Smarty Pants Blog Hop

If you are here for the Year of Card Techniques, please go HERE, or you can check out all of my hops for today (there's only two!). We'd I'd love to have you!

Welcome to the 

Smarty Pants Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us for a blog hop dedicated to all the smart kids out there starting school and the amazing people who teach them!

Connie Can Crop is the first stop in this hop. This is a one day blog hop and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these amazing crafters.

We have an awesome sponsor for this month! 

One lucky winner will win a $20 gift card to shop their awesome files in their shop! 

Be sure to check out their shop online HERE

Visit them on facebook HERE

Follow their blog HERE for freebies and inspiration!

What do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.

You will have until 10 pm Sunday to finish the hop and leave your comments.

Winner will be announced on Wednesday 9/14/16 at Connie Can Crop.

Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

Let's head on it to the classroom and see these amazing back to school projects!

Did you know I work in a school? Yes! They let even my people in! Imagine that! I love to help decorate the classrooms. And this year, I have one of the most awesome teachers to partner with.

One of the boards she wanted to make would encourage kids to do well and go to college. Great idea! Off to Pinterest she headed... and found THIS and THIS!

But we can do better, ey? I mean... We can totally work with that idea, right?

 

And off to Design Space I went... Designed a sun... with the letters C-O-L-L-E-G-E as the sun's rays and "BOUND" in the half-sphere of the sun...

Because of the extra large size of the cut (had to use my hardly-ever-used 12x24" mat... and the regular construction paper wasn't long enough, so I compromised and spliced it all together (as shown below) 

The finished cut... (before the weeding...and I don't mean the kind in the garden)

Our beautiful sun laminated those high school kids can't keep their hands off stuff, you know! The trick to putting the holes from the "O" and the "B" in the center? (in a whisper) It's laminated twice. Once without the space-keepers. Put them on the lamination in the correct spots with a touch of glue, then run it through the machine again! I wanted the sky to show through... that's why it's laminated, and not mounted on a board or other background. Duh.

OK, so laminating it twice gives the lamination a bit of wrinkle, but who doesn't have that? I know I do... So get over it, would you?

And my teacher made these awesome signs, pointing the ways to our California Universities...(different systems)... and here you see the bold blue of the sky ad the cool green of the grass (all fabrics! so as not to tear so much or lose color throughout the school year!).

And our winding road... because YOU know it's not a straight-away to college. There are lots of curves ahead!

This is my favorite... I love the borders my teacher (partner... I'm an assistant just in case you were wondering...) It is double sided, so I was able to center it and flip a couple of pieces to put flowers on the outsides of the quote. The quote... so beautiful! "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt was such an inspiration!

 

And our full board yes, you can see other boards, too... don't get picky!... a thing of beauty!

 

I've done other boards too, but here's one of my faves, if you want a throw-back... or ideas of your own!

 Up next is Rebecca!

Here's our line up in case you get lost:

Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com

Angela- mermaidsNmonograms.blogspot.com

Janet- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/

Kim- http://katydidcards.com

Christi - https://tranquility1905.blogspot.com/

Michelle- Michellekinder.blogspot.com

Miranda - www.nanasscrapspot.com

Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://marinewifesscrappinlife.blogspot.com

Veronica- www.vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com

Sarah - www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com

Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com

Rebecca - www.RebeccaAnnDesigns.com

And don't forget to check out the this month's challenge at 

Connie Can Crop!!

Connie Can Crop Challenge #50

Book Worm

due 11:59 P.M. Friday, September 30th

Pacific Time

Ships Ahoy! Blog Hop

If you are here for the A Year of Card Techniques - June's Post, please go HERE, or you can check it all out. We'd love to have you!

Welcome to the 

Ships Ahoy! Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us as we set sail for a hop full of nautical fun!

You should have sailed in from Vicky's Blog. If not the Captain, Connie Can Crop, is the first stop in this hop. This is a one day blog hop and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these amazing crafters.

We have a WONDERFUL sponsor this month!!

 

One lucky winner will win their choice of 3 files from their shop! 

Be sure to check out their shop online HERE

Visit them on facebook HERE

What do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.

