The next generation...

Hmmmm...how in the world could my friends kids be so grown up that they are having kids? I am only 23 myself! Yes, I will snap out of it. Last week I went to my second shower this summer, this time the mom-to-be is the daughter-in-law of one of my bestest and dearest friends.

The shower was a delightful summer luncheon filled with friends, laughter and many, many good memories.Again I made a diaper cake; this time the color pallette was blue because we all know that Liam is a boy! I promise that this is my last one for a while. While the design is similar to the previous one, this cake is simpler. I topped it with a sweet stuffed giraffe that plays a lullaby and turns his little head. Hopefully Liam will like him. I also included a gift card for anything that Mom and Dad might need after his homecoming.

My God-daughter, hostess of the event, really worked hard on the decor.She made the most wonderful entrance to the home with a bower of simple tissue flowers, but the effect was so charming. I had to share this photo.

Amongst other things...I am really behind in my scrapping and cardmaking. Hopefully I will have something to share next week.

Hope your weekend is great!

Best,

Tee

Happy Birthday!

A good friend (who wants to remain anonymous) just passed a significant birthday and I made her a card. She did say that I could post the card.

So, thanks to a new member of the over 50 crowd, here is my most recent creation! I used a stamp set from CTMH that can't be purchased (it was a special promo, more's the pity) for the flower and center The only other significant things about this card is that I popped some of the images for interest, and used a rhinestone from Michael's dollar bin.


Thanks for looking!
Tee

The Shower!

Cindy is the sister my mom never delivered. Since that first Saturday over 25 years ago that we drank a pot of coffee together, we have been kindred spirits. Ben, Cindy's son, married Melanie in April, 2007. They have recently purchased a new home and are expecting their first child, a little girl.

Well, I couldn't let that grand event go without having a shower for them! I called our mutual cohort-in-crime, Rhonda, and the shower was a go-go-go since Ben and Melanie live about 8 hours away and she is due in September. We scrambled to get the date and then the preparations started.

First of all we found out that Melanie had picked out "Animal Crackers" by Lambs 'n' Ivy as a design for the nursery. I based the invitation on those colors and prints. The photo of the invite is poor, I know. I am working on learning more about taking photos for this blog. As usual I used Close To My Heart cardstock, patterned paper, ribbon and buttons. The embossing was done with my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.

I matched the colors from the Animal Crackers patterns which were Baby Pink, Key Lime, Bubblegum, and Buttercup. I used my Cricut to cut out the hobby horse with the Joys of Christmas cartridge. Such versatility; I just changed the colors! The button is attached with Bubblegum waxy flax, also from CTMH. Here is another view so that you can see the layers.

All of the preparations were based on these colors and were mostly pink, pink, pink!!! Rhonda and I had a wonderful time planning all of the festivities. The special day went off without a hitch and here is a photo of the mom-to-be and the grandmom (Cindy)-to-be!

Again I leaned heavily on my Cricut. I used the New Arrivals cartridge to cut cute, whimiscal animals for embellishments for the cupcakes. I also delved into another craft and made a diaper cake for Melanie. Believe me when I say that diaper cakes aren't as easy as they look! Mine was the smooth, swirled kind and I could have used another pair of hands but with enough ribbon and adhesive, I got it done. I really had a great time playing with all the special little things that I found for babies!

I must also pay homage to the creativity of my buddy, Rhonda. She found a photo of this melon fashioned into a baby carraige and with many giggles,

she pulled it off! It was a wonderful creation and much admired by all the ladies attending.

Since I was in the other room, I didn't watch the process so I cannot tell you how it was done. If I get emails I will pass them along to Chef Rhonda!

Both of us had a great time celebrating the coming of this special little girl! We are all looking forward to meeting her in late September!

This is a long post but just wanted to share what I have been working on. Hopefully my next post will have some scrapbooking as I am visiting one of my bestest scrappin buddies next week for a weekend scrapathon!

Ta-Ta,

Tee

Catching up

Whew. I knew it had been a while since I posted but did not realize how long. My apologies.

