Birthday boy

This beautiful boy turned 11 today. It was not that long ago when he followed me around chattering to me with his little chipmunk voice and drinking out of a sippy cup. Now he won't even give me a kiss in front of school anymore. Where does the time go?

He is such a blessing to our family. He's very good natured, easily entertained, very bright, and has a wonderful sense of humor. God was smiling when He gave us this bundle of joy. I say prayers of thanks everyday for this boy- and his brother, of course.

On another note, one of my favorite blogs, "Today's Creative Blog" has "Get Your Craft On" Tuesdays. I linked up one of my projects. You can check the blog out here: www.todayscreativeblog.net

This blog rocks!!! Nearly everyday a different creative blog is featured. For a blog surfing fanatic like me, this is superb!

In my kitchen

This is a wall in my kitchen. I've had the old Coke bottle wooden thing hung up for awhile filled with my spices. The other day, I thought I'd like to have my vintage aprons out in view. My hubbie screwed some clothespins to the wall and voila-old aprons on display!

Craft show

I spent last Saturday with a booth at a craft show at the local high school. I had a good time and met some nice people. I'm anxious and excited to get new faces in some of my classes!

Countdown to Christmas Album

I am so excited! I have finally finished my December Daily album (based on Ali Edwards' idea). This will be my third year to do this type of album. It is such a fun way to show all the festivities that occur leading up to Christmas.
On another note, I am having a difficult time sitting as I type this. Somehow my little darlings have messed my desk chair in a way where unless I balance just right, I'll either topple over frontwards or nearly flip over backwards. Seriously. Neither boy is claiming responsibility. I wonder why. . .:)

Halloween goodies

Made these little cuties for the boys' teachers. I traced a McDonald's french fry box on Halloween paper. The tags say "Witching you a Happy Halloween!"

Quality time

Three against one- the boys and the dog wrestling with their daddy. Don't know who was having the most fun. Love this photo.

Scrapping on an envelope

Here's another idea for utilizing envelopes in scrapbooking.
I grabbed one of the white 9 x 12 inch envelopes leftover from the last project I discussed. I ran one line of stitching about 3/4 of the way down (second picture) to keep my items from falling too far down in the envelope. After choosing which side I wanted to be on front, I covered it with a piece of ledger paper, a couple pieces of pattern paper, and a few photos. I added a title and hand stamped some journaling. I chose to use this for our Father's Day photos. The cards that the boys made went right in the pocket. This is the first time I've made a layout focusing on Father's Day. My favorite part, other than the few cents that it took to make this, is that the cards fit right in the layout. Maybe I'll start a tradition of envelope layouts for Father's Day- just using a different envelope every year!

Easy scrapbook

(the cover)

I was asked to make a honeymoon scrapbook for a young couple at church. So I went to Big Lots and bought this pack of envelopes and some embellishments, then went to Michaels and got a few pieces of matching pattern paper. I took 2 envelopes, folded them in half, cut 2 pieces of pattern paper to size, folded them in half and placed them in between the envelopes. I punched holes in the binding and bound it all with ribbon. Then I went through with paper scraps and love themed stickers to decorate the pages. Voila! A cute scrapbook ready for photos!

interior pages

pocket page

I placed 2 pieces of chipboard in the first envelope before sealing it, so the cover would be sturdy.
This is a fun scrapbook to make- very easy, and you can use items you already have to create it!

hilarious!

These boys just crack me up. The other day while driving in the car, Sam, my older son, asked, "Dad, how do blind people drive?" Before we could even answer him, his younger brother Ethan very seriously said, "Sam! That's why they have the dogs!!!"

He was serious. I explained that is not what seeing eye dogs are for.

I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard at those boys!

Gift wrapping idea

The boys were invited to a couple of birthday parties this month, and even though I have 2 boys, I didn't have any boy-themed wrapping paper. So I grabbed an old map (which I picked up at the thrift store for $.10) and used it for wrapping paper. Then I finished it off with some twine and an aged manilla tag. Voila!
I would be tickled pink to get a gift like this- and I'd probably very carefully take the map off so I could use it for something else:)

School Scrapbook

I am nearly finished putting together the kits for my

next class. I love setting out the piles and creating the kits. Has something to do with my need for things to be organized, I think:)

For this school themed album, I used a vintage style crayon box as a cover and carried out a vintage school theme throughout- even embellishments from a Dick and Jane book! I plan to put my mom's school pictures and memories in this.

I was actually finished with the example until a trip to Archivers this morning- had to find spaces to add a couple things. I just can't pass up cute school themed papers!
I should have the kits finished up by tomorrow. I don't realize how much goes into a mini album until I go to make the kits!

(interior page of the album)

Front Entry Project

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

I've had this old door hanging in my front entry for awhile. I've been trying to figure out how to display photos on it. This is what I've finally come up with.

