Vanilla Bean Designs

New site and Free Valentine Photo Cards...

Redirect your bookmarks...  http://www.vanillabeandesigns.com will be NO MORE on February 18th.  We can now be found at

  http://www.vanillabean-designs.blogspot.com   ... with a fresh new spin.

Laura, my creative partner, has found a home in another of her creative hobbies.  Check out her work at http://www.laurawatsonphotography.com

She's incredible.  If you need portraits... and happen to be in the Houston area (or maybe Austin if you ask REALLY, REALLY nice)... she's your gal.

Although, I'll miss the lending of her creative talents to VBD... I'm quite enjoying the perks of having a photographer best friend. 

I'm companion oriented, by nature, and never like to do anything alone... so...

enter Suzanne, my devoted big sister,  BFF, kindred spirit... and scary, party hat wearing clown with the blue wig.(... circa 1986.)

We found a common creative interest when searching for  birth announcements and holiday photo cards, only to find the cute ones where WAY too expensive and the affordable ones were SOOO not cute or original. 

Short story, shorter...

vanillabean-designs will now be offering a selection of digital photo cards, invitations, and announcements.

Visit our new 'bean blog'... http://www.vanillabean-designs.blogspot.com ... to see them.

Just in time for Valentine's day... we're offering some designs for you to download FREE.

Just add your digital photo and have printed at your favorite spot.

Snag the free files at our new site...  

http://www.vanillabean-designs.blogspot.com

of the template downloads of these super cute VBD valentines:

              

  

Toddler friendly gift tags...

Piles of presents and they all belong to me... is what has to be running the the head of a toddler at Christmas.  To get my 18 month old and her 2 year old cousin involved in the present passing this year, I made these:

 

(I did them in Photoshop Elements with digital scrapbook products by  Lauren Grier and Shawna Clingerman and KimB's cute elf-a-bet alpha freebie.)

You could easily add to: and from: text on the photo in any photo editing/storing program and print them out on your computer. Print multiple small photos on a page by selecting the wallet print option in your printer settings or by inserting the photos into a Word document.

Or for those who like to kick it old school... just print out the photos and glue them to cute Christmas papers or tags and add stickers, ribbon, glitter, etc.  You could even get the kids involved as a fun craft project to make the tags for brothers, sisters, or cousins.

As a girl who likes options... let me offer another to those completely against the digital age.  Cut faces out of those unframeable shots you already have printed that are too far away, have flaws or blurs or squirrel faces, but at least one salvageable smiling cutie.

Christmas crafts for kids...

My daughter got to make 3 super cute Christmas crafts last week thanks to my new friend and craft queen, Shanna.  So, here they are... and easy enough to do today!

Icing Christmas tree... edible decoration (your's WILL look prettier... keep in mind she's under 2)

Supplies: ice cream cones, can of white icing, green food coloring, candy ornaments (marshmallows, m&m's, sweettarts, smarties, gumdrops, redhots, sprinkles, etc.)

1. Mix food coloring with icing to make it green

2. turn the cone upside down on a plate

3. spread icing all over the cone

4. decorate the tree with candy

5. enjoy... my daughter takes an ornament off everytime she passes it

Lid ornaments... full of  kitschy charm

Supplies: lid from old container, school glue, random baubles (sequins, buttons, beads, noodles, crayons etc.)

1. fill a lid with glue up to the top.

2. place sequins, buttons, etc. in the glue

3. allow to dry completely

4. poke a hole through the top

5. tie with ribbon

 

Detergent Snowman... cute and he smells good too

Supplies: detergent, cloves, sticks, sequins or buttons, toothpicks

1. mix dry flake detergent with water to make a paste

2. let your child roll 3 balls, big, medium, and small (paste dries quickly so work fast)

3. use a toothpick to keep the balls together

4. let your child decorate him:  dried cloves as the eyes, pre-gathered sticks for arms, sequins or buttons for buttons, etc.

Bibs from BEBE AU LAIT... am I dreaming?

 

Not since my 'hooter hider' was the cutest thing in my post-pregnancy wardrobe, have I thought that Bebe Au Lait could get any better.  Though nursing is a thing of the past for me (until the next one shows up)...  I still have a messy baby.

Just in time for Christmas... they've introduced their

latest stroke of genius ... the double bib.

I can remember, not so long ago, walking through a fancy baby store and purchasing a $20+ bib just for the cute fabric... only to get it home and filthy and read "DO NOT WASH... damp cloth only."  It was ruined in less time than it took to get it home from the store.  This bib comes in the super cute fabrics ... but gives you 4 chances to use it and then can be washed!  The best part is that there are no food trapping velcro to clean out... magnets only.

 

To make it EVEN better... Bebe Au Lait is having their first ever sale (through Monday Dec. 1st midnight)... so go stock up!

Up for grabs...

 

 

30 days is a super cool site that features collections of tutorial links for making your own crafts of all kinds.  I have it on my Google Reader and have a ton of her links bookmarked to try out when I get a chance.  I especially love her holiday collections... can't wait to see the Christmas stuff she finds! Mique also does giveaways on Mondays from certain featured sellers of handmade goods. 

