What's in the Hopper

Definition - In politics, in the United States House of Representatives, the hopper is the box which sits on the House Clerk's desk, into which a bill or resolution is dropped for introduction. In agriculture, a hopper on a combine is a tank or bin where the harvested grain is temporarily stored until it is unloaded to a truck or grain cart. I use this phase to mean that something is waiting to be dealt with at another time. Read more: What does "in the hopper" mean? Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/300004#ixzz0xoUxmO5D

Right now my hopper is about to burst! I have been neglecting my little bloggy blog for good reason though, just not enough hours in the day. I have been trying to focus my attention on building my website, which has turned into a wonderful yet time consuming venture. My husband lends his constructive criticisms and I think I will be able to launch it really soon. I want to use is as an online display of things I make as I grow in my papercrafting.

Reggie is always selling for me (whether I am ready or not) so I have made a couple of layouts for a few employees at his job. The first thing I made was a tri-fold mini album and then I did an 8x8 easel display. I made my own easel back and I am going to share how I did that in an upcoming post. Unfortunately he takes them immediately and I don't have pictures.

Then I got an order for 50 (then it changed to 60) favors for a man's 50th birthday party. The colors were gold and cream and he is a big Teena Marie fan. So I wanted to do something manly and something that incorported some of her lyrics. So thanks to the tutorial found here - http://inspirestampin.blogspot.com/2010/04/easel-card-with-drawer-tutorial.html
I came up with these (the pillow box was not used) -

They were a big hit and I am glad she liked them but I made one nearly fatal mistake....................I accepted this order for 60 boxes, Yes I said 60, to be completed in three days. there is so much detail that it almost killed me. I had to get my girls to help, Reggie to help and if only the dogs could have helped, things would have went even faster. Reggie and I agreed that I undercharged for the time and labor but I took it as a learning experience as to know what to do and what NOT to do.

Now I am trying to find the perfect balance between creating the layouts I really want to and creating things for my first craft fair (and other people), which by the way if I don't chicken-out will be October 23, 2010. I am also planning an exhibition and class at a local senior center in the early fall, we are going on a mini vacation in two weeks, oh yeah and having a small (or so I think) barbeque for Labor day. I mean really, there are only 24 hours in a day?