Archive for February, 2010

My mentor teacher turned 12 1/2 this week.

She is a Leap Day baby, so she is actually 50 this year and I wanted to get her a little something since she invited me to her party. She is a die-hard K-State fan, so I made her this mini album. I used the tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.

She really enjoyed it!

I am actually at a coffee shop currently working on homework I have been avoiding and now can’t put it off any longer…unless I keep blogging….but it will still be due tomorrow! Off to work! Enjoy! Erica

Tuesday was the first day I actually taught this semester. I have been in the classroom, but I have just been helping and watching. The lesson went great, so great in fact that the teacher borrowed the DVD so she could use it later that afternoon for more examples! I used Pixar shorts, you know the 4 minute videos before Pixar movies, to have the students review sequence. These videos can actually be used to teach anything from setting to character traits. The two I used were “For the Birds” and “Boudin’”

I will say that I got the original idea from my practicum teacher Dr. Carlson. She used the videos to help with character and setting so I did change it a bit, but I would have never thought to use videos to teach literary concepts. So the next time you take your kids to the movies or watch tv, you can quiz them over the characters, character traits, sequence, setting, etc.

Now I am off to write my Chopped inspired lesson plan.

I have a bunch of stuff due soon, but I am hoping to get to work on a card or 10 soon!

Erica

Izzy’s 3rd birthday was yesterday and here is the card I made for her.

I had said that I had some notecards in my head and they featured these cuties from The Angel Company. Sorry the photo has my fingers in it, but I forgot to take a picture of it until I was in my car.

This card also fits a couple challenges and here they are:

• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge- Circles
• Crafty Ho’s Challenge- Spring
• The Sweet Stop 44- Sketch with flowers
• Our Creative Corner- Try a new Technique (cropping images)
• Stamp Something- Spring something

Here is a picture of Izzy and I at her party. We were matchy in our purple!

Hope you enjoy! Erica

I think I would get an A in every class…if the teacher ever got around to grading!

I should be working on a paper, but I am not. I still have a week until it is due, but I need to just finish it! This weekend is crazy. I have 3 birthday parties this weekend. Izzy turned 3 last month but the party is tomorrow afternoon since they were waiting until Baby J got settled in. Jaclyn, my replacement for my last job is having the 9th anniversary of her 21st birthday tomorrow evening. I wish that she would have worked there with me for longer than just 3 weeks. She is fabulous and fun and I am so happy that something good, a friendship, came out of me quitting my job. Finally, Wade and I are taking a friend and his wife out to dinner on Sunday as a late celebration of his birthday. I love having couple friends! Katie is also an education major and getting into crafting, so we have tons to talk about. We need to plan our next shopping date too! And she is bringing me some Prism markers on Sunday! She got them for Interior Design and doesn’t use them. I can’t wait to play!!!!

Ok, now that you got to hear about my crazy weekend, I will give you some cool news I received today! My Clueless card was chosen as one of the Inspired Creations at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge! I can’t figure out what the movie is for this week quite yet. I will have to wait to find out tomorrow morning. I hope I will find time to play along.

I still have that set of notecards in my head. Hopefully they will come to life soon!

Enjoy! Erica

I made a card, I did, I did! Actually, I made it 2 days ago but good things come to those who wait!

This is for Tonya’s husband. I know, it may seem weird to send you friend’s husband a birthday card, but he was so supportive of Twilight Tuesday and all that his wife does, I think he deserves a card. Plus his birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so it is important for holiday birthdays to get a little notice too! I know, if his birthday was on Valentine’s Day his card is a little late, but again, good thing comes to those who wait!

I am off to work on a paper I continue to put off. I also have a set of notecards stuck in my head that I might try to create!

Enjoy! Erica

As many of you know, I LOVE to read. I can’t get enough of it. I have a book with me at all time. I am actually guilty of reading a paragraph or two during stop lights! This semester I am in my final block before student teaching. This block is all about literacy education. One of our assignments is to read 10 picture books and 5 episodic books (novels). This is the coolest assignment. I am actually getting a grade for reading! Actually I do have to give a summary of the book and then a 3 activities I would use when teaching the books, but that won’t be too bad.
Another assignment for this class “made” me go to the bookstore today. I had to go to 3 sections I don’t normally go to and find some books that I would want to read. We only had to find 2 books in each section, but now I have a list of 10 plus biographies I want to read and a couple travel books too. I was so proud of myself, I didn’t buy anything. It took all of my power, but I did it! Probably because I just got 21 books from my Scholastic book order. See, I told you I love books. I already have 80 books to start my class library!
I would love any suggestions of books, children’s or adults I may like. My Goodreads.com list is so long for books I want to read!

If you ever want to read some children’s or young adult novels, here is the list of books I read for my assignment:

• Rules by Cynthia Lord
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (keep tissues available)
• Steal Away Home by Lois Ruby
• The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
• The Naming of Tishkin Silk by Glenda Millard

I am addicted to The 39 Clues books. For those of you that don’t know about them, they are a young adult series of 10 books. Only 7 have been released and each of them is written by a different children’s author. Dan and Amy Cahill are on the adventure of a lifetime when their grandmother Grace dies and sets up a puzzle for certain members of the Cahill family. Whoever solves the mystery will become the leader of the most powerful family in the world. Each book focuses on a different historical figure. Book 1 involves Benjamin Franklin and book 2 is about Mozart. I have been listening to One False Note while traveling back and forth from school however, I made a huge mistake today. I went to the library to return another audiobook, only I picked up the wrong one! Now I am one CD away from finishing book 2 and it is at the library so I have to wait a couple days until it comes back my way! UGGG! My brain is just a bit fried!

