Handmade Halloween invitations

When my printer stopped working earlier this month I was a little freaked out.  I'd had my heart set on printing out a bunch of my free printable ghost invitations I designed.  I thought and thought of what I could do instead but it was like my imagination was broken. All I could think of was ...beef...stew. (5 points to whoever knows that reference.)  Anyway, I wracked my brain and I just couldn't let go of the adorable idea of ghosts holding a flag banner.  So I went to my craft room got out my stamps, paint and paper and went to work.  What do you think?

I used my sewing machine to put it all together.

I am super happy with how they turned out. :)

I like to link up with these link parties.

Favorite gifts to give and get

Hi everyone! I was asked by Amberlee to participate in a post about my favorite gifts on Giverslog. If you haven't been to her blog yet get on over there. It is a great place to get inspiration on gift giving, pretty wrapping, or to just look at all the eye candy she posts!

 These boxes are made from re-purposed paper grocery bags and 12x12 scrapbook paper.  If you want to learn how to make one just watch my origami box tutorial video here.


What is my favorite gift to give or receive? I have to say hands down it's a handmade gift!  A handmade gift says, I am willing to spend the time, whether it's time wrapping it beautifully, time planing out what the gift is, or time making the gift itself.  My most recent favorite gift to receive was a skull and crossbones blanket my mother made for my son.  I love it because my son is obsessed with skeletons, & I love it because my mom went outside her own craft style just for him. (She's not the scull and crossbones type at all.) :) I also love it because every night when I tuck him in, he is reminded his grandma loves him.
Thanks mom!

 One tradition that I do is I make a plush food toy for each of my kids every year for Christmas. As a kid I loved to play store or pretend cook. My kids are the same. My daughter loves pretend cooking. At three years old she professed the desire to be a chef, now at 6 years old she still plays with the food toys I make. Throughout the years here is some of what I have made, a 3 layered cake, brownies, chocolate cookies, pizza, spaghetti, and a popsicle. (I may be forgetting some.)

Pictured  below are the food toys I made last year.

Wrapping the gift, for me, is just as fun as making it. A wile ago I fell in love with the cute packaging I was seeing at the craft stores.  But I was unwilling to buy them, I was bent on figuring out some way to do it myself!  And I guess I finally did. This simple origami box has changed my take on wrapping and gift giving. I am obsessed! (Yesterday I even tried to make one out of a 3x3 ft piece of canvas... it didn't work.)
Pictured at the very top are of some of the first origami boxes I made. 

 Here is what I love about giving handmade gifts:

• planning 
• creating
• wrapping
• scheming
• sneaking around
• surprising
• creating a gift that matches their personality
• creating a keepsake or heirloom gift
• giving something totally unique

 Here is what I love about receiving handmade gifts:

•  the flaws of a child's handmade gift
• remembering the giver when looking at the gift
• the fact the no one else has one like it
•  the time & effort they spent on it

What was your favorite gift to give or get?
 
I like to link up with these link parties.

Free Halloween Challenge {more free printables and a Link Party!}

For today's Free Halloween Challenge I have a few more free printables. :)  Also, the link party starts today! If you want to add a link just go to the bottom of this post and click "click here to enter".

Sadly my printer is broken so I have no photos of these lovelies actually made. :(   I have a free printable of some treat bags and a few more of Halloween cards. :) I hope you as much fun using all of these as I did making them!  Here you go.

Terms of use: 

for personal use, not for profit!

Don't post large image on your blog,

post a small one and link it back to me. :)

 

 

click images to view larger and save.

How to make the treat bags:

1. Print image on regular printer paper (not card stock)
2. fold bag in half 
3. fold bottom and side tabs in and glue to other side of bag
4. fill bag with goodies
5. fold and glue(or staple) top tab if you want a closed envelope look.

If you have any questions just let me know. :)

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Now on to the link party!!  

guidelines:
Post a button on your blog to link everyone here. (button code is on my side bar-->)
You don't have to add only your blog posts, if you find a post by some one else that inspires you, add it.  

People will be directed straight to that post so they are still getting the credit. Just leave them an comment letting them know you linked it here. (I plan on adding a few myself.)

The point is that we all have access to great tutorials and affordable Halloween crafts. :)
Just check and see if the one you are adding hasn't already been added.  I am leaving this link party open all month so come back and add as many as you want.

Remember to link to specific posts not the main page.

