Teacher thank you cards

Here's a whack of cards that I made for my kids to give to their teachers. Matt has one teacher in the morning and another in the afternoon. Ema has a teacher and an educational assistant who helps her each day with her lotions and checks her body heat.

I tucked a gift certificate (either LSS or bookstore) in each card as well.

Hopefully that's a good enough apology...I mean thank you for my kids for the past school year.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper, letter stickers, twine and stamps (stars), Scenic Route grid paper, Stampin' Up! binder punch, Riff Raff Designs chipboard (pencil), Imaginisce stamp (apple, Best Teacher), Tsukineko ink, EK Success black marker, Glue Dots, Helmar layering tape, other: googlie eyes.

Want some true inspiration?

Meet Hunter.
She's only 15 years old but she's got life pretty much figured out.

Photo taken by Andrew Rush for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Hunter Steinitz was born with an extremely rare form of ichthyosis called Harlequin. Today, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, you can read all about Hunter and how she is embracing life.
This past weekend, in Orlando, FL, the FIRST (Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types) Family Conference was held at Disney. This is the first year that we were unable to attend due to the fact that school isn't out yet and my husband and I are teachers. Very frustrating. When we are able to go we are able to meet up with other parents who are learning how to help their children deal with ichthyosis. The kids always have a great time and we always return home with tons of memories...and a boat load of lotions to try.

So, do yourself a favour and spend 10 minutes or so reading all about Hunter Steinitz and what makes her so awesome and inspirational.

Summery cards for SCT

Did you see it yet? The delicious summer 2010 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. If not, here's a lookie at the cover...note the yummy Core Impressions cardstock by Core'dinations on the left-hand side of the cover layout by Summer Fullerton.

Then, on page 50, be sure to check out these two cards that I made:

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, diecut and chipboard, October Afternoon patterned paper and sticker (strawberry), SRM sticker (Happy Anniversary), Technique Tuesday stamp (You are my reason why), We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Tsukineko ink, Heidi Swapp butterfly, Maya Road trinket pin, Helmar layering tape, Creative Memories oval cutter, Glue Dots, other: sewing machine and thread.

We're expecting!!!!

We are just a little excited...

The newest addition to our family will be arriving home in mid-August...just about the same time of the year we brought our other, less furry, children home.

As of right now we are thinking we will call her:

Sorella Rose Hodgkinson

She is a Spinone Italiano and the word "sorella" is Italian for "sister". We will likely call her "Ella" -the shortened form.

Enjoy!

Supplies: A boat load of Spinone Italiano puppies, one mommy Spinone Italiano named "Rosie", some newspaper.

Supplies: one surrogate mother named "Rosie".

400 bookmarks. Yep. 400.

I don't know what I was thinking exactly.
400 bookmarks for Ichthyosis awareness to be sold at the Family Conference this weekend in Florida seemed like a good idea when I thought of it over a month ago.
What I didn't seem to think all the way through was how exactly I would make these 400 bookmarks and get them in the mail by 10am on Monday, June 21.
My friends Mel and Amy helped me out on Friday night and my husband helped me out on Saturday and Sunday but it literally took the WHOLE weekend to get them done.
They left in a huge box this morning via UPS.
I then found the milk in the cupboard which is a pretty clear indication that I need sleep.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper and kraft paper, Scenic Route grid paper, Marvy butterfly punch and 3" circle punch, Stampin' Up! heart punch, Tsukineko ink, EK Success pen, 3M Quick Dry glue, Font: Mason, other: foam layering tape.

P.S. These bookmarks will be sold at the conference for $2 each or 3 for $5. The idea is that those attending the conference will purchase them and then give them away to friends and members in their communities to spread awareness. All proceeds will go directly to FIRST for research into Ichthyosis.

Father's Day...gotta plan yet?

I do.

Already made it.

It took me longer to get a half decent photo of my kids than it did to make the rest of the present. The instructions for this project are over on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog today if you need to know more.

My husband already saw the frame and loves it.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, corrugated alphas and twine, October Afternoon patterned paper, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Stampin' Up! heart punch and vintage tag, EK Success brown marker, Making Memories sanding block, other: sewing machine, thread, frame and stand.

So, what's your plan for Father's Day?

More critters to check out!

Cool Bean Critters are still being cooked up in my brain. It's taking my love for Jillibean Soup buttons to a whole new level!

Today, over at the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, you can check out my more detailed article on how to make some Cool Bean Critters of your own. I created today's "Designer's Challenge", a regular Monday feature over at Scrapbook & Cards Today.

Thanks for stopping by...still more critters to come!

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions and Essentials), Jillibean Soup kraft paper, buttons, felt flowers and leaves, corrugated alphas, twine and cardstock stickers, October Afternoon patterned paper, Glue Dots, Helmar layering tape, Stampin' Up! heart punch, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Making Memories sanding block, other: googlie eyes, sewing machine and thread.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, cardstock stickers, corrugated alphas, kraft paper, button, felt flower and leaves and twine, Glue Dots, Helmar layering tape, Making Memories brad, other: googlie eye, sewing machine and thread.

