Pretty Paper Blog

Getting tired of seeing my Halloween photos?  It’s not even October yet and I’m getting a little tired of Halloween…maybe it’s because I threw a “Halloween” birthday party for Izabelle last weekend. I had Halloween coming out my ears!

I originally created these layouts to fill my shadow boxes.  These are photos from last Halloween (the year that Daddy took the kids Halloween Costume shopping).  Parker chose his scariest costume yet, the “Ghost Face” and my sweet little Izabelle decided to be a “Zombie”.  Yikes!  What happened to my little fairy princess?

When I set the following layouts on the table (preparing to put them in the shadow boxes), Izabelle informed me that last year’s costume was “too scary” to hang on the wall.  I argued that she picked it out, therefore she’ll have to look at it in a frame for awhile (at least until I can create another layout).  This year she’s going to be a werewolf, I don’t think that a werewolf is much tamer than a Zombie…

I used the Cosmo Cricket line to create the following simple layouts for Halloween 2007:

Here’s a closer look at some of the details:

Halloween 2006

Izabelle was an Enchantress and Paker was an Astronaut.

I had fun using the new “Spellbound” line from Making Memories.  There are all sorts of matching embellishments.  From pumpkin shaped brads and glitter witches to transparency tags & pumpkins.  So fun!

Here’s a closer look at some of the little details…

OK, I know that I’ve been promising you more layouts…I’ll get to them, I swear.

Today is Friday, which means Candid Carrie’s Friday Foto Finish Fiesta (Fx4).  I love reading Candid Carrie’s blog and I LOVE Fridays.  Today I have something special in store for you but please don’t tell my husband…he might just have to get even after this one!

Have you ever heard of Blendy Pens?  I hadn’t until Izabelle was given some for her birthday.  They come in this package:

Do you see the little puff of air coming out of the green “Airbrush Blaster”?  Yes, the pink and yellow cloud.

My husband decided to have a little fun with that cloud…check out the following and remember: DON’T TELL!

Here’s the kicker…I was laughing so hard that the photo is blurry…

Now let’s hope my hubby won’t check out my blog for a few days…

Dear Grandma Wolfe,

It’s been 14 years now since you passed away.

I miss you.

I miss your tight white curls.

I miss the smell of your face cream at night when you washed your face.

I miss the way you would squeeze my hand when you held it in yours.

I miss the smell of your kitchen when you would make me poached eggs in the morning.

I miss the stories about all of your brothers.  And the tale of your sister that died before you were born.  I remember…you used to show me the lock of her hair.  It was the same color as mine.

I have so many happy memories of time spent with you.  You would sing “Trot, trot to Boston to buy a loaf of bread” to all of your grandchildren while bouncing them on your knee.  I remember picking cherries from the tree in your front yard, long walks, tying quilts, baking pies…you let me whip the cream, camping…lots and lots of camping.  My hand print in the cement, watching soap operas, watching you make Divinity, the sound of your voice when you sang - you taught me how to sing harmony.

Remember the long car rides?  You came along on almost all of our vacations with us. Remember the Tire game?  The one where Mom wrote our names in chalk on the tire.  Whenever we stopped the car and the wheel landed on a name, that person would win a prize.  Mom put your name on the wheel with ours.  You won every time.

I miss you.

You died right before my eighteen birthday…I was traveling in Europe.  Sometimes I imagine you are still here because I was not there to say goodbye.  I still haven’t said goodbye.

This life is precious…a blink.  Soon enough I’ll say hello and hug you tight when I see you again.  Because I will see you again.  Maybe I will have tight white curls like you.  We will have eternity to sing together and you can teach me how to make a perfect pie crust.  You will finally meet my husband and sing “Rock-a-by” to my children.  They will know you like I do.  They will love you like I do.

I miss you.

I love you.

Love, Christie

Thank you Kathy for this writing prompt.

If you would like to learn more about Kathy’s writing prompts, visit her blog “Mama’s Losin’ it” by CLICKING HERE.

