"Monkey Notes"

Aren't these monkeys, um...changitos, cute? I got this stamp set by Stampendous on my last trip to Archiver's. I've been wanting to do a card with them, but I'm just now getting around to it! I love the fact that you have several options to stamp in the 'window' of the sign.

I also really like this soft plaid paper by My Mind's Eye. I believe it's from the Front Porch line. I paired the plaid with two coordinating solid Bazzills for my card. I stamped the image in SU's Close to Cocoa, and colored it with my Prismacolor pencils. I used SU's ticket punch on the corners of my stamped image. Also, I found a misc. steel blue sheer ribbon to go across the front.

"Cupcakes, Anyone?"

This is another card I created with some fun paper I found at Target by Marcelle.

I kept the card simple, with the main focus being the cupcakes down the side, but I couldn't leave off the sprinkles....right!?!?! I then tied the two patterns together with some coordinating sheer polka-dotted Offray ribbon. Also, the rub on words are by Bo Bunny.

**Maybe I should have inked the edge of the white card, so as to define the outline in the scan for you. . .sorry!

"A Shore Thing"

This is a quick card I made using the Shore Thing line from Imaginisce. I love this line -- I think it's fun!

Even though the patterns in this line are busy, they all coordinate, so I just kept a simple layout on the front of the card. The sentiment 'thinking of you' is from A Muse Artstamps. I inked with SU's yo yo yellow around the edges, but you can hardly tell. (I may just have to go back and add some more.)

"Beautiful"

Here's another 12x12 layout I completed of my dear daughter, Alyssa. I just love this photo of her. One of the main reasons, is because I caught her with her hair out of her face!! (It's been a big deal between us lately.)

Anyhow, I used a lot of Bazzill on this layout and tried to 'junk' it up with a Heidi Swapp 'scrapper' and SU's chocolate chip ink. The papered paper was from Imaginisce and the rub-on was from Daisy D. I also used flower stickers by Creative Imaginations and khaki Offray ribbon.

**If you click on the image, you can get a closer view of the layout.

"Moments"

Do you all remember this photo I posted a couple months back of my dear daughter, when she became a big sis? Well, I'm finally getting around to scrapbooking it!

I found this wonderful clock overlay by Heidi Swapp and some fab background paper by Heidi Grace on my last trip to Archiver's. I just knew it would make the perfect layout for this picture. Just simple and sweet! That's all I wanted for this and I think it turned out great!!

I, of course, love the sentiment: "Life is not measured in minutes but moments. . ."

(Sorry the scan cut abit off the top and bottom -- but you get the jist)

"God's Beauty"

I just had to post this photo that I received as a part of an email from my dear friend, Lisa.

I thought this photo was a perfect example of God's beauty!

Enjoy!

"Congrats to Rochelle!"

I just wanted to give a great big shout out to my gal pal, Rochelle, for surpassing 200,000 hits on her blog!! If you've never taken a moment to check out her site, please do so! She is super talented and a great inspiration! I have greatly enjoyed becoming friends with her over this past year! Way to go, Rochelle! I'm so proud of you!

By, the way, she's giving away blog candy all week! Go check her out: http://www.impressionsbyrochelle.blogspot.com/

"Whoo Hoo -- School Is Out!"

I'm thrill to say that school is out! I'm posting below several things I decorated and sent with Alyssa on her last day!

These jars were filled with strawberry candies and decorated for the ladies in the office and for the school nurse.






This basket was filled with goodies for Alyssa's homeroom teacher. Our school colors are purple and white, so I lucked out and found this basket at Hobby Lobby!
















I decorated 24 of these purple, foam door hangers for Alyssa to give to her classmates. Our colors are purple & white and our mascot is a bulldog, so I stamped a paw print and put the school's initials on each. I've posted an individual photo below.

