Splendid

Amy Tangerine summer mini

I know, it's fall and Thanksgiving, but I just finished the Amy Tangerine summer mini book that we put together when she came here a couple months ago.  She taught a series of classes at the LSS and I was so excited to see her again and make something from her awesome line, as well as just catch up with my old friend. 

I left out a few pages, but you can see Amy put together a great mini kit, right? I love mini books, they are so fun to look back at a certain time like a vacation or day. As you may can see, I underestimated the amount of pictures I took over the summer and so I made many fold-out accordian style pages so I could add just 5-8 more each page. San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Portugal, friends, family, birthdays, bbqs, swimming, beaches, it was a good summer!

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Mom's Day book

Hi ya all!  I am getting worse and worse about blogging.  

Just wanted to share with you a folding accordion style book I made my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day.  Inspired/copied from the talented Marcy Penner, I just loved this book!  She used most of the same American Crafts papers and stickers, and I thought it was so sweet. 

Front side                                                       Back side

I made one in light green for my mom (this one is my mom's above) and light blue for my MIL using the same papers and embellishments for American Crafts.  I think they'll love them and I wish I was able to spend the day with them, but I hope when they see these they'll know how much they mean to me. 

PL week 6

This week is more than half over and I am still remembering last week like it's right now. Agh, I wish life would slow down just a bit........

PL: week 4

I am loving this.
 
( liftable sleeve I made)
This past weeks highlights;

Little sis ran 2.5 miles for her school's Fun Run to raise money for technology. Big sis made some rad duct tape crafts, she is really into it! Dave came home Sunday from London with gifts from our favorite city. We made paper crystals for little sis' door at school, they were the Crystal Kids for the Boosterthon Fun Run. I taught the second grade Matisse art lesson. Big sis was asked out by a boy at school (middle school), she kindly declined. Selina (my fur baby) also declined the advances of a couple dogs at the dog park.

Project Life; Week 1- 3

Okay, I was a little behind starting this, but I'm ready to go with my Project Life album for 2012. Here's weeks 1-3, I can't believe how much has already happened in 3 weeks, agh, I'm exhausted...

week one  (front first, then below back) ) (I used the 3 long sheet insert )

week 2

 

week 3

 

and close- ups of week 3, I copied my friend Vee with her liftable sleeves ( thanks Vee!)

I've already started week 4, so I'm finally ahead of the game... I've seen some awesome PL albums out there, but I'd love to look at yours, too, let me know if you're doing one!

and the rest of it...

I took the pictures of the rest of the album yesterday.  I don't know why, but I feel like the last month has been SO hectic! Anyhoo, here's the rest;

So that's all of it!  Even though it feels like December flew by, looking over these pages makes me feel so happy for having such a wonderful family and group of friends.  I hope you had a good holiday as well, and a awesome start to the new year!

is this too late???

I know, so bad. Here's my 2011 December album. I'll do a a few pages today and a few another, a few another. I bought this rad mini kit from Marcy Penner who I adore.

okay, more next time! Stop by Marcy's, she has a sweet store with some pretty cool products!

terrarium love; granny's forest...

I love terrariums, anything green really. I found this lovely book called Terrarium Craft and immediately fell in love. The photography is fantastic, but the ideas on interesting and unique terrariums enticing. I have made 3 so far, and this one was today. I have it displayed on my old bookcase/hutch, along with my old and newer dishes, bowls and thrifted and found knick-knacks.

River rocks, green moss, fossilized charcoal bark, a dainty fern and a vintage-y ring give this terrarium an earthy meets granny-glam personality. I feel an addiction starting...

summer reading list...

I do love the lazy days of summer, and one reason is the chance to do my summer reading I never seem to do during the school year. So far I've purchased these and am excited to dive into them.

1. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

2. The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

3. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

4. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

5. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Others I plan on buying or checking out from the library include the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and The Owl and Moon Cafe by Jo-Ann Mapson. I love light, fun, magical reads for summer. The first 3 I have listed are notoriously similar feel as the movie Practical Magic, which I still love. Nothing too heavy, a little romance, a little suspenseful, usually bonding of sisterhoods...

