Making Gifts for Life

Friday, September 28, 2012

Working on a new layout

New layout I am working on -

This is a layout I am doing for Dusty Attics monthly challenge. I am thinking about turning this into Brandon's first day of school layout. It is not finished yet, I am trying to decide what else I want on here, etc. Part of their challenge is that it must contain a dusty attic product. Dusty Attic makes very intricate, laser cut chipboard and flowers (new). If you are interested in some chipboard I have some to purchase in my Etsy store. They are all much more beautiful in person and so delicate. I love their products. I don't think I can ever go back to the boring bulk cut chipboard.

These papers are all from the Lost & Found collection by My Mind's Eye. They are my favorite manufacturers of scrapbook paper. I love almost every line they put out. And I love how the papers all coordinate together so wonderfully.

Let me know what you think of the layout so far in the comments section.

I hope you all have a great day.
TGIF!

** This weekend Apple Fest and some football, my favorite of all fall weekends.  **

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bambi - Amigurumi

 Bambi -

First, let me say, I know the pictures aren't great. My son is now taking photography in school, so my expensive camera is with him 24/7. But isn't this little guy the cutest ever?

I am making 2 of these as a gift and I love them so much. They are floppy and so cuddly.

When you see them in person, they are even more impressive and you just want to lay down and snuggle with them. Even though I am an adult, I have
a soft spot for these guys.

They are time consuming to make and you have to make sure everything lines up in the end, or you have a mess on your hands. And a finished project that is not so pretty.

The pink nose could be black instead. Since I have to make two, I was going to do one with a black nose and one with a pink nose. The kids that go to the school I work at said this one reminded them of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. :) That is a cute idea for a Christmas one.

Let me know what you think in the comment section.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Many blessings.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Piper's New Bed

Piper's New Bed -

Good Day Everyone!

My hubby and I went to the public market, garage sale day here in Rochester, this past weekend and we got a great deal. (Well, in my opinion, anyway.)

We purchased a doggie bed for Piper, for $10! Yeah, I said $10!

It's a full metal frame and a embroidered covered cushion (which you can't really see in the picture).

She loves it! I thought maybe she would not like it or maybe that our other dogs would steal it from her, but no. I am probably going to recover the cushion, only because it doesn't match our living room, but the frame is great and to think I was going to make her one. Hahahaha. Less work this way. I wish you could have seen me when the guy told my husband that he only wanted $10, I wanted to do a cartwheel, but he probably would have up'ed the price. Ha!


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Finished.... finally

Finally, finished....

1st day of school layout -

Select your papers, I chose one distressed pink solid, two pattern papers with the same shade of pink in them and one black patterned background paper. You also need white cardstock, one 8.5 x 11 sheet will do.

Cut the solid pink paper into 11.5 x 11.5, ink the edge with brown ink.

Trim the other pattern papers to 6 x 8, inking the edges brown also.

Find a Queen card of a deck of cards that you have a few missing, unless you don't care, then steal one of any deck you have and color the center rectangle with a pink colored pencil. Ink the edges of the card with brown ink.

Then I made four polaroid looking frames with the white cardstock, two different sizes. Three of the frames are 2.25 x 2.75, then one big one measures 4 x 5.5.

Print or have your picture printer 4 x 6 with a thin border.

I made three flowers for this layout, and I will post a tutorial on how to do those soon.

The circular frame and the butterfly  were stamped on white cardstock and cut out with precision scissors. I inked around the circle frame with brown ink.

I felt that I needed to add that this was a 1st day of school layout, and it was her ninth grade year. So I just added the title in my handwriting.

I hope you like this layout. If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the comments section.

Have a wonderful day!




Monday, September 10, 2012

Delight - 1st day of school page

Delight - 1st day of school layout for my daughter -

I started this layout, I am working on it in between cooking, cleaning, laundry and work. I know that is how every one's life is. I am used to being able to scrapbook for hours, but I do not have time with my schedule as the way it is now. At 430pm my house is a crazy place to be, teenagers running in and out of the house. Homework... football... dinner.... more homework (if not done).... cleaning/laundry.... Dinner clean up... then maybe a little time to read, something I haven't had time for lately either. Only thing is, by the time I get to actually sit or lay down to read, I get one page in and I am out cold. lol
Oh what fun life is. I love being busy. I really do. This week is packed, the nights and weekend included, I think I may have a free time to sit at 11pm Thursday, that is how busy I am. But I just wanted to say that because I want you to know why I am not churning out pages like I was trying to do in the summer.

Anyway, back to the page. Every year I do a 1st day of school layout. This year I wanted to make something girly but vintage and sophisticated at the same time. I have a few more things to add, plus of course the picture! I wanted you to see what I have been up too. I get to work on it in 15 minute spurts. I am making all my own flowers for this so that is another time consuming part. I will post a tutorial when I am done with the page, that way if you like the flowers, you can also make them yourself.

I used three different paper packs by MME for this layout. They are Paris, Lost & Found One, and Lost & Found Two.

All the papers were inked with chestnut roan ink.

When I post the finished layout, I will post instructions on how to duplicate it if you would like.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Major wrench in my plans

Sorry everyone, I did not get to scrapping on Friday or yesterday morning as planned. These migraines are bad enough that it hurts to keep my eyes open. But on a good note, I think laying on my halsa mat and taking my prescription helped some. So after a fast paced house cleaning this morning, I hope to get to at least one page.

But I did want to tell you all about my son's football game yesterday. It was amazing, they played extremely well and they were robbed in double overtime, by a bad call, even the other team knew it. But it seemed the refs were sick of being there, and just wanted to go home. :( But Brandon played so great! It was a super game, I wish I had been brave enough to bring my camera out, but it was raining when we first got there, and I was scared to death that it would get wet. So no pictures :( BOO rain!

Anyway, I have to go clean, so I can do something fun (like scrappy) before the Green Bay Packers make their appearance on the TV.

Have a wonderful day!


Friday, September 7, 2012

Sports

Sports-
For me, these are some of the hardest pages. Because you don't want to do the same thing over and over, even if you found a layout that works, and the pages can get quite boring if not presented right. I struggle with these type of pages, but you should see some coming soon, my son is playing varsity football again this year, and I happily snap away in sports mode, trying to get the ever perfect shot. That is another challenge, all in itself. I absolutely love football, which I guess is a good thing, because it's happening again and I try to watch a game every night (my husband says, I even watch high school on TV, I must be nuts).

I hope everyone is doing well. I hope to have a layout posted soon, it's been a long week, and I have come home to having a migraine every night this week (I think due to the heat in the school where I work, no A/C). So I haven't felt much like scrapbooking, but I am going to do so tonight, even though I have another migraine, maybe I can wind down and relax.So here is hoping, I can post one for you soon.

Good wishes to all.

For the upcoming months, I would like to do a Halloween chip book for October, and a I am thankful mini album for November. Let me know what you think or if you would rather me make something else and share the directions, I can do that also.

Leave a comment!!!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Baby Teddy Bear Crocheted Hat

Teddy Bear Crocheted Hat for Baby -
I made two hats for my BFF's brand new twin boys. I love these hats. The pattern is my own my own design. I think they came out superb. If you are interested in the pattern I will have it available in my Etsy store shortly, you can email me for more information or leave a comment in the comment section and I will get in touch with you.

The picture doesn't do the hat justice.  It would be much better with a model! I will be sure to take a picture of the twins wearing there matching hats.

I used special baby yarn, so that it was nice and soft on their heads.