payton's "school box"

Okay, so first of all, it has been waaaaaaaaaaay too long since I've shared anything "scrapbook-y" or "project-y" and that is so sad! I wish I had a good excuse...but all I can say is life has been getting in the way of me doing anything creative. So just so you know...yes, I still scrapbook...I just haven't had any time and my room is a mess, so that never helps. Kim and I are hoping to get together sometime soon and when then happens I will create like crazy!



But until then, this little project of mine will have to do. I actually did this last year and never got around to posting it 'cause when I did it I was in the mega nauseous phase of my pregnancy. Isn't that funny? It all worked out though, 'cause I think it's cuter to show with some fun school stuff already in it. So anyways, this "school box" is a bit of mix of Stacy Julian's "school of life" box that she shared in her book Photo Freedom and Becky Higgins' school folders from her "school days" kit last year or whenever that was. I kind of combined the two ideas to make it work for me.



Super simple concept...for each grade there is a separate clear plastic folder, clearly labeled as to what grade it is for. In these folders I plan on putting everything in it that I think is important and fun and representative of that year. From artwork, to teacher's notes, to school pictures and snapshots from the year, dance photos (and sports photos for some of you!), tests and exams, report cards, whatever! Just any and all of the little pieces of your child from that particular year. In Payton's playschool folder I even added a couple of the talks that she gave in primary, and special pictures and cards for us that she made at church. So you aren't limited to just school stuff...add anything in that is worth it for you to keep! I can imagine this box getting jam-packed to the brim over the years and I can't wait. I'm sure the girls will get to the point that they'll add their own "stuff" to their boxes, and that will be fine by me! They can even be a place to hold yearbooks and that kind of stuff...like I said, anything that defines them in that specific grade!



And now a few details...I bought 2 of these red boxes at Ikea over a year ago, so I have one for Payton and one for Gabby. And of course when I went to Ikea recently to pick one up for Kherington, they don't have red anymore. So I had to settle for white. Aaahhhh! (The OCD-ness in me is still annoyed by this! Haha!) I bought my clear envelopes at Staples, I'm sure you can get these at any office supply store and the font I used for my labels is Rockwell. I created my labels in photoshop and printed them on the Avery clear sticker sheets that again, you can get at any office supply store. (And just a side-note...in Canada, at least where we live, we say "grade 1", "grade 2", etc, whereas in the states you say "1st grade", "2nd grade", etc. So just in case you're American and wondering about the wording on my labels, that's why!)



This project is something super simple and fun that you can work on anytime...even if you don't have school-age children yet. You may as well get them done, right? Gabby's box is all done and ready to be filled this year, and for Kherington's I just need to buy her envelopes and then we'll be set. Remember, you don't have to be a scrapbooker to do this for your kids! Just get an empty box and some envelopes and make a home for all your child's stuff! For me, along with their school boxes, each child will have their own 12x12 "School Scrapbook" that I'll do a couple pages for each grade. I've decided for their school scrapbooks to not be worried about the whole album coordinating, but to just add to it every year and watch it evolve. This is an album that when they get old enough to, they will be welcome to do their own scrapbook pages for that grade. These boxes and albums belong to my girls. They are not mine. These are what they will be able to take with them when they leave home as a memory of their childhood years. I don't know about all of you, but my scrapbooks are mine...I don't ever want to part with them! (wink) So I wanted something that my girls could have that is important and meaningful and representative of them.



Looking at my 3 empty boxes, I am excited to imagine what the future holds. What memories will be made, what treasures will be created, what lessons will be learned over the next 15(?) years. Exciting to think about. What will your children's boxes hold?



:)