Italy Scrapbook- A Work In Progress

Spent the day working on my Italy scrap book. Spent $50 printing my pictures off at Shopper's Drug Mart today. 141 4x6's and 6 8x10's. I am not scrap booking ALL the pictures...that would be insane. I purchased some 12x12 Making Memory inserts that have 6 4x6 inserts per page. (so a total of 12 to one sheet). I am using some of the 4x6 spaces to add little titles and journaling. I can't believe how many hours I have been working on it, and I am only half way finished....no wonder I have a headache.

This is a map of Rome that I cut up. I have circled all the places we went during our 9 hour walking tour the first day in Rome.

The Colosseum: I want just simple pages, nothing too overwhelming.

St. Paul's Basilica

A look at my 4x6 pages

And another.

As I said a work in progress...

This sums up our summer here in Ontario

Hello Everyone, I haven't been in the scrappin' room these last few days. Some how I got the energy to paint our basement....which has had the wall paper torn down for the last three years. Why I decided to do it the other day I have no idea. Anyways as a result I am exhausted and sore, so I have been relaxing. Also, I have a new teaching position in the fall, and I am trying to rack my head around ideas. I have been given the joyous task of teaching JK (3-4 year olds) French Immersion. YIKES!!!! And school starts in 4 weeks. Double Yikes!!! Its a new class as well so I am not sure what materials and such have been purchased for the new classroom. So as you can see my scrappin' has been put on hold. Hopefully I will have some time to get back in there next week. Until then here is a joke someone sent me that describes an Ontarian Spring/Summer......

A curious fellow died one day and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment. As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into Heaven. Others though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit. But every so often, instead of hurling a poor soul into the fire, Satan would toss a soul off to one side into a small pile. After watching Satan do this several times, the fellow's curiosity got the best of him. He strolled over and asked Satan what he was doing. "Excuse me, Prince of Darkness," he said: "I'm waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn't help wondering, why are you tossing those people aside instead of flinging them into the Fires of Hell with the others?" "Oh those" Satan groaned: "They're all from Ontario. It's only half way through summer and they're still too cold and too wet to burn."

Clean and Simple Challenge 24

Splitcoast's Clean and Simple Challenge #24 is to use the colours Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, and YoYo Yellow to create a simple and clean card. I am glad I came across these Clean and Simple Challenges. Now don't get me wrong, I love the detail that many put into their cards and I am always amazed at the talents of others; but sometimes I think we forget about how simple, yet lovely a card can be. So I challenge everyone to take the time to make a simple and clean card. Here are my quick two versions.


Summer Birthday Wishes:

Ingredients:
Stamps: G Studio Cupcake; PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Copics (B Set)
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Tempting Turquoise; SU Only Orange; SU YoYo Yellow, black



Simply Thinking of You!



Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Men of Life (sentiment), SU
Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise; SU Only Orange; SU YoYo Yellow, black
Paper: SU Whisper White

My Own Colour Challenge

I am always looking to other blogs and splitcoaststampers for colour challenges and combinations to try. Today has been such a productive day that I have produced 10 cards. Some posted as yesterday, today, and tomorrow to help spread out the love. LOL. Anyways my mojo was on a role, but I felt as if I had exhausted my normal colour combinations so I headed straight over to my PTI cardstock and grabbed two colours I have yet to use (Ocean Tides and Plum Pudding). Yes sadly I haven't made a dent into some of PTI's colours yet. I also decided I should open my Kraft cardstock package that was still in it's cellophane wrapping....GASP!!! Anyways, here are two cards I created using my Ocean Plum Kraft Combo. I actually like these two colours together. The Plum Pudding is very similar to SU Perfect Plum, but the Ocean Tides is a colour all in it's own. The two actually go together quite nicely. I challenge others to try this combination.

I apologize for the poor lighting. It's been a grey and dismal day outside.

Berry Best Birthday:
Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI My Punny Valentine's
Ink: SU Perfect Plum, SU Lavender Lace
Paper: SU Kraft, PTI Plum Pudding; PTI Ocean Tides; SU Whisper White
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon, button, scalloped scissors, pop dots



Sweet as Apple Pie!!

Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI My Punny Valentine's
Ink: SU Perfect Plum, SU Close to Cocoa,
Paper: SU Kraft, PTI Plum Pudding; PTI Ocean Tides; SU Whisper White
Accessories: Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Gun, Martha Stewart Punch, pop dots

Splitcoast's Clean And Simple Challenge 25

Well it's pouring rain here AGAIN!! So much for having a summer. Oh well, it allowed me some time to scrap today. I haven't done any of Splitcoaststampers Challenges recently, so thought it was about time. Today's cards are for the Clean & Simple Challenge #25 that uses Krystie’s Sweet Cherries as a guide. Since she used cherries it reminded me of my SU Tart & Tangy stamp set and the coordinating DSP. So here are my version of a Clean & Simple Card following Krystie's simple and amazing layout.


Clean & Simple Fruits:


___________________________________


Clean & Simple Fruits: Cherries


When I think of Cherries I often think of the slot machines at Casinos...hence the sentiment of "Good Luck".

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Certainly Celery and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers; Black
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Black; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Accessories: Real Red satin Ribbon

__________________________________


Clean & Simple Fruits: Strawberry

The ribbon I used on this card reminds me of a picnic blanket. Here in Northern Ontario strawberry picking is a popular summer activity...so hence the sentiment "celebrate today". However, with this crappy rainy weather, there hasn't been much celebrating.

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers; SU Real Red Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Black; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Accessories: Picnic Blanket Ribbon

________________________________


Clean & Simple Fruits: Orange

Orange is such a cheery colour that I decided to choose a cheery message to match.

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: SU Only Orange

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Black; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Accessories: PTI Summer Sunrise Swiss Dot Ribbon

____________________________________

Clean & Simple Fruits: Apple

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" or so lets hope.

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy, PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: SU Always Artichoke
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Black; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Accessories: SU Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon

Flower Inspired

I was looking out our window and noticed that we actually had some flowers left in our garden, cause you see normally the deer eat everything. The flowers inspired this card. If you look closely...in front of the card are two stems left from a deer eating the flower heads.

Originally I was going to incorporate some Summer Sunrise cardstock from PTI, but I ended up preferring just the repeat of the Ripe Avacado and the Daisy DSP I found at Micheal's a few years back.

A look inside the card. I left it blank for now and will add a sentiment that suits the need at a later date.

Ingredients: Flower Inspired

Stamps: SU Define Your Life

Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise; SU So Saffron Chalk (used overtop sentiment to cut the bright white)

Paper: PTI Ripe Avacado, DSP from Micheal's, SU Whisper White

Accessories: PTI Summer Sunrise Grosgrain Ribbon; button; orange ribbon (scrap for tying button), pop dots

Weekend Sketch Challenges

Weekend Sketch Time:
Started raining here, so had no excuse. Headed up to the Scrappin' room to tackle a couple of this weekends sketches.

This is my take on Amy's Friday Sketch using Stamping Bella's Beach Bella. The DSP is some scraps that I have had lying around. Thought it worked perfectly. I think the sentiment is a little large, but I am limited on diecuts.

Here is the Weekend Sketch Challenge hosted this weekend by Laurie Schmidlin I used SU Baroque Motifs, used some PTI cardstock, and SU Rose Red and Regal Rose Ink. The sentiment is SU Curvy Label Bundle, and the sqaures are Nesti's.

Coffee Cup Birthday

I put together this Coffee Cup & Treats for my Grandmother's Birthday. The coffee cup is using Lauren Meader's template Pack a Picnic from Papertrey Ink and taking her idea of using it also as a coffee cup. I created the patterned paper on my own using Gel-a-tins "build a set coffee break". Inside the coffee cup are some napkins with coffee beans on them, a bag of treats (chocolate covered coffee beans), biscotti, and a Tim Hortons gift certificate. My grandmother loves her IceCaps. I used the blue and brown colours from the napkin to create my gift ensemble.

Here is her card using Hanna Stamps "Coffee Riley". I created the patterned paper using the Gel-a-tin stamps again. However, this time I also used some yellow ink. I coloured Riley using copics markers (set B). The sentiment inside says "Sit back, relax, and enjoy" which is from Stamping Bella.

Thanks for looking!

Going to the Chapel and we're going to get Married!!

I made this back in January, following a template Lauren Meader had shared on her blog. I decided to switch it up a little and turn it into a Chapel for my parent's 30th Wedding Anniversary. The roof is attached on one side with Velcro so you can open it up. Inside I had a bag of Hershey hugs & kisses. To change the template from a house to a Chapel I added the steeple. Was a little difficult to attach. On the steeple I punched out squares on all sides and made window panes. Inside the steeple is a cat bell hanging from some string.

I punched out the windows on the side using a Marvy tag punch. I then used tissue paper to make the stained glass look.

The trim around the roof uses a Martha Stewart punch.