I have a card to share that I made for my mentor and boss, Hazel Farmer, who, this month, celebrated her 40th anniversary where we work. What an achievement in a time that a job is just a stepping stone to another. I have become fascinated with the last couple of years' worth of images of chandeliers. This one is from my newest Cricut cartridge: Home Decor. All of the papers and cardstock came from the Life Delights set from Close To My Heart. I added some inking and bling and voila! The stamps are from Inkadinkado and Heidi Grace.

I used bronze Stickles for the "flames" and broke apart little rhinestone flowers from CTMH for the crystal accents. The green mat was cut from a die with my BigShot.

I am presently planning a baby shower for my good friend Cindy Pittman's daughter-in-law, Melanie. So I am up to my neck in everything pink and precious! I will share some photos of the invite and preparations after the shower on Saturday next. In the meantime, stay cool!

Best,

Tee

Almost a winner...

I entered the Crafty Brides' contest at Createforless.com with the things I made for Nikki's wedding. Though I didn't win, I made the website. This is the closest that I have ever come to being published and I was proud to see my name and her work on the computer. (blushing!)

Since I couldn't get the link to work, ( and it is not easy to get to) here is the verbiage of the winning entries:

Congratulations to Nancy T. from Menomonee Falls, WI, who was randomly chosen as the winner of our Crafty Brides Drawing and a $100 CreateForLess shopping spree! The craft tip she sent us was... "My son's new bride loves black and pink. We couldn't find something suitable for the table decorations, so I made 22 small quilts to fit the bill. The quilts are made using 4 strips (these are 2", but they can be made in a variety of sizes) into a strip set, then cutting 60% triangles, alternating the placement of the ruler. Combine the six triangles from each strip set to make one small quilt (sew three together twice, then join the halves). Layer with batting on the bottom, right side of quilt up, with backing right sides together with quilt top. Sew around the outside edges, leaving enough of the edge open to turn. Trim corners, turn right side out, press. Using a decorative stitch from your machine, stitch around the outside edge, then along each "round" until you get to the center. Everyone wanted one!" Here are more of our favorite crafty bride ideas submitted by customers. Thanks to everyone who entered!

They showed the photo of the table frames. I was proud of the effort.

Thanks,

Tee

Just for fun...

http://This has got to be the funniest pet video I have ever seen! It made me laugh and I hope it gives you happiness today.

Happy 4th!

Tee

Different Personalities

My sign is Gemini so I definitely have 2 different personalities; those that know me well have adapted. The reason I am sharing this is that the 3 cards I am showing today are totally different and, if I didn't know better, would have assumed they would have been done by 3 different people.

It just goes to show you that I am influenced by whatever mood I may be in; the stamps or paper I may be using; or, even why I am making the card.

The first is a Thank You to a dear family friend for leaving me various vegetables from her garden. It is such a delight to come home and a bag of squash, green beans, or corn are left hanging on our front door knob. I simply used scraps of a set from Close To My Heart called Let's Get Together, some pop dots, and a bit of ribbon.

The white card is a sympathy card to some friends who just lost their parents very closely together. I just ran white textured cardstock through the Cuttlebug on the Damask folder, stamped the greeting and tied a bit of grey ribbon around the card. I did line the front of the card with grey cardstock to match the ribbon and ink. This card is a regular 4.25" x 5.5" card turned sideways with an off center fold.

The final card is one to send to a friend that is having a difficult time healthwise and could use some lifting up. The inspiration was a new stamp set from Our Daily Bread called "Ask, Seek, Knock." It is one of my favorite verses of the Bible and I was thrilled to find it in rubber!

For this card I stamped the door and the verse with chocolate ink on kraft cardstock and mounted it on cream then on Twilight cardstock. All my cardstock and most patterned papers come from Close To My Heart. I inked the outer edges with chocolate and colored in the door with markers, again from Close To My Heart. The ribbon is chocolate and the buttons are vintage from my stash.

Someday I may have a certain "style" that will be recognizeable but for now, you never know how things will turn out.

Have a great week!

Tee