It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I just love Christmas time, don't you?  The smells, the beautiful decorations, family...just all of it.  I feel especially blessed to have such a wonderful family and look forward to spending the holidays with them.

Well, I don't know about you, but I take a ton of pictures at Christmas.  So many times they end up just sitting on my computer for a year before I take the time to do something with them.  As many of you know I tend to scrapbook by events.  I will take all the pics from an event or holiday and make an album for just that.  I have a huge Hawaii album and so many smaller ones that are from Spring Break, prom and after prom for my son, and even a few little ones for birthdays.  Having 5 children makes scrapbooking seem daunting at times; like I don't know where to begin.  The small "event" albums make it easier for me.

That said, let me show you a new Christmas album I have made.

As you can see it is a gingerbread house.  The roof lifts off to show the cute mini album inside.  This is actually my December project at Scrapp n' Savvy.  The mini album has some of my favorite pictures of the kids at Christmas.  I actually have about 10 more pages that will get added to it this week.  I have the perfect place for it in the den that I think will add to the Christmas spirit in the house.  I think the Bo Bunny paper was just perfect for this.

I am planning on  a 12 days of blogging for Christmas.  This will begin on Monday, Dec 10.  Join me each day as I show you some fun Christmas goodies I have been working on.

Until then, craft on ladies!

Fall, finally!

Oh my isn't today GRAND?  The cool weather had finally hit here in the humid south.  Better get out and enjoy it today because it probably won't last too long!

To get you into the Thanksgiving spirit I thought I would share my Apple Cider mini album with you today.  This is a class that I taught at Scrapp n' Savvy this month.  The album is made using the Bo Bunny Apple Cider paper collection.

I have always been a huge fan of Bo Bunny papers and this one is a winner for me again.  The colors just make me want to go find those beautiful fall leaves.  This is a pocket album and holds a hefty 48 pictures!  Small in stature but big inside.

I hope everyone enjoys the lovely weather.  For those of you checking in from class, visit the gallery to take a view!

The rest of the tags!!!

Tags.   Who doesn't love tags?  I love, love, love them!!!  As a child I took art lessons, painting to be exact, while all my friends tumbled, cheered, or played enough piano to make their little fingers hurt.  I painted.  A lot.  Being an only child I had access to the "extra room" in our house so I made it my personal studio.  Well, only the closet.  Yep, that's right.  I had a studio in a small walk in closet.  It was great!  I would sit on the floor and paint for hours.

My teacher always complained that I would never paint large paintings.  The largest I liked was about a 16 x 20.  Rare occasions had me painting on a 20 x 26 but very rarely.  She liked the 40 x 50 size.  That's freaking huge!!! Especially to a 10 year old!  My favorite was, and still is, the small canvas sizes of 8 x 10 and smaller.  I don't know why.  To this day I have groupings hanging in my house of smaller framed paintings that are 8 x 10 and smaller.  

All that info leads me back to the tags.  I think one of the reasons I like tags so much is that they are like a mini piece of art.  My favorite size.  The more intricate the design the better.  I posted 2 tags a few posts ago, but I wanted to post pics of all the tags from the class I had recently that was just about tags.

 This tag is one of my favorites.  It was shown on the previous post but I wanted to show the more detailed photos.  The paper collection used is by Authentique.  I just adore the colors.  So many people make the tags but don't know how to then use them.  I created the layout to show how to incorporate a tag into a layout.  Didn't it turn out great?  As you can see the tag fits perfectly into the burlap pocket I created on the page.

 Who doesn't love those mini hangars?  Had to use them.  A bit of bling and Voila!

 Oh my.  This tag turned out so elegant.  This is a foil technique I saw on Pinterest (my addiction).  This tag is made the same way I saw how to make it on Pinterest.  However, for my class I changed it and used modelling creme and one of the wonderful Crafter's Workshop templates.  We played with some other tidbits and the foil too.  

 My second favorite and the reason I did the tag class is this cutie.  Everyone wanted to make this one.  It has a bunch of tiny components, and probably took the longest to make, but the efforts are worth it.  In class I showed other variations including a Christmas tag made this way.

And lastly.....the gift card holder.  How many times do I give up and just purchase a gift card as a gift?  Well, at least now they can be given in a cute tag!  How cool is it that I get the satisfaction of making the tag and then giving the mini art to someone with a gift.

