Friday, April 15, 2011

Two New Classes at Pizzaz It!

There are two classes at Pizazz It! Scrapbooks I would like for you to be aware of.

Bo Bunny Pocket Watch Album:  $35
Saturday, May 21, 11am-1pm

This is a fantastic mini album class.  Not only do you get the cool pocket watch album with acrylic pages and special die cut shapes, but you get an ENTIRE sheet of 12x12 chipboard adhesive die cuts plus lots of other cool embellishments.  This project will be easily completed in the allotted class time because all the pocket watch pages are pre-finished!!  This project would make an awesome Father's Day gift, too.  The album and chipboard pieces alone retail for $17, so this class is a great value at $35.  Class kits will be available to purchase soon if you are not interested in taking the class but want a kit only.  Here is a photo of the cover and a few inside sample pages:




Acrylic Album Crop:  Free!  
Saturday, May 21, 2:30-4:30pm

Did you take Sally Lynn MacDonald's acrylic album class last March 2010 and did not get your project finished?  Bring your incomplete project to Pizazz It and we will finish it off together.  Step by step instructions provided and a completed project will be on display.  This class is only for those who took Sally Lynn's class last March and already have a class project kit.  Additional products will not be provided but the Copic Airbrush System and markers will be available for use.


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

LRS April Kit Sneak Peaks

Wow, this sure was a fun kit to play with.  I was a little afraid of the corrugated cardboard but thrilled with the way it turned out.  Still loving this KI Memories 12" black scribble words.  It is going to be hard for me not to hoard those! 


Monday, April 11, 2011

Ready for summer?

Yesterday was FINALLY our first day of nice weather.  April 10th, what the heck!  Is Mother Nature on a freaking vacation?  She's probably on a cruise in the Bahamas and forgot the mid-west was still freezing their butts off while sitting at four lacrosse games in Cleveland.....but I digress.

So this nice weather got me to thinking it is getting awfully close to swimsuit weather.  Are you swimsuit worthy yet?






Thursday, April 7, 2011

Allowances

Do you give allowances for your kids?  It is so hard for me to decide what to do.  They don't have chores around the house (I know, Iknow...some of you really feel this is important, however, I am a stay at home mom so how can I ask them to do the dishes, vacuum or put laundry away?  That is my job.  Their job is to do their homework and go to school which they go to 8 hrs a day.  I don't ask my husband to do the dishes after a long day of work either.   But I do want them to have some sort of concept of money and not think there is a never ending debit card balance.

In an attempt for the boys to become more aware of finances, spending and budgeting I decided to give them a monthly allowance that was not tired to chores.  They each receive their age X $0.50 X 4.  This gives them $0.50 a week for each year they are old.  Of that sum, 10% goes to charity, 30% goes to savings and 60% they get to spend.  Now when we go into a store and they want candy, movies, trinkets, or whatever, they have to decide if it is worth spending their own money on (my money was sooooo easy to spend).  Also, if they decide to put some of their spending money into savings I will match that amount.  This is a concept Kemper gets and takes advantage of but Griffin not so much. 

So far this plan has worked well for the past 3 months.  We have tried other allowance plans tied to chores and it just doesn't work in our family.  I just set up interest bearing savings account for each of the boys.  My original plan was to just transfer the money into their account each month.  Now, I think it is better if we make time to go to the bank each month and have them deposit the money themselves.  I want them to get used to the idea of walking into a bank and handing over their hard earned cash.  OK, so in this case it is not quite so hard earned, but you get what I mean. :)

I have not put any restrictions on what they can buy with their spending money.  It is theirs and they can blow it however they like.  The money in their savings account is intended to be used for car needs when they turn 16 (they each have separate college funds).  As for charity, this money is sometimes used when there are fundraisers at school.  The boys love being able to use their own money from their charity fund for this.  After school is out, the boys will combine their charity money and do something with it such as buy some bulk items at Sam's Club and drop it off at the local food pantry. 

Also, on a final note.....though their allowance is not tied to chores, we do have an agreement that I can ask them to do anything I want and the complaining has to be kept to a minimum.  LOL!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cool shirt I made

 I was at the store recently and came across some adorable t-shirts embellished with handmade flowers.  There were several different styles and I had a few in my basket, then I decided I could make them myself for much cheaper.  I got these pink shirts off the clearance rack at Meijers for $3 each.  What a steal!! The trim was already on the neckline, but would be so easy to add.   I bought two identical shirts; one to wear and one to cut up.  I used 3 different size flower templates to cut flowers out of my extra t-shirt.  I also added layers of tulle which really adds some nice detail that doesn't show up on the photo.  The leaves are made out of green organdy 6" wide fabric.  The tiny white rosettes are from Maya Roads.  The baubles are a combo of really old Heidi Swapp gems and new Bazzill bling buttons.  Everything was hand sewn on and the shirt took me less than an hour to make.  I just loved the way it turned out!

Monday, April 4, 2011

LRS April Kit

The latest Little Red Scrapbook kit just landed on my doorstep and it is very yummy!  I love the hot pink and black combined with the soft pastels.  There is a 12x12 piece of open faced corrugated cardboard and a dauber of paint which I can't wait to get my hands on!   The add on embellishment kit has the KI Memories word border stickers that I haven't used before but have been wanting for a long time!

Here is the main kit:  $22.50 (w/ 6 month subscription)


And the add-on embellishment kit: $12