Tuesday, October 11, 2011

a welcome banner from office supplies [a mini-tutorial]

We are welcoming a new employee tomorrow, so I took 15 minutes to whip up a welcome sign for her desk.  A few basic office supplies later...   

(pics taken with my trusty iPhone)...sorry!

I used:

  • 5 sheets of regular colored copy paper 
  • our paper cutter 
  • scotch tape 
  • some old, outdated business card magnets

I created the pennants using basic shapes in Word.  Once I got the triangle sized to my liking, I saved the file, then shrunk it a bit for the smaller triangle that fits on top.  Then inserted a text box to type each letter (in a font of your choice).  

i [heart] paper cutters.
Print. 

Cut with paper cutter (I wish I had one of these at home!) or scissors.

Determine your color combinations for each pennant.  Tape the smaller pennant on top of each larger one.  

Cut up the business card magnets.  
business card magnets.
I got 6 pieces out of each business card magnet. Make sure the magnet is large enough to hold the weight of your pennant.  
Tip: Use the back as the front, so you don't see your cutting guides.  Saves some time...especially at while you're at work!  ;)
And you're done! Arrange. Admire.  :)


Wouldn't you love to receive a welcome like this to help you settle into your first day at a new job?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Halloween Costumes of the Past

I love Halloween. Everything about it. The fall is my favorite season. The cool, crisp air. Jeans. Sweatshirts. Falling leaves. And the c-a-n-d-y. Yum.

And don't forget the Halloween parties...the ones where everyone actually comes in costume. We have a neighbor friend who hosts such a party. It's full of fun games, food, laughs...and a best costume contest. The neighborhood talks about it year round!

Rick and Michelle put time and effort into their costumes each year. Some of their best were Jimmy Chitwood (from the movie Hoosiers), Michael Phelps (yes, a Speedo was involved), Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson (our local sweetheart!), a contestant from The Biggest Loser, among other creative ideas!

Michelle and Rick ready for the party!

We take the opportunity to come up with fun couples costumes as well. Here are a few of ours (a huge thanks to Michelle and Rick for taking pictures every year):
This was our first year (2006) and our only store-bought costume year: SNL Spartan Cheerleaders. "Cha-cha-boochie, cha-cha-cha-boochie, Roll Call!"



The next year (2007), we went homemade. Remember the Dairy Queen commercials with the Waffle Bowl 'husband' and the Ice Cream 'wife'?


Here we are as the DQ couple! All homemade. We thought this was pretty hilarious. And earned us "Best Costume" that year.
Add caption
In 2008, with the pressure of maintaining our "Best Costume" title, we couldn't decide what to dress up as. So we ended up throwing together a Buddy the Elf ensemble. Part of it was store bought, part was homemade. We left the house thinking it was a disaster...everyone else thought it rocked and once again voted us "Best Costume"!
Here is a pic of Jovi and Buddy from the movie Elf.

Here is our fly-by-the-seat-of-our-tights version. Yep, that's a piece of green felt safety pinned around me as a skirt.

Talk about pressure! In 2009, we had a plan! After lots of thought, we went with a throw-back costume, Beetlejuice and Miss Argentina (the receptionist in the underworld).

(I can't find the original source, sorry)

Sadly, this is the only decent pic we got of us that night. But we have the memory of maintaining the best costume vote for the third consecutive year. :)


I just had to include this self-pic my husband took in the bathroom at the party. :)



What will we be this year? We're taking suggestions! And if anyone wants tips on how we created our costumes, leave a comment below or send me an email!

Todays Creative Blog      Visit thecsiproject.com

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Will they like it??

It's one thing when your [insert obligated person here] tells you that they love the stuff you make.  My husband, my mom, my friends, my kids, etc.!  It's another when it comes from a stranger.  


I have been so happy/relieved/elated by the feedback I've gotten from my Etsy customers.  A few of them even talked about me and I wanted to shamelessly brag tell you about it: 


Christy at MCH Photography just featured my shop last week.




Go check it out.  She is lovely...and took some great pics (way better than my shop pics...mental note: update my pics!).
   


Jessica at Little Pumpkin Grace purchased three wristlets for teacher gifts for the start of school.
  


She even dressed them up in cute packaging...which inspired me to step up my packaging as well!
  
I don't know what it is about seeing something I made in another environment (i.e. not my sewing room)!  Love it!


Ladies, I *truly* appreciate the shout-outs.  It warms my heart.  Thank you. 
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