A great, cheap idea

So - did you see my tutorial at The CSI Project?
Here it is and I'm SO SO SO excited that they shared my tutorial with their readers!!



Today, I want to show you how to make this cute calendar.

Here's what you need:

4 pieces of scrapbook paper ($2.00)

adhesive (dry and/or spray) - on hand

Exacto knife - on hand

Popsicle stick or craft stick - on hand

buttons or flowers, brads, scrap cardboard - any kind of embellishments really - on hand

and this cool thing: ($1.00)

 

I found this at the Dollar Tree in the teacher/classroom area.  I thought it was a really good base to use for this calendar idea I've had for a while now.  

Here are the steps I took:

1.  Take the board apart by using scissors to pop the silver back off.  2.  Decide where you want your holes to go and cut them out.  (I just increased one of the existing holes and cut a new one in the spot I wanted)

Next, you want to trace the back circle on the paper you want as your background and cut it out.  Then you want to sand the side you are attaching the paper to since it's sort of shiny, to make sure the adhesive really sticks! Then spray your adhesive and attach your paper.

Next, you want to follow the same steps for the top circle.  After you trace, cut, and adhere, you'll want to cut out the holes you added.  I did this from the back and then flipped it over to make sure I trimmed it enough. Oh, see that hole down there - go ahead and use your knife and poke the hole through the paper.  You can do that on both circles.

Now I used a circle template to trace my circle needed for my days of the week.  This part can be a bit tricky.  You want to make sure your circle will fit in between the two holes you've cut. I traced the circle and cut it out (you can use a bowl or anything round).  Find the center and poke a hole through the paper.  I used the silver pieces and put everything back together to make sure it all lined up right.  (Back circle, paper circle and top circle) While it was all together, I traced the shape of my long skinny hole for my days of the week. I did ten spots, just trace one, slide the circle and trace the next. You could print the words and glue them on paper, but I just wrote them myself.  After you trace them, take it all apart again and glue or write your days of the week. Then erase your pencil lines.

Now,  we need to attach a popsicle stick or craft stick.  The one I had was a weird one with this circle on one end, so I just made it work.  You'll want to put adhesive on one side and attach it to the BACK of the days of the week circle.  You'll use this to spin your days, so I let it overlap the circle.  I used a scrap of paper to cover the large circle on the end, just for an added touch of color.  If you are using a regular craft stick, you could use a flower or buttons on the end to make it stand out.  I did play around with it a bit to make sure that no matter which day we were on, the popsicle stick wouldn't block the number of the date.

 

 Next, stack it all together and add the silver pieces we popped off earlier. At this point, I wrote in my numbers.  I just started with 1st, and turned until you could no longer see the print and did the 2nd.  My 31 numbers fit just fine!! Now, we are ready to decorate.

 

  I wanted to have a spot to change out a photo and the month.  I attached two photo corners and added a picture.  For the photo corners, you can just cut triangles and adhere them so you can still tuck a picture under the corners, or just attach a picture you really love and don't worry about changing it out. Next, I found a cardboard bookplate and covered it with paper.  If you don't have one, you can draw it out on cardboard and cut it out.  Then cover it with paper.I attached the bookplate with some brads.

Once I had everything attached, I decided the small silver piece that held everything together wasn't big enough to me.  I used a giant brad instead. The small piece held it all together, but sort of got lost on that polka dotted paper, so the brad is a bit better to me. Then it was time to personalize even more.  I used a strip of paper to make a flower, then dug around through my stash to find a few more things.  This is really the part where you add your own touches - so whatever you have or like is fair game!!

And here's the finished product again:

My total cost was really just the $1 plus tax.

The paper was in my stash, but if you are making one to match a specific room, or as a gift, you may want to buy just the right paper.  I had the buttons and flowers in my stash as well.  The spray adhesive was purchased for another project so I had it on hand.  You could still use a regular dry adhesive, or even a double stick tape.  I'm all about using what I have on hand and not spending too much on my projects, especially if they are just for me!

This would be really cute as a teachers gift.  You know they always get the themed gifts but this would be nice for them to hang by their desk - just for them.  You could also use it as a countdown to an event.  Instead of the month inside the bookplate, you could put VACATION, BIRTHDAY, etc. and then 'days until' inside the day of the week spot, and just use the same numbers for the days.

