Create My Keepsake 'Star Struck' July Kit Projects

Well, here they are! These were all created using the fabulous 'Star Struck' kit from Create My Keepsake. The fun mix of color and printed paper work well together, and the embellishments add a perfect punch! The wonderful custom stamp from Pink.Sugar.Pop. can be used in many ways from journaling to a title block, even as a design element.
You don't want to miss out on this amazing kit! I can't wait to see what everyone does with it!

made something today

I made some time to create today. I have wanted to scrap this photo since I took it. Kara doesn't like it because it was taken 3 weeks after her wisdom teeth were removed (she had several issues with infections) and she thinks her face looks fat. It was a bit swollen, but I think it's a beautiful photo. She looks so grown up and happy. :) I just adore chipboard, Basic Grey and Pageframes! Buttons and ric-rac, too. Heehee

kickin' back

Nothing too exciting happening around here. I took the kiddos to the library on Monday. They are all signed up for the summer reading program and once they read 15 books, they will earn a ticket to see the A T-Rex Named Sue exhibit! Such an awesome incentive to read~ they are excited, as am I! Meghan has already cruised through a book and is on her second.
Ashlyn has had a sore throat since Sunday, and I know she's not feeling well because this girl loves to read and has only glanced at a few of her books. When I took them to the library, I had to help her pick out some books. Usually she has 30 books in just a matter of minutes. She got only 15 this time. The kids and I all knew that she wasn't feeling well when we saw this.
I am going to call to get her seen tomorrow. She says she's feeling better, but she also told me that she doesn't want to go to the dr. She's got a low fever, too, but no other symptoms so I think it's more than just a cold.
I worked out in the garden for about 3 hours yesterday. It's coming along slowly but surely. I planted another row of corn, some tomatoes and some carrots. We haven't had much sun lately and nothing is growing as quickly as it would if we had more sunshine. It'll be at least 90 today, so maybe that will help. The strawberries are coming along nicely. In a few days we should have a nice snack. I just wish the plants grew as quickly as the weeds.
We discovered another leak in our sprinkler system last night, so Kenny has 2 places to repair in the backyard soon. It's an old system and my dad helped us replace the main system last summer as well as a few leaks, but they keep popping up. At least I have a new control panel and can shut the areas off that are leaking.
Nathan is going to turn in his application for Lumbermans today. He has a pretty good chance of getting hired. The general manager likes him and thinks he'd do well, so that's good. Kenny also spoke with a counselor at his old high school and she is going to forward Nathan's records our way. One step closer to getting him into school here. Now we have to wait until the end of August to know if he'll be accepted into school.
That's enough rambling for now. Have a good one!

some fun stuff!

Here's another teacher gift I made using the awesome stamps from Pink.Sugar.Pop. This one is for Ashlyn's teacher and since she's a first grade teacher, I thought the "tweets" would be fun. ;)

Some great news....KARA PASSED THE WASL!!!! She got a perfect writing score, excelled in the Reading, and barely passed the Math... she got 403 and to pass you had to have a 400. Whew! Talk about cutting it close. She said the math section was tough, and for the second year in a row, only 53% of students in the state passed the math. Several of her friends missed the math by just a few points, which must be hard to swallow. Meghan takes it next year, and I hope she passes, too. If not, it means more review time.

Let me see, Skye and Ash had their field day today. They pretty much spent the entire day outside playing games. There were even 5 jumpy castles, which were a huge hit among the younger kids. I was only with a group of 10 first-graders watching them on one of the jumpy castles and they were crazy! I have no idea how these teachers can do this every day. I don't have the patience for it. AKKK!
Ashlyn got a few awards today as well as a little trophy for being an "Outstanding Reader". She's so proud. I will take a pic tomorrow and upload. Skye has an awards assembly tomorrow.
Other than that, it's just hectic around here. Tomorrow is the last full day of school for Skye and Ash, and Kara and Meghan get out at noon once again. I really can't believe this school year is wrapping up. Boy do I feel old!

got to play with my new stamps!

I finally had a chance to play with my new stamps from Pink.Sugar.Pop., and I used them to create a thank you gift for Skye's teacher. I hope she likes it! I am going to work on one for Ashlyn's teacher next. :)

Today was the Variety Show at Sunrise. Skye and Abby were in it and they did an excellent job! I am very proud of them. There were so many wonderful acts, the kids are so full of talent! Ahh, to be young again.

