{Made it Monday} A Mishmash of Sorts

Well, hello there, Monday!

It seems you still like to sneak up on me EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK.

Why is that? I just don't like it.

We need to make peace and get past this tension between us. Deal? Deal.

So, today I'm just going to show off a few recent favorite "makes" of mine. {And, of course, by recent I mean within the last - ohhhhh - 3 months, mkay?)

First up: our family mini album. We had our pictures made back in October of last year and I did not do anything with them for a very long time. When I saw this kit by Valorie Wibbens, I knew I had to use our pics to make the mini album. For a credit list, please click here.


















Next up: a little meal planner and shopping list. When I saw Kate's newest kit, Chef's Kitchen, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I made a refrigerator meal planner and shopping list. I loooooove Kate's doodles! They are perfect for all my hybrid scrapping!











I also made these tags recently using some BYOC goodies from The LilyPad. You can click here for full credits and close up shots of each tag.


And, finally...a little travel sewing kit. Again, Kate's doodles had me at hello.






So, that's it for me on this fun Monday!

Have a great one, peeps!

For Japan with Love

There will be no happy posts from me tomorrow. The images from Japan continue to play over and over in my mind as I hold my babies tight in my warm house with all the furnishings and full bellies. I cannot even begin to imagine what the survivors there will face over the next hours, weeks, months, years.

The devastation is too much for one person to handle.

Too much for one person to understand.

Too much for one person to help.

But together, we can make a difference in the lives of the survivors.

I am doing just a small part by supporting "For Japan with Love."



All donations through this campaign will go directly to ShelterBox.

ShelterBox was one of the first organizations on hand to help in Japan after the earthquake. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

No, I can't give a lot right now. I can't. But the "little" I give paired with the "little" you give just might go a long way. Please consider giving if you can.

It will mean the world to someone who needs it more than you and I right now.

To donate, CLICK HERE. The goal at the beginning of this campaign was to raise $5,500. At the time of this posting, the total is over $20,000.

I won't be posting any new content on this blog tomorrow since I'm participating in Bloggers Day of Silence. My blog will be silent in honor of the tragedy and devastation surrounding Japan.

My thoughts and prayers are with them.

Peace and love, peeps.

Peace and love.

{Things I Love Thursday} Birthday Gifts

I love birthdays.

I double love birthday gifts.

And, I triple love birthday gifts that are thoughtful, quirky and awesome.

So, as you might've guessed, I BIG PUFFY HEART LOVE this birthday party in a box from You Are My Fave.





Everyone deserves a gift like this at some point in their lifetime.

It contains:
- a birthday crown (the classic Burger King one covered with paper)
- big round balloons
- felt ball garland
- yellow polka dot mini plates (found at Target last year)
- wooden forks
- party invites from Rifle Paper Company
- beeswax candles
- handmade cupcake toppers
- cupcake liners
- jimmies
- repackaged cake mix
- felt number flags
- glassine bags of confetti
- muslin favor bags

OH. MY. GOSH. The cuteness is killing me.

Head over to You Are My Fave and leave her some love for her original and wonderful birthday gift idea.

And, in her own words: Boomshakalaka my friends. Boomshakalaka.

{Trendy Tuesday} Doilies, Doilies Everywhere!

When is the last time you used a doily?

Probably not recently. Maybe never?

Yeah...I'm with you.

They just aren't something I've ever used. Ever.

Until now.

Doilies are making a big comeback. Like, a really big comeback.

You can use them in all sorts of extraordinary ways.

Ruffled used them to make a beautiful lantern (and provided a tutorial, too).


Petunia made similar, more colorful, hanging poms.


Elizabeth Anne Designs used them in a rustic wedding as chair decorations.


Scrap Shoppe used heart doilies to dress up cute packages! {Love!}


Intimate Weddings cut them into charming cupcake wrappers (with a free template).


Poppy Paperie made *the cutest* parisian baskets, perfect for Easter.


daily suze even made printable doily gift wrapping paper that you can download for free here and here. Now that's easy doily-ing!


amy tangerine created a beautiful love tag with a doily and a felt heart.


Mondocherry also used the doilies to wrap with kraft paper...a little differently this time.


Papernstitch made a "Granny Chic" garland that just makes my heart go pitter pat.


Crescendoh shows us how to dye doilies and then how to use them on super cute gift jars.


How about doily and lights garland? Imgfave shows us how.


So, whaddya know? Old-fashioned doilies are now trendy again! Who knew?

Next time you spot some doilies, be sure to pick them up.

Then you can be trendy too!

Who knew?