Bee Card

I made this card as a little thank you for my dentist and his assistant. (Lets just say I am a troublesome patient). I used Papertrey ink cardstock and ribbon (summer sunrise), palette ink (black noir), PTI honeybees stamps, stickles (diamond), and glossy accents. I used my scor pal to score the rectangle around the bee. Its a nice simple card and definitely easy to make.

Saving Money AGAIN!

Just call me a Big Lots addict. Today as I was driving home from work I heard a little voice say, go to Big Lots... you have time... there is something so good there!! So instead of heading home to the burbs I turned the van to go deeper into the 'hood. I parked my car, noticed that their were the two requisite cops sitting out by the liquor store, and then I headed in to Big Lots. I just knew there was going to be something awesome. I walked over to the scrapbook section (pitifully small) and lo and behold! What do I see???? Its Basic Grey all over the place! It was all I could do not to snatch it all up! They also had some awesome MAMBI kits but I had already promised myself no more paper after my last three purchases of super sized paper slabs. So I had to pass those up...it nearly killed me!!! Anyway I was so very pleased with my haul... now to use it... hmmmmmm... maybe I will just look at for awhile.

SCARY!!!!

I found this on my computer today. I think its my boy... its beyond creepy!

Two Weeks

is the amount of time left before summer vacation! Ahhh the best part about being a teacher, you still get summer vacation! Its not as carefree as it was when I was a kid but its still awesome! Tomorrow I have a day long meeting... bleh. Then the rest of the week is business as usual, except for Friday which is movie day. Gotta love movie day! Also this week my kids begin swimming lessons... I am hoping this is the year they actually learn to swim. My daughter is so close, I am hoping and praying it "clicks" this time! The boy... well he is still trying to learn to put his head under, so I have a feeling its going take a few more lessons for him.

Another Card

This was the other card that I was working on for the papertrey ink blog hop. It also has grid style scoring. I like everything about it except that I tried to heat emboss the crown and I think it looked better before I did that. I am not sure who this will go to. Its just sitting in my stash with several others.

PaperTrey Ink Blog Hop

Its that time of the month! Time for the PaperTrey Ink Blog Hop! See all the details here. This month's challenge was to use score lines. It was a challenge for me.... I had to use my old grey fiskars and the scoring blade... it was tricky. I made two and couldnt decide which to show.... so I just played eeny meanie.

Some Crafty Stuff for You

I have been playing in my craft corner.... testing out my new papertreyink stamps. I made a few cards, one is for bloghop so I have to keep that to myself for now... you will see it Wednesday night. Of the two I posted, one is for my friend who is expecting a baby girl in September. I used bitty baby and lavender moon from papertrey ink. The other is made from papertreyinks new Kraft paper and the new honeybee stamp set. I was just messing around, not sure if I like this card or not. It went into my stash for the next time unexpected card occasions arise.

Been Slackin'

I have been slacking with the blog. I don't know but lately I just haven't had a whole lot to say. I have been crafting but I haven't taken any pictures of my creations. Maybe today if I find the time. I have the day off for Memorial Day. We are getting close to the end of school, just three weeks left! Hard to believe summer is almost here! I am looking forward to loafing around all day.

Some other things going on:
Gave a "scrapbooking" lesson to a friend of mine yesterday. Loaded her up with Joann's coupons. I think its safe to say that I lured in another one. She was all ready to run right out and buy a trimmer, paper, albums, etc. This after completing just two pages. Papercrafting is an addictive and expensive little hobby. I did try to give her some money saving tips: Joanns and Mikes coupons, stop off at Big Lots frequently, watch for Target clearance.

Getting a crown put on Wednesday, and not the princess crown I deserve! Man I hate going to the dentist. I am finally at the final step of this crown nonsense. I pray I never need another one!!!

Tripped over my stupid cat on the stairs Thursday. Fell on my butt and apparently jarred every muscle in my body. My neck is still aching. I think this means I am getting old.

Speaking of stupid cats, both my indoor cats have parasites and so they have to take medicine. Anyone who has ever tried to give a cat meds knows exactly what I am talking about!! These stupid cats have clawed me, bit me and spit their stupid medicine all over me! Cats are so ungrateful!

So thats the update here... you really didn't miss anything, my life still holds all the excitement of a snail.

SAVING MONEY BIG TIME!!!

