7 more crafts today...still no sleep...

Who needs sleep? Not me! So much done in the last two or three days of no sleep. Well technically I got about 3-4 hours of light sleep on Monday late morning. So...lets see....I woke up at 6pm Sunday night....and have slept about 4 hours since then. How many hours awake??? I'm not sure...can't count that many...BUT I can count how many crafts I completed today. Ok...maybe I can't count that many...but I did take and pics and will post them.

So this post will have a bunch of pics...but not really step by step. Probably because they were super simple to do.

First is the two small wreathes I had to buy and a wicker branch ($9 from Hobby Lobby). These will make my "B" for my BOO wreathes (http://loggingoffoffacebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-halloween-wreathes-and-lovehate.html?zx=a7b9eed8a5f7316e). I am hoping to get it done tomorrow. So far I'm really excited because it looks to be a much better fit.

The first real project I got done today was my "Spooky Doll Wall". I had picked up a cheap creepy doll at the thrift store as well as an empty frame for under $3.

And I found the candle wall holders for $.50 each.

With a coat of paint for the doll and frame...as well as the candle sticks...and a cute wooden sign I found for $1 (and painted it orange)....and this is what I got.

I think it turned out well. The kids don't like it because it is creepy. I just need two more red candles...and I should be all set. So I'm going to count this as 3 crafts.

Then last night Reilly and I started the base of our Spider Web ceiling. Noah and I worked on it this morning until I ran out of crepe paper. Finally tonight I had all 3 boys helping me get it finished. A lot of twisting and tucking and stapling...and it is done! This was craft #4.

Before the boys went to bed, I figured I would get the Bloody Bathroom started. I did not have to convince Reilly to stick his feet in the paint. Plus he was all too happy to get a nice warm foot rub while I cleaned the paint off of the floor.

Thankfully the bathroom project took my typical 10 minutes...with limited "blood" splatter.  I will count this as craft #5.

Finally my last craft took about 2 minutes. I had bought some cool "Eye Lash" yarn and just simply wrapped it around my living room lamp. Turned out pretty cute...with the lights off and on...and even easier to remove. I will count this as #6!

This one I can't technically count as a craft...because I did buy it off Craigslist. I ended up getting four porcelain candle holders (2 ghosts and 2 pumpkins), a divided serving dish, trick or treat bowl, Kleenex box, a Potion sign, and three stuffed "creatures"....all for $10. Not bad at all! 

Last but not least, while at Hobby Lobby I found a wooden sign that I just couldn't pass up. Usually I tell myself that I could make it for cheaper and better...but I never quite get around to it. But today, it was half off and for only $5....very affordable!  All I did was add some of the orange paper cordage I am so fond of....and a few spiders...and up it went!

So all in total, I did 7 crafts today! I still have a few more wreathes to do (so many different types I want to try out)...and a couple fake pumpkins I am working on. Halloween party is in 11 days! This week I want to finish the upstairs so that next week I can finish the basement with the kids!

 

I might still work on the "B" tonight before I go to bed. I need to stay up until 11pm anyway (work related phone call)...so I have 30 minutes...and THREE bags of mini glue sticks! I am parking myself on the couch and I have my TV show on...and ready to go!





My Half A Pumpkin Project

Two posts in one day...heck within 7 hours...crazy I know. I need sleep. I tried to sleep for an hour this morning but my mind was in craft mode and I couldn't stop thinking about all the cool stuff I re-found downstairs. So I woke up and made the boys a good breakfast...and still going strong.

I am currently working on 4 different items....all are drying...so I started my 5th one. I found this heart wicker thing a few years ago, and have used it for Xmas last year wrapped with lights. I was thinking of doing the same, but with my Halloween lights and decided against it.  So I grabbed the orange crepe paper and started wrapping. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but I was talking with Janelle for our daily craft and life talk and the wrapping kept my hands busy.

When it was wrapped I was trying to figure out how to use it. I turned it the way it normally would have been and it looked like a funny fish...but that wasn't very Halloweenish...so I laid it down and walked away to check on my other projects.

