ittybittybirdy Chelsea Ann

Play Theater: DIY

2012-01-21T17:14:00.000-08:00

I've been pondering quite a bit lately my responsibilities as a foster parent.

Because the children in my home are not my own,

I sometimes let myself be anything but the perfect parent.

I put the kiddos in front of the television far more

than I should like to think I would ever do with my own little pumpkins.

I'm not proud of this, and I believe more than anything

that I'm fooling myself if I think

one day I will wake up to my perfect dream life

and hence become the person I truly wish to be.

If I'm going to be the type of parent that turns the tv off

and instead tunes into what's going on in "my" kids lives

I've got to start now - before this rut gets too deep.

So for the last few weeks I've started to try doing at least one special thing

with our kiddo's each day.

We've been going to story time at the library,

drawing in our sketchbooks together at the kitchen table,

and this week I embarked on a little project of my own.

It started out as a puppet theater but I soon discovered my design

had much more to offer.

Beside a puppet theater, you can turn it around and enjoy your own

personal show.

Or upside down

where little one's can hide and play inside

or up on a table

you can give a show with plenty of room for props.

Actually the more I think about it, this is the perfect little theater for finger puppets,

or perhaps hang some paper and play with shadow puppets.

But I think the traditional hand puppets are my favorite,

but as you can see if I can think of all these other uses

a child'd imagination can surely find even more!

And so I think it's more appropriate to call my project

a play theater.

If you think your kiddos

would also like a play theater of their own

I've put together some step by step instructors

What you will need:

3 square moving boxes

one twin sheet

glue gun, and lots of glue sticks

kitchen scissors

Trims (optional)

At this point your theater is pretty sturdy with 2 layers of cardboard

but once you start covering up the inside you will add a 3rd,

which is pretty dang important when you have little ones.

You could certainly get really fancy with your inside covers -

on the panels you could add batting and tufted buttons,

and your curtain swag could be much more elaborate if you chose.

I kept mine rather simple, but added a bit of ruffly trim here and there to finish up some

unpleasant looking seems

and then adorned the outside corners and center of the swag

by making fabric flowers out of my remaining sheet fabric.

So I guess my next project should be making puppets -

how I wish I had a working sewing machine. Sigh!

It's All in the Packaging.

2012-01-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who once told me that I was a sucker for anything with eyes.

Thank goodness this statement applied only to random objects and not men,

but she was right.

When I first started to thrift I was always drawn to objects with beady little eyes,

there was something about them that just said

"take me home!"

Well I still have plenty of little chats with plenty of little faces

but I don't feel the need to take quite so many of them home.

This is of coarse a great relief to my husband.

So all that said, the old me would have purchased

the mates to these friendly little bear clips.

Believe it or not these kawaii Bag clips came from WINCO!

If you live in Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, California, or Oregon

you know that this grocery store is for bargain shoppers.

It's the type of place that has bins of candy, grains, beans and such,

and where you can find your favorite brands for typically less than Wally World.

I'm not quite regretting that I held myself back from purchasing the kitty cats and frog clips,

but then again when on earth are you ever so lucky to find such a score at the grocery store?

I'm also a sucker for vintage packaging.

I almost didn't pick up these cookie molds,

telling myself it was ridiculous to buy something you will never use

just because you like the graphics.

But then LIGHTBULB!

(I say "lightbulb" in my head just like in Despicable Me.

If you haven't seen Despicable Me, well shame on you! j/k - kind of)

anyways my idea is that the kiddos can use these as molds for their play dough.

I can't even recall when or where I picked up this

Basket Liner - it's sat in a box for at least a few years.

I searched and searched on-line for info on the Dora May company

but didn't come across anything.

What a shame, I think it's rather sad that we manage to loose the histories

of Companies that made such fun and useful items.

I wouldn't mind having a few more of these liners

- especially with this style of basket being so inexpensive.

i found mine at Hobby Lobby for around $6.

Sugar Plum Ballerina Party

2012-01-10T17:30:00.000-08:00

Any little ballerina would be swept off her feet

with an enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy Party

celebrating the magic of the season

and the wonder and beauty from the beloved Nutcracker Ballet.

What party would be complete without at least one craft project,

and I think this darling handprint tutu

is both simple and sweet

Just click on the image to jump over to Mollymoo

for templates of both the bodice and hanger.

Not quite ready to throw your Surgar Plum Fairy party?

That's okay, I've found a few other lovely blogs to further inspire your soirée.

Oh Sugar! Events: Ballerina Birthday

Kate Landers Events: A Nutcracker Suite Ballet Party

The Tomkat Studio: Sierra's Ballerina Birthday Party

Holiday Greeting

2011-12-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

I recently shared that I want to learn how to bring my sketches to life with color,

and so I've started to bookmark an array of on-line tutorials

for Illustrator, Photoshop, and good ol' fashion paint on canvas.

Of coarse it's going to take time to get through all of them,

and even longer to build confidence, but I'm excited and eager

to take on the challenge.

This little image of me and my hubby with our two beloved puppy dogs

was made by turning a sketch into a vector via Illustrator.

I then added color in Photoshop and layered it with a texture.

Thanks to Georgia of Forestninja for the super easy tutorial on

turning sketches into vector line art.

Christmas Sale!

2011-12-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

One of the things I really look forward to is family pictures.

Getting to coordinate outfits and accessories

to pull together the picture perfect photo shoot - SWOON!

For now I'll just have to live out my dreams through

my friends and customers

who are constantly challenging me to put together headbands and clips

to bring their vision to life.

So today I'd like to thank my dear friend Ashley

for her many custom orders

and for sharing her beautiful little family -

photographed by Alison Phelps

of Phelps Photographic Art

Ashley is a girl after my own heart

wearing one of my yoyo hair clips,

and her baby girl wearing a custom made

baby girl headband inspired by a traditional headband

I had in my shop at the time.

And right now you can snag a great deal on all pre-made

Christmas headbands and clips currently in my shop.

Get 25% off - good until Christmas day!

And for those not so familiar with my work

I put together this little catalogue to showcase my work,

and what makes each yoyo creation unique and just the right fit

from baby girls all the way to us big girls.

So before it's too late

jump on over to my shop and take a peak at

my Christmas Sale section.

Sketchbook Sneak Peak

2011-12-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

I'm currently participating in this years Sketchbook Project

which is challenging me in more ways than I ever imagined.

If indeed I finish my book on time, it will be the first sketchbook

I have EVER finished in my life.

But as with all my sketchbooks... there comes trouble.

Typically it's brought on solely by myself,

ripping pages, and scribbling through my own drawings when not pleased

(and sadly I must report I ripped out 2 pages my first day)

but I've actually been very pleased with my work and efforts

so it's very disheartening when its founds its way into a little person's hands

and that little person decides they want to include a few drawings of there own.

I also accidentally layed it on my husbands shoe polish cloth! UGGG!

But I keep on keeping on!

The theme I chose was

"Encyclopedia of"

and I decided to do crazy hair styles

from A to Z

I'm currently at M,

however all but this one is actually complete.

So with the deadline looming in just a month and a half,

I still have a lot of work ahead of me...

and for my sketchbook that probably means more torture to come.

My hope is to turn some of the drawings into finished artwork

sometime next year.

Although I still don't know quite how to do that.

I really would LOVE to take some illustrating classes...

but I'm not sure what I would even look for.

there is so much I have zero knowledge of

and it makes me sad and frustrated because I would love

to bring my drawings to life with color.

well perhaps my new years resolution should be something like

learn at least 3 new techniques

for coloring my pencil drawings

yes that sounds good, now any suggestions?

The Girls Room

2011-11-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

Don't just take a peak, come on it!

I'm sure the girls wont mind.

After all it's my favorite room in the house,

full of all my very special treasures.

Including my childhood bed, and dresser.

My sister in law helped me paint the room,

as painting is exactly my favorite pass time.

I finished the room off by adding High Gloss Polka dots

of the same color on the blue/green wall.

Of course I don't expect the room

to stay in photo shoot perfect condition for long.

But I'd rather have the things that are special to me out in the open

than tucked safely in a box...

Remember my Easter Bonnet? Now it's a lamp shade,

and the little bunny box -

a left over from my first little etsy business

Keepsake Cakes.

You can't see it very well in this picture,

but the art print is from Little Blue Moon

on etsy.

I purchase quite a few prints from artist that inspire me

but I just have to say that the quality of this cake print

is so lovely I thought she might have sent the original by accident.

My little kitchenette is still a work in progress

But as you can see, it's come a long way.

I purchased the crib for $5, the black shelf for $15,

the bathroom hanging cabinet for $8

and the hutch was given to me by a local thrift shop.

