KT Designs

A Very Merry Christmas To You!

2012-12-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

So it's been a while...

okay it's been like forever but who's really counting :)

I just wanted to send out a very Merry Christmas wish to all of you and wish you well in the New Year!

I also wanted to say that I'm really trying to get back into blogging because I love sharing my craftiness with you and reading all of your comments but I am truly struggling.

I'm struggling because of many reasons:

First, I am no longer able to add pictures to my blog because I'm over the limit and I really don't want to pay to add more pictures because I know that I will just use that space up and have to pay more.

So I'm at a crossroad right now as to what I should do.

Ideally, I would love to pay someone to create a blog for me where all I would have to do is sign in and write, but I'm not sure if I am serious enough about blogging to really reap the benefits of this and I really can't afford to spend the extra money on something that doesn't seem worthwhile.

Secondly, I have been working really hard trying to gather materials and create complete math units for my grade level as well as making original activities and all the manipulatives, worksheets, and games that go along with it. Sadly, I have put in over a year on one unit and still have 9 more to go. All ten units should be implemented by 2014 but I'm not sure how they are going to get finished in time. I have been working mostly at night while my son is asleep to finalize everything for the first unit and it has taken a toll on me because I no longer have the free time plus I'm not getting paid for creating this unit on my free time. Don't get me wrong, I actually like creating a curriculum but I'm only a part time teacher and sometimes the inequities where I work is very frustrating especially since I am working my tail off to make a fraction of what someone else is making doing a fraction of what I am doing. However, that rant is for another day.

Thirdly, I am desperately trying to make some extra money for my family by taking all my activities and games that I have been working on for the math units and uploading them to teacherspayteachers.com and my personal shop HERE. I am very pleased with the responses I have received and how much I have made so far but I hope to increase my earnings by adding more downloads. Unfortunately, getting activities classroom ready versus TPT ready are two entirely different things. I have spent so much time making my ideas both presentable and user friendly for TPT that I haven't been able to think about anything else. However, there is one thing I have been putting off for about 6 years now and I realize that I have to do something quick.

Lastly, I HAVE to go back to school to get my masters degree and I am absolutely dreading it because I have no idea where I will get the money and where I will find the time to attend class, read the books, and finish the assignments. Let's just say that I'm feeling the stress of everything on my shoulders. Needless to say, my biggest concern is whether or not I am spending enough quality time with my son who really and truly is the most important in all my constant worries. Though I thought I wasn't going to say anything about what happened two weeks ago...

I realize that life is so short and I can't imagine what I would do without my family especially my little man. I am very grateful for this week off from school because I have been able to really spend time with my son and not worry so much about my lesson plans or correcting papers. It's just the two of us, since my husband still has to work, building Legos or Thomas the Train sets or reading one of the many books Santa brought him. And yes, Santa probably spoiled my son this year but he deserved every single gift under that tree because he is an amazing little man and each and every day I am so proud of him. In light of the tragedy in Newtown, I am thankful I had a tree filled with presents and a little boy filled with joy and excitement to open them. I send my heartfelt and sincere prayers and sympathy to everyone who was involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, as well as all the first responders, and the families who were touched in someway. I pray for your peace and for your strength to make it through another day without your loved ones.

I apologize to you readers for having to deal with my scattered thoughts which started out one place and ended up in an entirely different direction. Please don't think less of me as I rant and carry on about trivial things while mothers and fathers are mourning the loss of their children. The most important part of a mother's life is her children and that is always in my heart.

Merry Christmas to you and your families!

~Katania

{Birthday Series} Mickey Mouse Banner

2012-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Sorry folks, I just realized I never posted this:)

Getting back to my son's third birthday, I wanted to share with you the two banners I made to hang in my house.

The first banner I made said "Happy Birthday" and hung on the large wall behind my couch. Thankfully, I have yet to complete my picture wall so I only had to take down one picture.

I used very heavy black cardstock with a glitter sheen to it for the Mickey Mouse heads and the same type of cardstock but in red for the letters. I also added Mickey Mouse pants and two gloved hands on the ends. I used the Mickey and Friends cartridge and Robotz for the letters.

Here are some more images...

The second banner I made was very similar but without the pants and lettering since I needed something to hang in the doorway to my dining room.

I thought both banners came out adorable and my son absolutely loved them. They made a fantastic addition to our Mickey Mouse party decor.

