Okay so in case anyone is interested I have a few more things done on my quest to go mad planning and preparing for these two events (wedding and baby shower) all within a month, lucky for me I'm not pregnant or getting married again!

Okay so... diaper cake which I thought would be a lot harder than it is... although, I am sure that if I had help from say... anyone besides myself this stuff would be a lot easier on me... so here it is...




So... even if it doesn't look like their are diapers in there I promise you it is packed full of them for the little guy! Then I wrapped each layer with flannel baby blankets I made for my sister and then ribbons and bows you get the picture... ( I have extra stuff for the cake pacifiers, rattle, etc. didn't want to add that because I have not quite stopped buying stuff) I'm planning to also add dowel supports so that the fabric doesn't sag on each side, I think that could be a problem and I don't want it to look saggy. The top two layers are one diaper thick, and the bottom has two layers of diapers resting on a 16" cake stand. I decided to use those just for easier transport, I may or may not cover them. Okay so... the owl on top of the cake is made from felt, googly eyes, duct tape, a scrap of fabric and stuffing...oh and lots and lots of hot glue!


Alrighty so on to the centerpieces...








Owls that are in the small nestish baskets are made in the same way as the bigger owl on the cake, and stuffed with... my favorite thing of all time "Spanish moss"... cute affect I think BUT!!!! it's so annoyingly messy... I have already had to use it for several things and it makes me want to hurt someone. These will also have two little signs in each nest one that is a little flag saying "it's a boy" and one just a general bird house that I made out of cardstock, when I took the picture I forgot to add them sorry. I will at a later date I suppose if anyone is interested.

The potted trees are from branches in my own front yard, in Terra cotta pots that I weighed down with plaster of paris, painted and added vinyl lettering and pictures to. Hanging from the trees are acorns that I painted and added ribbon to, and owls made from pine cones, buttons, google eyes, and stuffing dyed with my "Tim Holtz" Distress Ink... found a new use for that I guess.

If anyone wants to know better how to make anything I'll be sure to let ya know... I can also take better up close pictures too if anyone would like to see them.

I have also taken the idea for the diaper cake and turned it into a "towel cake" for my cousin's wedding shower present. She is getting married in November but her shower is in two weeks, I  have no part in planning that thank goodness! I am however making her decorations for her wedding. Here is the towel cake








This one is made a little differently and not quite as... "tight" as the baby shower cake is... because it's mostly just towels... these were all from Kohl's except for a few things on the top layer.... I used pizza pans for the cake stands because she had them on her list and I figured they made pretty good cake stands, the bottom layer is 4 larger towels all rolled together and wrapped with a ribbon on top of a 16" pizza pan, middle layer is 12 washcloths with an oven mitt shoved down inside which extends to the top layer on top of a 12" pizza pan, then wrapped on the outside with a hand towel. the top layer is the oven mitt in the middle stuffed with a pizza cutter, dish soap, and ice cream scoop. The next layer is 4 fall colored dish rags, and then wrapped with two fall dish towels that came from Kohl's too. The top layer is not as secure as I would like because it has no "hard" support but it's wrapped pretty secure and then I used a rubber band inside secure the inner circles together. I also haven't secured anything down to the stands yet so they aren't quite center... but... that's basically it. Hope you enjoy!

Wow thanks for the super cute idea, I am going to make one for my soon to be a new first time mommy sister! Thank you!

WOW finally got that huge post to work in the Baby Shower section under holidays and occasions... what a pain... thanks for the interest... so glad to finally feel like someone is listening

Oh and I tried jewelry making once... but then I realized... I'd have to wear it... and... I don't do that much (besides my wedding ring) so... that didn't fly too well... good luck to you though...

Okay here this is like my third attempt at writing an update on what I have done and posting some pics. I guess I am just afraid I will be really bad at explaining myself so if I explain something and it's not really understandable please let me know !

So I've been working on things here and there, mostly things that I can do ahead like paper stuff or centerpieces. I have most of the invites done except for the inside information, which my mother in law graciously offered to copy for me so within a week I will have everything done for those.


Okay so the invites started with DCWV's Linen Closet card box set


I found this was easier because it was precut- came with envelopes and was some pretty great neutral patterns, you can see all 10 patterns of the paper @ DCWV.com if you are interested!

Then I needed to find an owl that I was happy with and could cut out on my cricut machine because I had to make 40 of them. After a lot of searching I found a great svg of a baby owl @ http://freesvgs.blogspot.com/

here is the final svg image I decided to go with ( I use Sure Cuts A Lot software for the cricut)


I then cut 40 owls out in different mixes of browns and glued buttons on for eyes and then set up my cricut with my cricut brown marker to make it write out

"Look Whooo's Having A Baby" on 40 invites... (not fun)

I also lined each card in different shades of blue cardstock...

so here are a few pictures of the finished product...








Please ignore my messy desk


I am pretty happy with them... hope you like them too!

Okay so I have also been working on banners that are going to be hung here and there... here are few pictures of those too... also done with SCAL and SVG's although these are not free these are from MYgrafico, these are the two svg's that I used layered on top of each other



I also used the fonts: A Yummy Apology and Lucida Handwriting

here are the finished products of those:



Those are actually two different banners... Arley is my sister... that will go under the congratulations banner!


Closeups:




I used a mix of papers from "My Minds Eye" Complete Boy collection 2009... hung them with basic twine and scattered ribbons here and there between them, I didn't want them to be too girly!


Okay so I think that's enough pictures for now... I do have a few more things done... but I will post them when I feel they are a little more up to my standards of work... if you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to comment!

Thanks!

Sure cuts a lot makes really wonderful designs totally just limited to your imagination with it! Really worth the money and effort if you are into paper crafting!

great idea totally gonna try that!!!

Very Cute! have you ever seen the bowls made out of old records? Those are very cool too!

I suggest making some regular cards at home first but DCWV and other scrapbooking companies have a lot of premade cards that can get you started in the right direction. Do you own a cricut??

Nice to meet you as well! I'll post some pics, we're watching the Steelers game right now but I think I could manage to post some while I am yelling at the tv !

Awww thanks! I could use all the encouragement I can get! I have been working on lots this past week, I am pretty good with the paper crafts so I am trying to get some of those done ahead of time. I've been finishing up things here and there... think I'll post some pictures... provided anyone really cares to see what I am doing... or is this just yet another example of me talking to myself? Oh well thanks again for the encouragement! Nice to meet a fellow  "Burgher"... even if I am a transplant of sorts! If your interested in seeing what I have gotten done I'll be posting pictures of them in the baby shower section. Thanks again!