All of these tags were inspired by tags I pinned while on Pinterest.  Visit me on Pinterest and you can see them on my boards (I am under Terri Chronister-Burnette).  I hope one of these inspired you today. Let me know what you think.......

What I've Been Up To

As always, life around here is chaotic.  There are days that I fall into bed and wonder (the next day of course) how did I do all that?  I have become a master at last minute things.  I can make a costume in 5 minutes and still get everyone to school on time.  I can remember where everyone has placed their important things and even the not so important things...kinda like a human data base!  And make dinner.  And get everyone to whatever activity.  And make sure the cupcakes get done for the party.  And...... Sound like I'm tooting my horn?  Well, maybe.  But every single mom I know does this.  Once you become a mom you somehow obtain these superhuman mom powers to do all this stuff!!!

 So, let's bring my feet back to terra firma!  I'm going to introduce you to my very own Frankenstein.  I made him.  Complete.  My design.  My hands.  My mistakes.  :)

So, here goes.  Meet Frank:

 Frank is my solution to a side desk.  I find that I like to have certain items at hand when I am creating but don't like to waste my precious desk space for them.  So I made Frank!!  I have the white cubes for all my stuff and they stack, but the roller base just does not work well. It inhibits drawers opening or getting stuff out of cubbies.  And there is no space for the extra junk.    Frank does it all.  He has casters, holds the 2 cubes with space for my extras and has a working space on top!  I love that when I am not working or don't need it, I can just roll it out of the way.  It doesn't look too bad.  (I did have my husband add 2 cross bars at the back the next day since it swayed so badly!)

 Now do you see why I call it Frank?  I used some old wood that we had in the garage to make it.  Some shelves, some just pieces.  Add measure?  HA!  Not me.....I just eyeballed it and made it work!

 From the side you can see my creation and how it is put together.

Well, I love Frank!  It is just so incredibly useful and that is what matters.  I only spent $8 on the casters.  While I was moving a few things to Frank I realized that the system I used to hold my paper collections under my desk was really not working well for me.  I have been slowly going through everything and cleaning out for a garage sale at the scrapbook store.  I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and purchased this cube system (see pic below) for $2!!!  Perfectly fits in the closet and now I have amazingly easy access to all my paper collections.  I love that!  I then placed things that I really don't need very often under my work table.

I really love it when something comes together in the end.  I guess I am an organizational freak because I like things in their places.  And of course I need to be able to get to everything easily or I won't use it (lesson learned!!!)

Just thought I would share this with you today.  Frank and I have work to be done.  Look for some cute tags in a few days.  In the mean time, have a scrappin good day!

tags, tags, and more tags

I don't know about the rest of you, but, I am a Pinterest addict!!!  My niece began this downward spiral for me when she got her new iphone last year.  She spent most of her night looking through Pinterest.  Then she had the nerve to tell me about it!   Aaaaghhhh!  Now I get to spend some nights thumbing through Pinterest!  I have actually set a time limit for myself on Pinterest so that I do not endlessly surf through it.  I also have made myself pin a certain number of things before I can surf.  My little mind games!  All so that I can look through Pinterest!

There have been some wonderful things that I have taken from it though.  Many recipes....baked oatmeal, crockpot chicken, the sprite rolls.  Some household things....cleaning with vinegar (kinda already did that but do more with it now), how to make the stainless sparkle, tips on storing things.  Home decor/seasonal decorations.....just look at my front door and you will see that one, plus many other things that I have made.  And of course, scrapbook......cards, layouts, cool products, color combos, etc.  I even teach an Inspired by Pinterest class.  If you haven't gotten into the Pinterest craze I recommend it.  Just keep in mind how much time it can eat.  Set your limits and be willing to admit when you are an addict!!

I thought I would share with you some of the tags I have made that were inspired by Pinterest.  This is a class next week so I won't share all of them yet.

The second photo is actually a layout I made so that I could use the super cute tag I had made.  I love using tags in layouts to give an interactive feel to them.  It is made with Authentique papers and Prima flowers.  The first tag is a little shabbly chic tag that I actually have made to go on the front of a card.

So, if you don't Pinterest you should!  It is amazing.  If you do, well then enough said.  If you are interested in seeing my boards and pins, you can find me on Pinterest as Terri Chronister-Burnette.

Ya'll have a great day.  I have to go now.  Pinterest is calling!

A big thank you

A big thank you to all the ladies in class today!!!  I had a blast!  You rock!  I am amazed every class when you lovely, creative ladies make my creations!

