Faux Clip it Up

I know this is in no way a new thing, but I finally just got around to getting all the bits for one and getting it up. I just did an little article for the WeScrap newsletter about this, so I thought I post it here as well!

This is a fairly simple project and you don't need much in the way of supplies, but if you're like me and like to have things in front of you, then it's a project well worth doing!

I got everything I needed at IKEA:
- a shelf that will hold a reasonable amount of weight (and check to make sure it holds what you're going to need!)
- a bar of some kind to mount on the bottom of the shelf
- hooks with clips to go on the bar

It's pretty simple really. Just add the bar to the bottom of the shelf where you're going to want it and then mount your shelf to the wall. Add your clips to the bar and start organizing! I did get some other clips for this (at Zellers) that I think I like better than the small IKEA ones only because they turn and you can add more stuff on the bar than with the IKEA ones. And that's it - you simply start filling it up with all your wonderful scrappy stuff and it's right there in front of you!

Well, I'd better go run and get some things done here since we have a full day planned with school for Kyle this morning to start. I need to do a load of laundry and get lunches ready before I pick him up too. Mum is coming sometime this morning and then we're off to drop the boys at my in-laws and go for tea at the Secret Garden Tea Company - an annual tradition!

Cheers,

Monday again??

OK, I'm so confused! It feels like it's Monday again, espeically since George was off the last 4 days! I started the day off feeling like I got up on the wrong side of the bed for some reason too and had a little mantra going in my head for the better part of the morning: "They're just kids. They're just playing. They're just kids. They're just playing." It did help!

Tracy came and dropped Sophia off and brought me my Tim's coffee and TimBits for the kids to share. Then, we all walked up to the school to drop Kyle off since it wasn't pouring rain. We came back and had a little visit before she headed off home with Matthew.

The little ones and I hung out, but it seemed like it was time to get Kyle before we knew it! The kids had lunch and Sophia and Nathan went for their naps and Kyle and I hung out. He wanted to read to me from his printing book because they have little poems for each letter of the alphabet and he's quite proud!

I woke Sophia up and Brian called and said he was on his way not too long after, so when they left at about 4, I started on dinner, which we're going to have shortly and is one of my favs: Broccoli Cheese Soup! The recipe I use is a fabulous one from Looney Spoons and it's called "It's Only Brocc 'n Bowl". I'll try and get the recipe posted since it fabulous, delicious and easy!

Not much going on tonight. Might pop into work for my cheque and run a couple of errands. Going for tea at the Secret Garden with mum, Trace and my aunt tomorrow as well, so that should be a nice afternoon!

Have a fantastic evening!
Cheers,

Lest We Forget...

Remembrance Day in Afghanistan, November 11, 2006. (CanWest News Service)

This is one of those days when we all just need to take a moment to be thankful to the men and women that serve and have served our country no matter how you may feel about the wars they're fighting in. I have 2 grandfathers that fought and though I was too young to hear the stories from them personally (we lost both of them to cancer when I was young), I have heard them through other family members and I'm very proud of them. I'll also be thinking of my amazing dad today who I'm proud to say was a Canadian peacekeeper in his younger days. I love all of you...



I was also going back and rereading a post from last year and had a flood of Remembrance Day emotions come back to me.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow.
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.
Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn,
saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I'm not one who can say she supports war, but I can fully appreciate the sacrifice of the men and women and their families that have fought and are fighting and I'll be thinking of all of you today...

Cheers,

Gorgeous Fall Day!

Wow! I really wish I'd remembered to take my camera out this morning because it was a gorgeous day! I slept in a little, but woke up and started thinking about my class tonight and couldn't sleep anymore. George took Kyle to school since he was off today and then he stayed for the Remembrance Day assembly though apparently Kyle couldn't even really see him since he was at the back of the gym!

Nathan and I hung out at home and got ourselves dresses and ready to go. When it was time to pick Kyle up, we all decided to go for a walk since it was so nice. Nathan wanted to hold our hands and swing, so he would count and we'd swing him! The kids played at the school for a bit and it was home for lunch and naps. I made a few cards, but took them into work tonight and forgot to get pictures of them! Had fun playing though.

Went into work early and finished off the prep I needed to do for class. I was supposed to have 6 people and then one of my co-workers, but one woman unfortunately couldn't make it, so I had 6 total. A wonderful group of people and we got the Christmas Boxed Up class done even though we ran a few minutes late. Amy (one of my bosses) was also nice enough to get me a Starbucks coffee tonight to help keep me going! Thanks Amy!

