Project Post: God Gave Us Baseball - Baptism Gift

Everyone I know is having babies.

This means that many baby gifts are necessary, and (at least in my "circle" of many Catholic School Alumni friends) many Baptism gifts. I feel like a Baptism gift should be something that reflects the occasion and entrance of an individual into the Church and a life of faith, right?  I mean, I personally prefer to give something religious-related as opposed to like, toys or baby supplies or something -- for both my Goddaughters I've given Bibles (a very traditional heirloom version in one case and a bilingual baby version in another), and a few years ago I made a baby sweatshirt using a religious iron-on accented with fabric paints (I'll have to try to find the pictures on an old hard drive).

Anyways.

I had pinned the inspiration for this project (I believe the original is still available on Etsy) quite awhile ago and was looking forward to the right opportunity to make something similar. The opportunity came via our friends we met through a softball team a few years ago, and their precious little chunk of a firstborn, Matththew.

I thought this would be a great, personal gift for them -- they're both total sports freaks (we even ran into them at a Padres game a few weeks before their due date and they joked that they'd name the baby something like Tony Trevor Winfield Randy Garvey if labor started at the game #PadresFansJokes).

As luck would have it, I had a super-banged up softball in the trunk of my car, otherwise you'd have to pick one up -- I supposed you could check garage sales or thrift shops if you wanted a vintage-y looking one, or purchase new if you wanted something crisp and white. FYI - the softball, once opened up, fit almost edge-to-edge on my 10" square canvas... a baseball would be a bit smaller (I think my Pinspiration was done in an 8" shadow box) and you could go even a little smaller with a Little League baseball or search for some type of small souvenier ball of some kind).

 

Since I was going for the well-worn, vintage-y look, I didn't take much care in in disassembling it -- just scissors (a seam ripper would probably be even easier) to cut the stitching and I left the edges more or less ragged. You could do a much neater job if that's your jam.

Here's the thing -- despite being worn, the leather came off rock hard. Like, it stood up still rounded. Not sure if it would work (and also wanting to clean up something intended for a baby's room), I soaked it overnight in a bucket of water with a little vinegar and dish soap. This made it easier to work with, but I still needed it to lay flat. I laid it between two towels and then put a really heavy box on top of it overnight.  Note: you'd have more options if you're using a frame or shadow box -- for example, you could use straight pins to anchor it to the back of a box, or pull out the red stitching altogether and then re-sew it onto a fabric for the back of your frame or box.

The canvas was an easy prep -- just a couple coats of paint in a light beige. I also used my homemade ModPodge-y solution (half-and-half Elmer's glue and water) on the canvas and ball, seperately. So basically I coated the painted canvas and the two pieces of the softball. My goal was to seal each element, especially the loose ends of the red threads.

Here's where I overestimated the power of my glue gun (which doesn't happen often!). I tried gluing the softball to the canvas and the glue just peeled right off when dry. Sh*t (of course I'm working on this the night before it needs to be finished).

Ok... I run to Michael's about an hour before they close, thinking I'll pick up a shadow box frame and try attaching the softball with straight pins. Of course there's a too-small shadow box and a way-too-big and pricey shadow box.  I check out the Special Glue aisle. Among the wood glue, super glue, etc. was some variation of super glue that promised to work on wood, canvas, leather, fabric, metal, etc. A tiny bottle ran somewhere between $3-$4 (of course I brought the wrong coupon).

Hallelujah, it worked (at least it was bonded when I wrapped it the next morning and I haven't heard that it's fallen apart at all). Following the instructions on the glue bottle, I just went slow and inch-by-inch to put a bit of glue on both the canvas and softball before holding them together to bond. I wish I'd had a second bottle for back-up -- don't know what I was thinking -- because my one bottle just barely finished the job.

 

I used the Pinspired quote and added Matthew's name and Baptism date. I hope it's something that he can keep for awhile -- I can't imagine this kid NOT being a baseball fan. This would make a sweet gift for the Little League-r, coach or fan in your life. In fact I might have to make one for myself!

 

So Happy Spring Training! What are you looking forward to this baseball season? I feel like this is going to be a bittersweet time for Padres fans, since it is about to really sink in that we won't be hearing The Colonel call any more games with his gracious charm, wit and wisdom.  Also, what are some other ideas for Baptism/Christening gifts? Anything really cool and creative? Do you go with something very traditional? Something to be used as a baby/kid or something to last for a lifetime? I'm sure more babies are on the way so I can always use the ideas!!


May your feet be swift, bats mighty, and balls be... plentiful,

Project Post: A Card for the Travelers' Next Adventure

So I guess you could say card-making is kind of my thing. I mean, I more often than not make cards instead of buying them (although I do love when you find a really beautiful, funny or otherwise perfect card in the store), and several people have told me that they've kept all the cards I've ever made them or their kids.

That's sweet. Means a lot. Makes me want to keep doing it. :)

What I like about making a card is that it can be extremely personal -- you can't always find that in a store. I love finding a quote or theme or sentiment that's just perfect for the person and occasion.

We've got a few friends that are extremely well-traveled. Like, more than I will ever be. I really admire the sense of adventure and the way they say "yes" to new people, places and experiences.

When one of those couples got engaged, and the other was about to have their first child, I knew that would be a great theme for some congratulatory/best wishes cards. I guess you could say I cheated a bit by making these almost the same, but even though the words of the message are nearly identical, I felt that it fits each of them in their current, exciting stages of life.

 

 

A "Best Wishes for Baby" Card for the First Class World Travelers

I wanted to emphasize planes on this one since Dad is in the flight industry (that's as much as I could tell you to describe his job, I think it is something in logistics...?). I used softer, baby-friendly colors that I thought were still bright and cheery and chose stripes and plaids that I thought were appropriate for a little gentleman on the way (I thought the "All Packed and Ready to Go" sticker was appropriate for first-time Mom who had her hospital bag ready for probably about five months). 

