Three more Sleeps!

Hello Everyone,

I am sooo excited about my girls getaway to Detroit Michigan for a crop.  We have so much fun sharing our passion for food, shopping, and of course scrapbooking.  I have a lot to do before I get there, but I can see it in the horizon.  I am having my mother and father in law over for dinner tomorrow to see them off as they go to Florida for part of the winter.  I love having them over because they are happy with anything; there has never been a dinner I've made that they haven't raved about!  I know that for some of you, that's not the case; I'm aware of how blessed I am to have in-laws that I love.  Then I'm looking forward to seeing my Bible Study group later that night, as we have not been together since Christmas.  On Thursday, Todd is taking the girls to the cottage, as they have a PD day on Friday, so it's my job to grocery shop and pack to get them ready.  Once they're on their way, I can pack and get ready for my girl's weekend!  I always feel so much better about my time away when I know that I've taken care of everything for Todd and the girls!

That's all for me today, I hope you all are having a great day!

Make it Count!

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing great on this very cold and snowy day!  We finally have a blast of winter but I heard it's not going to last . Over the last week I have heard many stories of friends and their family members getting bad news at their annual check-ups and in some cases they are as young as in their forties.  It's news like this that makes me re-evaluate what's important and what's not!  I'm sure that if we all sit back and think, we could come up with many things that we rush through, instead of cherish it for what it is at that very moment.  I know I am guilty for this when it comes to taking the time to really listen to all the details that my girls want to share about their day.  Mainly because I am already planning dinner and then their extra curricular activities.  I hope to change this and remember the blessing that our health is and to take time to cherish every moment, no matter how small it is. I made a card to remind us to do just that!

This card will be reminder to me to slow down and enjoy the smaller quieter moments life has to offer for in those moments some of the greatest rewards lie! Like the famous song by Tim McGraw, 'Live like you were dying.'

Thank for stopping by!

Dog Gone Tired!

Hi to all my friends,

The weekend getaway is over and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we're beat!  Even the puppy, who was at my sister's for the weekend, with her two little ones making sure to give her enough exercise, can't seem to keep her eyes open.  Watching her, I now know where the expression dog gone tired comes from.  The girls were in the car for fifteen minutes before passing out, and I soon followed suit.  Finally all at home, safe and sound, and ready for some serious zzzzz's. 

Tomorrow I will have a new card to display, and if I'm lucky, I'll be able to create it in my sleep!  Until then, goodnight everyone!  Sweet Dreams!

Winter Retreat!

Hello my Friends,

Day two here at the Great Wolf Lodge, and all of us are having a great time!  Todd got up early to get into the waterpark when it opened at 9am, to beat the rush that comes Saturday afternoon.  The kids loved not having to wait to get on the slides.  I didn't choose to get up early, to climb stairs and get wet; instead I lined up at the spa to get a pedicure.  We all met in the room later for lunch and then it was Todd's turn to relax; he bought some pop, chips, a new book, and had a couple hours to kick back and read.  As a parent, places like this require some adult alone time to refuel for the non-stop activity.  I took the girls down to the craft room where they got to colour a t-shirt with some fabric markers.  I tried to offer my skills but they were having no part of it!  Then the three of us got glitter tattoos, and on the way back to the room, we stopped in the lobby and had balloons made into a  puppy and wolf for us.  By the time we made it back to the room, Dad was well rested.  Next stop, the arcade, to spend some tokens; Abigail cleaned up winning over 500 tickets (for most of them, she has no idea what she did to win...).  Hailey, on the other hand, struggled trying to keep up with her sister, so Dad purchased more tokens to even things up.  The goal was 500 tickets to win a mini stuffed wolf and raccoon, which they both were able to get with the help of Dad's buffer.  We had some dinner, where the girls were fixed on the TV like zombies, way too tired!  We headed back to the room for some down time before the story time at 8, and then got them to bed 'early'.

