About time.

Ok, ok.  As promised, I'm done with the DIY gift posts now.  It dragged on and on, but I hope you stuck with it and got some AWESOME ideas for the now approaching all too quickly holiday season.  (yikes)

If you need a quick reference back to all things Gift it. 2014, here's your wrap up!

1. 5 Favorite Handmade Gifts for Kids - Red Ted Art

2. Stud Earring Holder - Young and Crafty Sisters

3. 5 Grandparent Gift Ideas - Hi! It's Jilly!

4. Fat Quarter Doll Quilt Tutorial - Simple Simon and Company

5. Birthday Sack Lunch - A Girl and a Glue Gun

6. 8 Gifts for Gadget Lovers - Melly Sews

1. Personalized Recipe Book

2. Gift Wrap Cut-Outs

3. Friendship Bracelet Kit

4. Top Secret Spy Kit

5. Easy Peasy Art and Photo Display

6. Pretend Play Dr. Kit

7. Light Up Reclaimed Wood Wall Art

8. Mini Photo Block Necklace

9. Underwater Superheroes (Superhero Inspired Rashguards)

1. Giant Stuffed Drinking Jar

2. Encourage-mints

3. Lemonade Basket Teacher Gift

4. Best Pop Gift

1. 30 Gifts Parents Will Love - 

10 Must-Make Gifts For Mother's Day, 

10 Fabulous Gifts For Father's Day, 

5 Fantastic Gifts for Grandma, 

5 Super Fun Gifts For Grandpa

2. 100 "Newbie" Gifts - 

25 A+ Gifts for Teacher, 

25 Highschool Graduation Gifts, 

25 Friendly New Neighbor Gifts, 

25 Lovely Housewarming Gifts

3. 50 Great Giftwrap Ideas (+ 6 Awesome Sources)

4. 20 Cute and Clever Gifts for Cat-Lovers!

5. 30 Lover-ly Gifts - 

10 Valentine's Gifts (for anyone and everyone), 

10 Wedding Gifts (they'll love to use), 

10 Anniversary Gifts (for those you love)

6. 113 Awesome, DIY Baby Gifts!

There you have it!  Gift it. 2014!  That's exactly 362 gift ideas for you to make for every kind of occasion you could imagine! Also, don't forget that most of these come with free printable gift tags, etc., just click on the post and scroll to the end. Now get cracking!  We've got gifts to make!

If you don't know what this series was all about, read the explanation here.

Also, you can see even more ideas:

Gift it. 2013

Gift it. 2012

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

cat lovers unite!

I like cats.  I wouldn't consider myself a "cat lady" by any means... but I really like them, and not just because they're cute.  They're smart, and seem to possess an almost uncanny empathy for human emotion.  Also, they do seriously ridiculous stuff - I could stick some tape on my cats back and laugh for hours.  Seriously.
ANYWAY, if you are a cat lover, like me, you realize why this gift roundup is necessary.  Say what??  You say.  That's right.  A cat-lover roundup.  Check it.

 

1. Grumpy Cat Chandelier Earrings - Craftster 
These just made me laugh.  A lot.

2. Aromatherapy Cat Nap Eye Pillows - Adventures in Making
What would make your eyes feel better than cats?  Nothing, that's what.

3. Cat Pillow - Citrus and Cream
This is an upcycle AND it's adorable.  It used to be old sweats!  Now it's just plain sweet; that little heart is a pocket!

4. Stuffed Terry Cat - Doll Making
No cat gift roundup would be complete without a free tutorial for a stuffed cat!

5. 5 Minute Elegant Cat Necklace - Happy Friends Shop
An adorable and easy to make addition to any wardrobe.

6. Cat-ear Hat - Gina Michele
Um, hello cute!  Make this adorable little hat out of an old sweater!

7. Cat Phone Cover - tuts plus
A sock!  You can make a cute cover/holder for your phone out of a sock!

8. The Parlor Cat Knitting Pattern - Ravelry
If you knit, why aren't you making this awesome cat softie right now?  It's a pillow!  It's a toy!  It's decor!  Too many possibilities.

9. Cat Purse - A Beautiful Mess
This easy to follow tutorial will make the purrrfect little accessory (see what I did there??) - a trendy, cutesified cat head purse!

10. Cat Pencil Case - My White Idea
I need another pencil case like a hole in the head, but I'm pretty sure I need to make this.  The mouth zips open people.  ZIPS OPEN.