I, inadvertently, forgot to take pictures of the principal; vice-principal; math teacher; and, drama teacher gifts. I guess my mind was just ready to be done! heehee

"Softball Tins"

These tea tins from Papertrey were decorated for Liberty's softball banquet on Tuesday night. I decorated each tin in the teams colors of gray and burgundy and used my Cricut to cut each girls' number for the top of the tin. I've posted another picture below, showing the lid with a number.

"All About Me"

Last night at graduation, when the music started and I was standing with my family watching as my niece's senior class came onto the football field, I had chillbumbs!! I thought to myself, now if that was Alyssa's senior class, I would be crying! However, upon giving my sister a quick check to see if she was having a 'moment', I got a quick glance and a "Are you kidding?" look! heehee Then I responded, that this time next year, we would all be here again for my nephew, Craig. At that, my sister gave a quick "Praise the Lord!" heehee All of you that know us, knows that my sister, Kim, loves her kids more than the moon and stars, but she's ready to be done! LOL She's done an excellent job with both, Lauren & Craig!!

That got me thinking, Alyssa is only going to be in the 6th grade next year, and one minute I'm ready for her to be done, then the next minute, I'm not! Last night, at graduation, made me think...of course, I will be so very proud of Alyssa's accomplishments, but then again, will I be able to handle her taking off to college?!?! Who knows?!?! What I do know is that I've got several more years to ponder on it, but it also got me thinking about doing a small scrapbook of some type all about ME! Not her....but ME! Something I could work on, now and then, and give to her upon graduation to take with her. I was thinking it could have little notes to her about different things; my favorite types of movies; what I hope for her future, etc.

OK! I know I am having a 'mommy' moment here, but please work with me!! Seriously, let me know what you think, or if you have any ideas for me.

(Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested, I have absolutely nothing else to do right now....that's why I've come up with another album to start!!) HA/HA

"Money Tin"

My sweet niece, Lauren, graduated last night! She graduated from the same Alma Mater that my sister and I did! 'Ole Purple Pride! Milan Bulldogs!!

Everyone was giving her money in cards, so I thought I'd decorate up a tin and put my money to her in it. You know, something she can keep, and put other things in later.

Anyway, I used a hinged tin from Papertrey, and ran a strip of purple & white checked ribbon down the middle and adhered each end to the inside of the lid with glue dots. I layered a white square over a purple scalloped square, before adhering cap & diploma stickers. To cover the ends of the ribbon on the inside lid, I cut a piece of white cardstock to fit just inside the lid, and wrote my sentiments on it. Quick & easy!!

We are all so proud of Lauren!!! She did it!!! Class of 2008!!

"Seeing Double?"

I got a double order for this clipboard for end of year teacher gifts. The school themed paper by Bo Bunny has been really popular and works great on these clipboards. I still like how the black at the top makes it 'pop'!

These are for two 'separate' orders, so I hope both gals like them!!

"Checking In"

I hope all moms had a great Mother's Day! I enjoyed the day with my beautiful daughter; my mom, sister, and her family. We had a wonderful meal, at my sister's, and opened presents! Afterwards, we relaxed and enjoyed the fellowship!!

Now, it's time to get busy, again. End of school gifts must get done! LOL

"A Little Hello"

This is a simple note card I created to send out to a sweet friend. (Sorry the post is a little crooked! Also, the khaki color is just a background, not a part of the card)

I used a chocolate, scalloped rectangle note card and stamped the SU's "A Little Hello" stamp in the corner in Stazon white. I cut in half a red, scalloped circle note card, before running it through my Cuttlebug. The design I used is the Bloom Dots folder. After adhering the red circle to the rectangle note card, I applied the knotted piece of ribbon on top with a glue dot.

"A Good Teacher. . ."

This is another order finished for Anndrea. She is a teacher, and she has been mentoring new teachers, so she wanted to be able to give them a little something at a breakfast on Friday in their honor.