What good reads are you into?

toffee magazine

I was beyond honored when Toffee Magazine asked me to do a couple crafts for their second issue. Toffee is a fabulous magazine with beautiful photography, crafts, cooking, current trends, eye candy galore, free downloadables and articles from Indie Artists and Crafters.  They are sort of a Martha meets Frankie love child (with DIY as an Uncle) kind of magazine. I highly recommend you check them out and get a subscription!!

They sent me a file of their lovely Spring papers to make something spring-y...I made these two projects, a paper cone with a little bird, ready to be displayed for spring or Easter. Chirp, chirp... 

 
and an Easter card, complete with a vintage Bunny cupcake topper.

 
Both are super simple crafts, just perfect for quick Spring decorating. You are able to download for FREE all their super sweet and beautiful papers here!!!  Go and take a look at them, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Toffee magazine

I am IN LOVE with this magazine.  It's an e-zine right now, I hope they go paper  (while I love the environment, I really love HOLDING a magazine) and this magazine is pure deliciousness.  The photography, crafting section, recipes, interviews (like with Danielle Thompson, etc.) Just lovely.  Check it out here.

 

I couldn't resist...

I have adored this magazine ever since I first held one in my hands.  Unfortunately, here in Mexico I can't find it.  But, they offer an on-line subscription (paperless), so I signed up. I love the fun, stylish and sassy photos and writing, and hey, paperless, how eco-sassy am I????

Then I decided to get this little book.  I had it shipped to my mom and will get it when we go for Easter.

then I bought this for my mom (mom, cover your peepers...)

Frankie says this book contains 40 of the yummiest, Grannie-tested after school tea treats. Isn't that tablecloth and creme puffs so sweet?

Only 2.5 (but who's counting) more days until we're off to Europe.  I hope to be able to update my blog every couple days...so, bye, au revoir, ciao, adios and widerluege...

mas escuela en mi casa

My girls started an international bilingual school last week.  After Xmas they will attend full-time, but now it's 2 days a week (plus private Spanish lessons twice a week). My heart is both super happy for them to have this experience, and super sad.  Some people say they don't know how I do it, homeschool and stay with my girls all day, and I answer, neither do I (insert a blubbering sound and finger vibrating across my lips).  But I do love it.  Everyday. So for now, I hang onto every fun moment...

Dioramas; this is made by little sis, after reading "Clara the Klutz."  It's Princess Clara's bedroom with a bed, vase of flowers, fancy throw pillow and birdcage.

And big Sis' after reading "Boxcar Children" last week. Quite bare compared to Clara's spread, but that's the whole thing about the boxcar children, they're homeless and live in a boxcar. Now she's reading Astrid Lindgren's "Children of Noisy Village."  So far it gets 4 out of 5 stars. But she'll give a book report on it once she's done.

They wrote a play and acted it out.  "The Princess and the Pirate," complete with flyers, tickets and costume changes.

Big sis read about leavers, pulleys and catapults.  She used a clip, rubber band and spoon and fashioned a catapult to knock down her line of Jenga pieces and dominoes. 

Success!

and little sis took a crack at scrapbooking last night, not too shabby I must say...

okay, back in a jiff with some other news...

homeschool days...

As I've told some of you out there, we plan on putting the girls in a small, private school down the  street.  It's a bilingual school with a great reputation and the girls have already met a few girls in the school there.  As many of my friends know, this is bitter sweet for me.  I truly LOVE homeschooling and would gladly do it as long as I could.  But here in Mexico, it's not common and many people look at us like we're strange and scheduled play dates like those homeschool groups in the States are not common. Because there is so much traffic and finding parking is so bad here, I doubt we will get to do a lot of things or activities "after school" like in the states and I fear they'll feel isolated. So the school thinks they'll take the girls October 1, a little late, but luckily the girls have already met 5 girls in the school, 3 of which each has become very close with.

But for now I'll hang onto the homeschool dream...

Geography...

learning to count by 10's...

learning to read with Bob books...

Big Sis loves the American Girl Doll series.  Nothing like reading in your jammies for school...

learning to count money...

and labeling everything in spanish, so fun! Check out the book...HA!

Which leads me to another aspect of homeschooling which I love.  Learning math, science and social studies hands-on.

Learning about everyday stuff like cooking is really important in my opinion for everyone, but learning to measure different ingredients for weight and volume is a great way to learn science and math. The girls have learned to make real Mexican tortillas a couple times a week with Areceli.