I came back and from the angle I approached it, it was sideways...and looked like half a pumpkin! I grabbed my puffy paint and did a quick half face improve...a little green crepe paper on the top and VOILA! It fits right in the tiny space between my front closet and the corner! PERFECT!

AND while I was working on it...my foot hit a small bag slightly under the couch....any guess what it could be??? Anyone??? MY FRICKEN MINI GLUE STICKS!!! Just ask Janelle...I screamed I was so upset! I searched everywhere...and they were NOT there last night! I think I have someone messing with me! Coming into my house and moving stuff....grrrrr.  Maybe my house is haunted....hmmmm....I can work with that....

My Halloween Wreathes and Love/Hate Relationship With Glue Sticks

Ok, let me get this out of the way. If you do not have a least an hour to read this blog today...then please call in sick...your boss will understand! Just kidding...maybe. I don't think it will take an hour, but I know it will be long...but I have lots of cool picture for those that don't want to read.

 

I know you can't celebrate the holidays without a wreath. I might change it up a little later...because I like thing to look similar. But for today's sake...it worked. It took much longer than the 10 minute crafts I enjoy...plus at least 7 trips to my craft room (which I'm tempted to have the kids move in the basement and bring the craft room upstairs...).

 

And to show the TRUE story of my craft mess...I took a picture of my living room before AND after....4 hours later.  Easton is going to be MAD! The living room is HIS zone to clean this week :D

Not bad. It is cleaned...he did a good job. So continue reading to the end to see the final result! DO NOT CHEAT AND SCROLL DOWN (I saw that)!

 

Ok on to my Halloween wreath(s)! 

 

I had found a wooden "B" at the thrift store for $.50...then I covered it the same way as my spell book (http://loggingoffoffacebook.blogspot.com/2014/10/spell-books-are-donesuper-excited.html?zx=66b3e17ba164a3e2), painted it black with a white overlay. Then I dug through a ton of boxes and totes in the basement looking for my wicker Xmas wreaths I bought last year and never used. They would be PERFECT for my "OO" to spell out BOO!

See what I mean about the "B" being off? Still bothers me....so I might check out Hobby Lobby, because I want a wicker one (or I could go in the garage and make my own with the grapevines the boys and I picked a few weeks ago).

 

I decided to start with the "OO" and see what I could do. The first thing I made was my "Ghost Wreath".

I used crepe paper and a piece of Halloween trim on the bottom. The ghost is made from a paper napkin (like you learned in kindergarten). The spider was just a cheap rubber spider, and the web is white ribbon tied at each section. The web alone took at least 30 minutes...and the back of it looks terrible...but no one can see that. For an additional decoration I added a bunch of the spider rings around the top of the wreath. It worked great because I just opened up the rings and wrapped around the wreath pieces. I think it turned out cute :D

 

The second "O" is my "Scarecrow Wreath".

This one is my FAVORITE! Looks pretty and simple to make...but took the most time because of the "creativity" I had to endure! The pumpkins are just ceramic and I laced a ribbon through them and tied it to the wreath. The scarecrow I bought for $.10 and I just attached it to a small dowel and stuck it in to hold it in place. The mini corn were easy to attach with just some black thread...but the hay bales....those were a bitch!

 

Ok so they weren't super hard to do...just to attach. I have this paper/ribbon/cordage stuff that I really like to use as a natural tie to presents. All it is, is thin textured paper rolled up tight. When it is unrolled it gives a nice texture that reminded me of hay (which I could not use because I am very allergic to it). Below is a bad pic....but it shows what the paper rope thing looks like.

Then I wrapped two different sizes of Styrofoam (I have a bunch I brought home from work...but the pieces I used was cut from a long piece in the box my new TV came in) with the paper and secured it with small sewing needles. Folding it the same way I would if I was wrapping Xmas presents.

