Craftiness!

Today I was very crafty and I loved every minute of it! I got out my sewing machine and went to town...

First I made this lovely bed for the pup! Doesn't he look comfortable?

Then I made this apron looking thing...its for me to wear, but its for the dog really. I learned in one of our obedience classes that its easier to have the treats in a bag or something so you can keep your hands free. It also helps him learn to do the trick without being distracted by looking at the treat. Now I just need to start working with him again. I also made myself a jewelry holder. Its just a cork board that I covered in fabric and hung on the wall. My necklaces and earrings always get tangled up and I can't find them. Now I can see them and they are tangle free!

Here is an up close shot of the earring holder. Its just a piece of ribbon held on by two thumbtacks I made by modge-podging patterned paper to the back of a decorative marble thing and then gluing on a thumbtack. I also use those to hold the necklaces.
That's it for today...I wanted to make some jewelry too, but I got sleepy and took a nap instead. Oh well!

Some Cards Made By Me!

I thought I'd share some cards that I made recently. Okay, fine...at least in the last few months...

Above are wedding cards I made for Kim and Ty and Tracee and Justin. They were the couples that had their weddings on the same day in May. They are now married and they probably got my card with their lovely gift cards in them (even with a registry I still can't decide on a gift!).

The one for Kim and Ty on the left (duh!) was drawn in Paint Shop Pro and said something like "It was written in the stars..." or something. I had known from the first day I met Ty and saw him and Kim together, that they would end up together. That's why I had to make that card for them...they are my Luke and Loralei!

For Tracee and Justin, I used different patterns of paper and made a wedding cake. I didn't want to do a couple cake topper, because my cutting skills are not that great, so I made a flower topper. They actually were having cupcakes as their wedding cake, so i thought about putting a cupcake on the card, but I liked this better.



On the right are my Mother's Day cards I made for my mom, Mike's mom, and Mike's two grandma's. I think they turned out pretty cute...I like simple and I like flowers. Perfect for Mother's Day! This was my first time using scrap booking brads, which is what is on the corners of the cars in the upper left and lower right. I am used to using eyelets, which is used on the upper right card for the flower center. Eyelets are very loud...they don't look like it, but to set one I use a hammer and create the hole in the card (with multiple pieces of paper its tough!) and then put the eyelet in and again use the hammer to flatten the back of it so it stays in place...I love the outcome but hate the process because I know it bugs mike and the dog runs away from the room. Oops!

New Members!

Today was a very exciting day for Mike and I. We have been going to Church on Sundays at Zion Lutheran Church down the street from our house in St. Charles and were confirmed today and are now members of the Church!

I was baptized Catholic, but stopped going to Church regularly when we moved to Kansas. Mike was baptized Lutheran and was confirmed, but stopped going when he was in high school or college, so it was something we decided to do together. We have really enjoyed going on Sundays and decided we'd like to get married there as well. So with that being a good motivator, we decided to become members of the Church.

Its a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, so we took adult information classes for the past few months to learn about the Lutheran faith. Once that was done, we had our confirmation today in front of the congregation and everyone was so nice to congratulate us and welcome us. (We also go those nifty crosses above, so that was an extra bonus) We really want to get involved with Zion and help out where we can. We were asked if we wanted to join the choir, but had to decline, because that would make people quit the church! I'm hoping I can help out where I can with my art or crafting skills. And Mike likes to do manual labor, so if they need anything related to that, he's the man for the job.

Gotta have a theme!

I haven't been doing too much wedding planning because besides booking the ceremony and reception sites, there isn't much to do a year in advance. I have been talking with photographers, but that's about it. I am, however, doing lots of research on decorations and invitations. If you didn't know, I like being crafting and making things.

I think I like the idea of a wine theme wedding. I like the idea of a theme...otherwise all my decor will be quite random. Anywa, we are not having our reception at a winery or vineyard, but the place does have Venetian decor...and Venetian is from Venice, Venice is in Italy, and Italy has a lot of wine! Ha ha! I've been thinking about centerpieces lately, so I've been saving wine bottles just in case. (Guess we won't be drinking boxed wine for a while!) I could use the regular hurricane lamp with a candle the place provides, but it doesn't hurt to think of an alternative.

Here is an idea I came across for wine bottle centerpieces...I'd have to find a way to cut the bottle, but research has already began on that. Or I could just put flowers in a non-cut bottle...but I'd be afraid it would be too tall.

These are sold on a website, but if I wanted at least 10 of them, I don't want to pay $38 a piece and I think they will be fun to make anyway.

A few other ideas I have are to use wine bottles and put Christmas lights in them. I've seen this done a few times. I'd have to get battery operated Christmas lights though.

I still have a lot of time left. I will probably wait till the last minute anyway. Can I be a DIY bride...we'll see won't we...

Pop Art Beth

I just got a new computer and had them install paint shop pro. Its not as good as photoshop, but its about 1/1000000 of the price so it works for now. Tonight I found a tutorial online on how to create pop art. I thought it was neat and decided to find a picture. I feel pretty vain that I did one of myself, but I didn't want to put anyone else's picture up because it might embarrass them. I don't mind embarrassing myself.

Our Shimmy becomes a Denney

Kim and Ty's big day is finally here! Lets start it off by meeting at 7:30 and getting prettied up! Yay!