Pics are posted.  You know where.  You know what to do.  I would love to see the finished product......If you have questions, just let me  know.

Blessings to you all.

Dream

I just love to daydream.  As a matter of fact, that was the most written comment on my report cards when I was in elementary school!  Lately it seems that I just don't make time (???) to daydream.  Yes, I put the question marks there because I shouldn't have to make time to daydream, right?  My schedule stays busy not allowing much extra down time.  And when I do have some down time I usually fill it with artistic endeavours!

So, back to the dream thing.  I fell in love with the My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 2 paper collection back in the summer.  So much so that I inadvertently double ordered paper packs!  I try very hard to not be a paper hoarder (topic for another day) so I have been  thinking about what I could do with all that lovely paper.  Dreaming about what to do with all that lovely paper.  And so I created a Dream mini album.

I just love mini albums.  Especially ones that look mighty small but are mighty in the number of pictures they will hold.  I love minis that are interactive.  I love minis that  hold a surprise for the person looking through them.  I especially love minis that are attractive and make people want to see what it is and look through it.  So, here is my dream mini:

 There is the bling factor: glittered paper.  Pearls, flowers, butterflies, texture.  And then there is a hint of what is inside hanging out around the edges!  I want to see in!  The book is filled with pages that flip open and extra large pocket pages that hold extra large tags with cute pull tabs on them.

 And then there is my favorite page:  the journaling pull out page!  It looks like a normal page but the end pulls out to expose a small space to journal!  I love, love, love how this turned out!  (My youngest son had a book that did this.  I carefully took it apart, figured out how it was done, and put it all back together again.  And then I changed it up and made it mine!)  The journaling space is front and back.

Oh, and then there is the closure!  Oh!  Lots of textures, charms, chain.  Just some scrappin goodness there!

This was so much fun to make.  I really love how the overall album turned out.  This is actually my next class at Scrapp n' Savvy this coming Saturday.  The class has turned out to be quite popular, thankfully.  I am looking forward to sharing with the class how to make the pages and just have some fun.

I hope you enjoyed my little Dream.  Check back in soon.  I am releasing a Waiting for Santa Suitcase album for sale.  Kits will be ready for delivery right after Thanksgiving.  So, check back here for the details!  Have a great day!

One last summer fling

I thought I would share one last summer fling with ya'll today.  While the weather is not really fall-like here yet, I have put away all the true summer clothes.  Packed away are all the whites, strappy sundresses, and linens.  I relish the fall days!  Just love the crisp, cool air.  Envy my parents who made a drive into the mountains this weekend to see the fall colors.  All the trees are changing colors and my mom said it was gorgeous!  And of course the oldest child is in north Texas and keeps telling me about their cool mornings and low humidity.  Oh how I wish there was low humidity here!  So, on with fall....I made this cute little mini album a few weeks ago.  I call it the Sun Kissed mini album.

 Acrylic page edged with stickles.  Butterflies are "trapped" behind the paper on the other side but are seen through the acrylic.

 Lots of tags....spaces for journaling and pics.

 Just a small little book to open for more space.

Sorry, some of the pics are a bit dark.  This is the paper line Sun Kiss from Prima. The album is 6 x 6 which is perfect to just drop pics into.   I love butterflies, birds, florals,....  So this paper really struck a heartcord with me.    I really like the colors but also the faint backgrounds on many of the papers.  There are still a few of the kits left.  If you are interested in purchasing one, just let me know!

This week is rounding out to be rather hectic again!  Homecoming was this past weekend and my daughter looked amazing!  Just like a little tinkerbell!  Her dress had gold glitter on it and everywhere she went she left a glitter trail.  I pulled mom duty and stayed up all night keeping an eye on the teens who came to my house for the night.  And you know they didn't sleep! Feeling old because it is going to take a whole week for me to make up that missed sleep!   But it was totally worth it.

Have a little last summer thing and pray for cool weather!  Have a great day.

Doodling

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been.  Somewhere in my mind I thought that when the oldest went away to school that life at home would be a little less crazy.  Ha!  Delusional me!  I really think it is crazier.  I don't know what I was thinking....I mean, there are still 4 kiddos here that need to be taken everywhere.  Oh, and of course they still want to be fed!  Aagh!