One more day off for Remembrance Day tomorrow, but I think I'm about ready for bed now...
Cheers,

A Couple of Cards

Well, we seem to have another rainy day here on the Lower Mainland, but I really don't mind since I don't have anything planned anyway. Worked all day yesterday and it was absolutely crazy busy all day, so I did pretty much nothing after coming home last night. George works for a few hours today on some Olympic related event, so the boys and I are just going to hang out at home and relax I think. I'd like to make some cards later, so we'll see how that works out.

Speaking of cards, thought I'd post a couple that were actually for a crop we had at Scrapdango for National Card Making Day a while ago! I just never got them posted. The challenge for the first one was to use one of the PageMaps card sketches and for the second, it was to use clipart or some digi elements on your card.

Think that's about it for today! Hope you have a relaxing one and get some time to enjoy!
Have a great day!!
Cheers,

Quick one!

Morning all!


Well, I worked late last night and I'm off to work again this morning, but that's really of my own doing. I was scheduled to work tomorrow, but George was asked to come in for a few hours, so one of the girls at work was nice enough to switch with me! We're going to have a busy weekend, but George is off Monday and then Tuesday is the holiday for Remembrance Day.

I'm posting a layout I did a couple of weeks ago for the "So You Think You Can Scrap" contest at YMBD. Sorry to say that Catherine actually had to cancel it because there appeared to be some unfortunate gathering of votes when that was not the way the contest was laid out. Sorry it had to end, but I understand. Anyway, this was my last entry and the idea was that we had to use some shape other than a circle or square as the background of our layout, so as you can see, I used a star! This was totally out of my comfort zone, but it was fun!

Supplies: Cardstock is Bazzill. Star paper is Creative Imaginations. Patterned paper is Sassafrass. Misc ribbon and brads. Lettering is Doodlebug. Tickets and felt man are from September Scrapperie Battle of the Sexes kit.

Guess that's about it since I need to get moving here! I'm hoping to be able to do something creative in the next few days as well! Have a fabulous Scrapdango kit I'm playing with right now!

Have a great day!!
Cheers,

Rainy Friday

We're at another Friday already and it seems as if the week zipped by. I had Sophia 4 days this week since Tracy had some appointments she was trying to get in and I find that always makes things seem a little quicker too somehow.

Tracy popped over with the kids this morning and I got a little Matthew cuddle though Kyle wanted one too! Sophia was thankfully dressed when she got her, so Trace and I had time for a quick Tim's coffee (thanks Trace!) before she headed off and we took Kyle up to school. It was another rainy day, but with the rain cover on the stroller, Kyle's boots and umbrella and my jacket and baseball hat, we do just fine!

After Nathan, Sophia and I came back, they were pretty wound up after sitting in the stroller, so we played/wrestled on the sofa for quite a while to help wear them out. Had a snack, played some Play-Doh and it was time to head back up to get Kyle. We stayed a little longer there today for a meeting about some fine motor skills kits/games that they're sending home to help kids with their pencil grip. Then, it was home for lunch and the little ones are napping now!

I did manage to get a little scrapping done this week with some of the new My Mind's Eye "Natural" Laundry Line and Crate Paper that we have at work now. Used Nathan's 2 year pictures from Sears and will manage to get them into an album for him now!



Supplies: Cardstock is WorldWin DoubleMates. Patterned Paper is Crate Paper and My Mind's Eye Laundry Line. Scalloped paper is Crate Paper. Misc brown brads. Title on the right page is from the Natural line of The My Mind's Eye Laundry Line. Felt Lettering for the name is from Prima Marketing. Ink for Distressing is Palette Burnt Umber.

Think that's about it for today really. Managed to get a couple of loads of laundry done and the dishwasher run this morning, so I'm hoping to take it easy this afternoon before I need to get ready for work.

Have a great day!!
Cheers,

A Goodie Bag and a Sale at Scrapperie!!

First of all, I need to show you the most recent Scrapperie kit called Hocus Pocus which is full of Halloween goodness:

I've created a few things with it, but the most recent was a goodie bag for Kyle's Kindergarten teacher. My plans was to actually do them for the whole class, but no go since there wasn't supposed to be any candy given out and that was all I could find! Anyway, the only thing that didn't come from the kit was the black Bazzill Bling paper that was used with the spider die cut that we had at the store I work in!