I purchased a bowl to make a sink,

but of course the Mr. hasn't quite gotten around

to cutting the hole out for me.

The idea for the high gloss dots came from

Beth of Sawdust and Embryos

I would have never though of using the exact same color.

Then dots and circles else where in the room

just kind of found there way into the room.

Including these Embroidery Hoops

that came to life late one night...

Using lost treasures from my craft "junk" box

and a few cut up vintage baby clothes.

And lots more little goodies to make this heart.

Wow, was my glue gun busy that night!

I just love honey comb decorations!

My sister -n- law gifted me the bed canopy

and I was just tickled with how it turned out.

The day bed was purchased off of craiglist -

as is just about everything else we own.

the fabric on the canvas

is the same I had in my room when I was a little girl.

Last spring my grandma helped me make a few pillows

out of a vintage quilt I had that was starting to fall apart.

Isn't that the lovely thing about a canopy bed -

you can never have too many pillows!

The three larger honey comb balls were purchased at

Shop Sweet Lulu

Well the dots turned our lovely

well except that I accidently flipped the stencil upside down

and they started to move down hill... so frustration!

So being a bit frustrated with dots,

I impulsively decided I needed a mural

after -all I'm always painting them of friends walls.

The only problem with starting a project on a whim

is that you tend to not get the best of results

but I was lucky and it all kind of came together...

minus some composition issues that will surely

only bother me...

I think it makes the room extra special

and a whimsical space for the girls who come into our life.

Our names go back on the emergency call list tomorrow

so we should have new kiddos to share the room with soon.

Christmas Birthday Party

2011-11-28T13:29:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl I always felt bad

for kids with birthdays in December.

I was spoiled to have mine in June,

the perfect month half way through the year,

with lovely weather, and during summer vacation no less.

So what do you do to make your Winter baby's feel extra special,

when it's so easy to feel all worn out from the mile long holiday to do list?

If it were me, I would embrace the season

and throw an extra special Christmas Birthday bash!

There is so many ways you could go...

but for me it would be about the holiday treats.

I just love the adorable printables available for Christmas

and if you are computer savvy you could customize to your hearts delight.

Or stock up after the holidays on stickers, tags, and even fun christmas wrap.

It would be so easy to go over the top -

after all you should have already decked the halls.

Talk about the perfect time of year for a candy buffet,

but then again you could

have a gingerbread house competition

or frosting holiday cookies.

(image from my personal collection -source unknown)

And what fun you could have with the hostess gifts.

Two round cakes and you have yourself a very friend snowman :D

& don't forget to set up a photoshoot backdrop

so parents can take home a special gift too -

after-all they may have had to treck through the snow!

On a personal note I would just love to share that this adorable little elf

is wearing a dazzling creation from my etsy pal Desiree

of Palm Tree Princess, and I'm honored that she has once again

coordinated her amazing work with one of my traditional yoyo headbands.

As always click on images to jump to the source.

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/63571605

The Spell I'm Under

2011-11-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

It's been more than a tad gloomy here in Idaho for the last few days.

Luckily it's not that often that we have to endure day after day of

cloud cover, but of course such a spell would come along

just when I come upon a creative spell of my own.

My hubby informed me last night that our entire home

has been transformed in just two weeks.

He's right too, I've just about moved every piece of furniture,

and hung and re-hung everything that wasn't literally screwed into the wall.

One reason for my sudden need for change is that we will

be hosting thanksgiving this year. This is big!

Well at least for this girl it is.

20+ people, who will all be seeing our new home for the first time.

So of coarse I want it to look perfect.

But also because when I'm stressed

there is nothing, and I mean nothing that calms my spirits

more than decorating.

As a child you might say I was wound tight, and big cry baby...

so as you can imagine I rearanged my room a lot - A LOT!

But after getting a fancy degree in Interior Design

I realized something - something I wish I had learned much earlier.

I do NOT like decorating in general.

It's something that comes out of personal anguish.

Just as others may eat or clean;

for me this is when I work the hardest and things just seem to click.

My crazy decorating spree started 2 weeks ago

when a few personal tragedies really hit me hard

and because such things come in threes -

we also had to say goodbye to two of our foster kiddos.

They had been with us for over 7 months,

and were our first long term placement to head home.

I actually thought I was doing okay, but I think instead of having a good cry

I just started changing things - my hair included!

I fixed these letters up last night. They had been hanging around in the garage

and on top of dusty shelves for the last three years.

Yesterday was perhaps the climax of my compulsive need for change -

I when through one very large jar of modge podge!

One of the big changes for me is been letting go of my very girly,

very childish collection of sweet pastel decor and nic-nacs in my office.

One reason being that my office is literally the first room you walk into

when you come into our home,

and I wanted it to not feel like you were entering into a child's nursery.

And secondly, because we actually have kids rooms now

I was able to go over the top in the designated girls room!!!

I'm just waiting for mr. golden sun to come out so I can take pictures.

But just because I'm loosing the pink doesn't mean I'm saying goodbye to my

nostalgic side. This collage piece I put together yesterday is full of vintage children's illustrations, paper dolls, whimsical vintage ephemera, and paper from Crate Paper - Emma's Shoppe Collection.

Well if you are anything like me,

creative spells = big mess!

So with just 2 more days before turkey day

this girl has MUST get back to work!

Handmade Christmas

2011-11-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

I've been dedicated to "buying handmade" for the last few years

and believe me these gifts have been more appreciated and remembered

than any of the cotton shirts, latest gadgets, and pre packaged candy

I gave in previous years.

My husband really appreciates fine craftsmanship

and it seems his man cave is the perfect place for one of a kind,

personalized artwork and gear.

I've really enjoyed working with these artist

to create something to suite the man I love to a T

Speaking of T's - don't forget the little ones this christmas!

You don't have to shop at Toy'R'Us to make their faces light up this season.

Etsy, and craft fairs are a perfect place to pick up stocking stuffers,

and unique one of a kind clothing items that you and your family

will remember with fondness for years to come.

And don't forget about handmade toys,

made with so much love and care

your children will surely believe in the magic

of Santa's Elves.

So to get you started I've put together

4 fun (and truly unique) etsy treasuries to get you started!

Teddy Bears on Skates Party

2011-11-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl roller skating parties

were as common as bouncy houses are today.

It didn't seem to matter how old I got

they were always fun...

holding hands with my best friends

under the disco lights.

Look Mom, Pink Hair!

2011-11-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

Do you think it's true what they say about blonds?

Not the dumb part, but that they have more fun?

Well then girls with pink hair should naturally have 5 times more fun!

My hubby says I'm going through a quarter of my life crisis.

Well let's be honest, in most cases the things we do during these moments

of crisis are generally more true to who we really are, aren't they?

Whatever we change about ourselves, or purchase, are things we have really wanted

but for whatever reason not allowed ourselves.

We enter these moments not worried or concerned about what others think

but only of what will make us happy.

Well friends, this little pink haired girl is very very happy!

and if I were just a shade or two lighter - oh man the joy could not be contained.

What is it about a camera that makes me turn into a total flirt?

I swear, if I flirted as much with my hubby as I do my camera

we would have one very happy marriage ;)

but honestly, I do not go around batting my eyelashes,

and pouting my lips on a regular basis.

Lately I've been getting messages through etsy asking if my headbands fit

"big" girls. So I made up this simple headband to match my outfit yesterday.

I love my new retro 70's blouse - a recent find at a local antique shop for just $9.

Thinking I'm going to end up chopping the sleeves off one of these days.

So anywho if you have been putting of a "crisis"...

go ahead, embrace it!

Be true to who you are!!!

Bingo!

2011-11-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

After a year and a half of renting

we are once again homeowners!

What we ended up with is not at all what I would have pictured us in,

but our love of old homes and the country

could not compete with the price tag and benefits of living in town.

So how is life in Suburbia?-

Fantastic!

We have amazing neighbors, and the home is huge -

perfect for our ever growing family.

So here is the scoop on a few projects

I've done for our family/dining room

While we were still renting I painted both of these hutches.

the white one I found on Craigs List for $50

and the blue one was a handy me down.

The blue one has about 8 coats of paint.

I didn't exactly do any research or prep work

before stating and boy did I pay for it.

So the goal became more about how to salvage the damage

than anything else.

But in the end I love it! Thank goodness!!!

For the white hutch I fallowed a fantastic

step by step tutorial available on My Romantic Home Blog

and while the prep process was painstakingly time consuming

it was so worth while!

I decoupage the glass doors with vintage red gingham table cloth

I found at a thrift store for just .50 cents.

