Baby Mine

What to give a little munchkin like this for his very first Christmas?? Well - his Grandaunt Julia (that would be me!) decided to make him a little coaster photobook for his mum Katie (my niece) and his dad, Greg, to document his first year.

I used 13 light weight coasters for my book as well as my Bind it All with 1 1/4" O wires. I used Little Prince Stickers by Karen Foster Design as well as some puffy stickers by Michaels - all purchased at Michaels. I created 'Landon's 1st year' with my Brothers P Touch Label Maker.

Each page is for Katie and Greg to document that month in Landon's life with a picture from that month and a few sentences about what he did new that month. The sticker on this page says "Bundle of Joy".

I cut the lined patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket/Boyfriend/Homework) with my Labels One Nestability. The stamps for the month circle are from Papertrey Ink (Borders & Corners Monogram Edition and Simple Alphabet)

These great little boy papers are from Itsy Bitsy Paper pad by K & Company that I got at Michaels with a 20% off coupon! It has patterns on the front and back of each sheet so it gives you a lot of variety. The sticker on this page says "The Cutest Little Baby Face".

I cut the papers 4"x 4" and used my corner rounder punch on all corners then adhered the papers to the front and back of each coaster. The sticker here says 'Heaven Sent'

As I created each page - I'd flip the coaster up to be sure I was placing things right side up when the book was put together - and to be sure that the papers had coordinating colors. You also don't want to have stickers too near the area where you will punch with the Bind It All. In my case - I made sure the lined paper panel was not too close to the bottom of the coaster.

This sticker says "little ears, little nose, little fingers, little toes"
Landon has several toys and outfits with monkeys on them so these puffy stickers were perfect!

This sticker says "Thank Heaven for Little Boys"

And on the last page - I used special 1st Birthday patterned papers with numbers and balloons from Basic Grey Cupcake Paper pad. The Happy First Birthday stamp is from Bitty Baby Blessings from Papertrey Ink

I knotted several coordinating ribbons (Papertrey & Stampin Up) on the wires. Finally, on the back cover I wrote a personal note to Landon - so he'd always remember that I made this book especially for him for his very First Christmas!

A final picture - taken on Christmas Day - with an exhausted Landon sleeping peacefully in his Uncle Nate's arms (Nate and my niece Christie (Katie's older sister) are expecting their first baby in June so he's practicing - and doing a great job as you can see!)

That's DH Kent to his right - and check out the white mug on the table - it has a picture of Landon on it! I had them made through Snapfish and gave one to each of my nieces as well as my sister (and myself of course!).

Well- thanks for sticking with me to the end of this long post! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and were able to relax today!

If you are interested - you will find another baby coaster book I made last year on this post here.

It has been flurrying here all day and it has just started snowing in earnest with quite a wind. They are predicting up to 20 inches by tomorrow night! I'm so glad I'm still out on medical leave so I don't have to try and commute tomorrow. I think I'll do some stamping!

Public Service announcement! Rubbernecker is having a sale!! Stamps will be on sale from 12/26/10 - 1/2/11 and other products are on sale for 2 days 12/26 - 12/28 so hurry over and check it out!

Friends of WMS Blog Waltz - Dad's Stuff

Come on over to the Waltzingmouse Forum - we're having a Blog Waltz in the Playroom. The theme this month is "Let's Hear it for the Boys: Masculine Cards". Instead of a card - I made a sturdy little notebook for Dad to use in the garage or basement workshop that he can just tuck into his shirt pocket when he hurries off to the mans store (Home Depot or Lowes!) to pick up those nuts and bolts he needs. He'll have his list all handy dandy so he won't forget what he went to the store for!

I used cardboard for the front and back covers stamping the front with images from Little Box Labels, Off Beat Backgrounds and Free Spirit - Boys. I used just the grid bg stamp on the insides and back cover. Then I sponged all over them with Ranger tea die distress ink. I bound it all together with my Bind it All (I just love making my own little notebooks!!) This book is about 2 1/2" x 4".

Now - check my picture again and count up all the little Japanese Lantern watermarks you see. You need to add up the total lantern's hidden by the Design Team members participating in the Waltz today and enter that number in the Playroom forum. One correct entry will win a free WMS stamp set of their choice!!

One random winner will be chosen from all those posting links to their Blog Waltz projects over in the Playroom!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Little Box Labels (Dad's Stuff), Off Beat Backgrounds (Grid), Free Spirit - Boy (bike, star, skateboarder, square, tone bars, Rte 66 sign)

Paper: Lined paper pad - PTI, cover board - Zutter

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Ink - Tea Dye

Accessories: Zutter Bind it All, 5/8" black O wire, sponge.