What you see is an American Crafts Modern 12x12 D ring album... Its that funky cardboard color because you add your own paper and embellies to make it gorgeous. I found this baby at Big Lots... do you see the price??? A mere $5! I bought 3... which truely was showing restraint because they had 8 and I wanted to buy them all! Do you know what these retail for down at the local scrapbook store?? Let me tell you... $19.00!!! And even online they are $17 (plus shipping) Dont believe me? Look here. I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops! "Look at the amazing deal I got!" I didn't shout when I came home with it though... I kind of snuck in the house and slid the giant bag of albums (and ummm a few other good deals) under my craft table where hopefully my husband will just walk on by... otherwise he might start questioning me on why I need yet another (or three) empty scrapbook albums.

Random Stuffs*

Just a collection of random stuffs* floating around in my head:

It's May which means school (a.k.a. my job) is almost out!! I have four weeks left until summer time! Time to be lazy, hang with my kids, slide my walrus like body into my swimsuit and wish that I had worked out more and indulged in cookies less this past winter.

I have been working alot! Grades, summer project, yearbook, final edit on the newspaper... they are all eating into my crafting time. Looks as if crafting will be on hiatus for a few weeks.

My tooth hurts. I am in the process of getting a crown and its not going well. The only highlight is that my dentist is hot. and nice. And Hot. and he is uses the Novocain well. Oh and did I mention he is HOT? I wish I could think of a good reason to sneak my camera in and get a picture... but all scenarios end up with me looking like a loon, a stalker, or a desperate housewife.

I found a new blog a few weeks ago. Its heart wrenching. Its heart warming. Its sad and yet its uplifting. Its about a man and his baby and his beloved wife who died the day after their daughter was born. This all happened a mere 7 weeks ago. The writing is beautiful, the pictures are poignant. The entire thing is so beautiful and yet so sad. The link is in my sidebar. Its called Matt, Liz, and Madeline. Get your tissues before you click.

My boy outwitted me in the flip flop saga. I was outwitted by a 4 year old. Hmmmm... just what does that say about me?

Its late... ok its not... is 9:10. But I am old and I have to get up at 5:20 and I need all the beauty sleep I can get. So happy Wednesday to you all! Thanks for stopping by my little piece of the internet.

*stuffs is a word my son says frequently. I am not as illiterate as I seem to be. I have a piece of paper that says I am qualified to teach young children... hmmmmm... maybe you should be worried.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Yesterday I went to the giant bullseye and bought my boy some Transformer flipflops. Now my boy has some perfectly good spiderman flipflops but they were from last summer and he wanted some new ones. So being the good mother I am I complied. We get said flipflops home and the boy puts them on and decrees they are too tight, they hurt, and he hates them. Furthermore he is never ever going to wear these flipflops. So I put them pack in their packaging and put them on the counter so I can take them back or trade them in for a bigger size.
This morning:
Boy: Momma where are my Transformer flipflops?
Me: In the bag, I am taking them back to the store to get a bigger size.
Boy (screaming): NOOOO MAMAMMAAA NOOOOO!! I want them, I love them, I want to wear them!!!
Me: No they are too small we will trade them for bigger Transformer flipflops
Boy: NOOOOOOO!!! I want these, I love them, they fit! Please mama please I want to wear them.

Now a less experienced mother might have given them back. But I know my boy, he would have worn them just long enough to make it impossible to return them and then they would have languished in his closet because "they hurt and I hate them." So I stuck to my guns. And experienced a lovely Mother's Day tantrum at 8:15 am. So heres hoping your Mother's Days turn out a little better!!!

(BTW, Mine has gotten nothing but better as the day has gone on... I love these kids even if they do make me question my sanity.)

Guppy Update

(Sorry if you are here looking for crafty things...hopefully I will get some pics up this weekend)
So the guppies made the trip to school just fine. I wish I had a camera when I delivered them to the second graders. Only children could get that excited over a few fish. The fish are all set up in their new homes; customized two liter bottles, with blue and green gravel and some aquatic plants (and NO HEATERS!!! TAKE THAT PETSMART!) Everyone was still alive and well when I left school today. Oh and everyone had been given names....some that stick in my mind: Jazmine, Danny, Lola, Annie, Hareema LOL! I love it! Now I just need to go get some worms to deliver to my first graders and we are all set with animals until the end of the year. Which would be June 12th.. not that I am counting or anything!