It seems that it has been hard to get a blog up in the last 2 weeks.  So today I specifically made time for it.  Yeah!  I have of course been busy scrapbooking.  Scrapp n' Savvy is having their sampler next Friday and Saturday.  This means that I need to have all my projects for the next quarter done by Wednesday so that they can be photographed and make sure I have an inventory of all that I used on a project.  While I won't post pics of those projects today, I can tell you that I am very happy with them and I think you will be too!

I have spent an inordinate amount of time sitting in the last few weeks.  Volleyball (before she switched to soccer), soccer, cross country, meetings of every kind (do we really need to sit for an hour and a half listening to someone tell me what is written on a piece of paper?), well, you get the picture.  As you may be able to tell by my little comment I am really, really tired of pointless meetings.    I get it.  But I have 5 children.  I could write the manual on some of these things.  To make these meetings mandatory is silly.  I had 3, yes 3, last night.  All at the same time.  All on the same property.  All for different children.  I chose the youngest child's scout meeting.  He needed me the most last night!  All said......I have had a bunch of time not at my desk.  So, to keep my hands busy I took my sketchbook along.

I have always been a doodler.  I have filled pages with funny little people, cat faces, pumpkins, elaborate swirls and twirls.  I thought I would share some of them with you today.

 I usually start with a pencil drawing then come back and cover it with a black multiliner pen.  I especially love this because if I make a mistake I can cover it with a thicker line.

 This is the same type of drawing but after I finished with my black pen I experimented with the Faber Castell gelatos.  Love them!  They blend so nice.

 Of course, I had to break out the copics.  I grabbed a few colors and stuck them in my purse!  I had to draw something based on the colors I had grabbed!  Worked out okay though.

 Just simple shapes and then you keep adding on.  I think I am going to glitter ritz this one and color it with copics for the front of a card.

 I love my seahorses!  Each one is different.  

 And of course a mermaid.  Actually drew several of these.  Colored some with copics (very cool) and others with gelatos.  I have given them all away though so no pics.  Her hair is by far my favorite.

This is a fairy that I am working on now.  Not sure how this one will turn out.  It is the wings that draw me in though.  Like butterfly wings.  Faces are not my thing....just can't seem to get them right.  I know the face will be simple so the wings will be more patterned.  Definitely will color this one with copics.

I have used some of these in my scrapbooking.  Small ones that are subject specific.  As titles, names, dates.  You know that sometimes it is really hard to find that perfect embellishment for a page, but with these you can just make it!  I usually keep a small stash of the super heavy weight artist paper in my bag so that I can take advantage of down time.

I hope I inspired you today.  Check back.  You never know what fun messes I will have here for you!

Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble!

Bubble, bubble, toil, and trouble!  Oh, wait.  It's not halloween yet!  Not even close!  Unless of course you are a retail store.  Then it's been halloween AND Christmas for months now!  I think there has been more Christmas stuff in my local Hobby Lobby than anything else since, oh, I don't know, before July 4th!  Don't get my wrong.  I love those holidays!  But really.....Could we wait a bit?  Stresses me out to think about Christmas shopping in July!  And I can only look at the holiday for so long before I get frustrated that there is nothing new to look at.

Back to the bubble.....I have bubbles on my mind today!  No comments please!!!  I know I always have bubbles on my mind (bubble baths, blowing bubbles, well, you get the picture).  You see, tomorrow I teach my bubble brag book at Scrapp n' Savvy.

I fell in love with these cute little bubble brag books a while back.  Of course, the book is sitting at the store so I don't have a picture of the brag book part.  Essentially, the front is a bubble frame (that you can put your own treasures in) and the back is an accordian book.  It sits on a cute little easel that comes in the kit.  The center of the front frame is a little bubble!  Of course, the best part is being able to use the fun metal embossing fragments.  Oh my am I addicted to that stuff.  It is so fun to add different colors of the fragments and make your own colors and texture.  The picture just doesn't do this justice!  It looks like metal that has been antiqued.  And then there is the cute embellishment packs to decorate with (see the little scrolls at the top and bottom?)  .  They come in so many adorable little shapes.  I will have to post better pics of this.  Of course, I filled it with pics of the oldest and his beach party.  Fun, fun ,fun!

