Thanks to Chari at Happy To Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

My good friend Aja is having a baby boy and some friends and I are throwing her a shower.  I usually offer to make invitations because I think it’s a nice keepsake for the mom-to-be.  

This idea came from the March/April 2009 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  (Check this link to see their example and template.) I adjusted the idea to work with what I had on hand.  I also wanted the cute animal to look a little more modern and less baby-ish. 

First of all, I used this chartreuse paper with crimson and white circles for the body. I did this for two reasons: the paper was in my stash and it is awesome!

Instead of using ribbon as hair, I cut up pieces of felt I had from another project.  It just so happened that the felt matched perfectly.  

The original example animals weren’t glued to cardstock, but I needed space for text on the back of the invitation.  

I used a tag punch for the cute Dollar Tree “It’s A Boy!” stamp.  There was some scrap chartreuse paper left, so I used it to give the tag some more visual weight.  

Mr. Petrie bought me crafting supplies for Mother’s Day and my loot included a grommet/metal brad tool. The grommet (on the tag) and brad (the giraffe’s eye) give the card a more finished look.

I hope you are enjoying a leisurely weekend.  Stay cool!

Thanks to Chari at Happy To Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

Mr. Petrie’s birthday was this past week.  Since it’s difficult for us to eat a whole cake, I picked up a mini cake.  The mini cake was about four servings.  I thought the cake was adorable, but it needed something to give it some oomph!  I walked through the candy aisle and decided to pick up peanut M&M’s because they are Mr. Petrie’s favorite.  I used the M&M’s as a base for the cake.

Any dessert looks charming under a cloche.

Mr. Petrie really liked this presentation.  He was impressed.

Cake and candy- what could be better?

Since there are three of us in our family, and Miss Petrie doesn’t eat a lot, this type of dessert was a great option.  If I had more people coming over for a dinner party, another option would be multiple mini cakes on candy.  Ooh, or individual-serving- really-tiny-cakes (or cupcakes) on mini M&M’s.  The combinations  are endless and endlessly adorable!  

Have a sweet, sweet day!

Thanks to Chari at Happy To Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.  

(And when you are finished reading, leave a comment on my giveaway post!  Click here.)

For the past four years, we’ve enjoyed using these Italian dishes.  Unfortunately, they are not microwave safe and we have lost a few over time.  I had begun to feel like we were always burning our hands and running out of dishes!

Bye-bye blue and white Italian dishes.

Over time I had supplemented this set with dishes from Target and dollar stores, but that was only a bandage solution.

I’d seen a great selection of dishes at the Dollar Tree and thought I’d give them a chance, since they are dishwasher and microwave safe.  I liked the clean, modern shape of the dishes and of course, the price was right.  I got 10 sets of plates, bowls, salad plates, and mugs for $40.  You really can’t beat that.  I couldn’t even get stuff at Goodwill for that price.  

New dishes from the Dollar Tree.

I got home and began to remove the tags from the dishes and lo and behold, what did I find under those tags?

Oh, Dollar Tree, you sneaky old girl!

I checked the price of these dishes on the Ikea website and found them to run from $2-3 each.  I am quite pleased with this find.

The new dishes go nicely with my tea glasses.

Aren't they gorgeous?!?

We enjoyed our corned beef, salad, and smashed cauliflower on our new dishes.  I think everything tastes better on pretty, new dishes. 

Miss Petrie said the dinner was "delicioso".

So, if you need dishes, check out the Dollar Tree!  I am so glad I did.

Thanks to Happy To Design for hosting Sunday Favorites!

“A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.”  -Hedy Lamarr 

Mr. Petrie and I have been collecting original and signed edition art for about ten years.  We have had much of our art given to us and we have bought some.  

Interesting, well-placed art can make a room so much more inviting and beautiful.  Unfortunately, some of the art may look like it is not well-placed, probably because I had to take the photo at a weird angle.  Please bear with me as I learn how to take better pictures!

He hangs on the front door:

We got his sleepy guy at the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Fair. He is sculpted out of concrete.

My brother, Carlos, took these photos when he was in Venezuela for a semester.  He had the pictures matted and framed in these gorgeous, oversized frames:

These four pictures are hung in our living room.

 This silver floating shelf holds up a painting Mr. Petrie’s parents gave us when we were married, a photo of Miss Petrie from last summer, and a signed Gary Poon print:

I change the photo of Miss Petrie every couple of months.

I love this modern rendition of Vermeer’s “Girl With the Pearl Earring”:

I like the proportion of this chunky aluminum frame from Target.

My mom gave me this fun hanging plate:

More coffee?

I think the juxtaposition of stark colors and the humor of this painting make it a striking piece:

Artist Gary Poon

These pictures help make our house feel like a home and I think they help you to know us a little better.  

Read more about our art:

The Art of Casa Petrie: Part II

The Art of Casa Petrie: Part III