Thankful Thoughts & Big Plans

I did it again. I colored an image without any idea of what I was going to do with it when I was done. That doesn't make for a quick card. Not wanting to use plain cardstock or anything 'Cuttlebugged', my first dilemma was coming up with some background paper. Martha Stewart saved the day. Then I wanted to do something that wasn't boring with the sentiment. I'm pleased with what I came up with - the sentiment from the stamp set cut into two pieces, a sunflower made with punches with 'of" stamped in the center, and a chipboard 'u' covered with Desert Sand cardstock and distressed. The skinny orange grosgrain ribbon bow finished it. It ended up being kind of fun. Putsy, but fun.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Orange, and Desert Sand cardstock; Martha Stewart 12x12 Woodland Classic Paper Pad; Cocoa and Desert Sand ink pads; Sunflower, Orange, Olive, Chocolate, Garden Green, Cranberry, Goldrush, Brown Bag, and Autumn Terracotta markers; Stampin' Up Thoroughly Thankful and Impression Obsession Sentiments I Add-ons stamp sets; CTMH Speckled Background stamp (retired); Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphabet; Ribbon from Walmart; Flower and 1/2-inch circle punches; Dove blending pen; Sponge dauber.

Last night's shopping list featured items to outfit Bjorn and Mathias for Halloween. Yea, I know. I probably should have taken care of this weeks ago, but I didn't get around to it and besides, I thought there was the possibility of them changing their minds about what they wanted to be. What I needed were two pirate costumes. Had Bjorn wanted to be Batman, I'm relatively certain that I would have needed two Batman costumes. Anyway, the first store I went to had adult pirate stuff but nothing for children. It did have some rather cool Batman and other super hero costumes at half price, however. Darn. My second stop was Walmart, which had one pirate costume but not two. My first thought was that Grandpa and I would make a quick trip to Grand Forks after work today. With the realization that the purchased costumes aren't really all that great, my second thought was to hit the fabric department, and thus, I have a pattern and a pile of fabric that I need to cut and sew my way through in the next couple of days. I did cheat. Even though I bought fabric for the shirts (the most complicated part of the costume), I later came across two long-sleeved white shirts that will work just fine under their vests and save me several hours. You can see in the photo, I found everything else they need - eye patches, earrings, swords, creepy necklaces, some gold coins (treasure) and even parrots to sit on their shoulders. While having the fabric cut, the boys' daycare provider came by and talked about how 'stoked' they are about being pirates, so I think my effort will be worthwhile. Another young mother came by whose six-year-old little girl had her heart set on being a Hawaiian hula dancer. Her problem was that all the grass skirts in town had been sold. I asked if she knew what raffia was. She didn't. I asked the gal cutting my fabric if they carried raffia. They did. We interrupted the fabric cutting to go find the raffia, and I explained to the mom how I would go about making a grass skirt - even though I've never made one. She was happy and grateful. Hopefully, her little girl will be, too.

I guess I don't have to tell you what I'm doing tonight. I'm going to go sew costumes for two precious little people/pirates and hopefully, create some memories for them to hold in their hearts. I'm just hoping that the sewing machine I'm bringing out of retirement is cooperative. I'll let you know. In the meanwhile, thanks for stopping and have a nice evening. Later!