Monkeys and owls and giraffes....oh my!

I have to admit that I am one of those annoying guests at baby showers that does not bring what is on the registry. I now know it is annoying cause it happened to me when my daughter was born. :o) However, this time I may have stumbled on to something wonderful!
While trying to figure out what custom item I could make for my yet-to-arrive-nephew, I struggled with feeling creative enough to make something that would be cute enough for his nursery. My sister-in-law has created the most adorable nursery in different shades of blues and greens and browns. It is modern, streamlined but oh so cozy. I love it! Now could I produce something that would fit that decor? I did not think so.
However, when my family and I were helping with some of the renovations in their house, my sister-in-law wanted me to make a bed skirt for the crib. That I could do! But I loved the fabric so much and the accents of jungle animals that I became inspired to make handmade stuffed animals. I wanted my new little nephew to have something made special just for him!
I went online to sort through ideas and and to grab some extra inspiration and I fell in love with a few animals and then was able to create my own style from the bigillion that I saw. After a day of drawing, cutting, sewing and stitching I had one monkey, one giraffe and two owls for my nephew's room! Tell me what you think!

Homemade Stuffed Animals

 I did not do a step-by-step instruction for this but they are pretty simple. I drew pictures of what I wanted then built off of that idea! I added details from different ideas that I researched and this is how my homemade stuffed animals turned out!
Can you imagine the hours of imagination and play going on in that little boy's room? Oh to be a fly on the wall!
Go squeeze a favorite stuffed animal and have an awesome day!
Sarah

A tisket, a tasket....

"Hand over the chocolate and no one gets hurt!"
Any one who knows me well knows that I need chocolate to survive. Some people have to have coffee to function...me, I NEED chocolate! In my mind, chocolate is Batman and coffee is Robin. (I should get woman cards for using guy movie references!).

So naturally, when asked to create a basket for some very stressed out people, I went for a chocolate themed basket. And to appease those of you that are saying "Where is the COFFEE?" I managed to add chocolate's sidekick. :o)
And you all are going to love me because I combined chocolate, coffee and threw in brownies just for effect!

Here is what you need to create a Stress Relief Basket:
A medium to large basket ( I got mine at Goodwill)
5 Coffee mugs (I used 5 because there were 5 people receiving the basket.)
Confetti stuffing (The crinkled kind)
A piece of fabric that you can lay in the basket
Coordinating colored tissue paper 
A Tag with basket name on it (i.e. Stress Relief Basket)
A small plastic bowl
Twirl sticks (you can get them in the floral department)
Goodies
-brownies
-candy
-chocolate wafer sticks
-instant cappuccino packets (one for each cup)
-biscotti
-chocolate bars
*(Note) Depending on your basket, some goodies you get may not fit

 To start, put the fabric in the basket and have it drape over the edges and then put the confetti stuffing on the bottom of the basket, layering it to cover the bottom. Use enough to fill the basket halfway.

 Next, stuff your coffee mugs with tissue paper, a cappuccino packet, biscotti, three chocolate wafer sticks and candy (or what ever you decided to use).

 Place mugs in basket (mine ended up being stuffed in because my basket was a little too small). Leave room for the small plastic bowl to sit in the front of the basket or in the middle of the basket.

Fill the bowl with bite sized brownies. Place chocolate bars behind the brownie bowl.

Place twirly sticks randomly around the basket and you are done!!!
Idea- to give the basket a professional look, wrapped with clear or colored cellophane paper.

You now have a fantastic basket that will bring much needed relief...or continue someone's addiction to chocolate. :o)

Have chocolate filled day!

Sarah

P.S. Here is something to tickle your sweet tooth! 

 HUNGRY FOR SOME CHOCOLATE HUMOR?

1. WHEN NO ONE UNDERSTANDS YOU, CHOCOLATE IS THERE.

2. SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT CHOCOLATE MAKES ONE WEAK.

3.  I AM NOT OVERWEIGHT. I AM CHOCOLATE-ENRICHED.

4. EINSTEIN WAS EATING CHOCOLATE WHEN HE CAME UPON THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY.

 5. THE 12-STEP CHOCOHOLICS PROGRAM: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!

6. LIFE WITHOUT CHOCOLATE IS NO LIFE AT ALL.

7. CHOCOLATE IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY, AND YOU DON'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT.

8. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD FRIEND, EXCEPT A GOOD FRIEND WITH CHOCOLATE.

9. CHOCOLATE DOESN'T MAKE THE WORLD GO AROUND. BUT IT CERTAINLY MAKES THE TRIP WORTHWHILE.

10.  SO MUCH CHOCOLATE. SO LITTLE TIME!

11. THERE ARE TWO FOOD GROUPS: CHOCOLATE AND FRUIT. AND IF IT IS FRUIT, IT SHOULD BE DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE.

12. THERE IS NO CHOCOLATE'S ANONYMOUS BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO QUIT.

13. WHO SAYS CHOCOLATE ISN'T A FOOD GROUP!!

14. ONE OF LIFE'S MYSTERIES IS HOW A TWO-POUND BOX OF CANDY CAN MAKE A PERSON GAIN FIVE POUNDS.

15. IN THE COOKIES OF LIFE, FRIENDS ARE THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS.

16. LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. . . FULL OF NUTS.

17. I WOULD GIVE UP CHOCOLATE, BUT I'M NO QUITTER.

18. MAN CANNOT LIVE BY CHOCOLATE ALONE, BUT IT SURE IS FUN TRYING.