A 4th Grader...

That's what my youngest is going to be this year! I think a lot of mothers reflect on their children's first time going to either kindergarten or first grade during this time of year. I was talking to Hiroyuki (my youngest) about how it feels to be in elementary school WITHOUT his big brother and he said "sad." I did feel for him but told him, it's his chance to shine without his big brother's shadow. So we'll see how he'll shine this year! LOL!!

Both boys started school (well, half day) yesterday and both felt GOOD about their school year...they should! It's only half day yesterday! LOL!!! Of course, mom was with camera in tow but both were too tired to argue! Heehee!!














OK...I'm up physically but don't ask me questions that will make me think! Taka walking out our front walk.
















OK...mom, hurry up and take the picture! Oops....the bus is a little farther than I thought! LOL! See the headlights....that's Bus #3! Heehee!!
















WAH! There goes my MIDDLE SCHOOLer! He had a wonderful day yesterday...keep it up!

I went to school with my youngest....now that kid is hard to take a picture of! GRRrrrr!!! This is the only decent one!














And this one of his new 4th grade teacher! I heard she's strict and I like it that way! LOL!!















AH! Another school year is starting! I'm hoping for a good one!

So....who's starting school too?

AH....middle school!

That was my feeling when realizing that my oldest was going to register today...last night, this nervous mother was NOT getting any sleep! LOL!!

BUT it was fine....well, except that he taken 20 mins to get his combination locker open! GRRrrrr...I bought a combination lock to practice on a couple of weeks earlier. He had gotten that opened after the 8th try so I ASSUMED that he won't have any problems with the real deal! HA! I was wrong! Got most of his stuff in the locker (VERY narrow!)...need a couple more things now that he knows which "team" he'll be on. Going to classes by himself?! NO PROBLEM! Me?! OMGosh!!! I got lost...had to follow him to all his classes! He gets it...me? Well, let say I'm glad I don't attend school anymore! LOL!!






















Let's say that I'm SO glad that his school picture will be better than this one! UGH! A boy that was TOTALLY embarrassed that his parent had brought a camera to school! Heehee!

Now to wait until next Tuesday (1/2 day) for school to start! I get my life back but I'm going to miss these little guys hanging around me all day!

"Back To Basics"

That's what I call my beginners class at Frozen Memories (my LSS in Bartlett, IL)...I always point out that a good layout is balance (color & placement), some pictures - not all need to be placed on pages and journaling (short or long). So I had my first beginners class at the store last week and there was a "mature" couple that decided to give scrapbooking a try! I really enjoy watching them give each other encouragement and advice...it really made me excited to know I was helping them to preserve some of their memories together! Thank you, Sharyn & Bill, for being so inspiring - to really enjoy the craft of scrapbooking! What was also neat is the fact that everyone had a different "take" on my sample and made it their own. Here's what I had displayed at the store....
















Another one will be scheduled for Tues, Aug 15th from 6:30pm and the theme will be either pets or kid's art work! Here's what I have on the pet theme (still working on the kid's artwork page)...
















It's been a full week of busy and school hasn't even started yet! LOL! Kids have archery class, I had an SB class, DH had to put final touches on a business plan, a sudden death and funeral to arrange and a dozen wedding tri-folders to get done before Saturday noon (had to go to the post office to priority mail before close of day). I finally got an idea that would fit the customer's needs and made a final mockup by Wednesday so I only had 3 days to complete! YIKES! Each took about 30-45 minutes to make as everything was made out of scratch and handcut. One folder would need about 3.5 sheets of paper and 1.5 sheet of chipboard (all 12x12 size!). I used up one bottle of 3M/Scotch liquid glue, 4 spools of ribbon and made good use out of my newest tool, the Score-It board. So glad I took the plunge and purchased this (w/ A's 25% coupon!)...made my life easier doing this project! Here's what they look like - I hope the client likes it!

CHA Summer Bash challenge!

OK...Miss Wendy has given the participants a challenge from our goodie bags (or if you want to join in). The challenge is to use GinX and Pressed Petal items. So here's my take on what I had in the 2Peas event goodie bag. I had these pictures FOREVER and wanted to scrap my stuff...Triple Trouble for my three "boys!"















"Triple Trouble" - what can I say?! LOL! Every time these guys are together, they're up to something! My DH had no idea I took this picture of them doing snow angels from our balcony. Just love seeing them together and HAPPY!

PP - GinX & CS - Bazzill
CB Letters - Pressed Petal & RubOns - Junkitz
Ribbon, Snow Eyelet & Brad - Making Memories
Snow Sticker - Target & Pen - ZIG Photo Signature & Adhesive - Pioneer
















This picture is when I opened up the accordian card full of pictures and comments....LOL!!

Thanks again GinX and Pressed Petal for kindly donating such fun stuff in our goodie bags!!!! Thanks for looking!!

Frozen Memories!!