My hubby helped me hang old clipboards evenly spaced out. Then I put an 81/2 x 11 page protector on each clipboard before placing an 8x10 photo in each protector. That way the protector not only protects the photos from the environment, but also keeps it from getting a mark from the clip on the clipboard. Quick and easy- once I made my mind up!                     

New Classes!

I am back on the bandwagon! I have examples made for my next 2 classes. I'm planning a school themed album (pics to come) and "A Day In My Life." This one has room for lots of photos. I had a good time carrying my camera around for the day to capture a day in our lives. I wish I had one of these from when my kiddos were younger- lately I've really been missing those toddler days!

The Gold Standard of Yard Sales

I love going to yard sales and thrift stores looking for goodies that I can use for crafting. Today was an awesome day- as a matter of fact, it was a gold standard of yard sale shopping. I scored a vintage typewriter for $2. I got 2 good size wooden shutters for $1 each (they will possibly become message centers). I also got this rockin' park bench chair for $5. How cool is this? I also got one of those old fold out rulers for a quarter! Don't know yet what I'll do with it, but the possibilites are endless!

Believe it or not, my hubbie and kids came with and they had a great time! The boys found 2 pairs of nunchucks and asked if they could get them. Not wanting to be the bad guy, I told them to ask their dad. He let them get them! I really thought he had my back on this issue:)

Awesome thrifting finds

Well, I got to visit the thrift stores today and I got some excellent buys. I got this entire bolt of red ribbon for $.50! And the brand new book full of ledger paper- $.50 too! I nearly danced out of that store! Other awesome buys today: a
French workbook, a novel written in some far off language (which is Asian of some sort and looks just beautiful in print! Will make gorgeous paper flowers), and a copy of Child's First Encyclopedia from 1971 (I love old children books- especially ones that I can use for projects!).

Travel Album class

Had a nice small group get together tonight to make a travel journal. Only took 2 hours and we had a great time!

I'm really looking forward to taking trips so I can get some photos in here!

Quick and easy project

Instructions for a quick and easy mini album featuring a trip:

1. Gather various pamphlets, business cards, and a gift bag while on your trip.

2. Cut the bottom flap off the bag, then cut straight up both short sides of the sack. Glue the flaps down (this reinforces the strength of the cut bag). These two halves of the paper bag will be your front and back cover.

3. Place the pamphlets and other items in random order. These will be the pages of the scrapbook. Because every page is different, they won't all be the same size.(I also used 2 partial sheets of pattern paper.)

4. Bind the album. (I used simple office rings- 5 of them to ensure all the business cards and pamphlets would stay securely in the book.)

5. Add photos and journaling. (My journaling consisted mainly of a list of what we did each day with little comments about some of the photos.)

6. Add your title.

Voila! A simple, yet very cute way to showcase photos from your trip!

This album is from my girls' trip. A couple friends from nursing school and I try to take a trip together every year. This year, we went to Fredericksburg. We had a great time! And now in just a couple of hours' time, I have a darling memento of our adventure.

Summer

Ahh, the boys finished school last week. I'm really looking forward to having them home all summer. Sure it's louder and messier around here, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The boys gave their teachers an appreciation jar on the last day of school. I popped in at lunch one day and got all their classmates to write a note to their teachers and I put all the notes in the jars. I knew the boys had great teachers and reading these notes just reinforced that fact!

To celebrate the end of the school year, we went camping out at Brazos Bend State Park- or as we call it, "The Gator Park." Sammy was great help setting up the tent. Ethan was not. He spent most the time posing and asking me to "Take this picture, Mom!"

It was beastly hot, but we had a great time! Since it was only a one night trip, we decided to bring Chloe along. She did great. She bought herself another camping trip! I'm thinking we need to wait for cooler weather, though. . .

next class

I've been working all week on my next class. In honor of the time of year: Mother's Day and Father's Day, 2 albums to record your memories of your parents from when you were young. I'm really excited about these!

weekend round up

For the final day of Teacher Appreciation Week, the boys took their teachers framed chalkboards. We added a personalized message to each one.

Saturday was filled with soccer games, then we had my mom over for a Mother's Day celebration. I made her one of her favorite dinners, we played Yahtzee, her favorite game, then we all watched a movie. It was a really nice night.

For Mother's Day, I told Phil and the boys that all I wanted was for them to make me lunch, then do the dishes. I got just what I wanted- and I loved it! It was delightful watching the boys help their daddy. They made Beef Strogonoff, corn, and buttered bread. When they served it to me, they had it in the shape of a tulip (thanks to a cookie cutter). Then they made a cheesecake for dessert. Yummy food and even yummier company!

Thank goodness it's almost Friday!

Today the teachers got flower pens in pots. I helped Sam and Ethan carry them to their classrooms because, honestly, I couldn't trust them to get the gifts there in one piece.

We spent most the night at the soccer field, so I didn't get to do anything creative tonight. Plus I worked today and every other day this week, so tomorrow I'll be playing catch up here at home.

I saw a sign on the way home that said, "We need to slow down and appreciate what we do have." What a nice thought. I'm going to go appreciate the episode of "The Office" I recorded earlier tonight!

