Moving Announcements...Finally

After two months, I am finally getting some moving announcements out. I actually wasn't planning on sending any but then my family said that they liked the ones we sent out from our last move and wanted to know when to expect the new ones.

Thus, I went to the drawing board. For inspiration I went for a walk in Rhinebeck and popped in and out of many shops. When I got back home I was still fuzzy on what the final product might look like, but I found this fun Cavallini New York wrapping paper at Paper Trail and thought that it would make a fabulous envelope liner to whatever I decided to do.

If you have not started creating custom liners for your envelopes...don't start...it's addicting. When I am doing a stationary project, a regular envelope seems unfinished without a liner; it doesn't have the right heft.

Besides, lining an envelope is truly simple and I was able to crank these out in less than an hour.

For custom stationary projects I mostly use Paper Source paper/envelopes; further, I have found that many specialty paper shops, such as Paper Trail carry the PS line, and many designers use Paper Source products to create their merchandise.

I purchased envelope liner templates from PS back in 2007 when I was planning our wedding, and I have used them for projects ever since.

You can use virtually any paper that fits your fancy; you do not want to use a paper with a heavy weight because ultimately you'll need to fold the envelope, so keep this in mind!

Step 1: Trace the template onto the paper with a pencil on the back side of whatever paper you choose.

Step 2: cut it to size and use some sort of adhesive to adhere it to the inside of your envelope. I generally use a glue stick because it is cheap, but double sided tape, especially the tape runner variety or Zots would work well also.

Step 3: after it has a chance to dry I use a bone folder to create a crisp crease along the fold. The back of a butter knife or a ruler will work as well.

Step 4: admire your chic new envelope.


I am super detail oriented (to a fault Dan would say); this drives him crazy because at times I lose sight of the big picture wanting to get all of the details just right.

When I am working on a stationary project, even the stamp matters. I decided on the cowboys because I thought they were apropos.

Continuing in the details realm; the year after Dan and I were married I purchased an embosser with several different custom plates. The one that I use the most on envelope tails is my "d&p" (shown above).

Okay, so I've talked envelope extensively, now you are wondering what does the card look like right?

I originally designed a simple text with need to know info on PS Paper Bag colored flat paper. However, I then found these beauties above on Etsy from Simplicity Papers. I pitched the idea to Dan (since we have a mini cooper named Walter) and he loved them almost as much as I did.

They went in the mail today, so fingers crossed that folks will like them when they arrive.

Disclaimer, if you do not receive one of these, it is not because I do not love you, it is merely because we have a haus of a family and I only ordered a small amount. Secondly,we tried to limit them to those folks who send us mail and would put them to good use.

Moral of the story, if you haven't sent us mail in a while, family or not, you were axed from the list. I fully anticipate a call from my mom and my mother-in-law because aunts and uncles were among the cuts!

Remi was not happy that I spent most of the afternoon crafting. After work, I typically curl up with a book and my cup of coffee on the chaise, therefore creating the perfect spot for him to nap. However, yesterday was dedicated to cleaning and crafting so he sat by the edge of my chair waiting patiently for me to finish so that he could take a proper nap. I couldn't resist snapping this between lining my envelopes; he was too cute.

Bats in the Belfry

My friend C volunteers her time to help with a local DC after school program; she has a small group of elementary school girls that she works with and I think that the program is great but the timing of the group doesn't work for my schedule. So, C being fantastic, is letting me help her with snack (my little contribution).

In this vein, yesterday C did Halloween themed snacks. She made a really cute graveyard cake and so I thought bats might be a fun accompaniment.



I made brownies and used a sheet pan lined with parchment verses a regular pan so that I could cut the bats out with a cookie cutter. Then I just whipped up some royal icing (quite a bit actually--I am saving some to make pumpkins tonight!) to outline and the eyes are red hots.

In the bat realm, I decided to make some bat themed Halloween cards. I usually plan these things out better but this one, I was just feeling the need to make something.

My craft room is currently lacking in function; Dan had planned to build me a wall of shelving and peg board and I was going to put a tall table in the center...then we found out we might be moving...and all plans were halted.

Thus, I am using a large piece of book board on my floor as a crafting area, much to Remi's amusement! He is a curious little one; he watches patiently for a while, but then he cannot contain the curiosity and must stiff (see above), and I cannot confirm or deny that he ate a few bats...he has a thing for paper.

I used Paper Source Chartreuse and Black (A6 Chartreuse flat cards and text weight paper, and Black A6 envelopes and text weight paper--also for bats). Paper Source carries Martha Stewart craft punches now, so the bats came from a Martha punch using Black and Chartreuse text weight paper and I attached them to the card and envelope using a Xyron (above in pink).

The mini Xyron is one of my favorite gadgets; it turns anything into a sticker (hence the reason it's called a Xyron Create-a-sticker :P). For someone who loves craft punches, not having to use a glue stick to attach tiny pieces of paper is a fantastic thing. You drop your little creation in the top of the X (hole on the right) and at the bottom of the X (where the paper is on the left) you pull the strip and your creation now is on a sticker sheet with sticky on the back--ta da!

I lined the envelopes with the PS Chartreuse dot wrapping paper (you can buy this in individual sheets from the flat paper wall or you can get it on a roll; I have the roll because this is great to have on hand for generic birthdays and it is easy to store with the rest of my wrapping paper).

In the past I thought that envelope liners were silly but the PS liner kit makes it really easy and you can use any type of paper you want.

I thought that in all they turned out well; I added little eyes later that are not shown in any of the photos. Hope everyone has a great Halloween!

Finished Blanket

I posted a few weeks back about my crochet classes that I took from Fibre Space in Alexandria. My wonderfully patient teacher Leslie works miracles and I can now manage to read patterns.

I finished my first blanket a few weeks ago but it ended up being t-tiny so I used that as a test blanket. I'm planning to send that one to mom to use that for the doll bed.

I thus started another blanket (shown above) and have sent it off to our friend Becky who just had a beautiful little girl (Anna) two weeks ago.


I was really happy with result; it is not only cute but super soft. (I think that being picky about fabric must be a family thing because I was working on another blanket on the drive up to the mountains and the first thing K did when I pulled it out was feel the fabric...she then nodded her approval....too funny!)

In my testing phase I tried to wash my mini blanket in the machine on the delicate cycle (the yarn says hand wash or dry clean only however usually you can get away with delicate cycle).

This instance, the machine was a disaster, it stretched it all out and became a fuzzy mess. I took the above to the "green" dry-cleaner (they use non-toxic environmentally friendly solution) and it came out perfect.

I'm thinking of taking a hat making class next, so get excited folks!

Crochet Class--Week One & Two--Single Crochet + Border

I spend a fair amount of time exploring downtown Alexandria. My parents own a small business so I have a healthy appreciation for mom & pop shops and I try to patron local stores as much as possible. One weekend while roaming around the quaint streets I stumbled upon a shop called Fibre Space (it used to be an adorable children's store when I used to live downtown). I was drawn in by the cute window displays and once inside I couldn't help but be intrigued.

I signed up for a beginners crochet class and went in with open eyes (and super soft yarn in circus peanut--basically peach--from Blue Sky Alpacas.) I found out later from my aunt that my Great Great Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Grandmother and my Aunt (all on dad's side) all crocheted.

My classes went well--the top photo is a swatch of single crochet stitches--it is just a practice swatch for my eventual blanket. The bottom photo is my practice swatch with the border--the spaces are meant for a ribbon to eventually be woven through--I'll update when I finish.