In between the posts on CHA and my great summer vacation @ Yellowstone, etc., Frozen Memories (an LSS/local scrapbook store) asked me to be one of their instructors! How stinkin' excited am I?! LOL!! It's a great store...if you all are in the area of Bartlett, IL - GO! Can't beat an ice cream parlor in a scrapbook store! The owners are wonderful and warm couple! The hubby does his magic with homemade ice cream and the wife has this passion for scrapbooking! What a combo...I'm in heaven! LOL!!

I started with a kids' class using Flair's class kit (Paradise mini tag album) - too cute! The class sold out and had to make an extra kit-to-go! LOL! Was a little nervous about not having enough attendees but Becky (the owner) did a wonderful job selling the class!




















Oh! Do I look like I know what I'm doing?! LOL!
LOVE my CROP-A-DILE!! Had to cut through 20 pieces of chipboard! OY!

For my local scrappers who have kids, come join me in this month!! Also, there are classes for adults too...heehee! Here's the schedule:

August 5 (Sat) 5-8pm
Kids' Crop $10 with sm. soft serve
Bring pics, supplies and basic tools (paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, black marker & pencil) to catch up on your scrapbooking or get individual advice on a layout, card or project. Surprise make'n take in store for the night!

August 9 (Wed) 6:30-8:30pm
"Back To Basics" $12
Bring or purchase basic tools kit (please refer to the above). Get to know your tools...are you using them correctly? Bring 8-10 pictures and let's do a vacation themed page!

August 12 (Sat) 11-NOON
Kids' Class $10 with sm. soft serve
"Back To School" name plate

August 13 (Sun) 2-6pm
"Sundae" Crop $12 with ice cream float

August 15 (Tue) 6:30-8:30pm
"Back To Basics" $12
Bring or purchase basic tools kit. Get to know your tools...are you using them correctly? Bring 8-10 pictures and let's do a kid or pet themed page!

August 26 (Sat) 11-12:30pm
Kids' Class $12 with sm. soft serve
"Back To School" page

August 30 (Wed) 11:30-1:00pm
Kit of the Month $18
Baby Theme

Every Friday night from 6-10pm is CROP NIGHT!
$15 per table so gather up your friends! The price also includes a small cappuccino creation or a small ice cream cone (your choice)!

The "Sundae" crop sounds real YUMMY! Who wants to join me?! I need to get some stuff done too...I'm always needing to get stuff done! LOL!!

CHA - Part 4

Finally got a chance to get on this computer...my mind goes if I don't write it down immediately! LOL!














OK...The show was amazing! This year was a little different as in the new exhibitors zone was not there! I always like to check out the new/up&coming companies and learn a few things...they were mixed in with the rest of the gang and they had little sign in their booth that says "new exhibitor." UGH!

Well, it seems to me the homecoming queen of the show was a new company called Imaginisce (imagine + reminisce = imaginisce). They're based out of UT, done a lot of research on trends and came out with some great stuff IMHO! They had an array of stuff that I want....papers, embellies, rub-ons, charms.....http://www.imaginisce.com/






















Here's my friend, TracyF, who was lucky enough to work there but she worked HARD...there were so many people wanting to buy these product lines! YIKES!














Granted we were there for all 3 days and on Sunday, towards the end of the show, we finally got a hold of her when she wasn't busy to take a group shot! OY! My GF, FionaR, TracyF & me...love the background - Shut Uuuuuuuuup! LOL!!














I also went to visit one of my favorite lines...Rusty Pickle! The owner was out and about - LanceA and what a sweetie! Took a pic of some of their creations...great job!




















Also went by another fav, GinX, and here's the designer herself (GingerR)! Those ladies are so talented and SO funny! Hey, ladies! Thanks for a FUN chat!!
















Have you ever seen TammyT's work?! Oh, my! You all are missing out! She's on design teams (DTs) for several paper manufacturers. I believe she taught or will be teaching on the Big Picture online classes (Stacy Julian's big project). Thanks, Tammy!!




























Recess by Carson-Dellosa! Thank you for being one of our sponsors for National Scrapbooking Assoc. (NSA)!!! Hi, Heather! Those frames look AWESOME btw!!



Thanks to Robin Beam of Ranger Inks for using LaserLine's Plain Jane product to use as a sample of those AWESOME acrylic paint dabbers! It was so nice to meet you!! Good luck on your surgery!!
















Grabbing her on the way back to Ranger's booth is NJScrappers' Jen Starr...last time I saw her was at my farewell crop in NJ back in June 2004! It was good to see you, Jen, although VERY short! Maybe next time, huh! Congrats on being the DT coordinator for Ranger!














Here's Fiona doing her own kind of distressing on LaserLine's products! LOL!!















And here's the craft diva herself....Miss Carol Duvall! She made me get into crafts! LOL!! I have been watching since her time on the morning TV show "HOME Show" and then her show on HGTV. I remember Tim Holtz being on her show during the holidays and he was showing how to put ink into those glass ornaments! LOL!!















So those are some of my highlights of the weekend. I'm sure you'll see some layouts from all the goodies I had received from the 2Peas event, a treasure hunt that (mostly) Fiona and I went on, some designers were kind to let me take a stash to play with and some who did not want to pack up. THANK YOU to those who were kind enough to take time to say hello and chat awhile! xoxo