Katerfly Creations

Baby's First

2010-09-21T09:37:00.002-05:00

Not that I have a need for a baby page, but I kinda want to keep this for myself. I really like how the page turned out.

The DSP is old SU paper I have had for quite a while. The cardstock is Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, and Certainly Celery. Ink is SU's grey.

Where is my Mojo? If found please return.....

2010-09-20T23:16:00.002-05:00

Well I really have no excuse. I lost my Mojo and haven't been in my studio for months. Life has just caught up with me. Work was stressful...lost my job, got my job back, got transfered to a new school, lost my job, got my job back.....it just has seemed never ending. I had no energy or desire to work in my studio. Even looking at other people's blogs, splitcoaststampers, and walking around scrapbooking stores couldn't get me motivated. Dare I even say that I have fallen behind on sending birthday cards....I even *gasp* send store bought cards to relatives this year.

It took a friends baby shower to get me back into the studio. One of our colleagues just had a baby boy, and standard practice at school is to create 12x12 baby pages for her baby book. Me, who dislikes scrapbooking pages, and prefers cards and gifts, just spent 2 hours in the studio creating this page, cause I had to. And I really enjoyed it. Hopefully this means I have found my mojo again.

Since it is so late I don't have any light for taking pictures. I really hope to upload tomorrow!!!!

Here to hoping to find my mojo again!

Nichole Heady Cased Card

2010-01-06T08:00:00.003-06:00

The following card is cased from Nichole Heady. Her company, Papertrey Ink, released the stamp set "Home Made" back in November 2009 and I have taken her card from here and made one of my own. Thanks Nichole for the inspiration!!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Home Made (PTI)
Ink: Groovy Guava (SU); Chocolate Chip (SU)
Paper: Groovy Guava (SU); White (PTI); Wild Wasabi (SU)
Accessories: Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Summer Sunrise Vintage Buttons (PTI); hemp; pop dots; leaf punch (Martha Stewart)

Pucker Up Valentine!!

2010-01-05T08:00:00.003-06:00

To continue with the Valentines theme, I've been trying to come up with some cute sayings to go with stamps I already have, instead of investing in new ones just for the sentiments. Here I have create two cards using the lemon/lime/orange/grapefruit stamp in Tart & Tangy (SU). Unfortunately the yellow lemons didn't pop that well. However; the limes really shine.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Tart & tangy (SU)
Ink: Wild Wasabi (SU)
Paper: Wild Wasabi (SU); White (PTI)
Accessories: Computer generate sentiment; Nesties; ribbon

Ingredients:
Stamps: Tart & Tangy (SU)
Ink: Lemon tart (PTI)
Paper: Barley Banana (SU); White (PTI)
Accessories: Computer generated sentiment; nesties; Lemon Tart Saddle Stitch Ribbon (PTI)

Damask Designs

2010-01-04T13:22:00.006-06:00

Well as everyone is back to work after the Christmas Holidays I still have today off and don't return to work till tomorrow (Tuesday), so I have been holed up in my Katerfly Creations Studio trying to keep my stash of cards up to date. Over the last couple of days I have been playing around with Dawn McVey's Damask Designs from Papertrey Ink.

First I have "Jot this down....I love you". I was just playing around with one of the individual Damask stamps and stamped it randomly around the card front using Versamark, Chocolate Chip Ink (SU), and Fresh Snow Pigment Ink (PTI). At first I didn't like how the layering looked, but now as I look at the card the damask shapes layered look like a Chrysanthemum. The sentiment reads "Jot this down" from Papertrey's Take Note stamp set, and "I love you" from the Damask stamp set.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI); Take Note (PTI)
Ink: Versamark; Fresh Snow Pigment Ink (PTI); Chocolate Chip (SU)
Paper: Ocean Tides (PTI); Chocolate Chip )SU); Rustic Cream (PTI); White (PTI)
Accessories: Scalloped Edge Punch (SU); EK Success - 2" Large Scalloped Circle Punch; EK Success - 1 3/4" Large Circle Punch; Ocean Tides Saddle Stitch Ribbon (PTI)

Second we have "A Damask Birthday". This card uses the largest individual Damask image. I built my main panel, added some saddle stitch ribbon and a sentiment. Voila!

Ingredients:
Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI)
Ink: True Black (PTI)
Paper: Balck (SU); White (PTI)
Accessories: Black Saddles Stitch Ribbon (from Micheal's)

Thirdly we have another Damask Birthday.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Damask Designs (PTI)
Ink: True Black (PTI)
Paper: Scarlet Jewel (PTI); White (PTI); Black (SU)
Accessories: Scarlet Jewel Swiss Dot Ribbon (PTI); Scarlet Jewel Vintage Buttons (PTI); Scalloped Edge Punch (SU)

Happy 2010!!!!

2010-01-01T16:07:00.006-06:00

Happy New Years everyone. I hope you are well rested and ready for another year. As we move into a new decade I wish you all health and happiness!!!! Our New Years was uneventful. We rented a few movies (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and All About Steve). We also ordered in Chinese....a family tradition. Except my DH made me call back and add more to our order. When it arrived it looked as if we had enough for 12 people. Oh well leftovers are always good. We then relaxed...my DH fell asleep on the couch and we kinda rang in the New Year. We don't live in a timezone that has a major city party. So when we changed the channel to see the ball drop in New York (at our 11pm) we had already missed it. My parents called to say Happy News when their timezone hit 2010 and then we watched the repeat of Toronto's ball drop for our time zone. Nothing very exciting.

So now that it is the new year lets start focusing on our next holiday, Valentines. I whipped together two, non conventional, cards today.

"Cute As a Button"

Ingredients: "Cute As a Button"
Stamps: Loads of Love (SU)
Paper: Plum Pudding (PTI); Rustic Cream Cardstock (PTI)
Ink: Plum Pudding (PTI); Pale Plum (SU)
Accessories: Giga Square scalloped punch (MARVY); Vintage Plum Pudding Buttons (PTI); embroidery floss; Plum Pudding Ribbon (PTI); Circle Embossing Folder; Cuttlebug

"You Float my Boat"

(circle to represent a porthole)

Ingredients: "You Float my Boat"

Stamps: Men of LIfe (PTI)

Paper: Real Red (SU); Bashful Blue (SU); White Cardstock (PTI)

Ink: Real Red (SU); Bashful Blue (SU);

Accessories: Hemp; pop dots; Giga Circle Punch (MARVY); embroidery floss

A 2010 start on Christmas Cards

2009-12-23T15:57:00.006-06:00

Well I am back today with a Christmas card that I made using scraps. I made a total of 10, each slightly different based on scraps I had on hand.

The Happy Holiday sentiment with ribbon is what I put inside each of the cards.

Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Signature Christmas;PTI Holiday Treats
Paper: Scraps
Ink: PTI Ocean Tides, Versamark
Accessories: Super Jumbo (yellow) Marvy Snowflake punch; 1 3/4" circle punch; PTI Ocean Tides Vintage Buttons; PTI Ocean Tides Saddle Stitch Ribbon

Christmas Recipe Book

2009-12-22T12:44:00.004-06:00

When it's time to prepare for Christmas I always have to pull out all of my recipes to figure out what ingredients I need to buy. I was getting tired of having to search for each of the recipes. So I decided to put together a Christmas Recipe book that has all our family favourites. That way from year to year the recipes are all together and I don't have to spend time searching for each one. I have organized the recipe book into meals and by days, Christmas Eve, Christmas Breakfast, Christmas Lunch, Christmas Dinner, Desserts, etc.

The pages are simple, since I will only being using the book once a year. I created presents out of the pages, and recipe cards. There are still blank pages to add any new recipes my family think are Christmas worthy.

Christmas Cards

2009-12-20T17:38:00.007-06:00

I am one of those type of people who are always ready for the holidays a month in advance. I love being organized, knowing that everything is ready to go, and then I don't have to stress and do things last minute...like my DH (it is four days before xmas eve, and he still hasn't bought my gifts) All my shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, packages have been mailed, and the cards are already in the mail. My only problem is I can't post any of the gift ideas or cards until Christmas time. And of course I haven't been up to anything else but Christmas things. Hence the reason my blog has been so quiet. During the year I am always so busy with work; however at Christmas time I have two weeks off which allows me to relax and spend time scrapbooking. So I actually have had my Christmas cards done for a year now. During last years Christmas Holidays I put together some accordian fold Christmas cards. Back during the summer I posted a sneak peak at one of them. I am back today to give you a look at a few others. The first accordian card I did from scratch. Even the letter panels I stamped from nothing. I then decided to use Christmas paper packages that had letters included. It helped move along the process. I ended up making a total of 12 different accoridan cards. Three were quite long, but then I decided to cut it down to around 6 panels per card.

Below is the card I sent to my Grandparents. **Funny story.....my grandmother thought they were gift tags and almost started to cut the card apart.** Sorry for the first blurry picture. I didn't notice it till after I had already mailed the card. Each panel uses some Christmas DSP that I got from Walmart (was a huge package for around $13..bought it last year). I then used a gold pen to outline the panels. Each panel has a letter that spelt my various messages. Merry Christmas, Let it snow, Joyeux Noel (French), and Khristos Razhdayetsya (Ukrainian). Each panel also has eyelets at the top, threaded with various Christmas colours of ribbon. The panels are also embellished with Christmas brads and snowflakes.

Here is the Ukrainian card I posted last summer. Instead of putting ribbon on every panel I used some square pictures that were a part of the Christmas DSP paper I purchased.

And for those in my family who are not religious I made Let it Snow cards. Here is one example of many I made. The word snow is versamarked, stamped in Bashful Blue ink (SU) and then embossed. I used a snowflake as the letter O.
Well lets see how many Christmas cards I get done this Holiday for next year...LOL

Here is a little sneak peak at some notebooks I made.

Snow Cubes

2009-11-21T15:06:00.003-06:00

Well life offline has been quite busy the last month so the bloglife has been quite quiet. I finally remembered to bring my camera with me to document a few of the offline activities I have been up to. Today a few ladies got together to make cubes using either the words Joy, Noel, or Snow. Our demonstrator, Tara, created the items using the new Digital Studio from Stampin Up. Here are a few shots:

Spoiler Alert To Family--Christmas Gifts Below!

2009-10-25T18:30:00.019-05:00

It's that time of the month where Papertrey Ink challenges their customers to participate in the Blog Hop. This month the Blog Hop asks us to share our Christmas cards, gifts, and packaging ideas. Unfortunately I didn't receive my Papertrey Ink Package yet that had tons of packaging and gift ideas inside (nugget tins, tea tins, take note pads, etc) so I thought I would share with you what I have started on. The post is a little long today, but please enjoy.

First of all lets start with my Holiday Inspiration Table. I take all my Christmas themed stamps, paper, and embellishments and lay it all out so I can see what I have. It helps sparks inspiration and reminds me of all the items I have.

This basket contains nuggets (finally found some here in town); peppermint patties, snack bags, plastic card boxes, candy canes, recipe book, and PTI holiday stamps. Underneath is a huge package of paper, along with more holiday paper behind the basket.
Here you can see my other stamps; a Santa bag filled with kraft gift bags to decorate; vintage buttons; jingle bells; PTI ribbon; punches; and tons of holiday embellishments I found at Micheal's.

Now onto some gifts:
Snowmen Peppermint Patties

I took my scallop punch and punched out white scallops for both the front and back of each peppermint patty. I used my single hole punch to create the black coal buttons and the eyes. The hat is punched using SU 1 1/4" square punch and the word window punch. I then drew on the nose and mouth using copics. The punch art idea came from various people who shared on Splitcoaststampers, so thank you.
I then took the little snowmen and placed two in a small glassine bag from PTI. I then wrapped some PTI Enchanted Evening Ribbon around the bag, added a top note die topper in Enchanted Evening which was stamped in Fresh Snow (PTI) using a snowflake stamp set from SU. To finish it off I added a tag (sentiment To: From: comes from PTI's Halloween Tag set), and a marvy extra jumbo (yellow) snowflake punch with a Enchanted Evening Vintage Button, and a little Noel sentiment, stamped onto a punched marvy extra jumbo scallop square, from Dawn McVeys handwritten Signature Christmas set.
Here they are all packaged up!

Now onto some hot chocolate & other drink gifts:

As I posted the other day I made Trendy Tubes Hot Chocolate gifts. You can find the post here. These are individual gifts but I plan on using PTI's Tea Tin to create a family version along with some other treats to eat and drink on a cold Northern Canadian winter's day! All the treat ideas will be packaged up into a nice basket. If you also look at the post below this one you will see a PTI plastic card box that I have decorated. I have placed some drink items inside.

Now onto reusing PTI Stamp boxes:

I have a soon to be SIL whom I have just met. The two of us went to Sweet Flour in Toronto where you can create your own cookie and have it baked in front of you. Now my brother is Vegan so can't eat this sweet delicious treat, so I have put together a Hot Chocolate, Peppermint Patty, Gift Certificate package. I am reusing a PTI Stamp box to put together this package.

To create the Gingerbread Peppermint patty I used my scallop punch again, and just added some small circles to create the arms and legs. The sugarcoating is created using a white ballpoint pen. Added some hole punched red circles for buttons and a small ribbon as a bow. The box is wrapped in dark chocolate paper which has been stamped using a gingerbread stamp in Fresh Snow Ink (PTI). Ribbon was then wrapped around the box and jingle bells were added to the bow.
On the right of the above picture is a Gingerbread man created from the Top Note Die, marvy oval punch (blue), 3/4" circle punch, and the 1 1/4" circle punch cut in half to create the eye lids. The gingerbread man's edges were inked with Fresh Snow to make it look like icing. Then on the back of the gingerbread man I die cut another top note die, but cut it in half. I adhered just the edges so that it becomes a little pocket and the gift certificate to Sweet Flour will fit inside.

Here are two other Top Note Die Gift Certificate holders I made. Another gingerbread one and a snowman.