Great, I thought. This looks so cool. I love crafts. I'm going to tie down the bales and life will be great. Nope, tried a bunch of different ways to tie the bales down and nothing seemed to work. So I did the next best thing. I used bobby pins (because they were next to me and I didn't want to get up). I bent them around the wreath and jammed them into the Styrofoam. Perfect...but they didn't want to stay very well. Damn, looks like I do have to get up. Just one more time I told myself. I will only go downstairs one more time. HA

 

I just have to glue down the bales...and...hey...where is my hot glue gun? First thing first. I have three hot glue guns...all for different things...and they are all different sizes. So I made a few trips downstairs to look for it. Why a few? Because every time I got halfway through looking through the boxes I had a better idea of where it could be....and nope...it was never there. So back down the stairs I went...and each time I came up with more things I found.

 

When I was looking out in my trunk (at 2am mind you) low and behold I see the cord. I damn near jumped for joy and rushed back inside. I plugged it in and it was then that I noticed I didn't have any glue sticks! That's fine. I have more glue sticks that anything else in my house. No biggy...back down the stairs to grab the sticks...and what do I find? NOT THE FRICKEN GLUE STICKS!

 

For almost 30 minutes I pulled out EVERY box in the basement and could not find a single glue stick! I was tempted to drive to Walmart and buy some, but the kids were sleeping and I worry about leaving them alone at night...because knowing my luck my house would burn down or something...an I would be "that mom" that left her kids home alone at 2:30am to go to Walmart.

 

BUT...I remembered where my glue sticks were! Or at least two sticks...in my purse. Don't ask why I have glue sticks in my purse...I would have to create a whole new blog just to explain it...and I don't have time to do that...so trust me...I have glue sticks in my purse.

 

However....remember how I said I have three different sized glue guns. Yeah, well the glue gun I found was the mini one. The glue sticks I have in my purse....were NOT the mini ones. They were the regular sized ones. The ones that are TOO big to fit in my glue gun. #@&$! I almost cried. Ok, I lied...I did cry...I was so pissed. BUT being a crafty woman...I grabbed for the E6000 glue (it works great, but there is a very strong smell that sticks around for a long time)....empty! GRRRRRR.

 

Thankfully my last back up is the fake nail glue I keep in my tool box . Problem is that it takes forever to dry...and I always seem to glue my fingers together. This is another subject NOT to bring up. I don't know why I can't just keep the glue in one spot...but I have always had the nail glue in my tool box, and not my craft glue box.

 

I remembered to unplug the now very hot glue gun and quickly glued the hay bales down. Perfect! I had gone through 4 hours of taped TV shows (fast forwarded through the commercials of course)...and I just had to finish the "B". I had a ton of energy until I started the "B". I glued a few bugs and eyes down....and even had to staple the stupid bat because the glue wasn't drying fast enough and I was pretty pissy! But thankfully no trip to the ER was needed because I glued my fingers together....AGAIN! Yep, you got...don't ask!

So they were all done! I will hook them together and attach them to the door....after I fix the "B". It just looks out of place. The more I look at it, the less I am happy with it. Yes it is cute...on it's own...but not with my "OO"s.

See how cute they look! I am happy how it turned out. However...as soon as I turned around from taking the picture...I saw my living room. The worst part of doing crafts is cleaning up. I am terrible at that part! And instead of cleaning up...I typed up this blog...and now heading to bed. I'm pretty sure I will be woken up with Easton yelling at me....grrrrr...but would you blame him?  LOL. So guess what I get to do tomorrow? Hobby Lobby for a wicker "B" and MINI GLUE STICKS! And I will hide them EVERYWHERE! EVERYWHERE I TELL YOU! Stupid glue sticks!



 















18' of Chain links for under $3 and 10 minutes! NO MESS

Ok. It has been a crazy week. Work was steady all weekend....until Sunday night. I was moving too fast and jammed my right pinkie finger into a door on a machine. Ended up bending it at a bad angle. Since I am the only one at work that can drive a fork lift...I had to wrap it and continue working for two hours...until 3rd shift came in.

