EEK! A Spider!

This is part of the Madagascar display. I am showing it to you because it is going to have the "gator" tail that is in the next picture in front of it with some grasses and greenery.

This is going to eventually say "Welcome". It will not have the gator tail. You will not be able to read Madagascar. It will be hanging in front of our church.

Do you see the spider dangling? I can already hear some little girl screaming over this one.

Here is a picture of one of the shacks we set up yesterday. There are little bugs/critters all over it. We used some cheesecloth moss and a little real moss as well. The scouts had an event at our church last night and it drew quite a bit of attention from the boys. I am excited to start to see everything getting assembled.

The "Dock Sweet Dock" sign adds some nice color. There will be a wooded dock around this and some cattails. I didn't want to get too carried away knowing there would be a group at the church.

Have a productive day!

Sheri

Birthday Card

My son had a birthday party to go to on Friday. So that morning I busted out this card. I ran the basketball and football through different cuttlebug folders to get some texture. It's simple, but I like how it turned out. I used to stamp set Good Sport from Stampin' Up! Have a great day!
Sheri

I Remembered...

My camera and to take pictures. Amazing, I know! This croc is one I found during one of my dumpster diving sprees. He was tore in a few spots an was missing a sign, so we created one for him (thanks for the poster file, Crystal). We actually have a new one out of the box as well. There one of five panels of our backdrop behind him. I didn't stage any of the photos so ignore all the clutter.

What do you think of the "rocks" that are going to be around a fishing hole?

Have you ever seen a cypress stump this big? Well, maybe, but you I know you've never seen such a cutie standing in front of a cypress stump like this one! She is one my faithful volunteers, and I appreciate her and her mother and sister a lot!

Look Ma, I can see where I am going now! We finally gave our dragonflies eyes.

These are two massive structures that were donated from the local movie theatre with a little help from my friend that works there. They were Madagascar 2 displays, but we've moved them into the swamp. They are going to have posters and we will add candid kid shots daily. Something fun for them to look forward to checking out while they are waiting for it to begin.

What's this you ask? These are leaves that have been die cut and are being taped to fishing line one by one. Talk about a labor of love! They are going to be hung in one of the rooms from the ceiling. This is only a portion of them. Remember when I said I can't believe I still have friends after VBS? It's projects like this one that make me understand that I have true friends!

Look, Ma, no tails! We are going to do something with this display as well. I haven't quite figured out what yet, but I'd better get with it! Is the song stuck in your head yet? Here let me help...You got to move it move it.

And last, but not least, the paper mache bobbers for the fishing room. So fun! I am not sure I will have VBS pictures tomorrow, but I might share some more card pictures if I muster the energy.

Dreamin' of crocs, docks, and dragonflies!

Sheri

Can't Leave Ya Hangin'!

So, I took my camera to the workday, I just happen to leave my brain behind. I am pretty certain it is functioning beyond current capacity. I am looking into an upgrade so it should catch with my all intentions soon. Huh?

Well, there are no VBS pictures, but here are a couple cards I made the other day. I am not going into detail because I only have a few minutes before I have to leave. If you have any questions let me know.

Have a fun day, I know I will!
Sheri

Getting There...

Today I worked from home on the VBS decorations. I transformed six flamingos into these Bayou birds. My boys thought they looked really cool. Then, I dyed cheesecloth and gauze to make it into moss. I am pretty certain that if I have to dye any more it would be a wonderful project for one of my willing volunteers ;) Then I finished up my seven foot boat. I put together my final work list. Then, I delivered almost everything left at my house to the church. I also inked up 10 more pieces of cardboard for docks. I also managed to finish all my laundry, cook a meal, and maintain a clean house. I've learned some peace keeping strategies over the years! Ready or not, here it (VBS) comes! I should have some more fantastic photos tomorrow. Our backdrop was painted and delivered. I just need to get some pictures. Have a great week!
Sheri

New VBS Decoration Pictures...

Without all the chatter! There are awesome lily pads that I asked a volunteer to make. I gave her free reign and was expecting much, much less (because I had asked for much less and I have been working on stuff for months and months and am out of energy and ideas). They are great! She is even painting ceramic frogs to sit on them and hold the flowers up. I love it when I ask someone to do something and they make it so much more than I could ever imagine.

There is one of the boats sitting by some cypress stumps.

Here is a Bait shop. The sign is being finished. Then we will need to actually adhere the roof and add moss and critters. The dock standing against the shack will be in front of it.