I now have the time to show you a new card made for Mojo Monday Challenge #225.  I always loved the look of colour blocking, but stink at the math, so I don't do it often.  This week's sketch was to use colour blocking, and they were very helpful with dimensions for those of us who are mathematically challenged.  So I decided to do a little baby boy's card.

These papers are by DCWV called Citrus.  I embossed the two blue squares, and used a button and little blue shoes on the orange ones.  In the centre, I used an EK Success border punch, and popped it from the page.  The word 'baby' is in suede like texture down the centre.  I used the green gingham ribbon to tie it all together.  I have to say it was worth all the effort now that it's done!!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Family Getaway!

Hello to all my Friends,

What a great weekend away! Todd, the girls and I are in Niagara Falls at The Great Wolf Lodge and having the best time!  In our room there is a cubby set up like a wolf den with bunk beds for the kids, and then our bed is outside the den.  They have an enormous waterpark with huge slides, an arcade, a spa, a restaurant and a bunch of gift shops.  It's a one stop shop for everything you may need or want!  It's like being on a cruise ship without the warm weather.  We arrived at supper time tonight and have only had a brief look around because we wanted to get to the waterpark before it closed.  Tomorrow we should have a better chance at checking things out!  Until then, I'm heading to bed to refuel for the many stairs I'm going to climb to get to the top of these slides - who needs a gym when you can come to places like this!

Thanks for stopping by!

Congratulations!

Hi There,

Today I am going to branch out and try to get a spot as a guest designer with the very talented Elisabeth Bell and her Digi Bells.  I have never tried something like this before, so here goes!  I have chosen this very elegant and sophisticated lady to showcase my work. This card could be to congratulate someone on their wedding or engagement.  She has also been entered in Sketch Saturday #191,  and Whiff Of Joy Challenge - Love is in the Air.

This pretty lady if one of Elisabeth's creations for Whiff of Joy.  Isn't she stunning?  I stamped her on some Neenah cardstock with memento ink and coloured her with my copics.  The paper is by DCWV called La Creme and I used a CB embossing folder on the cream cardstock to give it dimension.  I used SB lattice rectangle to matte her on and a EK Success border punch behind the ribbon.  I added the prima flowers and coloured the pearl to match along with three black pearls at the bottom.  Her purse was given some stickles to make it sparkle and I added liquid glass to her shoes and the drink to make them shiny.  I embossed the title and added a cream ribbon and bow to tie it all together.  What do you think?  Isn't she beautiful!!

With a little luck maybe she'll be congratulating me as the newest Guest Designer on the Digi Bell Team!  Fingers crossed and as all ladies know, legs too!

Mirror, Mirror!

Hi Everybody,

Well, it's that time again when everyone in the house needs to get their hair cut.  While the girls were in school I took our puppy Puddles to the groomers and then made appointments for the three of us to get our hair done after school.  While we were at the salon, I watched my girls as they stared at themselves in the huge mirrors and posed over and over again.  When their hair was done, they really went crazy posing in all the mirrors and trying to pretend they weren't looking at themselves.  I remember when I was their age, enjoying checking myself out in the mirror, but I don't remember all the posing.  Is this new or have I forgotten?  As their mother, I believe they are beautiful inside as well as out, and I want to make sure that I put emphasis on inward beauty, so they don't focus on their appearance as a means to being accepted.  I thought it would be better to start early before the more difficult issues arise!  I know vanity is important to little girls, but I want to make sure there is a balance.  

Could you imagine a mirror that could reveal inner beauty; would you be so quick to ask, what does it see?

You and Me for Tea!

Hello,

Still feeling a little under the weather, but as all women out there, I'm still able to handle all my day to day activities.  It's all the fun extra curricular activities that I've had to cut out in order to rest as much as I can.  I did however manage to relax some in my scrapbooking room to create a new card for all of you.  I will be entering her in the Stamptacular Challenge #148 - Seeing Spots.

