Christmas is here!

The holiday season always brings more requests for personalized gifts, but I'm very proud of myself...I promised myself I would not take on too much and didn't!  I made a few gifts for some very special people and then focused my time and energy on my daughter's cookie decorating party with her cousins.  That's where I went all out!  LOL!  Due to lack of time I purchased aprons this year (Yes...in the past I actually made the aprons) but I monogrammed each of them.  I also used my Cricut to personalize a special Santa box for each child.  Inside each child received a gingerbread house set.  The kids had so much fun decorating cookies...wish I could share pictures of their adorable faces, but for now the details of my crafts will have to do.  :-)

Monogrammed Aprons 

 Aprons & Santa Boxes

 Holidays always bring extra monogramming requests

Monogrammed Stockings

Country Christmas 2017

Each year my friend hosts a holiday event on his beautiful farm.  This year he really outdid himself by having an LED light show, food trucks, and a large tent for local vendors.  It is always a pleasure to help him and his wife with planning and execution for this event.  Check out a few of the highlights below...

Large Tent for Local Vendors

 Local Vendors- Vegan Desserts

 Local Vendors- Hand painted mason jars

 Local Vendors- Handmade Baskets

 Light Show across the pond

 Free pictures with Santa at the North Pole

 My favorite part is always the grand entrance of Santa on the tractor-pulled sleigh

Halloween 2017

This year my daughter and I hosted a Halloween party for some of our neighbors and friends.  I had fun pulling together and making things for this party.  I even found time to make a monster cake.  While I didn't make the delicious sugar cookie treats that I passed out to the kids, I was able to put together special treat bags for them...and even made a few special treats from some of my adult friends.  I woke up extra early to pull together little gift buckets for my daughter's classmates as well.  They had a running event at school, so I used that as the perfect opportunity to pass out the pre-Halloween goodies.

 My 6am cake and cupcakes

 Party Table

 Yep...that's my child.  LOL!

 Neighborhood "You've Been Booed" Treats

 Beautiful cookies...no credit here :-)

 Yep...I even personalized the punch bowl

 Treats for my daughter's classmates

Treat for one of my neighbor friends

Fall Festival

My job had a fall festival for the employees and their families.  They asked teams to volunteer to decorate tables and pass out candy to the children.  Since this was the perfect excuse for me to use my creative skills at work, I volunteered to help decorate two tables.  For one table I decided to reuse some of the Game of Throne items I already had, and made a table that was fun for kids and adults.  For the second table I decided to be a little nostalgic and go with The Peanuts Great Pumpkin theme.  We didn't win the table decoration contest, but I enjoyed watching my teams come together!

Sorority Gifts

One of my favorite memories as an undergrad was making pink and green gifts.  With the anniversary of a very special line coming up, I used my Cricut and vinyl to make some personalized bags and baskets.  I also made over 40 little pearly keychains.  My free time seems to be fading more and more these days, so I only volunteer to craft for others when absolutely necessary.  This was definitely a time worth the time sacrifice.  Lots of love to Spring '97 Alpha Phi!

I love my job!

Just like with any job, I have my good days and bad.  However, I love the fact that I have the opportunity to use my creativity at work.  When you have to work within a budget, creativity can be key!  Check out some of my craft skills at work!

School Time!

I cannot believe it is August!  Work has been super hectic and I'm TRYING to study and prepare for a certification exam.  However, I had to start working on personalizing school and lunch items for my daughter...totally love my embroidery machine and die cutter!  I'm not a "pink is for girls" type of girl, so I was excited about the aqua and navy combination...with a hint of pink of course. :-)

Essential Oil Fun

I'm one of those rare introverts who love people and absolutely loves entertaining.  Now how does that work?  While small talk is not my thing, I love observing, listening to, and learning about people.  I'm reserved and refuse to compete to get a word in among a group of extroverts, but I learn so much more from watching.

Anyway, this year I was blessed to meet some amazing women in my neighborhood.  I wanted to have them over for my signature Mojitos and Sangria, but wanted to pair that with a bit of entertainment.  I decided to host an essential oils perfume party.  The ladies enjoyed the mojitos, food, and making their own personal scent.  I think I will definitely have to host another party soon!

 It's not a party without good food!

 Essential Oils

Guests were able to decorate their perfume bottles with dried flowers

The end results!

Teacher's Appreciation Week

I honestly was a bit confused about the actual dates for teachers' appreciation week this year.  However I managed to create a few last minute gifts for my daughter's teachers.

 We started out the week with homemade burlap flowers and a gift tag that said "Thanks for helping me bloom".

Next, I made homemade sugar scrubs with my favorite essential oils.  I made one for each of her classroom teachers, therapists, and specials teachers.

The week ended with a personalized card for each of her classroom teachers.  The inside is the best part but a bit personal.  It was a superhero theme to talk about my daughter's special needs being her superpowers.  My daughter dressed up as various superheros and I posted pictures with special captions.  This was by far her teachers' favorite gift.

My daughter also had some sweet reading buddies who decided to bring her some adorable gifts for the end of the school year.  I made a simple gift, but loved the bag and personalized tag.  Who doesn't like bubble gum?

Gabby's Art Party

This year has been TOTALLY different with party planning.  I will share details later.  However, I was able to pull off a successful art themed party for my baby girl.  I can't take credit for a lot of the goodies (i.e. food, cake, cookie, colorful popcorn), but the planning came together!  The kids loved painting their canvases, making sand filled necklaces, old school parachute play, and a paint themed Easter Egg hunt in the back yard.  Mommy is tired, but baby girl had a blast!

Party Time!

Creative Corner

 Party Favors

 Art Canvases & Crayon Sets for the Younger Artists

Gabby loved her cake!

 Personalized Easels (the power of Cricut!)

Art Themed Sugar Cookies!

 Kids Food Table

 Paint Themed Easter Egg Hunt (Each child received a paint can for hunting)

Transformation of a garage to Party Central :-)