Cheers to Wedding Time!!!

Two of my greatest friends got married this summer.  First up was my college roommate, (us below 13 years ago)

I was Matron of Honor in her wedding...  I was also very sick on her wedding weekend with an evil stomach bug.  But you can't tell from the pictures!  God helped me get through all the important parts. 

Then my girlfriend Kristi (whom I have known since I was six and she was 2).

Aren't we the cutest in our dress-up?  Had an awesome time at her wedding!  It was so hot, but so much fun.  I got to see an old friend who I haven't seen in years (since my wedding - 14+ years ago) ...  Cool thing is that we were able to pick up right where we left off.  Don't you love friendships like that??  You can go for years without talking and still feel a strong connection when you meet again.  Here are the three of us. It's amazing how quickly time goes by.  It feels like yesterday I was playing Barbies with these girls.  Memories are wonderful things and really make you think of all the blessings you are given in a lifetime.

My friends - past and present have been and are marvelous gifts from God. 
He selects them GOOD!!!   

Here's my little crafty treat for my girls... I personalized a bottle of my favorite bubbly...  I just made a label with an Irish Wedding Blessing on it & pictures from their facebook page.  Printed it and wrapped it around the bottle.

Don't you love Weddings?  I do!

Teachers Light The Way For Learning Treat!

Bath and Body works has those cute little candles....  They were three for five dollars.  I made a little tag that fits perfectly on top of them...  or you could put the same tag right on any candle.  I did use
avery sticker paper to print these on.

For more Teacher Gift IDeas you can make yourself, click here!
  

Meet Modge Podge - My New Friend...

Here he is...  My new friend, Mr, Modge Podge.  I love saying those two words for some reason...  Modge Podge!  I first noticed this little guy at Skip to My Lou on this post.   She takes a plain boring clipboard and with some scrapbook paper and some modge podge, she creates....

So pretty...  Wouldn't these be great end of the year gifts for your students?  Attach a fancy pen and they can keep writing all summer!  The small clipboards are found at the dollar store!  So your end of the year gift would cost you around $1.25 a child. 

My son and daughter love using clipbaords.  They are handy in the car for travel.  I will tear out a coloring page and my daughter can color while I drive.  They are handy for taking a practice spelling test while waiting at the Doctors office or while your other kids play sports.  Kids love them...  You need to get some and some Modge Podge and make them all pretty.

I decided to try Modge Podge for the first time and made clipboards as party favors.  My daughter had a Princess Party and the girls went on a scavenger hunt through the house looking for Princesses....  So of course they needed a little clipboard to mark their princess findings off on. 

I needed to make 12 rather quickly... so I learned lots and will be ready to make some for my home organization system (coming soon).  These ones I kinda slopped together, but they looked cute.  I used pink spray paint to coat the top.  Most people measure the paper, I just eye balled it and cut.  I also personalized it by printing out the girls pictures and names for their boards. I tired a ribbon to the top. 

My daughter has gotten some good use out of hers already.  And it was fun to use "my new friend" for the first time and begin to think of all the cool things you can do with Mr. Modge Podge.

Speaking of Mr. Modge Podge, you have to see Just Between Friends.  At this blog she used scrapbook paper and Modge Podge to make a back splash in her kitchen.  I am in total amazement over how it turned out.  Go check it out!!!

Vera Bradley Cake!!!

Who doesn't love Vera Bradley?  How about their new pattern?  It is called Night and Day, what do you think???














Pretty huh,  you can get some Flip Flops to match your new purse!














Put them on and walk on the matching area rug!














Make yourself a cup of coffee in this lovely mug!














If you have some coffee, you may need some cake!!!  Check out this Vera cake my cousin made last night for my Aunt's birthday!!!  She used the Night and Day Pattern!

Little does the Birthday girl know that she is getting this pattern in a purse for her Birthday!!!

What's your favorite Vera pattern?

Spread Some Cheer! Quickly and Inexpensively...

In my opinion, the best part of Christmas is the feeling you get when you give a little and make someone smile. I guess we should try to do that all year... but for some reason on the Holidays we make an extra effort.


Here is an inexpensive gift idea for friends and neighbors who are tired of hearing the kids whine; but like a little wine. Just buy the little packs of wine. The bottles are cute. They come in four miniature wine bottles. I wrote a little poem you can attach:



Click here to print the poem "mommy style" or here for "teacher style"!!!


Attach the poem and start spreading your cheer!

