Gift Idea Part 2

As I said yesterday I worked really hard trying to come up with gift ideas, so today I am going to tell you one that is easy and cute for a girl.  I got this idea from my cousin’s little girl’s room.  She is very girly and has a million hair bows.  So, I was over at there house and notice the super cute hair bow board in Ava’s room.  I looked at it very close and decided I could EASILY do this.  So here is a how to on hair bow boards for you. 

Supplies

• Canvas (I used a 16x20)
• Fabric
• Ribbon
• Hooks
• Staple Gun

I went and got supplies at Hobby Lobby, and I bought the extra fabric bundle.  I planned on making more than one of these since both pregnant friends are having girls.  The fabric bundle was the perfect size at 18x21.  I had lots of choices which made picking the fabric hard.  I laid the fabric and stretched it over one side at a time and stapled it to the wood.  Once every side is stapled down I measured out and stapled down the ribbon.  The ribbon doesn’t need to be too tight.  Each column is about 2 inches apart.  I added a ribbon to hang the board from but that isn’t necessary.  It could be hung the same way any canvas is hung.  I would recommend taking a hammer to all the staples to ensure they are flat. 

I am so sorry, I didn’t take progress pictures.  But here is what the two I made looked like.  Also, add hooks to the bottom for the headbands to hang.  I added 4 hooks to the bottom of each of these.  It will be perfect for keeping hair accessories organized.   

I also ordered some hair bows for this board.  It is her first baby and first girl, so a girl can never have enough bows. 

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

I have mentioned this before, but I have several friends who are expecting.  These are fairly close friends, who we see weekly or multi times a week.  So, when one of them had a shower fast approaching I started thinking what I should get them.  It is hard because I wanted to do something personal.  Clothes are cute and I know there are many other items that people need, but I didn’t want to give them clothes which they will probably have more than enough or items they need but are not very personal.  I wanted to make something.  I can be crafty, but I am also horrible at sewing.  I thought and thought.  I got on Pinterest and Google.  Ideas everywhere, but nothing I was in love with. 

I am also planning a baby shower for one of these friends and while looking for shower ideas I found a gift idea.  Blocks.  Handmade wooden blocks.  Thank you Martha Stewart.  I found the idea on her website, but changed it up a little and decided to make it with the baby’s name. 

Supplies:

• Paint
• Paper
• Wooden Blocks
• ModPodge

I painted the blocks but only the edges, and I planned to cover them with the paper but parts might be exposed. To save on time and paint I just did the edges.I have a paper cutter so cutting these down to size was easy.  I got the paper at Hobby Lobby and picked 6 different colors to go on the 6 sides.  I used Mod Podge and attached the paper to the blocks.  I also used a card (like a credit card) to get out all bubbles.  I then added three more layers of Mod Podge to the top. Close up picture.I then hand painted the name.  I picked 6 different fonts 3 capitalized and 3 lower case and painted the name 6 times.  I found the fonts online and then actually traced them on the blocks before painting.  I am not artistic enough to hand do them without tracing.  I had to paint a few coats to make them look perfect. Here is the first font after one coat.Here is a close up.Here are all but one font.  I guess I didn’t take a picture of the last font, which was the most detailed and hardest, but my favorite.Here is the final product.

I will tell you about project number 2 tomorrow.  This next project was a lot EASY then the blocks.  The blocks took a lot of time to do but I think they ended up looking GREAT!  BTW all the products I used are not dangerous to babies.  These could be played with, chewed on, or used for decorations they would not be harmful at all. 

Boring Day

I think I am the only person off today.  It is President’s Day and my office is closed.  Michael is working, so what does that mean for me.  I am laying in bed watching Live with Kelly, who is in Hawaii.  Love!  It is obviously not LIVE right now because they would be filming at 5:00AM.  Today they showed them on a dolphin tour, whale watching, and snorkel.  It was cool, because they went to the same place we did on our tour.  Making me want to go back this year…maybe we will.  

Daytime TV is kind of boring.  I hate when I am off and everyone else in the world is working.  I guess I will clean the house, and catch up on editing photos from Hawaii (yes, I am still doing that).  Maybe I will start a new craft or write some blogs on the crafts I was working on for the last month.  They are so cute and they were gifted so now I can show them off.

