Today I spent the day with Brian in his classroom at school. He dropped his kids off here and Mark got to play with them today. Brian and I headed off to Teaching Stuff....he needed a few items for his bulletin boards. They we drove past the new school...Lake Pleasant Elementary. It looks just like Vistancia except for the color. I'm amazed that it's opening so soon. A year ago they hadn't even broken ground yet and they projected that it would take at least 14 months to complete.
Then we went to Brian's classroom. He's back downstairs after 2-3 moves last year. Yea. Our first (big) project was his Arizona boards. They were the largest of his bulletin boards. We had gathered several old copies of Arizona Highways magazines and we cut them apart to use on the boards. It's covered with black butcher paper with snakeskin borders. We selected some beautiful photographs of Arizona icons and attached them to the boards. Below one of the boards we put an Arizona road map and a very detailed map legend/information map along with the words, "On the Road in Arizona" It turned out great. We then did his Mabee's Marshalls (job charts) board, his family board, his Quiet Zone/reading corner board and his 6-traits board. We then did an area with his 8 "Be's" and another area with posters with punctuation/capitalization rules and things to remember to edit their papers for prior to turning them in. I think this is the first year that we've been able to complete all of the boards in just one day. But there's a reason why I'm not working any more. I'm too old for that! I'm beat! If I had to do that more than once a year, I'd never make it!!! I was glad to come home and put my feet up (after making a trip to Costco) and relax a bit. But what a relief for Brian (and me) to have that task finished. And the kids and Mark had a great day together, too. It's all good.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
What I've Been Up To
Here's proof that I've been busy...aka...this is what I've been up to lately. Starting from the top....This is a shadowbox project featuring the new 7gypsies Barcelona papers. Next is the new Photo Tray. It's a new product this release and is quite fun to work with. I like the size of each section and it worked perfectly for a holiday home decor project. The papers are from the 7gypsies flocked red Savannah line. The embellishments are all either 7gypsies or vintage finds. The grandkids are all ours! The next project is the August creative team challenge. 7gyspies is coming out with a new clear stamp of bird images. It's very cute...you'll love it. Our challenge was to create birds using the images from the new clear stamp (we didn't have the stamps...only a picture of what they'd look like) using any media we chose....paper, fabric, metal, whatever we wanted. It wasn't my favorite project ever. But it was okay. The next project is the July challenge. We were each given a different sized artist canvas that we were to alter using the new 7gypsies Victoria paper line. I used four different patterned papers, some vintage lace, a 7gypsies bingo card from their ephemera packet and a picture of one of my ancestors, Olivia Talbot. I used pages from an old dictionary around the sides. It's tied with a piece of vintage ribbon and embellished with an old clear button. The final project is the new 7gypsies Photo Stand. I used the new Barcelona papers along with the Nottinghill 6x6 paper pack and some papers from the Gypsy Market line. I think the Barcelona paper is my new favorite. It's so versatile and fun to use. I made dividers to put between the photos in the photo sleeves (that come with the photo stand) to separate the various sections and to add a little description/journaling about each section of photos. Whew! That's a huge load off my mind to have the projects all finished and delivered to Deb so she can take them to CHA this week. So I'm done with projects....only until the next one. I know I have a granddaughter wanting to make a summertime album and another who wants to spend the day making jewelry. Anyone else with a request??
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Lazy Days of Summer
I guess you could say I've been lazy....not updating my blog and all. But I promise, I've been busy. Really.
The creative team for 7gypsies has been given several "assignments" this month. I can't say too much, since most of the items relate to new products to be released next week at CHA in Orlando. However, I can say that they are coming out with a new clear stamp set. Our first assignment was to create something in the image of at least one of the new stamp images. We could use any material we chose. That was definitely a challenge. Let me just say that I was glad when I'd finished that one. I'll post pictures next week after the big release. The second challenge was to alter an artist's canvas using the new line of paper to be released. That was a much easier assignment and one I enjoyed doing so much that I made a "practice" one and thoroughly enjoyed the process as well as the end result. Here is my practice canvas using the Gypsy Market paper line. The picture is an ancestor of mine, Suzannah Talbot.
I was also given three projects to complete for CHA next week. I'll post pictures after next week. I've finished one, but the other two will have to wait until the paper arrives. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be here. No pressure....but I have to have them back to Deb by next Wednesday!! Yikes! I have them all planned out and ready to go as soon as the paper arrives. Cross your fingers that the big brown truck stops by our house tomorrow!
For one of the projects, I had to take pictures of the grandkids. It's a Christmas project and I needed holiday pictures. Since it's nearly impossible to get them all together, let alone all looking at the camera/smiling at the same time, I opted to take their pictures individually. Mark helped me rig a "studio" on the carport. We bought a huge painter's tarp and we hooked it over a rope strung across the carport so we could take advantage of the good sunlight. The tarp was large enough that it was not only the backdrop, but also the "floor" for the pictures. We set up a small artificial tree that I'd tied red bows onto and I used both my fun red stool and an old wooden chair as "props" for the kids to sit on. They were great sports because it was deathly hot every time we took pictures. Thanks to my kids and grandkids for helping make this possible. I'll share one photo of each of the grandkids.
I've also been busy going with grandkids to Mark's summer program activities. Erin took her girls one day last week to see the Bradys and the desert animals.
And last Tuesday we went to the Diamondbacks' game with Dan and his family. We were lucky enough to get a great shot of Mark and Matthew with Baxter the Bobcat (the team mascot). Coincidentally, Mark found out that he knows the guy who is Baxter. Small world.
