Trying to squeeze it all in...

Things I want to do before the kids are back in school...

1.  Spend some time up at the Lake Erie Islands.  We are all looking forward to heading up there.

2.  Planning and holding our second annual Outdoor Movie Night.

3.  Finish up school shopping for all 3 kiddos.  Ugh.  Dreading this one.

4.  Cedar Point with the whole fam damily.

5.  Girlfriend's trip to Ikea.

6.  Perfect a corn salsa recipe that is delish.

7.  Camp Turay with the kids.

8.  Two wedding shoots and a dozen senior photo sessions.

9.  Work on Bertram Inn Classes/Kits.

10.  Bay Pointe with the Sizer Family.

11.  Dinner with the Corcoran's, Lewicki's, Wegryn's, Patarini's, Novak's and Zakarowsky's.

12.  Volleyball camp for Jami, soccer tourney for the boys.

13.  Field trip to the Football Hall of Fame.

How about you?  Are you squeezing in all the summer stuff as much as you can??  It's flying by so quickly...

Enjoy your weekend!

Summer Craft Day for Kids

My daughter and I just hosted a Kid's Craft Day at our house, and so today, I'm sharing a few of our treasures...

Remember the photo banners from a week ago?  Same concept, just turned them into name banners for their bedrooms.  They LOVED this one!!

This dry erase board is a Dollar Store Craft that can be whipped up in no time at all.  We stamped "NOTES" on graph paper, and decorated the outside of the frame, and it took less than 30 minutes to complete!  The kids already started playing and writing notes on them.

The Old Navy $1 flip flop sale prompted these to be altered.  They were easy and FUN to create, too!

Below, Ella is demonstrating our version of the Write. Click. Scrapbook altered mini.  This craft took the longest, but they turned out beautifully.  I was so proud of these kids!

For the boys, I used sport photos to create the banners for their rooms.  They were less interested in crafting, but engaged in the wii and Nerf for hours while the girls played.  It's all good!!

It felt good to spend time with friends and their daughters for the afternoon.  Can't wait til the next one!!

Thanks to all who attended.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Enjoy your day!!

Paige's Graduation Party

I had the pleasure of attending a dear friend's daughter's high school graduation party this weekend, and I wanted to share a few photos of the occasion here today.  Such a beautiful, personal event--I hope you lift a few of Val's (Paige's Mom) ideas and make them your own...

There were photos of Paige--past and present--throughout the backyard.  Val framed favorite photos of her in white frames, and placed them under a tent with the cake, favors, and a beautiful Cookie Bar.

 

She took foam core to a new level with this one.  She used her initial and made it life sized.  That thing is as tall as me!!

Tina had this done for her via Walgreens.  Lots of baby photos and memories of her younger days.  And the best part?  It can be used again for a bridal shower someday!

These ladies hold a special place in my heart.  We all worked together at a local scrapbook store a lifetime ago.  It was really good to visit and sit with them and their families, and to catch up.  That's Val on the right--the hostess of this event. 

Of course, Tina and Deb were there with their husbands.  I love the laughter shared.  It was a beautiful evening...

Check out this cookie tree!  Those are frosted sugar cookies, and they were amazing!!

 There were two enormous tents, and on each table, these centerpieces.  Loved them.

And last but not least, these homemade sour cream contatiners filled with none other than SMARTIES.  CUTE!!

Congratulations, Val and Paige.  Thanks for letting me share!!
Enjoy your day!!

August 2012 WIP Kits

August Main WIP Kit--$28 (Subscribers $25)

Contents of this kit include:  12 sheets of paper (5sheets of cardstock, 3 sheets GDS Studio, 4 sheets October Afternoon Cakewalk), 11 mini posters (4x6 and 3x4--perfect for Project Life), 3 shipping tags, one red tag, 5 blue library cards, 1 roll October Afternoon Washi tape, 1 sheet October Afternoon alphabet stickers, one sheet cupcake stickers from EK Success, 1 sheet Echo Park elements sheet, 2 4x6 journaling cards, one packet of October Afternoon Cakewalk die cuts, and various die cuts (stars and clouds) as shown.

