confetti by lexi

motorcycle man

hi there! long time, no blog. the end of the school year proved to be a major race to the finish line, followed by requests for camp stationery before getting out of town for our annual beach vacation. i have so much to share from recent orders and events, but i thought i'd start with the personalized subway sign i made for father's day yesterday. like many dads, mine is hard to buy for. if he wants it, he gets it, and at this point in life, he has a lot! but, i often find cool motorcycle or vintage car art to go with his two main hobbies (he has a really cool "garage" lined with signs and posters) or interesting grocery art or signs for his office (he's a grocer). this year, i hadn't seen anything at the different fairs and shops i frequent, so i decided to make one myself - his name, a nickname, a reference to the grocery store (and all of his license plates), some bike and car phrases, and i was good to go. i had fun playing with fonts and lining things up. i can easily spend hours obsessing over the little details, but this time it all came together pretty quickly. and of course, i had to photograph it on one of his bikes. now, i can't wait to see where he hangs it...

zoom! zoom!
:) lexi

show and tell time

last week i participated in a trunk show, which has had me busy catching up with orders that were already in progress, along with creating for all the new orders that came in over the two day show. as the stationery girl on board, i created the invitation, too - i had so much fun with that clothes line of little towels! i had not done a show like this in a long time, so i had to put together a few displays to highlight my work.

i already had these boards which i loan to auctions when i donate gift certificates, so that was at least something to start with. they feature recent or favorite projects and double as artwork on the wall of my studio. since these often travel without me, i tried to include a variety of invitations and other cards, and i switch things up every now and then. i think i still have to blog about one or two things up there! for the trunk show, i surrounded them with even more invitations to look at and hold - i've done quite a few things that are interactive and need to be touched!

i don't have a catalog because most of what i create is custom, but after doing this, i feel the need to pull together a better compilation of certain designs, especially those for stickers and gift enclosures. i've done so many over the years! so this time, in addition to scattering samples all over my table, i created an example page of each of the main shapes of stickers i print and put them in table tent frames, along with a couple of other important signs, like a basic price list and a note that everything is customizable! i even created my own scan image for those tech types who wanted to scan themselves directly to my blog - so cool!

and last, but not least, i put out a basket of seasonal cards from those that i've posted here. i pull from this basket whenever i need one for a gift or note, but i've never been able to send as many as i create. i have a few regulars who like to pull from it too. it makes me happy to know that they actually get used! i sold several birthday and congratulations cards this go round. overall, the show was a success! i think i have a few more things to make the next time i do a trunk show, but it's a process. while this one is over, my blog is really an ongoing trunk show, right? so, if there's anything you need to freshen up for spring, just let me know!

:) lexi

starlight movie night

after sharing last weekend's backyard party yesterday, i realized that i never posted the one from last year. our eleventh hour brainstorm then was to rent an inflatable movie screen and have a movie party under the stars. for the invitation i designed a drive in movie style logo on a big screen, complete with retro frame details, stars, and concessions characters - "let's all go to concessions! let's all go to concessions!" i couldn't resist! i even included a few vertical static lines. remember those?!

the invitation design also lent itself well to creating some fun signage. in addition to the welcome sign above, i created others for concessions, the game room, the restroom, enter this way, and thank you for coming. like the banners yesterday, it was an easy element that helped set the scene and personalize the party. ferris bueller's day off was our special feature that night - the kids would stop and watch parts of it here and there, but it really ended up being background noise to the seventh graders more than anything else. although the two fifth graders watched it from start to finish despite the noise and flying objects - boys will throw anything!

you can't have a movie party without popcorn and candy, right? the movie screen company also had popcorn machines available to rent, so it was fresh and hot. as always the candy was a hit. gotta love the bulk choices at sam's - the display boxes they came in were perfect for the movie theater feel. other concessions included quesidillas made to order at the grill - yum!

and last, but not least, i created a popcorn cake. this is a remake of one i've made a couple of times before. it was silly to try to come up with something new. it's such a fun design - and easy, too! i love the added touch of using real popcorn with melted marshmallow to "fill" the container and have a couple of spilled pieces. so there you have it - another take on the back yard bash! and i'm finally sharing things from the very high "to post" pile...

goodnight!
:) lexi

counting down

before we count down to the new year tonight, i thought i'd finally get around to sharing the christmas countdown project i put together. i saw the idea on pinterest earilier this year and pinned it immediately along with a few other calendars and things on my christmas board. the girls have been wanting a new countdown calendar ever since i gave ours away to my nephews. i really liked the design of that one, but i just never could get motivated to recreate it like i thought i would. plus the boxes on it were only slightly bigger than matchbox size and i wanted something a little bigger. so when i found this vintage coke crate in austin this past summer, i had to have it! i was initially planning on replicating the idea of different boxes and packages like the original in my own color scheme. but in thinking it over, i realized that it would be time consuming to choose the goodies for different sizes and shapes of boxes. i also thought that it might be a pain to refill next year if repackaging was involved. so when i discovered that the mini take out boxes slid snugly into the squares, i was sold. maximum space for the treats, handles that work like drawer pulls, smooth surface for stickers, bright colors - win, win, win, win! and it will be so easy to take out and fill up next year - biggest win! it's almost time for tonight's countdown - are you ready?