Do you see the gift that is illuminated???? Alot of people are making these these days. It is simply a glass cube (this one is repurposed from a lady's house here in town, but you can buy them at your local hardware store). You tie ribbon around it, tie a bow and decorate, drill a hole into the back side, and feed a small set of Christmas lights into the back. Neat huh???
Here is what I haven't gotten to. My to do list:

1. Nugget Tins

2. Alter Tea Tin into Family Hot Chocolate Package

3. Pillow Box gift certficate holders

4. Note Books

5. Christmas Crackers (heres last years picture) This year the items inside wont be cheesy

6. Still need to decorate my kraft pages.

Stay tuned for views of all of these, plus my Christmas Cards. I am not posting my cards here as I did not use any PTI supplies on them (as I made them last year).

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Packaging Ideas

2009-10-12T10:31:00.002-05:00

Here is a sneak peak at two ways I am gift wrapping this year. All my gifts have to be mailed and shipped quite a distance, as both our parents and the rest of our family live across Canada. With that being said most of the gifts are small, so I want the packaging to be chic so that they forget how small the gift is they are opening.

You can also see in this picture my colour scheme for this Christmas....Enchated Evening, Scarlet Jewel, and Vintage Cream (all PTI).

Gift Box
The first gift idea uses a plastic card box (PTI) to place the gift items inside. I can't tell you what is inside as my family reads my blog; however there is tons of room to put something to take the chill off a winter's evening ;) I simply added ribbon, snowflakes and an image panel.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Warm happiness (PTI), Signature Christmas (PTI)
Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Scarlet Jewel (PTI)
Paper: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Vintage Cream (PTI),
Accessories: Marvy Circle Punches (GIGA & MEGA), Enchanted Evening Ribbon (PTI), Marvy Snowflake punch (extra jumbo), Martha Stewart Glitter.

Stocking Gift Bag
This is a template by Lauren Meader. They can be purchased here. It is perfect for chocolates, candy, or small items like a pair of socks ;). I simply followed the template directions, added some stitching, and done!

Ingredients:

Stamps: Guide Lines (PTI)

Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Fresh Snow (PTI)

Paper: Enchanted Evening (PTI), Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Template (PTI); Embroidery Floss, needle, pop dots

Christmas Ideas

2009-10-11T15:18:00.003-05:00

Here is a simple Christmas idea. Fill some Trendy Tubes with Hot Chocolate, add some fancy ribbon, a label and a tag. Voila a simple Christmas idea in 5 mins.

Yes that is snow in the background, and yes it is only October 11, 2009!!!!!!!

I'm still working on some more Christmas ideas. When they are finished I will share them.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Holiday Treats

Ink: Enchanted Evening and Scarlett Jewel (PTI)

Paper: Vintage White (PTI)

Accessories: Enchanted Evening Satin Ribbon (PTI), Extra Jumbo Scalloped Punch (Marvy), embroidery floss

World Card Making Day

2009-10-03T11:29:00.003-05:00

Since it is World Card Making Day I thought I better get into the scrapbooking room and make something. I just haven't had the time lately, and I am currently trying to get over this awful cold. I know I haven't posted anything recently, but I do have many projects on the go.

List of things on the go:
-Sip & Stir Christmas Packages
-Christmas Recipe Book
-Christmas Gift Card Holders using Top Note Die from SU
-2010 Calendars
-Snowmen Peppermint Patties
-and the list goes on and on......

I swear once I have time to complete some of these projects I will post them. In the mean time here is a card I whipped up today.

Here is a card I made for my brother's B-day. The chipboard bird and fancy DSP is from an Asian Paper Store he took me to last summer. I wanted the card to be simple and masculine. Colours are PTI Enchanted Evening, SU Basic Black, and SU Going Gray. Sentiment is from PTI's Mega Mixed Messages.

2009-09-27T17:46:00.002-05:00

Sorry the blog has been so quiet. Getting back into the groove of teaching has been a little busy. Plus I haven't been around the last few weekends. Spent this weekend at a scrapbook convention in town. Once I get some pictures uploaded I will share with you.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!

2009-09-12T13:58:00.012-05:00

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!, or so it seems on everyones blogs. Papertrey Ink is having it's monthly countdown to their stamp release date of September 15th, and this month it's everything Christmas. I already have my Christmas cards done, and kinda know what I'm doing for gifts, so I thought I would spend today whipping up some cards to go on my gifts this year.

My colour inspiration came from this DSP paper I have had for a while now. We R Memory Keepers: Christmas-Holly

I started by cuting my 8 1/2 x 11" paper into 3" strips. I then randomly stamped various images creating my own DSP onto SU Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Rose Red cardstock.

I then cut out tags from Kraft cardstock that was 3" x 4 " and adheared the different strips of DSP I made. I then added some sentiments and some ribbon, and voila.......Christmas card tags; Finished and Done!

Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Little Holiday Wishes; SU To You and Yours; SU The Snowflake Spot; PTI Holiday Treats; PTI Polka Dots II; PTI Guidelines; PTI 2009 Halloween Tags; Holiday Time-Holiday Treats (Walmart)

Paper: SU Bashful Blue; SU Certainly Celery; SU Rose Red; SU Kraft; We R Memory Keepers DSP "Christmas-Holly"

Ink: SU Bashful Blue; SU Certainly Celery; SU Rose Red; SU Always Artichoke; SU Chocolate Chip; PTI Fresh Snow

Accessoreis: Ribbon; Buttons; Punches; Pop Dots

Getting Back To Nature

2009-09-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

Since it is the long weekend (Labour Day in Canada) I have been busy in the scrap room today. I finished my Halloween Cards that I posted yesterday. I am working on making punched turkeys for a number recognition activity for my Kindergarten students (turkeys have a number on their belly, they have to add that number of feathers), and I am trying to get together some cards to donate to my Catholic Women's League Bazaar in October.

So here are two more cards I've made:

"Turtle Me Pink!"

Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Pond Life; PTI Polka Dots; PTI Mega Mixed Messages
Paper: SU Pink Passion; SU Whisper White; SU Wild Wasabi
Ink: SU Rose Red; SU Chocolate Chip; SU Bashful Blue; SU Blush Blossom; SU Chalks (old olive, bashful blue)
Accessories: Ribbon; button; embroidery floss; EZ Success punch

Now on to "Happy Hunting":

Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Nature Silhouettes; SU Backwoods

Paper: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Always Artichoke; SU Whisper White

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Always Artickoke; Copics

Copics used: E33, E35, G99; YG67; C-5, E47; Colourless Blender

Witches; Ghosts and Pumpkins Galore

2009-09-06T14:57:00.007-05:00

I decided to finally ink up my new PTI order and create some halloween cards.

Ingredients "BOO":

Stamps: PTI Halloween Tags; SU Halloween Backgrounds
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise; PTI True Black; PTI DSP Hocus Pocus
Ink: SU Only Orange; Basic Black
Accessories: Black grosgrain ribbon; PTI Vintage Button; embroidery floss; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped circle punch

Ingredients "Fright Night":
Stamps: PTI Halloween Tags; SU Halloween Backgrounds
Paper: PTI True Black; SU Whisper White; PTI DSP Hocus Pocus
Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise; black; SU Only Orange
Accessories: Saddle Stitch ribbon; PTI Vintage button; embroidery floss; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped circle punch

Ingredients "Black Cat":
Stamps: PTI Halloween Tags; SU Halloween Backgrounds; PTI Polka Dots II
Paper: PTI True Black; SU Whisper White
Ink: PTI Plum Pudding; black
Accessories: PTI Plum Pudding Satin Ribbon; PTI Vintage buttons; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped circle punch

Ingredients "Creeping by":
Stamps: PTI Halloween Tags; SU Halloween Backgrounds
Paper: PTI True Black; PTI Whisper White; PTI DSP Hocus Pocus
Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise; black
Accessories: Ribbon; PTI Vintage button; embroidery floss; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped circle punch

Ingredients "Le Fantome":
Stamps: PTI Halloween Tags
Paper: PTI True Black; SU Whisper White; PTI DSP Hocus Pocus
Ink: Black
Accessories: PTI Summer Sunrise swiss dot ribbon; button; embroidery floss; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" scalloped circle punch

Since I had PTI's Halloween Tags out on my desk I dedided to use up some scraps and create 18 tags for my students. I will use these tags on their halloween treats this year.

Apple Gift for Parents

2009-08-30T17:23:00.006-05:00

Well Tuesday is the first day of school, so I have put together a little gift for the parents. This is their child's first year of school and I thought the parent's needed a little something.

I had hoped the card would have been smaller, but by the time I made it cute it was a little bigger than anticipated. Oh well. The child can eat the apple and the parents can keep the cute little reminder that they are just as much as a teacher as I am

Ingredients:
Stamps: Apple from SU Tart & Tangy
Paper: U Real Red; green scraps; DSP (SU)
Ink: SU Real Red; SU Old Olive
Accessories: ribbon; buttons; embroidery floss; circle punch; binder clips

A little look at one of my classrooms

2009-08-28T21:59:00.004-05:00

Welcome to my classroom: "Jump On In"

A look at my desk with my "Filed with flair" and my assessment folder, along with a pencil holder and paper trays that I continued the punched circle look.

My first theme is apples...of course. Here is my thematic table.

The bone of contention in my classroom. The play structure!!! It takes up a huge amount of the classroom, but is loved by the students in all 3 of the Kindergarten classrooms.

Well I think I am ready for next week. I start gentle entry with my JK students so I meet with 6 students and their families on Tuesday...they then come that Thursday. Then the week after I meet another 6 students and their families. That Thursday I have 12 students (both groups of 6). Then the third week I meet the last 6 students and their families, and that Thursday I will have all 18 students in my class.

As for my Core French...we are jumping right into curriculum.

Wish me luck!!!

Another back to school gift for me

2009-08-27T16:00:00.006-05:00

Well I finally took some time to make a few more things for my desk at school. This time around I used Lauren Meader's My Timeless Templates "Filed with Flair". I plan on putting my assessment folder I made the other day in one pocket, note cards in another, and envelopes for sending notes home in the last.

I also covered a little jar in dots and ribbon to put all my binder clips in that I use regularly.

Side view:

Back view:

Other side view:

To create the dots I pulled out all of my scraps and used four different punch sizes. 1 3/4"; 1 3/8"; 1 1/4"; and 1/2".

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Basic Black; PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Raspberry Fizz; PTI Plum Pudding; Blue (can't remember)

Accessories: 1 3/4"; 1 3/8"; 1 1/4"; 1/2" punches; Black Grosgrain Ribbon; PTI Plum Pudding Vintage Button

Happy Birthday DH!!!

2009-08-26T09:16:00.006-05:00

Well it's my DH's Birthday today and I specifically bought My Favorite Things "Maid For You" stamp set just for today.

I just love how it came together, especially how the swiss dot embossing matches the ribbon. I coloured in the image using copics, but used chalk to colour in the back wall. Inside I mimicked the front panel layering the black, red and white paper, and also adding the ribbon.

Ingredients:
Stamps: MFT Maid For You

Paper: SU Basic Black; SU Whisper White; SU Real Red

Ink: black; Copics (B set)

Accessories: Cuttlebug; Dot embossing folder; ribbon (Micheals); button; black embroidery thread; SU chalks

August Papertrey Bloghop

2009-08-25T18:02:00.006-05:00

Hello Everyone...time for another Papertrey Bloghop. Thanks for stopping by!! While you are here why not check out the rest of my postings. Unfortunately I cannot post to the PTI Gallery. I don't have a photo program to resize my pictures, so the gallery wont let me upload any. :(

My inspiration for fall was a kraft gift bag and remembrance of twig frames created as a kid.

The sentiment reads "Nuttin' is better than saying thanks so much".

All I did for this gift bag was cut the DSP down to size; Stamp the PTI Guide Lines background stamp in Chocolate Chip ink; stamp the tree then cut it out; stamp the images and cut them out; punch a fence; print off the sentiment; find some twigs and twine the ends together and voila my simple yet cute fall gift bag.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI My Punny Valentine; PTI Guide Lines; PTI Mega Mixed Messages; SU Season of Friendship

Paper: SU Kraft; SU Chocolate Chip; Martha Stweart fall DSP

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Summer Sun; SU Pumpkin Pie; SU Really Rust; SU Ruby Red; SU Old Olive; PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Fresh Snow

Accessories: Martha Stewart Fence punch; kraft gift bag; twigs; computer font sentiment; twine

A little back to school gift for myself; MTTC05

2009-08-22T14:02:00.003-05:00

A special back to school gift for myself:

Lauren Meader has posted her newest Timeless Template Challenge. She has challenged everyone to make a gift using one of her templates with a back to school theme. Well since I am a teacher I thought I would make myself a gift for going back to school. I am hoping to get done a few templates to use on my desk this year using Filed with Flair and Perfect Match Box, but we are headed camping this weekend....and all the packing has been left up to me as my DH is working till 430pm. So instead I quickly put together an assessment folder using All Boxed Up. I always use cue cards to keep track of my anecdotal assessment notes. I thought why not put it into a cute little folder that also has sticky notes to use.

(Click on the photo for a better look)I teach Junior Kindergarten (4 year olds) and throughout each school term (there are 3) I will constantly make anecdotal comments and notes to be used later during report card time. To ensure all the comments are in one spot (my sticky notes use to end up all over the place) I started using cue cards. As you will notice I only used one pocket on the right hand side which houses my cue cards that are alphabetic and hole punched to fit a ring. On the left hand side are some sticky notes to use as well.

Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy; PTI Simple Alphabet; letter A
Ink: Black; SU Pink Passion
Paper: PTI True Black; PTI Raspberry Fizz; SU Whisper White
Accessories: Lauren Meader's My Timeless Template "All Boxed Up"; Circle Punch; Saddle Stich black ribbon (Micheal's); cue cards; ring; pen

Life is good at the Lake

2009-08-21T21:41:00.008-05:00

Sorry the blog has been so quite. Can you believe that it is almost the end of August? I have been really busy getting my two classrooms ready and meeting with other teachers to plan our french program. Also my uncle and his family came through for the weekend, and now we are headed off for a weekend of camping. The weather has been so crappy this summer, but it looks as if this weekend Mr. Sun is suppose to come out and visit for a change. Since it is suppose to be sunny we are bringing out cat with us. Yes a cat camping. PC loves camping. We have a zipline set up for her so she can walk around on a leash, and she also uses a dinning tent, where she lies in her carry case watching the birds, squirrels, and what not. People always give us funny looks, but she loves it.