By then, my finger was just numb. My boss sent me to the ER. It wasn't broken, but I was put in a finger splint and on light duty for a week. Turned out that I pulled a ligament...and thankfully no surgery. Good thing...because a pinkie is a pretty useless finger! BUT it prevented me from cleaning and doing crafts...and that didn't make me happy. Even now, just typing it taking FOREVER!

So today I had the boys (not normally on a Thursday, but  I will take any extra day I can get), and we had the tv off...and crafts on! We made two trips to Menard's (similar to Home Depot), and one trip to Walmart. We started a number of crafts...and now I am overwhelmed with how much I still have/want to do!

I'm tempted to type up all of the partial crafts now...but I will wait. However, I will explain the ONLY craft I truly finished today. It was my Pipe Insulation Chain Link craft!

I have been looking for gray pool noodles...but while at Menard's I saw the pipe insulation and the light bulb went off! I was able to get a 4 pack of these 3' long tubing for only $2.47! I got the 1" ones, because they were the biggest I could find in the black/gray color....that was affordable.

So then I opened them up and cut them into about 1" segments.

The pipes are already precut with one large cut down the length (to fit around a long pipe)...so the pieces I cut were able to really easily link together....to form the chain.

I only used one package (was 12', but after I cut them, the chain link measured almost 18') of 4...but I do have another package to cut up. The whole process took around 10 minutes. Granted I had one kid helping me hold the tubing to cut it...and two kid linking them together. But it was super easy...and NO mess!

 

I can't wait to attach them to my skeletons...and maybe even outside!

 

The other projects I am working on...are currently drying. Maybe tonight I will do my blood spattered bathroom stuff...but I'm not sure. I bought red jello and red Kool-Aid...and more red food coloring. Plus some cheap towels and bathroom stuff I can ruin....super excited! I had the boys help with the blood splattered sheets today...and those are out to dry...so hopefully I can post them tomorrow.

 

Only 16 more days until my party....AAAAAAHHHHHHHH It is coming up too soon!

Spell Books are DONE....Super Excited!!!!!

Super excited to do this post! I was going to start it last night...but two things stopped me...1...the glue wasn't dry so I couldn't paint....and 2...I will keep to my self :D

It was a great night. I had a great sleep...felt wonderful to be curled up in bed. Great dreams and plans for today. I was up at 3:30am with a pot of coffee started...and Trixi...I did it! I drank an entire pot of coffee! Only took me 4 hours! But that isn't what I'm super excited about. My Spell Books are pretty much done! I might add a few little touches here and there...but for the most part...I LOVE THEM!!!

I had been looking to make some spell books when my best friend Janelle came to the rescue and sent me this link: http://www.betterafter.net/2014/10/altered-halloween-books-tutorial-new-and-improved.html

I LOVED the way she did them...and decided to try them out myself! Here are my steps and results!

I started with 2 hard cover books bought at St. Vinny's (similar to Goodwill) for $.25 each. Then I found some Dollar Tree decorations and glued them on the books. Thumbtacks and foam letters followed. The Skeleton was laid on top of the bat wings to change it up.

Then I tried the method the website showed me. I didn't like the wet paper towel trick, so I watered down my Elmer's School Glue and applied it directly to the books. Then I let is dry just enough so that it was still tacky. I separated napkins (I didn't have any paper towel), so that they were one-ply. Then I carefully added the napkins to the books.

 

Like the website said, I didn't try to smooth it out because the wrinkles only add to the look! Then I added another layer of water downed glue to make sure the napkin was held in place. Taking special care to get all the little crevices around the stickers. Then I waited...and waited...and waited...because it took FOREVER to let the glue dry!

While the glue was drying I was babysitting for my xh and his wife (Stef), because their two little kids are great! Also I was collecting empty bottles from around my house. Thankfully I work at a Plastics factory and we make bottles. My bosses no longer look at me funny when I ask to bring strange stuff home...lol.

