Puddle Jumpers

For Leap Day, it seemed appropriate to share a frog/toad themed layout. :)  Dylan & I joined friends for the Dragonfly Walk program at Piedmont Wildlife Center earlier in the month - the theme was Puddle Jumpers. We took a nature walk, looked for frog eggs (no luck, but the boys had fun poking ice in the stream with sticks!), learned how to make frog/toad calls using our hands & various items, and completed collages of frogs &...

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Eleven

Chester would have been eleven years old today. Just over two months ago, we said goodbye. Trying to find my way through my grief, I created this layout in early January: It's a scraplift of Allison Waken's Jade. I loved the simplicity and neutral color scheme. I let my journaling run long to express a number of little things I miss about our sweet little furbaby. Supplies: Robyn Meierotto's Cupcake patterned papers; Karla Dudley's Sherbert &...

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Pillowcases

I enjoyed making Dylan a Cars pillowcase last year and he likes it so much, I have made him two more pillowcases in the last few months. The Buzz Lightyear pillowcase was one of Dylan's presents from us this past Christmas. He actually picked out the fabric when he and I were shopping one day. We were passing through an aisle and he exclaimed "Buzz Lightyear!" (although truthfully it wasn't exactly that clear but I, of course, knew what he was...

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My Memories Suite v3 Review & Giveaway

I was excited about the opportunity to try My Memories Suite v3 software and, better yet, giveaway a copy to one of my blog readers as well! I was already looking at software options for our laptop that would allow me to work on my digital scrapbook pages when away from home (or when I just want to lounge on the sofa). As it worked out, I actually got the software while out of town and downloaded it straight to my laptop. I like how user friendly...

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Cheez-its

My mom bought Dylan a play kitchen from Ikea during our visit a few weeks ago. He's loving it. While we had a few play foods already, there is room for a few more. I came across the idea for felt Cheez-its while browsing Pinterest. Can't get any simper than sewing straight lines down folded over orange felt and then cutting into squares. But then the crackers needed a box. The original blogger used a real Cheez-it box. I liked the idea, but it...

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Dinosaur Snow Globes

Dylan had a friend over on Monday and, after some time playing in the snow, we came inside for hot cocoa and a little fun. I found an idea for a snow inspired craft over the weekend - a little handmade snow globe ornament. Using supplies I had on hand, we created dinosaur snow globes! The boys were very excited. Supplies clear plastic cups cotton balls sturdy paper for bottom small toys glue I started by pulling out all the supplies and tracing...

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Snow Day!

Our little snowfall of the year came on Sunday night after Dylan had gone to bed. By morning, there was still a bit on the ground, but not nearly as much. Nonetheless, I had one excited little guy when I opened his curtains and told him to look outside yesterday! "Snow, Mama! Snow!" I told him we'd eat a quick breakfast and then go out to play. No. He wanted to outside right then and there. Knowing that it would melt soon, I gave in, layered us...

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Custom Banner

Another fun banner ... This custom order was shipped a few weeks ago along with curtain panels and an infant car seat cover. The four fabrics feature pennants, dots, cars and trains. Lots of fun for a little boy. Supplies: Michael Miller fabrics; white cotton unknown; Coats & Clark thread; Pellon Wonder Under; Sulky Tear-Easy Stabilizer; Wright's bias ta...

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Peanut Butter Basketball

The basketball themed 1st birthday party we attended last weekend had loads of fantastic decorations and ideas, but, I confess, this was my favorite. I won't admit to how many times I was caught sneaking a bite. ;) Truthfully, just seeing the photo is making me crave it again! My friend, Stacey, found a delicious recipe from Nestle's website for making a peanut butter ball. Then she took it a step further and placed the morsels so it looked like...

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Baseball Birthday

In December, Trent, Dylan & I stopped by the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for the Holiday Open house. One of the perks turned out to be an opportunity to buy old stadium signs. While thumbing through the options, an idea hit me - one of the signs would make a perfect first birthday gift for one of the boys in our playgroup. His parents are big Bulls fans and we had all attended a game together last spring. When I found a sign for Section 216 (his...

