Scrapbooking for school

So Haeley gets to read 1 chapter book a day. They range from 30 to 60 minutes long. This is in addition to the Advance Reader books. She's been reading a lot of the Magic Treehouse books. LOVE THEM, by the way. They are interesting, educational, and after 34 books I am only just beginning to get sick of the fact that the wind started to blow, the treehouse started to spin, then everything was still, absolutely still. Anyway, after every 15 books she gets to report on a continent or major body of water. Right now it's the Pacific Ocean. She has to share at least 5 facts about something to do with the ocean, it's sea life, or water itself. So being such a girl, she chose Seahorses. Who can blame her? Those pigmy seahorses are darling! So I surfed the internet. Clipped a few facts and a few free photos and created this scrapbook page. I had her add the words onto the page. Then we printed it. I had her read it to me twice. And now she is ready to give her report tomorrow.

Thank You Sonya and Stephen for the hand carved wooden elephant from Ghana. I carefully packed it and she took it to school and gave a report on Africa a few weeks ago.

And if you want the cute digital paper set I used, it's that latest and greatest from Summertime Designs. And all her stuff is free, well except the one you can make a donation to help a family with a baby girl who has cancer.

Digital Scrapbooking Classes

Check out the Digital Scrapbooking Experience in Provo, Utah September 24-26, 2009

I'll be there for sure. Let me know if you sign up so I can make sure to see you while I am there!



This is going to be the ultimate digital scrapbooking event of all time! Thank you CKmedia!

What do you do when it's cold outside?

Go to the Elk Ranch of course. Actually, this ranch is not a real ranch. During the summer they harvest the hay from this mountain top meadow, then they feed the elk in the winter. This has helped to protect the elk who had a nasty habit of raiding barns and stepping onto busy highways in the valley. They even said that during the 2 week elk hunt in the fall about 200 elk hide out at the ranch where hunting is not allowed. It was great fun taking the kids to see the Elk. Cj was so quiet but Hk was super excited.

Anyway, I also wanted to get in another plug about the Life's Journey and Triumph albums at COTTAGE ARTS. The links are below. Don't forget that we are donating 25% to cancer research and they really need it. Last night a friend of mine called to tell me she'd been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We were neighbors for 3 years and she helped with my kids so much while I was sick. She even had an outdoor evening picnic with some of the other neighbor moms just for me so I could get out and socialize for an hour one evening. Her kindness and good example is often in my thoughts. And I am trying to think of a way to help her. She has to go for radiation soon. I feel for her!

Albums I've designed for CottageArts.net

CottageArts

I'm designing again and I am really excited about this! I've made two albums to benefit cancer research and a part of the profits will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - I had Hodgkins Lymphoma- and The American Cancer Society in honor of Michelle's mother who is still battling Breast Cancer.

Now I must tell you, Doris and Michelle made the papers and the elements. I re-colored a few things and I made one or two bits and pieces myself. But can we give a high five to those talented ladies! And to Michelle for all her work with her site! (Leave a comment here and I'll pass it on)

Once we designed the Triumph Album, we decided that we also needed something a little more masculine and simple. So here it is! This Album can be used by anyone for whatever memories you want to record. Of course, if you know someone who has or has had cancer, this is a great album on which to record their Journey through Cancer Treatment. There is even a tribute page just perfect for a professional photo along with a horizontal one that is similar which is great for adding a family photo too! In fact, I'd love to hear what you think of it all!


Here are the links to the albums:
One
Two
Three
Four

Get more information at Michelle's site!

CottageArtsTriumphAlbumLauraVanderbeek

View Project at Shutterfly

Here's the link to the Album at CottageArts.net


Album Designer: Laura Vanderbeek
Artists: Doris Castle and Michelle Shefveland

CottageArts.net's Triumph 12x12 Album Pak is Shutterfly photo book ready! This 26 template album pak is perfect for sharing your story of triumph over cancer or other illnesses, difficult times in your life, achievements you've worked hard for, everyday moments, and more. The 26 templates come with realistic shadows and lots of layered elements. 24 of the templates are flattened Quick Page templates with solid color fills where photos can be clipped into. Includes Shutterfly front cover template, back cover template, and spine. Video tutorial included, as well as Bonus Thank You cards.

