Courageous Cub Keeper

At my daughter's elementary school, if you are given a "courageous cub" it means that you have been caught doing something good. It's their positive reinforcement system. They bring their courageous cub in to the office to show the principal and they get to pick out a special pencil. So far this year, Natalie has brought home 3 of them...and well you know I just can't throw them away!!! That would just be wrong. So I decided to create a little book for her to paste them into. Since the school mascot is a tiger cub, I designed the cover to look like a tiger.


The inside is made up of blank pages so she can add her courageous cubs as needed. As I was cutting and pasting the cover, my 4 year old Zander, was watching and asking me all about it. "Will you make one for me too?" he kept asking. I told him this was a special book for his sister, but when is old enough to go to 1st grade, I would make him one too. He really, really wanted to make one, but I didn't have time to sit down with him, so I just cut out an orange head shape and told him he could just draw the rest with his crayons.

With that I went outside to get some yard work done and after a while, Zander came out and showed me this:
It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen (you know the kind of cute only a mom can see!) It took my breath away because all this time I was out in the yard, he was in the house just working away on his tiger, using the left over scraps from my project. I could have cried!!!... I was so proud of him.

Happy Birthday Anne!

Yesterday I made this card for my friend Anne. It's kind of in the style of a money holder...

...because I wanted to include some Schrute Bucks in honor of "the Office" starting up again this week.

Here are all the Schrute Bucks in all their smarmy Dunder Mifflin glory:

Patterned paper and cherry ribbon are from Bo Bunny. Red card stock, paper punches and stamps are from Stampin' Up!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Arrrrr ye wonderin' where I've been? I took on a campin' voyage with me kids and caught me a bad case of the scurvy...(actually me caught a very bad cold which makes it hard t' Yarrr)! Avast, me hearties, for I want t' tell ye of me recent discoveries...It seems that today be "talk like a pirate day" on this 19th of September an' I been busy within' me kids who be also sick.

Dollar Store Barrrrrgains:

Earrings, socks n' straws arrrr perfect for today's festivities. Aren't they Darrrrling! (Never mind that the skull earrings appear to be wearing a grill!). Me also got the pirate hats n' eye patches for a piece o' eight (a dollar)!

In the Galley:

Today fer lunch, Capt'n Pirate Mama served up a sea-dog boat fer me wee shipmates. Made of tuna, this seafarin' vessel includes a walk the plank pickle and some scary sea fish crackers sure to bring out the fear in all ye land lubbers! Yarrr!!!


Fer dinner me fixed a Sea Monster surprise:

(Well, actually, it looks more like Hitler, but he be scary too, Yarrr!)
The we eyes were made of eggs in this fashion:
Ewww!

And fer dessert I served key lime pie. Why key lime? On accoun' o' limes help prevent th' scurvy!

The skull an' cross bones be made from meringue.

Thanks fer lookin'

If I gets over me cold by the week's end me plans t' go t' the Portland Pirate Festival!

Western Birthday Round-up!

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday, so we used it as an excuse to get together and celebrate all the end of summer birthdays we missed along the way.

I made this card for my sister-in-law Katy:
(all supplies Stampin' Up!)


My other sister-in-law Rebekah, and her DH, Dylan own a ranch, so they are very much into horses, so I made Rebekah this card:
(all supplies Stampin' Up!)

...and this is Dylan's Birthday Card
Step-by-Step

While searching Split Coast Stampers for a great card idea I came across this bad boy and just had to give it a try. Well, an hour later and I think I figured it out! It was pretty easy, but there were a few things that I had to figure out by trial and error. Rather than make you guess how this card was made I am going to show you step-by-step:

First, start with a piece of 12x12 "Bandanna Flat Paper" by K and Company. Cut out 2 large diamonds, so they each fit within a 4 1/4" square. Fold the diamond in half, then tuck the right edges in on the top and bottom. For the second diamond, fold the left edges in.


Next cut a piece of white card stock to 4 1/4 x 9 1/8. Score at 2 1/4 from one edge and 2 1/8 from the other edge, which leaves a very slight gap when you close the gate folded card. Using coordinating background paper, line the inside of the card (works best in a light color so you can write your message). You don't have to cover from edge to edge since this will be covered with the other bandanna background paper. Next take the bandanna paper that's been folded and glue the unfolded portion to the inside panels of the card. Close the card to match up the seams so the 2 diamonds on opposite sides connect to form one diamond.


