Looking forward to FEBRUARY!!!!!

Since we're all looking to a brand new year ahead, and I'm a learning junkie, I wanted to tell you about something I'm participating in! It's LAYOUT A DAY, a month-long class with Lain Ehmann, coming in February.

"LOAD 213" and is Lain's most popular class and opens for general registration today!!!! I never miss a LOAD and it is always a wonderful, fun experience for me as a scrapbooker/memory-keeper.

Want to learn more about it? Alrighty then!

Well-- what is LOAD 213?  

It's a month-long scrapbooking challenge is Lain's most popular class. The fun begins February 1. 

What does it include? 

LOAD 213 includes 28 daily videos, 28 daily prompts, and 28 sample layouts.

Is there a theme for LOAD 213? 
Yes, there sure is! This year, the theme  is "28 days to a more joyful and creative life!"  

Can I get a discount? 
That's a very important question and "YES" is the answer!! Lain has  created a special discount for people who sign up thru links like the one right HERE on my Blog. If you use code FUN at checkout you can get $10 off, just because! But-- this discount expires Monday, 1/7, at midnight. 

How do I sign up?
Go HERE! Remember to use the discount code FUN at checkout to get $10 off!
That's it, easy-peasy. 

Have a wonderful day!!! Happy New Year!

~

Some new layouts...

Like everyone else, we've been busy over the holidays but I snuck some scrappy-time in there as well. :)Teehee!

In many cases, there were things "hangin' around" on my scrap desk and in my scrap-room that were begging to be placed safely on layouts. 

This layout is a perfect example. Bryan, in Grade 4, made a "locker badge"  as a sort of name tag for his locker. Each of the kids in his class did this and they took the badges home at the end of the school year. 

Ahem... well, Bryan is now 17 and in GRADE ELEVEN, (yes-- you read that correctly) & I am FINALLY getting his Grade 4 locker badge scrapped so it can be saved for posterity! 

There is also a note that he wrote to his teacher, Mrs. Annette Archibald, at the end of the year. :)  

"Locker Badge"

I used some wild zigzag paper to denote the energy of his creation. I think it it turned out kinda cute. See the animals, and Aurora aircraft, plus the heart and  trees on his Locker Badge??

His note to the teacher reads:

Dear Mrs. Archibald,
I will miss you over the summer.
You are the best teacher I have ever had.
~ Bryan MacDonald

Supplies:
Patterned papers and cardstock: all CTMH
Yellow lettering: Glitz Teeny Alpha- yellow block
White title lettering: Forever in Time

Here's another layout that got some things OFF my scrap desk and safely into an album!

"Magnets"

Journaling reads:

Back when I was on the Design Team at Scrapbooker’s Club House, I did a tutorial about creating kitchen magnets from recycled and upcycled materials. I displayed these magnets on our fridge for a few years and once the kids got older, I “retired” them. I cannot bring myself to throw out photos of people I love, so the magnets will stay here on a scrapbook page for posterity. J  Oakley was Kate’s pony at the time and she had a magnet too! J

-Journaling Dec 26, 2012

Tutorial basics for SBCH

Gather your supplies. You will need the items listed in the supply post on the SBCH Forum.

Measure your chosen cardstock so that it will cover the magnet.

Adhere the cardstock to the magnet with gluestick.

Decide on the size of photo you’ll be applying to your magnet. This will depend on the size of the magnet and the photo you’re using. Crop the photo to the desired size. Do not adhere it yet.

If desired, ink the edges of your cardstock-covered magnet.

If desired, mat your photo with cardstock and ink the edges of the photo mat. Adhere the photo to the magnet. Use gluestick or any adhesive you prefer. Place the photo anywhere you want it on the CS covered magnet.

If using pp, adhere to the desired area of magnet.

Mat the letter (“initial”) as desired. I triple matted and inked mine. Position the matted initial on the magnet, and adhere.

Embellish the magnet with the ribbon, adhered with ribbon glue.

Display and enjoy in office, kitchen or scraproom!

Supplies:

Patterned paper and cardstock: all CTMH

Lettering: Forever in Time

Magnets: ALL created from scraps, odds 'n ends!