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basketball game

During my trip to Virginia a couple weeks ago, my stepfather and I attended a basketball game at UVa. I used an instagram photo I took before the game started and a scan of the ticket stub for this page: Supplies: Robyn Meierotto's Oceanside patterned papers and In Stitches - Bright; DHD National Scrapbooking Day 2011 Blog Hop collab kit; Tiffany Tillman's Tears 1; Karla Dudley's Today brush kit; Sara Schmutz's Nursery Rhymes embellishments; Janda...

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Watercolor Valentines

Dylan helped me make cards to send to his grandparents for Valentine's Day. We started with me sketching hearts onto watercolor paper. I then gave him the paper along with his watercolors and he painted them. I loved how different and unique each heart was. After they were dry, I cut out the hearts, glued them to the cards and added his name & the date to the bottom of the painting. Supplies: watercolor paper & watercolors; Bazzill c...

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Stamped Heart

My neighbor and I have started a Friday morning swap with our boys. One week I watch her son and one week she watches Dylan. This past week, Dylan went to her house. The boys played but also did a little crafting. I was so excited when I saw his completed artwork. The hearts were stamped using a toilet paper roll dipped in paint. I had actually pinned this idea last year and then forgotten to get around to it in recent weeks. Photo Credit Nila...

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Super Bowl 46

Dylan & his friend, Luke, "watching" the Super Bowl together earlier this week. :) Supplies: Gennifer Bursett's Blueprint No 11 template; Deena Rutter's Rocketman papers and Whole Lotta Love papers collab w/ Biograffiti; Audrey Neal's Olive You and Flight Path papers; Sara Schmutz's Jolly papers and Back to Basics tags; Robyn Meierotto's Fun & Festive and Fashionable Fall papers; Karen Funk's Christmas Magic papers; Mary Ann Wise's Star...

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Snowflake Baby Shower

Another baby joined our playgroup last week, so naturally we had another baby shower. This time it was just us 6 mamas so we spent a few hours together on Saturday afternoon at a local spa. We started with treatments (massages, facials, etc) and then got back together for the celebration. Since the party was in early January, we went with a snowflake theme. Rather ironic considering the weather that day was mid-60s and sunny! Our centerpiece was...

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Custom Infant Car Seat Cover

After sharing my last infant car seat cover, I had not one but two requests! One was for a Twitter friend who has had me sew a few items for her in the past (actually, I was in the midst of a few more when the request came - thanks, A!). She picked a gorgeous fabric by FreeSpirt for the exterior. It has a teal and gray scallop print. She let me select the interior fabric. I chose another print in the same line with muted tones. The imagery is...

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So Lucky

Last week, Dylan & I went to Virginia to spend time with my family. Toward the end of the trip, we saw my brother who gave us a late Christmas gift - his old iPhone 3G. He's upgraded and not using it anymore. Now it's Dylan's to use as an iTouch. One of his favorite things to do with it was take photos. In the first two days (during many hours spent in the car), Dylan took about 500 photos! I had a good time sorting through them and seeing our...

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Love to Swing

My sweet boy at 9 months enjoying a swing at the park on a warm spring day: Supplies: Sara Schmutz's Recollect alpha; Robyn Meierotto's Beach Ball patterned papers; Gennifer Bursett's Grandma's Easter Basket solid papers; Audrey Neal's Just My Type elements; Another Typewriter fo...

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Fabric Marble Maze

In December, I made 6 fabric marble mazes - one for Dylan and one for each of the older kids in our playgroup. Each maze had it's own fabric combination. Of course, I completely forgot to photograph the ones we gifted. But they all generally looked like this: Front Back I used a template provided from Sew Very Simple blog here to cut the rectangle fabric pieces and mark the maze lines. After cutting the fabric, place front and back pieces together...

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Wordless Wednesday: Dirt

ISO 400, ss 1/160, f5...

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