Thanks for checking out my tutorial!!  I hope you find it an easy thing to make for yourself!!

Lisa

When old songs should be new again

I'm not a huge fan of the remake.  I like it if you just simply do it the way it was originally intended.  If you redo it and change it all up and there's no trace of the original - well, forget it.  There are songs from 'way back' that should still be out there - either someone needs to do it again, or there needs to be a revival of those good songs.

Forever Young by Bob Dylan is one of those.  I love the lyrics, but honestly, I'm not a Bob Dylan fan - and I prefer the Wyclef version from the Pepsi commercial.  I just can't listen to Bob.

Another one that I just love the lyrics to - I'll Stand By You.  I love The Pretenders version and Carrie Underwood did it a few years ago for American Idol.  Her's is great, too.  The lyrics are just so great - something I want Cole to know about me and his dad!!

Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'Cause I've seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothin' you confess, could make me love you less

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

So, if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You're feelin' all alone
You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you

I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Yeah

Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you
No, no, no, no, no
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you

And really, who doesn't want to know that someone will stand by them?  I want a picture of the three of us an I want to scrapbook these lyrics for him to read one day and actually understand.  I know he knows we're on his side and he knows how much we love him but there will be a day when he may need to really understand that we'll always stand by him!!


Just thinking out loud today!!
lisa

Goodbye to Nine!

Today is the last day Cole will be nine.  Tomorrow is the big day - his 10th birthday!!  I thought I'd just write about his nine year old year. 

The big stuff:

Growing - you've been growing like a weed.  I love that you don't mind that stupid growth hormone shot every night.  You just take it like a big kid!!

Activities - you are still a Cub Scout and you love it most of the time.  You like the kids and you like going to the meetings.  I love that you have stuck with this - longer than anything else!! I'm proud of you for that!

Learning - you are learning so much.  School is really hard for you, but you try.  You've learned short cuts and ways to figure out math a little quicker and that's a good thing! You are trucking right along on multiplication, too and that makes me happy.

Reading - you still won't read independently but you'll read with me and still want me to read to you.  My Weird School Daze are favorites.  Along with Nate the Great, once in a while.  Your favorite book at school is about the planets - you know lots of planet facts and that surprised me.

Playing - you still love to play with your toys - piles of toys everywhere actually.  Toy Story 3 is your favorite, still.  Buzz and Woody are everywhere!!!  You are big into chain reactions!  You got a PS3 for Christmas and have been plugging away at beating some games!! 

What you like to watch - still the same old cartoons, but more iCarly, more Phineas and Ferb and lately, you've wanted to watch the Power Rangers.  You love Winter Wipeout now and will watch American Idol with me once in a while, too.

Music - still a huge fan.  You love your Paper Jams instruments and love to listen to your Brad Paisley cd in your room and sing along.  (Never mind that you are singing 'Alcohol')

Friends - you still don't have a best buddy in your class.  You still really like Alison and Zoey and you miss Madison, since she moved to another school.  You and Micheal are really good buds now.  You both are so much alike.  I love that he's your friend.  He's roughing you up a bit, too - wrestling around a little, etc - I like it!!

Your personality - well, it hasn't changed much - you are still that same sweet kid.  You've discovered a few more ways to get around doing what you are supposed to do.  You are stubborn.  You don't always follow directions the first time or the second, but we are working on that.  You tend to wear your heart on your sleeve.  I hope you toughen up a bit in this next year.  I don't want to see you so sensitive all that time.  I don't want little things to hurt you!!

I'm hoping that you'll continue to develop some good friendships and continue to try harder and harder at school.  I hope that you find more things you are interested in.  I hope that you become physically stronger, too.  I hope you continue to love going to church, too.

I just can't wait to see what the TENTH year brings.  I'm sure we'll have our share of frustrations as you become even more stubborn.  I'm sure we'll still have some sweet moments where you still tell me you love me and hug me, even in front of other people.  I know those moments are sure to end one day.  I'm just hoping it's not anytime soon!!

I love you sweet boy!! More than the stars in the sky...................

Mom

6 years cancer free!!!