The white hutch stores all my fabrics :D

I wish I had taken before pictures - but just imagine nasty, dark, glossy stain.

If you have followed my blog for the last few years

you know I love color

and many of my friends refer to our Portland home as Easter Land

so I think I've shocked myself and others

by going a lot more neutral in my general decorating.

Did you spot all the vintage crib parts?

Up-cycling cribs is a hot trend right now

and I've been lucky enough to come across 2 amazing cribs

for dirt cheap.

In this room I made the slat wood backdrops on top of the blue hutch

by simply hot gluing crib rails onto boards.

Then I have my crib bed springs hanging on the wall

(I have one in my office too - they are so handy)

and on top of the white hutch are two decretive panels from the side rails.

And I still have 3 amazing crib ends to come up with projects for.

My hot-glue gun and I have been real tight as of late

up-cycling everything from left over fence posts

to a box full of bingo goodies

I picked up the other day for a buck.

If you want to make your own Bingo trees

here is a little visual reference of how to put them together.

they would make a fab Christmas gift for any bingo loving friends.

Well I better run, while my house was picture perfect just yesterday evening

it is far from clean now thanks to my 3 little rascals.

I'm a big kid now!

2011-10-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Meet my new friends

the potty tots!

Potty training has never been so fun!

& believe me before Potty Tots we were NOT having fun.

I contacted Jill, founder of Potty Tots this summer

after stumbling upon her website.

I was really excited about everything I read

but still wasn't quite sure if Potty Tots would work for us.

The program was so cute and clever

but because the little gal we were having issues with was 6 years old

I wasn't sure the materials would keep her attention.

Jill was so great, she answered all my questions,

and was so understanding and sympathetic of what our family was dealing with.

Foster children especially struggle with potty training

and while I was very aware of this

I wasn't exactly prepared for a school aged child.

But potty tots gave us the ability to start fresh

and to make something that had become increasingly emotional

fun for our entire family.

The kit includes a range of materials

to excite and engage your child.

We currently have 3 little girls in our home

and all three love the video.

Instead of rewarding our kiddos with treats

they get to watch the Potty Tots music videos as their reward.

It's so cute to watch them dance and sing

about going potty.

And I have to admit I'm constantly humming

"I can do it all by myself, but sometimes I need a little help"

If you have been struggling with potty training

or are just getting started I highly recommend

you look into Potty Tots!

The packaging is great too and the kit would make a perfect gift.

Learn more about Potty Tots by visiting their website
or watching this video.

Headbands for Little Heads

2011-10-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl my mom would purchase my siblings and I

matching outfits at a local shop

I believed called Mini world

What I loved most was how my dress was a just a tad different

from my little sisters.

Made me feel like such a big girl.

With all the unique styles of yoyo creations I have available

your little girls can each sport the style that best suites their age and personality

while keeping the look cohesive for special photo shoots.

Or just order one

& let them share!

Simple headbands are great for little girls,

they are far less heavy than my traditional style

helping them to stay up on their little heads.

But some little girls just can't keep them on

perhaps it's that they are just too bouncy

or for whatever reason the shape of their little head just doesn't cooperate

frustrating - but not the end of the word!

As shown above - "bigger" little girls can wear the baby girl headband as well

My shop indicates that baby girl headbands fit newborn up to age 4.

But they should have some stretch to get you much further than that!

A BIG thank you to my lovely customer Cecilia

and her father -n-law Tom

for sharing these beautiful images with me!

If you're in the Bismark-Mandan area of North Dakota

check out Tom Chase Photography.

Lily

2011-10-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

As you can all see I've changed my blog to the new

blogger dynamic view... very cool!

Can't wait until they allow us to customize it...

just doesn't quite seem right

to have no header and no logo,

a bit like having no identity at all.

In the same way that my blog has no identity without my personal branding,

my little shop has no magic without the generosity of photographers

and proud mommas' who share their beautiful images with me.

Without these sweet little faces showcasing my headbands and clips

my work would never really resonate with customers.

Receiving these images inspire me to keep exploring

new themes, color combinations, and product ideas.

Today I would like to thanks Brooke and her adorable

little pumpkin Lily

for sharing these darling portraits with me!

And for inspiring me to scrapbook again...

It's fun to see both of our pages side by side.

Oh, how I wish at times

I had the patience for traditional scrapbooking -

but something about cutting straight lines and

keeping glue in it's proper place

makes me queazy.

I guess to each their own - right?!

Lily's adorable handmade outfit is from

Ribbons N Bows By Ann on etsy.

Digi page elements from:

Minitoko, A Print A Day, Kitschy Digitals, Tada,

Creatively By Crystal, and Gunhild Store

Simple, Yet Oh SO Special

2011-09-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more gratifying than making a personal connection

with my costumers. To hear and receive praise for doing exactly what I love

makes me giddy with happiness.

I'm also doubly blessed that the majority of my customers come back time and time again,

giving me the opportunity to really get to know them

-to know and consider them as dear friends.

One such gal is photographer and momma of two beautiful little girls

Erica of Speidel Photography and Design

from Omaha, Nebraska.

I so flattered that she has allowed me to share these gorgeous images

of her oldest wearing my Simple YoYo Headband style.

These whimsical headbands are just $10 a piece,

and with my stock pile of fabrics and embellishments

I can create just about any theme your heart desires.

I just loved this custom made headband for Erica's daughter.

Erica sent me the fabric - scrap from a recent sewing project

and I worked my magic.

So hold on to those scraps girls!!

My favorite! Those little eyes - just beautiful!

Here is another recent custom order

A Baby Girl YoYo Headband

in navy, silver and cream.

I love this combo -

it reminds me a lot of Baby Gap's recent holiday collections.

This little cutie has one very talented mamma,

Yvette of Peek-A-Bowtique

who is currently hosting a really great giveaway

in celebration of her fb page hitting 1500 followers.

and yes you guessed it - I'm participating!

(one free custom made Simple YoYo Headband)

So please, if you have an extra minute to spare

check out Yvette's shop

and enter the giveaway

before the end of next week.

The Loopty Loop

2011-09-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm posting today primarily just to say HI!

I've been so very busy as of late and my little blog has suffered for it.

Life as a momma (currently of 3 little girls)

is CRAZY! But I'll tell you more about all that later next week (hopefully).

It's likely that most of you are mommas yourselves

but unlike myself - you probably started things out the normal way,

with gradual changes. One baby, then two... and so on.

My life is like a roller coaster.

I'm learning to be a momma while doing the loopty loop

screaming like a mad woman with my hands in the air.

In some respects you might say once I have kids of my own

I'll be an old pro. Having had the opportunity to figure things out

with someone elses kids. Because as you know kids pick up on things quickly,

and once the damage is done - well it's there. Starting over, trying something new

is all good in theory but not so much in the practicality department.

So hey, I just wait until the next kiddo comes through and try again.

Anywho... I thought I would share a few of my favorite things

associated with my new mommy lifestyle.

At the top of my list without a doubt would be

my Maybelline Newyork

Baby Lips - chapstick

I love this stuff. I've always been a lipstick kind of girl,

but who has the time honestly to constantly reapply their lipstick all day long?

I love this stuff because the darker colors give your lips some much needed color

while making them feel softer than a baby's .... well you know what I mean.

Plus it has SPF!!!

My sister-in-law introduced me to this super handy thermos

made by Contigo.

Lately I feel like I live in the car - picking and dropping kids off from school

and the endless doctor, therapy, and visitations that go along with being a foster parent.

The Autoseal Water Bottle is great because you just need one hand to use it.

Quick on your feet - that's the key!

Life moves fast in this house. One minute I'm going in one direction,

then BAM u-turn!

LOL and yes I'm talking literally and figuratively here!

So a comfy pair of shoes is a must... and who honestly doesn't love crocs?

Well, I didn't until they started making them cute.

I only have a pair of the ballet flats

but I think I might need these two in my closet.

Just one word of warning. Don't put your crocs in the dryer!

I learned that one the hard way!

Well it's time to feed the kiddos lunch.

Please let me know what items you find a must!

I'd loved to know what makes your life happier and sweeter.

Love Sweet Love

2011-08-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

It looks to me that someone very sweet

had a very berry happy birthday!

One of my lovely customers shared these adorable portraits

of her daughter with me - showing off her ittybittybirdy

Strawberry Shortcake inspired yoyo headband!

photography by: A Cherry On Top

based out of Oklahoma.

Please do let me know if ever you need your own

Strawberry Shortcake Headband.

I am now able to make headbands for baby girls too!

Here are a few dandy ideas I found

for your next berry sweet party

but instead of going overboard

here are a few blogs that have captured

the spirit of Strawberry Shortcake to a t!

and as you know I don't care much for brand products

especially of characters

so please check out these sites if your are looking

for good ol' fashion do it yourself projects!