I used my Scor-Pal for it and it sure made it easy and was also why I didn't mind doing about 20 of them! I think I'm going to use the same design and try and do something for Christmas for the kids in Kyle's class.

I also wanted to tell you that Sandi at Scrapperie has a fantastic Rock the Vote sale going until the end of the week. From now until the end of the week, every past Scrapperie kit is on sale anywhere from 30-50% off! Stock up and save! Actually, everything in the Boutique is now on sale, except for the current November Apple Orchard kit...

Happy Shopping!
Cheers,

"I Remember When..."

I think this is one of those moments in history when I'll be able to say "I remember when...". It was just one of those night and maybe one of those elections where there seemed to be such a surge of support for Barack Obama that we all sort of knew that it looked like he's become president, but somehow when they announced it, it was like everyone realized they were watching a moment in history.

The funny thing is that I couldn't vote in this election being Canadian, of course, but had as much interest in it, if not more, than the recent Canadian one. Don't get me wrong, I did vote in our election as I always do, but the American one seemed to capture the imaginations of people all over the world! There was an online poll, in no way scientific for sure, but the results were a staggering 87% for Obama!

McCain gave what can only be called a gracious concession speech and I was happy to see him quell the crowd when they started booing when he mentioned Obama. He asked them to come together as a nation under Obama as did Obama himself. A hard way to have to say goodbye after such a long campaign, but there has to be a winner and a loser.

I honestly am quite amazed at Obama's oratory skills every time I hear him speak. His passion and drive seem to come out in every deliberate word he uses, but it all seems to natural. He brought me to tears at one point in his speech last night. I only hope he can in some way live up to the immense expectations when given a government in such disrepair.

Good luck Barack Obama... You know the world is watching!
Cheers,

Pumpkin Carving and Halloween

OK, so better late than never as they say, but here as some pictures for those of you that wanted to see the boys dressed for Halloween, but couldn't be here. I was hoping to get a few pictures of the boys seperately too, but that never happened!

We'll start with what was actually the night before and the pumpkin carving... Nathan was right into it and trying to help Daddy carve the pumpkin that he picked out at the pumpkin patch. Kyle drew his face on the pumpkin he got on his Kindergarten trip to the pumpkin patch and didn't want his to be scary.

Kyle had been wearing around his Halloween costume and acting like a game show host all night! When I was teasing him, he started rolling his eyes at me and I managed to even get it on film. He's hysterical these says! And still the boy of 1,000 faces - since he was a baby!

This was the end result - not the best shot, but you get the idea!!

OK, now these were on Halloween night when we went over to Tracy's! My darling nephew Matthew didn't come out with us this year since he's only 3 months, but he's sure cute and we'll take him next year!

Sophia was dressed as a chicken and was sooooooooo cute! Glad we got a picture of her and mummy!

This was the 3 kids after we got back from trick or treating and they had a bag full of candy to show for it! Tracy was nice enough to take one of me with the boys too!

We tried to get a couple more pictures when we got home, but this is about the best one! lol

Well, not too much else to say about all of this really other than it's over for another year and Kyle is talking about Santa, Christmas and all the Christmas lights and presents already! Another early morning here for Kyle though Nathan is sleeping a little longer... Not sure how long that'll last either!

Better go get my first cup of coffee!! Have a great day!
Cheers,

November Classes @ Precious Memories

I'm teaching more classes at Precious Memories again this month and have been meaning to post them for anyone that's local because I'd love to see you there!

Holiday Agenda - November 6th 6:30-8:30

"I've got to be where, when?" "I thought I sent that!" All too familiar questions when the holidays are in full swing. Our Holiday Agenda class kit is the perfect solution to organize the frenzy of activities that accompany the season of celebrations. The 9x9" binder refill pages will showcase the Holiday Cheer paper collection and coordinating embellishments. All Supplies Included. Also, includes a bottle of Zip Dry Glue which will be used in the class and then yours to take home!

Christmas Boxed Up! - November 10th 6:30-8:30

This project will help get your Christmas organized with a decorated tin and a couple of quick cards to get your Christmas card making started off right. This is a great gift for someone or the perfect way to keep yourself organized.

You will receive a bottle of Zip Dry Glue to use in the class and can take home what's left over! This class includes over $35.00 worth of supplies!

