St Patrick's Day

I finally got up the courage to use my fabric stencil kit for my Silhouette Cameo.  I used an image from their website, so I knew everything would turn out well. 

I bought some white onesies from Target, measured how big to make the image and off I went.  Sorry I didn't take any pics of the process, but here's the finished product (with my cute little model). 

Valentine's Day Presents/Project

Well, I had some lovely friends throw me a 'Better Late Than Never' Baby Shower for my 13-month-old this week, which was a lot of fun. I wanted to give them (those lovely ladies who planned the shin-dig) a thank you gift. Since it's Valentine's Day season, I thought it would be fitting to use that theme.

I am going to make them some paper fortune cookies with different date ideas for married couples (both these women are married).

If you're looking for a tutorial, there's a good one here. Instead of cutting the circles out by hand, I used me wonderful Cameo. Pictures to come when completed... :)

Here's a few of the ideas that will be included in fortune cookies (If you want the rest, let me know):

- Try stargazing in your own back yard or out in the country. Just bring a blanket and gaze upwards together. If you’re the scientific type, you might get a star map and try to identify constellations.

- Commit to a “tech free” night. Turn off your cell phones, computer, the TV, and the lights. Use your imagination to see what’s left to do without electricity.

- Play a game from your childhood – croquet, badminton, hide and seek, miniature golf. Reminisce and be playful together.

- Look through old photo albums and tell each other stories of your childhood and families. If you feel really energetic, make it a time to put all those loose photos in albums or on a disc.

- Try an old fashioned picnic in a secluded spot. Lay out a tablecloth, some snacks or a meal. Some sparkling grape juice might be a nice touch. Perhaps read some romantic poetry to each other. It need not be original, just something you took the effort to find.

- Invite some friends over and play games. Eat some yummy food.

- Settle in for a night of pampering: No pricey spa required. Use your empty wallets as an excuse to stay in — and up — all night. Run a bubble bath and then treat each other to full-body massages. Sleep in the next day.

I Love Freecycle!

I love our local Freecycle.  I put out the word that I was wanting some ugly frames (to do more fun things with my Cameo), and I was amazed at how many I received.  One lady had gotten loads from various places, but no longer wanted them... So, she passed them on - 2 boxes worth! 

So grateful for people who would rather recycle and re-purpose things than throw them away.  It's fun to come up with creative ideas on how to give new life to things that have either gotten worn out or are have become 'so last year (or decade).'


I think the philosophy of 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without' is still a really good way to live, especially if you're trying to live within your budget.

First Project

Woohoo!  I started to play with the Cameo yesterday and finished my first project today!  I really like the finished product, and have already hung it in Lilly's room.

Here's a breakdown of the project, complete with pictures:

I started out with some frames I already had, but didn't like the color/finish for a baby's room.  So, I painted them white.  The name of the paint was Eagle's Wing, which I thought was cool.

After the first coat of paint, it looked like this, which looked a bit shabby chic, but that wasn't the look I was after.

Here's what they looked like after the 2nd coat.  Much better I think:

I forgot to take a picture of the other fabric I was using inside the frame before I cut the letters out on the Cameo, although you can see it under the mat. 

It was so exciting and the Cameo produced them pretty quickly.  Below is a picture of what the first frame looked like before I glued everything down and added ribbon...

...And here's the final product as it hangs on the wall.  I love it.

Win a Cameo..?!

I just found this website that is giving away a Silhouette Cameo for FREE!  If you'd like to enter, click on the link: Expressions Vinyl or on the button below.  Good luck! :)

Introducing My New Toy, I Mean Tool...

I just received my new Silhouette Cameo in the mail today.

You may be thinking What on earth is a Silhouette Cameo?  The manufacturer's blurb: The Silhouette CAMEO™ is an electronic cutting tool for personal use. Like a home printer, it plugs into your PC or Mac® with a simple USB cable. However, instead of printing it uses a small blade to cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric and more up to 12" wide and 10 feet long. The machine also boasts a quiet motor and the ability to register and cut printed materials.

Here's a cool video that demonstrates it's features:   

It's arrival was long awaited as it nearly took 2 weeks to arrive.  I had already watched YouTube videos, read reviews, visited other bloggers who also had one, and was really excited about all the cool things I will be making in the coming months and years.  Isn't it beautiful?  The green tape will be removed before I use it... :)

It's difficult deciding what my first project will be.  Any ideas?