Kiwi Lane DT Doodles #6

It's time for another awesome sketch from Kiwi Lane -- my favorite days of the month! And when you link up your creation based on the sketch, you'll be entered to win a Kiwi Lane gift card.

This sketch is awesome, just like always -- and there's lots of room for lots of photos on this double-page layout:

And here's what I created with the sketch:

 

I have been dying to use the School Spirit collection from Crate Paper (it's been in my stash forever!), so I pulled it out to showcase lots of photos from my boys' year in 2nd grade. I like to have a single layout in our family album for each school year since each of my boys' has their own school album. So the single layout in our family album just shows off a few random moments from that year. In addition to the papers and embellishments from Crate Paper, I used these Kiwi Lane templates:

• Aspen Court 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B
• Strips 3", 1", 1/2"
• Accents 6
• Tiny Accents 6T
• Tiny Floral 1T, 2T
• Sweetheart 1
• Tiny Sweetheart 1T

I then finished the page off with cork Thickers and a journaling spot that I edged with a notebook border punch.

I love how this sketch layout turned out -- thank you Kiwi Lane! Be sure to head over to Kiwi Lane today and link up your layout creation so you'll be entered to win that awesome gift card!

Until next time -- stay crafty!
Lissa :)

School Album

Today, I wanted to share the boys' school albums. They're in 3rd grade this year, and I'm proud to say that last month, I was able to finish up their 2nd grade pages - bringing their school albums up-to-date.

I love these albums. Each boy has a set of Becky Higgin's school album kits. I bought these several years ago (2009?) and then set up all the albums from preschool through 12th grade. Each grade has a set of papers and elements plus an envelope page.

To get organized each year, I keep a file box with a folder for each boy where I drop school papers as they come home. I try to just keep the best stuff - because it does take a ton of time to purge and sort all those school papers at the end of the year if you keep everything.

Once the end of the school year is here, I just print my photos and then start on the pages. Each grade has the same format.

The 8x10 school photo opens each set of pages...

...with the class photo and "about me" pages in between...

...then a photo collage and the envelope page.


Each grade has a different color but the same set of unifying elements.

I so love these albums - seeing the boys change through each year of school is very special. I'm happy to be creating these now as they go through school. Once graduation rolls around, I'll have their albums all ready to go.

Back to School Quick Tip

Do you have a million of these cluttering up your junk drawer?

School has been in session for 2 weeks here in Nebraska - and I imagine for most everyone else too. And with the start of the new year, it's time once again to clip and collect Box Tops.

I used to have a crazy mess of Box Tops scattered around my junk drawer - but no longer! Now, I keep a little basket and a pair of scissors in my junk drawer to make clipping and collecting those Box Tops super easy.

And when it's time to turn them in - i.e. the basket is full or the school has asked us to send them in - I can put them in a baggie and send them in one of the boys' backpacks.

Do you have a quick tip for back to school organization? I'd love to hear it...