4 days left until this ...

... my final class. Well for a while anyhow. Teaching classes is tough work. Not the teaching part, but the designing, planning, ordering, scheduling, etc. is a bit much for me with such little ones. Therefore, I leave you with this. It's called "Fun with Photo Page Dividers". There's 3 spots left in this class for this Sunday, 6/14/09 from 12:30 to 1:30. Cost is $15. In it, you'll work with the Pebbles, Inc. plastic page dividers that have six 4x6 slots. Come see how you can work these into your scrapbooks. Can't make it, call SGT at (909) 305-0748 and ask for a kit.

For $10 more, you can purchase the add-on to this class (seen below) which will give you six additional pieces to slip in the back side of your page divider.

These page dividers are really something. I hope to be able to show you all how you can add extra pictures to your pages without having to worry about your layout being too "heavy". Or, as demonstrated in my class, you can learn how to use the slots for mini scrapbooking layouts. The options are endless. I would love to see you in class this Sunday.

Thanks Miss Jessica and Miss Miranda!

Here is one of Hannah's pre-school teacher's thank you gifts. I made two of them. One for each teacher. It's a $1.99 Ikea candle holder thing, covered in various papers and embellishments. My thoughts were to give them something summery and perhaps 4th of July themed. I am also going to drop a small Target gift card into them.

Obviously I didn't stick to only red, white, and blue. So hopefully it can be used throughout the summer months. While it can still be used as a candle holder, I almost see it more as just a table decoration or perhaps a silverware holder. Because of the ribbons I put on the handle, you can no longer slide the glass cylinder up to reach a candle. So lighting and changing a candle will be somewhat difficult. I hope they don't think it's too funky. It could go either way. They love it or they hate it.

Because it's round, it's dificult to get a complete feel for the overall look, but I will do my best. Here's one angle.



And another one.



Turned a little more ...


And a little more ...


A view from above ....



Some close ups:

The felt star piece is from Prima and is cut into a strip.

Popped up some of the stars and even added a little black pen detail to them. The swirl stamp is done with Black Staz On. Added some black pen dots to the QK letters. Some Heidi Swapp rhinestone crystals for some extra sparkle.

The handle ...

And the little thank you note I tied to it ...


OK. now I am off to pick up chocolate sauce for the ice cream party and gift cards.

Have a great weekend. Doubt I'll be back before then.

Where does the time go?!!!!

I say that more with frustration than anything else. I know I posted about the awesome kit I received and that I couldn't wait to work on it. Guess how much time I have spent on it. Yep, you guessed it. Zip! Zilch! Nada! None! I hear it calling to me, and I have to ignore it. Why? Life, that's why. I love my life. Wouldn't change much about it if given the opportunity, but man does it really get in the way of my fun! This was my day yesterday.

Get up
Get girls fed, dressed, and teeth brushed
Feed dogs - have to stand outside while they eat because one won't eat if alone
Pack Hannah's lunch for pre-school
Clean Hannah's sharing toy and write name on it
Take Hannah to school
Go to Bed Bath & Beyond for ironing board cover and Brita cartridges
Go to Babies R Us for diapers and wipes (thinking I had coupon but didn't)
Grab a quick bite to eat (notice there was no breakfast for mommy up there)
Pick Hannah up from school
Go to Ikea for teacher thank you gift materials
Go to pediatrician for Makaela's vaccinations
Drop borrowed item off at scrapbooking store
Head for home
Research dentists in our plan
Throw laundry in washer and dryer
Go outside and brush dogs, play with dogs, sweep back patio, pick up dog poop, feed dogs, pour sand in sand box
Fold laundry
Feed kids dinner
Bathe kids
Vaccum upstairs
Bedtime milk for kids
Pajamas, teeth brushing, read books w/ kids
Let dogs inside for some indoor time and pets
Put dogs outside and finally begin on the teacher projects @ 11Pm
Bedtime 1AM (notice no dinner for mommy)

My day today:
Wake up
Put indoor dog outside with other dog
Sweep and mop kitchen and dining room floors
Vaccum rest of downstairs
Get girls up
Get morning milk for girls
Get myself ready for work
Do dishes
Warm up clothes that sat in dryer overnight (never got to folding them)
Feed dogs (have to stand outside for that)
Leave for work
That's where I am now - shame on me to be doing this now!
When I get home:
throw new dog in car and take to vet (we "rescued" him from my mom recently)
Pick up pizzas on way home for dinner
Pick up chocolate sauce for H's ice cream party tomorrow
Rush back home for sibling dinner at my house
Eat dinner
Tend to dogs
Get girls in bed
Finish teacher gifts
Hopefully be in bed by midnight (we'll see)

So that's why I haven't gotten to my kit yet. Maybe by the end of this weekend I can tackle some of it. At least I am getting to scrap a bit with the teacher gifts. We'll see how cool those come out. I am liking them so far and you can be sure I will post pictures.

I have not forgotten that I owe you pictures of the layouts I did for Makaela's birthday party and her banner. Unfortuantely, I turned the layouts into the store without taking pictures so you'll have to stop by to see those. The banner is in a pile on my desk and I just need to string it up to take a picture of it. I made some thank you notes for Makaela's party a few weeks back that I need to snap a picture of. Then I think I will be caught up. I sure wish I could find more time to scrapbook. All the blogs I read (see left for list) seem to be posting things each day. How do they do it?

