A Little Tipsy

Creative Tips & Ideas

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Baby Week: Keepsake Frame & $25 GC Giveaway

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I’m so excited to be here on A Little Tipsy today. Michelle has such a fun blog and I always find great ideas and inspiration whenever I stop by.
I am Crystal from Crystal’s Craft Spot. Its my little spot to share my current craft projects, tutorials, recipes, and ideas I want to use in the future. I host a craft challenge every Wednesday and Feature yourself Friday that I would love for you to join. I also have a fun preschool blog called Always something to Learn and a new etsy shop, A.O.kay designs.

I’ve noticed over the years that I quickly forget how little my girls use to be and I wanted a way to always remember when they were born. So I came up with this cute way to display their newborn pictures and all of their birth stats (what mother doesn’t love those two thing?)

Here’s what I came up with.

Here’s how I made it. I bought an 8×10 frame with a matte. (Matte optional but helpful.) My frame is from Walmart for $2.50

I painted the frame white

Then distressed it with sandpaper.

I picked out some scrapbook paper that matches their room. Use the matte as a template and trace around it on the back of your paper. (If you don’t have a matte you can measure and cut one out). Then cut it out.

Here’s your two pieces. Then glue your scrapbook paper on your matte.

I sanded the inside edges of my paper to make it look a little more smooth.

Now choose a picture (both of mine are from the day they came home). You can do this next part in any program you want. I used Microsoft word. I opened a new document and pasted my picture. I cropped and sized it to 5×7. Then insert a text box. Type in your information, change font, size, etc. Then remove fill in box and remove outline. Change color and move it to the spot you want it.

It will look like this

Print your photo on photo paper and cut it out.

Assemble your frame and you now have a beautiful keepsake of you sweet little one.

Here’s a close up of each

Olivia

Aubrey

Today I am also giving away a $25 gift certificate to A.O. kay Designs

Here’s a little peek at what you will find

I love custom orders (so if you need a different size, color, or design I’d love to help you) and I’m adding new things everyday so check back often.


To enter: Visit A.O. kay Designs and tell me your favorite item.
Extra entries:

Giveaway closes Monday, November 15th.

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Baby Week: Happiest Baby on the Block Giveaway

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As many of you know bringing a new baby home can turn your world upside down. Our newest addition was born last Wednesday November 3rd and we just came home last night. We are still in the honeymoon phase and have not even started to begin the adjustment back in to real life.

I remember with my first little guy we read so many books and articles, took classes and watched DVDs on how to care for and prepare for our son. There were so many theories on what worked to calm babies and get them to sleep better and longer. There was one DVD/book set that really worked for us, like miracles.

A friend recommended I watch “The Happiest Baby on the Block” DVD from Dr. Harvey Karp M.D. Being the anxious nesting first time mom I was I got it from my local library and sat my husband down to watch it. I could not believe what I was seeing. Screaming babies being suddenly silenced by the 5 S’s: Swaddle, Side, Swing, Shh, Suck. The more I watched the more I was enthralled by the fact that these babies were so immediately calmed and happy. I could not wait to try it and see if it really worked or if this was the product of some really great testimonial/video editing.

Our son came and my husband started using these techniques from day one. I can tell you from experience that they work. I was shocked. Any time my little one would begin to cry we would start with one of the techniques and continue adding S’s until he stopped. It literally took less than 30 seconds to calm him. It was amazing. My family can attest, it was common to see my husband holding him all swaddled and on his side like in this pic. He LOVED it.

I can’t wait to try these out on my brand new little son. We already know he loves to be swaddled, but honestly he has not cried enough to try out the others yet. He is an angel baby.

Now of course, since this is one of my go to techniques I want all of you to be able to try them out too! I contacted Dr. Karp’s office and we are giving away three copies of The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD!!

To enter: Become a fan of The Happiest Baby on the Block-the official page on Facebook and leave us a comment saying you did so.

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

  • Follow A Little Tipsy
  • Like A Little Tipsy on Facebook
  • Tweet, facebook, or blog about this giveaway and leave us the link

Giveaway closes Monday, November 15th. Good Luck!!

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Baby Week: Bird Nursery

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Hi! I’m Michelle from Through Michelle’s Lense, welcome to baby week!

I am excited to share my bird nursery with you, but first let me introduce myself. I’m a lucky wife, mommy of an 8 month old with the cutest smile, photographer, couponer and crafter.

Unfortunately, I got laid off twice while I was pregnant. Yes, twice. Needless to say, we didn’t have a lot of money for her bird nursery, so I thought I better get my craft on! I sure am glad I did, I feel like it personalized the nursery and gave it more character, especially since we rent and can’t paint the walls. I was able to make most of the nursery decor myself, thanks to the good ol’ DI. I love crafts and sewing projects that are easy, and that’s exactly what everything I did was. If I can do it, you can too! I’m going to let you in on my 2 secret weapons:

Hot glue & mod podge.

Everything I made for the nursery uses at least one of those things.

I told Michelle my story, and showed her my bird nursery pictures, and she asked me to show you too, I hope you crafting mommas can be inspired a little bit. No matter what your nursery theme is, you can tweak these crafts easily.