Here are some riding photos from Fall 2012 that I was thrilled to place on a page. As you know I absolutely LOVE to scrapbook riding pictures! Since Kate has been away at college, I have had fewer of these types of photos to scrapbook. :( I miss that! 

That said, Daniel, age 12, likes to ride and takes weekly lessons from our coach, Alissa Cue, at Rohan Wood Stables. 

I always say that Daniel is a "fair-weather rider," because he prefers to ride when it is not COLD. The poor kid really hates the cold and so stops his lessons once winter sets in. I don't blame him!   Peter took these photos of Daniel on Bolt at one of his last lessons in the fall. They're gorgeous. Makes my job as a scrapper easier! You can tell how much fun Daniel was having riding on that day. :)  

"Riding Bolt"

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Dakota Collection-  CTMH
Cardstock: Pacifica- CTMH
Ink: Outdoor Denim- CTMH
"BOLT" lettering: Urban felt alphabet- CTMH
"Riding" lettering: Multicrafts Imports
Circle punch: Fiskars
"B" Bottle cap: found item (LOL)
Brown block: Blitz Teeny Alpha
Brass button upper left: my stash
Journaling pen: CM (fine tip)
Micro-tip scissors: CTMH
Other: Copper wire

"Strength"

 Journaling reads: 

There is value in discipline and riding requires it... plus strength, dedication and a love of horses.

~Daniel riding Bolt, October 2012

Supplies:
Patterned papers: Dakota Collection-  CTMH
Cardstock: Barn Red- CTMH
Ink: Barn Red and Chocolate- CTMH
"Strength" lettering: Cork alphabet inked in Barn Red- CTMH
Journaling pen: CM (fine tip)
Corner rounder: CM

Thanks for popping by, everyone! I have another layout almost done and will add it soon, promise! Maybe that means I will post it later today! Hopefully.

Happy New Year to you all, and Happy Birthday to my best friend and husband of 20 years, Pete. xoxo

~

Sugar Cookie recipe

 My Sugar Cookies... I know I promised you the recipe!!

 Here it is!!

 Sugar Cookies  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients: 

1 cup margarine

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 tsp baking soda

dash of salt (= about 1/4 tsp)

1 tsp vanilla

"Pam" or grease a cookie sheet.

Mix all ingredients using your mixer.

Roll into 1” balls, roll balls in a little white sugar. 

Place on cookie sheet.

Press down gently with a fork or the bottom of a glass.

Bake 10- 11 min, just watch carefully-- 'til SLIGHTLY golden- my ovens have varied over the years so not sure of exact time. Right now it is 10 minutes- in my current oven! LOL

Enjoy! These are delicious and light tasting and freeze like a DREAM. 

My kids love them!!!! xoxox

~

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog

I am "joining in" at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog this coming year! (See their blinkie is over in my sidebar!?) :)  I am so excited!

One of my friends, Lynnette Nagle, is on the newly announced DT there, and I am  pretty excited to play along.

Have heard a LOT about this concept and cannot wait to 'Shop my Stash' and create kits to work with.

Gotta love it!

See you there? Sure hope so!

~

Shopping made easier!

As most of you know, I have MS and that can be challenging. For me, it means my legs don't always cooperate that well as far as walking goes!

I am a little scared to go too far out of my comfort zone lately due to the walking challenges, so I wanted to share with you some ways that I am managing the holiday shopping! (I manage birthday shopping the same way.)

Since actually "going out" and doing the shopping alone is pretty hard for me at this point, I have a few tricks to share with anyone who wants to make this season's shopping easier!

• My own small businesses help me get gift-shopping done! I can order through Regal and Close To My Heart to make gift-giving easier. THEY DELIVER right to the customer's (and my!!) door! 

• Scholastic Books: I just choose and order what the kids would like when the forms come home from school. Then I tell family members about the items I have purchased. Family are thrilled to give books, and thus, their shopping is DONE through me! AND:  it helps our schools! Extra books? Santa brings them! More shopping done.

• School fundraisers: Sometimes the things the school has for sale as fundraisers helps gift-giving dilemmas. Use this to your advantage!  This fall, we gave a subscription to Time magazine to a hard-to-give-to person who loves to keep up on news and current events. Last year, we found some Italian-styled kitchen accessories for our beloved neighbors who enjoy cooking. PERFECTION! 

