I'm Cheap

I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what the girls should be for Halloween. I've been thinking about this for months. Seriously. I guess I'm worried that this might be the last Halloween I get to decide what they will be. (Not that there is anything wrong with wanting to be a Disney Princess - which I'm sure one or both of them will want to be sooner or later.)

A few weekends ago, my husband - the King of Garage Sales - came home with a box of black and red pirate accessories he'd picked up from someones driveway for 5 bucks. Since I had not been able to come up with any costume ideas on my own, I decided to see what I could do with the miscellaneous pirate paraphernalia hubby had brought home . I started googling and found some really cute girly pirate costumes, but the prices were ridiculous - especially since I need two. And I really, really liked the costumes that included tutus. After another few minutes on google, I discovered some DIY tutu making instructions that didn't look too hard. I hit Joann's first thing Sunday morning armed with coupons, bought my supplies, and made my first tutu during naptime. I made Baylinn's tutu first and when she tried it on, she didn't want to take it off. It looked so cute with her Steeler jersey and stretch pants that I let her wear it to Buffalo Wild Wings when we went to watch the Steeler game (I refuse to say any more about that game.)

Since my first tutu was a success, I'm headed back to Joann for more supplies. I'm going to make Breena a red one as part of her pirate costume. I bought a couple plain t-shirts from Walmart and I'm going to use my cricut to cut stencils and paint them to go along with the theme. I'll post pics of the finished look when I'm done!!

I've Been Creative - No Really, I Have!

I like blogging my craft stuff -( usually )- but when I make things for other people that read this blog, then I can't post the pictures! And since I haven't been scrapping for myself at all lately, that means I have no new stuff to post right now.

We took the twins to DisneyWorld yesterday and I hopefully will get around to scrappin' those pictures soon. After I've fully recovered from the experience. Which might take a few weeks. Or months.

100th Cricut Cartridge

Provo Craft just released their 100th cartridge - Winter Woodland. They are celebrating this milestone by giving away 100 carts in just 5 weeks - that's 20 carts per week...not too shabby if you ask me!

Here is a link to check out Winter Woodland:

http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

Halloween

Now that it is September 1st, it's time to start thinking about Halloween. Right? RIGHT?! C'mon, who's with me?!!

Halloween is a big holiday here at our house. Before the twins were born, hubby and I would decorate outside, get all dressed up and scare the trick-or-treaters. It was great! Now we don't have time for all that, but I do need to start thinking about what the girls are going to be. (I have a feeling this might be the last year I get to decide for them.)

Since I'm already in the Halloween spirit, here's a couple shirts I painted last night. These are actually 18-month tshirts that the girls have outgrown, so I thought I would try out my designs on these before they head off to Goodwill. Who says Halloween has to be black and orange anyway?! The hot pink one says "Free Broomrides" - in black sparkly paint and the bat is done in pink metallic paint. I can't wait to get some more shirts and make these for the girls!

I Have Too Much Stuff

I took one of the twins (the good one-ha!) and flew home for a few days last week. ("home" is a small town east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.) The night before heading back to Florida, I dropped the 2-year-old off with Grammie and Aunt Ash and met my husband's cousin's wife for some scrapbook shopping, dinner and drinks.

I got there before Marci, so I had some extra time to look around this cute little store. It was on my 4th lap that I realized I really wouldn't be buying much. Not because I couldn't afford it, but because I ALREADY OWNED ALL OF IT!

Ok, so that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. If it was something that caught my eye, by the time I took it off the hook or down from the shelf, it hit me that I already had it - or a close version - at home.

I did find a few things....some 1 cent buttons, Zip Dry Paper Glue (I've been wanting to try it and I had a coupon), and 2 sheets of paper (to match some cardstock stickers that I had in my stash). I couldn't really walk out without buying something....right??

So I guess my point is....I shop more than I scrap. Pounds of paper. Thousands of stickers. Never-inked stamps. Unused Cricut carts. My stash has grown to ridiculous proportions. And I know I'm not the only one out there.

It's time to stop shopping and start creating. I am going to start a new blog where I'll be posting projects that are created just from my stash. I will issue challenges where you can post your own Stash Creations and I'll offer blog candy for the winners.

To have something qualify as "Stash" it must be at least one month old. It doesn't have to be unused, but it should be something that you have not used on a project, layout or card in the last 30 days. The older the better!!

Tell me the truth...

...I can handle it!

I have been "collecting" stamps for years but never really knew what to do with them. Then a few months ago, I saw the coolest stamps from Bombshell Stamps - http://www.bombshellstamps.com - and just had to order a couple of sets. When a couple of my scrapping friends (I'm talking about you Summer and MC!) moved out of state recently, I looked into Stampin' Up!. I found a fabulous demo right down the road and fell in love with the products at the first class. Thanks to Lisa's great classes and workshops, I now know how to actually use the stamps I've got in my stash...and of course have added a few more!

When I was at CHA a few weeks ago, I saw a great demo using Distress Inks, Rubber Stamps and Masks from Tim Holtz. I picked some up and just got around to trying them out for myself. This is something new for me because... I didn't use my cricut *gasp!*

Tory from The Spotted Box - http://www.thespottedbox.com - saw my store on etsy and asked me if I wanted to contribute samples of my work to one of their monthly boxes. I am going to be making at least 25 of these cards to be included as part of September's boxes. So above are some of my first attempts using my new Tim Holtz products, as well as a few stamps from Stampin' Up! Tell me what you really think....I can handle the truth!!

Lessons Learned

UPDATE 8/12: Above are the pictures of the finished invite. I blurred out the names of the bride and groom to protect their privacy.

The bride said she wanted hot pink and black, Old English fonts, chandeliers, bling and she wanted "Rock On!" and the David Bowie quote somehow incorporated into the invitation. I put the photo corners on the inside so she can insert her RSVP cards - which she had done at a printer - when she gets the invites. The black square behind the first pic is the envelope (which I bought!)

The chandeliers are from the Home Decor cart, the pocket on the inside was done in DS using George and Storybook and the initials and shadows were cut in SCAL from a font I downloaded.

I am so happy that they are finally complete and on their way to the bride. What started out as a simple wedding invite, turned into the biggest project that I have ever done. Here's some math to show you what I mean:

1,020 cuts with my cricut machine

3, 400 dots of Glitz Stickes in "Tiara"

1,020 hand-glued rhinestones

300 sheets of cardstock

40+ feet of Xyron adhesive

72 yards of ATG tape

...and that's just off the top of my head and does not count all the supplies I used during the 2 week design process.

This job was most definitely a learning experience. I certainly now know what not to do when working on a project this large and I will make much better business decisions if I ever have an opportunity like this again!