Country Themed Baby Shower Invites

With the help of a Crafty Cousin, and a Zazzle inspired design, we made just about the cutest baby shower invitations you've probably ever seen. Handmade to imperfection.

This one won't be a How-To, just more of a proud boasting of our accomplishments, LOL!

I just hope they arrive in the mailboxes in the same shape that they were sent. The little bit of wheat is a little bulky, and I know the mail processing machines are angry, hungry beasts that make their meals from practically anything. I've had totally flat cards come to me mangled and torn.

This was my first foray into distressing, and I'd like to thank TwoPeasInABucket and their video on  YouTube for making it less intimidating. My favorite details are the two brads holding the top invite badge in place. This means less sticky dots were used, since literally EVERYTHING else on here was glued down using them. I'm a big fan of the burlap ribbon my cousin picked out. It adds a nice texture to the whole invite.

All in all, I think we can now go into business.

JUST KIDDING! These were a labor of love but they really only took about 4 hours to make about 20, from start to finish. That included the deliberation time we needed to figure out our layout and addressing envelopes.

Let me know what you think, and feel free to ask me questions.

2 Minute Book Review: Delirium

Reading time for this post: 2 minute, 26 seconds. Read it Later



Book: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Audio book read by: Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy anyone?)

After reading the book "Before I Fall" by the same author, I decided I wanted to read more from her. The story is well written, and really like Sarah Drew's voice for the main character, Lena. The premise of the book was a bit of a stretch for me because I find it difficult to believe the human race could be convinced (by their government no less) that it's safer to have a lobotomy rather than to risk feeling love. The word love has itself been vetoed and now is known as "amor deliria nervosa." Much like the main character in Before I Fall, Lena seems too scared to do anything out of her highly pressured comfort zone. In Lena's case, the government enforces the societal rules, and in Samantha's case, her friends do. Both are not living their true natures, both conform to their societies. In Lena's story though, she didn't know she there was another option. Once she learned about the truth, she rejected the idea that love is dangerous.

What I didn't like:
It takes Lena a long time to break away from her obedient, brainwashed persona. She was very indecisive for most of the book, and I found her best friend to be a more interesting characters at times. It was a little slow, and from what I can tell, by the end of the book she's still not the ballsiest heroin that I've read. However, I do feel like there is potential for serious growth. The book had the feel of a very long set-up for the real story to begin in the second installment.

What I did like: 
The writing is almost like lyrics and prose. In a way, although Lena was not the typical brave heroin, I did find her believable, just not relatable. I’m a sucker for love stories, even if this one was a little bit of a stretch. True love in teenagers is a tough one for me to swallow no matter who’s book I’m reading. And maybe that is the point. Maybe viewing this story through the eyes of a near 30-year-old adult, makes it easier to see into the future of this love story. Teen romances rarely last, and this is only the first book of three, so maybe the flaws in the love story are intentional.

Verdict:
I'd recommend this book. It's an interesting story, and dystopian books are really popular at the moment. I am really anticipating the second and third installments of this book, despite originally choosing the book because I thought it was not a part of a series. I want to know more about the rest of the world Lena lives in and I expect that the subsequent books will fill in the picture a little more for me. I can’t wait for the next book, as the buildup in this one was just getting heated at the very end.

2 Minute Book Review: Before I Fall

Reading time for this post: 1 minute, 52 seconds. Read it Later




Book: Before I Fall
Author: Lauren Oliver
Audio book read by: Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy anyone?)

This book was the teen equivalent of the movie Groundhog Day (with Bill Murray). I was immediately drawn to the premise of having one day repeated until you finally "got it right." (Plus, I love the movie Groundhog Day.) Even though it was not an original idea, the story of Before I Fall was. It was an interesting concept having a the main character, a 16-year old girl named Samantha, initially be one of the antagonists. She's a mean girl. It was an fascinating look into the world of girl cliques and what turns a girl into a bully, and what lengths it takes to bring her back into civility.

What I didn't like:
I'll be honest. I didn't like how it ended, but I understand it's the author's prerogative to end the story any way she feels. I thought it was unnecessary, but I won't go into any further detail, lest I ruin the story for other readers. It irritated me that there were moments when the main character was strong and assertive, but would fall back into her old passive and weak ways so easily. This was her struggle though, and the main theme of the book. I don't feel like there was any real justice. The main character arch ends with Samantha a better person, but the rest of her clique doesn't receive punishment. There isn't even have an epilogue that sheds light on how the supporting characters have changed or improved.

What I did like:
The main character seemed more realistic to me than many other formulaic young adult novels, she is realistically flawed. I could believe that Samantha was too self centric to see her world in any other way than as a spoiled, superficial, petty, popular brat. But as the story progresses her redeeming qualities are revealed. Her ability to overcome peer pressure and to realize what really mattered to her in her life, (her family) and making amends. 

Verdict:
I'd recommend this book, particularly to teen girls who are living through the hell that is high school. I think that despite the ending, the content is valuable and would be a great tool in a classroom setting to bring up the topic of bullying. The story is aggravating but engrossing. Reading it, you simply must know if Samantha will change and grow up.

Mod Podge Tile Coasters

Found these fun little DIY coasters that are super easy to make and cheap too!

Like all projects lately, I found this one on Pinterest. I'm thinking Christmas presents... but they're not likely to be a surprise anymore since I put them on here. Oh well, I think they are cool so here's my attempt.

Pinspiration: Tile Coasters

You will need:

• 4 - 5 square tiles (4.25" x 4.25"), white ones are cheapest. I think I payed 13 cents a piece! 
• 4 - 5 pieces of fabric or scrapbook or wrapping paper (3.75" x 3.75")
• 4 - 5 pieces of felt or foam (3.75" x 3.75")
• Mod Podge
• Sponge brush
• Glue, For gluing the fabric or foam to the bottom of your coasters
• Clear acrylic sealer spray paint

Optional:

• Cutting board
• Rotary cutter for fabric

How to:

1.  Cut your fabric or scrapbook paper into 3.75" x 3.75" squares.

2.  Mod Podge the top of you first tile and center your patterned square. Make sure tho get all the air bubbles out from underneath the square, you're gonna put cups full of liquid on them and you want the surface to be flat. Let it dry.

3.  After you let it dry a little, put a layer of Mod Podge on top. Let this dry.

4.  Put a few layers of Mod Podge on the top of the coaster. Do this for all of your coasters.

5.  Once you've properly coated your coaster you'll want to protect it and make it water proof. Spray the acrylic sealer on your coasters. You'll want to give them a few coats of the sealer as well.

6.  While everything is drying, cut your foam or felt into 3.75" x 3.75" squares.

7.  Glue your felt or foam squares to the bottom of the coasters.

8.  Let your coasters dry and cure for a couple of days before you put anything hot on them, but after that you should be able to use them for anything.


You should be able wipe the coasters clean, but they are not likely dishwasher safe.  The best part about this is you can make these for pretty cheap. I had the Mod Podge and the fabric already. The sealer paint wasn't much, maybe $4 but you will be able to use it on other projects. Sponge brushes are from the dollar store. You can find felt and foam both at the dollar store.

These turned out cute and I suggest you go make some this weekend!