Holiday Memories Mini Album - November 22nd 10:30-12:30

Have you ever thought how great it would be not only to have the actual holiday recorded, but all the wonderful activities leading up to it? There are so many fun events and family traditions celebrated in the month of December, but all the little details of those get lost. Well, not this year! Come and make yourself a mini album that'll be ready to go to preserve your holiday memories. You'll just need to add pictures and/or journaling to complete your book when December actually comes! This is an adorable mini with an acrylic cover and a fun mix of pages from tabbed to tags to envelopes. You'll get the cover and a few pages done as well as the prep for the numbering of your pages and learn a few techniques in the process. Students will leave with everything to complete their mini when they get home so that it's all ready for December!

I hope some of you can make it! All you need to do is drop by the store or give them a call at 604-530-2917 to register!
Cheers,

The Time It is a Changin'

Well, here I am up at the crack of dawn again even though the boys sort of slept in! I know they say you get an extra hour of sleep, but when the boys get up at 7am (which is sleeping in for them) and it turns out that it's now 6am and I have to get up, I'm not such a happy camper! I'm thinking this time change isn't working for me!

There's not too much on the go for us here because I'm working today. It's George's turn to sleep in, so I'm up with the kids and my coffee trying to wake up. I have some things in the washing machine already and I picked up the kitchen and living room last night so that I wouldn't have to think about it this morning. Hate waking up to a disastrous kitchen especially!

I said I'd post some more pictures, so here are some of Kyle at the pumpkin patch the other day. I took him and one other little girl from his class. Was nice that it was George's day off so he stayed home with Nathan. I was also very happy to have had fabulous weather!

There were 3 classes of kids, so we had a fairly big group, but once we got inside, we got everyone lined up to plant their paper white bulb. This was the same place Kyle's preschool class came last year, so he knew the routine. As usual though, he didn't seem to want to smile for me!

After they were finished planting their bulbs, they were sent out to a small field to pick their pumpkins and that meant no big muddy patch! Of course, Kyle and his classmate decided they wanted about the biggest pumpkins in the patch which meant I had to somehow get them back to the car along with the extra pumpkin that Kyle's teacher asked them to pick out for their class! I ended up with a wagon to haul them back to the car! It was so nice I could've stayed out there and played all day.

Kyle's teacher wanted all the kids in his class to sit down for a picture outside and just as they were about to do that, Kyle decided it was more than time to go to the bathroom. The only thing was that when I found out where it was, it meant having to go past all the "scary" Halloween decorations that Kyle doesn't like. I ended up having to cover his eyes and walk him through to the bathroom, but we made it. We quickly headed back outside and had to do a repeat of the procedure to come in, but he got back out there for his class picture!

This was actually the first picture of the day that I took outside just as we got there. We were first since we'd left first after having had Kyle's teacher check the kids to make sure there were booster seats for them (new government regulations) and that they were buckled in!

OK, well this is day #2 of my NaBloPoMo done! I'll have Halloween pictures for you tomorrow! Have a fabulous day!

Cheers,

Happy November!!

OK, so here it is November already and Halloween is over and done with for another year! I haven't been a very good blogger of late, but have seen a few people doing this daily blogging for a month this at NaBloPoMo. I signed up yesterday and have decided to give it a whirl, so for those of you that follow my blog, prepare to be inundated! Well, with any luck anyway! We'll see if I can last all month!

October seemed like a blur, but here are a few highlights:
- teaching my first scrapbooking classes at my lss
- Nathan and I making muffins together for the first time (with just the 2 of us)
- a wonderful day trip and walk along the quay around here
- a trip to the pumpkin patch with Kyle's class
- Nathan starting to really use the computer and figuring out how to use the mouse
- Thanksgiving dinner with my family at Tracy and Brian's place
- Thanksgiving dinner here with George's family
- a family patch trip to pick a pumpkin for Nathan
- getting into more of the emergency preparedness PAC stuff at Kyle's school
- being sick for more than a couple of weeks
- Matthew rolling over for the first time (wish I'd been there for that!)
- George working on prepping more lessons to teach at work
- changing our cable service over to the same company that does our phone service: more channels for less money!
- pumpkin carving and trick or treating!!

We had a good night last night and the rain thankfully held off so that made it much nicer. We went over to Tracy's and got everyone ready to go and we were out the door since we were later than we had planned. The traffic getting back had been really bad and George was late. We'd ordered pizza, so dinner was easy anyway!

We just went a did a little trick or treating in Tracy's neighbourhood and pretty much only visited people she knew. They were all excited to see Sophia dressed as a little chicken! Kyle was a "fighter guy" as he called it with chest armour, a helmet and a sword though I ended up carrying the sword so he could hold his candy bag! Nathan was a cute little trainman. I'll try and post pictures soon!