• Avon: I use Avon as a HUGE help in purchasing gifts!  My Avon lady delivers and takes orders online. This is awesome. I can help her small business this way, too.

• Non-profit group fundraisers: A friend's kids are in Beavers and she was helping them sell frozen cookie dough as a fundraiser! Guess who bought some cookie dough to make cookies that will be perfect for eating at Christmas? (Shortbread and double chocolate.) 

• Watkins:  My friend is a representative for this company. She had a fantastic item available that I have ordered for my MIL. It comes in a gift box, too! Look at this! LOL 

**Watkins Holiday Gift Pack for the Baker!!** 
"Gourmet Bakers’ Essentials"
This pre-packaged gift assortment will arrive in a stylish white gift box with classic black logo and bow! An assortment of extracts and baking basics that is a must-have for every home.
Pure Almond (2 fl oz/59 mL)
Pure Lemon (2 fl oz/59 mL)
Pure Vanilla (2 fl oz/59 mL)
Purest Granulated Black Pepper (6 oz/170 g)
Purest Ground Cinnamon (6 oz/170 g)
Baking Powder (9.24 oz/262 g)
All-Natural Baking Cocoa (3.9 oz/110 g)

• Other: Ordering from online businesses whose owners have products and services that we need is easy...I do this regularly!

Examples-

Scrappin' Great Deals  

Hampstead House Books 
Scrapper's Inner Circle 

Each of these businesses provide delivery and their products and customer service are superb.

• Another idea is to simplify by using what you are "good at" as a gift.  MAKE your Christmas gifts. I love doing this! 

- Last year I made my Mom and my MIL each a set of 20 all-occasion cards. They loved them! (My business is called The Perfect Card.)

- I like to make Cracker Candy to give as gifts. Another post on that, soon!

- I also love to bake when my legs are being cooperative, LOL!
Sugar Cookies make a great gift! Will share recipe soon!

- This fall I "scrapbooked" 6 pages of SIL's wedding photos and also created 2 pages showcasing her wedding invitation (I took it apart so she could see both the inside and outside). I am so excited to be able to give this to her!

• Make and give recipe mixes! The ones layered in the Mason jars are so enticing!

This  Christmas, DD plans to make some mixes for her Aunts. I found her some ideas at:
All recipes
Recipe link 
Recipe Goldmine

So, you can see how much fun you can have while shopping from home! You're supporting your community members, your OWN small business or the businesses of others, while not even leaving your house.

And remember: You can even use your own creative skills to make gifts, treats, or gifts-in-a-jar mixes. All of this makes shopping easier & reduces the number of shopping trips you need to make!

I hope some of these ideas were helpful to you!

Ohhhh, I have one more idea for my scrappy friends. Want a little pre-Christmas giftie? This is a treat my DH is giving me!! Read on and enjoy checking out Lain Ehmann's latest scrapbooking class. Lain's courses and  educational materials are second to none. She is my favourite scrapbooking instructor. And, this is so reasonably priced, it'll make you smile. 
Here is the link to "Your Stories, Your Life" - check it out! Hope to see you there!

Chat soon!
~

Memories MATTER!

As you all probably know I LOVE Lain Ehmann and her classes are right up my alley!
Well, she has a new class starting soon and my hubby is giving it to me as a little pre-Christmas giftie.
The class is called "Your Stories, Your Life."
I'm taking it because I love to scrapbook.
...Because I love to tell stories.
...Because MEMORIES MATTER.

...Won't you join us?
I'd be so thrilled to see you! Use the link "Your Stories, Your Life" to register. It's that easy! And-- the low price will make you a Happy Camper! So much value!
See you there!
~

Forest Run

Hello everyone!!
Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. Have been working on some organizing and general types of things here while the kids are at school and I will have a post ready to go about that soon! For today, I have a new layout to share!
I  am not a big vintage scrapper but had to try it for a Challenge this month  over at Sisterhood of Scrap. Even on this vintage LO, you can see that I am a relatively simple scrapper. That's the way I like it!
Here you go!

