:BE INSPIRED: Creativity Prompts - September 2009

Here it is...

The September 2009 edition of the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts is now ready for free download!

PLEASE SHARE:
If you like what you see, please share!! I have also created a couple banners for the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts, so if you'd be willing to share on your own blog or forum signature, I greatly appreciate it! Go here to download a banner!

THIS MONTH'S PRIZE:
Were there any camping, fishing, or boating trips for you and your family this past summer? If so, then this month's prize is the perfect kit for scrapping those memories - it's the complete Mr. Campy Crafting Kit from Cosmo Cricket!

Download the FREE September 2009 :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts now and start scrapping!!

I have also updated the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts Information & Instruction Sheet which includes all the steps for submitting your entry for the monthly drawing, so be sure to download that as well.

REMINDER:
It's not too late for your chance to be inspired and win the August 2009 Daily Inspirations prize! Layouts can be submitted until Saturday, September 5th, 11:59 PM (CST) for a chance to win!

:FIVE FAVES: Schools in session...

...or if it isn't yet in your neck of the woods, it will be soon!

This has me thinking about scrapping another layout about my daughter's 1st day of school (I took the picture, of course). It's also reminding me that I really need to get started on that school-only album I've been meaning to get started for her...this is her fourth year of school already!

One thing is for certain. Whenever I do get around to these projects, there are plenty of school themed products out there to choose from.

Here are a few favorites!

#1 - Imaginisce - Teachers Pet Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Gloss Embossed Paper - My New Pencil Box
The Teacher's Pet Collection has to be my favorite new line that is completely school related. There are papers, rub ons (see on set below), stamps, stickers, felt pieces, ribbon and flowers. I may just have to do some 'stocking up' on this line for that school album for Kaitlin.

#2 - Daisy Bucket Designs - Shabby Green Door - Farmer's Market Collection - Acrylic Stamps - Journal Block
What could be more perfect for adding some handwritten journaling to your school pages than this penmanship lines stamp.

#3 - Deja Views - C-Thru - Little Yellow Bicycle - Say What Collection - Journal Tablet
I've been a long-time fan of LYB and these journaling blocks are just simply sweet!

#4 - Jenni Bowlin Studio - Bingo Card Set - School Days
What a great way to add classic school colors and fun to a school-themed layout!! You could also use the numbers on the card to highlight your child's age and/or grade level.

#5 - Imaginisce - Teachers Pet Collection - Rub Ons - Teacher Talk
I'm a sucker for great rub ons and these certainly fit the bill. They could act as page titles or a supporting design element.

See more great school-themed products in the right sidebar under SCHOOL PICKS.

READER RESPONSE:

Do you have a product that you just can't wait to use on your next school-themed project? Give us a link!

:BE INSPIRED: Creativity Prompts Snippet

Here's a snippet for the August :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts:

If you'd like this and other great scrapbooking inspiration free for the taking, download the FREE August 2009 :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts now and start scrapping!!

You've also got 10 days left to submit entries for the August drawing, so don't miss out on this sweet prize...

For complete details and instructions, check out the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts Information & Instruction Sheet.

:QUOTES: on LEISURE according to Grimutter, Harris & Watterson

LESLIE GRIMUTTER:
“My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.”

SYDNEY J. HARRIS:
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”

BILL WATTERSON:
“Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.”

:LAYOUT: Native Colors

We enjoyed the music of Brule again this year on the banks of the Missouri River during Riverboat Days. I didn't take any pictures this time, but here's some I took last year of the accompanying native dancers.

This is one of those pieces of patterned paper that I never thought that I would use, but for this layout it was PERFECT! The bold pattern is a great compliment to the colors and designs in the main photos.

The title treatment further emphasizes the importance of color by making each letter of the word ‘colors’ a different color.

Journaling:
A highlight of Riverboat Days each year is to listen to Brulé perform at the west end of Riverside park. Sometimes they will have Native American dancers perform during a few of their songs and the dancing and costumes are just so beautiful.

Supplies:
Adhesive: Duck
Cardstock: Prism
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Rub ons: Basic Grey
Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Ink: Colorbox, Stazon
Font: Cambria, Bleeding Cowboys

:LIFE: What a week...

