MIA...

I feel like it's been a month since I have posted anything new on my blog. I have been busy, I promise. I'm not just slacking =) I've been missing my blog, but trying my best to create a balance with my family {first}, time with my hubs, every day errands, house projects, friends and then my crafty time. It a tough line to walk...the balancing act is even tougher. So, in effort to have the balance I need to keep our life in order I have stepped back from the blog for just a bit. I think I have found the balance I need...keeping my fingers crossed =)

So, in the past couple weeks I have been busy with a couple projects and working on the backyard with Brian, running around with McKenna and just keeping up on all the every day nonsense. I love the every day nonsense though =) It's what keeps me sane!

So, this weekend I worked on a bridal shower gift for a friend. My sister, Callie's, best friend is getting married in August. Yesterday was the first (of a few) of her bridal showers. The bride to be is crafty and super creative so it was fun creating something for her. There was a theme for the gifts for this shower...I thought that was very cool. The bride to be and her fiancee love to entertain so the gift theme was "entertaining" So the gifts could be anything they can use to entertain their friends and family. She also loves all things nautical, vintage, Louis and Clark adventure-ish kind of stuff(she is a high school history teacher). The actual theme to her wedding is also very cool...expedition couture {I think I got that right...I might be off with the expedition part}. The wedding will be fabulous and absolutely gorgeous because of all her creative ideas and her vision.

So, here is what I came up with for her gift...it was fun!

Nautical/couture inspired napkin rings and handmade linen dinner napkins

These were so fun to make and were loved by the bride to be! Yess! I love it when a plan comes together =) {in the words of Hannibal off of the A-Team}

I love giving and receiving gifts that have creative details on the packaging. Knowing that this bride is creative I tried to get creative on the outside of the package as well.

{inside the box...they are all so pretty put together}

For the outside packaging I tried to keep it in the colors of her wedding and the feel for her wedding so I used Navy blue, gray and white.

Here is what I used for the packaging:

1) Box from IKEA. 2)Navy blue ribbon from Michael's. 3) paper flowers {tutorial found here http://jonesdesigncompany.com/} 4) fabric flower (tutorial found at the same link as before} and Wha La! A beautifully wrapped gift box! Love it!

Be careful...those paper flowers are addicting! Once you make them they start sprouting up all over your house and your neighbors!

The fabric flower is my favorite! I have made a couple of these {in smaller size} for hair clips also. Adorable!! I have also seen them much bigger sewn on throw pillows. I have to try that. I'm in need a of a few throw pillows for my bed...and livingroom...and McKenna's room...

The silver button is actually a brad that I had in my scrapbook stash! I love it when I finally find a purpose for those sweet little embellishments laying around. Thanks to the bride to be for having a bridal shower so I could use it up!!!

This picture is a little blurry, but I wanted you to see it from the end. These IKEA boxes are awesome for wrapping gifts! It's like a gift in a gift since it can be used again for storage...or give giving =)