Valentine Mailboxes

I found these great little mailboxes at Target for a $1 and thought that they would be perfect for some Valentine mail for the boys.


Cute, but a little plain. So out comes the Cameo, and some new vinyl that I had just ordered. I was most excited to try out the Silver as I have plans for a Rocket Ship wall design for my youngest and I thought this would be a great place to try it out.


I also choose some green and a little pink, I have boys, but it was for a Valentine's mailbox and I thought...why not!



Supply List:

Silhouette Cameo
Design Studio
Metal Mailboxes (Target)
Vinyl (Silver, Lime Green, and Pink)

Thanks for stopping by. Two more Valentine's Day posts still to follow!

A Valentine's Wreath

Well the original plan was to have all these projects posted individually over the last week or so and well, that didn't happen. So I will be sharing several Valentine projects throughout the day today!

The first is this quick and easy Valentine's Wreath that I made. I have seen tons of wreath showing up as of late all over Pinterest and the web varying from yarn, to felt, to burlap and everything in between and I just knew that I wanted to to try one using both felt and burlap together.

With a rough idea of what colours I wanted to use I headed off to Hobby Lobby to find what I needed.

Here are the results:


Supply List:

Straw Wreath
Burlap Ribbon of your choice
Felt sheets of your choice
Flower Staples
Silhouette Heat Transfer Fabric Interfacing Clean Cut (or another brand)
Silhouette Machine
Silhouette Design Studio

While I really wanted to find a grey burlap that wasn't meant to be, but I did find a really nice frayed burlap that I thought would give it the perfect rustic feel I was looking for. I also picked up a couple of sheets for grey and teal felt.

I wrapped the the straw wreath in the burlap and then proceeded to try something I had never done before, cut felt using my Silhouette Cameo.

First I set up the hearts that I wanted in the studio. The settings that I used to cut the felt were Speed 2, Thickness 33, Blade 10 and double cut was clicked on.



Next I decided to switch out my blade for the material blade as I had one from a promo and had not used it yet. The reason that I choose to do this was over the many pages I read on cutting felt, the one main things all posters had stated was the need for keeping their paper blade separate from that of their paper one, so I figured why not.

The next thing I did was to prep my felt for the machine and while some posters said that they had had great success in using freezer paper, I knew that I needed the felt to have a bit more weight to it. So I used the Silhouette Heat Transfer Fabric Interfacing Clean Cut, as I didn't have any Heat n Bond on hand (which was another poster favourite).

I followed the directions for ironing it onto the felt and here is what it looks like.



After I had the felt prepared I placed it on my mat shiny side down and proceeded to cut.



The moment of truth...




Needless to say it was a success!



So after some initial layout ideas here is the finished project. I decided that leaving the flower staples visible added a nice visual element, not to mention if down the road I decided to change the wreath the hearts would be easy to remove.



and one of it hanging outside


Thanks for stopping by.

3 weeks down and a long over due post!

Three weeks down...I swear April feels like it is barely moving. For my geeky friends out there all I can see is visions of SG-1 series finally "Unending" flashing in my mind.

Well enough about that. This post is way over due and I want to get it shared. I had some grandiose plans for some new decorations that I was going to make for Spring/Easter for the house and while I didn't get to all of them the ones that I didn't finish I am super happy with and all supplies for the others have been put away for next year.

So here is my first project that I made, it is a new wreath. While I had dozens of ideas floating around in my head and I'll admit that the finally creation was not the original final decision I am really glad that I changed my mind.

The Smash Page Reveal!

Spoiler Alert: There are still one or two Ladies that have not received their package, so if you are any of them and read my blog skip this post if you don't want to see the pages that you will hopefully getting very soon. :)

In this post, I mentioned that I was involved in a Smash Page exchange with a whole bunch of girls from the Cricut forums back in January. Well my package of Smash Pages has finally arrived so I can now share my pages and all the others from the exchange.

Working on a little something...

I am currently working on a little project for the boys playroom. Until it is finished, here is a sneak peek at what I am doing.

Any guesses?

Valentine's and Swedish Fish

So I found this on Pinterest and thought it was adorable and knew I had to make it. Mind you, I did consult with Keegan and ask if this was something he would like to make for the kids in his class, he loved them as much as I did!

Source: batemanbuzz.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Card Organizationa and Storage

A few days ago I started a major overhaul of my studio space. You can read about it here. While there are still things to do, it is much more workable then it's previous incarnation. Each move, each house for that matter I face challenges of which room will I set-up in and what solution is going to work the best. Over the years, I have found my Ikea Ivar shelving to be the saving grace for each and every room, it's just a matter of working it all out and then setting it up. Eventually I will have the studio space of my dreams but for now I'll make do.

Anyhoo, this post is about my the revamp of my card organization.

A Geeky Studio Space

With the revamp of the playroom, you can read about it here. I moved onto the other half of the room known as my studio space. I think I now have it the way  I want it. It's not perfect, but it will work for the next four years of this posting.

Anyone for Scrabble?

I saw this on Pineterest and thought what a terrific idea, I can make those. Well let's just say it was easier said then done. Not so much in the making, but rather in the obtaining of the vintage scrabble boards.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Teacher Christmas Gifts 2011

In previous years I have made Cookies in a Jar, last year I made homemade Hot Chocolate & Marshmallowsand the plan was to make those again this year as they were well received last year. Well my time ran out! Ugh! However, never fear, this year I had managed to do a massive Cookie baking exchange with a friend. The teachers were going to be getting homemade Cookies and Chocolates.

