Our Nest of 3

Bird Watching

2012-01-19T12:38:00.002-05:00

Holiday Photos

2011-12-11T20:07:00.000-05:00

Diagramming

2011-11-15T15:48:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to post the boys' diagramming from yesterday because they did such a great job!

Photosynthesis and the Law of Conservation of Mass

2011-11-11T22:55:00.003-05:00

This is an activity we did today to help the boys understand the photosynthesis equation. I thought it was pretty cool. Ben adhered the punched circles for the CO2 and H2O while Nathan adhered the sugar and O2. It made it pretty clear that although the process is quite complex, matter is neither destroyed or created and that O2 results.

Nathan's recent drawings

2011-11-11T21:58:00.004-05:00

Nathan has been inspired by a story, "Babes in Toyland" from John's childhood book, Walt Disney's Fantasyland from the pictured four-book collection.

Using pencil, a black Sharpie and oil pastels, he has created the following four drawings.

Writing Assignments

2011-11-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

We are still using IEW's writing lessons, but we skipped some weeks. I thought I would post the last three assignments the boys have completed. I am very proud of their progress. Ben, especially, has shown such improvement with Andrew Pudewa's program!

These are Ben's samples:

These are Nathan's samples:

2011 Halloween Photos

2011-11-08T20:39:00.001-05:00

Photos from Nathan's Birthday

2011-11-08T10:16:00.000-05:00

I hope you had a Happy 12th!

Birthday cards for Nathan

2011-11-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

Made by me.

Made by Ben

Monet: Water Lilies Art Project

2011-09-26T20:00:00.002-04:00

So, we've been studying Impressionism starting with Claude Monet (remember, my Impressionist Artists Study can be downloaded here).

After reading several books and watching a few videos about him and his art, I decided today was a good hands-on day. Ben and I tend to enjoy crafty things in our free time, but I don't schedule enough of this artistic time into the school day.

Today was an exception. We followed an art project from pp. 50-51 of The Usborne Art Treasury.

We all had so much fun. I just love projects with tissue paper! We also used Modge Podge Sparkle to give it a shimmery effect Sure, Monet didn't create art with tissue paper and glue, but that's okay. :)

Ben's

Nathan's

Mine

PS. Thanks to http://satorismiles.com/ for blogging about this project. It inspired us!

Flower Dissection

2011-09-26T16:18:00.000-04:00

Let me say it again. I love Exploring Creation with Botany. Being hands-on has never been so easy! Today, we learned the parts of a flower part by part by dissecting a lily. Here are the finished results.

Nathan's

Ben's

Seed & Germination Review

2011-09-23T17:03:00.002-04:00

So, we've been actually using a science textbook, Exploring Creation with Botany (which I bought here), for the first time, and I have to say I really like it. It has a very conversational tone, which I appreciate, yet still presents necessary vocabulary and information. I also bought the corresponding, pre-assembled botany lab kit from the same place. Yes, you can gather the items yourself for quite a bit less, but I spent so much time planning over the summer that it was freeing to just buy the kit and go. I have to admit it has made our year easier so far.

We finished Lesson 2 on seeds today, but I felt my boys (and I) needed extra review because the germination process is rather complicated, and the vocabulary is plentiful.

Worksheet #1
The other day, the boys completed this labeling exercise from a workbook I own:

Worksheet # 2
Everyday, we review what three things are necessary for a seed to germinate (warmth, moisture and air). We also review daily the parts of a seed and the germination process. After Googling for great seed photos, I found the most helpful website to be http://www.biology-resources.com. I copied two photos from this website into word and added labeling lines. You can download a blank copy here.

Here is a completed sample:

Activity #1:
I soaked two bean seeds over night and gave one to each of the boys today. With a magnifying glass, we were able to remove the testa and clearly see the plumule, radicle, and cotyledons. They also drew pictures of a monocot (corn) and dicot (bean).

Activity #2:
The boys then traced the germination process with resources from Ellen McHenry's Germination Stencils project. I did not want to deal with making stencils, so the boys used a light box (one of my most favorite homeschooling items!) to trace the one she provides and color it with colored pencils. We are including these in our lapbook from Knowledge Box Central. I will show lapbook samples once we have completed Lesson 5.

Videos # 1-3

In conclusion, we watched the fabulous time-lapse videos from here.

Multiplication / Times Tables Resources

2011-09-22T15:22:00.005-04:00

I was searching for a favorite multiplication or times table chart to print out for my youngest to consult when he is frustrated. He still has difficulty memorizing them, and though we are working on securing them to memory, this chart helps him when he is stumped during a long multiplication problem. I thought I would share some of my favorites.

12x12 with apple decor
12x12 color with safari theme
12x12 simple black and white
12x12 pastel with stars

10x10 with various animals
10x10 with various animals (blanks to fill in)
10x10 simple black and white

9x9 simple black and white

Facts listed by factors rather than grid

WorksheetWorks.com is my favorite multiplication drill worksheet creator!

While you are waiting for those math facts to stick, play Timez Attack for free.

If you are looking for other online games which reinforce multiplication, here are some suggestions:

Solo Games

Balloon Pop

Multiplication Station (Easy)

Multiplication Station (Advanced)

Car Wash -- Practice

Castle Quests

Knight Flight

Multiplayer Games (you play against other people online)

Grand Prix

Penguin Jump

Tug Team

You can find many, many more at www.multiplication.com.

Free Geography Resources from Scholastic!

2011-09-21T20:40:00.001-04:00

Scholastic is offering a free longitude and latitude game titled "Message in a Bottle." It is a sample from their book Great Map Games. You can download the entire book for $1.00 for a limited time.

Click here to download.

A precipitation map exercise is available here.

Here is an online game where you have to place the state puzzle piece in the correct spot, and then the name fo the state appears.

Aaron's Officer's Candidate School graduation

2011-09-21T19:01:00.001-04:00

I just realized that I never posted photos from Aaron's graduation from the Marine's Officer Candidate School. We love you, Aaron and are so proud of your accomplishments there!

I. E. W.'s Student Writing Intensive A -- samples

2011-09-15T19:33:00.002-04:00

I finally chose a writing program that excites me -- Student Writing Intensive -- Level A. Both the boys adore Andrew Pudewa! Nathan is a natural writer who could use some practice in more expository writing, while Ben is a reluctant writer very much in need of a highly-structured writing program. While Nathan works nearly independently, I am next to Ben every step of the way. I thought I would share our first two writing assignments with my readers.

Ben's

Nathan's

Scholastic Express Dollar Days in on until September 20!

2011-09-15T16:57:00.002-04:00

Click Here for Scholastic Deals!

Interesting history read-aloud!

