A Molly Mo's Baby Shower: Part 1

Saturday my sister, Rebecca, and friend Diane, of Molly Mo's, helped put on a baby shower for me. It was one of the most beautiful baby showers I have ever been to. I have to say that I am still overwhelmed at the kindness and hard work of Becca, Diane, my Mum, niece Jessica, and friend Sarah. Becca kept everything a secret and boy was I surprised! It was like walking into my very own Pinterest inspiration board. ;)

The baby shower was held at Diane's shop, Molly Mo's, which is only open for special antique faire events. When Becca came to her to ask for advice about where she could find a unique venue for the shower, Diane said, "Why not in the barn?" The above photo was taken of the barn last August for Diane's Summer Antique Faire. (It was pouring with rain, so I didn't get a photo of the outside of the barn at the party.)

When I walked into the beautiful room, I just had to take pictures before everyone started to arrive. But, I realized it was hard to photograph a party that is suppose to be for you. So, sadly, I put the SLR down and pulled out my phone and quickly got shots where and when I could. Then, Becca took my phone from me and started taking more while I opened presents. 

The furniture and items hung on the wall are all Diane's from her shop.

A variety of chairs that Diane had for the guests to sit on. 

One of Diane's gifts to me was this beautiful "B" that she took to her friend Sarah Voss of Roost Reimagined so that she could teach her how to make it. From what Diane tells me, Sarah ended up doing the project while she chatted. ;) It was created with old bed sheets that was re-purposed into a mummy Halloween costume for her daughter years ago (which one first prize, by the way) and now was used to create this piece. The "B" is made of cardboard that she picked up at a local craft store.

The pom poms were created by Becca and my Mum! I am also excited to say that the pink and green Pink Paislee decorations behind the white poms are my own from my Create Often Scrapbook Retreat that I gave Diane last year. Lastly, on the left is a little book that I got to open at home today. It is my mother's baby book filled with milestones of her first year, first haircut, and even a few darling photos inside as an infant. Precious.

There were two cakes, one was Raspberry Champagne and the other a Lemon purchased from The Lovin' Oven which is the bakery that makes the cakes for the famous Gerry Frank's Konditorei.

 The lemon cake was custom made to match the decor. It is hard to tell in the above photo, but it is a pale pink. The frosting on the inside was also pale pink. Of course, Becca added some Heidi Swapp Pennants to make me feel at home.

Sarah Voss gave Diane a few baby shower props, like this stork. Cute right?!

The display in the middle of the room held all the gifts and flower favors that Becca wrapped by hand.

Becca took 100 year old magazine pages and folded the pages to create a little pot. She took the flowers and filled each paper pot and then tied each with string. Each guest got to take one home.

Create Well: Be inspired. Feel loved.

Heidi Swapp - New Stencils!

 

So, I might still get giddy over the fact that I have little dresses filling up the nursery's drawers. It is allowed right? The minute I saw this little dress at Target, I knew I wanted to use Heidi Swapp's new Tiny Heart 12x12 Stencil to make it turquoise and coral. (I know, I am obsessed with the color combination, but who isn't?!) 

Today I show you how I made this on Heidi's blog. I also show you how I created this gift tag to go with it using the same technique!

Create Well: Use stencils to paint paper or fabric - your choice!

Baby Shower Album

My baby shower is this Saturday and I wanted something special for friends and family to sign while they are there but I didn't just want a simple guest book. I wanted something that would last and share a little bit about Bethany's story.

Yes, our little one's name is Bethany Rebecca. Funny. We weren't going to tell anyone the name until she was born, but my dear husband was nesting a couple of weeks ago. Did you know it could happen to the father too? Well, believe me, it can. My husband decided he was going to cook up three meals fifteen minutes before he was suppose to be in bed for work to get up early the next morning. Needless to say, he could barely stand up by the time he was done in the kitchen two hours later. He was muttering something about not knowing why we were even keeping the baby's name a secret.