You will have until 10 pm Sunday to finish the hop and leave your comments.

Winner will be announced on Wednesday 6/22/16 at Connie Can Crop.

Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

 

Raise those anchors and batten down the hatches as we embark on this great adventure! All aboard!

 

And so... if you possibly read my "other" blog post from today... You'd know I've been extremely busy... Who hasn't? and (at this point, you  really should be scrolling back up to the link... or scrolling down on my blog [to the previous post of the day] to see what the heck I'm talking about... hint, hint.. You'd ALSO know we were working on step-cards this month in A Year of Card Techniques. Whelpers... I loved it SO much, that I thought I'd do it for this one, too! Watch out friends and family... Step-Cards are my new favorite! Guess what kind of card you'll probably be getting...

I scored notice I'm still loving the blues? Especially since it' "like" summertime here (and everywhere) kinda oceanic... it... JUST like the video told me to!

And then... I over-sliced it with my paper trimmer. Be sure to follow the instructions!

And it folds... just like so! Love the aerial views...

A closer view... Loving these folds!!!

Created another "border" with my Explore Air... then chopped it up again... (obviously, it's a "ships ahoy!" theme, and I happened to be having a teacher I know leaving us... and setting sail! Whatever works, right?)

The view from above shows me my adhesive will make each fold stick... had to trim the ships' insides



And the ships kinda overlapped on folded waters. But that's ok! Right?

Ok... It now looks kinda cool from the aerial view. I like it!



Added sentiment... Simple. Again...

And there she blows! Super Duper SIMPLE! And easy. Look, Ma! No Ink!!! All set for a teacher who's going away! to have a blast and leave us forever... I just hope she comes back to share her adventures with us!

 Up next is Sarah! And have a look-sy at where she's going!

Here's our line up in case you get lost at sea:

Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/

Angela- http://crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com/

Kim- http://katydidcards.com/

Alicia- http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/

Christi-http://tranquility1905.blogspot.com/

Holli- SunflowerHolli.blogspot.com 

Janet- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/

Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

Miranda - http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/

Vicky - Vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com 

Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com/

A Year of Card Techniques - (June) Step Cards

If you are here for the Ships Ahoy! Blog Hop, please go HERE, or you can check it all out. We'd love to have you!

Welcome to...

It's month six of our year long adventure into different card-making techniques, folds and paper crafting products. We hope you got the chance to hop with us each month.

It's not to late to hop and comment to be entered into our prize drawing. If you missed any of the previous months, you can click on the month to be taken directly to the start of that month's hop.
January HERE
February HERE
March HERE
April HERE
May HERE

This month, we will be creating step cards and you won't want to miss the amazing and fun cards we've got for you today.

We really love feedback, so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in today's hop. Each comment on the 12 hops throughout the year will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Blitsy.com or Stampin' Up gift certificate (Winner's Choice).

Now on with the projects. Here's mine...

So... I had all of these examples to check out. But... since May through June are TOTALLY crazy-buzzy-busy for me (think end of year at my school, my kid's school, and end of season for high school swimming, and full of qualifiers for year-round swimming)... I'm kinda full. So... I opted for the simplest: Amy Kunkle! Seriously. So super easy. (And I watched so much more from her channel after this... I subscribed! Yes, Amy Kunkle! I am stalking your YouTube channel!!!!)

The 11-year-old was having  "promotion". Actually, it was physically yesterday... I jumped on it and decided to have my card do double-duty not doo-dy. lol. I did a simple step card, with an aqua turquoise/whatever the **** you want to call it! base,

Added a line-up of dolphins (she loves dolphins!) that I cut with my Explore Air totally was a border, but I chopped it up! But just fyi... the folds were a little deep, so I adhered my swimming buddies a little higher than the creases, and let the dolphins "fly" on the waves.

Followed through with a sentiment about "jumping" and a tad of "congrats", and let her rip. Super simple! Isn't it? Not even a speck of ink on this card or any other elements. Simple. Simple... SIMPLE!

And btw... she is beyond thrilled that her card is being used for this post... Dunno why... I think she thinks it kinda makes her famous or something? What she doesn't realize maybe is that I'm not even famous! Not even sure there are many people that read MY blog. And that's okay...  

