2S4Y: Laura's Sketch 16

This is Laura's Sketch 16 for 2S4Y:




...and here's my take :)







Thanks for taking a look! :)

Ready for 2009?

We got back from our visit to Albuquerque last night. It was a very nice visit, a wonderful Christmas. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas as well.

Getting into the New Year spirit, I concocted this card. A package of embossing folders was waiting for me when I got home. My beloved gifted me with a Cuttlebug for Christmas! He's so sweet. So, I used that to create the scripted embosse circle. I also used elements I received from Lynette. She is so talented, and a very sweet woman. Thank you, Lynette! My mom had two bolts of tulle in her gift wrap closet. They were remnants from my wedding and my brother's wedding. I brought those home and used them as well. I also used Martha Stewart papers, vintage buttons, vintage image, and a sketch from CPS.

Merry Christmas

image from www.angel-guide.com

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas!

Send a card to Hannah

I found this little girl's heartwrenching story on another blog. Please read & consider sending a card to her. Thanks.

2s4y: Kazan's Sketch 16

Tomorrow we leave for Albuquerque for Christmas. The kids are *so* excited to see my parents. I think it's so sweet they have such a close relationship with them. Please pray for clear weather for us, and travelling mercies for all who are travelling.

This is Kazan's Sketch for 2 Sketches 4 You. I really enjoyed doing this card.



I found some really fun tutorials on Hi My Name is Heather. One for fabric yo~yos & one for felt flowers. If you get a chance, you should check out her site, she has some really great inspiration. I've also been checking out other paper crafters and sites like Cath Kidston that use color in such creative ways. So, my card reflects a bit of that, too. Thanks for taking the time to check it out :)





I used:

Amy Butler striped & green damask paper.
Scraps by Jenn "Isn't She Lovely" Kit polka paper.
Aqua paper ribbon from Martha Stewart.
The Paper Studio stamps.
Hemp twine.
Vintage Buttons.
Velvet ribbon, felt, ink, & tag from Michael's

Homeschooling Month in Review

I haven't posted much on my alter ego the homeschooling mommy, but we've been very busy with homeschooling even though Christmas is coming on like a bullet train. I've been tweaking the curriculum of My Father's World a bit, so we're not exactly on that schedule, but I'm more than okay with it. When I started hs'ing I was repeatedly told that one should not be a servant to the curriculum. I have slowly realized the importance of that statement. :) So, we just finished up studying a little more on South America, including the Incas, Peru, the Andes; Central America and the Caribbean, including the mangroves that miraculously grow there and the incredible diversity of cultures. Next, we will move on to studying the Middle East.

We've been moving through Math U See and All About Spelling rapidly. The multi sensory methods of these programs is so effective with C! I will be ordering the next levels in the next month. I know I've said this before, but I highly recommend these programs

We started using Pathway Readers. I have consistently asked C to complete one chapter a school day and we follow up with the workbook orally. I think we're slowly moving toward a happy place with reading. He is picking up books on his own during free time and WANTING to read. It's so exciting!

We took a break from Noeo to study rainforests when we studied South America, but now we'll be returning. So we'll be studying woodland forests and birds next.

Isabella has shown a great interest in homeschooling. She has picked up so much just by sitting in on my lessons with C with regards to geography & science. This week I picked up Bob Books for her and we sat down and worked with them a bit. I'll be getting a formal reading program for her as I really think she's ready to read :).

I have had some people ask me in the past year whether I will always homeschool. Because of our upcoming move and the financial strains of a single income household, I've also faced the question of whether we should continue. I've earnestly gone to prayer about this, as well as talked it over with Ron. Repeatedly, we've been assured that this is God's plan for us. I am confident that should this change, we will know. No, it's not for everyone. I know there are folks out there that don't understand it and don't agree with it, that somehow we're harming our children. Always, I respect everyone's opinions, and consider different perspectives. I have a calm and a peace that this is the right place for us, and that's all I can say. We really, fully enjoy being with our children and teaching them. We see everyday the blessings of this path. :)

FREEBIES...

I'm blog hopping tonight. While doing so, I came upon my life in lower case. It's a goldmine of tutorials and free goodies on the web. She has a link for a very cool calendar. You sign up for the mailing list & they send you the download info. Just had to share. Enjoy y prospero año nuevo!



I love vintage images. Check out these generous sites for free images you can download & use in your work.

The Vintage Moth..
and
Clearly Vintage

Now, go be creative!

MORE Blog Candy

Wow! There are some seriously generous paper crafters out there! Kath has a lot of Friskars supplies at her blog. The deadline is on the 20th, but head on over there now & take a look at her beautiful blog!

Valentines and Matilda

Here are a couple cards I made tonight. I actually drew one of them ahead of time when the creative urge hit. :P Matilda is the girl with the tree on her head. She's the life of the party. I found her at tack-o-rama.net & knew she would go great with this vintage wrapping paper. I also dressed both up with Vera Lim (see her linkie over there → ). I used burlap with the valentine with tea dyed flowers (I'm obsessed, it's so easy & it gives great results). With Matilda, I used an Amy Butler brad, some vintage velvet ribbon, and Making Memories bling brads.

Paz

Here is a card I did last night when I couldn't sleep. On the tag, it reads "paz" or "peace" in Spanish. If you would like a source for vintage images, try Graphics Fairy. I got this image there. :) There is Amy Butler paper, Highland Thistle yarn, hemp twine, vintage buttons, and a border I made with a Friskar's border punch. LMK what you think. :)