I am also excited for my trip this week.  I am leaving Thursday to go to Scrapfest in Louisiana.  Scrapp n' Savvy is holding some classes but also will have a booth space.  I am looking forward to scrapping all weekend!  Well, at this point I was going to have a picture of my work table covered in prepared kits that I am taking to sale.  However, I guess all my technology stuff has taken today off.  I can't seem to get the picture to upload in blogger.  Sure it is my fault.  So, just imagine a bunch of clear cellophane bags loaded with beautiful papers, lovely ribbons, and some cute embellishments.  That is what I have been working on.  I am hoping to sale my kits in the store's booth.  If I can sale all of them, then my trip is paid for!  Yeah.

Allrighty.  Short post today.  There is just so much going on in my house today.  Craaaazy!  Check back soon for glimpses of the new quarters projects.  There are some really cute ones.  Thanks for stopping by.

My holiday fun

It's Labor Day weekend.  This is the weekend I think my kids look forward to because it is the first long weekend since school started.  Yes, selfish since they don't really understand what the holiday signifies, but real!  Me?  Well, I am looking forward to the weekend too.  Really I'm looking forward to not having to make lunches.  I hate making lunches for school.  They never, never want what you have for lunch.  They never eat what you pack.  I get it, but come on.  Give mom a break!  I am lucky that they do make their lunches most days (except the little guy).

On to the weekend.....I am teaching today at Scrapp n' Savvy.  This is my Pinterest inspired class and today it is called Clip and Dangle.  There are so many cute homemade pin boards and note boards on Pinterest.  It inspired me to make the religious ones that I posted a few months back but also these really cute picture clip boards.

There are so many possibilities.  I am planning on making a larger one to hold recipes while I work in the kitchen.  In the picture the cream stand holding the pictures is the "clip" and the cork ornaments is the "dangle".  The cork ornaments are all over Pinterest.  I have a dear friend who has been collecting corks for many, many years in hopes of doing some cute, fun project.  For now though, they are in a large box in her pantry.  Good for me.....I got to dig through and find cute corks for this project!  Yes, I know.  This sounds like the perfect excuse to open a bottle of vino with the girls.  All in the name of crafting!  I'll get to that this weekend!

I am praying for those in Louisiana and surrounding states hit by the hurricane.  How much water can they take?  My prayer seems a bit, well, selfish I guess.  You see, there is this scrapbook convention in Mandeville, Louisiana in 2 weeks.  Sits right on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain.  Selfish.  I really want to go.  Have made kits to sale and everything.  New crop bag to take goodies in (it's been years since I have gone to a crop night).  Plans for what I can bring to crop.  Plans for a good bottle of wine with the girls at the end of a great crafting day.  So....prayers for those people.  They really need them.  But also prayers for those of us heading there for convention.  We need that time too.  And just think of the money we can pump into that local economy!  I'm prepared to do my part!

Well ladies.  I hope you have a great weekend.  Spend some time with family, craft, but mostly enjoy your time.  Check back next week for some new craftiness!

My heart skipped a little beat

I'm a mother.  No, more of a mom really.  No formality.  Just lots of love and fun.  I have this sixth sense when it comes to my kids.  A gut feeling I guess you might call it.  I think when you become a mother (by birth or adoption - you still become a mother) God drops this extra sense to you.  We like to joke that He gives us extra guardian angels that whisper to us mothers!  Somehow, someway a mother just knows.  So last night when the phone rang at 1130 pm I jumped.  Oh boy did I jump!

There has been some shuffling in our house recently.  The oldest went off to college and the vultures started moving!  Middle child took the oldest child's room, youngest child took the middle child's room, mom took the youngest child's room, etc....  There is still a designated room for the oldest don't worry!  But, this shifting has had one very pleasant outcome for me.  When the hubby starts snoring (which will happen since we live in the allergy capital of Texas!!!) I can move upstairs to a bed.  A real bed.  Not the sofa.  Not the floor.  It is pure heaven!!  Such was the case last night.

I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard the phone ring.  Of course, there was no phone upstairs.  By the time I stumbled downstairs, without my glasses, the phone had stopped.  Ugh!  Good thing we have caller id.  I just had this gut feeling it was the oldest child.  Sure enough!  As I called him back my nerves ramped up.  He didn't pick up immediately either.  Nerves ramped up some more.  Then when he does pick up he seems utterly confused as to why I'm calling him.  He butt-dialed me.  Really?  For heaven's sake lock the screen or something!  And then the lovely little guy says "oh, did I wake you?"  Really?????  It's late.  Late for me.  Now I'm awake.  Fully awake.  Had not spoken to him in what, 24 hours or more.  But he was off to play frisbee so he couldn't talk right now.  Frisbee.  At midnight.  Oh, how I remember those days!

