Maternity Photos {for sweet boy #1}

My momma and I went to our local favorite photo location and took some maternity photos.

Now, I love photography and wish I had more time in my life to study it further...but for now, I do what I can :)  My momma was the just camera holder with me shouting instructions best I could...lets just say my uncle {who lives in CO and did my wedding photos} should be the family member who continues with photography.....for now at least-wink!

I haven't had a chance to play on photoshop with any photos yet...but I wanted to share some now!

I'm currently 36w4d!

Happy President's Day

...classic heart pose...
cheesy, I realize
thought we get at least one

..as you can see here, he totally shifted to the right as I sat down...
there goes the nice symmetry, sweet nonetheless!..

{Kate}

Family Alphabet Scrapbook

I've been up to a whole lot here lately and haven't had a chance to fill you all in :)

Baby Lukas's due date is quickly approaching {good ole' St. Pattys Day} and SO much has taken place here in our household...

crafting included!

Today, I wanted to share with you all the "Family Alphabet Scrapbook".  Between my husband and I, we have close family who live in a couple different states (and of course, dear husband's immediate family lives in OR...so far away...booo).  I want our son (and future children if we are blessed with more), to know all of these amazing people in our lives!  So, I've been working in my extremely spare (this has been done since oh Christmas break...so!) on this book.  I have just the last few letters to complete.  Some letters we have to wait on baby to arrive! 

How To:

1.  Hubs and I had the alphabet listed out on a piece of paper and slowly over a month we filled out what we wanted to include as it came to mind (this way we couldn't forget anyone/thing). 

2.  Then, on Microsoft Publisher I made all the 'labels'

3.  I picked out all the pictures, printed....and cut to fit on the desired Alphabet page.

4.  Assembled :)

This was a fairly simple process and I adore the outcome.  I can't wait to start 'reading' and or looking at this with our little one!  He will have to just feel the love coming off the pages from all the sweet family faces. 

Now, the hardest part was having all the letters 'covered'.  Luckily, we have in our family a W and a V etc.  However, there were some more difficult letters.  If you plan on making one of these and are stressing about some of the letters you have nothing for....ask me and I'll see if I have any ideas or ones I used!  

Hints: we used 1st names, last names, important locations, family relationships (mom/dad/aunts/cousins...etc)....

I'll include some pictures of this project....but not EVERY letter (that'd be a little crazy..ha) 
~Hope you enjoy~

{Kate}

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

DIY Burlap and Twine Name

Again, this project was simple and very do-able!

I started these one evening and since I did Lukas's WHOLE name it took longer than expected to 'twine' them, but in the end they look great.

I had help from one of my best friends, Lisa, who glued/twined a couple letters for me one evening ..YAHOO!

I saw the original tutorial over at The Johnston's blog (can't take credit..I love her style) and knew it would work perfectly in the nursery!  She, however, only did just one letter...much faster ;)

Up Close

..The whole display..

Overall view!

One dilemma for us was where to put these in the nursery. 

Options:

1. hang up 

2. set on top of a shelf/dresser etc

Luckily, the answer came once we hung up the shelf unit...ON TOP!

They are just sitting there and no hanging was required...perfection.

{Kate}

Proud Grandparents Wall Shelf and Pillow

oh how I love my parents...

They are both very crafty themselves and made some amazing things for little Luke!

.truly blessed.

My father made this black wall shelving unit to match the nursery furniture

(and helped us hang it.. a definite chore)

My mother made as gifts some awesome pillows! We were having trouble finding 'vintage map' fabric in the right colors, who knew that'd be so difficult.  We ended up finding a BRIGHT green one and so my mom worked her magic with some 'color remover' and...

It works PERFECT in the room!

 Before we found the bright green (now perfect green) fabric my mom had attempted to print one offline and onto fabric.  She then 'aged' it and she wasn't as pleased as she had hoped.  So, as a Christmas present joke gave it to our little dog.  We, however, think it looks vintagey and perfect right where it sits! 



such sweet and thoughtful gifts

and they work perfectly in the nursery...what more could we ask for :)

{Kate}



"He's All Boy" Blanket and Cap {and Booties}

Thank you to This Momma Makes Stuff for some GREAT baby boy tutorials!

I made these very quickly over my Christmas break...the Cap and Blanket....and I'm in love with them.  Can't wait to deliver this little guy so he can try it on....eekk!

I'll show you in pictures, if you want to make it...go look at the wonderful tutorials from "Mamma".

4 fabrics {3 'manly' fleece and 'Minky-fur'}

Now. I machine sewed each strip down as I went, which quilted my blanky as I went...LOVE THAT!
The leopard print is cool huh! ha, it is the back of the minky fur.  I skipped the step of a cotton lining b/c of this 'leathery' leopard part.  This worked fabulously, and the leathery helped to keep the fleece in place as I went (as well as pins)

I worked left to right sewing down my strips and rolling/sewing the minky fur around
Almost done!!!

Finished: the back

the front!

Matching hat

I love the minky fur I added on there...so stinkin' cute!

ha...since I have no babies to try it on right now...ducky will have to do :)

Now, I also found a great pattern for little fleece booties at Things for Boys blog site!  I wanted to make a little set for baby {L} and again....love them!

Since he won't be walking when he will fit these I put the minky fur on the bottoms...eek!

 

10 weeks until due date and I get to try these sweet things on him!

Nursery "Mobile" Hot Air Balloon

In keeping with our nursery theme "Welcome to the World" I wanted to make a hot air balloon mobile.  After lots of researching, imagination, and inspiration I decided to base my design off good ole Martha.  So, for step by step instructions click on the link below:

{Martha Stewart Hot Air Balloon}

I will say I decorated mine different and of course made a different basket at the bottom!

I will let you take a look at the pictures of the process!

Paper Macheing the balloon
(this was on Thanksgiving Day and setting up Christmas..understand the background please!)

For my third layer I used triangular cut pieces of vintage postcard scrapbook paper

My dad has this beautiful collection (from his childhood) of stamps.....I used these for decor on the balloon!
I am one lucky woman! I loved just looking at these relics :)

Balloon is twined and 'stamped'

....Hot Air Balloon is flying..

Handmade Basket
{see below for instructions}

...Hope Lukas loves looking at this while rocking in the chair...

Basket Directions:

Now, I have to give my husband credit for original idea and aide, without him who knows what this would look like...for real!

1. Cut out an open cube net and fold design side in (so it will show when looking into the basket)

2. Starting at the base center glue down twine in a circular pattern.

3. When you arrive at the square sides: glue down twine while wrapping around the basket until you reach the top.

4. On each side glue down the twine in an "X" pattern.

5.  Attach the basket to the balloon (using hot glue) from the hanging pieces of twine. (this might take 2 people in order to make it easier).

6. Tie all 4 pieces of twine in a knot beneath the basket

DONE!

We love this piece of the nursery and it was fun to create. 

{Kate}