Friday, August 29, 2008

I Didn't Want to Do It . . .

. . . Any of it! But I'm glad I did!

By the time I got off work tonight, I was beat! This is the third week of what's been a somewhat stressful, continuous stream of deadline projects. All I wanted to do was go home and veg out on the couch. Or maybe, if I was feeling energetic, I could hang out in the Sweat Shop and do a little applique. But . . .

Last night, I was looking at the holiday craft magazine I showed you and they had some pretty good directions for crafting paper mache figures and such. I love paper mache figures and have wanted to learn the process for the last couple years. So, this was my chance--all I had to do was stop by Michael's and buy a bag of paper mache medium and a palette knife.

Yep, I didn't really want to go shopping, but I made myself. And it was fun! And I found a few other things--of course! My pile of fall decorating "stuff" has grown a little.


And as I was walking past the aisle with the wooden letters, I thought back to last Christmas and my "Holly Jolly" letters--wouldn't it be fun to make some for Autumn? Yes, I think it would!


So that's one project on the agenda for the weekend. I also saw this Halloween garland. Last year I saw Halloween garlands on the blogs of several talented gals and wished I had time to try to make one myself. Time never materialized. Luckily, Martha Stewart came to my rescue this year. Now I'll have a Halloween garland too!


Good old Martha also had those clever cut outs of mice and mouse holes you see above. They had to come home with me too. Martha had spiders, but nope, I passed those up! ICK! But I found this magazine at Michael's--


Not only did I see an advertisement for Martha's mice in there, but this magazine has patterns you can enlarge to make your own. The mice are something new this year--something cute and unexpected, I think. Check out the magazine for some more fun Halloween ideas--or you may just see a couple projects pop up here in the next couple of weeks!


Oh, but here's the BIG thing I didn't want to do tonight: Clean house! But it's done now, and I'm sure glad I did, because it means the three-day weekend will be filled with playtime!

It's true what they say about exercise giving you MORE energy. Now that I've been running around the house and cleaning all evening, I have all sorts of energy! But don't get me wrong: I'm not advocating exercise. Normal, everyday chores are plenty of exercise. Everyone I know who exercises for sport seems to get injured. Just say NO!

So this weekend--which is waiting for me on the other side of one more day of stress at work--I'll be playing in the Sweat Shop with applique, quite possibly getting icky paper mache goo all over me, and applying paper to wooden letters. Sounds like heaven, doesn't it?!

With temperatures today and tomorrow of 104 degrees, any feeling of Autumn has left, but I know it's coming before too long. I think I'll decorate for fall in a couple weeks. In the meantime, I'll play with Halloween and Autumn crafts and watch these babies grow just a little bit bigger.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Al you have to do is move to the East and you will have rain and cool and be in the mood for Halloween. Cute mice. Now just where are you going to put them that Spike can play?

Teresa said...

I have been in the mood for Fall working on a table runner for my club in fall colors. Your decorations have given me some ideas of things to give as "door prizes" at the meeting when we work on this project. Thanks so much for sharing!

The Southern Mom said...

I'm so ready for fall. My favorite time of year. And all your decorations make my mouth water!

Darlene said...

Well, this is very ironic. What, you ask????? I was thinking about you last night because I want to apply paper to wooden letters and I was thinking about asking you for guidance. What do I need????

MichelleB said...

I love those mice cut outs! They are adorable! And I'm not completely positive, but I'm almost positive that you clean waaaayyyy too much. Sheesh. You are one productive woman. Can you send some of that my way? LOL

Sinta Renee said...

I like the Autumn decorating ideas. Looks like you will have a good weekend. Last night I pulled out all of my fall quilt pattterns... maybe a small project would be best:) oh, and I agree with your philosophy about excersizing.

Lorraine said...

wow....lots of crafting goodies....have a great long weekend....! I am with you on the exercise thing...LOL.....i have come across two people in the past couple of weeks who have broken wrists from jogging and walking the dog.....I couldn't cope if I broke my wrist...how would I type...would have to take leave from work......but wouldn't be able to sew either...I will stick to house work for exercise.....LOL

Very Mary said...

You have a Big Lots, I think. The craft section has a ton of Martha stuff for very reasonable prices! GO!

Karen said...

OK looks like you have a lot of fun things planned for the weekend. Hmmm letters covered in paper - like the sounds of that. Hope you show your finished project. Have a productive and fun weekend working in goo or fabric -- sounds heavenly :)

Hugs - Karen

Nan said...

Such wonderful ideas! I must buy one of Martha's banners - too cute! I like the mice, too. I think I need to go out and boost the economy, don't you? LOL!