New Arrival!!

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 4:19pm, the newest addition to our little family arrived in perfect health.

Welcome to the world, our hearts, and our eager arms, Jackson.

Jackson Hendrix Bourgoin

Daddy & Big Brother

 Jack-man

Enjoying my lovely family...

-tb:oxo

A big day!... with an equally big post.

My friend is currently becoming an auntie! :) Her SIL was due today, and went into labour some time this afternoon/evening. They are just waiting on the call to say he's here. How exciting for her!!

As for me, I'm still waiting for little boy to make his appearance. But we won't talk about that... at least not directly...

When I was in labour for Hunter, my mom was by my side the whole time. She was responsible for my left leg, and my hubby was responsible for my right leg! They made an incredibly awesome support team. So much so that I knew I needed both of them with me again for this one.

As a "thank you", and a little token of appreciation for making my mother watch such an event, I made her a little brag book for the hospital pictures she's bound to take. While browsing around Dawn's Stamping Studio -one of my favourite places to browse!- I found this tutorial for an adorable mini album. I know it was perfect. Thanks to her amazing ability to make videos, creating it was a breeze!

"Welcome Baby" mini album

 

I had SO much fun making this... The image to the left is what it looks like when it's open. I added to "different" pages to the front and back.

The middle pages are Whisper White cardstock, and are for all the pictures themselves. There are 6 in total.

The last page (if you can tell from the photo on the left) is a piece of Pool Party cardstock, where I intend to write a quick "thank you for being there" note.

The page at the front says "welcome baby", and is where she can write the date, time, weight and height of Baby Boy when all that is know... She has impeccable handwriting, so I'll let her do that part herself ; ) 

It's a piece of DSP from the "Pocketful of Posies" series, with a Whisper White sheet for writing, and another piece of Pool Party where I stamped "Welcome Baby".

Materials used:

Cardstock :: Pool Party (SU), Whisper White (SU), Navy blue (Recollections)

Stamps :: "Memories" from Define Your Life set (SU), "Welcome Baby" and Diaper Pin from Short & Sweet set (SU)

Ink :: Blue Bayou (SU), Pool Party (SU)

Paper :: "Pcoketful of Posies" DSP (SU)
Tools :: 2-way gluepen (SU), Dimensionals (SU), Decorative Label punch (SU), Scallop Oval Punch (SU)

I have a little something for my husband as well, to give him in the hospital, but that will have to wait until the big day to be revealed. It's not homemade, but I think it's still pretty awesome.

While I was in my crafty corner of the basement, I also put together this card for this week's Less is More challenge! This week, we were challenged with a one-layer card (love doing these!), with the theme of "Seeing double"! Fun. Fun. (I know, I'm so clever). 

Together

(LIM WK32)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Crumb Cake (SU)

Stamp :: Have a Seat (SU), "Together" from Define Your Life set (SU)
Ink :: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Embellishments :: Embroidery Floss
Tools :: Corner rounder (EK)

This card makes me really happy. I was so looking forward to owning this stamp set, and it didn't let me down. Much love goes out to the chairs.

Now, to wait on more news!...

-tb:oxo

Still waiting...

I'm playing the waiting game. Technically, the due date isn't for another week, but I'm feeling as if he should come earlier than that. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking?

I'm still making baby thank you cards! But I need to start thinking about my September card list as well! This week, I was so excited to play along with the Less is More challenge - I love being able to mix and match things :)

This week, in celebration of their 30th week of providing inspiration, they've challenged us to combine three past challenges together to make a card. Fun!! I chose the following three past challenges:

Week #4 - "3 Squares"
Week #18 - "Monochrome"
Week #25 - "Button or Ribbon" (I chose ribbon)

Thank You

LIM WK30

I did another one too. That's just the way I roll.