Multiply Delicious

Little Sooti

Mon Tresor

and don't forget to mention on your invites

that striped socks are a must!

Then snap a fun pic of all those silly feet!

Winnie the Pooh Party Extravaganza

2011-07-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

With the new Winnie the Pooh movie

I'm sure there will be quite the revival of

birthday parties revolving around everyones

favorite silly ol' bear.

But if you are anything like me

the over the top, everything Pooh just wont do

so here is my take on a more sophisticated

yet magically whimsical Winnie the Pooh Party.

Perfectly sweet and fun for the little ones

and all us children at heart too!

Patching Things Up

2011-07-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

Most moms this school year will be forking out good money

for "pre-worn" jeans. I mean honestly the jeans in stores today are ridiculous.

In our home we call these holly abominations"Farmer Pants"

for goodness sakes why not get a little work our of your kids

and let them wear out their own jeans over the summer.

It's a two for one if you ask me.

But my little kiddos were quite ready to throw out this holly pair this morning

so I decided to try and give them a bit of a makeover

Surprisingly enough fabric yoyos were not my first thought

but once I finally gave up on finding my leather scrap stash

yoyos were of coarse the obvious choice.

It's not exactly like I don't have a plethora of them lying around the house.

After Stitching around the yoyos I added a few crochet flowers

that I purchased from Tokyo Alice

I think for a 15 minute makeover they are a smashing success

& will stylishly get the girls through another year of school.

Our little upcycled mousey friend is from Fried Okra

who like us is currently MOVING!!!

So until her magical workshop opens up once again

check out here flickr for a glimpse into her dazzling creative mind!

The July Newsletter

2011-07-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit baffled that July is almost coming to a close.

Although now with kiddos in the home

every day seems to buzz by in super sonic speeds.

I wanted to send you all a little love

by offering 20% off all items in my shop

'til the end of the month.

If you're in the market for some fun new accessories,

maybe some baby shower gifts or back to school headbands

then take advantage of this discount :D

So how is your summer going?

We are still caring for the same two little

girls that I've mentioned before.

Daily we are learning as a team to cope with

BIG emotions.

Being a foster parent is crazy... talk about a crash corse in parenting.

Unlike having a family of your own

and things gradually changing...

we are thrown into new situations

with kiddos of all ages.

We are helping kids

dealing with issues fare beyond their years

and honestly sometimes even beyond ours.

We recently took in a young teen and her infant!

Boy howdy was that a ride.

All this has made me realize how blessed I was as a child

to have parents who tried to make my life as "normal" as possible.

As a child you are tragically the victim of others choices and behaviors.

Our number one goal as foster parents is to give each child in our home

love without strings.

We work hard to help them overcome their own behavior issues,

and give them the tools they will need in life to cope with heart ache.

Life isn't easy for any of us, we all have our own struggles

but for me being a foster parents helps

to put my own personal problems in perspective.

Let's see in other news:

We are excited to be purchasing a home here in Idaho.

If all goes as plan we will be moving middle of next month.

I'm so excited to have a home of my own again

a place that is all mine to do with as I please.

In preparation for the move I've been paining furniture like a mad woman.

Nothing like having a mental deadline to start and finish those not so fun

yet very rewarding projects.

So keep posted because later this fall I will be sharing

all the nooks and crannies of my home once again.

YEAH!

I hope you all enjoy the last few days of July!

As for me - I'll be painting and packing.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match

2011-07-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

It's funny how much my little

yoyo headband business has sprung to life

and without a doubt it's due to one very special gal

and her two adorable little pumpkins.

Bethany of Hissyphits Photography

has provided me with amazing images

and inspiration time and time again.

With her amazing photography and brilliant styling

I have been able to convey to my customers

the quality of my "matchmaking" skills.

& like magic I am now the queen of custom orders.

Every week I receive the most exciting projects

from customers wanting that perfect finishing touch

for special occasions, photo shoots, to their child's favorite color scheme.

This has allowed me to stretch beyond my own tastes

and try things I would never have thought of on my own.

Customers are now sending me pictures of there child's outfit,

special embellishments, and even scraps of fabric.

LOL not that I don't have quite enough of my own :D

It's exciting to know you have created something extra special -

something that mommas can store away in their child's hope chests.

I just can't get enough of sweet little details

like those sunshine bloomers

created by Bethany's Aunty for the girls

Walkin' on Sunshine Birthday Party.

Here is one of my recent favorite custom orders.

Made to match that amazing retro inspired dress

from Faith Works 4 U

This little pumpkin makes a darling mad hatter

in her Alice in Wonderland themed Baby Girl Headband.

Amanda just lives a hop skip and jump away from me

and so perhaps maybe one of these day we might be able to

play dress up together

and have a proper tea party

with her little hatter.

Like Magic

2011-06-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

As many of you might recall

my blog has often been my personal diary

a safe haven to share my thoughts

with understanding friends.

I haven't opened up in quite some time

and for good reason

I am actually taking "happy pills"

I made the decision about 4 months ago

knowing that I needed to try something

before jumping into motherhood.

For as long as I can remember I've been

anxious, and overly emotional.

As excited as I was to become a foster mom

I was worried that I would get in my own way

by allowing my emotions and fears to run our household.

Honestly, I was tired of living in my shoes

I wanted the me that was happy, optimistic, and full of life

not the me that was depressed, anxious,

and to a royal pain in the butt!

I know "happy pills" aren't for everyone

but I swear they have changed my life!!

Oh sure, I still have my moments

but I'm no longer plagued by entire days

of wallowing in self pity and fear!

I hope if you are struggling

you will be brave, and try something new.

I thought that I could get better on my own

I wanted to believe I was bigger than my emotions

but those silly little pills have taught me

that somethings aren't our fault

and there is no shame in asking for help.

Nobody is perfect

We all have our issues...

but don't ever give up on yourself!

I wish there were "magic pills" to heal all our wounds

and fix all of our problems

but no matter what we have each other

and that is the only true MAGIC we need in life.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Purple, Lilac, and Green Country Wedding

2011-05-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my

Summer Sweet Pea

YoYo Heaband

Play Date

2011-05-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

The little girls in my home wear their headbands everyday

which is so exciting because for so long I really had no clue

how darling my headbands were on little girls.

just me - and while I'm very much a little girl at heart

the affect is quite different.

Unfortunately my foster kiddos faces

can't be shared here in blog land.

So I am so excited to share my work with amazing photographers

such as Laura Winslow

These headbands were specially made to coordinate with

a new line of clothing from

Palm Tree Princess.

Check out her Play Date collections for more info

on this line of bright and cheerful dresses and separates.

I've shared just how much I love all things

Palm Tree Princess before.

And honestly, who could blame me!?

& just an f.y.i.

if you want a custom Play Date headband

to match your new must have little dress

I'd be happy to whip one up for you :D

That's just "Bugger"ific

2011-05-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

In all the years that I've been blogging

what I have always wanted to share the most

are the little things that make life with kiddos so fun

because as we all well know, little ones

and the big ones especially

aren't always

perfect angels!

But little things like goodnight kisses,

piggy tails, mud pies, and milestones

are what get us through those long days

of cleaning up after them non stop

doing homework... again!

and those shrieks and shrill noises

that make you neighbors wonder

what is that woman doing to her poor children?

Poor children, indeed! HA!

As a crafty person

it's the parties that really excite me

it's making small moments extra memorable

by just thinking out side of the Dora Explorer lunchbox.

This week I had my first opportunity

when one of my kiddos teachers asked if I would bring snacks

to celebrate my kiddos summer birthday.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was

- LOL well that was until I realized

that I would need to keep my budget

itty bitty.

I knew I wanted to go with a bug theme

because my kiddo has been learning about them for weeks now.

I found this very tasty recipe for dirt cake

from the blog Mississippi Kitchen.

To save money I used 100% generic ingredients.

The bowl I picked up from Hobby Lobby

using my 40% of coupon of coarse

and well the lady bugs were a bit of splurge

I picked them up at Craft Warehouse.

I used digi goodies from A Print A Day

and clipart from Pams Clipart

The inspiration for the party favors

came from the blog Sweet Serendipity

Both projects I had my kiddos help me with

I think it's great when you can have them help out

it adds to the memories.

Although it does create more mess in general

and from my brief experience it takes twice as long

as everyone has to get equal job and turns at helping.

A Randomly Wonderful Life

2011-05-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the most meaningful of friendships

start in the most unlikely of ways.