And lest I forget, we were able to go to Gammage Auditorium last week to see Wicked. It was a wonderful play with great music. Erin, Brian, Eliza and Libby went, too. The girls particularly enjoyed it because they listen to the sound track and know the songs well. Libby struggled a little bit at the end to stay awake, but she made it and was happy she did.
Last Saturday was Eliza's last swim meet of the summer. She did really well and has greatly improved over the summer. She got one third, two seconds and her relay team took first place. Way to go, Eliza. She was the anchor leg of the race and when she realized that they'd won, she was so excited.
On Tuesday of this week, the summer program went to Broadway Palm again to see Jungle Book. Brian and his kids got to go this time, so I went along with them. They LOVED it....even Luke. Dallin got tickled when Baloo was trying to run away from the monkeys and he was able to help the monkeys find him. He just giggled outloud. It was funny.
And today the summer program kids went to see Harry Potter. I couldn't pass up the chance, so I tagged along. It was a good movie. I was glad that I remembered enough about the books I read to keep up and to recall the various characters.
Tonight I finished the Christmas project and tomorrow I'll wait for the new papers to arrive. In the meantime, it's off to Wet & Wild. I hope it's not too hot!! Who am I kidding??
The creative team for 7gypsies has been given several "assignments" this month. I can't say too much, since most of the items relate to new products to be released next week at CHA in Orlando. However, I can say that they are coming out with a new clear stamp set. Our first assignment was to create something in the image of at least one of the new stamp images. We could use any material we chose. That was definitely a challenge. Let me just say that I was glad when I'd finished that one. I'll post pictures next week after the big release. The second challenge was to alter an artist's canvas using the new line of paper to be released. That was a much easier assignment and one I enjoyed doing so much that I made a "practice" one and thoroughly enjoyed the process as well as the end result. Here is my practice canvas using the Gypsy Market paper line. The picture is an ancestor of mine, Suzannah Talbot.
I was also given three projects to complete for CHA next week. I'll post pictures after next week. I've finished one, but the other two will have to wait until the paper arrives. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be here. No pressure....but I have to have them back to Deb by next Wednesday!! Yikes! I have them all planned out and ready to go as soon as the paper arrives. Cross your fingers that the big brown truck stops by our house tomorrow!
For one of the projects, I had to take pictures of the grandkids. It's a Christmas project and I needed holiday pictures. Since it's nearly impossible to get them all together, let alone all looking at the camera/smiling at the same time, I opted to take their pictures individually. Mark helped me rig a "studio" on the carport. We bought a huge painter's tarp and we hooked it over a rope strung across the carport so we could take advantage of the good sunlight. The tarp was large enough that it was not only the backdrop, but also the "floor" for the pictures. We set up a small artificial tree that I'd tied red bows onto and I used both my fun red stool and an old wooden chair as "props" for the kids to sit on. They were great sports because it was deathly hot every time we took pictures. Thanks to my kids and grandkids for helping make this possible. I'll share one photo of each of the grandkids.
I've also been busy going with grandkids to Mark's summer program activities. Erin took her girls one day last week to see the Bradys and the desert animals.
And last Tuesday we went to the Diamondbacks' game with Dan and his family. We were lucky enough to get a great shot of Mark and Matthew with Baxter the Bobcat (the team mascot). Coincidentally, Mark found out that he knows the guy who is Baxter. Small world.
And lest I forget, we were able to go to Gammage Auditorium last week to see Wicked. It was a wonderful play with great music. Erin, Brian, Eliza and Libby went, too. The girls particularly enjoyed it because they listen to the sound track and know the songs well. Libby struggled a little bit at the end to stay awake, but she made it and was happy she did.
Last Saturday was Eliza's last swim meet of the summer. She did really well and has greatly improved over the summer. She got one third, two seconds and her relay team took first place. Way to go, Eliza. She was the anchor leg of the race and when she realized that they'd won, she was so excited.
On Tuesday of this week, the summer program went to Broadway Palm again to see Jungle Book. Brian and his kids got to go this time, so I went along with them. They LOVED it....even Luke. Dallin got tickled when Baloo was trying to run away from the monkeys and he was able to help the monkeys find him. He just giggled outloud. It was funny.
And today the summer program kids went to see Harry Potter. I couldn't pass up the chance, so I tagged along. It was a good movie. I was glad that I remembered enough about the books I read to keep up and to recall the various characters.
Tonight I finished the Christmas project and tomorrow I'll wait for the new papers to arrive. In the meantime, it's off to Wet & Wild. I hope it's not too hot!! Who am I kidding??
Friday, July 3, 2009
Happy Birthday, America!
As a family, we got together tonight to "celebrate" the Fourth of July. We met in Mesa at Oregano's for dinner. It was such a fun time. Mark and I, along with Erin, sat at a large table with eight of the nine grandkids. They all wanted to sit together. So we all sat at one table and the rest of the parents and Luke sat at the other table. While we waited for our pizzas, they brought out small pizza pans and a ball of pizza dough for each of the kids to play with while they waited.
That was the best idea. They kids had a ball playing with their dough. They were just disappointed, though, that they didn't cook their crusts. Oh, well. Some of them just ate some of the raw dough. Kids! The pizza was good and when it was gone, we ordered pazookies. We should have ordered 3, but those at our table split 2. The kids kept asking for another helping. They LOVED it. After dinner, we gathered on the restaurant patio for a group picture.
Aren't they just the cutest kids you've ever seen? I wish we could get together like today more often. We'll have to make that a goal.
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