ACTION!: Paper Hoarders DT Challenge

This week's Design Team Challenge over at the Paper Hoarders is ACTION! Meaning... it's gotta move. And I "do" move. So, I'll catch briefly catch you up to see what I've been working on...

Whew! It's been busy. School started here a couple of weeks ago (as seen in a previous post...), and I've been workin' it. Besides my normal everyday volunteer work (in the Kinder classes, 1st and now 2nd grades), I've been working-working as an assistant in the RSP program at another school.

And I'm having a blast!

On the first day of school, I walked into a fairly large classroom, with {gasp!!!} blank bulletin boards. My new teacher let me know that I could give her my ideas, and she'd let me know. [oh yeah!!! crafter's dream!!!!] She told me what type of boards we would need (1st, 2nd and 3rd grade ELA themes [for their current stories], Comprehension, Reading, Fluency Goals, and Math). So I set to work researching on the internet. (I'd never done those type of things before, but you know me... a challenge is a challenge, and I kinda L-O-V-E those!

eHow was a great tool... there I found a couple of ideas incorporating comprehension and some with vocabulary goals. So... I thought of combining it all, and making more up as I went, and instead of individual boards... um... making an OCEAN! Here's my crediting linkage. (Much thanks to Erin Schreiner, the author! I took her "Swimming through Comprehension" board and RAN with it!)

 I love interactivity. I arouses the mind and makes kids have fun learning. So... on eHow, I saw vocab words written down and each student as a fish swimming past these [goals]. OK. Only... we'd have each student as a fish and swim UP towards their goals in percentages (I still have to write the percentages... oopsie!)

And here's a little closer up... the percentage (of their goals) will be written on the seaweed to to the left of the chart. The different colored fishies here represent the different grades (so the students can find themselves easier). Please note... no one has moved up yet, because we're just starting the program and no one has been tested towards their goals this year.

Then we'll move onto the comprehension/theme side of things, entitled: What Does it all Mean? (how appropriate, right?)

And here, I separated the themes into the various grades...

With the titles of each of their themes... then I created a tissue paper "bubble", stapled laminated paper to it, so I could attach a current passage/story summary on each.

Then I added a passage/story summary...

The surrounding fish are laminated (so the Expo marker can be changed...) and written with either a vocabulary word or question related to the passage/story.

If you notice, they are stapled at the top and creased, so they fold up...

To reveal the definition (if a vocab word) or the answer!

As the stories change, so can our bulletin boards, without having to completely re-do them!

The same concept is done with the Math board... only these guys have googly-eyes, as their questions didn't take up so much room!

I'll incorporate more fish with questions and answers as we get beyond the previous year's review...

And then my favorite... the Island of Reading...

The cuts say "Journey", "Escape", "Dream", and "READ".

It's a work in progress, and I hope to get more fish shapes in there, but I'm on a time crunch and do have to work with the kids still, so there's really not much time for me to play with the boards, but... it's enough for Back-to-School night next week, so there we are.

I was trying to make a card earlier today, but it didn't turn out and still isn't turning out at this late hour (it's after midnight), so... this is action for today! Hopefully after hubby's vacation next week, I'll have time to figure out the dang moving card (the dimensions JUST were NOT working for me! and not letting it do what I thought it would do... ugh!).

But, in the meantime, please check out Ms. Tanya's blog, where all the other Design Team members have their work and links posted. Please be sure to give them some love, as you know... we all need it. And don't forget... you can join in the challenge, too! If you do, please be sure to leave me a link, so I can stop by and share some love, too!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my simple pleasures with me. I appreciate it. and YOU have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

First Day Back

I can't believe our summer is over! Here's the first day of school, which was yesterday... Doesn't she look bored already?

After school, we went and cooled of fat the movie theater to see STEP UP REVOLUTION. Fantastic dancing and awesome artistry! Then off to get a new outfit!

The day was over quickly, and thank goodness she loves her new teacher. She's our little Diva... well... the youngest Diva in the family...

Paper Hoarders DT: Lazy Day...

Exactly! That's what I'm talking about. And today, our "challenge" (if you really wanna call it that... lol!) was Lazy Day... something that had to be made in under an hour!

Easy Peasy!

I picked up these cute little mini composition books at Walgreens 6/$1, then cashed in my bucks, and they came out FREEEEEE!

Then I simply used scrap and extra paper I already had, trimmed around the edge (leaving a little to overlap the cover, atg-ed it, and VOILA! (I actually did 4 in 20 minutes!) I made a couple of Christmas ones, too... to carry my gift journal wherever I go...

Join in and visit our other gals at Tanya's blog! Have a great time, and make it a lazy day! (I did!!!)

