Turning my blog into a book

I don't have anything to show for my fabulous creativeness today. I just created and ordered to have my classroom blog printed in a book. I'm not sure I really love how it turned out. It didn't keep each post on one page, so sometimes it had the title and then the pictures and post were on the next page--I don't like that. But, it wasn't worth my time to figure out how to fix it. I'm printing it so I can take it off the web and then I will have a record of it. I really wish I had started it at the beginning of the year because there is so much we did in class that isn't in there and then when the teacher deletes all the pictures--there goes the proof that we actually do learn something.(it wasn't intentional) So I will have to show you a picture of it when it comes--I chose free shipping, so it says it won't arrive until July 23--do you really think it takes that long? But free is free!!

Yesterdays project was totally a flop. I was trying to make some cute little flowers but nothing worked. Today I went with a much easier idea. I printed of this and then Megan glued it on to a box of snaps. The download came from eighteen25 blog. I am going to give these out tomorrow to everyone at work.

Flowers...finally

Well, Saturday I finally decided since the weather was close to 100 degrees, maybe it was warm enough to plant my barrels. I'm not kidding when I say we've had freezing weather right up until now...now we have cooking, hot weather. But I love it. I love mornings like today when I can go outside and water my plants or take photos without even a sweater...the kind of mornings I want to stay home and have breakfast out on the patio. Relax...soak of the sun...take walks...ride the bike..play baseball...just enjoy life. I love summer.
Anyway...I digress...I finally went to Viki's (thanks Danelle and Jeff for those mother day gifts) and got plants and started filling my barrels. My plan was to try and plant red/white/blue in the barrels out front. I love how they turned out.
I also bought a hanging basket...even though I have no where to hang it. It was just so pretty. I'll find somewhere.
Jeff & I are taking some well deserved days to relax, but I've loaded up some things so you won't even miss me. I'll be back posting like crazy before you know it.

Water Fight

This little bucket is a compilation of several ideas I have seen around. The water bottles are to use instead of squirt guns. The ones I saw had the child's name on it, which was really cute. The little sponge balls were really easy. You just cut the sponge into thirds and then put a tie thing really right around it. I threw in a couple packages of water balloons. I figure that this might be something that boys might be interested in for the family reunion auction. It is actually kind of amazing that I have something finished for the auction 6 weeks before.

My excuses

I had great intentions of getting something done today--but I didn't. I did spend a half an hour talking to a co-worker about a little project we are doing---that really is a creative endeavor---and way out of my comfort realm. I can't wait for summer school to end so I will actually have time to get something accomplished. I have lots of ideas--maybe tomorrow I will get TWO things done.

Fourth of July

This week we are going to make some 4th of July decorations. Hopefully at the end of the week our house will look a little festive.

For this project we covered two cans with paper. The can without anything is in we are planning on adding licorice so that it looks like a sparkle. This project was super easy and I think will be really cute with the other things I am planning on doing.

Pictures

Today I went out to try and take family pictures for Jeff and Burket. There were only a few pictures that I liked. I really love the middle one. The middle picture was taken in downtown Paul, and the other two were taken in front of the barn at grandma's. Tonight I put them in this frame, not something I normally do, I usually have Ashley fix them up for me.

Photo Creativity

BEFORE

AFTER


We had our Johnson reunion this weekend at Massacre Rocks, so that explains our absence. One of the things on my list of stuff to figure out has been using Photoshop actions on pictures. So, this weekend I took some pictures and thought I would give it a try today. I have to confess that this took me a long time because I was just making it way too hard. Once I figured out that I was doing a LOT of work that I didn't have to, it was really easy--about had it finished, and my computer crashed (of course). So, this has been a several hour project, but I think it was totally worth it--and I figured it out myself. I'm not sure I really loved how the pictured ended up, but not bad for a first try. Now I only need to do it about 20 more times and I will have it down pat. (The action is the Polaroid Emulsion Action from coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com)

A Mini Album

Here are some pics I took of a mini album I did - not all on the same day - as there were 20 pages besides the covers to decorate.  It is very simple, but the recipient was so thrilled with it, I felt good about it.  It is a chipboard book from Stampin' Up! and I used only 4 12X12 sheets of designed paper to do all the pages and cover.  It was fun and fairly quick to complete.  I tried to use flowers and butterflies, then some embellishments so it didn't get too much, if you know what I mean.  Enjoy!!

Well, I have been blog hopping, trying to find some inspiration of something creative to do today. Next thing I know, I've spent about 45 minutes just reading various blogs. People's lives are just so interesting...and I still didn't find anything to inspire me, and now I don't have time to go for my run either. So, I went through a magazine and came up with this card. I think this would be a good card to make up for the teacher appreciation card packs, we just need to find a lot of little buttons.

I've got plans for this little journaling book. I saw someone that had made a little mini album using one of these little books. I have a great idea for it, but it's going to take a little prep work, but I think it's going to be good.

Old Crayons with a new life

This is a project that I have been wanting to do for a long time.

We went from a bunch of old crayons to this kind of cool mixture of crayons.

The hardest part of this project was taking the paper off of all the old crayons. That took a little bit of time. After that we used a mini muffin tin and layered the crayons in. My second batch turned out better because I didn't stack any crayon on top of each other and so they didn't mix.

Rag Blanket

Mom finished up this rag quilt. It is made using extra pieces she had from a couple other turquoise rag blankets. She is probably going to donate it during blanket month or give it to the Christmas Council.

Flowers

This was a really easy project also. We are trying to decorate our front room after six years. The vase/picture we found at Ikea and then I added the flowers and ribbons. It was super easy and hopefully you think it is pretty good for my first attempt at a flower arrangement. I even cut the flowers apart and didn't just put them in the vase.

Picnic for a day

I have had this idea for about a month and then started it a couple of weeks ago. Ashley helped with the ribbon. I finished all of the things inside each basket today.



Inside this basket is where all the utensils are kept. Also a table cloth and plates.

The basket is from Target and then I added the food.

This was the push I needed to finish this project. Pretty simple but I hope we will use it and have fun (if the weather ever gets warm).

Another project done!!!!

I finished another project today. I am supposed to be visiting the sisters in our ward who have birthdays this month, so I thought I would take something to them as well. Since the 4th of July is coming up soon, I made these really cute flags out of 2x4s. I just need to attach a tag and deliver them.

Today... I started

So, last weekend I cleaned out my scrapbook room--I didn't really clean it out, I guess I cleaned it UP!As I cleaned out, I put all the stuff that I have bought to make something out of in a tupperware. I put unfinished projects in it too. And I put stuff I just don't know what to do with in there also. Why do I hold on to all this stuff??? So, my first goal is to use this stuff up!!!
So far...
1) used two leftover small magnet boards that I used for mother's day at school two years ago as gifts

2) I think I have had these Valentine card kits for about 3 years---they are put together now and ready to use
3) Finished painting the top and saucer of my chalkboard flowerpot (I don't love the color-but it is what it is) This was my class mother's day project this year, a smaller size. Now I need to find a use for it.


4) I also cleaned out all of my magazines (why do I keep them?) I looked through them and ripped out projects, cards, layouts that I liked. Now I need to cut them to size and put them in my idea binder.

NOW what should I do???