If you are interested in either banner or would like a custom name banner please email me HERE for more information and pricing. I can change the wording and colors to match your decor and can also add little bows to each panel to make a Minnie Mouse banner. I would love to make something custom for you and your child!

Thanks for looking!

~Katania

Teacher Apple Thank You Cards

2012-06-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

{Apple Series} Teacher Thank You Cards

I have to say that my class this past year was probably the most appreciative class I have ever had in the past 5 years. They really went above and beyond to show how much they appreciate everything I do. With that being said, I just couldn't send a cheap thank you card. Soooooo, I created an adorable thank you card complete with a school font and a super cute apple.

I used a green polka dot cardstock behind the apple and printed the "thank you" out on my computer. The apple is cut and assemble from my Cricut cartridge Doodlecharms.

Here are some more images...

Don't you just love the font! Perfect for a teacher gift:)

What do you think?

I absolutely love them and was so happy to send some love to all my students.

Actually, I loved these little cards so much I plan on making a set with "Welcome to our class" to send to my new students in the fall and another set with my name to use throughout the year.

I plan on putting these up in my etsy shop this summer but if you are interested in the "thank you" cards, "Welcome to our class" cards, or your name or child's teacher's name please email me HERE for more information and pricing.

How cute would this be as a teacher appreciation gift or as a first day of school gift!

Also, I am currently working on some new designs so be on the lookout for the following:

*Bumble Bee Baby Shower Inviations/Decorations

*Bumble Bee Birthday Invitations/Decorations

*Christening Invitations

*Pool Party Invitations

*Summer BBQ Invitations

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

~Katania

I'm coming back, I promise

2012-06-02T15:57:00.002-04:00

Enjoying the Memorial Day Parade with my little man!

I want to thank all of you who continue to read my blog even though I have yet to post anything is such a long time. I just realized how long I have neglected this blog!

Where did May go?

However, it definitely was not due to lack of creativity just lack of time. I just finished a HUGE order and now have four ongoing orders to complete. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE being creative and making something special for people, but something has to give between being a mommy to my little man, a wife to my husband, teaching especially at the end of the year with report cards and crazy students, my side business, KT Designs, trying to keep my house is some sort of order and continuing to write for this blog. Obviously it was the latter that had to go. However, I promise I will be back to share all my new creations as well as photos from the baby shower and my son's third birthday.
Until then, I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

~Katania

{Birthday Series} Dinosaur Invitations

2012-04-21T09:28:00.001-04:00

Here's yet another order I completed last month for a little boy turning three who loves dinosaurs.

I was very excited to make this invitation because this was my first time cutting the little dinosaur and putting him together. Of course, he is from one of my all time favorite cartridges, Create a Critter, and he has succeeded in proving once again why CAC is so perfect for little kids birthday parties.

I just think this little dino is so darn CUTE!

What do you think?

Dinosaur Birthday Invitation

The invitation says:
ROAARRR!
Come join us for a
DINO-MITE Party.
Our little (child's name)-asaurus
is turning 3!

I added a little googly eye to each dinosaur!

Of course I pop-dotted the dino off the invitation to give it a little more dimension!

I had so much fun putting this little guy together and adding the little googly eye. I definitely think it came out great and I know the little boy absolutely loved it!

If you are interested in this invitation or any other custom invitation for any occasion feel free to email me HERE for more information and current pricing. I would love to make something custom for you so please do not hesitate to ask :)

Thanks for looking!
~Katania

{Birthday Series} Cupcake Birthday Invitations

2012-04-14T16:23:00.000-04:00

I received an order from a friend of mine for cupcake invitations for her twin girl's birthday party. With the directions of the colors pink and green and the number three somewhere on the invitation, this is what I came up with.

Cupcake Birthday Invitations

Using both my Cricut and Cuttlebug, I cut, assembled, and embossed the cupcake and number candle. I used two different embossing folders for the frosting and the wrapper. I then added a tiny pink bow to the top of the candle.

The words on the invitation read:

Cake and goodies,

what fun it will be.

Our little girls,

are turning THREE!

(All personal information has been omitted from the pictures)

Embossing detail on the cupcake.

And of course, all images are pop dotted to add that little extra something and because I just absolutely love pop dots :)

I absolutely loved making these invitations and working with girly colors again though I could definitely see this same invitation in a blue/green, a blue/brown, or a blue/red theme for a little boy!

