It's all about the bag!

This year was all about the bag... or in my case the Santa sack.  I had so much fun with these sacks.  I even made my son's first Santa sack.  A few years ago I started making small flannel sacks instead of wrapping our presents.  My family just loved them, each year I find new fun fabrics and create new bags for each member of my family.  I had thought that I would get them back the following year.  This has not happened.  My sister in law confided in me that she gives them as gifts to her friends, she loves them so much.  So I guess I will continue making these bags next year.  In fact I will feature all of these bags in my shop next year.  Take a peak at all of the custom orders from this year!  Be sure to order yours next year!

 From all of mine to you and yours. Merry Christmas!

Winner! My Memories Software Giveaway!

Congratulations Jes Mack!

You are the winner of the My Memories Free Software Giveaway!

Please email me as janie@janiegirlcrafts.com for download instructions!

Thanks everyone, Check back soon for exciting Christmas Crafts!

My Memories Suite Giveaway!

Everyone knows I love making things for my family and that I also love taking pictures of everything. 

However, I hate srapbooking.  I've tried, my son's baby book is currently in a box, incomplete, he's 15 months old.  I love the idea of scrapbooking.  I go to the store, I buy a book and fun paper, I print out all of the super cute pictures.  Then nothing.  All I end up accomplishing is making a huge mess and having to clean up so I can make dinner.

Well, I have found the answer to my scrapbooking nightmares.  No mess, no clean up, and no need to stress out.  I can create and walk away! I also have great news for one lucky reader!

Award winning scrapbook software creators My Memories have offered one lucky reader a FREE   My Memories Suite Package!  My Memories Suite is rated #1 by amazon and TopTen Reviews for digital scrapbooking software and a $40 value.  Also as janiegirlcrafts followers you have your very own Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!  Just enter STMMS4155 (case sensitive) at checkout!

I wanted to take a minute and share the little album I started for my family.  This year we are having a "Homemade Christmas", this album will fit in perfectly.  I also plan to create our Holiday Card with this software, so keep an eye out.

I was amazed at how easy this software is to operate.  It uses the same shortcut commands as other software, such as Microsoft Word.  For example I am accustomed to using [CTRL Z] to undo the last action.  Guess what, I didn't have to retrain my brain, everything was second nature.  This software even offers autocorrect for those sloppy typers, like myself.

Check out one of their video tutorials for Free!

Now down to business:
In order to enter the giveaway you must first follow this blog: janiegirlcrafts

Then go ahead and check out My Memories Website and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then comment on my blog telling you which ones you love.
For extra entries to the contest feel free to comment, like, tweet, or follow any of the My Memories links below.

Post a comment on this blog for each additional entry.

Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/MyMemories/140359372717593

Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite
 
Contest winner will be selected
December 16, 2011

Good Luck!

Starting a new Tradition!

 

The week or so before Thanksgiving I was asked to make a custom Christmas Bag for a little girl. Her mother had seen my Reversible Santa Sack on Etsy, and wanted to make something special for her little one. After discussing fabric styles and sharing a few examples we decided on a style and I started sewing. I finished up yesterday and loved it so much, and have enough fabric leftover, that I have decided to add them to my shop selection this year. If you are interested in this or a similar item, check out the info on this Christmas Bag!


I think I will make Max his very own bag as well, one bag filled with all of his toys.  I think these are great addition to our family's  Holiday traditions.  Oh and as a bonus to me, I won't have to pick up a bunch or wrapping paper this year.
Maybe I'll make one for Charlie as well?

A cute little girl in cute little skirts!

I just had to share these pictures! What a cutie!  This past week I traveled home for the holidays.  I think the highlight of my trip was chasing my niece Lizzy around with a camera.  She was a perfect model for some of the Christmas skirts now available at janiegirlcrafts.  Speaking of Skirts... make sure you check back on December 6 a special treat on this years skirt selections.

What ever happened to Thanksgiving?

I am usually that person who is first to comment on the Arrival of Seasonal Christmas items before Halloween.  Well I am not that bad; I did however skip Thanksgiving!

I have been hit with inspiration, funny how it happens.  Maybe it was all the mid day viewings of The Nightmare Before Christmas while sewing Halloween Costumes.

I am so excited to announce Christmas Items are now available in my shop.

I think the items I am most excited about feature this Candy Cane Fabric.   So, Monday I ran out of fleece after making some new hats, so I ran out to the store and found the striped candy cane fabric and I had the idea to make a twirly skirt.  I've never really made skirts before, since I have a boy.  I guess I tried to make a tutu skirt for my niece Lila, it isn't so much a tutu as a ballet wrap.  I didn't even think about gathering last time.  I'm not sure why these skirts became so important.  I guess I was ready to learn something new, and run with it.  I had the idea of little girls going out to sing Christmas Carols or Sit on Santa's lap. 

