"2 Down, 3 To Go"

A friend placed an order for 5 of these clipboards for her employees. Even though I've only got 2 completely finished, I think they are turning out cute. I have decorated them in the company's colors. On the remaining 3, the only thing left to do is tie the ribbon. You cannot really tell, but I put the company's name in the oval at the bottom. I hope she likes them!

"Ready for pumpkin time"

I am sooo ready for autumn! This is a layout of my dear daughter at Green Acres Pumpkin Patch last fall. I had a good friend, Lia, meet us at Green Acres to take some pictures of Alyssa for me. Let's just say that I ended up with over 200 different pictures! Bet you didn't think there could actually be 200 different shots to be taken at a pumpkin patch?!?! Well, leave it to me! Instead of having some photos to do a pumpkin patch layout, I ended up with enough to do an entire pumpkin patch book! LOL Anyway, my favorite picture, out of all of them, is of Alyssa sitting on that huge pumpkin. Every time I look at it, I think of the great quote by Henry David Thoreau ...."I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion". (However, knowing Alyssa, she would choose the velvet cushion...heehee)

"Quick and Easy"

Do you remember the foam drink koozie? Well, who would have ever thought they could be so cute?!? Just get some coordinating wide ribbon and tie around & knot. This is a quick and easy way to 'dress' them up. I have also seen where the wide grosgrain ribbon has been monogrammed with a name or initials and then tied around, with the knot being in the back. I'm going to make several of these in a variety of colors for my booth in October.

"Rochelle's Blog -- Impressions"

I am so appreciative of Rochelle complimenting my blog and giving me 'props', that I just had to return the favor! Rochelle's blog is great! I've been going to her blog almost everyday now for months and have gotten the coolest ideas from her. She is very talented! Whether she is making school gifts, birthday favors or cards, they all turn out adorable! If you ever need inspiration, just check out her blog at http://impressionsbyrochelle.blogspot.com.

"Big Brown Truck"

I don't know about you, but I love to see the big brown truck stop at my house! Lookie, lookie at what it dropped off today! It may be hard to tell what these are, but it is my 18 mini album set from American Craft. Look at all the different patterned covers ---- yummy!

Ok, I am not normally a QVC shopper, but Tuesday's Craft Day got me! LOL I just had to have this set. It is 18, all occasions, 6x6 albums with page protectors. Now, I've got a mini book for just about anything that comes up. Fun, fun, fun!

"Framed"

I love, love, love this framed cork board! I found it while shopping for Alyssa's school supplies. Dumb me, however, only bought one to try it out and, now, there are not anymore to be found! My luck!?!?!

Anyway, I painted the wood letters white and used E6000 to adhere them to the cork. I then used several layered flowers as my "O". Also, I found the dragonfly at Hobby Lobby already painted and adhered it with E6000, too.

"He Said, She Said"

I love these ATC trio albums from Stampin' Up! When they first came out, I made one for all of Alyssa's wallet photos and it has come in very handy. I have also decorated several and gave as gifts. These, I decorated for my booth in October. I did one in boy papers & colors and the other in girl. I think they turned out cute -- hope they sell!

"Open For Business"

You'll love this! I picked my dear 5th grade daughter up today from school and, since her world revolves around watching High School Musical 2 tonight, she's having her best friend spend the night. Anyway....I was asking the girls about their day and such when Alyssa explained that several girls wanted some of the things like I had made for her locker. I thought that was sweet, until she pulled out a crumpled piece of paper with the "orders" on it! LOL My dear daughter had taken the girls' orders telling them that, of course, her mommy would make it. I immediately scanned the list and thought, this is a hoot!!!!! The list included chipboard alphas, decorative mirrors and picture frames. Alyssa was proud that she had gotten the correct initial and what color blossoms & ribbons they wanted! Are you still with me???????? This is just a small sampling of my life with Alyssa...heehee

Since I do these kind of crafts for people, Alyssa just thought she was rounding me up some 'customers'. However, I use the word 'customers' loosely, since I don't plan on these girls giving up their lunch money! LOL Anyway, I guess I've got my work cut out for me this weekend!

"Just What The Doctor Ordered"

Well, I've got a doctor's appointment today and I am taking my very spoiled doctor a treat. Shall I explain. . . I have been going to this family doctor for over 10 years and he has always taken such good care of me & Alyssa. (My sister use to work for him, as well.) So, we just love him to death! Therefore, when I have an appointment, I always try to take him some kind of 'treat'.