2011-09-13T17:31:00.003-04:00

We read The Printer's Apprentice by Stephen Krensky to learn more about Colonial America and the events leading up to the American Revolution.

We are only half-way through the book, but so far we have learned about the printing press, paper manufacturing, the politics of the time, the geography of New York, Colonial apprenticeships, Benjamin Franklin, the fire department, and much more. Even the foreward was wonderful!

Most importantly, it provided a great opportunity to discuss the right to freedom of the press.

Upon conclusion, the boys completed a worksheet identifying main features of a printing press, and then we discussed Thomas Jefferson's quote on censorship in light of this book:

“No government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free no one ever will.”

Nathan painting at local park's pond

2011-09-11T11:14:00.002-04:00

Best Clothes Hangers for Pre-teens!

2011-09-09T09:39:00.000-04:00

I know this probably seems silly, but my boys outgrew the cheap children's hangers, and their clothes were always slipping off the hanger.

I bought a case of 100 of these for $21.45 plus shipping (mine was $9.75 for UPS ground shipping). They were speedy in shipping too. I know it's more expensive than the Dollar Tree, but I finally took the plunge and fixed the problem! No more frustration.

Junior Dress Hangers

They fit my boys who wear 7x to 8 and will definitely fit through more years.

I have to recommend these magazine holders!

2011-09-08T17:33:00.002-04:00

We've been working on organizing and redecorating the boys' playroom. The boys have oodles of Playmobil and Lego magazines which had been stored in Sterilite drawers. I wasn't happy with this solution (frankly, we needed the drawer space for Legos), so I searched www.amazon.com and found with these.

I am thrilled with them. They lie rather flat against the wall as opposed to many of the racks I considered and are much less expensive than the comparable wooden ones. Each slot holds 25-30 Lego magazines.

Wall Magazine Rack - Mesh Basket Ladder (Silver) (37 1/4"H x 10 1/4"W x 3 1/2"D)

Electronic Dictionary and Thesaurus Recommendation

2011-09-08T17:19:00.001-04:00

My son, Nathan, has been begging me for a thesaurus. I donated ours years ago because it was never used. They are just so bulky, and if you are a bibliophile or homeschooler, you know how precious bookshelf space is. Michael Clay Thompson of Royal Fireworks Press recommended buying an electronic thesaurus.

I bought Sharp Electronics PW-E550 Electronic Dictionary, and Nathan has been using it regularly. He has taken it in the van with him, into restaurants, and used it when typing on Microsoft Word. It also contains a dictionary which is a bonus! I like the fact that it is small and super portable -- it can be brought into the kitchen for writing class, back to his room during his creative writing time, or even in a restaurant without much hassle.

Our Poetry Study

2011-09-08T16:46:00.003-04:00

I have been committed to reading poetry to the boys since they were old enough to be read to. Some of our favorites over the years have been:
Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes (Beatrix Potter)
A Child's Book of Poems
A Child's Garden of Verses
A Child's First Book of Poems
Eric Carle's Animals Animals
Nursery Rhymes
Puddle Wonderful: Poems to Welcome Spring
Poems and Prayers for the Very Young
Poems to Read to the Very Young
Cotton Sailboats Poems for Little Children
Over in the Meadow (and all other similar books)
Kate Greenaway's Mother Goose (Huntington Library Children's Classics)
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children

We also read several books of haiku which I blogged about here.

One of the most hilarious encounters we've had has been with Favourite Poems for Children (Classic Literature with Classical Music). We listened to this CD on our way to and from piano lessons. One of the make narrators also narrates Aesop's Fables (Junior Classics) -- a most fantastic recording which we borrow from the library frequently.

Since we started the new school year, we have been learning about one form of poetry a day by reading the appropriate section and then listening to the sample(s) from A Child's Introduction to Poetry: Listen While You Learn About the Magic Words That Have Moved Mountains, Won Battles, and Made Us Laugh and Cry. Today, for example, we learned about narrative verse [note, I reminded the boys that the word narrate comes from narrare, the Latin word for to tell], discussed various kinds (epics, romance, and historical), and then focused on historical verse. Next, we listened to "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" being read on the CD. In all, we spend about ten to fifteen minutes a day on this.

When we finish with this resource, which also highlights various poets and offers one or more samples of his/her work, we will turn our attention to Poetry Speaks to Children (Book & CD). I'll let you know how it goes.

Papa Haydn's Surprise!

2011-09-07T20:26:00.003-04:00

Papa Haydn's Surprise: The Life and Times of Haydn Set to Music by Ann Rachlin was surprisingly wonderful! My ten-year old son exclaimed twice while listening to is, "This is really interesting, Mom." This audio download (which I copied to a CD and played in the van) presents a biography of Haydn along with stories of some of his most notable pieces all narrated by Ann Rachlin while Haydn's music plays in the background. Oh, and see how cute the vintage recording is!

These are very similar to the Classical Kids audio presentations but, in my opinion, less involved and chaotic due to fewer sound effects and characters.

According to her website (http://www.annrachlin.com/), "Ann held her popular Fun With Music sessions in London for forty years where thousands of children from all walks of life, representing more than 24 nationalities, were introduced to the wonders of classical music through her imaginative storytelling set to the music of the great composers."

This recording about Franz Joseph Haydn is simply one of many of her recordings in this series. Since we are studying the Classical Music composers Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven this year, I ordered the following:

Papa Haydn's Surprise
Mozart the Miracle Maestro
Happy Birthday, Mr. Beethoven

I also ordered the ones pertaining to our Baroque music study last year to listen to in our free time because we enjoyed the Haydn one so much.

Mr. Handel's Fireworks Party
Once Upon The Thames
Mr. Handel's Fireworks Party
Seasons' Greetings from Vivaldi

You can hear samples of each here. You can also see the many other musical story recordings she offers.

Impressionist Sticker Book -- oh so great!

2011-09-07T17:43:00.002-04:00

The Impressionists Sticker Book by Usborne is a must-have for student studying Impressionist art and artists. We started using ours today, and both the boys enjoyed them. We are currently reading the information on pages pertaining to the movement as a whole, but when we study each artist more in-depth, we will place the appropriate stickers.

First, we read The Impressionists (Usborne Young Reading: Series Three) which is simply a fabulous introduction to the time period, the art movement and those who made it happen. The following artists are introduced within the context of a wonderfully-woven story: Pissarro, Cassatt, Degas, Morisot, Monet, Renoir and Sisley.

The sticker book provides an interactive and visually appealing response to the book.

There are coordinating Impressionist Paintings Activity Cards which will be released in June 2012. I previewed them on the Usborne website, and they look like a great product. Each card contains a painting with discussion questions about the art work. You can see samples here.

