Updated

Hello world..

 here's what you missed in the last 5 months

For Halloween 2016, W was a rainbow ( I made the costume), P was partly cloudy with a chance of rain ( or he had his head in the clouds) and I was a thunderstorm ( not pictured)

 

W wearing my sisters dress from when she was a baby

 

 My batman princess :)

 

Biggest news of the new year, we made another baby coming June 2017. Look for updates.

 

Enjoying hiking and family days outside in the California sun

 

W being a big girl and exploring at the old LA zoo site

 

IT'S A BOY!!!

 

Little miss  carrying her baby on a hike.

And W started her first day of preschool. 

Looks like you are mostly up to date.  

~ Steph ~

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Roller Derby Trophies

I was at it again making MVP roller derby awards for a bout this past weekend.

If you want to take a look at awards past click here, here and here

Thee is something about making these awards that I love. For this particular bout, it was a double header. Our leagues travel B team, Wipeouts and Wasteland Derby Dames for the first game and the Topanga Maulrats and Reseda Wreckers, a home team rivalry for the second (I played in the second as a Topanga Maulrat)

All photos by Chuck Gay

There was no "real" theme so I just chose something from the Dollar Tree and went from there

I had spare wheels and asked my dad to make the stand. So he mounted them using a dowel rod. I originally found a dinosaur, but saw the robots and yeah?! who doesn't love robots?

We screwed the robot into the wheels and sprayed them gold. I love the way they came out.

For the second bout, which was near and dear to my heart and wanted to resemble both teams.

The Reseda Wreckers have a bomb (see above grey shirts) as a mascot.

I found these plastic ornaments at Michaels. My dad made the bottom  base with a groove and a cork for the "fuse." I painted the bombs black and base red for there colors. What do you think?

So, the rats were last and they were harder to think of because its not halloween and plastic rats are not readily available. So my hubby and I made the rats out of clay, yup clay. Sprayed them black and purple base. They were a little unstable and wet so I should have planned ahead. Oh well. 

All the girls and there awards.

I really like making awards. 

What do you think?

A $2 picture

It's not just any $2 picture.

Last week I went to a local thrift store that I need to frequent more often and found this $2 picture with a project in mind. Well, that one project turned into three.

That's right.. I took that picture and turned it into 3 different functional projects.



1. (left) a handmade print for my derby wife
2. (right) a picture for my fall table decor
3. (bottom) a ribbon holder for W



The ribbon holder is the real reason why I bought the picture in the first place. So, I took the picture apart and really only wanted the frame. I sanded it and added the hooks on the bottom for headbands. Than sprayed it teal. I took some ribbon, I had, and stapled it to back. Super easy and functional. Now that W wants ribbons and bows in her hair, she will carry them around until you put them in, this is a great way to see what we have.


Do to unfortunate circumstances I did not have access to my money, but still wanted to decorate for fall. I found this printable on pinterest. I glued it to the cardboard that came with the picture. I added teal paper as a frame and added an extra piece of cardboard with some yarn as a leg to keep it upright



I really love how it came out .. FOR FREE!!

So, thats the frame and the cardboard keeping the picture in place.
Lastly I used the back side of the picture which was done on wood or particle board so it was thicker than a piece of paper. I knew I had been wanting to do this for awhile, than the idea hit me. My derby wife and I always say love your guts. Awhile ago Mandi over at Vintage Revivals posted this printable and tutorial for christmas. The problem is it is intended for a silhouette, which I do not have. So, I free handed in onto contact paper. I spray painted the picture gold (bottom color) and once that was dry I placed my cut out of the contact paper onto the picture. I smoothed all the creases and than sprayed in navy blue x2. While still a little wet I removed the contact paper. I was not sure how it would come out, but I love the result and so did my derby wife.



What do you think? Have you made anything fun recently?

halloween costumes of halloween pasts

As October is quickly approaching.. How did that happen?

ANyways, I was going through pictures of Halloween pasts and looking at my Halloween costumes. 

Let's get something straight.. I love Halloween, I love getting dressed up and I love making my own costumes.

So here we go..

2008: P is a pilot and I am plane decal; one of the pin-up girls painted on his plane. 

2009: We just moved into our new house and I found this dress at a thrift store. Pretty self explanatory.. Lucille Ball

2010: a 5 pack of crayons

and my individual costume as an orange crayon

2011: We went to a zombie themed roller derby bout in October and I made this whole outfit for $1

and than for halloween we did Super Mario Brothers + a 90's kid playing the game as a group costume

I was princess peach, again the dress was a another thrift store find

2012: the cast of Sleeping Beauty as a group

I was Merryweather, the blue fairy

2013: I had the help of my mom on this one and pretty much was still sewing this together the day of the party. It was my take on Ariel, The Little Mermaid.

And last but not least..

2014: My daughter and I as popcorn and a concession lady 

 SO there you have halloween costumes of my halloween past. I already have an idea of what we are going to be this year, but have not started to make them yet.

What are your favorites? What are you going to be this year?