Finally...

A few weeks ago I saw a Scrapbooking journal on someone's blog (I wish I could remember who to give them proper credit) and I knew I wanted to make one.  So FINALLY after at least 3 weeks I took a few hours last night and today to make it.  I just used an old spiral notebook because I have so many (this one is left from when I was in College 10+ years ago (my mom overstocked me with supplies).  I really enjoyed making it and cannot wait to use it to fill it with ideas.  I made 4 tabs for Journaling/Thoughts, Pages, Cards and Wishlist.  I plan to use to to put in page ideas I have seen or come up with, write something funny my kids said or a story I want to remember to scrap.  I am hoping it will help me be more organized when I sit down to actually make something!  We will see :)  I used the poster I saw on Creating Keepsakes via Facebook a few weeks ago for the inside cover, however, I only used photo corners to put it in so that if I have another inspiring poster I can easily change it.  I also plan to add something to each divider/tab but I am not sure what yet, it will go along with the theme of that tab.  The best thing was I used items (paper, ribbon, notebook) that I already had.

Too much snow...Expression Time!

So Friday my Cricut Expression arrived...so did the first of the 2010 Blizzards. We lost power for 3 days-we stayed one night and then had to pack up and go to my in-laws (thank God for them and 4 wheel drive). I finally returned home Monday with 2 of the 4 kids (the boys wanted to stay at Nana and Grampy's). Tuesday I FINALLY got up to my craft room to play with the Expression. I also downloaded the free trial for DesignStudio. LOVE them both. I had a great time making some simple cards (I am a simple gal) for friends, family and some Valentine bags for my staff (if work ever opens again:). I also used an old set of Stampin' Up stamps that I love and had not used in forever. Here are some pics. I can't wait until I get some more time to play with the Expression some more. Just for fun I put in some pics of the snow and some cookies I made (and ate way too many of) :)

What a night!

Thursday was CRAZY!  My computer crashed at work, I had to leave early for a doctors appointment for my son, I was late because of the computer crashing and everyone feaking out avout the impending snow storm.  Then his appointment ran long, we had to go to the Grocery store to get items for Internations Night at their school AND I still had to finish the Teachers Appreciation Gift for Ryan's 3rd grade teacher. Well thank goodness it was finished by 10:30pm and I could spend some quality time with my hubby before drifting off to sleep.

Here is the final product.  It should come in handy for my sons teacher given the weather this weekend.  It has lots of snacks, a couple of movies, candy, some wine, some soda and a nice soft blanket to cover up with while watching the movies, drinking some wine and eating all of the snacks and candy!  I hope she likes it.

 

It has also cards that some of the students made for her.  They are adorable.

Gotta love the snow day

Wow, today was awesome!  School was cancelled for the boys which meant I had to stay home from work to watch them :)  I worked for about 4 hours this morning and then I came upstairs to have some Cricut time!  I had a great time.  I needed to make a few things and was able to quietly enjoy the time and space to make them. 
First I had to make a birthday card for a little girl in my 6 year old Kyle's class.  I liked the princess crown card on Cricut.com from the Sweet Treats Cart but I just wanted it to be simple so here is my version of it:

Next I had to make a Thank You card for my 8 year olds Teacher for Teacher Appreciation day this Friday.  I also am the room mom and am making a "Winter Picnic Basket" so I also made some of the decorations for that, which I will complete tonight or tomorrow.  I used the Simply Sweet cartridge for the Thank You card and I used the Locker Talk cart for the basket decorations.

I had a great day playing with the Cricut.  I can't wait until my Expression arrives and I certainly hope it does not take so long for me to get back to it again :) 

WOW...where have I been?

Oh my goodness.  I feel so out of it.  It has been a crazy few weeks around my house.  We all (except the baby-thank goodness) had a stomach bug which took a week to get through everyone.  Then with school for the boys and work for me things have been hectic.  Although I have been on reading other people's blogs I have not had time for my own.  I did do something for myself last week...I ordered the Cricut Expression....YEAH.  I am so excited.  I have the Cricut Create now which I love but there are so many projects I see and want to do that need the bigger machine so I am very excited to have finally ordered it after I toyed with the idea for weeks.

This week is another busy week and I know I have two projects to make on the Cricut, a Teacher Appreciation Card for Ryan's, my 8year old, teacher because it is Teacher Appreciation Day on Friday and a Birthday card for a little girl in Kyle's, my 6 year old, class for her birthday party on Sunday so I will FINALLY have something to post on here!  Can't wait to take some time to use the Cricut and to actually post a project!

Get togethers...

Sunday we had a small birthday party for my daughter Ally who turned 2 last week.  It was so nice to have friends and family over.  Ally really enjoyed playing with some of her cousins and my girlfriends daughters.  She also got a big kick out of her presents and cupcake.  She is just so proud of the fact that she can blow out her candle.  I had hoped to use the Sweet Treats cartridge to make some decorations but ran out of time so I ended up just making one small little decoration but I enjoyed it, it allowed me to "test" using the cartridge, however, it did help me decide that I have to get the Expression.  I have the Create, which I love but I wanted to make cupcake holders but read in the Cricut messageboard that you need to cut it at 7" for it to fit a regular size cupcake.  I may use it to make the teachers muffins next month when my sons class hosts the teacher appreciate breakfast since I can mini-muffins but some time in the next few months I have to work on getting the Expression.  I am not sure what I would be able to do with my Create but I have a friend who may want to buy it.  We will see.  Anyway, I enjoyed the week celebrating Ally's big day.  I love birthdays, I think they are so special and I am already excited about (one day) scrapbooking the pictures.  Here are a few :)  Her brothers and baby sister enjoyed helping Ally celebrate as well.

My baby (big) girl turns 2!

Yesterday my oldest daughter turned 2.  We are having a family party this weekend but I love to do something for the kids on their actual birthday so we went out to dinner.  When my daughter was 15 months old we found out (through a very unfortunate process that included a 1 week stay in Childrens Hospital and a scare that her kidney's were failing her) that she has a non-ige mediated milk allergy so she cannot have any dairy.  I stayed up Wednesday night making her some of her special cupcakes.  She was SO excited on Thursday to take a couple to the babysitter so she could have 1 and share some.  Then when we went to dinner I took a few.  She was SO excited when she saw it and the candle.  She blew the candle out before we were done singing and said "I did it, I blow".  It was the cutest thing ever and I knew at that moment and when I saw the pictures my husband took then I could not wait until I finally get around to scrapbooking that page (when I eventually get to it).

Sunday for her party we are doing a Diego theme because she LOVES Diego.  I am using the Sweet Treats Cricut Cartridge also to make some decorations.  I will be sure to put some pictures on here once I am done with them.  Hopefully after her birthday I can get back into the swing of things and get some projects done (I think I keep saying that :))