I'm on Tip Junkie!

Tip Junkie is hosting their 2nd annual Christmas Card Contest, and of course I've entered. You can go and vote, if you would like... hint hint. I'm number 3 - the gingerbread house.

thanks!

Gift Advice

this is just my dad's side, even missing a couple!

I have a HUGE family. It is so extended that I celebrate 3 separate Christmas gift giving events. Christmas Day is with my husband's family, Christmas Eve is with my Dad's family and the Barter Family Christmas Party is celebrated with all of my Mom's side of the family.

So, here is my question: I have drawn the name of my sister-in-law for the grown-up gift exchange, and I'm torn with what to purchase. My fabulous sister-in-law Kim, is a working mother of two and a recent breast cancer survivor. Young and hip and super smart, I want to get her something slightly more personal than what I have chosen to give my brother-in-law (not that there is anything wrong with "The Book of Basketball").

My dollar limit is $50 (max!)...

Here are your choices, all found on Etsy:

Kristin Coffin's Twig Band in Recycled Sterling

Jewels by Kat's Bijou Resin Glazed bracelet




Batiz Jewelry's Peridot and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Or should I go with something completely different?

Help!

Anyone?


Anyone?

December? Really?

I'm just now realizing how close we are to Christmas, and just how far behind I am. I've been meaning to post about some home decorating (on a tiny budget) that has been going on around my house, but, well, I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON CHRISTMAS!!


Let's start with the family Christmas card. I really do enjoy sending out a funny card. I think it's probably in my genes from my dad's side of the family. When I was young, I remember him signing our family holiday greeting cards with as random a name as he could come up with. There were fairly tame signatures like, "Mickey and Minnie Mouse", and then there was my all time favorite - "President and Mrs. Carter" (back in the day that was some cutting edge stuff!).


So, to outdo last year's Barnes Family Christmas card:

I think I've come up with a doozy, but you all will have to wait to see it. Let me just say that my husband is already irritated that he will have to pose for not just one portrait, but two.

Stay tuned! And visit my gingerbread house holiday card on Tip Junkie.

Thanks and Giving from Paper & Cake

This Thanksgiving marks the one year anniversary of Paper & Cake printable partyware, and it has been quite the year! We want to show our appreciation for all of the support you have given us - with your business, your blog posting and your kind response to this creative endeavor - by offering you a little thank you gift.

The Paper & Cake "Thanksgiving" collection includes all you will need to entertain your family in style:

* Invitation + Envelope
* Menu
* Place Cards
* Wine Glass Tags
* Napkin Rings / Vase Wrap / Candle Wrap
* Party Food Label
* Recipe Card
* Favor Box

Download yours here, and please pass it on!

Paper & Cake: Sail Away Party collection

sailboat place card, vase wrapper

How about this for a versatile party collection? Paper & Cake have unveiled their "Sail Away" themed printable party collection, and it is perfect for everything from Baby's First Birthday, to a Family Reunion, to a Bon Voyage Farewell to a Baby shower.

placemat, customizable invitation, cupcake picks, thank you notes, two styles of envelope

It includes more items than any Paper & Cake DIY party kit yet!

Customizable Invitations with Matching Envelopes
Door Sign
Pennant Banner “Celebrate”
Cupcake flags
Cupcake Wrappers
Paper Boats (can be used as place cards or general decorations)
Captain’s Birthday Hat
Cone Party Hats
Favor Boxes with Gift Tags
Thank You Notes with Matching Envelopes
Food Labels
Straw Markers
Pin Wheels
Craft Snack Boxes (which also makes super cute Hamburger Boxes)
Napkin Rings (can double as vase and/or candle wrappers)
Paper Lanterns
Placemats
Full Patterned Sheets

lanterns, snack boxes, straw markers, pinkwheels, favor box, gift tag, cone hats

pennant banner

Whew! And all this for only $10. Visit the Paper & Cake Printable Partyware shop today.

oh Bats!

home sweet home

It may look like Halloween is my favorite holiday, but in reality, its pretty far down my list - somewhere between Groundhog Day and Administrative Professional's Day. Having kids generally complicates matters, in that the pressure to decorate, at least for major holidays, is worse than the peer pressure I received in High School to ditch class. These days, I just expect that if the neighbor's houses are decorated, I need to (remind me to send a thank you note to the neighbors).

Anyway, a couple of weeks back, I noticed Martha had put together this little number, and it has been in the back of my mind ever since.


I love the dramatic effect you can get when you repeat the same element over and over and over and over and over... oh, well, you get it.

So, searching online for a simplified (sorry Martha, your template is way to complex) I did find an outline of a bat, that I then changed to fit my needs.



Next, I racked my brain to figure out what I could cut it out of that would be a least slightly weather proof (I do live in southern California, so its not like we have snow to contend with), and practically free.

Ah ha!

The leftover black plates from the Pirate birthday party! I traced the template onto the back of the plates, cut them out, and used blue painters tape to adhere them to the front of my house.




I did run out of plates for the full effect that I was hoping to achieve, so I think I'll run next door and ask if I can borrow some from my neighbor.

Event Invitations coming out of my Ears

For some reason, I don't really know why, but I've gotten this reputation for being able to design event invitations?

Okay, maybe I do know why... but I still think its pretty funny when my sister's sister-in-law, or my other sister's college roommate call me up for help. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good invite now and again, but it is like they say, "When it rains, it hails the size of watermelons directly on your head".



What do you think? Shall we (Paper & Cake) design an entire downloadable tablescape around these invites? or are they just a little on the obscure side?