We are headed to Blue Lake Provincial Park. It has a wonderful lake where we normally go windsurfing; however this weekend we have decided not to bother with loading it up in the truck. Here is a scrapbooking page of my DH out windsurfing a couple of years ago at the park.

Here is us at the Park a couple of years ago.

Our annual Scrapbooking Convention here is town is coming up the end of September. The theme for this years Page-Layout Contest is "Life is good at the lake". Now we live on Lake of the Woods, which is Northwestern Ontario's Muskoka. Our Lake spans all the way down to Minnesota and is home to hundreds of island with thousands of "cottages" aka Mansions. If you live here you have to love fishing, boating, swimming, anything water related. Anyways, as a result, I am sure everyone is going to have a good entry this year. I haven't entered before, but since we love the lake and doing things I thought I would try this year. So camera is charged and multiple pictures will be taken this weekend. Wish me luck that I actually capture some good shots.

Another Colour Challenge

2009-08-15T23:12:00.005-05:00

So today we had yet another thunder storm. The thunder and lightning has been crazy the last 3 days. The amount of rain that has been pelting down is just drenching. It's been really hard to get errands done, and tomorrow we are suppose to be having a BBQ with family that has driven from out of town. It seems as if we have only seen the sun for about 4 days the last two months. It's been so dark and dismal these last few months that I decided to add some cheer to the day by completing another My Time to Colour Challenge from Lauren Meader. This week I used the colours Lemon Tart, Ocean Tides, Plum Pudding and Berry Sorbet from Papertrey Ink, along with Whisper White from SU to match the inspiration below. (A reminder of summer....something I haven't seen in over a year) Nice bright colours.

I apologize for the dark photo. With the crappy weather we have been having there isn't any natural light to help with the photo.

It is hard to see but the Plum Pudding layer has been embossed using the damask template. The scalloped oval is a Big Shot die from SU that I used on my cuttlebug. I decided to punch some holes in the scallops for some added decoration. The stamps are from Botanical Blooms and the sentiment is from Nature Silhouettes, both SU.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Botanical Blooms; SU Nature Silhouettes

Paper: PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Ocean Tides; PTI Plum Pudding; PTI Berry Sorbet; SU Whisper White

Ink: SU Mellow Moss; SU Perfect Plum; PTI Lemon Tart

Accessories: Lemon Tart Silk Ribbon; Scalloped Oval Die (SU)

Quick Post

2009-08-12T17:27:00.004-05:00

I have a quick post today as I was at my other school getting my other classroom ready. Also had to finish cleaning up my scrap room. Last night I decided to move everything around.

Here is a card I made last night for Matt. A girl that works for him made a pancake breakfast for everyone and he wanted to give her a thank you.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Guide Lines; SU Botanical Blooms; thank you sentiment; PTI Holiday treats (dots on circle)

Ink: SU Rose Red; SU Bashful Blue; SU Perfect Plum

Paper: SU Hostess DSP; SU Lovely Lilac; SU Kraft

Accessories: button; ribbon; embroidery floss; pinking shears

Food Only Challenge

2009-08-09T22:20:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving Food Only Challenge:

The Limited Supplies Challenge on Splitcoaststampers is to create a Food Only card with both images and ink. Here are the rules:

First: Your card or project needs to have food/beverages as its main theme. You know, pretty tea cups, yummy cupcakes, tangy citrus. Or maybe a scene with friends sitting at a café, or your favorite grill-meister in his element. Just think food!

Second: The real limit for you today is in the COLORS. You must only use colors that have “edible names”. Such as certainly celery, pumpkin pie, barely banana, creamy caramel.

Check out the end of the post to see what yummy ingredients I used to make my cards.

I also decided to try out Michelle Wooderson's idea of mass producing cards assembly line style. I cut all my strips up, stamped food images onto them (creating my own DSP), altered their order on each card, and then assembled. I added the circle "let's eat" stamp to the front, along with some Lemon TART ribbon.

Inside I added the sentiment "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Happy Turkey Day!"

And now I am finished my thanksgiving cards....hehehe. This will give me enough time to get all my Halloween cards done. I always find there isn't enough time between Canadian Thanksgiving and Halloween. I only need a handful of thanksgiving cards, but for Halloween I always put together a little treat for my students, as well as a few family members. But I really shouldn't be thinking about October now...I still have a Birthday card for my DH and an Anniversary card for my Aunt that need to be finish in like a weeks time. Yikes!!!

Ingredients "Thanksgiving Food Only":

Stamps: G Studio; SU Dotted Autumn; SU Tart & Tangy (apple); PTI My Punny Valentine; Martha Stewart Monogram Collection
Paper: All SU- creamy CARAMEL; always ARTICHOKE; very VANILLA; more MUSTARD; wild WASABI DSP; CHOCOLATE CHIP
Ink: All SU- close to COCOA; always ARTICHOKE; CHOCOLATE CHIP
Accessories: PTI LEMON TART ribbon; circle punch

Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge 14

2009-08-09T19:51:00.006-05:00

I recently was in Italy where bottles of wine accompany both lunch and dinner. There also is the popular phrase "Ciao Bella" which I even have a shirt to prove it. So to reminisce on my trip I decided to go Italian for this weeks Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge 14. Just don't look too closely the script is actually SU's En Francais.
This week Dawn came up with quite the colour palette. I currently am out of Cream cardstock, and I don't have the new PTI Scarlett Jewel colour, so had to add lib when putting the card together. I was able to combine two copic colours to come up with my version of scarlett on the grapes.

Ingredients "Italian Wine":
Stamps: Grapes (Micheal's); SU En Francais; Sentiment MFT; Scalloped circle Martha Stewart
Paper: PTI Raspberry Fizz; PTI Plum Pudding; SU Whisper White; Cranberry
Ink: SU Perfect Plum; SU Rose Red; Copics R59 & BV04; SU Chalk
Accessories: Circle Punch; ribbon; embroidery floss; eyelets; crop-a-dile

Win some free Copics

2009-08-08T21:49:00.006-05:00

So I just came across this blog where they are giving away COPICS.....isn't that awesome????? All you have to do is upload a card where you have coloured in the image with copics. Well I thought I would repost my very first card using copics.

I tried to stay very masculine with the colour combination of browns and blues, and I used up some scrap lined paper and argyle ribbon. I was thinking patterns on men's ties, shirts, and sweaters when I was putting this together. Clean lines, patterns, and neutral colours. I think it turned out quite well considering I rarely make masculine cards.

A close up look at my copic colouring. I am still learning and playing around with shading and highlighting, but think I did a pretty good job for my first time working with the copics.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Hana Stamps "Campfire Riley"; PTI Men of Life; PTI Simple Alphabet

Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate ;SU Creamy Caramel; SU Whisper White; lined scrap paper
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip
Accessories: brads, copics (B); argyle ribbon; pop dots

MTTI05- Apron Inspiration

2009-08-08T12:08:00.005-05:00

Well it's that time of the week for another of Lauren Meader's My Time to Create Inspiration Challenges. This week she provided us with the photo below. I instantly thought of my Grandmother and all her aprons that she wears. I decided to simply use the colours and the idea of an apron for my card.
Here is my take on the challenge.

I thought about the ruffles and lace you often find on the bottom of aprons. So I used one of my Martha Stewart's punches to create my frill at the bottom of the card. I then covered the seam with some scrap ribbon I had in my bin. I then decided to cut a top note die in half to represent those little pockets you often find on aprons. I lined the top of the top note using some thin pink ribbon. I used PTI's Guide Lines to create a pattern on the pocket, added some buttons and a sentiment from MFT and there you go.

Ingredients "Apron Inspiration":
Stamps: PTI Guide Lines; MFT sentiment
Paper: PTI Spring Moss; SU Tempting Turquoise; (Top Note was some blog candy I won, so not sure the paper colour)
Ink: SU Rose Red
Accessories: Martha Stewart Punch; scrap piece of ribbon; thin pink ribbon; buttons; embroidery floss,

Simply Summer Sunrise!!

2009-08-07T22:53:00.002-05:00

This week on SPCC the Finally Friday Host Robbyn has challenged us to make something that uses one colour; a monotone challenge. So I headed upstairs and pulled out my PTI Summer Sunrise paper, ink, and ribbon and this is what I came up with. It is hard to see the sentiment, and wish I had embossed it or done something to make it pop just a little. The sentiment reads 'for you' and is from the PTI Men of Life stamp set. Every layer is raised on pop dots to help visually see all the elements. Thanks for looking!!

Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Men of Life

Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise

Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise

Accessories: PTI Summer Sunrise Grosgrain ribbon; pop dots

Lauren's Sketch and Dawn's Colour Challenges

2009-08-07T14:02:00.004-05:00

With all my time devoted towards getting my classrooms ready for September my mojo kinda vanished. I started playing along with Dawn McVey's Colour Challenge 13 and Lauren Meader's Sketch Challenge last week, but I just stuck and never finished them. I thought I better finish putting them together today. I am not in love with them, but they are alright.

Lauren's Sketch:

Dawn's Colour Challenge:

Hugs & Kisses:

Ingredients:
Stamps: Stamping Bella, heart stamp
Paper: PTI Berry Sorbet, PTI Spring Moss; PTI Pure Poppy; SU Whisper White; DSP
Ink: Copics (Set B)
Accessories: Buttons pin, ribbon, label punch; embossing folder; cuttlebug

PMS Bella:

Ingredients:
Stamps: PMS Bella Stamping Bella; Sentiment Stamping Bella

Paper: PTI Berry Sorbet, PTI Spring Moss; PTI Pure Poppy; SU Whisper White; DSP
Ink: Copics (Set B); black

Accessories: Flowers, button, scrap ribbon

It's going to be quite!

2009-08-05T14:56:00.002-05:00

Sorry my blog has been quite the last few days. I currently am in school, AHHHH, yes school, working on setting up one of my two classrooms. I am working at two different schools this year. I am teaching JK French Immersion this fall at one of the schools, and it is a brand new class, so there were no supplies in the classroom. We had some families donate some toys so I've been cleaning and organizing them, along with getting my bulletin boards done. I still have another classroom to set up along with the other Core French teachers, and I need to make my schedule around theirs. Plus, I am trying to enjoy the end of the summer...despite all our rain, and we are suppose to be going camping the end of the month. So it looks as if my scrappin is going to be pushed to the side at the moment. In the meantime you should follow along Nichole Heady's blog for this month's sneak peaks at Papertrey Ink.

Italy Scrapbook- A Work In Progress

2009-07-31T21:20:00.010-05:00

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

2009-07-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-07-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-28T08:00:00.005-05:00

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

2009-07-27T12:09:00.015-05:00

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

2009-07-27T08:00:00.007-05:00

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

2009-07-26T20:32:00.010-05:00

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

2009-07-26T08:00:00.005-05:00

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!!

2009-07-25T11:05:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-24T17:35:00.005-05:00

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!!

2009-07-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

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!!!!

Sail Boat Gift Card Tin

2009-06-30T07:52:00.001-05:00

I have been revamping how I store my clear stamps, and since PTI's stamps use CD cases I have now moved all my other clear stamps into CD cases as well. It just seemed more logical to have all my stamps organized similarly. So when I was finished I was left with those little tins that Gel-a-tin stamp sets come in. So I decided to cover the tin, add an image and use it as a gift card holder.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI's Men of Life

Paper: DSP The Daily Grind by Michelle Coleman "Sparkle"; SU Whisper White; SU Real Red; PTI Lemon Tart; SU Bashful Blue Textured

Ink: Su Real Red

Accessories: Cuttlebug; Circles Embossing Folder; hemp; pop dots

Little House on the Recipe Box!

2009-06-29T14:28:00.006-05:00

I decided to alter another one of Micheal's $1.50 recipe boxes. You can see my other version here. Instead of totally altering the purpose of the box, I just decided to dress it up a little and keep the box as an actual recipe box. Last time I was at Micheal's I found this gorgeous DSP and thought it would work well on the recipe box. I simply wrapped the sides and bottom of the box using the Heidi Grace Design DSP. I then used some felt scalloped ribbon to hide the seam at the bottom of the box. As you can see in this picture it says 'special recipes'. I used PTI's Holiday Treats sentiment "Special Recipe" and added an "S" from PTI's Simple Alphabet since the fonts are the same. The bracket is also from the Holiday Treats stamp set. The sentiment was punched out using SU Curvy Label Punch. I then punched another Curvy Label using SU Pink Passion cardstock, but turned the punch on its side to then mat the white cardstock over.

The top of the recipe box is covered in PTI's Aqua Mist cardstock. The original DSP I had didn't really match the bright ribbon, so I changed my mind at the last second. Here is a picture of the label I added to the top of the recipe box. I started with punching a Marvy Giga Scalloped Square out of SU Pink Passion. I then stamped the curvy label stamp with SU Pink Passion ink, and layered it with PTI's Holiday Treats "Home Made" sentiment (I just cut out the Christmas portion). I thought this went perfectly with the house DSP and the fact that most recipes usually become a special family recipe.

Inside I included some recipe cards and a set of four glass magnets with kitchen themes (green pepper; red kettle; pumpkin; and an oven mitt)

Now, who am I going to give this too??!!!???

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Holiday Treats; PTI Simple Alphabet; SU Curvy Label

Paper: DSP Heidi Grace Designs "A Little Bird's Tale/Houses"; SU Pink Passion; PTI Aqua Mist; SU Whisper White

Ink: SU Pink Passion; SU Bashful Blue

Accessories; Marvy Giga Square Scallop Punch; SU Curvy Label Punch; Buttons; Embroidery Floss; Felt ribbon; Recipe box; Recipe Cards; Magnets

Crazy Week!