Today... it's us. The two  pieces above... 3 if by Sea and Pink 'Pair' Tree are up for grabs to a lucky commenter on this post by tomorrow :

http://thirtyhandmadedays.blogspot.com/2008/11/little-late.html

(a goof from me gives you only one day to do so... but that's better odds for winning with less time for more comments right? so go comment...  QUICK!)

Bows-oh, is that all?

Making your own bows is really more intimidating than it is difficult.  At the rate we lose the ones put in my toddler's hair, I hate to spend too much money on the everyday ones.  Here is a simple way I make bows for my daughter.

Gather your supplies: cute ribbon, clear mini pony-tail elastics, craft glue or hot glue gun, clips (available 100 for $4 at Sally's Beauty Supply), foam 'no slip' cabinet liner (available at wal mart or hardware stores), thinner ribbon for bow's center, buttons or accessories for finishing

Start by making a loop at one end of your ribbon.  Decide the width of your bow by making another loop on the other side and hold in the center.

Then, make an 'X' shape with another set of loops

Pinch the ribbon 'x' in the middle to make a bow shape.

Double loop the clear rubber band around the center of the bow and make final bow arrangement.

Cut a small piece of thin ribbon in a coordinating color to be the bow center.  Glue one end and hold.

Glue the other end in place, trim excess and allow to dry.  I like to use an extra clip to hold it tight while it dries.

While drying, prepare a thin ribbon strip with glue. Start at one end of the ribbon near the inside hinge of the clip.  Continue wrapping the gluey strip of ribbon around the clip, ending near the inside hinge of the clip on the other side. ** Be sure to account for the ribbon needed to expandwhen the clip is released.**  I use several spare clips to hold the ribbon in place while it dries.

 

To make the clip 'no slip' for fine baby hair.  Use a small strip of foam no-slip shelf liner glued to the inside of the clip.

Get as creative as you want with various ribbons and accessories and create handmade bows to match your daughter's favorite outfits.

It's show time...

Vanilla Bean Designs will be showing off our original artwork and handmade gifts at the 'Labor of Love' Craft Show. (Probably our first and last craft show... but hey, its for a good cause... and we're getting in some reunion time in the city where the magic happened.)

Hillcrest Baptist Church

3838 Steck Ave.

Friday 10/24  9-7

Saturday 10/25  9-4

 

If you're an Austinite and want to forget the online fees and shipping charges... We've made tons of new mint tin magnet sets just in time for Christmas gifts, tiny canvas ornament/gift toppers... and here are just a few of the new art pieces we will be selling:

Finally cash in those free photobook coupons...

Every time I open my email... it seems I have a free photobook waiting at one of the online photo printing services I use... especially when you sign up for a new account.

Here are a few I have used:

www.snapfish.com

www.shutterfly.com

www.artscow.com

These free coupon codes usually only last a short time and always seem to expire on me... because I don't have any idea which photos to put in book form.  With Christmas coming up... what a creative way to save money and make a truly unique gift.

Using pictures you already have:

-make a child's personal family photo album. Use and label pictures of family   (like grandparents or cousins that they don't see everyday)

-find out your child's favorite subject (ex: dogs)  and collect pictures from the internet

-make a themed timeline book from your photo stash ... like Halloween costumes that your child has worn or first days of school or Christmas mornings

Easy picture taking around the house:

-make a book of your child's favorite things around your house (for example: pacifier, cake, doll,)

-take pictures of your child making faces (sad, happy, surprised, silly...)

For those with a little more time on their hands...

here are some fun learning projects to do WITH your kid:

-go on a color hunt with your child and camera and make a color book

-go on an abc hunt with your camera (keep in mind most photo books charge for more than 20 pages... so you may have to double up on a few)

-go on an animal/bug hunt around your home to see what else lives where you live

-find examples of opposites (like hot/cold, dirty/clean, big/small, heavy/light...)

Bird with The Word...

As you may have guessed... birdies are one of my favorite subjects.  After filling my daughter's room with birdie art, wouldn't you know she is obsessed with DOGS.

Obviously... it hasn't stopped me.  'Lullaby Birdie' is the latest VanillaBean design, a 16x20 acrylic and collage piece on canvas that features a plethora of pretty pinks and a verse special to most moms. 

 

It could also be sweet with no words or a simple monogram or name in the lower right corner.

Toddler Tub Terror Turned ...

Picasso? 

Art time with my toddler usually consists of a coloring sheet and one highly supervised crayon... which inevitably becomes a snack. Until now...that is. I must rave about the Crayola Bathtub crayons, which fulfill my toddler art responsibilities and  have brought new vigor into the words  'time for your bath'. 

My toddler loves to scribble on the blank canvas of the bathtub while I scrub and rinse.  Usually, Mom and Dad can't resist picking up one, too.  Here is a little 'self portrait' that Dad worked up with a few finishing touches from a 1 year old.

When it's time to pull the plug, a simple wet washcloth or splash and fingers erases any sign of the fun! Then they can drip dry in their little plastic tray.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this product!