I don't craft that often...

...but when I do...you better believe I blog about it!!

So...a couple of months back, we were shopping at my favorite store....the Downeast Basics/Pottery Barn outlet...and we found these super awesome, super big wheelie backpacks.  The stuff there is super cheap usually because some engraving got messed up...as in "Dylan's" case below.  Lauren and Jamie were in love with them and BEGGED for them.  Lauren's was perfect, no engraving, no problem...just a little dirty.  Jamie's even came with a lunch box that says "Tushar" that I haven't started on yet. I procrastinated this project until..um the night before Jamie started school.  

The Before:  It looks like the embroidery got stitched to the inside of the backpack...ruining the lettering and putting a small hole in the front.  The inside seems fine...just some black thread on a strap.  No biggie. 

 Step One: Unpick some of the lettering.  This little process took me 3 hours for just two letters.  What a pain in the butt!  I taped the inside just to make it more secure.

 The Finished Product:  Iron on some cool patches.  Jamie asked me "what if someone has the same back pack as me?".  I laughed and said "No one will have your same backpack, yours is custom."

I love when I get to channel my inner Misty.  I think Matt was impressed with my mad skills.  That is enough project-ing. for a while.  LOL!

Inspired by Misty! My project!

Back in 2006, I met a girl named Misty. She came to my team at Discover Card right out of training. She was shy, sweet, athletic, TOTALLY in love with her husband and trying desperately to get pregnant. I was also trying to get pregnant at the time, so we had a lot of ups and downs together. Actually, I think she was one of the first people I told when I finally did become pregnant. We became good friends for the short time she worked under me but it was enough to create a special bond. Her TWIN boys are exactly one month younger than Jamie! Even though I have never seen the boys in person, and the last time I saw Misty was when I went to her baby shower (she lives in Payson), I still feel close to her. We have kept in touch through our blogs, through e-mails and on Facebook. She is such a wonderfully sweet, loving and amazing person who is uber creative. I am always amazed at the SUPERWOMAN that she is and all of her little crafty projects. SO...this is for you Misty! You were my inspiration!

I have been wanting to get Lauren a big jewelry box for quite some time now, but never found the right one. Well, I was shopping at the Pottery Barn Kids outlet, when I came across these gorgeous jewelry boxes. I thought it would make a great present for Lauren's upcoming birthday. The only problem is that they are engraved with SOMEONE else's name! Well, I channelled my inner-Misty and began to think of solutions. Here is the documentation of the journey. On a side note, out of curiosity, I went to the Pottery Barn Kids website and this sells for $70. I was able to purchase it for $7.50!

There is a lot of storage for all the bracelets I have made for her!!

I love the name "Audrey" and I adore Audrey Hepburn...but I really wanted it to say "Lauren"...so with an exacto knife and some "Goo Gone", I scrubbed off the name.

Here it is, ALL clean!

For Lauren's birthday I am getting her a new bedspread, because apparently Dora was "so a year ago"....the new one will be brown, pink, and white. I found the PERFECT stickers at Micheals!

AND here is the finished product!

I can't wait to give it to her on her birthday this Friday!!! A special present for my special little girl!

Misty, I hope I did you proud. Love ya!