Another Scholastic recommendation!

2011-09-07T17:28:00.001-04:00

I cannot believe I overlooked this.

Hands on History -- American Revolution from Scholastic. Click here to order it from Amazon.

It is an incredible book with lots of fun printables/paper crafts.

I am actually centering my entire American Revolution study around it. Twelve dominoes serve as the framework for this book signifying the domino effect which led to the Revolution. I am using this book along with The American Revolution (History Comes Alive Teaching Unit, Grades 4-8) to spend quite a bit of time on the Revolution this year. In fact, we'll start in a few days, and I plan to blog about it.

I'm trying to blog about everything we're using throughout the week to give reviews and recommendations.

$10 toward free downloadble products from Scholastic!

2011-09-07T08:54:00.001-04:00

Here are some we have used:

If you want to make a lapbook or notebook for exploration, this book is incredible!
Hands on History -- Explorers

This is a fabulous unit (I'm using it this year) for the American Revolution:
History Comes Alive

These maps are great fun:
Interactive 3-D Maps -- American History
as are these:
Life the Flap Timelines -- American History

This activity book is great for a Colonial America study:
Easy Make and Learn Projects -- Colonial America

(all of the Easy Make and Learn books are fun)

***********************************

For science, this book is incredible on the human body:
The Body Book
as is this one:
Easy Make and Learn Projects -- Human Body

These units on specific animals are fantastic!
bats
sharks
reptiles
frogs
penguins

Great history read-aloud!

2011-09-06T19:36:00.002-04:00

I've been reading aloud two to three chapters a day from If You Were There in 1776 by Barbara Brenner. So far, we have enjoyed learning what they ate, how they dressed and how the children played. We also read about the farmers and planters and the differences between the northern and southern colonies. Today, we read about some of the larger cities and how they were similar and different.

The writing style is very fluid, conversational and enjoyable. It also includes several direct quotes and primary source references. At times, it's quite humorous. Her style reminds me quite a bit of Joy Hakim's. There is also a prequel, If You Were There in 1492: Everyday Life in the Time of Columbus.

Third day down -- Post # 2

2011-08-31T17:26:00.002-04:00

Quickly, I'd like to share some books we read or began reading today.

History

First, we read our third book in the "Adventures in Colonial America" series, Seventh & Walnut and I just loved it! It was so much fun to read aloud, and it was so informative yet enjoyable. The entire story is told from the perspective of the city's night watchman or town crier.

Art Appreciation -- Impressionism
Continuing with out introduction to Impressionism, I read Charlotte in Paris which is set up like a series of diary entries complete with watercolor paintings and scrapbook memorabilia. Many French words are introduced along with French culture.

Literature Read Aloud
I am delighted we began Chitty Chitty Bang Bang -- the original book by Ian Fleming. We only read one chapter (I'll read more tonight at bedtime), but so far, we are thrilled with it. As is customary with books made into films, it is already astonishingly different! Now, I do love the movie (which is not usually the case with these things), but I cannot wait to see where the author takes us!

Third day down -- Post # 1

2011-08-31T16:44:00.011-04:00

Well, okay, we still have to listen to our Latin chants, and the boys have to correct their math problems. Today was more challenging because the boys also had piano lessons. I thought I would share a little more about how our day goes.

Their day starts with some time to play followed by eating breakfast while completing their independent work. I'll share our resources for this.

Independent Work

1. Logic
Daily, they complete one page from this book: MindWare Grid Perplexors: Level A. To mix things up a bit, I'll alternate with Logic Liftoff every other week.

2. Daily Grams
This is one program I have used since practically the beginning. It is one of my most often recommended resources. Each lesson consists of six parts; the first two sentences always involve correcting capitalization and punctuation. The last is always a lesson in sentence combining. The other three vary, presenting the student with practice in analogies, parts of speech, letter writing, dictionary skills, homophones, etc. I am using Daily Grams: Grade 5 - Student Workbook and Daily Grams: Grade 6 - Student Workbook this year. I choose not to buy the teacher edition but opt for the consumable student edition. I find it simple enough to Google if I have a question about something (usually regarding punctuation of titles).

3. Megwords
Some days, their spelling can be completed independently. I have tried several spelling programs over the last eleven years and have finally found one that doesn't seem so random. Always start with Decoding, Spelling, and Understanding Multisyllabic Words: Syllable Types and Syllabication Rules (Megawords, Book 1) and always buy the coordinating teacher's guide (in this case, Megawords 1 SET - Student and Teacher's Guide). I am using Level 2 this year. It teaches spelling by introducing syllable types and rules that correlate with them. For more information, visit their home page.

4. Geography
For now, the boys complete one short exercise from Comic-Strip Map Skills, Grades 4-8. While I would never buy this book for the cartoons, it provides a variety of mapping skills to practice including: latitude and longitude, cardinal directions, map keys and symbols, using a scale, reading political, historical, and physical maps and lots more!

5. Saxon Math
I hand-pick problems for the boys to complete from their text book. The do these during their independent work, and then I teach the lesson later in the day. They then practice the new concept. I have found this to be a great way to break up their math lesson. I am currently using Saxon Math 65: An Incremental Development Complete Student Edition and Math 76: An Incremental Development.

Sentence Diagramming
I use Rod and Staff English for grammar. Currently, I am using English 5: Following the Plan and English 6: Progressing with Courage. Some lessons include a lot of diagramming while other lessons lack it all together. I have found that a little daily practice helps, so during the weekend, I type up a total of 15 sentences (3 for each day) from their lessons for them to work on throughout the week.

Smurfy Art Work by Nathan

2011-08-30T19:49:00.001-04:00

Back to School

2011-08-30T16:46:00.006-04:00

So, we started school again yesterday. Phew! What a year this is going to be. I think it is taking so much more time because I added in new programs (including Latin for Children and IEW -- Student Writing Intensive).

So far, the Latin program is leaving me dazed and confused. It just seems like so much is thrown into the first chapter.

The boys adore Andrew Pudewa. Seriously, they would ditch me in a heartbeat in favor of him as their teacher. He IS refreshingly humorous and empathetic.

We are continuing with the following since they work:

Saxon Math (using the older textbooks)
Rod and Staff English (omitting the writing exercises)
Daily Grams (I love this program!)
Megawords for Spelling (I love this approach!)

Currently, we are using A Child's Introduction to Poetry: Listen While You Learn About the Magic Words That Have Moved Mountains, Won Battles, and Made Us Laugh and Cry twice a week for poetry study. We've always enjoyed reading poetry in our previous years -- just reading from various anthologies.