Please stay tuned for the matching Happy Birthday Banner coming soon!

~Katania

If you are interested in this invitation or something similar please email me HERE for current pricing and options. I would love to make something custom for you for all your special occasions. Thanks for looking :)

{Birthday Series} Mickey Mouse: Invitations

2012-04-11T15:41:00.002-04:00

After a much needed break from all the craziness that I call my life, I am finally refreshed enough to focus on this blog again.

And what better way to jump start my weekly posts than to share with you the invitations I made for my little man's 3rd birthday!

I can't even begin to tell you how fast the time has pasted since the day of his birth, but he continues to grow and learn so much that he amazes me each and every day.

So without further adieu,

here are the

Mickey Mouse Invitations!

The front complete with the number 3 and two white buttons for Mickey's pants!

Party information on back in a Walt Disney font!

The back says:

Put on your ears,

It's time for cheers!

________ is turning three,

Oh what fun it will be!

I had a ton of fun making these invitations and trying to get them just right. My little man could not be happier and was so excited for his party. Stay tuned because I have a ton more stuff to share with you soon!

~Katania

If you are interested in the Mickey Mouse invitations please email me HERE for more information and pricing!

Thank you for looking!

March Madness!

2012-03-24T09:55:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it's not the basketball March madness but there is a definite craziness around my house in March.

Starting with finishing my student's report cards, conferencing well into the evening, creating and making decorations/food/dessert for my little man's birthday, and of course, throwing the best birthday party ever!

I might be a little OCD, (but don't tell my husband) because I just have to have everything perfect just like I see it in my head.

Does this cause me to have additional stress? Yes!

Does it cause problems in my household when something doesn't go right? HELL YES!

Do I still stay up late and stress even more just to finish something? Yes, always.

Does the party always look perfect to outsiders? Most definitely.

Is the party perfect to me? NO!

I always think that I should have done something differently, or added something or that I just didn't do enough.

Will my son ever know? Not at all, because all he cared about was having friends to play with.

Will I continue to stress myself over tiny details in the future? Sadly, I think the answer is yes.

I just can't help it especially if it is for my little man.

Do you find yourself doing this same thing or is it just me?

Can you believe this little man is 3?

Don't mind the crazy grin, he was eating some candy :)

Stay tuned for the Mickey Mouse Birthday Series!

~Katania

{Real Parties} Baby Shower Decorations

2012-02-26T09:08:00.001-05:00

So it's been a while since I share part of my {Real Parties} Baby Shower series with you but it's back. The best part is...

my baby niece is HERE!

Well... she's been here over a month now but who's keeping track :)

Welcome Madysen Elizabeth!

All I can say is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little peanut!

So in honor of this beautiful little baby I wanted to share with you the decorations I made for my sister's baby shower.
I do apologize that my pictures are not the best and I did not get a chance to take photos of everything since we were so pressed for time.
Here's the banner I made to hang behind my sister's chair and to use in her little girl's room afterwards. (I would have made a name banner but my sister wasn't sharing the baby's name)
I used different shades of pink and included glitter letters and small glitter butterflies.

I made puff balls in three different colors and sizes to hang above the buffet and the gift table. I should have made many more but these took me forever to fold, and pull apart the layers because I did not want to tear the tissue paper. If you are looking for directions on how to make these click HERE.

Considering the amount we already spent on the shower, we opted to go without floral arraignments on the table (especially since there were 8 tables) so instead for each table, I bought a small pink cactus and wrapped it in pink wrapping paper then added a little piggy bank as a prize for the bingo winner. In another post you will get a chance to see the mother to be gift.

I also added some more puff balls above the buffet table and also added a strip of pink paper down the middle for some color.

For the plasticware, I purchased three small white buckets and added pink bows and three glittered butterflies to continue with the girly butterfly theme. I highly recomend buying these buckets whenever you see them and in every color because they can be used for so many things.

Lastly, stay tuned for the next {Real Party} post on my baby shower favors!
Here's a sneak peek until then!

Thanks for looking!
~Katania

Valentine Pencil Topper & Tag

2012-02-20T21:13:00.003-05:00

Yes, I know I have been MIA this past week but it has been a bit crazy here with planning for my little man's birthday and other orders coming in and well to be honest with you, I just wanted to relax a little bit whenever I get the chance. However, I did want to share with you my pencil toppers and tags I made for Valentine's day even though it was about a week ago.

