Tag Archives: birthday

A Really Good Weekend

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I spent lots of time preparing for last week and weekend… not only was it Halloween, but our little man turned 4.

And, as usual, the Halloween crafts didn’t get done, but I did get goody bags finished the night before the school party.

I always intended on posting a tutorial for a last-minute batcave made from store-bought wall decorations, dollar store garbage bags and duct tape… but unfortunately it was far too last-minute. I was busy writing a food article for Halloween.

On Halloween, Abby played her last soccer game (the team’s record 6-1-1)…

… then we headed out for some trick-or-treating with friends.

Like I said, a really good weekend. I hope all of you out there had one too.

Some Birthday Card crafting

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I’ve been hard at work 1) finishing up a product review, my second one, for Craft Critique, 2) trying to schedule a speaker for the NAWIC Chicago chapter, 3) getting Communion invitations together.

In the meantime, we had a few special birthdays to celebrate. It was really fun experimenting with my Copic markers on the cupcake card (shown above). I don’t even have a full blown set, but enough where I can mess around with the shading. Then I felt compelled to pull out my Lumiere paint and start this:

which turned into this… a sort of Griffin and Sabine-Nick Bantock feel. Perfect for the recipient. It wasn’t intentional, either. I so love my Nick Bantock stamps. Two of them are on the card; the archaeological glyph-ish stamp and compass rose.

And what a difference with the details when I used VersaFine ink! Tried the Copic markers again, and then went over the image with a gloss.

Other updates:

  • I was recommended for appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. I really need to get started on some reading now.
  • Compost container is almost done. I didn’t finish it in class, but all the pieces and parts are here. Wait until you see it!
  • Exercising took a small setback with Daylight Savings. Seriously, I am having such a hard time getting up in the morning, but I got back on the bike yesterday and today.
  • A HUGE thank you to everyone who answered the survey. I used a name randomizer on www.annabet.com for the Midwest Living magazine subscription winners: Elmin Pittges and Sally Chalex.

And, I’d like to introduce a new interactive scrapbooking community, Club Creating Keepsakes! Please check out this link at Craft Critique to learn more and win giveaways!

Birthday Favor Ideas

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Birthday parties have always been a fun and memorable event growing up. When we were really young, opening presents and goody/loot bags were the best things ever… I remember getting dot candy on paper strips, the fortune fish you’d hold in your hand that curls up, stickers, tattoos and the plastic trinkets and jewelry that my parents hated so. What a treasure it was to us but was so easily forgotten.

After last year’s Webkinz party at home, we went the other way and hosted a few friends outside and went simple on a take-home gift: One of Abby’s favorite things to eat, dark chocolate. She prefers Scharffen Berger (she’s such a foodie already), but also loves Trader Joe’s dark chocolate. So, we bought a few bars and to dress it up, I took some scrapbook paper and die-cut shapes that coordinated with her favor colors and wrapped the bars. Very simple and cute, just like my kid.

Other thoughtful ideas:

  • Giant, decorated sugar cookie that ties into the party theme (i.e. Butterfly cookies from a local bakery for an outdoor or spring themed party or these cookies)
  • Small cellophane bag of a favorite candy (M&M’s), tied with curling ribbon
  • Thank you cards with a picture of the guest of honor along with friends.
  • Picture CD’s of the party
  • Small bud vases with seasonal flowers

Making Birthday Invitations

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The inspiration for this design comes from Jessica Jones at one of my all-time favorite blogs, How About Orange. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Chicago Craft Social last year – such a nice person.

Her tutorial is here. I just made it work for Abby’s birthday party invitations, both of them. One for a small gathering of school friends, and one for the family. Thanks, Jessica, for your inspiration!

Celebrating Halloween and a Birthday

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Happy birthday 3 year old Ollie

I’m still recovering from being sick. I think it’s sinusitis. Well, that’s just me the non-doctor that I am, self diagnosing, like I do all the time. Saw my kids’ doctor today though, and she said, “Yeah, 7-10 days… it’ll clear itself out. Come back if it’s bad.” Oy, this afternoon, my headache was so bad, I wanted to put my head in a vice and squeeze it.

Despite the sickness, we celebrated Ollie’s 3rd birthday with family and friends, and the kids had a nice little Halloween weekend. Abby was Raven from Teen Titans and Ollie was Pablo from The Backyardigans. I made Abby’s cape with no real pattern. Didn’t turn out too shabby, if I say so myself. I did trace the hood from her Jedi cape that she wore on Halloween when she was two. I couldn’t get it quite right, but I think it worked out. Ollie was going to be Robin, Boy Wonder, but he changed his mind a week before I started working on his costume. Good thing, too. We had just enough time to buy his costume.

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Happy birthday, Little Man!! We love you so much…

Raven from Teen Titans and Pablo from The BackyardigansWaiting for Dad to go outside

Visiting neighbors on Halloween

Quick Tip: Gift bag redo

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Gift bag redecorated

I had a gift bag that had a very prominent corporate logo on the bottom. It was from a promotional deal… I thought, what a waste of a perfectly good gift bag. How am I going to use this again? Break out the ribbon! I had some wide decorative ribbon, plugged in the glue gun and voila! Good as new. Try that the next time you’re running somewhere with a gift.

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