Notes from the Studio: New York City Here I Come!

New York City Memories from When I Lived There 20 Years Ago!

Right now, I'm heading on a big jet plane to New York City! I'm off on a girls weekend, meeting up with a college friend for fun. I just can't wait.

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since I lived in New York City. What?! 20 years? How on earth has time gone by so fast? In some ways, it seems like just yesterday, and in others, a lifetime ago. So many things have changed, but then again, so many things remain the same.

At the top is a collage of pictures I took of New York when I lived there. I was going to graduate art school at Pratt Institute and thoroughly engrossed in computers and art. At the time, multi-media (on CD-ROMs) was blossoming and I wanted to be a part of it. I got my first email address through a very progressive community called EchoNYC. It was dial-up with a command line interface, but the "chat" feature was very cool. The web was in it's absolute infancy. There was talk that the Whitney Museum (in New York) was building a website, and everyone wanted to know more. There were no cell phones, no iPads, no digital cameras, no texting. These things may have been invented, but were definitely not part of everyday living like today. When I think how far technology has come since I lived in New York, it's clear 20 years has passed.

But when I look through the images above, it's fun to see that a lot of what was attractive to me then, still interests me today. Finding back streets with colorful street art, exploring the whimsical Coney Island, the adventure I took to Fulton Fish Market at 5AM, the beauty of the subway that got me everywhere - at any time... For this weekend away, I hope to have some crazy adventures like those back then.

I'll definitely be posting some pictures from the road. As the saying goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Look forward to finding out if this is true!

Party Planning 101: Resources for Planning Your Next Party

Party Planning 101: Resources for Planning Your Next Party

My daughter's birthday is coming up, and we are ready to try something different. Now that she's a tween, she's ready to take over the reigns and plan her own party! Although I've always loved to plan my kids' parties, I must say, I'm excited to see what she'll come up with. She already has several themes bubbling in her head, including games, crafts and more. Of course, I know I won't be completely out of the picture (she'll need me to drive her to buy the supplies, food, etc.), I think this will be a great experience for her.

We're going to give her a budget, and I thought instead of reinventing the wheel, I'd look out on the web for party planning worksheets, tips and more she can use.  Within only a few clicks, I found loads of wonderful free party planning resources just waiting to be printed up. There's pretty much a planning printable for any type of party, from your kid's birthday party to your annual holiday get together.

Below is just a partial list of the resources I've gathered. I've also created a Pinterest board: Party Planning 101 with loads more ideas. Such a wonderful party community on the web-- everyone seems to want to help you get plan the perfect party and have fun! So get ready and start planning.

Party Planning Resources from Around the Web

General Party Planning Worksheets, Checklists and Apps

• Party Planning Worksheets (Checklists, Guest List, Gift Record, etc) from A Pair of Pears
• One Page Party Planning Sheet from Printed Ink
• Let's Boogie - Fun Party Planning Worksheets from ARMommy
• Loads of Party Planning Templates on Tip Junkie
• Detailed Kids Party Planning Guide from Start to Finish on The Momiverse from the Party Pail
• Hosting by the Numbers

Budget Planning for a Party

• Party Budget Printable from Parties for Pennies
• Party Budget Checklist from Confetti Sunshine

Theme Ideas

• *The* List of Party Themes
• List of Holiday Party Themes
• List of Baby Shower Themes
• List of Bridal Shower Themes

Places to have a Party

• List of Places to Have a Party

People to Hire to Help at a Party

• List of People to Hire for your Party

Food Ideas and Amount of Food Needed

• List of Party Foods
• Party Drinks - Planning Guide (for Adult Parties)
• How Much Food to Serve at a Party from Chickabug

Game Ideas for Parties

• List of Traditional Party Games

Free November 2013 Wallpaper: A Thanksgiving Feast and a Contest

Free November 2013 Wallpaper: A Thanksgiving Feast from B.Nute productions

November is here! Can you believe it? I can practically hear the jingle bells of Christmas and the holiday season taking over... but before it does, I'm here to get you ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.

For this months free desktop and iPad calendar, I've created a Thanksgiving feast, every possible food I could think of that might be served on Thanksgiving arranged in a calendar. I must admit, although there has never been a shortage of food at our Thanksgiving celebrations, it was somewhat challenging to come up with 30 different items. I'd love to know if I've missed one of your family favorites!

Thanksgiving Giveaway Contest
To add a little fun to this months wallpaper give-away, I thought I'd also hold a CONTEST. Yes, a contest with a PRIZE too! The first person to guess the most number of Thanksgiving foods I have illustrated in this free wallpaper wins. Simple as that! And, what's the prize you ask, I'll send the winner a set of stylish notecards, matching envelopes, and matching stickers, perfect for writing thank yous or greetings to friends and family.

So, here's what you have to do to enter:
1. Send me an email to questions@bnute.com with all your guesses of the food items illustrated in my November 2013 Thanksgiving Feast wallpaper.
2. The first person to guess the most correct number of food items illustrated wins!
3. The contest will end November 30, 2013. On that date, I'll tally up all the answers and see who got the most food items correct.

Look forward to your guesses!

Free November 2013 Desktop and iPad Wallpaper

Free November 2013 Thanksgiving Feast Wallpaper from B.Nute productions

1900x1200 November 2013 Thanksgiving Feast Desktop Wallpaper

1980x1600 November 2013 Thanksgiving Feast iPad Wallpaper

To set as your desktop image

Click on the 1900x1200 link above. When the image in view, on a PC, right click and select “Use Picture as Desktop Image”; For a Mac, Control-click and select “Use Image as Desktop Picture”. 

