Circus Tent Chalkboard Placecards {Tutorial}

So I am busy gearing up for my annual hosting of bookclub next week.  We are discussing The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  It is a fabulous read - I highly recommend it.  If you've read it you know the circus is all black and white, down to the very hair of the performers.  So naturally in keeping with the theme of the book, I've been going crazy with black and white ideas for lunch.  I don't want to give too much away before the event, but I did want to post this tutorial for making some really fun name tags for the table.

I got a Silhouette machine several months ago and (I'm ashamed to admit) have been too intimidated to try it out.  I was very comfortable with my Cricut and imagined having to learn all this complicated software and convinced myself I didn't have the time.  I wish I had tried it sooner.  It is SO EASY to use, and the possibilities are endless.  Since you don't need cartridges, you can essentially cut out any digital image.  Silhouette was nice enough to send me a roll of their Chalkboard Vinyl and this brain child was born.

1.  Choose any image in the whole wide world.  I used this image and altered it so the top of the tent would be solid, leaving a place to write the names.

2.  Send the image to the machine to cut out the chalkboard vinyl.  For info on this step, go here.

3.  Cut a sheet of transfer paper the same size as your image(s), peel off the protective backing and place the sticky down against your vinyl.

4.  Roughly cut around each image so they are easier to work with.

5.  Peel backing away from vinyl, leaving the adhesive side of the vinyl and transfer paper exposed.

6.  Position image on your tile and rub firmly to smooth out any bubbles.  (I bought basic white bathroom tiles from Home Depot - I think they ran about $.15/each.)

7.  Carefully peel off transfer paper.

8.  Hot-glue a clothespin to the back so it will stand up.  If you bend it far enough, it will lock into an A-shape.

And voila!  Fabulous place cards for my black and white themed bookclub.

You could easily use this same method with any shape.  Great for birthdays, dinner parties, church function, you name it!

KONY 2012

Just trying to spread this word about this evil man and the miraculous revolution to bring him to justice.  Please take the time to watch this video, and pass it on wherever you can.  It is worth every minute of your time.  Can't wait for April 20th!

Downton Abbey

I thought I couldn't love Downtown Abbey any more, and then I saw these gorgeous pics.  I wish I could pull off Mary's lovely porcelain skin.  {Sigh.....}

Happy MLK Day

I'm so happy to have a kid that has no concept of "different" skin colors. Race makes no difference to her. The beautiful innocence of a child. I love that we live in a place that gives her plenty of exposure to all kinds of people and I'm so thankful that we live in a time that crazy laws and crazy people don't prevent these friendships.

Girl Heaven

I don't know who was more excited that AJ got an American Girl doll for Christmas, me or her.  We got her the doll and a few accessories and her grandparents gave her a gift certificate so she could pick out the rest.  So off we went to Dallas yesterday to the Mecca of girly delight.

It was CRA-ZY!  Because they were introducing the new 2012 doll (McKenna - she is really cute!) they had a scavenger hunt-type challenge set up where she would stop at different stations and complete a craft or activity.  When she completed them all she got a little prize (a gym bag for her doll, a mirror and a poster).

Then, we headed upstairs to the doll salon so she could get her doll's ears pierced.  In contrast to AJ's ear piercing, there was very little anxiety and no tears.  :)

Everything was a bit overwhelming, but it was a wonderful day - especially for AJ.  She got lots of great stuff, including some matching clothes and pajamas for her and her doll,  a pet dog and some sunglasses.  Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa!   She was still so excited when we got home that she couldn't sleep.  She said "I just can't stop thinking about the American Girl Store!"  She started back to school today and needless to say, it was hard for her to get out of bed and even harder to have to leave her doll behind.  It's gonna be a long day for her...

Eh, I Had A Kid, Whatever

Apparently even the birth of a child wasn't motivating enough to for me to write a blog post. It's been a strange year, maybe because I spent the majority of it in bed. I'm sure I'll look back on 2011 as "The Phantom Year" since I have little record that it even existed. (Except for the little person I grew and delivered.) But 2012 is going to ROCK! I can already feel it. And since it will be so fabulous maybe I will even blog about something now and then. Maybe. In the meantime, check out my new little person. I love her. LIKE. A. LOT.

Ava Victoria

Born September 16 (4 weeks early)

6 lbs. 15 oz.

I made this before and after print to hang in her nursery. The "before" pic was a week before she was born:

Happy Columbus Day

Operation: Sticker Therapy

Saw this blog post today and thought I could help. I am gearing up to clean out my scrapbook room anyway.

This is Abigail, who is undergoing cancer treatments. She also loves stickers.

Operation: Sticker Therapy is putting together sticker kits to help distract and entertain the kids as they undergo their treatments. If you have any stickers you want to donate - any kind are great, I would be happy to ship them with mine. I will be sending a package out in a couple of weeks. Or if you would rather mail them directly, shoot me an email and I can give you the address. Thanks in advance to anyone who wants to help.

Dear Craig,

That pretty much sums up the week, don't you think? XOXO!

So Close I Could Almost Taste It!

I might have actually beat Craig at bowling, but I choked on the last frame. Someday, victory will be mine...

Fourth of July Weekend

We finally upgraded my old iPhone to the iPhone 4. I know the 5 is coming out this year, but I couldn't wait anymore. My piece of junk kept freezing up, among other issues and was driving me crazy. Craig finally saw the light and decided to switch over from the droid too. Now that everything is up to speed, I'm realizing how bad my old one had really gotten. It's so nice to have things functioning normally. I downloaded some new stuff too, and I am LOVING the Instagram App. I used it to document all our patriotic activities this weekend. We had a great time - hope you did too!


Saturday, AJ wanted a star in her hair for watching fireworks that night.


She completed her look with a patriotic manicure.


What's a holiday weekend without a nap?!


We have been getting snowcones almost everyday. There is a place around the corner from our house that has the best EVAH! It's too dang hot to eat anything else!!!


AJ and I made Red, White and Blue Popcorn for her and her friends to munch on during fireworks. It was yummy. Recipe HERE.


Amy and AJ - I overheard them saying even though AJ would have a sister soon, Amy doesn't have a sister so they have to be best friends until they both DIE!!! This conversation was immediately followed by how to coordinate their outfits for the next park day. These are their big concerns. I love the simple life of kids.


Glowsticks are always a hit with the kids.


Great fireworks.


Today, we did a BBQ by the pool with Craig's brother Paul and wife Jess. It's been fun having family down here to celebrate with.


It's also fun to swim when it's a billion degrees outside. Did I mention how hot it is?!


The ever-charming snorkel mask.


AJ loves scary movies. We all went to see Super 8. I was worried it might be a bit much for her, but she did OK. After it was over, she told us the scariest part was the fake zombie movie the kids were filming. She wasn't even scared of the alien. I thought the show was pretty good - kind of like a next generation Goonies (but set in the 70's.) And just FYI, much like the Goonies, this one had a bit of bad language.


We wrapped the weekend up with dinner at BJ's. They have a pretty good gluten-free menu, for anyone out there who has a super-fun gluten allergy like me.

What a great weekend! I love Independence Day and am so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. A big salute to the men and women (and their families) who defend those freedoms and make sacrifices so I can enjoy days like these. Happy Fourth everyone!