This one was using these three past challenges:

Week #22 - "Shades of Blue"
Week 23 - "Something with Legs"
Week 29 - "Things that Move"

Thank You #2

LIM WK30

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Sahara Sand (SU), Pool Party (SU)
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Embellishments :: Wooden sheep, Flower, Bells, Ribbon
Tools :: Scallop Oval Punch (SU), Large Oval Punch (SU), 1 3/4 Circle Punch, Cuttlebug + embossing folder

I've had these sheep for ages and have never used them. So glad to get 6 out of them out of my stash at once ; )

Feeling 'ready to go'...

-tb:oxo

Soft and simple

I've got this compulsive habit of not being able to put back 1/2 a sheet of cardstock. It tends to work out in my favour though, because it means I generally make two cards at the same time. Sometimes, they are the exact same card, sometimes they use the same elements, sometimes they use the same style... Sometimes they aren't much alike at all!

Today's two, however, are very similar. All the same inks/colours were used, and they are for the same occasion (baby). I've been in a baby mood lately...

First off, the colours came from Play Date Cafe. Mint, Ivory and Coral. Naturally, this screamed baby - or wedding.

I chose baby :)

: Welcome Baby :
(PDCC96)

(See supplies list below)

The second card is still using the same colours - but was created with the Pals Paper Arts challenge in mind - Clean and Simple: "Soften the Edges". I often think of using my corner rounder, but rarely do it!

: Congratulations :
(PPA108)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Very Vanilla (SU)
Paper :: An assortment of scraps.
Ink :: Sky Blue (SU)
Embellishments :: Pearl dots
Tools :: Scissors, 1 3/4" circle punch, corner rounder

Had an ultrasound today. Baby is measuring big, but he's so perfectly healthy. And my mom got here last night! A great day all around.

Waiting for our little ones arrival...

-tb:oxo

Thank you, Thank you!

I made a trip to IKEA today. It infuriated me to no end... I ended up leaving without getting anything. However, while waiting for IKEA to open, I browsed around Michael's and found the perfect (seriously though) frames for the "Have a Seat" project.

Now I just need to wait for the stamps and the "Well Worn" DSP to arrive and I can start to create.

I made some more thank you cards using the Mojo Monday sketch. The patterned paper was a very happy find at Michael's this morning :)

And remember this post where I talked about that tiny bit of "Kiwi Kiss" I had left? It's gone... and so is the tiny piece of Kiwi Kiss ribbon.

Honestly, I'm not even sure what I'm going to do without this colour! I know that Pear Pizzaz and the new Lucky Limeade are close... but there were so many times where Kiwi Kiss was just, well, right.

Thank you

(MOJO205)

No supplies were harmed in the making of these card!
Cardstock :: Island Indigo (SU), Kiwi Kiss (SU), Brown, Yellow, White
Ink :: Island Indigo (SU)
Stamp :: "Thank You" from the Short & Sweet set
Embellishments :: $1 ribbon, Pearl dots, Kiwi Kiss ribbon (SU)

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Cuttlebug + dot embossing folder,
Scallop Oval Punch (SU), Large Oval Punch (SU) Scallop border punch
Pinking sheers, 2-way glue pen (SU)

Hubby is out tonight, so me and the kiddo are having a pizza/movie night. Really looking forward to it :)

Off to rent "Tangled"...

-tb:oxo

TGIF!!

There has never been a better Friday! Glorious, glorious Friday! Gotta get down on Friday!

CAS-ual Friday's challenge this week was a clean & simple card featuring embossing. I was thrilled to see that I had an 'excuse' to use my new Cuttlebug!

With a baby shower coming up next weekend, I thought I should make a couple more 'thank you' cards to be prepared! It's going to be a small, (very) intimate gathering, so I'm trying to make all cards different.

Baby Thank You
(CFC16)

No supplies were harmed in the making of this card!
Cardstock :: White, Navy blue
Ink :: Blue Bayou (SU), Sky Blue (SU)
Stamps :: All In the Family (SU), Short & Sweet (SU)
Embellishments ::

Tools :: Dimensionals (SU), Large oval punch (SU), Scalloped oval punch (SU),
Cuttlebug, edge embossing folder, 1 3/4 Circle Punch

Thinking about the weekend...

-tb:oxo

Let's Play!