"Forest Run"
Daniel, Fall 2010
Photos by Kate and her friend Katelynn

I am so  happy with the way it turned out! :)

Journaling:

Here are the coolest photos of Daniel, EVER. Kate snapped them. She and her friend Katelynn Marshall were doing an assignment for their Grade 11 English course. They called it their “Macbeth photography project.” The girls had to take a picture for each Scene of the play. When I found the photos and asked her about it, Kate told me that the project had earned them a mark in the “high eighties range” and that the teacher “was a tough marker.”

These photos were taken in our backyard, in the woods behind the fenced-in area. I think Kate lent Daniel the shirt, making him look very old-fashioned.

Love the expression on his face as he looks back at the camera!!!!

Photos by Kate- Fall 2010

Journaling- August 2012

Supplies:

Cardstock- Cranberry (distressed with emery board): Close To My Heart 

Ink- Desert Sand: Close To My Heart

Patterned Papers-

Red print- Elemental collection from Close To My Heart

Ledger- Typeset collection from Close To My Heart

Small neutral floral (journaling block)- Wings collection from Close To My Heart

Embellishments: unknown, both old stash, possibly by Memories Forever

Giant Ricrac: Savvy n Sassy (old stash)

Lettering: BasicGrey (distressed with emery board)- old stash

Font: Arial (bolded with a text box surrounding the journaling)

Hope you lie this one! I'm also working on three special layouts I will be giving as part of our Christmas gift to 2 close relatives, so stay tuned! 

Thanks for coming by and having a peek, everyone! 

~

FAST Layout!!!!

Hi everyone!
Had the pleasure of creating a fast, easy layout this weekend.
It was based loosely on a challenge at Sisterhood of Scrap (SOS).
Why not pop on over and see what challenges the SOS Team has in store for us in October? The link to SOS is HERE. You'll love the friendliness and caring you'll find there, never mind talent, challenges and fun!
See you there!

My newest layout:

Annual Fall Visit 2011

This LO shows my in-laws, Chris and Doug, with my sis-in-law Patricia and her kids, Sophie and Sam. :) My in-laws were visiting them, in Ontario,  as they do every year in the autumn.

Had fun with this one. The challenge asked us to use Washi tape. I don't have any, so I used Painter's Tape. When Pete brought it up to me, I couldn't believe my EYES: the 2 colours we had were exactly a match for Sam's hoodie! LOL... Pete laughed about it too!

Special thanks to my MIL, Chris, for the photos!

Hope you enjoy.

Supplies: 

CS: CTMH "Pear"
Patterned Paper: CTMH "Footloose" collection
Ink: CTMH "Indian Corn Blue"
Painter’s tape: both were Scotch- 2 colours in different widths 

Chipboard Stars- old stash from Scenic Route. [~2007!!!]

Stickles- "Mermaid" (Ranger)

Font: captions- Arial

Font: title- DejaVu Sans 

Hope to see you again soon! Thanks for popping by- I would love to hear what you thought of this FAST layout!! :) Have a happy week!

Cards!

I am so happy.... I'm now doing up cards for 4 different reasons...

1- Those that are ordered by clients
... and three that are volunteer roles! I'm their official card-maker!
2- Valley Autism Support Team: cards as TY for guest speakers, volunteers, etc...
3- Evangeline Pony Club: cards for various reasons~ Sympathy, Thinking of you, TY...
4- Free Spirit Therapeutic Riding Association: cards being made for the same reasons as above.

This means that I have more reason than ever to "Batch Process" the card-making steps. Sometimes I make 2 cards at the same time, each similar yet unique.

Here are two new cards:

1. This one was created for a guy who liked cars and "plaid." LOL!
Since we are in NS I used some NS tartan and a portion of a graphic that came from The Graphics Fairy. (TY!) If you saw this in real life you’d notice that the car graphic is “popped up” to make it show up better. Looks very cool.

Birthday card

2. This card was requested for a businessman in our community who did smthg great for a local charity. The cars are one portion of a graphic that came from The Graphics Fairy. (TY!)

