10 Things Friday and...

some more oceany photos from last Sunday.

I love this photo-Dave caught this little squid-which we put back into the ocean so he can get to be a big squid. But being little Miss Biologist and an ocean lover I think this squid guy is fascinating. I especially love the dot pattern in his (or her) skin. And my art side is loving the design on the skin and the contrast of the squiddy color and the blue water behind him.

Ok, so I am weird. (I already knew that.)

And here's a commorant flying over the water. The far background is one of the Isle's of Shoals with this great little lighthouse.

And other than the gull of the wharf piling, no other animals here-except see all those lobster traps? This is a photo of the commercial pier in Portsmouth, NH.

Besides the squid we caught this mini-mackerel (another catch and release). His colors were pretty too, but you can see them better in a bigger version than blogger shows.

So here's my 10 things Friday-looking a bit ahead this week-what I hope to accomplish in the next week.

1-First of all, the kiddoes are off for the summer (as of yesterday) and  it was weird, I had this huge release of stress when the bell rang for the last time this school year. After about 2 minutes the hallways were empty and SILENT. I sat back down at my desk to grade and then it all just lifted off me. A big breath. Shoulders sagged a bit. I needed to put my head down and regroup. But it feels good...the end of the year is always awful on the stress end. I have today and Monday to do some teacher things. I am sure I feel a bit the same way on the end of each of those days. Then I am finally on vacation.

2-I have had hardly any art time the last 2 weeks, so on Tuesday I plan on spending most of my day in the studio because I really need some play time.

3-Of course I am planning on sleeping later than 4:45 a.m. first. I am beat-deep down tired- BUT I will admit that the kids being finish has taken a big weight off my shoulders. (Handling kids who know they have 10 weeks off-and will have 10 weeks off in just a few days of more work is tough. I get their perspective-why do we have to work when school is just about over?)

4-I know, no snow days last winter means we get a longer vacation not having to make up any time.

I love that.

5- I work Saturday at the lake again and it is suppose to be dry weather-which is good. I'm into making as much extra cash as I can. Plus, I love sitting by the water. And, being that geeky biologist, I love helping out the environment looking for invasive weed species and keeping them out of this gorgeous lake we have here in town.

6-One day I should go visit my mom.

7-Plus I need to go restock up my kitchen cabinets. A trip to Trader Joe's and Costco is NEEDED. Been so busy with work all those house chores have gotten a bit behind. Food, cleaning, a few other chores. Even they sound wonderful right now.

8- And Harley plus my waist-line need some exercise. A lot of walks. Every morning-once I wake up that is.

9-And I think I deserve a trip to my favorite art store to spend a bit of that hard earned money.

10-And the best part- I don't have to have any plans. I can take it day by day. I can lay on the couch all day if I want. Sleep until noon.

Will I?

Don't know. Doubt it. Not sure I want to waste a beautiful day in bed. But my point being- like you can't figure it out, time is more mine than when I am at work.

It is like several weeks of all Saturdays and Sundays-

LOL!

Thanks for stopping by and listening to me ramble on!

This is IT!!!!

My gardens are calling me!!! Look and see what I am missing while I grade exams and clean up my classroom.

But the most exciting news is it is SOOOO close until I get to answer their call.

Two more exams today. 

Just 2-

and the kids are out and done at 11:22.

PARTY TIME!!!!

A Ceiling

This was the coolest ceiling ever...I want it in my house. So I made a scrap-journal page about it. And the way this page  came out makes me happy.

I started by stamping the background a bit, then adding a bunch of Tim Holtz tape. He taught us this technique at one of the classes I took with him. Not laying the tape, but then inking it. Finally a die cut tag, some stamped  and cut out images and a little paper flower.

I know, who makes scrap pages of ceilings?????

So now we're down to 5 classes with kids...and still counting!

Happy Wednesday.

Thanks for visiting!

Scenes from a Relaxing Sunday

Sunday I went boating with my hubby and we took a cruise in his boat all the way out to the Isles of Shoals. The Isles of Shoals are some small rocky islands in New Hampshire and Maine, right along the border between the 2 states. We've never taken the boat that far, and it was a fun and relaxing adventure.