cheers!
:) lexi

hunger games propaganda

from campaign propaganda to hunger games propaganda! when i left off blogging earlier this year, i was in the middle of throwing a hunger games party for my 11 year old. at that point, i'd only shared a sneak peek of the invitation, but there was so much more to come in the planning and executing of that party. it was actually one of the best we've ever thrown, mostly due to the overwhelming interest in the movie and books among the girls in her class, but also because we went all out with the details. it will take a few posts to show and tell everything - from food and activities to our own version of the hunger games (of course!). i thought i'd start today with the mini posters that i created to hang around the party and send home with the guests. i saw a couple of similar ones on pinterest, but i wanted a consistent look and color scheme to match the invite, and i knew that i could create them myself. and boy did i! once i started, i couldn't stop...

these are the kind of projects that keep me up way past my bedtime! the outcome was exactly what we needed to decorate the house and set the tone for the party. the girls (and other hooked parents!) loved reading them and making connections to the movie and books. the odds were definitely in our favor that night!

:) lexi

p.s. a countdown to new stamps starts tomorrow, so stay tuned! and afterwards, more hunger games...

election day

today's the big day - did you vote? i did and got lucky with no line at our precinct table smack dab in the middle of a web of lines to every other table. now we watch and wait. a couple of tuesdays ago, there was another election day that was big news around here, too. my eighth grader decided to run for student council secretary. maybe not as big news as president, but i was so excited she wanted to run and we had lots of fun with it. we made flyers and stickers and had pencils printed. and when the votes were counted, she won!

:) lexi

one shoe

there were many days last month when i thought march would never end.  mostly tuesdays and thursdays sitting in the cold basement of the cdc, hoping that i wouldn't get picked to actually serve on a jury.  and then there were the peeps sticker orders.  so exciting - and so time consuming!  but one thing i'm sad to see end is colleen's jpas theater kids production of cinderella.  she absolutely loved it and made so many new friends.  it was weird not to have to go to practice tonight!  i wanted to give her something special with her flowers after the final performance saturday night, so i made this little print with a cinderella quote i'd seen in a local shoe store.  a quickly drawn slipper and sparkle stars plus a couple of well picked fonts add up to a sweet and simple piece of artwork to hang in her room - something that will bring back many happy memories every time she looks at it!  for now, she's made a little shrine in the entrance hall along with her flowers and i was inspired to post it.

'night!
:) lexi

happy are the mardi gras muses!

it's muses night, and although i'm taking a break from riding this year, i still helped with the headpieces - i'm crafty that way!  mardi gras parades are full of satire and current events and our headpieces have to represent our float.  it's hard to describe, so you should definitely see it in person at least once.  or just live here and go to as many parades as possible, like i do!  of course, i went to lunch with my float to help celebrate their ride - the best parade of the season!

see you on the street...
:) lexi

fiesta fantastico

sporadic summer posting continues!  hanging out with the kids has kept me from blogging more than i intended this summer, but i'm still here designing and printing away as usual, working on various crafty projects.  the girls are finally off at camp, so i'm enjoying a little more time to get things done. of course, packing the trunks took over for a couple of weeks as it always does and this is one result.  the girls weren't particularly excited about this year's dance night themes at first.  fiesta and jerseys just didn't grab their attention.  we had jerseys covered - everyone in new orleans owns a saints jersey!  in the end, fiesta turned out to be fun, too.  we found a few cute accesories at party city and i sewed a simple poncho to go with them.  it's hot in texas, so i thought a lightweight thin cotton was better than a blanket or synthetic polyester - and it was quick and easy, too!!

:) lexi

lazy daisy summer

well, not lazy exactly, but definitely slower.  which i love!  we've been back and forth between home and the beach a couple of times.  and when we are home, we pretty much live at the pool.  if not for swim team, then just to get out of the house and beat the heat.  with all of that coming and going, i like to have good books, magazines, and projects to go.  alicia paulson's daisychain abcs crewelwork sampler kit caught my eye on her blog in late april when she announced preorders and something made me jump on it.  the colors, the design - every detail made my eyes pop!  forget about the fact that, other than a couple of monogrammed bloomers when the girls were babies, i haven't embroidered at all since high school home ec.  i was sucked right in!  the desire to have the finished piece hanging on my studio wall totally inspired me to refresh my memory.  my stitchery may not look as perfect as alicia's, but so far so good, and hopefully i'll get better as the alphabet progresses!

