Homecoming 2011 in Texas

The weather is starting to cool off a bit around these parts.  Hopefully, it will last.  We are all looking forward to fall weather.  And with that comes football... and homecoming!  Our homecoming is early again this year.  We are 'ready Freddy' though.  

The past several years, my daughters and some of their friends gather at our house in my studio and we have lots of fun making the mums and garters.  Go here for last year's models.  I know a lot of people who don't craft and order their mums and garters.  I understand.  But personally, this is another reason I love crafting.  Putting these together is so much fun and one of the few times of the year that my older daughters and I dedicate the day together being creative.  And yes, it takes most of the day!

A glimpse of our handy work... and the big-fat mess creativity!

 

 

We branched out a little this year and made loops and braids.

 

  

Of course, we personalized with as many band and football things we could find.  Because he plays football and she marches with the band, they won't be able to sport their mums and garters until after the game - maybe at dinner.

 

I know my daughter is looking forward to seeing her mum and her dad is looking forward to the game!  Friday night lights, baby!

Oh, I have to share this also... when my husband and I were in high school, the tradition waaaaay back then was "mum's the word."  So, all day long at school everyone had to be quiet during passing periods, in the halls, etc.  All you could  hear was the jingling of the bells and swishing of the ribbons.  We were pretty quiet in the classrooms, too.  Then, we would all quietly go to the pep rally at the end of the day in the gym.  Still quiet, we waited for the cheerleaders to come in.  And when the football players busted through the big paper banners and the band struck up, we all screamed at the top of our lungs!  It was almost deafening after such a quiet day.  I wish our high school would do that these days.  Good times, good times.

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Berry Glad

I am in charge of faculty courtesies this year at the elementary school and was searching online for teacher appreciate gifts and projects.  I found these awesomely cute paper strawberries here and just had to make them!  All 74 of them.

Fortunately, I had help.  My friend Stephanie did all the cutting for me!  Bless her heart, too because I thought I got the better end of the deal there!  We were able to get everything printed, cut, and an assembly line of sorts going in just a few hours.  I was able to assemble them over the weekend and had the help of my daughter and her friend, too.  (Note - they had to or I wasn't going to help with their homecoming garters!  Ha!)

The strawberries were really easy to assemble and the cost was minimal, in my opinion.  It is hard to find nice treats for the teachers and be able to do several things throughout the year while keeping the costs down.  

 

  

I used plain and textured cardstock, ribbon, and found the perfect strawberry candies to place inside each one.  I used my handy-dandy Martha Stewart Screw Punch to punch the bazillion holes.  To glue the strawberry sides together, I used Mod Podge and a flat bristled brush.  This kept the glue from gushing out all over the place.  It also dries quickly and clear.  Nice.

To personalize it (and be witty all at the same time), I added a little paper tag to each one - "We're berry glad to have you back! - PTA".  

I also made one for our PTA president.  She has worked so hard since taking on her new post and is due to have a baby any day now.  She needs more than this little strawberry!  Am I right?

All in all, I really think they turned out cute!  We delivered a few and put the rest in their mailboxes.  Hey, they were busy teaching - we didn't want to interrupt!

 

And, I'm berry glad you stopped by! 

P.S.  As I was searching for the link to the strawberry template, I found out that there is a Sizzix die-cut for this strawberry!  So, if you plan to make lots of these, it might behoove you to purchase it.  Or, find a good friend who will cut them for you!

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A promised trip to the "best place ever"!

All summer long my baby girl waited to go to "the" store.  The last week before school started, we finally got to go!  And, with her bestest friend ever.  

The weather was nice despite the heat, the girls were great the whole time, and us mommies got to visit the Pottery Barn and William Sonoma stores, too - bonus!

Eagerly waiting in matching dresses that I made for each of their birthdays.  

And here we goooooo....

 

After my daughter darted all over the store and pointed at EVERY thing there, and after a few "let's discuss this" talks, she finally narrowed it down to the hair brush, rollers, Halloween cat outfit, pair of shoes, t-shirt, and glasses.  That's one of those tough moments when you feel like all you say is "no, that's too much", but you want to just say, "yes, we'll take it all!"  She was fine with it all, but did point out items that she hopes Santa will bring this Christmas.  I can deal with that.

We also had a nice time dining upstairs.  Who knew a two-story building would be dedicated to dolls?  Anyway, I loved all the pink and fru-fru.  Fun.  Of course, we were all seated and catered to.  I'm pretty sure their dolls loved it.  My daughter's doll, Jessica was really kicked back and best friend's doll was amazed at the beautiful view of the Galleria.

 

Appateazers...

 

My daughter's main course.  Look at the size of the burger and hot dog!  I ordered the salmon which was wonderful and best friend's mom had a dee-lish salad.  

We are looking forward to another visit.  However, my wallet is hesitant.  I'm kidding - it was worth every penny!

