Cloudy Love

{ S w o o n }

Main Entry:	swoon
Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	faint
Synonyms:	be overcome, become unconscious, black out, feel giddy, feel lightheaded, keel over, lose consciousness

Yes, to all of the above. I am so in love...

Tomorrow I will post why I am shopping/swooning over Herriott Grace

Popsicle Brownie Treats

We wanted to make something special for our company tomorrow night, so J Bugger and I got to work making these.

I finally found the PERFECT use for this-- this pan made this super easy. No cutting!

Brownie Pan

We melted the chocolate, guess what color added?

Painted the chocolate on and my assistant added lots of sprinkles

Ten Minute Handmade & Personalized Baby Shower Gift

Remember this post about bookplates?

Well, I love them and knew I wanted to make them as gifts for a twins baby shower next month. Thought I would show you how to make a personalized, handmade gift in less than 10 minutes.

First, I knew I wanted to use these GORGEOUS bookplates from Amanda over at Our Humbled A{Bowe}d. Amanda has an amazing knack for style and design. You must check out her shop and her blog!

I saved them to my computer, opened them in Picnick, and added my text. I could have just added text from Picasa, but I am a bit of a font snob and wanted more choices. I then printed my bookplates on sticker paper (I like Avery full sheet labels).  I added pencil lines as guides to cut out the bookplates. It was such a bonus to have TEN bookplates on each page. Thank you Amanda, genius!

Presentation is everything. So I re (or up?) cycled an old candle box. I added a bookplate to the cover so they could see right away what was inside. I finished the project by wrapping the bookplates in twine around tucking them into some creamy brown tissue paper.

Personalized bookplates & a favorite children's book,

now you have the perfect baby shower gift!

I'm still deciding on a book...  do you have any favorites?

Party Props, Use the Unexpected

I have a confession to make. I have parties on the brain! I plan parties in my head all the time. Whenever I shop, I look at how items would work with different party themes or dessert tables. I can't stop!

I saw this frame at Ikea...
and bought 4!

Tolsby Frame $.99 at Ikea

I was thrilled when I saw Paiges of Style had the same idea 

to use her Ikea frames for her party (can you spot it?)

This party is gorgeous by the way!

Seems like the most fun party tables right now include unexpected, thoughtful displays.
It's amazing how one party prop can change a table

Like this egg rack...

Ceramic Egg Rack

Can be used like this!

Sweep Me Up

Even suitcase make great party props

Buggy and Jellybean


Suitcases can add a vintage feel...

Cupcakes and Cutlery

Photo credit: www.wendyupdegraff.com

Gorgeous!

I'd love to know if you have any items you use at your parties or have seen out shopping!

Crafty Idea | Personalized Placemats

Just wanted to show you a quick and easy way to make personalized placemats. They could also be used as party favors, holiday table decor, educational projects, reusable coloring pages, games, or keepsakes.

First, I printed out my picture from Twisty Noodle.  Love this site. They offer just about every picture possible. My favorite Twisty Noodle feature is that you can add your own text in the worksheet section!  You could also use scrapbook paper or photos... really anything!

I printed two designs for each placemat on heavy card stock, then added an extra piece of cardstock in the middle to make the placemat sturdier.  I tucked all three pieces of paper inside a 9" x 12" laminating pouch and ran it through my laminator on the hottest setting (super on sale from Amazon during the holidays).  SO worth the money because I now can make my own ID and luggage tags as well.


If you do not have access to a laminator, many places sell self-adhesive laminating sheets. 

Ta-Da! Much more fun kids' table now! 

Linking to:

http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/2011/03/pity-party-26/

Rainbow Lovin'

Stumbled on this gorgeous {free} rainbow print made by Rebecca from Simple As That. I am loving all the rainbow themed parties and St. Pat's crafts out there and have some big plans for it next month. Rebecca currently lives on a tiny island in the Caribbean right now, how cool is that?  She doesn't even have a printer, so if you do print this beauty, send her a picture! I know she would love that.

Behind the scenes:


*My biggest bugger has been sick with a stomach bug. I haven't left the house in 6 days. Starting to get the stir crazies!


*Notice a new button on top of my page labeled "promise me"?  I decided to share my personal goals for the promise me challenge. I will continue to update my progress there. 


Anyone else writing down some goals?  

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
— Dr. Seuss (Happy Birthday to You!)

Cake Central

We plan to do a little celebrating in honor of Dr. Seuss's March 2nd birthday! Here are a few of my favorite ideas to get you started on your own celebrations!

I am in LOVE with this 

free print from 74 Lime Lane

1 Fish 2 Fish Placemat 

from ObSEUSSed

Easy Peasy Green Eggs 

Snack from A Bushel and a Peck

Make Your Own Darling 

Lorax Truffula Trees from Craft Jr

Make OOBLECK!

recipe from Oopsey Daisy

Play the Dr. Seuss Matching Game!  Download here

Make your very own FOOT BOOK

FREE cupcake toppers printables

from Moo Moo's & Tutus

SO many great Dr. Seuss resources out there to use!  

I can't wait to celebrate with the kids!

I am Inspired. The Promise Me Challenge

Do you have anyone that truly inspires you?  I do. First I fell in love with her design work...

"Love you to the moon" baby shower

She's Going to Pop Baby Shower

ABC Baby Shower

Then, I find out Jessica from Pen n' Paper flowers Studio and Designs is a wife, mom, entrepreneur, & part of the Martha Stewart Dreamers Into Doers circle. Wow. Now she is stepping up again and has created the promise me challenge. 

A year long adventure of enrichment, self-discovery, personal growth, creative awakening, promises, joy, and purpose. 

  

Purpose. That is a strong, deliberate word. 

It means that I need to be more intentional in my decisions, my time, my direction. 

Feel inspired yet?  

Please visit Jessica's blog to get all the details and join her promise me challenge. Send her your name (tell her I sent you!) and she will add you to her promise me list. There might even be some fun inspirational gifts along the way...

Jessica created this {adorable} printable promise me list 
Fill it out. 
Go beyond the goals you think you can do. 
Challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone. 
I will to. 
I writing mine now. 
Are you?

Terrible Twos Strike Again

This is the latest hobby of my two year old...

he gathers every toy in playroom 

and piles them on the stairs

This has become a daily ritual. He waits till the coast is clear and quietly starts his work. This is our second time around for experiencing the terrible twos, somehow this time it seems worse with my littlest bugger. Is that true for anyone else?

More public tantrums

No interest in potty training

Every sentence begins and ends with "no" or better yet the word "poop"

Anyone else experiencing the two's out there or been through them?!!!