Yes, we added netting to the wings. They will eventually get really big google eyes as well.

This, my friends, is one of the best dumpster diving finds yet! Actually, it wasn't in the dumpster. I was at the local grocery store in January standing there staring at the Frito-Lay chip display. I think I was staring a little too long and made the vendor setting them up a little nervous. He asked if he could help me, next thing I know, the gentleman is helping me load two of these babies into my van. There was some corn and potatoes on them and we just added a little paint to cover them. They are going to be filled with baskets of fish, nets, worm cans, and maybe even some Cajun food. I will take pictures when they are completed. Next time you go to the grocery store see if you recognize the chip display disguised as a fish crate thingy.

Enjoy!

Sheri

The Proof Is In The Picture!

So I went to upload some pictures from my camera a few days ago and there was like 78 pictures. I knew I had only taken about 10, and as far as I knew nobody else had touched my camera. I guess I need to tell my four year old if he is going to take pictures without asking he might not want to include self portraits. There were several pictures of himself and a picture of a picture of himself that I had in a frame on a table. There were many angles of my couch, TV, his toys and the entry way. I was cracking up the whole time I watched the slide show.

These other pictures are of my six year old on Mommy Make Over day. The Friday before Mother's day his class invited the mom's for makeovers. There were several stations that included make-up applied, fingernails painted, toenails painted, hair styled, presents presented, and snack time. It was fun, and didn't he make my hair fabulous? I can't wait to show him when he is a teenager.

I have a group of helpers for VBS. We have put in many hours this week and have made lots of progress. I keep forgetting my camera. I have it packed and ready for tomorrow, so look for some new pictures tomorrow night or Saturday morning.

Tell someone you love how much you love them today!
Sheri

Mom's Group Craft

Today is the last Mom's group meeting before summer break. I was asked to lead a craft. This is what I came up with. Everyone will make one of the photo holders and two of each card. There are 10 of us. I cut all the paper and got everything ready to go. The ladies get to stamp and assemble everything. We have two hours together so between gabbing, eating, and crafting it will be a full schedule!

If you have any questions about the projects feel free to leave me a comment or email. I am too tired to post the details right now.

Have a crafty day!
Sheri

A Couple More Pictures For VBS

The gator is done! I think he will look pretty good sitting on some green cellophane surrounded by cattails and lily pads. There will even be a blue heron (that was a pink flamingo in his previous life) sitting near by.

The dragonfly will be hanging outside accompanied by his other 19 or so headless friends. I tried to figure out how to add an inexpensive non-labor intensive head/eyes and decided I like him just fine they way he is. I tried tennis balls that I had leftover from "atoms" but I just couldn't get them to work without the time and expense. I only have a couple weeks and so much to do! I will be living at my church this week surrounded by friends willing to help transform our desert church into a swampland! I will try to remember to take pictures and post a couple times this week.

Have an amazing day!
Sheri

Very Busy Productive Day

With not much proof! There were six of us that worked from 9am-3pm and made tons of progress for VBS. We made 30 or so worm cans, traced 10 or more characters, made 4 more grass panels, painted 3 shacks, painted 4 pylons, and painted 7 paper mache bobbers. I took a set of pictures of us working and then had to rush home to get the boys after school and didn't get any pictures of the finished products. One of my friends painted this Jacque Le Croc and welcome sign, plus another Crocodile Dock sign that she took home and I didn't yet get a picture. She is an amazing painter! The characters in black and white will be cut out and adhered to plastic table cloths. The are going to be in comic strip form. This is a project that can be done quickly and inexpensively and add a wow factor. In case you are wondering, I got the large sheets of white cardboard from Costco. They have them in between the toilet paper and paper towel stacks. They just throw them away. So every time I go there I get some. I needed 25 total. I can't believe I only have 3 more weeks before VBS is here. I am getting a little nervous! I have been procrastinating this year, way more so than most, and it has actually worked in my favor a few times. I had put off ordering some stuff and a parishioner came through and bought a lot of stuff for us. I had put off buying paint and another parishioner that works for a home builder came through with a lot of paint (you can see some of it in the outside picture). I only had to supplement with a few colors. I put off doing a lot of the work that the six of plowed through yesterday. I know it will all come together in the end...it always does, and hey with the adrenaline rush I have going because of the stress I might just lose some weight! Enjoy the pictures and have a great day!

Sheri