2009-06-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

It has been a crazy week. It's the last week of school and I have been busy with report cards, cleaning up the classroom, awards, prayer services, tutoring after school, as well as packing and getting ready for Italy. I leave in 9 days!!!!! I haven't had a chance to get into the scrapin' room. I have just been too exhausted these last few days. So here is a quick card I made a while ago but haven't had a chance to post. It uses the Botanical Blooms from the Sale-a-bration SU catalogue. I used SU So Saffron; SU DSP (hostess set from a few catalogues ago) and SU Whisper White. The ink is SU Real Red and So Saffron. The flower pots are from MFT "Can Ya Dig It?" And a little piece of scrap green grosgrain ribbon was added to the one side.

Manitoba Marathon

2009-06-21T18:07:00.006-05:00

Unbelievable, I would just like to congratulate everyone who participated in the Manitoba Marathon today. It was a sight to see. Thousands of people participated, all ages, and body types, as well as disabilities. I was so inspired to see everyone participating. They had this super run where tons of children participated. The first to cross the line was this young boy about 8-10 years old, and he was a head of the pack by minutes. The youngest was a 4 year old boy, and this cute tiny 5 year old girl. They just ran their hardest when they entered the stadium. The oldest was a 72 year old woman who was running for her daughter who had cancer. Tears came to my eyes to see these people who completed the course. I myself was there to support Matt. This was his first half-marathon and I am so proud. We were up at 4:30am to catch the shuttle at 5:40am to start the race at 7am. Humidity was already bring the temperate up to 30 degrees and Matt ran his first half-marathon and came in 1198 place out of 3949 with a personal best time of 2:03:07. A friend of mine and myself didn’t expect our boys to arrive till about 2:30:00 only because they were apart of the second wave that left. I just about missed a photo op. Next thing I know Matt is already around the track at the Stadium. As I said I am so proud. It is not that I doubted he could do it. It was just really hot, and I watched as numerous people were collapsing in the stadium area, mouth to mouth and oxygen were being administered and you constantly were hearing sirens from the ambulances. I just wanted to make sure he got in safe and sound. I mean his shirt number had my name and cell phone number on it in case there were medical issues. But anyways as I said I am really proud of Matt and his accomplishments today. And a big shout out to all the Winnipeg residents who sat outside today using their hoses and sprinklers to help cool off the runners. I know that Matt and his buddy appreciated it. The fact that you were sitting outside supporting all the runners and were willing to raise your water bill. THANKYOU!!!!! Oh and thanks to the guy with the beer stand……not sure it helped, but thanks for passing out free beer on the last leg! Oh and we mustn’t forget Bryon. It was his first Marathon as well. He did amazing. Oh and there is also Dannie who decided she was running the full marathon. We just checked and she came in safe and sound in with at time around 5:20:00. Way to Go!!!!!

Matt before the race. Contemplating his strategy!

The gun goes.

Matt headed out with the pack.

Matt's back as he is headed to the finish line. Almost didn't see him.

Done!! And a personal best of 2:03:07. Way to go sweetie!!!

Teacher's Gift

2009-06-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

This is a altered clipboard I made last year for a colleague. We shared a classroom, with him teaching in the morning, and myself in the afternoon. He always was using clipboards to organize his things, and thought I would jazz one up for him. On the bottom left hand side is a 3X3 sticky note pad. On the right hand side is a calendar for the year. The pen is attached using velcro. The DSP is from Micheal's and I added a piece of solid red across the top. Added some green grosgrain ribbon to hide the seam, and added some teaching stickers along the ribbon. The back was covered in the same paper.

Blueberry Pomegranate Martinis

2009-06-19T19:05:00.008-05:00

A friend of mine and myself got some....let's say unfavorable news....regarding jobs today. Things are still up in the air but my friend is quite upset. So I thought I would whip together a quick little gift for her. The bag is a wonderful $1.50 purchase at Micheal's. I made a quick tag using a Stamping Bella sentiment, scraps, and my sizzix square dies.

Inside is a Blueberry Pomegranate Martini mix from Walmart (steal of a deal too!!). Some napkins. Now I know the sentiment is referring to wine, but the colours matched the Martini box, and with everything going on right now I know she'll want to gulp it down. I also threw in four coasters. The coasters orignially came in a package of like 30 for $1.50 (again from Micheal's). I just thought it was a cute gift to help get her mind off of things.

And I had all these items stored away in my 'tickle trunk' which were all purchased at separate dates. Funny how they all go together so well. I just love cheap steals...I mean deals. :)

Ingredients:

Stamps: Sentiment from Stampin Bella

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Brilliant Blue

Ink: SU Brilliant Blue
Accessories: Square Sizzix dies; cuttlebug; dark blue embroidery floss; burgendy wine bag; napkins; four coasters; blue tissue paper

Here's to Sailing into Retirement

2009-06-18T19:40:00.004-05:00

Well I just came back from a retirement party and the theme was Cruise into Retirement. The organizers had done an amazing job. Since it was the principal retiring all the students were involved. They each created a passport with their personal information and best wishes for the principal. They had these posted on the way to the gym along with a cruise ship advertisement. The hallway to the gym is actually on an incline (ramp like) so they created a dock out of the ramp and even had a cruise ship horn and marina sounds repeating on a stereo. The gym itself was decorated like a beach and had more cruise themed items. It is hard to describe, but was absolutley fabulous. So when I came home today I used the idea of a retirement to finish my project I started yesterday. I started this gable type box yesterday and was working with the sailboat from Men of Life but was stuck on what sentiment to use. So after my inspiration from tonight's retirement party I decided on "Here's to sailing into retirement".

I did find the box a little harder to create than anticipated. It was a little more flimsy than I thought to put together and I struggled to cut out the handle and the sides. Next time I make this I think I use an oval punch for the handle instead of free handing it. Anyways, here is what I whipped together.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Men of Life; PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie Textured; SU Bashful Blue; DSP

Ink: SU Only Orange; SU Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Cuttlebug circle embossing template; hemp; ribbon; pop dots; computer sentiments

Father's Day Cookout

2009-06-17T19:40:00.004-05:00

**Update** This post was written a long time ago hence Hockey Playoffs. However I haven't been able to get the scrapin' done like I hoped this week. So I have decided to post my Father's Day card and gift ensemble. My dad doesn't look at my blog unless my mother shows him things, so no harm in posting it early.

So...I finally caved in and purchased my first pack of Copics!!!! We just wont tell the DH exactly how much they cost. Anyways.....while I was watching Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals I decided to start my Father's Day card (I am only posting this now, so my father didn't actually see the card before the day). This was the perfect opportunity to try out my new copics. I find that the copics actually work better than the SU Write Markers. I love how the copics allow you to blend, and the colours don't smear. So far so good, I can't wait to try using them again. My father loves BBQing so I thought I would alter the sentiment on the card to say "Father's Day Cookout". I also used a portion of the "Happy Father's Day" sentiment from PTI's Men of Life stamp set, and then added the cookout word using PTI's Simple Alphabet. The dots on the bottom are from the Men of Life stamp. I just repeated them for some balance. I don't have the new Riley BBQ stamp, so decided to use the campfire one instead. His gift includes some BBQ sauce from Buster's Barbecue in Vermillion Bay Ontario (world famous), and a Brisket BBQ salt and pepper shaker. When I saw the salt and pepper shaker I just had to get it. One of our local gift stores had a whole bunch of neat BBQ items, but my father lives in Southern Ontario...and I am in Northern Ontario, so whatever I buy needs to make the trip in the mail. So I chose something small, but still cute.

A close up look at my copic colouring. I am still learning and playing around with shading and highlighting, but think I did a pretty good job for my first time working with the copics.

The famous Blueberry Buster's BBQ sauce from Vermillion Bay, Ontario. It also comes in hot, but since my mother hates anything hot and spicy I decided to give my dad the regular BBQ sauce. They also sell a spice rub, which I haven't tried yet.

These are all the copic colours I used to colour in Campfire Riley.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Hana Stamps "Campfire Riley"; PTI Men of Life; PTI Simple Alphabet

Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate ;SU Creamy Caramel; SU Whisper White; lined scrap paper

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories: brads, copics (B); argyle ribbon; pop dots

Busted up Suitcases

2009-06-15T21:13:00.000-05:00

Have you ever travelled on a plane and arrived at your destination only to discover that your suitcase has been battered and is now broken? You wonder what could possibly have gone wrong. I mean the suitcase gets put onto a conveyor belt, which then sends your suitcase to a trolley, which then is driven outside to the plane where another conveyor belt sends the suitcase up into the cargo hold of the plane. Well, lets just say I now know exactly why and how our suitcases end up battered and broken. I was at Toronto Pearson International Airport yesterday waiting for my flight back into Winnipeg. The plane was late boarding and a group of us were now staring outside watching as another plane was being loaded. This one loadie was driving all the suitcases up to the conveyor belt; however he over judged and pulled too far forward. Instead of reversing a few inches this loadie decided to turn the vehicle around in a circle. Yet, thinking he was smart, he wrenched the wheel to make a tight turn, and as we were all watching out the window half a dozen suitcases literally came flying out of the trolley and ended up all over the tarmac. If you didn’t think that was enough, I notice another man picking up someone’s dainties all over the ground. It appeared as if someone’s suitcase had opened. Yet a few minutes later this one man returned with bags in his hands. He then lifted up a suitcase where the one whole side had totally blown off. I have no idea how, but the side was literally off the suitcase. He sandwiched all the personal belongings into the suitcase, added the “top”, and then put it into a plastic bag so the suitcase could continue it’s trip to Vancouver. Oh ya…..I forgot to mention that one of the loadies ended up looking under the conveyor belt, the plane, cars and other vehicles on the tarmac to ensure that everything that belonged in that suitcase were found…..UNBELIEVABLE!!!! And they didn’t even seem shocked, they never appeared to laugh, they just continued their job like nothing strange had happened.

I had a quick trip into Toronto this past weekend for a course and arrived home late last night. Today has been a long day with teaching and tutoring and I have an interview to prepare for tomorrow, so unfortunately no new ideas to share. I do have a couple of ideas in mind and I should be able to create a few things this week. Till then,

Viva Las Vegas!!!

2009-06-11T20:34:00.009-05:00

Had a bit of a rough day today. There was some confusion and I was quite upset. It all
eventually worked itself out, but I am the type of person that needs a bit of time to relax once I've gotten all worked up. After cuddling with my DH and a phone call home to mom I headed into my scrapin' room knowing I would get lost in a creation. So here it is Las Vegas inspired. I recently was flipping through a scrapbooking magazine and came across someone who used an actual 4 of spades playing card to create a cute tag. This person added a U so the tag said 4U. It made me remember that I have a set of suit stamps, which I have had for over a year now, and haven't used. So I thought I would pull them out and see if I could mimic the 4U playing card idea. I decided to also use the stamps to create my own custom DSP. And lucky enough I still had some scrap paper left over with the suit elements on them. I can't remember the name of the company who made the DSP, but I purchased it at Micheal's over a year ago to make my DH's birthday card a couple years ago. I also decided to follow the sketch challenge from Splicoaststampers this week. I am actually quite pleased with the way it came out. I am sometimes hesitant to you $1 stamps, as they don't always stamp clearly, but the suits look great. And yes the stamps in this set came from Micheal's $1 bin.

I didn't have the size 4 stamp that I wanted, and when I originally drew it with a marker it seemed to ruin the design. So I decided to use the tiny 4 from PTI simple alphabet set. The mini heart comes from SU Mark the Date stamp set. The U is just a sticky letter I had in my stach. I would have liked a Chipborad letter, but I only have lime green and hot pink chipboard letters, and the thought of trying to cover up the letter with paper just didn't appeal to me.

Here is a card I made for my DH's birthday a few years back. This idea is borrowed from someone off of Splitcoaststampers. I honestly forget who as it's been a year or so since I made it. Thank you to whoever it was. My DH likes to gamble ever now and again. Whenever he is in a town that has a casino he go in a plays $100. So I thought this was perfect. I used the Cherries from SU's Tart & Tany set. As you can see the card shows a jackpot. Inside the sentiment reads "Hope your day is filled with luck and surprises." As you will notice this card uses the same DSP as the last one.

4U Ingredients:
Stamps: G Studio, PTI Simple Alphabet (4); SU Mark the Date (heart)

Paper: SU Real Red, SU Basic Black; SU Whisper White; DSP (from Micheal's)

Ink: SU Real Red, SU Basic Black

Accessories: U sticker

Jackpot Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy

Paper: SU Real Red, SU Basic Black; SU Whisper White; DSP (from Micheal's)

Ink: SU Real Red; SU Certainly Celery

Acessories: black marker, grey marker; brads, pop dots

Still Craving Chocolate

2009-06-10T18:40:00.011-05:00

So I am still desperately craving Chocolate and Ice cream. When I was creating my cards yesterday an old song "Sweet like Chocolate" by Shanks & Bigfoot came into my head and I haven't been able to get rid of the lyrics since. Hence the new song on the blog. Anyways, since I still had sweets on my brain I was trying to figure out a cute gift that could go with one of the cards. Then I remembered I had saved a baking magazine that used small mason jars to create cute little individual cupcakes as party favours. I thought they were so cute and have been wanting to make them, but just haven't had a reason to. Well I just came home from work and was about to post my great idea when I came across Papertrey Ink's new releases. They have just started introducing their new releases today and Nichole Heady has introduced a new cupcake stamp set, and then on Lauren Meader's blog she shared her new template that holds a cupcake in a jar. So, my idea isn't so new any more. Oh well...but it is kinda eerie that we are all on the same cupcake craze...or should I say crave???

Simply Sweet Trio

2009-06-09T20:32:00.009-05:00

I've given up Dairy Queen!!!! and boy is it hard. We use to go like 3 times a week....or more. So I finally decided to take a stand and say no more to DQ trips. Well, unfortunatley I have a craving for a Pecan Mudslide right now. So to help subside my craving I decided to use my sweet stamps to create some satisfying, yet calorie free cards.

"You're Simply Sweet" follows sketch 200 from Splitcoaststampers. These stamps are from G Studio and were in the $1 bin at Micheal's. Well worth the $1.

