Pattye Duffner's Blog

Handmade Valentines

 

 

This year I am making the valentines with the kids…  I can’t say it is cuter then any store bought ones but it was fun to make together and it is homemade.   

 

 

I had each kiddo write on a blank sheet of paper “Happy Valentines Day From --------” or what ever they wanted to add.  Ella added the word “friends” on hers (so cute) and the boys drew a heart.  After they each wrote their own valentines on their own sheets of paper I scanned the image and saved it as a jpeg.  I opened elements 5 and started…  Open a blank file to be the size of my colored sheets of paper (mine were 8.5 x 11).  Opened the jpeg of their original written words.  Simply dragging and resizing the words to fit on the page as I wanted,  (over and over and over and over) I had a finished image.  Flattened the jpeg and renamed it. 

 

 

 

From here I printed this new image onto colored paper.  Used a play doe cutter to trace onto the backsides of the colored paper and cut!    Using a small hole punch cut 2 holes for the sucker to weave through….  I put the finished valentines on glass bowls around the house for Valentine decorations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Book Belongs To

 

 

 

In planning Braedens 5^th birthday party I have made these for the guests.  He is having a book party and the plans have begun.  With not having as much free time as I use to I am trying to get anything done way ahead of time as I can in order to not feel rushed.  Here are the book labels I made out of Quinn, Ella, Braeden and Brittney (my niece and wonderful babysitter) artwork.  Scanning it and adding the frames in Adobe with the text to top it off.  I am thinking to print them out and the guests can write their own names on them when they are ready to use them… More ideas to come on the book party!

 

 

 

Pinewood Derby

 

The pinewood derby was Friday night and it was fun.  The kids along with Jerry all designed their cars and cut the out.  Jerry was so into it that it was cute.  Quinn made an army hummer, Ella’s was a littlest pet shop racer and Braeden’s was a hot wheel.  First you have to weigh the cars, and then impound them.  After all to do the races were on.  Quinn’s car was amazing… winning the fastest car of the night!  Bringing home a trophy, pin and patch.  The siblings did race each other and Ella could not be beaten.  Her times were amazing… The emcee of the night kept calling her “Ella no one can beat her Duffner”.   I am not sure why her car was unstoppable, maybe the glitter or even the rhinestone window?  We will never know.  They did not give awards to the siblings but good thing I guess because a Girl Scout wiped all the boys scouts on Friday night.

 

Project 365

I first heard about this project from Debbi and thought it was a very interesting concept.  Preserve a piece of your life every day for a year. Every year I do a “year book” for our family with all of the exciting events.  After much thought, this would be changing the way I have documented our family events for the past10 years I have decided to try it.    I still have my individual traditional scrapbooks for each baby but our “year book” for this year was going to be different.  I have added a photo album button on the side to keep me up to date on my daily photos.  Here are some links for some inspiration on this project.

 

Creating Keepsakes

 

photojojo

 

 Designers digital

 

6, 4x6 We Are Memory Keepers

Close To My Heart Photo Storage Pages

 

Scrapworks Scrap Smart System

 

Pebbles Inc. Share & Tell

 

 

6 Months

In the past 6 months you have changed everything... My world is a better place.

Another addition

 

Trying to get a photo of 4 kids and a dog is near impossible…  but super fun.  I could not stop laughing at us trying to get a new family photo.  The kids and the dog alike where not taking “commands” very well.  And I only had treats for the dog…  I am sure you can imagine what it was like.  I would like to introduce you to our newest family member Roxy.  The older kids have wanted a dog for some time now but we were in search for a perfect one… I do believe we have found her.  She may not be a “perfect” dog but she is a perfect fit.  We found her from a local Labrador rescue site.  She had been with a trainer foster mother for about 2 years working with the LA SPCA going daily to the Los Angles unified school district being a therapy dog.   She is 2 years old and is active, loving and playful… see what I mean she fits right in?

California Snow

 

Spending the day with at my brothers and sister in laws house playing in the snow was a perfect way to kick off the New Year.  The kids enjoyed the snow so much that they stayed out there all day.  Baby Davis and I stayed in the house where it was nice and warm most of the day.  Quinn loved using his buggy board as a “snow board”… man that kid is good at everything he tries.  No fear.  Ella loved making snow angels and eating the white snow.  Braeden loved making snowballs and throwing them… and Jerry loved every part of it! 

Happy New Year

 

Every year I like to take a Christmas Thank You Card photo on Christmas…  The kids are usually in a great mood and looking great in their Christmas pjs.  Let me tell you about a little secret we have to get our kids to smile so well.  While I am taking the photo, Jerry is doing the silliest things behind my back.  The kids think it is soooooo funny and just crake up every time.  I love how the photos turn out so what ever he is doing behind me works every time.  Someday I am sure I will find out what it is but for now it is worth not knowing.