Cyber Monday!

So...you've been out and about all weekend, striving to find those perfect gifts at the perfect prices, right? And now that you're completely exhausted from the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving AND Black Friday, you {and your feet} should heartily welcome "Cyber Monday." What's that mean for you, you ask? Ways to score FREE SHIPPING, FREE GIFTS and DISCOUNTS at Adam's Blankie and Gourmet Play! You better head over now, though - these deals will only last 24 hours starting...NOW!

(Check shop announcements at the tops of the shops for details on how to score these deals!)

By the way, if you'd like to purchase the beautiful swag (or other similars) shown above, just head on over to www.twoinspireyou.etsy.com. They have some absolute holiday lovelies there!

Make Your Own Memory Board: FREE Tutorial

So I have always wanted to put up a gloriously plush memory board in my office for things that inspire me, and I actually got around to it this past month and wanted to share the process with you. These would be great for your own office, playroom or kitchen and would look absolutely adorable with your fave kids' pics (or kids schedules, notes to husband, meal planning, etc.) posted up on them. They also make great Christmas gifts, if you're looking for something creative you can make that's relatively low on cost but high on style and meaning. Afterall, I'd rather have a beautiful way to display all my treasured memories and inspirational items as opposed to the trite & ordinary dry erase board or fridge, wouldn't you?

Materials Required:
picture frame (with matting and picture - premade)
glue/glue gun and/or mounting tape
fabric
batting
ribbon or trim
staple gun
cork board squares

1. So, instead of starting from scratch, since I'm not much of a woodworker (although if you are handy with wood, you could build your own frame and board, too) I bought a pre-made picture with frame (find clearance deals! I found mine at Kirkland's) and removed the picture box from the front. (You'll probably just end up finding a plain 2D picture, but the frame I found, which was the large size I wanted, actually was 3D, so I needed to remove the 3D object first).

2. I then glued on all my cork board squares (my picture frame (about 24"x24" square) fit all 4 cork board pieces perfectly, but you may have to trim them if you're using a smaller picture frame). I decided to add some mounting tape to each piece, as well, for added security.





3. Next I cut the batting and fabric, making it overlap the size of the frame by about an inch on all 4 sides. The batting went on first, and the fabric went over it. (Note: The batting isn't necessary, but I wanted an extra plush, rich look). I pulled the layers taut over the cork boards and used a staple gun to attach to the back of the frame.

(this side with the print is actually the back-side of the board)

4. I then added my trim (or you could use ribbon) on my board. I started with a large "x" (using 2 separate pieces of trim) that went through the center of my board, and then made a diamond shape (using 4 separate pieces of trim) with the trim over my "x" (see pictures). I used the staple gun to secure the ends to the back of my frame corners.



5. Then it was just time to put the board back into the actual frame. Once in place, I added some staples from my staple gun to the sides of the frame in the back, right behind my board and around all 4 sides, to keep the board in place. And voila! A new memory board! Now just time to "doll up" with my motivational items, pictures and more!

BLACK FRIDAY!

Sooo...are you preparing for shopping all day long? Or are you like me, and try to avoid the crowds and stores as much as possible on Black Friday? I hear that Westcor Malls are opening Friday "morning" at midnight...are they serious? I could see myself shopping for an hour at midnight and going to bed afterwards instead of getting up for the day at 3:00 a.m., I guess. How 'bout you? How does your typical Black Friday go?

If you are like me, and instead of facing huge crowds instead like to shop from home (i.e., the internet, eBay, Etsy), then be sure to check out our store tomorrow! We'll be starting our Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving Day instead this year! Enjoy FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100, up to 60% off already clearanced items (our "sale" category in the upper-right hand corner), and 20% off all regular-priced items (excluding stroller blankies) when you spend at least $50!!*

*If the items haven't already been marked down, please convo/email me first to change the pricing for you before checking out! Also, if you'll be ordering over $100 in merchandise, convo/email me then, too, so that I can delete all shipping fees before you checkout! You can send messages via Etsy or email me at adamsblankie@gmail.com.

One last thing...mention you're a blog follower upon checkout and receive a FREE GIFT with your purchase!

See you tomorrow! :)

Pray for Kate.

So I realize this is a holiday week, and I've been getting all excited about bringing you great ideas and toys for the holiday season, but I really felt the need to bring a deeper and more important topic to you tonight...something to think about, reflect on, & pray about over the next days, weeks, or even months....

The story is about a little girl in our church who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor this past summer. She has been undergoing chemotherapy and seemingly unending weeks in the Phoenix Children's Hospital since July. The good news? How many lives she's already touched and changed! All through a 5-year old...amazing. What can you do to help (besides prayer, of course)? Contribute to their "Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas" event!! It will provide at least some temporary joy to the children in the oncology unit this December who are spending their holidays in a hospital...can you imagine? Check our their site here. And above all else, let's remember to be grateful for all our blessings and each and every day we're given here on earth....

You Ask, You Shall Receive...PATTERNS!

