#Spellbinders Celebra'tions Review

The Spellbinders brand provided me with a sample of Spellbinders Celebra'tions Collection for review however all opinions are my own .

Last year I started to make my own cards.  I wanted to save money and I had all the supplies (paper, punches etc...).  So chances are if you know me in real life that you've been given a handmade card.  

When I had the opportunity to review some card making supplies and craft kits I knew it was perfect.  Richard Garay has a line to help create easy beautiful products.

I was sent supplies to make a party hat card and a treat bag.  

I made mine slightly different- I had the card open from the bottom instead of side, and didn't include the string and attached the celebration banner differently, but otherwise it was so easy to make.  I made it in 15 minutes maybe.  There are directions included but it was basically a layering process. Fold the blue cardstock, attach the white, attach the pink then fold and attach the hat shape.  After that it was layer the flower pieces, add the center and then the celebration banner.  You can see in the video above how easy it was.  

The only thing I didn't like was there were not enough foam stickers included.  I didn't even have enough for the first project (used school glue) and I was supposed to have enough for both.  I'm not sure how many are usually included.

I didn't make the treat bag but I'm sure it will be just as easy when I do. 

For more ideas and products visit Spellbinders.

Weekly Wrap Up 10/5

1) Last week when the internet was out I made a craft I had seen on pinterest.  It wasn't perfect; the lid doesn't fit, and some of the bigger headbands are too big, but I think it still turned out.  It cost me nothing, since I had all the materials on hand.  I used scrapbook paper on the lid, and a scrap of fabric to cover the container.

2) Last Saturday I mentioned we were going to go to Artprize.  We didn't go for long, but saw a few pieces.  It's interesting to see what people deem art, because a lot of what I saw I would not say is art. A bridge made out of wood with a car underneath was one example.  The colorful flags in the river wouldn't really be art to me either, but I still thought they were pretty.

This was made out of moss, concrete, grapevines and some other things. 

This entry was a room set up like a nursery, but guns all over.  There was a mobile made out of little pink pistols, wall art using weapons shaped into something else.  It was odd.

3) This week I won a signed book poster; not the prize I was hoping to win.  I also won a copy of this game.  I think my niece will like it.

Then I won a prize pack from a blog as part of a going green blog hop, but I have no idea what is in it.so that will be a fun surprise when it arrives.

And I also won this which will help organize baby stuff.

4) I got a few prizes I had already won last week.  One was bath wash and shampoo for baby.  I hopefully have enough that I won and was gifted that I won't have to buy any for a long time.  Another was a pack of pampers wipes, and a $50 Babies R Us giftcard.

Over the summer I won something from Keurig, but I didn't know it was a tumbler or k-cups.  I got it and it was a pack of iced tea k-cups.  Only neither of us are iced tea drinkers so I will probably give them away. 

And I won a $5 starbucks gift card from the app nexercise (I've mentioned it before) a few weeks ago and it came in the mail today.  I'm not a coffee drinker, but I do like the strawberries and cream frappachinos 

5) If you want to see pictures of the baby when she shows up (which I feel like may never happen) follow me on instagram or facebook.  I will post them to the blog, but it's so much easier to do via a computer and I might not be able to be on for a little while after she is born. I guess it depends on how anxious you are. Links to my pages are on the right sidebar. \

6) This week had a sad moment.  My mom's stepdad passed away.  They (my grandma and him) had been married longer than my parents (30+ years), and he was the only grandpa I knew on that side.  But he had a lot of health issues so I really didn't know him super well.  His death wasn't a surprise since he had been home on hospice since late summer, but it still stinks.  He was a nice guy, and I hate this for my grandma and all his kids and stepkids.  They are having a family get together in a week, but I'm going to miss it.  Since it's a week away baby should be here by that point and I won't feel comfortable bringing her to a group gathering.

7) That is the reason I will be missing my niece's first birthday party next week.  I'm not okay bringing her around all those people.  Especially during the start of flu season.  But don't worry sweet Libby.  I do have a gift for you! :)

I can't believe she is turning one this week.  Such a sweet little girl.   She also shares a birthday with my best friend.  Happy Birthday to Elisabeth (Libby) and Christina!  At the rate this baby is going she might also share a birthday.  Cousins exactly a year apart?  That could be fun right?  Although I hope both little girls can have their own special day too. 

8) My cousin is getting married today.  I think I just might make it to the wedding after all, but if not I just want to say congrats to Jessica and Thomas! 

9) Still.no.baby.  I know babies come when they are ready and I know 41 weeks 1 day is average for first time moms, but I'm starting to feel really frustrated and discouraged at this point.  I feel like I'm being silly, because I'm only 4 days over, but I want to cry and it's starting to make me feel depressed.



If I'm still pregnant, which I probably will be at my appointment on Monday I'm thinking I might be ready to talk about a induction later in that week.  A few days ago I would have said no way, but I might be ready now.  I'm worried about how big she might get, and by the time she is born it will be past 41 weeks so I don't feel like it would be to early.  I guess it's up to the doctor to make the best decision for us. 