Kyle did quite well considering he's afraid of a lot of the Halloween stuff. Near the end though we went to a house that didn't have too much in the way of decorations, which he was happy about, but then the woman answered the door dressed as a pretty scary witch and he was about done after that! He had asked if we were done before that a few times, but I knew he would be finished after that. We came home and I got Nathan ready for bed while George and Kyle went out for a drive to look at decorations - from the safety of the car!!

We had a bit of a long night with Nathan and Kyle both waking up which they never do, but we had a record for sleeping in too because Kyle was the first up at 7:40 this morning!! I slept another hour or so after that since George got up with the kids!

Well, we've already been to the doctor with Nathan this morning for the bad cough he has, but the doctor said not to worry and just give him some Advil for the inflammation of his airways, but that the cough is just his body getting rid of the last of his cold and that his chest is clear.

Not too much else planned for the day other than a few chores and hopefully some scrapping! Here's to a month of blogging!
Cheers,

Happy Halloween!

OK, so I don't know what's up with my camera, but I can't seem to get a connection to my computer with it, so the pictures of the pumpkin carving from last night and the little goodie bag I made for Kyle's teacher are just going to have to wait I'm afraid!

We did have fun doing the pumpkins last night and it's been so long since I posted that I haven't even put up the pictures from the pumpkin patch trip the Kindergarten kids went on on Monday! We went to the same place that Kyle went last year with the preschool, so we planted the paper white bulb again and got a pumpkin afterwards. I was lucky enough to be able to take Kyle and one of his classmates since it was on a Monday that George was off!

We also stopped another place the week before with the kids so that Nathan could pick a pumpkin from the little patch they had there. Of course though, I didn't know we were going to stop and didn't have my camera! So sad! Nathan was so proud of the "big, big" pumpkin that he picked. The woman there gave the kids little pumpkins as we were checking out too.

Of course, this would normally be my night to work, but they decided to close early tonight and not have the crop thinking that it probably wouldn't be that busy. I'm thankful because I get to take the kids out tonight! It is supposed to rain unfortunately, but we'll make the best of it and the kids are small enough that they don't want to be out all that long anyway. We're going to go over to Tracy and Brian's later and go trick or treating with Sophia too. Should be fun!

Well, not too much else going on here I don't think. I've for three classes going at work next month and I'll post samples of those soon! I also have some other scrap stuff to post since I've been a little slow with the posting! I'm thinking maybe I need to sign up for National Blog Posting Month to get myself going!

Have a wonderful, fun and safe Halloween everyone! Hope to get pictures posted again soon once I get my technical glitch figured out!
Cheers,

Weird and Wacky Wednesday Crop

Are you tired of the same old, same old every week? How about joining in on a fun little mid-week crop to boost your spirits and perk up your scrapping?

Scrapperie is having a Wild & Wacky Wednesday Crop this Wednesday, October 29th from 12:01 am until late into the night! And don't worry about having to have crop projects in right away- they won't be due until 11:59pm on Sunday, November 2nd! This way, you can fully enjoy the games and activities we have scheduled without having to rush to finish all the challenges we have planned! Prizes range anywhere from a Scrapperie gift certificate, to one of many RAKs. You could even win an October kit!So, come relax and enjoy a little mid-week scrappy getaway with the Wild & Wacky Wednesday Crop at Scrapperie - you'll be glad you did!

Cheers,

Contest Layout

OK, well as some of you have already seen from my previous post about voting in the "So You Think You Can Scrap" Contest at YMBD, I made it through to Round #3 with the layout above. The challenge was to scrap a layout in the colours of our favourite flavour of ice cream as the main colours and mine is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, so there you have it. I'm hoping to make it through to the next round too! I'll post that layout once the voting is done!

And just a reminder that at Scrapperie, for the rest of October, if you order the new Apple Orchard kit (or the October Hocus Pocus kit, featuring papers from My Little Yellow Bicycle and Making Memories), Sandi will donate 30% of all proceeds to the American Cancer Society, via Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. It's just a little something she wants to do to help give back and hopefully one day, to help find a cure.

Just a reminder about the crop this weekend at WeScrap too! Come and join us for some wickedly good fun!

Cheers,

Round 3 Voting Already!

We need your votes!!! Come and help us decide who should move on to Round #4 of YMBD's "So You Think You Can Scrap" Contest! Click HERE to view the submissions and cast your vote!

Cheers,