To set at your ipad wallpaper

Click on the 1980x1600 link above. When the image in in view, click and hold. Select "Save Image" from the popup menu. Once saved, select your "Settings -->Brightness & Wallpaper" and change your wall paper to the newly saved image in your photos.

Happy Halloween!

Boo! That's me, the ghost with my Sisters and Brother, Halloween 1969

Here's one from a long time ago-- yes, that's me, the happy ghost. As you can see, I was very excited to be out trick or treating with my older brother and sisters!

Are you dressing up this evening for Halloween? Are you heading out trick or treating with your kids? Fortunately, my 2 still want me to trick or treat with them. We'll be heading out with friends trying to get as much candy as possible, I'm sure. It won't be long until they want to be on their own, so I'll cherish these last few Halloweens as long as I can.

Hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

Free Printable Halloween Pretend Witches Spells

Free Halloween Printable: Pretend Witches Spells from an Old Spell Book by B.Nute productions

And the Halloween fun continues... today I'm exploring the world of witches and spooky (or not so spooky) spells! Have you ever wondered where that lost toy, lost phone, or lost t-shirt went? Summon it to appear with this Bring Back the Lost Toy spell (substitute the word "toy" with whatever you are missing.) What about bad dreams? I've created the perfect pleasing spell sure to warrant only the sweetest of dreams!

Print these out and add to a spell book for a witches costume, or frame them and decorate the Halloween mantle or bookcase shelf along with other witch and warlock paraphernalia; an old spell book or two, a magic wand, a few tails of newt, a hat and possibly even a broom.

Free Printable Pretend Witches Spell
Bring Back the Lost Toy Spell

Free Printable Pretend "Bring Back the Lost Toy" Spell by B.Nute productions

Sweet Dreams Spell

Free Printable Pretend "Sweet Dreams" Spell by B.Nute productions

Instructions for Making Your Printable Pretend Spells
1. Select each links above (below the image) and print out the spell on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. Print on white cardstock to give the spell some weight. Now just cut out each, and place in a 5"x7" frame. (Each image is 5"x7")
2. Place the pretend spells on your fireplace mantle, or add to a book case for some spooky witch Halloween decoration.

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Free Printable Ghostly Ancestor Halloween Photos: Perfect for a Spooky Decoration

Free Printable Ghostly Ancestor Photos by B.Nute productions

Make your mantle, or hallway walls extra creepy this year by hanging these free printable ghostly ancestor photos. Two lovely bride and groom pictures and an old-time musician with skeleton features will haunt your house for old fashioned Halloween fun!

Each photo is 5"x7" and will fit in a standard frame. Just print them out and swap out your cute family photo for these creepy ones-- just for a few spooky days as we get close to Halloween festivities. These images are also the perfect look for a Gothic Halloween party. For extra credit,  make up ghost stories about the folks in the pictures and how they lived!

Free Printable Ghostly Ancestor Halloween Photos

Ghostly Ancestors Halloween Photo #1: Bride and Groom (by B.Nute productions)

Ghostly Ancestors Halloween Photo #2: Bride and Groom (by B.Nute productions)

Ghostly Ancestors Halloween Photo #3: The Musician (by B.Nute productions)

Instructions for Making Your Ghostly Ancestor Halloween Photos
1. Select each links above (below the photo) and print out the photo on a 5"x7" photo paper, then put in a spooky frame to add to the look.
2. If you don't have 5"x7" photo paper, you can also print each photo on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. Print on white cardstock to give some weight to the photo. Now just cut out each photo, and place in a 5"x7" frame.
3. Place the photos on your fireplace mantle, or on a wall to add some spookiness to your Halloween.

Special thanks to The Graphics Fairy for the original vintage photos (pre-ghost!)
Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.

Free Printable Bag o' Bones Treat Bag

Free Printable Bag o' Bones Treat Bag Image by B.Nute productions

The Halloween countdown is on, and it's time for some fun (and spooky) free printables! I just love old anatomical bones illustrations, and thought they'd make a great image to put on a treat bag to hand out at Halloween. 

What should you put inside? Well bones, of course... bone cookies that is! There are several different type of bone cookie cutters and skeleton cookie cutters to use to get the perfect shape.  There are also loads of great bone cookie recipes online to try as well. (I've listed a few below.) Your trick or treaters will just love their "bag of bones" they get from your house!

Bone Cookie Recipes

• Boneyard Cookies on Taste of Home
• Clever Skeleton Cookies on Munchkin Munchies
• Halloween Meringue Bone Cookies on Myla Upshaw's Blog

Free Printable Bag o' Bones Treat Bag Image

Free Printable Bag o' Bones Treat Bag Image from B.Nute productions

Instructions for Making Your Bag o' Bones Treat Bag
1. The bones image above is slightly less than 5"x5" and should fit on a standard 5" wide lunch bag. Select the link above, and save image to your local computer. Open image in an editing program and crop out page title/footer. 

2. In your printer dialog box, select a custom paper size of 5"x11" (or size of paper bag you are going to print on.) Feed paper bag through printer and print image on it.

3. Now, fill your bag of bones with all sorts of Halloween goodies!

Printable items are copyright protected, and provided free of charge by B.Nute productions for personal use only. B.Nute's printables can not be sold, altered, or provided for download on any other site. For questions or inquiries, please contact B.Nute productions.