I love the movie All I Want for Christmas. For anyone not familiar with the movie is stars a little Thora Birch, she is such a lady, I envision this as she walks to Macy's to see Santa in her Patton leather shoes.  Well,  I absolutely love this selection.  That paired with Santa's Little Helper Costume, with Matching Santa Sack.

I love using our Santa Sack.  We travel from Connecticut to Maine to Iowa every Christmas and I always end up misplacing a present.  A few years ago I discovered a ripstop Santa sack for a dollar.  It was great!  It didn't last very long.  So I had the idea, so last year as I wrapped presents I threw them into the appropriate Families sack and no need to remember so I forgot about them.  When it was time to leave, we threw the sack in the backseat and drove away.  It's going to be fun this year, now that the kids in the family are a bit older, having the Santa Sack Magically appear under the tree on Christmas Morning.  Just like Santa left it for them.

So, I started with a drop waist Red Tutu, that turned into a Santa Costume.  Then I had the urge to make an Elf Costume.  So I made this reversible green with White polka dot wrap skirt, with Tulle/ Cotton.  

 I still have a few ideas, but it's time to move onto filling some orders.  I have a lot of knitting ahead of me this season.  Let's just say I'm getting behind.  Oh well, I love these projects and I'm pretty sure my nieces will be getting one or two skirts for Christmas this year. 

Don't worry about Max, he'll have plenty of presents, however the urge to throw a skirt on him to take pictures on a live body is huge.  Well, I'll see my nieces in the next few weeks so updated photos coming soon!

Check Back!

Halloween Re-Hash

So, If you hadn't guessed Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  Today I took down the last of the decorations.  We hosted a small get together on Halloween.  I didn't get pictures of the entire set up, but I thought I would share some fun things I found.  
Lets start with the Tricks!  Decorations!

 I had a lot of fun with some old ideas!  I made a Happy Halloween Banner, similar to the one I made for my son's first birthday, it was so quick and easy.  Then i found a few sheets of black construction paper and cut bats of all different sizes.  I just taped them all over, the different sizes had the perfect effect.  I hung one of my Balloon Mobiles in the corner, it blended in well with the hanging fans i found at the party store when I was looking for a witches hat for my costume. 

 

My favorite decorations where these pre-printed adhesive stickers I found.  These were so simple, I had some Ball jars that I use for storing applesauce and jams during the winter.  Paired with some bottles from the recycling bin and I had perfect and easy decorations.  Another of my favorites is straight from my childhood.  I purchased dumdums as treats, and just like my first grade teacher taught me, I rapped them in tissue and drew faces.  Add some ribbon and ghosties flew thought the air.

Now it's time for treats!

Growing up my mom went all out for Halloween!  Why would my house be different.  We had selections of toys and candy, I'm a bit of a traditionalists, so Hershey's bars and Reese's Peanut butter cups were paired with bags of Domino's and playdoh.  It was so fun to see kids trying to pick what they wanted! 

I even had a few extra toys for the kids at the party, however I think some of the dads had more fun with these goodies.

No party would be complete without cupcakes.  This year I took all the glop from the pumpkins and turned them into Pumpkin Cupcakes, paired with No-Bake Spiderweb cheesecakes.  The party was a success.

I can't wait till next year!

 

I just had to share! it's been a busy week!

Finishing up my last costume orders for Halloween, 2011.

Today I finished this little number. I never realized how fun little girl costumes are. I will feature Tinkerbell, also available in a variety of fairy colors, next year along with Little Red Riding Hood. I have a few more ideas, but those will stay a surprise... until next year!

 

One more Pumpkin this week.  Oh and this is so cute, I made two little ghost costumes for twins this week.  I couldn't be happier with my original designs this year. They actually fared better than expected!

There was a little bit of the regular thrown in this week.  Both orders show a new take on some old ideas. 

First, I made my signature Lighted Paper Lantern Mobile only in a Mini Size!  This turned out so cute, and about 1/3 smaller than the original. 

The second order was such a delight.  I made 2 matching mobiles for twin birthday parties!  The new spin is using large colored center lanterns instead of the standard white.  I think this is such fun.  I never would have guessed, when I made Max a lantern mobile for his nursery that they would become so popular. 

I really have so much fun with these mobiles.  You would think doing the same design over and over would get boring.  So not true.  Every time I get an order it is filled with new hope, love and not to mention color!  I get a glimpse of a little ones new environment.  Sometimes I am lucky and get sneak peaks at bedding and decor. 

I am excited to announce that you can now get my standard Paper Lantern Mobile with a colored center lantern.  Check out my shop for all available colors!  http://www.etsy.com/listing/82241869/paper-lantern-mobiles

Make sure you check back soon for more exciting news, and new designs in November!

Continuing the costume parade!

   

 I can't even express how amazing the last few weeks have been!  I have been walking though a Halloween Wonderland.  I have fallen down the rabbit hole and don't really want to come out.