Ingredients:

Stamps: G Studio

Paper; PTI Sweet Blush; PTI Dark Chocolate; My Mind's Eye - Bella "Pretty Little Girl"

Ink: Copics; SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories: ribbon; pop dots

My Version of a DQ Pecan Mudslide.I left the right hand side blank so I can add my sentiment at a later date, depending on who and why I am sending the card.

Ingredients:

Stamps: MFT Here's the Scoop

Paper: SU Basic Grey; cranberry (unknown); scrap DSP

Ink: Copics

Lollipop, Lollipop, Ohlali Lollipop:

I just used my scrap paper and some ribbon to whip this 3x3 card up.

Ingredients:

Stamps: G Studio

Paper: PTI Sweet Blush; SU Lavendar Lace; SU Whisper White

Ink: Copics; SU Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Ribbon

Teacup Bunnies

2009-06-08T18:56:00.007-05:00

Sorry, but my post is going to be short today. I'm feeling slightly under the weather. Didn't sleep at all last night. Have a feeling a cold is brewying, which sucks since I have to fly this Friday and Sunday. Anyways, thought I would post quickly as my DH runs out to rent a movie and get some Chinese for dinner.

I've been playing around with my copics again and decided to work with MFT Stephanie Fizer - Tea for Two image. It is so adorable, cuter than I expected. I love the little bunny's bum hanging out of the cup. I decided to match it with some SU DSP and use this weeks Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast. So here is what I came up with.

Ingredients:

Stamps: MFT Stephanie Fizer - Tea for Two

Paper: PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Auqa Mist; SU DSP (Dots)

Ink: copics (blues, yellows, browns, and pinks)

Accessories: PTI Lemon Tart ribbon; redline tape

Here's the Scoop Colour and Sketch Challenge

2009-06-06T21:19:00.007-05:00

Wow, third post today...what a nice change. Usually I am out of town or busy with commitments, but today I was able to get three posts done, plus a bulletin board display for church. Nice!!! It was nice not to be rushed...plus I was able to watch the hockey game too.....crappy game though. Detroit is blowing Pittsburgh away 5-0 by the end of the 2nd period, so decided to post now during the third period.

Anyway, this post incorporates Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge and Lauren Meader's Sketch Challenge.

This is only my second time playing around with copics. The first time I used them was the other day on my Father's Day card..but I haven't posted it yet, as I don't want my father to see it just yet. So I am still getting the hang of blending, shading, etc. As you will notice I had to move the sentiment from Lauren's sketch to the other side of the card. I had a little mishap with blending...more like a smear into the cream wallpaper and I needed to cover up her feet. However, I do think the card turned out well considering. I used SU Chocolate Chip; SU Purely Pomegranate; and a cream colour to match Dawn's colour combo. The only thing that doesn't match the colour combo is the ice cream itself...but a girls got to have her Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

Here's the Scoop Ingredients:

Stamps: MFT Here's the Scoop

Paper: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Purely Pomegranate; Cream scrap paper

Ink: sentiment is SU Purely Pomegranate; colouring done by copics...see picture below

Accessories: Martha Stewart punch; brads; ribbon; pop dots; redline tape

These are the copic colours I used.

Thanks for looking!!

Bouncing Baby Boy

2009-06-06T14:24:00.005-05:00

One of our colleagues just had a Baby Boy Thursday night, and the lady who bought my card yesterday asked me to make a baby boy card for our colleague. I thought I would try out this months PTI Design Team Tip using the reverse punch idea. This is what I came up with.

In addition I used a small Dollarama pail, covered it with a BabyBoy sticker and added a pair of yellow socks.

Unfortunately last time my mom came to visit I sent her sewing machine back home with her. She had given it to me 3 years ago, and I had never taken it out of the box. Now I was wishing I had it back. Since I do not have a sewing machine I decided to punch holes around the circles and use a white gel pen to faux stitch around the circles. I then continued the faux stitch around the outside of the card.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: Kraft cardstock; SU Bashful Blue DSP (hostess set)

Ink: SU Very Vanilla

Accessories: PTI Lemon Tart Saddle Stitch Ribbon; buttons; redline tape; various circle punches; pin; white gel pen.

On the inside of the card I used the circle negatives, added the faux stitching and added simple sentiments in the center.

I sold a card!!!

2009-06-06T11:24:00.006-05:00

So I sold my first card yesterday!!!!! I am so excited. You always wonder whether your cards are good enough to sell, and you feel a little uneasy as people are looking through them, but apparently the baby card I posted the other day was good enough to sell!!!!!. (picture below)
I've always wanted to sell my cards, but I live in a small community and am not too sure how well they would sell. A friend of mine sells her at her sister's store, and I think they sell well. There is also a Farmers Market during the summer months (and we get lots of tourists), and then there are the holiday Christmas Crafts Shows. I really should start figuring out what would work best for me. If you have any ideas let me know how you got started selling your cards.

I have another baby card to post, but still need to run to Walmart to pick up some cute socks to add to the gift, so I thought I would post a quick card. It is a simple sketch that I use quite often.

The card uses SU Chocolate Chip paper as the base. The squares are punched using SU square punches. The bigger square is punched using SU Purely Pomegranate cardstock, and then layered with Wild Wasabi DSP from the hostess package a few magazines back. The middle frame layers SU Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, and Whisper White. The stamps used are SU Baroque Motifs, using the same three ink colours as the paper; SU Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate, and Wild Wasabi. The center of the stamp was made using SU Build a Brad. The center frame has been popped using pop dots.

Cherish Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Baroque Motifs

Paper: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Purely Pomegranate; SU Whisper White; SU Wild Wasabi DSP (Hostess set)

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Purely Pomegranate; SU Wild Wasabi

Accessories: SU Build a Brad; SU small 1/2" Circle punch; SU Square punches 1 1/4" & 1 3/8"; pop dots

I'll be back later with my other baby card!!

Sweet Baby Girl

2009-06-04T21:51:00.006-05:00

My Grade One class was on a Community tour the other day. While at the Post Office a colleague of mine was looking at the cards. I told her I could make her a baby card, and well here is what I came up with. I am going to bring in a whole bunch of other cards I have previously made for her to choose from, but I thought I would play around with this cute paper again. It matches the Baby Box and book I made the other day found here.
Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Mega Mixed Messages; PTI Simple Alphabet
Paper: SU Groovy Guava; PTI Spring Rain; Imaginisce Twitterpated "Hey Foxy"; Imaginisce Twitterpated "Mushroom Fancy"
Ink: SU Groovy Guava
Accessories: Ribbon; SU Square punches, button, embroidery string

Newfie Night Lobsterfest

2009-05-31T20:16:00.006-05:00

So this weekend was our Newfie Night Lobsterfest. A group in Dryden put together this annual lobsterfest to support the local community. This year the money was going towards the Red Cross. One of our best friends is actually from Newfoundland so we went with them last year. We were invited again this year so drove into Dryden for another fun filled Newfie Night Lobsterfest. Tickets were only $30 and you ended up with a 1 ½ pound lobster, mussels, baked potato, 5 types of salads, buns, and dessert. There were silent auction items, ticket door prizes, an ever-flowing bar, and a dance. The music was mostly Atlantic Canada music (like Great Big Sea or the Rankins) with a touch of country and a few other older hits. The night went well for all of us. We had a huge group this year, so it was nice to socialize and dance. However, the organizers unfortunately ran into a huge situation. Apparently the consumer sent the lobsters by pound. When the organizers requested lobsters by numbers. So this discrepancy left 50-60 people without dinner..YIKES! We were lucky that our table was in line second.

Since our friends were letting us crash at their place, and they purchased the tickets for us a head of time, I thought I would put together a little thank you gift. I was thinking Newfoundland, ocean, lobster, so beach.

I took an plastic orange pail and shovel, added plastic reusable ice cubes, two plastic cups, some cute napkins, and added a bottle of rye. I also attached a bottle opener on the side of the pail that is attached with a chain. I had a vision of a beach party in my mind and was thinking the pail could be used for ice and you could scoop the ice out using the tiny shovel. Or you could place a few beer in the pail with the ice. Anyways, I thought it was cute, and I absolutely fell in love with the napkins I purchased at a local gift shop. The colours worked perfectly with the pail.

The colours were so great they matched a card that I already had on hand. The card uses SU Pick a Petal stamps to create surfboards. I also brayed and sponged the background colours to form the sky, water, and beach.
Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Pick a Petal; EZ Success Sentiment (part of one..the word "hang"); PTI Simple Alphabet (#10)

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Tempting Turquoise; SU Only Orange; SU Chocolate Chip textured

Ink: SU Real Red; SU YoYo Yellow; SU Only Orange; SU Creamy Caramel; SU Chocolate Chip; SU Tempting Turquoise; SU Bashful Blue; SU Brilliant Blue

Accessories; Brayer; sponges; white gel pen; brad

Say it with Flowers!

2009-05-28T22:22:00.011-05:00

I put this little gift together for my Aunt's Birthday. Her birthday is in June and she loves to garden. In the past she has received hedgehogs as little nicknacks, and when I saw this watering can with the hedgehog I knew it would be perfect for her. Over the last year I have found other items to add to the gift. I found the little spade at a local gift shop here in town, and the stone is from the Massage and Wellness store here in town. The card uses images from MFT Can Ya Dig It? and the little notepad is decorated using SU Pick a Petal.

Card Ingredients:
Stamps: MFT Can Ya Dig It?
Paper: SU DSP Hostess set 2007; SU Pixie Pink; SU Certainly Celery; SU So Saffron; SU Whisper White
Ink: SU Real Rust; SU Garden Gree; SU Chalks YoYo Yello, Pixie Pink; Rose Red
Accessoires: SU Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon; pop dots

This notepad is a score from Micheals. Only $1.50 CDN in the discount section. Who could go wrong with that. It origianl had the initail of my aunt on it, but I decided to cover it. I decided to emboss circles on the So Saffron paper and then repeated the dot pattern with the leaves on the flower using SU Pick a Petal. I added a scalloped edge to the green scrap paper using scalloped scissors. I then layered the saddle stich ribbon over top. The center of the flower layers two buttons I have had for ages. To help keep the buttons together I tied using hemp and attached using a pop dot.

Notepad Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Pick a Petal; PTI Mega Mixed Messages; SU Simple Shapes
Paper: SU So Saffron; SU Whisper White; scrap green
Ink: SU Pretty In Pink; SU Certainly Celery
Accessories: PTI Lemon Tart Saddle Stich Ribbon; versamark; clear embossing powder; embossing gun; corner rounder; scalloped scissors; redline tape; buttons; hemp

Bargain Baby Box

2009-05-28T21:42:00.005-05:00

When I was at Micheals last weekend I absolutely fell in love with this paper by Imaginisce called "Hey Foxy". I just had to buy it. And when I was checking out the discount isle I found a recipe box for $1.50 CDN and the notebook with pen for $1.50 CDN. Who could go wrong......oh did I mention that the ribbon was only 25 cents???? Ya, total bargain. Thank goodness my DH wasn't in town with me. I spent a good two hours wandering the store and checking out deals and racking my brain around creations I could make. So I decided to make a baby box where the new mom can put photos before scrapin' them. The little book is so she can make notes about each photo to then use as journalin' later.

The sentiment comes from PTI's Mega Mixed Messages, and the ink colour is SU Groovy Guava. It matched perfectly to the paper and ribbon. I am quite pleased with this. Simple, easy, and cheap. :)

Bargain Baby Box Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: Imaginisce Twitterpated "Hey Foxy"; Imaginisce Twitterpated "Mushroom Fancy" (backside dots)

Ink: SU Groovy Guava

Accessories: Buttons; Hemp; Redline Tape; Square punches; ribbon; recipe box; notepad

Summer Berry Board Album

2009-05-25T16:26:00.007-05:00

Here is a board book that I took, decorated with some summery paper, and turned into a mini summer album....now I just need some pictures to add to the book. Because the book is now thicker due to all the paper I took this candy stripped ribbon to use as a closure.

Pages One & Two- Lemon, limes, and oranges.

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Tart & Tangy

Paper: SU Bashful Blue, SU Certainly Celery, SU Only Orange, SU YoYo Yellow, SU DSP Summer Picnic

Ink: SU YoYo Yellow, SU Certainly Celery, SU Only Orange
Accessories: Grosgrain Ribbon

Page Three & Four: Flowers for all Season

Ingredients:

Stamps: None

Paper: SU Always Artichoke, SU Bashful Blue; SU Not Quite Navy; SU DSP Summer Picnic

Ink: None

Accessories: Blue Grosgrain Ribbon; SU Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon; flower brads; SU Circle Ice Brads; Flowers

Pages Five & Six: An Apple a Day
Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Tart and Tangy
Paper: SU Real Red; SU Always Artichoke; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Ink: SU Real Red; SU Always Artichoke
Accessories: None

Pages Seven & Eight: Bright Dots
Ingredients:

Stamps: None

Paper: SU Not Quite Navy; SU Only Orange; SU DSP Summer Picnic

Ink: None

Accessories: None

Pages Nine & Ten: Berries
Stamps: SU Tart and Tangy
Paper: SU Real Red; SU Gable Green; SU DSP Summer Picnic
Ink: SU Real Red
Accessories: SU Circle Ice Brads; Photo corner tags

The only DSP that didn't come from SU is the Popsicle paper here on this page. I thought it matched my summer theme and the colours quite well.

Pages Eleven & Twelve: Cherry Popsicles
Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Tart and Tangy
Paper: SU Bashful Blue; SU Real Red; SU Green Galore; SU DSP Summer Picnic; Popsicle DSP
Ink: SU Real Red; SU Certainly Celery
Accessories: Rickrack green ribbon; Circle punch; Scalloped punch

Here is a box I created to hold a few cards I made to match the Album. All cards were made from scraps left over from making the album.