:) lexi

flashback friday :: egg-stra special

i thought i'd flash back to one more easter project this week.  i created these glittery eggs for a craft critique review of german glass glitter two years ago.  it would be a great last minute project for a few egg-stra special easter treats and all it takes is plastic eggs, gltter and a strong adhesive.  i used quarter inch tacky tape on the blue egg, and martha stewart double sided stickers on the yellow.  you can also use tacky glue or a crystal effects type product--just paint it on and be sure to let it dry afterward.  once you place your adhesive, smoosh into glitter and shake off excess--voila!  easy, peasy, and oh so cute!

happy easter weekend!
:) lexi

original post: april 9, 2009

peace, love, & sunshine!

away camp is only a little more than a month away for some, and the inquiries and orders have started coming in!  this new design is for a brand new camper, whose camp colors are green and white.  the box is the same as the ones i decorated for my girls, with lots of space for letter writing and drawing supplies, but personalized with her camp colors and stationery design.  peace, love, and sunshine is exactly what camp is all about!

:) lexi

inspiration

one of the many projects i accomplished over the time away from blogging was putting together a little inspiration board.  i came across several ideas i liked, but finally decided on a fabric covered coark board in a pretty frame.  there are a lot of straight modern edges in my office, and i thought it would be fun to throw in a little something ornate--i like to mix things up!  this round of found objects and pictures was mainly centered on my photography and doll projects, but i see myself pulling together seasonal displays when i need to focus on a specific project or assignment.  it always helps to have fun things to look at!

:) lexi

happy turkey day!

i finally got my hands on a pumpkin (thank you stacey!) after forgetting to get an extra before halloween.  they disappeared quickly and completely once november hit, and i almost didn't get to use my newly purchased set of metal turkey parts.  i'm not one to decorate for christmas until thanksgiving is over, so this was a fun new addition to the fall decor.  i hope your thanksgiving is filled to the brim with food and fun--and a little football, too!

gobble, gobble!
:) lexi

12th bowling extravaganza

last weekend, i printed and ironed another set of bowling t-shirts for the big sister of the 2010 twins.  this time, the color scheme was pink and green.  as i said then, it's such a great way to make your party group stand out at the lanes--and a fun memory of the party every time they wear it afterwards.

:) lexi

flashback friday :: thanksgiving placemats

i can't believe it's november already!  i thought i'd start off the month's flashback fridays with a project that i love to do every thanksgiving, activity placemats for the kids' table.  i've always made and shared them last minute, so now here they are at the beginning of the month to copy with plenty of time to spare.  or i can make them for you!  over the years, i've used these saltbox studio stamps, as well as stampin' up! thanksgiving stamps.  both are no longer available, but a muse has some great options that are--pilgrim boy, pilgrim girl, and tom turkey, for starters.  happy stamping and happy november!

:) lexi

original post:  november 19, 2008

2010 twins

a great way to personalize a birthday party is to make tshirts for the guests.  they'd be great favors, but it's especially fun to have the kids put them on when they arrive if the party is in a public place like a bowling alley.  these were designed for twin boys turning 10 last weekend, using classic bowling colors to match their party supplies and a name they gave themselves.  i also created a coordinating cake...

since they're twins, my two pin and ball design was perfect since each could have a cake with his own name.  the ball (baked in a bowl!) is chocolate cake, the pins, yellow.  something for everyone--a 10 twin split!

:) lexi

halloween leftovers

in addition to the candy, my favorite leftover of halloween is the pumpkin seeds.  despite my failing oven, they toasted to perfection after i coated them with butter and salt.  yum!  the girls loved them so much that i had to hide a bowl for myself.  of course the other result of the carving was fun, too...

carved & candlelit, they welcomed trick or treaters right up to the door!  now, to pack it all up and decorate for thanksgiving...

:) lexi

just flying by...

just flying by to say happy holloween from the cutest candy corn witch and mario & luigi's pal yellow toad...

the candy corn witch was a happy hand-me-down from my cousin.  the broomstick trick, a big jump plus a little photoshop magic!  i made the yellow toad costume, including the vest and hat, to coordinate with a pair of mario and luigi friends.  it was pretty easy, especially since we stumbled on a cool no sew foam pillow form that became the basis of the mushroom cap!

happy halloween!
:) lexi

flashback friday :: carving pumpkins

it's been hot here this week, so we've put off carving our pumpkins until the last minute.  this is one we carved a couple of years ago, based on a card i made.  there's just something about pirates that i love, so mignon let me help her create a pumpkin pirate.  colleen's crybaby pumpkin was cute too, and the seeds were yummy!  we'll see what we come up with tomorrow...

happy halloween!
:) lexi

original post:  october 26, 2008