No 8th Graders Allowed

We're almost to the official end of an era with our 14 y.o. son - he's been told, as have his classmates, to not return to school unless they're with a parent, because they are DONE.  (This announcement must come from years of 8th graders returning as Kings and perhaps disrupting those who are still in school.)  Outside of graduation on Friday, he is no longer a student at the school he's attended for nine years.  Their time came to a close yesterday with the tradition of releasing green balloons (green being a color of hope) with their wishes and dreams attached - "the sky's the limit!"

It's funny looking at this picture, most of the kids have been here since Kindergarten, an age when you would barely see the tops of their heads over the railings here.

I attended the awards breakfast yesterday morning, before the big send-off, and enjoyed listening to light-hearted poems for each of their teachers, finding out who was awarded scholarships to the local private high schools and who received various awards.  Our boy was recognized for the highest overall grade average in History - something that came as a nice surprise for us all.  We'll find out Friday if he received any other academic awards; he's been on the First Honors list since 7th grade, so fingers are crossed.

I'm feeling the need to kick people out of the house, siphon the gas out of the car (sorry, can't run you here or there. . .no gas) and do nothing, or rather do what I want, for about 12 hours.  It's nuts around these parts.  I need some me time with the sketches I seem to be only collecting from the 28 Days of Sketches class over at Big Picture.  I need to do some cleaning and clearing and work seems to be piling up.  Today's color inspiration will at least get one thing crossed off your own to-do list.

The first example comes from this month's Card Kit, a card by Wendi Robinson - an awesome card for any graduateyou may need a card for.  The May kit is, unfortunately sold out, but the paper line - My Mind's Eye Boy Crazy - can be found as just the papers or in the March '13 Bigger than a Breadbox kit.

Another example, also from Wendi, is this card made with the March '13 All Year Cheer Card Kit, using the Pebbles Fresh Goods line.

A quick note, there is another FREE Class being offered over at Big Picture, and it's a Pajama Party.  I'm already signed up; challenges, prizes, video and more.

Happy Wednesday,

Crazed and Chaotic

The last couple weeks of school are usually chaotic - projects, finals, field-days, short days, teacher appreciation, etc.  Added to the typical home-life schedules and it can get a little nuts.  Add a graduating student and well . . . look out . . . Crazy is coming.

And that's where we are.  Crazy.  Like that's new though, eh?

We did take our trip, sort of as a family - half of us anyway, up to Cheyenne for our 14 y.o.'s final regular season game, which they lost, in part due to some very bad calls.  Very. Bad.  We finish out the soccer season with a tourney this weekend.  Luckily on our home fields, so no travel, but busy back and forth.  I'm eager to get these days behind us so we can settle into a slower routine for the summer.  I like to think I'm more productive in the summer - even if I'm really not.

Today's color inspiration from the Apron Strings Color Theory board is not a typical combo for me, unless you look just at the colors.  Then you realize they are a fairly typical combo for Halloween/Fall.  

Like found in the October '12 Bigger than a Breadbox kit, the October Afternoon Witch Hazel line - here by Maria Swiatkowski.

Or here, by Nancy Longo, using the February '12 Smaller than a Breadbox kit, the Basic Grey Picadilly line. 

For May you're creating along with the chance to win a selection from the American Crafts Hello Sunshine line.  There's still plenty of time to enter any one, or all, of the challenges posted so far this month.  And remember, you can use the color inspirations to pull from your stash if you don't have the kits suggested.

Happy Tuesday,

Free Friday

It's 10:15 am.  I'm out for an appointment.  It's 75 degrees.  The air is still cool enough to carry the smell of cut grass and wet earth.  It's awesome.

It's too nice a day for big rules, so today is simple.  Here's your color inspiration from the Color Theory board.  It's luscious, juicy and perfect for today.

You pick the kit in your stash that best meets the inspiration.  No kit?  No worries, find supplies in your stash that work.  Then simply upload a link to your project using this inspiration in the comments and BOOM, you're eligible for this month's drawing:  American Crafts Hello Sunshine sampler.