It is an incredibly strange sensation to know that for 18 years I have been solely responsible for knowing everything about this child and now he is on his own.  He is an adult.  He makes his own choices and does not have to check in with me.  He is smart and very responsible but it is strange for me.  He has been gone a week now and I have limited myself to only a few closet crying sessions.  I have limited myself to a few calls and only for "important" things.  Texts, well, I have texted him more than once a day I admit.  But I am allowed to.....I'm his mom!

Needless to say but after my adrenaline rush of the phone episode I was awake.  Completely, not falling asleep anytime soon awake!  What would any good crafter do in this situation?  Yep, craft!  I have been working on projects for next quarters classes and still had some design issues.  Not anymore!  Midnight was good.  I worked out a few kinks in my plans, got the logistics of projects down, and simplified a rather hard project so I think I can put it on the list for next quarter.  Yeah!  Feeling good, tired, but good.

Today is the last class I teach for the vintage beach suitcase.  I can hardly wait.  This one has been so much fun.  I love watching the ladies transform the parts to make their own suitcase.  The look of accomplishment on their face is wonderful.  I am planning another suitcase for Christmas and I think it will be adorable.  Tune in for pics of that closer to Christmas.  After class I am headed to my grandparents.  They are in their 90's.  Amazing.  I am hoping to see my newest baby cousin as they will be in town today.  I find I really enjoy visiting with my grandparents now.  I love hearing all the stories of them growing up.  Just mind boggling the things they have done, have seen.

It's going to be a great day.  Even though my heart skipped a little beat late last night, I know today will be great.  Family and crafting - yeah!  Hope your day is special too.

Ah, the good old days

This weekend was one of those emotional roller coaster kinds.  The hubby and I delivered our first born to COLLEGE!  Oh man.  Talk about emotions.

To start with, it is an 8 hour drive (maybe a bit more with snack stops).  We left early Saturday morning.  Just hubby, college child, and myself.  All the others stayed at the house.  My little man has been crying for 2 weeks just because he is going to miss his big brother.  That alone has put me on tear alert.  Like I needed an excuse!  I mean really.....I'm going to miss his big brother too!  Anyway, after the day long drive we finally arrived.  A friend told me that sometimes they let the kids move in the night before but that is "unofficial" and we just have to show up.  Armed with that tidbit of info I suggested that we drive by his dorm to just take a look.  Yep.  Won the lottery on that one!!!  No lines.  Parked right in front of building.  Unloaded all the stuff.  Got first pick of beds in the tiny room.  College kid got first taste of what life will be without mom and maybe a bit of vice versa.

I think the last sentence there is important.  I tend to be a crier.  I cry when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when others are happy, when others are sad, well, you get the picture.  I cry.  It's me; just who I am.  My mom is this way too.  So, I have been trying very hard to focus on all the positives.  I don't want the boy to think his momma is going to cry the whole time he is gone (or at least he doesn't need to know that!)  I think that the unloading of all the stuff then having the evening and the next morning to just chill with him was the absolute best thing ever.  I was not stressed about having to battle the lines of students or chaos that happens on move in weekend.  It was nice.  Also, having had a good look at the room we realized a few little things we had not brought with us so there was time Sunday morning to pick them up.

So, sometime around noon yesterday, we left.  Left my beautiful baby boy at college.  I shed a few tears but managed to keep my composure for the most part.  Last night, alone in my closet, is a different matter entirely!  This is an amazing time for him I know but I sure am going to miss him.  He is an incredible person that brings rays of sunshine to our home.  Hubby and I fondly remembered some of our college days.  He brought up that our boy has some opportunities that we did not.  Neither of us lived on campus.  I was really glad to hear hubby say that it is good for him to live on campus because I really pushed for that.  Being so far from home, I felt he needed to right in the middle of it all.  I enjoyed that wonderful conversation with the hubby.  It made me feel like I pushed for the right thing.  Now home to the wonderful 4 rays of sunshine that are there:  the amazing HS senior that nothing is to big of a challenge for, the big hearted HS junior who always has a dazzling smile and laugh for everyone, the 8th grader who is ready to challenge the world with brains and beauty, and of course my little man....the precocious one of the bunch.  Is he 9 or 19?  Always has a funny response that is way beyond his little years and always has a hug for his momma!

