1st party banners

"1st party" from Party Perfect.
Instructions found here.

Love the banner idea, using photos taken throughout the year. It's almost overwhelming, but yet with the consistency, it's actually really awesome!

I guess it would show what photo-nerds we are. Could also use for an older person's party, too--through the years. Also seen... photos of mom and dad as babies for a baby shower.

red, white, and blue birthdays

"baby j's 3rd birthday bash" and "red+white+blue" from shimandsons.
Love these red, white and blue birthday parties. The pinwheels, mobiles, and pennant are so inspiring for a simple party.

Could be cute for 4th of July as well!!

Decorate a Staircase

"Decorate a Staircase" from the haystack needle.
This photo (my favorite) is found at idahostudio's flickr page.

My stairs right now are carpeted, but someday, someday, I'll have wooden stairs.

Headband

"Headband" from Between the Lines.

This is what you'll need:



- two rectangular pieces of fabric: a big one of 40cm x 12cm and a smaller one of 20cm x 6cm (seams included) - Note: you might want to change the dimensions depending on the size of the head, the type of fabric you chose and the elasticity of the elastic. The sizes given here, worked fine for my 5 and 8 year olds. Also, you might want to try to make a wider one. I've seen them in a wider version, which is especially pretty with long or very curly hair.
Note: my oldest one tried on this new headband when she got home from school and found it a little tight. Although I used the same dimensions on all of the headbands, I used a different brand of elastic. To avoid disappointment, better cut the elastic a little longer - it's easier to make the headband smaller than the other way around...
- about 12cm of wide elastic
- matching sewing thread
- safety pin and needle pins
- iron
- sewing machine

Step one: Lengthwise, iron in the seams of the bigger piece, folding over the fabric twice (about 7mm). Next, with the right sides to each other fold the smaller piece in two, lengthwise and iron flat. (pic. 2 and 3)





Step 2: Sew the seams about 5mm from the edge. (pic. 4 and 5)





Step 3: Turn inside out the smaller piece, using the safety pin (pic. 6). Slide in the elastic, also using the safety pin (pic.7). Secure with pins on both sides and then sew to secure (pic.8).







Step 4: Fold over the bigger piece as shown in pic. 9, such that its width becomes a little more than twice the with of the smaller piece with elastic. Secure by sewing a couple of stitches near the edge (pic.10).





Step 5: On one end, put the elastic part on top of the bigger piece, the bigger piece being right side up (pic. 11). Squeeze the elastic part in between by folding over fabric from the sides and secure with pins (pic. 12). Next, sew it closed (pic. 13). Repeat at the other end (pic. 14) - before doing so check one more time for the size!

A Little Big Project

"A Little Big Project" from Elise Baha :: enJoy it.

My grandmother taught me how to cross-stitch when I was little. I think it's a pretty cool craft, but few applications are very modern and appropriate for my style. That is, until I saw Elise's novel approach. She's using them for table numbers at her wedding. I love the iconic typography. What could I use them for? How cute would it be to do the alphabet in a nursery? Or as house numbers (inside, hmmm...)? Where else?

Belly Pictures

"Belly Pictures" from Pacing the Panic Room.

I've told Rob that I have no interest in having professional maternity photos taken (if and when I'm ever pregnant!). Because I simply can't imagine how you use those photos--do you really want them on your wall? However, these are pretty cool, and I can totally see a Blurb book like this. And, paired with "letters" to the baby, what a special memento it becomes.

Last Minute Christmas Tags

"Last Minute Christmas Tags" from inchmark.
What a cute idea for Christmas tags. I love personalized tags--I told my husband this year that if you make the wrapping look cute, then you can get away with giving a "cheaper" gift.

PS: I, of all people, know that it's not about how much the gift costs, but I'm afraid not all of our gift recipients are of like mind!