 

Anyway...when I woke up this morning I was excited to see my books were dry. I applied black paint to the entire cover and binding. I know it looks funny...but it gets better...promise!







Thankfully the paint dries very fast. By the time I finished painting the second book, the first book was dry. Then I lightly dry brushed a tan color over the raised areas.

Looking better...but not good enough for me. So I added some cream to certain parts to really make it pop!

For the most part I was done. But then I remembered something. I added a circle inside the Vampire teeth on the Spell book. I went through my stash of googly eyes and after a little bit of glue...and of course...GLITTER...





 I WAS DONE!!!!

I love it...I love it! I love it!

I am working on my potion bottles...still waiting for the glue to dry. This time I used crepe paper to wrap the bottles. I have one spider one done (I did it the same time as the books...as a sample)...but I will wait until tomorrow to share those pictures!

Hell I might do another post today...but it is Friday, and I have to work in 12 hours....so we will see...

Raven Card Picture Frames

Ok, this is going to be a quick post. Just a simple project I did yesterday. First I went to St. Vinny's to do some shopping. For the people not from the Green Bay area...St. Vinny's is similar to Goodwill, but cheaper and much much bigger! I found so much good stuff there yesterday! I had an entire cart full of stuff for decorations. I found the perfect lantern...the perfect coat for my costume...some great board/card games for the party...and a new set of dining room chairs. BUT the best thing I bought...my pride and joy...is my new Cedar chest!!!

It is light gold in color with small wheels on the bottom

The inside is in PERFECT condition!

However, as excited as I am about finding my chest (only $10)...I am very sad, because I will not be able to work on it until after the holidays. But, it will be okay. I'm not a huge fan of distressed items...but the color is perfect for my room...and it will work :D. And yes, because of the chest I had my very first shopping orgasm. I had to literally sit down I was shaking so hard. Thankfully Stef was able to come pick it up for me (I miss having a van)!

So wait for a future post about my chest! The wooden kind...not my personal kind! Minds out of the gutter please! :D

Ok....so my original post: My Raven card pictures.

I had bought a set of 9 cards online on Ebay ($5.50 total)...and was sent a set of 2 free bookmarks! And yes, they are all textured...hard to see though.

So at St. Vinny's I found the cheap little picture frames that are hinged I usually don't like gold frames, but I didn't want to paint them...so I left them alone...and they were only $.25 each!

Then I just simply add black/orange/cream colored card stock to the back and placed the cards inside. This project took maybe 10 minutes...which is good because I have a patience limit of about 15 minutes...lol. And this only costed me $6.75 to make! BONUS!

I was excited to see it turn out. Today I was going to work on my Spell Books, but my printer won't work...not sure why...and I woke up in the middle of the night with a major migraine. At first I thought it was a headache...but once I started throwing up...I knew it was a migraine. I managed to drive the oldest two to school...didn't think I would make it. I came home...puked some more and crawled into bed for 30 minutes before I had to get up and drive my youngest to school. Then...by 9am I was able to take my migraine meds and slept until almost 4.

 

After another dose of meds and a Pepsi....and a hot bath for an hour...by 8pm I was feeling better. But still my laptop screen is set very dim...but I'm not wearing my sunglasses...so that is good.

 

But now...I'm off to bed and hope that when I wake up I won't have this intense pain shooting through my head! Plus I get to babysit Mari and Logan tomorrow...super excited! I love those kids!

 

Halloween Toe Tag and Burnt Finger Invites

Wow it has been awhile since I have blogged. I have been working a lot, so that was taking up a lot of my time...but that isn't the real reason I haven't blogged. Mostly because my laptop died and I was too lazy to plug it in. Sad, but true. Granted I could have typed it up on my phone...but ehhh...that takes more time and I was enjoying being lazy.

However I am back online and feeling great! I have been "off" Facebook for over a month now. Ok, another lie. I have downloaded Messenger again, because it is easier to chat with some people through there. Also I have been checking about every other day...but not "liking" or commenting. Hell, I'm not even browsing on the newsfeed. But, I did sign up to go to my 15 year High School Reunion at the end of November. I have never been to a reunion yet...but I'm hoping it isn't too bad...lol.