8x11CottageArtsLifesJourneyLauraVanderbeek

View Project at Shutterfly

CottageArts.net's Life's Journey 8.5x11 Album Pak is Shutterfly photo book ready! This 27 template album pak is perfect for sharing your story of triumph over cancer or other illnesses, difficult times in your life, achievements you've worked hard for, everyday moments, and more. The 26 templates come with realistic shadows and lots of layered elements. Consisting of easy to use Quick Page templates with solid color fills where photos can be clipped into. Sized to fit Shutterfly's 8.5x11 photo book, including a first page sized for their die-cut window opening cover. Video tutorial included, as well as Bonus Thank You cards.
Album Designer: Laura Vanderbeek
Artists: Michelle Shefveland

Here's the Link to CottageArts.net to purchase the album

CottageArts 8.5x11 TriumphLauraVanderbeek

View Project at Shutterfly

CottageArts.net's Triumph 8.5x11 Album Pak is Shutterfly photo book ready! This 26 template album pak is perfect for sharing your story of triumph over cancer or other illnesses, difficult times in your life, achievements you've worked hard for, everyday moments, and more. The 26 templates come with realistic shadows and lots of layered elements. 22 of the templates are flattened Quick Page templates with solid color fills where photos can be clipped into. Sized to fit Shutterfly's 8.5x11 photo book, including a first page sized for their die-cut window opening cover. Video tutorial included, as well as Bonus Thank You cards.

Album Designer: Laura Vanderbeek
Artists: Doris Castle and Michelle Shefveland

Here's the link to the CottageArts.net online store!

I think this says it all

After tubing all morning we went to Cabella's at the point of the mountain to find Tyler new waterproof and insulated boots. Then we drove to my parents and went out for Chinese food for my dad's birthday. Then back to their house for ice cream. They gave me clothes for my birthday. I really enjoyed my time with them. It was refreshing and Hk and Cj loved it as well!

Our neighbors are selling their house...

I'm super sad about this. They are great neighbors, great gardeners, quiet, and they have the funnest social twice a year. And besides, I visit teach M*. He's the Stake Patriarch and she is the 1st Counselor in the RS at church. I sort of hope it doesn't sell because I like them and will miss them but if it does, I want good neighbors. It's a nice home with very gentle wear and tear (their children are all grown) with a dog run, basketball standard, water softener, hardwood and carpet. The living room is all connected with the dining room and kitchen. The basement is finished. Their home is always spotless! The VIEW of the valley and lake and mountains is stunning, breathtaking, amazing, fabulous, etc. and I'd move in just to have the view! So if you know someone who would make a great neighbor, wants a built in sled hill, doesn't mind going to neighborhood parties a few times a year, will keep the yard looking nice because it will only need to be maintained as it is in beautiful condition, likes well water and propane, and doesn't mind that you have to help the rest of us plow the road you live on, then email me and I'll point you in the right direction. And you can't mind the fox or deer that appear once in a while...so sad, so sad....ugh...and I'm going visiting teaching to her tonight. What am I going to say????????

tubing

it's that time of year again! We love tubing and there is nothing better than an Uncle Bob's tube on a nice open hill on a sunny winter day. So I rode down with CJ once and got this photo of his little boots. It kind of reminds me of those beach photos people take with their toes all covered in sand, except he's wearing boots and it's the middle of the winter, the lake is being used only for ice fishing, and he's a two year old who doesn't want to sit still.


And then the snowmobile broke down and Tyler was not happy while pulling CJ back up the hill. It was fun while it lasted. I think Tyler is taking the snowmobile back for a refund. Regardless, I think he looks tough in this photo and I love that.

Happy New Year

After hearing about a friend's terrible hard drive crash I thought I'd share how I back up my images.

I do this for my own family photos and for my clients.

I have a folder for each of my kids and one for Tyler and I. Then I put the images into their folders. You can put them there by chronological order or you can do what I do and make a folder for each event. Then I label the folder 2008-12-25-Christmas. (A date and name to help me find things easier.) Then I burn as many folders as possible onto a DVD and put them in a CD binder that hold 4 per side (thank you Staples). I label the DVD with a permanent archival safe pen- I don't use sticky labels - they are not archival safe and they do make the disc skip.



For Clients, as soon as I put their images on my computer I make a backup disc. Then I check said disc and then I put that in my giant disc folder alphabetically. When I am done with orders and retouching I burn another disc. Client Name, Date, and FINAL written on disc. Then I put that disc next to the other one in the binder. I encourage clients to buy the disc with their images for safe keeping purposes. The only exception is that with weddings we take about 1,000 photos each and then there is the 500mb 2 page spreads. So each wedding client has their own file where I also keep the signed pages of the album approval and other such printed copies.

For my family after I finish the year of scrapbooking I make a copy onto discs and give one to my mom and one to my inlaws. They enjoy the photos and I have a backup incase my house burns down or floods or something huge like that. For each kid I make a Favorites folder and put my favorite images on that one. Then scrapbooking and 4x6 photo albums are a breeze. Only the most sentimental photos get scrapbooked. The ones I like that didn't make the cut go into albums and the rest just sit on DVD or get tossed. I just finished making sure I put all the images in the right folders yesterday. Tomorrow after I finish the client orders and retouching from yesterday, then I will scrapbook last year. I am planning on 24- 48 pages and then I'll print 3 copies at Shutterfly - one for us and one for each kid. And now I am ordering more photo purses and some enlargements.