Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

How fun are these?  My dh and I coach my 2ds's soccer team and we came up with this cuuuute idea for the player of the week award.  We were trying to go off the Wheaties box, like the Olympians but I didn't want to spend that much on ten players when lo and behold Kix cereal went on sale AND it fit sooooo much better for soccer players who have to "kick" the ball.  I'm just thrilled with how they turned out.  The boys LOVE them!

© Copyright 2008 Jacque Ward http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wacque/

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

Firecracker Greetings

These turned out soooooo cute my kids want to make them for everyone.

First you will duct tape one end of a cardboard tube sandwiching a long string, curling ribbon or yarn.  Ours are about 1 yard long but it depends on how much you put on your message.  You will secure the ribbon to the tape and cover one end of the tube like so:

(opps picture to come -- missing a disk so have to make another and take a new picture)

Now decorate the outside of the tube by covering it with construction paper to make it look like a firecracker.  The string will go through the inside of the tube and out the other end.  From there you will need to cut out 1 1/4 inch circles to write your message.  We found cardstock to be better than construction paper.  Ours said, "Happy 4th of July" with stars used as spacers between words.  You may write your message, or use stencils or stamp your message like we did.  For each letter you will need to double punch and string the ribbon through each circle to ensure it lies flat.  Start your lettering approx. 2-3 inches past the firecracker:

You will next make a cover for the other end using a circle slightly larger than your tube.  Ours were 1 1/2 inch circle using cardstock or thin posterboard.  You will then snip the outer edge so the circle will bend down into the tube and fit securely but will still pop out.  Then make a hole in the center for your firecracker wick to go through.  We used a 2 inch stick of pipecleaner and then bent the end for our ribbon to be tied on.  We taped it for more security:

You can add some flames and a tag that reads "Pull" to the wick when the ribbon has been attached:

Your greeting can now be stuffed back into the tube with the top of the firecracker pushed down so that when your recipient receives your firecracker, all they do is pull the wick and out comes the greeting. 

Aren't these just adorable?

Coyright 2008 Jacque Ward http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wacque/

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

This wind chime is made from a previously eaten Pringles can although, I suppose you could use whatever can you had at your house to make the same.  The boys wrapped the can in construction paper using lots and lots of glue LOL.  We then poked holes in the lid and the sides to hang a wire from like this:

My boys really like using hammers LOL.  We then poked holes around the bottom edge.  This time I used my new favorite tool Crop-A-dile to punch holes but I'm sure you can use the nail and hammer again or just a single hole punch.  I had some chimes from a tangled, un-salvaged chime so we strung those through opposite holes like this:

Then using yet another recycled product, we cut a red plastic bag into strips and threaded those through the holes at the base of the can.

I really like how these turned out and they are quite festive with so many hanging around the house.  Yes!  I like Pringles so we had a few cans LOL

Have a crafty day!

© Copyright 2008 Jacque Ward http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wacque/

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

I was surprised but my boys TOTALLY got into making these Red, White & Blue necklaces!  I found some glow-in-the dark lacing at the Dollar Store and had them thread pony beads on.  We used a stencil and cut plastic stars out of red, white and blue plastic containers we had around the house ---- the mushroom container, plastic lids and various other items (you know me - I like it recycled and cheap LOL).  Although I had to draw the line at wearing them to bed (You know -- to see if they really glowed -- LOL they glow!).  These turned out cute and inexpensive & I think they will be nice to wear on the 4th:

© Copyright 2008 Jacque Ward http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wacque/

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

I'm not even going to attempt to catch up everyone on my life but just jump in where I am at and with what we are doing LOL

The kids are making these very cute crafts for the 4th and I thought I would share over the next few days all the cool ideas we have done.

Today's Craft:  I "heart" USA 

I had the boys stencil "I" and "USA" with markers on to poster board.  We took some heart shaped lollipops and glue dotted them between the words and decorated.  These would make cute party favors to hand out while watching the fireworks and super easy for ALL ages:

© Copyright 2008 Jacque Ward http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/wacque/

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

I hope you are gathering your pictures, your supplies and jotting down some journaling for Sunday's Scrap!  Here are the layouts to choose from & the examples posted so far:

SBSC90

Come join us on Sunday 1 pm (mst). 

Scrapbook pages completed in "07 12x12 = 3 (but working on more)

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

Well my Mother's Day Scrapping Sunday didn't go at all like I had hoped.  For that matter M Day should have been labeled D Day instead for disaster. 

Dh was kind enough to let me sleep in, partially on accident though.  He got up early with the boys and planned to make breakfast in bed for me but realized that he didn't have what he needed so he quietly left to go grocery shopping and he took the boys with him while I was left sleeping.  Well that was a disaster and when he returned he gave me the best Mother's Day present I could ask for.  He said & I quote,

"I am so sorry!  I will never make you go to the grocery store alone, again with the boys EVER." 