 

This adorable image is from Stampin Bella.  She was stamped with memento ink on Gina K cardstock and then coloured with copics.  The designing paper is called Latte by DCWV.  I used an EK Success border punch, and a Heartfelt Creations die on the scrolls.  I added stickles to the bow in her hair, and liquid glass to the rim of the cup and the saucer (the picture doesn't show it very well).  A spotted ribbon and a CB embossing folder called dots were used on  the purple and grey cardstock.  The heart embellishment was made by a tool by Ephiany Crafts to match the paper with a glossy heart cap.  The flowers are by prima, and I added some stickles to them to make them sparkle.

Put the kettle on and join me in a cup of tea!

Down for the Count!

Hello Everyone,

The nasty cold has gotten a hold of me again!  I think these mild then cold temperatures are causing a lot of people to get sick!  I have been in bed all day, hoping to get rid of it fast!!  We have big plans as a family this weekend and I don't want to sit on the sidelines while the rest of them are having all the fun!  Todd and I are surprising the girls and taking them to The Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend, and I just can't wait to see how excited they're going to be.  I hope to feel better tomorrow and be able to create a new card for you!  

 

Maybe down for the count, but not for long I hope!!  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Get 'er' Done!

Hello to all my friends,

Lots of housework to get done, but this time there is a prize at the end of the task!  Date night with some great friends and great food!  I can be such a maniac when it comes to wanting something done!  My husband likes to affectionately call me the Tasmanian Devil.  Unfortunately, after days like today, I have no gas left in the tank, so I spend the next couple days coasting on fumes.  That's ok, it's all done!  I'm making dinner for the girls and getting ready to go out, so I'll say goodbye for now, and hope you're all getting cozy with your's tonight!!

Waddle I do?

Hello Everyone,

It's been a very relaxing and enjoyable day so far!  Today is a PD day for the kids so I didn't have to get up early and rush around to get them off to school.  I'm not much of an early bird so I enjoy taking my time to wake up.  Good thing I didn't have to get up early, I stayed up until 1:50am to watch some shows I recorded.  I love that time of night!  This morning Todd took the girls to the boat, show so I got to spend some time in my craft room creating for you.  When I'm alone in the house, I tend to miss the hustle and bustle of the family.  It's only when I'm away that I don't miss it as much!  So I created this card for you, and entered it in the Sketch Saturday Challenge #190.

This is a cutie from High Hopes!  I stamped it using memento ink on some Neenah cardstock, and coloured it with my copics.  The paper is from DCWV called Citrus, and I used an SU border punch and some SB dies for the circles.  I used a CB folder on the yellow paper to give it dimension.  Liquid glass was applied on the beak and feet to make them shiny, and I used some flower soft on the hay beneath him.  Some flower brads and square gems to finish it off!

The family hasn't been gone long, but I'm sure if I was to give them this little cutie, they would hurry home!  Who could resist his charm?

Winter is Here!

Hello to all my friends,

For those of you who are not fond of the white fluffy stuff, today would not of been a great day for you!  We finally got a dumping on of snow.  Sometimes I don't mind when it's mild out and it's falling lightly around us but when it puts a crimp in my day to day plans I tend to get cranky.  Today, however I did not have to go out in it when it was bad, so I didn't mind so much.  I wonder what happens to us when we get older that our opinion of it changes.  Maybe it's the effort it takes to pull ourselves away from the more comfortable in house chores.  My girls love when the snow comes because bundling up to go toboganning and making snowmen are what makes winter so much fun.  I remember feeling the same way when I was young.  I know that once I am suited up and ready for the cold, I love being out in it! 

Are you ready to suit up and recapture some of that childhood excitement when it comes to the snow?  After all, you know what the commercial says, 'no self respecting Canadian stays in because of a little snow.'   See ya in the fluffy stuff!

She's got the Look!

Hi Again,

I've always admired women and men who could put together an outfit and look so smart in it.  I do not have the gift of knowing what's fashionable and what's not.  In fact, I have a few friends who won't let me shop myself for fear of what I may come home with.  I like to dress in comfortable clothes and I don't care the brand or even the era in which such clothes come from.  So it's thanks to some close friends for their fashion know how that I'm able to be seen with them.  This card was made for my good friend Sandra, who to me, is a very smart dresser.  She is conservative and classy and that is why I chose this little image for her Birthday card. She has been entered into TGFM Farm Fresh Challenge #16- Get Sentimental.