As most of my very good friends can tell you

we didn't start off being perfect fits

in fact in most cases quite the opposite

but I very much believe

that the best of friends accept you just as you are.

Many of my friends I have never actually met

we know so much of one another

but the only thing that holds us together

is this vast yet sometimes surprisingly small world

we know as cyber space.

On a rare occasion

I get the chance to meet one of my cyber friends.

yes,

it can be awkward at first

bridging the gap from this person you know only in your head

to a real living breathing person sitting across from you

eating an ice cream and making small chat.

But in time you will feel as if you've know each other for ever!

Tara and I have had the opportunity to meet twice now.

Tara and I became friends over time

as she was and continues to be my most loyal fan of my yoyo creations.

We quickly learned we had much in common

including a love for girly fashion and the world of frilly Lolita clothing.

I can't thank my lucky stars enough for bringing Tara into my life.

She is a doll, and the type of friend who likes you just the way you are!

Speaking of loving someone just as they are -

my stubborn pup Miller

is one very lucky guy

that his momma puts up with all his antics

including him sharing my pillow at night

and often leaving me with hardly any room to sleep!

One last bit of silliness I know you will all appreciate

and unlike my husband

will share my giddiness over.

Yesterday I ran into Craft Warehouse

for 2 pieces of fabric

but ended up taking home over 28 yards!

They were having a major major sale -

It was like stepping into crafting paradise!

Whimsical Woodland Party Ideas

2011-05-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

Just listed this whimsical woodland inspired yoyo headband

and thought it would be the perfect inspiration

for a county style woodland party.

How about you? What b-day party themes

are you thinking about these day?

(click on images for sources)

No Longer Lost

2011-05-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

I now fully comprehend and appreciate

when mommas say that have "lost" themselves.

We now have 4 kiddos living in our home

from an infant all the way to a full fledged tween.

Between getting everyone ready, off to school, back from school,

homework, baths, dinner, laundry...

I hardly have to to enjoy a 15 minute shower.

But this last weekend I got out of my sweats

and into a new dress I recently purchased

from etsy shop Fruit Salad.

To celebrate my hubby's birthday with my grandparents.

We had a great time, and my kiddos were a lot of help -

one of them actually likes cleaning toilets!

The weather here in Idaho

is finally starting to look like spring

I love all the seasons

but I am ready for nice sunny days

so my kiddos can run out some energy in the back yard.

The hubby has been teasing me that foster mommas

don't get Mothers Day...

but I truly have to say that motherhood

has changed me.

I no longer feel lost!

Sure I may not be able to dress up

quite so much

but for the first time in my life

I feel like I have a purpose for waking up

and peace of mind each night

when my head finally hits my pillow.

So to all my friends who are mommas

Happy Mother's day!

What you do is beautiful

that makes you a beautiful person!!!!

yes, even without your makeup on :D

April - The Sweetest Month Yet

2011-05-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

April was avery busy month

creating fun and whimsical custom orders for easter

to coordinate with all kind of different style of little girl dresses,

from bright and bold to soft traditional easter colors.

I also added two new styles of headbands to my shop this month

Simple YoYo Headbands

and Baby Girl YoYo Headbands!

Again I can't even start to explain my gratitude

and appreciation for my wonderful friend Bethany

of Hissyfits Photography

for sharing her talents and adorable daughters with me :D

Digi Kits from Kitschy Digitals and Lemon Tree Studio

The Joy of Easter

2011-04-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone of you had a wonderful easter!

This has been an extra special holiday for us

as we had two adorable kiddos to celebrate with.

We have been foster parents now

for just over a month.

We currently have two adorable little girls living with us.

I won't deny that it hasn't been hard

but overall it's been overwhelmingly fulfilling

and has brought so much joy

and NOISE into our home.

If you know anything about the foster care system

you know that you certainly don't do it for the money!

LOL it doesn't help that we tend to like to spoil "our" kids.

My hubby purchased the girls matching easter dresses

which sadly but not surprisingly have already been ruined!

Does anyone know if Polyester can be dyed?

anywho I purchased these diy paper box kits

from Jinjerup Digital Products

They turned out super cute

and were a lot easier to make than I imagined

LOL but of coarse one has already made its way to the trash.

DANG, are kids hard on things or what?

The girls dyed easter eggs

last weekend

and all week long we all enjoyed yummy gooey

egg sandwiches.

Speaking of eggs

we have 6 little black bird eggs

waiting to hatch in my husbands barbeque.

As you can imagine my husband is not very pleased

and my dogs are quite entertained

at barking at the poor mother bird.

Digi goodies from ME!

One of many new kits I'm working on

and hoping to have available this summer :D

Oh Baby!

2011-04-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

I think of myself as a pretty creative soul

but it's always my customers and friends

who inspire me to try new things

Recently I was contacted by Photographer

Bethany of Hissyfits Photography

asking if I could make some headbands for

her adorable baby girl.

I had never really gone down the road of baby gear

simply because I didn't have the most important prop

A BABY GIRL!

Not that I didn't try convincing my little sister

to let me barrow my adorable nephew.

yeah - as you can imagine,

she wasn't too keen on the idea.

So one thing leads to another

as things often do

and Bethany and I worked out a deal -

headbands for photography!

But without a doubt the best thing I got out of this deal

was a brand new friend!

Bethany is amazing

and her enthusiasm for my work

and support in my new life as a foster momma

has been such a blessing.

Thank You Bethany

You are an angel - and uber wonderful to boot!

So if you have a little one of your own

or a baby shower or two coming up real soon

please do take a peak at my newest creations.

Custom orders always welcome!

Digi Giveaway!

2011-04-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned how much I am in

LOVE with all things Lemon Tree Studio

well I am very excited to announce

and share with all of you

that Shelly has graciously

offered one of my readers

3 of her whimsical digi kits!

All you have to do is leave a comment

naming your favorite Lemon Tree Studio

Digi Kit and your contact info.

I will pick a Winner Next Monday

4/18/2011

Additional Digi Sources:

Kitschy Digitals

Minitoko

Shop 66

& my personal collection

A special Easter Treat for YOU

2011-04-14T10:06:00.001-07:00

I have a special treat for you

I am offering a 15% off coupon

to you - my blog readers!

Just add the code

EASTER11

when checking out

starting today - Monday Night

4/14 - 4/18

*offer applies to pre-made items only.

Start shopping!

It's not to late to get your easter headbands!

Goodnight Moon {diy-tutorial}

2011-04-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's not very often that I finish a just for me project

but recently I decided I wanted to try making something new

out of something that was otherwise collecting dust in our home

So here we go

let's make a goodnight moon lamp!

The first thing you will need is a globe.

Now don’t be shy,

I’m sure by now you have all converted to Google Maps

and your globe is sitting on the top of a shelf

somewhere collecting dust.

If you don’t have one,

try your local thrift store,

chances are someone else just got addicted

to the Magic of Google.

LOL, no I’m not trying to shamefully

promote Google!

Once you have cleaned the dust off you will want to find

some type of light to illuminate your globe.

I stole mine from one of my Christmas village pieces,

but I’m sure you can find something

at your local hardware store.

With an exacto knife

cut out an opening for your light.

Prime your globe with gesso or basic white paint,

this may take several coats.

Once primed the fun part begins-

the decorating!

Skies the limit - your “moon” can look anyway you want.

I made mine to match my shabby chic bedroom theme

I’ve recently taken a liking too.

I chose to decoupage my globe

with old music sheets,

vintage cards, and sewing patterns

using Mod Podge as my glue.

Elmer's basic white glue will work just fine too

it’s just important at this stage in the project

to use a matt based product.

Once you have the entire surface covered,

you will probably want to subdue or age your piece.

I diluted pink, aqua, pearl, and white

acrylic paint with some water

and worked my way around the globe

painting the entire surface and then rubbing it off.

I ended by sprinkling a bit of glitter

before everything was completely dry.

Once dry seal your work

with a glossy overcoat of Mod Podge.

To create the “craters”

you will need some scrap-booking eyelets.

The ones I chose were 1/8 inch,

however I found they were a bit too small

to really allow very much light to come through

so I would highly suggest you try a larger size.

If you are careful to pick just the right size

of drill bit your eyelets should fit right into the holes

and no glue will be needed to hold them in place.

I’m sorry that I don’t have any images to share

of what the lamp looks like turned on.

This lighting technique is very subtle

and is more for just adding a bit of

“magic” to your room at night.

If you want just skip the lighting portion

of this tutorial all together,

to create interesting three dimensional pieces of art.

You could have a whole collection

in all different sizes.

Believe me,

once through you wont miss

that ol’ globe one bit.

Off to Candyland

2011-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Candyland themed birthday parties

seem to be all the rage these days

and why shouldn't they be?

