Tags: More Hand Knit Tags for Andrea

Yesterday, I showed the gift tags I made for Andrea.... and today I'm back to share the second batch I made for her during our girl's crafty weekend! 

The best part of the second batch?  I had Drea's help making them!

Whenever you make a card or tag, it's actually easier to make more than one.  Just set up an assembly line... punch everything out, stamp everything all at once... then assemble!

What do you think?

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Hand Knit
Ink:  Basic Grey, Blushing Bride, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Grey, Blushing Bride, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Punches:  Decorative Label, 2-3/8 inch Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge Border, Round Tab (retired)
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Other:  Stampin' Dimensionals

Tags: In Color Hand Knit Tags for Andrea

So I actually made these quite a while ago and never shared them.... better late than never, right? :)

I made them as a gift for my good friend Andrea (aka Drea) who loves to crochet and makes the cutest baby blankets for gifts. 

I loved this stamp set and thought she might like some tags that were made with it to give with her beautiful blankets. :)

She's given so many of the tags out that I just made her some more!  (That means a lot of cute baby blankets too!) So I'll be back to share them tomorrow. :)

What do you think?

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Hand Knit
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Punches:  Decorative Label, 2-3/8 inch Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge Border, Round Tab (retired)
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Other:  Stampin' Dimensionals, In Color Baker's Twine (Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder)

This Week...

 

 

This week was busy and exhausting, but good.

After a long week at work, I drove up to Sacramento for a quick trip to visit the family.  Got a happy greeting from my two favorite little people (including one little lady who can say my name perfectly for the first time this week!). :)  Enjoyed a bonfire with s'mores with my sister, brother-in-law and some of their friends.  Woke up to my happy, little early-to-rise niece who asked me "Are you awake Aunt Amanda?" and proceeding to bring me a pile of toys and entertain me! :)  Went to breakfast with my parents, our usual orders at Sweetie Pie's -- french toast with eggs and bacon for Mom and I, blueberry pancake with eggs and sausage for Dad.  More time playing with the kids.  Baby shower for my cousin Kim who's expecting her second little boy the first week of June.  Finally met Maddie, my cousin Sara's little cutie!  Lots of family and friends.  It was so much fun!  Dinner with Alli in Folsom at BJs - good food, great conversation.  A long drive home in the evening.  Sunday was a day for sleeping in, catching up and taking a few naps on the couch with Brian and Scarlet!

Can't wait to go back to visit again in a few weeks!

Crafty Resolutions for the Rest of 2013.

Even though it's already almost May.... I'm going to go ahead and post this for the rest of the year...

 

I'm a goal setter by nature... don't always get it all done, but have a great time trying!  So I thought it would be fun to set three attainable, crafty goals for the rest of this year.

1.  Use one of my new, unused stamp sets a month.
 
I actually have more than 12 of those right now... eek!

2.  Finish my nephew and my niece's first year baby albums.

The plan is two 2-page layouts per month per album.

3.  Do a Project Life album.

It was constantly on my brain last year, just never set aside the time to do it. And I'm keeping up with it this year, so I believe it is possible!!

These are lofty goals for me when my true spare time (when I am not choosing crafting over time with my husband, my family, my friends or sleep) is approximately 4 hours a week if I averaged it out (I think!). 

Nevertheless... I'm determined this year to work on it and have fun trying to get these items done!

Do you set goals for yourself with your hobbies? Please tell me that I'm not the only one! :)

Photo Study // Signs of Spring.

In an effort to use my new camera more frequently, learn new techniques and blog more consistently.... I was inspired by this so I'm going to start challenging myself to break out the camera a couple of times a month with a prompt.  I thought it would be appropriate to start with a the signs that spring is upon us!!  So.... here goes nothing.... :)







Happy Friday! :)

Fleece Tied Blankets

So did I mention how much Drea and I got finished on our crafty weekend?! Here's another project we knocked out the last night while watching Knocked Up with the husbands! :)

Here's mine (for my nephew Creighton of course!):

Here's Drea's:

While these are relatively quick and easy to put together, by the time you tie that last tie, you are definitely done with doing that type of craft for awhile! :)

And here is an action shot of Drea's blanket in the initial cutting stage...

All you need is a good set of sharp scissors, a ruler, two pieces of fleece in the size you want to be your finished blanket and some patience... okay a lot of patience! ;)

Both of our blankets began by laying both pieces of fleece together, then cutting out 6-inch squares from every corner.  Next, you cut a strip through both pieces that is 1-inch wide and 6-inches deep.  Once all your strips are cut, simply tie the pieces together!

That makes it sound easy, but it really is a test of patience (and your ability to sit on a hard floor!).

Have you made a fleece tied blanket? 

And PS....Thanks again for the motivation Drea... we have to have another weekend like this soon!! :)

Featured: Andrea's Fabric Initial Artwork

When we decided to have girl's crafty sewing weekend earlier this month, Drea brought down a project she and I have been talking about for two years to finish!  This super cute fabric covered canvas with initials!

Isn't it cute?! :)  We followed this tutorial.... with a few modifications :)

Our notes and modifications:

• We used the Cricut to cut the letters.
• Andrea stitched the edges of the letters... go slow... very, very S-L-O-W. :)
• Make sure you know which side of the fusible webbing you are on and don't accidentally get the glued side on the iron... it's sticky! :)

Oh and I should mention that there's a sweet, adorable little girl who will get this hung on her bedroom wall?  I may be partial, but I think it turned out pretty cute!

What do you think?!

Backpacking // Ventana Wilderness: Arroyo Seco Trail to Forks Camp

 

 

Last year, Brian got us some backpacks and we set out on our first overnight trip that... well... ended up being a day hike!  Winter came and we decided to hold off setting out again.  Fast forward to earlier this year when I asked Brian what he wanted to do for his birthday in March....

 

Backpack of course!  So he picked one of his favorite places to hike and fish near the Indians in the Ventana Wilderness.  Here to be exact:

The weather was beautiful and there was literally no one else on the trail... so peaceful and quiet!

The trails were mostly clear, only a few trees over the trail. 

We finally got to try out our backpacking gear and it was awesome!  Loved our little stove and the food was really good too.

 

We took our little rock hopper with us too :)

She loved it and just hopped rocks, walked through creeks and, honestly, I think she had more fun that we did! :)

And a few more pics of the wilderness....

It was beautiful back there... can't wait to go back (contrary to what my husband might think ;) I know you are reading this... LOL)

Looking for a trail map?  This is a good one, this map is interactive to trail conditions and you can buy a great map from the US Forest Service (this is what we use!).

Looking for great information about this fantastic hiking/backpacking/camping area?  Try the Ventana Wilderness Alliance (VWA).

Do you backpack?  Any recommendations?