The next afternoon, he calls me before heading home from work and says to me that he thinks my sister called him the night before and he thinks he told her the baby's name. So, I call Becca and - no - he called my sister while half asleep and told her the baby's name. I love that she kindly said, "Dave, I am honored that you named the baby after me. But, it is late and it sounds like you are suppose to be asleep." Ha! Well, at least we have a great story to tell. I love my husband. He keeps life fun. ;)

Here is a peek inside the Shutterfly album that I created using the Wedding Guest Book Story Telling Style template. I don't mind using the templates they provide because they have some outstanding designers collaborating with them! Plus, it saves me tons of time!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo books are the perfect gift for any occasion.

Heidi Swapp & Petaloo - Mother's Day Layout

Have you ever just been stumped creatively? Had a major loss of mojo? I don't get it often. But when I do, it lasts about a week. I should be counting how many projects I create in a month's time. Maybe if I knew how many I was making I would give myself a break when my brain and body come to a screeching creative halt.

This Heidi Swapp and Petaloo layout laid on my space for several hours while I toyed with it. I wasn't sure what my message was even going to say on it until it was all completed. Usually I know the story I want to tell before I start creating. But, this time it just didn't flow. After I was finished, I placed it aside to dry completely and didn't look at it again until the next morning. I was shocked. I loved it. The story touched my heart... and the design spoke to me.

While I hope this will not happen again anytime soon, I learned a valuable lesson. I needed to just let go and have fun with the creative process. Set it aside and come back to it later to see if I am over thinking it too much. Just glue it down and walk away.

To see more you can visit Heidi's blog, where this layout is featured today!

Create Well: Just glue it down and walk away.

Happy Birthday Heidi!

I was so excited to be able to surprise Heidi Swapp with this birthday card on her blog last week! Her actual birthday was this Monday, but to surprise her the team had birthday cards to share last week on her blog Then we could send them to her before she got home from her Europe tour in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

I wanted to try out a chalkboard stamping technique that I was dreaming up. I am creating something similar for a Make and Take I am doing for Craft Warehouse this coming weekend. This was the perfect backdrop to test it on.

There is nothing better than a good surprise. I love surprises. What about you? I guess, I like surprises if you don't know that there is going to be one. Then, it seems more like a secret. For example, my sister is throwing me a baby shower. I am really excited about it! But, she won't tell me anything about it. I can't even have a little sneak peek of what she is working on. I got my invitation yesterday and I know where it is. But I finally asked her the other day, "Could you at least tell me the color scheme so I can look for a new outfit to wear?!" She laughed and said, "Pink."

Well... I could have probably guessed that much.

Create Well: A handmade surprise is a good surprise.

Heidi Swapp Memory File Album

I am so excited to share my pages for Heidi Swapp's Memory File Adventure class today on Heidi's blog! This was a labor of love since it took several weeks of planning and executing.

I share a little about what got me into paper crafting, art, and the times I almost gave it up for good. Have you ever been there? Wanted to give up your creative passions? Why do we do that to ourselves? For me it was depression among other things. There were times when I didn't know why I had to create. Was that even normal?

I love this song by JJ Heller, called True Things. It helped me realize that I am not defined by other things or other people. I am created unique and special. I am who God created me to be.


Join me on Heidi's blog today to see more pages of my album, the free class, and some more time to sit and chat - just you and me.

Create Well: You were created to be creative.

Heidi Swapp - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Have you ever created a card where the recipient could re-use it? I thought with Earth Day around the corner and Heidi Swapp's Recycle Challenge, I would create something with her packaging that my mother-in-law could re-use to celebrate her special day!  

On the front of this card, I re-used packaging to put birthday candles in! The inside design has a match book along with a little pennant to add to the cake we will be bringing her over to celebrate! It is like an invitation to party! ;) You can see the inside and more details on Heidi's blog today, here!

Create Well: Reduce and reuse!