So, what else? Yes, chocolate pouches!! I'm telling you, these are the perfect 'something' to give out! I get more orders for these, than anything!

Anyway, she wanted it to look 'teachery', of course, so I let her choose the school themed ribbon and went with solid red cardstock for the pouches. I found a great quote -- "A good teacher is like a candle -- it consumes itself to light the way for others." I printed the quote on white and matted with black, to coordinate with the ribbon, before adhering onto the pouch.

I think they turned out great! The red, white and black really pop! Anndrea picked them up this evening and she really liked them!! p.s. Her daughter, Madison, liked them also. . .so now I'm making two more for her to give to her teachers! LOL

"Medina Hornets"

This is an order I finished up today for my gal pal, Anndrea. She wanted a graduation autograph book for her son, Harrison, in his school colors. (Go, Hornets!) She also wanted a 'slider' gum holder, with my favorite scripture stamp on top!

Anndrea has placed other orders, as well, and I'll get them posted upon completion. Thank goodness she's being patient with me! I've been so busy, however, my list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter! LOL

Next week is the end of school for most of us around here, so I know I've got at least a couple more days to finish up!! LOL

"Mulan"

Well, I've been in a whirlwind with Alyssa getting through her school's Disney Mulan play, but it has so been worth it!! They finally had their last show for the public this afternoon, however, they will do a couple more shows for their classmates Monday and Tuesday. This is my first time being a 'theater mom', so all I can say is WOW! I am so proud of how awesome the whole cast performed!! The play was sold out almost every evening -- if you didn't have reserved seating, you were lucky to get a seat! Talking about some proud mommas! LOL I volunteered to work behind the scenes, helping any way I could. Well, let's just say, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! heehee However, I wouldn't miss volunteering in Alyssa's projects for anything!!

Enough babbling, I wanted to post some photos from the play! Some are behind the scenes and some are of the actual play.

"IMPORTANT"

If you've come to my blog, and there are no photos by the descriptions, please forgive me! I have recently switched from dial-up to DSL, and also with a new internet supplier and it has apparently wiped out my photos! I am trying earnestly to get all photos back up!

Please be patient and check back!!! Thanks so much!!

Sincerely,
JoAnna

"Family Ties"

Hi, everyone! Happy National Scrapbook Day!! Sorry I posted this layout crooked, but I'm in a hurry today!! Alyssa's in her play at school, so we are busy with that, but I couldn't let this day go by without scrapbooking something!

I had, actually, started on this layout back at the Mission Crop, however, I just finished it up today. I used solid white Bazzill for my background, and cut in half a circle, patterned paper by Making Memories, before adhering it on top of the white. I tied the two halves together with white grosgrain Offray ribbon, to coordinate with the title of 'family ties'. The chipboard letters were Heidi Swapp and I painted them with Making Memories paint before adding a clear glitter coat on top. I also added a few random stickers to complete the page.

I was really glad to scrap these photos, because they were recently taken on my dad's birthday with me & my sister and with our kids.

I hope everyone is having a great day preserving all those fabulous memories!!

"Candy Jar Treat"

I got the inspiration for this treat from gal pal, Rochelle's, April 24th post of Spice Jar Gifts, click HERE to check out. Since I do not have SU's Tart & Tangy stamp set yet, I decided to use my strawberry stamp set from Papertrey, that I just love!

I used a plastic container, that I buy in bulk of 6 from Oriental Trade and are similar to Rochelle's spice jars, and filled with strawberry candies. I then used a Marvy circle scallop punch for the red cardstock and adhered it to the lid. I stamped the strawberry image onto white cardstock before punching out with a circle Whale of a Punch, and adhered it on top of the red, as well. Lastly, I tied sheer red dotted Offray ribbon around the neck.

I went and visited an dear friend of mine yesterday, that I had not seen in awhile, and took her this treat. I added a little note that said, "Love You Berry Much". It was so good to see her, and she was tickled to get a surprise treat, too!