A lovely Wednesday morning to you all, I hope!

I can't remember the last time I was this excited about something (other than my pregnancy, of course!)... I wanted to share with you our EXCITING news that both our Gourmet Play and Adam's Blankie stores will now be offering our in very high demand {and very economical!) PATTERNS! That's right, now YOU can have the same couture & toys but at a fraction of the cost (most will be a mere $5 per pattern!) by making them yourselves and without the cost of shipping, as well! And once you have the pattern (emailed to you within 48 hours of purchase), you can use them to make the items over and over again...sweet. And we'll also have a Fabric Kit option available for most patterns just in case you want to save even more time by not having to go to a store for fabric, not to mention having access to our fabulous designer fabrics! Of course, you'll still have the option to purchase the goodies already made by me, but this gives you some options...which are always good to have.

We have a few items listed already and will be adding more and more every week! My goal is to have at least half our items available as patterns, so I'll be a busy gal! This will, of course, allow me to have some "rest" once baby girl arrives in March (because YOU'LL be doing the sewing instead of me!), which was a huge part of the inspiration, along with my desire to share my creativity with you!

These are absolutely FABULOUS for the upcoming (or maybe it's officially already here?! that's up for debate, I guess...) holiday season, by the way, and also for birthday parties and baby showers naturally!

Our first ones that are already up and ready to be purchased include our Paper Bloom Balls (a folkcraft I learned from my Mom who used to make them when she was a little girl!), Owie-All-Gone bags, bean bags & shaped crayons! They are beginner level sewing (no sewing involved for the crayons, of course!), so, YES, you can DO IT! :) Up next? Tooth Fairy Pillows & Sachet Kits!!

paper bloom balls

shaped {snowflake} crayons

owie-all-gone bags

bean bag set

NOW...HERE'S YOUR INCENTIVE!
To aid in our progression over to a pattern-friendly store, I'd like to know a few things...now just hang with me a second...because if you participate in my little questionnaire, I'll offer THREE LUCKY WINNERS ONE FREE PDF PATTERN EACH (You MUST enter your name/email at the end of the survey to be entered)! Click here for our survey! And THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support and time!

BLACK FRIDAY!

Just wanted to make sure you stop by both our Gourmet Play and Adam's Blankie stores on BLACK FRIDAY (November 27th), as we will be having lots of DEALS! It's a great way to kick off your holiday shopping, and all from the comfort of your home. See you then!!

Baby Girl's Nursery.

So I've just begun trying to figure out how to decorate our baby-girl-to-be's nursery. Which is late for me, considering I had our son's all ready to go by the time I was 5 months pregnant with him. Amazing what a pint-sized toddler wreaking havoc on your day can do to your effectiveness (or the lack thereof, rather)! So I plan to post pictures once the room is complete, but for now I'll just give you a sneak peek at some of the ideas I plan to implement into the room. I plan on doing a pink, black, cream & green theme with paprika accents. That might sound like a bit much to you, but I think it will work well (the inspiration comes from the bedding I will be making from Amy Butler's luscious Lotus line!).

here's a frame I just made this past weekend...love the rhinestone accents & distressing around the edges...

a little bird art...can't go without an adorable birdcage...

one of the many fabulously fun paper flower balls I plan to hang from the ceiling

I'm thinking I'll use this cute egg crate (from {Anthropologie} ~ get one while they last!) for jewelry or hair bows/pins or something of that nature...

this chandelier is just for inspiration, as I have yet to find an old chandelier to spray paint and redo myself...anyone for ideas on where to find such a piece besides hitting a lucky garage sale?!

And below is a picture of my son's nursery (it basically looks the same now, except that he has a different dresser and toddler bed instead of the crib ~ that's the beauty of using "non-baby" themes for a nursery, I guess!). You may recognize it, as I had posted an image of it before, since the bedding was put on the Etsy Baby Gift Guide earlier this year!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme.

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?
*slouchy boots
*organization to our "new" office/craft room/music room/toy room (due to new baby girl on
the way! well worth it!!)
*additions to my china collection
*health & happiness of my family
*and, most importantly, more time in the day (not possible, I know, but still...I can wish!)

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
*Christmas flannel pajamas from my fabulous mom!

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
*jewelry frame

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
*a 2' dollhouse

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
*basketball hoop

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
*snickerdoodle cookies -- mmmm, mmmm good!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
*well, this list could go on and on, but I'm really striving for at least a couple
hair bow display boards, a jewelry frame, play food & baby blocks.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
*Elf

9. Favorite holiday song?
*really, there are so many...but let's go with "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" -
always a fantastic choice to kickstart the season!

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
*setting up (and adding to!) our Christmas village

Now it's your turn to share...

Christmas Family Photos.