Sneak Peak of Christmas

2009-05-21T13:52:00.005-05:00

The snow is finally gone, at last warm weather, so why the heck am I posting a Christmas card. Well you see I am constantly made fun of by family and friends because I happen to have my Christmas cards ready like a year in advance. Yes they are all done, and were last year. Now the reason behind this is, we don't often travel at Christmas to visit family, so it is just the two of us over the holidays and my DH only gets Christmas and Boxing Day off. He is back at work throughout the rest of the holidays. Since I am at home off from school I don't have much to do. And since I am in the Christmas mood I always start my christmas cards. As so happens I finished ALL my Christmas cards for 2009 back in December of 2008. I've made a selection of tag cards, each with various messages and colour combinations (I used 4 different colour combinations). This card happens to say Merry Christmas in Ukrainian which will go to my aunt out in Western Canada. I also made cards saying Merry Christmas (yes a tag for each letter), Joyeux Noel; and Let it Snow. The cards were quick and easy to put together because I won a package of Christmas paper that had coordinating tags, letters, and other cute embellishments. All I did was match cardstock with the DSP selections. I am only posting this card for now, as I don't want my family to see their card. So you will have to wait till December to see the rest.

Each piece of DSP has been outlined using a gold marker. Other than the cardstock and ribbon the paper, letters, tags, and other embellishments (ordaments) came from the DSP package. I punched the top of each tag and added a eyelet to tie ribbon through. Once all the elements were cut it was simple to put together. Probably why I was able to make all my cards in a week.

Stationary Box

2009-05-21T13:24:00.012-05:00

I've made numerous stationary boxes before but never took pictures on my digital camera. I still happen to have this one, haven't given it to anyone yet, so decided to photograph it. To make this box I found directions on someones splitcoaststampers page. However I have since found a tutorial by Dannie that is wonderful.

The paper is a sparkly embossed thick cardstock that came in a package from Zellers. I matched the colours from the cardstock with SU's colours Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac and So Saffron. Since the DSP is only one sided I used SU's Simple Shapes and Little Pieces to continue the pattern on the inside of the box. Ink colours are Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac, and So Saffron.

The inside of the box has a small notebook with linked paper, and a pocket to place stamps in.

I included tags and small 3x3 cards; however over the last year I have taken 2 of the 3x3 cards to use for other reasons. Normally there is room for four 3x3 cards in the right hand pocket.

The cards use the coordinating paper and inks. Sentiments are from an EK Success wheel; and dotted ribbon is from a Micheal's set, the blue grosgrain is from BoBunny.

Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Little Pieces; SU Simple Shapes; Thinking of You EZ Success Sentiment wheel
Paper: DSP from Zellers; SU Tempting Turquoise; SU So Saffron; SU Pixie Pink; SU Lovely Lilac Ink: SU Tempting Turquoise; SU So Saffron; SU Pixie Pink; SU Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Brads; lined paper; ribbon; circle punches

Asian Inspired

2009-05-19T10:27:00.006-05:00

When I was last at Micheal's I saw this gorgeous DSP that I just had to get. Why??? It was just so pretty I couldn't leave without getting a few pieces. It was like it was just calling my name. I kept going back to it on the shelf, so since I have no will power when it comes to buying supplies it ended up in my cart. Now for the last month the paper has been sitting on my desk beside some brown and pink cardstock. That is about as far as I got. I was struggling with what I wanted to create. I really wanted to create an Asian Inspired piece, but am not too sure that is what this really is. After playing around with things this is what I ended up with.

During this same trip into town we stopped at Dollarama Plus. I was looking for some cute containers that would work as small gift baskets. Here I am standing in Dollarama, with an impatient DH. In my hands I have two packages of mini take-out boxes. One package is all white, the other has blue, pink, and white. Now my DH wants to know what is taking so long, and I inform him I am not sure which package I want. He then looks at me like I am crazy and says "They are only a dollar...just buy both." Ah the wisdom of a DH!! Yet when I am at Micheal's I have no willpower and basically the entire store ends up in my cart, but when I am at Dollarama my conscious appears and questions the money I am spending. Needless to say that day I walked out of Dollarama with two packages of mini take-out boxes. To match the card I put in a strip of the paper and added some coordinating ribbon on the handle. The mini take-out box actually will hold a fair number of chocolates or toffee candies.

After making my card the pink flowers were hard to see and I felt like the blue highlight in the DSP was missing from my panel, so I went back and added some turquoise buttons. I wish I had all the same sized buttons, but sadly my button collection is lacking, and I had only two of each size.

Asian Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Botanical Blooms
Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate; PTI Sweet Blush; DSP Micheal's (sorry forget company)
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Pretty In Pink
Accessories: Ribbon; buttons; Martha Stewart Punch; mini take-out box

Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge Week 6

2009-05-18T17:48:00.009-05:00

Another Rasberry Suite Colour Challenge from Dawn McVey.

This card would have turned out better had I cut the top note die first, then stamped the flourish, then embossed; however the top note die was blog candy and came embossed. I don't actually own the die. It actually doesn't look that bad in person. The missing elements distress the card.

Hi There Ingredients:
Stamps: PTI Mega Mixed Messages; SU Baroque Motifs

Paper: PTI Berry Sorbet; PTI Aqua Mist; PTI Dark Chocolate; SU Whisper White

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Sage Shadow; SU Cameo Coral

Accessories; Top Note die already embossed; buttons

This second card uses SU's Simple Shapes to create my own DP. The buckle on the ribbon is made from a beer can tab.

I took the beer can tab, added Versamark, then SU Cameo Coral ink; then clear embossing powder and heat set. I did this three times to ensure full coverage. I used tweesers for better handling.

Beer Buckle Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Simple Shapes; PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: PTI Berry Sorbet; PTI Aqua Mist; PTI Dark Chocolate; SU Whisper White
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Sage Shadow; SU Cameo Coral

Accessories; Beer tab; ribbon; versamark; clear embossing powder; embossing heat gun; Marvy Tag punches (Pureple & Pink)

Birthday Card Organizer

2009-05-18T14:08:00.010-05:00

So I have been playing around with another one of Lauren Meader's My Timeless Templates. This time around it is her All Boxed Up template. I had planned on making 8 cards, following the circle design on the front, and adding corresponding envelopes. However, I was a little disappointed to discover that none of my envelopes fit inside the holders. So I had to decide what to do instead. I decided to still include the four cards I had already made on the left hand side, and then I decided to make a Birthday organizer to go on the right hand side.

I printed off a calender for each month that has room to write down birthdays and anniversaries beside each number. I then cut and mounted onto Basic Grey cardstock to match the All Boxed Up template. I then hole punched the tops of each calendar and hooked them together with binder rings. Now, whoever uses this can flip month by month to be reminded them who's birthday or anniversary it coming up. No more reasons for forgetting.

I included four cards that can be used for birthdays, but you could also use the left hand side as a place to keep preprinted address labels and stamps. That way you have everything where you need it come time to send out the cards.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI's Mega Mixed Messages;

Paper: SU Basic Grey; PTI Raspberry Fizz; SU Whisper White; DSP BoBunny 'Sweet Summer Sayins'; DSP BoBunny 'Sweet Summer Plaid'; DSP DoodleBug Desgin Inc 'Lovely Lime Grid'; DSP Flair Design Inc 'A Lotta Colada'

Ink: SU Pink Passion; SU Bashful Blue; SU Certainly Celery; SU Only Orange; SU Basic Grey

Accessories: Ribbon; SU 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle punches; Binder Clips

Workshop Pages

2009-05-12T20:37:00.009-05:00

Well I finally added some pictures to the pages I made at the workshop. Now remember, I love making cards, and rarely scrapbook as I don't have many pictures or reasons to take pictures. So I looked through what I did have and came up with the following.

Paper Bag Princess- This page was really girly to me, and I wasn't really sure how I could use the page. I don't have any children, wont any time soon, and wasn't sure just how to use it. But as I was looking though my pictures I came upon my cat. We treat her like our child, and she is quite spoiled. She gets whatever she wants and all the attention she wants. She is quite the little Diva...aka Princess. Now she loves bags of any kind. She especially loves the new 'green' shopping bags. She was always getting into them when we would come home from shopping that we ended up giving her one to use as a toy. She loves it. Anyways, if she happens to discover a new bag she always investigates, charges at it and dives right in. Except this day she didn't realize the bag was quite so small. I was busy putting together a game for school and she decided to dive into a small lunch paper bag, except she ended up getting her head stuck. Even though she gets into mischief she is still our little princess...so hence the paper bag princess. (As for ingredients...all were provided minus the chipboard, so I am unaware of product names)

Picnic: This page isn't quite finished. It is supposed to have stitching around the edges but I never got a chance to do it. (As for ingredients...all were provided minus the chipboard, so I am unaware of product names)

Find your Passion: Since I don't have many pictures I asked a friend to take of picture of me actually doing this page. The quote is very fitting. I was never very creative as a child, nor involved in a hobby. I was always busy with sports, but never felt passion towards anything. Now, after finding scrapin', I am in absolute love. I enjoy what I do, never feel obligated to work on it, and it helps me relax. (As for ingredients...all were provided, so I am unaware of product names)

Today was a colleagues birthday at work and I passed around this card for everyone to sign. The sentiment inside read "You can have your cake and eat it too" which was printed on vellum, mounted on hot pink paper, and two opposite corners had paper flowers with rhinestones in the center for some added bling. Even thought it doesn't look like it the paper lining for the cupcake is paper pierced using the same paper as the background.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Birthday Stamp (Wallmart)

Ink: SU Pretty in Pink; SU Bashful Blue; SU Summer Sun; black

Paper: All scraps

Accessories: Vellum sentiment; pop dots; paper flowers; rhinestones

Mother' Day Weekend Workshop!

2009-05-10T12:18:00.007-05:00

Well I have just gotten back from my Mother's Day Weekend Workshop and boy it was worth lugging all my things out there in my car. We all had a blast. You defiantly cannot say we were roughing it. We stayed out at this awesome house out on the lake, and a few of us ladies crashed in a very posh motor home. The food constantly flowed, it was never ending....so much for losing any weight. Every time I turned around there was something new to snack on. Also, on the Saturday everyone was in their PJ's all day scrapping. Hair not done, no makeup and simply loving it. The workshops were wonderful, and we even pulled in two new comers. All they could talk about was what supplies they planned on buying. So all in all it was successful. So thank you to Jodi for arranging everything...to Lynda for letting us use her home...to Susan, Terri, and Mylene for all the snacks...thanks for the wonderful meals, and excellent workshops. It was a nice relaxing weekend. And especially thanks to Lynda for the cute gift she gave to everyone. Now I am not a mother, but she gave everyone these windmill flowers for your garden with a quote reminding mothers and women to never change who they are. Very cute...mine matches my scrapbooking room (purple).

I thought I would share a few pictures of our weekend. Here is a very from the loft looking down into the open concept main floor. We arranged tables all along the windows looking out to the lake.
The small table was the punch table. Everyone just through their punches down on the table to be shared. The table on the right and all the supplies were mine. And behind the couch we used the high table for the Cuttlebug station. The new comers worked at the kitchen table.

Here are a few pictures of people working on my Bug Shaker card. It was definatley challenging, but the ladies loved it.

The final cards....

The ladies loved the pond life stamp set by PTI and created their own pond scene for their Gel Card.

And since it is Mother's Day I can finally post my mother's card. She reads this blog so didn't want to post it before she received it in the mail.....(I do hope she did receive it in the mail; If not...Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!!)

This card uses My Favourite Things Can Ya Dig It? stamp set. The dress, hat, and watering can are paper pierced using scraps. The flowers are coloured in using Stampin' Up Write Markers, and I played around with the colours trying to add shading for dimension. The sentiment comes from this stamp set as well. The hearts are the only thing not from the stamp set, but I thought it fit the sentiment.

Mother's Day Ingredients:

Stamps: My Favourite Things- Can Ya Dig It?; Heart stamp

Paper: SU Wild Wasabi; SU Whisper White; SU DP (hotess package), scraps

Ink: SU Write Markers (Not Quite Navy, Real Rust, Rose Red, Real Red, Pretty In Pink, Creamy Caramel, Garden Green)

Accessories: Pop Dots

So to all the mothers out there Happy Mother's Day. Never forget that it is your love that helps your child grow and become the person they are today; and will be in the future. So no matter what the trials and tribulations are always stand by your child and support them. They may not appreciate everything you do for them now, but they will.

Sympathy

2009-05-05T21:49:00.006-05:00

I haven't needed to use a sympathy card....touch wood, but decided I should have a few on hand just in case. I wanted something simple and generic, but definitely showed comfort. The heart bouquet that I used as a background stamp was purchased at Walmart. It was in a package with a sentiment stamp "Merci" for only 99cents Canadian. Now who could go wrong with that...especially since I am working at a French Immersion school right now. 99cents for two stamps....rock on. Wish I could find other great deals like that. Anyhow, this card also uses SU French Script background stamp that I used as a panel on the right side of the card. I simply torn the edges to give the weathered/used effect. (Not sure the actual term or technique for this). The sentiment was stamped onto a panel which was wrapped with hemp and tied through a button. I thought that the card was missing something, so I decided to stamp the heart bouquet again and use it as part of the main image. The colours used were SU Blue Bayou and SU Wild Wasabi. Thanks for looking!!
Heart Bouquet Sympathy Ingredients:

Stamps: Sentiment-Inkadinkado

Paper: SU Wild Wasabi; SU Blue Bayou

Ink: SU Wild Wasabi; SU Blue Bayou

Accessories: Hemp; Button; SU Square punch

Pick A Petal Variations

2009-05-05T08:00:00.004-05:00

Isn't it wonderful to have stamp sets that are just so versatile???? The next couple of cards are using Stampin Up's Pick a Petal stamp set various ways, not just the typical flower.

I searched through Splitcoaststampers gallery and found many uses. So thank you to all those who inspired me. Yesterday you saw a Birthday Card that used a petal as a flame for candles. Today I have cards using it as wings for lady bugs, dragonflies, butterflies, and of course flowers. These were just quick cards I threw together trying new uses with the stamp set.

