Teacher Summer Themed Gift Can

Don't know where the time has gone. I meant to post these photos a few weeks ago, but somehow forgot in the hustle and bustle of the end of the school year.

I wanted to make something creative and cute for my daughter's teacher for the year end gift from the class. All the parents chip in to get a gift card, but I thought it would be extra special to present it something other than just a card, tin or mini gift bag ... so taking Laurie's lead as seen here at jessicasprague.com, I created this faux "paint can" to present the gift cards.



I found the plastic, light weight "paint can" at Hobby Lobby. Wrapped it with pretty summer inspired paper.



Added similarly colored embellishments with a summer theme on the lid and front. Tied some pretty matching ribbons along the handle.



Then I stuffed it with goodies: Crystal Light Lemonade & Iced Tea mix, citronella candle, bookmark, candies (that just happened to match the papers and color of the summer theme: orange, blue and green), a summer flip flop box, and of course the gift cards.



Then topped it with crimped paper filler in matching colors. Cute as can be.




Had my printer been cooperating, I would have printed out some digital papers and used Kari Holt's awesome Gotcha Covered: Paint Can Template, but my printer has been acting up lately so I had to do it the hard way.

Summer Days

So last Thursday was the final day of school for my kids ... notice the distance between them. They are at a stage where they can't be caught dead touching each other or getting too close when being photographed. It took me about 10 minutes of pleading just to get them together this close. Hence the awkward faces. But it's the best I could manage before the bus arrived, so I took what I could get.



The kids spent the week of half days enjoying lots of pool parties with friends.


We are in full summer vacation mode here and it feels so great!

New Products and Last Day to Register for the Free Card Class

Today is the last day to register for Jessica Sprague's Free Card Class. Class started today! Come join us!


Here are two layouts with brand new Digi Pretties that just landed in the shop! Perfect for Fourth of July celebrations and summer travels! Check them out.

Monumental

jessicasprague.com

Queen of Quirk/Paislee Press
You Are Here Full Kit

Font: Spicy Sushi Roll

Star Spangled Celebration

jessicasprague.com

In The Making Design
Tricolor Paper Pack
Tricolor Element Pack
Make a Splash Frame Pack
Liv.e Designs
Warm Wuv & Soft Hugs - red ribbon w/heart charm

Splendid Fiins
Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol. 1

Font: Riesling

A day in Albany

Last week, my son's fourth grade class visited Albany for their year end field trip. I went along as chaperone. It was a long day, which started at about 7am ... and didn't end until after 5pm. But the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. We started our day at the Capital Museum which was filled with history of the State of New York. Oddly enough, most of the kids spent the majority of their time in the gift shop! The line to purchase souvenirs was completely wrapped around the perimeter of the store as multiple fourth grade students from at least 7 different classes waited patiently for the girls behind the ONE cash register to ring them up. After we escaped the gift shop, it was a whirlwind to see everything the museum had to offer in a quick 45 minutes.

The kids also enjoyed a ride on an antique carousel ... very cool! Can't say I remember the last time my 10 year old rode one! Somehow it was cool though, because everyone else was doing it. I'm sure it will be awhile before I see that again.

We stopped to eat lunch and then it was off to the Capital building for a tour of our local government at work. The building is so impressive. I had no idea how gorgeous and ornate it was. Below is an image of the ceiling in the reception area, where one would enter to see the governor.



We sat in on assembly voting sessions, walked into the press room where our current governor and governors of the past have made speeches, including Teddy Roosevelt himself. Impressive.

After a brief meeting with Senator Stephen Saland, his photographer had our class pose with him on one of the ornate staircases outside his offices. Here's the photo from his website:



We finished the day with a trip up to the observation deck. What a pretty view of the Albany area from up here!
And then it was back on the bus for the loooooong bus ride home. It's times like these, an ipod and earbuds are heaven sent inventions! ;)

Cherish these Moments

While catching up on posting layouts that were done for jessicasprague.com, I found one that I submitted but never posted online. It's my brother and his son at the Boardwalk in Pt. Pleasant NJ. My nephew is the sweetest, cutest little guy. So wish they lived a little closer. He's going to be grown up before I know it! (sniff, sniff)

Cherish these Moments

jessicasprague.com

Linda Roos {In the Making Designs}
Mandarin Breeze Paper Pack
Mandarin Breeze Element Pack
Buttons and Strips

Liv Esteban {liv.e designs}
Offset Frames


And I hope you all stopped by for the blog hop this past weekend!
What a blast!

For those that downloaded my Quickpage and are wondering what the best way to get your photo onto the layer: all you have to do is get out your magic wand tool, make sure contiguous is checked in the options bar, and click down in the black area of the rounded rectangle. Hit delete and you can add your photo underneath. Alternately, you can get out your paint bucket after using the magic wand to select the black rounded rectangle area, add a new layer, and fill it with the paint bucket tool (color doesn't matter). Then add your photo to this new layer as a clipping mask. Hope this helps!

It's Blog Hop time ... because You Are Awesome!

Hey there!

