sincerely yours, dena

These flowers make a huge difference when decorating for a party. I made these a few years ago for a “Mexican Themed Baby Shower” at work. They are going to get some more mileage this summer at a bridal shower I’m helping throw.

Idea for “She who must not be named“

These are really easy to make. I went to Target and bought a bag of cloth diapers. At my local fabric store, Mariner’s Compass, they sell little mini scraps for $2.99. Just a quick straight sew after turning the sides under and a little embrodiery of the baby’s last name initial and you got a cute burpie rag that is ready for spit up.

I saw this idea in BHG this month but their approach was way too costly and timely. They actually suggest buying and blowing out real eggs. I guess that’s no big deal when you got a sleu of job hungry interns to do your bidding. I wonder if I could get an intern? Anyways, I went to Target where they sell plastic predrilled eggs for .79 for a bag of 6. The whole shabang cost me less than $8 and 20 mins. I strung the eggs together with quilting thread (it’s more durable) and faked tying it to the posts with pretty ribbon. The true support is tape.

Our new bedroom was so boring and blah. It’s the room in our house where we spend the most time in, it deserves to be beautiful. I’ve always read in magazines how you are suppose to change your linens to match the season. Well, we’ve had the same khaki/blue color scheme for several years now. While my husband was away on a boys weekend trip, I went on a mini holiday of my own at Target and Lowe’s. I found this king size comforter on the sale rack for $34. Stores like Target have matching coordinates thru out the store. That’s where I picked up the matching bowl (on the side table) and dinner plate (displayed behind the bed). I am proud to say the miter saw is my new bff.

Before	After

I got the idea of putting a 2 inch shelf on top of the molding in Country Living and I’m so glad I spent the extra $10 and 30 mins cause it’s perfect for rotating pictures without putting holes in your walls.

To dress up the bedside lamp (which is older than the comforter) I glued a strip of fabric ribbon around the brim for an extra punch of “Oh Yeah!” Notice the bedside table, that was found on the side of a Boston city street. It’s one of my favorite finds.

My concept for the kookie kompetition is simple, Cookies for Santa. I got these cute matching mugs and saucers from Christmas Tree Shop for only a $1. Don’t you just love a bargain? gag. Anyways, I filled candy bags with hot choc and marshmellows ans stuffed the cup then wraped it all up using basket wrap and finished it off with a bow.

my cookies from last year

I’ve found a new home in cyberspace where the neighbors are super friendly and creatifiic! Country Living Magazine’s website allows you to register within their forums, ask questions and get inspired. Need convincing… just check out Little Girls’ D-Ring Ribbon Belt Apron by Sommer Designs

Current forums include:

• Antiques & Collectibles
• Decorating
• Home Improvements
• Women Entrepreneurs
• Crafts & Simple Projects
• Gardening
• Outdoor Living
• Recipes & Entertaining

I love being able to reuse something that I saved from an earlier project. For example: these little diapers I used during a baby shower game over a year ago. I stashed them in an appropriately labeled space until now. The original diapers were made for my friends pea in a pod baby shower. Now they got repurposed to be cover of a baby shower card. BRILLIANT!

We finally get to see the benefits of one of the baby shower games. Eric “wearing” a onezie with a picture of his big sister on it. He’s still got a few lbs to put on before he can roll with it but you get the point. The back of the onezie says “Got Treats?”

Every year when I make the Jimmy Buffet T-Shirts the girls always look frumpie in normal unfitted Ts. This year I found this book: Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt and got inspired.

Making the shirts was so easy and they turned out wicked cute! Each shirt fit each girls style and shape.