Gifts For Little Ones

It's been a long time since I've posted any projects.  There is a lot of updating to do.  It's project season around here with Halloween costumes, baby gifts (so many pregnant friends!), fall/Christmas dresses for Audrey, and a few things for myself in the works.  Plus I just got my serger today, so projects are bound to flow!

These are just a few of the gifts I've delivered.

My cousin Amanda had her first baby.  (Yeah!)  Hooded towels just say cozy baby to me, and of course a little elephant.

And it's just so fun to make things for babies.  I think I like them because they usually take less time.

Theses were so fun to make because they were going to such cute kids!  Two large elephants for the older siblings and one little one for the the youngest who turned one this summer.  I did have to figure out a way to send them.  But I'm glad they got them and hope they are still having fun with them.  More to come when I get a break between projects.

A New Little Obsession

I mean it.  They really are little.  The finished project is only 4 inches tall.  It's a Heather Baily pattern.  I made this one for a friend's little girl.  It's just the right size to chew on the little nose and tail.  And it's super girly!

I thought it was too cute not to blow it up.  And the results is an equally cute big sister elephant.  Audrey and her little sister are going to have matching (but not in size) pink elephants.  What's more girly than that?  Watch for more elephants.  I'm thinking of starting a pachyderm farm.

New Ideas

I get distracted easily.  It's always been a problem for me.  I'm not very good at trying new foods, but new mediums and techniques - I'M IN!  So, the recent obsession has been using terry cloth.  Not just yardage you find at the fabric store, but using beach towels and cutting them up.  It's been great fun!  I hope the recipients of these gifts have enjoyed them, but they were all new projects for me to try out.  The first one is adapted from a cute pattern (remember the baby kimono?), but I went out on a limb for the next one.  I have a friend who can make anything without a pattern, and I decided to try my hand at it.  I used one of Audrey's dresses and traced it and made adjustments and tried to make it cute.  I was very pleased with the end result and my first attempt at no pattern.  There are more to come.  I've got to get sewing.

Baby Scarlett

I don't usually go in for a lot of digtal manipulation.  However, when it's necessary for the image, I'm all for it. 

This is really just me playing around with these images.  I had the opportunity to take pictures of a beautiful little girl and these are some of my favorites that came of it.  I can't decide which I like better - pink or purple.

The Easter Dress

The Easter Dress was always a big deal as I remember it. I got to look through the pattern books at the fabric store and pick something for my Mom to make. I'm sure some years I made it harder than others. Since I still have the final say-so, I got to pick the pattern, but I asked for input on the fabric. Of course, having the wonderful taste/expensive taste that her mother has, Audrey picked fabric that was about $12 dollars a yard. I would have steered her in another direction if I didn't have a 50% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket. So, I agreed and we made our purchase. I tried to involve more input on the rest of the details, too, but in the end I just went with what I wanted. I'm sure I won't get to much longer. I purchased the pattern back in October at the Quilt Festival and I've been waiting to use it. The dress is the same with the added details of the flower (removable for washing). I love how it turned out, though I don't do her hair like this when we go out. I realized just how big that flower is and how small her head looks with it, so it gets tucked into a low pony tail now. Happy Easter!

Beachy Birthday Party

Birthday parties are always so fun to plan and do all the details for, at least in my opinion. What better way to have a beachy themed birthday than to start with these happy hula folding invites? I can't take credit for them as a whole. This is just how mine turned out. I knew what I wanted to do, but didn't think I could afford them already made so I took some inspiration from the Internet and Martha Stewart Living April 2010 edition.

Step 1: Print out template here and cut it out.
Step 2: Trace on whatever paper you would like. This will be the outside of your envelope.
Step 3: Using a light table or window, trace 1/4" inside the outside edge of envelope template. This will be
the template for the patterned paper inside.
Step 4: Fold all the envelopes and inside papers according to template directions.
Step 5: Cut 12" string. Embroidery thread works well and comes in lots of colors.
Step 6: Assemble. Line up the folds of an inside paper and an outer paper in a folded position. Do not try to glue flat because the paper will not fold when the glue dries. Glue center and 3 flaps down. Insert string between the inner and outer paper on the overlapping flap and glue.
Step 7: Punch two decorative brads through from the outside of the envelope. One on the overlapping flap and one on the opposite flap. Wrap thread between these brads to secure the envelope shut.

Mine had one additional step which were the details for an invitation. I used just a square that would fit in the center and glued it down as well. I think they turned out great and had compliments. I'm going to have to find another reason to use these again.

Side Tracked

While house-sitting I had to change my spare time focus.

No sewing machine.

Much less house work to keep up on.

But I had my laptop... so I went digital.

I was originally creating a family scrapbook on shutterfly.com and not finding what I was looking for in the digital world. I started looking into free papers and was surprised how much was out there, it just wasn't my style. So, I invented my own - digital scrapbook paper that is. Well, my intended use is for the covers of my series of family scrapbooks, but if you want to use them, feel free. I did the same paper in a variety of colors.

I'm willing to share!

Free digital scrapbook paper

For this paper, other colors or swatches-

Comment here or email me and I'll attach it to an email for your personal use.

Enjoy!