My First Ever Jack O'Lantern (at age 38)

Okay, so at 38 years old I had never, EVER carved a pumpkin for Halloween. My excuse? Well when I was a kid in the UK, pumpkins weren't available in the stores. I do remember that my parents carved out turnips (or swedes) for Jack O' Lanterns when I was young but since I struggle trying to cut a turnip for cooking I never bothered to attempt carving one for halloween.

Well, this year I'm going to be in the USA for Halloween and my fiance decided to get a pumpin for me to carve. It's a little bit early yet but we figured I may need a practice run, lol. So, on Saturday afternoon I made my first attempt......

We bought a pumpkin carving kit with design templates - cheating a little but I figured that that was allowedfor a first attempt. It took a couple of hours to do even though it was a simple design, and boy did my hands ache when it was done!! I'm quite proud of it though - for a practice run.

Tote Bags

Canvas tote bags are a great alternative to grocery bags for your weekly shopping; sturdy and reusable as well as being environmentally friendly. Until recently I have been using canvas bags purchased at the grocery store, with a huge logo on both sides ....... so I've been paying to advertise for them and that kinda irks me. I have literally hundreds of tote bag designs across my zazzle stores so decided it was about time that I advertised for myself when I do my weekly shop at the store. Here are a few of my own designs and some from other zazzlers:

Animatastic Mandala by Animatastic
Learn how to sell artwork on Zazzle

Animatastic Noah's Ark Bible Story Illustration by Animatastic
More Ark Bags

Funky Circles Rainbow Colors Fractal Design by ArtformTheHeart
Browse more Retro Bags

Posie Panda Bear Cute Cartoon Animal by Animatastic
See more Panda Bags

Art Nouveau Roses Tote Bag by ArtformTheHeart
Browse other Style Bags

Merry Christmas panda Bear Cartoon Tote Bag by Animatastic
Create photo bags from zazzle

Trick or Treat Spooky Halloween Candy Swag Bag by ArtformTheHeart
Make a custom bags at zazzle

Tobacco Flower Print Tote Bag by ArtformTheHeart
Learn how to sell artwork online at Zazzle.com

Stylish Accent Bag - by MySpaceStudio
Make a photo bag on Zazzle

I can't believe that this one is proced at $58.40, but there you go!!

Yinyang Canvas Tote Bag by Flynn_the_Cat
Learn how to sell art online at Zazzle.com

Chinese LOVE Calligraphy Flower Custom Tote Bag by fat_fa_tin
Design a tote bag on Zazzle

Earth Day Sunflower Bag by politicalgirl
Create a bag at zazzle.com

Art Nouveau Rose by ArtformTheHeart
Create your own personalized bags using zazzle 

Tote bags are also great for carrying books, gymn clothes, or anything else you can think of. I'm always rushing out the door at the last minute and used to always throw whatever I needed to take with me into unsightly plastic grocery bags, not anymore, lol.