Holidays in Hand - Day One

Jessica Sprague is offering a free class to get the Holidays going.

There's still time to sign up. I think today is the last day though, so hurry and get over there.

Go on. I'll wait......

Signed up and ready?!?!!??? Good.

This year I hope to not get caught up in "the girls have got to have this" frenzy, like I do most other years. I really want to reign it in and be more practical about the gifts they get from us. I want them to grasp the concept that Christmas is more a Spirit than a gift receiving fiasco. I want them to appreciate what they have and be grateful that other people think enough to get them ANYTHING at all. My girls are not bad girls. Just over indulged. I would love to turn this into the Homemade gift year. But that isn't practical now is it?

So, I will try to ease up on the shopping and get more into the "doing".

You know, making cookies, hot chocolate, stringing popcorn for the tree, maybe make bird feeders for the yard (pinecones, peanut butter and bird seed).

I would like to take more meaningful photos too. I want to capture the feel of the season.

If you have ideas, let me know. If you have examples, leave me a link.

Wish me luck with my journey.

Christmas 2009 Overlay Freebies

Here's a Christmas one with snowflakes.
(click to enlarge and then right click to save)

Here's another one with out the snowflakes.

These are so easy.

Freebie Thanksgiving Overlay

I have been playing in PSE and came up with this overlay for a 4x6 photo.
I really like it and thought you might too.

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Just click on the black bordered copy and save as a png file.

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I am new to this and don't know how to do it any other way today.
I'll look into it a bit more so hopefully next time it will be better.

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Have a great day.

Thanksgiving Placecards

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year. We arent' formal, fancy people. We usually just wear jeans and t-shirts. But I am going to dress up the table a bit this year with these placecards. Now I am off to plan the menu...

The value of a #2 pencil

YOU WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD!!

The value of a Catholic education and a #2 pencil

Little Susie was not the best student in Catholic School. Usually she slept through the class.
One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping.
'Tell me Susie, who created the universe?'
When Susie didn't stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear.
'God Almighty!' shouted Susie.
The Nun said, 'Very good' and continued teaching her class.
A little later the Nun asked Susie, 'Who is our Lord and Savior?'
But Susie didn't stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck her in the butt.
'Jesus Christ!!!' shouted Susie.
And the Nun once again said, 'Very good,' and Susie fell back asleep.
The Nun asked her a third question...'What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?'
Again, Johnny came to the rescue. This time Susie jumped up and shouted, 'If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!'
The nun fainted!

Paper Bag Album - Fall Beachy-ish

I took a class last night at my local scrapbook store. The woman teaching the class is a doll. She offered up all sorts of goodies from her stash for us to use. Extremely generous of her. Anyway, we were to choose the papers ourselves. I wanted a Fall colored album and found papers that made me happy.

It took a lot of effort on my part to get the structure of the album together. I tend to talk quite a bit when placed in a room with other women. Go figure. I work with mostly men all day. It was HEAVEN I tell ya. The estrogen was flowing last night. I made two new friends. Who like to play with paper and glue too. I see playdates in my future.



Anyway, here is what I came up with:

Album Cover

I didn't punch holes for the binder rings like the teacher wanted us to do. Instead I scored a piece of the cardstock and wrapped it around the front and back cover to make a spine.

Album cover with flap open

Inside pages 1 and 2.
The orange piece is a little page made from the bottom of the lunch bag.

Page 1 - Tag page sticking out
I used the inside of the bag for an additional page. Punched a half circle to make the page easier to see and get out.

Page 2 - Tag page sticking out
I did the same thing here for the tag page.

Another shot of page 2 open

Page 3 and 4
The pocket that the yellow tag/page is in is actually a bag that has been cut shorter.

Page 3 - Tag/page sticking out

Back cover

Ingredients: 4 lunch sized paper bags, 3 each 12x12 double sided patterned paper, 2 each 8.5x11 solid cardstock, embellishments, adhesive, paper cutter, assorted punches, ink (for distressing)

I can't tell you the name of the patterned paper. I usually don't keep track of these things. I don' t currently have a desire to be on any design teams, so I don't have a need to know. I also can't tell you which TV station is on which channel. Or who sings that song you are listening to. If I like something, I like it. I just don't know who makes, sings or acts in it. It's one of my charms.

Thanks for looking. If you have any questions, leave me a comment. I'll do my best to answer them.

A special thanks for putting up with my really bad photography. I have a class lined up. (I hope.)

The Votes are in.

Here is the poster that we finally agreed upon.

Much to the relief of this politicians mother, Melissa is now the 4th Grade SCA Historian at her school.

The installation ceremony was yesterday afternoon. They let her hold a candle. With a flame.

Look at that smile. My heart just melted while I was witnessing her take the oath.

Here she is (second one from the right) with her fellow SCA Officers.

And of course the official group shot. (Again, she is second from the right)

Somehow I don't think I am the only one breathing easier.

NOTE: I forgot the camera at home. It really wasn't on my mind. Morgan had a tooth ache over the weekend and it continued Monday morning, so I took her to the dentist. She had to have a tooth pulled and my schedule was a bit rushed because of the timing of the two events. But I had my cell phone and took the bad pictures you see here. At least I have something. I usually have my camera in my purse. I have been slacking.