Bird Baby Blocks
Secret Weapon: Mod Podge

I made some baby blocks with a little sandpaper, scrapbook paper, wood stain & mod podge. I am currently using them as book ends.

Topiaries
Secret Weapon: Hot Glue

I made some topiaries out of supplies from the DI, the dollar store, and two sticks in my back yard. They also make a cute place to store my baby’s hair bows, since she doesn’t have any hair still.

Bird Plate Wall Hanging
Secret Weapon: Hot Glue

Remember those wooden bowls from the 80’s? I found plates just like them from the DI and thought I would challenge myself to use them somehow in the nursery. I love how unique they are. You could do this with anything for your back and any theme! I hot glued some extra birds I made for another project (see below) and some jute to the back and there you have it. My baby has always loved to look up at them while I change her diaper.

Name Plaque
Secret Weapon: Mod Podge & Hot Glue

This project ended up being my favorite! The wooden backs that I wanted to use from the craft store would have cost me $50, so I took a few days of searching the DI’s wood stock, and ended up spending less than $5 on the wood backs! I like it better this way too, because they are all different shapes and sizes. I did have to buy the wooden letters and tulle from WalMart, but I used the same paper from the wooden blocks to tie it all together.
All I did was sand and paint the wooden backs, mod podged the paper, hot glued the letters on, then hot glued some tulle, and it’s still hanging!

Bird Mobile
Secret Weapon: Hot Glue
Now, this ain’t your mama’s bird mobile. 🙂


First
I found a basic bird template online, then cut out my fabric from my stash of extra fabric. I sewed the wrong sides of fabric together and stuffed a little bit of quilt batting in to give the birds a little dimension. I sewed the wings the same way, then used some fabric glue to adhere the wings on.



I found 3 embroidery hoops, all different sizes, and I hot glued them to form kind of a bird cage, making sure the top holes aren’t blocked. I used some old embroidery thread that my mom had, and strung a needle through the top of the bird and up through the hole in the embroidery hoops. I simply just tied a knot at the length I wanted it to hang, then hung them from ceiling hooks (you can buy a pack of them for a few dollars at Target).


And there you have it! Have fun crafting and adding character your home!

Thanks so much, Michelle, for letting me share these fun, easy and cheap crafts! Congratulations, again on your sweet little bundle of joy!

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I just love her adorable bird nursery! Our new addition’s nursery is already decorated because he inherited it from my 3 year old, but I may just have to add one of those cute name plaques. I’m also thinking a cool airplane mobile would be a fun addition. Thanks for the cute ideas Michelle!

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BabyCenter Online Birth Class and Parenting Books Review & Giveaway

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Even though I had my son just under three years ago I find myself needing to review. I feel like I have forgotten so much I need to know about labor practices and newborns. My son is pretty independent at this point and well if I don’t use it I lose it so all those tidbits of infant knowledge have seemed to slip through the cracks.

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That’s why I was happy to be contacted by BabyCenter (through MyBlogSpark) to test out their new BabyCenter Parenting Books (BabyCenter® Pregnancy and BabyCenter® Baby) and “Preparing for Labor and Birth” Online Class. I have used their website in tracking milestones for my first child and was excited to try these new additions.



I took a childbirth refresher course at my hospital which was helpful so I was not sure I would find much new on BabyCenter’s Online Course. I browsed through and in a matter of seconds found a wealth of new information.

I especially liked the section on pain management where it had videos from experts and moms on breathing and massage techniques and how they best dealt with contractions. I resulted in C-section last time and am trying VBAC so these tidbits are important to me.

I also really liked the “Things to do before you’re due.” It helped me create my birth plan, remember things to pack in my hospital bag and think to install the car seat now.



I would totally recommend the “Preparing for Labor and Birth” Online Class to anyone, not just those who cannot leave the house due to bed rest, etc. I felt the information covered a vast array of areas and it was really nice to have it at my fingertips any time I got a few minutes.

As for the BabyCenter Parenting Books, I really like how the Pregnancy one breaks everything out in to weeks, not just months. I went through the 39th and 40th weeks and found it very comforting to find out that only 5% of babies are born on their due date and a whopping 75% are born later (p.206)! In some strange way that is comforting to me as I quickly approach my due date on Sunday. They even list coping strategies for those who go overdue. Seriously, I love how they think!

I can’t wait to dive in to the Baby book and figure out those all important basics all over again like how to clean an umbilical cord. Woot.

Now, you all know I am all about sharing. So who wants to

win a BabyCenter Prize Pack

including BabyCenter parenting books (BabyCenter® Pregnancy and BabyCenter® Baby), a package of Seventh Generation diapers, a gift card from BabyCenter partner, Shutterfly and a BabyCenter bib.

Win it for yourself or give it as a gift.

To enter: Give me your best piece of labor/newborn advice.

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each one):

  • Follow A Little Tipsy
  • Like us on Facebook

Giveaway closes on Nov 7th, my due date!! Just in time to kick off baby week that starts Nov 8th. Be sure to tune in for tons of baby themed tutorials and giveaways!

The prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all provided by BabyCenter through MyBlogSpark.

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