Christmas gift

This is the shoes I made for my mom for Christmas. Both before, during and after.

Back to school

So today we had a "dry run" for the first day of school tomorrow. Basically, it just means I made the kids get up early like they will have to from now on so they wouldn't argue about bedtime tonight. We've decided we need to get much more serious about moving, and rather than doing that to the kiddos in the middle of a school year, they are starting the year out at their brand new schools. Plus J is starting a new job after 20 years at this one, and I am starting a new school.

I've tried for the last couple of years to make the kids card on the 1st day of school, so here is the card I made this year, and I made matching ones for their teachers. you can also check out my Youtube for a video about how I made it, if you are interested.

Sad about the Holidazzles (and scrapbooking)

I am still making major progress on the 8 calendars I am making for loved ones for Christmas. They are done through July. I am so excited. I just made a Youtube video that talks a bit about them, and shares them. I couldn't sleep tonight. We went to Holiday World (area amusement park) and I did something to comepletely mess up my right foot. It had what I thought was cramps while swimming today, but I can still barely move my toes and it was throbbing so much I couldn't sleep (even after taking a prescription painkiller). The good news is it means I made a video.

On the note of Holiday World - any of my friends from this area know the park well, I am sure. So, a couple of years ago we caught a show in the theater right at the very front of the park with these characters they called the "Holidazzles" say want you want about them, yes I know they were corny or cheesy, or whatever, but the show was cuteand origonal, it really caught kids attention and the song was extremely catchy and memorable (I can still sing part of it - ok???)SO, ANYWAY......we went back today, and I want to make sure to catch the Holidazzles to see a new updated act. (BTW - you can see the song I am talking about on YouTube - search HoliDazzles and the poster is HoliBlogger) First, they are no longer in the theater up front - apparently Santa took it over for pics with kiddos (whatever), they now perform in Holidog town. This made me somewhat skeptical, but I was willing to give them a chance, so we went to watch the show at 11:30 when the guide siad they performed and - NO SHOW.....the kids played in Holidog town anyway, and were about to leave when we realized it was almost time for the next show so we stayed around to see. They did perform, but all they did was dance to some canned music. No singing, and although they were decent dancers, the dances weren't incredible. And their costumes were mostly very dissapointing. Halloween and July 4th looked cute and dazzling, even, but the other 2 needed work. and worst of all - no Holidazzles song! - super bummed.....I am totally writing to someone.......it wasn't that the ladies did badly, it's just a sad representation (because of a sad use of their characters) of what was something really cute!

No more procrastinating!

I'm so proud of myself that:

1 - I am done with my last Ivy Tech class except for just taking the final (doing that on Friday)

2 - I am actually remembering to post on my blog

3 - I made my blog all pretty (like it?)

4 - I have an AMAZING start on the calendars I give as Christmas gifts each year. I already have almost 5 months done on them. The earliest I have even started them before is like October. There are 8 of them, so it takes me quite a bit of time, even though i try to keep the designs fairly simple. (sharing some pics below)

Now I just have to make my ATC cards for this month's swap and figure out what fun thing to do with my kiddies on my day off today. It will either have to be indoors or I will have to wear a shirt, because I am super sunburned from taking them to the pool 2 days ago.

For several years, my mother-in-law exchanged gifts with her other daughter-in-laws parents during the holidays. Usually for her, it meant she send something crafty and got some cute, thoughtful thing in return. The last couple of years, it had kind of dropped off, so she thought they were done, when suddenly 3 days before Christmas a ham appeared.

Having pretty much exhaused all of her own craftiness, she turned to mine, and asked me to do a calendar like the one I do for her each year, but with pics of my brother and sister-in-law. They had to help us out and send us the pics, so it took a bit of coaxing and time to get all that together, and then get them printed. Then I had to get it all together. We finally got all that done, and so I spent pretty much the last 3 days making this calendar for her, I'm not sure how great my pics will show it, but here it is....let me know what you think.

For several years, my mother-in-law exchanged gifts with her other daughter-in-laws parents during the holidays. Usually for her, it meant she send something crafty and got some cute, thoughtful thing in return. The last couple of years, it had kind of dropped off, so she thought they were done, when suddenly 3 days before Christmas a ham appeared.

Having pretty much exhaused all of her own craftiness, she turned to mine, and asked me to do a calendar like the one I do for her each year, but with pics of my brother and sister-in-law. They had to help us out and send us the pics, so it took a bit of coaxing and time to get all that together, and then get them printed. Then I had to get it all together. We finally got all that done, and so I spent pretty much the last 3 days making this calendar for her, I'm not sure how great my pics will show it, but here it is....let me know what you think.

"Quick" Project

For several years, my mother-in-law exchanged gifts with her other daughter-in-laws parents during the holidays. Usually for her, it meant she send something crafty and got some cute, thoughtful thing in return. The last couple of years, it had kind of dropped off, so she thought they were done, when suddenly 3 days before Christmas a ham appeared.

Having pretty much exhaused all of her own craftiness, she turned to mine, and asked me to do a calendar like the one I do for her each year, but with pics of my brother and sister-in-law. They had to help us out and send us the pics, so it took a bit of coaxing and time to get all that together, and then get them printed. Then I had to get it all together. We finally got all that done, and so I spent pretty much the last 3 days making this calendar for her, I'm not sure how great my pics will show it, but here it is....let me know what you think.

New Notebook

So, I'm trying to get myself "geared up" for this semester and find a way to get my mind set - and I'm just not getting there. So I decided to use a challenge from My Pink Stamper as inspiration, and even though I have absolutely no time this week, I pretty much literally threw together this project using my two favorite cricut cartridges (Create-A-Critter and Mickey Font) and some Hobby Lobby papers. At least this way I have something a litte bit cute to take with me Monday morning . I've been back in college for a year now, but Monday will be the first class I have to attend in person - so far all my classes have been online. I haven't stepped foot in a classroom in almost 20 years and I am pretty nervous.

Let me know what you think of my notebook!