Such a great excuses to indulge

your sweet tooth!

(click on images for sources)

A Busy March It Was

2011-03-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

WoWe can you believe it,

We've just about made it to april already!

How time flies when you are busy

and indeedy I sure have been a busy girl.

Been working like a mad woman on yoyo pretties.

Even been working on some rather top secret newbie items

which I am sure will come out of hiding

real soon! Can't hardly wait!

Have I ever told you

I'm very very bad at keeping secrets!

Now I would like to direct your attention

to an amazing etsy shop

LEMON TREE STUDIO!

I'm sure Shelly's work is no secret to the majority of you

I've been quite smitten with her work

for quite some time

and now that she has digi kits

I can really stock up on all the bright, patchwork

creations that make this shop undoubtably

irresistible.

Happy April Fools Day

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

& that's no joke :D

Yippee ki-yay Cowgirl Party

2011-03-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I've had a hand full of customers

tell me that their yoyo headband

is for their little girls birthday party.

How I will love to one day plan out

my children's birthday bashes.

No chucky cheese for me

I'm a backyard, slumber party kind of gal.

So until that day comes I thought I would live

vicariously through my blog

and come up with some birthday party ideas

inspired by my YoYo Headband creations.

My new Rhinestone Cowgirl Headband

would be perfect for a cowgirl themed party.

Pink and brown

horses

and good ol' country staples

like homemade pink lemonade

served up in mason jars.

(click on images for sources)

Girls Kick Butt!

2011-03-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Who else -

can keep the cupboards stocked with clean dishes,

diagnose the "sick" form the SICK,

find the lost binkies of the world,

and give super duper good hugs?

What about the endless amounts of socks

that need to find matches

or the 58 cupcakes need by 12 o'clock sharp?

Women know how to get gum out of hair

and make monsters under the bed simply disappear.

We know how to beat morning hunger

and curl our hair while dusting the bathroom chandelier.

Without us - what would this world come to?

(Click on images for sources)

Our Charlie Dog

2011-03-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Charlie came into our lives quite unexpectedly

I was still in college and my dad

and I were picking up my parents dog

from the groomer

that's when Charlie found me!

He was up for adoption

and for me it was love at first sight

My dad who I'm pretty sure didn't want

to be the one to say NO

had me call my mom - she said YES

so my dad then had me call my then bf, now husband

to see if he was willing to take Charlie

if things didn't work out

he said YES!

and my poor dad was defeated!

but even he came around

and I'm pretty sure when I finally left home

my dad was sad to see us both go.

We all know the saying

"you can't teach an old dog new tricks"

well that is pretty much true

as a dog coming from another life

Charlie already had a handful of quirks

and not so pleasant bad habbits.

Some things we were able to change

like teaching him that he didn't have to

gulp down his doggy food in 3.5 seconds

because no one else was going to take it from him.

but bad behavior like digging, barking, and destroying things

well we still deal with those...

We love Charlie - but he is our last Terrier.

He can be a complete sweet heart,

loving to cuddle and take showers with you

but boy, oh boy,

does Charlie Dog keep us busy!

Digi Sources:

Print A Day

Tada

Lemon Tree Studio

Minitoko

kitschy digitals

Gunhild Storeside

Todd Designs

Sahlin Studio

Pugley Pixel

Jane Says

www.wordle.net

My personal collection

A friendly Reiminder

2011-03-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

Just a little reminder

that my giveaway on Paper*Cakes Finds

ends this coming Monday, March 14th

don't miss your chance

to win one of three

$20 gift certificates towards my

ittybittybirdy

shop!

here are a few more out takes from the photoshoot

for Paper*Cakes 2nd Birthday bash

All American Cuisine

2011-03-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

Sorry Veggie loving friend

but this week I had an appetite for

good ol' fashion,

all American Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

YUMMM!!!

So tasty & So cute!

(click on images for sources)

The Life Of A Miller Dog

2011-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

If you have ever met a Basset Hound

you will know that they live for one thing only

FOOD!

Unlike Charlie, Miller wont leave the yard -

for one very important reason...

he knows who feeds him.

Some nights I have to wake him from bad dream

which always has me wondering

what is he so afraid of?

Well, no doubt it has something to do with his food!

When he was just a pupp he ate an entire bag of dog food

and he was literally just as big around as he was long.

Funny to recall now, but it wasn't then!

When Miller's tummy is satisfied you will most likely

find him curled up on our bed,

he has taken quite a liking to my pillow as of late

but perhaps his very favorite spot is my giant Petticoat.

Miller also loves to play.

He loves playing chase around the house, rope, and catch,

although when it comes to playing catch

he is more or less just chasing Charlie around.

Miller's favorite activity is playing with the laser pointer

he could chase that red dot for hours.

If you aren't in the mood to play

oh - that's okay

Miller will help himself to one of mom's toys!

It sure is a good thing I love him!!!!

Digi Sources:

Minitoko

Kitschy Digitals

Lemon Tree Studio

Jane Says

Shop 66

Bunny, Why Must You Be So Sweet?

2011-03-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

I've decided that once a week I'm going to

put together a post dedicated to all the adorable, cute, whimsical

creations I find so hard to resist.

My husband is constantly reminding me that

I do not need every little thing that catches my fancy

although I find the word "need" to be rather vague ;)

This week my mind was on easter and sweet little bunny rabbits.

Perhaps you NEED one of these?

(Click on images for sources)

My Puppy Book

2011-03-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

For some time now I've been working on a scrapbook project

of my beloved kiddos - a.k.a. Charlie and Miller our puppy dogs.

Miller, our Basset Hound was a gift from my husband -

I think the idea was that having another puppy

would gain my husband a year or two of my silence

in my eager quest to become a momma.

Turns out we aren't so lucky in the baby department

so it's no surprise that my dogs have "literally"

become our children.

Although I always joke that I hope I'm a better "real" momma

than I am a dog momma

because god love them - they aren't always very well behaved!

Both pupps are technically mine

but you wouldn't know it!

They are both daddy boys through and through.

I adopted Charlie while I was still in college.

He's our busy body... always chasing birds,

and tunneling out of the yard.

If a cat has 9 lives

Charlie dog has 90!

I'll be sharing more pages with you over the next few weeks

Digi Sources:

Kitschy Digitals

Minitoko

Jane Says

Lemon Tree Studio

A Print A Day

Pugly Pixel

Big Red & Little Me

2011-02-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

It's a blustery day here in Idaho

and I'm cleaning the house like a mad woman

getting ready for our foster care home study later this week.

So many emotions whirling around in my little head

we've been preparing for this for just about a year

but I can't help but wonder

"are we really ready?"

what a giant leap to make

to go from just the two of us

to possibly 5!

WOW!

That's the way life is though...

and I'm sure we will manage this new adventure

with the same spirit and teamwork

as we always have

Speaking of adventures -

Our very own Big Red has been featured by

the Wandering Airstream

an amazing blog from a young couple

who have thrown out conventional ideas about settling down

in the pursuit of finding the perfect place to call home.

I can't imagine living full time on the road

but who knows maybe Tiffany and her man

are onto something?

I mean if you can survive months on end in a travel trailer

it seems to me like your marriage could survive just about anything!

Not to mention how many of us end up living somewhere

we really don't belong?

Be it family or the ol' ball in chain, aka your job

most of us never really got the opportunity

to find that place where we really belong.

I know all to well what that is like -

We ended up in Portland, Oregon

because of family and job opportunities

we purchased a home and thought we would be happy

but before long

we were just pretending...

and so when we got the chance

we made a decision

to try something new

and we are so much happier

but I can only imagine what we might have found

if we had taken a similar road as Tiffany and her husband

and tried to find our "perfect match".

Anywho - there's some food for thought :)

If you have been dying to learn more about Big Red

this post really has a lot of great information :D

In other news:

I put together a special look in celebration

of Paper*Cakes Finds 2nd Birthday

Gosh, I can't believe how time flies,

seems like just yesterday Chelsea

was sharing her idea with me about this new blog.

I'm so proud of what Chelsea has put together

its such a special blog

helping to shine a light

on so many amazing and talented people!

& perhaps exciting for some of you...

I'm offering my biggest giveaway yet!

3 winners will each receive $20 big ones

to use in my shop.

Find out all the details here.

Happy Birthday Liefgeval

2011-02-17T14:27:00.000-08:00

If you are not acquainted with Nikki of Liefgeval

you are truly missing out!

I have been so blessed by our friendship

and even though it's a tad early

(hey, better than late right?)

