Moustache On A Stick

I've always wanted to try these photo booth props with a photo session. I was looking at them on Etsy and decided they would be way cheaper if I made them myself :) Since I already had the card stock, all I had to do was buy the sticks and find some templates, which I got from here. I told the kids they could have these ones if they posed for a picture with them. They are simple and cute, and I can't wait to use them on some upcoming Fall Mini Sessions! Flipping through the photos on my camera after I snapped a few gave us all a pretty good laugh!

Ok, time to take the kids outside to play before bath/bedtime! 

~Susan

Why Didn't I Think Of That?!?

Pinterest; for me, it's a love/hate relationship. I love it for the obvious: awesome ideas, yummy recipes, inspiring quotes, cute crafts and so on...I dislike it because it's addicting, it can make you question your own crafting skills, and it can really make you crazy with that constant "Wow, I really need to keep up with everyone else and try this {recipe/craft} like right now!" Do you know what I'm talking about? Also, how about that constant thought, "Why didn't I think of that?!"?
Well, I did find this super simple idea for me to do with my daughter that only required me to buy one thing, and would provide us an opportunity to work on something together :)
We made some mini lanterns out of Dixie cups and Christmas lights! That's it! Very simple and very cute! She enjoyed the project and the outcome, and most importantly, making something with mom :)
Here is what we came up with...now I know it would look WAY better with a string of white wire Christmas lights, but this is what we had, and, being 7, she really didn't care ;)

So, you take Dixie cups, mark an X at the bottom and cut with an Xacto knife and push light bulb through the X, and that's it! Cute, huh? These are the kinds of Pinterest ideas I love; simple, easy, inexpensive, creative and a good project to do with my kids.

What's your favorite new idea you have found on Pinterest?

~Susan

Mini Man Tie

It was in the  -20's here today, so there was no plan to step foot outside! I knew it was going to be a lazy Saturday, so I decided instead of sitting around on my laptop all day I needed a new sewing project. I saw a "pin" on Pinterest of a super cute photo of a newborn wearing a little tie. I knew I needed to have one (or two or three) for my newborn shoots! So, why not make one? If you have basic sewing skills then you can totally make this! It's pretty easy and the tutorial I found has very well put step by step instructions. The one I made is a newborn size, and this was the only "boyish" fabric I had that would work. When I was done I snapped a few photos so I could show you them on here. I wanted to see how it looked on my little man (he is by no means a newborn!) but of course he had just woken up from a nap and was in NO mood to have this foreign object around his neck, be half naked AND have pictures taken of him, but I couldn't resist! :) He was not happy with me, but some of the pictures are cute anyway. Like I said, I made the newborn size, and he is 1.5 years old, so it's probably a bit too small on him. Also, just a suggestion, next time I will make the strap a bit longer if I am making it for an older child, this one barely fit around his neck (even though it's adjustable) Here's an idea...if making this as a gift, you could iron on the letter of the child's first name on the front of the tie! That would be super cute! Also, I might be making more and adding them to my my Etsy shop, so keep an eye out!

Blessings!

~Susan

I can't believe it's mid January already, all the Christmas decorations in the stores are down and replaced with pink, red and white hearts galore. You know what this means, Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching! I saw on a friend's Facebook page and on Pinterest this super cute idea for an original and creative Valentine card for your kids to hand out to their classmates. (Also you can send them to grandma and grandpa, who you know would LOVE them!) So, I thought, hey, why not give them a try, I mean they do include a picture ;) I think they turned out really well. They are pretty simple, but what's best about them is since it's a photograph; it's an actual keepsake and not a flimsy piece of paper that will get thrown in the trash with the 30 other Valentine cards their friends get. There's a lot of ways to embellish them: your kids can sign their name, add stickers, use card stock that has patterns, stamps, glitter etc... These are the simple versions for posting purposes. When we actually make them all I'll let the kids get creative and spice them up a bit! 

                                       
                                                              Aren't they so cute?!?

If you live in the area and want these done, they are $20 for 20 cards, which include picture taken, printed, placed on card stock, and slits made for the lollipop (not included), each additional card in 50 cents. Just the picture taken in $10. Please feel free to email me at susan.wetlesen@gmail.com