It's turning into a very warm day today.  I have no menu planned (I had some struggles this week producing my  usual weekly plan) and I'm too tired to do much for dinner.  It's our weekly Friday hosting of the in-laws, so I have brats thawing and think I will make this chocolaty no-bake 4-Layer Cookie Bar for dessert.  Found on the I Can Cook that board, it's perfect for the days when any excess heat in the house is just too much!

Plans for the weekend are fairly light.  One more regular season game.  Various children in and out of the house.  A cool front coming in.  I'm looking for some time together - the last couple weeks have been a bit scattered family-time-wise - and some down time.

Happy Friday,

Problems. . .

So I logged on to Pinterest. . .always a risk since the time suck could be large.  Even when I tell myself, "just go to the Color Theory board and snag a pallet," it never really works out that way.  Case-in-point, today, 50 minutes later I leave my landing page after pinning several recipes, liking several free fonts and a few ideas for Dad's Day, I finally get to the Color Board.  

As I'm browsing around, I realize I may have a problem - in that I think I may be following more food boards than scrappy ones.  My food pins far out-number scrappy ones.  Now, we're well familiar with my obsession collecting of recipes, so I guess it should surprise no one.  However, in my defense if I don't have quick and easy recipes my family will hunt me down when they're hungry demanding I stop crafting and go feed them.  As family cooks we know PB&J really ain't gonna cut it, it's a meal they demand and no matter how quick, it'll take a bit valuable crafty time t prepare.  So see, really, it's a service that I'm providing by digging out these fast and fabulous recipes; these don't-interrupt-me-I'm-crafting-your-dinner-is-in-the-kitchen meals.  Whew . . . well  . . . I'm glad there's a logical reason there.

On to today's color inspiration.

Now why complicate matters by looking for kits outside the holiday season that fit this pallet?  Life is sticky enough without making things harder than they need to be.  So we look to both December kits from 2012.  The Smaller kit with its My Mind's Eye Winter Wonderland line and the Bigger kit with Basic Grey's Aspen Frost line.

I love a traditional color scheme for the holidays - but could be swayed with pink and lime green too - but Jennifer Halleck stuck with the tradition using the Winter Wonderland line here.

And here, Maria Swiatkowski used the Aspen Frost (which has a touch of teal to it) by pulling the traditional colors together, as well.  

Reminder:  If you've used these kits, didn't get them (the Smaller kit is available and a Second Helping of the Basic Grey is also available) please pull from your stash using the color pallet for inspiration.  Then please, share your link in the comment section.  You have all month to complete any or all of the challenges - so no excuses.  Plus, I've got a meals for you over on Pinterest to avoid the family's hungry interruptions. ;D

Happy Thursday,

Da Vinci In the House

The boys' school generally has one large event for every grade level - usually surrounding a unit of study.  We've had 100 Day Celebration, Johnny Appleseed Day, Rendezvous Day, Colonial Day, Ameritowne and then this year, the Ed Fair which just passed and today Medieval Day.  My 6th grader has spent the better part of this trimester studying that era, and today caps it off.  They have food (turkey legs, fruits, flat bread, no plates or silverware - my boy is psyched about that), games and their presentations.  

Leonardo here is in a costume made up from at least six separate costumes or items.  As a mom, I'm pretty proud of that (see I knew there was a reason to keep all those Halloween costumes!) and he is very happy with the over all look.  I know he was skeptical when I started suggesting things to pull out.  Well, here is the list. . .I guess I can see his point - Superman cape worn inside-out, Jedi Knight robes, "possibles bag" from Rendezvous Day (4th grade), soccer warm ups, a wool driving cap worn sideways, his mother's brown leather boots - they come up to his knees as was the fashion o'the day - and his sister's woven leather belt.  His presentation is on the back of his painting and his satchel holds some of his other famous drawings.  I gotta say, he's rockin' the da Vinci.

