Holiday Crafting Has BEGUN!

It's official! The holiday crafting has begun. Lately I've been loving the silhouette trend. Actually I've loved it for a LONG time. My parents had silhouette portraits of both my sister and I and I always thought they were cool (albeit a little cheesy). When I found a really great profile shot of one of my nieces (real name changed to protect the innocent), I knew it was my opportunity.

This project has been blogged in many varieties and mediums and final outcomes. I love this one from Inhabitots on making a custom silhouette tee of your kids. Also great is this one on Design*Sponge for making framed versions of custom silhouette art of your kids. I guess I'm a little late on my trendspotting, because back in 2007 Cookie Magazine had a write up about the silhouette trend and featured some awesome artists who will do the work for you (dog? cat? kid? couple? YES!). If you use Illustrator, you can even find a YouTube video on how to make a silhouette like in the iPod commercials. Wow.

I'm pretty lo-fi with my technology, so I used my old school Microsoft program to create a "cutout" of the image of my niece, then I selected a fill color (pink). Then I added an oval shape in the background and some text and done. Simple, but I think it turned out cute and my niece will think it's cool. I hope! Only 527 more gifts to go!

A First Birthday

I just finished making the birthday invitations for my first son's first birthday. Wow. It turned out so cute, I think (He did all the work being so cute. Well, that and our amazing photographer helped!)! I looked on Flickr for handmade birthday party invitations, and found good ideas galore. I wasn't really even going to send real invitations (email will be the downfall of our civilization), but changed my mind after seeing all the great work there.

We're just going to have a few people over, presumably set up the kiddie pool, and have some eats. Here's what is on the menu so far:

Grillables (of course)
Coleslaw
Three Bean Salad
Fresh Strawberry Pie with Whipped Cream

Any other good first birthday must-do's or must-eats?

Word Nerds of the World, Unite

I'm sort of a word nerd. I've worked as a communications consultant for many years, and as such enjoy many hours worrying over getting writing right. How can that be, you might wonder, given the lack of care given to the writing in my blog? Let's just say that it's sort of freeing to just sit and belch forth writing without worrying about it so much. I like to stop being a perfectionist for a few hours a day, and just write. Or look up the meanings of words. Or learn new words. Or whatever.

Language, words, grammar, they take up a good percentage of my life, or at least they have. I'm now technically a "project manager" and have moved beyond word-nerdiness from a professional standpoint, but I believe that a Word Nerd is someone who has language and words in their bones. That is me, and sometimes it's an annoying trait. I edit menus at restaurants. I cringe at signs on the highway. I grumble at so many a written word mishap, without intention. For that reason, I created this card. I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, and my biggest grammar peeves, in no particular order:
1. use of irrational quotes: The "lowest" prices of the season!
2. the word orientated (I prefer oriented although both are technically okay)
3. Utilize when you mean use
4. Refering to people as that or which (they are WHO or WHOMs!)

Baby Shower Madness!

Saturday I went to a baby shower, and now I'm planning one! My friend Jen is due in June, so I'm hosting a shower for her in April. I put together her invitations tonight, and I think they look darn cute. So cute that I also listed a set in my Etsy shop.

I want to plan a good craft project for the shower. I know everyone does onesies, and I'm not opposed, but I've been researching other ideas just to see what the options are. We also talked about a time capsule. I think the idea is to do something other than play games (especially the ones like candy bar/diaper-sniffing, which are gag-inducing to some). Anyone have any fabulous crafty shower ideas? I'm also hunting for great prizes for the guests and any other ideas you've got. I think this is my first baby shower hosting experience, so I'm in need of help!

Here are some neat things I saw when researching baby showers on Flickr!

Baby Block Cake
Dish Towel Apron Favors
Baby With Pacifier Cupcakes

New Holiday Cards!

Somehow with all the stuff going on in my life...new baby, restarting my job, planning the No Coast Craft-o-rama, an out-of-state wedding, etc....I happened to find time to be inspired enough to design a few new holiday cards.
I hope you like them! They are available in my etsy store, or just shoot me an email!

Send Your Love

I just don't relate to people who hate Valentines Day. I love it!!!

When I was little I remember my dad leaving me a little teddy bear one Valentines Day morning. And I loved sorting out the boxed Smurf's valentines, carefully deciding who of my classmates should be the recipient of each based on the cheesy little sayings.

I think Valentines Day is the perfect excuse to tell your loved ones that you're thinking about them. Send them a kiss, a hug, a letter in the mail. It's all about the love, baby.

P.S. If anyone has any ideas what to give my husband, send me a note.

Catch Us at Urban Earth Co-op

Since you've been cooped up indoors all winter, we thought you could use an excuse to get to the garden store. We will be set up with Urban Earth Co-op at their PaperWorks show Feb. 3 starting at 10 AM. We'll have our usual paper wares and some cute new valentines for your sweeties.

Hope to see you there, breathing in the flowers!!

http://www.urbanearthcoop.org/