Letter Art project

Yesterday I stumbled across an absolutely wonderful idea called letter art.  There are many different sites that do this just using generic photos.

Pretty much what it is, is you tell them what word you want to spell (usually a name) and then they find photos of buildings, playground equipment, trees, or ANYTHING that looks like a letter.  They put all the photos together to make it look like it spells that word and then frame it.

I thought it would be a good idea as a Christmas present.  Only problem.... the cheapest I could find it done was for $150.  Um no thanks!!!

So I took to searching the web.  I found some great shots that were not copy righted.  I printed them off.

Here were a couple I liked that I did not print off...

I found a frame on amazon.com with the number of openings I need for only $15. I have got to get it!

Last night when I was laying in bed I kept thinking about the pictures I had.  Then I had the wonderful idea of going downtown and taking my own pictures so that way it is more personalized for the people it is intended for.

I live in a historic town that is known for their old bath houses and can not wait to see what "letters" I can find out there!

I am also super excited about getting such a nice gift for only $15.  I am also using a last name since I am giving it to a couple.  So for two people... you can't beat that price!!!

Homemade Christmas

This year I have been inspired to make most of the people on my list gift for the holidays.  I plan on making the adults cupcakes as one gift.  I heart Hobby Lobby's cup cake boxes.  They always have the cutest designs and they hold 6 cupcakes each which is perfect for a couple.

I have been looking up different recipes and I think I have it narrowed down to 3 different kinds I am going to make.  The first is a chocolate peppermint.  The second one is a cinnamon flavor cupcake and last is an eggnog cupcake using brandy!  They all sound so yummy I can't wait to make them!

For my nieces, I want to make them an outfit.  I haven't decided on which one yet but I still have time.  

Last year I made all the men BBQ rub.   This year I am going to focus more on the women.  I am not sure if I am going to do the same thing for each person but I do know 1 person I am going to make these for....

My idea is to make a vintage memo board.

I have started stalking ebay and other sites for the most perfect antique wooden picture frame.  I really like the look of an oval frame.

I am wanting something similar to this

I like how it is nice and big but not to bulky.  I also like how it has just a little bit of detail but it is just enough.
I plan on taking which ever frame I end up with, sanding it down and spray painting it white.

Once that is all done, then I will add a cork board to the back of it.  I am going to cover the cork with a nice piece of vintage looking fabric.

I have it narrowed down to 4 different fabrics.

Then finally I will buy some cute push pins from the office store and there you go.... a wonderfully homemade Christmas present.

Past projects

With 3 small children, I find myself busy all the time.  However, I love to be as creative as possible so I am always creating new project to do.  It pretty much all started 2 years ago.

My parents had bought me a sewing machine for Christmas.  I wanted to learn how to make something that was quick and easy.  I researched and researched but could not decide upon one thing.  While doing all my research I stumbled across "How to make a hair bow."  It was all over after that.

I spent several months spending every dime I had on ribbons, buttons, clips and any other "neat" looking thing that would be cute on a bow.

Here is the most recent hair bow I made.

Over the past few years, I have made countless hair bows.  I have sold some, given some as gifts but mostly made them for my girls.  

I still make them occasionally.  Once I had to many bows to know what to do with them, I figured it was time for a new craft.

Since I have 3 kids, I have lots of birthday parties through out the year.  I got sick of buying cakes from the store.  So once again.... I researched and researched until I felt like I could make a cake all on my own.  I took a basic cake design class but really didn't learn anything in it.  I felt like I learned more on my own then I did in the class.

Just like before, I spent every dime I had on cake supplies.  I have a whole closet full of cake stuff.  The good thing about cake supplies is that they are always coming out with new items.  I think that I will enjoy making cakes for the rest of my life because it is never the same.  There are always new and improved techniques.

I figured I would start easy with a bridal shower cake for my sister

A few weeks later a friend of mine asked if I could make a cake for her son who was turning 8.

It was a bit more complicated but I felt like I could pull it off...

A few weeks after that was my daughter's birthday.  She was turning 2!  She is the biggest girly girl I know.  We had a "Tea Party" birthday party for her.  I had planned her cake for weeks on end until I finally came up with the perfect design.  

This was only my 3rd cake but I loved how it turned out.

Between the months of April and November, I have no birthdays to make cakes for.  I have gotten bored over the months.  Last week I decided it was time I start a new project.

I FINALLY broke out the sewing machine my parents had gotten for me.  It took a few days to be inspired.  Then my youngest got a note in her bag that her preschool were having fall pictures that week.  I had 2 days to prepare but I was set.... I WAS GOING TO MAKE HER AN OUTFIT!!!

I went to hobby lobby and found the perfect fabric and even got some ribbon to match.  

I also bought a plain white shirt and pants.

After a couple of hours at the sewing machine, this was the final product...

I also had enough material left over to make a dress for my niece for her birthday.  She loved it just as much as I did (sorry it isn't the best picture).

So now I have been searching for the perfect fabric for my next project(s).