Happy First Day!

Happy First Day of School! Yahoo! Actually, summer seemed short but it's time to start back to school for us. I made this, inspired by my friend Marilyn. Thanks Marilyn- So, we have a good friend who taught Kindergarten with us last year, that is still at our school, but teaching in a different hallway, and grade level this year- this is a surprise for her. Hopefully she's not peeking, if so, well she'll know I was thinking about her last night and thought it would be fun to wish her a fun first day in her new class! She's awesome!

sad and thoughtful

We traveled back to Barrow Friday night. It is always quite the trip. We were tired and ready for some down time, when we realized we had no hot water. So, the next day DH tried to fix it, several different ways and trips out to the only builder store in our area here. Finally we had to just replace it. We got the last one they had. Along the way, one of our friend's flagged us down and told us about our son's close friend who had died in a boating accident the evening before. It was so shocking, and sad. He was such a good friend to our family and our son. They're 13, and have been in class since first grade. Both boys were getting ready to have birthdays next month, but he won't get to start 8th grade. School starts for the rest of his classmates next week, and he will be greatly missed. I will miss his big smile, and his sense of humor. I will miss walking in the door on Friday afternoons from a long week of working with kids to the sounds of shouts and gunshots, having my son and his two friends shooting "Nazi Zombies" on his Xbox. Then they'd stay over and go fencing with us the next day. I feel for his parents, and sisters and brothers. I feel for my son, who's really missing him everytime he goes out to the school for football practice, and when school starts, and during PE and Band that they had together every day. I am sad that he barely got to live life, I am glad that he seemed to do everything to the fullest, and genuinely enjoyed life. He believed in God, so I have comfort knowing he is in Heaven. But, for those of us left here, especially the people he laughed with every single day, what a huge loss! Heaven must have been getting pretty dull, and needed a star like him.
This is the second close friend my son has lost tragically. I worry about him too.

I got to do some stamping too!

This is a card I got to make this summer. It's a case from a talented demonstrator in Montana. It took some playing around with colors and since it's a two step stamping set, I really liked using the clear blocks to see where each stamp was positioned. I used Always Artichoke for the base, and Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight, for the flowers.

I miss my real flowers I had going in Montana. I did take some pictures of them though to tide me over. Usually there's tundra flowers here, but this year I don't see any. I can't imagine summer without flowers can you?

Baby Claire

This is more of Claire's room. I love how my sister did the letters for her name, and the vinyl flowers and butterflies...so talented! What baby wouldn't want a beautiful room like this? We have traveled back to Alaska, all day yesterday. Boy! I am wiped out! That trip takes 16+ hours for us. We came from sunshine, to gray skies and sprinkling here. DH had to get the internet up and going again, plus our hot water heater is being difficult, so as I was getting off the plane thinking, "Oh, how great a nice hot shower will feel..." I was sadly mistaken. No hot water yet! I will miss my sister, brother in law, and my nephews, and my sweet baby niece! We got so busy packing that we didn't make it to the state fair this year. I really wish I would have had another day somehow- but next year we will make up for it!

Butterfly Mobile

My sister created this mobile for Claire's room. She put beads that sparkle and cut out different size butterflies to hang from it on clear fishing line. It looks even better in real life. I just love her creativity!

I'm an Auntie again!

My awesome Sister and wonderful Brother-in-Law have made me an Auntie again!
Her name is Claire Eloise. She is so beautiful, and tiny! She's a June baby, but she just came home a few days ago! So, if I'm not blogging... I'm holding the baby! My sister is so creative. She had the room ready for a while, except the letters for her name. I'll post pictures of the beautiful room tomorrow! For you Twilight fans out there, we went to see Eclipse yesterday. I could barely wait that long! I really liked it. It was entertaining to say the least. I really wish Steph would create an alternate ending for Bree though! I grew to like her from the short mini book.

Watercolor Trio thanks

Well, this was a fun card to make. It has a lot of white, but lots of texture and layers! Of course, I used the Watercolor Trio from the Mini catalog. I just love the space saving that comes from the clear mount system.

I used, Old Olive, and Rose Red stamped off to create softer and bolder images.

Hope you are stamping too, after enjoying long summer days!

The Dog Days of Summer

After a hard day of hiking, playing and helping us geocache... our favorite fur baby is kickin' back. Last night I loaded up my nephews and my kids, husband, and Cooper and we walked along the River Walk, it was all lit on either side of the trail, and there was live music as we walked. We saw the sun go down over the falls and it was still warm with very little bugs. We got to see Saturn in a telescope at the end of the walk. I just love summer! We are headed off to swim today. It's hot already at 8am almost 80...I love to read in between getting cooled off. I am reading the Charlaine Harris series. So much better than the HBO series. However, it has it's points too. I have some stampin' to share with you tomorrow, so come back and visit again! I'd love to hear what you are reading/doing this summer!

School years envelope scrapbook

This is one of the huge undertakings I have been working on. When I first do something new, I always learn a lot and the next goes so much smoother! I am pleased with how this turned out. As I add pictures it will get more full. Each envelope is 9 x 11 1/2 . I covered chip board for the covers and scored them to get that edge you see in the front. I used my crop-a-dile to punch holes and a large piece of Choc. Chip grosgrain ribbon to bind it all together. The binding is not super tight because it will expand as things are added to the page fronts, and report cards, keepsakes and awards are placed in the envelope pockets. This one is for my son, and the next one is for my daughter. Hope you like it!

Summer vacation

There's nothing quite like summer vacation! I love being able to be with my kids and focus on just being with them! We got a fire pit for our deck and are looking forward to making smores and stargazing around the fire. I just finished another huge project for DS I have to post. However, I have to make one for my DD as well...so stay tuned. I'll take pictures of that tomorrow. I have enjoyed having the time to make it, and I want to get my DD's done before school starts as well.

Hope you are enjoying your summer!