In 2007, the year of our ...]]> I love getting Christmas cards in the mail. Photo Christmas cards are my ultimate faves and of course, anything handmade makes me squeal in excitement. So I decided that as long as I can muster up the energy, I will be hand making our cards each year. So far so good. Next year, with a 9 month old? Not so sure it will happen. But for now it’s one of my favorite projects each year.

In 2007, the year of our wedding, I had to use a wedding picture. What newlywed couple wouldn’t love to showcase a photo to family and friends once more? If you are a newlywed I say go for it….even if you think everyone is sick of seeing your wedding pictures, they probably aren’t:)

So I picked one black and white picture, then chose a bunch of fun Christmas printed paper and went to town:

The whole process goes something like this: get neutral colored paper for the background, cut a ton of basic cards from this paper, then cut even more printed paper to fit on top. Then you’ll need to print off your text onto regular paper, print your photos, and glue it all together. Yes, it does take time but it’s so worth it! I always use at least one Christmas stamp somewhere on my designs, usually on a bright red envelope, because I adore rubber stamps:) This was my pick for 2007:

When 2008 rolled around, I knew I liked my general process of printed papers on top of neutral ones, combined with a photo. Here are all of my papers pre-cutting:

And here is the final 2008 project: this year I used a little more digital scrapbooking supplies with my frame around our picture. I also used two different papers for the front of the card. Oh, and for both 2007 and 2008 I hand wrote little messages inside the cards to each family. THAT didn’t take long at all for our 75 addresses….yeah right!

For this year, I decided to use multiple pictures and forgo the handwritten note inside the card. Here are the pictures I chose and again, I used more digital scrapping supplies for my frames and typed up the text directly onto the image this year:

I stuck with one print on the outside of the card, then when you open it up you see the larger two-in-one picture on the inside. All I have to do now is stuff the cards in envelopes and address/stamp them all. I need to get on it!

My best piece of advice if you are going to DIY for Christmas Cards? Keep it fun. I could not handle staring at the same print over and over 75 times while I fold, cut, paste, etc. So I always use a variety of printed papers to keep things entertaining for me. I also roped Nate into the fun this year and had him help me cut the papers and even glue a few pictures down! Team work is totally awesome, btw.

Does anyone else love making Christmas cards as much as me? Any tips I’m missing?

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Posted in: christmas, crafts, paper

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For instance, both my husband and I grew up in homes that celebrated Christmas with yearly ornaments. That ...]]> I’ve always been a fan of crafty projects and what better time of year to bust out your inner Martha than with the holiday season? There’s nothing like personalized touches in your home and a lot of times I choose to make our decorations instead of buying them because I love having full control over what we display. Saving money doesn’t hurt, either:)

For instance, both my husband and I grew up in homes that celebrated Christmas with yearly ornaments. That means that every year of our lives, from birth until we were ‘on our own’, is well-represented via ornaments. My mom and mother-in-law gave us all of the yearly ornaments last year and it is SO much fun to go through year by year and relive the memories. This is something I want to do for our family, too, and so beginning with the year of our wedding I’ve made a family ornament to hang on the tree. I just used a picture, some cardboard, glittery glue, some string, and any other little details I can find and voila….a yearly ornament!

2007:

2008:

And I have yet to make 2009 but I have my ideas:)

Then I got the idea of making a letter banner for Christmas, and what better word to use in the Great Artic of Wisconsin than ‘SNOW’? I used some ribbon, buttons, hot glue, snowflake ornaments, cardboard, and paper to make this baby:

I always have a hurricane vase out on display and usually it houses our vast collection of wine corks. This time of year, however, I put away the booze theme and pull out my ‘girlie’ ornaments that I used to hang on my ‘feminine’ tree before we were married. Now my pink, aqua, and purple theme is not overly welcome on our family tree but I just had to save the fun ornaments somehow:)

For our stockings, I looked everywhere for cheap ones and finally found very basic styles at Michaels. For Nate’s stocking I added ribbon, ‘masculine’ buttons, and a monogrammed pin for his initial. For mine I used left over lace from my wedding veil (which was also DIY), ribbon, sparkle glue, and another monogram:

And for my favorite stocking, little Henry got an adorable bone charm from the local pet store, ribbon, a plastic candy cane, and sparkle glue. Ta Da!

