Patriotic Nugget Box

As soon as I saw Lori's Nugget Box Tutorial I knew I wanted to make one, and I also knew that I wanted to use her free Patriotic Kids Printable on the front!

These fun little boxes are pretty simple to create and they make adorable little gifts! (Who doesn't like chocolate?!)

I wrapped some clear heart washi tape around my inside box and embellished the outside wrapper with a fun Dollar Tree Duck Tape print!

Go check out Lori's blog (Choux Choux Paper Art) for more free printables and lots of beautiful inspiration!

Supplies and Tools:
Free  Patriotic Kids Printable, Washi Tape, Duck Tape, Blue Ribbon, Tiny Tattered Florals Die (Tim Holtz), Mini Star Punch, Happy Die Cut (Momento), Burlap

This post linked to:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Summer with Ribbon
Ooh-La- La Challenge - Summer
Tuesday Throwdown - Party Time (wouldn't these make great party favors?!)
Craft-Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Birthday Party

We had a little surprise birthday party for my niece on Thursday.

I fixed some of her favorites along with some new stuff 

--- Chocolate covered Strawberries ---

--- Chicken Salad Sandwiches ---

--- Neiman Marcus Dip & Crackers---

(this is a favorite wherever I take it!)

--- Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites ---

We also had fresh pineapple (one of her very favorite things) and grapes.

For dessert we had Pumpkin Scones and Coffee with Pumpkin Spice creamer!

Camping - Woodland Birthday Party

A camping themed birthday party for a great-nephew who turned 1 Easter Sunday and his grandpa who turned 50 three days later!

 I made this fun camping cake for my nephew and a giant chocolate chip cookie for his grandpa (my brother).

Here's some pictures of the decor that I did for their combined party.

The decorations I made/used for my brother.

My nephew's part of the party:

I made the chalkboard printable and the tent. I covered the "E" with denim and made little hobo bags (with prizes inside) for my three great-nephews out of bandanas. 

Here's a closer view of the chalkboard printable I made:

• You can find free chalkboard fonts (and background) here
• The graphics I used on the chalkboard printable can be found here and here.
• You can find the free animal tracks printables here.
• I made the banner from this digital kit.

This post linked to:

Roses of Inspiration

Count Your Blessings

I recently found these free printable gratitude list templates on Pinterest and decided to make them into a mini Blessings Journal.

The "journal" is tag shaped with list templates on the front and back.

I kept the embellishments pretty simple -- just leaves -- since I plan to journal my thanks in color.

All set for November -- the month of Thanksgiving.

This post linked to:

Curtain Call -- Lovely Leaves
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Supplies and Tools: Cardboard, Circle Nestabilities, Blossom Nestabilities, Branch Punch (Martha Stewart), Misc. Fall DP, Leaf Punch, Ribbon, Leaves Galore (Inkadinkado), Embroidery Deep Edge Punch (Martha Stewart)

Mini Paper Dolls

Three little Altoid tins altered to hold three sets of mini paper dolls.

I covered the backs with plain cardstock in matching colors.

Each tin has approximately 31 dolls and..

...clothes to color, cut out, and paste on the dolls.

Dolls from Skip to My Lou

Dresses from Fantastic Find (1/2 way down the page)

Pants and Shirts from this site

Boys suit from this Paper Doll page

 

I had printed the dolls first thinking I'd attach fabric, paper, ribbon to decorate them with. Then I got the "brilliant" idea to print clothes to color and paste on (easier for littler ones), so I had to resize everything. Next time I will print dolls and clothes that actually go together to save myself the "headache."

Here are some links for those kind:

Emily

Sherah

Jonathan

Cute Ginghams already colored

Several Victorian looking dolls

Cat Paper dolls

Vintage doll collection (color)

Spring - Easter Flashback

Sometimes old posts get buried on a blog so I thought I'd do a little Spring - Easter Flashback today.

1. Party Cakes - Resurrection Rolls - Treat Buckets

2. Easter Tree

3. Peanut Butter Eggs (recipe)

4. Birds Nest Free Printable

5. Nests treats with recipe here

 6. Spring/Easter Links

Jesse Tree

I'm posting this early enough for you to make your own Jesse Tree for this years Advent.

I made a set for us to use this year and one for a friend.

 I also made two Jesse Tree Kits to send to friends whose kids might enjoy making their own Jesse Tree this year. 

Links:

1. Jesse Tree Clip Art ($3.50)
2. Jesse Tree Elements Pack (($2.49)
3. I love how Jamie from Raising Up Rubies made hers up 
4. Free Printable Ornaments (u-color)
5. Ann Voscamp's Jesse Tree book (just found it again!) 

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday

Thankful Banner

I've had this idea pinned since last year....a Thankful Banner for the month of November.

My daughter and I are doing it together using the free templates from here.
It's hanging in my craft room across one set of shelves.

This post linked to: Word Art Wednesday

Framed Scripture Art

I can take no credit for this "genius" idea!

It was my sister-in-law (Pam) that dreamed it up -- right down to the washi tape holding up the word art!

The idea is to take an empty frame -- hang it on the wall and tape up a new piece of word art every so often.

I actually sticky-tacked my frame up since it didn't have a hanger on it.

That also makes it easy to turn it sideways for horizontal art.

Someday I'd like to make some word art printables using some of my favorite quotes...until then: Here are some links to freebies from other places!

* Scripture Art

* Art Prints

* Six pretty printables

* Links to Scripture Printables

* More free Scripture Printables

* Still more from Little Birdie Blessings

* You can also check out my freebies page for even more!

This post linked to:

Word Art Wednesday

Easter Cards

I used the free word art from Word Art Wednesday for this week and made me a set of Easter cards.

It was my first time making crinkle ribbon -- lots of fun!!

I really like that you can coordinate your ribbon with you project using (in my case)  the same ink pad that I inked the flower up with.

Here are some links to crinkle ribbon tutorials:

•  Crinkle Ribbon colored with re-inkers
• Crinkle Ribbon colored with ink pad
• Crinkle Ribbon made with glimmer mist
• Stiffened Crinkle Ribbon 

I made four cards in this design.

Supplies used on my cards:

• Word Art Wednesday free art
• Stylized Flower Embossing Folder (Provo Craft) 
•  Build a Lilac Die (Sizzix)
• Small Flower Brad
• Frond Punch (Martha Stewart)
• Homemade Crinkle Ribbon

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday

Gift Basket

Remember this post (Christmas on a budget) from last year?

Above is this year's take on it....using one of the big bowls from this post.

Some ideas on what you could include inside:

• Candy
• Journal
• Book
• Handmade cards
• Like here, here, here, here, here, here, here, or here  
• Handmade clutch
• Like here, here,  here , here, or here
• Handmade Calendar
• Like here, here or here
• Handmade Recipe Cards
• Like here, here, here, here, or here
• Crocheted Dishcloths/towel toppers
• Like here, or here 
• Crackers
• Snacks
• Coffee
• Tea
• CD
• DVD 
• Recycled Christmas card tag

Teacup Calendars

Here are two magnetic teacup calendars I made to include w/Christmas gifts this year. You can find the free printeable 2013 calendar here.

Simple and easy design -- ready to hang on a fridge or any magnetic surface.

The one on the left is actually a recycled greeting card front!

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday