31 October 2012

Triple Stamp Card Blog Hop

Happy Halloween!!!  If you're going trick-or-treating with your children tonight, I hope you have lots of fun, and I hope your kids get more candy than they know what to do with!  My husband and I will be taking our youngest son downtown where our local Main Street businesses stay late and hand out candy in a safe environment, and then we'll stop by my parents' neighborhood so they can see little Woody from Toy Story.  Joseph is so excited!

If you just came across my post and the hop by chance, please visit Ashley's blog to get started (She's got blog candy, too!!!).  If you came to me from Janea's blog, then you're in the right place!  The theme for today's blog hop is Triple Stamp Card!  I'd never made one of these before, so I looked at several examples and watched LOTS of videos on YouTube.  I looked through my stamp stash and finally decided on making a Christmas card using my wreath4me stamp from The {Stamps} of Life.


I don't think I got the wreath portion lined up exactly right on each layer, but overall I like the way it turned out!  It's a neat-looking card and one I think I'll try again.

In case you get lost along the way, here's the full hop lineup for you:

Pam 
Ashley W <<==YOU ARE HERE!
Michele - Your next stop!

Your next (and last!) stop is Michele at Michele's Craft Room!  Just to thank you for stopping by, I'm giving away a Halloween stamp set of your choice from The {Stamps} of Life!  I'd love for you to become a new follower of my blog, but it's not required to win my blog candy.  All you need to do is leave a comment!  I'll post the winner on Saturday.  I recently hit 200 followers, so I'll be having ANOTHER giveaway very soon.  Be sure to check back!

Be safe as you trick-or-treat with your kids tonight!  Thanks for stopping by, and happy scrapping!




29 October 2012

Blog Hop winner!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments during the Altered Journal Blog Hop!  I really enjoyed participating in the hop and seeing everyone's creations, AND I reached 200 followers!!!  My apologies for being late in posting my winner, but I used random.org to select a number from the twenty-seven comments I received.  The winning number belongs to Mary!!  Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the "Contact Me" tab at the top no later than this Friday, November 2, to claim your prize or I will select another winner.

Please be sure to stop back by on Halloween for the Triple Stamp Card Blog Hop!  Since I reached 200 followers during the Altered Journal Blog Hop, I'll be having a giveaway very soon as well.  Don't miss it!  Happy scrapping, everyone!

26 October 2012

Bio-Poem

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE ALTERED JOURNAL BLOG HOP!

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My tenth-grade English students at Batesville High School recently wrote bio-poems as part of our first nine-weeks study of a memoir and in preparation to help them write a narrative.  I promised them I would write one, too, and would share on my blog (as they also had to do).  They were given two versions of the poem and had to choose one.  I went ahead and wrote both, so I hope you enjoy!  If you'd like the template to either of these, please e-mail me using the "Contact Me" tab at the top, and I'll be happy to share!

My Heart is an Overflowing Vessel
I am leading an exciting life.
My life is as interesting as a new adventure.
I had a wonderful childhood.
My childhood was as calm as the ocean.
I had a cat and no siblings.
I read Jackie Collins and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
I thought I was more popular than I was.

And now at forty-one
I have seen a terrorist attack
I have heard my father cry
I know the unconditional love for a child
I don't know why people murder or abuse innocent children
I hate Osama bin Laden for what he did
I love my husband with every fiber of my being
I've lost my favorite pet
I am looking for a way to travel all the time
I wish I could have my Mamaw back.
My heart is an overflowing vessel.


For the second bio-poem, I feel as if I need to share some previous versions, as this one has been a work in progress as I've traveled and lived across the country.  The first version, written in 2005, was completed when I was teaching a Creative Writing course at Beaufort High School in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Bio-Poem 2005
Ashley
Caring, fun, sensitive
Mother of Kennedy
Lover of exotic places, my Marine, and chocolate
Who feels happier than ever, glad to have a job, and NASCAR rules
Who fears not gaining custody of her son, losing her husband in war, and another terrorist attack
Who would like a new SUV, time to finish all her projects, and a new baby
Resident of Beaufort, South Carolina (via Arkansas)
Walker

Version two was written in 2010 (I think!), when I was teaching English 7 & 8 at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California.

Bio-Poem 2010
Ashley
Caring, fun, crafty, sports lover
Mother of Kennedy & Joseph
Lover of exotic places, my Marine, and chocolate
Who feels happier than ever, glad to have a job, and NASCAR rules
Who needs more hours in the day, a bigger house, and a SERIOUS vacation
Who fears losing her husband in war, another terrorist attack, and plane crashes
Who gives all she has to teaching, unconditional love to her family, and extra credit to her students
Who would like to see the Eiffel Tower again, a baby girl complete her family, and her husband get promoted
Resident of Oceanside, California (via Arkansas & South Carolina)
Walker

The most current version was written this year as my students were also completing this assignment at Batesville High School in Batesville, Arkansas.

Bio-Poem 2012
Ashley
Caring, crafty, crazy, sports lover
Related to a World War II Navy Purple Heart recipient
Lover of my sons, my retired Marine, and my craft room
Who feels glad to be home, teachers don't get paid enough, and everyone should see the Eiffel Tower
Who needs a nice vacation with my husband, a teacup Yorkie, and a new SUV
Who fears losing my parents, another terrorist attack, and losing my husband too soon
Who gives unconditional love to my family, handmade gifts at Christmas, and counseling time to students
Who would like to see my Mamaw again, the world with my husband, and a baby girl complete my family
Resident of the oldest city in Arkansas and the perfect house
Walker

I hope you've enjoyed this little bit of insight into my life!  Thanks for stopping by! 



25 October 2012

Altered Journal Blog Hop


Welcome to our Altered Journal Blog Hop!  If you came here from Melissa, then you are on the right track!  If you happened to stumble upon this hop, you can begin hopping at our host, Pink Polka Dot Scrapping.  Our sponsor for this hop is Zannie Berry.  She's donating two Cuttlebug folders and ten Colorbok embellie packs!  Thanks so much!!


Here's the before pic of my altered journal:
I purchased this at Wal-Mart, but you can get something similar at Dollar General or Dollar Tree.  Once I was done working with it, my finished product turned out like this:


I'm REALLY happy with the way the journal turned out!  Since this is a travel journal, my first entry would be the first day of a family trip!  It has to be just the right trip, though; not just any old weekend trip.  I'm waiting for that very special family vacation and will let my boys Kennedy (age 13) and Joseph (age 3) help with the entries.  That way, it will be that much more special!

Your next stop is Jenn J.  Here's the entire lineup in case you get lost on your way:

1.  Melissa
2.  Ashley W <= YOU ARE HERE!
3.  Jenn J - Your next stop!
4.  Robin C
5.  Connie
6.  Robin S
7.  Dena
8.  Maria Matter
9.  Lucy
10.  Sandra
11.  Rachelle
12.  Sharon
13.  Shawnee
14.  Pam L
15.  Suzanne
16.  Cathie


Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to Melissa for hosting such a wonderful hop!  As a small thank you for taking time to hop through, I'm having a little giveaway of a tin full of all sizes of Maya Road antique chipboard keys.
All you need to do is become a follower and leave a comment.  That's it!  If you're already a follower, be sure to let me know in your comment.  You'll have until Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. Central to leave a comment.  I'll choose a winner and post on Monday.  Happy scrapping!