This little girl is from the Greeting Farm and I just love her style!  She has been stamped with memento ink on Gina K cardstock and then coloured with copics.  I used a MS border punch, SB die around her, and a CB cupcake embossing folder behind her.  I paper pieced her purse to match the paper and added stickles to her hairband and some gold stickles to the hearts on her bag and the buttons on her boots.  I gave her boots some liquid glass to make them shiny and some blue rhinestones to surround her in bling. Lastly a ribbon and a butterfly embellishment to finish it off.

This is much like how my friend Sandra presents herself.  She's got the look, don't ya think?

Seventeen more Sleeps!

Hi Everyone!

Do you remember when you were little and excited about a special day that you counted the sleeps until the day?  That's what I'm doing, because I'm so thrilled to be be going to Detroit with four of my greatest friends to crop for an entire weekend.  This is the third year in a row that we have been attending this event, and we all have the best time!  I always find it amazing just how much energy I get from spending a girl's weekend away!  We laugh a lot, eat a lot, shop a lot, and get to spend hours at a table sharing the same passion for scrapbooking.  Best of all, when we get a little tired and uncomfortable at the table, we have a massage therapist that will work out all the sore muscles! 

How's that sound to you? Wouldn't you count the sleeps too?

It's a Boy!

Hello to all my Friends!

I have been going through the cards that I've previously made for my friends to showcase some of my work.  I have just two left before I start to create some new ones for my blog.  As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I lost my Dad late last year, and on the very same day a friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy and his middle name just happened to be the same as my dad's.  I truly believe that these are blessings sent from above to help us heal and see that although all things must come to an end, there is also a new beginning.  The reason for the recap is that I wanted to share with you the card I made for my friend and her new little boy!

This little image is the same one as in my previous post except I changed the papers and colouring to match a little boy. This is a Whiff of Joy stamp by Elisabeth Bell.  I may make some changes to it as I have now purchased an air compressor and  may try to mask her and lightly airbrush around her.  I've never done it before so if it works out, I'll display it again. 

My sisters have told me that I've missed out on all the adventures little boys bring, as I have been blessed with two girls.  I guess I'll have to take their word for it!

Feeling the Pressure!

Hello Everyone!

I don't know about you, but I have always worked best under pressure.  I am also a huge procrastinator; both qualities I am trying to change about myself.  Over the past two years, I have started running to stay in shape and was fortunate enough to run a half and full marathon this past year.  But after my last race, I decided to take a break from my running regimen, and now I'm having a hard time getting back into it.  Up until this past week, my running was purely to stay in shape, so the motivator wasn't as strong as when I'm training for a race.  Well, thanks to my sister who called me up to run a half marathon with her this March 4th, my motivation is strong to get ready to run alongside her.  I know the great sense of accomplishment that comes from training hard and reaping the benefits as you cross that finish line, but boy, is it tough starting over again.  My husband always told me never to stop running completely, because the road back is a rough one, and if I'm looking to make changes to myself, maybe following the advice of my husband should also be one of those changes!

Gotta go, gotta run! Thanks for stopping by!

Tea for Two!

Hello Friends,

There is nothing better than getting to spend a snowy afternoon with a great friend , a cup of tea and an endless amount of scrap talk!  My girlfriend came over and we had a relaxing afternoon going over different scrapbooking techniques and ways to organize our supplies . I get so excited about buying new supplies and then I get excited all over again when I find great ways to organize them.

