Bookplates Make The World Go Round

I just adore bookplates and can't stop thinking about them since I tucked them into my sister-in-law's baby shower invites with this poem:

Just one last request, and we hope it's not hard

Please bring baby a book in place of a card

By signing the bookplate, we will remember and share

Your special gift, even when you're not there!

I had bookplates made by Social Butterfly Ink to match the invitations, but I have also seen some adorable custom ones on Etsy.

Oodles Of Color Shop

Our own personal library has these beauties from Jack and Izzy. 

A stamp would also be cute!

Many sites offer FREE downloads:

{insert happy dance}

Bookplate from Nested

For the Love of That Sillie Smile

ohdeeoh

Happy Doodle Land

From one of my favorite blogs, Our Humble A{Bow}d

Pluff Mud Studio Valentine Creations

When the amazing Pluff Mud Studio offered 5 readers the chance to have their Valentine's Day Printables for FREE, I jumped at the chance. I fell in love instantly with the sweet lion and turtle and knew exactly how I wanted to use them.

Seriously, LOOK at that lion!!! Doesn't get much cuter!

Here is how I used my Valentine's Day printables:



The ice cream bowl was made by Simply Pretty Prints. She sells the most adorable custom cards, hand painted porcelain and ceramic items. I think I really need this dessert dish  next...

I digress. Back to the bowl. The other side of the bowl is a super gorgeous flower design and name of the lucky little girl this is going to! I filled the bowl with yogurt raisins, added a spoon and red ribbon. Instant cute present. Ready to go!

I had extra candy canes so I glued them together to make a heart and added a cute Pluff Mud Studio Valentine's Day circle in the middle.

Lastly, I thought I would make my Valentine's Day prints look extra special with my new Valentine's Day printables and Potter + Butler garland (remember I used this at Christmas time to make my countdown?)

Thanks so much Christina for letting me have so much fun with your Valentine's Day printables. If you are looking to buy your own set,  you can find them here .

Valentine Kisses, sort of.

I was playing around in Picnik and created this Valentine for my littlest bugger. Picnik is a free download and can be used to edit pictures, add backgrounds, or just create something completely new.

To make this card:- First, took pictures of little bugger against a white wall blowing and catching kisses- I chose four pictures and added them to picasso using "create collage", cropped and saved draft- Took the saved draft and chose the edit in picnik option- Then chose picture pile to create the staggered look- Changed the pictures to the instant camera frame in the picture background option- Added text and hearts (I used the fade options to lighten the hearts). - Viola!  A homemade Valentine!

Picnik also has a mustache application that I am dying to use!

Valentine Lovefest, Navy Edition

Beautify Your Blog Results

I have been learning leaps and bounds from Nina over at Momma Go Round  during her Beautify Your Blog series. HTML code doesn't seem so daunting anymore! I was able to change my template, widen the page, center my widgets, diversify fonts, and add a signature. I am still working out the kinks on a button and header.                                         
Thank you Nina!

Arrr! A Treasure Fer Me Hearty! ... Pirate inspired Valentines

We were late celebrating Christmas with my family this year, so one gift in particular was still sitting on my kitchen counter and was the inspiration for my son's school Valentines this year. Do you ever get these beauties on St. Nicholas Day?

We do.
This, is now this!

Cute right? Aye!
Linked up to:

All Pigs Are Beautiful Baby Shower

All Pigs Are Beautiful Baby Shower

There are little pigs and big pigs,

pigs with long snouts and pigs with short snouts,

pigs with ears that stand up and pigs with ears that flop down.

But all pigs are beautiful.

-All Pigs are Beautiful book by Dick King-Smith

Dessert Table

{No Sew} Onsie Bunting

Lunch menu

Party Cracker Favors

Animal stamps hidden inside the party crackers

Mason jar candles wrapped with fabric

Paper straws and mason jar glasses

Homemade Apple Pie

Personalized place mats for the children's table
Coloring page from Twisty Noodle

Fair prize ribbon cupcake toppers 
and Two Sugar Babies cupcake toppers

 Cake Pops by Terri's Treasures

This weekend I had the pleasure of throwing a baby shower for my future nephew! We traveled 10 hours to get there the day after New England got hit with 24 inches of snow! Luckily the roads were plowed and ready for us and we made it there safely. The shower was so much fun.

Highlights of the shower:

• We asked guests to bring a book for the parents-to-be rather than a card. We included a matching bookplate in the invitation for guests to sign and place inside their book.
• Cake pops from Terri's Treasures were a huge hit!
• Favors were pig shaped gingerbread cookies tied with twine and matching thank you tag.
• A family of metal pig silhouettes greeted guests outside as they arrived (forgot to take a picture!)
• Food included soups, salad, chicken salad, croissants, and homemade country fair bread.
• We set up a children's table with personalized place mats and poppers. Inside the popper party favors were farm animal stamps to take home.
• Mason jar drinking glasses and paper straws
• Mason jars wrapped with fabric used as candle holders
• Onesie bunting hanging in front of the gift opening area
• homemade apple pie
• twine fabric garlands

Special Thanks to the following people:

Invitations and party graphics by Social Butterfly

Cake Pops by Terri's Treasures

Cupcake toppers by Two Sugar Babies

Farm Animal Stamps from Oriental Trading

Fabric from JoAnns

Piggy Banks: Dollar Store

All baked goods: Grandma Jan

Baby Shower Prep

The baby shower prep work is nearly complete, with a few surprise additions waiting to be added at the last minute. We are just waiting for weather reports. Boston is supposed to be getting a nor' easter of 17 inches or more.

Special thanks to Jennifer at Social Butterfly Ink for the amazing invites and special touches. I will post more pictures after the festivities.

Reason 101 why I love mini clothes pins

They make such good clamps! Working on some cupcake toppers for an upcoming baby shower!