Welcome Ezra Boyd! A Baby Photo Book.

My son's fiance's sister just had her first baby - a bouncing baby boy with the wonderful name of Ezra Boyd. I have not met this sister yet as she lives in Kentucky and we are in New England but wanted to send her a gift when April went down to visit her a week ago. I saw this cute little coaster photo book over a year ago on Pine's (Heather Nichols) blog.
I knew that I might like to make something like it one day - and that day is now here!

I added a piece of notebook lined designer paper (Little Yellow Bicycle/Boy Ledger) cut with the Labels One Nestability above each page so they could write some notes about what Ezra was doing during that month. It also nicely covered the ends of the ribbons that were wrapped around from the front!

The cover will be for a newborn picture and then there is a page for 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 6 months. The pages are 4x4 heavy weight coasters covered with designer papers.

All the stamps are from Papertrey Ink - I used Boxes Bags and Tags for the month circles and the Simple Alphabet for the words. The vintage buttons are also from Papertrey. (I should be working for them huh?!?!?)

The ducky, boat, bunny and elephant are from the Bitty Baby Blessings Set.

The sentiments on the notes are from the Favor It Baby set - the owl is from the Wise Owl Set.

The all star stamp is from the All Star Team set. I don't know who made this nursery paper but all the other papers are PTI - Men of Life, Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics and Polka Dot Parade.

I wrote them a note on the back and used my Bind It All to bind it up. Then I tied lots of Papertrey Double Stitched ribbons around the wires. Now all Amber has to do is add her sweet pictures to make this photo book complete!

I appreciate your stopping by my blog today - I hope you enjoyed my baby photo book project!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink - Boxes, Bags & Tags, Bitty Blessings, Wise Owl, All Star Team, Favor It Baby, Simple Alphabet.

Paper: 4x4 coasters, PTI: Kraft, Lemon Tart, Spring Rain, Men of Life, Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics, Polka Dot Parade, SU: Creamy Caramel, unknown Nursery rhyme paper, Little Yellow Bicycle/Boy Ledger.

Ink: PTI: Fresh Snow, Enchanted Evening, Memento Tuxedo Black.

Accessories: Zutter corner rounder, circle punch, PTI Ribbons, copics: B21, R32, E33, YR04, R29, glue dots, Labels One Nestability, Bind it All

Stamp New England - What A Great Weekend!!

I just got home from Stamp New England and had such a super time I just had to get these pics loaded up to share with you!

This is the beautiful Sise Inn in Portsmouth, NH where we all gathered - There are 34 rooms in this Inn- It's very deceiving looking at it from the front - the building extends quite far back and it's so beautiful inside - a lot of carved wood paneling and lovely rooms!


And look what we found in our rooms when we arrived - our schedule of classes, coupons for discounts at sponsoring Companies, a fun clear box with ribbon, glitter, crocheted and felt flowers and a chocolate (got to have chocolate right?!)from Emma's Paperie , a cute little Patriotic thank you stamp in the shape of a heart from Kitchen Sink Stamps and a Memento Black ink by Tsukeniko for us to use with the cards we used Copics with (that ink won't bleed when you use Copics).

And right away I met my blogging friend Jodi Collins who I was just so excited to meet in person (she just became one of Taylors Bakers Dozen!). She is SO friendly and SO crazy (in a good way!) she kept us laughing all night! Jodi is on the left, her friend Anne is next, then Leah who's from MA, Vicky from CT, and me.

Here's a shot of about half of the room - with everyone busily working during Lauren Meader's class this morning.

And this is me with 4 of the teachers - from top left - Lauren Meader, Julie Masse (teacher and organizer), me! - front row left: Karen Motz (who also just became one of Taylor's Bakers Dozen!) and Joanne Basile(teacher and organizer). These ladies are just so talented and SO friendly and happy to share all the tricks they know about card stamping!

Cindy Lawrence below left also taught a class - she was a Design team member on H&M Stamps where I'm a DT member so I 'knew' her on line but it was just so great to meet her in person. Here is Jodi again and me.Oh - yes - and in between taking everyone's pictures - we did make some projects! Karen Motz (pronounced Moats!) taught us on Friday night how to make this wonderful little book using chip board covers and the Bind It All. The cute little fairy stamper is from Stamping Bella and we colored her with Copics. Everyone was asked to bring a copy of their favorite sketch and we passed them around so we could put them all in our new "Sketch Journal" - how fun is that?!?!? Look how cute this is!! The tag says "Stamping Bug" on it - and she is holding a wooden stamp in her right hand and all her stamping supplies in a little rolling bag in her left!

