more baby gifts

I'm not the only one who has had a baby lately. Here are some baby gifts I've made recently. I just love babies!

encouragement

Today is National Day of Encouragement. What? You didn't know that? Ok, neither did I until about 2 weeks ago, but the minute I heard about it, I was on board What could be more up my alley? So I sent a few extra cards this week (I was a bit bummed that no one to whom I mailed cards could get them on the actual National Day of Encouragement, since it's a Sunday, but since I'm quite sure none of them even knew of the "holiday", I guess I don't feel too bad). I started my whole business, and this blog, because of my passion for encouragement and making a difference in people lives. There are many ways to do that. Usually, I choose to do it through something I've made myself, but sometimes the truth is there just isn't time for that. I always keep some extra-great store-purchased cards (blank notes mostly, but some with greetings as well) around for the times I want to encourage someone and haven't the time to make them the perfect card myself.

One of my favorite verses, a life-verse of mine, and the one I based the name of my business on is this:

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
I Thessalonians 5.11

I encourage each of you to encourage someone today! A simple note or card in the mail (or hand delivered) is a simple, quick way to do that. Without too much effort at all, you can make a positive impact in someone's day . . . and often it's a much bigger impact than you would have imagined. Go for it!

Latest project

I've been keeping plenty busy lately, but haven't been taking pictures or documenting what I've been doing too well at all.

But, here is what I finished off this week::

I volunteered to do the invitations for the {annual} staff appreciation breakfast at my kids' elementary school. The theme this year is Grease/50's High School Dance. I made an envelope that was reminiscent of the sleeve for a record. Inside was a "record" with the date and time on it and an RSVP card as well. Most of the details were on the outside of the envelope, because it wouldn't all fit on that little white circle in the middle of the record {well, I guess I could have made it fit, but the font would have been so small that no one would have been able to read it}.

I think they turned out quite nicely, and the coordinators of the event were happy with them, so what else can you ask for? Now, I just hope all goes well the morning of the big breakfast. {My husband is making a musical appearance wearing white pants -- provided I can find a pair at Goodwill or a thrift store between now and then -- so it is fixin' to be an entertaining morning!}

and the winner{s} is . . .

Ok, I've decided that I'm not at all good at this giveaway thing. I feel bad for the people who didn't win and I want to give everyone a prize. But, alas, I don't have that many Valentine's. So, the winners are::comment #1 and comment #5 {there were exactly 6 comments -- if you exclude mine, so I thought to myself:"6 comments, hmmm. Dice have 6 sides. I think I'll toss a dice to pick the winners!" Pretty smart of me, don't you think?}::

comment #1 is from my friend Margaret:

Star Graf Design said...

love them. You're so good at card making!
Fun fact:
I'm obsessed with organizing. I recently went thru our closets and re organized, everything feels so nice and clean. Plus I got rid of clothing I've been holding onto for more years than I can count.

February 8, 2010 12:25 PM

and #5 is from

Wehaf said...

Okay. I brush my teeth in the shower. I don't know if it is extra-fun, but it is a fact!

February 8, 2010 10:44 PM

I really have absolutely no idea who "Wehaf" is, but thankfully she {or maybe he, I guess} left an email address, so hopefully I can get cards in the mail for Wehaf soon. Margaret, I'll just bring yours to MOPS on Thursday, ok? I figure you wouldn't get them before Thursday in the mail anyway! Congrats on the "big" win, you two!

a little giveaway!

UPDATE::Contest is now over, sorry! Congrats to our 2 winners {see post above!}

The other night I stayed up late and made Valentine's. LOTS of Valentines. I went a little crazy. TONS of Valentine's; tons, I tell you! Way more Valentine's than I have friends {and loves} to send them to! So, you can partake in my abundance of Valentine's if you wish :: leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a set of my Valentine's. Just tell me an extra-fun fact about yourself {and if I know you, try to make it something that I don't already know, ok?} Since Valentine's Day is coming up pretty quick here, I'll pick a winner {or 2} sometime tomorrow. Ready? Set? Go! Enter away!

Just a sampling of my fun night of card-making:

Late night

Every once in a while I really get "in the groove" and stay up way, way too late making cards. Well, I did it again this week. I'm sure that I'll be paying for it for at least a few more days {with crabbiness, limited patience and eye-drooping exhaustion -- wait, that sounds like most days around here}, but I got LOTS done. Long after everyone in the house was sleeping {Dad included} I was still downstairs working away. Here's what I came away with after my {nearly} all-nighter:


I think I made over 50 cards in one sitting; no 2 of them alike. It was fun and relaxing {well, except for the missed sleep part!}

Handmade gift pack

I made this gift pack to donate to a silent auction for Northern Voices, a school for children with severe hearing loss. The daughter of a friend of mine goes there and asked me if I could donate anything. And I was happy to!

The gift pack contains a 6x9 inch {memo-sized} decorated clipboard, a jumbo clothespin {a fun, unique way to display a favorite picture, or keep your recipe right there as you cook or hang on to important little papers that may otherwise get lost!} and an assortment of 10 all-occasion cards {birthday, thank you, new baby, get well, thinking of you}.

Here's hoping it will bring some money in for a worthy cause.

Retail value of the gift pack: $35

Graduation Gifts

personalized small clipboards (approx. 6"x9")
and a coordinating set of thank you notes

fun card

I just finished making this card for my brother who had lasik surgery yesterday. I got the idea for it in the middle of the night and, amazingly, still remembered in the morning without writing anything down or scribbling a little picture. I think we'll run it over to his house with a bag of carrots . . . you know, since they're good for the eyes!


If your brother (or anyone else for that matter) is having lasik, I'd be happy to whip up another one!