First Day as a First Grader

School started last week...for the Second Graders and up. This year the school district implemented a new program where the First Graders start a week after everyone else for the teachers to do a reading assessment on each child before school starts. The PTA hosted a picnic last week for the families to meet the teachers (and for Kindergartners and First Graders to schedule their meetings). We learned last week that Erica is in a combined First/Second Grade class. We asked her teacher about how she was put in the class and she said it was based on academic skills, social skills, and her ability to work independently. VERY exciting!!!

So today was her first day!!! The night before she had me get her "grown up outfit" out and ready for her. Once again, she woke up before we got her up...at least this time she slept thru the night and didn't get us up every two hours. She was soooo excited this morning. I hope this lasts. She did everything we asked of her today...and with gusto! And when she was ready, she looked like such a BIG GIRL!!!

Last year we started a tradition of going to the Muffin Man for breakfast before school...so of course, we had to do that again this year. She wanted me to take her to school, but I wanted her to go on the bus...so we did both and I followed her to school. It wasn't a very eventful first day this year...other than me being one of only a few First Grade parents there (I felt like a dork, but I was there for my daughter, right?).

When we picked her up she didn't have much to say other than her day was perfect and her teacher was perfect. I love that she is enjoying school.

Another Digital Layout

I don't think I wrote about the digital kit and how I learned to do the digital layout in my "first digital layout" post. So let me do that for a minute....

ACBailey has some digital kits for Beginners. These kits are AWESOME to help you get started. They have papers, embellishments, and instructions. The cool thing is there are videos on the CDs. So I opened up Photoshop and created a layout with the elements in my kit as I followed the video. It worked really well. I'm still learning how to maneuver thru the program, but I feel like I "get it."

I got a newsletter from a scrappy friend of mine and liked the design of one of the layouts...so I decided to lift it in digital form. Well, I haven't moved over all my photos from my old laptop, so all I have downloaded right now are blueberry picking pictures...but they actually work OK with the colors. The funny thing about when we went blueberry picking the girls probably spent more time playing in the creak than they did picking berries...thank goodness Jeff went up the south slope cuz he came back with half a bucket full of berries. So here's my second layout. I'm having fun...but I can't wait to get my new order from ACBailey because I ordered a second digital kit that has more subdued papers and lots more elements...stay tuned!!!

"Erica" Layout of the Week

Woo Hoo...My "Erica" layout was selected as the ACBailey Layout of the Week. It can be found HERE and will be shown on the ACBailey Blog for a week. How Exciting...and the coolest thing is that Gail (one of the DT members) said some REALLY cool things about the layout:

"It is simple, yet complex - the layout and design is basic but the patterns of the papers chosen, placement, subtle effects and photography are amazing. It says so much about the subject. Every detail seems purposeful, the "boyish" patterns, the lacy girly patterns, the repeat outdoorsy theme, the lack of color theme in the flower embellies and b/w prints. Congratulations Michelle! Great Work!!!"

Family Breakfast

Erica starts First Grade next week. She's really been feeling like a big girl lately and likes to do things that big girls do. This year for Mother's Day, she wanted to make me breakfast all by herself. The night before she asked what my favorite breakfast was. I told her it was breakfast burritos. She can't make those by herself, so she asked what my second favorite breakfast was. I knew what she was angling for so I started to mess with her...I said a breakfast sandwich. Finally she asked if I liked oatmeal. I said, no, not really (but I do). The next morning she comes in to wake me up and says she's going to make breakfast. I went downstairs to "document it." She did, in fact, make me breakfast, with minimal help from Daddy...and no egg shells! Here's the layout, which I lifted and tweaked from a layout at the LSS in Anchorage (it got two thumbs up from Jeff cuz it has LOTS of pictures).And yes...you guessed it...this, too, uses the ACBailey August Kit of the Month and the same set of Thickers (I had to alter an M for the R and a V to make an A). The title tag, ribbon, and chipboard are from the exclusive add-on kit. I inked the chipboard to make them a little subdued. I also inked a heart from the acrylic sheet on the first page. The pieces on this layout don't show it, but some of the chipboard pieces have glitter on them...they're really pretty!!!

Sealife Center

Last summer Jeff went on a fishing trip with some guys. We decided to make a family trip out of it. One of the other guys brought his family and camper...and they have a daughter a year younger than Erica, so we played together while the guys fished. The trip was in Seward, Alaska and was a halibut trip (yummy!!!). Seward is a fun place for Erica and I. They have a WONDERFUL new playground that keeps Erica busy for a long time...and wears her out. And the Sealife Center is always a blast, too.

The really interesting thing about the Sealife Center is the Seal and Sea Lion tanks. The animals seem to do laps thru the tanks. For some reason, Erica LOVES to sit in front of the tanks and watch them do laps. She'll sit as long as I let her and not really move much. Which, for Erica, is an amazing thing...cuz that girl has more energy than any other TEN girls I know!!!

Once again, I used the August KOTM. As you can see, there's sooo much to these kits. I also used an acrylic template to cut out the paper shape. These templates are on sale in the "While Supplies Last" category on the store...get them while you can!!! I bought one of each template so you'll see more made with these. Just a reminder...only two more days to take advange of the "While Supplies Last" sale...get some good deals and help clear the way for all the brand new stuff coming!!!

This layout also uses part of the add-on embellishment kit (Pebbles Inc candy...the white dots). The exclusive add-on kit also included ribbon, chipboard, and some journaling/title tags. I have a two-page layout coming soon that shows each of those.

BTW, I got a sneak peek at the Sep kit and exclusive add-on kits. If you have kids in school, you'll NEED this kit...and the only way to get the add-on kit is to have a subscription!!!

The Color of Fun

Erica is a very lively child...she's active and into EVERYTHING. I always say she has two speeds: off and on. When she plays, she plays hard, and you can see it all over her. Her pony tail is usually half out, her jeans are dirt and grass stained, in the summer, her bath water tends to look more muddy than clear, and I could go on forever. When she has been playing hard, we always tell her "She's the color of fun." So this layout is all about that!!!


And yes, it's the August KOTM again (sorry, I know it's sold out) and another layout with sewing. I just love the play on words with this layout and the kit cuz I think the kit is also the color of fun...I LOVED working with it. Oh, and this is another lifted layout from Scrapbook Trends (I love that magazine!!!).

Erica

My friend, Nicole, scrapped a page from Scrapbook Trends and I lifted the layout for my first sewing page. It was perfect to get inspiration flowing on the August Kit of the Month. The ACBailey kits are HOT...this August kit sold out. The only way to guarantee your very own is a subscription. Check out the link here for options. And here are some benefits:

• Guaranteed to get the kit before it sells out
• Free shipping every month
• A discount on the value of the kit ($28 for 6-months, $25 for 12-months)
• Frequent Buyer Club Points toward a $25 gift certificate
• The opportunity to add on exclusive products not available to the general public
• An exclusive idea file of layouts/cards/projects completed by the ACBailey Design Team, complete with instructions
• A SECOND exclusive idea file of layouts/projects I complete, also with instructions

Remember, all order thru Aug 21 will be included in a drawing for at least one $10 gift certificate when you put my name in the consultant box...we're already at one GC...get the word out and let's get another one drawn!!!

OK...so now for the layout. When we went to Fairbanks in June, I took these pictures of Erica at the Santa Claus House. She was frustrated with me taking too many pictures and started pouting. But then I kept taking pictures and got these. I inked the acrylic sheet that came in the Kit and stitched some of the papers on the layout (my first layout with sewing...and more are coming cuz I love the look!). I also used the Threading Water Fiskars punch and added Rootbeer Float Thickers