Here is some of the messy aftermath of yesterday's Gratitude Journal-Making with the Activity Day girls. I had a full house with 13 girls here! They were very enthusiastic about this project, but man did they make a mess. I forget that they are so young and tend to give them too much credit, but I should know better by now. They soaked the stamps in black ink, so much so that my stamps now look like printing press pieces. They didn't listen to me when I mentioned that they should clean off the stamps before switching colors, so now my ink pads are all discolored with black ink (I really should have taken the black out of the container, what was I thinking?).
Here is one of the older girls' finished journal. It's kind of funny how crazy she went with the stamps, but I think that's rather cool. The journals were all pretty heinous, but the girls loved them and seemed excited to start writing in them at night. It's nice how uninhibited they are about creating, they don't have any of the style restraints like I have. I consider this activity a success, but it took me quite awhile to clean up everything and to shake-off the mess factor. (Nothing was ruined so it really doesn't matter that everything is thrashed looking, it was just shocking to see.)
Hannah stopped by in the middle of Activity Days to return a couple books I loaned her and to give me these two cute cards. The thank-you card included this package of rub-ons, so I'll be using those to make a set of cards today while I have Creative Wednesday at Michelle's house.
This cute card made by Hannah is an invitation to a cookie exchange she's hosting in December. (How clever is this invitation?) I've never made 12 dozen cookies before and am a little concerned. If you have any good recipes for this please email me and let me know. (You all have my email address already right?)
So today we're off to Michelle's house to have Creative Wednesday. The kids are out of school so it should be blissful for them. Hopefully they'll play outside a lot since the weather is nice. They're always good, but sometimes if they're inside and too close to us the chaos gets to me. I'll be working on finishing some good mail items that I meant to have ready yesterday (drat).
**How would you feel about your stuff getting soaked in ink?
Have you ever participated in a cookie exchange?
What do you have planned for your Thanksgiving Break?**
Have you ever participated in a cookie exchange?
What do you have planned for your Thanksgiving Break?**
Blogger spell check suggested dichloride for discolored. Um...okay.
16 comments:
I hate messy stamps, I would have the sandpaper out. I coat all of my stamps with clear varnish or clear nailpolish so they clean up nicely. I am glad you handle it so well. At least the girls had a good time, I wish I had known about gratitude journals so young!
I am hoping for a quiet weekend. We go to Jimmy's parent's tomorrow and then I will shop a bit on Friday morning.
Oh ya - I haven't ever participated in a cookie exchange. 12 dozen cookies does sound overwhelming!
12 DOZEN COOKIES??? yowza, I'd be overwhelmed too. Maybe you should do some type of bar cookie. That way you can more numbers (lemon bars?).
I think its hilarious you called the girls journals heinous. Jill, seriously, you make me laugh sometimes. BUT, in thier eyes, I bet they thought they were gorgeous. You are a GREAT activity days leader. Oh yeah, and I hear you loud and clear on the chaos thing. This is the third day kids have been home this week :P
I don't handle my things getting thrashed very well. It creates a little inner turmoil in me. One of my brothers and I were much this way as kid - that we didn't want to move our Christmas presents from the way Santa had left them for days. We wanted to savor the magic of the perfection. We also didn't want to use our crayons b/c we didn't want to ruin or break them. SAD I know. It's not like our parents were so broke that they couldn't get us more. We were just neat freaks with our stuff! So much for uninhibited youth. I guess it's not such a bad thing my boy likes to saw his crayons in half with knives. :-)
What a fun activity. My daughter would have loved that.
My parents are flying up here today. Then we are going to my in laws house for Thanksgiving.
When I pulled up I remembered that the girls would be there- sorry I came right in the thick of it! I would have been cringing seeing all my pretty stamps and pads in such bad shape. Glad they had a good time though- I bet they think you are the coolest.
This is my 6th year doing the exchange, so I know all about the craziness of it all. Bar cookies are great and do produce a ton. You also can make cookies that are smaller- or do half size cookies of a recipe. One year my friend did these really cute toasted coconut type cookies and they were like the size of a large marble.
Linc is home with no school for four whole days. I am giddy. I think we are going to try to paint our living room this weekend. If I can convince him it will be better than playing games with my brother...we shall see who wins :)
**How would you feel about your stuff getting soaked in ink? have no stamps..but not excited about the mess!
Have you ever participated in a cookie exchange? yes..12 dozen!??!?! what the heck!??! my vote is bars then!
What do you have planned for your Thanksgiving Break?** going to my parents tomorrow..then relax!
I have known others to do a cookie exchange but haven't done one myself. It intrigues me though. My only issue is I always wimp out when having to make that many cookies. I would definitely do bar cookies.
I want to shop on Fri so bad but am coming up empty with someone that wants to go with me. I have a couple days to figure it out. I might have to go solo!
I go back and forth with getting anal with my things getting dirty or ruined. Depends on the day it happens.
Hey Jill, I have some good recipes, but I don't have your email. We are making gratitude journals as a family for Thanksgiving. Thanks for your example!
I would be a little upset about my messy stamps too. You are very nice to let them use your stuff and I am sure they are all going to treasure their journals. I was (and still am) one of those kids who always has to over do it. Anytime we had to decorate everyone knew which one was mine becuase it was just "TOO MUCH"!! Laurie and I were friens and her pictures were always perfect. The were simple, clean and PERFECT! Mine were never simple, never clean and although they looked perfect to me, to everyone else they were a mess!! It just brings back so many memories of being young! I think it is so great that you are giving these girls such great experiences (I still remember my achievment days and my leaders too!)
Yeah, I would have a hard time with all the ink staining. I let the Young Women use some of my stamps and inks one time and even they made quite a mess of things.
I did a cookie exchange once, but it was probably about 13 years ago! I'm kinda excited about it.
You are a great leader to have that kind of activity at your house. I hate messess of all kinds. Since I don't own any really cool stamps I can only imagine how you'd feel seeing your stamps in such a condition.
I'm excited for the cookie exchange, I'm still trying to come up with a recipe, I'll probably do my Grandma's butter cookie recipe, but I really have no idea. It will be fun to all get together!
I keep on thinking today's friday, it's funny that you're having creative Friday on Wednesday.
We are just going up to Salt Lake to Lou's uncle's and aunt's house for dinner and they always go bowling afterwards. We'll probably get our tree sometime this weekend. I'm a little embarassed to say, I've had my other Christmas decorations up for about a week now.
I would be hating the messy stamps too. But I am anal about EVERYTHING. It sounded successful though.
I haven't participated in a cookie exchange but have heard a lot about them. Sounds fun to me! Hope you have a great creative Wednesday!
I participated in a cookie exchange last year and it was so much fun. My friend had us each bring a copy of our recipe and then she made a little booklet for each of us with all of the recipes. We also had some fun competitions like "Best Presentation", "Most Festive", etc. Some popular cookies were Chai-Spiced Almond cookie, Ritz cracker cookies, and caramel-filled chocalate cookies. If you want any of these, let me know. We too had to make 12 dozen but it was as bad as it sounds.
Bridget
bmahalek@yahoo.com
My mom did a cookie exchange while I was growing up and it was one of our favorite things to help her with since she rarely made cookies any other time. Get the kids involved. They will love it.
Hope you got lots done at Michelle's. The cards Hannah made are painfully cute.
Oh, my. I would not have been able to maintain my composure with all those girls messing up my stamps and stamp pads. Your attitude about it is very commendable.
Hannah's cookie exchange cards are adorable! How does she do it?
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