Really truly, go back and check out that video. I loved it so much I used it for another post (also posting later today!). And, so you follow through and are eligible for a wack at the prize... Today's Line-up:

Theresa
Claudia

Debbie

Sharon

Lisa

Kim

Jearise

School Rules Blog Hop

Welcome to the School Rules Blog Hop!

...

School has started in many places!
Join us as we fill our backpacks with
pencils, rulers, and notebooks of every color.
Showing off projects to inspire kids and their mothers.
because School Rules, you can see it on our faces!

You should have come from Sharon. Wasn't her little piece of her school heart so fun?
but if you need to go the beginning of the line
Connie Can Crop is the line leader on this School Rules Blog Hop.
This is a one day blog hop and I appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these fantastic ladies who are here sharing their School themed ideas and creations.

I have a fantastic sponsor for this hop, The Paper Nest Dolls!!
They will be giving one lucky winner a $15 gift certificate to spend in their fabulous shop!
Be sure to check out their adorable stamps at The-papernest.com
What do you need to do to win? Easy... become a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects.
You will have until 12:00 am Monday to finish the hop and leave your comments.
Winner will be announced on Wednesday here at Connie Can Crop.
Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

I worked on some cans for popsicle sticks (calling sticks to get more student participation) and gave THOSE to my teacher... thinking I'd get pics later. But... at the last minute the night before school started... Oops! I got transferred. Ugh! No problemo, right? Nah... just a tad AWKWARD... not everyone understands the need to take pics and blog your crafty creations...

Welcome to a blank canvas.

Walls... just full of tiny pieces of paper and tons and tons of staples! I'm getting carpal tunnel just pulling them out!  And so. We (the substitute teacher and I... I'd love to keep her. She is SOOOO cool!) are working on this canvas. And working with the kids at the same time. So there's not much time... and not much budget.

We found some "supplies" in the closet. With nowhere to put our papers... I grabbed this ugly grey paper tray to take home. Yuckee. Doesn't this just SCREAM "Let's learn and be happy about it!"? Uh... no.

So... if you know me... or maybe you don't... I just had to add some color! A can of Safety Red Rustoleum to the rescue!!!

D

And now... it's dry and holding the attendance.  Woohoo!

I have so much more... working on it. Hopefully I can squeeze in some more pics to show you the beginning of our Michaelangelo/Picasso creations in the classroom. Should be fun...

Don't forget to leave a comment and follow, then finish hopping along. Thanks for stopping by!

Up next is Cindy! She's got something wonderfully school-worthy for you to check out.

Here is our complete line up in case you get lost along the way:
1. Connie - http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
2. Angela - http://www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com
3. Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
4.  Rebecca - www.stampandscrapstudio.blogspot.com
5. Haidee-http://created2bunique.blogspot.com
6. Veronica--http://vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com
7.  Ashley ~ http://marinewifesscrappinlife.blogspot.com
8. Holli - http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
9. Daphne- http://craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com
10. Sharon - http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
11. Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com
12. Cindy - http://www.cindys-greencricut.blogspot.com/
13. Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
14. Audrey - www.kricutkreations.blogspot.com
15. Jessica - www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

Summer's Soon to Be... And Life's Lessons Part I

Of course. As it happens every year. The time has flown by. It seems we just started the school year last August (yes... we do start THAT early, here...). And it's already almost the last week of 2014's school year. Wow.

I feel "all over the place". Thoughts aren't together. Easily distracted. So much has happened. So much going on. No time for anything.

My peaches have come and gone... it really was a quick season.

I'm working in a high school this year. It's bittersweet. I get to know so many kids that I may never see again. They say they'll come back to visit, but we shall see. I'll miss 'em. I certainly hope they succeed in life, no matter what they choose to do, knowing I tried to help them. It's sad...

Squirrel!!!!! It reminds me of when all of my older kids graduated. They grow up way too fast for words. With them now at the ages of 25, 22, 21 and 20 and all having jobs and lives of their own, I breathe happily, knowing they are (for the most part) adults on their way to success. But... I still miss having them around. I see their huge mistakes and I cringe inside. Often, I do tell them about it. They may not like what I have to say, but one day... hopefully they'll put the pieces together and figure it all out.