My girlfriend spread some cheer my way... she gave me this cute dip plate with a dip mix and crackers. The card says, "Dip into the Holidays and have a healthy New Year. Now I am ready to serve a quick appetizer, wana come over? I have wine, dip, crackers, and a big smile!!!
Hey, all of you looking for a gift to give a teacher... Let me let you in on a secret (that teachers are too nice to admit)... sssshhhhh... Teachers would perfer gift cards (and Teaching Heart CDROM's), not mugs, candles, pins, or apples. Here is a cute way to give a gift card. Purchase small bags at Michael's, place a few holiday candies in the bag with the gift card.

Tip Junkie one of my fave blogs just featured me here... Check out all the great Christmas craft ideas Laurie has listed. My craft is #5.

Yet again, Cookie Talk - Quick Gift Idea

I think I am ALMOST done making Christmas cookie. My kids still have to make their special ones and I have to make my hubby oatmeal butterscotch (his one request)... But besides that, I am done.

I give my cookies away as gifts. Better my neighbors be fat than me. Did I just say that?

Anyhow... Here is a quick way to make a pretty tray that won't cost you a thing and it's pretty.

All you need is some wrapping paper, a peice of cardboard, clear wrap, ribbon, and cookies (of course)!!!

Wrap that cardboard.

Put some cookies on it... Wrap and ta-da, you have a beautiful tray to give to a friend.

Cookies = Love, don't ya think???

Quick Gift Idea

Get a dip plate, some dip from Gourmet Chef, & something to do the dipping with. Wrap with a clear bag. Place a bow around the treat and attach a tag:

Hope you Dip into a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Now whom ever you give the gift to is ready to entertain over the holidays or they have something quick to grab and bring to a party!!!

For more cute sayings for little gifts, check out:
http://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag/articles/chr0014.htm/

Ready For The Holidays Homemade Gifts

I thought I would start posting some craft projects for the holidays. Here are a few from my holidays last year. The last two include free printables for you. I need some fresh ideas, so comment if you have some ideas or good links for me!!! Thanks...I love the computer iron-on paper and I am always looking for new things to create with it. In the past I have created T-shirts, favor bags, & tote bags. When we are home in PA for Christmas, I always do Christmas Eve dinner and I wanted to have a fun centerpiece last year... I bought a table runner and printed some pictures of Christmas pasts (dating back 30 some years) on the iron on paper. I ironed the pictures onto the runner and had a great centerpiece. It got my family saying, "remember when..." I gave the runner to my mom as a gift after the dinner, since she loved it so much. Here is a picture of it in her home... I may and try and do this for my husband's family this year. If you plan to try this craft, I suggest you purchase the Avery paper. You can purchase it at Walmart, K-Mart, Target, and your local office store.

Another fun holiday thing to share. I created a nice gift idea for the child in your life... It is called Grinch on a Trip. Just get a suitcase, buy some white shirts in your child's size, get iron on computer paper, a Christmas Coloring Book, some green candy canes, the Grinch Book, and download the Grinch Soundtrack. Put this all in a suitcase and you have a great gift... see below. PS. I found the little dog stuffed animal at the dollar store. Too cute!

I think this is the last item I would like to share tonight... I made Reindeer food last year for my son's class and decided to change the tag I made a few years ago. I put the food in clear plastic bags and tied a Santa charm on the bag. It was a nice treat for the class. My son loves to sprinkle the dust every year.

Click to download my PDF file of this fun tag!

Click here for more Holiday Printable Craft Treat Ideas!!! You will see my snowman soup treat and some other cute treats!

Daddy Birthday Poem

My favorite man turned 36 the other night... The kids had fun making the hand print frame above. They both made a hand print and selected a favorite picture to place on the frame... I wrote the poem and printed it on a printable overlay:

Ten fingers waving to say, "Yeah!"
Our Daddy is 36 today!

C says, I love Daddy to play horsey with me!
Z says, Daddy and I love watching the Penguins and Crosby!

Daddy, our hands will continue to grow and bigger we will get.
Still we will always love you more than you can ever bet.

Hold us always in your thoughts and remember when we are apart,
You can look up and see our hands and know you hold our hearts.

-- Something for Daddy to display at wok and it was fun and easy to make!

Great Gifts For the 5 to 7 Year Old

Here are the gifts Santa is considering for my Little Map Loving Man this year. Maybe my ideas will give you ideas. Just some great toys for a five to seven year old! If you click on the image you can read more about the product and you can also read reviews from people who have purchased the items in the past!


Some Other Things That Look Cool and I know a kiddo Would Love:


These two things are on his wish list... but Santa can't afford the first one and the second one: he asks for this but never plays with the GEOTRAX anymore. They look really cool though!

Here are some toys that get my THUMBS UP because we already own them and they are loved by my six year old and they are very cool!!!



If you have a 5 to 7 year old, I hope you got a few ideas from this post.