Today the boys took their teachers a decorated notebook- such an easy and quick project to make! Unfortunately, when I picked the boys up from school, Ethan informed me that he'd had a sub, so his teacher's present was in his backpack- crammed in between his binder and his lunchkit. Needless to say, it needs to be rewrapped before he takes it to her tomorrow.

I've been keeping up with this creative project a day challenge that I've issued myself. (It's actually quite fun and stress relieving.) The gift I had planned for the boys to give their teachers on Friday is going to be saved for an end of the year gift. To replace it, I quickly made up a bunch of flower pens, put them in a pot filled with dried beans, and tied a ribbon around it. Another quick and easy project, but very cute. Will post a picture tomorrow.

Thought for the day: If your house is really a mess and a stranger comes to the door, greet her with, "Who could have done this? We have no enemies."

-Phyllis Diller

still feeling creative

Day 2 of Teacher Appreciation Week: the boys took each of their teachers a school themed bangle bracelet. I've made several for myself (not school themed) and love to wear them. Hopefully their teachers are jewelry wearers. . .

I also sat down after putting the boys to bed and made my mom and mother-in-law bracelets for Mother's Day. This went amazingly quickly as I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted them to look like.

Recently on the way to school, I was giving the boys a pep talk. I told them that they could do anything they set their minds to. Sam immediately responded, "Nuh-huh. We can't fly or shoot lava out of our hands!"

I guess I should have specified that they could be anything but cartoon characters!

feeling creative

Today marks the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. The boys took their teachers a decorated clipboard.

Last week, I prepared enough gifts for the teachers to get one a day this week. It was so nice to be crafty again! I've challenged myself to try to do one creative thing a day. I worked today, so I guess my creative thing for today will be this blog post:)

I signed up to take a class from Elizabeth Kartchner today! It's not til August. The projects are sooo cute! I'm anxious to learn from this amazing lady.

The boys and I stopped at Walmart today and as we were checking out, I told the boys they could get a soda to share. I stressed that if they fought over it, it would be my soda. On the way to the car, Ethan told me that he needed a Sharpie marker to mark it half way, so he would know when Sam was done. I explained to him that since they were both drinking out of it , that wasn't very fair. . . somehow his idea of sharing is not the same as mine.

just completed

Haven't done a layout in a long time. Just finished up these two. The layout on the left is from the day Ethan had his dental expander removed- a big deal at our house! The second layout has 2 cute pics of the boys. In the first picture, Sam and Ethan are hugging, but in the second picture, Ethan has gone beyond hugging. Love Sam's expression in that one! Love those boys!

my next class

Here are a couple photos of my upcoming class for Valentine's Day. It is quick and easy to put together.

There are definitely more than 10 things that I love about Phil,so this is just a little taste. I just hope I'll be able to wait until V. Day to give it to him!

odds and ends

Well, everybody seemed to enjoy the album the other night. It's really quite an easy concept. One layout per month- with as few or as many photos as you'd like. The cover is simply a clipboard cut in half. The interior pages are large index cards alternating with 6x9 envelopes. Embellishments include a swirl painted on with a foam stamp and a couple of strips of pattern paper.

I've got a couple more classes in the works- a Valentine's themed one and a memory/ vintage-y one.

Tonight, I finally used a Christmas gift that I received- a body exfoliating scrub. My skin feels fantastic and smells so good, and somehow I think my skin looks like a lighter color!

I got a pair of those new walking shoes by Sketchers. I wore them around the house tonight- my feet are sore, but I think that's more from wearing shoes for 14 hours today and being on my feet most of that time. Anyway, I'm going to wear the new shoes to work tomorrow. I'm anxious to put them to the test.

Here's a blog I've started following lately. I love this lady's work. Actually, it's where I got the idea to use a clipboard as a scrapbook cover. http://mollyirwin.typepad.com/

latest project

Tomorrow night is the monthly crop at church. We used to do a different project every month for a make and take. This year, we're going to start a "Year In Review" scrapbook. Each month, everybody will complete one layout so at the end of the year, each lady will have a completed album. Our group has grown since last year, and we all look forward to our "Girls' Night Out."

I've also been working on two mini albums for upcoming classes. I'm really excited about both of them. I'm hoping to put on the finishing touches tonight after I get the fellas in bed.

goals for the new year

I am not one to make new year's resolutions, as they never seem to "stick." However, I do have some goals for myself this year:

1. This one is obvious- to blog more often.

2. To become a stronger Christian

3. To watch my temper (which will in turn help me be a better wife and mother)

4. To lose some weight

5. To get my business of teaching

scrapbooking reallly rolling

and finally 6. To get our finances in order

All of these are pretty do-able with a little effort and a lot of faith.

Life is pretty much like a cafeteria line- it offers us many choices, both good and bad. The Christian must have a spirtiual radar that detects the difference not only between bad and good, but also among good, better, and best.

-Dennis Swanberg