My mom disagrees with this strategy. She feels I shouldn't say anything. And just let them learn. She pointed out to me just the other day that she didn't say a word when I was having problems in my first marriage (I was being abused physically and mentally...) and lots of signs were there. I firmly believe I would have left that situation a lot sooner and been happier because of it. She may not have said anything to me (not even when I left... the first time), but others did.

They may not have said what you are thinking they probably said. Not one person told me to leave.

Many suggested counseling (which we'd already been through...).

All told me to stay. That it would be bad for the kids if I left him. Marriage is forever... they told me.

I was miserable. I was beaten regularly. My head was put through a wall. I was told that I was fat and ugly. I was told nobody would ever want me. I was told I was nobody without him...

I've come a long way. I am somebody. (I'll finish that tale another day...)

In the meantime, summer break begins for us next week. And I have a nine-year-old and some older kids. I will continue to share my experiences with them, so they may learn from my mistakes, as well. They may or may not get it. They may continue to go down a rocky path or climb the smoother scenic one. Who knows. No matter what, I'll continue to parent. And that's ok.

Our plans for summer this year are quite crazy. We only have 2 months. It's not okay. But there's nothing we can do about it.

So... the hubster has the first week off. I'll let him schedule most of that, as he takes issue if I make plans (tee hee!). Then... swim meets here and there, Marissa will swim with the dolphins.

We'll go to Sea World several times, I'm sure (thank goodness for passes!). I believe the Queen Mary is on our to-do list (twice... once with the hubster and once with my mom), as we've never "been there, done that". And I've lived in So Cal most of my life! Swim lessons (at least 2 sessions) and art lessons are on the list for Marissa, as well as joining the Summer Reading Program at our local library.

As for personal goals for me? Um... start writing again... re-vamp the blog... re-organize the craftroom... make things... read... garden... and maybe... paint a room (I think the hallway bath is my target.) We shall see... There's really not much time to do it all in, and I really truly do feel a tad overwhelmed at just seeing it all in print. (and just between you and me... I'd really really REALLY like to re-organize all my file cabinet. it drives me cuckoo...)

More life lessons to come... a review of Malificent (we just saw it today! Squeee!)... and much much more. I really do intend to write more this summer. Priorities will be restored! So... be sure to come back often this summer. We'll share each other's adventures. Please feel free to do just that!

A Little Bit of Birthday

Today (Friday), I turned 43. The day is almost gone, but I've started a whole bunch of new beginnings. 

I went to work at the high school and enjoyed my last day as a substitute with my afternoon teacher. His regular aide will return on Monday, after a leave of absence, and I've grown and met so many people, thanks to this opportunity. Don't fret... I still have my day job. I will miss the kids and the teacher. I hope I made them all feel as confident and loved as they made me feel. And I'll REALLY miss English. I'll only have math left... Ugh. 

Since I had broken my toe last week, I noticed the coloring had finally subdued itself. It definitely was a lighter shade of purple... But the "fracture blister" is still there. (Avoid the pic if you don't want to see!)

Blech! And yes... Don't hate on the Flinstones toes!

I got my kid to get close to a lobster

And I got my hubs to finally update our stove/oven/range:

Isn't she a beaut? Btw... Three years ago, I got him to finally update our washer/dryer. He called it my birthday gift. Household... Ya know? He "gets it" now. He informed me the range isn't my birthday gift! Yay! Old dogs CAN learn new tricks!

I signed up for something I'm thrilled to try and launch into a new adventure (I'll share more later...)

And I'm doing my first whole blog post from my phone! Um... It's sure to be less wordy, as my fingers are rapidly tiring. It's much easier on a computer keyboard. 

I sure hope all of your birthdays can be as good as mine was. Love, family, friends, food, and new beginnings make every year different and life-changing. Change IS good...

Marissa's School is having a fundraiser... Woohoo!