Starting in September we're beginning our Frida's Fiesta's studies.  One dinner a month we're taking real Frida Kahlo recipes from a cookbook Frida's step-daughter wrote(Diego's daughter from his first marriage)and having a feast.  

Come over...it'll be delish!!!

More crafty-scrappy news...

I am happy to be able to scrapbook all afternoon...

and I wanted to tell you all about some inspiring people...

First, my friend Mandi has launched her own paper and kit line.  I'm super impressed with her mad scrapbooking skills and the paper she has designed is so beautiful! All the papers are designed around vintage clothing or housewares.  She also has a cool vintage clothing and housewares shop on etsy.

 

Next I signed up for Vee's paint and misting class. Another lady who I always enjoy looking at her creations. It's online and only $10.00!! I'm sure she'll have it again, go email her and ask!

And I just wanted to give a round of applause to my sweet gal pal Jen who made it as a Fashionista on SIS.  Not surprising because she's pretty rad!!!

Can't wait to see her and Mandi in a couple weeks in Chicago!  3 days with some of my most favorite people (Jen, Mandi, Vanessa, Patty, Sandy, Martha, and I will be channeling Heather, Beth and Angie's sunshine spirits while there because they couldn't make it...) Thanks to Matty for lending us his fab apartment on State Street!

And finally, I signed up for the RVA Autumn Crafting class.  The two I've taken in the past were fun and I'm feeling like I need a little crafty encouragement here...You should look into it, it looks like a goodie!!

Hope you're having a great week!

Well, it's been awhile...

Hi ya all...it's been awhile...

I forgot my camera at my mom's on the west coast and had to wait until she could ship it to me, hence the lack of uploaded pictures or posts. Also, to report about our upcoming move...we were supposed to be on the West coast for the month of January returning only for a week or so in February to let the packers/movers in before the trip down south of de border. But alas, my hub's visa is taking longer than expected, so it looks like March until we leave. But that's okay, since we love our house and friends here in Philadelphia and I'm happy to be able to spend more quality time with them. Plus I love it around here, we're never without something to do. Which leads me to the book I got the other day at the bookstore, called How to be an Explorer of the World, by Keri Smith, is so much fun!  Basically it has a ton of smart ideas about seeing the world in a new way, to people watch, collect items out on a city block or forest floor, conduct simple experiments and enjoy life's little, serendipitous journeys.  Those close to me know I love these quirky little day trips; hiding "love notes" for unsuspecting people at coffee shops or stores, tucked into nooks and crannies, in bushes and inside containers.  Hopefully it'll make someone smile when they read it.  Or when we do nature studies one day, collecting one specific thing from nature, like different shaped feathers or pine cones.  Or when we have a "theme" for the day and we take pictures of it, like red shoes, people with hats, cars with lots of bumper stickers.  Our fascination with photo-booths, so much so that when we travel I try to look up where the local photo-booth is.  Or every thrift or antique store, we must search high and low for dolls and milk glass... This book has a lot of the same types of ideas in it, with inspiring quotes and neat photos.  I highly recommend it...

Then here's my latest for the Category Stories challenge. The phrase that pays is "I remember."  This was a hard one for me since many of my old photos have just been taken away to long-term storage (again, I thought we were moving sooner than later) and so I had to think, think, think...

I remember...it like it was yesterday! (and I think it was because we love to watch old Facts of Life series on dvd)  

 

The Facts of Life, Bewitched, Who's the Boss, Different Strokes, those were my favorite tv shows growing up.  Being a latch-key kid I probably indulged too much in the ol' boob-tube. But I love the general themes of the shows, with the spunky and often melodramatic ups and downs, makes me smile.

Mac and cheese
I found this small partial kit from awhile ago last night.  "He is the cheese to my macaroni," I think it was a Sis kit, can't remember.  I quickly did this one of Dave and me.

And our Xmas layouts...from a few weeks ago during my mom's Xmas party, also done with the Dozen's last kit. What an awesome kit, I got some much from it!  I'm also making an album from the Dozens kit, hopefully I'll have it done this week. 

That's all folks, just homeschooling and getting ready to move.  Hope everyone is enjoying 2009!