I busted out this tree and name plate after looking at a stamped bag from Fancy Tiger for several months. It is so cute and I thought “I could do something like that”. I’ve always wanted personalized bags, but couldn’t see purchasing printed bags or even stickers with my name on them.
Once I ran out of bags to print I kept thinking of what else needed some printing. I decided the backs of the watercolor paper I mount my prints on could use some pretty. Pictured is my latest order all dressed up and ready to go! My client even ordered 2 sets of the mini brag book. I’m sure her family will love her for it.
We haven’t been making too many gifts this year. I think that means we haven’t had too many parties. Actually, we missed two while in Cali/France. Sad… for the kids. Zach is always happy to miss a party.
A month or two ago, Ezra was invited to a train party. He and India helped me sew this little train mat. Yes, I said sew… can you believe I sewed something? Since we were pressed for time, as these things always go, there was a lot of hot glue used.
India made the design, I cut it out and added flowers, and Ezra pressed the foot peddle. I think Ezra liked that… it seemed very close to driving a car. The gift also included a small Thomas which lights up and talks. Both mat and train were a big hit.
I keep returning to this awesome yarn/craft store on Broadway here in Denver. It’s called Fancy Tiger. The yarn and fabric and other odds and ends they sell there are the best and the folks who work there are always fun to talk with. So I bought a whole bag full of yarn all for myself sometime after my birthday. But my birthday is in November, which is so close to Christmas that I had to justify some of my purchase by making a few things for my family. So I knitted two of these cowls. The cowl pictured was sent to my step mom and the deep purple with green buttons (not pictured) I kept for myself. I found the pattern here, through Ravelry this great knitting and crocheting community.
I made these for my sister who is always complaining that So Cal is cold. Well, I gave her a gift that expresses just how cold I think So Cal is… only cold enough for fingerless gloves. So there! Cold in California, HA!
Every year at church we have what is called Super Saturday. Basically a few hours on a Saturday in late Nov. early Dec. where we make stuff. Last year I learned to knit. This year I was somehow wrangled into teaching how to etch glass. I had never etched glass in my life. But how hard could it be? I etched metal plates in my college intaglio print class 11 years ago. How different could it be? Oh, it was much easier. No acid baths in trays, no need to wear gloves or be under a fan (although a well ventilated room is a must) and we used contact paper to make the stencils. The hardest part was laying the stencil on the curved glass ornaments I had bought. The contact paper just didn’t want to bend the way I wanted it to. I made these plates for my mom. One of each of the kids’ profiles. I figured she could use a few extra plates. Since they are etched, they can be used without fear of rubbing off the decoration.
PS. The fingerless gloves were researched but no one pattern used, it was a mix of several. Also, the part around the fingers I knitted both white and green yarns at the same time. I saw someone using 2 strands at once while at India’s cello recital, of all places. One glove might be larger than the other… I will confess to nothing!
So we figured out a gift for the birthday boy on Saturday. I think it was a great success.
He really liked the shirt India made. Go figure. I thought he would pass right over that!
Here’s what we came up with.
A make-your-own robot set inspired by this one… which is way cooler. You gotta start somewhere, right?
A shirt designed and painted by India. Have you ever done a freezer paper shirt? That’s what we did. We had about 4 stencils made from the paper. It turned out pretty cool, if I do say so myself.
With a joint baby shower and a birthday party on Saturday, I was able to get back into our tradition of making gifts. I felt a baby book would be nice to give the expectant moms and I saw this memory game here.
Another birthday this coming Saturday. No ideas. A boy turning 8… hum. Can I find anything beyond the plastic yuck in the stores? We’ll see.
Exterior of each. One for a boy, one for a girl. I know, both are a bit feminine. What can ya do?
One of the interior pages. I finally bought one of those stamps that are like the librarian date stamps. This has the entire alphabet and I think about 15 letters across. Awesome.
I have so much paper that I knew this would be a great project.
The card India made for the birthday girl who was turning 3. A picture of the girl and her big brother… who is appropriately small for her special day.