Marissa's school (Moreno Elementary) is doing their annual fundraiser. If you need some gifts, wrapping, decos for the holidays, something for your pet... or something for yourself, please check this out! Be sure to order from the link, so that she and her school get the credit. Thanks in advance, and as always... no pressure...

Please help our school's fundraiser: MORENO PTA is having a fundraiser. You can shop online at Students First! website...
Thank you for your support.

If the link above does not work, please use the following link and enter the student ID: mre2476 at: http://www.westcoastfundraising.com/store/index.phpbr

Marissa and her fellow students and school thank you from the bottom of their heart!

ACTION!: Paper Hoarders DT Challenge

This week's Design Team Challenge over at the Paper Hoarders is ACTION! Meaning... it's gotta move. And I "do" move. So, I'll catch briefly catch you up to see what I've been working on...

Whew! It's been busy. School started here a couple of weeks ago (as seen in a previous post...), and I've been workin' it. Besides my normal everyday volunteer work (in the Kinder classes, 1st and now 2nd grades), I've been working-working as an assistant in the RSP program at another school.

And I'm having a blast!

On the first day of school, I walked into a fairly large classroom, with {gasp!!!} blank bulletin boards. My new teacher let me know that I could give her my ideas, and she'd let me know. [oh yeah!!! crafter's dream!!!!] She told me what type of boards we would need (1st, 2nd and 3rd grade ELA themes [for their current stories], Comprehension, Reading, Fluency Goals, and Math). So I set to work researching on the internet. (I'd never done those type of things before, but you know me... a challenge is a challenge, and I kinda L-O-V-E those!

eHow was a great tool... there I found a couple of ideas incorporating comprehension and some with vocabulary goals. So... I thought of combining it all, and making more up as I went, and instead of individual boards... um... making an OCEAN! Here's my crediting linkage. (Much thanks to Erin Schreiner, the author! I took her "Swimming through Comprehension" board and RAN with it!)

 I love interactivity. I arouses the mind and makes kids have fun learning. So... on eHow, I saw vocab words written down and each student as a fish swimming past these [goals]. OK. Only... we'd have each student as a fish and swim UP towards their goals in percentages (I still have to write the percentages... oopsie!)

And here's a little closer up... the percentage (of their goals) will be written on the seaweed to to the left of the chart. The different colored fishies here represent the different grades (so the students can find themselves easier). Please note... no one has moved up yet, because we're just starting the program and no one has been tested towards their goals this year.

Then we'll move onto the comprehension/theme side of things, entitled: What Does it all Mean? (how appropriate, right?)

And here, I separated the themes into the various grades...

With the titles of each of their themes... then I created a tissue paper "bubble", stapled laminated paper to it, so I could attach a current passage/story summary on each.

Then I added a passage/story summary...

The surrounding fish are laminated (so the Expo marker can be changed...) and written with either a vocabulary word or question related to the passage/story.

If you notice, they are stapled at the top and creased, so they fold up...

To reveal the definition (if a vocab word) or the answer!

As the stories change, so can our bulletin boards, without having to completely re-do them!

The same concept is done with the Math board... only these guys have googly-eyes, as their questions didn't take up so much room!

I'll incorporate more fish with questions and answers as we get beyond the previous year's review...

And then my favorite... the Island of Reading...

The cuts say "Journey", "Escape", "Dream", and "READ".

It's a work in progress, and I hope to get more fish shapes in there, but I'm on a time crunch and do have to work with the kids still, so there's really not much time for me to play with the boards, but... it's enough for Back-to-School night next week, so there we are.

I was trying to make a card earlier today, but it didn't turn out and still isn't turning out at this late hour (it's after midnight), so... this is action for today! Hopefully after hubby's vacation next week, I'll have time to figure out the dang moving card (the dimensions JUST were NOT working for me! and not letting it do what I thought it would do... ugh!).

But, in the meantime, please check out Ms. Tanya's blog, where all the other Design Team members have their work and links posted. Please be sure to give them some love, as you know... we all need it. And don't forget... you can join in the challenge, too! If you do, please be sure to leave me a link, so I can stop by and share some love, too!

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my simple pleasures with me. I appreciate it. and YOU have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!