What to do when there's nothing to do, part 2

I am a boutique photographer and my favorite sessions are newborn sessions.  I LOOOVE little baby sessions.  Newborns are the best models, God has already granted them adorableness so all I have to do is capture that in my lens.  It's like taking a picture of a sunset over the ocean, you really can't screw it up...though believe me, there are some "photographers" out there who have the ability to do so.  Anyhow, because I love baby photography I love baby props.  Not the Olan Mills studio kind of props, I'm referring to boutique props like pettiskirts, tutus, bowls, baskets, blankets...all with a rustic, antique, or homemade feel.  My favorite prop is crocheted hats.  Sadly, hats can get fairly pricey, they go for about $20-$35 on etsy.  So one day I decided I'd try to make my own.  About an year ago You-Tubed some how to videos and after about 5 hours I gave up.  However, since my husband is deployed now I find myself with a lot of spare time on my hands.  So I visited You-Tube again and within 3 days I was crocheting my hands off.  It's not something I'd dedicate my life to, but it gives me something to do when there's nothing else going on.  And since I accidently over-budgeted and put all of our money in savings this month (I'm not taking it back out either), I'm kinda stuck at the house until we get paid again.  So since I can't mail any packages this week (for a lack of moo-la) there's no point in baking and decorating cookies or boxes, so I've pulled the ole yarn out of the cabinet.  Here's a taste of what I've been up to this week...

Shower Planning...Post #2

Today I enjoyed some long overdue girl time with my favorite bride-to-be.  We had lunch to celebrate her birthday and hit up the mall for a bit.  I had the opportunity to deliver the bridal shower invitations to her, as well.  I was happy to hear that she and her future hubby are pleased with the outcome.  I also got to pick up my bridesmaid dress from her.  Have I mentioned I'm excited to be a part of her wedding? HA! I love weddings, but I'm usually a bystander with the camera, creeping around the bridal party. (I get paid to do that, ya know.)  Anyways...as promised, here are the shower invitations that I created myself.  I love that my printing companies now offer luxe cards. They are an awesome touch.  I think I should get into the wedding invitation creating business.

Shower invites front & back

Shower Planning Post #1

I'm so happy for one of my besties! She is about to tie the knot in a few months. (You can check out her blog here.) I'm honored & super excited to be a part of her wedding.  I'm also super happy that she asked me to help put together her bridal shower.  I say "help", but I'm dang near taking over because I just LOVE planning parties!! Hmm...I hope she doesn't mind.  Anyway, I've already designed and ordered the invitations which I will post when they come in later this week.  I've also had the chance to put together some decorations for the table already.  They were a bit costly for a diy project but super cute!  Below is a tutorial and photos of the final project.  As I complete more projects for the shower, I'll be sure to add them...because I'm having too much fun to keep this all to myself :)

Supplies needed:

1 bucket 

1 styrofoam ball

1 styrofoam block for base of bucket

1 bag of synthetic grass

multiple rolls of ribbon

1 bag of dowel rods

hot glue gun & glue sticks

2-3 bouquets of flowers of your choice

Step 1: Using hot glue gun, cover dowel rods in ribbon, using the technique shown in my previous post.

Step 2: Glue styrofoam into base of bucket

Step 3: Insert rod into bucket & into styrofoam at base and cover with grass then set aside

Step 4: Carefully remove the flowers from the stems on the bouquets and using hot glue gun, adhere them to the ball. *You may also use sewing pins, but they can be pricey!*

Step 4 Cont. : Continue to cover the ball until no styrofoam shows...and then add more flowers...just keep covering...make it perdy!! :)  Layer the heck outta the thing.

Step 5: Once the balls are fully covered, press them into the top of the dowels and tie a bow around the rods to finish off.  Aren't they cute?

Oh, Oh, Oh...It's Magic!

As a boutique photographer, I have an addiction to making tutus for use as an inexpensive and adorable photo prop for my toddler sessions.  Therefore there is a lot of scrap tulle lingering around my craft closet these days. I haven't had luck finding much use for these extra strands, until today.  This morning I discovered Pom Pom Wands. They're simple to make, cute, and they are the perfect accessory for the matching tutus I have all over this house!  They were a lot of fun to make, so I ended up going crazy with them.  I don't have use for 6 wands so I've put some of them for sale on my etsy page.  But if you'd rather make your own, below is a tutorial I've put together.

(Sorry if it's not a great tutorial, but I've never put one together before).

Step 1) Gather supplies.  Tulle (3 inches wide and approximately 10 ft long, or you can use several cut pieces that equal at least 10 ft long--the longer the fluffier your pom pom will be), glue gun (& glue sticks, duh), 12 inch dowel rods (I used 36 inch dowel rods and cut them into 3 equal pieces), & a couple spools of ribbon.

Step 2) Use the glue gun to adhere the main color ribbon to the dowel rod by applying a dab of glue every couple of inches and rotating the rod.

Step 3) Completely cover the rod until no wood shows through.

Step 4) Apply another color of ribbon to the rod by repeating step 2 (space this color out a bit).

Step 5) Continue adding different ribbon colors until you are satisfied with the colors of the rod, then set the rod aside.

Step 6) Cut 2 12 inch pieces of ribbon and set aside.  Pick up your strand of tulle and begin winding it around your hand over and over again until it's all wrapped around your palm.

Step 7) (This part can be tricky) Carefully slide the tulle from your hand and tie knot around the middle with the 12 inch pieces of ribbon you cut in step 6.

Step 8) Insert one blade of your scissors through the tulle on one side of the ribbon and cut the loops open and fluff the pom out.  Then repeat on the opposite side.

Finally, use to glue gun to adhere the pom to the rod and TADA!! You have a pom pom wand!  No go make some magic!