   

My Quiet Book

I decided to make a quiet book.  Partly out of boredom, partly because I knew it would be a fun project and something for my nieces and nephews to play with and my own baby to enjoy.

I found most of the templates and ideas on this blog or pinterest.  Most of the pages I did just based on ideas, but I did use a template for the potato head page. 

I spent probably 20 hours over the course of months working on it.  I'd be all into it and then get bored of it, so it took a while to get it to where I felt like it was done.

I probably spent $30 on it.  This includes the felt, felt glue, velcro and buttons.  I had the ribbon (to secure the book) and thread (I used embroidery; since I had lots left from my cross stitching days) .

I hand sewed the pages with embroidery, because I didn't know how to properly do felt in my sewing machine and didn't want to break it or break a needle.

The other pages I just used felt glue.

I was going to title it 'Busy Book" and cut out the letters, but I was having issues with cutting out letters. Apparently I didn't know how.  So I just thought I would keep it simple and spell fun on the front, but I could not figure out how to cut out the letter N.  I even wrote one on a scrap to see how it looked.  I had to have Rob help me.  I'm going chalk it up to pregnancy brain.

I will probably add onto it because I don't like that you can see the backs of the pages I used thread for, but I have no idea when and for now I just want to be done with it.

The colors on some pages are off a little, the lighting must have been crummy, but I'm not going to edit them.  You get the idea :)


The cover page

This is an apple picking page, the apples look more like hearts and the tree more like a hand, but I live in a big apple growing area. 

 A page to practice counting.  Rob actually cut out the numbers.  He did way better than I could.  I used ribbon and just attached it to the page with thread.

A tic tac toe page.  My niece made sure that I had equal circles and squares.  I used scraps for this page. They game pieces have velcro on the back

The potato head page.  The main piece is secured with felt glue and the rest have velcro on them. 

This is a puzzle page.  I cut out the heart and glued it to the white felt and then cut it up into pieces. which are attached with velcro.

This holds the extra potato head page pieces. It's attached on the sides and bottoms with thread

 This page is to practice buttoning. The bottom pieces are attached to the page with thread and the button is sewn on with thread also.  Then the top piece has a slit in it to attach it to the piece stuck on the page.

The coloring is way off, but this is a road page (obviously, lol).  The road and lines are attached with felt glue, the car piece has velcro on the back, and the house is also attached with felt glue. 

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Weekly Update 4.19.13 (lots of pictures)

1) Our nephew was born on Monday. Welcome to the world baby Gabe! I loved those newborn baby snuggles.  Now we have 2 nieces and 2 nephews.  Our baby will be the tie-breaker on both sides. 

2) Monday was also our anniversary.  We were a little busy with work, visiting the hospital and then going out to dinner that it was after 9 before we got home and I just forgot about it, so we actually took the picture on Tuesday.  I'm a little weird about not doing it on the exact day, but it's silly.  It's not like one day makes that much of a difference. 

3) I figured out how to add a link to my blog's facebook, twitter and my pinterest page using an icon.  I figured out how to do it before but I wanted to use the icon.  It took me a while to find html code to do it, because I have no clue how to write my own code, but then it was fairly easy.  I couldn't find a smaller image for pinterest though.  Visit them and like or follow them, and if you could click the 'we're on the fence button' I would appreciate it. If not I'll still like you.

4) With all the bad stuff that's been happening this week, the Boston marathon bombings, the explosion at a plant in Texas (although I think that was accidental), I am more thankful than ever for knowing that when I die I am going to Heaven.  Jesus saved me and I can have hope.
I don't want to have to suffer, who really does, but I know that in the end it will all be okay.  Not everyone can say that, and that makes me so sad.
I am reminded though in the stories I read about the good people that exist; the people who ran toward danger instead of away from it; the people who worked night and day to save and protect people.  I am  going to remind myself of that because I need something positive.

5) In weather related news, we've had rain here almost every, if not every day for the last several weeks.  As a result flood levels are high.  Like really high.  Higher than I can remember them every being and high enough that if it rains today there will be records set.  Here are some pictures (I didn't take most these; found them on local news sites and facebook)

Summer 2008; Traveling Vietnam Wall; I did take this one

April 2013

Downtown Grand Rapids

April 2008; Taken by me

April 2013

6) This week was kind of a roller coaster week with the job.   I posted last week about how it was ending.  Then Monday there was a chance it could still work out.  Yesterday I found out it won't.  I understand budgets and not being able to pay me what I need.  I'm just not willing to work 9 days a month, some 8 hour, some 5 hours, starting at 6am until 3pm (on the 8 hour days).  It winds up being 5-8 dollars an hour.  I know I should have taken it because it's money, and I know Rob was annoyed that I asked for $500 instead.  My time is still valuable though, and I know what I am worth.  I'm hopeful I can find something.  It almost might be easier since with that job my scheduled would have varied so much (like different days every week).  I have no hard feelings that it won't work out.  I wish it could have, but budgets stink.

