Mother's Day DIY

I've noticed my Mother's Day Wreath has been pinned alot the last couple of weeks and now I know why -  It's May 1st and Mother's Day is just around the corner!  

I've been working on a couple of new DIY's for Mom but I thought I would start the month out with a round up some crafts I've worked on over the last couple of years that would work well as a quick gift for your mom, aunt, best friend or grandma!

1 - Felted Rings - a quick little craft you can do with felt scraps.  

2- Felted Knitting Needle Toppers - if your "mom" knits and you want to try felting these toppers are an easy way to give felting a try

3- Inspiration stones - a personalized paper weight is a very inexpensive, unique gift

4- Mother's Day Wreath - this takes a little bit of time but can come out each May

5- Glittered Tea Cups - I had fun with my friend Tiffany making these cute cups - easy peasy

6- Pastel Pink Cake - I was so proud of how this BHG cake turned out - it would be great for a Mother's Day Tea

7- Sweater Cuff Cup - Most moms like coffee or tea and this would be a cute way to bring them something special Sunday Morning

I can't wait to show you some of things I've been working on.  I have missed crafting and it is a struggle to put stuff together with everything packed up - but I think I will rework my craft storage so I can easily work on an idea when it comes to me.  I definitely feel better making things ... and the sun helps to :)  

Happy May!

A Layer Cake from Better Homes and Gardens

The May issue of Better Homes and Gardens is out and if you haven't seen it, it has the most beautiful, tempting cake on the cover.  It is layers of that color.  You know, tangerine tango.  Maybe not exactly, more pink than that but still very 2012.  I haven't taken on a baking project for a while but this cake had me baking this weekend.  Okay, so it isn't perfect.  Next time I would use more of the icing between the layers and I would work on getting my layers nice and even but I do think that the color is bang on.  So pretty and fresh.

You start by tinting the whole batter with some red food coloring for light pink - taking out half to bake and adding more food coloring to the remaining batter, to get that deeper color.  The best thing about this cake, though, is the lemon flavor.  With concentrated lemonade and lemon extract the cake tastes as fresh as it looks.  It really is a simple cake, designed by Karen Tack of Hello Cupcake, and I appreciated that, as it pretty much took over my kitchen for the day.  Any more complicated and I might have spent the weekend on a cake.

It would be so pretty for a shower, bridal or baby, but I think I might perfect my layers and serve it up for Mother's Day.  Once again, perfectly imperfect... but tasty.

Better Homes and Gardens - Simply Handmade

I picked up the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens and unexpectedly came across this gorgeous spread.

I love the cut felt letters and brackets.  I just makes me want to start making something with my felt stash.

This article is all about Etsy.  There are some really great ideas and shop finds.

I was happy to see someone I have followed for quite awhile.  Heather Shaw, of pi'lo has a thriving business making beautiful items for babies, kids and homes.

My mom and I used to visit her display booth at the Toronto One of a Kind for years and she was always a big hit with her gorgeous take on the letters of the alphabet.

She made our "go-to-gift" - a bear in a pillow pocket  - for every baby shower we went to.  About 12 years ago, my mom had her make two gorgeous linen duvet covers - they are still in perfect condition.

On this page she contributed the felt cracker in the top left and the sewing kit.  Both can be found in her etsy shop (see below) but this issue also gives directions so you can make them yourself.  Heather has a beautiful crafted simplicity to her work.  I remember once visiting one of her studios and she kept her invoices in silk pouches hanging from the wall!  The whole space was a dream.

You can visit Heather's blog here or visit her etsy shop and pick up a sewing kit or wonderful pillow.

find here

find here

Now, back to BHG..

 it's time to find a reason to cut out letters from felt ...