On to this week.  For those of you who missed it, I am holding another beach suitcase class this Saturday at Scrap n' Savvy.  This wonderful mini album has tons of stuff.  You can see the other pics of the album in the last post.  I was totally impressed with the ladies in my last class....they did wonderfully!  There are  quite a few steps on this one.  Their suitcases turned out beautifully.  Could not have asked for more.


This week I will be working on projects for next quarter.  I am excited about a few of them already.  The others need to completely "gel" in my mind.  This is one of my favorite parts.  I have an idea in my head and now need to turn it into something that people will want to make.  I have had a few flops but mostly manage to have projects that people like.  The beach suitcase was a homerun.  Here's hoping I can have another one!

There are so many new things on the market now.  CHA was a few weeks ago and now all those new items that were introduced are making their way into the stores.  Keep your mouse ready.....I will be playing with a few and naturally will share with you this week.  Since my kids are back in school I plan to be better with posting here (adding videos maybe?!)

I would love to see your favorite project that you have made.  Share a link to it in the comment section. Have a great day everyone.

My favorite

Who says you can't choose a favorite?  People do it every day.  I mean, it's not like I'm choosing between my children or anything.  What am I talking about you ask?  Well, let me show you...

 This is my next class project.  It is a vintage suitcase that holds a few little surprises inside.

 The outside is distressed and has a few little touches to lend a vintage flair to it.  Notice the lock on the front and the key dangling from the handle?

 Ooh la la!!!  This is the inside.  The right side has a shelf that holds some beachside keepsakes...a couple seashells, a miniature tropical painting, some sea glass, fish netting, and more.  The left side holds a mini album!  I was amazed when I completed the album to see how many pics I could actually put in it!

This is a closeup of the inside of the mini album (of course with a pic of my little guy!).

Now do you see why this is possibly my most favorite project ever?  I absolutely love the way it turned out!!!  I love the paper collection (Authentique's Fresh collection) and especially all the little things that make it look like a real suitcase.  When you see it closed and sitting on a table you really think it is a small suitcase!

I don't know about you but sometimes when I am working on a project I have misgivings about how it is looking.  Many times I don't even like what I have done until I see the whole thing completed.  Other times I love bits and pieces of what I am working on but then like the whole thing in the end.  There is just something about this one that I really loved all the way through.  It was a process of finding all the right elements (and the miniature hinges and latches were the most time consuming to find!) and making sure they fit the image I had in my mind.

This is my next class at Scrapp n' Savvy.  I will teach two sessions for this project and the first is this coming Monday.  Interested?  Go to the link and sign up!  I would love to see you there.  Don't live here?  Leave me a comment and I can get a kit to you.

I hope you love this little beauty as much as I do.  I'm off.....I have 5 little favorites to get moving.  School starts in 5 days!!! Can't believe summer is already over for us.  Looking forward to having some structure to my day but not looking forward to having kids gone all day.  It's always a catch 22!

Be inspired today.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the suitcase.

The lazy days of summer

Whoever penned "the lazy days of summer" clearly did not have children!  I mean really.  All of you ladies out there with kids at home for the summer know it is anything other than lazy!  I rank this time of the year right up there with the Christmas crazies.  You know what I mean.

I think I spend more time during the summer driving people places or trying to get them into doctor's offices than any other time of the year.  My husband does not understand why I won't cancel the doctor's appointment so we can go to the beachhouse.  I know he doesn't understand when I tell him that I have waited 3 months for this appointment and cancelling will cost us moola and major time!   Ah, oh well.  The joy of motherhood.

We spent last week with my son completing orientation for COLLEGE!  Man do I feel old!  I took all the kiddos so they could see family while I got oriented for college.  I mean, while my son got oriented for college.  Yeah.  You read that right.  There was just as much stuff for the parents as the students!  My favorite part?  The part where the university carefully explains, like 50 times, that no matter how much money you are giving them, how much money you are giving your child to go to the university and live, or how much money you are now in debt to the university that the said university will not be able to talk to you regarding any part of your child's college life!  Period.  End of story.  Oh and by the way there is this little form called a FERPA that IF your child signs (not you) then the university can answer your questions.  Got that?  Yeah.  Basically, the hubby and I will continue to fund the son's life (ie, college) and the university will not tell us anything unless the son decides he wants them to.  OH MAN!!!!  That was a tough one to swallow!  I heard a bunch of shouting and arguing over that one!  Many, many parents and students seriously had meltdowns about that one.  My silver lining?  The fact that my son happily completed the form, looked at me and said "why wouldn't I want you to know what I'm doing here?".  Oh, how I love that child!  I will say it again.....I am so lucky to have good kids!

