Yes I am still here...

I know that many of you are probably wondering how everything is going and if I survived my first few weeks of school. YES YES YES...I certainly did survive and am loving it. As most of you already know, I am no longer working at Down Memory Lane (the scrapbook store) as I got a teaching job in Chippewa Falls. I am teaching at the alternative school there, one of the elementary schools, AND the high school. I was so scared of the high schools but at this point, they are my favorite! At this point, I somewhat dread going to the elementary school each day. I never thought that would ever happen! I think it is just so early in the year and the kindergarteners and 1st graders are not into the swing of school quite yet. Those are the only kiddies that I teach...the REALLY young ones. They are fun but they never close their mouths or sit in their seats. There is constantly things being blurted across the room or kids coming to me asking me to tie their shoes or if they can go to the bathroom when they just had a bathroom break before class. I also get a lot of hands in the air wanting to tell me about their birthdays or their teeth or their shoes. I even get lots of stuff that I don't want to hear and try to get them to stop talking mid sentence because I feel like I shouldn't be hearing the words that are coming out of their little mouths. Oh kids - they can be so cute and funny and SO frustrating at the same time. Gotta love them. My alternative school guys are pretty good. The first day I asked them to come up to the front of the class to come look at something that I wanted to show them and they all just sat there and stared at me. That day I thought I would have my hands full as I had to think long and hard to figure out how to get them to move off their lazy butts and how I could motivate them. After a few class periods they are much better...they will actually get up and walk around if needed. There are 12 boys and 1 girl at the alternative school and the majority of them are really fun to work with. Now for the high school and that darn computer animation class. I haven't really stressed about the class much, yet kindof just slid by at this point. We have been working with a program to create our first project so we haven't even started on the animation program...that starts this week. Let the stress set in! I am still waiting to figure this darn thing out. I worked with it a little bit and then school crept up on us and I started to focus on things that were taking place at that time and set the animation stuff aside. Now the time has come to begin frantically (AGAIN) getting ready for that part of the class. Overall, I have had no problems with my older students, just those little guys. I even had to send one kindergartener to the principal's office already...after his 2nd class of Art. Oh how those little tykes can be a CHALLENGE! So overall school is good.

I have been keeping busy with trying to get things situated for my Close To My Heart convention in Minneapolis in the beginning of October. CAN'T WAIT! Should be a ton of fun. Just trying to get the rooms situated and we will be all set. Oh, I cannot forget, I still have to create my 16 cards for my card swap that I am participating in but that shouldn't be too hard and shouldn't take TOO long.

My mom and I have been super busy lately with trying to get a bunch of "stuff" created. We are going to have a booth set up at a chuch festival this weekend near Mondovi. Should be lots of fun. We have created lots of fun creative things that we hope everyone likes. I am hoping to get more of this stuff in my Etsy shop in the near future so you can all see it and purchase any of it too.

Well, I am off to bed now as the week is only about to begin. This week is going to be a LONG one as I am taking a duct tape tote class tomorrow night (super excited!!) and then lots of other stuff. Noah's first teacher conference, Nate has two meetings, Scrapbook Til Midnight this Friday night at Down Memory Lane, and the festival fun on Sunday. Wow what a fast week this will most likely be. I hope to be back soon to show you some of our fun creations!!!

Doc Martens

Here is the photo for those of you that are looking for the photo of the Doc Martens shoes that I have for sale. They are a womens size 8 and tan in color.

Like I mentioned, they have only been worn a week or two and are like new. I am asking $85.00. If it were my choice I would keep them but they keep bothering my neck when I wear them. There is nothing wrong with the shoes, if I was not a chiropractic patient, I would most likely be able to wear these shoes just fine.

Please let me know if you have any questions...

Cricut Cartridge Storage Box

As many of you know, I own a cricut and over time have collected a large assortment of cartridges. I do not like to take each cartridge, booklet, and overlay out of the box each time that I use it and find myself not putting them back where they belong when I am done so I began looking for some type of storage and organization. This however, was hard to find. I personally don't care for the cricut storage boxes made by Provo Craft so I decided to get creative and make my own. I have created my own cricut mini boxes using the Design Studio and my Cricut, that hold the cartridges themselves and then I created an organizational system that works for me. To organize my cartridges and booklets I simply tie a different colored ribbon on each booklet and then staple a small piece of that same ribbon onto the mini box that houses the coordinating cartridge. I also write the names of each cartridge on the top of the mini boxes so I can easily see where each cartridge is. I can then locate the booklet by matching up the ribbons. This box fits up to 13 cartridges, booklets, and overlays.
Below is a photo of my storage box full...

I have decided to sell these cartridge boxes to anyone that is looking for a unique way to store the Cricut cartridges. I am selling these for $22.00 (plus shipping if you are not local). You can either order one from me to be shipped to you or picked up. You can also visit Down Memory Lane in Eau Claire and pick one up there. I am willing to make arrangements to meet you or drop one off to you if you are local.