Click here to see what link parties I'm in

Free Halloween challenge {fave tutorials from the web}

Today for the Free Halloween Challenge I am posting a few of the great tutorials from others on the web.  These are the posts I keep going back to again and again. Enjoy. :)

1}The best fabric pumpkin I have seen by Daniell Thompson. (Love her blog, seriously)

2} Lovely twigg wreath by Delia Creates. (really lovely blogger who also happens to be from Logan...Lets get together sometime Delia!)

3}Super cute and affordable wreath from katydid (so awesome and so cheap!)

4}Super cute fall bunting by jdavis. (I love felt it is so cheap!)

5}A super cute fall rosette wreath by Along for the ride. (love those rosettes, they look a lot like mine made from old t-shirts)

6}A paper pumpkin from Two peas in a bucket. (I have seen this type of thing done with those free paint strips too)

7}Another awesome wreath from Nancy. (Love these crepe paper wreaths they are so cute! And the silhouette detail is lovely.)

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Aren't these so inspiring?!

Keep coming back because I still haven't posted all my printables. This Friday I am going to have a link party at the end of it all allowing you all to to link to your stuff.

Do you want to participate?

 Here is what to do:

1. Post a Halloween tutorial or, free printable on your blog.
2. Place a button on your blog to let people know about it, 
3. Link it up Friday Oct 8th!!

I will leave the link list open all month long so you can add your stuff later too.
Well, I'm off to make some fabric pumpkins and a wreath or two. :)

grab a button and share the wealth

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Free Halloween challenge {a round up of my fave freebies}

Today for the Free Halloween Challenge I am sharing some stuff from around the web. Over the years these great printable goodies have been marked in my bookmarks and now it is time to share them.

1} Lovely printable iron on bag decals from Love, Obsess, Inspire.

 2}Awesome free Halloween downloads from Mathew Mead  (There is seriously tons of great stuff on this page!)

3} More lovely printable Halloween crafts from Mathew Mead - found via armelle blog

4}Cute little printable tags from Love, Obsess, Inspire.

5}More great printable tags from She's kinda crafty.

6}A super awesome printable Halloween garland from allsorts. I love her blog! (Been flowing it since I knew what a blog was.)

7}A great printable owl invitation from Martha Stewart. Love the vintage look they have, and the movable wings, how awesome!:)

8}A lovely printable halloween card from The Black Apple.  Love her little drawings and dollies.

Keep checking back for more great Free Halloween stuff later this week, I am going to post your tutorials and free printable stuff!

Do you want to participate?  Post a Halloween tutorial or free printable and just let me know so I can link to your post.  Also if you would place a button on your blog to let people know about it that would be great! :)

grab a button and share the wealth

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Free Halloween challenge { Free printable party invitation }

Today's Free Halloween Challenge freebie is a party invitation I drew for you.  It turned out looking so cute.  Just look at those little ghosts holding the orange flag banner! 

The download is for a folded card but if you want yours to look like mine just cut the back off your card and glue the front to orange card-stock.

Terms of use: 

for personal use, not for profit!

Don't post large image on your blog,

post a small one and link it back to me. :)

click on image to view larger and save

Next week some time I am going to post about your tutorials and free printable stuff.

Do you want to participate?  Post a Halloween tutorial or free printable and just let me know so I can link to your post.  Also if you would place a button on your blog to let people know about it that would be great! :)

grab a button and share the wealth

<a href="http://lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/09/free-halloween-challenge.html"><img alt="button blog" height="216" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5036814581_aa04d36895_m.jpg" width="216" /></a><br />

Click here to see what link parties I'm in

Free Halloween Challenge Oct 1st-7th {free printable cupcake toppers}

Here is my first post for the Free Halloween Challenge.  Today I am posting some free printable ghost cupcake toppers.

What a fun time I had making these cuties!

Also here are some different ways these can be used:

Print them on sticker paper for spooky ghost stickers.
Punch holes in the top of each one and string up as a garland.
Use scalloped scissors for added whimsy.
Or attach to a cute little package.

  

Terms of use: 

for personal use, not for profit!
Don't post large image on your blog,
post a small one and link it back to me. :)

Click on image to view larger and save.

grab a button and share the wealth

<a href="http://lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/09/free-halloween-challenge.html"><img alt="button blog" height="216" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5036814581_aa04d36895_m.jpg" width="216" /></a><br />

Click here to see what link parties I'm in