Last year I made this wreath after deciding the store-bought ones were just way too expensive. I found a plain greenery wreath on sale for 50% off, found the ‘berry wreath’ for another 50% off and combined the two with a few pine cones and ribbon to make it pop. Separately the two wreaths were puny and ugly but together I quite like!

And finally, for my last DIY project, if you squint really hard past this adorable pissed off Santa, you will see my tree skirt. I found a plain red felt skirt for about $5 and then added buttons, those same snowflake ornaments from my ‘SNOW’ banner, and glitter glue. Once we get all of our presents under the tree you can’t see it anyway, but I love when the little details show through:

And just because I can’t stop with one Henry picture, here you go: This could very well be our Christmas Card photo, don’t you think?

More on card ideas later….now I’m off to whip up some more DIY projects:)

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Posted in: christmas, crafts, decor

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But here’s the thing: I really don’t like old-fashioned quilts. In fact our nursery is very bold, modern, and ...]]> I’m in full baby-nursery mode these days, my dears. And I’d like your help with something: a baby quilt. No, I’m not sewing one myself because that would require me knowing how to sew. But my loving mother has decided she simply MUST sew a baby quilt for her first-born grandchild. (And did I mention over here….it’s going to be a BOY!)

But here’s the thing: I really don’t like old-fashioned quilts. In fact our nursery is very bold, modern, and not at all traditional (pictures of updates to follow). So I think that a modern baby quilt would be the best for her to make but it’s hard to find a cute pattern out there. Probably part of the problem is that I focus on the colors of the quilt instead of the actual pattern. But ours will probably be full of aquas, oranges, yellows, and bright greens if that helps create a mental image in your mind.

I used my Googling skillz to find a few ideas and want your input. A few websites out there offer a TON of gorgeous ideas, so here we go:

1. Modern Cotton Quilt by Red Pepper :

2. Sew Girly! Bird quilt:

3. A zig zag quilt by Red Pepper, I think this one is a ‘coin quilt’ style:

4. Modern patchwork baby/toddler quilt by Red Pepper

5. Munki in the Middle quilt by Film in the Fridge

6. Film in the fridge picnic quilt:

So whaddya think? Aren’t they all gorge? Any faves? Or any other suggestions for fun, modern baby quilting sites?

Some day I shall learn to sew. Until then, Mom is doing a fabulous job being the fabric queen in the family!

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Posted in: beautiful things, fabric, pregnancy, sewing

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I’ve always been a Mid-western girl and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Although you might hear me gripe and complain from approximately November through April (because that is truly how long a bitter Wisconsin winter lasts up here), I would never trade ...]]> Is it just me or does it seem like this year is flying by at record speed? How can it be November already? And more importantly, how can it be pitch black by 5:30 pm these days?

I’ve always been a Mid-western girl and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Although you might hear me gripe and complain from approximately November through April (because that is truly how long a bitter Wisconsin winter lasts up here), I would never trade the full four seasons we get for anything. Sure, I’m sure it’s absolutely fabulous to live in a climate that is temperate all year round with sun shining and warm weather. I’m supremely jealous of you if this is your climate but then again, I love the fact that we get the variety of Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall up here. Yes, certain seasons are a little more intense than others but no place is perfect, right? No matter what, I try to make a conscious effort to enjoy the seasons in all of their glory, breathing fresh air and remembering to stop and look around at nature every now and then. It’s pretty amazing sometimes, isn’t it?

The fact that fall is upon us and Christmas season is rapidly approaching made me think about how I’ve owned my d-SLR camera for nearly a whole year now. Which means I’ve diligently taken photos of every season in all of it’s glory. I thought it would be fun to summarize each season into three photos, which epitomize the feeling of the four seasons. So here we go:

WINTER:

SPRING:

SUMMER:

FALL:

Which is your favorite season? What images would you include to fully encompass each season?

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Posted in: outdoor life, photography

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#1 1999. Our freshman year of college. I believe my best friend and I are ‘Julia Goolia Spice’ and ‘Hannah Banana Spice’. We are possibly related to the Spice Girls in some way, but mostly we fell prey to they ...]]> In case you need some last minute Halloween costume ideas for those raging parties this weekend, allow me to display years worth of somewhat clever and always hilarious outfits. Let’s step into the Halloween time machine for a second, shall we?