We went to the salon and Kim and the seven bridesmaids got hair and makeup done. It was a nice morning...we had plenty of munchies and lots of girl talk. Kim was super calm and looked beautiful with her hair up and make up on. She looked like a princess chillin out in her sweatshirt.

Once hair and makeup was done we went back to the hotel, but couldn't do too much. I had a lot of hairspray in, but not enough to go hang out on the beach! So I hung out in the hotel room chattin with Mike and it was finally time to put my dress on. I really liked it so was quite excited to wear it...Thank you Kim for not getting us BoPeep dresses like the one Rachel wore on Friends!

We got to the church and before long it was time for me to lead us all down the aisle. It was so great getting to stand up there with Kim and her friends. It was such a nice ceremony because Ty's grandpa performed it and he was able to add such personal touches. I was doing great and not even tearing up until Ty's grandpa started talking about how great the two are and how he's so happy Ty met Kim and how wonderful she was. I kept thinking, I think that too. They are both so great...so Luke and Lorelai. :)

After the ceremony, a few pics were taken and then it was time to board the trolley...only problem...its raining. So, Mr. Trolley guy has his umbrella so we were able to stay dry. We had enough hairspray to withstand a hurricane, but better safe than sorry.

On the trolley, we had to just wait and see what happened with the rain and enjoyed the ride...the Denny boys opened a few bottles of champagne and we drank to the newlyweds!

The rain luckily stopped and we were able to take pictures on the beach. It was gorgeous out, but pretty bright. I don't have any pictures from that, but will get them from Kim someday.

We got to the reception and had dinner, drinks...normal stuff...then the fun began...the dancing!!! I love to dance, by the way!


Kim and Ty started out with their first dance. They had everyone blow bubbles during the dance instead of after the ceremony and it was so magical!





After their sappy moment...the rest of us hit the dance floor. We stopped a few times to pose for pictures. Here are the Boeing geeks at the party...Nate, Kim, me, and Jenn.

I really enjoyed meeting Kim's friends...they are so much fun...here is a picture of me with Lara and Laura. I couldn't believe I was nervous I wouldn't have as much fun as I did because I wouldn't know anyone else in the bridal party! All the Illinois girls knew how to have fun!


Nate was all about dancing, so he and Kim showed us all how it was done!

Then of course was the normal bouquet and garter toss...guess who caught the garter?

The engaged guy! Not fair! Of course when I saw it was a San Diego Chargers garter, I lost it! I'm not a big fan because I'm not a Marty Shottenheimer fan after he left the KC Chiefs! Then after a while of whining about it, I remembered they fired him. Okay, so maybe I don't have to burn that thing!

After doing the electric slide, boot scoot, and bringing sexy back, we finally went to bed. It was such a long day and I knew we had to get up early the next day and drive home. All 12 hours of it! It was worth it though. Mike and I had a fantastic time marrying off our very own Kimmy Shimmy...who is now Kimmy Denny! Thanks for the great weekend! Hope our wedding is just as fun!

Day Before the Wedding

Friday morning I did not get up at 9:30 with everyone else to get nails done...thank goodness. We slept in because after the night before, I could not get out of bed!

Instead of a manicure I had to make a CVS run to get IB Profin...yeah, you can guess what that was for... allergy medicine and some other stuff we forgot. Can't go on vacation without leaving something at home!

I then met all the ladies for a luncheon at a cute restaurant in Fort Walton. Everyone was in a good mood, but you could tell who went out the night before by who got the champagne martinis and who got water or sweet tea!

It was a nice lunch...filled with fresh seafood meals. One meal was a bit too fresh from the sea...a whole fried soft shell crab on a sandwich. Hmm, when I usually eat a type of animal, I don't want to see it in its true form. I prefer to think its not from a animal that has been animated by Disney or something. So that was sent back and something less telling of what it was was ordered. I would've done the same thing!

Left: Lara, Kristen and I hanging at the beach before the rehearsal. Below: I am making Mike pose even though he'd rather be swimming in the water!

We were only able to hang out at the beach for less than an hour before we had to be to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Things went smooth , but I had learned that it is supposedly bad luck for the bride to rehearse at the rehearsal so we had to have a stand in. Good job Ellie!

Dinner was great at an Italian restaurant in town. I got the steak, but I wish I would've just ordered just the dessert plate. Yum! Dinner was filled with speeches and a few happy tears. Every speech began with, "We though Ty was crazy for moving all the way out to California to work at a base when we have Eglin Air Force Base, right here in town..." But they all ended with, "But we knew why he did it when we all met Kim." All together now...Ahhh!

After dinner we went to a bar called Helen Back (say it out loud to yourself and you will understand the name is not just a person's unfortunate name) with Lara (as in Lara Croft), Laura (as in normal Laura ;) ) and their beau's. We met up with the other Boeing people (Nate & Heather and Jenn & Mike) and had a few drinks.

While at the bar, we found a new game. Someone decided to attach a metal ring to a string on the ceiling and a hook on the wall. The point of the game was to swing the ring and get it on the hook. I'd fit in great down there because I'm easily entertained by stuff like that.

Off to bed...tomorrow is the big day!
(Didn't take too many pictures that day because I had to save battery for the big day!)