We have also begun our Impressionism art study with an introduction. I cannot recommend The Impressionists (Usborne Young Reading: Series Three) enough. We spent two days reading it, and I think it does a fabulous job of introducing the key players along with painting a picture of the world in which these artists lived and the extent of their interaction.

For science, we are working through Exploring Creation With Botany (Young Explorers) while adding in some living books and lapbook.

We will finish The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child, Volume 3: Early Modern Times starting with a brief overview of Colonial America and then diving in the the American Revolution.

This week, we have read the following two books. Though the illustrations are merely black and white, the text exceeded my expectations.

The Village: Life in Colonial Times (Adventures in Colonial America)

Journey to Monticello: Traveling in Colonial Times (Adventures in Colonial America)

A great way to purchase inexpensive prints for artist study

2011-08-09T14:21:00.001-04:00

I just placed an order at www.calendars.com for our upcoming artist study. Since I was buying 2011 calendars (one was even in Spanish), I was able to get wall calendars from 95 cents to $6.95 each. The often 12x12 size is perfect for picture study as well.

Be careful that you select wall calendars and not the smaller mini size (unless you want the smaller size).

For each artist we study, I adorn the kitchen walls and refrigerator with his or her art work. Since we are studying Impressionist artists, I selected several Impressionism with a variety of artists and some Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cassatt. Here are some examples:

Great Impressionists 2011

This large one is 19 x 18 inches!

This Mary Cassatt one is only $2.95.

Here is a Monet one for only 95 cents!

Use the code "ACCESS" to get 10 percent off; shipping is also free if your order is at least $25.

Plant Classification Poster for Botany Study

2011-08-09T14:01:00.001-04:00

Being a very visual person, I thought it would help our botany study to have a diagram showing the scientific classification of plants. So, if this will help you, please download here.

Classical Composers Study: Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven

2011-07-15T21:58:00.003-04:00

I finally finished typing up our composer study for the upcoming school year. Please pardon any typos. I read over it many times, but it was a rather exhausting (yet exhilarating) project. I have included recommended books, CDs, videos and music appreciation lessons.

click here for download

Busy

2011-07-10T17:51:00.001-04:00

I'm sorry I've been absent, but I've been busy planning school for next year. I wanted to quickly post a photo of Aaron. He has been at Officer Candidates School for the Marines since early June. We are very proud of him for hanging in there and doing such a fine job.

Ben, Happy 10th Birthday, My Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Boy!

2011-06-21T14:45:00.000-04:00

Great Deals at Five Below!

2011-04-14T09:38:00.003-04:00

Nathan is absorbing Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure (Historical Notebooks) which we bought for $4.00. It is a beautiful book! (FWIW, we do not believe in macro evolution, but Darwin did make some fascinating discoveries!).

We also found Spies Revealed for only $4.00.

Finally, I bought this Civilization III Gold Edition / Civ City Rome Bonus 2-Pack for $5.00.

Happy 21st Birthday -- Aaron!

2011-04-13T20:30:00.003-04:00

FREE: McGraw Hill Educational Apps for Iphone (April 13-16)

2011-04-13T20:04:00.004-04:00

All nine of McGraw Hill's "Everyday Mathematics" applications can be installed for free April 13-16.

Everyday Mathematics Addition Top It
Everyday Mathematics Baseball Multiplication 1–6 Facts
Everyday Mathematics Beat the Computer Multiplication
Everyday Mathematics Divisibility Dash
Everyday Mathematics Equivalent Fractions
Everyday Mathematics Monster Squeeze
Everyday Mathematics Name That Number
Everyday Mathematics Subtraction Top-It
Everyday Mathematics Tric-Trac

See here.

Book Recommendation -- Peter the Great by Diane Stanley

2011-04-13T19:46:00.003-04:00

You must, must read Peter the Great -- especially if you are studying world history! This is one of my absolute favorite history reads this year. If you are familiar with Diane Stanley, then you know you're in for a treat. Seriously, the illustrations are amazing, the book reads so smoothly, and it is packed with such interesting information about such an amazing -- such a GREAT person!

For more information told by an equally amazing author, read the pages about Peter the Great from The World of William Penn by Genevieve Foster. No study of world history is complete without her books! I enjoyed everything about this book. In addition to learning about William Penn, you learn about the world in which he lived and the following notable people:

Marquette and Jolliet (French explorer)
La Salle (French explorer)
King Louis XIV
Shah Jahan (Mogul emperor)
Aurangzeb (Mogul emperor)
Sir Isaac Newton
Edmund Halley
Robert Boyle
K'ang-Hse (Manchu emperor)
Peter the Great (Tsar of Russia)

Finally, to top it off and just for fun, watch the Time Warp Trio episode "What's So Great about Peter."

Book Recommendation -- Water Buffalo Days -- Growing Up in Vietnam

2011-04-13T19:32:00.002-04:00

I finished reading Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam aloud the other day, and we all enjoyed it! Don't bother reading the description on Amazon because it is full of spoilers. Just read the book.

You and your children will enjoy learning of another man's childhood from another time and in another place (Vietnam). You will all enjoy the relationship the boy has with the family water buffalo.

My New Stamping Storage

2011-03-21T18:01:00.002-04:00

Living in a small house with a lot of stuff presents its challenges. Here is a before photo of our kitchen wall (when I had even less stamping stuff):

This is what it looks like now. Note: we still have to hang up the bulletin board/white board you'll see on the floor. For more specifics, you can stop the slideshow to read the comments.

We have the winners!

2011-03-21T17:34:00.001-04:00

Katrina
Mom#1
Unsinkable
Lisa
Cindy

Farewell, Sweet Annabelle

2011-03-17T16:54:00.000-04:00

We all miss you so very much and are so sorry you became ill. You were the smartest cat we have known!

Book Recommendation -- The Man Who Named the Clouds

2011-03-17T16:48:00.002-04:00

The boys and I read The Man Who Named the Clouds today because we've been studying weather for our earth science unit.

It was both enjoyable to read and informational. Not only does it explain the system we still use today (which was devised nearly two hundred years ago) to classify clouds, but it provides a wonderful biography of the life of Luke Howard -- the man who created the system.

Our Welcome Spring Display

2011-03-11T14:13:00.001-05:00

Here's another butterfly punch collage I made. I also decorated our entertainment center with a table runner from Target and several items from Michaels. I decorated the little wooden bird house with scrapbooking paper. The tulips adorn our kitchen table.

Would you like a free Shutterfly Photobook (8x8)?

2011-03-09T17:18:00.001-05:00

I was given the chance to invite five NEW customers to Shutterfly. Each of the five people will receive a hardcover 8x8 album. You will still have to pay taxes and shipping.