So are you one of the thousands of families who does an annual family photo to send to friends and family at Christmas time? Ours is. And probably much to my husband's disapproval, but, hey, I like all the traditions of Christmas, and this is one I'm not about to give up. (Afterall, I love receiving them from other people, and the only way to stay on their list is to send them one yourself, right??) Well, it's really the annual letter I send with the picture that really boggles him, I think. Having been brought up in the midwest, he tells me the letter must be a midwest thing, but I'm not so sure. So you gotta let me know if your family does these, too, and that way I can set him straight! :) And while you're at it, how do you display yours? Like the above picture? In a basket? I'd love to hear! Anyway, if you are one of those families, it's about that time to get your family Christmas photos underway, if you haven't yet started that whole process (only 6 weekends left before the arrival!).

So our family is a big fan of taking the pictures ourselves (the last couple years, we've just used the self-timer on our basica camera and gotten some great results out in nature), but of course, you can always line up a professional or a friend who's a natural with photography.

From that point on, I like to use my good friend, Astraea, who is much more tech-savvy than me and does a fantastic job bringing your family portrait to the peak of greatness! If you're looking for some affordable, one-of-a-kind photos, be sure to check Announce This out (click "Holiday Greetings" at the top for samples).

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread.

So with the holidays here, I wanted to bring you some good eats to share with your family. And what better than the beloved (at our house anyway!) holiday pumpkin. The good news? It tastes fantastic! The better news? It not only sneaks a vegetable (i.e., pumpkin) into it, but my son absolutely LOVES it!

1 1/4 C vegetable oil
2 cups pumpkin puree (canned)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 (4 serving size) packages instant pudding (try butterscotch, coconut or vanilla)
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

In a large bowl, mix together oil, pumpkin, sugars, pudding mixes, cinnamon and salt. Slightly beat the eggs, and mix into the batter. Mix in flour and baking soda until just combined. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips, if desired. Spread batter into 2 greased and floured 9x5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until tester inserted into center comes out clean.

I like to keep ours in a gallon zip-lock bag in the fridge. It will last longer, and it sets up perfectly when chilled. Then just toss the extra loaf in the freezer and pull out when company arrives, or you just need another slice for yourself!

If you try this one out, let me know how you like it! Happy baking!

Adorable Gifts for Every Kid

Believe it or not, it's time to start shopping for Christmas gifts...I know, I know...it doesn't seem possible. But trust me. It is!

For those fantastic kiddos in your life, why not spread the love to some beloved small businesses by buying handmade? Parents.com has featured several different Etsy shops (if you're not familiar with Etsy, it's a site centered around all things handmade, and the talent there is quite amazing, if I do say so myself!) that are worth your checking out. They have a list for baby gifts, and also one for kids.

Our own Gourmet Play's (www.gourmetplay.etsy.com) "green eggs & ham" have been featured, and we couldn't be more excited! Here's what Parents.com had to say about them:

For the Petite Foodie
"Prove that green eggs and ham do exist with this clever felt meal. Each item is made with felt and stuffed with fiberfill for a puffy, lifelike look. Our favorite feature? Each set comes packaged in a cellophane bag with designer fabric and tag so there's no gift wrap needed."
So stop by today and let us know what you think! But hurry - we can only guarantee delivery by Christmas for all orders placed by December 10th!

Happy shopping!

Gobble Gobble.

Thanksgiving is definitely thee holiday that gets totally overlooked, isn't it? Poor thing...sandwiched right between Halloween and Christmas...what terrible timing. So let's not forget it this year...it is such a great time to teach our children the meaning of appreciation and, well, giving thanks, afterall.

Below are a few darling crafts I stumbled upon (courtesy of parents.com) that I find to be fresh and fun. Go ahead and try a couple out with your kiddos. I've posted directions for making my favorite, which is the turkey made with yarn. What's yours?


Yarn Turkey (upper right hand corner, above)
How to make it: Cut a 1-inch sliver off the bottom of a 9-inch polystyrene ball. Wrap sphere neatly in thick dark-brown yarn, covering surface completely; knot on bottom. Make a 4-inch ball from light-brown yarn and attach to body with a wooden craft stick. Create simple facial features using felt: white circles (approximately the size of a quarter, with 1/8-inch pom-poms for pupils) for eyes, yellow triangles for the beak, and long red felt teardrops as the wattle. Cut feather shapes from colored craft paper and bend in half lengthwise to create seam. Glue wooden craft stick to the bottom third of the feather and insert in a fan shape on turkey body.


The adorable little plymouth rocks placecard rocks (above left upper corner) are also fabulous and a great way to keep the little ones entertained while you slave away in the kitchen!! They'll simply love creating and being able to add their own masterpieces to the "adult table"!

Want instructions for the rest? Visit here.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Relaunch of Haute Tot Couture!!!

So we closed down our Haute Tot Couture shop for a while to redesign some of our mod kids' couture clothing, and I think you're going to love it!

Below are some of the items, most of which can be customized for any size from 3 months to 6 years old. Take a peek and let me know what you think!!

As a grand reopening special, any blog follower will receive a FREE GIFT with any purchase made from November 5th - November 12th! Just remember to leave note upon checkout mentioning the grand reopening special!!