There Goes My Life...

Christmas Card Mini-album

I have wanted to do one of these albums ever since I saw Martha Stewart create one on her show a few years ago.  That episode may even still be saved on the DVR.  I saw it again on Pinterest and then Gina created an awesome album.  I was wanting a quick craft project for this afternoon to reward my self for cleaning the house (well most of it…my office is still pretty much a mess).  We’re just going to overlook that right now though.

Back to the project! 

First I measured my largest Christmas card.  The largest one I have is 6x7.5 inches.  So I cut my front and back covers the same dimension.  For the front I used a patterned paper, and for the back I just used a coordinating green cardstock.

Next I punched two holes in the covers and then used those as a guide for my cards.  After I had punched holes in all the cards I put them on binding rings.

Here’s a view of the inside.

My first thought was to just include my photo cards, but as I went through our cards from this year I decided to include all of them.  A lot of the traditional cards had personal handwritten notes in them and I wanted to keep those as well.

Here’s another view of the inside.

I plan to make albums for previous years, also.  I have several years worth stacked in a cabinet.  Next year they will be part of our Christmas decor. Love that.

Back-to-school craftiness.

For the first year, Molly has books that need book covers.  I remember making book covers for my text books back in the day.  Back then it was a brown paper sack (that I decorated of course), or left over wallpaper.  Yes, I had some pretty neat book covers. Fast forward to the days of digital scrapbook kits and wide format printers.  I knew we could do better than the cloth ones you buy these days.

So here is her customized cover for her Reading book.  It is printed on 13x19 Epson ultra premium luster photo paper. This is a large text book, so it just barely fit.  I used Heather’s School Days Kit. It was just perfect for it.

Molly thought it was really neat, and she said her classmates did, too.

 

 

 

 

Today I made new chore charts for the kids.  I will have to share those a little later!

 

 

 

Peep treats.

I’ve always loved peeps.  I can remember getting them as a treat when I was little.  Of course back then we didn’t have them for every holiday.  They were an Easter treat.  I think I was probably inspired by one of the centerpieces I have seen online, but I thought it would be so cute to make Peep lollipops for Stewart and Molly’s classmates.

Yesterday afternoon I put together 28 of these cute pops.  It was pretty quick and oh so simple.  I still love to craft, but my time is limited, so I love that this took just a little time, but looks cute and is still homemade.

So here’s what you need.  Bunny Peeps (CVS has these for $0.99 per pack of 12 this week, BTW), bamboo skewers, Easter grass and small cellophane treat bags.

Just stick the sharp end of the skewer through the bottom of the peep and wrap a little grass around the skewer to look like the bunny is sitting in the grass.  Cover with the cellophane bag and tie.  I bought some ribbon to tie on, but after I got home I decided not to add it.  You can add some if you would like.

I did pink for the girls and yellow for the boys.  I put them in a glass jar with some of the leftover Easter grass.  It would make a cute centerpiece.  This is how I will be taking them to the kiddos’ Easter parties at school this afternoon.

How cute is that?  Granted if you just handed each child a peep it might not seem like a lot, but dressed up like this it is an adorable treat!

Valentine boxes.

This was the first year that we have made Valentine boxes.  Always before that is something the kids have done in their classrooms.  However, with the number of snow days we have had this winter (at least 7 so far not counting the days they have gone in 2 hours late), I think the teachers are having a difficult enough time just getting all the required work done.  So when the kids were out yet again Thursday for snow, we made their valentine boxes. 

Molly wanted hers wrapped in this polka dot paper I bought at Target.  I had these foam hearts I had bought a year or two ago on clearance after Valentine’s Day.  She picked one of those, and I let her raid the rest of my Valentine’s Day scrapbook stash.

Boys are so different than girls when it comes to this Valentine’s Day stuff!  Stewart wasn’t interested in decorating his box.  I wrapped his in brown craft paper, and then he pointed to what he wanted on his. ;-)

Of all the scrapbook supplies I pulled out, there was one that made him laugh and he really wanted on his box.

And from the hugs I see him getting around school, I think there may be more than one girl with a crush on him!  I’m sure their boxes will come home full on Monday!

Popcorn Valentines.

I just finished assembling Stewart’s valentines for his classmates, so I thought I would share.  This year I decided to do something a little different.  Instead of candy he is giving popcorn.

I ordered 4x6 prints of a favorite photo of him.

I cut 12x12 sheets of red cardstock in half with my paper trimmer.  I then used glue dots to adhere a package of popcorn to the center.  I just eyeballed it.

Fold over the flaps and then fasten the top flap down with a glue dot.

Flip over your envelope and adhere the 4x6 print.  I found that I needed to use glue dots rather than photo splits.

All done and ready for giving!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Future artist.

Molly may be my child most like me what it comes to craftiness.  The child is always wanting to make a craft or do something artistic.  Sadly, my talents do not include drawing or painting, but Molly loves both. 

For Molly’s 8th birthday her Aunt Paula gave her a very special art kit.  A case fit for a true artist.  

Included with the kit was a certificate for an art lesson with our dear friend and very talented artist, Lea Perry.  Yesterday afternoon after school Molly met Mrs. Lea for her lesson. 

