Waiting for Adelle...

Okay, Ellie, this post is for you.

While waiting for my first child to be born, I have done what I can to get ahead on my card making.  Of course, this will necessitate me sending them to the appropriate people at the appropriate time....right.

Here are my inspiration cards, found via my Google Reader subscriptions and pinned to my Pinterest boards under paper crafts.  I used various paper packs and stamps, and did most of my cutting with my Cricut and SCAL 2.0 software.  Tomorrow, my Sizzix Big Shot is supposed to arrive!  I've already gotten the embossing folders and dies that I ordered and they are just itching to be used!!!  I ordered everything from Overstock.com.  I have never been disappointed with anything I've ordered from them.

Also, my photos are not of exceptional quality because I didn't take time to use our digital SLR or set up a shot in any way.  I'm lucky they came out as well as they did with just my webcam.

Inspiration:
       
My Cards:

I still feel like these are missing something on the front, so any advice would be appreciated.  Can you guess which one goes to whom? I put the Father's Day sentiment on the inside:

Inspiration:

My Cards:

I made these more masculine since I have some man-birthdays coming up.  Without the background image (and the fact I don't have my Big Shot yet), I think it works:)

Inspiration:


My Card:

For my Mom-in-law's birthday:)



And PS. Yes, I'm still waiting for Adelle:)

Thank You Notes

Will catching up with multiple posts today make up for not posting for months?  Eh well, I tried:)

For my paper-craftiness, I've been working on all kinds of thank you notes.  We were so lucky to have 3 separate baby showers, so I made 4 different types of cards.  All the cuts were made with my Cricut Expression and SCAL2.0 software.  Stamps and stickers came from everywhere, including Mighty Dollar and Hobby Lobby.  I made my own baker's twine with crochet cotton and sharpie markers, as inspired by someone on Pinterest.

 My first attempt at masking!  I think I did pretty well!

Baby Room Crafts

Okay, I fully admit: I suck at blogging.  It's been 3 months since I last posted, and it's not like I haven't been busy doing crafts and getting the baby's room ready, because I have!  I have even taken pictures along the way...I just can't sit down on a regular basis to edit and post the photos:(

So, here I am at 37 1/2 weeks, Bennett James Coady was born on Friday, and that means I'm next.  If don't catch up today with all my baby craftiness, it's never going to happen.  If I don't credit my inspirations, I will--there have been so many.  Also, you can check my Pinterest boards because I post there more often.

The baby furniture project:  Inspired originally by Mod Podge Rocks, and my sewing screw-ups (having to buy more material, then having so much still left over).  I started with my sister-in-law's old bedroom furniture in stained oak--bed frame, side table, and dresser--which my husband then sanded, primed, and painted white, added new hardware and cardboard inserts covered in the accent fabric.

The curtain & valance project, plus wall treatment:  Inspired by a blogger's bathroom project.  I also loved her diy chair rail, so I made sure my husband put his carpentry skills to work.  I bought the accent fabric from Hobby Lobby on sale for $3.99 a yard, the curtains from Wal-mart for less than $10, and the chair rail (actually base molding) & slats (actually wainscoting panels) from Lowe's for less than $100 total.

 


The light switches and outlet covers project:  Again, a Mod Podge Rocks-inspired project.  I used the excess valance/curtain fabric, just like I did with the drawer fronts, but all I needed was modgepodge!

Baby's room update

 Valance/curtain fabric + modpodge = switchplate cover!

 Bottom border/chair rail is a creative DIY project.  Cost = $90

 Duvet cover & pillows from BB&B, polka dots on dry erase vinyl

 View from the crib corner

 Crib corner....but no crib yet.  Douglas will pick it up from Greensboro in a couple weeks.

 Inspiration Piggy gets his own shelf.

 Jumping off the colors in the valance fabric, we'll incorporate more purples and blues too.  The flower on the left still has to be scrapbook-papered.

My valance (3rd time's the charm!) with extensions on the bottom.

Adding my buddy

Courtney Rae is a teacher too, and she loves crafts as much as I do.  I'm adding her so she can share her creativity, too.  She's working on a baby's room, because Bennet(t?) is due 2 weeks before Adelle.  She is rockin' the guitar theme for her baby boy, so maybe we can get her to post some pics here.  My amazingly talented friend, Courtney :)

Inspiration stalking

Okay, to be quite honest, I am an inspiration stalker.  I have filled up my GoogleReader with so many awesome blogs with great ideas for all kinds of crafts.  I feel like I'll get to them some day, make my own and post my creations here, but the fact is, I just sit here and find more inspirations.  I don't actually have the energy to craft after school all day, and who knows what kind of time I won't have once the baby gets here.  I fully admit to stalking, but some day, I hope to repay the favor.

Wouldn't it be nice to be one of these wonderful people who get to craft for a living?  They make it look so easy.  Too many of them are stay-at-home moms or professional crafters.  Ahhh, dreams....Okay, I just work at it, a little bit at a time.

Owls, REALLY?!

Okay, what is up with the owl theme for kids/baby/shower lately?  When did owls become cool?