My Newly Found Hunger Games Obsession {Better Late Than Never?}

So I know I am a little behind on this, but I read the Hunger Games trilogy this week.

I absolutely loved it.

I just could not stop reading, no matter how late it was, no matter how badly my eyes wanted to close.  Towards the end of the third book I was up VERY late still reading when my husband came home, looked at me and asked if I was reading half asleep.  I might have been...

My point being, I love it.

Even now that I am done reading the books I find Katniss and Peeta popping into my brain periodically.  Reminding me that even though the books are done, my obsession cannot just simply end.

I found myself immediately drawn to Etsy this morning, throwing myself into Hunger Games handmade goodness.

What did I find, you ask?

How awesome is this mockingjay bracelet/ring?  My favorite part is the pearl... aw, sweet Peeta.  You can find this at Sevinoma on Etsy for only $6.99.  I think it would be too much for me to wear though, a little too in your face Hunger Games.  I would want something more subtle so people don't think I am a crazy Hunger Games fanatic.

This is simply, beautiful.  Who didn't cry when Katniss sang this to Rue?  You can find this beautiful card at Hendersweet on Etsy for $2.50.  I would love to put this song on a pallet in my daughter's room.  {I think my heart just melted...}

Love the color of the arrow and the string.  I think I'd rather the braided bracelet be grey.  Beautiful.  You can find this at Infinitywish on etsy for $4.99.  I could picture myself wearing this.

There are hundreds of pages of Hunger Games craftiness on Etsy.  These are just the first ones to catch my eye.

You know where to find even more creative Hunger Games stuff?

Rae Gun Ramblings had a Hunger Games link party HERE.  I haven't had a chance to skim through them all yet.  Rae has several Hunger Games related tutorials too.

I have to get back to my real life now {sigh}.  My husband and I are going to go see the movie this weekend.  Until then Katniss... until then...

And the Award for Best Party Invitations of the Year goes to...

... Maia's Harry Potter Party!

**Cheer.  Applause.**

The details are my favorite part...

My favorite part of the wording?  The RSVP.  Expecto Textum!  Oh man, I hope everyone gets it.

The Words.

For the inside of the invites I came up with my own creative wording.  I used the landscape layout with two columns in Word.  For the font I chose Charlemagne Std Bold in size 13 {size 8 and 10 for the smaller wording}.  I printed them in black ink on 8 1/2 x 11 kraft paper.

The Envelope.

I folded them in 3 parts to create an envelope look.  To crease the seams I used a cheese knife {I don't have the fancy tools actually designed for such a thing}.  The cheese knife was perfect.

I cut the shorter fold to create the triangle envelope closure.  I just eyeballed it, so none of them are perfect.

The Stamp.

I bought this on Etsy {HERE}.  It also included a little owl face stamp that I didn't use.  The ink is black and was included.

I stamped the postage stamp first and then topped that with the Hogwarts post office squiggly line guy.  Not sure what the post office refers to this as... but you get it.

The Feather.

I purchased a bundle of 3 feather designs from Silhouette's online store for $0.99.  I ungrouped the bundle to just use the feather you see here.  I sized it to about 2.5 inches long and less than 0.75 inches wide, filled the sheet and cut on white cardstock.

If you don't have a Silhouette, get one.  It is a lifesaver.

The Names.

I printed the names as neatly as possible and in an "official" looking style.

The Seal.

I purchased the faux owl wax seals on Etsy {HERE} in bronze.  They come with adhesive on the back so I just had to stick them on like a sticker.

For the invitations that won't be hand delivered I will probably add a glue dot to the back just to make sure they stick well enough to withstand all the handling between here and their destination.  I want them arriving perfectly {of course}.

Done.

I hope all the lucky invitees enjoy them!

Want your own set of these fun invites?  They are now available in my Etsy shop!

Be sure to check out the rest of my Harry Potter party posts.  

Potter Inspired Canvas Art

Pages O' Potter Book Page Wreath

Potter Party Invites

Felt Hogwarts' Ties

Chocolate Frogs

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

Harry Potter Party Reveal

Oh, and did you notice the gorgeous bamboo flooring in several of the pictures?  My husband got the living room and dining room done {with help from some awesome fellas}.   I mentioned the other day {HERE} how worried I was, but all is well!

 I am going to hold off on the reveal because I have a few other things to do before it is complete.

Linking up to these fabulous parties:

Monday: Crafts Keep Me Sane, Craftomaniac, Making the World Cuter, Skip to my Lou, Mad in Crafts, DIY Home Sweet Home, C.R.A.F.T., Cherished Bliss, Lines Across My Face

Tuesday: Not Just a Housewife, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, My World Made By Hand, Cowgirl Up!, Chef in Training

Wednesday: 733blog, Someday Crafts, Southern Lovely, Gingersnap Crafts, I Gotta Create

Thursday: The ArtsyGirl Connection, Embracing Change, Delightful Order, 52mantels, Somewhat Simple, Live Laugh Rowe, Hating Martha, Crafty Scrappy Happy

Friday: Tatertots and Jello, A Little Inspiration, Addicted 2 Decorating, Whipperberry, Naptime Crafters, Thirty Handmade Days

Saturday: Six Sister's Stuff, Family Ever After, Be Different Act Normal, Too Much Time on my Hands

Sunday: Homemaker on a Dime, DIY Show Off

Goodbye Carpet! Hello Bamboo!

I have disliked the carpet in our house since we moved in two years ago.  

Note the interesting design.  My favorite part...

Despite the disappointing state of the flooring, I simply wasn't ready to upgrade to hardwoods for two reasons:

1.  I was pregnant when we moved in and I thought it would be best for Miss Ella to learn to crawl and walk on carpet.  I didn't want my soon-to-be sweetness bonking her little head too bad as little ones are bound to do.

2.  New flooring is quite the investment.  There are tons of things I want to update in this home and since there was nothing technically wrong with the carpet I just wasn't ready to bump it to the top of the list.

Well folks, two years later, flooring has been bumped to the top of the list for {once again} two reasons:

1.  Ella bonks her pretty little bean on anything and everything even now as a professional walker {the carpet doesn't appear to be doing her any favors}.

2.  I can't keep it clean enough anymore!  Ella drops her cereal bowl, throws her spoon, puts food on the floor for the dog, the dog sheds, Maia spills juice, Clinton forgets to take his dirty shoes off and so on and so forth {you have kids, pets and husbands so I know you get it}.

One day I had had enough and I told Clinton I was ready.  He had been waiting for this moment!

We went out, took a look, brought home a few samples and BAM!  Spent thousands of dollars!  Wooo {choke, tear} hooo!

Now the really scary part.  My husband, my darling husband, my wonderful, completely UNhandy husband wants to install our bamboo floors.

My husband, the man who despises Ikea {yea, I know right?} because he cannot put their furniture together {he claims it is because he doesn't want  to put it together}.

My husband, the man who fixed the leaky kitchen faucet two days ago resulting in a faucet that you had to turn off by pushing on the base of the handle instead of the handle and still leaked.

My husband, the man who fixed said faucet again yesterday resulting in a faucet that you can once again turn off using the handle {phew} but still leaks and now the hot is cold and the cold is hot.

He is going to install our thousands of dollars of beautiful strand woven cobra bamboo flooring.

My stomach hurts.

Sigh.

Pray for me.

If you don't see a flooring reveal on Monday, something has gone wrong... terribly wrong.