#GrandmaToAKindergartener (eeek, where has the time gone!?)

It's funny with kids. Turn your head away for just a few seconds, and they've grown up from an infant to heading off to school, and the next thing you know, they'll be heading to college and getting married ....

Darling Charlotte, my first grandbaby, started kindergarten today. I swear it feels like just yesterday that she was taking her first steps, saying her first words.  So now I am officially a #GrandmaToAKindergartener.

To celebrate this occasion, her Mom Emily and I collaborated on a few crafting goodies that will help her, and us, remember this day and other first days in the years ahead.

First, I made a card. It's a side-step card, and the paper I used is Close To My Heart's new "Swan Lake" suite, available beginning September 1. I added stamped images from the CTMH stamp set "School Kids", as well as some text cut using my Cricut Explore.

Next, Emily dropped off a very large pink shirt, and asked if I could make a "Class of 2029" to affix to the shirt. I used heat transfer vinyl and designed the cut, again, with the Cricut Explore. The idea behind the shirt is to have Charlotte pose in it every year until she fills it out, in 2029.

The most time-consuming project was making a chalkboard sign for Emily and Charlotte to complete annually, to pose with in their yard.

Emily bought the simple framed chalkboard at Michael's for about $10.  In my stash, I had hoarded a lot of vinyl (both matte and glossy) in a variety of colors. Again, using the Cricut Explore, I set the text in a selection of fun fonts; where the information would change annually, Emily wrote that information in chalkboard markers that she also purchased at Michael's.  Here's the finished project; please don't mind some of the privacy edits. We can never be too safe with our special kiddos.

And today the big day came:

 

 

 

(Baby brother, Evan)

 

...and just for kicks, let's compare Charlotte's mom Emily (left) on her first day of kindergarten (age 5) with Charlotte on her first day of kindergarten (age 5.5):

 

 

 

 

 

Would you like to participate as a Blog Hop Stop on February 26??

Good afternoon, Crafters! 

I hope you all have enjoyed the "Feel the Love" Blog Hop sponsored by Jaime at Glitter Stamps and Paper Oh My.  If you're here to see my post on Cricut Cake, please scroll down one more posting.

Today, I am seeking Blog Stops for an upcoming Hop that I am hosting on February 26.  In this Hop, I'm asking participants to please show or feature a card or layout that has a unique fold or some sort of motion.  I hope you'll join me! 

If you're interested in joining this list of incredible cardmakers, please either leave a comment here or send me an e-mail at cardmonkey@comcast.net. 

Here are some ideas of cards I've made that include a unique fold and/or motion that would "qualify" for this Fold And Motion Challenge Blog Hop:

This is a slider card:

This card features an "M" fold to keep the flowers upright:

This get well card is really a folded box:

This notecard features a wrap fold:

This is a "spinning" card:

This is a pocket card (size is that of a credit card):

This card has a unique fold and pocket:

This is an Explosuion Box!!

This is a pocket blanket:  

Another pop-up card:

I didn't make this card, I found it as an idea on a blog. It uses a trifold shutter method:

Another cute card I found on a blog (Creative Moments with Sandy). It shows the side-step feature:

This is a wedding portfolion/invitation, using a pocket:

"Motion" of butterflies:

If you choose to participate, GREAT!!  Please let me know!  If you'd rather just hop along, please do put February 26 on your calendar.