Oh well. Thanks for listening to me vent. It's a good life but a busy one. No signs of it slowing down for the next 17 years at least. I think I am going to look into taking a week off in August. From work and mothering. Well you never take a break from mothering, but grandparents are great for giving a less crazy week from time to time.

What have I been doing recently?

Apparently not cleaning my floors.

And snapping pictures of this cutie who is now officially a walker. Hello second arm. It's so nice to see you again and use you for something other than carrying a baby. It's been a long time.

It's here!

I am so excited. My kit arrived on Wednesday. And it is packed with all sorts of awesome product I haven't seen before. Scrool down a few posts if you don't know what I am talking about. I haven't had a chance to work on it at all but have poured over the instructions several times. They're quite involved which I am really liking. I can tell this project is going to force me to try some things I have never tried before. Like laying transparencies, doodling, using small paper pieces as embellishments, creating custom made flowers. I can't wait. My husband is off on Bachelorpalooza 2009 (that's 2 guys' bachelor party combined in one) for the next two nights so it will be me and my kit. I am so hopeful that kit will influence my future scapbooking. I will post pictures of it when I am done.

Thank You!

Yes, THANK YOU to all our troops. Those that have fought. Those that are fighting. And those that will fight. Your courage is amazing. Thank you for volunteering to risk your life to keep our country safe. May God bless all of you.

I recently ran across a website for scrapbookers to make cards that can be sent to troops so that they can then fill them out and send them home to family and loved ones. Never know what to do with those extra scraps, make a card and send it to Cards For Heroes. They're having a blog hop in honor of Memorial Day. You can begin that here.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! May we all be able to take a moment out of this day to focus on its meaning.

I can't wait!

Months ago I reserved a kit called "Carnival" by Christine Middlecamp. I happened upon her blog one day and have really been enjoying it. I like her style and while she's a LOT more detailed than I am, I feel I can learn quite a bit from her and especially this kit. According to her, she gives some very detailed instructions. So a few days ago, I ponied up the cash for this kit and assuming she's on schedule, it was mailed out today. It's coming from Minnesota to here (CA) so I figure I won't get it until Wednesday or Thursday but I am going to be obsessed with watching the mailman and hoping that each passing day is THE DAY he's going to give me what I have waited months for.

Here's a pic of the cover of what this kit will make:

Can you see all the layering? Oh I really can't wait!!!!!

I finally have my scraproom in decent condition supply-put-away wise. Once I get some decorations up in there, I will post pictures. But that's gonna be a while because I did an inventory of projects that I need to begin and complete and it's quite the load. A baby album for twin boys, a baby album for a little girl, 3 upcoming weddings that I would like to create a small album for, Makaela's thank you notes for her birthday party (#1 priority), and then my projects for Scrappin Good Times. We'll see how long my space stays clean huh?

Happy Mother's Day!

Well, here we are winding down for the day but I wanted to wish all the moms out there a Happy Mother's Day. It's not an easy job we have. It's not one we would trade or one we would let someone else do, but so much of the time, we're running here and there, constantly tending to the most mundane and redundant of needs. Not the most glamorous job by any means. But days like this that not only celebrate the hard work we do or have done, but also give us cause to reflect on those beloved children of ours, make it so much more than worth it.

My husband scored major brownie points today. Not that he needed any. But he woke up early and took the 3 1/2 year old to the store this morning. He returned with breakfast makings for strawberry waffles as well as 3 gorgeous and much needed plants for the house. I also received 3 cards. One from Hannah. One from Makaela. And one from the best husband ever himself. He took the time to write Makaela's card from her perspective which was adorable. Things like how she says thank you ("dee doo") and about she loves me but now she wants her milk. You'd have to read it to get it. And he clearly asked Hannah things. Like what makes me a good mommy. Her response was that I love her and lay in bed with her. :) And then his card praised me for doing a good job as a mother but also as a wife and friend. So huge thank yous to him.

Below are some pictures of cards I made from a paperline called LoveBirds by S.E.I. for all the wonderful mothers in my life. And some cards that Hannah made for her grandmas (the last 3). Take a look at hers and tell me if you can't find some inspiration in there. The only things I helped her with was putting glue on the backs of the paper pieces, not allowing her to put a sticker on top of a sticker, and advising that pink stickers might not look the best on top of the same color pink paper. Yes, I am teaching her about contrast and making something pop already.

Again, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

{Hannah's Creation}

{Hannah's Creation}

{Hannah's Creation}

Love you baby doll!

She wants to eat that cake and I want to eat her!!! Happy Birthday (party) sweetness.

Love,

Mommy

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

I just think it's the most wonderful thing that there is actually a national holiday for this beloved hobby of ours. I am not sure how much I will be able to indulge given that my youngest's birthday is May 4, but if nothing else, I love watching all the blogs get super active, all the sales and coupons that come out, and just all the good naturedness of scrapbookers become even more evident.

I swung by SGT earlier today and it was hopping with a great group of women at the 12 hour crop. This is something that everyone should try at least once. I can't think of anything better than to crop inside a scrapbook store! Now I know our husbands all tease us that we could open our own stores with how much stuff we have, but you guys know what I am talking about.

So HAPPY NSD!!!!!

Hope you're doing something fun.

PS - birthday banner is shaping up fairly well; party favors are in construction; and 1 layout is under way showcasing the first year of life for my sweet baby girl. Still hoping to get a couple more layouts done.