It' FINALLY over

Throwing a party is hard work, throwing a Halloween party, is even harder. The hardest party I ever threw. I worked at decorations for over a week, and in the end, I learned alot. I am not super woman, can't decorate, cook, take care of kids, clean, shower, and blog, at the same time. Neither can I stay up all night, without suffering for it the next day, lol. I also learned many things about decorating, and can say I could have spent half the time, had I done just a few things, rather than trying to do it all.

In the end, I didn't finish everything I thought of doing. In fact not even close, but instead did other things. In the end, like always, I prepared 3 times the amount of food necessary, and stressed everyone out along the way (sorry everyone). In the end, I can say I have enough Halloween decorations, to last me the next 30 years, lol.

But most importantly, in the end, everyone had a good time, and my daughter had so much fun. There were tons of kids there, and the night was a lot of fun. I would do it all again, in a heartbeat. Just hopefully apply the things I learned, and hopefully it will be easier next time.

I missed my blog, these past 2 weeks, and am so happy to be back. Of course now I must clean up, lol, so again, don't expect to much for a few more days, lol. Just checking in with you guys, and letting you know, Im still here, and I will post pics of everything as soon as I get a few hours, lol.

I want to thank everyone for beign so awesome, and still coming to party here, even though I have not been the best host, I APPRECIATE all of you so much. I have been looking at all the link ups, but just have not had enough time to comment on all of them. I have much catching up to do, so please forgive me.

I can't wait to share the party with all of you, and Im already planning my next SPECIAL party....**6 weeks 2 Jingle**, should be TONS of fun. This will strictly be an online party, lol, but regardless, it will be fun.

Thanks again to all my wonderful followers, and of course ALL my WONDERFUL FAMILY, for helping with the preparations, and hard work. I love all of you!!!
As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Amaze me August #8~~2 weeks of Features

Can you guys believe this will be my 8th week of hosting Amaze me August? I am amazed that I have been able to remember to set it up every Monday night, lol. I'm telling you guys, blogging keeps you regular. I hope everyone enjoys coming here, and slowly but surely it is growing every week. I am constantly getting new people joining, and I appreciate all of you who come back on a regular basis.

Last week I didn't do any features, and even tonight I'm pushing midnight right now, so this may be a bit quick, but here are some of my favorite link ups from last week, and this week.



Jenn @ This Mommy Lovesmade these amazing Elmo cupcakes. I just love them. Thank You Jenn for linking up!!



Megan @ Fowl Single File made these adorable turtle breads. What kid would not LOVE to eat this, yeah OK me too.
Thank You Megan for linking up!!

Lindy @ Cottage Hill did the craziest planter out of old books. Seriously she took a drill and tore those books up, and now look at  them, all pretty with a plant, and all. Oh man, I want to try this so bad. Thank You Lindy for linking up!!

This weeks favorites are....

Leah @ Living Life Crafty showed us how to organize out bags out of a pringles container. Oh yeah, its super cool. Thank You Leah for linking up!!!



Kendall @ Songbirds and Buttons did an awesome table makeover. Check out that beautiful color, and fun pattern she did. Yeah I love it. Thank You Kendall for linking up!!!

Michelle @ The Real Life Mom showed us how to make this great, super easy, hair bow holder. Thank you Michelle for linking up!!!

Ladies PLEASE grab a FEATURED button and display it proudly!

<a border="0" href="http://bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad234/bellabeforeandafter/feature1.jpg" /></a>

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome!

bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Goodwill, Candle holder swirling thingy!!!!

Man oh man, I love the Goodwill, and yard sale shopping. There's nothing better than finding good deals. I saw this awesome candle holder, and it was perfect. I knew I wanted something tall, for my buffet area, for the party, Something to add soem height, but not get in the way, and just my luck found this beauty, last week. I thought ok, candles would be perfect, then I don't know how I ended up with apples, but shoot, I love it so much. Since we will have tons of vampires, at the party, the whole apple thing, twilight theme, is perfect. I added some skeletons, and eyeballs, and a few crows perched on it.

I would prefer it to be more black , rather than the silver, but again, will totally do for now, I'm not about to go spray painting anything is I don't have to.

Let me know what you think!!!!

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Speciman Jars, with a ping pong ball....

Yup you read that right, lol. Gotta love the dollar store. When I saw these ping pong balls, I thought eye balls, and hello yeah they are pretty rad. I used black sharpie, to make the pupil, and bloodshot effect, only its not red. lol. A skeleton, also from the dollar store, you know I got 5 of these guys for a dollar baby.