Paper Hoarders DT: Sunglasses/Bright Challenge

Gosh... summer is flying by. Ouch. And I haven't done much, if anything of what I'd goaled to do. Huh. Go figure.

Anywho... the challenge today over at the Paper Hoarders was to make something sunglass-y and/or bright. I chose... the sun! He's a bright ball of fun. Put on your sunglasses, ma peeps, as it's gonna be a bright one today!

Spellbinders dies in 2 sizes, off set, then backing of a larger dotted circle and front of a circle, too (Cricut cuts, ya know!). Thought I'd make him into a tag, so I could utilize this bright orange ribbon that I've been hoarding (Ribbon Hoarders... come and find me!)

Then I layered them all, stamped his cutesy-pie face with a Peach Keen Stamp, highlighted with chalk (the cheeks) and Stickles and called it a day then stamped the back with a bunch of journaling lines to make the tag a little more purposeful. Gotta love it!

You, too, can join the challenge. Please visit Miss Tanya's blog, and there will be ALL the links for everyone else, too! Schmooz through and enjoy a cool drink while you experience the bright talent of all these wonderful crafters!

Sewing Machine Day (Paper Hoarders DT Post)

I know that YOU know today is Friday - the 13th, but in my world, there is no such thing as a bad-luck-day, so... now that you've got that into your head... moving on!

Over at Paper Hoarders, we're celebrating the invention of the sewing machine, because it was "invented" sometime around this time (maybe in France, after the first "working" model in England?) somewhere in the 1830's. (Wikipedia and other sources seem to lack in the fine details, so again... moving on...) So, we were to utilize stitching in our project.

But guess what? This time, I didn't make a layout. I didn't make a card. "Gasp!" you say? I know, huh!

I made a 6x6" mini album for my daughter. We were going to Disneyland, and she wanted an autograph album... little did I know that she actually wanted to stand in ALL OF THE CHARACTER LINES for hours... EEK!

I did some other "firsts", too. I actually used my BIA (Bind-It-All) machine, by Zutter. Um... I've had it for quite some time, and was kind of afraid of it. So, I just let it sit in my collection. But hey... I pulled it out and read through... and tried it. The pages are a little uneven, so I'll have to figure that out at a later date, but it was good for now.

The inside cover(s) were "finished". A larger piece of cardstock (red) was cut at the corners and folded over chipboard (AKA: cereal box - I am a frugal and recycling mama afterall...), then a smaller piece of cardstock (light gray) was adhered to cover the tabs. Woohoo!

As for the design, whelpers, we were going to Disneyland. and so. a little bit of Disney needed to be added. The Mickey Ears and Disney AND 2012 were cut from Mickey & Friends Font with the Cricut, then stitched (from the underside so that I could semi-follow a line I drew without screwing up the front...), then adhered to the front cover. I had to make sure I glue down the little pieces that fit in the letters and numbers, too, as then it didn't quite look so authentic.

Many, many pages were put in, some light pink (for the girls) and some light green (for the boys) and some yellow (for ?). (Side note: Marissa helped a little... did ya catch that?) She seemed to think we had to get all the pages signed, but... Mom (me) had an ultimate goal... to make this her Disneyland trip album. (hahaha! Multi-purpose!!! Woohoo!)

And so... now we just have to print photos, and deco the pages (I didn't want them deco'd or glittered just in case we lost it or it got icked-up during the day). But all in all, she had a wonderful day, and she was a happy camper!

She even got to meet wait in line for over an hour for her favorite princess, Rapunzel (from Tangled).

So now... if you'd like to see more stitches and our wonderful DT's other projects, please visit Miss Tanya at  her wonderful blog, where we're ALL shown. Woohoo! Have yourself a wonderful day, while I rest my poor feet.

Wordless/full Wednesday; What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, etc.

It's been a LOOONNNGGG time since I participated in these, but... here I am, and here you are, too. Woohoo!

Wordless/Wordfull... it's all what you make of it. As my camera is downloading 517 pics (see, I haven't been just neglecting you or my blog... I've not been doing other things I should have either...), I'm sure there's something to be said for all of them.

Uh... my middle child graduated, my oldest finally got a job after an almost full year hiatus of not doing anything. I had issues with lots of things... school district employment (mine... don't get me started...), crafting machines dying on me (who's got money to replace them?!!! that's right... I do... I'ts called Amazon CREDIT.). Now the printer's down AGAIN. (I've had 4 replacement printers from HP... and the latest one just went out yesterday... ugh!)

Still waiting for those pics to download... thought this was going to be a quickie post. Geez! I've got things to do! We're going to Yucaipa Regional Park today to meet up with an old friend and her family, who are camping there. Who'd'a thunk it would cost $20 to go swimming? ($7 for the car to get in, and $4 each person to swim... EEK!) And I'm leaving in 40 minutes!!!! (sure i am...)