So, if you'd like to enter my give-away, please go here and leave a comment. I will have www.random.org pick five winners on March 16.

Thanks!

Leave a comment here, and I will choose 5 random winners on March 16 at noon.

FREE Digital Scrapbooking Papers

2011-03-03T08:35:00.002-05:00

Click here to download these fabulous papers!

We have a winner

2011-02-26T10:29:00.001-05:00

of the stamp set -- Michele's Scrapy Creations!

Thanks for playing.

My son, Nathan, has a blog now

2011-02-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

http://thegetsmartsite.blogspot.com/

My son, Ben, has a blog now.

2011-02-23T17:59:00.002-05:00

http://blogspotben.blogspot.com/

Now, this is really interesting!

2011-02-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

Zero-Waste Family News Report
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/21/zerowaste-family-maintain_n_823477.html

Her blog:
http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/

Amazing FREE Digital Scrapbooking Kits

2011-02-19T09:18:00.002-05:00

Yes, you have to work for it by going from blog to blog -- it's called a Blog Hop. But, it is soooo worth it!

Just start here.

And, here's another for you to follow.

7 Gypsies Take Note Acrylic Stamp Set -- Give-Away!

2011-02-18T11:41:00.002-05:00

I don't normally get very personal on my blog, but I wanted to say a few things.

I have been feeling so very fortunate lately. Feeling -- keep that word in mind. Trust me, there are times when things seem so dark that I honestly don't think I can see my way through. There are times when I feel like everything is falling apart. Feel -- did you catch that? Right now, I cannot understand how I can ever think things are so bad.

I'm guessing we all go through these highs and lows. Perhaps I, being such a passionate person, a person who feels very deeply, experience this more. I don't know. My husband and younger boys are similar to me, so you can imagine what things are like around here when everyone is feeling low or negative.

The other night, I lay in my bed thinking how fortunate I was to have a bed, and a room, and a house. You may be thinking it's only because I adore the way our room looks now. Nope. I've had this welling up of thankfulness before even with the ripped up carpet, the smell of mildew, the carpet stains, the broken closet door, and so on. I've had this feeling after returning to our small (in comparison) home after visiting a substantially larger home.

See, it really isn't about feelings. The truth of the matter is, I am always fortunate to have a bed, a room and a house. Sometimes, I think it is the moment that I lose sight of this reality and this appreciation that I become hardened to all that is wonderful in my life. And that takes me back to those dark times. Perhaps when all I allow myself to see are the "don't haves," I become hardened to what I do have. Sometimes it's tempting to just compare your relationships, your things and yourself to others'.

I am not denying that times can be tough, and I really don't think mine have ever been that horrible. I'm certainly not asking to experience any worse. But, I hope that when the darker days come, I can convince myself to focus on what I do have.

I have a husband who truly loves me and gives me so very much. I have bright, creative, kind boys. I have a caring, giving family. We have all of our material needs cared for (mostly thanks to my hardworking husband). We have a clean, cozy, lovely home and gardens John and I made together. I have so many interests and time to pursue them. I am able to home educate my boys. Honestly, there is nothing I want more than to do this. We are all in good health. I have friends both in "real life" and in the cyberworld. I trust in Jesus, my Redeemer.

So, in celebration for feeling thankful, I want to give away this stamp set to someone! I will randomly select a winner on Friday, February 25th at noon. So, leave a comment here before then, and you will be entered!

Layout for Aaron

2011-02-17T20:47:00.001-05:00

A layout I made about Aaron tonight. Journaling reads: "Aaron, I cannot help it. Whenever I look at these handsome photos of you, I am reminded of the farewell we've had and those yet to come. I'll always love you. Love, Mom"

Supplies: patterned paper (Chatterbox Den Collection "Small Circles" and "Tie Plaid"); fabric alphabet stickers (Making Memories); title sticker (Chatterbox Descriptives item # 22205); tag (October Afternoon Hometown Collection); button, twine, pen (American Crafts Precision #01)

Happy Birthday, Puppy -- Layout

2011-02-17T18:10:00.003-05:00

Supplies: All patterned paper is Die Cuts with a View [striped (Flower Shower Spring Stack); grid (Dots, Stripes & Plaid Stack); blue dot , banner and happy birthday sentiment (The Celebration Stack). Chipboard alphabet stickers (American Crafts Thickers); punch (Stampin' Up); gift tags (Hallmark Expressions # 3J0B52R -- 25 cents for pack of 4 at Big Lots); font (LuzSans - Book); orange trim (Joanns dollar spot); jute (Walmart)

I found the cute orange and blue gift cards at Big Lots -- 25 cents for a pack of four! :)

The journaling for this was easy because I just copied my blog entry into MS Word and tweaked it.

Valentine's Day Scrapbooking Layout

2011-02-16T21:34:00.002-05:00

I made this layout tonight, but it documents Valentine's Day 2010.

Supplies: chipboard alphabet stickers (American Crafts Thickers); chipboard hearts (Making Memories); tag (Studio Calico kit); scallop circle (Making Memories Noteworthy Spiral Journaling Book); border punch (Martha Stewart Doily Lace); crocheted flowers (my Aunt Lorraine and Etsy shop Sweet Vintage 78) patterned paper, trim, baker's twine (unknown)

Valentine's Day Haul

2011-02-16T19:20:00.002-05:00

John made the card with the hear punches (isn't it great?), and he bought balloons, the flowers and the Ghirardelli chocolates. Nathan gave me the heart-shaped box of chocolates while Ben gave me the other. They are all delicious!

Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude (Book Review)

2011-02-16T14:45:00.005-05:00

We read Sea Clocks: The Story of Longitude by Louise Borden yesterday. It is simply a must-read for science and history.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, Longitude, so I looked forward to reading this book to the boys. I would like to caution you that there is a scene during a party of full front female nudity, so you may want to preview it.

I thought the book was just perfect for their ages -- 9 and 11. I really enjoyed reading it aloud, and I have to admit that I got teary at the end (like I do when concluding most biographies). I am always just in awe of persevering, intelligent, passionate people.

There is a longish picture book on the same subject that I checked out from the library -- The Man Who Made Time Travel (Orbis Pictus Honor for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (Awards)) -- but I found the Sea Clocks book to be so fabulous that I couldn't imagine needing it. The illustrations are lovely, and just thumbing through the book I can see it offers some facts omitted from the book we read, but I think we are ready to move on. :)

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

2011-02-16T14:30:00.007-05:00

We finished this edition of A Child's Garden of Verses illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa.

It contains such sweet illustrations, and of course the poems themselves are classic!

I could not keep from crying through the reading aloud of "To Minnie."

It was just so poignant!