First thing this morning (Sat) Lauren Meader had us make this terrific little box (a preview of her template that's coming out next month!!) and - get this - we all got the Papertrey Ink Stamp set called Life that was just released!!! (Boy - did everyone scream when we heard we were each getting our own set!). AND - we were each asked to bring a bag of our favorite bite size candy to share so we got to FILL this box with yummy treats - the idea was to give this cute box to a friend - but I know mine is only HALF full at this point so if I do I'll have to add something to it! (Yumm!)

Here is Lauren and me. Lauren is holding a little back pack that I made and gave to each teacher.
Everything is Papertrey Ink (paper, DP, and stamps) accept the brads and foam dimensionals. You can see a tutorial I did for the back pack here.

I unfortunately had to leave the weekend early (GASP!) My niece was having her wedding shower today (which was lovely!) - so I had only half finished Cindy Lawrence's water coloring project when I had to pack up - and Julie Masse and Joanne Basile (pronounced Bas-il-lay!) gave me kits for their projects to take home - so I'll share those after I've made them! Just let me say they are all terrific and I can't wait to get them done! So be on the look out for those sometime in the next week or so!!

I hope you enjoyed my pictures and had fun seeing these stamping legends that I was so fortunate to meet!!! - there's a rumor the organizers are going to run another Stamp New England weekend this fall. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything!

A Birthday Card Coaster Photo Book

I seem to be making a lot of these cute little coaster photo books lately! This one is for a co-worker's wife that will be from their children and has pictures of the children inside.


I used Cosmo Crickets Happy Camper designer paper throughout the book. The coasters are medium weight and I used silver 5/8" wire to bind it with my Bind It All. I love that you can buy different colors of wire for these books. I've seen white, black, red and silver so far.

I gathered sentiment stamps from all around my stamping room for my pages - trying to find just the right thing for each page. That's what took the longest time in creating this! The cover stamps are from The Women of Life set by Papertrey Ink and I used my rectangle nestability as well as the fern and dove punches - both by Martha Stewart.
This is Noa on the left, doing a nearly perfect split! She's a 6 year old ballerina and 10 year old Roee on the right - who is actually a competitive swimmer - but we see him climbing on things in this book! The Absolutely Fabulous sentiment is PTI Mixed Messages and the U R the Best is Gina K Designs - Text Messages.Let's Hang Out is from the Little T's set by Gina K Designs and A Very Special Delivery is from the Faux Ribbon Set by PTI.

For the final note on the back which I just used a small corner of and sponged and distressed the edges - is the Lined Paper background stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms and the words and date are stamped using Karen Foster Snap Stamps (which I believe have been discontinued so I'm so glad I have mine!) I told my co-worker to have his kids sign their names here.

He was gratifyingly thrilled with this little keepsake I created for his wife! and that makes all the effort put into creating it worth it for us stampers - right??!!!

You can see all the other coaster books I've made by looking in the Index in the right column of my blog.

I appreciate your coming by today!

Paper: Medium Coasters, DP: Cosmo Cricket - Mr. Campy, Ruby Red, Certainly Celery, mellow Moss, sage shadow, close to cocoa: SU

Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron: SU, onyx black versafine

Supplies: distresser, sponge, corner rounder, dew drops, bind it all, nestability rectangle, dove punch & fern punch: Martha Stewart

A Coaster Photo Book and A Double Dare Sketch

I made this little coaster photo album for the November Fan Club Central Theme challenge over on Split Coast - Chick Lit. You had to use the theme of literature or chickens! LOL!!I love this little child sitting on the pile of books while reading one of them. It comes from a set by Clear Art Stamps called 'Story of Me'. The sentiment is H&M Stamps (All I Want for Christmas) and the date is Karen Foster Snap Stamps. This book will be used for pictures taken this Christmas. I used my Bind It all and the coasters are covered with these fun winter designer papers from My Minds Eye.
Stamps: Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps: the Story of Me, Sentiment: H&M Stamps - All I want for Christmas, 2008: Karen Foster Snap Stamps
Paper: Mellow Moss, Naturals Ivory: SU, DP: My Minds Eye: Snowed In
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine
Accessories: Medium Weight coasters, corner rounder, oval punch, Bind It All , Prismacolor markers
My second card uses the sketch challenge from Split Coast as well as supplies sent to me by Beverly (Beestamper) for the weekly challenge I do with a group of SCS friends. We had to use some or all of the supplies she sent us and make it a Christmas card. I used the stamps, the designer paper, the ribbon and the foam flower that I received (what a fun package in the mail!). It makes you be a little more creative when you are given items to use on a card - these aren't colors I'd usually reach for!