I recently bought some grand nestabilities and was trying to figure out how to store them, as my smaller dies fit in a dvd case and these dies are much larger . Char and I played around with the cardboard it comes in and then trimmed the sides and added a magnetic strip to it.  We then put it in a page protector and  into a 3 ring binder. Viola, a solution and a compact one at that!  I know you all get this, when I tell you how much this made my day!  I'm pretty sure it's a safe bet to say that scrapbooking and organizing go hand in hand.  My husband will often joke, that I'm a collector and organizer of scrapbooking supplies and not one who actually participates in the art of it.  Since starting this blog, I've been able to produce the evidence that I am participant in this art and not just the collector!  I am organized and ready to design my next new project, which means by early next week I'll be buried in my supplies again.  I believe that the mess is the process behind the masterpiece, or at least that's what I tell my husband until I can get my things straightened out again.

That's all for me today, hope you may have found some tips to organize your stash!

Cupcake Anyone?

Hello to all my Friends,

I wanted to share with you a card I made for one of my best friends for her Birthday. Her name is Pat and she has been a mom to me since I lost my mom to cancer years ago.  I absolutely love her wit and sense of humour, she is such a joy to be around and if it wasn't for scrapbooking we never would of met.  Scrapbbooking has given me happiness during post partem and joy during the difficult times when I lost my Mom and most recently my Dad.  Pat is just one of many friends that have adopted me as one of them. So here's the card I made for her. She has been entered in the Anything Goes Challenge #58.

This little cutie is a Swiss Pixie image and I coloured her with copics and also did some paper piecing on her stockings and the zigzag on her dress.  The cupcake border is made by EK Success with some rhinestones to top them off. Her shoes and the bottom of the cupcakes got some liquid glass to make them shiny and her wings are coated with stardust stickles.  Some ribbon and bows with some pretty prima flowers to match. I used some SB nesties for the matte around her and a CB cupcake embossing folder on the cardstock behind her.  Some purple pearls to surround her in all things shiny!!

Who wouldn't want to indulge in a cupcake from such a cutie!! Even with my gluten allergy, I may give it a second thought! Thanks for stopping by!

Once I get Started!

Hi Everyone!

Oh Boy, have I had a productive day!  You know those days when you can no longer get to your scrapping stuff, or for that matter find half of it, so you decide to reorganize it all and the whole day and even part of the night slips away.  Well, that's what today looked like for me!  I am happy I finally got to it, but it's still not finished.  I tend to go like the energizer bunny all day and night, and if it doesn't all get done, I don't have anything left the next day, and need to recharge.  I'm really excited to rediscover some things I forgot I had, so it kinda feels like Christmas!!

I feel so very blessed to be able to have such things and be able to enjoy the art of scrapbooking!  Even more to be fortunate enough to have many friends, new and old, to share this crazy obsession, oops, I mean passion.

I'm a Winner!

Hi Everybody,

I just found out that my Morley Dancing Card I had entered in the CMC Classroom won!  I can't believe it!  I am over the moon about it!  I just adore the work of Suzanne J Dean of  Scrapbitz. She is such a lovely person, and her talents are endless!!  I have taken advantage of every one of her free online tutorials, and have been to her on the road classes at Scrapping Great Deals last year.  All these things are why I chose her challenge as the first I would enter, and to my delight, I won!!  I feel like someone just gave me a shot of caffeine and now I can't sleep!  I hope it wears off long enough to get to bed tonight, I have a big day tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Bee Mine!

Hello my Friends!

I have been so tied up with taking down Christmas and getting the kids ready for school that I have had no time until now to post a new card.  My husband's birthday is on Valentine's Day, and so every year I would hunt for a card for both occasions and believe me when I tell you the choices are slim!  That is, until I started to make my own cards.  Nothing says 'I Love You ' more than a homemade card, and then you add a birthday greeting and you're all set!  So here's the card I designed for him!

This is the adorable Willard stamp from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps and I find him as cute as can Bee!  I have entered him in the Kraftin Kimmie Challenge- Time to Shape up.  I used my copics to colour him and added liquid glass to his shoes, elbow patches and the bee and stickles to the roses. I used an MS border punch and a CB heart embossing folder. A pink shinny ribbon with a button and three little hearts to say I love you!

Wouldn't you give your heart to him?  I know I would!

