One particular instance of this popped up today. Often when I am making things on the computer I think that it would be great if I could have something appear in my handwriting. Sure you can write and scan the image but it inevitable involves lots of grumpiness and a less then impressive outcome. I was talking about wanting to change the website a bit and was lamenting the lack of font choices when Matt reminded me of a site he had found that lets you make your own font.this site. It takes your handwriting and turns it into a font that you can use just as you would Helvetica. It’s awesome and even more exciting it is free, but not for long!

Below is the completed template they provide. You have to stay within the lines, like writing on a Big Chief tablet, so I drew lines very lightly with a pencil before I filled in the characters. Make sure you erase them before you scan though!

I have grand plans for this font, but right now this little sample will have to do.

So once again Matt saved the afternoon, he’s kinda great that way!

My mom and I always say that we will start the cookie process earlier, so that we aren’t up until 2am cutting out little hearts but we never seem to make that happen. Though this year I did plan ahead a little. I spent Wednesday night mixing up doughs to place in the refrigerator overnight, gluing little strips of paper to clothespins and cutting out little hearts. I still had quite a bit to do Thursday night… and Friday morning before work, but the chaos was under more control than usual.

This years goodies consisted of the same sugar cookies that my mom and I have been making for the past 20+ years, and the most amazing chocolate cookies ever. The recipe for the chocolate cookies came from Cook’s Illustrated magazine. They were advertised as the perfect balance of chocolate and chewiness and they did not disappoint. A sidenote : it appears that the website requires you too sign up for a free 14 day trail to view the recipe. I did however see this recipe while I was on there and I think these will have to be tested!

As for packaging, which I think is equally if not more important then the sweets inside, I found some great paper bags over at Nashville Wraps. You can’t beat 500 bags for under $20. And their “Value Double Faced Satin Ribbon” is amazing, especially for the price. If you have any pretty packaging needs I recommend requesting a catalog. As for closing the bags I was unsure of what I wanted to do. Then I remembered that I had a HUGE bag of clothes pins I had bought for another project. So I cut strips of paper and glued them to the pins and put a coat of Mod Podge on top to seal them. I used coordinating papers to make tags and label the contents of each bag.

I didn’t get as many cookies made as I had hoped, things are tricky when you’ve got an 8-5 job! Maybe next time I will plan a little better… maybe!

I absolutely love the way this frame turned out. I used the leftover dyed buttons from the Button Purse and a frame that I picked up on clearance. It’s a plain wood frame, but the “mat” is actually cork, which I think is fun by itself or to pin mementos to. The pink in the picture doesn’t hurt, it was taken on our trip to the Skagit Valley tulip fields. Truly a beautiful place, the tulips looked like sheets of velvet stretched across the dark wet soil.
I think this will be a great addition to certain little girls room! Who doesn’t need more pink in their life?

So I finally made a trip to Paper-Source, I managed to leave with just one bag and money in my wallet. It’s a fabulous store. I went to the one located on the Plaza in Kansas City, where I must say their staff is wonderful! They put up with my wondering and incessant questions.
Above is a photo of some of the treasures I found. Including beautiful double faced satin ribbon in a variety of colors/widths and at an amazing price. I was in heaven. They also have the standard return address labels in every color imaginable. Because they are a standard size I was able to run them through my printer as shown above which makes them even more wonderful!

Couple of other things I found were not necessarily unique but nice to have. A set of precut hang tags, always good for a last minute gift. And a package of glassine envelopes, which I am thinking would be cute to put a big cookie in or to mail birthday invitations in, though not sure what postage would be for that small size.

So no big splurges, though I am contemplating an embosser. The real question is whether to get a rectangular or circular one (I could only find the rectangular one on their website).

It was a pretty successful trip and I am absolutely sure that I will be back, a lot.