I love the using the new October Afternoon paper.  I have six 12 by 12 inch shadow box frames;  Four in my Dining Room and two in the Guest Bathroom.  It has been my intention to change them with the Seasons.  We’ve been in our home for over a year and this is the first time I’ve changed the layouts.  I designed six new Halloween layouts with photos from the past three years.  The two Layouts I’m posting today are from 2005.  I’ll post the additional layouts (2006, 2007) tomorrow & Thursday.

The little details from Izabelle’s Fairy Princess Layout:

The little details from Parker’s Pumpkin Patch Layout:

Mama Kat (Mama’s Losin’ It)

Not only is she funny and beautiful but she’s giving away this:

You simply must click THIS LINK (if you want a chance to win).

My little Izabelle…Eight years old today!  Man, that makes me feel old (I know, I know, this post is not supposed to be about me).  To think this little cutie started out a mere 2 pounds, 6 ounces - Crazy!

I have mentioned that Izabelle is having a ‘Halloween’ themed birthday party.  Hence the creepy spider crawling on her presents (she said it was “cute”).

In this next photo Izabelle is ripping open her ‘one gift before school’ while her Birthday Pancakes lay abandoned and soggy.  By the look she gave me this morning, I have been judged a ‘mean mom’ because I am making her wait until after school to open her remaining presents.  I am mean.  Oh so mean.  Can you believe she has to wait until after school?  What kind of mother am I?

Here’s a little Birthday Banner I made for Izabelle.  It is not my design, I actually bought it as a kit from Candice Carpenter at Peacoats and Party Hats.  It’s so cute!  Candice Carpenter’s blog is totally worth a glance if you’re up to it!  Just click the “Canice Carpenter” link above.

I’m off to go deliver treats to Izabelle’s class!

Have a wonderful Monday!

It’s been a little nutty around these parts the past few days.   I’ve been trying to prepare for Izabelle’s 8th Birthday Party and finish up these Halloween Tags for a swap I’m doing!  At least I’ve got them mailed off…I can’t wait to see what all the others have done.

I’m off to PSB for a crop tonight!  I can’t wait, I need a little break and some girl time is just what the doctor ordered (er..what I ordered).  I’ll post my crop projects tomorrow (if I get anything done).

Happy Saturday!

Parker and Izabelle have been more than enthusiastic about decorating the house for Halloween.  The spookier the better…

Do you see that scary black tree?  I’m going to make some fun Halloween ornaments to hang from it.

Izabelle hung this guy (literally).

I filled my apothecary jars with Halloween candy & black licorice.

This skull is actually a candle holder and the boney hand is a Halloween Goblet.

These potion bottles belong to my daughter.  She has 10 of them, she also took the following photo:

My Mom bought the kids grow creatures and sent them in the mail.  They look creepy inside a big apothecary jar!  Last year we put a grow skull in this one…it grew to the size of the jar.  Now that was creepy.

Here’s the little Vintage Witch’s Shoe I bought the other day.  I’m in love with this little shoe, I’m sure it will show up in more photos!

This is the tail end of a Halloween Garland {Shout out to Deb: Love your designs!} . Can you see the skeleton hands that Parker placed on top of the squash?  Yes, we play a lot of “I Spy” at our house.

Oh, and there are flying bats handing from the chandelier.  Fun stuff, I tell ya.

I know, I know…more Halloween.  I can’t help it, this banner is one of the many scrapbooking projects I’ve been working on. This little “Boo” Banner has vintage-style fringe garland and pearls strung from it.  What do you think?

Izabelle is turning 8 next week, she wants to have a Halloween themed party.  It’s a bit early but hey, every year she asks for a Halloween Party.  This year I said yes.  She’s very excited!

So, since there’s going to be a party and I will be decorating around the house…this blog is pretty much going to be devoted to Halloween for a little bit (I’ll sneak a few other tid-bits in for you here and there…just to keep you on your toes).