My Sister's Birthday

Today is my big sister's birthday.  Happy birthday, Kate!!!

I made the above picture by arranging rhinestones on my notebook and setting it out in the sunshine so that it would sparkle.  fun, huh?

Anyway, here's a photo of me and Kate on the first day of school when we were little kids:

Even back then she was super cool with her sweeping bangs and her denim shoulder bag, while I was so nervous about the new school year that I was visibly on the verge of tears.  That pretty much sums up our personalities to this day.  It's funny how life is: everything and nothing changes all at once.

Now we're all grown up and Kate is nailing it as a big fancy lawyer in Washington DC, and I hope she's having a fabulous birthday!

xoxo
Laura

My Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday!  Happy birthday, Mom!!!

My parents went out for dinner and dancing at a fancy hotel in Colorado Springs last night to celebrate.  Doesn't that sound fun?

I did a little embroidering for the occasion, as pictured above.  I used this embroidery technique.

This is my mom (and my sister):

I wish she were in Mexico with me today; there's surfing here too!

Anyway, my mom is really cool and I love her to pieces and I hope she's having a great time in Colorado Springs!

xoxo
Laura

My Dad's Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday.  Happy birthday, Dad!!!

I really wish I could be in Denver celebrating with him today.  Regardless of where I am, though, I hope he's having a fabulous day and I hope there's cake involved (preferably accompanied by several large scoops of ice cream)!

This is my dad (and a little bit of my mom behind a giant surf board):

Yes, my parents surf.  They're cool like that.

I love my dad!

xoxo
Laura

p.s.  I made the stamped "Dad" picture by cutting out a stencil, taping the stencil to my notebook, and stamping all over it.  This is the same process I used a couple months ago to make a piece of stamp art for my wall.  See?

Birthday Week

Every single one of my family members' birthdays falls within one week of each other.  Every birthday, that is, except for mine.  I get October all to myself.

Anyway, this is the week!

Because I'm far away from my family (I'm in Jamaica, my parents are in Denver, and my sister is in Washington DC) I will be celebrating here on my blog.  Don't you just love the internet and it's ability to bring people together no matter where they are in the world?

Let the fun begin!
xoxo
Laura

p.s.  I made the birthday week picture by cutting out letters from Real Simple magazine and pasting them into my notebook.

A Knitted Elephant

Remember when I asked if you could guess what I was knitting in this post last week?  Laura Larson and Miss Moe both got the answer right.  It's an elephant!

I made the elephant for my niece's first birthday, and I used a pattern out of Sarah Keen's totally adorable book, Knitted Wild Animals.  (Book photo courtesy of Amazon.)

I thought the hardest part of the project was sewing all the pieces together while keeping them symmetrical.  Luckily, I think I succeeded.

I think the birthday girl liked it too.  Here she is opening her presents at her Minnie Mouse themed party:

Happy birthday, Elizabeth!
xoxo
Laura

A Washi Tape Birthday Card

Hi Guys!

I was in Target the other day and low and behold, it's already time to buy school supplies. Isn't it still July?  Anyway, as I was walking by, I realized that they were selling 4-packs of Target brand washi tape for $4 and I couldn't resist it.  I decided to use it to make my grandmother this birthday card:

The Supplies I used are:

1. Blank notecard
2. Construction paper
3. Washi tape
4. Embroidery floss
5. Push pin
6. Scissors
7. Tape
8. Glue
9. Black sharpie
10. Toothpicks

Here's how to make the flags:

1. Cut out one little flag shape from white construction paper.


2. Use the first flag as a stencil to draw 5 more flags that match the first one and cut them out.


3. Cover each little flag with washi tape by placing the flag on the sticky side of the tape and cutting around it.


4. Use a push pin to make 2 little holes in the top corners of a flag.


5. Thread embroidery floss through the little holes.


6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with all the other flags so they are all strung together on a line.


7. Tape the ends of the embroidery floss to the back and inside of the card.


8. Place a loop of tape on the back of each flag to stick it down on the card.

Once you've made the flags, it's time for all the finishing touches:

1.  Stick a long strip of washi tape onto the white construction paper and write the card's message on it.  (I had my awesome big sister do this part for me because her handwriting is significantly better than mine.)  If you have stamp letters, I think it would also look really great to stamp your message instead of writing it.

2.  Cut out the message in the shape of a long flag.

3.  Glue the long flag message(s) to the upper right hand side of the card.

4.  Cut off the pointy ends of 2 toothpicks, then glue them together on the edge of the card so they look like a flag pole.

5.  Cover the whole back of the card with washi tape so that you cover up the place where you taped the end of the embroidery floss to the back of the card.

6.  Also cover the upper inside part of the card for the same reason that you covered the back.

Now you should have a fun, handmade card to write in and mail!
Happy taping!
xoxo
Laura