Dragonfly Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Pick a Petal

Paper: SU Perfect Plum; SU Regal Rose; SU DP

Ink: SU Perfect Plum

Accessories: CuttleBug Swirls Embossing Folder; SU 1/2" circle punch; black marker

Spring Bug Collection Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Pick a Petal; SU Simple Shapes; Sentiments- Thinking of You by EK Success

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Real Red; SU Tempting Turquoises; SU Certainly Celery; SU Yo-Yo Yellow

Ink: SU Real Red; SU Basic Black; SU Mellow Moss; SU Yo-Yo Yellow

Accessories: Black marker; brad; SU 1/2" circle punch; hole punch; clear stickles

Happy Birthday

2009-05-04T19:59:00.007-05:00

Birthdays are the most common reason to send cards. Well, except for Christmas. I don't have that big of a family so I design cards for all of them. Heaven forbid I miss a birthday so I have their birthdays listed on the kitchen calendar and my day planner. Then in my studio I have business cards printed off which each person's birthday listed on them. These cards are sitting on a plastic business card holder. This reminds me of whose card I have to make. Once I am finished and the card has been mailed I then move the card to the back so I can see who's birthday is next. I also already have the address labels printed off, they are in a book, organized by month, and I have a huge roll of stamps. That way I am prepared and in case I am running short on time don't have to worry about an extra trip to the post office to pick up more stamps.

So currently I make cards for my parents, a brother (sister-inlaw), 2 aunts, 1 uncle (and his wife), grandparents, a cousin, and my "in-laws", along with a handful of Friends. Most of the birthday are spread out which gives me enough time to make and send cards each month. However, I still tend to make a handful of Birthday cards each year to have on hand, just in case. Here is a selection of Birthday cards I've recently made.

Celebrate in Pink Ingredients:
Stamps: Sentiment (portion of Time to Celebrate by Delta)
Paper: SU Pink Passion, DP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Coloured star brads; hole punch

Time to Celebrate Ingredients:
Stamp: Time to Celebrate by Delta
Paper: SU Tempting Turquoise; unknown pale pink; DP Blush
Ink: Basic Black;
Accessories: Ribbon, scissors, corner rounder punch; pop dots
Tag Birthday Ingredients:
Stamps: Happy Birthday Sentiment by StampCraft
Paper: DP Unknown
Ink:Basic Black
Accessories: Marvy Tag Punch; SU Square punch; Pink Swiss Dot Ribbon; Pink Button; Flower; black marker
Candle Birthday Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Pick A Petal; Happy Birthday Sentiment by StampCraft
Paper: SU Elegant Eggplant; SU Always Artichoke; SU Whisper White; DP scraps
Ink: Su Barley Banana; SU Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: SU Mellow Moss Ribbon; hemp;

Embossed Happy Birthday Ingredients:

Stamps: None

Paper: SU Blue Bayou; SU Close to Cocoa

Ink: None

Accessories: Cuttle Bug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder; Chocolate Chip ribbon

Workshop Cards

2009-05-03T17:21:00.006-05:00

Well my Mother's Day workshop is quickly upon us so yesterday I was busy working on my samples. I must say I struggled. I had this vision for my shaker card, but it took me a few tries before I was happy with the results. I still am not 100% sure whether it's exactly what I want. I had purchased a spring collection of paper with bugs on the pages, a mason jar stamp, and a bug punch. I thought I would create a bug shaker card that would go with a stamp I already had "Bugs & Kisses". First time through the inside of the jar was blank (white), but it didn't look right when the bugs (aka punches) and grass (aka glitter) were sitting at the bottom. So I created a new card. The new card actually uses the bug paper as the inside of the jar, rather than background paper. Now, even when the shaker portion of the card is sitting at the bottom, there is still something to see inside the card. I just hope the ladies like it. There are 6 different workshops and I believe I am the only workshop that is making cards. So here is the card.....

To make my shaker cards I use weatherstripping that you use on windows for houses. I purchase it at Canadian Tire. I used it around the edges on my base paper (lady bug). The thickness is very similar to pop dots. Once you stick it around the edges you are left with a deep tray that gives you ample room to place your glitter, punches, etc inside. This gives the items lots of room to shake. I used an exacto knife to cut out the inside of the mason jar, and then covered the opening with the film off of a paper CD pouch. Once you sandwich it all together you are left with a perfect shaker card.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Mason Jar from Micheal's; "Bugs & Kisses" Daisey Bucket Design
Paper: TPC Studio Bugs and Butterflies Printed Cardstock Pad; SU Real Red Cardstock
Ink: SU Real Red; black
Accessories: Marvy Tag Punches (Purple & Pink); EZSucess Bug Punch; Ribbon; glitter; weather stripping; paper CD pouches; exacto knife

Gel Pocket Card
My second card comes from Nichole Heady. I created her Gel Pocket Card using PTI's Pond Life stamp set. I decided to change the dimensions and make the pocket the size of a normal card. But if you want the directions for this please visit the link.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Pond Life; PTI Pond Life Sentiments; SU Simple Shapes

Ink: PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Smmer Sunrise; SU Bashful Blue

Paper: PTI Aqua Mist; PTI Lemon Tart; SU Whisper White

Accessories: Summer Sunrise Swiss Dot Ribbon; SU Scalloped Punch; brads; bead bags; Dippity Do Hair Gel; hole punch

Yet Another Guide Line Card

2009-04-30T19:32:00.004-05:00

Second post of the day. WHOOTWHOOT!! lol, sorry. I really haven't had a chance to scrap this week, so today was my first day in the scrapin' room...plus I couldn't finish this card until my PTI package arrived with my ribbon.

As you can see it is another Guide Line Card. I was on the role the other week and made quite a few backgrounds with the set. This card uses PTI's Lemon Tart and Summer Sunrise cardstock and ink, as well as PTI's Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon. The button was one I had on hand that resembles the lemon tart colour. It was tied on using embroidering floss. The thank you sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages (PTI). I added a yellow swirl to the sentiment and raised it on pop dots.

I just love the mixed fonts that are available in PTI's Mega Mixed Messages. Looks Fab!!

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Guide Lines; PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Paper: PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Summer Sunrise; SU Whisper White

Ink: PTI Lemon Tart; PTI Summer Sunrise

Accessories: PTI Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon; button; embroidery floss; photo swirl; pop dots

Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge

2009-04-30T19:01:00.009-05:00

Even though Dawn McVey is on holidays in Hawaii she still has managed to update her blog. Today she has posted her new Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge. The colours are brown, soft aqua, and white. I have used these colours together quite often and enjoy the colour palate. I knew what sketch I wanted to use, but wasn't too sure what stamp to use as the focal. So I challenged myself to try a new stamp I of course have spent money on, but haven't used yet.

I started by cutting my case base from PTI's Dark Chocolate cardstock. The paper I used is from SU. It is the hostess DP paper that was available in last seasons catalog. I added faux stitching using a SU Chocolate Chip writers marker around the edges of the patterned paper. I added a strip of PTI Dark Chocolate cardstock over the seam of the patterned paper, and then added SU Bashful Blue ribbon. The main image is a Gstudio Popsicle Clear Stamp that was in the dollar bin at Micheal's. It is stamped onto SU Whisper White cardstock that was then brushed with SU Bashful Blue chalk. It was then layered with SU Bashful Blue cardstock and PTI's Dark Chocolate. The flower punch on the side of the Dark Chocolate cardstock is a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is also from the same stamp set as the Popsicle.

Ingredients:
Stamps: GStudio

Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate; SU Hostess DP; SU Whisper White; SU Bashful Blue

Ink: SU Chocolate Chip

Accessories: SU Chalks; SU Bashful Blue ribbon; SU 1" & 1 1/4" circle punch; pop dots; Martha Stewart punch

For my Grandpa!

2009-04-29T20:28:00.004-05:00

My Grandfather's birthday is coming up and I decided to use Stampin' Ups Backwoods to make his birthday card. The cabin looks almost identical to my cottage. I just had to buy it. My Grandfather has lived in an apartment for over 30 years now, and he once told me he somewhat regrets selling their home and moving into an apartment. He misses the puttering around the yard, getting out of the house and just doing 'home' things. That's why he loves going up to the cottage. However, now that he and my grandmother are getting on in age, my grandmother hates the hassle of going up to the cottage. My parents currently look after the cottage and pay the bills, but my grandfather still makes all the 'major' decisions. Anyways, this summer he is replacing the main bathroom in the cottage. So I decided to add a Home Hardware gift card inside. Home Hardware is the only home building center near our cottage. I thought maybe he could use the money to add finishing touches to the bathroom.

I struggled with the area around the cabin. I masked the cottage, but the tree stamp didn't stamp well over the mask. As a result the area looks smudges. Oh well, next time hopefully it works out better.
The sentiments are from Papertrey Ink's Mega Mixed Messages

Ingredients:

Stamps: SU Backwoods; PTI Mega Mixed Messages

Ink: SU Always Artichoke; SU Bashful Blue; SU Brilliant Blue; SU Going Grey; SU Summer Sun; SU Chocolate Chip; SU Creamy Caramel

Paper: SU black card stock; SU Handsome Hunter

Accessories: SU Photo Corner punch; brads

Give me some lovin'

2009-04-27T20:59:00.006-05:00

Ah love.....so many ways to case it in a card. Here are a few cards I've made over the past year for Valentine's Day and Anniversaries.

This is a card I gave to my parents for their 30th Wedding Anniversary. I wanted a simple card, as I didn't want to take away from the Church I made (similar to my birdhouse posted earlier). It is hard to see but the white card stock has been embossed using my cuttlebug Fancy Corners embossing folders. The letters were hand cut and adhered using pop dots.
Love Ingredients:
Stamps: Letters from Inkadinkado
Ink: SU Real Red
Paper: SU Real Red; SU Whisper White
Accessories: Cuttlebug; Fancy Corner Embossing Folder; pop dots

This card I whipped together using scraps I had lying around. The sketch is based on something I've seen elsewhere. The circles were stamped using the part of the acorn from PTI's My Punny Valentine. The sentiment if from SU Loads of Love. The circles are raised using pop dots.
Loads of Love Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Loads of Love; PTI My Punny Valentine
Ink: SU Bashful Blue; SU Not Quite Navy; SU Regal Rose
Paper: SU Not Quite Navy; circles from scrap; DP from Micheal's
Accessories: gross grain ribbon; pop dots; 1 1/4" circle punch (SU)

The idea for this sketch comes from a card Lauren Meader created using four colourful circles. I embossed the circles using the swirls cuttlebug embossing folder trying to mimic the pattern from the DP.
Purple Love Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Hostess set; heart (Micheal's)
Ink: SU Perfect Plum
Paper: SU Pale Plum; DP from Micheal's
Accessories: Ribbon (Micheal's); pop dots; cuttlebug; Swirls Embossing Folder

This is one of the first cards I made years ago, and my first ever upload on Splitcoaststampers. I love the colours and was impressed it turned out so well.
Amour Ingredients:
Stamps: En Francais, Baroque Motifs, So Many Sayings
Ink: River Rock, Blush Blossom
Paper: Non SU
Accessories: SU's Build-a-Brad, Non SU Brads

Guideline Love Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI My Punny Valentine's; PTI Guide Lines

Ink: SU Pink Passion; SU Wild Wasabi

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Pink Passion

Accessories: SU Photo Corners punch

Canisters of Love Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Guide Lines; Stamping Bella Love Canisters

Ink: SU Regal Red
Paper: SU Regal Red; SU Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Swiss Dots ribbon; pencil crayons; black marker

SC225 & Lauren's Colour Challenge

2009-04-26T10:57:00.006-05:00

Normally I am quite lucky to have a lot of free time. I don't have any kids, or too many commitments that take up a lot of my time. So usually after work, other than dinner and maybe laundry, I have the evenings to myself to do whatever I please. I'll be honest, I sometimes even find myself bored. But this past week was insane. I am teaching Grade 2 French Immersion during the day while a teacher is off recovering from surgery. So this requires extra planning as French isn't my first language. Then I am also working as a Safe School Instructor tutoring after school, and Saturday I had to work a shift at the Bistro (local cafe) to help out (the owners daughter is quite ill in the hospital....pray for her) and then I had the special 60th Anniversary Celebration at Church for the CWL. Today is the first day I have had a chance to breath, catch up and actually do some my time things...like create. So I decided to combine two challenges. Lauren Meader's Colour Challenge and Splitcoasts Card Sketch Challenge 225.

Here is my version of both challenges. I used SU Basic Grey for the card base, and then layered my colours SU Bashful Blue, SU Real Red, and PTI Lemon Tart. The Lemon Tart was embossed using my swirls cuttlebug die.

The stamp is actually from Micheal's dollar bin. I also got two other stamp sets that include a lollipop, ice cream, and donut stamp, along with some sentiments. The stamp was stamped onto SU Whisper White cardstock and coloured using SU Write Markers in Real Red and Summer Sun. I used a blender pen to add grey lines on the cupcake liners, and bashful blue to the cake stand. Cupcakes were then matted onto SU Basic Grey cardstock and attached using pop dots. I used my Marvy pink and purple circle punches.
Ingredients:

Stamps: Micheal's dollar bin

Paper: SU Basic Grey, SU Bashful Blue, SU Real Red, PTI Lemon Tart

Ink: SU Basic Grey, SU Bashful Blue, SU Real Red, SU Summer Sun

Accessories: Marvy pink & purple circle punches; blender pens; SU Write Markers; pop dots; cuttlebug swirls die folder; cuttlebug; black marker

My Timeless Templates-Music Makeover

2009-04-25T16:00:00.005-05:00

Here is one of Lauren Meader Timeless Templates. I have used the Music Makeover to create this cute little box for a Birthday gift for a friend.

The gift is a little plaque that has a simple wooden stand.
It is hard to see but the Music Makeover Template says "Time to Celebrate". I didn't want to take away from the design and the ribbon, but thought something was missing. Not sure if it works, but this was my only sentiment that was long enough to fill the void.

I decided to make my own wrapping paper to match the design on the card and box. I simply stamped the same Guide Lines stamp onto computer paper using Pretty in Pink and Basic Gray Ink.

Here is a up close picture. I really love how elegant this looks. Simple too; even better!!

Here is a close up of the card. I actually made this card first a few days ago. When I saw the Papertrey Ink Blog Challenge I just knew that I wanted to use the same pattern on the Music Makeover Template. I followed Nichole's directions for tying the button to the ribbon. I think it looks really nice. I am not one for using buttons, but am challenging myself to include them in all my creations lately.