I'd like to wish her a very happy birthday!

digi sources :

Kitschy Digitals,

Erica Hernandez

and Minitoko

I'm SO SO crazy in love with this new digi kit

from my good friend

Julie of Minitok!

I'm so blessed to have such fun, and talented friends

who are constantly inspiring me

and filling my life with color and sweet silly things.

My Valentines to You

2011-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

I ♥ U!

Happy Valentines Day

~ Chelsea Ann

1970s - Fashion on Paper

2011-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

In college I studies architecture

and of all the times for America to become a rich country

how sad it had happened in the 1970s

Even Disney World itself suffered from this period

however, on the other side of the artistic spectrum

we find art and fashion

which brought us color, youth and timeless classics.

While 70's fashion is in full revival

concrete structures made to last the age of time are being torn down.

I've always been drawn to 1970s illustrations

from sewing patterns to Japanese Anime

so I was so excited when I stumbled upon

this set of vintage fashion dolls

made by the Whitman Company in 1970

for just $3!

I'm not sure if I have all the pieces

but they are in great played with condition.

There are some awesome outfits

that I wouldn't mind owning!

even "ken" has some pretty sharp getups

but what amused me more than anything

are the matching hunter green suites

for the bride and groom!

I also recently found two great fashion plate toys

both made by the Tomy Toy Company

in the late 1970s.

I remember loving these as a little girl!

I can't believe I found these with not one missing plate!

This set is equally fun

with all the elements a child might need

to make there momma

one very special card.

and ACTION!

2011-02-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

When I started my little blog I was so naive

of how much work blogging really was

I didn't know a thing about creating graphics,

or what it took to take great pictures

and I certainly never thought about how much I would be sharing

but the honest truth is that so much of who I am today

is because of this blog

If I had had a head start on all of this back in high school

I think I would have been far better prepared for college.

I would have had a better idea of who I am

and what I wanted to do with my life.

but instead I have a worthless degree

and like a brand new car that you sadly wrecked without insurance

I'm paying for something I can't use.

In the 3 years that I've been blogging

I've found a love for modeling

graphic design, photography,

and most recently photo editing.

If you had asked me even just a year ago what a Photoshop action was

I would have said

"something geeky computer people use to make their pictures AWESOME"

I had no idea that they were so simple

and that you really didn't need to know much to use them

even now I'm learning more and more just by watching how they work.

Even layer masks are starting to make some sense to me :D

I got started by trying out free actions I found around the web

such as Paint the Moon, The Coffee Shop Blog,

and Maybe Mej

But last night I used up all my saved up clams and purchased my first action set

from Paint the Moon

well two sets actually! A total of 50 Actions!

Talk about fun!! It really is like playing a game...

you never know which action is going to be the winner!

The above images show you just what actions I used on each image.

Frames from Kitschy Digitals

Here you can see the before

and after! Pretty cool right!?

These shots are from a recent photo shoot I did

for some future clients

these ones didn't make the cut but I liked them all the same.

I'm telling you - it drives me crazy that I can't share

all my photo shoot work with you :(

One guy who is always ready to have his picture taken

is my basset hound Miller.

He is such a ham for the camera.

We recently moved our master bedroom

into the same room as my studio

to make room for our future foster care kids

and Miller, who loves to be wherever we are in the house

has fallen in love with hanging out on our bed

as I work on whatever it is I do all day long on the computer.

Needless to say I'v been photographing

his sweet little face even more than usual.

Charlie dog on the other hand

hates having his picture taken!

this little guy is our little Terrorist

oops I mean terrier.

He's always trying to escape our yard,

and in the wet months of winter and spring

I wash this guy more times that I wish to count

on a daily basis.

This particular day,

I believe he was hot on the trail of a local gopher.

What have you learned about yourself through blogging?

Have you learned any new skills recently?

V-day Cards - Free of Charge

2011-01-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

I'm so beyond excited at this moment

to share with all my wonderful blogger pals

something that has me beyond giddy with pride.

I'm blessed to be friends with one of my biggest digi idols

Julie of Minitok

and this winter she contacted little ol' me

to collaborate on a very cute, very fun little project!

And the best part perhaps,

is that we are offering our work to you

for FREE!!!!

So if you haven't yet spent a small fortune

on your children's v-day cards

put some paper in your printer and save that hard earned cash

for a romantic night out with the one you love!

Just pop on over to Minitoko land to find the link :D

I'm perhaps Minitoko's biggest fan! I almost have every single kit

that Julie has fabricated from her inner kung fu digi genius mind.

In-fact I had the honor of playing around with her newest digi kit

which she hasn't even yet released!

Yupp, it's based on our v-day cards

and I'm not buttering the bread too much at all when I say

"BEST KIT EVER!!!"

But until this oober sweet kit is released here are a few of my favorite

Minitoko kits that I just can't live without

These adorable "cookies" will no longer be available after tomorrow!

Reminds me of my empty Oreo package I found on the counter this morning!!

Nothing is more sad then when you miss out on the last cookie :(

Well I hope you all enjoy our work!

~HUGS~

Word of the day : Excited

2011-01-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

Last Night Hubby and I went out on a date

and I'm not sure if is was because I hadn't seen him

in over a week

or anyone else for that matter

as all of our cars seems to currently be out of commission

and I live so very far from civilization,

but for whatever reason, last night felt just like the good ol' days

Back before the butterflies all flew away,

and holding hands gave you the goose bumps.

We went to see the Kings Speech

which I personally thought was rather wonderful!

Completely worthy of the ticket price and the $4 box of Butterfingers.

I'm quite excited about all the movies coming out in 2011.

So VERY excited about all the cartoon animations

I could just about pee my pants.

Although undoubtably ALL of them will come out in 3D

and for whatever reason finding a non-3D viewing has become quite an ordeal!

Curse these eyes of mine!

LOL that reminds me... have you seen Despicable ME?

Hubby got it for me for Christmas

and I'm quite in love with the quote

"Curse you, tiny toilet!"

LOL it's become my new saying when I stump my toe

or whatever else might irk me from time to time.

Anywho... I'm really excited about the upcoming movie

Beastly , which from the commercials reminds me the film Fur

which I recently discovered and fell in love with.

The costuming alone is well worth the rental price.

I love date night because it gives me a good reason to dress up

not that I really need a reason!

Really excited about my new shoe clips

I scored at a local antique shop for just $2.

I've gotten to the point of only purchasing very plain,

very inexpensive black pumps

as I go through them so quickly

hmm...

I wonder why I never thought to glam them up before?

I have a bit of exciting news to share with you

although you will have to forgive me

as I can only skirt around the topic a bit

but yours truly has started to do a bit of modeling

nothing big, but exciting and rewarding non the less.

I wish so very much that I could share

each and every shot with all of you

but alas ~ once sold the images are no longer mine

to do with as I please.

But keep your eye out -

who knows one of these day you might just stumble

upon an image of me

while walking down main street :D

Digi goodies from:

Kitschy Digitals, Pugley Pixel, Todd Design, and Minitoko

*ALL of which you can find links for on my left side board

Work in Progress - Doily Crowns

2011-01-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some new ideas for my little shop.

As you can see from my little sneak peak they are quite different

from my usual very bright yoyo creations.

Understandably, both ideas are a little over the top

for everyday wear,

well unless you are like me that is :)

But I think that especially the crown style one

would be most sweet for young flower girls

I created my first doily crown using this tutorial from

Factory Direct Craft.

There are many similar tutorials available all over the web.

Not one that I read used the same fabric stiffener,

so I think you really can try whatever is available

to you at your own local craft store.

I so love how they turned the doily bowl into a flower basket.

Such a delicate touch.

I will be sure to share more with you soon

however, as I have no talent in either knitting or crocheting

it will take me a bit of time to source out all the doilies I will need

Photo frame: Kitschy Digitals

Bringing in the New Year with New Packaging, and YoYo Pretties

2011-01-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011!

To be honest I haven't really started the new year off on the best note.

After weeks of suffering from anxiety attacks, and crazy mood swings

I lost it yesterday in fit of anger and pure defeat.

I had a good cry, the kind that comes without explanation

and the things that roll off your tongue seem so ridiculous

and yet feel so right.

Although I fought with my poor husband

to let me have a "time out"

he chased me right up to our room

and just held me as I cried uncontrollably.

yeah, like I said not quite the way you want to start off a new year.

But now I'm feeling much better

and hopefully now that i've gotten all that "crap" out of my system

I can get back on track for what I hoped to make of 2011!

One of the things I've been working on during the last few months

is piecing together a more profession, and charming way to mail out my orders.

it's a project that was way overdue

but it's not easy coming up with the concepts let alone the cash.

There is as I always hate a trial and error stage.

