The Toy Box Years: Nani's Scrapbook (Thrift Store Makeover!)

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

All through her year of Kindergarten, Nani had to write these little stories for homework. I think I managed to keep every single one of them -- and of course don't have the heart to throw them away. I wanted to find a way to keep them - something different from tossing them in a box. So, I decided to make a scrapbook where I can put all her stories.

As I was browsing through our local ARC thrift store, I saw this scrapbook. Kinda beat up and scuffed on the outside, but the pages were intact - and on a 50% off day, it was only $1.

After I got it home, I took it apart and dug through my fabric stash (hoping I had enough to cover the front and back!) I lucked out when found a cute pink and purple polka dot pattern buried in the bottom of my fabric drawer (which would thrill Nani because it's pink and purple!)

I also decided to paint the binding (where the ribbon would go) with a scrunched up rag.

Then I hot glued the fabric to the covers.

For the front cover, I used a piece of felt, some floral buttons for embellishment, and some iron on letters that I scored at Jo-Ann's for .97.

I couldn't wait to start putting her stories in there!

Total cost = $1.97

Scrapbook - $1.00
Iron-On Letters - .97
Fabric, felt, and glue - Already on hand

Preserving memories = PRICELESS!

8 comments:

Christy Killoran June 7, 2011 at 4:49 AM: Very nice!!!!!!! R loves pink and purple too!
Mass Hole Mommy June 7, 2011 at 8:43 AM: That's awesome. I am sooooo bahind on my scrapbooks. I guess I need to stop doing so much with the kids so I don't get so behind. LOL.
MaryAnne June 7, 2011 at 10:03 AM: I love the makeover, and Nani must be thrilled!
Jenn Rian June 7, 2011 at 12:55 PM: Adorable, as usual! She'll really appreciate that you've saved these things for her. I have a ton of stuff from my childhood, but most of it I had to squirrel away myself. My mom's a throw-away-er, so I know a ton of that stuff is long gone. One good thing is these days we have so many more options of being able to scan things and take digital photos of them to save when we just can't keep one more piece of paper. I'm already hard at work scanning in little things of Adaline's so that I can preserve them for her :)
OurWanderingAdventures June 7, 2011 at 2:28 PM: Aww great job! I LOVE IT!!
frillsfluffandtrucks June 7, 2011 at 9:11 PM: What a wonderful keepsake! I would love it if my children had homework assignments like that!

~ Sarah
Terry June 12, 2011 at 7:58 AM: Great job! I love to alter things too! Please come over and link up to my party!
Dollar Store Merchandise October 6, 2011 at 4:32 AM: Total cost = $1.97

Awesome!

You've got a cool site. Our readers will surely love the finds on your site. Keep them rolling!