Ingredients:

Stamps: PTI Grid Lines

Ink: SU Pretty In Pink; SU Basic Gray

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Basic Gray

Accessories: Button; Embroidering Floss (pink); Ribbon from Wallmart;

Tea Box

2009-04-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

The Catholic Women's League at my church is holding a special 60th Anniversary dinner this Saturday. We are having a few special guests and our local florists has offered to do all the flowers for free, so I offered to make a few special thank yous. I decided to use Papertrey Ink's ForKeepSake Template by Lauren Meader to create tea boxes. (directions for this can be found on Lauren's website). Since I do not personally know any of these guests I thought I would make simple boxes, nothing too fancy. I don't know whether the gifts will be well recieved or just put on a shelf and forgotten....so this is what I came up with.

Ingredients:

Paper: SU Groovy Guava; SU Boardering Blue; SU Real Red; SU DP

Accessories: Ribbon, scalloped punch, flower

Since Glenn Brown Flowers is providing us with all the flowers I printed off some business cards saying compliments of.... I stamped SU Botanical Blooms in Brilliant Blue and used a Martha Stewart gold metallic colour around the edges (CWL's colours are blue and gold). These cards will be on all the tables at the dinner.

I made this card at my SU demonstrator's place and thought I would use it as my thank you card to the florist. The one butterfly is on a pop dot making it look like it is actually flying.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Great Friend; Elegant Thank You (Single stamp sold on last page of SU magazine)

Paper: SU Pale Plum; SU Perfect Plum; SU Always Artichoke; SU Whisper White

Ink: SU Pale Plum; SU Perfect Plum; SU So Saffron

Accessories: Pop Dots

Papertrey Ink Guide Lines

2009-04-22T17:31:00.008-05:00

For the last couple of days I've been playing around with Papertrey Ink's Guide Lines. I have had this stamp set since it was released, but just haven't really had a chance to fool around with it to see all the possibilities. I made something for PTI's Blog Hop on Saturday and just love how it came out, so I kept playing around with the set. But since I can't post it now I thought I would share with you another item I made using the stamp set.

As you will notice the layout looks similar to the card I posted the other day. I had made this card first, and liked the layout and thought I would try it again. (Just didn't post the cards in order that I made them)

The background was created using PTI's Guide Lines. I was simply fooling around and came up with this pattern. I stamped the actual lines in black Pallette Noir Ink. I then chose the square stamp and inked it using the same black ink. I decided to not stamp into the squares created by the line stamp, but rather to stamp on the T line (lined up the center of the square design stamp and stamped it where the lines meet). I stamped every other T line, leaving a space between each. I then chose my second design stamp and inked it using SU Creamy Caramel. I then filled in all the blank spots using this second design stamp. The background was matted onto black SU cardstock and then onto some Kraft coloured cardstock I've had lying around for a few years (not sure where it came from)

The top panel was created using an ivy stamp from Micheal's. I stamped the SU Creamy Caramel colour first onto SU Whisper White and then stamped over top of the caramel with black ink. The panel was matted onto SU black cardstock and the sentiment is from Micheal's (stamped with the same black ink).

I decided the front was missing something, so I used some hemp and threaded it through a button. The hemp is crossed in an X and then tied at the back. Due to the knot on the back I decided to raise the panel using pop dots .

When I was stamping the Guide Lines I wasn't too sure if I liked the colours or combination, but after I put it all together I actually quite like this card. It is definitely a colour combination I will go back to.

My Time Sketches

2009-04-20T20:37:00.008-05:00

Well I am back from Winnipeg. We didn't float away, but the water sure is high in the city. Many walking paths and parks are submerged under water. Even the Forks is under water. I noticed some stairs you use to be able to walk down towards the river are now under water. It's too bad. I hope the water resides sooon...

So I purchased the things I needed at Micheal's, but was a little disappointed, the shelves seemed to be quite empty. I couldn't get any of the Marvy punches I wanted. Oh well, guess that means I'll just have to go back soon. I did however find all the stuff I need for my workshop. We are going to make a bug shaker card. I haven't had a chance to make my demo yet. I have been too busy with some other things. One of those being a post on Lauren Meader’s blog. I’ve been following her blog for quite some time now and she is currently looking for new design team members (my fingers are crossed). Here are two cards following her My Time Sketches.

Spring Leaves Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Botanical Blooms
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Certainly Celery; SU Delicate Dots DP
Ink: SU Certainly Celery; SU Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Hemp; button; brads; pop dots

Merci Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Botanical Blooms
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU So Saffron; SU Delicate Dots DP
Ink: SU Certainly Celery; SU So Saffron; SU Bashful BlueAccessories: buttons & hemp

Simple Card Sketch

2009-04-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post today as we are headed into Winnipeg to spend the weekend shopping. Living in a small town in Northern Ontario has it's perks and disadvantages. One disadvantage being that Winnipeg is two hours away and the only major city near us. So we often will make a weekend of it to go and shop (AKA Micheal's), go out for dinner, watch a new release movie, and stock up on anything we need.

I especially need to get to Micheal's. Some of the ladies and I here in town are hosting our own workshop Mother's day weekend where each of us brings the materials to make something. So I need to go and purchase all my materials. I can't wait for the workshop. We are getting together Friday night at one of the ladies mother's house (who lives out on a lake) to enjoy cropping, spa foot soaks, and drinks in the hot tub. Since the drive is 40mins along a windy dark road we are bunking in for the night and getting up Saturday and enjoying a day of workshops (6), drinks, laughs and good food. Then Sunday morning we will finish cropping. So hopefully I can find everything I need......

So for today's post I have a simple card sketch that I often return to. It is simple and easy to do. It only entails 3 panels, which can be made using stamps or paper.

Happy Birthday Ingredients:

Stamps: Itty Bitty Basics

Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Pale Plum

Ink: SU Pale Plum; SU Perfect Plum; SU Lavender Lace

Accessories: Happy Birthday Plate; Brads

Grateful for you Ingredients:

Stamps: Sentiment from SU

Paper: Patterned Paper from Micheal's (embossed and glittery); prefab card base

Ink: Certainly Celery

Accessories: SU Scalloped Punch

Birdhouse

2009-04-17T19:45:00.008-05:00

I came across a tutorial on Lauren Meader's website for this cute birdhouse. I knew I wanted to use the template to create a church for my parents' 30 Wedding Anniversary. (It even had a steeple and bell in the steeple; sorry no picture) So I practiced first by making this one. This one uses Stampin Up's Season of Friendship tree stamp, grass stamp from Micheal's, Martha Stewart punches (fence and trellis), Marvy tag punch for the door, and a flower punch. It was very easy to make. Except for the template base, everything else was made from scraps.

Here is a picture looking down at the birdhouse.

This is the front of the birdhouse. You can see a eyelet at the top which I have looped ribbon through to use as a handle. I also had stamped the tree on the side of the panel so had to off center the door. The door was a tag punch, where I just hid the top portion behind the grey stones for the steps. I brushed SU Chocolate Chip ink over the door and edges to give a distressed look. I used black on the edges of the stone steps.

Here is one of the side views. I cut a window panel out and punched a hole in the template so you can see into the box where a special treat can be placed.

Here is the back panel.

Here is a closer look at the trellis using a Marth Stewart punch.

And a closer look at the fence punch by Martha Stewart.

And fianlly...a look inside where a special treat can be placed.

Thanks for looking!!

Katerfly's Sanctuary

2009-04-16T15:26:00.002-05:00

I am truly lucky to have my own studio for stampin and scrapbooking. I took our second bedroom, painted it and turned it into my sanctuary. After I was finished painting I decided not to put the closet doors back on. They were these heavy wood sliding doors, that never actually gave you any room to get into the middle of the closet. Matt stored the doors in the basement for me, and I bought a closet organizer to help organize things. I didn't want any built ins, as who knows how long this room will remain a scrappin room. It could be needed some day for an actual bedroom. Here is a view of my closet.

On the top shelf I have a basket that contains gifts to be used throughout the year. I then have cheap folders (green, white, red, orange) that hold my seasonal DP. Then I have four magazine holders that I bought from Micheal's (wood) and wallpapered them with the same wallpaper that is on my dresser. These hold my DP that divided into groups; flowers, dots, stripes, and textured. The Cropper Hopper holder holds my Stampin Up DP. There is also a accordion file that holds all my scrap DP, each sections pertains to a certain type of DP. The smaller accordion file holds all my stickers, sorted by season or theme. The pink Rubbermaid holds travel albums and pictures from Middle School and High school while living in Europe.

I wasn't really was thinking when I bought the closet organizer. I simply bought what was available and cheap. Turns out the shelves are perfect for holding my punches. Not sure what I will do when my punch collection grows bigger than the shelf. I only have a few now, but my wishlist is huge.

The next shelf holds all my cards that I've made. The cards are divided into groups so that it is easy to find everything.

I have a drawer specifically for envelopes. My mother had collected many charity cards and envelopes. When she was cleaning out her stash she sent me all the envelopes. After 3 years of stampin I just recently bought my first box of envelopes...only because I wanted matching envelopes for Christmas gifts I was making. This shelf also has my letter stickers, and card accessories, along with a box on the left which has some previous bought cards I haven't finished using yet.

This drawer has all my chipboard letters and pieces. There is also a basket with all my albums I am currently working on. The big Rubbermaid container has all my item for altering. The two binders contain splitcoaststampers colour challenges, sketches, and layouts; as well as templates and directions.

This side of the closet holds all my wrapping paper, bows, present ribbon, and bags. Because I have so much Christmas has it's own seperate drawers for tags, bows, ribbon, bags, etc.

This bookcase holds my flowers in a magnetic spice rack, loose stamps in baskets, clear stamps, ribbon in jars, and tools in photo boxes.

This is my dresser that I keep all my stampin up stamps in.

My local scrapbooking store was changing locations, and getting new storage. So I purchased this paper rack for $15 CDN. All stampin up paper is on the left, sorted by family and in colour. The paper on the right is just other paper I have. These ones are sorted by colour.

This is my desk area. Desk is actually an old desk of my mother....from the 60's. It works, but would like to get something a little more sturdy. I have my cutters on one shelf, baskets underneath with cuttlebug items. I keep all my tools in the purple tote. And the white Rubbermaid drawer system keeps all my scraps. They are sorted by colour. Since the scraps are right beside the desk I always reach for them.

This shelf holds all my embellishments, pens, markers, ink, etc. Below are my albums, and a collection of magazines. Underneath are 3 containers, embossing stuff, sponges, and extra adhesives.

My room is always changing. This is what works for me right now, but of course I will always be adding more.

Season of Friendship

2009-04-15T08:00:00.011-05:00

A colleague of mine made fun of me when I told her I bought a stamp that was a tree. She wanted to know how versatile a tree was, especially to justify spending the money on it. Well to prove her wrong here are just a few of the cards I came up with. I thought why not try and make a card for each holiday/season that uses the tree. I have more ideas, but haven't had a chance to play around with them yet. But I tell you there are multiple possibilities. These are just simple designs, but at Christmas I sent family a card with a winter night scene sponged background, moon, and perfectly white snow. The tree was embossed using clear embossing powder, and it looked stunning! Sorry I don't have a picture.

Good Luck:
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship; PTI Simple Alphabet (sentiment)
Paper: SU Wild Wasabi, SU Whisper White, SU Hostess DP
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, SU Always Artichoke, SU Wild WasabiAccessories: Brads

Spring Blossoms:
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship
Paper: SU Certainly Celery, SU Whisper White, SU Hostess DP
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Pretty in PinkAccessories: Pink Brads

You are my Sunshine:
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship; MFT Can Ya’ Dig it? (sentiment)
Paper: SU So Saffron; SU Whisper White; SU Textured Certainly Celery
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip; SU Whild Wasabi; SU Real ReadAccessories: Ribbon

Grateful for you!
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship;
Paper: SU Real Rust, SU Whisper White, SU Certainly Celery
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, SU Real Rust, SU Wild Wasabi, SU Pumpkin Pie, SU Ruby RedAccessories: SU Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon

Warmest Wishes:
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship; PTI Holiday Treats (Sentiment)
Paper: SU Whisper White; SU Not Quite Navy, SU Ink: SU Not Quite Navy, SU Bashful Blue, SU Chocolate Chip

Sending my Love:
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship; Heart (Micheal’s stamp); sentiment (??)
Paper: SU Real Red, SU Whisper White
Ink: SU Real Red; SU Chocolate ChipAccessories: Red Ribbon

SU's Nature Silhouettes

2009-04-14T22:16:00.003-05:00

A friend of ours turned 30 last month. He is an avid hunter who has gotten Matt involved. When I saw Stampin Up's Nature Silhouettes I new I needed to buy it. I put together this card which reminded me of the morning when we went out hunting together (I just went for the walk).

If only I could figure out how to take pictures. they always seem to come out fuzzy no matter what I do. Bla!!

The tree and deer were versamarked, stamped in black ink, and then embossed with clear embossing powder. This was so I could sponge the background on and wipe off any extra. After sponging on Barely Banana ink I punched out a circle from a post it note (sticky side) and then sponged over it with Summer Sun ink. When you remove the mask you end up with a moon.

Ingredients:
Stamps: SU Nature Silhouettes; Happy Birthday
Paper: SU Not Quite Navy and Pumpkin Pie; DP is from an Autumn collection I picked up at Micheal's last fall.
Ink: PTI Pallette Noir; SU Always artichoke, Summer Sun, Barely Banana
Other: Brads, circle punch, clear embossing powder, and embossing gun, sponges

The inside of the card using the left over paper and Happy Birthday sentiment.

Diaper Cake

2009-04-12T16:19:00.003-05:00

I replaced a teacher who left on maternity early. This is a diaper cake that the Grade One class made for her. They decided how to decorate it and put it all together. The bottom layer is around a bottle of baby powder. The second layer is around a baby bottle. The rabbit on top has the year 2009 on it. The students wrapped crape paper and string around the elastics, added flowers, ribbon, and chipboard to spell out her name. I think that the students did an excellent job. Especially since I only supplied the materials. They did quite well!!!