Hopefully the love of your life made your Valentine's Day extra special!

Valentine Pencil Topper

To make the pencil topper you can follow my tutorial for my Easter Pencil Toppers HERE!

Valentine Tag

I added my tags to baggies filled with Kisses and also tied one around our candy jar.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day with someone they love!

~Katania

Valentine "Conversation Hearts" Banner

2012-02-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

When you think about Valentine's Day can you ever NOT think about conversation hearts?

The two really do go hand in hand and cross all generations since they seem to have been around since forever.

Though the new conversation hearts tend to follow the current slang of the times (sup babe, seriously?) I created this banner with the more traditional conversation heart sayings.

This banner is handmade using premium cardstock and crepe paper to create a romantic banner perfect for whatever you might have in mind for Valentine's Day. There are five large heart pendants which showcase five different conversation heart sayings. Each heart is surrounded by a ruffle of crepe paper and is completely finished on the back.

Here are some more close ups.

Here's the completely finished back.

If you are interested in this banner you can check out my etsy shop by clicking HERE or if you are interested in anything else you have seen on my blog you can email me HERE. I love getting custom orders and would adore creating something amazing for your special occasion.

Thanks for looking :)

~Katania

Valentine "Be Mine" Banner

2012-02-09T20:10:00.002-05:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Valentine "Be Mine" Banner

I created the "Be Mine" banner exclusively for my etsy shop, which I opened just last week.

Sadly, both banners are still in my shop but that could definitely be GREAT news for you if you are looking for that special decoration to complete your Valentine party or to create a romantic atmosphere for a delicious dinner for two.

This banner was handmade by yours truly with the use of my Cricut machine and my personal creativity.

Here are some more close up pictures so you can see the details of the scallopped pendants, the white pearls, and the pink glitter on each letter.

Each letter is pop dotted and covered in sparkly pink glitter which matches the patterned cardstock exactly. I also used a mixed up font for a whimsical yet romantic look.

If you are interested in this banner or would like to check out my other listings please click HERE or click on KTDesignsbyKatania in my etsy mini sidebar. You can also email me HERE directly if you are interested in anything you have seen on my blog or if you are looking for something custom made for any occasion.

I would love to make something special for you!

~Katania

My Etsy Shop

2012-02-04T16:30:00.003-05:00

IT'S OPEN!

My etsy shop is now open and I will be adding additional items for sale throughout the next couple of weeks. Those of you who have expressed an interest in any of the invitations/banners/items on my blog will now have another way to contact me regarding both ready to ship and custom made items.
You can also see my mini etsy shop to the right--------->.
Just click on KT Designs by Katania to head right to my shop!
I am very excited about my new venture and I can't wait to share my creativity with others.
I will also be showcasing the two Valentine Banners I have for sale during this coming week but you can click
HERE
for a sneak peek of the banners in my new shop!
Stay tuned as I add some new items very soon!

~Katania

{Real Parties} Baby Shower Planning

2012-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

As I am writing this, I realized that I should have started the series with this post since planning should come before the invitations but OH WELL!

I am not sure about you, but I am definitely a list type of girl. I make lists at work, at home, in my craft room, and sometimes even in the car. Usually they each have something different on them and each one has a different time frame but they make me feel organized, somewhat:) You can even see my list making skills by clicking HERE to see my list of resolutions. Yup, all 21 of them!

So knowing how I need to have a list for everything, I searched online for a cute planning sheet download for a baby shower.

Sadly, I didn't find what I was looking for, so I decided to make one instead.

I made a planning checklist and a guest list similar to my birthday party guestlist HERE. Since our planning started before my sister knew what she was having, I made the checklist in a neutral color and added bumble bees because they are so darn cute. I would have loved to do a bumble bee themed shower but if you know my sister, that is definitely NOT her style. I do have to say that both of these printables were such a HUGE help in organizing the shower and keeping everything on track. I hope they are a huge help to you if you are throwing a baby shower.

*Please note: Both printables are created by KT Designs and are for personal use only. Please do not use my designs as your own or sell or alter them in anyway. If you would like to include my printable on your website please direct people to my blog for downloading. Thank you!

I would also LOVE it if you became a follower and/or sent a comment my way :)

To download the files, just click on the down arrow.

