My Favorite Quick Project March 6, 2009

This fun project is called an exploding box.  If you want a quick and easy craft for a weekend or a crop day try this.  They have been around for quite awhile but seem to pop up from time to time.  They make a great gift.  This one sits on my desk at work and makes me happy with the bright colors and pictures of my family.

 

I found that brightly colored birdy paper and had to make something with it.  I’m like a kid in a candy store with paper.  Love it!!

The butterfly was on this bright paper, too.  So I cut it out with my Fiskars micro-tip scissors which are prefect for intricate details like this.  I used a sponge to ink the edges of the butterfly slightly so it would stand out more and bent the wings up just a little.

 

For some dimension and interest I embellished some of the pages without adding a photo.  I also embellished some of the photos with a flower or tag.  Just mixin’ it up.

This was my first attempt at this project and, as with any new skill, I learned something for the next time.  First, decide which direction you want the pictures to face.  I think I turned them all around at least once and they still don’t face the same direction.  Second, make the top of the box and place it on the box before you decorate the outside.  I made this cute “Family” square and then discovered that the top of the box covered up the F and most of the a and m.  Oh well.  I still love it.

Happy Crafting!

Amy

a DECISIVE beginning January 16, 2009

I am taking liberties with my word of the year:  DECISIVE

I have decided it to also mean “take charge”, “can’t mess with me” and “I am right”.  This is my interpretation of “displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined” 

Since my New Years Resolution to become DECISIVE I am off to a good start.  My first plan of attack was my personal finances.  My husband and I have tried many ways over the years to tackle our bills and lately we have been splitting them down the middle.  Our incomes are almost the same now so it’s a lot easier.  But the drawback is  it was easy for me to lose track of the balances on things he took care of, out of sight-out of mind.  I have decided to rein it all in. 

I used to keep track on the computer with a budgeting template in excel (thank you free excel templates on microsoft.com).  But it was easy to hide in a file and forget about updating it.  I took charge and went to Office Depot and bought the old fashioned column pads  http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/930564/Office-Depot-Brand-Columnar-Pad-4/.  Writing everything down and putting it in my face on the desk everyday will keep me on track.   I am also cutting back on unnecessary purchases

like Caribou Coffee

and Einstein Bros bagels.

and potato chips..mmmm

 

and HBO

I know I can do it.  I have decided!

Resolultions January 8, 2009

I’ve been reading so many blogs lately about New Year’s Resolutions.  But there is a twist.  Many people are choosing a word of the year.  Something to inspire and focus them for the whole year.  I love this idea and am jumping on the bandwagon. 

What word to choose??  hmmm..  let me think about it.  What do you think?  Maybe Happiness?  No, too broad.  Maybe Inspired?  No, also too broad and that is what I want to the word to do…inspire.  um, maybe Focused?  Now we’re getting there.  I like the direction we’re heading.  I’ve got it!!  Decisive.  That’s what I need to be.

According to Dictionary.com:

de⋅ci⋅sive /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/  [di-sahy-siv] 
–adjective

1.	having the power or quality of deciding; putting an end to controversy; crucial or most important: Your argument was the decisive one.

2.	characterized by or displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined: The general was known for his decisive manner.

3.	indisputable; definite: a decisive defeat.

4.	unsurpassable; commanding: a decisive lead in the voting.

I like decisive.  It’s like positive, but more definate.  No more missed opportunities because I failed to act.  My resolution for 2009 is to be DECISIVE! 

What’s your word of the year?

A different kind of scrapbooking December 22, 2008

Recently my father passed away and I ended up making some very difficult decsions.  Mostly funeral arrangements.   One of the things I knew he would have wanted was a memorial service that showed him as he really was; fun, full of life and a little on the mischievous side.  He alwasy said “don’t play that song How Great Thou Art.  Everyone I’ve ever known my whold life plays that at a funeral.  Play some Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard at mine.”  He loved to ride his Harley, he loved to hunt with his dog and he loved his grandchildren.  I knew that I would not be able to get up at a podium and properly convey how I felt so I decided to use my skills in scrapbooking to create picture boards of happy times in his life.  I know this is a very common practice these days, but I know my talents are more artistic expression, than verbal. 

While creating the boards I had to keep telling myself  “don’t look at the pictures”.  Because each time I did tears would come to my eyes and I was afraid of ruining them.  However, as  I kept working, I found myself smiling at some of the goofy pictures and marveling at the ones where he was a child.  So the process turned out to be therapeutic as well.  We did play Merle Haggard and we did have pictures of him on his Harley, too.  I’m glad I was able to fulfill his wishes and I will miss him every day…

(boards were laid out side to side on easels)

Twilight is here November 21, 2008

 

Being the crazy mom I am, I thought it would be fun to take my kids to see Twilight.  But not just any trip to the theatre, we went to the 12:01am showing last night (this morning???).  I ordered advance tickets online and the kids were so excited.  Well, the girls were.  My son decided not to go; that his beauty sleep was much more important.  So my girls and I left home at about 11pm on Thusday not knowing what was in store.  The thought crossed my mind that there might be only about ten people there  – visions of goth chics danced in my head.  But when we pulled into the parking lot it looked like the mall on the Saturday before Christmas!  Wow, I couldn’t believe the lines we had to stand in and we had already purchased our tickets!  TEN theaters full of Twilight fans filled the AMC last night.  It was the kind of night where people laughed out loud, ooh’ed and ahh’d at the cute boys and cheered when it was over.  Overall very enjoyable.  I’m anxious to read the series of books now that I’ve had a taste.  What a fun experience.  Now I’m going to take a nap….