To Minnie

The red room with the giant bed
  Where none but elders laid their head;
  The little room where you and I
  Did for awhile together lie
  And, simple suitor, I your hand
  In decent marriage did demand;
  The great day nursery, best of all,
  With pictures pasted on the wall
  And leaves upon the blind--
  A pleasant room wherein to wake
  And hear the leafy garden shake
  And rustle in the wind--
  And pleasant there to lie in bed
  And see the pictures overhead--
  The wars about Sebastopol,
  The grinning guns along the wall,
  The daring escalade,
  The plunging ships, the bleating sheep,
  The happy children ankle-deep
  And laughing as they wade:
  All these are vanished clean away,
  And the old manse is changed to-day;
  It wears an altered face
  And shields a stranger race.
  The river, on from mill to mill,
  Flows past our childhood’s garden still;
  But ah! we children never more
  Shall watch it from the water-door!
  Below the yew--it still is there--
  Our phantom voices haunt the air
  As we were still at play,
  And I can hear them call and say:
  "How far is it to Babylon?"
  Ah, far enough, my dear,
  Far, far enough from here--
  Yet you have farther gone!
  "Can I get there by candlelight?"
  So goes the old refrain.
  I do not know--perchance you might--
  But only, children, hear it right,
  Ah, never to return again!
  The eternal dawn, beyond a doubt,
  Shall break on hill and plain,
  And put all stars and candles out Ere we be young again.
  To you in distant India, these
  I send across the seas,
  Nor count it far across.
  For which of us forgets
  The Indian cabinets,
  The bones of antelope, the wings of albatross,
  The pied and painted birds and beans,
  The junks and bangles, beads and screens,
  The gods and sacred bells,
  And the loud-humming, twisted shells!
  The level of the parlour floor
  Was honest, homely, Scottish shore;
  But when we climbed upon a chair,
  Behold the gorgeous East was there!
  Be this a fable; and behold
  Me in the parlour as of old,
  And Minnie just above me set
  In the quaint Indian cabinet!
  Smiling and kind, you grace a shelf
  Too high for me to reach myself.
  Reach down a hand, my dear, and take
  These rhymes for old acquaintance’ sake!

(Taken from here)

Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch Collage

2011-02-16T11:08:00.004-05:00

I was inspired by Ali Edwards to make this wall art. You can see hers here. And, here is mine. I just punched various scraps of paper with this Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly punch. The frame is from Michaels Arts & Crafts.

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-14T19:03:00.002-05:00

Hubby is picking up the Chinese food. Yum. Thanks for the night off. :) He took a few pictures of me because we have very few of me.

Maggie Enjoying New Sights

2011-02-13T09:50:00.001-05:00

Ben's Newest Food Art

2011-02-13T09:46:00.002-05:00

He just loves being artistic with food, so we were pleased when we stopped by the "just arrived" shelf at our local library and found this book.

Cool Sandwich Food Art: Easy Recipes That Make Food Fun to Eat!

Nathan Reading The Travels of Marco Polo

2011-02-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if he'll finish it, but he wanted to borrow this tome from the library this week.

Thursday's Snow

2011-02-13T09:39:00.002-05:00

This is out second snow of the season.

My Helper

2011-02-13T09:34:00.002-05:00

Ben cleaned the house while I was on my treadmill yesterday. He put toys away, dusted and vacuumed. Thanks, Ben!

D.I.Y. Computer Repair

2011-02-13T09:26:00.001-05:00

The left hinge on the HP notebook computer that the boys use (John's old one) has been broken for a long time. I finally ordered a hinge from an Ebay seller with plans to fix it. John and I made time for it yesterday, and we're so glad we did. It was so easy thanks to these fabulous instructions.

If you do find yourself in need of this guide, please be kind and donate a little via paypal to him. He's worth it.

Last Night's Scrapbook Layout

2011-02-13T09:20:00.002-05:00

I had a lot of fun making this!

All papers except the red print are Scenic Route while the red print is October Afternoon from this Schoolhouse paper pad. I used various diecuts from The Girls' Paperie by Margie "On Holiday" and alpha stickers from Making Memories and October Afternoon (Mini Market). Plastic baseball charm is Doodlebug. I sewed the banner on with a zig zag stitch in red. Many of the elements are raised with foam squares.

Hilarious!

2011-02-10T15:27:00.000-05:00

Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons

2011-02-09T18:57:00.001-05:00

We have also been finishing up our study of earth, and with it, caves and caverns. We read a few books on the subject, but my favorite was Caves and Caverns by Gail Gibbons. I especially appreciate her explanation of how limestone caves are formed -- a topic I found a little confusing in Caves (A True Book), which we also read.

Another favorite -- especially for the younger crowd -- will be Caves: Mysteries Beneath Our Feet. We started off with it.

Finally, we looked at postcards from Luray Caverns which we have visited several times.

Book Recommendation / Comparison -- Vermeer

2011-02-09T17:51:00.005-05:00

We have spent the last couple of months studying the artist Vermeer.

I bought a wall calendar full of twelve beautiful reproductions which I hang on my kitchen walls and refrigerator. Here are shopping options for the 2001 calendar: option 1, option 2, option 3. You can also buy it at discount from www.calendars.com here. Ooh -- Barnes and Noble as it for $3.49 here!

We've also read two book which I will compare very quickly.

I must say my favorite of the two was The Vermeer Interviews: Conversations with Seven Works of Art (Bob Raczka's Art Adventures). I really enjoyed the dialogue between Bob and the subjects of Vermeer's paintings. I also thought the author did a great job of focusing our attention on the details of each painting and trends in Vermeer's technique, props and subject matter. While only seven of his paintings are studied, I think the author did a great job of not only giving his interpretations but also inviting his readers to offer theirs.

While I appreciated the size and quality of the reproductions in the book Vermeer's Secret World (Adventures in Art (Prestel)), I found the discussion on each painting represented to be more abstract for children and a little on the wordy side. I was impressed by the selection of 22 of his possible 35 works of art; fifteen of the prints were full-page (9.5x11). Also, I loved the way similar pieces of art were compared to one another in a single section. For instance, The Geographer and The Astronomer were discussed in one double-page spread and their similarities and differences were touched on.

Oh, and of course, there's the irresistible Johannes Vermeer (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists).
I highly recommend every book in this series, but choose the DVD if it is available for the particular artist you are studying. They are just so much fun! Go here for more information.

I just love Nathan's writing!

2011-02-09T11:46:00.006-05:00

Sharing an impressive sentence Nathan wrote today.

"Howard Carter pulled away the entrance to Tutankhamen's tomb with vigorous, almost delirious, delight."

He had been instructed to use the word vigorous in a sentence.