Here is a close up of some of the elements in this kit:

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August "EXTRAS" Kit--$20

Contents of this kit include:  8 sheets patterned paper (6 Echo Park, 1 Making Memories, 1 GSD Studios), 6 die cuts, one Echo Park cardstock sticker sheet, 1 Jillibean Soup red alphabet sticker sheet, Martha Stewart mini enevlope, Jillibean Soup cardstock day stickers, 5 aqua library cards, one sheet rainbow heart stickers, and one sheet rainbow alphabet stickers.

Here is a closeup of this kit:

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Here are three layouts I created with the August Main kit so far.  Stay tuned for more to come in the next few days!!

To order a kit, please email Trish at Turay413@gmail.com with your Paypal invoice address, and an invoice will be sent out to you ASAP!  Thanks so much!

Enjoy your day--

Debbie's Mini Album

Today's blog post comes courtesy of my dear friend, Debbie Cordes. Debbie is the sister of our former WIP DT member, Tina Zarlenga. Love these gals. Love that they make me laugh at each and every crop and/or gathering. Love that they are amazing daughters to their mom. Love that they're always there, to lend a hand, or cheer me on, or to help someone who needs it. They are beautiful women, and I'm blessed to have them in my life.

Debbie's oldest son, Shawn Cordes, recently competed in Los Angeles at the NCAA Division III men's track 4x100 team, representing Baldwin Wallace College.  She wanted to document this special event, and created a mini book to showcase their trip and his awards.

Shawn is a sophomore, and has already been so successful!  We're proud to know

an All-American athlete.  He has worked so hard...

Debbie, her husband, and her other son would'nt have missed going for the world.

Here are a few of the finished pages, using the Father's Day mini album kit.  I just love what she did with all the die cuts and elements!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful keepsake with us today, Debbie!!  And Shawn, keep up the great work!!  We'll be watching you!!

Enjoy your day!!

more July WIP

Hello lovely ladies... Jamie here with another look at the July WIP.

The scalloped die cut paper was very whimsical and full of color. I had a photo that matched just that feel...my aunt visiting and all the great-nieces vying for attention around the camera. The color of the yard and their t-shirts seemed a great match for the Little Yellow Bicycle paper.  The Bella Blvd pattern paper was a great compliment to the tiny patterns of the die cut paper with that fabulous chevron print and sweet, colorful clouds. I love how the two combined so well.

Notice how the chevron paper is trimmed to a file tab?  This layout includes an interactive part that includes hidden journaling and an additional photo underneath. I love interactive stuff.
A couple more things...the Smash tape from a few kits back worked into this layout seamlessly...and how could I resist the Amy Tangering rosettes? Adorable. All this worked into a very fun and lighthearted layout. Totally summer in feel.

Here is a peak underneath. And don't forget to cut up those adorable insta frames from the Sweet Day paper by Echo Park. The frames are a great match up to all the color of the other patterns. Cut them up and play.

So how are you using the die cut paper? Hope you are making the most of your summer photos and making those layouts fun and whimsical.

Muslin Flowers

Taking a Break...

Going to take a few days off to enjoy the rest of the week celebrating with family who are visiting from out of town.  Be back in a few!

Happy Independence Day!!

Enjoy your holiday!!

celebrating july 4th

July 4th greetings to you all... This holiday is a big event in our neighborhood. In fact, we celebrate with a block party. In year's past we have had quite the time of it including an array of fireworks. Those have been banned this summer, due to the high fire alert... but that will not stop us from gathering and celebrating.

We invite the neighbors and friends from across town to meet in front of 8958 Kingston Heath for the evening. This started about seven years ago with just a few neighbors. Every year it gains more attention and every year we can't wait to make it happen.

Everyone brings food! We set up tables and tables and tables of food... last year it even included the most clever snack contest judged by the kiddos. That was a hoot!

My oldest daughter is hostess to a decorated bike parade. She had them lined up last year by age and size and they put on quite the show for us. She is already organizing this year's.

And of course there are flags and decorations everywhere... and if you know me, that includes inside and out.

Last year we even added a few minutes to make sure we gave proper observance to the holiday that this is... and that is the birthday of the greatest nation on earth. Thanks for letting me share a little of what goes on in our neighborhood. Here is to hoping you have family and friends together on Wednesday and enjoy a beautiful time of celebrating.