A few weeks ago I shared my inability to avoid volunteering when a few moments of silence follow a request. It was wonderful to read that Red has also been sucked in and that Aurelia is the same way - misery loves company LOL! Kailani gave me a boost of confidence and Jamie asked me to post the final project when I got a chance. So today I’m sharing the finished soccer banner:

Now, before you go filling your head with the “she’s perfect” theory (believe it or not I get that a lot!! LOL) you must read my calamity of errors that led to the finish line. If not to prove I’m far from perfect, at least to give yourself a good chuckle:

I knew the best use of my time would be to transfer my computer graphic and design know-how to the fabric so Iron-on transfers were the perfect answer. That seemed simple enough.

Here’s what I learned - painfully:

• Inkjet printers can’t handle large picture images in realistic time.
• Transfer paper for color laser printers doesn’t exist for the general consumer.
• Large files can be *tweaked* with adobe writer to make inkjet printers work in reasonable time frames.
• Every project takes 4 times as long as I predict.

Here’s how the time line went:

• Saturday before first game: I add picking up fabric and transfer paper to my grocery list. Success! It’s even worth waiting for the lady in front of me with 15 bolts of fabric (I’m NOT exaggerating) getting 1/2 yard of each. *smile*
• Wednesday: Test printing produces disaster waiting for 1/2 hour for a single test page to print - - unsuccessfully. *frown*
• Thursday: Order specialty paper online - wait for a week for shipping. *disappointed*
• Following Thursday: Order arrives after 4 p.m. After kids are in bed I go to the project to read a warning label in the top corner about not using the paper in a laser printer. *murmur*
• Thursday night: Nightmares about how the next day is going to pan out if I’m told my specialty paper really won’t work. *augh!!*
• Friday morning: Called the company, left a voicemail. Blogged for a few hours waiting for the response. It’s affirmative, bad information given the paper won’t work in my printer. *!@#$*
• Friday early afternoon: Take the babe to preschool, come home and call around to find anyone with a color copier that will take my specialty paper. 3 strikes in the first 3 calls. Fourth call I get a suspiciously unaware employee answer that there shouldn’t be a difference and I can bring to them and they’ll try it. *no confidence*
• Friday afternoon: Take matters into my hands. Play with my file to see if I can get my inkjet to work within reason. Success *cheer* Then learn the painful lesson of haste makes waste:

Run to the local office supply store to pick up inkjet transfer paper. . . again, and a plain black ink cartridge (FYI photo black cartridges don’t print black). *deja vu*

Search the boxes for the magic printer number - found it finally at the bottom of a box. In a rush hit the cash back option during check out. Cancel that step and run out the door a mad woman on a mission. Time check - 1.5 hours until school’s out. *pull hair*

Come home, put first sheet into printer, run downstairs to print.
Run back upstairs to check progress. Forgot to change the cartridge. *darn*

Cancel the print job half way through to change cartridge.
Open the box to realize I bought the wrong one. *!@#$*

Run back to the office supply store, get the RIGHT cartridge with the printer number at the top of the box (who knew??!!!). Thankfully, got a really nice employee who takes the opened box back in exchange for me promising not to open a wrong one again. End up with a $12 credit which comes back in the form of cash back. *ironic*

Run back out the door still a mad woman on a mission. Time check: 1 hour before school’s out. *murmur*

Change the ink cartridge. Run downstairs to run a test page. It works *Hallelujah!*

Put in a single sheet (no mistakes at this point), run downstairs print current page. Run back upstairs to check. It works *BIG smile*

Repeat process for all 18 pages. Get a great work out in the meantime. *burn baby, burn!*

Kids come home from school, dh is late - we miss the 4 pm showtime we were striving for so I work on the banner instead. We make the 7 pm show time, banner is finished, I’m celebrating and relaxing for the first time in the past 48 hours. *sigh*

On the upside, just look at the knowledge I gained!! Besides that, the Bumble Bee’s won their game Saturday. I like to think the banner was a good luck charm. *wink*

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