My dear friend, Abbie, had given me some scraps of this Ole Miss school logo paper and, since he graduated from Ole Miss, I thought it would work perfect to decorate this container. I also tied ribbon around the lid and filled it with M&Ms to finish it off. I hope he likes it!

"Sweet Baby"

I thought this was such a cute baby book, I just had to show it! I decorated the inside pages for my sister to give at a baby shower for a co-worker. The little girl's name is going to be Ella Brooke. Is that not a beautiful name?!?! Sorry the scans are not that clear.

I've also included some photos of a couple of the inside pages. They are not real elaborate, just simple and clean. I hope the mother-to-be enjoys filling it with sweet baby pictures.

"Be Yourself"

When I found this 'Be Yourself' rubon by Daisy D, I thought it was stunning. Then, I found this sunflower paper from Bo Bunny and had to have it, too. I knew exactly which picture of Alyssa I wanted to use. (I love this photo of her with cowboy boots on.) I used a matching Bazzill to anchor the sunflower paper, then used a Bo Bunny aged school paper for the rubon. I matted in two more Bazzills and was able to use my new ticket punch from SU to get the corner effect. I was also able to use my new spiral punch from SU to get the look for the journal box. Finally, I paper-pieced a sunflower for the bottom with the year and her age. Sorry, this scan does not do it justice. In real life, all the colors are richer. My journaling reads: Alyssa, I absolutely adore you! Always believe in who you are and just be yourself! You are the sun that fills each and every day for me! I love you, Mommy

"Brag Book"

I have officially started working on products to sell at my booth in October at Mission: Crop. The time is getting closer and I've got to get busy. This is my first time vending a booth of 'my stuff', so I'm alittle nervous. I've made a zillion lists of the things that I want to make, however, I'm not sure what all I'll end up doing. I just want to make sure there is a variety. This is a 6x6 Bo Bunny chipboard album done up as a Grandparents' Brag Book. I think it turned out cute. I love all the coordinating Bo Bunny products!

"A+ Locker"

Ok....I know that all I've been posting is school stuff, but bare with me, this soon shall pass. LOL Well, I have come to learn that organizing and decorating your locker is a big part of 5th grade. (According to a 5th grader) So, for the last two nights, my dear daughter has 'collected' things to take to school the next day for her locker. I have already decorated her a mirror, picture frame and ordered locker shelves. Now, I've decorated this chipboard "a" with patterned paper, ribbon and magnets for her to add to her 'collection'. So, maybe our remodeling of a 5th grade locker is over...for now.

"Principal Gift"

I am very fortunate that my daughter is going through the same school system that I, myself, graduated from. Also, there are alot of teachers in the schools now that were there when I was. This year, Alyssa has moved up to the middle school and her principal use to be my guidance counselor, and she is wonderful. So, for the first day of school, I sent this little container filled with candy (in the school's colors) to the principal.

"Yippee....I got flowers!"

Aren't these fabulous?!?! They are from my sister, Kim. My birthday is tomorrow and she is out of town, so she had these delivered to me today. I absolutely love them! She did good!! Thanks, Kim!

"5th Grade...Here We Come!"

Wow, what a day!! My dear daughter is starting 5th grade next week, which means moving up to middle school, and today was registration. Well, let me tell you, we're not in Kansas anymore!! LOL Today they registered us by "groups", not individually, and Alyssa's homeroom teacher told us abunch! However, I still had no idea of some of the basics, like..where do I drop her off and pick her up?! Hey, you have to understand, we had a map last year!!! Oh, and Alyssa was not nervous about anything, it was ME! Well, I guess it will all work itself out. After registration, we left the school in search of a High School Musical messenger bag. I was proud that I had already avoided the craziness and bought school supplies earlier, however, the HSM messenger bag was a must and, of course, no where to be found. So, off to Jackson we head looking for just that one item. We ended up at Target, but had to have one of their employees comb the stock room for one. Eventually, she did find one box left of HSM bags. Thank goodness!!! Anyway, you know I could not have gone to registration without taking Alyssa's homeroom teacher a small gift. So, I made her a round, magnetic post-it note holder with matching RSVP.