I returned after an hour, and they said they had barely gotten started.  I stayed for another 30 minutes while they showed me what Molly had learned and talked about all the different things Molly could do.  They decided that they had had so much fun that they just had to have another session, so we set a time for next week.  Mrs. Lea told her to practice at home and if she had any questions to just call her. As soon as Molly got in the car, she was telling Elizabeth all about the things she had learned…shapes, shading…

Last night she was busy practicing her shapes and shading.  Trying to have a light touch like Mrs. Lea had shown her.  I love to see her so excited about something. I love my little artist.

Photo of the Day 2011.

One of my goals for this year is to take more photos of our family doing what our family does.  As I looked back on 2010 I saw that I didn’t take near enough everyday photos.  That is why this year I am committed to taking at least one photo each and every day of 2011. I also didn’t scrapbook nearly as much as I would have liked to in 2010, and that is why I am so excited about Becky Higgins’ Project Life.  My kit came in last week, and I cannot wait to get my first week’s photos printed and into their slots!

If I keep up with it like I plan, at the end of the year I will have an album filled with memories of 2011. So excited about that!

I’ve done a great job staying on course with my photo taking, and after seeing my friend, Jennifer’s blog devoted entirely to her Photo of Day quest, I decided to put together one myself. So even if I dont’ blog here each and every day, I will have one photo and journaling on my POTD blog. I added a link over there on the right hand side under my photo for anyone who wants to keep up.

This is today’s POTD. Elizabeth got the first three Harry Potter books for Christmas and devoured them in a matter of days.  No surprise there!

I love these daily photo borders by Ali Edwards. I think I am going to have my photos printed with them for my album.

It has really been pretty simple so far.  With Chris and Molly’s birthday and our snow days,  I have had plenty to photograph.  Most days I have taken lots of photos.  I’m keeping my camera in the kitchen (the heart of the home) so that it is in easy reach when those special everyday moments happen.  Looking back just over the past 12 days makes me very happy.  I can’t imagine an entire year!

Living in fast forward.

The other day Chris said that he would like to have one day where he didn’t feel like he was in fast forward.  I know exactly what he meant.  Lately it seems I am in a constant rush .  In the morning it is to get the kids all ready, fed, lunches packed and them out the door. As soon as I pick them up from school in the afternoon it is rush, rush, rush. Homework, soccer practice, dentist, play practice (that’s a post to come), church.

Home.   Clutter.  I can’t stand it. It bothers me much more than it does the rest of my family.  Our house is always a mess after consignment sale week.  I am so ready for everything to get back to normal.  Just the normal amount of clutter would be nice.  I started organizing Molly’s room a month ago.  The closet was a far as I got.  We just have too much stuff.  I need to work on that.  Cleaning and clearing out.

Work. 

I am constantly behind there.  I love what I am doing, but sometimes I get a little overwhelmed.  I don’t like people waiting on me. So I always feel behind.

If there were just a few more hours in the day. I just can’t ever seem to get everything done that needs to be done.

Yesterday was Labor Day, and I had every intention to labor. So much editing and designing to do.  Instead I gave myself a little break.

I crafted with the kids. We made these cute pom pom animals and did leaf prints. We went to lunch with the in-laws.  I took a nap. We played soccer in the front yard.  The whole family together.  I scrapbooked with paper.  I cannot remember the last time that happened.

This morning I took the kids to school instead of Chris as is normal.  I dropped the kids off and then I went for a run.  I’ve been a major slacker lately and I really miss it.  I think my family has probably missed my running, too.  They miss the person I am when I run.  I am much nicer.  Not nearly as grouchy.  I ran 5K.  It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but when I finished I was so glad that I did it.

So this afternoon it will be another afternoon in fast forward.  I’m picking the kids up early from school because Elizabeth has a dentist appointment.  Then Stewart and Molly have soccer team pictures at the same time as Elizabeth’s soccer practice across town. Then home to homework and Tennessee History notebook and report.   Oh and supper!  we’ve got to fit that in there somewhere…

Pennant Banner.

In case you didn't guess from my previous post about what I was sewing.  Here's the finished project.

 
 

These are very simple to make.  I knew I wanted mine bright and fun to match the candy display I was planning for Stewart's birthday party.  I chose four fun fabric (1/2 yard of each). You also need one package of Extra Wide Double Fold Bias Tape. 

 

I cut a triangle pattern out of heavy paper. Mine is 8.5 inches across and 9.5 inches long. Fold your fabric, pin pattern and cut.

Pin right sides together and sew around long sides leaving top open. Clip around the point of the pennant before turning.  You can use a pencil to get the point turned. Press.  Once you have all your pennants done you are ready to pin them to your biased tape. Open the biased tape and pin the open edge of your pennant inside it. I started about 7 inches from the end and put about an inch space between each of my pennants.  Once you  have it pinned just sew from one end to the other. That's it! I had a few left over, so I also made a smaller banner for the front of my table. 

I also made banners from gold, purple, and chocolate fabric to match the decorations for Stewart's cake table.

 
 I think it will be nice for this fall.  I can see myself making these for every holiday and occasion now!

Three guesses.

Can you guess what I am working on?

I’ll give you a hint.  It’s for a 5th birthday party for the best little boy in the world! Still don’t know?  Here’s another hint.

I’ve been having lots of technical issues in the office today.  So whenever I am waiting for the computer to reboot or just need a little break I cut out a triangle or two.  Can’t wait to get to really work on it!