Hoppy 40th, Laura Vegas!!!

Hey, Laura,
Thanks for dropping by on your birthday blog hop. I "hop" you have a fabulous day and I "hop" you get everything that you are "hopping" for.
All the best,
Sarah

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, corrugated alphas, cardstock stickers, Cool Bean buttons, felt flowers, twine and kraft paper, Helmar layering tape, Glue Dots, other: googlie eyes, sewing machine and thread.

Now you are heading off to check out what Paula Gilarde has to say to you on your 40th birthday!

P.S. If anyone is just dropping by....and you want to see where this birthday blog hop started...be sure to visit Lynn Ghahary's blog.

Remember this, baby!

This new book, Remember This: Fresh Page Ideas to Scrapbook the Year, just came out that you don't want to miss it. It's written by my friends Kimber McGray and Summer Fullerton. The book is jam packed with layouts of various sizes, on a variety of holidays, birthdays, vacations, sports and more. I have a layout in there that documents one of our family trips to Great Wolf Lodge. Check with your local scrapbooking store if they are carrying this book or order it through Amazon.com.

Dads and grads

Today I had two cards go up on the Jillibean Soup blog. The theme of today, as pointed out by Kimber McGray, "Dads and Grads." Be sure to check out some of the other cards that were posted by other design team members.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Snowflake white - stamped on the side with less texture), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, corrugated alphas, kraft paper, and stamp, Riff Raff Designs chipboard, Tsukineko ink, Helmar layering tape, Fiskars circle punch and EK Success marker, other: sewing machine and thread.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, corrugated alphas, cardstock stickers, stamps, and kraft paper, EK Success marker, Helmar layering tape, Tsukineko ink, and Fiskars circle punch. The image of the tie can be downloaded at: http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/coloring/father/necktie.gif

Another Cool Bean critter

This week I thought I would take a stab at a CPS Card Sketch. I used Sketch #169:

I then linked it up to this posting for Sketch #169. Be sure to check out some of the other cards that were made based on this sketch. They rock!

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Essentials, WhiteWash), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper, Cool Bean button, twine and felt flowers (for wings and beak), Scenic Route grid paper, EK Success flower punch (for clouds), Marvy circle punch, SRM sticker (sentiment), Helmar layering tape, Glue Dots, Making Memories sanding block, other: googlie eye, sewing machine and thread.

Ema's new joy

Sparklers.

Yep.

She fell in love with them on Victoria Day long weekend. She loved being able to hold one on her own. Pretty exciting times when you are only five.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Core Impressions - Jillibean Soup Collection, Snowflake white), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, cardstock stickers, corrugated alphas, Cool Bean buttons, twine, and kraft paper, Riff Raff Designs chipboard, Making Memories paint, Helmar layering tape, Glue Dots, Making Memories sanding block, Font: Mason, other: sewing machine and thread.

At the beach

Today, over on the Jillibean Soup blog, this layout is featured. I had way too much fun with my Fiskars tearing ruler making the waves out of cardstock by Core'dinations. Specifically, I used three of the four blues from the Sky Blues Essentials collection.

As for the "beach" in the title, I spray Jillibean Soup corrugated alphas with Krylon "Make it Stone" paint for a very sandy look.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper, twine, kraft shipping label, Cool Bean button, cardstock stickers, corrugated alphas, and felt flowers, Fiskars tearing ruler, Spellbinders star dies, Krylon "Make it Stone" spraypaint, Helmar layering tape, McGill tab punch, Glue Dots, ProvoCraft embossing folder, Font: Mason, other: googlie eyes, sewing machine and thread.

Ella Publishing Co. eZine Article

I am pretty excited this morning! An article that I wrote for Ella Publishing went up today over on their site. It's in their June 2010 eZine. It's called "Table Scraps" and features the layout below and a card that matches it. My friends, Paula Gilarde, Kimber McGray and Kim Moreno, also contributed layouts and cards for the article as well.


Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Snowflake white, Core Impressions - Jillibean Soup Collection), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, cardstock stickers and kraft paper, Quickutz letter dies and embossing folder, Creative Memories circle cutter, Stampin' Up binder punch, Making Memories sanding block, Helmar layering tape, Font: Mason, other: sewing machine and thread. This layout is based on a sketch by Donna Jannuzzi from her eBook Stretch Your Sketches.

Cool bean critters

I recently discovered something fun. If I take one of my favourite Jillibean Soup products, Cool Bean buttons, and jazz them up with some googlie eyes, the possibilities are endless on what I can create. Here is my first creation...a little crab. Be sure to check back over the next few weeks when I can reveal other critters I have created.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (WhiteWash for large starfish), Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper, corrugated alphas, Cool Bean button, felt flowers (used for claws), cardstock stickers, and twine, Krylon "Make It Stone" spray paint, Helmar layering tape, Glue Dots, Spellbinders star dies, other: sewing machine, thread and googlie eyes.