Going around the "bend"

I love it when worlds collide! When MemoryWorks (a direct sales company I work with) started selling Fiskars products I was so excited. Since I love my fiskars tools (and even demoed for them for a couple of years) it was a fabulous match. One of the biggest questions I got was "is there a way to go around the corner with the border punches?" the answer is YUP...and Teamworks leader Lacey Igo "cornered me" (hee hee ;) to post a simple tutorial on it... enjoy!

Around the Bend

School is cool

How cool my "Home'Scool" magnetic board was featured on the Simple Stories blog

School is Cool

along with multiple projects from my every so creative pal Kemi!

Home'Scool

This is the project I did for MemoryWorks...you can find the original post

--->MemoryWorks Blog

I homeschool all four of my kids. That means four different grades multiplied by 6 or 7 different subjects, meaning somedays it's impossible to determine who has done what without asking them, which means I have to interrupt (and distractions mean it takes awhile for them to get back on track) or if I am working with one child and someone finished their work they need to know what else to do again, meaning an interruption. I wanted to create something that the kids and I could determine what schoolwork had been done and what still needed to be accomplished.

Enter in the Simple Stories Ele.ment.ary kit. MemoryWorks sent me this collection to play with but how was this "homeschooling mom" going to use this more traditional school kit? Fanning through the papers several were lined "chart style" and that gave me an idea. I wondered if I could create a reusable chart that would show me at a glance what the kids had already done and show the kids what they still needed to accomplish for the day.

I tossed around a few ideas, laminating, cork board, dry erase but the one that made the most sense was a magnet board. Something that would allow me to change subjects based on the day and allow the kids (younger ones especially) a sense of accomplishment marking off what they had finished.

I started with a sheet of metal. Instead of purchasing something new, my husband (for some reason known only to him) saved the side panels of our old dishwasher. He cut down one of them to fit a frame I picked up at the thrift for $2. I had refinished the frame with a light crackle coat (layered gold and cinnamon for those wondering) I wanted the frame to have the same vintage-y "old school" feeling I got from the kit.

I then laid out papers and embellishments to suit my purpose.

I did need to add several lines to the green paper to have enough spaces for all of our subjects. I used a "metal" embellishment glue stick to adhere things to the metal sheet and then covered everything with several coats of "paper mod podge" (I love mod podge!) I could have used the mod podge to stick things down with (especially since it was heavier cardstock) but I have a tendency to be VERY generous with the mod podge and didn't want my paper to buckle. For my title I inked chipboard pieces and then instead of mod podge-ing them with everything else. I did them separately. Some types of ink can run when it's applied so to solve that I did them by themselves, let them dry and then glued them on.

To create the subject magnets, I used the printable elements from the simple stories collection (the do it yourself word tabs) I photoshopped the words on the tabs before I printed them out on cardstock and then ran them through the Xyron 900 with laminate/magnet backing. The markers used to check off when a subject was completed were made by adhering glass stones to scraps of cardstock with glossy accents. (I coated the backsides as well before adhering sticky back magnet strips to them.)

Overall I was quite pleased with the way this turned out. The kids were thrilled to be able to KNOW what had to be done during a particular day and love to be able to "mark off" when something is done. Best yet I can see at a glance who has done what!

Supplies used: MemoryWorks Simple Stories Ele.ment.ary kit and digital elements. Ranger ink, Glossy Accents, Velspar crackle paint (gold and cinnamon) Chipboard (Rusty Pickle Random) Pioneer metal embellishment glue, Mod Podge paper (matte finish.) self adhesive magnet strips, Xyron 900 w/laminate magnet cartridge.

They call me mom!

This month I am the hostess for the consultant challenge over at MemoryWorks.

May being the month we celebrate Mother's day I chose the theme "MOM" for our challenge. Here was the page I was inspired to do...

(The tan cardstock is hidden journaling that reads:)

I always wanted to be a mom, cause I have such a great one! I couldn't believe when you came into my life. One by one you changed me with your smiles and your love. Each one of you is special and amazing, every day I marvel that the Lord has given you to me and that you call me mom!

Supplies: MME laundry line, Prisim cardstock, MME Bohemian embossed chipboard, AC letter stickers, prima flowers, Heidi Swapp gemstones, Border from? (it's from an old MWE kit) glue dots, fiskars adhesive.

Happy Valentines Day

I work a couple of days a week at the YMCA. Less than two weeks ago I noticed that our C.A.S.T. (Caring and sharing team) was helping a local mission by collecting valentines. So this Valentines Day, I asked my friends from Fiskateers, MemoryWorks, and Faithfully Yours, if they would help me create valentines for MorningStar Mission's "Bridging Hearts" mission this February 14. The problem was though time was short. They had around a week to send them to me. Fifteen ladies from all over the US and Canada, took me up on the challenge and sent me 89 valentines that will be shared then with the people from the mission.

Thank you to everyone that helped bring a smile to someone's face this Valentines Day!

For more about the mission visit
Morning Star Mission

Simple Gifts

I love making gifts for family and friends but don't always have a ton of time. Therefore I have to look for something that is cute but fast. These binder clip photo/card holders fit that description to a "T".

I found this idea right before the MemoryWorks retreat and so I just had to make up a bunch for the Home Office Staff and the Creative Team. (From the smiles on their faces I think they liked them *grin*)

To make you simply take a Jumbo binder clip and cover the clip part with modge podge, and cover with patterned paper or card stock. Tuck your edges in and cover with a few coats of modge podge. When dry, use glue dots to add embellishments and then tuck in a photo or card in the silver "handle" part and voila' fast and fabulous gift. They make a cute arrangement when you use photos of different heights too.

For more detailed instructions and another idea on how to use them check out Faithfully Yours . This project is part of their Friday ezine and in the September Ministry Guide.

It's a Par-tay!

Check us out all decked out in our party hats!!! (Thanks Gretchen!) I love the fiskateer board! They are such a great community and have such fun online crops (they have fun off line stuff too but that's another story)

This weekend Angela (one of the leads) is holding an online crop! Come join in the fun!--->  Fiskateers

This photo is of Stacy Julian and I at the MemoryWorks retreat! (I found out Stacy J was a fiskateer at CHA this summer so it's only fitting she joined the party!!!)