Sam's Graduation Party

Because Sam did this...

and we love him so much...we had a celebration!

I love wrapping gifts to match the occasion. Since Sam is headed to Clemson, I used lots of orange in the decorations.

I made a little table to remember the year. The group photo is the seniors from the golf team. It was a funny photograph that the photographer staged. It is classic! They are the Vikings and the coach gave each one a Viking hat to keep.

Sam was profiled in the yearbook since he's been in 9 different schools in 7 different cities and 6 states. He does have an interesting story to tell.

I found the chevron fabric at Walmart.

I made a banner with each of his school years. That was so much fun! I'll cut it apart and put it in a scrapbook. His future kids will get a kick out of it.

He finally got to open the gift from us: a watch that sits on a pillow. HA!

Lots of cousins came and the highlight was the water balloon fight! I warned them ahead of time to dress appropriately.

Sometimes is got physical.

Just sitting and catching up is so much fun.

Chocolate cupcakes with peach icing! I bought the peach at Publix and it was from Lanes! (that's not far from our house in GA)

French vanilla with strawberry icing

 

Paper lanterns are actually very inexpensive but you have to order them online much earlier than you need them. I didn't so I got some on sale at World Market.

Then I made paper tissue balls very inexpensively.

It was a great day! Mike smoked a brisket, ribs, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. We ended it with watermelon and popsicles.

Quilted Lipstick Bag

My sister in law Michelle had a birthday this weekend. The original plan was to have a cookout for her on Saturday. While that did occur, we also had one Friday night, Sunday & Monday for lunch! Our family just couldn't get enough of each other this past weekend. Five of the 7 siblings were here with lots of their families, and we had a blast.
This bag was my gift to her. I started the cross stitch back in the fall. While it didn't take me long to finish it, it did take me a long time to finally make the bag. I had until the end of May, right? I envisioned a little skinny bag to put her lipsticks in because she LOVES lipstick. However, the way the pattern read vertically, my bag is humongous!

This thing is much larger than a file folder! Anyway, I had a blast designing it: picking out the fabric, coming up with the design elements, and making it up as I went. Of course it needed a matching card.

She loved it!

Handmade Graduation Announcements

We are under a month from Sam's graduation, so I finally got his invitations made. When we ordered his senior pics in the fall, we had lots of these wallet sizes that I used. I made 3 different styles because I had 3 different poses, and I am thrifty!

The base of each card has been texturized with the Big Shot giving it some extra detail. Banners are trendy right now, and the little info on the banner worked out great.

No, this is not an orchestra picture. However, Sam took piano lessons until last year. With his long fingers he can play some mean classical piano. Now he spends more time making 'beats' on his computer. I thought the background notes on "Crumb Cake" gave a lightness to the darkness of the photo.

These cards are just a quarter of a sheet of cardstock. The back of the flat card has information about his graduation activities. The great thing is I already had everything I needed for these cards. No more money spent.

We really love this guy!

Engagement Photobook Gift

My nephew and his fiancé had pictures taken recently. As a favor to his mom, I collected some and put them in this 8 X 8 album. Because I purchased it on the clearance rack (it's a retired album) it only cost $5.99. The album matches the feel of the pictures they had made.

Below is a sample page. I used Crumb Cake for each page varying
the layout depending on how the picture "spoke" to me.
No journaling, but I did have borders around each photo.

Simplicity is key to not overshadow the happy couple. The album size is great for his mom to show others her son and soon to be daughter.

Check out the clearance rack on www.pennynewton.stampinup.net and buy one of these albums for yourself or a friend. I have another one ordered to put photos of my soon to be graduating son.

Angel Food Cake with Pineapple

I guess this recipe has been around for awhile, but I just found out about it. Mix angel food cake mix and 20 oz. of crushed pineapple...nothing else! It's so moist and not a calorie killer.

I popped a little coconut in my batter just because I wanted to. A dollop of Cool Whip finishes this simple and delicious dessert.

Paper Folder on the Go

I needed to carry some important papers somewhere, so I made a little folder to put them in. Am I crazy? Probably. Beautiful things that function make me so happy, and I must add that I am quick at turning out some of my crazy projects.
With this beautiful polka dot paper from www.pennynewton.stampinup.net I sewed around the 3 edges with my sewing machine. I did have to add this little fabric flower.

Can you see the sticky circle that the fabric is on? I trimmed it a bit and then stuck it on the paper. So quick and cute!

Strawberry Picking Day

Strawberry picking day is a highlight of spring for me every year, and today was it. I went out early with a friend and my bright pink boots. Good thing I had the boots.

Upon return, I taught her how to make jam like someone taught me. We made 2 batches and split the spoils followed by a strawberry spinach salad. Let the strawberry desserts begin. I still have 2 gallons in the fridge.