OK. Pics are done downloading... Here's something you can add words to... or not...

 

In case you can't tell... our house got tee-peed. I remember when we used to do this for pop-warner or band, or just friends. Back then in the day, it was ok to do it. We all had permission from the parents and knew what it meant. I was leaving for work (yes... I work...) on a beautiful Saturday morning, and this greeted me, backing up out of the garage. I believe it was sometime in May. My daughter assures me she hasn't done anything to anyone.


Fun memories, and I made her take pics, because I had to get going I was already running late.

And in case you're wondering where that beautiful morning sky is in the background, we're in Southern California. Inland Empire. And it was a beautiful day. Luckily, the job I was going to allows me to walk around in the sunshine all day... on a pool deck. And I L-O-V-E it!


On my Workdesk Wednesday... Here ya go! The question is NOT "What's on Your Workdesk?" It should be "What's NOT on Your Workdesk?" (I'm so far behind and the craftroom is SUCH a freakin' disaster, that I'm hoping this post gets my boo-tay going and it'll be done before the weekend? uh. huh... Don't hold your breath...)

Lots of cleanup, lots of projects, lots of inspiration? Check back with me later... I'm linking up to lots of people (later), as I've got to run, so... I'll do what I can for now. See ya!

Paper Hoarders: Birthday Challenge (and other things)

So... this summer is going by oh-so-quickly already. We just ended school June 5/6 (two different days for two different grade levels... ugh!) and am already looking at the omgosh-we-only-have-a-month-and-a-half-almost panic attack. I had "planned" on getting so much done this summer. YIKES!!!!

On Friday, we (at Paper Hoarders) did a challenge. It was an "optional" challenge, as it was extremely emotional for our head Paper Hoarder, as you can see HERE.  She has a couple of posts, on from Friday (June 22) and one from Sunday (June 24), so you can follow her emotional journey and leave her some love. (There might be more later, so keep checking the initial "HERE" link.) We love you, Tanya!

I wasn't able to post on Friday, or Saturday... was too pooped on Sunday and Monday, so here I am on Monday Tuesday, finally doing this post. Well... I forgot to take pics as I went along... and even forgot to take pics when I was done, so... I had the recipient's mom (Lebanie's mom, Menissa... lol!) text me a pic. Please be forgiving.

Here we go... Birthday Challenge! It was Lebanie's 9th birthday party... the at a skating rink! (How fun is that!) The theme - 80's. ok, so... I didn't have an 80's outfit, and neither did my daughter, because the universe knows that stuff wouldn't FIT me now I threw it all out a long time ago... But, I did make a quick card - I was lucky I found a Boom Box (Radio) on Cricut Alphabet on the NEW Cricut Expression 2! (and if any of ya'll know how to link the carts pre-loaded on the machines to the Gypsy, please let me know!)  With touches of silver and black glitter glues and some retro-styling puffy purple embossing, I hope she had a Boomin' time!

We had a blast, and NO! I'm not sore. Hahaha! And yes... I did skate. I think I just forgot how to stop and used the padded walls for that purpose.

Onward and upward... I also had a grad party to go to. Unfortunately, I had created a post for another grad party (the card I'd made anyway) and can't seem to find it here (must've been so tired that I deleted instead of published. Ugh!). So... I'll post both cards.

Yesenia (Yessie) was good enough to graduate from University with her teaching credentials (WTG, Yesenia!!!). And so... I made this little card for her. She's got naturally curly hair, a light olive complexion, and eyes that sparkle. (I try really hard to match the grad gown, cap, school colors and person's look, ya know?) So... I embossed the Peachy Keen-stamped face in clear (to add the sparkle), dry embossed her long locks, and gold-embossed the year on the tassel. Woohoo! And we partied, too!

Earlier in the month, I went to Danielle's grad party. this was her card:

Her hair's a little shorter, than Yessie's, so I didn't need to elongate the coif. And of course, the gowns/caps were different colors (representing the schools), so yeah... you've got it.

Both cards were made using Everyday Paper Dolls. The tassels? uh... ordinary curling ribbon.

Both ladies had personalized gifts, as well... Yessie (Jessie, as her friends/family call her...) even took pics and posted some of them on Facebook! lol! Ok, so the cookie-decorating kinda sucked, as I was being completely lazy and piped outta Ziplocs instead of real piping bags and tips. EEK! But, I love that I now have this fabby cookie stamp from Williams-Sonoma to do ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH for now on. (Lebanie also got Message-in-a-Cookie(s) only hers said things to the way of "happy birthday".)

I always prefer personalization, because it's... just so much more personal. Love you all! Congrats and Happy Birthdays all around. Glad you're here and thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what YOU'VE done to make that gift/card more special.