Old jars, and soem food coloring. I added some plastic wrap, and pistachio shells, in there, with rubber bands, yeah don't ask. Use your imagination, it is whatever you think it is, lol. I should make some cards for it, I'll ask my son to do that, I don't know how to come up with good spooky names, lol.

Oh and the lids, I didn't even paint them, just wrapped them in black trash bag, and screwed it back on, SUPER simple. I love simple.

Alrighty then here they are. Um yeah I totally need to either put another label on them, or get the old one off completely, lol. Dang I was in a rush, lol.

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Got Wood? Free is best!!!

One of my neighbors had a pile of FREE wood in the front yard. They had ripped out some wood flooring, and this was waiting to get trashed. I quickly asked if I could have it, and after him looking at me a bit confused, he said sure whatever, lol. I loaded up my trunk, and was on my way, thinking will I actually use this, or did I just bring more trash home. (Done that too many times)

I knew the front side of the wood was to nice looking, so the back is what I wanted to show. The glue was still on there, and it just looks much more old, and worn out. Perfect for the look I was going for.

I did but some paint, thinking I would write spooky messages on these signs, but instead went with just taping them into crosses, and leaving them blank. They look fantastic just the way they are, and plus I didn't really have time to do anything else.

My oldest son, and his friend helped tape these and put them up, some yarn spider webs on the bushes, and roses, and more boards accross the top gutters, with more spider webs hanging from it. I plan on still adding something to the front entrance accross those boards up there, but lets see.

This is just an idea of what it looks like, and it was practically all FREE. Some tape, and yarn is all I used, that I have plenty more of obviously.

When it's all done, I will post more pics.

 This is a little sneak peak at another project I am working on, and HAPPY to say is finished. My main focal point in the house, is DONE. Come back tomorrow to see what is looks like. I love how it turned out.

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Oh yeah I won a giveaway, Thanks Jane for hosting!!

So two weeks ago I entered Jane's 53rd Frugalicious Friday Party over at Finding Fabulous, and she was hosting a great giveaway for these awesome clocks, from For all TIME CLOCKS.

I entered by leaving a comment, following the rules, of course. We were allowed 3 entries, but I only left one, which should have been two, lol. Anyway, I got picked, and she announced me as the winner last wednesday. However didn't see that, and luckily checked my email today, he he, and saw my message sent yesterday. I know such a long story, but I have NEVER won anything before, and this was super exciting for me.

So now I am even more excited to start hosting giveaways. It's a pretty awesome feeling to win something, and I'm sure even more wonderful to make that happen.

Thanks again, Jane, and I so look forward to getting my new clock.

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Gorilla Tape Spider wants to play!!

Alright guys, so here's what I was working on yesterday.

A HUGE spider. This guys was made of only trash bags, and tape. Gorilla tape, that is. Hello that stuff is awesome, but had I known the problems I would have had attaching the legs, I would not have gone to such trouble trying to get his body perfect before all the tape went on, lol. Also forgot to mention I have a coat hanger, and newspaper rolled around the legs, to give them shape, then wrapped in the black trash bag.

I took some pics of the process, and yes for those that remember my whole dry cleaning bag, flowers, post -read about it here-, I again just had to do the whole ironing of the bag thing, I really love the potential this has. A plain trash bag is nothing exciting, but I'm telling you put a hot iron to it, and it becomes almost a leather type texture. It's awesome, and I have no idea if you will see in the pictures, so shoot, just go try it for yourself, then you will see what I'm talking about.

Ok, so without further ado, here is the NOT so itsy bitsy Spider.

I made the fangs, and eyes, and black widow design with some petals off an old flower, it was just the perfect color.

This is what the bench looked like before. Oh and yes that is a bathroom mirror, just stashed behind there. It's been there for YEARS, prob over 2 years now. I am just keeping it safe for the day I actually install them in my garage. Ok, so yeah, the seating area needs mucho work still, but hey, I just wanted you to see the before.

As far as his placement, I'm still working on it, but for now, this is where he stays. He can just hang there, pretty visible, and I don't need to make any holes in my wall to attach him to. The whole entry seat is just missing something. Hopefully it will come to me, either in the form of a dream, or a COMMENT, lol.

The broom is just there, probably not for long, I have other plans for it, lol. The fabric on the bench was a goodwill find, it's really pretty, and no sew, just wrapped it on and thats it. The dark purple flowers, are perfect for halloween. I wanted flowers, but not black. The cat, is pretty cute hugh? Also from the dollar store, came with like 5 other things, so do the math, REALLY CHEAP.

I will glady show you guys how I did the spider if there is enough interest in that.

Linking to these parties:

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
http://www.blogger.com/bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com