Super Mario Brothers Birthday Party

My oldest has turned 4...they grow up so fast!  Owen wanted a "Mario and Luigi" party for his birthday.  Being the procrastinator that I am, I waited too long and ran out of time to order party supplies online.  Here are my solutions:

I made the cake.  My mom always made my cakes when I was growing up, and as long as I am able, I'll make my kids' cakes (not that there's anything wrong with a "bought" cake--I actually enjoy cake decorating).

To make the background, I covered a cake board with blue scrapbook paper.  I drew the hill and coins on cardstock with with a Sharpie (one of my favorite tools!), cut them out, and attached them to the background with pop dots (sticky foam that make the pieces stick out).  For the blocks, I used cardstock to construct a box, drew on the bricks, attached the gold squares, and attached the box to the background.  The Mario is a sticker that I stuck on cardstock and cut out.  I taped toothpicks to the back and stuck him in there.  I got the sticker from a Mario magazine that I lucked into finding at Wal-Mart the day before I made the cake!

Here's my "Mario" with his cake:

I used eyeliner to draw mustaches on all of the kids (except the girls...they were NOT in to facial hair).

I wanted to get a pinata, but our local party store didn't have Super Mario anything.  Instead, I bought an Iron Man pinata (because it was already black around the sides) and I painted it to look like a chain chomp.

Here's me with the chain chomp pinata:

I also made the invitations for the party.  I made a scene similar to the cake on cardstock sized to fit those long envelopes.  I'll post a picture of those shortly...

Place mats! Whoo-hooo!

     So, I got this book called "The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style," by Cassie Barden.  There are a lot of really neat things to make in there:  bags, iPod cover, cell phone case, composition book cover (with pockets!), laptop sleeve, and....place mats (among other things)!

     I have a nice dining room table and, along with being nice, it's also big.  I can't find a tablecloth long enough to fit it!  That's the main reason why I use place mats--so I don't have to be like some crazy table nazi, attacking people when they set their buttery knife down by their plate.  These place mats also have a pocket for the silverware; who cares what side the knife/fork/spoon should be on...just put it in the pocket!

     This past Saturday I was in JoAnn Fabrics and I found this cool Asian inspired print that I really like.  I love light blue and red together, so I marched right over to the red section, where I found this red fabric with irregular white polka dots.  Asian print + red with polka dots = super fun place mats!

Here's a close up of the pocket:

These place mats are also quilted.  Now, I am by no means going to start calling myself a quilter, but I think I did an okay job for my first time ever quilting anything.  I'm very pleased with my new place mats.  I can't wait to use them!  I had some of both fabrics left over, so I think maybe next I'll make a cell phone case--then maybe I can stop dropping my cell phone. : )

Donna

My beginning...

What do I want to do with myself? That's what's been running through my mind for years now. I started college as an early childhood education major, but it just didn't fit. I'm sorry...writing lesson plans and decorating bulletin boards just doesn't excite me. I changed to Public Relations, but I didn't fit there either. I finally found my niche in the Art Department.

I LOVE art! I love looking at it, reading about it, making it...I just can't get enough! I have this need to create. I get an idea, or just the itch to create something, and it consumes me, and sleep eludes me. I have to follow through or I'll go crazy! My husband (Andy) just shakes his head when I get the whim to try something new.

My latest thing (and what I've decided to focus on) is jewelry making. I'm kicking myself now for not taking Jewelry as an elective when I was in college! It would've been very helpful, since everything I know about jewelry making now, I've learned from books and the internet.

I'd love to have my own store/studio space where I could make things and people would come and buy from me. Ha, ha! That's just not happening on our budget. I make jewelry at our dining room table, on the computer desk, on a tv tray--wherever I can spread my stuff out for a few minutes. I did, however, get my own store!

Etsy.com is a great website where artists like myself can sell handmade goods. There are so many talented folks selling on there--I'm honored to be a part of it!

Check out my store: http://belladonna78.etsy.com

Donna : )