~Katania

Fabric Basket Liner Tutorial

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Did you ever set out to do something and then once you started you totally got sidetracked and ended up doing something completely different but with a very happy ending?

That is exactly what happened to me.

I went downstairs to my craftroom to CLEAN!

Sadly, the room is still not finished and I have managed to consistently pile my stuff on my table, the couch, the floor, etc., you get the point right?

So I started to clean off the table and then I found a basket I was given a gift in from one of my students. A light bulb went off in my head and I said to myself, "I could use this to organize my craft supplies, but I need to pretty it up a bit."

Somehow through all the cleaning and the craft ideas spiralling through my brain, I decided to use a stripped fabric I had laying around to make a basket liner.

Great idea without a plan!

You might ask me, have you ever made a basket liner before?

NOPE!

Do you have a pattern to make one?

NO!

So what's a girl to do...

make one anyways:)

So that's what I did. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of the process, I was too excited about finishing it but here are some directions to follow. Hopefully they make sense and are helpful to you.

Using the basket as a guide, I measured the bottom portion of the basket and added about a half inch on each side for a seam allowance. Then I measured the two narrow sides only then realizing that the top part of the basket actually flares out. Not wanting to bother with angles, I decided to cut the two sides at the widest length and then gather the material at the bottom leaving room for your seam allowance. You can gather the material any way you want but I was lazy and decided to make two tucks in the material. After I sewed the two sides to the bottom, I measured the two long sides. It was here that I noticed the handles and realized I had to figure out a way to go around the handles and still have the liner hang over the sides. Leaving that for later, I cut the two long sides at the widest part and sewed them to the bottom rectangle once again tucking the fabric and leaving material for a seam allowance. I then pinned and sewed the edges together on all four sides. After I placed the liner in the basket, I cut slits where the handles would go and measured the length of how far I wanted the liner to hang over. I folded under the slit for the handles in order to make a nice clean edge. Then I pinned and sewed a wide seam so I could add a ribbon through the liner. I then threaded two ribbons through the seam and tied a pretty bow next to the handles.

Here are the pictures of my new basket liner.

Isn't she pretty?

What do you think?

The whole process only took me a couple of hours while my son napped and I am not an experience seamstress. I think I might have to find some more baskets to make liners for :)

~Katania

{Real Parties} Baby Shower Invitations

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

My Sister! Doesn't she look amazing with her little baby bump:)

My baby sister is due in about three weeks and I am soooo excited to meet her baby girl. With the help of my mom and my sister's mother in law, we threw her a baby shower right before Christmas.

Yes, I know it was a pretty crappy time to throw a shower but it went so smoothly. Instead of having a super long post, I figured I would break up the pictures into different categories, similar to my birthday series.

Welcome to

{Real Parties}

Baby Shower Invitations

Please note: All personal information has been removed from this invitation.

We decided to go with a little girl/butterfly theme for the shower since my sister decided on butterflies for the bedding.

Not wanting to overdo the theme, I went with simple but cute for the invitations. I also had to make more than 50 of them so simple was definitely faster even though it took me forever to finish these.

Using my computer, I printed out the invitation on white card stock in black and pink ink. I then cut and pasted it on premium light pink card stock. Lastly, I cut out three onesies on my Cricut from the New Arrival cartridge. I pop dotted the onesies and added pink and white twine for a clothesline.

I received many complements on these invites and I was so pleased with how they came out.

Here are some more pictures!

The invitation says:

Ten little fingers and ten little toes

Two little ears and one little nose!

Join us for a baby shower

honoring...

I ran out of the pink and white swirl paper so I also made some invitations with a pink and white hounds tooth print.

What do you think?

Project Alert: If you look closely at my pictures you can see two projects I have been working on. I will be sharing both of them soon:)

Also coming up:

{Real Parties}

Baby Shower Planning (plus free printables)

Baby Shower Decorations

Baby Shower Favors

Baby Shower Mommy-To-Be Gift (plus free printable)

~Katania

If you are interested in baby shower invitations please email me HERE for current pricing and more options. I would love to make something custom for you!

Glitter Ornaments

2012-01-16T20:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, here's the last post with my glitter ornaments...

well until I remake my favorite one that broke this year (so sad).

I know I am kinda obsessed with these but they are sooooo pretty and sooooo easy to make.