I enjoyed my time with all my kiddos this past week.  It is amazing what kind of things get discussed when you are trapped in the car with no phone signal for hours at a time!  Oh, quality time!  I feel very connected right now!  Back to reality......this week will be crazy.  I have some of the kids back to school next week so it is crunch time to get everything ready for them.

Scrapbooking?  I do have a class this Saturday.  It is my Inspired by Pinterest class and I will teach how to make several different kinds of pendants using scrapbooking materials.

These are some of them.  I especially like the top one.  I made it months ago, inspired by pinterest of course, and just love it.  If you are in the area, call the shop and come to the class!  It will be loads of fun.  Go to Scrapp n' Savvy website to register.

Ok.  I have to run.  There are children that have to be places!!  Really?  Aaagh.....school starts in a week!  Enjoy your day.

And the rain came down, down, down

For the last few days the Winnie the Pooh song "and the rain came down, down, down" has been humming through my head.  It has rained a phenomenal amount at my house.  I think last Thursday alone we had almost 12 inches.  That day made national news.  We have had drought conditions and fires this last year but it seems like this is now completely turned and we are flooded!  I'm not complaining.  I LOVE the rain.  I do feel bad for those who got flooded though.

Our new home sits kinda close to a small meandering creek.  Very rarely does the water level even move!  At the time we chose our lot we decided that even though the lots that back to the retention ponds are lovely (with all that green space and the "no one behind us" feature) there may at some time be enough water to fill them.  I just did not want to worry about that!  Boy am I happy about that choice!

These are pics of the said retention ponds.  I was standing at the top in what would have been our backyard.  As you can see they are full!  I can't even begin to tell you how deep they are....maybe 15 feet.  They are huge though.  What you can't see in this pic is that the little sleepy creek is just behind that line of trees.  By Friday morning the water had risen more and that sleepy little creek had become one with our ponds!  The trees looked like they were growing from water!  All around us roads were closed due to high water.  Water that was 12 inches deep and sometimes deeper.  And the rain continued.

The kids and I had a great time looking at all the water in the ponds.  Oh, and the bullfrogs.  Tons and tons of bullfrogs.  Our neighborhood pool became the bullfrog spa retreat!  They were swimming, lounging, and singing away!  It has taken several days for the water to recede.  Thankfully I think most of the flooding in other areas has also gone down but the clean up is left.

So, what is one to do when it rains all day for several days?  I have read 2 books (wonderful!!!), watched numerous movies, and crafted!  Last week I won a blog hop from Clear Scraps and received a wonderful packet full of Clear Scrap albums, cards, inks from Tsukineko, stamps from Stampendous (it was a co-blog hop with Stampendous), and a bunch of other treasures from Stampendous.  So, I pulled out some stuff and this is what I made:

I must have Christmas on my mind.  I had some of the Bo Bunny Snowfall collection left from last Christmas.  And I won the mixable 8 x 8 album from Clear Scraps.  This was sooooo much fun.  I love working with acrylic and this little album had 3 pages of it!  I wanted to be able to see the next pages through the acrylic so I keep it simple.  I used opaque white ink and stamped snowflakes all over the cover, added some sparkle, trimmed the edge with sparkle, and let it all dry.  Then I added a vellum mini envelope and tags, and of course embellished it all.  

I am also showing you my "clothesline" tags.  I made tags of all sizes and attached them to the page to crete a clothesline look.  There is a ton of pic and journaling space here.  And lastly, I added an envelope that I embellished.  I cut the flap off and made a new one of some scrap material I had.  Love the soft look of it.  I like to put envelopes in my albums so I can through extra pics in.  The back cover is acrylic so I adhered the glittered paper to the back.  Made a nice effect of seeing the glitter from the top.

This was so much fun to make.  I love the colors of this paper and the album is a great size.  Check out the Stampendous blog.  There are some great inspiration pieces there.  And if you haven't seen the new Clear Scrap stuff go to their website.  The new clear cards are adorable!

Well, children are getting up; wanting to eat.  It's that whole summer thing again!  I'll leave with this:  what do you like to do when it rains?  Let me know.........