Teacup Succulents

This is part of what I did for my moms for Mother's Day this year.  I absolutely fell in love with them and will soon find teacups to make one for myself!  There is something so dainty and lady-like about a teacup and when you put a miniature plant in it kind of makes you want to swoon.

I checked a nursery and a few other stores for mini succulents, but found exactly what I wanted at Lowe's.  In fact I found all the necessary parts at Lowe's, except for the teacups - those are from Goodwill.

I used this soil, mostly because I'm a rule follower and it says cactus on it.  But I also felt like any good start I can give to these little plants would be a good thing.

The little rocks came in a bag called Soil Cover.  Since I didn't intend to put a hole at the bottom of the cup I figured the rocks would help for drainage.  

I really could see a few of these lined up on my kitchen windowsill.  And the nice thing is that they take very little upkeep.

Deep Thoughts:  "Life is like making tea - boil your ego, evaporate your worries, dilute your sorrows, filter your mistakes and get a taste of happiness." 

Linked to:  Pinworthy Projects, Be Different Act Normal, Sundae Scoop, Funky Junk's Party Junk, Friday Flair Link Party

'Egg'cellent Friend Gift

I love finding small gifts to give out for any occasion and was particularly pleased when I found these through Pinterest.  What better little something to give to a friend than letting them know how 'Egg'cellent they are?  The original post was on Eighteen25 and she was even kind enough to provide the printout for us to download.  Her version was for teacher, but fortunately she also has one for friends.

This was what I made and filled the treat bags (found at the craft store using my 40% off coupon) with 3 kinds of 'egg' candy: malted milk eggs, Reese's peanut butter eggs... and of course a Cadbury Creme Egg.

I decided the tag needed a little more something, so added a strip of yellow washi tape - loved it!  (And the Cadbury Creme Egg got the opportunity for a close-up in this shot!)

All in all - very pleased with these simple little gifts!

Fat Quarter Fabric Gift Bag

Sometimes it’s not so much what you’re giving somebody, but how you give it.  And sometimes how you give it is the entire reason for the gift!

I saw a tutorial for a fabric gift bag made from half a fat quarter and couldn’t wait to try it out.  My original plan was to make these bags for all the girls that went on a recent retreat, but unforeseen circumstances kind of paralyzed me as far as crafting went and I didn’t get them done.

I did manage to finish one of them though and as luck would have it a dear friend happens to adore halloween, so gift it I did!

 

Too cute!  I’m not kidding when I say it took so little time that I swore I must’ve left out a step.  The only thing I will change from the tutorial when I make more is to use my serger on the inside of the bag.  Using that method will cut even more time off the total.

 

This is what the bag looks like when it’s finished, before it’s stuffed and posed.  The ribbon is actually sewn into the seam, which means any time you use this bag it’s ready to go – no more looking for something to tie it with!

 

And since I couldn’t possibly give her an empty gift bag I did some of the old standby “pretzels dipped in melted candy coating chips”, then topped with seasonal sprinkles.

 

** Linking to Fabric Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, Sew Cute Tuesday, Too Cute Tuesday, Handmade Tuesday

Card #6–Hoppy Birthday Loni!

Let me start off by saying how enormously blessed I am to have a daughter-in-law who is also a friend.  It certainly makes getting together with them something I treasure all the more!

Today is her birthday and really she’s one of my biggest crafting fans.  Each year as she opens the envelope with her card she always looks up, smiles and asks if it’s an “Elizabeth original.”  Now with somebody like that how can you NOT make a card? 

 

Another thing about Loni is that she LOVES puns!  Seriously, she is one Punny girl! (Hoho – did you see what I did there?  Snuck in a pun!)  So for this card I first came up with the sentiment and went searching through my stamps looking for a cutesy frog.  Apparently I don’t have one so I searched online for an image, but just didn’t find anything I liked.  So what else hops?  TIGGER!  (OK, I realize he bounces, but he’s cute and a bounce really is like a hop!)

 

I kept the color theme for wrapping her gift and I really think I’m on to something here.  I went to the “big box store” to buy a roll of Kraft paper, but they didn’t have any.  They DID have many solid colors and I figured white would be pretty.  Instead of curly ribbon I went back to the craft section and bought a roll of 7/8” grosgrain ribbon.  Actually the nice grosgrain was no more expensive than the curly ribbon and it can be reused in so many ways.  And doesn’t it make a pretty bow?  I think this might be my “go to” wrapping now – frugal and I think it looks oh so pretty!