Smash Page Sneak Peek

I am currently involved in a Smash Page exchange with a bunch of girls from the Cricut forums. This is my first time creating smash pages and I wanted to share a sneak peek.

Tic Tac Toe

I found these little Tic Tac Toe boards at Target for a dollar and thought that they would make a cute loot bag stuffer.

Then I had an idea that it would be rather easy to customize them to match the theme of the party.

I printed and cut out Moons and Rocket Ships using the Silhouette Cameo.

Then I used some good ole matte Modge Podge to glue them on.

Voila! A custom themed Tic Tac Toe board. I think I will use this idea again for Keegan's 7 birthday. However, I will buy them sooner then two days before and I think I will spray paint the pieces so that they will have a more cohesive look when I attach the image.

All in all, I think it turned out well and a buck a piece with some printed paper and about 30 mins of work you get a cute result.

Birthday Wreath complete

Well I managed to get the wreath finished and hung in time for Keegan's birthday. I still want to make changes and rework the Happy Birthday sign, but that will have to wait until I finish unpacking the rest if my crafting supplies. What I have will suffice for now.






So if you want to make a Birthday Wreath, here is what you will need:
- Floral Pins (I found them at Wal Mart and Hobby Lobby)
- A Styrofoam Wreath (Just remember the bigger the wreath the more balloons and pins you will need)
- Balloons - several hundred (These can be found at Wal Mart and the Dollar Store)
- Streamers

Well there you go, I really enjoyed making this and will update it once I make the final sign.

Still unpacking, but...

Needless to say that I have been buried under mounds of packing paper from unpacking is an understatement. Who knew that it would take so much longer to unpack a house with a 7 month and 5 year old under foot.

Raises hand...well I do now!

I am currently taking a mini break to work on a birthday wreath to start a new family tradition. I saw one on Pinterest and I am making my own. Here are two sneak peeks of what I have so far.





This is where I ran out of ballons :( I will be running to the store tomorrow to get more and should have a finished wreath by tomorrow night.




Just in time to hang on the door Wednesday for Keegan's birthday.

Our little Super Hero turn's 6!

Well the weekend of the party has arrived. You'll remember the post creating the Super Hero invite here.  Well that was only the beginning of my creative ideas for this birthday.

The Super Hero Invite

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago, alas, time is not mine own.

Here is the invite that I made for Keegan's 6th birthday. We are having it this weekend as the impending move looms closer and closer and we wanted Keegan to be able to have his birthday here with his friends before we move. Lucky boy this year, he'll get two. It seems strange having his birthday so early, but he is so excited.

I still have a few things to do. Namely the capes, they still need their velcro closure and super hero initial put on each of them. So much to do.

The decorations are up!

Well actually the decorations went up the weekend after US Thanksgiving like they always do, however the post hasn't gone up till now.

There are several reasons for this. The mad rush to get everything done before my c-section planned for the 22nd was on, the last minute gifts, Christmas conerts and everything else that pops up before the Holidays.

Needless to say this threw a monkey wrench into all of it...

Introducing

Cayden Stephen Miller Port

Born: 15th Dec 2010 @ 0409
Weight: 7 lbs 13 oz
Length: 21 3/4 in

Proud Big Brother

So there is my excuse!

Without further ado, Christmas 2010

On another note a friend approached with a small problem and small favour to ask...she wanted to know if she supplied me with some cardboard if I would be able to cut her out a Rocking Horse?!?

Hmm...this is what I came up with.

The new wreath for the front door!

While I had plans to make several new wreaths for the house. This one is the only one I did. I am running out of time and as for the plans for the Christmas ball ornament, that one will have to wait till next year.

I made this wreath with a plain garland wreath that I got on clearence at Micheals, actually all items that are on this wreath, except the bow (that was purchased at Zeller's on clearence for $2.00 a few years ago and it finally has a home) where purchased on clearence and at Micheals!

I actually had it up and hanging on the door several weeks ago, but alas I am just getting to blogging about it.

More updates of past projects to follow! I am on a deadline...13 days to go!

Just a few more to fill out...

Just a few more to fill out and all my Christmas cards will be ready for the post tomorrow.

/big sigh of relief

Here are some of the cards that will be making their way across North America. For the life of me I can't remember all the paper that was used. Some of it is Stampin up card stock as well as one or two Stampin up stamps. Fiskars snowflake punch and Deja Views rub-ons. Sorry I can't be more specific for those that might want to know every product that was used.

Some of them are simple and others have a bit more to them. I guess I am just a simple girl at heart.

Ok, well I have no idea why these pictures are not loading correctly, but it's better then them not loading at all.

Teacher's Gifts 2010

So last year I made and gave away cookies in a jar. I labeled them "ChasingKeegan Cookies."

This year, I saw an idea on a blog that I read on how to make Homemade Hot Chocolate. I got the recipe from Citrus's Blog. There is also a recipe for Homemade Marshmellows there as well, however I used this recipe.

The Hot Chocolate made and waiting to go into it's bags...

The test run for the marshmellows...

And since this is my test run for the marshmellows, I decided to try out some other flavours, rather then just the crushed candy canes onto top to see what worked better using sprinkles from Pamperd Chef.

So depending on how the taste test goes, finished gift pictures to follow.

On another note, completely unrelated, I came upstairs late to bed the other night, only to find this...

Isn't it great to have a King sized bed and there be absolutely no room for you to sleep between the hubby and 3 dogs. I guess the one good thing was that the gnomelit was fast asleep in his own bed and only after 10 mins I was finally able to get the lab to move to her pillow on the floor.