#embellishgratitude Day 4: I am and Optimist

Today I am grateful that I am an optimist!  I have always seen the glass as half full!  The quote on this page says, "What we see depends on what we look for..."

I love that I can use some of my Anna Griffin Card Kit goodies in my planner pages!  I keep giving away my prettiest cards, and having a planner allows me to make something just for me.

#embellishgratitude Day 3: My Husband

It's Day 3 of the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge and today I am sharing that I am so thankful for my husband!  We will celebrate 25 years of marriage this coming March.  

I used Anna Griffin planner page for November and added a sentiment from an Anna Card Kit.  Some stickers and journaling and I'm done.  

#embellishgratitude Day 2: Thankful for Family

Today I am thankful for family!  My quote says, "Family, the secret to having it all is knowing you already do!"  The black die, and yellow framed image are Anna Griffin and this is a cover page for my October month in my Anna Griffin planner.  I made the frame with my Cricut, Cricut pens and Anna's Lace Cards and Embellishments.

You can join the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge here. 

30 Day Gratitude Challenge Day 1: Thankful for my In Laws

In the past few years I have noticed that many people post what they're thankful for every day in November.  Since I am not on Facebook every day, I have forgotten to start on the first of November and post something every day.  This year I joined the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge Group on Facebook to hold myself accountable and share some of the many things I am thankful for.  

On my first day of the challenge, I wanted to share that I am so thankful for my In Laws:  Pat Camalliere and Christ Camalliere!  They are beyond generous to us and this past weekend really helped me out!  I was the volunteer coordinator for our town's local Music Booster Pumpkinfest Craft & Treasures market.  I have to recruit student and adult volunteers to work over 4 days.  The final day of the event also happens to be the same day as our local Pumpkinfest parade, reported to be the 3rd largest parade in the state of Illinois.  Since so many band students march in the parade, and all the locals entertain on this day, it is difficult to fill most of the volunteer shifts.  I knew this was an issue and asked my in laws to work a shift for me on Sunday.  They drove an hour there and back and worked for 2 hours at admissions.  Thanks so much Pat and Chris!

My photos for this post are for a pocket page I made for my Anna Griffin planner using my Cricut.  This page is perfect for any planner with an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" page and is a bit longer so that it can be seen.  I left off the holes, so that others can customize it to their own planners binding.  You can find the file here.  I added a bit of sticky velcro to close this pocket page.  This pocket organizer was used to keep my volunteer project organized and contained donation checks, so I wanted to make sure it closed!

And be sure to check out my Mother In Laws blog, where she posts regularly about her mystery books and other interesting topics!  She has published two books, Mystery at Sag Bridge and Mystery at Black Partridge Woods and is currently writing her third.  

Thank You Anna Griffin!

I recently won a prize package from Anna Griffin's blog.  So, I wanted to make a special thank you card to send to Anna.  Above is my card.  I used the clear cover from my Anna Griffin Planner and several sentiments from Anna Griffin Card kits to make a sentiment that says, "Thank You Anna Griffin For everything Beautiful in the Making that you do."  

Because even Anna Griffin's packaging is beautiful, I chose to emboss the clear planner cover sheet with an Anna Griffin Embossing plate called Oval Scroll Frame (which I don't think is available anymore).  After I embossed the clear plastic, I sanded it a bit to make it pop.  Since the clear cover had some pre-punched holes to fit in the planner, I used the flowers and scrolls to cover the holes.  The Blue card is from an Anna Griffin Vintage French Cards Kit.  I cut an oval out of the blue card front and strategically placed some card kit borders over the portion that said planner and dates.  The flowers and cream and gold swirls are also from assorted Anna Griffin Card kits.  I love that all her items coordinate!

Every beautiful card front, deserves a beautiful card inside, right?!  So i used some more Anna Griffin card kit embellishments to finish the inside too.  I am not sure if the paper on the right is AG as it was in my scrap stash.

Thank you Anna Griffin!  Be sure to check out Anna's blog as she always have generous give aways!  I love it so well, I subscribe by email and get an email notice whenever she posts!

Solar Eclipse Page

After the solar eclipse, I wanted to scrapbook this asap so that I could get my memories on paper before I forgot them.  I sat down last night and made this page.  I pulled my photos and realized the sun was too close to the edge and the developer (Walgreens) just cropped out part of the sun.  Aaargh! 

I wanted to store the glasses in the page and Anna's pockets were perfect!  I used the Bella Blvd. school paper because I experienced this event at school with all the children.  I used the black and yellow color scheme because of the sun and one of my favorite projects all year where I challenged myself to use yellow in a card.

Supplies
Anna Griffin Elegant Embellishments (white & yellow sun)
Anna Griffin Nifty Layers (black & cream die)
Anna Griffin Splendid Soirees (Green pockets)
Anna Griffin Patterned Card stock (Green Pockets)
Anna Griffin Card kit embellishments (bird, butterfly, moth)
Cream card stock
Me & My Big Ideas Yellow & Orange Patterned paper
Bella Blvd. Black & White Patterned paper

Chaperone Thank You Notes

Over Labor Day weekend, a group of 110 Sycamore Middle School Students went to Washington DC with 8 chaperones.  I have been working on thank you notes and stalking parent Facebook pages for photos and updates all day.  How can I thank the chaperones enough for all of these things:

• Making sure our children get where they need to: on the plane, the bus, in his/her room, back on the bus in the morning and for all the stops they make on the trip, back on the plane, the bus and back to the school parking lot.  For finding them bathrooms, drinking fountains and more while there.  
• Making sure he or she eats and sleeps.  Well the sleeping is unconfirmed, but they make sure they are in their rooms for lights out.
• Taking them on a trip their parents may be unable to or unwilling to make.
• The life lessons about service to others!  The students see the chaperones giving up their holiday weekend, getting up at 2:30 in the morning to make the buses and who knows what giving acts they see on the trip for themselves and other students:  a shared snack or meal, a jacket, holding an item, or taking a photo. The service to others they see when they visit the historic sites of our past presidents, soldiers, representatives and leaders.  
• The costs of war.  Our students visited the tomb of the unknown soldier at a time in history when many fear another war may be coming.  Hopefully, they are reminded of those who have served, are serving and may serve.  And I hope that they work to prevent war in their own lives.
• A sense of patriotism.  I remember watching the John Adams mini series and being amazed at the our founding Father's dedication to our country.  With all the division in our political system, it is a wonderful thing for these students to see Washington DC and all the sites, memorials and our country's seat of government.
• A hunger to visit again.  This is such a brief visit that the students may wish to return and see things in more detail or that they missed.
• For stretching them.  My son was a bit nervous about the plane or getting separated from his group.  I love that he is learning to do things he wants to that may be a bit of a stretch for his comfort level.  He is facing his fears!
• A chance to bond with friends and make new ones.  
• For saving me from hearing Mom 900 times this weekend.  Did you know your child will ask you an average of 300 questions every day?  Well I  know they are asking their chaperones many of my questions.  

Thanks you Sycamore Middle School, Washington DC chaperones for all that you have done for my son and all the students who attended the trip!  #WayToSpartan!

So, I went ahead and made them all a thank you note that will be from both me and my son.  I used my Cricut Explore Air to print and cut the flags, the thanks for everything banner and the Grateful for You sign.  I love being able to make multiple cards for just this kind of project with my Cricut!  I am entering this in The Rubber Buggy Challenge Blog #1.    I am always on the hunt for a great challenge blog and I love that they have page and card sketches.  Thanks for the inspiration!  Paper is DCWV.