Today's color inspiration from the Apron Strings Color Theory board is

With one girl, who is far removed from her "Pink Girlie Days," I don't get to use this color combo much myself.  But I have used it recently. . .enter a Project Life page I did a week or so ago, using the February '11 Smaller than a Breadbox kit.

More recently this color combo was found in both the February '13 kits - the Bigger with Basic Grey's True Love and Authentique's Lovely in the Smaller kit.  There is a Basic Grey Second Helping paper pack and a TV Dinner of the Authentique lines, if you want to play with those.

Here Maria Swiatkowski using the Smaller kit, the Lovely line, for showing off her 100-Day Celebration.

And Kristin Perez uses the Bigger kit, the True Love line, for a more traditional take on the Valentine's day papers.

Remember use these kits if you have them.  If not, find items in your own stash inspired by the color pallet for today.  Then come, share your work by linking it up in the comment section for your shot at winning the May American Crafts Hello Sunshine sampler.

Happy Wednesday,

And Heerrreee'sss Spring. . .Wait

Huh. . .I'm looking at the calendar and it says "May."  My trees, yard and flowers all have that May look about them - spring greens, in need of winter clean-out and early sproutlets.  So, why, on this newly green earth is the temperature at 90??  Ugh!

I hope all those Moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day.  Here, my own mother was out of town, so it was just one visit to see my MIL and then home for the remainder of the day.  Where, as we moms all know, it's business as usual.  I printed off my daily sketches from the Big Picture Class, 28 Days of Sketches, Round 2, that I'm taking; they're really cool.  I did think about what I could do with each of the sketches, but getting kits out the door was at the top of my list.  I almost dug out a kit and photos late last night, but at 11:00 pm, I'd have had to tackle clearing off my work table, and frankly, just wasn't in the mood.  

We did celebrate the 12 y.o.'s 2-1 win during their last regular season soccer game; pretty sure that was the only win for the Spring season.  But hurray for finishing out with a win!  Now we have a week off until the tourney we are playing over Memorial Day weekend.  The 12 y.o. has his Medieval Day tomorrow, where he will be Leonard Da Vinci.  The 14 y.o. has his last week of classes this week.  The 16 y.o. is, or better be, deep in study-for-final-mode.  And the 4 y.o. has, I believe, hit his stride in the "it's all about me, who are you" phase.  Whoever coined the term, "terrible two's" clearly didn't have a 4 y.o. at the time they coined it.  Oiy!

And for you, you lucky people, you get the first of this week's inspiration, found on the Apron Strings Color Theory board, over at Pinteret.

You can find this pallet in both the Smaller than a Breadbox January '13 kit (the October Afternoon Woodland Park) and in the Bigger than a Breadbox September '12 kit (Echo Park So Happy Together.)

The first one here (January '13 Smaller kit), Jennifer Halleck focused on the Teal and Green, by using the "B" sides that included some of the Pinks, to create her layout.

Then second here (September' 12 Bigger kit), by Nancy Longo, she used the full pallet to highlight a home still fondly remembered.

Now, remember it doesn't matter if you've used these particular kits already, or didn't get them.  Dig through your stash to pull another kit with the pallet or supplies inspired by the colors.  Then upload your work to the comments section for your chance to win an American Crafts Hello Sunshine packet.

  

Happy Tuesday,

Happy Mother's Day

For all the Moms out there who:

• Cheer their kids from the sidelines in sun, rain, snow and wind
• Kiss boo-boos big and small
• Champion their kids when others would walk away
• Stay up waiting for kids who are past curfew
• Sleep squashed in their bed during thunderstorms
• Spend the night in chairs, rockers and bedsides with sick ones
• Spend countless hours sorting, washing, folding and putting away laundry
• Cook and clean-up from hundreds of meals
• Run forgotten homework and lunches down to school
• Shed tears of joy and pain with and for their kids
• Fist-pump silently for their child when struggles are overcome
• Hug, because you can't do anything else
• Continue on with the seeminly thankless, never-ending mothering duties because it's those unexpected hugs and a "love you" that make it worth doing all over.

Your work is the most important in the world.  Have a love-filled day!

Happy Mother's Day