Unfortunately, my grandmother is very sick and today they took her off of most of the machines and gizmos that they use to help with a lot of the essentials.  They have moved her from the ICU into her own room, with just a small oxygen tube and some pain meds to keep her comfortable.  It has been a rough few days for our family and for the next couple things will be on the quiet front here.  Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this.

Thank you…

Yes, it rained.  There is a small overhang outside the main doors to the church that a few people were able to back up to, but we ended up inside.  They gave everyone 2 chairs and that was our “trunk.”  The boys didn’t care – they still got to decorate and get free candy…  really, what more is there in life, right?

So, here are a few pics from trunk or treat…  we really did have a great time!

And, yes, Jacob is Woody from Toy Story and Owen is Darth Vadar…

in a room all this week… We are in these crazy brainstorming session meetings all week and I feel totally out of touch with the outside world. I decided to sneak out for a minute, check my email, and catch up around the outside world.

I am super excited about tomorrow.  We have “Trunk or Treat” at our church.  You decorate your car trunk or the hatch back of your SUV, park in the church lot in a semi-circle, and the kids trick or treat from car to car.  Of course I am hard at work on trying to figure out exactly how to decorate my trunk and tonight will be the night to empty it out and get it ready…  I will be sure to share some photos of it… this ought to be interesting. 

Okay – back to my hole…

I am super excited to be included in this week’s group – thanks so much!



Doodle Pumpkin
Swelldesigner a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield shows you how to make a fun pumpkin on the fly!

Yes, I am still at it, making Halloween stuff…  I just love easy-to-do projects and this is one that is super easy!

I bought some great little and cheap paper lanterns at the craft store in several Halloweeny colors.

Then I got out my favorite punches and got to work!

For some, I just punched out Halloween shapes and added them on with pop dots.

For Frankie, I got a bit more creative…  making a round Frankenstein, by the way, is difficult.  If he isn’t somewhat squareish, he just doesn’t seem to be Frankie enough…  oh well – I still gave it a shot!  I used punches and scissors to create him…

All in all, it was a fun little chance to be creative.  When I hang them, I think I will just use some battery-powered lights – I will see what I can find.

Anyway – one more week and a day… then it is time for the Halloween Hauntings to begin!

I am in the midst of finalizing some projects – my class for Silver Bellas and my project for Spark.  Just wanted to share a little corner of what I have been working on. 

This is a project that I am super excited to teach and share…  I will share all the details after, but wanted to let you in on a little hint anyway…

Have a great weekend!

That would be Jacob – king of the monkeys.  I think that we counted recently and the kid has like 22 stuffed monkeys of various sorts.  So, now that it is time to redo his room and move him from toddler bed to big boy bed, I am crafting some monkey love for his room.  We have safari stuff picked out for his bedding, enough monkey to fill shelves around his room, and now we have a bit of wall decor. 

I had a blast using these papers and embellishments from Colorbok - they fit Jake to a T!

Anyway…  here is the monkey man’s little wall hanging…  It is nothing fancy, but it is all Jacob!

I had fun making these and added them to the Official Fiskars Page over on facebook, but wanted to share it here as well!  These were fun to make!!!

As a kid, I fell in LOVE with felt.  As an adult, I continue to have a true passion for it…  not the real fancy stuff – no, mine is a passion for the $0.25 pieces of it from the craft store.  I think it must trace back to the early days of Kindergarten and felt boards.  Anyway, I still love it and grabbed some from my local store to create custom trick or treat bags with my kids!

First, I bought one yard of low-end gray felt.  I purchased several Halloween inspired colors of the $0.25 sheets as well.

Next, I folded the yard in half and used my rotary cutter and clear ruler to cut out the bases of the bags.  They are 19” tall and 12” wide.  This ensures that the bottom of the bag will stay together when loaded down with candy!
Then I sewed both sides with a simple stitch on the machine.  This way it is secure with no holes.  There is nothing worse than kids crying over a lost piece of candy.

I quick drew out a handle template and cut that out using the rotary cutter. 

Next I did an orange whip stitch on both sides and around the handle openings for some added stability.

Finally, it was time to add in the fun!  I cut out a pumpkin shape and embellishments and went to town decorating my bag.  I used tacky glue to add and hold all of the embellishments.  You could easily add the whip stitch here as well, but I just went simple with the glue this time.

For the kids, I pre-cut out the pieces and added the googlie eyes so that they can just place them and glue them when they are ready to make theirs.  All of the prep work is done and they just need to decorate! 

See – easy peasy lemon squeezie!

I really am…  I have spent the morning working on a project that has had me going through thousands of Fiskateer photos.  It has had me almost in tears at points. 

Pictures of the day that I met some of my best friends in the world…

Pictures of adventures we have had together over the last 3 1/2 years…

Days when it was all about being a member of something absolutely fun and amazing…

Not sure why I am so nostalgic today, but I am…  I guess some days it just all feels so long ago and so far away.  Today is one of those days that I miss being a crusader in orange, starting a movement that was amazing and wonderful.  Today is a day when I wonder how to get back to that more.  Today is a day I miss my friends and people who understand this side of who I am.  Today I miss that part of what I used to do.

Today – I want to be a loud and proud Fiskateer in an environment where people understand that and embrace it, rather than looking at me all crazy as the last crafter standing. 

Today – I resolve to get that back into my life more often…  somehow.

nothing to show for it…  other than a freezer, fridge, and pantry full of groceries and a clean bedroom.

That is sad.  I didn’t even have a chance to clean my craft room. 

I did, however, have a chance to spend time at home with Jake, whom has  had a really tough time with me working lately, and time to actually plan out meals when going grocery shopping. 

I went to story time on Tuesday at the library; spent 2 hours at Target yesterday, which, I must say, seems extreme; took Owen to school and picked him up; organized Jake’s closet and dresser – purging time – as well as my closet and dresser; and, ate lunch with Owen and Jake.  Other than that, it was a lot of errand running and nothing creative at all.

Maybe this will open up time for the weekend… 

Let’s hope!