More Back to School Ideas with Cycling Team Member Audrey Pettit

We are so pleased to share Makin' the Grade projects from Cycling Team Member Audrey Pettit. She has a few wonderful ideas to share, but let's have Audrey tell you all about it...

This is a very big school year in our household. My daughter is just starting up high school, and my son is now a big senior. This is the first time they've been together in school in six years, and it's probably the last time they will be, too. I love that they are finally together again. And love that sissy has her big brother to watch over her. I know we will have lots of wonderful school memories from this year, and it is so important to me that I document them all. Makin' the Grade is the perfect collection to help me with that!

Isn't the Makin' the Grade collection cute? I love the fun papers and all the awesome embellishments that come with this line. Makes it super easy to create pages of your favorite school memories. And I love that it works equally well for younger kids as for older, like mine. This is my two munchies on their first day of school.

This layout was quick and easy to create, thanks to all the awesome Makin' the Grade accessory pieces. I started with a simple layered background and then just added a few paper strips, banners, and canvas stickers. Voila! The fun border of books and alphabet strip on the background paper give lots of great detail with absolutely no work. Love that! The canvas stickers add instant dimension and texture, and the pleated rosette strips from the paper crafting kit make great embossed borders when used as-is. A few banners on top, a quick baker's twine tie, a few journaling strips, and my page was complete.

My daughter has become quite the artist in the last few years. She's been keeping a sketchbook in her backpack, so I thought it would be fun to make her a special art journal just for school. The smaller size makes this easy to carry around with her, and there are lots of pages to hold her drawings and doodles. And I know the cute cover will make her smile.

I covered the front of the journal with papers from the 6x6 paper pad, and once again added detail with pleated rosette strips. I made a "best in class" ribbon from more pieces from the paper crafting kit and added that to the top along with a ticket, some trim, and the cute star pins.

I cannot resist that adorable owl canvas sticker. Makes me think of the Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop commercials from back in my day. Totally makes me grin. Guess that just shows how old I am, huh?

While I had my Makin' the Grade supplies out, I made one last project. A card to celebrate the arrival of back to school time, perfect for a new teacher, or student, both.

Paper from the 6x6 pad. Cork stars, cardstock stickers, chipboard frame, and a banner flag. And an owl again. Cannot forget the owl!

I had an absolute ball Makin' the Grade with you! Thanks so much for having me!

Makin' the Grade Products:

Back 2 School layout
MG-111 Green Stripe (back) 12x12 paper
MG-112 Bookshelf (front) 12x12 paper
MG-304 6x6 Paper Pad
MG-135 Cardstock Stickers Favorite Pieces
MG-220 Fabric Favorites
MG-305 Paper Crafting Kit

School=Fun Journal
MG-304 6x6 Paper Pad
MG-140 Cardstock Stickers Fresh Verse
MG-220 Fabric Favorites
MG-277 Stick Pins
MG-305 Paper Crafting Kit
MG-1100 Tear-Out Ticket & Journaling Card Book

School Days Card
MG-304 6x6 Paper Pad
MG-135 Cardstock Stickers Favorite Pieces
MG-167 Cork Stickers
MG-279 Chipboard Shapes
MG-305 Paper Crafting Kit