for your visits and comments and I look forward to even more creating in 2011!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!