Friday, May 30, 2008

So much to do


I live by lists and when I saw this adorable list booklet on Pine's blog I had to make one. (OK, I confess, I've made 6 in two days and there's more to come!) It looks like she received one from Michelle Wooderson, whose blog I really enjoy. My first one (left) I gave to my friend Becky. She doesn't really understand the paper crafting "thing" but she loves getting presents!

I am going to put these together for end of year teacher gifts, so I made these with little pockets on the inside cover where I can stash Starbucks gift cards for an extra treat!

To get started:
Buy 5"x8" notepads at your local office supply store, and ask them to cut them in half widthwise, which makes 2-1/2"x8" pads. It cost me $1.09 to have the stack of notebooks cut at Office Max, but there's no way a paper cutter would get through an entire pad.

Then you'll need to do a little measuring to get the folder just right; be sure to use a slip of corresponding paper to cover the header of the tablet, otherwise yours will say "eMax" like mine does below...



Just add lots of patterned paper, embellishments and glitter to the cover for fabulous and fun gifts!

Below are five I made last night; one for my sister (center) which I used "My Friend Ronnie" stamps. It says, "I shopped, and then I didn't. I like shopping better." I really enjoy Ronnie stamps. They are so perfect.

Two are for Macie and Sarah who are having their "Sisters Weekend" beginning tonight. I thought they could use pads to prepare for tomorrow's entrepreneurial adventure (they are hosting a garage sale...yikes!). Then I made two for Savannah and her friend Caroline who are planning an end of the year sleepover (double yikes!). Aren't they adorable? So easy to customize for anyone. Everyone I know will have one of these little darlings in their purse before the summer is over!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Prayer Journals


Recently I made prayer journals for dear friends who were Baptized. (Yes, it was Patti's husband and children!) It was such a special day for Patti's family. It was a beautiful baptism that reminded me of our church in Washington where my husband, girls and I were baptized and also where my husband and I were married. So bittersweet.

So back to the projects. I'm using a new photographer (a 10 year-old photographer named Macie), so some of the details are not visible. I used regular composition notebooks that I bought last year at back-to-school time (the ones with black and white covers). I covered the fronts, backs and inside covers. Then I decorated them up!

My challenge was to make a masculine design for Chris without being too hokey. I used blue and chocolate brown, hard lines, and only initials, instead of his name. The scripture that personifies Chris is Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

For Jacob, I had been thinking for a couple of days that his scripture should be from Proverbs. I'm not even sure why. Then, I ran across Proverbs 3:5-6 which is a great reminder to put our trust in the Lord and leave it there. Good message for a tween! This was the first time I used staples in my design and it did give a more industrial look to the design.

Sarah, like my Macie, hates pink and loves blue. So alas, I had to continue working in blue. I love the scripture about how God loves us so much more than the sparrows. I wanted Sarah to always remember that God loves her so much. I used Luke 12:6-7. The birds are a stamp from Inkadinkadoo that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I embossed them in copper, which is very striking. There are such wonderful bird silhouettes available now.

These composition books are super easy and super fun. I really enjoy making projects that are utilitarian. I hope God answers lots of their prayers!

My Boss's Birthday

I put together a quick man-card for my boss's birthday that is coming up (I work *very* part-time in the Career Office at school). I don't have any guy stamps, but I do have Office Accoutrements from SU!, so I used the memo area and I stamped "Happy Birthday to You." I added some large square brads that I think give this a real masculine look.

The patterned paper is from Anna Griffin.

Happy birthday, Greg!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

"Run, Forest. Run!"

This is my favorite movie quote (from "Forrest Gump"). I've been running with my 11 year-old who is training for Cross Country. So far, I've stuck to it longer than she has, but my knees are killing me. I had no idea I was this out of shape, but I am. We have to work up to two miles. I don't know how long that will take, I think we are at .4 miles right now. Ouch, a long way to go!

More cards late tonight.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

BLOOM




I made a couple of cards quickly a few nights ago. I had just 1/2 hour in my stamping room that night and I just couldn't contain my ideas. One of those is this quick BLOOM card. I used patterned paper that I bought at Target (I love their line!) and the fabulous flower from SU!. I used heat and stick and then glittered the entire flower. I love the way it pops. Then just a quick "BLOOM" and voila!

I think I am going to make more BLOOM cards, although I have never re-made a card, I think I could do a whole set of stationary, or just a handful of cards available to send on the run...speaking of running...

Monday, May 19, 2008

Yippee!




That was my mom's expression on these flowers that she and my dad sent in celebration of completing my second year of law school. It was a crummy semester, and I wasn't sure it was EVER going to end. But alas, I wrote my fifth and final exam last Thursday and have spend the weekend recuperating.



So Friday, I made my husband, Mark, traipse through our downtown junk stores looking for an old lazy susan for my embellishments. I didn't find a lazy susan, but I found this fabulous wooden spice rack. It was all gunky from years in a kitchen and still had old, dried spices in the bottles. (Yuck!) My daughters helped me clean out the jars and I ran them through the dishwasher. Then I spray painted the shelf (after I washed it and sanded it just a bit to rough up the surface). Since I did a really cursory spray painting job (because I only had a little paint left), I decided it needed to be decorated too. I glued ribbon across the shelves and then glued chipboard flowers from K&Co to the top. I am so excited about how it turned out. The bottles are sparkly clean and most of my embellishments and some of my other supplies fit on it perfectly. I love it!

So today's word is "Yippee!"

Friday, May 9, 2008

Ruth's Birthday


My friend Ruth is another mom who is surviving law school with me. We often laugh about how OLD we are compared to our other classmates (who were born in the 80's-when we were teenagers, spraying our hair with Aquanet). They have never heard of Debbie Gibson, and they think Madonna is "so classic!"

Ruth and I spent the first year of law school asking each other, "Why are we doing this?" Our second year, we've been asking each other, "Is it too late to quit?" It is too late to quit now, we just have one more year left. Woohoo!

I didn't keep track of my supplies and since we are right in the middle of exams, I'll have to update that later.

I thank God every day for such a wonderful friend who "gets" me. She is a beautiful Christian woman and dedicated mother. Her passion is to work in Immigration Law where she can help people. Happy birthday, Ruth!