Baby Liberty - I Love the USA Blog Hop

I was so excited when fellow Craft and Hobby Association Designers Laura Kelly and Jen Goode contacted me to participate in their "I Love the USA Blog Hop" to celebrate Laura's Patriotic "America the Beautiful" print that is in Joann stores now! I jumped at the chance, not just because I love a challenge, but because I thought it would be fun to make something patriotic this year, not to mention it's fun to support other amazing designers I have met within the industry!

The goodie box came a few weeks ago and my girls and I oooh'd and aaaah'd over everything red white and blue {from Coats & Clark: phoomph & threads, Buttons Galore & More: buttons, May Arts: ribbon, Plaid: infamous Mod Podge and Apple Barrel paints, Fiskars: scissors} and the candy that was gone in seconds. The possibilities were endless...my mind started spinning...and the first idea came to me minutes later! My only hold up...I just had to do my final book edits first. I was itching to make something and kept adding one idea after another - it was driving me crazy to not get started.

But when it was time....it started with the bloomers. 

 

Then the sandals.

Which of course required some fun fussy cutting to have some little "peeps" on the soles and the word "beautiful" on the straps!

A little bonnet (which was a big enough for a one year old), so in comes the cute headband in 5 mins or less (can't make baby liberty wait - she might wake up)!

I had so much fun making this little newborn set with Laura's patriotic fabric and loved taking pics of this tiny "baby liberty". 

I got to photograph this adorable baby girl and hold her and cuddle her and even kissed her cheeks a few times (her grandma, my friend, said it was ok)! Have I told you lately I love my "job"?!

As I was moving baby liberty from the light box (yes - she fit inside my light box!) - she squirmed for a second, lost control of her arm, and laid quietly asleep in my hand...her grandma took this pic for me...

I'll be making some more stuff in the coming days before my studio move (or just after) - and I'll post the pics as I go along. I know my girls want to play too! When I was done with this one outfit...I went to bed with my craft table looking like this! (and it still does - i can't lie! lol!).

To get some of Laura Kelly's Patriotic "America the Beautiful" (Me & My Peeps) Fabric, you can purchase it in Joann Stores or click the link above. 

There is also an AWESOME giveaway and you can enter to win by adding your info to the rafflecopter link below..

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There were 25 designers included in this blog hop, that will go on throughout the week. Check out their designs too for some other fun crafts and ideas! You can find a full list on the 100Directions website, or click the blog hop image above!

Thank you to Laura and her co-host Jen for including me in the blog hop, for the fun fabric and awesome goodies from so many great manufacturers!

Have a great day all!

Although I was given free product, the opinions set forth in this post, are my own. Please do not use my photos without permission and please do not retake any photos to remake the post for your own blog or another company or in another language. These photos and the text are copyright protected. If you'd like to "Pin" the one finished project photo, please credit me by using "#kidgiddy". Thank you for your cooperation.
 

Mini Felted Cherry Blossom Tutorial

It's no secret, I live in Maine. I live far far away from the March/April beauty of the southern Cherry Blossom trees that everyone post pics about and talks about all over Facebook and Instagram. About two weeks ago I saw so many cherry blossom tree pics, that I decided to make a little one for myself to enjoy.

Since I can't have the real thing this will have to do, until it's warm enough here in Maine for all of our flowering trees and bushes to pop! I used an old pink wool sweater that I previously cut apart for this Hexagon Ball tutorial, but you can buy some 100% wool felt from your nearest craft or fabric store if you don't, as I used here for the white flowers. You'll also need some basic needle felting supplies, a hot glue gun and a branch that looks like a mini tree.

DIY Cousins Slider Bracelet Blog Hop

I'm always so excited to get a new box of products to play with because it always stretches my brain and creative process. This time it was a box from the folks over at Cousin Jewelry. They have a new slider bracelet system which is easier than making pie! (Of course, I would never suggest you not make pie - esp if you are going to eat it while crafting)

A Little Mood Board Inspiration

I made this inspiration board or mood board last year while taking the online "blogging your way" course with Holly Becker of decor8. One of the first "assignments" was to make a mood board to help realize or confirm what colors we love and textures and patterns. I already knew what I loved, but wanted to have fun putting it all together anyway.

I was in the thick of my book proposal at the time, and never posted these pics...but they are still so true for me, even a year later! I walked around my house, and my craft room gathering all the little things that inspire me. These colors have always been favorites, especially the green. I think these will always be 'my colors'. The flowers remind me of all that is good in this world. That God has created so many beautiful things for us to see an be inspired by on a daily basis.