#1 1999. Our freshman year of college. I believe my best friend and I are ‘Julia Goolia Spice’ and ‘Hannah Banana Spice’. We are possibly related to the Spice Girls in some way, but mostly we fell prey to they common sport of dressing inappropriately just because it’s Halloween. Shameful, really.

#2 2000. Our sophomore year in college. As you can read in my caption, we are a ‘Pure Angel’ and ‘Evil Angel.’ I had to edit this one a bit but I cannot help but chuckle. The hooker boots are key, my friends.

#3 2001. Junior year in college, fresh out of traveling abroad for a semester. In case you can’t tell, I am a green M&M. I decided not to show you my white hooker boots again. One can only handle so much. Our sorority ruled, by the way.

#4 2003. [I believe I was visiting my then-boyfriend, Nate, in 2002 and thus missed out on the Halloween madness in 2002.] Hannah and I go as ‘white trash’ and hang out in the Central West End. We are now living off campus and obviously very attractive. That would be actual trash and plastic-wrap on our bodies.

#5 2005. [In 2004 I was living in Arkansas during Halloween during a clinical. Again, I missed the debauchery.] This year was a fun one, as we were officially out of college. Nate and Ryan are Ninja Turtles [yes, those are youth sized costumes] and Maggie and I are….

…the ladies from Full House! Maggie is Stephanie, I am Michelle, and Lindsey is D.J. Why Michelle has to wear so much self-tanner, I don’t know. And why D.J. has to sport those hideous bangs, I cannot say. Yikes.

#6 2006. Again, with Maggie and Ryan we go as….Double Dare contestants!!!

And of course, once we were married and boring and stuff, we no longer dressed up for Halloween. Therefore, Double Dare is the last costume I donned.

But I won’t stop there, dear readers. Not only did my college years bring multiple Halloween parties but when you join a sorority you sign a waiver to attend at least 5 costume parties each yaer. True story. [or not].

The following outfits were not worn on Halloween, but on random ‘events’ out with the sorority. I do not remember dressing up this much, but it’s probably for the best.

#1. The Rock Star switch with the Delta Sigs in 2000. Please guess what I am:

If you guessed Missy Misdemeanor Elliott…..the African American, large rapper…..you are correct. Remember her trash bag shirt on one of her music videos? No? Okay, nevermind.

#2 Tacky Prom with the Pikes, spring of 2002. Yes, my friends, this outfit is what I wore the night I met my future husband. Our relationship is special, let’s leave it at that.

#3 Fall of 2002. I was a Pi Chi for recruitment week. That meant I disaffiliated and helped baby freshman during rush week. The Pi Chis all dressed up for one of the days of rush, and what did I wear?

Um, that is me in the front dressed as Nelly. Please note that all of the other girls are cutsie, girlie, pretty characters. Then there is me, dressed as another African American rapper. I never claimed to be ‘normal’, okay?

#4 2003. Another Tacky Prom with the Pikes. The handsome fellow on the left would be Nate, and the other lads would be his future groomsmen. Yes, we are a beautiful bunch, I know.

And finally, if you are of my kind and believe in dressing up your animals for the sheer fun of it, you’ll appreciate Henry’s time warp into Halloween hell. Back in 2006 I decided to buy him this adorable pumpkin outfit. It did not fit, however, and my poor baby…not even one year old at that time….was so ticked at me. I cannot help but laugh at these pictures:

And that’s it, my doves. Plenty of reminiscing for you complete with embarrassing photos of yours truly. I hope you enjoyed and pondered what hideous costumes you’ve worn in the past. Perhaps you’ll rush out to buy a ‘pure angel’ costume, or one of my numerous rapper outfits instead? Please tell me you’ve worn hideous costumes, too.

© Elizabeth Anne Designs Living, 2009 | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us | StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: holidays, just for fun, pets

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My inspiration all started with these images from the wonderful Jennyology’s blog:

I am obsessed with the bright apple green walls, the vivid ...]]> As I head towards the halfway mark of my pregnancy (at 18.5 weeks, if you want to be all technical about it), I’m starting to pull together the nursery and thought it would be nice to share. I fully intend on this being a long, drawn-out project full of extensive research, bargains, and excitement. So far so good! :)

My inspiration all started with these images from the wonderful Jennyology’s blog:

I am obsessed with the bright apple green walls, the vivid curtains, and the fact that she avoided all pastels. I am on a mission….NO PASTELS in this nursery. I want all bright and bold colors which proves to be a challenge in the sea of pale pinks and blues in nursery world. But I have faith that I can do it!