I wanted to show you how the ornaments look with colored glitter and absolutely plain. I can definitely imagine a whole tree filled with these beauties but it definitely won't happen anytime soon in my house. I actually used two different types of glitter for these and they both worked perfectly fine. Two are made with the traditional Martha Stewart glitter and the last one is made with a larger sized glitter that reminds me of tinsel. If you are interested in making these ornaments click HERE for my tutorial.

If you haven't already figured it out, I am a little obsessed with glitter. I absolutely LOVE it! I am currently trying to find out how to cover the outside of candles in glitter. If I figure it out and create something worth sharing, I will post it here.

Also, I will be sharing a very quick tutorial on how to tie the ornament hanger you see in the picture later in the week.

Happy Glittering!

Have you made any glitter ornaments or other household objects?

If so, I would love to see them. Leave me a comment with a link to your blog and I will stop on by.

~Katania

Glitter Ornament Tutorial

2012-01-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Do you want to learn how to make a super easy and beautiful decoration for your house or quick gift?

Here's my tutorial and tips for making dazzling glitter ornaments for your tree next year. (Sorry this post is a little late but at least you can pick up some clearance glass ornaments now :)

Glitter Ornament Tutorial

Step #1: Gather all your supplies.

Clear glass ornaments

Pledge Floor Finish with Future Shine

Martha Stewart Glitter (or any other fine glitter)

Step #2: Remove the tops of all your ornaments.

Step #3: Pour a generous amount of floor cleaner into your ornament taking great care to not let it run down the outside.

Step #4: Gently swirl the floor cleaner around inside the ball, trying to cover the inside completely. Pour any extra back into the bottle. I found it helpful to insert the ornament into the top of the bottle to help drain any extra liquid or bubbles back in.

Step #5: Pour in a huge amount of your desired color of glitter. (Yes, these babies take a LOT of glitter, about half the small bottles of MS glitter) Then swirl the glitter around making sure to cover the entire surface.

Step #6: Pour out any extra glitter and let the ornament dry for a little while.

Step #7: Place the tops back on the ornaments and add a ribbon to hang it. Find a sturdy branch on your tree, hang your ornament and enjoy how the lights dance off the tiny flecks of glitter!

Here are some more pictures of the silver and gold ornaments.

What do you think?

I will be posting one more collection of ornaments soon as well as a very quick tutorial on how to make the ribbon hanger you see above in the picture.

~Katania

Glitter Ornaments

2012-01-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Last year I searched the Internet to find out how to make glitter ornaments. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy they are to make and how beautiful they are on the tree.

I wanted to share some ornaments I gave as gifts with you today and then later in the week I will post a little photo tutorial on how I made them.

I found two different types of glass ornaments at Michael's by accident. One was a little bit smaller and had a flat front and the other was larger and was completely round. I honestly thought I had picked up two different round ornaments and had planned to return the flat front one but soon found it to be much easier to lay the vinyl on.

So I used the flat front ornament to make ornaments for all the kids in my family, complete with their name, date, and decorative snowflake.

What do you think?

I used a light pink, bright pink, and purple for the girls and a red for my little man. I then cut out a snowflake in vinyl with my Cricut. After applying the vinyl, I found a coordinating rhinestone to add to the center of each snowflake. The back has the child's name and date cut out of vinyl.

I will be posting a tutorial and more ornament pictures soon!

~Katania

Let It Snow Banner

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

I shared my Be Merry banner with you a couple of days ago and now I want to share my Let It Snow banner. I also made this banner last year but was unable to share it with you because I hadn't started this blog yet. Thankfully, I have a great way of sharing all my crafts now!

I used my Cricut to cut out all the components of the banner from the Winter Woodland cartridge. This is a very versitile cartridge because of the banner cut outs and the great font with a shadow.

I used the scalloped square and cut it out in white for the shadow and silver. I then cut a square out of blue, silver, and white striped paper which I pop dotted. Lastly, I glittered each letter with bright blue glitter and glued it to a white shadow. Snowflake brads, glittered snowflake cutouts, and blue rhinestones complete the look.

I apologize but I forgot to take some pictures of the snowflakes on the first and last panel but they look exactly like the one in the 'o'.

Here it is...

I hope you liked it!

I love that I can leave it up right until Valentine's Day!