Lots of long thin photos today!

And it was a beautiful day too!

Here's a few more snapshots from our boating adventure.

Counting down the school year-never mind the days- just 8 more classes of kids until Thursday at the11:22 dismissal.

Yahoo!

I needed yesterday

I needed a day in the sunshine. A walk, some gardening and the afternoon working at the lake.Here's my spot at the boat ramp...my book, my bag, my chair.

Mellow-sunshine on me-I feel so much more refreshed...

This picture doesn't really do 100% justice to the beauty of this place.

I feel so much less exhausted already.

Saturday Has Arrived

A tile picture Mary at a Spanish Mission in southern Arizona.  I love the colors on this wall image.

So I scrapped it so that the picture was brighter than the background, so it would pop off the page.

I also got to use a German gold scrap shrine image that I had forever. 

AND

I also used (for the first time) the new Sizzix/Tim Holtz flower strip die that I recently bought and I must say, I love it. Didn't think I really needed another flower die but this one makes cool little cuts and they have the hole punched in the middle already-so I just added a brad after cutting, distressing and layering these little beauties.

And beneath this cool tile design were these trays of candles. You can't see the details on my page very well in this big photo, but here's some close -ups.

I used the left over paper from the die-cut butterflies to make a stencil (though they are hard to see because they are very light in this photo) and then I added some Viva clear glass effects paint pen dots (boy-that is a lot of words).

Here's the final page from this area of the mission-a cool little portico area-you can see the stands for all the candles. 

I created this cool little icon image at the bottom with stamps and 2 Milagros and a charm.

I used water colors, Copics and a gold pen to color this great image. You can see to the left too where I used a 7Gypsies chain rub on too.

So Saturday is here! My busy work week is over! And
 they say today the chances of rain are pretty slim.

I am off to work at the lake-which hopefully won't be too busy so I can a take a moment or two and enjoy the scenery of the mountains and the ripples on the water a bit.

I need a little nature zen at the moment.

And graduation was a success at school last night-

I love going- it is like putting the bow on the wrapped present- the pomp and frill after 4 years of hard work.

Anyhow- before I write anymore bad similes...

Happy Weekend!

10 Things Friday

The Count Down!

Summer vacation is almost here!

This has been the last full 5 day week with the kids. 

Here's my list-end of the school year themed! 

1- Tonight is graduation. Seniors will no longer be students at PHS in just a few short hours.
I really liked this years senior class. And next years seniors- I like them even better.

2-By next Friday the rest of the kiddoes will be on vacation and we will be having a day to clean up our rooms, turn in grades, order for the fall, etc.

3-Counting today, I have 4 1/2 days with kids and 6 1/2 days of work! Love it!!!

4-Exams are next Wed. and Thurs!

5-The rain we've had this week has helped a lot (and we've had a lot of dark wet weather-especially early in the week)-but the kids are still antsy.

6-Down to 4 juniors in my microbio class. Some ways that is great and some ways that is a pain. Yesterday we ate Chinese food and started watching Contagion.

7- No more National Honor Society until fall. Glad to have that wrapped up.
8-The end of the year is  stressful, wrapping up grades, cleaning the room, ordering for the fall,dealing with other people who can't handle the stress very well. ETC. Just too busy and the list to wrap up just gets longer and longer before you can say it is all complete.
9-The toughest part is that I just I want it to be done and not have to do all these end of the year items. I want a break from the routine of work, from the people I work with (though I like them...sometimes a break is important). I've been waking up in the morning and coming home with my head just wanting silence!  That's a sign I am on the point of overload. (Too many days with too many things on the agenda-constant things....) I am ready to have summer.
Now don't think I am just a whiny teacher, I love my job...but sometimes everyone reaches a point they just need some time away from work...this week has been some very long days at work-it was 12 hours on Wednesday...and after this crazy almost summer vacation week and trying to teach antsy,shut down kids...it is like teaching to the wall all day!
10-I think everybody needs a summer break, no matter what you do.
It is a fantastic restorative for the soul!
10 weeks of summer time ahead!
10 weeks of summer adventure!