I researched cribs to death and although I was madly in love with a modern one that cost $1000, and a mid-priced one for $300, I ended up with the deal of a lifetime on Craigslist. I found a crib plus the mattress for 40 freaking dollars and it was in great shape. It fit the bill for being classic, sleek, with a little bit of flair in the ‘Jenny Lind’ style spindles. And so, we now have a crib in our spare bedroom. Totally freaky!

Just wait until my mother-in-law makes some awesome bedding to spice this baby up a bit. I’m envisioning something similar to this from Pixie Dust Decor but in different colors, depending on the sex of the baby. We find out on October 28 and cannot freaking wait, by the way.

Then came the rug hunt. I knew I wanted the rug to be the focal point of the room, anchoring everything together. There was some drama around this purchase but I’m so glad we went with the Ikea Strib rug. Just look at those perfect bold colors! And the stripes serve as a spring board for many more ideas in the nursery with other patterns and prints. Henry just adores the rug and thinks it’s his new bed, poor guy.

And the only ‘fun’ baby purchase so far? This adorable giraffe from beloved Ikea:

Sigh.

So this weekend I’m hoping to paint the walls after I commit and make the big decision on color. Right now I’m leaning towards aqua walls. Then if it’s a boy I’ll pull oranges and greens for the rest of the room (curtains, bedding, window seat, pillows on chair, etc). If it’s a girl I’ll pull more of the pinks and yellows.

I swear, decorating a nursery is one of the most fun and time consuming parts of being pregnant…at least for me! :)

© Elizabeth Anne Designs Living, 2009 | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us | StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: children, decor

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Pillows for the rocker:

by seller ManicMuffin Totes:

from seller ginia18:

Then come the wall prints. Don’t even get me started.

by seller Ferntree Studio:

from seller babybyrds:

from seller prettymod:

by seller trendypeas:

The banners:

from seller nestables:

from seller Paper Fish:

And the mobiles:

from seller ...]]> Not only can Etsy dress a baby like none other, but it can also decorate a nursery like a pro. Of course, you’ll need to be the one to pull it all together but nothing like handmade goods to inspire a room for the baby.

Pillows for the rocker:

by seller ManicMuffin Totes:

from seller ginia18:

Then come the wall prints. Don’t even get me started.

by seller Ferntree Studio:

from seller babybyrds:

from seller prettymod:

by seller trendypeas:

The banners:

from seller nestables:

from seller Paper Fish:

And the mobiles:

from seller giftsdefine:

from seller Criswell Creations:

Again, some of these would make great shower gifts for a mommy-to-be and many of them inspire me to make some of my own handmade goodness. Too bad my “must make” list keeps getting bigger and bigger…

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Posted in: children, decor

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When I found out I was pregnant one of the first places I went online was Etsy because I just cannot get enough of that site. And who knew that Etsy has an amazing ‘children’ and ‘baby’ section full of gorgeous handmade goodness?

I’m pretty ...]]> Whether you are expecting a tiny tot of your own or buying baby shower gifts for friends, chances are you might have scoured the internet for cute baby clothes. A little internet shopping never hurt anyone, right?

When I found out I was pregnant one of the first places I went online was Etsy because I just cannot get enough of that site. And who knew that Etsy has an amazing ‘children’ and ‘baby’ section full of gorgeous handmade goodness?

I’m pretty sure you could create an entire wardrobe for a baby out of amazing Etsy finds. And perfect shower gifts, too!

Here are some of my faves that I’m lusting over as we speak:

ONESIES:

(I’m obsessed with giraffes and my husband is, in fact, tall) From seller Bugga Love:

(For the Patrick Swayze fans) From seller TrulySanctuary:

(Too perfect!) From seller applecreek:

(Not sure why but birds seem very fitting for babies) From seller ressicajachel:

(Love this organic outfit) From seller Urban Tots:

BIBS: who says they have to be ugly?

From seller MomNMiaQuilts:

And because my child will be born during a Wisconsin winter, I forsee many beanies.

From seller charliemai:

I could go on but you get the idea. Etsy totally rules and they do not disappoint when it comes to dressing a baby.

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Posted in: children

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