One Big Happy Family!

Hi Everybody,

I wanted to let everyone out there know how blessed I feel to have this opportunity to get to know each and every one of you.  Since starting my blog at the end of last year, every single person who has left a comment, or I have chatted with on line, has felt like a relative or a long lost friend!  Your kind words and positive attitudes have been very much appreciated!  In the beginning, I was very nervous about this new endevour of mine, and because of all the support and encouragement from my new blog friends, I feel right at home!  I only wish I had started a blog sooner.

I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring to us!!

Where does the Time go?

Hello Friends,

Well, it feels like just yesterday that we came up here to the cottage and now I'm packing things up to go home. It's amazing that when you're home, a work week seems to be long, but when you're on holidays, you blink, and it's over!  I guess the lesson to be learned here is to make sure not to waste any of the precious downtime you have together!  Having said that, I'm going to say goodbye here and cherish the last night together before we're back to the day to day activities.

Pawsitively Perfect Day!

Good Afternoon ,

What a day, the sun is shining, the snow is lightly falling, and the temperature today is perfect for outdoor fun! Todd has built us a skating rink that is as smooth as glass and the girls are dying to try it out!  There couldn't be a better day to join in on the family fun.  I thought I might share an adorable card I made for my daughter for her birthday; she asked me to colour her a copic card that I would make for a friend not one just for a kid.  You know, it never ceases to amaze me how smart they really are; so she chose the stamp and I spent two days on it for her and she loves it!!!

Puppies are her favourite!  I can't remember where I got the stamp; I coloured the image with copics, and tried paper piercing on the basket.  I added stickles to the bow, and liquid glass to the eyes and noses to make them shiny.  I added a brown ribbon with a bow, and had the perfect little paw print embellishment for the center of the bow. Isn't it sooo cute! I have entered this card in Stampin for the Weekend Challenge #23 Anything Goes .

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it!!

I'm Back!

Hello my friends!

I'm back to normal finally, voice is back and I can finally breathe through my nose.  You know what that means, back to scheduling myself  full days of kids activities, my exercise regimen, taking the Christmas decorations down, and organizing the family routines to prepare for 2012.  As much as all this sounds like work, to me, I get a great sense of accomplishment from knowing our house is in working order once again!  The reason why I do these things first, is so I can have my time to scrap and not feel guilty about it in any way!!  I can't wait to get home to try my new Big Shot and make some new cards to display here on my blog.

Don't forget to check back with me to see some of my new cards on display!

Let it Snow!

Hello Everyone!

A New Year and lots of new things to start and hopefully finish.  I don't know about you, but I always make all these New Year's Resolutions that give me hope by making positive changes in my day to day activities that will make life so much easier.  The only problem is I've always been an all or nothing girl, so I often bite off more than I can chew, and end up disappointed when I can't implement it all.  This year I have decided to choose one thing a month so I can work hard to achieve one, and then move on to the next one. So far so good, day two and I have kept up to my end of the bargain.  I'll let you know at the end of each month what the resolution was and whether I was able to do it.

The lovely and very talented Suzanne Dean is having a CMC Classroom Challenge #33 Sparkle, and I have made this card to enter it. The contest was to use your copics with the colours gold and cream.  I won!!
 

This is a digi stamp called Morley Dancing.  On the antlers I used some liquid glass for a shiny look, and some blue and gold stickles on the scarf for some bling.  I used cream flock, with gold glitter mixed in, on the cuffs of his boots and white flock with white glitter for the snow.  Both snowflakes were given some gold and blue stickles to tie the card together.  I used an MS snowflake border punch, an MS deep edge punch on the gold snowflake trim behind the ribbon, and then a pair of gold bells to put you in the festive mood!

I hope Morley can get us all excited about the winter months ahead!!

Happy New Year!

Hello Friends,

Happy New Year to all my new friends!!  I'm really excited about what this year will hold for me and my new creative adventures!  I am looking forward to all the new people I'm going to meet and all the great tips and techniques we can share through our blogs.