You can see the other supplies challenge cards here - they'll be posting them all week until next Tuesday.

I appreciate your coming by today! I'm gathering my blog candy - should have it posted sometime over the weekend so be sure to check back!

Stamps: Studio G Clear stamps
Paper: Certainly Celery, pink Passion: SU, DP: KI memories
Ink: onyx black versafine
Accessories: copics, circle punch, scalloped circle punch, tag: Avery, foam flower tag, ribbon, Foam dimensionals

Two Little Coaster Albums

Who's 3??????

Those of you visiting me the last few days know I went to my God daughters 3rd birthday party this past weekend. I made this coaster book for Eden as part of her gift - and it was most gratifying that she grabbed it and absolutely loved it when I brought it to her! Of course - it's all about her and that is a three year old's world!! but she wouldn't let it out of her hand for about an hour.

So now I share it with you - as you can tell from her pictures - she is completely adorable - and I can tell you in real life she is also a bubbly chatterbox and just as sweet as her pictures!

I am so blessed that her mother, Kelley, asked me to be Eden's God Mother. Kelley is actually just a few years older than my own son and I have known her through our church since she was young. We became good friends when we took the Alpha Course together about 6 years ago.

I used Papertrey Ink Pink Patterns Collection for the papers on her book. It is made with medium weight coasters and my Bind It All machine.

Eat cake and So Cute are the sentiments on these pictures.
"Each and every day you grow - you just become more fun to know" perfect sentiment for Eden's book! Her hair looks just like Shirley Temple (for those of you who remember her!) - and it bounces when she runs around - which is pretty much all the time!

And this sentiment is another perfect one for how I feel about Eden!

This is me and Eden - I gave her this cute little hand puppet - that is a tree with 3 baby woodpeckers inside that you can wiggle with your fingers - it also makes the noise of the woodpecker pecking on the tree - and the bigger mother woodpecker is also a finger puppet and can be perched on the outside of the trunk with velcro. Eden goes on nature walks with her mother every week at the local Audobon Society so I thought this would be a good gift for her and she seemed to like it!

Eden's older brother, Destin, turned 7 this past July - so I also made this coaster photo book for him to remember his day too (better late than never!). Destin is 'the good son' quieter than Eden (who is a whirlwind around him!) and the one who always behaves! He suffers his little sister very bravely and always takes her hand and watches out for her!

I used the Just Rite Stampers on the covers of both books. To make Destin's more masculine - I used a Harley Davidson print as well as silver coils on the book.
Unfortunately, Destin is allergic to just about all foods so he actually couldn't eat his fun soccer cake - but his mum made him special cupcakes that he could eat at his party.
Kent and I gave him this fun musical keyboard pad. He opened each card and read the verse completely outloud before going onto the gift. (very gratifying for us card stampers!)
And his favorite gift was this fun scooter from his grandparents.

Thanks so much for indulging me in sharing my love for these two cute kids with you!

Stamps: Eden's Book: Eat Cake & It's Your Birthday: SU, Just Rite Stampers, You Make me Smile: Inkadinkado, So Cute & You're so Sweet: See D's Friends Word Search Destin's Book: Rock Star: Michaels, Go for icing & One B'day worth 10: Inkadinkado

Paper: Eden's book: 5 4" medium weight coasters, Pink Patterns Collection & berry sorbet & vintage cream: PTI, Destin's book: 4 4" medium weight coasters, EK Success Harley Davidson, Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy, Chatterbox: Scrapbook walls.

Ink: Eden's book: Onyx Black Versafine, Berry Sorbet PTI Destin's book: Onyx Black versafine

Supplies: Eden's book: corner rounder punch, Just Rite Stamper, jeweled flowers: Petaloo.com, Labels One Nestabilities, butterfly punch: Martha Stewart, Circle nestabilities, rectangle nestabilities, word window punch: SU, 3/4" white coil, bind it all. Destin's Book:Just Rite Stampers Rectangular Set, Braydon Font, corner rounder, word window punch: SU, circle nestabilities, 5/8" silver coil, Bind It all.