feels like forever

Man, it feels like an eternity since I've posted. I didn't want to post willy nilly so I had to wait until a project was finished and here we are two weeks later.

I only really finished one project this week my Mother-In-Law's 60th Birthday was on Saturday and I made paper banners. I thought I'd have time in between to work on the paper flowers or even my shoes, but nope these banners were labor intensive. There were a lot of little pieces and I encountered my first real paper block; ruffles or no? I went with ruffles which only added to the process. I thought that along the way I would pick up an easier way to apply the ruffles, sadly I had no such luck there was no quick or easy way. So hours and one hot glue accident later; here they are!!!

Add caption

I wanted to try something new. I started with  just the circle and heart cutouts. Then the project took on a life of it's own; a.k.a ruffles and letters lol!

My first finished banner! The letters were too light.

Here are some action shots.

Crafts in action is a wonderful thing! There were 10 banners total and they were a success. Thank goodness!

What's Next you ask??
I think I need to post some how to's on here. I'm not a fan of the video tutorials (as in I'm camera shy) but maybe I can get someone else to demonstrate?? Otherwise it will be good old written instruction.
So that should be up soon hopefully with some pictures of pretty pretty paper flowers!

new ideas

Each week there has been another event and so begins my search for the perfect project. First for Lily then for Kiya then banners for the babies. I love it!! Last week was the last week of school and so I made thank yous for my son's teachers; nothing big, just some chocolate chip cookies, but man they were delish and the end product was so pretty!

Coming up~~ I have to get back to work and finish my shoes, so I can place them for sale on ETSY. Then I think I'll be free to do the project I've been dying to start paper flowers!! I have made some but I saw these and I really really got excited!! Of course these didn't come with any how to but I know I can figure it out if I give myself the time to try. So no more lallygagging I have work to do.

http://www.thegreenvase.com/crafts.html these are beautiful

There will be some other crafts along the way for sure my Mother-in-law and my Aunt are turning sixty, plus my Hubby's birthday is this month as well so I'll stay busy which I love!!!

PS. I've noticed that I haven't posted any baking/food picks :( This is supposed to be a blog about paper and plates.....when I get into bake mode all else ceases to exist and no pictures get taken. I may have to give my son a summer job as part time photographer because the last batch of cookies I made were beautiful and delicious Also, I don't have one pic of the five cakes I made for Kiya's birthday they were adorable.

catching up

My initial purpose in starting this blog was to see how serious I am about this crafting thing. Is this something I want to do long term? Can I make a living? It's time to start my business plan. I'll probably need to find my Intro to Business text book so I can remember how it's done. but in the meantime I think that I will continue to research the paper industry; paper making, manufacturing, distributing, and retail. Also I think it's time to start an ETSY account http://www.etsy.com/ even if it is just a few things here and there I have to try!

Attainable Goals
1) find Intro to Business books and start business plan (get research done)
2) Start ETSY account ( what should I sell)
3) get pictures of shoes and paper products
4) select rates for sale  (research similar items)

I know that my dream shop is probably a few years of waiting, saving, preparing, and working away, but I have to start somewhere right?!! Besides ETSY is so exciting!! I think I can do it!

OH BABY

As it turns out I am the only one in the entire world who hasn't had a baby in the past year. Ok so maybe I'm exaggerating a little but all my girlfriends have babies and they are so so cute it's driving me crazy and driving me to crafting. Nothing to do on a Friday night?? Start a project. :)

Most recently I've been making banners for the babies ~ I made some stencils then started cutting them out

I found this wooden Giraffe at Joann's to use as a stencil

 Finally Finished ** here they are from youngest to oldest~

Sweet Baby Penelope (Lil Peep)

Little Peeps








Next up was baby Cameron (Cam Cam)

 Sweet baby Leah Jean~

This was my favorite to make because it was whales and other sea creatures but of

course I didn't get a good photo.

My Teddy Bear (Theodore)

The handsome Alan

Back To School

I'm headed to school tomorrow to share some love and thanks. Last fall I was taking an Intro to Education class and needed to do some classroom observations, I visited some very special students and so tomorrow I'm going to bring in some cookies and magnets that I made to give a big thank you. :)

I made the magnets with the Xyron 900 http://www.completek-12.com/Xyron-900-p/xrn900.htm.
I received it as a gift from my Mother-In-Law (she's awesome). I love it! It works without heat or electricity and comes with cartridges for laminating, magnets, stickers, and labels. The cartridges are inexpensive and it's portable!! Did I say I love it!!

Here is the project:

I came across this magnetic bookmark at Joann's and had to make my own!

So I got out my magnet maker

Ran my paper through

Then cut them out ~ these are for the girls

for the boys!

For Mrs. Hills!