Supplies used for card:  Image found online; striped ribbon and orange scallop behind Tigger – Stampin’ Up Pumpkin Pie

Linking to:  Motivate Me Monday, Blog Hop, Making Monday Marvelous, Just Something I Whipped Up, Craft-O-Maniac Monday Link Party, Mad Skills Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Sharing Monday, Made With Love

A Coke and A Smile Gift

Last night was Mission Crafts Ministry night at church and since it was our last meeting before Christmas I wanted to do a little something to make it a bit more special.

 

I had gotten these little Coke tins at Walmart after Christmas last year at a super low price.  I didn’t want to fill them with standard cookies or candy, so Keith and I put our thinking caps on to come up with something.  We decided that along with your Coke you would want something salty, so I cooked up a batch of Chex Mix.

 

I lined the inside of the tin with some plastic wrap, filled it with Chex Mix, then folded the plastic wrap over the top to seal it.

In keeping with the Coke color theme I used red gift bags with white tissue paper.  Each gift had a Coke tin with Chex Mix and a little bottle of Coke with the red curly ribbon.  Very well received and it was a fun gift to make!

 

I also brought a tray of these Peppermint Brownies and sighs of delight were heard all around.  This will now be my holiday go-to brownie.

 

** Linking to Take-A-Look Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, Tip Me Tuesday

Thank You Card – And Decorated Gift Cookies

I found myself in need of a Thank You card recently and this is what I came up with, with the help of a friend.  It’s actually quite a bit different than what I normally do – not quite as girly or overtly pink (but I did sneak some in!).  Overall I’m very pleased with it though and it’s already in the mail!

Stampin Up supplies used:  Watercolor Trio stamp set, Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, all inks and cardstock

And now the reason for the thank you card!  Mother’s Day weekend of course was a wonderful time.  After church Keith, Brooklyn (granddaughter) and I went to brunch with my mom, his mom and dad, my brother and sister-in-law.  It’s so very special to me that both sides of our family get along so well and enjoy being together – a true blessing.

When we all got to the restaurant Michele, my sister-in-law, came inside carrying beautiful gift bags and gave one to me, my mom, mother-in-law and gave me one to take home to my daughter-in-law.

They were so cute!  She’d ordered some personalized cookies from a gal in town that does this from her home.  Each bag had a cookie with our name on it and the bag contained more mom cookies and a cute flower cookie.  Such a darling and thoughtful idea.

I’ve thought about this quite a bit and have decided I’m going to try my hand at cookies like this.  I don’t hope to become as good as this professional was, but what I have learned is that it’s ok – the impact of this gift was great and I’m going to assume that others would like to receive it as well.

Don’t you just love when somebody out of the blue gives you a gift that you love so much that you want to do the same for somebody else?

Crocheted Dishcloth

 

Pardon me while I do a little mom bragging.   My daughter Lynne’, 24, has made two baby blankets so far.  She knit the first one for her niece and the second blanket was crochet for her BFF’s baby.

For Christmas this year she decided to do a crocheted face cloth for each of her grandmothers.  Both of them turned out absolutely gorgeous and her packaging was perfect.  She used a very light sage green yarn called King Tut that has a beautiful sheen to it and oh so soft and luxurious.

 

A trip to World Market for some boutique handmade soap and it was time to package.  The basket was gathered in plastic wrap and tied with a bow.

What a great gift for somebody you love!

There's A Monkey In My Mailbox!

Good day, sunshine!  The ice and fog is gone and its place is beautiful blue sky and sunshine.  I ventured out to the mailbox and what did I find?  A package from Barb!  Barb's blog is one I've been following I think forever.  She is another person that I think of as 'the perfect grandma' and I try to learn grandma'isms from her. 

And here's what the package contained:

My very own Barb original sock monkey!  She makes these little guys and is setting up a shop and she actually had a drawing that I WON!  Could've knocked me over with a feather!

And look at this face!  Absolutely darling.  Right now he's sitting on a dresser in the spare bedroom that we keep Miss B's toys in.  I'm not sure if this will remain "his spot" or not, but I do think I want him in this room so that when B is here she can love on him.

He sat in the entryway for a bit on my antique sewing machine cabinet, but I'm not so sure the Raggedy Annes enjoyed having him around.  ;)

Regardless of where he ends up I know he'll enjoy it here.  Because once Brooklyn gets to love on him and carry him around by the tail...or arm...or wherever and he starts to look a little raggedy himself, then he'll know that there is no place like home.

Barb, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

ps - see the shadows around sock monkey in the last picture?  They are caused by the natural light coming in the front door!  I do love me some sunshine!   :)