Brag Books for the grandmas

A week before the baby shower I had for my daughter on June 22nd, I decided to make all the great grandma's (4) brag books...not just plain brag books. I went to Big lots and found these photo books for $2.00 and thought -these would be great as the base of my project and save me a little time from making the binder for these 4 books. Then I went to Joann Fabrics which was having the best sale 60-70% off. I found this great paper stack of 48 papers for reg-19.99 for $7.00(what a deal).  Went home and this is what I did with only spending $15.00 for all 4 of them.

I made all of them the same-I work on them like an assembly line-which saved a lot of time- which I didn't have a lot of -since I waited till the last minute to do these- but I finshed them all in 12 hours or two nights of working on them. Lots of inking and cutting of mats.

Each book had 12 pages-so that's 24 sides all together to put all kinds of pictures in . On the inside cover I have an area where they could write down all the grandkids and great grand kids names and birthdates- which in the pic above its the middle top page.

 Here is a view of the different pages which I also wrote in pencil the size of the mat cuts for them to add all there pictures

I was really happy how these turned out and I'm sure the great grandma's will truly appreciate them- in fact I'm jealous- I wish I had made one for ME...figures now I don't have a brag book and this is my first grandchild...Hmmm I think I know what my next project should be!

OH BABY..shower items and decor

I've been very, very  busy getting ready for the baby shower I threw for my daughter a week ago on June 22nd at my home and here are just some of the  wonderful items and decorations I have been working on for over a month.

 Above is one of the gifts I got for the parents-to-be and used it as part of the shower décor to put all the goodie bags in for all of the 45 guests attending. Simple white lunch bags with a embossed green or yellow cardstock and a onesis cut from my cricut and stamp in black ink "welcome little one" and then made a thank-you tag which we tied on with ribbon.

 This table in one of my craft rooms was filled with all the items for decorations....I made a few diaper cakes also- my first attempt-and I like how they turned out. I made a few banners to hang outside with large storks that I drew.

 Another picture of the banners and another diaper cake with I used a few cricut cuts of baby items to put on the diaper cake.

 The morning of shower getting the place decorated. I bought bibs and onesis and hand painted on each of them and hung them on the mantel and in the kitchen area. The gift bags were for the winners of the few games we played. On these I cut out a large umbrella and rain drops and found some soft green papers and put on the front of each back with the saying "From our Shower to Yours" which I did with my cricut machine and put the marker in place of the blade and let it do all the writing for me- first time I tried that also- works great!

 A few more hand painted onesis in kitchen area.

 Diaper cake in kitchen with some handmade streamers hanging from the light- yellow cardstock-some stamps and scalloped punch and these were very simple to make. Below is a close up of the shower bags and the wrapped brag books I made all 4 great grandma's, which I will be posting in the next post.

Well- the shower went great last week and to all of our surprise - my daughter went into labor while opening all the gifts at the shower- so she left in a hurry to drive 2 hours to her home town and doctor and by the next morning  they had a baby boy!!!! So this was quite a weekend for all of us. But, I'm so happy to be a grandma- to our little new arrival Barrett James- but we are calling him Bear!

Diaper Cakes I made for the first time

Just a few more projects I have been working on for the baby shower I'm hosting for my daughter in June...getting so excited about this new arrival of my first grandchild!!! So one of the decorative items I wanted to have on display was a diaper cake...which are so cute but I have needed tried to make one before so being my first grandbaby I had to give it a try.

 The first one I made I tried to have it look like a toy box which I'm filling up with baby toy items like books and stuff animals, rattles, pacifiers and all those little goodies. I also sewed a receiving blanket and matching burp bibs which is in this basket also lined with many newborn diapers.

 Then I got more creative and made a diaper stroller and but a burp bib as the blanket for the cute lion rattle. I really like how this turned out- especially for my first time at making these- so much fun. I will be posting all kinds of baby shower projects in the next few weeks before the shower- I have a long list of projects to do.

Baby shower projects

Well, I have been really really busy with this baby shower I'm hosting in June for my daughter- I want to make everything-So everyday I'm in my craftroom working on something and here are a few of the finished projects I have done so far- but the list still goes on   lol

This is a shoe box filled with little note pads ( purse size with 24 pages in each) for all the guests in there goodie bags along with some cute and inexpensive bookmarks I made with paintchips and just stamped some designs on, hole punched and tied on a scrap piece of ribbon ( great way to use those scraps up)

 Then  made a sign for the front yard to display...Richards Baby Shower in yellow and green with a cute stork cut from Cricut cartridge( not sure which one tho) I think it was Lyrical Letters. I actually cut the words out on the 12 x 12 and then back it with yellow cardstock and the stork is cut out and attached to it.

 At the shower I though all the guest could write down there predictions of when and what- Boy or Girl?  on this calendar I made with her due date circled with a  heart. So they can write there names on their guess for the date in pink or blue...

Another poster like for the shower with some elephants that I bought from Archivers the other day- cut and stamp- so cute I have been using these elephants a lot on projects- more to come.
The scalloped punches with ribbon are to hang from the lights in the middle of my kitchen and dining room above the tables. Which I just found all kinds of baby related stamps in my huge collection and then colored them in and they are two sided -so when hanging it can be seen from all sides. I thought why spend lots of money in the stores for these same kind of items when I can make them so cheap and much cutier!

Baby shower invites..too cute!

OH BABY!!! I had so much fun designing and making all 76 of these invites for the baby shower I will be hosting in June for my daughter- who is having my first grandbaby...so exciting!!!!
I used white cardstock and made my own pattern for the diaper- getting two diapers on one sheet of 8 x 11 -folded and inked the edges and tied a ribbon in the middle. Then punched the center scalloped circle and used a baby stamp and also inked all the edges- along with a little Your invited tag.

Then on kraft paper and using my computer and printer made the invite on both sides and cut to slide into the diaper. I hand stamped a design on top and bottom of invite  and of course stamped my name on the back of these cute invites to send out this week.

The color theme for the shower is greens and yellows because its a gender neutral -its a surprise till the due date in July.