My kid makes me laugh every day. We're in the midst of planning his birthday party for Saturday (fingers crossed that I've dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's!). The other day, he was looking through all the bags that we had stuff stored in, and I said "hey, stop snooping!"... The poor little man thought I said something else and got this really sad pouty face and said:

"Mommy..... don't call me stupid".

I felt badly, but I couldn't help but laugh. Does that make me a bad mother? ;) I told him that I didn't call him stupid (and in fact, we don't say that word at all) and we were OK again.

The joys of having children far outweigh any negativity or bitterness in the world. I'm grateful every day for my family and my children (born and unborn!).


So, in the baby mood, I made a baby card today for the Play Date Cafe challenge. As soon as I saw the colours, I thought it screamed baby. Odd, since the colours aren't traditionally "baby" colours.

But what a wonderfully rich palette, no? Who can resist? Fudge, Goldenrod and Teal. Yum.

Welcome Baby

(PDCC94)

Materials -
Paper :: More Mustard Designer Series Paper (SU)
Cardstock :: Taken with Teal (SU), White
Ink :: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Stamps :: "Welcome Baby" from the Short & Sweet Set (SU)
Etc :: Wooden lion, Chocolate ribbon, Scallop edge border punch

This was a clean and simple card - and sometimes I really enjoy those.

Enjoying the calm before the (birthday party) storm...

-tb:oxo

Woohoo - ColourQ!

I love ColourQ challenge day. The combinations they choose are always so fun. Sometimes I find it a tad difficult to get all the colours in there, but that's part of the 'excitement'. It forces me to try something I wouldn't normally do.

This week's excitement was Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Basic Black, and White. YES!

Friends of ours just had a baby. Well... a month ago. But we've been sick and busy and haven't had a chance yet to go visit them since they've been home from the hospital. We will be seeing them this weekend and I made this card to give them. They are a little non-traditional (likely part of the reason we love them so much), so I didn't want to make a pastel-laden 'sweet' baby card.

congratulations

(CQC97)

Materials -
Paper :: "Maddi Paisley" by MakingMemories
Cardstock :: Pool Party (Su), Pink, White, B&W polka dots
Ink :: Pool Party (SU), Calypso Coral (SU)
Stamps :: "Congratulations" from the Congrats set (SU)
Etc :: Random buttons (that match Pool Party so wonderfully!),
Scallop edge border punch

Luckily the patterned paper had some 'tangerine' in it, because apparently I don't own anything that colour! Must. Rectify. That.

More party planning tonight...

-tb:oxo

Baby "Thank You"s

Last week I attended another card class. I have to say, I never thought I would be going into strangers houses and sitting down to make cards. Surprisingly, I find it incredibly enjoyable spending time with like-minded individuals, regardless how little I know them! :) Luckily for me, the lovely AP accompanied me again. These things are always better with a good friend.

So, I think it's fair to say that I'm in it for the long haul. I love making cards. I can't stop! I even dream about stamping! The other night I had a dream that I couldn't make my mind up about which stamp set to buy next, and when I finally placed my order and went home, I felt so disappointed that I didn't get a different set. So, I called up the demonstrator and bought 1 of everything. If only!!

My husband has been having stamping dreams as well, only he calls them "nightmares". He had a dream that I was hosting a workshop at our house, and after 2 people had arrived, there was a work crisis and I needed to step out of the house for a minute. As soon as I left, 300 people showed up with beer and various other types of alcohol and trashed our house! hahaha...

Anyway...

Baby Thank You Card (I made two identical cards):

Materials -
*Burgundy text is Stampin' Up! product line
Paper :: "Polka Dots on Text" by K&Company
Cardstock :: Pool Party, Brown and Cream (both cheapo stock)
Ink :: Chocolate Chip and Pool Party
Stamps :: "Thank You" and Diaper Pin from the Short & Sweet set
Etc :: Scalloped Oval Punch, Large oval Punch, Dimensionals

Quite clearly, I don't own very many stamp sets - If it seems like I use the Short & Sweet set a lot, it's because I do... ; ) If only my dream were true and I could add some variety to my sentiments!

