The One with Halloween Time at Disneyland

It's that time of year again - the time when Disneyland is all decked out for Halloween and a few of the rides are changed for the holidays! I love all the characters set up to make the train ride to the park more entertaining. They should just leave 'em up all year.

We wanted to go on the new Little Mermaid ride first so we walked over to Disney's California Adventure Park. No offense, but this park majorly stink-eth right now. Every which way there's construction! I was so lost and confused because new things are going up here and there and there are walls everywhere and I just want it all to be finished before we move so we can enjoy it. Rant over.

We got right on the Little Mermaid ride, woohoo!

I was impressed by the up-to-date animatronics.

Until we meet again, in the far far future!

Over at Disneyland, things are hustling and bustling with the spirit of the season!

Pirates was closed, but there were some piratey singers outside to entertain.

Fox was so fun this time and seemed to really be "into" the rides.

I love the Fast Pass distribution center for the Haunted Mansion - eerie!

Inside the Haunted Mansion everything has been changed to a Nightmare Before Christmas theme. All my pics turned out blurry.

Where can I get one of these chandeliers for Fox's birthday Halloween party?

Mmmm. Sweets and treats.

Me'n'my boy.

Is there any question who Fox belongs to?

They make the exact same facial expressions! I love my boys.

I love me some Disneyland, I love me some Halloween, what more could I ask for? :)

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The One with CARDS Challenge Cards

Since I know the challenges in advance (cuz I make them up, hehe), I created three cards for the next three weeks of CARDS challenges. Busting 'em out while I have the time and energy!

First, the card I made for the week of 9.8 - 9.15 which was to use toothpick flags:

For the week of 9.15 - 9.22 - cards with foxes. (Pretty sly, eh?)

For the week of 9.22 - 9.29 - cards using at least three different border punches:

For the week of 9.29 - 10.6 - Halloween invitations.

PS - Congrats to the randomly chosen winner from the AC Blog Hop! 'Twas a success IMHO :)

Email me your addy at paigetaylorevans at gmail dot com and I'll send your brads right out!

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The One with the Fake Finger Reminders are Coming Along

I've sent out the e-vite for Fox's 1st birthday/Halloween party, but to follow up I want to give out a special, one-of-a-kind, something you'll never forget reminder. These oughta do the trick:

Here are mine in progress:

Chris has access to molding stuff (I don't know the correct terminology...) at dental school so he set up a lab on our dining room table. Looks complicated!

He concocted an alien-green and blue paste like so:

Then I stuck my two forefingers into the slime and waited for it to harden after five minutes.

Then, over the period of a week, Chris would mix up a formula and pour it into the mold, wait a few hours for it to set, and then he'd pull out the fingers. We made 40 fingers total.

This afternoon Chris took them to school and sanded off all the rough edges. Then this evening I dipped them in an India ink wash and now they look super duper creepy.

The "coffins" have been die cut and assembled, the reminder info has been designed/printed/trimmed, and the moss has been installed:

So alls that's left to do is tie a black ribbon around each finger and drop them off to the guests!

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The One with the Parisian Bat Mitzvah

Saturday night I worked at a Parisian-themed bat mitzvah!

So this photo has a funny story...

I was attempting to get a picture of the LA skyline like I like to do when I drive by it on my way to these parties and the second I lifted up my new ginormous camera a police-man flew by on his motorcycle. But the funny/not so funny thing was he was LOOKING RIGHT AT ME AND SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR! My heart dropped into my stomach and I thought for sure I was going to be pulled over for reckless driving or something. But I didn't. Thanking my lucky stars.

I got to the event in Beverly Hills and set up all my stuff.

40 pages prepped and ready to go - just pass me the pictures, glue, and Thickers!

The guests weren't scheduled to arrive for another hour or so, so I walked around and admired the decor.

Whoa. Just, whoa.

The dance floor.

The taboo candy bar.

Food table.

For lounging.

Here is the hallway with all the vendors.

Sumo suits!

There were four different photography booths. This one took pics and turned them into magazine covers or Andy Warhol style images.

I used the ladies room before the event started and loved that they had free gum/breath mints at the exit. How generous :)

Swanky.

Cindy was working with the photo vendor that printed my photos so we took a few "test" shots:

A few hours later, the bat mitzvah girl had an album documenting the night! (Name blurred on purpose).

Best story of the night - I met a celebrity (Marcia Cross), but since I don't watch the show she stars in (Desperate Housewives) I didn't even know it until after the fact! She came over to the table I was scrapping at and I asked if she wanted to write a note for the girls' scrapbook and she did and we just chit chatted about who knows what. I wonder if she thought my nonchalantness was rude? I hope not! I'm just ignorant! Thanks Cindy for pointing out that I met a celebrity - now I just need to get wit' it!

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The One with the American Crafts Blog Hop

Hello! Bonjour! Bienvenidos! Buenos días! Gon ni chi wa! Ciao! Aloha! Hi! And welcome to the American Crafts blog hop! The challenge issued to all the team members was to combine all of the new summer 2011 lines:

This is what I came up with:

MONEY IN THE BANK

How to: Use a small circle punch to ticket corner punch the corners of an aqua cardstock block. Trim a 12x12 sheet of light aqua cardstock to 11 3/4" square, ticket punch the corners, then stitch it to the layout base using white thread. Spray white mist across the layout and let it dry. Trim Bits tags, patterned paper, and fabric paper into different shaped tags (use a lace border punch, pinking shears, and scalloped scissors to trim the bottom ends of a few of them), punch a starburst and butterfly from patterned paper, back stickers with cardstock and trim them out, then punch a small hole through the top of each piece as well as two photos with the bottom corners ticket punched. String the tags onto three strings of aqua baker's twine. Figure out where you want the placement of the banners then make a small snip into the edges of the layout and tuck the twine into the slits to secure the banners. Use dimensional adhesive under most of the ends of the tags and photos to give them dimension. Add a fabric brad, Flair badge, and dimensional stickers to the banners to embellish. Write journaling with a black pen on three of the tags. Add a Thickers title above the bottom banner. Type the location on a label then add it to the bottom left corner. That's that!

Journaling says: Whenever my mom (aka Grandma) sees Fox for the first time at reunions, without fail she'll pick him up for a hug and then she'll say, "Money in the bank!" Fox's hugs are like gold - better than! They're priceless! Lately he's been more affectionate and leans his head on our shoulders. We sure do love this little guy!

Supplies: Cardstock, patterned paper, fabric paper, badge, dimensional stickers, label sticker, chipboard letters, pen, adhesive: American Crafts; Baker's twine: The Twinery; Spray mist: Studio Calico; Scalloped scissors: Provo Craft; Pinking shears: Fiskars; Punches: Fiskars (circle, hole, lace border), Martha Stewart Crafts (butterfly, starburst); Sewing machine: Brother; Thread: Coats & Clark; Typewriter: Smith Corona

For a chance to win a set of the three newest Fabric Brads from Nightfall, Amy Tangerine, and Daydreams, leave a comment on this post by Wednesday September 21st at 10am PST and I'll announce the randomly selected winner with my daily post!

Next on the blog hop: Pamella Brown

Make sure to stop by all 20 designer's blogs then go back to the AC blog post for a chance to win two entire summer 2011 lines!

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