Thank you card

Supplies for the above:

Cardstock: CTMH "Grey Wool"
Patterned paper: CTMH "Elementary" paper collection
Ink:  CTMH "Outdoor Denim" (both)
       CTMH Desert Sand (both)
       CTMH "Vanilla Cream" (top card)- this is pigment ink  
Black pearls: CTMH- Licorice "Opaques Adhesive Gems"
NS Tartan: Clearance at local dept store
Ribbon Glue: MM
Thanks Stamp: Inkadinkado
Happy Birthday Stamp: CTMH "Look Who's..." set
Graphic: The Graphics Fairy (TY)

Adhesive foam squares- Forever In Time
Fiskars photo splits
UHU Glue stick

Sure hope you've enjoyed these! Please pop by again soon! :)

Travelling the road with you...

Travelling the Road with You
Designed and created by Yours Truly
 Layout #105 in 2012

Pete and I had a hard time getting a decent photo. Sorry- a tad blurry!
This is a layout I created in response to a challenge over at Sisterhood of Scrap (SOS). The challenge was to use the quote you see matted in red.

The journaling reads:

Travelling the road with you…
Noah, we had your Individual Program Planning Meeting with your Team yesterday. We’re very excited because at this point, you are about halfway through Level Three in the STAR program… which only includes three levels.
You have been working on the STAR program as part of your individual programming since Grade Primary. Your Resource Teacher told us that what still remains to be accomplished in STAR Level Three will probably take up most of this, your Grade 4 year.
When you get close to completing the last STAR program level, our Team will, under the guidance of your Resource Teacher, design the appropriate “next” learning steps based on what you need to tackle. How exciting is THAT??
It has been, and IS, a long journey, but you are making a steady progress that is AMAZING in itself, for a little boy who began travelling this road with no language and many challenges. So proud of you, Noah!
Thankful for the STAR program, the premise and practice of “inclusion with support,” and the amazing, forward-thinking school that includes us and Argo as part of your Team.
We’re with you for the long haul!
It’s so good to be travelling with you.

Love, Mom and Dad

Caption lower right:
Journaling by Mom~ September 27, 2012
Photo: Noah and Bryan, trampoline fun- June 2012
**Star Program Level Three chart- inside the pocket.**

Supplies- 
Indian Corn Blue Cardstock: CTMH
Outdoor Denim CS: CTMH
Cranberry CS: CTMH
Desert Sand CS: CTMH
Patterned paper: CTMH
Corrugated cardboard oval: CTMH
Ink: CTMH Desert Sand
Ink: CTMH  Indian Corn Blue
Font: Arial, bolded
Lg Blue Brads: CTMH blue assortment
Sml Red Brads: Bazzill
School bus rub-ons: Piggy Tales
"Twill" fabric stickers: Ruby Lemonade

Thanks for coming by, everyone! Have a happy weekend!
I am off to start preparing my Close To My Heart order.
Placing it with the company tonight! :)  YAY!
~

Travel far, hand in hand...

I think wedding cards are my favourite thing in the world to design! Here is a special one that I created for an upcoming Thanksgiving wedding. It was ordered by some wonderful repeat clients for their son and new daughter -in-law.

Here is the outside:

Wedding Card
Designed and created by Ali MacDonald

Notes:

The rub-on open hearts on left side (front) were filled with Glossy Accents (Ranger).

Black leaves on right side were coated with Glossy Accents.

Swirly Chipboard (CB) accent on top left was embellished w/ Glossy Accents.

Supplies: 

Swirly chipboard piece: CTMH.

Acrylic overlay and cathedral pic- Unknown-  These were together, a sale item (CLEARANCE) at Zellers a few years ago.  Classy, no? LOL

Ink (Desert Sand): CTMH

Flowers: CTMH

Brads: CTMH.

Bamboo CS: CTMH

Pale green patterned paper: CTMH  (discontinued line.)

 Green self-adhesive pearls: Dollarama- "Crafts" brand

Here are some details (in a closer photo):

Detail shot: wedding card, lower right corner
(Sorry shot is a bit fuzzy)

Inside of card embellished with black rub-ons: 

Inside greeting: Wedding card

Oh—that font is Tabitha (a freebie fave of mine). 