Guppies... Alive and Kickin

Well they are alive and swimming anyway. My husband went to the big local fish store here and purchased them for me. 15 cents each. Plus some little plants to go in their new two liter bottle homes. He is out right now buying some food for them. Tomorrow I take them to school. We were suppose to bring them in on Monday but I just didnt get a chance to go out after them. Anyhow they are oh so cute and swimming happily in their vase for the moment. Oh and for what its worth, my husband said the aquarium lady was totally fine without them having a heater. So there, Petsmart! Take that!

Guppies and Goldfish...who knew they were so delicate?

So being the fabulous science teacher that I am, I decide that the second graders will raise guppies as part of their life science unit. Not only will we raise the guppies but we will build them tiny fish homes out of two liter bottles, aquarium rocks, and aquatic plants. Now I am not a novice at this, we did this two years ago. It worked beautifully. The guppies were happy in their two liter home and there were many happy second graders. The guppies even obliged us by having babies. Oh sure they ate some of their young but really there were quite a few. The kids didnt seem to really care. Anyway earlier this week I decide its time to go and purchase the guppies. Now the last time we did this one of the other teachers took care of procuring the fish so this was new territory for me.

My kids and I arrive at Petsmart in our lovely little suburb around 5 p.m. I am super tired, I just want to buy guppies and get the heck out of there. We go up to the fish person who is looking oh so busy twirling her hair and smacking her gum. Below is our conversation. I will just call her FP (fish person).

Me: Hi I need some guppies.
FP: What?
Me: I need some guppies, about 20 or so
FP: What kind?
Me: The cheap kind.
FP: What kind is that?
Me: Ummmm I dont know maybe feeder guppies?
FP: We have these.... waves her hand towards a tank. I see those guppies are 1.29 a piece.
Me: Wow thats a lot for feeder guppies.
FP: no not really. Look these are more... waves hand towards guppies that are 2.54 each
Me: I think these are maybe way more fancy than I need.
FP: You do have a filter and heater right?
Me: No
FP: you need a filter and a heater
Me: I didnt last time.
FP: I am a fish expert, you need a filter and a heater
My boy: MOOOOOOMMMM when are we getting fish... I want some. I want some to keeeeeppppppp!!!
Me: Look fish person I just need 20 guppies, cheap. They are going to a bunch of school kids. They will live in 2 liter bottles. I have done this before
FP: oh no you cant do that
My boy: MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM can I have this snake. PLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE??????
Me: ok fine what about goldfish. I can improvise. You have cheap goldfish?
FP: Gold fish need a filter.
Me: Are you freaking kidding me???
FP: Gold fish waste is highly toxic. Without a filter the goldfish will die in 3 days
Me: Are you for real?
FP: I am a fish expert. I am telling you they need a filter
My boy: MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM I need a bird....look my hand fits in the cage.... pleeeeeeeese?????
Me: Look lady, I had goldfish that I bought at woolworths when I was 12. They lived in a tiny bowl that I rarely changed the water in. They were still alive when I left for college. Then I think my mom killed them. Point is they had no filter. I am not for a minute believing this crap about goldfish needing a filter.
FP: I cant sell you any fish
Me: Are you kidding? What fish go in the fish bowl if you need a filter for everything
FP Betas. i can sale you betas.
ME: yah. you think I am buying 20 betas at 5 bucks a pop? Are you on drugs?
FP: Look lady I am highly trained and I am not selling you any fish if you arent going to put them in a tank with a filter.
ME: yah ok, you arent selling me any fish

So I extract my child from the parrot cage. Remove my daughter from the rabbits and get the heck out of that crazy fish store. I call up Capitol Aquarium. Hi there, I need some guppies. Feeder guppies
CA: sure we have those
Me: how much
CA 15 cents each
Me: do I have to buy a filter?
CA: are you kidding? for feeder guppies?

Yah I new that FP was insane! I just cant figure out why. So the guppy saga continues. I buy them Monday. I will let you know if they all go belly up.

