Time to Scrapbook

I haven’t scrapped in quite a while but recently I’ve been in a scrapbooking kind of mood.  Here’s three new ones:

Wordless Wednesday | Messy Fun

Weekend Instagrams

Follow me!  http://instagr.am/ slransom74

Graduation Printables in My Etsy Shop: All Sugared Up

Over the weekend I had several file requests for the Graduation “Break the Glass” printable and Graduate Subway Art. While I’m not sharing the file, as all the fonts would change if I sent it as a Word file and it would take considerable time for all the customizing, I added them to my Etsy shop {which currently doesn’t have much else in it!}

The customized printable files are available for $5.00
Thank you for your interest!

Fresh Water

2 weeks old today.

Just A Babysitter

After a couple of recent conversations, I decided to put down a few thoughts.  Maybe this should be titled “Things I Shouldn’t Blog about #2”.

I never thought I’d be “babysitting”. That’s not what I call it, but some people do. I don’t care either, if that’s what you want to call it {really riles some providers up but not me} but what I do is certainly more than that.  I won’t bother to say more, I know I go above and beyond that title.  When I was younger, I actually said “I will not be a babysitter” or work in child care. Yes, I did plenty of it to know if that’s not what I wanted to do for a job! Nope, didn’t think I’d end up here.

That said, I don’t under value what I do. I do think it’s an important work and that I’m good at it. Really, it’s mostly about being caring, creative and putting hard work – things that come fairly natural to me. Other parts I’ve learned – professionalism, early childhood philosophies and concepts. I don’t think less of myself because I’m not working at a “better” job.  I’m not here today because I’ve failed at everything else.  Actually, I think everything else I’ve done has prepared me for where I am today.  I own my own business. I help families. I touch little lives. I get to do creative things. I’m my own boss (which really stinks sometimes). I’m home when my child needs me. I get to be home everyday. I like it!

I have an Associate degree in Interior Design and about 20 credits of ECE but nope, not a 4 year degree.  Sure, I could have gone to college for a 4 year degree, and sometimes think it would have been “fun” or a good experience, but I really don’t think it would have affected my actual work history unless I moved out of the area, maybe even the state.  Oh yeah, I did that too. Any of the jobs I have done could have been done without a degree. Of course any education is better than none and supports what you do but did I *need* it? Probably not.  I’ve always made a decent income so it’s not about that.

I don’t think college is a waste of time at all. I just didn’t feel I would make it through 4 more years of school. I wanted to go live – get married, work.  I value education and I’d like to finish my ECE degree but it’s not going to benefit me at this point. Sure, I would attain a higher level on The Registry and I’d learn a lot, but time is so limited and classes are so expensive. It wouldn’t provide any monetary benefit once I do complete it, it’s not worthwhile at this point in my life. 

The word “dumb” actually came up. Seriously?  No, I wasn’t too dumb to do a different job. I wasn’t interested in a different job. It wasn’t my primary focus to get 4.0 {I was an A/B student} in high school and I decided {yes I had a choice} not to go to 4 years of college, but I’m far from dumb.  Maybe I should have been more concerned about perfect grades, but honestly, I was bored. Couldn’t wait to be done. So much of it seemed like a waste of time and some of the kids so immature. 

I do wish I could still continue in the interior design field, but it’s basically sales. That doesn’t scare me but I’m done working nights and every weekend. It’s not like I’m doing child care because I can’t get a job in interior design. Although around here, options are limited. I still have my degree, work experience and success in the field. I did that.  I worked selling window treatments  doing shop at home sales – which I loved – sold furniture and then worked at a higher end store selling furniture and designing rooms. It was fun! Great fun.  And high stress. Think about – working with a bunch of women on commission? Nightmare!

Someday I hope to go back to it but for now I’m doing what’s best for my family and that’s to be at home.  Really, I’m not sure what I want to do in the future. I don’t expect to provide child care for the rest of my working years because it’s so much work and it’s easy to get burned out. I’d really like my house back one of these days! While I don’t know that I want to do child care “forever”, I can’t imagine working out of the house or for someone else any more! For now I’m happy. I don’t have any regrets.  I don’t need anyone to say how great I am at my job, etc, just needed to write down a few of these things.

Wordless Wednesday|USA

On The Way Home

These two were feeling the effects of a late night, early morning and a long day! They had a great time together as you can tell.

Mother of the Grad Corsages {2nd Set}

There’s another big graduation party this weekend & my sister requested these two corsages. All the color combinations are fun, each one is unique!

Click here to see the other two

CUSTOM PAPER FLOWER CORSAGES AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP:
 https://www.etsy.com/listing/100890292/graduation-corsage-2012


That white ribbon did not want to trim up nice! Ugh!

Wordless Wednesday|Bedtime

Graduation “Break the Glass” Gifts

I also made these for the graduates – a different way to give the gift of cash.

CUSTOM PRINTABLE FILE AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/100891634/class-of-2012-break-the-glass-custom?ref=v1_other_2



Framed Graduation Subway Art & Personalized Subway Art Graduation Cards
Mother of the Graduate Corsages

Graduation Subway Art

Graduation gifts I made in Creative Memories Storybook Creator & printed – framed / custom graduation subway art (8x10)

CUSTOM PRINTABLE FILE AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP: 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/100891938/class-of-2012-personalized-graduation?ref=v1_other_1



Easily converted into personalized cards:


More graduation ideas:

Graduation "Break the Glass" Gifts

Mother of the Graduate Corsages

Mother of the Graduate Corsages

I had a vision in my mind of how these might turn out & they did turn out very much like I hoped! These corsages were for my sister and a friend whose sons are graduating this year. Their party was on Saturday and I thought the Moms should have something special too, for all their hard work and planning. I guess I was also feeling a bit sentimental for my twin sister who has a son graduating – I can’t imagine with Brett being only 9!
These could also be made for female graduates or gift toppers.

CUSTOM PAPER FLOWER CORSAGES AVAILABLE IN MY ETSY SHOP:
 https://www.etsy.com/listing/100890292/graduation-corsage-2012



The flowers are cut from cardstock on my Silhouette. The entire corsage is hot glued together with ribbon and black glitter tulle. I attached it to a pin for them to wear.

Blue, black & silver for Randolph.
Orange, black & silver for Ripon.

“Class of 2012” ribbon is from Michael’s.
What a bummer I didn’t get a picture of the Moms wearing them for this post!  What was I thinking? It did appear that they liked them.   Two more here

 












Framed Graduation Subway Art & Personalized Subway Art Graduation Cards
Graduation "Break the Glass" Gifts