Present for a wedding or baby shower...

Here's a little something I made for a cousin's wedding.  I've been making paper cutting for years, in the past they were a little more authentic to the pennsylvania german Sherinschnitte.  I would tea dye them and frame them in wooden frames.

This bride is a little more modern, so I stopped over at Pottery Barn and picked up a cream colored frame.  I found some acid free paper in the scrap booking section at Target.  I folded some onion skin paper in half and sketched a patter on one side.  Then I cut the design out with embroidery sissors.  Then, with the cutting upside down, I ironed it flat.  Flip it over and then sketch the words you would like lightly in pencil.

Then with an acid free pen, write the words you would like.  I found a great little pen of acid free glue by Martha Stewart Crafts, perfect for small spaces at Michael's. 

Center the cutting in the frame and glue it to the acid free paper.  You are done! 

I just love the monochromatic tones for this piece.  It should work well in the bride's new house where she has tone on tone colors in the living area.

Here is another example of a cutting I did for a baby.  (I took out the full name and exact date for privacy.)

 Now for the best part, wrapping!  Would you believe that I found this great ribbon at Old Navy?  It was only 49 cents after the holidays!  I love the way gossamer ribbon catches the light. 

Here's the perfect card by Papyrus fromTarget to top it off. 

My Favorite Recipe to Bring to your next picnic...

Every year, when it gets hot out, my sister calls me to ask what she should bring to her neighborhood block party.  There is always the stipulation that is it extremely hot and she doesn't want to heat up the house with the oven.  Well, here you go Karen!  It's a fabulous recipe for Skewered Greek Salad by Giada DeLaurentiis.  It's made with cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives and feta cheese.  (Let the cheese come to room temperature so it stay together.)  You can grab the recipe here at the Food Network.  I found a pack of 100 wood skewers at Wegman's grocery store.  I can't wait to bring it to the Fourth of July Picnic.  Imagine how pretty all the colors will be set out on a platter!

Unique Handmade Decorations.

There is something special about a child's first birthday, and one of these crowns is the icing on the cake!  I stumbled upon the Monkey Moo shop at Etsy.com and kept adding items to my favorites.

Doesn't this crown just make you sigh?  It's so fun and pretty.  Just imagine the pictures in a child's baby album with this little beauty on. 

 

Monkey Moo, over at Etsy makes crowns and party decorations that are sweet and fresh.  

She makes delightful banners.  Here's one that says Make a Wish.

I think the cupcake toppers are my favorite.  They really dress things up.

How about these sweet little bunnies for a baby shower?  I also love the idea of the cookies instead of cupcakes.  French Style Macaroons?

Donna also makes personalized banners, invitations and will customize colors upon request.  Visit her shop on Etsy soon.

Picnic in the Park...

I just have to share a superb idea with all of you.  We have a group of moms and kids that could be pretty big to have at one house.  My friend invited everyone to meet at a park near her house.   She supplied a lunch of sandwich wraps for the moms and pizza for the kids, along with a fruit tray and frozen fudgesicles.  All had a great time, and no one had to worry about making a mess or cleaning up.  The creme de la creme?  A huge bowl of salt water taffy.  Doesn't it look festive?  Thanks Kimberly!

Planning A Fourth of July Celebration?

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to start gathering your picnic or party decorations.  

I found these festive tussie mussies at Paper Eclectiques etsy shop.  I love the retro colors tinsel handles and glitter stars.  Fill them with treats and hang them from a tree at your upcoming picnic.  If you don't have a tree or your party in indoors, you could hang a ribbon and clip them up in clothes line fashion.  Imagine how pretty these would look in the evening near fairy lights!

I came across this set of patriotic decorations on Paper and Cake's Etsy site.  For one very reasonable purchase, you can download a pdf file that allows you to print out Invitations, place mats, cupcake wrappers and picks, pinwheels and more.  I love that you can do this at home, for those of us that wait until the last minute.  Here you see the cupcake wrappers and snack boxes.

  

Here are the invites, some fun party picks and cupcake toppers.

These pinwheels would make a fun craft for the kids, or you could make them ahead and have them spinning in the wind.  (Perhaps in the garden, along a walkway or decorating a buffet?)  If you are working with a subdued palate, you can print on cream paper.  I just can't get over how many things you can make!

 

Fresh Summer Invitations

I am so excited to have come across wonderful place to download some fresh summer invitations - Heirloom Papiere.  Candis Ellis has this great idea - Template Tuesday, when she posts a new template to download.  She had some cute Easter cards and spring labels that were posted previously.  I've subscribed to the blog to see what comes next, but you don't have to wait until Tuesday!  Candis also has a shop at Heirloompapiere.bigcartel.com with custom stationary, announcements, silhouettes and if you are lucky enough to live in Utah, you may book a photo shoot of your child.

Beautiful Notes

I just found these lovely notes on the Wisker Graphics blog.  They are by Whitney, a graphics designer who runs the Etsy store Wisker Graphics.  Free to download.  How many times have you been caught at home in need of a thank you note or a gift tag?  With these beautiful tags, no one will ever know!  Check out her Etsy site where you can order note cards and even editable notes you can download as pdf files.  So pretty.

Celebrating the simpler pace of life...

After a weekend of wonderful weather in the 80's, it is Monday again.  The last full week of school for my son begins with field day.  Do you remember your field days?  The day began with the discovery of a turtle in the back yard.  The kids were so excited, and I am anticipating the lazy hazy days of summer and all the bugs, frogs and toads that will be found.  A quick breakfast of Fage yogurt and fresh watermelon on the deck is so good.  Fage is Greek yogurt that is thick and rich. (like sour cream)  It's not overly sweet like regular yogurt and it has more protein.  Better yet, it is preservative free.  I add fresh berries and a little cereal for crunch and I am full until lunch.