Today's the day.  Cole is 6 years cancer free today.  Here's a link to last years post about what all we went through leading up to Cole's surgery - Happy 5 Years Cancer Free

I'm so thankful that Cole is well.  Right now (I actually typed this Sunday night - the night before our big anniversary) he's playing Toy Story 3 on the PS3 and enjoying just being a kid.  We're sitting around - Jason on his phone, me on the computer.  Like it's a regular old night.

Six years ago there was nothing regular about this night.  I don't remember exactly what happened the night before.  I remember we had lots of visitors that day and the next morning.  I remember how great our nurses were - they were so sweet to Cole and us.  I remember the hospital gave us a room - a large room, one with three hospital beds in it.  We had space to wait and spread out with all the family.  We'd outgrown the waiting room the first night. 

I remember having crayons and paper with us - for Cole - but I know I sat in the floor in the room while we waited to hear about surgery and I colored pictures for Cole - to cheer him up.  I remember being sick to my stomach.  I remember not really eating anything.  I remember a lot of silence.  Just sitting and waiting.

When we got to go back to see Cole after surgery - he just wanted Jason (which was usual during the hospital time for some reason).  I remember his eyes weren't really able to focus at all.  He couldn't move much at all.  When they got him settled in PICU we knew he was struggling.  He couldn't turn his head to the left.  His left side was really weak.  The left side of his face almost paralyzed.  It was rough. 

He still wanted to hear his favorite cartoon - Blue's Clues - even though he couldn't turn his head in that direction to see the TV.  I remember us trying to move him later and him crying so bad.  I'm thinking he must have had the worst crick in his neck ever known to man.  Poor baby.  We laughed several times because all my mom ever really said was 'bless his heart'.  That's just about all you could say, really.

His sweet personality was back in no time though.  He was a bit grumpy from time to time - thanks to the steroids and pain, I'm sure.  It was such a long ordeal - it felt like we were in the hospital for years.  It was really just 9 days.  They sent us home the Sunday after his surgery.  He did okay Monday but had a fever Tuesday.  Wednesday morning (Ash Wednesday) he was burning up. We ended up back in the ER bright and early that morning.  Cole had a fever around 105 when we got there. They did a lumbar puncture without even sedating him.  He didn't even flinch a tiny bit.  He was so very sick. 

We ended up back in the hospital for about two weeks.  He had a serious infection and had to receive heavy duty antibiotics.  It's funny now - when we watch House we hear all these drug names - chemo drugs and stuff - we know too many of them by Cole's experience. 

The time in the hospital was really long - filled with questions and no answers.  I'm so thankful we ended up in Memphis at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

They helped save his life.

They took the burden of his care off our shoulders and just said 'we've got this' and they did!

We head back in a little less than three weeks for his 6 year check up.  Usually this is really long with loads of testing.  We've finally reached the point where all the tests aren't necessary for their research.  So, it's not too bad of a check up.  I'll still be nervous, even though I know he's okay.  I'll still worry until Dr. Gajjar gives me the thumbs up.  After 6 years, that stress hasn't gotten much better.

But, today (ok - tomorrow) he's happy, healthy, a little spoiled and all ours!!!  I'm so proud of him!!

lisa

Valentine's stuff

I spent a little bit of time today making my home all 'valentiney'.  I know that's not a word, but ya know........

Anyway, I have this fabulous room divider that came from a hospital - back before curtains were hung from the ceiling.  I love it.  I got a wild hair in the late 90's and painted sunflowers on one side.  Thank goodness I didn't do both sides!!!  So this is the 'good' side - sans sunflowers!!

I have four different layouts hanging on it and usually switch them out pretty often.  Right now the ones hanging are either in the valentiney colors, or about love, or from Valentine's Day.  I made a little heart garland to hang across the screen, too!

 Here's a close up of last years Valentine's layout and a shot of the garland.

 

Here's a few other things:

I need to move that picture over a bit, don't I? 

Cardboard, giant cupcake wrappers, a glue gun and a glittery word! Love it!

Lighting wasn't as good as I thought - here's a little letter, a candle, a little ruffly tree and there's a little mailbox, too!

That ^^ up there - is my favorite thing.  Took a whole roll of crepe paper practically and a small styrofoam ball with some ribbon.  I would like to make a million of these!!

And then I played around and took a picture of myself:

Not great, but ya know................

Linking up:

 Thanks for looking!

Lisa