Custom Handmade Birthday Card

The local store didn't have any birthday cards for Grandpas, let alone 85th Birthday cards. So I made one!

You can make your own card like this, it's a super-easy project that can be done in 10 minutes or less.

Here's what you need:

- card stock, 8.5 inches x 5 inches makes a card 4.25 inches by 5 inches (for the card size, measure your envelope and subtract 1/4 inch from both dimensions)
- colorful striped scrapbook paper
- textured red card stock (for the numbers)
- thin ribbon
- hole punch
- glue stick
- sewing machine w/ color-coordinating thread
- scissors
- paper cutter

Instructions:

1. Cut the card with your paper cutter, fold it in half to make the card. Run the edge of a scissor blade along the outside of the crease, shaving off just a little to make a good folded edge.
2. Cut a piece of striped scrapbook paper, fitted to the size of the card but leaving 1/4" on each edge and 1" on the top edge.
3. Position the striped paper on the card and use a straight-stitch to sew it in place. If you use a fancy satin or metallic thread, use it in the top spool (the bobbin thread should be similar or coordinating but could be white or plain thread).
4. Cut out the numbers from the red card stock. You may want to draw the numbers on the back of the card stock in reverse first so you have a line to follow when you cut. Use a hole punch to cut out the centers of 6's, 8's or 9's.
5. Use a glue stick to paste the numbers onto the front of the card.
6. Punch two holes in either end of the front of the card on top. (You don't need to go through both layers of the card.)
7. Thread ribbon through and tie in a bow.

Hand-Beaded Drawstring Bag

I made a little beaded drawstring bag! I hand-beaded this flower years ago on a scrap of pink fabric and didn't know what to do with it. I came across it and realized I had more of the same pink denim and I thought it would make a really adorable bag.

Hand-beading like this is really not too difficult, it just takes time. I'd never done anything like this before.

Secure your fabric in an embroidery hoop. This will keep your fabric taught and make it easier to sew through.You'll need a thin needle for beading, the eye of the needle has to fit through your tiniest beads.

Try something organic - like a flower - first. Let your beads guide the design and the shape! Or you could trace a pattern onto the fabric using a pencil, then bead within the lines. To make this flower, I beaded the outside lines first to make the shape, then I filled in the spaces (kind of like coloring within  the lines).

2012 Pax Prime Day 2 & 3 Cosplays

I decided to split up cosplay pictures into a separate blog posting since there were so many amazing outfits.

Isn't this baby adorable as the Marshmallow Guy from Ghost Busters Movie

Halo meets Captain America, pretty clever

Love the details

Loving the ColoUrs

Diablo 3 Mage

We've seen this girl before on the blog.  She was at SakuraCon with her Steampunk Mario Cosplay group.  But this time she has continued to enhance her outfit even more that I fell it love with it all over again.

The added a Donkey Kong this con to the Steampunk Mario group, and I thought his poses were accurate and hilarious.

This Wii and Xbox 360 couple was so cute.  I laughed when I noticed the Xbox was a white girl, and the Wii was an Asian girl.  Don't think they did it on purpose though.

Ok this outfit was just freaking cute.

Annie as Tibbers from League of Legends?

Love this guy for the way he did the makeup for his scars.  Need to study and practice this style.

Posion Ivy and Harley Quinn in War gear.  Pretty cool crossing themes.

Guardians Of Middle-Earth booth was giving out Gandalf hats.  I didn't want one since it would clash with my outfit, but the guy was very insistent.  I must admit, I do look pretty cute as a witch.

You can check out more of SmallRiniLady's PAX pictures on Facebook

Avalyn's PAX Recap

PAX was fabulous this year. We really enjoyed ourselves. Here are some photos I took! 

SmallRiniLady and Avalyn lunch at Gordon Biersch on Friday while dressed as Serah from Final Fantasy and Riven from League of Legends.

New this year, Riot had the League of Legends NA Regionals up on the sixth floor of the convention center. They should host that at PAX every year! It drew a huge crowd, all day long, all three days.

Found a Dragon Age 2 cosplay group! Excellent workmanship on those costumes.

On Saturday we went to the Make a Strip panel by Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade. We always try to make that panel every year, it's a hoot. I still remember the first time I saw this panel at the Meydenbauer Center and I discovered the magic that is the Hotdog Fairy.

There was an insane amount of League of Legends cosplay at PAX. Riot had a cosplay showcase every day at 2PM so I signed up on Friday. Got my photo with Riot Nikasaur on KOMO News here!

Here's me with a couple of my favorite LoL champions!

my favorite support, Soraka (with me as Riven)

the lovely Ashe... and Riven (me again)

I also found a lot of Rivens! What do you call that, a pack? A horde? A roost of Rivens? Anyway, here are some of them!

WOW big sword!

Her sword lights up!

Her armor and sword were made with expanding foam - durable and rubbery/squishy!

Got a wee potato! You never know what kind of swag you'll get but PAX never disappoints. (I always come home with at least one free T-shirt.)

Went to the Magic the Gathering party on Saturday with my husband. They had mushroom appetizers on trees! How cool is that?

Made another  friend! Actually, first I made this little hat out of pipe cleaners while waiting in line for Wil Wheaton's awesome hour.

Wil Wheaton did not disappoint. Just wish I could have sat a little closer. They didn't have video on the screens while he was talking and the sound was very quiet so it was hard to hear him about 10% of the time.

Wow, check out these wings! They are motorized and can fold down and collapse!

I dressed as Riven on Friday and Sunday. Unfortunately my Warcraft costume just did not look like it would survive the day so I didn't wear it. It may need to be retired. I really enjoyed wearing the Riven costume though! Full album with more photos: http://photobucket.com/PAX2012avalyn