Maybe I will add walking Gabby and shopping to my list of activities today.  I hope everyone has a good day whether you are working or off.  Enjoy!! 

Football Joy

Yes, it is February and I am about to talk about college football.  Arkansas just released their scheduled locations for our 2012 season and I feel like shouting from the rooftops.  Arkansas will FINALLY be playing rival LSU at our real home in FAYETTEVILLE.  Why is this so awesome?  Well forever we have played this game in Little Rock.  It is kind of silly and has been for years.  Little Rock’s stadium holds 20,000 less than Fayetteville.  I know all the Little Rock based fans will be mad, but I don’t care.  I graduated from the UofA and now live in Fayetteville.  Home is Fayetteville not Little Rock.  We are the ONLY school who plays home games at two locations.  Very very silly.  Don’t worry we are still going to be playing two games in Little Rock, just two games that won’t even add up to the excitement around LSU.  I cannot wait to tailgate for this game…Can I go setup our tent now?  Wow is all I can say and I can’t wait. 

Here is the article the school release today by the athletic department.  I hope everyone who has been waiting for this longer than me can enjoy it.  Plus maybe this will be the year for the HOGS!!! WPS!!!

Valentine’s Day

Sorry for being absent.  I have been busy being extra crafty and working a lot.  I have to ask what do you think of Valentine’s Day?  Do you love it?  Do you hate it?  This is one subject Michael and I agree on 100%.

We think Valentine’s Day is kind of silly.  We have been together for almost 6 years and I don’t think we have ever really done anything on Valentine’s Day.  He might get me a card and I might get him a card, but that is it.  It is a day like any other day in our household. 

I don’t like Valentine’s Day.  Michael doesn’t need a specific day to buy me flowers or jewelry.  I hate going to dinner on Valentine’s Day.  It is crowded and I don’t like to wait.  Impatience is my name.  Now girls, before you all hate me…I love flowers and I love jewelry and I especially love going to dinner with my sweetie.  But, Michael and I agree we should be sweet all the time or at least randomly.  A special note one day or an arrangement of flowers another.  That’s special and extra sweet.  It is expected on Valentine’s Day. 

Valentine’s Day is really for girls.  I can’t think of one guy can think of only one guy who I know that would like Valentine’s Day.  I won’t reveal who he is, but he is an lovey guy and his wife is super lucky she married him.  They are the cutest couple!  But besides him, most guys do Valentine’s Day because they don’t want to be in the doghouse.  I mean what guy wants flowers delivered to his office for everyone to see.  NONE.  So it is a holiday for girls.  Now that I have said this…

I use Valentine’s Day as a way to get Michael to take me to that chick flick that he normally would never agree to go with me to.  He normally would tell me to go with one of my girl friends.  I use this on my birthday, too.  We will go to a movie and it will be a matinee, because it will be less crowded and we won’t have to arrive 40 minutes early.  I will cook him dinner on the day, which isn’t out of the ordinary.  The only difference will be it will just be us.  When I cook I have a tendency to invite other to join…the whole it is easier to for 4 or more as opposed to 2. 

I always tell Michael not to waste our money on flowers, which are always more expensive for Valentine’s Day or jewelry.  Save the jewelry for something like Christmas, birthday or anniversary.  When we were getting engaged I told him he should do it for a birthday or Christmas, then he doesn’t have to get me anything else.  We got engaged on Easter because he was too excited and as he put it…I spent a lot of money for it to just sit in a box for several months.  We are THAT couple. 

I hope that if you love Valentine’s Day that someone makes it extra special for you and if you hate it then stay at home.  To my wonderful husband thanks for being my equal.          

Happy 2nd Bday Gabby

Yesterday was my baby’s birthday.  She had the best day.  Michael and I decided she should go to doggy daycare on her birthday, since she has so much fun there.  She had a blast and even got a bath at doggy daycare.  I can’t believe she is already 2.  She has been the best addition to our little family and we love every minute with her.  She has the patience of an angel.  She never bites or gets mad at us or anyone young or old.  She love to play chase and frisbee.  She especially loves her daddy.  I think it is because she spends all day with me.  :-) Here is her with her birthday presents.  She loved the cookie and we loved the shirt.