Just Popping In

I have had several subscribers unsubscribe and I knew that would happen with me being so busy right now. I did want to pop in quick this morning and give you a run down on what is going on in our busy lives.

I am taking a two week break from CSAYL. I just don't have time to work on the projects right now. Please stop by the CSAYL blog today and next Friday and see what the DT has been up to. I will be back after the 8th.

Yesterday was a trackmeet and Benjamin placed second in both of his events...the 800 and 1600 meter races. In the 800 he beat his personal best record by 2 seconds and was really excited by that.

Here is what our lives look like thru the 8th...

tonite: Fine Arts Program that both Benjamin and Aaron will be receiving awards. Benjamin for Quiz Bowl and Aaron for art.

5/1: Conference trackmeet
5/2: church and working on graduation reception
5/3: Senior Slideshow
5/4: Academic Wall of Fame...this is a HUGE honor and both of the boys received invitations to this. You don't know until you get there what honor/award you have been given.
5/5: Baccalaureate
5/6: Baking over 400 cookies!!!!!!
5/7: Trackmeet and baking cookies
5/8: Setting up for Graduation, graduation at 2 pm and reception following
5/9: Mother's Day and probably crashing Ü

I do have a project preposted for Tombow to go post next week. They haven't told me the exact date yet, but it is for Teacher Appreciation week and I love how it turned out. Be sure to stop back in then.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Pink Paislee notebook

Tombow and Pink Paislee are pairing up this week. Be sure to stop by the Tombow blog daily to see what projects the DT create using the Pink Paislee kit we received.

Altered Notebook

This is a fun little extra gift that is quick and easy to make that I will be adding to the graduation cards I make for the girls on my list. I used paper and diecuts from Pink Paislee's 365 Degrees line and Tombow's MONO Adhesive Dots. The notebooks are mini composition books that Alco stores carry. They measure 4 1/8" x 5 7/8". Perfect for sticking in your purse for list makers or to write down your dreams and goals.

CSAYL #47 To "Die" For

Hello! I am your hostess today and we are going to use die cuts on our Christmas cards for this challenge. This challenge was inspired by a fun die cut Christmas card kit I won from PaperCrafts. The kit is by the company CTMH (Close To My Heart). The kit comes with die cut cards and adhesive back die cut shapes. Super easy to put together and they are flat so no extra postage. Ü Feel free to use your die cutting machines or pre cut shapes to make your card. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

this 'n that

I know I've been neglecting my blog and I will try to do better once graduation is over. I have been working on DT assignments and those will be posted when due otherwise it may be a bit quiet until after the 9th of May.

I did want to do the mom brag thing though. Aaron (15) entered an Optimist Essay Contest and won 2nd! The prize was $75. 1st and 3rd place winners were juniors and I was very proud of my freshman. The essay topic they all had to write about was "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?"  He did an awesome job and I was told by the person who gave him his certificate and check to never let Aaron stop writing. He said he has a wonderful way with words that is a gift. I didnt' tell him that I have a file folder of stories Aaron has written that are so funny and good.

Here is a photo of Aaron receiving his award from Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis was my speech teacher in high school, so it was fun to introduce him to my son.

Benjamin news: He has chosen to attend college at Chadron. It feels so good to finally have this marked off our list. He received the Presidential Gold Scholarship (all tuition paid) and will be majoring in pre-med. After 4 yrs he will have to transfer somewhere else to finish up.

Things are starting to sink in. I made my list last nite of everything that has to be done in 3.5 weeks. There is a lot to do and it's hard working full time, but hopefully I've got it paced out so that it will all get done in time.

Tombow and Cosmo Cricket

I LOVE Cosmo Cricket and was so excited when I learned that Tombow would be partnering with them for the month of April. The two kits I received were Early Bird and The Boyfriend. I have two cards to share with you today using each kit. You will be seeing lots more cards and projects made with these two lines.

My first card uses paper and coordination chipboard from The Boyfriend line. The chipboard has adhesive on the back which makes it even more easier to use.

For my second card I used my favorite kit Early Bird. I love the colors and patterns in this line. This ADORABLE image is from MFT's (My Favorite Things) Pure Innocence line called Apple For You. These images are just so sweet!

I colored the images with Tombow's Markers with a blender pen. Numbers 098, 062, 990, N00, 761, 243, 856, &, 977.

I also used Tombow's MONO Adhesive Dots to put the cards together and MONO Aqua Liquid Glue for the button.

I love the large scallop dies that I've seen people use and don't have one, so punched circles and lined them up behind the dotted patterned paper piece.

See the ribbon on my card? It looked like this first:

The stitching was too white for my card so I just colored the stitching with Tombow's #990 marker. Cool huh? Ü

Graduation Announcements

I just thought I would show you what I've been busy working on (and am STILL working on). I am taking these to school today to work on during my lunch break and after school while we wait for Benjamin to get out of track. I am hoping by tomorrow they will be pretty much finished (and then we will think of someone else to send to LOL).

The seniors' colors this year are Crimson and Chrome. I LOVE that! So much classier than red and gray. Ü Plus NO purple!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!! This is the smartest class to graduate! (for real too)

I have already gone through 3 MONO Adhesive Dots cartridges!

Live Loud

Another package I received from Imaginisce was from their Live Loud line. This line is perfect for boys! I was needing lots of boy cards and whipped these up super easy.
I also used Tombow's MONO Adhesive Dots. Love this adhesive!

Aaron's Mushroom

This card is made using one of Aaron's drawings. I used scraps to put the card together and used Tombow's Mono-Adhesive.

Nugget Bunnies

This fun project is one I will be teaching to the Resource students I work with. They are excited when I teach them a craft. They have to have all their work caught up and this is a great reward for working so hard.

This is super easy to do. I cut the bunnies with my cricut, but you can draw your own bunny head or google bunny images and there are lots online to choose from.

I cut a piece of patterned paper (here I used scraps from my spring block project by Imaginisce) 1.25" by 3". Adhere adhesive (I used Tombow's Mono-Adhesive) on strip and wrap around a Hershey nugget. I drew the bunny face on with a black marker and colored the nose and ears with pink. Markers are by Tombow also.

Use Tombow's Liquid glue to adhere the head to one end of the candy and a pompom for the tail to the other and quickly watch these bunnies multiply. Ü This project is a great one to do with children and a great way to use up all those patterned paper scraps.

**side note: this post was preposted. The students had a blast making these. Those bunnies were multiplying all over the place! Ü I couldn't take a picture of them, because the students I work with are part of the "no child left behind" program and it's confidential.

CSAYL Gift #2

For our second gift challenge, we were to create one of 3 boxes that Maria designed. This was so much fun to make and I plan to fill mine with a gusseted cello bag filled with cookies. I also will be looking for some wide wired ribbon to tie it up in.

Supplies:

paper: Bazzill, Basic Grey, Paper Studio

other: Basic Grey buttons, crochet thread, Tombow's Mono-adhesive and Mono-Adhesive Power Bond

Be sure to check the CSAYL blog for more inspiration AND tutorial link on how to make these boxes.