11. Embroidered Cat Sweater - Kittenhood
This is not your 80's-style mom cat sweater.  No way.  

12. Cat Clothespins - Design Sponge
This is one of those ideas you wonder why you haven't done yet.  Cats on clothespins??  With stripes and dots??? So cute.

13. Cat Basket - Hello Natural
This makes me want to learn how to make a coiled rope basket.

14. Cat Stud Earrings - The Pink Samurai
Shrinky dinks!  You can make anything out of shrinky dinks!  Especially these super cute cat heads.

15. Cat Mug - Haley Ann
Sharpie mugs are all over the place.  And why not?  You can personalize them any way you want... how about a cat face every time you take a sip?  Love those whiskers...

16. Felt Cat Mask - Sibyl Nutmeg
Masks are not just for Halloween.  Or 4 yr old dress ups.  Tell me you don't want this mask for yourself.

17. Cat Plant Pots - Blitsy Crafts
Looks like these clay pots take a little more effort to make, but they also look totally worth it.

18. Cat Wallet - Lana Red
This is a cute and easy to stitch wallet - stick your phone in, credit cards, photos, whatever!  

19. Cat Flats - Kittenhood
Cutest. Shoes. Ever.

20. Sock Cat - Professor Pincushion
Move over monkey!  There's a new sock creature in town, and this cat's cute.


Hope you found some inspiration for your cat loving friends!

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

The Prodigal Son Returns

I know.  Delilah looks thoroughly thrilled to be home!  He was obviously traumatized on his adventure and is clearly scared for his life.  I think he will overcome his abandonment issues and learn to feel secure again if given enough time, and plenty of hugs and kisses.  Thank you for your concern!

Delilah

This may sound ridiculous, but I’m having trouble concentrating because I miss the cat.  The thing is, he’s kind of a needy little feline, and I haven’t always been so understanding about that - especially since mini was born.  Well, ok.  Especially since bug was born.  I just didn’t have time for that many needy things at once!  

I have lost my keys.  I have lost my phone.  I’ve lost my engagement ring and wedding band.  I’ve even lost my car on occasion when I can’t find it in the parking lot.  From time to time, I’m convinced I’m losing my mind.

But I’ve never lost a cat.

I was putting the kids in the car which was in the garage.  I left the door to the house open so I could run back inside for the bag.  I only have so many arms!  And in that brief moment, he was gone. 

He likes to cautiously sneak outside and sniff at the grass and bask in the sun.  I let him sometimes, because he’s so good about staying by the house.  I didn’t see him leave the other day.  I didn’t even know he was gone until mr asked if I’d seen him at all last night.  But I can imagine it went something like this:

(gasp) She left the door open!  Oh, joy of joys - the outside world!  And it’s Spring!  I’ll just slip outside... slowly, ever so slowly... maybe she won’t notice.  I can hardly contain myself!  I made it!  I really made it!  Freedom!!  (What followed was probably approximately 1/2 hour to an hour of pure unadulterated pleasure. Until...)  Hmmm.  I wonder where she went?  It’s getting a little chilly out here.  And a little windy.  And a little dark.  I’ll just mosey around to the door... It’s closed.  Well, maybe if I scratch at it.  Nothing.  Maybe if I cry a little.  (What followed was probably about 1/2 hour to an hour of pure unadulterated PITIFULNESS as he cried his eyes out in that hoarse little mew...)  I can’t stand!  I just can’t stand it!!  They’re gone!  They left me!  I’ve been left!!!  What do I do???  (Panic.  Remember, this is a pampered house cat we’re talking about here)  I am going to STARVE!!  It’s already starting, I can feel it!  I better go find somewhere to eat, and sleep, and something to cuddle up to... 

And then he left.  To find other hands to soothe him.  

He turns 6 in May.  That’s 6 full years I’ve had this cat - for all intents and purposes he was my first baby.  And it’s my fault he’s gone.  

(I was pregnant with bug and practicing swaddling.  You can tell by D's face he loves it!)

So, I am working on a tutorial for a neat little accessory I came up with.  I think you’ll like it.  It’s just taking longer than I thought as I call the humane society, post flyers, talk to neighbors and put ads in the paper.  Bear with me. 

was working on a stellar post, but....

I was all excited to show you that I really HAVE been doing some crafting lately, but it all came to a standstill.  Instead I got to make this:

:(  So if you happen to be in the immediate area (I know, you're not...) keep an eye out, ok?  Promise I'll post crafty things tomorrow...