Thanks for popping by everyone!!!!! See you soon!
~

Sketch time!!

I am a member over at Sisterhood Of Scrap (SOS) and I love it there. Carla posted a Sketch Challenge for us and I had to try it out. 
Here's the Sketch...

(Carla noted that this Sketch was from Scrapbook Challenges)

...and here's MY interpretation!

Noah's Class trip: Swim Time, June 2012

Journaling reads: Noah, you had so much fun on your Grade 3 Class Trip! You went to Yogi Bear’s Campground, just a few minutes from home. You and Argo were with Mrs. Sabine and you had a blast along with your class. There was so much to do! The swimming was your favourite activity, and it was the first time you wore your new lifejacket. You had grown out of your old one: Getting so big! You can tell by these photos how much you loved the water!

June 2012

This LO was fun to do because I had scored such a deal on the brand name scrapbook papers and embellies. Normally I buy CTMH products and combine those with what I already HAVE but the papers were such a low price that I bought them. In Additionally, they were water/boy themed and were perfect for Noah!

Supplies-

Yellow lettering: Rose Mocha

Green lettering: Glitz Teeny Alpha

Papers & boat/sun embellies- K&Company "Baby Boy" scrap kit made in 2010

Cardstock: CTMH Dutch Blue and Outdoor Denim 

Journaling Block: CTMH Goldrush

Ink: CTMHOutdoor Denim

Parentheses: both styles from CTMH My Acrylix Stamp Set "On the Edge" C1399

Doodling pen: CM fine point, black

Font: Arial Unicode MS

Thanks for looking, I hope you liked the LO and will pop by again soon! :)

 ~

ORGANIZATION and AUTISM: A success!

This weekend, I was able to solve a longstanding storage and organizational  problem. I have often said that mothering a little guy with Autism Spectrum Disorder can turn a Mom into a bit of a "hoarder." 

I've solved this issue in one "department" by thinking outside the box, so I wanted to share. 

First, WHY do I  say that I feel a bit like a hoarder????? 

Well, because of Noah's special needs and "quirks", it seems like we need to KEEP HANDY anything that could possibly to help our little guy, who has autism, thrive!  

Here are a few points that will explain how this "is" our situation. 

1) TOYS HANG AROUND LONGER

Our first child, (Kate) just left for college. Noah our child with ASD, is 10 years old. In between, we have Bryan (17) and Daniel (12).  :) 

Due to Noah's developmental delays, we've kept some toys around muuuuuuch longer than we originally would have. Usually we'd pass  things on to others. 

Toys that Noah is interested in do not get put away, sold at yard sales, or handed down. Because he is interested in them, they are useful in helping him learn! 

This, for example, translates into a million Fisher Price animal figures. Noah, true to his name, loves his animals and will line them up, tell us what they are, make them 'speak' to one another, arrange them just so, etc... Because he is fascinated by them, animals have been a way "in" when we were trying to help him  to begin communicating verbally. They're important to him. So-- we keep them handy in his room. 

Noah and his animals

Keeping Noah's animals also means that we also have whatever comes with them- the "Little People", the barn, the ark, the zoo, the animal hospital, and all the little accessories that accompany them! Those include pretend fencing, cars, feed bins, etc... It's quite a batch of toys!

2) BOOKS = TOYS

For Noah, books are the same as toys! Books are his "thing" and the ones with animals in them are super-important and much-loved. This explains why Noah is 10 yrs old yet his copy of the hilarious Moo-Baa La-La-La! by Sandra Boynton has never been put away. Yes, we do rotate books but having had one LOST- or not available- because it is in a box in the storage room has caused HUGE problems! Noah has asked and asked and asked for the same book over and over, necessitating a not-always successful book-hunt amid the stored boxes of books. Not fun. Sometimes it can go on for days. It's stressful for the poor kid, never mind the family!

We have even had books that Noah saw 2-3 years ago at school be requested constantly until a community-wide hunt was launched and an educational assistant and friend who had been Noah's preschool teacher came to the rescue. Whew. It took a week of searching and we now GUARD K is for Kissing a Cool Kangaroo! by Giles Andrea and Guy Parker-Rees with our lives! LOL  (Thank You, Lori.) 
Just a note: The teacher who had the book Noah remembered was no longer teaching at our school. Otherwise I am certain she'd have helped us out!

