Sketchbook 2 finale

I scrapped SIX layouts today! Finished the last 6 sketches from KP's sketchbook 2 class. It's been a busy few weeks. This past week, I ate at out 4 out of the 7 days. ugh.

KP sketch 7:


KP sketch 8:


KP sketch 9:


KP sketch 10:


KP sketch 11:

KP sketch 12:

supplies: Studio Calico August kit "Summer Camp".

Sketchbook 2 catch up

I don't know why I ever thought that I would be able to scrap layouts during the first week of school. Since I missed the first week of school last year I guess I forgot just how exhausted and tired I'd be at the end of the day. Up before 6am and asleep before 10pm...signs that I'm getting older. If I fall asleep before 10pm, I'm up at o'dark thirty. Seriously?!??!?! Then I had class yesterday morning. Sigh. So, I played catch up with KP's class today.

Sketch #4-


Sketch #5-


Sketch #6-

I used the August Summer Camp kit and Sugar Woods and Elk Lake add ons from Studio Calico. They just came in the mail on Thursday!

Finally...someone gets it

There are two spellings of my last name Blaz--one with an "s" and mine, with a "z". It just depends on who your family is which spelling is "correct." But, in my family, both spellings exist and that drove my grandfather crazy to no end. They didn't always have that last name; they had a Japanese last name, Haniu, which my grandfather, his brothers and youngest sister had changed after WWII. My grandfather was afraid of lingering anti-Japanese hatred (sad) so they had their last name legally changed to their mother's maiden name.

Since the day I came home in kindergarten with a star on my paper for spelling my last name wrong...I was too afraid to tell Sister Catherine she spelled my name wrong (hey, I was only FOUR), I've had to spell my last name when someone has to write it down. Even then, even when I spell very slowly, people still write "Blas". To confuse things even further, we have Ms. Blaz (me) and Mrs. Blas (the teacher next door) at work!

Today I met a friend of friends. She asked what my name was. I answered, "Vera Blaz." She said, "Oh, with a "z"! I could have kissed her...sweat and all! (I totally kid...I can barely stand my own sweat.)

Finally, someone gets it! When I think about it, though, I realize that I still would have had to spell my last name for everyone had it stayed "Haniu"...and I would be forever correcting anyone who had to say it.

First day of school....2010

Today marked the first day of school year 2010-2011. I was sleepy by noon! I had a few students in the same boat, but at least I wasn't falling asleep at my desk. My feet were hurting by the end of the day and I was literally dragging myself to the car. As tired as I was, I knew that I wouldn't be able to survive a rigorous workout at the gym. As it is, I'm forcing myself to stay awake a little while longer so that I don't wake up at 3am like I did Monday morning.

I was up at 5:30am. Usually that's totally unheard of in my vocabulary (unless I'm traveling). After a quick stop to coffee at McDonald's since the decaf at home would NOT cut it today, I was at work by 6:45am! We all hit the ground running by 7:45. Out of 22 students, 1 showed up late and 3 were absent. First day assembly for 4th and 5th graders was at 8:30. We spent the rest of the morning getting first day pictures and getting to know each other.

They got a kick out of the glasses!

Last Day of Summer Vacation...

I guess a vacation can still go by fast even when I don't leave the rock. Sigh... I've already set one alarm for o'dark thirty tomorrow morning. I do want to stop by and see Lucas and Jacob before they head of to their first day school...Lucas to the "big" school and Jacob to his school alone for the first time without Lucas. They grow too fast!

Speaking of growing too fast...

I went to a christening for my friend Elvira's daughter Aryani. That was in January. Aryani is now 9 months old! This layout is for Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 2 class...sketch 2.

Not the greatest picture...used the point and shoot in craptastic lighting. Can't be choosy when given this situation. Here's another kidlet growing too fast! Can't believe that she'll be a sophomore in high school come morning. Used KP's sketchbook 2 sketch 3.

Back to work tomorrow. I have to say that I am ready to head back to work. I missed the first two weeks of school last year so this year is exciting for me! Got the new shoes and new clothes all ready to go.

Just what I needed

Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 2 class started on Monday. I tried in vain to win a spot in her class to no avail. So, I broke down and bought it! Of course the first sketch landed in my inbox when I was in la-la land. Sometimes it sucks to live on the other side of the international date line. The next lesson will hit my inbox tonight so I thought I'd start on the first one. I really have to take advantage of the last few days of summer vacation.




I used the Studio Calico Anthology line. The pictures were just a few from work. Spirit Week celebrations happen at the end of every month. I like to participate to show my students how to have school spirit. Students were still talking about my October Super Mario outfit at the end of the school year!

Putting together this layout and wanting to get it posted on the Studio Calico message board gave me the kick in the pants to get two other layouts uploaded. I did them...last week?!?! Or maybe the week before?!?!?





These pictures came from our July 5th family lunch while Uncle Jimmy was visiting. Has it only been a month?!?!? I used the July Continental Kit (still available in the store) and add-ons from Studio Calico for these layouts.

There was a point to the whole post...oh yeah...... Thanks, KP! Your class was just what I needed to round out my summer!