This statement alone compensated for the M day gift that I received.  I understand why I got an AB MACHINE and I’m sure he meant well by it especially since I have been trying to work on my fitness but honestly – who gives an AB Machine for a Mother’s Day present unless it was asked for or you are trying to say "I love you but your FAT"?  LOL – I can only imagine how the trip to the grocery store went because not only did he not get everything he went to get, he was late coming back home and subsequently we missed going to church. 

Of course I was awake, dressed and up when he returned which spoiled all the plans.  He had also arranged for us to get together with his mom for lunch.  We had already celebrated with my mom and grandma on Saturday but Sunday's get together was not mentioned to me until he returned at 11:00 am.  We had to be there at noon with corn which he forgot to buy so he was in a really BAD mood.  While I on the other hand felt quite rested and refreshed and told him not to worry about breakfast - we'd just go for the lunch.  I had to postpone my scrapping date with hopes of maybe getting together in the evening.  Still trying to be flexible here but now I was starting to get the BAD mood.   

Lunch was nice but cut short because we had to hurry back home so he could get ready to go to work.  When we returned, the boys wanted to wash my car for my M Day present but I really should have given it more thought before I agreed.  I figured they could have fun getting wet while I scrapped - WRONG!  What a disaster - they let the dog wander off after squirting her with the hose (can’t blame her for wanting to leave).  They washed everything but the car including the whole front of our house and the front of the neighbors house across the street (no the neighbors weren’t very happy about it either).  Shoes, rags and sponges were strewn from our house to the adjacent neighbors -- ARGH!  When I put a stop to all the "washing" AND we found the missing dog, they wanted to make dinner – again, I should have had my head examined but figured how difficult can frozen pizza be (yes, frozen pizza was my present from me to me for M day).  WELL - two burn fingers, one raw pizza and one nibbled pizza by the 'no longer lost dog" later I finally ended this Mother's Day and sent all little boys to BED so I could scrap in peace!  

My finished pages are in the side bar & considering the day I had they didn't turn out half bad LOL.  The most disappointing thing was not being able to scrap with my friend but we will try again this coming Sunday if you want to join us.

BTW next year I am canceling Mother’s Day or at the very least PLANNING the day myself to spend by MYSELF! lol 

P.S.  Here are this weeks layouts to choose from. Pick one or all or something else entirely but come scrap with us on Sunday at 1pm MST

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248133

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

My scrapping day is almost here and I am so excited that I have found pictures to go with the layouts.  I'm having soooo much trouble resisting scrapping them NOW lol!  My scrappy partner came up with a great idea to take a few minutes here and there until Sunday and think about those pictures.  Grab an index card, or notebook, or whatever to keep notes in and jot down thoughts on those pictures.  Then when we do the layouts, we'll have the journaling already done.  This is such a great idea especially for my pictures because they are almost a year old.  It is tough to remember back that far and yes, I am sooo behind on scrapping.  As Flylady would say, "Just jump in where you are".  Here also are the designs others have already done of the layouts so far:

SBSC89

Just waiting for Sunday!

Posted in Scrapping and Crafting

In order to try and get a handle on the masses of pictures that have enveloped my spare bedroom that I now lovingly call the photo dungeon, I will be scrapping and IMing a dear friend while we scrap.  We have choosen Sunday afternoons at 1pm MST to get together.  If you want to join us then come on - the more the merrier 

Here are the layouts to think about this week and we will start next Sunday.  There are 3 to choose from (or you can do your own or something else all together - the point is to get something done and it is always more fun to scrap with a friend) :

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246126

The first sketch is under #1 a sketch by Lucy.  The other two you can see the thumbnails and just click those.  As of today, nobody has posted any pic's of what they have done, so hopefully by the time we start working next Sunday there might be some more ideas. 

Now I decided that I needed some RULES before we get started on this or else I will get totally sidetracked.

Sunday Scrapping Sideline Rules:

1)  I MUST be dressed (not in my PJ's - I am usually dressed because we usually go to church but I just want to be clear here that this will NOT be an invitation to an all day PJ party for myself - that's why rules are good  )
2)  My kids must have some pre-approved things to do
3)  Dinner MUST be in the crockpot cooking
4) My desk area MUST be cleared off to work in front of puter
5)  I MUST talk to my children when they talk to me while I am doing this (more of a reminder to myself because computers, IMing and scrapping sometime do that to me --  )

So your mission if you choose to accept it, is to start thinking about how you want to scrap these layouts and gather the pictures and items that you will need to do it.  You may also want to make some of your own Scrapping Sunday Sideline Rules.  You can also check the forum thread to see what others said, did or posted.  We will meet back next Sunday and hopefully have some FINISHED pages to add to our scrap books.  Woo Hoo!  I'm excited.  Come join us!