After finishing up Corduroy, the Big Bad Wolf, and a small Pumpkin Patch I kept the costumes coming.  Last week I was lucky enough to make 3 ghosts, 2 skeletons, the Itsy Bitsy Spider, and 1 Dalmation puppy.

Each story was unique, just like each costume.

Two little girls will be skeletons this year, both about 2 years old, neither of them seem to be big fans of skirts, so this costume was the perfect choice for them.  This costume is made out of Anti-Pill Fleece with felt applicques.  It si warm and cozy.  The mother actually joked about making them for adults.  Maybe Next Year! 

The Itsy Bitsy Spider may have been my favorite this week.  Itsy Bitsy will be another of my featured costumes next year, also available with a black and white spiderweb tutu skirt!  This little spider was paired with his older brother who wanted to be a friendly ghost.  How adorable for a 3 year old, and of course he chose his little brothers spider costume.



This little Dalmation costume was so much fun!  I played with my pattern for my standard pullover style costume.  By adding a simple velcro color I was able to make this super cute collar, which I think is perfect for this little guy.  I recieved a message from a mother who's 3 year old wanted to be a fireman, so she figured the new baby could be his dalmation.  I think this is too cute.  I was actually approached by a few people about making more of these little buddies.

This is too much fun!  11 Days until Halloween! What are you planning to be?

Check back soon for more tricks and treats!

H.A.L.L.O.W.E.E.N. Spells Halloween!

I find that inspiration comes in the most unlikely places.  The pure mention of Halloween sends me into a tizzy.  It might just be my favorite holiday, next to Christmas that is.  Walking though the grocery store this week made me start thinking about ghouls, ghosts, fun, and childhood. 

This year Max will be one and we will have our first Trick or Treat in the new neighborhood.  Last year I made Max his very first costume, this Pumpkin Costume.  Let's just say it was way too big for my 2 month old son.  Well it fits just fine now, with the addition of a new, bigger, hat, click here for original post Max's First Halloween. Well, yesterday I made a new hat and then I just kept on going.  I had some leftover white fleece from a project about a year ago.  I just so happened to be channeling my ghoulish self.  So much that I made this new Ghost Costume.

Keeping with the the theme of Halloween.  Last week I started making a few new items. Those cute Monsters from the last blog, well I was making toys and I just kept on going.  Let's just say they were a huge hit with Max, who is teething like a banshee these days.  He was rotating between chewing, shaking(they are rattles), and kicking them.  When I took them away to photograph them he was not too happy about it.  They were soon returned with a new trick or treat bag to hold them all together.  I have a feeling these are going to go everywhere with us over the next 2 months. 

Well, I guess if we are working backwards today I should end with this item.  Last week's orders wiped me out of certain lantern colors, so I had to order more.  So I took a chance and ordered Black.  Not a usual choice for me, but I think it looks amazing in this Halloween Inspired Balloon Mobile.  All items listed in this blog post are available at my ETSY shop.  Click any link to start shopping.

Have I mentioned I love Halloween?  See you soon! Pleasant Nightmares....

3 More Projects and 2 More Orders This Week

 I feel so accomplished, and it's only Tuesday! This weekend my wonderful husband took charge of baby Max along with the household chores which allowed me an afternoon in the Studio.  A few weeks ago my mom requested two custom block sets.  My mom has been looking for a set similar to the sets my brother and I had as children.  She requested colorful 3" square foam blocks.  She used to shove them into our diaper bags, I still have one.



Monday night my wonderful husband came home announcing the birth of a coworkers son.  He politely asked if I could make a gift set for the newborn baby and parents.  I had a great time whipping this set up.  I've had the Monster fabric since before Max was born and have been waiting to use it.  Unfortunately I have discovered that I am now out of yellow fabric.  I also became aware that my favorite two support fabrics, the blue filigree and the green polka-dots have dried up.  I only have a few small square pieces left.  I wonder what I can use them for next?  Any suggestions?
 Gift sets coming to ETSY this Summer! 

Easter is just around the corner and since I have been so busy making blocks for my niece and son, I figured I should make something for my other niece.  She came for a visit in February and I whipped up this hat, all except the ears.  She loved this hat and it was hard to get her to leave it.  So yesterday I added the bunny ears and this morning I mailed it.  I hope she loves it as much as she did before!  Some of you might be thinking; Silly Janie, don't you know it's spring and we don't need hats anymore?  Well my response is a girl always needs a hat... ad she lives in Maine!

This week I have had two orders for Gift Sets!  Hooray for babies!  One gender neutral set and one little girl set coming up.  Coming to ETSY soon.

3 Burp Cloths = $24.00

or

2 Burp Cloths & 1 Receiving Blanket + $30.00

email janiegirlcrafts@gmail.com or request custom item at http://www.janiegirlcrafts.etsy.com/