Ok, I will stop blabbering and will post a project soon! Again, if you have any books suggestions, I am all ears! If you are a member of Goodreads, let me know!

Enjoy! Erica

Sadly, the day is finally here. Twilight Tuesday is coming to a close. I will share my feeling in a few, but right now, lets get down to business.If you are coming from Jen’s blog, you are in the right place. If not, start from the beginning at Twilight Tuesday.

Rebecca hosts this final challenge. Here is what she has to say:

Hey everyone!

It’s Rebecca, bringing you something special for our last Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge. For this event, we’re doing a DT blog hop. Our challenge theme???? “Love of books, the printed words on a page” since that is what brought us all together.

Creative portion: Create a project that uses printed text: a page from a magazine, book, dictionary, etc. within your project, as the background or focal point.

Comment Portion: I love to read the newspaper online but nothing beats a printed newspaper on Sunday mornings. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t abandon books (hardcover, softcover, or paperback) to a digital reader. Are you totally digital or do you prefer a good old fashioned printed page in your hands?”

Here is what I made:

I love this image from Elizabeth O. Dulema. It is just so peaceful, and you know how much I love to read. She has a ton of images that encourage reading for all ages. It pained me, but I cut up a book I got at a local used bookstore. I wanted to try my hand at one of these nifty paper flowers. I can’t wait to make more. It was pretty fun!  I finished up the card with an Inkadinkado Chelsea sentiment.

As far as reading, I just can’t switch over to digital. My friends keep raving about Nooks and Kindles, but I love books, real books. To tell you a little bit of how much I love them, I have begun collecting books for my classroom library. My Scholastic book order came in today…21 books! Granted some of those are going to be gifts. My hair dresser just gave me a bag of books that her son has out grown. I actually had to go to Wal-mart last night so that I could by a large container I could keep the books safe in until I get my own classroom. I will share pictures soon! Plus, I have a ton of books from the public library and the school library that I had to put them behind my door and can now barely open it up!

As I said in the beginning, today is our last Twilight Tuesday challenge. This is the first design team I have belonged to and I have loved every minute of it. The women here are amazing and I have made some amazing some wonderful, lifelong friends. I won’t get horribly sappy because I will “see” them all soon. As for all the fans of Twilight Tuesday that have followed us, thank you. I hope you continue to keep in touch and share your beautiful creations. I am always willing to talk books and Twilight, so I am game if you are.

Finally, I want to thank a couple people. Tonya, you are amazing and I am honored to call you a friend. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Words can not express what these last couple of months have meant. Not only being apart of your design team, but becoming your friend. Dani, thanks for introducing me to this crazy bunch! I am forever changed from meeting all of you! Ali,Margie and Dani- Thanks for keeping me going when there were times I didn’t think I could. Your inspiration and support have been remarkable and I am in awe of your wonderful hearts! To the rest of the team…I love you all and thank you for allowing me to create next to you and gain inspiration from each of you. Don’t be strangers!

Now that I have shared and blubbered, head over and see what Donna has in store for you!

Enjoy! ~ Erica

I had to play along with Cinema Saturday this week. The movie is CLUELESS!

With my colored pencils, I colored in ohsoprettyabella by Stamping Bella. Isn’t she the perfect Cher?! I matched her outfit to my plaid paper (one of the requirements of the challenge). I sponged my “edges” with a light pink. I am loving the technique of distressing the inner layer of my embossed Spellbinder dies.  Finally, I finished off the card with American Craft ribbon and Dew Drops.

Enjoy!~ Erica

I have been inspired by the Pioneer Woman once again. On her blog today she had a list of things she loves, so in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would do the same thing.

I love… (in no particular order)

• Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper’s from Sonic
• Peanut M&Ms
• Hallmark commercials
• my parents
• blogging
• Cheddar Bites with Ranch dressing
• ranch dressing
• shoes
• books
• getting mail that isn’t a bill or a credit card application
• hooded sweatshirts
• Snuggie
• Chocolate & Oreo (my dogs, not the edible kind)
• audio books
• stamps
• retro t-shirts
• Edward Cullen
• Fish and Chips from 23rd St. Brewery
• haircuts
• plain white paper (oh the possibilities)
• movie theatre popcorn
• Martha Stewart punches

There are plenty of other things I love too. I am hoping to make something soon to share. Thanks for being patient with me!

Enjoy! Erica

I just wanted to let everyone know that things are a bit hectic right now. School is incredibly crazy already! This week also marks my parent’s wedding anniversary (31 years) and my Dad’s birthday. I will try to make something, but who knows if I will have the time.
Make sure to check out all of the Design Team’s work tomorrow at Twilight Tuesday! There are only a couple days left of challenges.
Also, I want everyone to know that there has been some amazing word made recently. I look at a ton of blogs and don’t always have the time to comment, but just know that I am amazed by everyone’s talents!
Thanks for being so understanding and supportive! Erica