Tricksters and Treats

Happy Halloween!

We were so lucky that the weather held out for our little Trick or Treaters.  I had already threatened bribed the boys with money to go buy candy at Target if it rained because I sure as heck wasn't going trick-or-treating in the pouring freezing rain.

Well, no worries because it was nothing but chilly, and Perry offered to walk the walk this year leaving me at home to greet all the little cuties in costumes for the first time in 12 years.  I loved it!

Our clan was pumped for the occasion (and cooperative with a little photo shoot because I finally got smart and took the pics when they came home from school instead of when they were dying to head out for candy).

I love that they are old enough to be pretty much in charge of their own costumes. 

boy #1: the nerdy gangsta

boy#2: the crazed (and possibly rich, judging by the bling around his neck) Bruins fan

{Don't ask me what that finger symbol thingie means.  I'm just hoping it's not gangsta slang for some swear word!}

boy#3: a raffle ticket 

He came up with this idea completely on his own.  Lately, he's been a bit obsessed with arcades.  A bit.

And it's not just any old raffle ticket either:

Bwaaahaahaa.

Yup, they were a motley crew, alright.

We now have enough candy in our house to...hmm, I can't think of anything non-cliche.  Just trust me, it's A LOT!

And while we're on the topic of treats, these were completed and delivered (thanks to my crafty partner in crime, kd!)

And in case you would like to make your own bug jar for next year, I shared the PDF I created on Scribd for you to download.  

Credits: 

Original Idea

Mason Jar Graphic

Label Graphics

Art Journaled Quotes

I love quotes.  

I love how a few words can come together to make an impact-filled statement.

And lately, I love combining favorite quotes I come across with a little bit of artistry to create my art journal pages.  

I whole-heartedly agree with Dieter Uchtforf's declaration that the desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.  I feel it in myself.  When I am impatient, short-tempered, tired, unmotivated it's nearly always because I have pushed creating aside.  I remember that I need to refuel my soul--need to recharge by spending time with paints, paper, glue, yarn, the camera; need to get messy and just create something.  Anything.

This week I brought some paints, brushes, pens, bubble wrap, and some collage items to my parents' when I visited my brother.  I was deeply hoping that he would join me in creating some art.  He was a talented sketcher when he was younger, and I'm sure that gift is still within him.  He wasn't ready yet, but I created this:

a little pinspired project

I am not just an aimless Pinner.

I swear.

Sure, I can spend hours pinning and repinning {and pinning some more}.  But my Pinterest profile reads, "when i'm not pinning, i make time to create"

And by golly that's what I'm going to do.
Who even says that anymore?  By golly.  I also caught myself saying "goodness gracious" to my neighbor this morning, and I've been known to utter the occasional "good grief." I'm such a nerd...

Anyway, with the spirit of creating in mind, I have a little Pinspired project to share with you.

Source: manuscrap.wordpress.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I loved it the second I saw it, and when we vacationed at the beach this summer my oldest and I made a special trip to collect rocks for this project.

Now, please bear with me as I go off on another tangent.
Heck, I've already digressed into a confession about my nerdy phrase choices.  Why stop now?

I have wonderful friends, several of whom are gifted with amazing creative talents.  I am a lucky girl to be surrounded by such inspiring people in my life.  One of these friends gave me a priceless gift for my birthday this past year.  It brought me to tears.

She altered a cigar box with vintage items, including a piece of one of her Gran-gran's hats (see: tear jerker)

and filled it with one of a kind crafty items: vintage Japanese fabric and wrapping papers, antique buttons, pompom fringe, old postcards, a lace hankie.  She loaded it up with creative goodness only she would know I love.  This just may be my most favorite gift ever.

Now back to the Pinspired Project.  I used several items from this beautiful gift to create my rock piece: the felted heart, the fabric scrap, the vintage button, the book print.

It was the perfect marriage of meaning-filled objects and a Pinspiring idea.

A match made in heaven.

 I've fallen in love!

{3 cards} adventure | celebration | blessings

My beautiful nieces both graduated from college recently.  They are amazing girls, women really, with a fantastic sense of self, smarts up the wazoo, and their feet firmly planted on this earth.

This quote sums them up perfectly:

courtesy of Balancing Home

I made them each a card to fit their personalities:

adventure awaits

one ride: hold on tight

 And a little christening card for a sweet baby boy:

I am reminded that life is an adventure. Celebrate this one fabulous ride, and count your blessings along the way.

Chalkboard Art

Last fall I refinished an old frame into a chalkboard {blogged here}.

This chalkboard hangs in a corner of our kitchen:

Once or twice a month, I change the phrase on the board.  Sometimes the words are a reflection of something happening in our home.  Sometimes it's just an inspiring quote that I come across and like.  Many of them come from my Pinterest board  i♥ W O R D S

As I was going through photos on my hard drive, I came across some of the boards I had photographed in the past year.

 i {heart} words and i {heart} chalkboards.  Put them together and it's {heart}².

Creepy Crawlicus

Each year around this time I start thinking about a little goodie for the boys to give to their friends for Halloween.  I won't be able to get away with this do this much longer (one boy topped out when he reached middle school and another is heading there next year).

These cuties showed up in my Pinterest feed.  They are adorable as Valentines, but wouldn't they be cute for Halloween?

Source: dandee-designs.com via Michelle on Pinterest

So I hunted around for a mason jar printable and found one here.

I wanted to recreate the vintage and creepy "specimen in a jar" effect:

A little ribbon and some cooler spidery toys and the look will be complete!

Now to get busy making 50-something for two classes. . .