~Katania

P.S. If you are interested in this banner or any other banner you have seen on my blog please email me HERE for more information and pricing options. I would love to create something completely custom for you!

Top 10 of 2011

2012-01-02T12:00:00.001-05:00

2011 was a great year!

Last year I started this blog in March and have found a wonderful way to share my thoughts, craftiness, and ideas with someone other than my poor husband who really could care less about anything you can find at Michael's or Joann's.

However, before I completely say goodbye to 2011, I wanted to share my top 10 posts of the year.

Here they are!

#10 {Birthday Series} Construction Party: Goodie Bags

#9 {Friday Favorites} Teacher Appreciation Crafts

#8 Easter Egg Collage

#7 Terra Cotta Pots Tutorial

#6 Birthday Guest List Printable

#5 {Birthday Series} Construction Party: Invitations

#4 Free Printable Dump Truck Thank You Notes

#3 {Birthday Series} Construction Party: Decorations

#2 {Birthday Series} Butterfly Party: Invitations

And the #1 most popular post of 2011 is...

Free Printable Book Sign Out Sheet

WOW! What a year!

Thank you all for a fantastic start to my blog! Without your support and comments, it wouldn't be worth it. I promise you I will be bringing you more and more crafty goodness this year!

~Katania

New Year Resolutions & Free Printable

2011-12-31T22:40:00.001-05:00

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Happy New Years!
(Well...almost in few hours)
During the time between Christmas and New Years I always find myself looking forward to the future and also to the past to see how far I've come. I know I have a lot to be thankful for this past year, especially my amazing son who has grown so much and has learned more than I could ever imagine. My little baby is now wearing big boy underpants and using the potty all by himself! It makes me want to cry with tears of joy and cry because he's not a little baby anymore. I am also thankful for my husband who tries so hard to support me in everything I try to do. I know hon, there are a ton of ideas in this head of mine. Lastly, I am thankful I was finally able to find the time for me and make the commitment to becoming healthier. A year later, 60+ lbs lighter, and two 5ks under my belt and I am feeling pretty darn good!
Now to look to the future and plan for an even better year! I always think of the New Year as a time to start fresh with a blank slate in front of you. Now when I think of my New Year Resolutions (yes, plural, I have many) I think of them as a to do list. A very long to do list that I have a whole year to complete. If I don't finish something, it continues on to next years list and so on and so forth. Once I sat down and really started to think about what I wanted to accomplish this year, a theme started to appear.
ORGANIZATION
Yes, if you know me well, I appear to be very organized. However, I realized there is much room for improvement. I secretly envy and hate at the same time all those photos and blogs that show labeled containers in pantries, linen closets, craft rooms, closets, etc. Why oh why can't my house look like that? Well give me a year and let's see what I can come up with.
After writing for about 30 minutes, I came up with 21 things on my resolution list.
WHOA! That's a lot! You might be saying but some are really small things and it helps keep me organized. (Yup, there's that word again. I told you there was a theme.) So I thought I would share my personal resolutions with you to help keep myself focused and to maybe help inspire others. I also have a FREE New Years Resolution planner for you to download at the end of this post.
Here's my 2012 resolutions!

I printed my resolutions out and framed them in an extra frame. I will be finding a place to display it so it is always in my mind. This is how it came out.

To help keep you organized as well, I created a blank New Year Resolution Planner in two colors, silver and gold with 10 possible resolutions.

You can print it out and write directly on the paper or place it in a frame and use a dry erase marker on the glass.

Please note: Both printables are created by KT Designs and are for personal use only. Please do not use my designs as your own or sell or alter them in anyway. If you would like to include my printable on your website please direct people to my blog for downloading. Thank you!

I would also LOVE it if you became a follower and/or sent a comment my way :)

To download the files, just click on the down arrow.

I hope your New Year is off to a great start!

~Katania

Be Merry Banner

2011-12-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Even though Christmas is over, I still decided to share my Be Merry Banner I made last year but was unable to post because I hadn't started my this blog yet. This particular banner actually hangs in my mom's house and I will be sharing another banner soon which hangs in my house during the winter season.

I can't remember the paper pack I used for the banner but it was one of the Christmas ones found at Michael's or Joann Fabrics. I also added some red jingle bells between each panel of the banner for some extra festive fun! I do apologize for the photographs, I still have not mastered the art of taking photos on banners. If you have any suggestions I am definitely open to anything :)

Here it is...