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Back To School!

I hope you all enjoyed the summer.  It was hot down here!  In fact, we only lacked three days of breaking a record from 1983 or something like that.  I was hoping we would fall short!  We had one day of light rain and clouds.  It was so nice.

The kids have their new school clothes and supplies all ready to go.  We went to the elementary school last week for "Sneak a Peak" and met their teachers.  School starts on Monday and it is going to be a great year!

I always put together a little goodie bag for the teacher and this year was no different.  I usually put in stickers, blank note cards, pens, etc. for the teacher to use.  I think they need these all year long.  For my daughter's kindergarten teacher, we put together this little bag:

I got lots of practice with tissue paper lately, so I made Mrs. McC. an apple to pretty up her bag o'goodies!

Wrapped up individual little presents...

... and took it to school.  I'm looking forward to another year with Mrs. McC.  She was my son's kindergarten teacher and she is awesome.  She's like the "child whisperer".  Seriously.  They all get so quiet and listen to her so well.  I need to take notes, I guess.

I didn't make a goodie bag for my son's homeroom teacher.  Third grade is a little different, and his teacher is a man this year.  I don't know him and wasn't sure what he would like or need.  I will plan something different for his third grade teachers later in the school year.  I'm serving as Faculty Courtesies this year and am already getting excited about some fun things to make to treat them with!

I wish you all a great back-to-school day or a walk down memory lane of those special times!  Next up will be Friday night football games, watching our sixteen year old march with the band and play the bass drum, homecoming, Open House, and Fall!

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Where did the summer go?

It flew by, that's what!  I always have great intentions to get so much done, spend tons of time with the kids, swim and enjoy the outdoors, etc.  Then, I look up and its gone.  I feel like I did nothing and even worse I feel like I did nothing with the kids.  Guilt sets in.  Sigh.

We did actually swim and try to enjoy some time outdoors, even with the awful heat wave going on.  Baby girl took swim lessons and now swims like a fish!  We went water park a few times and a few swim parties.  The younger two went to camp and VBS and had lots of fun.  We bowled.  We lazed around.  We went to the movies. 

Still, school starts on Monday and I feel guilty.  My baby girl is starting kindergarten and all of a sudden I feel like she's being ripped away.  What a range of emotions.  I have already warned the teachers that I will exit the building quickly come Monday.  So, that's that.

Now for a quick view of part of the summer...

Fringie flower trim added to a t-shirt.

Some slip stitching on a little dress.

 

I bought some great new books and did manage to thumb through them and daydream a little.  Nothing productive past that.  They did stimulate my creative juices though.

 Started on a major quilt project... and finished!  I'll post on that soon.

 Made some pillowcases to go with the quilts!

 

Played with beads.  More on that later.

Made a good 'ole fashioned chocolate cake.  Yum.

 

Watched baby girl work on her sewing skills.

Learned how to make my own iced coffee.  I'm saving tons of moolah!  Isn't it ironic that it is in a Starbucks cup?  haha

Made a "leather" cummerbund for my daughter's outfit.  She went to the Harry Potter premier as Bellatrix.  For just $20, she thrifted her whole outfit and she looked so awesome.  People were asking for her and her two friends to take pictures with them.  Fun stuff.

 Started a makeover project in baby girl's room... and finished.  There's a hint above.  Yes, more on that later, too.

My last photography class, Light and Lighting II started in July.  I was working with window light here and a little bounce flash.  It was really too early in the day to use this window, but I played anyway.  Once I've completed this class, I can start working on my portfolio.  That will take a little time and effort.  Hopefully, after it is graded, I will be deemed a "certified photographer", for whatever it's worth!  I don't plan to be a professional photographer, but enjoyed the courses and hopefully expanded my little brain a tiny bit!

 

Took a short road trip with the husband and two youngest kiddos to visit family.  I worked on finishing up a little quilt binding during the drive.  Sadly, the visit was primarily to see my sweet Aunt Helen who was battling cancer.  I wanted to go see her one last time, tell her how much she has always meant to me, and hug her tightly.  It was a tough trip for sure.  She was a wonderful woman whom I have always admired so much.  She passed away just several days ago.  I love you, Aunt Helen.

I did get out to have a little fun with some of my girlfriends.  Several of us went to see "Change Up".  So darn funny, inappropriate, but funny.  I'm just being honest.  Then, one of my sewing sistahs and her lovely daughter came in to town and she called up the rest of us sistahs who live nearby so we could have dinner and a movie.  We watched "The Help".  Awesome movie!  Unfortunately, Janice didn't get to come, but we are all going to see each other in October for retreat!

The rest is a blur.  Back-to-school shopping, school registration, meet the teacher, etc.  Another sigh.  I'm going to go love on my lovies a little while.  I'll be back in a few days.

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