Sammy the Cat Album…plus, need your help RAK October 18, 2008

We had a wonderful cat named Sampson.  He was a farm cat that we adopted and grew to love very much.  He was such a character.   Sammy loved to run and if we didn’t let him outside he would literally bounce off the walls.  Like a toddler, Sammy would play and play until he dropped.  Then sleep like the dead for the rest of the day.  He loved to curl up in your lap for these long naps, but heaven forbid if you tried to move or get up.  You would get the “what do you think you are doing?” look.  When Sammy died last year I had a very difficult time.  At the age of 2-1/2 I never expected to lose him.  However, he got into something outside that poisoned him and he died in my arms as we were taking him to the vet.  I recently pulled myself through the emotions of losing him by creating this memorial mini-album. 

 

 

 

 

Now this last page is where I need your help.  This picture is a typical, sleep all day cause I was prowling all night, picture.  And on the facing page I want to say something about cats, or pets, or something.  Just a cute sentiment to end the book.  But I drew a blank.  Please help me to finish this album by commenting here with your suggestions.  I’ll choose my favorite and send a RAK of scrapbook supplies.

Back to the regularly scheduled programming… Challenge with a RAK September 24, 2008

So, if you know me, you know that I have two out of three children involved in ice hockey.  We live and breathe hockey most days. 

In the summer the schedule seems to wind down a bit so we have multiple days in a row without having to drive to practice or a game.  It’s heaven!!  However, this week we start tryouts so we’re back to the regular chaos.  My husband and I try to divide and conquer but it means a lot of time seperated as a family.  With my impending craziness I have come up with a new challenge.  Being gone at dinner time most nights, I have decided to drag out the old crockpot so I can start meals before work and have them ready to eat when the kids and I get home.  We also hold several pasta parties throughout the year for our kids to ramp up on the carbs the night before a big game so that darn crock pot gets lots of use this time of year. 

The challenge:  Please share your favorite all-day in a crock pot recipe and I will choose a random winner.  The prize:  some fun kitchen related items that will be a surprise!!  Thanks for playing along.  My kids thank you from the bottom of their little stomachs!!

Fireworks and Hockey July 3, 2008

yes…I said hockey.  I realize this is supposed to be a winter sport. But in the reality I call my life I find myself in hockey rinks on any given day, at any given time and in any given town.

 

 

I hope you all enjoy your 4th of July weekend and when you are on the boat in the hot sun, sipping a cold cocktail, please make a toast to me and my family.  We’ll be shivering and cheering so anything “toasted” is welcome!! ha 

 

Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day!!!  

Board Book – Completed June 26, 2008

My latest project is a Cloud9 Board Book.  It comes in a matching box with a handle.  I’m thinking about making these as Christmas gifts this year.  I completed this project last weekend at the Fiskars training in St. Paul.  I used Heidi Grace’s Midnight Kisses line throughout the book.

 

This is the front of the box.  I covered it with leftovers from the book and used a photo that I had enlarged to 5×7 then tinted sepia.  Then I just added a couple of ribbons on the handle.

 

Here is the front cover.  Nothing tricky here.  Just the black & white floral, shimmer glitter paper and some ribbon.  The back cover is covered the same way.

 

The inside cover.  Floral foil and shimmer papers used here.  New tools I used were the Fiskars Threading Water border punch and Corner Squeeze Punch – ticket corner.  (I had borrowed both of these tools when making the project and then went home and ordered them online.  Can’t wait for that shipment!)  I also added a little ruby bling on the tag and a couple of ribbons where the different papers meet.

 

I made this one very simple.  Not too many frills on this masculine page.  I used some of the Midnight Kisses rub-ons under the Happy Day stamp, but it doesn’t show very well on the black.

 

The rub-ons showed up much better on the white cardstock!  I used a ton of flowers.  The center of these flowers has a foam dot underneath for dimension.  I also accented a few spots with the signature hearts (basically raindots).

 

 

The swirly felt is from Queen & Co.  It comes by the yard and you can cut it to suit your needs.  You could also ink or paint it to add color.  I love it white, though.  I added some clear bling in the little swirls.  I think it’s a great accent for any page.  The felt is also self-adhesive.  This can be a little tricky when working with larger sections.  It will tend to stick together.  Tip – take the backing off in small sections as you place it on the page to avoid this.

 

Here I made another tag using the ticket corner squeeze punch.  The letters are Making Memories.  My youngest was flipping through and said “Ohhh, I get it now! Different branches!”  Like I always say, we don’t catch on quick, but we catch on.

 

The last page.  This is the same photo that is on the front of the box.  I layered papers here.  I love all of this Midnight Kisses line so I tried to get everything in this little book.  I used the Fiskars Round the Bend corner squeeze punch to round all the corners.  A few rub-ons, some bling and flowers finish it up.

 

What a fun project!  I’m hooked on these mini albums now.  I think, mostly due to the instant gratification.   If you see these cloud9 board books at your lss pick one up and give it a try.  I’d love to see what you’ve created.