Now you can glue the coordinating background paper to the front flaps and trim away any excess. I made the band out of pleather (found at my LSS) and cut out a smaller diamond shape from the same bandanna paper, then added some jute twine and a bronze brad by Making Memories. Sponge edges of card with Close to Cocoa ink. Finished card size is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4.

Lunchbox Notes

Well, I kind of went MIA this week as my 2 older kids both started back to school on Tuesday...and it's been a little bit of an adjustment. For starters my daughter is gone all day, which means she eats lunch at school. I have been enjoying packing her lunch, but want to try and make it fun for her too (in hopes that she will want to bring her lunch more.) For now, we are allowing her to get school lunches once a week, but it's $1.75 and for the most part she just wants the pizza...not the best choice, but she's 6, right?

So now that she's learning to read I have been sending notes in her lunchbox (see her cute princess lunchbox!!!). This was a great way to use up all those scraps I seem to have. Just can't seem to throw those scraps away because...say it with me: "I could use that someday!" Well, someday was today. Using scraps from my monster scrap bin, I created some little lunchbox notes for the upcoming weeks:

Retired Stampin' Up! "Fairy Nice." The images are water colored and embellished with prima flowers.

Stampin' Up's "Cute as a Bug." I made a bookmark too...for when she is reading a bit more. The leaves on the bookmark were made using the 5 petal flower punch and cutting the petals apart. I also used the scalloped circle punch, which I just love. Sayings inside the cards include "Bugs and Kisses" and "Cute as a Bug."

These were created from Stampin' Up's "Unfrogettable" set. I water colored them and added dazzling diamonds glitter.

These were fun to make, but if you don't have time to create your own notes, you can print some out from the following websites:
Lunchbox Notes 1
Lunchbox Notes 2

River Rafting Q & A

Q: Sherri asked "Who took the photo?"

The rafting outfitters have someone positioned on a bridge a few feet away from Husum Falls to take photos of all the rafts that come down. I think our guide said he takes something like 16 frames a second ...or maybe it was 16 frames a minute. Honestly I'm not sure, I was concentrating on not having a heart attack! Anyway, you can kind of see the shadow of the bridge in some of the photos.

Q: Tara asked "Which company did you go with?"

A: We went with a company called Zoller's Outdoor Odyssey. My husband researched a bunch of them and Zoller's had the best rating. I think we got the best guide too. He was having us turn 360s down some of the rapids...quite fun. We also got several chances to "surf" against the rapids. Highly recommended trip. Our guide also told us that the rafting starts in May with the first run off (from the mountain), but you can't go down the falls this early as there is more water making it too dangerous...Imagine that!

Thanks for your questions. Hope I answered them all.

Our little day on the river...

Here's what I did yesterday...

My husband and I and some friends all paddled down the White Salmon River...

...and down a class 5 waterfall!!!

Still hanging on to the the raft, we were submerged under the falls.

What a ride!

Altered First Grade Clip Board

One of the items on my daughter's first grade supply list was a clip board. When I read this, my gears started turning and I decided I would try to make an altered one for her to take to school. I bought all the school supplies on the list about a month ago, but did I bother to work on the clipboard? Oh, no! That would be too efficient. Instead, I wait until the morning before first grade orientation!!! Smart, no...but it did work out alright, so I guess I kinda lucked out. I was a bit nervous cause I've never made and altered clip board before and I've never modge podged anything onto acrylic, but it worked like a charm. I actually modge podged everything to the back (because the clipboard is clear) to avoid a bumpy clipboard since she will be using this at school. It's not as stylish and hip as many of the altered clipboards I have seen, but I think it is just fine for a first grader. Natalie LOVED it and even thanked me for making it for her. Anyway, here it is:

Letter stickers and water background paper is from EK Success. Ariel border strip is from My Paper Garden. Stickers are from Sandylion and the ribbon is from Offray. Natalie drew the picture of Ariel...so cute! The photo of Natalie and Ariel was taken at Disneyland and was the last part of the clipboard to dry, so when I took a picture of it, you can still see the glue...fortunately, it will dry clear...eventually

BBQ Thank You Card

First of all... a huge thank you for all the kind comments about my party pics. I love planning them and would really love to figure a way to make money doing parties...but I really have no idea how to go about it...Feel free to offer any suggestions in the matter...my mother-in-law wants me to start a business too, but I can't get my head around it all.

