A to Z with a little J

Onto baby gift #3 for 2013!  I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of friends to make things for. They are the perfect excuse for some new crafty project I have been wanting to try.  This time I decided to make Wooden Name Blocks and I have to say it is probably the most fun project I have completed so far. What you will need: (1) 2x4 piece of lumber (try to pick one with the least blemishes, knots, splinters, etc.) Tape measure Saw (some places may be willing to cut it for you) Electric Sander (you could use just sanding paper but it would take a long time) Scrapbook paper Scissors Paint Brush Paint Glossy Mod Podge Spray Sealant Step 1: Determine the pattern for your wood blocks.  I sketched it out on a piece of paper first so I had and idea of what I wanted the scale and pattern to be.  From this I determined my blocks would be: 6", 5" and 4".  I also added the horizontal block at 8" (the width of the 2 blocks sitting on top). ...

A good friend of mine, whom is a huge Harry Potter fan, welcomed her son Stryder last month.  As a baby gift I wanted to make her something with a Harry Potter theme for the baby room. I made Harry, Hermione, Ron, Snape, a snitch, Hedwig with Stryder's invitation to Hogwarts and the crests for all 4 houses with felt, glue, stuffing and thread.  I purchased an already mobile on clearance and took it apart covering the hoops with a new fabric and replacing the ribbons to sew the figures onto.  The only thing I was unable to do was find a music box that I could program with the Harry Potter theme song. The project took quite a bit of time but was an great way to create a personalized gift on a budget. Jameson had fun playing with the little figures.  He used them as shadow puppets and when he found out they weren't for him he asked me to make one for him. So we introduced Spiderman to the Harry Potter gang :)

I designed a nursery for my niece, Kaylee, who just arrived last week.  Since my sister in law didn't find out what she was having I had to wait to make the name for the accent wall.  I stumbled on a Pinterest post on how to make new wood look old and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out and I had everything I needed in my cabinets. What you need: White Vinegar Steel Wool Tea Paint Brush First you will want to take a piece of steel wool and put it in a jar with a lid.  Add enough vinegar to cover the top.  Then let it sit for at least 24 hours.  The vinegar and steel wool will interact to create an iron based solution. When you are ready to begin you will steep some very strong tea.  I ended up making a second batch because I missed the part about it being strong.  I'm not sure if that would have made a difference. Once the tea is ready you will paint it onto your wood and let it dry. ...

UPDATE:  The invitation and party game are now available to purchase at my Etsy shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AbbyLynDesigns My first niece/nephew will be arriving in just a few short weeks.  I'm not one for surprises so the fact that my sister-in-law has decided to be "team green" and not find out the gender has driven me crazy.  I have to admit however the closer her due date comes the more exciting it is to finally find out what she is having.  So in typical Abby fashion I went into overdrive planning her baby shower and I couldn't be happier with the turn out. The Invitation The Spread The Cake I made a cupcake bouquet (which was not as easy as I expected).  Using a styrofoam ball on top of the metal bucket base and toothpicks to attach the cupcakes.  I found this idea on Pinterest and after my first trial was a disaster I went to YouTube and watched a few videos to help perfect the technique.  The cupcakes ar...