Phew...

When I said in my last post that my posts might be a little sporadic, I guess I should have said nonexistent!!

Here's my week in review:

Monday: Work from 8 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. Lunch at my desk. One campus visit, one registration appointment. Get to daycare just in time to pick up Kaitlin before closing time. Home to change. Then back to work until 8:45 p.m.

Tuesday: Work from 8 a.m. to 5: 25 p.m. Lunch at my desk. One registration. Pick up Kaitlin and go home to change. Visit Kaitlin's school for the open house and book fair. Haircuts for Kaitlin and I. Grocery shopping. Home at about 9 p.m.

Wednesday: Kaitlin's 1st day of 1st grade. Early to school to take first day pictures. Kaitlin said, "Mom, I'm scared." Work from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lunch at my desk. Four registration appointments. Home to change (Justin had picked up Kaitlin). Kaitlin said, "Mom, school was GREAT!!" Back to work until 8:30 p.m.


Thursday: Work from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Lunch at my desk. Transfer/Adult Learner Orientation (about 40-50 of the students I've worked with over the past several months all on campus at the same time!) Three registration appointments. Pick up Kaitlin from after school program. Home to change. Back to work until 8:30 p.m.

Friday: Work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Day 1 of Freshman Orientation. About 100 traditional freshman moving onto campus. Two registration appointments. Out for annual celebratory drink (or two) with co-workers after move-in day for new fall students. Home at 7:30 p.m. to change and have some supper. Justin, Kaitlin and I go down to the river for the Friday night fireworks to kick off Riverboat Days.

Saturday: Downtown at 6:15 a.m. to help with annual MMC 5K walk-run as part of Riverboat Days. Home by 7:15 a.m. to wake up Kaitlin and get her ready to go to her check in point by 8 a.m. for the Children's Theatre float for the RBD parade. Home to wake up hubby to go to RBD parade. Parade at 9:30 a.m. Down to the river for arts in the park, food and music for a few hours. Home to change. Back to park by 3:30 p.m. for Kaitlin performance at the amphitheatre (they did about half the songs from the School House Rock show from this spring). Found out that the Children's Theatre float won first place in TWO divisions (People's Choice and Non-Profit)! Kaitlin was interviewed by a reporter from the Sioux City Journal. Home to CRASH!

Sunday: Slept in a little (Kaitlin still woke up too early). Couple load of laundry. To the mall at 12 Noon for the craft booths at the mall. Down to the river for more food and music. Home to finish laundry. Found article featuring Kaitlin's quotes on the Sioux City Journal website. Justin wen't out to get the paper. Print version also included a super cute closeup of Kaitlin. Watched a movie - "21" (good movie).

It's Sunday night and I still feeling simply worn out.

Too bad it's back to work (and another crazy week) tomorrow. It might be the first day of school for MMC, but I'm not done registering students yet...wish me luck.

:LIFE: Just a little busy...

August is always a little bittersweet for me...

Fall is my favorite season and I love all that it brings - cooler weather, the start of a new school year for Kaitlin, falling leaves...so on one hand I am looking forward to all of that.

But to get there, I have to get through the few weeks prior and after the start of the new school year at work, which can be quite stressful.

Don't get me wrong...I love my job. Helping students start on their college journey by assisting them with admissions, financial aid and enrollment is fulfilling in many ways. However, it IS a lot of work...especially with the all the last-minute students and issues that seem to materialize during this time frame.

So, if my posting is a bit more sporadic in the coming weeks, I hope you understand.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:

This morning, to give me a much needed break (and a quite, quite house...nice...), Justin took Kaitlin fishing, which is always a treat for both of them.

(Note Kaitlin's crazy hair...I don't think she bothered to give it a comb after she got out of bed this morning because she was so excited about going fishing!)

Although she can be quite the girly-girly, she sure does love fishing with her dad. She's not afraid of worms either! She's even starting to bait her own hooks!

No surprise...she caught her fair share of fish.

She is also no longer in need of a 'casting daddy'...she does just fine on her own! She could show her mother up any day!

Another catch...

Evidently, she also decided that it was time for her to unhook her own catch this morning as well!

I just LOVE this little fisher-girl!