For each panel, I used a scalloped circle and shadow in red and gold. Then I layered a festive print paper with pop dots. Lastly, I glittered all the letters with bright red glitter and added the shadow in green. Some red bows, jingle bells, and rhinestones completed the holiday look.

Here are some more detailed pictures.

Here are some close ups so you can see the detail of the paper, glitter, and bells.

Everything was cut by my Cricut and the

Winter Woodland cartridge.

I hope your holiday was merry!

~Katania

P.S. If you are interested in this banner or any banner you have seen on my blog please email me HERE for more information and pricing options. I would love to design something completely custom for you based on your interests and color choices.

{Gift Tip} Adding that little extra something...

2011-12-26T16:21:00.000-05:00

Gift Tip #1

I know it is already past Christmas but I thought I would share with you a tip I use every year to help give that little extra something to my cookie trays.

Now I used to buy fancy trays and boxes to give my cookies away in but it got really expensive especially since I make more than a dozen different kinds of cookies and give away about the same amount.

This year I used plain white sturdy paper plates. I piled it high with all the different cookies, bon bons, and fudge then wrapped it in clear plastic wrap. One year I had a very pretty red wrap and one with holly on it but I haven't been able to find it again. I print out a little label that says, "Happy Holidays! I hope your celebration is extra sweet." and then cut it out with a circle punch or my Cricut. Now to add that little extra something, I cut out snowflakes on my Cricut and tied a ribbon around both the snowflake and tag. Voila, you have a super cute gift with that added touch of detail.

If you have a Cricut you really should have both When Its Cold Outside and Winter Lace. Both cartridges have tons of different snowflakes you can cut. Or if you don't own a Cricut, you can cut snowflakes the old fashion way by folding paper and cutting out different shapes. I really think it gives the gift a warm and festive feel even though it is so simple.

What do you think?

~Katania

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:29:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!

I hope your entire day is filled with the wonder and joy of children, delicious food and drink, and warm embraces from close family.

I myself am savoring this little piece of quiet heaven before my son wakes up and is so excited about all his presents. Let me just tell you, he's been a very good boy lately and our tree definitely shows just how much. I do have to say that I absolutely love this time of year and I love seeing the excitement, joy and wonder on my son's face as we talk about Christmas, Santa, and reindeer. I have however, not enjoyed the sudden exclamations while drive that I need to "WATCH OUT! A REINDEER!" I am not sure where that came from but more than a few times I have hit the brakes to narrowly avoid missing his imaginary reindeer.

On another note...

I do have a little gift for all my readers today!

A last minute gift idea for young children that will not only entertain them for a while but it will smell so good in your house.

Peppermint Candy Cane Play Dough

I have made all different types of scented play dough but I decided to get very festive this year and create some play dough for both the children of my friends and family.

Step #1: Make your play dough. (Don't worry, it is so easy to make)

1 cup of flour

1 cup of water

2 tsp. of Cream of Tartar

1/2 cup of salt

1 tbsp. of vegetable oil

Food Coloring (red)

Peppermint Extract (I just poured a little bit into the mix)

1. Mix everything together in a saucepan and cook on medium heat while constantly stirring.

2. The mixture will start to form a ball and get stuck on the spoon.

3. Cook for just a little longer and then remove the ball from the heat and let it cool.

4. Once it is cool enough to touch, I knead the dough so I make sure everything is mixed and really smooth.

5. Repeat the entire recipe but omit the red food coloring.

Once you have both colors finished and cooled, roll out half of each color into long snakes. Place them side by side and twist them together. I cut pieces about 6 inches long so they would fit into my canning jars but you can place them into baggies or larger jars or even Tupperware containers. This is what it looks like inside the jar.

Once you place it inside the jar it will look like a candy cane (sort of).

I then added my label to the top (see below for the FREE printable) and tied a red ribbon around the jar lid and candy cane. I think they came out super cute and I know the kids will really love them.

FYI: The play dough should last a couple of months if you keep it tightly sealed. If it starts to dry out, just knead in a few drops of water and it should get softer.

Now for the printable, just click on the down arrow in the box below! If you download my printable please follow my blog or leave me a comment. I really do love reading everything you have to say :)

Also please note: This printable is created by KT Designs and is for personal use only.

Have a very Merry Christmas with your family!

~Katania