More Valentine's Day Printables -- FREE

2011-02-09T10:28:00.001-05:00

Paper Crave has done all of the work compiling these great Valentine's Day printables.

FREE: Cupcake Wrappers and Arrow Toppers

2011-02-09T10:21:00.001-05:00

Go here for these cupcake wrappers and arrow toppers. The kit also includes treat bag toppers -- all created by the Creature Comforts designer for Fossil.

Cute Printable Valentine's Cards! -- FREE

2011-02-09T10:16:00.002-05:00

These robot-themed cards are adorable! Click here to download the pdf file.

And. click here for this set of cards.

Boys Practicing Piano

2011-02-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

2011-02-08T21:10:00.004-05:00

I finally printed out and put up our Valentine's Day banner. Print your copy here.

I used my Silhouette SD to cut out the birds.

birds_C00302_20509

Project Life -- Storage

2011-02-07T22:03:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd share a quick photo of how I store my Project Life items. I took all of the decorative and journaling cards out of their cute boxes (which I saved because you never know when you might need a cute box) and placed them into this plastic bin. I organized them by type. I also placed in this bin:

the arrow and days of the week stickers
my window punch
my corner punch
my journaling pen
Post-it notes (to place on photo sleeve with journaling or photo idea before I put the actual on in the sleeve).
ink pad
letter stamps
Tombow adhesive runner

Project Life -- Weeks 4-5

2011-02-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

I am finally caught up! Now, it should be easy to just do a little each day. I have already printed my photos for today and inserted them into this week's photo sleeve. :)

You can see I added a digital layout because I had so many bedroom renovation photos. I just printed this out and inserted it into a page protector. Here's a better picture of the digital page. I am NOT a digital scrapbooker, though I dabble with hyrid, so don't expect much. :) I used a layered template from Cathy Zielske.

Project Life -- Weeks 1-3

2011-02-07T17:31:00.001-05:00

I've been trying to catch up on Project Life. I chose the turquoise one which can be bought here. Though I have added some photos beyond the third week, I can officially say the first three weeks are complete.

I just love using a spiral-bound album because I can add so many items so easily. In photo 8, I added a Krispy Kreme hat simply by hole-punching it. In photo 9, I created a text box in MS Word, added my journaling and printed it on cardstock. I then sewed up a page protector and cut off the extra, so I essentially made a custom-size photo sleeve. Photos 10-12 show extra pages added -- one is a math worksheet that Ben excelled in, while the other two hold letters from the Lego company.

I also love little pockets in these photo sleeves because I can easily add receipts and other bits of life in them. For the most part, I stick with using what came in the kit. I have added some stamping and some cutting with my Silhouette SD.

I've relied on the internet to provide me with some photos because I just didn't take that many during our sickness.

FREE Printable Tags for Papertrey Ink's Anniversary

2011-02-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

I just love Papertry Ink stamps and cardstock.

Click here for Dawn McVey's post and the pdf file to save/print.

Girl in the Gatehouse

2011-02-06T23:17:00.001-05:00

I'm off to do a little light reading in Julie Klassen's newest book -- The Girl in the Gatehouse. I had a busy day trying to catch up on my Project Life album which can still be purchased here. I'll share photos of my progress tomorrow. I am only behind on it because we were sick so much this winter and because we've been so wrapped up in the bedroom renovation. I actually love this project!

Nathan Color-Coding the World's Empires

2011-02-06T09:38:00.003-05:00

Based on information Nathan has learned from, according to him, "EVERYWHERE -- I just picked it up" -- he has been color-coding this world map to show territorial claims.

Happy Birthday, Puppy

2011-02-06T09:01:00.001-05:00

We bought puppy when I was pregnant with Ben. According to Ben, Puppy (who I just found out a few weeks ago is female), turned 7 years old on February 2. We had a belated party for her last night. Ben helped me make the cake.

Here is a layout I made in honor of her years ago.

Beautiful, Printable Planner Pages -- FREE!

2011-02-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Click here for these beautiful planner pages!

Sharing Final Room Photos

2011-02-04T17:53:00.006-05:00

The coverlet is part of the DwellStudio Mandala collection which can be bought here at Target. The grey sheet set "Home Diamond" can also be bought at Target here. The bedskirt, Pinzon Matelasse, is of amazing quality and can be bought here at Amazon. I also bought some Spring Maid pillow cases with yellow and white poka dots which you can see behind the grey pillow cases. The yellow, decorative pillows are also Spring Maid and can be bought t Target.

Tulip bunches are currently $1.00 at Michaels. This vase holds four bunches. Speaking of this vase. Can you believe it was on clearance for a penny at Michaels? The night stand cloths are napkins from Target -- their Dwell Studio brand. The lamps are from IKEA -- item # 10175711 called Alang, but I am unable to find them on their website. They were available at the Woodbridge, VA store, though. You can see the product here.

The white vase here was purchased at T. J. Maxx while the yellow pitcher was bought for 48 cents at the local goodwill. Both flowers were purchased at Michaels. The Elite Home Fashions Dawson Collection night stands can be bought here. Most night stands proved too wide for our small bedroom, so we chose these. They are technically bathroom furniture. :)

These PAX wardrobes are from IKEA. We bought two of the Birkeland doors and two of the Vikedal. We thought the mirrored doors would help lighten up the room and make it appear larger.

You can also see the Neu Home Capri bathroom hamper bench we bought here.

John installed this closet door which I love because it has a modern edge to it and it also has reflective properties.

I was so excited to snag this rug from Hancock Fabrics for $7.99 -- 60% off the retail price! It's called "Laguna Zebra."

Stay tuned for the final touches -- the art work which I'm still working on.

The Beadboard Headboard my Husband Made

2011-02-04T17:23:00.001-05:00

I just love the beadboard headboard John made for our room!

Making the frame

Deciding where to put it

Drilling holes to mount on the wall with toggle bolts

Showing the back

Mounting to the wall

Here it is -- mounted!

John puttied the holes, touched up the paint and added a ledge and moulding.

I just love it! Thanks, John

DIY Swag Lamp and Drum Lamp Shade We Made!

2011-02-04T17:06:00.003-05:00

I searched for days for a swag lamp that I adored, but they were all so very expensive. I finally Googled for tips on making one and found this most helpful blog. It teaches in detail how to make a lampshade. I bought the supplies for the shade from the Lamp Shop while John bought the swag kit and socket from Home Depot.

The fabric was unusable material we bought from IKEA to make the valances from, but the image was so horribly printed on the fabric, they they proved useless for curtains. We decided it was the perfect material for the lamp shade!

After deciding on the size (9 x 13 inches), I bought the top and bottom washers, a foot of the pressure sensitive sytrene, and an accordion bottle of tacky glue from the Lamp Shop.