It is hard to see here, but behind the grass is a white picket fence...another one of Martha Stewart's punches.

My parents just loved this. It still sits out on top of their TV. My dad even used it as part of his scavenger hunt on their Anniversary. AAWWW!!! :)

Thanks for looking!

I'm Back

Italy was simply AMAZING!!! It was so nice to be able to get away from everything and enjoy the Italian life. The trip itself went really well and I met a lot of great people. I only ran into 2 issues and funny enough they were Canadian related. First off I left Toronto Pearson Airport via Air Transit with half a suitcase full in order to make some nice purchases. However, upon checking in the lady tried to tell me my suitcase weighed 39KG which is over the limit. Air Transit only allows 30KG. I told her that was impossible as my suitcase was empty. She proceeded to tell me, not so nicely, “Can’t you read the scale”. I opened my suitcase showed her, and said it was impossible. However, despite half a suitcase full she still made me empty it. Now at this time my brother had already left the airport. So there I was left with an arm full of my possessions that I was allowed to carry onto the aircraft but couldn’t leave in my suitcase.

My second incident was the fact that I had no money access once I got to Rome. Before leaving Canada I had called Visa, and went into my bank to let them know I was travelling in Europe. This was to ensure I would be able to access my money. Both Visa and my bank said no problem. My Scotia bank branch even gave me a second debit card to hide, so if my first one was lost or stole I would still have access to my account. Well despite the fact that Scotia bank is worldwide all the banks were telling me I wasn’t allowed to make International Withdrawals. (Side note** Just got off the phone with the Customer Service Representative of Scotia bank, as I filed a complaint against the bank, she can’t see why I couldn’t access my funds, and she is going to take further steps to rectify the situation.). So there I was in Rome, Italy without any money. Now I owe 70 Euros to a gentleman who paid for all my entry fees into the sites we visited. I felt horrible not having money. It was very uncomfortable.

Since I had no money I wasn’t able to make many purchases. I ran out of my Euros I purchased in Canada quickly. So when I left Italy my suitcase was the same as when I left. Scared Italy would make me pay for my overweight bag. I asked everyone if I could check in first, and if I had any problems would someone be willing to pay for my overweight bag and I would repay them once I got back to Canada. Anyways, I checked in…put my bag on the scale…and what did the scale say…a whole whopping 16kg. What the heck!!! I was soooooo mad. How could my bag weight 16kg in Italy…when a few more items had been added? But leaving Canada it was supposedly 39KG. To any avail I am home now safe and sound.

Onto better notes. Before I left Canada I went and stayed with my brother in Toronto for a few days. He was so kind and generous that he was willing to drive up to Markham so I could go to the Stamping Bella store. It is such a tiny store, but so much easier to look around than online. While I was there I overheard a conversation between two ladies. Apparently the other day this women they both knew had been into the store to make a few purchases. Get this….she spent $1500.00. Yes, in one sitting, going through the till. I think she must have purchased one of everything. LOL. Thank goodness I only spent 93.65.

Here is what I purchased. Some cute stamps, spellbinders, cuttlebug template, EZ mount, and sentiments.

We also made a trip to a local stamping store where I picked up a few bargains.
My brother also took me to an Oriental Paper Store. It has such amazing things. However, I wasn’t sure how to incorporate the gorgeous paper into my work that I only purchased two little squares. However, I did point out a few things that would be great for Christmas.

Cookies, Cookies, who loves cookies???


While we were searching for the local stamping store we stopped into Sweet Flour Bake Shop.
"Warm delicious cookies, your way in just minutes! At Sweet Flour Bake Shop we pay tribute to the cookie. There is nothing quite like a cookie just out of the oven -- simple goodness that makes you stop to savour the moment. It starts with the highest quality ingredients and ends with a warm, delicious, freshly baked cookie created for you in just minutes. The made-to-order cookie is just a morsel of what Sweet Flour offers. There is something to suit everyone’s taste, including customizable muffin tops, cookie sandwiches and house-made granola. Choose from a selection of gourmet dough and over 20 mix-ins, more than 15,000 cookie combinations can be created! $2.50 CDN" Click on the link to see all the possible combinations. Those of you that live in the toronto area. the address is 2352 Bloor Street W. Toronto. It is a good thing I don't live in tronto I would be at the store daily. There is nothing better than a warm, just baked cookie. And it only takes 2 mins.

Off to Italy!!

I am off to Rome, Italy for a well needed mental break, so my blog is going to be quite for the next month. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer. I'll be back the end of July!

MMMMMMmmmmmmm gelato!!!!