Today was Kara and Meghan's last full day of school. Kara's not feeling well and she came home and crashed. I think finals are stressing her out.

Nathan went to work with Kenny today, so it's been quiet. I am kind of glad just because I want to savor these last few moments while I can. Meghan and Kara get out of school at noon tomorrow and Thursday, and Friday all the kids will be home for the summer by 10:15, so every moment I can have is golden.

A new week

Today is the kids' last week of school. They get out on Friday. I am excited because I love having them home and I look forward to the just "hanging out" that summer inspires. For the most part the girls get along beautifully, so it's not too bad. They are a bit mixed. Ashlyn is more than ready for school to be out, she'd stay home all day with me if she could. ;) Kara is looking forward to being a Junior and Skye is anxious about starting Middle School. As for Meghan, who knows, the girl rarely talks. LOL!
Nathan is once again living with us. He arrived early Sunday morning. I have no idea what to expect. He's fun to have around and I just hope that he'll allow us to guide him in the right direction. I can't quite find the words to express how I feel. I have had a heavy feeling in my gut since Friday night when he called us asking if he could come live with us and I am not quite sure why. I am more than happy to give him a chance, but I am giving up so much for him and maybe that's what it is. I am giving up what I know works for us a family; the dynamic that the 4 girls have. I can deal with that. I am treading in foreign waters adding him here, but I think it will be OK.
I got a nice package full of Pink.Sugar.Pop. stamps on Saturday! Such cute stuff!

TGIF!

Happy Friday! (I started to think it was Thursday, I have lost a day somewhere... heehee). Yesterday was Skylar's 5th grade celebration. I am proud of myself, I only teared up twice. It's such a bittersweet time for her because she's excited to begin middle school in September, but it's hard to leave her teachers and the school she is familiar with. Most of the kids were asking if they could be held back. LOL! They are just so cute! The class of 2014... I hadn't even thought about it until they mentioned it. Sadly, it will be here before I know it.

Are you ready for some eye candy? Here is the July Create My Keepsake sneak peak Star Struck. Isn't it pretty?

Have you had a chance to check out the new Twisted Originals challenge blog? You need to! There is going to be a fun challenge each week and you have a chance to get published in Scrap Street.

CHA peeks are starting to pop up and just when I think they can't come up with anything better, these companies sure do deliver! I love this time of year!

just stuff

Life is good! There are so many positive things happening in my little scrappy world that make me happy!
June is the debut month for kits at Create My Keepsake and they sold out! WOHOO!!! I knew this would be a huge success, but I had no idea how big this was going to be. Rebecca more than doubled for July and we are excited about this kit as well. Think fun and bold with a splash of elegant (wouldn't you like to know more *insert evil laughter here*. Soon. ;)
I am super excited that I made the Creative Team for Pink.Sugar.Pop. *yay*! I just adore the stamps, and if you haven't seen them yet, you really should check them out. New designs were just released and I am looking forward to playing once I get them!
And after months of nothing from Cards Magazine, I got 3 things picked up for the October issue! I hope this is the beginning of a new streak with them, because I adore this publication and so many of my scrappy friends grace this magazine monthly... well, I should say every magazine out there is full of beautiful work from them! It's so fun to look through something and see a name or a face that I recognize. I actually get excited because I "know" them and it makes this world a little bit smaller.

In other news, the girls only have 8 days of school left. This year just seemed to fly by, especially the past few months. I love having the girls home. I won't miss homework and the struggle to get Skye and Ashlyn out the door. So many days the girls were late to school and we live just 3 blocks away. I don't get it. LOL!
My garden is starting to come along... very slowly. I do have some beans and corn that have popped out of the soil and this makes me giddy! I actually sat out there and just stared for a few minutes yesterday. The only other things I have planted at this point are peppers and cherry tomatoes. I have plenty more to get out there that has been started in the house and are growing like wildfire and seeds that I need to plant as well. I just need to get out there and finish pulling all those nasty weeds. Yuck.

I will end with a quote today:
Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. -Rumi

I have a blog!

Well, I have joined the blog bandwagon. Please bear with me while I figure this stuff out, I am pretty clueless. ;) Someday it will be nice and pretty, but for now it will be a work in progress.