For example I found out that stamping is not for me

nor are business cards!

But I still wanted to send a "thank you" that seemed personal and special

and that might also not finds it's way to the trash cane instantaneously.

My solution was to have labels made that I could then attach

to vintage children's playing cards.

I've been really happy with the result - it's both practical, and whimsical!

I designed a new banner for my ittybittybirdy shop last August

along with a few other fun graphics

which I had made into a series of labels

created and printed by Playing with Paper.

I probably could have done all this on my own

but as I have iwork instead of Word

I have found label making extremely aggravating.

so I just ending up deciding to source the project out.

Most of my items will arrive in tissue paper or cute little lunch style bags

but for my smaller items I've come up with this really cute

collection of yoyo embellished boxes.

I'm really excited about these for kind of a dorky reason.

I never quite knew what to do with the one or two left over yoyos

that I no longer had matching fabric for

plus sometimes I make a bunch of yoyos

in some crazy fabric which turns out to be just that CRAZY!

I also have quite a stock pile of what is called B grade cabochons

and other small embellishments which I'm not that crazy about.

Nothing makes me happier than finding smart solutions for silly problems.

YEAH for up-cycling!

So what might you receive in these boxes?

I'm working on creating a whole line of jewelry items.

One such item that I just introduced into my shop

are double yoyo brooches.

These brooch pins are connected be vintage bead chain

and look smashing on a sweater, jacket,

or connecting your collar on your favorite blouse.

I can't believe the changes that my little shop has gone through

just in the last few months!

I can't seem to keep up - I need to find myself a yoyo making robot!!

if only - sigh^^

I hadn't realized until just a few days ago that I started this crazy

yoyo making adventure only just last year.

I guess when you really invest yourself into something

time just gets the best of you.

haha kind of like marriage :D

So now I guess I better get going on making sweet valentine pretties!

I knew I should have gotten started in December but

LOL I guess time just got the best of me in this too.

I really need to get some good shots of my new brooches on,

but every attempt just hasn't quite worked out

so I took what I was able to salvage

and made this whimsical little banner.

Well that's quite enough shop talk for one day!

Thanks for stopping by ~ Chelsea Ann

Works in Progress for a Super Bright and Happy New Year

2010-12-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a new scrap-booking project as of late

that will be formated in an 11 x 8.5 size

instead of the standard 12 x 12

and I have to say the switch as been really refreshing.

I can't wait to show you the entire collection

but for now I thought I'd share a sneak peak

with a little tribute to last years Christmas.

Digi Elements from:

My personal collection, Minitoko, and Lemon Tree Studio

here are some additional pages using these amazing digi creators kits

(Click on images for sources)

2011 is going to be full of color I just know it!

I've got some exciting new adventures planned...

for one, my own digi kits will be available once again

come late spring!

I've been working really hard designing fun new kits

and revamping a few of my most popular kits from the last 2 years.

Early this spring

my hair pretties are going to share the limelight

in a photo-shoot

for a new collection of children's clothing

from etsy artisan Palm Tree Princess!

This gal knows how to use color,

and I was so flattered to make a selection of custom headbands

to match her newest looks!

Here are just a few of my favorite looks

although truly its hard to decide!

you must

check out Palm Tree Princess's shop

because she is having one killer sale right now

that you wont want to miss!

Oh I wish I were little again!

I hope someday she takes her designs

and translates them into adult size sleep wear!

Me and Sgt. Snowman

2010-12-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to my husband

and the dogs making me snowmen.

as a child I played in the snow all the time with my siblings,

we made forts and giant snowballs

but I never remember having made a real snowman

I didn't dare wait until after going to town for supplies

to bring Sgt. Snowman to life

fearful that he would melt into a puddle

before he ever had his carrot nose.

So as so many of us do, I improvised.

You might notice that he has a 6 cent smile :D

What do you think of my new bangs? I cut them myself :D

They are perhaps a little wonky but I LOVE them!

But I swear one of my eye brows is higher than the other,

is this normal? Or am I just not able to cut or see a straight line?

Sgt Snowman will have some company this evening

I think she looks like the bird lady in Home Alone 2.

Do you see the resemblance?

I haven't had very much money this christmas

to spend on gifts let alone gift wrapping.

so most of my packaging is pretty blasé

using left over wrapping paper from the last couple of years

and scraps of this and that from all over the house.

But I did really love how this one turned out

my little sister is quite the horse girl

in fact the medallion came from one of her own award ribbons.

It's fun to bring new life to items

that would otherwise never find there way out

of the junk drawer.

Being "Normal" Doesn't Suite Me

2010-12-14T17:47:00.000-08:00

Being "Normal" Doesn't Suite Me!

I want to make this my mantra for 2011

I'm honestly disappointed in my overall creative spirit for 2010

Last year I had close to twice as many blog posts.

I'm not sure exactly why this last year was so blahhh

but I think a lot of it had to do with me feeling numb,

because heaven knows I certainly had the time on my hands

to accomplish 3 times more

I think I've been Numb to the fact that I have NO clue what to do with my life

I never imagined I would be 25 and have no career and no kiddos

in fact I think my biggest mistake was planning to raise kiddos as my career.

I know 25 is still young and there is still plenty of time...

blah blah blah

but it's hard to build yourself up when everything you try seems to fall apart

the funny thing is that I actually have lots of ides of what I want to do

it's just I haven't a foggiest of how I'm ever going to achieve them

or if they are even plausible.

this might come as a shock but I think honestly

I want to own a little grilled cheese deli

lol I am always thinking about it... it's the strangest thing

I have all these ideas about how it would look and what I would serve.

Think cute cupcake bakery except with bread and cheese!

Because who doesn't love cheese?

Might be the wackiest idea ever

but at least it's something, right?

Anyway, I've gotten really off subject...

One of the ways I plan on getting my creative juices

back in the swing of things

is by being more bold and more importantly more ME!

This might sound silly but it's the god honest truth

- I feel on top of the world when I dress "quirky"

I feel beautiful, and while dressing like a "kid" might not seem sexy

I feel more like "that" than when I'm trying to dress like an "adult".

A very sweet new friend shared with me some new terminology

for Japanese fashion trends

that has opened up a whole new world of sweet eye candy goodness.

The differences in styles are still a little confusing to me

but I believe my new favorite is Fairy-Kei

which most closely reflects my own personal style.

I haven't really had a chance to share most of my looks

from the last past year

mostly because I'm picky

and like them to be staged and what not

but for 2011 I plan on setting up my tripod

and just focussing in on what I'm wearing.

One other fashion style to come out of Japan

is Mori Girl or "Forest Girl".

I just had to share this picture

doesn't she just look so angelic?

So what are your pre-New Year's resolutions?

Don't worry you still have time...

I'm just curious if anyone else is feeling really excited

for a fresh start - on the right foot

and to make it even better maybe in a new pair of shoes!

Fashion Source: www.electricalice.com

Shoe Source: www.milanoo.com

ittybittybirdy *Chelsea Ann*

Play Theater: DIY

It's All in the Packaging.

Sugar Plum Ballerina Party

Holiday Greeting

Christmas Sale!

Sketchbook Sneak Peak

The Girls Room

Christmas Birthday Party

The Spell I'm Under

Handmade Christmas

Teddy Bears on Skates Party

Look Mom, Pink Hair!

Bingo!

I'm a big kid now!

Headbands for Little Heads

Lily

Simple, Yet Oh SO Special

The Loopty Loop

Love Sweet Love

Winnie the Pooh Party Extravaganza

Patching Things Up

The July Newsletter

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match

Like Magic

Purple, Lilac, and Green Country Wedding

Play Date

That's just "Bugger"ific

A Randomly Wonderful Life

Whimsical Woodland Party Ideas

No Longer Lost

April - The Sweetest Month Yet

The Joy of Easter

Oh Baby!

Digi Giveaway!

A special Easter Treat for YOU

Goodnight Moon {diy-tutorial}

Off to Candyland

A Busy March It Was

Yippee ki-yay Cowgirl Party

Girls Kick Butt!

Our Charlie Dog

A friendly Reiminder

All American Cuisine

The Life Of A Miller Dog

Bunny, Why Must You Be So Sweet?

My Puppy Book

Big Red & Little Me

Happy Birthday Liefgeval

My Valentines to You

1970s - Fashion on Paper

and ACTION!

V-day Cards - Free of Charge

Word of the day : Excited

Work in Progress - Doily Crowns

Bringing in the New Year with New Packaging, and YoYo Pretties

Works in Progress for a Super Bright and Happy New Year

Me and Sgt. Snowman

Being "Normal" Doesn't Suite Me

ittybittybirdy Chelsea Ann