Each box comes with 13 assembled mini boxes, 13 different colored ribbons, a brief description of how the system works, and a photo. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to place an order.
justletmecreate@yahoo.com

a few things have to go...

I am selling a few Close To My Heart stamp sets and paper packs that are all brand new and NEVER used. Below are photos of each item and prices. Keep your eye on my blog for upcoming items for sale as I plan to go through some of the items in my scrapbook room and let a few things go that I haven't used or rarely use.

D1198 The Gift of Love - - $20.00 Shipped

(I will get a closer photo so the sayings can be read)

D1140 Miracle - - $20.00 Shipped

C1252 Abundance Borders - - $18.00 Shipped

C1243 A Friend Is - - $18.00 Shipped

X7060B Heirloom Level 2 Paper Pack - - $12.00 plus shipping

~~Level 2 paper packs come with 12 patterned papers (2 each of 6 designs) AND 10 cardstock sheets (4 sheets neutral, 2 each of 3 colors)~~

X7073B Abundance Level 2 paper pack - - $12.00 plus shipping

~~Level 2 paper packs come with 12 patterned papers (2 each of 6 designs) AND 10 cardstock sheets (4 sheets neutral, 2 each of 3 colors)~~

so after two and a half weeks of waiting...

The principal from Chippewa Falls High School FINALLY called me the other day and offered me the high school position as well. I AM SO EXCITED to have a teaching job next year. I cannot wait to get started with all of my preparing. I will have a ton to prepare as I have never taught high school before. My teaching load is going to consist of Kindergarten and 1st grade and 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. I am a little scared about that....such young kids and then such old kids. A big difference but I am up for the challenge. I do not know my schedule yet which kindof stinks but that is ok. I will have to contact the other high school teacher (who either just had a baby or will be next week) after the 4th of July weekend and see if she can tell me a little more. All I know is that I will be teaching at the elementary school every day from 11:00 until 12 something.

I wish I had more time to post my creative stuff but I haven't had a lot of time to create anything. I am making Tinkerbell invitations and Thank you cards for Jaidyn's birthday. I cannot believe she turns two NEXT WEEK! She will be two on 7/7 (Tuesday) but we are having a party for her on Sunday (7/12). We are having a Tinkerbell party and I think it will be so much fun. I was bummed on her 1st birthday because we just had a really small party at the campground when she turned one. Now we are going to make up for that and I have a large list to invite. I know that not everyone will probably make it but as some of you know, we have a small house and hope that we can fit everyone in!!! :) Keep your eye out for a photo of her invited and Thank you cards.

We also have our house for sale. Last night a lady came to look at it and I actually know her a little bit from the scrapbook store as she shops there from time to time. So when she came to the door she said...."Oh Stacie...I know you from the store." So that was nice that I already was familiar with her a little bit. She seemed to really like the house and actually asked if she could bring her realtor back to the house later last night because they were looking at some other houses in the area together. They came back and she showed the realtor everything and explained to the realtor how her stuff would fit in our house. I think she really likes the house so we will see if we hear back from her!!

Now off to packing for a fun weekend of camping. Gotta go make a pan of bars, pick up some strawberries, run to get some more Tinkerbell stuff and lots of packing. I don't like packing too much especially since it is for 4 people and a dog. But at least the house is clean and my brain is ready to hit the road!

A quick update...

So I have been waiting to hear back from my interview at the High School in Chippewa Falls and the principal FINALLY called me today. They have not yet made a decision but I am one of the TWO TOP FINALISTS! That is exciting but I still have to wait a week to hear their decision. He is going to be out of the office until later next week so he said they should have a decision by Thursday of next week. So I guess I won't just be sitting around wondering what is going on...just waiting for Thursday to come. I also got a call today from Eau Claire asking to set up an interview for the part-time middle school position that they have not yet hired for. It would be traveling between all three middle schools. I am hoping to get the Chippewa High School job so I don't have to worry about things but I will just have to wait and see.

Saturday I am going to go to Down Memory Lane and spend the day having fun. Of course I will probably have to make some cards for classes in July but otherwise I am going to chirp away on my Cricut and work on the baby album that I FINALLY started for Jaidyn. Maybe I will post some of my creations then. Sorry for the boring stuff lately!!

Until then....lata

I finally got a job!

So this is just a really quick update for all of you that have not heard from me lately. I have been busy with the house, finally got it for sale...only a sign in the yard though. I had been waiting to hear from Parkview Elementary school in Chippewa Falls for a week and thought for sure he had offered the parttime job to someone else since it had been so long since I had interviewed. Well he called me on Wednesday and left me a message and then he called back on Thursday to offer me the job. It was kindof a weird day because before he offered me the job Chippewa Falls high school had called me and asked for an interview for their parttime position that they have open. I am hoping that the two work out together and I could get the high school job too just so I can be more involved. The job I have been offered is only two hours a day but it still GREAT because it is a permanent position and if more time opens up for the following year most likely I can get it. I am excited...so glad that I got this small job so far!

Gotta go lay down...I have a terrible sinus headache and I am stuffed up and runny nosed. My head and face hurt...wow I hate allergies!