3) LEARNING TO TYPE

Noah types things into the search bar on YOUtube because he likes to access fave VHS movies. [Example: Joe Scruggs' Deep In The Jungle].  He looks at a video cassette (VHS) and copies the words he sees to get to the show he wants. This works very well for the little guy! You will often see Noah at one of our computers with a VHS tape next to the screen as he types in words copied from the case. He's self taught. Pete and I are very excited to see him recognizing the usefulness of typing by using it to get where he wants to be,  online!

4) "NO TV for me!!!"

That said, Noah will not watch anything on our TV/VCR. He becomes anxious and says "Turn off, please."  He likes to access Youtube on one of the computers and watch things online. He will switch the sound on and off, re-watch the parts he is interested in many times, and so on.  All of this is supporting his visual and auditory needs. Folks whose kiddo or family member has intense sensory issues will understand. (At some point we hope to be able to harness the YOUtube interest to use video-modelling as a tool.)  

So, we didn't dare store or get rid of ANY of the VHS-movies because Murphy's Law guaranteed that Noah would  ask for one that had been given away OR we wouldn't know which box it was in, and that would be very upsetting and hard for him to understand.

5) Perseveration of ideas

Anyone who has had a child with Autism ask repeatedly for something and not understand that it is GONE can relate. Perseverance on one idea or item can go on for days (or longer) for some kids. We have one item Noah asks for ("Numbers and Letters CD") that we cannot get for him and is not here at home. We aren't sure we EVER EVEN HAD IT. It could be smthg he has seen somewhere else, maybe at school.  He has been asking for that CD for the past three years. He is so focused on it that sometimes we go weeks where it is mentioned twenty or more times a day. (For some kids with ASD,  that could be hundreds of times a day...)
See what I mean? It's hard always saying "I don't know where that is, Noah" or "No, we don't have that, I'm sorry." And for three YEARS? And oh- I forgot- you can't always predict what the wanted/needed item will be, or WHEN it will be asked for. You get the picture.  You don't want to risk not having something your little person needs, so it's REALLY hard to get rid of anything! 

In short, here, putting a kids' video into the VCR will simply drive our little guy right out of the room and into a state where anxiety rules. We DON'T want to do that to Noah. He does not watch videos.  BUT... we kept all of them-- FOUR KIDS' WORTH-- because Noah enjoys looking at the movie cases (he is extremely visual, like many kids with ASD) and uses them to guide his typing!

So, here we are, 2012, married 20 years, with this MASSIVE VHS  collection of kids' movies no-one watches. It is messier "visual clutter" than the many books Noah has on hand, and involves more work than caring for his animal toys. But yet, since Noah enjoyed looking at them and using them as typing guides, they could not be "weeded out!" (That would have been my first response! LOL) 

The sight of all the movies in the livingroom on the entertainment unit was getting to me- the movies were getting pretty ragged. Most of the cases were badly damaged (from years of use by 4 kids) and we were really DONE with having them around all the time. We were tired of tidying them up, dusting them, rearranging them, and sorting them- or attempting to. Noah moved them all around a lot. They were getting pretty scruffy. 
We tried rotating the movies for Noah but that created problems with finding movies he suddenly wanted. And, guess what? ALL the movies ended up back in the livingroom no matter how hard Pete and I tried to keep them "corralled" elsewhere!

Well,  thinking about the situation with the VHS collection and how Noah used it made me think. REALLY THINK.

I needed to "reframe."

Noah wasn't "making us keep" a bazillion kids' movies, he'd never even WATCHED them on TV. 

He was actually using the movie cases as a TOOL to help his typing on the computer!!

THAT was a life skill. 

I needed to support that.

Soooo, I decided on a solution.  Noah didn't care about the videos themselves at this point. He just wanted the cases available to LOOK AT and TYPE FROM.

This gave me a brainstorm!! 
So...  here's what I did. 

1) Pete and Bry helped me gather up all the movies from the livingroom, playroom, and basement. This included A) movies with hard cases and B) movies with soft cardboard cases. 

