My name, in lights!

Okay, not really. But close.

That would be my font at the top there, ladies! Use to your content, because it's FREE this month!!!

You're welcome.

:o)

Year of color: pink + orange

Tagged!

I've been tagged by Amy at Happy Things to do the 8 random things meme. I've done this meme in all of its various forms at My Many Colored Days already. But for my little creative spot, I am going to put a spin on it and name 8 random favorite books:

Gotta love a little Martha:

Sark is all about self undulgence:

fun stuff for what's going on with your yard:

great coffee table book:


LOVE this children's book, it's a gem!:

I was shabby before I even knew the queen of shabby... a match made in heaven:

the only way I can tolerate country (title is "modern country"):

good read for all women:

covered diaper wipes containers

I rock!

Lara, The Lazy Organizer, has kindly awarded me the Rockin' Girl Blogger award. I am so happy about that... because I agree. I do rock. ;)

In all seriousness, I rarely expect much gain from this blog. I spend most of my time at My Many Colored Days (and, coincidentally, have been awarded this over there already). So, it especially means something when this little corner of my life gets noticed! And Lara has noticed it a few times. I'm honored. :)

So I get to pick from a whole different arena of readers, which is cool. I'd like to extend this award to:

Design Mom - who, let's face it, does not have time to come and accept this, but is well deserving.
Tongue in Cheek - where I get my dose of poise and grace.
Smart Mama - just check out her art link in my sidebar.
24-7-365 - who's link I need to put in my sidebar, because I just swoon over her photography.
Happy Things - love her Year of Color project!

picture books

There are so many fun things you can do with photos for your children. I've made and received a few books/albums that have become cherished, prized possessions. Below are some of the layouts from those books.

The first was made for my now 5 year old. His transition to becoming a big brother was not a smooth one. This is one of the many ways that I tried to make that change easier for him. We talked a lot about what it was like when he was a baby, and he loved to look at pictures of himself as a baby- eating, crying, sleeping. It really helped him understand his new baby brother a little better.





I made this book for Sasha and gave it to her on her first birthday. If she's anything like her siblings, she'll love looking at these pictures of herself and seeing how fast she's grown.





I just love this book that my sister-in-law made. She used the text from a children's book called "I Love You Through and Through" by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak, and inserted very apropos pictures of my son as illustrations.

easy made bibs

The one on the left is made from oilcloth. I drew the scalloped edge and cut by hand. The one on the right is similar to oilcoth, with a much smoother texture. I used crimping sheers on that one. Both are water repellant. Punched two holes at the top of each, and knotted some cute ribbon through them. Voila! Simple tie-on bibs that your baby won't yank off so easily. Let me know what you think, these may be the next summer give-away!

Good news!

I won a font contest at http://www.fontologie.com/! My fonts will be featured in September and October. Don't worry, I'll remind you. :)

their bathing spot

I painted my children's bathroom last weekend. Finally. I really procrastinate when it comes to painting (notice, I still need to cut in around the towel rod and hook). I don't enjoy it much. My husband loathes it. So it takes me a while to work up the drive to do it. Alone. Of course, I'm always pleased with the results and think "How did I ever survive in a white room?"

Oh. And P.S. I like color.

applique t-shirts

They're done! Not the greatest pictures, but you get the idea. On to the next!

July the 4th

It was a special day for us - our youngest turned one year old! So, we celebrated party style.

the festive birthday cake

i just love these star shaped ice cubes from the $1 aisle at target... also did not go with traditional stars and stripes this year... polka dots and checkers are more fun anyway (in the traditional colors, of course)
pigs in blankets - the kids' favorite

my family :)

And here are the one year pictures I took of Sasha! I'm photshopping them right now - doing some black and white with color in a few of them.

Summer Give Away

If you're intrested... I am hosting a give away on my other blog. Here is the link.

Oh, my poor little crafty blog

It's not a big surprise that this little blog has been shoved to the side... I have been torn between posting here and over at My Many Colored Days, which I am not sure many of you know about. During the summer, my life becomes completely about my children, and both of these blogs are good places to write about that. My children inspire both what I write and what I create, a lot of the time. But each blog maintains a different readership, both of which I deeply appreciate, so although the idea to merge the two blogs is tempting, I'll just plug along here posting when I can, until I have more time on my hands. I have yet to post pictures of my redone playroom, let alone countless other projects I have announced here. Lol. But patience is a virtue... and I thank you for yours.

My latest craze is projects with fabric. But I have a huge confession... especially to all those fabulous sewing goddesses whose blogs I frequent. I am extremely intimidated by sewing machines. In fact, I have very little experience with them. I think most people that know me assume I am a proficient seamstress... I use fabric a lot in my projects. Let's just say I am much more handy with glue than I am with needle and thread. Unless it can be done by hand... and I have made many a project more difficult by sewing by hand. Let me tell you! That picnic blanket I last posted is going to help me face my fear... pull out my mother's old machine, and have a go. :)



This project, however, has been simple to hand sew. And I am having lots of fun with the endless possibilities. This tee is for my 2 yo little boy:


And this tee will soon have a rubber ducky on it, for my babe:

Because I don't have enough unfinished projects lying around...

I found these great tea towels at World Market... I am thinking they'd make a really fun patchwork picnic blanket!

I'm yoyo for onesies!

A fast and easy baby gift!

Come kiss the cook!

My son just turned 5. His latest interest has been cooking. What better theme for a birthday party? The children loved every minute of it! They were each greeted with a homemade chef's hat and apron. While waiting for other guests to arrive, they played around the kitchen table with pretend slice and peel food from Melissa and Doug and Hands on Fun. Once everyone had arrived, we began making a pizza. They each took a turn sprinkling the dough with flour and rolling it out. Then they took turns adding sauce and spreading it around. Ditto for sprinkling the cheeses and pepperoni... all the while dancing to fine tunes such as "Frim Fram Sauce" and "Papa Loves Mambo".

While the pizza baked we made salad on a stick: bamboo skewers, chunks of cheese, cherry tomatoes, and diced cucumber (snacking a bit as we went).

Then they played with sticker scenes from Hands on Fun, which gave us a great opportunity to discuss the basic food groups. And as the pizza cooled, they decorated cupcakes with their choice of icing, colored sugars, candy toppers, and a candle for Jonah to blow out.

We sang the birthday song to him and carried our feast outside to the picnic table, which was decorated with unbreakable/indestructable china and a floral centerpiece (drawn on a disposable table cloth with markers).



Each guest took home a small pizza box - decorated with these fun chipboards - filled with goodies and a "thanks for making my party really cook" note tied to a miniature rolling pin.