Always dreaming...

-tb:oxo

It's a Girl!

So, it's time to come out with it! We're expecting baby #2... And we're expecting it to be a girl! ;)

Let me preface this post with the following statement: I have never been a girly-girl. Try as my mother might, I wouldn't wear pink. I rarely played with Barbie's, I didn't have long hair (yes, I was a victim of the 'mushroom cut'), I wouldn't be caught dead in a sundress, and I never fell for the Boy Band crazy (New Kids On The Block or Backstreet Boys)

However, as a juxtaposition, I had an entirely pink room (what the?!), liked the sound of my mom's sewing machine, and loved cooking/baking with my grandma.

Now as an adult, I tend to embrace my femininity a little more. And I quite enjoy it. I like to wear my pearls and high heels sometimes, and revel in the fact that I can wear my (long) hair in a different style for an entire month without repeating a 'do'. Albeit, that is something I have yet to try, but I'm sure it's possible!

The promise I make to my unborn daughter is this: I will force you to be girly for as long as I can. You do, however, have an older brother who is all boy, so I suspect I'll be losing you along the lines someplace - but that's OK too. :)

In the process of daydreaming about the little lady's new nursery, I've put together a little theme board, of what I hope will be the inspiration for a fantastic little girls "Tea Party" bedroom.

Little Girl, we anxiously await your arrival.


Left to right (top to bottom):
1. DIY Doily Lamp - from More Design Please
2. 3 Piece Tea Party Felt Cakes - from onenonly88 on Etsy
3. Wallpaper - from Vintage Wallpaper
4. Teatime Reusable Fabric Wall Decals - from lovemaestore on Etsy
5. Royal Wedding Celebration Silver-look Tea Set - from maniareminiatures on Etsy
6. Vintage Beauty Sunsuit in Strawberry Soiree - from CharmingNecessities on Etsy
7. JJ Baby Moses Basket - from Babies 'R' Us

-tb:xox

EFL - Baby Gifts!

Is it wrong to use chip bags as materials in a babies gift? Not if no one knows ; )


Made two "crinkle" toys for me nephew. The first, I made with an empty wipes package, and it was pretty crinkly. THEN for the second one, I used the Sunchips 100% recyclable bag. You know, the really (REALLY) loud one? The one so loud they needed to put a disclaimer on the packaging telling you why it was so loud? Ya, that one worked really well!

I'm not super at sewing in a circle. I really admire people who are!

Without further adieu, my nephews tagged crinkly toys!

And then their back-sides:


I love making things for babies.

-tb:xox

The New Year

Happy 2009!

Although I don't have any new finished projects to show - I do have a little bit of a Work In Progress.

I started knitting this on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) for my son. He loves to be swaddled, but tends to pull the blankets up over his face - not good! - so, I'm making him this little sleep sack. The hood will be left off, and it will be made a bit longer than is should be (he's so big!).

Here is an 'in the works' shot. It is my first attempt at Fair Isle knitting, and although I was warned that it would be really difficult, I LOVE it. I had so much fun doing it, and after looking back through all the stitches, it appears as if I only fudged up a bit once. Woohoo!.

Pattern is from the Purl Bee which is where I seem to get most of the patterns I work on. The inside shot is crazy! Now I can truly appreciate all the work that went into those Nordic sweaters my mom used to make for me.

Carseat Straps

More handmade things:

I got the idea for this little project from Sylver Designs (http://sylver.etsy.com/)

Unfortunately, I can't follow a pattern to save my life, at least not when I did these, so I was forced to just make my own design.

What I used:
- Bernat Cottontots yarn in "Little Boy Blue"
- G Hook (4.25mm)
- 8 brown knotted buttons from Dollarama
- Tapestry needle

Our little boy is so thrilled to have his little cheeks protected from the roughness of the seatbelt. It was actually Daddy who was first concerned for him. (Un)fortunately, it's winter now, and the bulk of the little guys bunting bag keeps him safe too - But who doesn't need a little bit of crocheted goodness in their life, even if they are only 3 months old!