But in the last few days I have made it official about my Halloween party. I made "Toe Tag" invites...which are INCREDIBLE! I am super excited on how they turned out. I made a bunch (more than I needed...about twice as much) that had the kids time on it (2pm-5pm). Then I made a bunch that had the adult time (6pm-???).

I saw the idea on Ebay and thought...that was super cute....but there was NO way I was going to pay $25 for 10 of these! Hell, I knew I could make them for much much less. The first thing I thought of was the gift tags at Walmart...but those were $5 for 25. Nope, still too expensive. Then I thought of all of the stock cards I had packed up...but then I would have to measure each one out and cut them...nope...too much effort...lol. But then the light bulb went off....BUSINESS CARDS!

I went to Walmart and picked up the Avery Ivory Business Cards (#27883 a pack of 100 for under $4).  I pulled up the template on their website and within 30 minutes I had a design created and ready to print. After a few "oops" prints everything was looking great. But they were too plain. I wanted them to look used and kind of gross and stained.

Then thinking back to Janelle and mine MANY conversations about crafts...I decided to stain the cards with coffee. Worked like a charm.
Granted it took me two days to drink the entire pot I made (Yes Trixi, I know I'm a coffee lightweight). Then I decided to water down a little red paint and used a straw to "splatter" paint the sheets of invites.

After they dried I ripped them apart, cut two corners and punched a hole to give it more of a "tag" look. It was cute...but not distressed enough.

I used a few of the "oops" cards and tried cutting/ripping/tearing little pieces...however they didn't seam right. Then I had the bright idea to burn the edges...GENIUS! PERFECT! INCREDIBLE! LOVE IT!

Even though I seemed to burn 8 of my 10 fingers holding the paper over the candle (with a clothespin...after awhile)....it turned out great. Heating the paper made the paper dry stiffer with a slight curl to it. I attached a piece of cordage inside the hole and thought it was finished. But Janelle..once again....came to my rescue. She mentioned how they should be in little envelopes.

Great idea...but the small envelopes were too expensive $5 for about 20....and I had printed just around 150 of them (I know...WAY too many...but I figured at least 1/2 of the kids wouldn't show up...and probably 2/3 of the adults...but I wanted to get them all done at once). So I walked around Hobby Lobby for about an hour...trying to think of what else I could use.

Ok....another lie. I forgot what I was looking for after about 3 minutes...and just kept walking around looking at all the stuff. All of the Halloween stuff was already 40% off...and I was VERY tempted to buy a bunch right away. BUT....my party is the day AFTER Halloween...so things should be even cheaper. Super excited.

It wasn't until I was checking out that I saw the clear plastic ziplock bags....for the EXACT size I needed! 100 bags for only $2.47! SCORE! I placed the invites into the bags and tried writing "EVIDENCE" in bold letters...but it would smear...or dry clearer than I wanted...so I decided not to do that (also because I didn't want to write that on over 100 bags)!

Granted as of right now...I have 40 of the kids invites done. They each have 10 to hand out to classmates (I have it listed that parents and siblings are welcome to come). The other 10 are for my youngest two's flag football team and cousins. The rest of the kid invites will go to my coworkers that have kids...and family members that have kids.

I still have about 40 of the kids ones to still burn around the edges...and I'm waiting for the adult ones to dry (because I made too many of the kids ones...I had to go back to Walmart and pick up another pack of cards to make the adult ones).

I figure since I had a WONDERFUL day today...and the Packers won...I am not tired at all. I will probably go to sleep around noon (10 more hours)...because I have to work at 7pm. That should give me plenty of time to get the kids ones finished and enough of the adult ones for the people I will work with this weekend.

So yes...if you are one of the lucky ones to get an invite...enjoy it...I might not have any feeling left in the tip of my fingers because of it!