Here's some boating views-hope to have a lot more to show you as the summer goes on.

TGIF!

A few more Scrap Journal Pages

Much less colorful, much more plain and simple.

A weird love of signs...

Here's a couple of more pages to show you.

I love this simple page though. I love the colors-the die cut clouds (Memory Box), and the swirls coming off the clouds (Technique Tuesday).

This page is telling the story of the strong winds we had that Monday afternoon.

And here's a sign that I didn't think I would see in Arizona.

And this is also a plain and simple weather related page. This sign just struck me as so NOT Arizona. New Hampshire yes, but not a place that gets little snow and lots of sun. I did some stenciling, used a giant die cut circle, added some Viva paint pen dots...

On another note- here's another book on my nightstand that I am reading

Did you ever read 

When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put?

That was a fantastic read, one of my favorite ever books, and so far Le Road Trip is excellent too! It is written by the same author. I love books that combine art, journaling and travel.

Just adore them!

So my week is as BUSY as I expected....1 more week until the kiddies are finished. I am exhausted today though....need my routine back!!  But we are getting there-today is normal except that we have an assembly at school which throws off the day a bit. But I am so looking forward to graduation and I will miss quite a few of these kids who are moving on to bigger things!

6 more days of classes! (Really 5 1/2). (Hey, every minute counts.)

Hurray!!!!


Thanks for visiting.

Cherries

Here's a late spring Juney kind of card. Cherries!!! Love them and it is that time of year for them!

This card started with red card stock and some red polka dot paper and finally I used an embossing folder by Cuttlebug  along with the new Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers. I stamped the cherry definition (Stamp in the Hand) in the center with some mango ink and then I stamped the sweet saying in black (Flourishes) and the loop in red (7Gypsies).  After attaching and using some red polka dot tape and some white lace, I gave the card a bit of red Dylusions spray. Finally, some brown pearl dots and I stamped and colored the bowl of cherries (Hero Arts).

Busy busy day for me today-tonight I have National Honor Society Sashing Ceremony for seniors. Haven't had much studio time this week- guess that comes with the end of school. Patience is needed here! Counting down- 9 days including today!!!! Then I can have LOTS of studio time!

Don't these look yummy?

Lupine Loving

I love lupines, almost as much as lilacs. Here's a few plants that migrate around my garden. I got them originally from my friend Vicky when she was doing some garden cleaning out. And even better, she got these plants when she spent a summer at my Alma mater , the University of Maine. That might have been years ago but I still like that connection.

Too bad these flowers don't last very long-just like lilacs and all the other beautiful blooms.

So on another note-been feeling like the clutter in my house is taking over. Waiting for school to be done so I can attack some of these messes. Or maybe this weekend I'll get started. We'll see what else ends up on the agenda. 

People keep telling me I have too much stuff in the my studio. I think I have too much stuff, but truth be told, I don't want to part with a lot of my things right now. I spend so much time in my studio playing, and you just never know what you're going to want to use. I have sold a few stamps on eBay before and then once they're gone, I've wanted to use them. One stamp I even ended up rebuying. I've started going through some of my bins and pull out so little.  Maybe when I finally get some things up on eBay if they sell for some decent change I'll be more motivated the clean out deeper. But one side of me says I don't need to sell anything and the other side of me says it would be so NICE to make some more space. Right now the studio is a disaster with me trying to clean, and it always gets messier before it gets better. Seems like my studio is always needing some re-organizing...guess what I really need is a much bigger space.

Wouldn't that be nice?

But since it isn't going happen-I got to just figure out what to do with what I have.

Maybe it is just this damp rainy weather-still and me being cooped up inside-with the messes.

Thanks for listening. 

Collage cards

These cards share lots in common. (1) I cut 1 sheet of card stock to make the base for each. (2) They both have a collage theme. (3) I used some old photos (Tweety Jill collage sheets of old black and whites) on both of them.