7) I won a cloth diaper and inserts from Imagine diapers and a certificate to Chelory this week.  Chelory has a hunting camo diaper which I probably am getting.  It is a one size which means it won't work in the newborn stage (baby needs to be 12lbs I think).  Rob asked me last night if I could find a newborn camo print and I am having a hard time.  I want to so badly since it's the first time he's asked for something like that.  I can find a few one-size, but no newborn.  It has to be hunting camo, not military camo. If you have seen one let me know please.
I have time, but it would be so perfect considering I am due on October 1st, which is opening day of bow season.  I did tell Rob that he could go out hunting if the baby hasn't come yet, as long as he doesn't go more than 30 minutes away and keeps his phone on him at ALL times.   I also told him that he won't be going up to deer camp with my dad and brother this year for opening gun day (November 15), because that would be an overnight trip.  I'm not sure I want to be overnight alone with a tiny baby.

8) And I've been thinking about birth announcements this week.  We ordered all our wedding stuff from vistaprint and I was really happy with them and we got a lot of free stuff as well.  One of the free things we got were photo magnets and I put an engagement picture on them and shared them with family.
Anyway so I was going to order the announcements from vista print because they are cheaper than shutterfly (where I would have otherwise). Then my smart self thinks to do magnet announcements and I can get them in a post card size and they are cheaper still than shutterfly.
Then yesterday I see a groupon for vistaprint.  $17 for $70 worth of stuff.  So I bought it.  It expired October 15.  I think I should be safe with that.  So I can get at least 50 announcements plus note cards for under $20.  Awesome!

9)  This is my latest craft project.  I like to start them and not finish them.  This is made from felt.  The little bucket stores the pieces, and is sewn on with embroidery thread.  I sewed it by hand because I didn't know if I had a proper needle for my sewing machine.  The potato head form is glued with felt glue to the sheet.  I just need velcro for the pieces. I'm proud of it so far.  It's the start of my quiet book.

10) Speaking of contests I am participating in my first blogger giveaway (see right sidebar).  They are free to participate in and I think it's cool too. I love sweeping so I love helping others find them as well as promoting them. 

Weekly Wrap Up 4.12.13

1) Here is my duh moment of the week.  Me: Why is the tv so quiet?  Rob: It's on mute. 

2) I haven't won anything in a few weeks. I got the last prize that I won this week and it is adorable.

It is a onesie from Kinderstuff and is made with organic cotton and it is so soft.  I don't know if baby is a boy or a girl yet (just a few more weeks), but I went with this because while it might be more boyish, I think a baby girl could still rock it.  If I change my mind I always have a baby nephew coming who probably doesn't really need clothes, but would look adorable in this.





3) I also won this (Premama Prenatal Vitamin Powdered Supplement Mix, 30 On-The-Go Servings) a while back, and was not impressed. I mixed both packets with 16oz of water and it was not flavorless at all.  It tasted awful.  Maybe if I did one packet at a time in with juice or soda it would be okay. I want to give it one more shot though. I was a little hesitant at first because the box wasn't sealed, the flap was just tucked in, but the blogger I won it from said the same thing happened to hers. Oh, and there was only 29 instead of 30 (yes I counted), but it was free so I just let it go.

4)  We celebrated Rob's mom's birthday on Sunday with lunch at Outback.  I was a little nervous I wouldn't find anything because of my meat aversion, which is mostly me eating it, but sometimes the sight of it grosses me out a little.  I had a baked potato and a salad and that was actually sufficient for me.  I'm really happy to have in-laws that I love and get along with.  I hear horror stories about in-laws, and I have never had an issue.  They are always helpful and supportive to us.

5) The weather here has been cold and rainy all week.  I don't hate the rain, but the cold plus the rain together is awful.  All I want to do is stay inside under a blanket.  I had to run errands Wednesday and I wore my rain boots   Bad idea.  I went to 7 stores and walking around in them for hours was not a smart choice. My feet were in agony.   I didn't realize it would be a problem, but I won't make that mistake again.  The rain is likely to continue for another week or so.  Come back sun!

6) I made fajitas this week for Rob.  I baked them in the oven and Rob said the taste wasn't any different, but I think they were easier.  I still had to do all the same prep-work, but then I didn't have to constantly monitor the pan.

7) I'm attempting to make cloth wipes using old pajamas.  I cut them up but I'm not very good at that and the sizes are all different.  I am using 3 layers of fabric.  My plan is to sew
them together.  I started to and the needle kept coming un-threaded and then I finally got into the groove and the bobbin ran out of thread.  I took it as a sign to stop for the day.

8) Actually I did win 2 things yesterday (I add to the post throughout the week so when I wrote #1 I hadn't yet).  I won a bottle of contact solution in an instant win.  I don't normally enter those, but it had a really high amount of winners.  I also won a paint color deck, which I don't really know what that means, but I'm guessing it probably wasn't the top prize in the contest.
I have a list of everything I've won in a tab at the top of the page for those who have been asking.  I don't keep everything.  I've kept most of the baby/kid stuff, but a lot of the other things I have given as gifts.

If you made it to the end and want to do me a favor can you click on the vote for me button on the right sidebar.  I'd appreciate it. Thanks!  You don't have to sign up for anything and it is seriously one click.