Tag: scrapbooking

Winning the gift of gab – and all it takes is a kiss!

Kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland

June 20, 2015 – Day 5 of the Britannia with Education First Tours.

Blarney Castle: The grounds were gorgeous and green and views from the top, well, gorgeous.

We climbed to the top of the castle and had to lie down and hang out backwards over an opening with quite a drop.  For this gal terrified of heights – the climb alone could have prevented the experience, but I prevailed.  Then this nonsense.  I did it, though – and that would be another item to mark off of the bucket list.

The day was warm and sunny as we strolled through the park.  Of course, the best part of the day was that I got to share it with my son…  Too much?  Yea – that was rather corny – or was it Blarney?

As the day ended and we rode the bus to our next destination, I gathered all of the maps and brochures and my colored pens and recorded the event in my trip SMASH Book.

Off to the Rock of Cashel!

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getting ready; another smash book

As I prepare for for my trip this summer with students I am continuing my tradition of keeping a smash book throughout the journey.  I can’t wait to fill it!!

We are traveling with Education First Tours (EF Tours) and will be visiting Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal on a 16 day trip.  I have the largest group yet, at 27 travelers.  I encourage them to write about their experiences while we are traveling and I model this with my smash book.  Writing down the little jokes and other things that make you laugh; exploring your feelings as you are far from home in a new culture, recording your memories for years to come…these are the things I tell my students when they ask “what should I write about?”

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My Smash Books

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baby girl brag book

I recently made this paper bag album for a colleague.  I so enjoy making these little brag books. The color scheme – pink, green, and yellow – ridiculously cute.  Ribbons and buttons are two of my favorite cuteness tools.

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Decoupage Collection – Pretty in Pink

One of the things I love about crafting – the beautiful paper.  Paper can reflect my mood almost as wonderfully as words, music, and photos.  Expressive decorative paper brings me joy.

These all started at unfinished wood.  The pink with white flowers makes me smile every time.

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Memory Keeper Box

Great for special occasions and trips!

When I had my Etsy Shop (Miss Elaineous)  I sold many memory boxes…they were so fun to make!  I used an unfinished wooden box from Michael’s Crafts to start.  I would decoupage the outside and the inside – leaving the inside side walls of box and lid bare and natural.  Inside, I would put an embellished journal and an original paper bag photo album every time.  Other items were usually jars of some sort to hold trinkets or souvenirs of some sort.  This one was for a honeymoon couple.  The jar pictured was for sand from the beach.

Montego Bay
for sand from the beach
Sliding pages in the paper bag album
Paperbag Album
Memory Keeper Box

I wish I still had time to work on projects like this.  I loved working on that shop and its contents.  Maybe some day I will return to it.

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Shadow Box

The ultimate scrapbook page – 3D and mountable.

My daughter fancied her shadow box first and I decided to copy the idea.  It rests on my desk in my studio, ready to be mounted.  As you may have read, I only recently completed my first marathon.  So, currently when I look a this shadow box I am reliving that particular race – only I am in a seated position and not straining myself to finish…well not straining to finish a race, anyway.  I mean, there is always something to finish, right?

This particular shadow box is cool because it has removable layers that allows for the contents to get thicker and thicker.  So, I intend to just keep adding my bibs from races.

Since all of my children are runners – I went ahead and purchased and started one for each of them, as well.  I love that we all share this activity and challenge with one another.

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