Anyway, my husband just took our oldest two kids (out of 3) camping and I am staying home to organize and de-clutter in an attempt to get ready for the upcoming school year. Just thought I would pop in and post a quick card I made last Friday for some friends who invited us over for a BBQ. I used a really old-school Stampin' Up! stamp set and my new D'vine Swirl embossing folder from Cuttlebug (which I use in my Sizzix Big Kick). I love it...so swirly and cute. Well...I'm off to do damage control in the playroom...wish me luck. If I don't post for a few days, you may want to call for help!

Stop and Go Cookies

These cookies were so much easier than I thought they would be...It's a good thing too, because after decorating all the sugar cookies I was frazzled!

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened coca powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Turn oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Using a mixer, beat butter for 30 seconds. Add sugar until combined. Add egg and vanilla. Add as much of the flour mixture as you can. If necessary, use hands to combine the remaining flour mixture to the dough. For each cookie, take 1 tablespoon of the dough and form into a rectangle on an ungreased cookie sheet. Push a wooden stick half way into the short side of the cookie. Press red, yellow and green m&m's onto each cookie. Bake for 8 minutes. Let cookies cool for at least 1 minute, then transfer to a cooling rack.

The rest of the party pics

The poll results are currently leaning towards posting party stuff here, so I will go ahead and post a few pics from last Saturday. I usually post party photos on my family blog, but I'd rather share them where more people can see what I've been up to. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

I go a little crazy at birthday time...see for yourself:

The Munchies:

Veggies and dip

PB & J samiches for the kids

Make your own sub sandwich for the "big" kids!

A truck-load of salty chips.

The Loot:
Each kid got a bunch of car/truck related things packaged up in the car shaped boxes I found at Oriental Trading. The fire fighter's badge and tattoo are from our local fire station (free!), the gummy cars, stencil, train whistle, tire flashlight key chain and mini truck are all from Oriental Trading.

These suckers are also from Oriental Trading...How cute are they?

I made a drivers license for each kid. They were a huge hit! Don't turn me in for making fake IDs!

When it was time to eat, everyone found where they were sitting at the table by locating their very own set of keys found from this website.

Party Fun
As the guest were arriving, my husband gave the kids rides on our riding mower.
Then we gathered all the kids around my brother-in-law's BIG truck for a great photo op.

The party table. I bought the plates and coordinating napkins when I saw them on clearance a couple years ago for $1 per package. I found those cute traffic signs at the Learning Palace.

Party entrance.

For games we played Red Light, Green Light and Duck Duck Goose. Then I got out the parachute and the kids enjoyed playing parachute games.

Thanks for looking!

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Please vote and tell me what you think. Thanks for your imput.

Crafty Cake!

I think I have just about recovered from my latest burst of creative energy. Last weekend we celebrated my son's second birthday with a cars, trucks and trains birthday. I found the cutest idea for a cake and decided to give it a try...
I don't know what I was thinking...this cake took 4 cake mixes and 2 days of prep to make. Decorating all the cookies (over 50 of them) was a 3 step process: outline with colorflow, let dry overnight, fill in with a thinned-down colorflow, let dry, then add all the details and let dry. After it was all done I realized it was all worth it, but in those 2 days, I was a wreck!

What's old is new again

I haven't spent too much time making cards or scrapbooking. Rather I have been working my tail off in the garden, pulling weeds. In my relaxing time, I have been spending far too much time at 2 peas on the message boards there. I did manage to "beautify" this old storage bin thing that was left in the garage when we moved here. It was blue and I spray painted it pink...

Why am I all of a sudden pulling weeds, camping out on 2 peas and spray painting bins? Because that's what I do when I am procrastinating getting ready for Hayden's upcoming birthday party. Don't get me wrong, I am totally looking forward to the party, I just hate all the cleaning before hand...so I do other non-related things to pass the time until the very last minute when I run around like a mad women trying to whip this place back into shape!

Before:

After:

Anniversary Card

I made this card for a friend's anniversary. The gold paper is made from from tissue paper. I crumpled up the tissue, then unfolded it and ironed it on to the glossy side of freezer paper...Instant textured paper.