Month by Month Scrapbooks

Two years ago, I started keeping a month by month scrapbook. I started out by creating an album with 12 layouts. Each layout had the month printed on it and contained a journaling box for which I used to write down what we did for the month. It was basically a list I compiled from our family calendar.

Some months are packed and I have lots of photos which I cropped to make fit or added an extra page to that month.

The first year, it was a smaller album made of a clipboard cut in half. Every other page was a large note card with a 6"x9" envelope for the alternating pages. This gave me room to keep extra mementos from the month (2 months shared an envelope). This was a nice size although all the photos had to be majorly cropped or printed out wallet size.

the cover

the title page

July's layout

The next year I used an album from a kit. This was a somewhat larger format and had room for more and larger photos.

cover August's layout

This type of scrapbooking is very "freeing" as I am able to cover our entire month's activies in 1 layout and our entire year's activities in only 12 layouts. At the end of the month, I just print the photos, grab a few embellishments, use my calendar for documentation.

This past year this was really the only scrapbooking I have done.

Stay posted for photos of this year's album- made from the cover of an encyclopedia!

This post was linked to Get Your Craft On Tuesday on Today's Creative Blog

Teacher Appreciation Week

I know that Teacher Appreciation Week was 2 weeks ago, but I'm just now posting pics of the projects I made.

On Monday, the boys took their teachers map bangle bracelets. Sam's teacher is from England, so I chose a map with the U.K. on it.

On Tuesday, Sam took his teacher a clipboard. (Ethan's teacher actually had Sam last year, so she has already received a clipboard.) She got this school themed purse size notebook.

On Wednesday, they each got a pail full of goodies. These were just regular pails that I found in the Target dollar aisle that I covered with strips of map (can you tell I like maps?).

Then on Thursday, the boys took school themed subway art. I downloaded the image from

www.eighteen25.blogspot.com. (rockin' blog full of rockin' ideas, by the way!) My hubbie spray painted a couple of frames, and voila! Pretty cute gift!

On Friday, the boys took each teacher a school themed mini album- ready for the teachers to add their own photos and memories from their years of teaching. I hope they won't feel overwhelmed by this!

On a different note, my hubbie and I took the boys to see Thor yesterday. What a great movie! We all really enjoyed it. It was funny, easy to follow (even for me- a girl who has no knowledge of Thor:), and the actor who played Thor- let me just say, "Whoo!"

One ought every day to hear a little music, read a good poem, see a fine picture and , if possible , speak a few reasonable words.

-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Valentine's Craft with Vintage Spools

Here's a little something I made out of some vintage spools I picked up at a thrift store. I wrapped the spools with pattern paper and sheet music, stuck pencils out the top (covered them with twine), and attached hearts that I had cut out with my Coluzzle.

Got the idea from a Christmas set that I saw on this rockin' blog:

http://www.scrappergirl.typepad.com

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. . .:)