 

Oh yeah, and the G'14 is for their last name and the baby's birth year!

 

 

A "Best Wishes on Your Engagement!" Card for the Adventuresome Duo

Again, basically the same concept applies here, but I played around with bolder colors -- in this case, lime green and navy blue for their Seattle Seahawks of their adopted hometown (I sent this right in the middle of the NFL playoffs).



In both cases my writing is freehand with fine point Sharpies (with the exception of the stamps I used on the first card), but a good handwriting font would be nice if you're not ready to wing it by hand. The cardstock is available at Michael's or JoAnn's, as well as any travel-themed stickers or accessories you might want to add. Here's my trick for the sketching the planes and suitcases, though (I'm not an artist by any means) --- once I find an idea of what I'm looking for on Google Image or somewhere, I hold up a sheet of plain paper over the screen, and really lightly trace it, going back and forth to take a look at the original compared to my copy... I then outline it in dark marker so that I can trace that onto my decorative paper. Your other option might be to print out a picture you like and accent it with colored pencils or markers.

In an effort to be a disclaimer; I don't know that I would sell a card using someone else's illustration... but I'm not a lawyer, soo..?

Anyways, there's a couple ways you can wish the travelers in your life the "Adventure of a Lifetime" for their momentous occasions. What kind of life events are coming up in your world? And what's on your travel bucket list? If I haaaaaad to narrow it down, mine is pretty much everywhere in Mexico, Fiji, and Alaska.

Happy Trails (and card-making!),



A Dress for All Seasons

Disclaimer: This is my first clothing-related post and I'm definitely not a fashion blogger, so please be nice and we'll see how this goes...

Hadn't really planned on making not one but two Valentine's Day-related-ish posts but as I browsed my closet I thought I'd pay homage to the $4 thrift store find that became my go-to outfit this past year.

Yep. I had coveted this dress in Target last spring but at like, $27 (I'm cheap) I figured I'd wait for it to inevitably go to the clearance rack in a couple weeks. But then I found it on an impromptu trip to Salvation Army (on our little birthday weekend getaway, of all things). I think everything in the store was 50% off for Memorial Day and this still had the Target tags on it. Consider it snatched up with about three minutes to spare before closing time.

Here is is just basic, though the belt is my own addition because it just felt like it fit better than hanging on me, especially with my short stubby legs! I've often thrown a chambray blazer on over it, or a Levi's jacket would be really cute. I love the print, sweetheart neckline and zipper going up the back.

I also hadn't really planned to wear it for three holidays but life has a funny way of working out, right? It also became my uniform for a baby shower, birthday party, sorority recruitment and a Baptism. Dresses that pull overtime duty are my friend. And styled just a little bit differently each time, I think it managed to work for each of these occasions. I mean, being red it's an obvious choice for the Fourth of July, Christmas and Valentine's Day, especially when the print looks like fireworks, snowflakes or little daisies, depending on the context.


For the Fourth of July I wore it with white and blue and what I thought was kind of country/All-American looking...

And for Christmas I wore a black t-shirt and jacket over it (with a small, skinny belt underneath to hold the t-shirt in place and keep the shape of the skirt) along with black tights and booties.

Finally for Valentine's Day I added cream tights and my much-loved creamy motorcycle jacket... I love something sweet and girlie with this traditionally tough-looking jacket on top. Oh, and a flower... I mean is there anything more romantic than flowers in your hair? #HippieAtHeart

So thanks for bearing with me.... I'm not a professional anything --- stylist, photographer, lighting expert, model, etc... --- by any means, so I fully understand this is very amatuer hour... but I do know how to work with what I got. So there's three ways that one very real person got a really bargain to work for three seperate occasions using things already in her closet.

The Little Red Dress That Could

Was this at all interesting or helpful? Would more posts like this be welcome, or does it just add to the noise of a million other bloggers who already do this and do it better? Either way I thought it was kind of fun :) And who is planning something cute to wear for Valentine's Day? I think we're staying home since the new season of House of Cards is out on Friday but maybe we'll do something festive over the weekend (if we do go out for Valentine's Day it's usually to Burger Lounge or something!).

Happy Valentine's Day and Outfit-Picking!

 

Project Post: A Brief Valentine's Day Card Sentiment

Soooo Valentine's Day is on Friday...

Still need a card for the dude in your life?

Anyone can do this. You don't need one of those fancy software programs or cutting machines or even glue.

I did use a blank card template I picked up at Michael's, they usually have packs of 8 for like, $1.50. This one had a cute little cut-out. But a folded piece of printer paper would work just as well.



"I'll be brief..."

"I think you're a stud."

This card was inspired by the oh-so-exciting gift I have planned. I usually give E some socks and underwear for either Christmas or his birthday (is that a totally parental-type thing to do?) but fell behind on that this year. So I hope he enjoys a nice value-pack of Hanes and some tube socks, woo... nothing says 'romance' better, right? :)

 

**Trip on the Wayback Machine -- our first Valentine's Day together in high school, he filled my locker with pink roses. I die. **

 



So whether you're planning on giving someone special something extra-sexy [(?) oh Lord, no] or just want to share a cheeky (haha) sentiment, take the five minutes to briefly state your love.

 

 

So what are your Valentine's Day plans? Anything exciting? Making any homemade cards, gifts or treats? I alternate between really wanting to do something fun and only caring about buying half-priced candy on Feb. 15... so I usually end up somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

 

 

But celebrating love is always a good thing, right?

 

 

Xoxo,