Seahawks Super Bowl Sunday

Living in the Pacific Northwest during football season has been quite the experience over the last few years. I'll be the first to admit, I'm not the ultimate football expert, but I have nothing but love for the Seahawks. Seattle has been literally buzzing with excitement and unwavering hope for the team that's done the impossible, especially in last week's NFC Championship. The loyalty and support from the fans--the 12th Man and 12th Woman-- are one of a kind, and I'm so proud to be a part of it. In what other city do the fans get up at 4:00 in the morning to line the streets of the city to send off their team in tremendous spirit?

Every Friday before a game, I can't wait to put on my Seahawks jersey, my Russell Wilson #3 earrings, and my bright green Seahawks socks in support of Blue Friday. No matter where you go -- the grocery store, the gas station, or even the airport, you're in the minority if you're not wearing blue. We've had Seahawks Tailgate Parties at work complete with blue and green paper chains and so many baked goods full of Seahawks-themed food coloring that my tongue manages to match my outfit. This weekend will be no different.

In preparation for the upcoming festivities, I made Seahawk banners and swizzle sticks.

This project was a fabulous excuse to play with my new Silhouette, and it didn't disappoint.  Within seconds, I had my letters cut out.

I used both my letters and the letter outlines to make two different banners.

For the second banner, I attached the contrasting color to the letter outlines from the original banner.

The inspiration for my second project came from Jen. For my birthday last year, Jen gave me one of the most incredible presents that I hope to give to other craft-lovers in the very near future. She purchased Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts and selected about eight projects from the book. She compiled the supplies for each craft in individual bags, and gave me the craft kits with the book. How many times do you see an idea, and think "I'd really like to make that but don't have time to go get all the supplies?" I thought this was brilliant, so useful, and creative.

These sparkly swizzle sticks were one of the projects, and I was thrilled to use Seahawks colors!

Supplies:

-Skewers and/or toothpicks
-Craft glue
-Pom poms (assorted sizes and colors)

I also made a few small party picks with toothpicks and the miniature pom poms.

Last year, the incredible Seahawks kicker, Steven Hauschka (#4), helped win so many games with his reliable and accurate field goals.  The kicker is rarely recognized. Other players often get the credit. Hauschka comes through when no one else can.

On Sunday afternoon, I will be glued to the television, screaming my lungs out, wearing #4, and genuinely hoping for a back-to-back Seahawks Super Bowl victory. Go Hawks and Go Hauschka!!! Happy almost Super Bowl Sunday!

Ringing in the New Year

Can you believe it's almost 2015!? I'm really looking forward to having a shiny new year with unlimited opportunities and adventures.

New Year's Eve is all about sparkle. I've found some really beautiful Washi tape on my recent craft store shopping trips, and fell in love with this graphic and shimmery pattern. It inspired me to make a banner to ring in the new year.

Supplies: Glittery Baker's twine, Washi tape, sticker letters, and a 1 inch ruffled punch

Just like everyone else, I was busy this holiday season baking, wrapping, and also had an extra few projects working with Jen on festivities for our parents' 4oth Anniversary.  I didn't get to making and sending Christmas cards like I had hoped. I was contemplating a number of labor-intensive designs for New Year's greetings, when Jen surprised me with a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas. It will cut out any shape from vinyl, paper, or canvas, and draw shapes or letters with every color you could dream of. This amazing piece of equipment will make my life so much easier in 2015 and seems to do just about everything except fly to Mars.  Here are my first few attempts...

Wishing you a joyful and bright 2015! What are you doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?

Sparkly Congratulations Banner

My wonderful friend, Hillary, got engaged a few weeks ago, and I couldn't find a "Congratulations on your Engagement" card I felt proud sending. The ones I looked through were either too impersonal or too ooey-gooey and schmaltzy.  Instead, I took a trip to the craft store for some sparkly, glittery paper to make her a banner!

Supplies:

-Fifteen squares of turquoise paper (2 x 2 inches)

-Fifteen squares of sparkly blue paper (2.5 x 2.5 inches)

-Fifteen scalloped hearts (scalloped heart punch)

-Glittered alphabet stickers

-Gold, glittered baker's twine

-1/8 inch hole punch

-Glue stick

I finished the banner with the initials of the bride and groom to be -- H and M.

I love that the banner is not only a fun acknowledgement of her happy news, but can be re-used for Bridal Showers, Engagement Parties, Bachelorette  Parties, or Rehearsal Dinners!

Pumpkins, #2 Pencils and Pink Pearl Erasers

Fall is here! Hooray! It seems like overnight the leaves started changing to brilliant shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. I've been on some gorgeous Autumn walks where the air was crisp, and the leaves floated down around me like snowflakes. I am so excited for apple cider, pumpkin bread, corn mazes, and Halloween crafts. These are some of our homegrown pumpkins, just picked this week.

Fall also brings the beginning of the school year. Our cousin, Brianne, started graduate school last week, and I made this school-themed banner to wish her luck on her first day.

I used an array of school inspired paper,  my 2 inch circle punch, 3 inch black squares, 1/8 inch circle punch, and baker's twine.

In the coming weeks, I'm looking forward to horror movie marathons, pumpkin cookie baking and decorating, a visit to an apple orchard, and curling up with a cup of tea and my  next craft projects. Wishing you a happy Fall!

Special Occasion Banners

It seems like each week, there is always something - a birthday, anniversary, achievement, or birth to acknowledge. It gets overwhelming, but I've come to realize something small can mean so much. Last weekend, I made two banners to recognize three people in my life.

Over the weekend, I learned my friend Brynn passed her Bar exam. Remember when I went to Scrap a few weeks ago? I found some gorgeous sparkly red paper that looks like Dorothy's ruby red slippers, and decided to use it to make something to celebrate her achievement.

I used my 1 .25 inch square punch, shiny gold letters, baker's twine, and sparkly pom poms to create her sign.

This week is also my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary. They spend much of their summer on a sailboat, so I used sea greens and blues, and my heart punch, for this anniversary creation.

I hope you have fun finding new ways to honor those you love!