Weekend Creative : Naming Your Petals

Weekendcreative Simon
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.Ali_petals

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.

OneMoreThing

AE_NameYourPetal_PREV 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.

Download AE_Petals.png

Dottedline_2


[ weekend creative is a semi-regular feature appearing on Fridays : past projects can be located in the here. ]

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114 thoughts

  1. Dawn F. says…
    05/29/2009

    Thank you sharing the idea and the pattern. I've printed it and will be having each of us (there are 5) fill it out. Love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. tchrtiff says…
    05/29/2009

    What a great idea! Love that it's so simple yet will mean so much in the future. Can't wait to read what my family writes on each of their petals. Have a great weekend, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Lissa says…
    05/29/2009

    Simon's flower is so precious.=] Thank you Ali!=]

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. mary says…
    05/29/2009

    ali - you are so generous with the freebie - thank you! I love playing around in photoshop and your cute flower sounds like a fun hour or so for the weekend. wishing you a fun weekend, too! - mary

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. amanda says…
    05/29/2009

    Thank you for sharing Simon's assignment. It is a wonderful thing to share with your family on a friday night. You continue to inspire me with your weekend ideas. It is the simple things in life that help you remember all of our blessings. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Kim Rose says…
    05/29/2009

    What a great family night idea. Thanks for the freebie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. mati McDonough says…
    05/29/2009

    chickenburger :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. CoraLee Kilfoy says…
    05/29/2009

    I think the things Simon wrote on his flower are pretty awesome! But my favorite has to be "accepting"...WOW! How wonderful that he understands already how to be accepting of others! WTG Momma! ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. MariaM says…
    05/29/2009

    Yes! thanks for that reminder about the daisy GS petals...I have a third year brownie now. Love that idea.
    Ali, thanks for the very cute download.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Danielle says…
    05/29/2009

    I love this idea so much. It's just me and my husband right now but maybe I'll add one for our dog too! Thanks Ali, I am so excited to do this!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. gail lindekugel says…
    05/29/2009

    What a dear guy, I love!" loves sister and big brother...."
    These are the good old days....

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Ali Edwards says…
    05/29/2009

    It is something he is really working on at school...accepting not being first in line everyday, accepting directions from teachers, etc.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Kathy F says…
    05/29/2009

    Ali-
    I am gonna do this one for sure! :) BTW, I am gonna email as soon as I get my project I did for your last Weekend Creative project on my BLOG. I have to thank you for that project...I love my mini book so much! :) I will probably be later this weekend. :) Have a wonderful weekend! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Jenny W says…
    05/29/2009

    Thank you for sharing this cool idea. My family will be playing along. I am considering sizing them in such a way that I could make a page with our four flowers and a picture of us. Looking forward to it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. LoriHudson says…
    05/29/2009

    Ali, I love "big brother" and "love sister" . Priceless!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Gina says…
    05/29/2009

    Oh, I'll be doing this over the weekend with my family. I love the idea of making a family bouquet - I have just the vase to put them in!!! Thank you, Ali...and Simon and Simon's teacher! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. dr berry says…
    05/30/2009

    So very AWESOME!!!! I love all the treasures that come home from school at the end of the year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Stephanie says…
    05/30/2009

    Hi Ali, I love the idea and am going to do it with both of my girls. I have a quick question I love the font/handwriting you used in your petal, is that available anywhere? Thank you

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Vicky says…
    05/30/2009

    Ali, what a cute idea. Thanks for the gift. I love how Simon has lovesister on his petal. Anna is so lucky!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Ali Edwards says…
    05/30/2009

    I wrote that myself + then scanned the whole thing in. There is a font similar available here: http://www.lifeartmedia.com/aliedwardsfont

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. callie_swank@yahoo.com says…
    05/30/2009

    This is going to be a great idea for Father's Day. I'm going to have each child fill out a flower for Grandpa! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Marie says…
    05/30/2009

    What an awesome idea: take stock of your self, examine "you" a little.And for a family it's a nice way to see where each of us intersects. Thanks for the free template :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Kim says…
    05/30/2009

    Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Tracy says…
    05/30/2009

    I love the petal that says "accepting". How insightful!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. pj.goodman says…
    05/30/2009

    Thanks Ali for a wonderful idea. I wasn't sure how this would go over after dinner, but I now have 5 flowers ---husband, son aged 21, son aged 17 and shih tzu aged 8!!!!
    Everyone was so into this activity and sat around the table laughing and having fun revealing their petals. I am going to scan them and put together a layout. What a keeper!!!

    Reply 0 Replies

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