Leap Day Weekend Sale

Scrap Treasures is celebrating Leap Day with a sale! Use coupon "Leapday" to get 15% off your entire purchase (Feb. kit not included). Sale starts today and ends on Sunday night.

Also, join us on the message board for some extra Leap Day challenges!!!

It didn't used to be fair

I wish I had some creations to share, but unfortunately, playing cleanup and catch-up from two straight weeks of sickness in our house has kept me away from any crafty stuff for way too long. Thankfully, we are all over it now. And the house has been disinfected so many times I'd eat off the floors!

But I was reminded tonight of a story Addison told me a few weeks ago that I haven't written down yet. "It didn't use to be fair" was her way of starting the story. Of course, I have to ask..."what didn't used to be fair, sweetheart?"

"Well-l-l-l......back when Mrs. P was a little girl (Mrs. P is her 60-ish kindergarten teacher), she couldn't go to the same school with Mia and Taylor. (Mia and Taylor are two friends in her class). They would have to go to different schools and they couldn't be friends. And if they went on a field trip and they were on the same bus, Mia and Taylor would have to ride in the back and Mrs. P would have to ride up front. But Mark and Luke or King had a dream, and he changed all that!!"

I will show you my insightful little girl (who mixes up people with books of the Bible) with her wonderful RAK from my dear friend Linda. Linda sent her the most wonderful little book for Addison to put her art in. Doesn't she look so proud? Thanks Linda for such a wonderful surprise!

Dear World Layout

The flu bugs are slowly making their way through the whole house. My poor daughter has some kind of tummy bug. We had a long night and a mountain of laundry to deal with today. She is sleeping right now though....in fact, everyone is sleeping right now so I have a chance to share another layout using the Scrap Treasures February kit. The Daisy Bucket Love You papers are so versatile. You can do so much more with these than typical Valentine-theme papers.

This layout was inspired by a poem emailed to me from my good friend Sunny when Addison started kindergarten. This picture was taken the first day of school. Although she was a very brave and excited little girl, I know that deep down she was anxious and apprehensive. It was almost like she let her guard down for this picture with her dad.

And here is the poem. But I'm warning you...grab a tissue first.

Dear World:

I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy dress… with two blue
eyes... and a happy laugh that ripples all day long... and a flash of light blond
hair that bounces in the sun when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and
skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never
again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave
her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and
walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines... and wait by the alphabet for her
name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of
schoolbells... and deadlines... and she'll learn to giggle... and gossip...and
look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the
aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And, now she'll learn to be jealous.
And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside.
And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer
day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will
she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms
in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important
things... like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friend
is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the
magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and
playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship
with her teachers... which is only right.

But, no longer will I be the smartest, greatest man in the whole
world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll
learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all
its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...
or kiss dogs... or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms... or even watch
ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.

Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are
not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start
out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.

So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl... in a crispy
dress... with two blue eyes...and a flash of light blond hair that
bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well.

- Victor Buono

Cleanliness or Godliness?

I think I learned it all backwards. My humble, yet perfectionist, upbringing led me to believe that cleanliness was right up there with Godliness. Because of that I feel obligated to tell you that Addison had a bath, her hair was combed and her teeth were brushed before she went to school this morning to drop off the recycling. But I'm still chuckling. Carl and Addison just left for dance class. (I'm home with the napper because THEY have to practice their Daddy & Daughter recital number). As they are walking out for dance, Carl asks her if she brushed her hair today. She replies, "No. But it doesn't really matter. The only thing that matters is that Jesus is God's son!"

I'm gonna just reflect on that thought and keep smiling in my ultra quiet house with a scrapbook page at the table calling my name. *big smile*

Lollipop Matchbook Covers

I love these little matchbook covers for lollipops! Unfortunately, the flu is keeping me away from the kindergarten party this afternoon. But as I type this, my dear husband is on his way to do this craft project with Addison's class during the party. Crafts are so not his thing, so I'm really hoping to get some pictures from other moms or the teacher!

For this size lollipop, I cut the cardstock 5 7/8" X 2 3/8".

















Score and fold at 2.25", 2.5", 5", and 5 3/16".


Punch a hole in the middle of the 3/16" strip.

Use the ticket corner punch on the other end.






Make a pocket for the matchbook closure by inserting brads on each side.









Decorate the outside cover, put a lollipop inside the matchbook and what a nice little "cozy" for your favorite lollipop treat! I HATE having to miss the party. I'm betting the kindergarteners' will be cuter than mine. :)

5 Minute Cards!

I have NEVER been a speedy crafter. Alot of that is by my own choice. It's my way to relax and unwind, and I've just never felt the need to rush it. BUT...when you're sick and energy boosts can wane as quickly as they appear, it seems prudent to do things quickly so the kid's Valentine gifts will be ready when they arrive home in just a few hours.

Two super simple cards using the Cuttlebug and a couple of Love brads!

Last Minute Valentines

What do you do when you've been in bed with the flu for the past 30 hours or so and you suddenly realize there are no teacher gifts ready for tomorrow???? Luckily, I found a 5 minute solution.

• Find 2 treat bags left over from last year.
• Raid the bag of Snickers you bought for hubby. (He doesn't need the whole bag anyway!)
• Get out the Scenic Route Loveland kit.
• Use an SU sentiment stamp on a couple of scallop shape die-cuts.
• Fill bags with some Snickers.
• Staple the Garnet Street paper on top off the treat bags and add the die-cut embellishment.
• Voila! Problem solved. And I can go back to bed.
  
  This is why I love coordinated kits! The Loveland kit saved me tonight!!
  
  
  
  
  
  

Let me also show you a card I made earlier in the week using the Chickadee Street paper and my Cuttlebug.

Gettin' in the mood for LOVE?

I've been playing with the February kit at Scrap Treasures, and I am just loving these Daisy Bucket papers. Just too much fun for one girl, KWIM? Here are a couple of things I've done so far.
















I ordered prints last night for some more layouts I have in mind for this yummy kit. I'll pick them up today while dd goes to dance class.

And speaking of great deals on photos, this is the last day to pickup your FREE Family Value Pack (one 8x10, two 5x7's and four 4x6's) at Walgreens. Just order online, use the coupon code VALENTINE at checkout before midnight tonight! I'm still trying to decide which photo to order. LOL

It's been a long long time!

Ugh! I can't believe what a bad blogger I've been lately. That whole "busy-life-thing" got the best of me I guess. I've adjusted my work schedule and right now I'm going in five days a week. It's helping to leave a little bit earlier in the afternoons to keep our evenings from being too chaotic, and I hope it will help me stay on top of the impending overload of work the next couple of months. The past few weeks I've also felt better physically than I have since my back started giving me fits last May. YAY!!! But I've been devoting more time to the deep cleaning and decluttering that I just wasn't able to do last year. Anyway, I'll be trying to catch up on posts over the next few days. I do have a few things to share. But I'll leave you tonight with one of my all-time favorite pics of my goofy kids....the gnarly old pirate and the damsel in distress. LOL