Then I measured the fabric a little larger than what I needed. I figured it would be easier to trim the extra fabric off the styrene once the fabric was adhered to it.

Because the styrene had been hand-cut rather than factory-cut, John had to square it off with his handy shop tools. We then had a perfect strip nearly 42 inches long (the diameter of the drum shade x 3.14 plus about an inch for the overlap) and 9 inches wide (the height of the shade). He then trimmed the excess fabric with an x-acto blade.

I continued following the instructions I received from The Lampshade Lady blog. I applied glue to the top washer while rolling the washer onto the fabric. John clipped clothespins onto the washer as I glued and rolled. Do not skimp on this adhesive! You'll wonder if it's going to glue well when you're in the middle of it, but you will be astonished at how tacky it really is once it dries!

For the bottom washer, we set the washer down on a flat surface, then set the shade on top of it and began applying the glue from up above. We also chose to use clothes pins to hold in place while the bottom washer dried. We then left the entire thing to dry overnight.

Once the shade was dry, I adhered some inexpensive trim to the top and bottom.

Finally, John assembled the socket, wiring and swag kit. Remember to thread the cord through each link in the chain, and remember to do this before you secure the socket into the washer. (Ask me how I know this).

And, here is the finished product.

Cost breakdown:

Fabric (1 yard) $6.99
Trim $4.16
Washers $3.82
Styrene $7.15
Accordion bottle of glue $2.45
Socket $3.97
Swag kit $11.97
Total cost = $40.51

I still have plenty of glue and fabric left over too!

Valentine's Day Decor

2011-02-04T16:07:00.005-05:00

This is the first year we've decorated for Valentine's Day. It's not that the holiday is incredibly important to me, but I was taking down the Christmas display the other day and realized I would miss having a holiday display on the entertainment center. So, I bought a few items on sale from A. C. Moore and Michaels and made some framed art with my Silhouette SD.

Not wanting to spend too much, I was pleased to be able to use the same table runner from Christmas (purchased at Target), the two glass globes which had held a Christmas candle and sugared faux pears, and the two tea candle holders.

I filled the one with a candle and tied hearts ribbon around it. The ribbon was bought from Michaels this week at 50% off. I bought a laminated hearts garland from A. C. Moore for $3.59 with a 40% off coupon, cut the hearts from the garland and placed them in the glass globe. I cut two strips of dotted blue cardstock and taped them to the tea candle holders.

I bought four inexpensive black frames from Michaels for $3.74 each (I used a 25% off all frames coupon). Though they are not real wood, I like that they are made from recycled materials and are light-weight.

To decorate three of them, I printed shapes with my Silhouette SD.

The ceramic dish was bought last week at Michaels for 99 cents.

I'm now on the lookout for some cinnamon heart candy to fill it.

I got the inspiration for the punched hearts frame from Ali Edwards.

I found a remnant of "love love love" fabric at Hancocks when I was buying trim for the lamp shade. It was perfect as a background for this owl.

and_the_greatest_of_these_is_love_phrase_C00806_22157

be_mine_phrase_C00830_20509

flourish_heart_2_C00841_20509

banner_hearts_C00834_20509

heart_owl_C00850_20509

I already had this bucket but filled it with dollar roses from Michaels.

I bought this cute wreath from A. C. Moore for $8.99. It was missing a rose, so I tied a ribbon in its place.

Finally, I bought this rose pot for $4.19 at A. C. Moore and tied the rest of the ribbon around it. It sits on the floor next to the entertainment center.

Sneak Peek -- Curtains / Valance

2011-02-01T18:36:00.006-05:00

I have so much to share, but right now I am just so excited that I finished sewing my first ever valance. In fact, it's the first real sewing I've done outside of sewing on cards. I bought this fabulous fabric -- Waverly Cross Section Charcoal, and the link will take you to the least expensive source I found for it.

Okay, I just had to show a little more. I will post information about the beadboard headboard my husband made as well as sources for the bedding, night stands and lamps later.

Waverly Cross Section Charcoal

Irja Curtain Rod from Ikea for $1.99

Bedroom Makeover!

2011-01-26T22:48:00.006-05:00

My husband and I (okay, at this point mostly my husband) have spent our January so far remodeling our bedroom. You cannot image how horrible it was! We had experienced a water leak which mildewed the carpet, so John had to cut some of the carpet away from the wall. It remained that way for months.

Oh, and the walls -- they were in such desperate need of painting. The closet doors -- the original funky bamboo accordion doors -- were broken so that anyone could see its contents. The ceiling, like all our other ceilings, was cracking. The original aluminum windows were corroded and just plain nasty.

So, while John was doing the unappealing tasks like installing new windows, texturing and painting the ceiling, painting the walls, installing laminate flooring, assembling IKEA wardrobes, setting up a treadmill, and mounting a flat-screen television to the wall above the treadmill, I was . . .

shopping! Shopping for bedding, curtain fabric, wall art, vases, flowers, items to make a swag lamp, etc. I still have much to do, and I plan to share photos of everything including some directions for the things we made ourselves.

Oh, I forgot -- I was sick for nearly two weeks -- most of it while John was doing all of the above. So, the only photos I have of the "before" were taken by Ben. I will leave you with the flooring photos. The walls and trim were already painted at this point.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

This photo is probably more color-true due to better lighting.

The flooring is Pergo Cottage Maple from Home Depot.
Wall paint is Behr "Swiss Coffee (1812)." The trim paint is Behr "Sandstone Cove" (730C-2).

Recent Scrapbooking Layouts

2011-01-25T18:56:00.001-05:00

Sweet Christmas Printables

2011-01-19T17:58:00.001-05:00

Click here to download these stunning cupcake flags. I can see these being cute on cards and scrapbooking layouts as well.

and click here for these equally beautiful tags.

Oh, and here are Fourth of July cupcake flags.

Adorable note cards, labels and topper

2011-01-19T17:30:00.003-05:00

Click here to download these.

How perfect are these?

2011-01-17T15:43:00.001-05:00

FREE printable Valentine's Day cards! I just love these.

I just love this!

2011-01-17T14:23:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I'm really into finding printable banners these days. I also just love the Christmas wall art I just found. So, go here to download the following.

FREE Fabulous Valentine's Printable Paper!

2011-01-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

Isn't this paper set beautiful! This is just one of nine designs.

And this Christmas paper is too cool, and you can also download matching tags here!

How cute is this?

2011-01-17T13:37:00.001-05:00

I just adore this Thanksgiving banner! Click here to download.

And, here are two for Valentine's Day.

Oh, and Christmas is here and another one called "Believe" is here.