The Votes are in.

Here is the poster that we finally agreed upon.

Much to the relief of this politicians mother, Melissa is now the 4th Grade SCA Historian at her school.

The installation ceremony was yesterday afternoon. They let her hold a candle. With a flame.

Look at that smile. My heart just melted while I was witnessing her take the oath.

Here she is (second one from the right) with her fellow SCA Officers.

And of course the official group shot. (Again, she is second from the right)

Somehow I don't think I am the only one breathing easier.

NOTE: I forgot the camera at home. It really wasn't on my mind. Morgan had a tooth ache over the weekend and it continued Monday morning, so I took her to the dentist. She had to have a tooth pulled and my schedule was a bit rushed because of the timing of the two events. But I had my cell phone and took the bad pictures you see here. At least I have something. I usually have my camera in my purse. I have been slacking.

Best Witches for Halloween

Happy Halloween all.

Halloween Party Sleepover Goodie Bags

Here are the finished goodie bags the girls got to take home with them on Saturday. I used the regular cellophane goodie bags from the $ store, inserted a piece of black cardstock to provide a bit of stability and then stuffed with all sorts of goodies. Including a gross candy finger, creepy spiders, stickers, and a mouse. I had a time of it trying to get the bags stapled, so I ended up putting two staples in before I put the topper on. I actually had to take out two of the items that the girls wanted to include. I just put them in a bowl during the party and let them snack. I kept the decoration simple because the girls are just going to rip the bags open and toss them. And I needed to spend my time on the mini albums.

The candy skull bracelets came in a four pack. I split them up into bags and topped them with paper to match the goodie bags. Which also matches the invitations. The monster seeds came in a 10 pack. Morgan and I came up with the instructions, printed them and bagged them. It was all her idea. She is SO my kid.

Giveaway - Buttercup Reedweb at A Thousand Sheet of Paper

Amy at A Thousand Sheets of Paper is giving away all of this yummy goodness. Go check out her blog. She is one talented lady. And generous too. New stamps are being released on November 2nd and to commemorate the event giveaways are running rampant. Get yourself over there. Now.

Halloween Party Sleepover Mini Album

I made 16 of these mini albums for the girls that attend the party tomorrow night. I will print the photos either Sat or Sun to finish them. My girls can take the finished albums to school next week to give to their friends. I used the same type of album as last year with a few differences.

Here's how I did it:

Supplies used for the Halloween album.

1 piece - Stiff felt for cover - 3x6 inches (folded in half)

2 pieces - Cardstock for pages -2.75x5.5

1 piece - Acetate for pages - 2.75x5.5

1 piece - 12 inch ribbon for closure

1 piece - 8 inch ribbon for binding

8 pieces - 2.5x2.5 background patterned papers

Embellishments, various

Simple directions to make the mini album:

1. Fold the cover in half and punch holes for the closure ribbon. I used my Crop-a-dile. It is easier to punch these holes before you add the pages. The Crop-a-dile won't reach the center far enough to get the holes near the spine. I just kinda eyeballed it. You could measure, but it won't really make that much of a difference.

2. Fold cardstock in half and adhere background papers.

3. Fold acetate in half and layer with cardstock pages. I put cardstock, acetate, cardstock.

4. Place pages onto cover, lining up spine. Center and punch two holes for binding ribbon. You can use a binder clip to hold the pages, but I held them in place when I punched the holes.

5. Thread binding ribbon through the two holes you just punched and tie. Trim ribbon if you desire.

6. Thread closure ribbon. (see photo of album cover)

7. Now decorate. I went old school, and used white glue to get the felt spider web to stick to the felt cover. A glue dot to add the plastic spider.

NOTES: I used stiff felt for the covers. It's what I had in my stash. I think if I were to buy them specifically for the Halloween album I would have gotten black or orange, but I had brown, so they are brown. I think it works anyway. I made them 3 inches square instead of 2.5. The larger size sure made things easier to decorate. I couldn't staple them together because the stapler wouldn't reach, so I punched a couple of holes and tied them with matching ribbon. I fussy cut Martha Stewart felt spider web ribbon and glued to the cover. Then attached a plastic spider with a glue dot. I used Halloween papers from Michael's, Recollections. I just bought a pad of acetate and was anxious to use it, so I added clear pages. I cut the ring part off of those little plastic Halloween rings (spider and bat) and used them to embellish. I used the scraps of patterned paper to make some of the embellishments. I used Stampin' Up stamps and Studio G stamps. Punches I used: 2" circle, 1.5" circle scallop, mini tag, 2" square, and Stampin' Up ticket corner. I used Studio G inks in black, white, purple and green. They sparkle and they were only 50 cents each.

I hope this was useful. Please let me know if you make one. I would love to see it.

From SCA to Chicago Politics

Melissa has a future in Chicago politics. She wanted to run for school Historian. I was thrilled. She was showing an interest in something. She had to prepare a speech, to be given next week, AND make a few posters to put in the hallways at school. I told her to make sketches of what she wanted on her posters. After 45 minutes of concentrated drawing, she showed me her sketch.... I told her she could in no way, shape or form, put the following on her posters:

MELISSA for HISTORIAN

Vote for me, or watch your back.

I have since slept with one eye open.

Friday Fill-Ins #146

And...here we go!

1. So are we going to get crack-a-lackin on this project, or what?

2. A wet, chilly, windy day is what's up ahead.

3. I love to PLAY.

4. Everyday I need to create something of some sort.

5. I walk a lot less than I should.

6. Being comfortable in your own skin is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza and Survivor, tomorrow my plans include carting the girls to Karate, birthday parties, finishing up the goodie bags for the Halloween Party and Chinese Food for dinner and Sunday, I want to finally see Harry Potter, craft some and relax!