For this top card I used IO's distressed backgrounder first, then used some Cornish Heritage Farm time stamps-embossed in gold.  I added the diamond shape scrap from a sheet of card stock that I stamped with multiple stamps in multiple colors to make this fun background that I cut into pieces to use on cards. Then I added the photo with this square stamped on it and the saying (from IO also) which is on a another small square of paper. Finally, it still needed something so I added all these little card stock dots which were leftovers from another die cut.

So here's the other card similar to the top card. For this one I did 2 things first- I embossed some dots I stamped and I also used a watermark technique with Versamark to make some dots on the paper too.
I also die cut  this doily (Cheery Lynn) which I used just a bit of the edge. The saying is from Hero Arts/Studio Calico.
So this is the start of a very very busy week for me-
Last full week of school for the kids, graduation, NHS sashing ceremony, lots of things to wrap up at work...
eeks, exhausts me just thinking about it.
But was a great weekend-yesterday I relaxed, got hit by the cleaning bug a bit (and boy it feels so good once it it done), scrapped a bunch of pages and watched 3 episodes of True Blood. It was a great low key kind of day!
Make it a great start to your week. We've got more rainy weather here in the Northeast-makes it great for teaching!

So Many Clouds and so Much Rain

It is a VERY dark morning here in New Hampshire.

Going to be a good day to hang out in my sweats and nap and play in the studio.

Had a great day with my friend Lorrie yesterday-she came up and we went to the Keepsakes Quilting and Patternworks Yarn sale. Got a few things-but there wasn't too much that excited me. The crowds were so small too-probably all the heavy rain and cool temperatures.

We even put a fire in the fireplace last night-take off the damp chill.

Can you believe that-fire on June 2?

So here's some more scrap journal pages from our Arizona trip last Feb. I found this cool old postcard packet on eBay awhile back-and since it was under $3 decided I should get it for my book. This is actually a colored copy I made. On the page I added my address and the names of Katie and critters at home, so that's the blur on this photo. It is not really on the postcard.

So I used some 7Gypsies postal paper for the background and then I sprayed some red Dylusions ink. I used some assorted tapes, and I added an old postal stamp to the postcard to make it look real and as though I mailed it. I also added the postmark lines with probably the most used stamp I own. I stamped the greeting word because isn't that what lots of these old postcards say?.

The cactus is a stamped image I colored and then cut out. The boot is a die cut as is the howling coyote-but I cut the coyote from paper I embossed.

Those are images that are definitely southern Arizona.

Here's another page I made with another postcard in the booklet.

This page has a lot more paper and tape layering-I used some Tim Holtz tissue paper,7Gypsies tape and some decorative paper.  I think it still needs something, but not sure what? This postcard scene is the Mission just south of Tucson that we found while driving to the Titan Missile Museum that Dave wanted to visit. It was a fantastic find-a great example of an old Spanish Mission with some fabulous folk painting and carving. 

To this page I added this die cut car-since we were driving by and spontaneously got off the highway.There's also the stop sign I die cut, stamped and colored.

Finally one more postcard page.

This page has a western/cowboy flair. Love the picture here- and since we did go down to Bisbee and Tombstone-real wild west country, I have been itching to do some western pages. I started this page by stamping the star images (River City Rubber) on water color paper. Then I used some October Afternoon Sasparilla paper which I punched out the edge. I sprayed this with some brown and green  inks and then added the postcard. The saying on the top of the postcard is from Hero Arts and Studio Calico Abroad set. 

I also added some border  stickers, an October Afternoon metal sticker and also an October Afternoon die cut which I colored, stamped and distressed a bit.

I also added this barb wire image from Stampotique.

That's a lot for today.

Make it a great day!

Virtual Beach Vacation

A Colorful Journey blog is doing a virtual beach vacation. What a great idea!

Check out the entries here:

http://acolorfuljourney.com/?p=2437&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+acolorfuljourney%2FdXyL+%28A+Colorful+Journey%29

 Here's a few other of my beach pages.

All these are part of my scrap-journal from a trip we took last summer to North Carolina's Outer Banks. It was a great beach area and I hope to go back some day soon.

Thanks for stopping by.