Hellish

Its been a hellish week, the details of which I cant go into a public blog, no matter how well I think my identity may be hidden (yeah not well at all...oh so easy to see pics of me...but I digress) So back to the main subject... yes hellish... its been hellish. I know sometimes bad things happen, and sometimes those things are completely out of your control, and you cant make them better but it still feels like crap. So thats where I have been this week...(ya know in case my one or two readers are wondering). I think I will be back in the swing of things this weekend. I have a very funny guppy story for you as soon as I sit down long enough to type it out. :)

Here Fishy, Fishy

My latest card. I made this using the PTI Pond Life stamps, Lemon Tart cardstock and ink, and Summer Sunrise ribbon. This is the last card I made before going on a scrapbooking frenzy the other night. I did 10 pages in one night, granted they were 8x8 but still 10 in a night is quite a few. Finally finished my Chicago album... yes I did take that trip LAST summer. I am a wee bit slow.

Today I took my kids, my friend and her three boys on a 30 minute drive to go to our local splash playground. We get there and would you believe it? No freaking water until May 1!!!!! So we had 5 very disappointed kids, 2 irritated moms and drove back 30 minutes and went to a regular (no water ) park. That lasted about an hour but it was so HOT. So we went back to my friends house and the kids played in the water at the house. Now we are home and its time to get back into the school /work routine. I always hate Sundays for that very reason.

PaperTrey Ink Blog Hop

PaperTrey Ink is hosting its monthly blog hop tonite. You can go here for the details. This is my entry. I stamped the mum from the garden of life set with summer sunrise and black noir. I colored on it with some of American Craft scrapbooking markers. I cut my small squares of PTI ppaper into a lovely little border to frame my image. Its all adhered to PTI cardstock and tied with a lovely summer sunrise bow. I really like the way it turned out.

Handwriting- Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Have you ever had the pleasure of teaching a small child how to make their letters? It ranks right up there with potty training or being stabbed repeatedly in the eye with long, sharp stick. My son is in preschool. I went back to work, so as part of my punishment my son has to go to "daycare preschool" not to be confused with "parent volunteer-free love hippie preschool" that my daughter got to attend during the few short years I could afford to be a stay at home mom. So anyway, I digress. My son goes to daycare preschool. Its a nice place. The teachers are lovely. However they feel the need to send home homework. The homework involves lots and lots of writing practice. Its horrifying really. Try teaching your 4 year old boy who can barely hold his pencil how to make the lower case a. The correct way mind you, where you start from the top and go around and then up the stick and down the stick. See I know this stuff. I teach school. I have taught handwriting to whole classes of 1st graders, even Kindergartners. It sucked then too... but nowhere near the way it sucks now. My son is a perfectionist. He HATES to be corrected. But unfortunately letter a can only face one way and when one makes it backward one must be corrected. And then the crying, the whining, the gnashing of teeth. I participated in this for a half an hour tonight and I must say I feel as though I have been tortured. Want to break those detainees in Gitmo? Give them a four year old, a penmanship sheet and tell them the 4 year old must produce legible writing.... within the next hour... without a snack. Yep that should do it.

New Stamps=New Card

PaperTrey had another release on the 15th and I managed to spend LOTS of money on new stamps, paper, and ribbon. The package came Friday and now my crafting corner is a HUGE mess. For some reason I am unable to clean up as I go. So far I have made a couple of cards and done a whole lot of playing around. This card is going to my dad for Father's day (that is if I can find it by the time June rolls around). Between school (my job) and two extra committees I am on I havent had a moments peace to do much of anything except take care of my children, which explains my once a week blog posts. I will try to do better. Happy Sunday.

I'm Back....

So after being in bed most of the weekend, I sucked it up and went to work yesterday. I am still not 100% but I am feeling MUCH better. Unfortunately now the girl is sick. She is going to miss school today, hopefully she will be on the mend soon.

My computer and wireless router (mac airport) went totally crazy on Sunday night. I did everything possible to fix it. NOTHING. Now it used to be I could sit and surf tethered to my DSL but once I went wireless... well people there is nothing like surfing from the comfy couch or bed. So I knew I could not live with this crazy mafunctioning (and might I add BRAND NEW) airport. So I called my tech guy from work (He does not work for the school district and that is why he is AWESOME). And would you believe he came out the same day, worked on my computer for over an hour, fixed it and then only charged my 40 dollars!? I heart him very much. He has a friend for life. He was telling me that he and his friend do it so cheaply because they just like helping people, especially teachers. I know of no one else who makes a housecall for 40$. Again, I LOVE him! So I am back to surfing wireless again which is wonderful.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!