Movies in hard plastic cases 

Movies in cardboard cases 

2) I took all the movies out of their cases and set them aside. Then, I placed the cases near where I'd be working. 

3) I gathered basic supplies: 

Supplies:  1" binder, paper trimmer,  clear 8 1/2 x11" sheet protectors,
strong/sharp scissors, packing tape 

NOTE: You will also need some scotch tape, a few index cards, a pen and a plastic bin or tote with lid. 

4) I took the coloured info sheet out of each movie case.

Movie info sheet being removed.
Damaged plastic case was recycled! 

4 A) The plastic movie cases, many in terrible shape, got recycled. 

4 B) I reinforced any ragged spots on the movie info sheet with scotch tape.
 

4 C) Using the trimmer, I  took off just enough that the movie info sheet would fit inside the sheet protector. 

5) I slid the movie info sheet into protector.  I placed another one behind  it too. It can be read and seen when the page is flipped. 

6) I tried to keep like characters together, such as Cabbage Patch Kids, Timmy the Tooth, Arthur, Barney, or Magic School Bus. In other words, the order in which I placed them in the binder was not random. 

7) I did the same thing for the cardboard-sleeved movies. The cardboard case was the movie's info sheet and so it was trimmed flat and placed in a page protector (not shown). 

8) I placed each movie info sheet (whether paper or cardboard) in its' plastic page protector, into the binder. 

The three 1 " binders we ended up using were recycled from my two high school kids' supplies, and were still in good shape from the school year just passed! 

9) The VHS movies were placed in a plastic tote bin with lid. As each was placed in the bin, its' title was noted on an index card I had handy beside me. 

This bin held 72 case-less VHS movies when full! 

10) Ready to store! Bin with lid in place and index cards securely taped on top will make searching for a specific movie EASY if it were ever needed. 

TIP: Use stacking bins! 

SUMMARY:
Noah now has three  1" binders full of flat "movie case" info sheets.
He can use a movie sheet as a typing guide by carrying the binder over to the computer desk, using the book to guide his typing and then watching what he has searched. 

No more movie cases to drag around! 
A BIG PLUS: Noah really enjoys the visual input from the movie information that is now all in a flat "book" format, He flips through it often. This is really great idea for a kid who loves books. 

Noah seems very happy with the change. It was a risk that made sense when I thought about how he was really using the movies. 

MORE POSITIVES! 
The binders take up MUCH less space than 77 movies did. They are tidier and neater, too. 
Broken, damaged, plastic cases were all recycled. (Our Nova Scotia Waste Management Program is the BEST!)
The three-ring binders were reclaimed from last years' school supplies.
VHS movie cassettes were safely stored without cases in a smaller space. 
Storage bins were labelled  for ease of searching if necessary. 
And...
We have reclaimed all of our living room's entertainment unit!   

This succesful reorganization opened my eyes to the fact that I should look at how things are being used in our special situation, and  ONLY keep things that Noah likes and needs on hand. For example, the ark, the zoo and other animal accessories can be stored, as long as we have the animals out! 

Thanks for reading everyone! 
Remember to think outside the "box!" It's sooo worth it! 
~

S: CY Sketch #26-12

I created a new Sketch for the S: CY Blog this week! :)  Pop on over and enjoy it, and see the DT interpretations! :)

Sketch #26-12
created for
 Sketches: Creatively Yours

"Gentleness" layout
created using Sketch #26-12

This is a photo of our son Noah, age 10, asleep. He is with his Autism Assistance Dog Guide, Argo- a black Lab. Photo was taken by Daddy. 

A few notes... 
All paper is from the  "Florentine" collection- Close to My Heart 
The Cardstock is "Twilight" and "Bamboo"- CTMH
Ink:  Desert Sand- Close To My Heart
The curved, bead-embellished leaves were fussy-cut from a cotton sundress that had outlived it's "clothing-life" but was still pretty. The Noah's Ark paper was fussy cut to surround the photo and is from my friend Sherry Owens in Utah. TY Sherry! 

***Be sure to pop over and see what the S: CY DT has designed this week using the Sketch!***

 See you soon! 
~