Last week this little gem made it home from school safe and sound in Simon's backpack.
What a very cool peek into some of his current favorite things and a little bit about how he's seeing himself (or how his teachers helped him identify some of his traits). My favorite petals include "reader," "kind," and "chicken burger."
I've done a variety of layouts over the years documenting our right now: things that are important to us, favorites, what we are into, etc. This is the first one in Simon's own words; in his own handwriting. Definitely a treasure to me.
This weekend consider documenting your own petals or those of someone you love. Maybe involve your family members by having them identify what are the important things in their lives right now. Ask simple questions like "what's your favorite food" or "what are you really good at?" and have them write their own words if they are able.
This is definitely not a complicated exercise. It's a silly little way to document a bit of your life right now. Grab a piece of scratch paper and draw a simple flower or download and print the one below. Simon's flower has 10 petals but don't worry about the number, just write. Don't forget to add the date.
These flowers would make a sweet little family minibook, a nice accent on a layout of each person, or you could gather a bunch together and create a "bouquet" of all your family member's flowers.
To get you started here's a simple flower download (the same one I used for my flower above) that is ready and waiting to be printed and decorated by you and your loved ones.
[ weekend creative is a semi-regular feature appearing on Fridays : past projects can be located in the here. ]
Very cute idea Ali! and Simon! It would make an adorable mini book!
What a supercute idea!!! Thanks so much for the inspiration and the sweet gift!
What a cool idea. Thanks for sharing the flower download. When I was reading your story I was thinking where can I get a flower like that?
Have a wonderful weekend!
WOW! WHAT A TREASURE INDEED!
WILL DEFINATLEY DO THIS
Cool, Ali. As a midwife, I’m very pleased to see that ‘nursing Anna’ made it as one of your petals. Good job! Thanks for the download and have a good weekend!
Thank you for the download! I will be posting this to my blog today!! Love your creativity! Visit http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com and check out their products.
You should give a “shout out” to the teacher who gave Simon this assignment. Teachers love to get credit when it is deserved. ALso, my favorite word on Simon’s flower is “accepting” I think that is a powerful word choice for a boy his age. Great idea…I may have to lift this and try it with my own students in the Fall. It would ba a great “ice breaker” activity. Thanks!
I hope my kid brings home something like that — how so totally sweet. Star Wars? Smart? I love it.
Super sweet! I can’t wait to get home to the boys tonight to fill one out for them. As usual, thanks so much for sharing another creative way to document our lives!
as always, thank ali for sharing your life, family & creative ideas with us! happy weekend.
ALi,
If you decide to turn this into a LO, please will you share it?!
Thanks Ali, luv the flower and what a great way to do a quick and meaningful layout.
Catherine
This is such a great idea for a project, Ali! I love Simon’s flower, definitely a treasure. I keep all of my children crafts in their keepsake boxes as well
. Thank you for the flower and for inspiration.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for the download! I particularly like this idea for this time of year. As the school year comes to a close, it’s a great idea to capture what my girls’ interests are right NOW! I’m printing these out for all of us today!
Cool idea! thanks for the flower. I was trying to figure out how I was going to make one that looked okay. You rock!
Jessica
fun idea..thanks!
Ooops, forgot to mention . . . Simon’s flower is truly a treasure! I love it!
So cute! Thanks so much Ali! Have a great weekend.
Jen Kolakowski
I have two words for you : AWESOME!
Wow! I love this idea and can feel your excitement seeing Simon through Simon’s eyes + handwriting. I am not there yet with my children so I will be writing in their answers.
[I'm printing and filling my petals out and then I'll be back to read your petals.]
Thank you. So. Much.
I cant wait to do this! On myself and several members of my family for some layouts….
I just love Simon’s petals!!! What a fun project!
Thanks so much for the flower!
Thanks for the inspiration, Ali! I already know what I want to do for my family
Have a great weekend!
I love this Ali! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ali! I printed it off and will name my petals today. Thanks for a fun Friday project! Have a great weekend.
This is a cute idea…teachers are the best resources for scrapbooking, I think!
Oh, I love this! I think I might even be able to get the family to play along! Thanks for the download.
blessings, Rebecca
What a coincidence…
My daughter (6) is a Daisy Girl Scout. As Daisys, the girls work on earning ten Daisy petals for their uniforms, based on ten character traits. I’m putting together a scrapbook kit for each of them to record their “petal progress”, and I just drew something exactly like what Simon brought home!!
LOVE THAT!! Love his teachers!!!
Great idea, Ali! Isn’t it amazing how very simple documenting our lives can be?
What a great idea Ali. Thank you for the flower. Can’t wait to work on it this weekend. Have a good one!
Awww, what a beautiful piece of art – thank you for sharing it with us. I was having a really crappy start to the day (even though it’s Friday) but this really made me smile.
Have a great weekend, Ali!
Ali,
This is just great. You have original artwork for your wall and you have a fun way to get to know some more about yourself and your family. Thanks so much for sharing.
Kelly
Thank you, Ali! What a great idea. I love those treasures that come home from school. They’re one of those little “parent rewards” that only a parent can appreciate!
I like the ‘big brother’ petal
Sweet Ali. Thanks for the inspiration. i love reading your blog because it is so full of love. Thanks.
So good to see a glimpse of who Simon is right now. He’s growing into such a great person. Love the idea of filling in the petals. I think I’ll invite my family to join me in filling them in.
Ha! Chicken burger. love that.
Joanie did one of these last year as well.
Okay so simple but such a great idea.
thanks Ali
Very cool! Will do this with my boys! :0)
Thank you.
Thank you for the template! A perfect idea for this weekend.
so adorable and simple ali!
love it!!
“Chicken burger” is too cute!
Beautiful idea! and thanks so much for the template!
Thanks for the flower!
Zuzu would be so happy!
It is a wonderful life!
Isn’t that brill? I work as a writer (technical) and love cute little ideas like this (might even work as an afternoon distraction for my kids!). TFS!
FABULOUS! TFS!
Ali, this is off-topic, but I am in LOVE with the scarf you are wearing in your profile pic! I took up knitting a couple of months ago and would love to make something like that. Did you make it? Could you direct me to a pattern? LOVE. IT.
What a great idea! I love this & thanks for the flower download.
I got it at the Gap a few years back – it has a great ruffle along the edges.
I love this! After a rough week, this brings me back to what is simply good about life. Thanks!
Thank you for the freebie!!! It will be a great excercize to do while sitting out in our wonderful weather! Have a great weekend!