It's jessicasprague.com's 3rd birthday this month!
Starting right now, and running through Sunday June 20th at 10pm, you'll have a chance to download 33 amazing digital freebies! (YUP, 33!!!) Classes and products are 20% off in the store! And Jessica is offering a Free Class that starts June 28th: register here!

Here are the details for the You Are Awesome Blog Hop:

Here's my Quickpage freebie download for you:
(just click on the image to start the download)

If you are just joining this blog hop now, go back to Jessica Sprague {spraguelab}
to start the blog hop at the beginning, with our divine digital Queen, Miss Jessica herself!

Or, if you've been following along since the beginning, please head on over to Creative Team Member Roshni's blog, Roshni's Paper Trail for your next freebie.

Don't forget to unzip your quote strips, rearrange them in the correct order and email them to tori@jessicasprague.com for a chance to win an awesome raffle prize ... because, well You ARE Awesome!!!

Shipping Sale ...

Just a reminder that I am having a Shipping Sale on my Pretty in Posies website and in my Etsy shop. Buy any three items and shipping to any one location in the world is free. Your shipping fees will be refunded when your order ships. Stock up on felt pretties to match all your summer sundresses. Custom colors requests for existing flowers designs are always welcome! :)

The JessicaSprague.com 20% Birthday Sale continues for just one more week. 20% off all product and current self-paced classes !!! And here's a Sweet Summer layout:

Perfect Summer Day

jessicasprague.com

Kari Holt {iKari Designs}
Save the Date Vol. 4 Krafty Labels
Glitter Spills

Liv Esteban {liv.e designs}
Summerific Labels
Paper Swirlies
Naturally - (blue paper)

Crystal Wilkerson {Creativity by Crystal}
Summertime Elements
Office Supplies

font: Writing Stuff

The Birthday Celebration continues ...

JessicaSprague.com is turning 3! There are so many ways we are celebrating!

First, registration for the free class: Computer Tricks for Card Making is now open. Click here to register.

Second, Liv and Linda, are putting together three days of challenges! CT member Chrissy aka TheScrapGirl has volunteered to lead one of the birthday challenges too! Read on for the details.

And third, we will be hosting a HUGE blog hop this weekend with lots of freebies. Check it out!


See you at the birthday bash! :)

Free Class

Hey there! Hope your summer is going well. If you have some free time this month and are looking for something fun to do, check out the free class Jessica Sprague is offering:

Computer Tricks for Card Making.
Registration starts June 14th.

Once you register, the class is available to you forever. So even if life is too busy to keep up with now, you can always go back to it later! Neat huh?!

I also have 2 layouts to share:

Sweet Boy

Crystal Wilkerson {Creativity by Crystal}
Sweet Vintage Charm Papers
Sweet Vintage Collection Elements

Danielle Thompson {Kitschy Digitals}
Granny's Sewing Basket
Vintage Stacked Flowers
Fabric Covered Buttons Kit
Watercolor Doilies Paper
Vintage Camera Kit (woodgrain scallop border)

Liv Esteban {liv.e designs}
Not Quite White Paper Pack

Font: Vintage

Sweet Shoppe Designs:
Lace - Carnival Collection

Actions:
PW Actions-
Seventies
Lovely & Ethereal

Coffee Shop-
Vintage Honey

My New Bike

Nisa Fiin {Splendid Fiins}
Keaton's Closet -Spots
Keaton's Closet - Alphabet
Keaton's Closet - Coordinates

Liv Esteban {liv.e designs}
I Sing for Spring (circle tag -recolored)
Softly, Gently

Jessica Sprague
Thank Ya Kindly Kit (Kraft Tag)

Crystal Wilkerson {Creativity by Crystal}
Office Supplies Element Pack

Anna Aspnes
Stitched by Anna -white 5

Ecletic Designs by Gabi
Naturals Paper

The Jessica Sprague Birthday Party ...

Just wanted to share the good news (and there's a lot of it) !!! JessicaSprague.com is having a sale! 20% off all products ... including all self- paced classes that are available currently! How amazing is that? The Sale runs from today until June 21, so make sure you get your shopping done pronto!

If that's not enough ... Jessica will be offering another one of her amazing FREE classes. Computer Tricks for Cardmaking is a brand new class that will start June 28th. I'll post an update when registration starts on June 14th.

And here's a new layout for this week:

Watermelon Dimples

jessicasprague.com
Crystal Wilkerson {Creativity by Crystal}
Crystal's {Playground} Element packCrystal's {Playground} Paper Pack (coming soon)
Font: Writing Stuff

The entire layout was created with Cyrstal's Playground Papers and Elements. That's it nothing else. So versatile, it truly has everything!
(OK so I did sneak in a little journaling font.)

Free Shipping Offer

Buy 3 or more items and get FREE SHIPPING. Please pay as usual, as soon as your order is ready to ship (about 24-48 business hours) your shipping fees will be refunded via paypal. If you prefer to wait for a revised invoice with shipping fees removed, please contact me using the Etsy Conversation feature. Free Shipping offer valid for 1 "ship to" address anywhere in the world!

Happy Summer!