Paper Bow Tutorial

Over at Scrapdango, the design team girls are doing a 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas and it's my turn today! Have a peek and give this a try! It's easy and lot of you no doubt have everything you need already!

I'm going to give you the easy step by step instructions on how to make these lovely bows that you can use on your gifts this year and all you need are some supplies you no doubt have in your stash right now! I'm sorry for the somewhat shadowy pictures, but the light wasn't great!

Your supply list is...
trimmer
a 6X12 piece of double sided patterned paper
some glue dots
pop dots or foam tape

With your 6X12 piece of paper, you're going to cut 8 pieces of paper that are 1X6.
You're then going to cut a one inch strip off the end of the 4 inch wide piece.
You'll then take the remaining large piece (which is 4X5) and cut 4 more strips of 1X5.
Hopefully the photo will help make this clear.

Then you're going to take all but the one 1X4 piece and make little bows out of each one and I used a glue dot to adhere them. Someone referred to them as the 'Brest Cancer bow", but you're essentially just crossing the ends.
**The only thing to remember here is that with the 8 long strips, you want 4 of each pattern showing.

This is what they should all look like when they're done.

With the smallest 1X4 piece, you're just going to roll it.

Then, you're going to take the four bows of the same pattern and just layer them together again using glue dots.
**You could put a brad through all of them if you want, but the glue dots work just fine.

Layer the 2 larger bows together now with foam tabs or pop dots between the layers.

You can add the smaller one to the top making sure to alternate the patterns. The only thing you now have to add is the little roll into the middle and that's it! Bow Complete!

Here you go! An easy and beautiful bow to go on any special gift!

I found this idea at SplitCoast Stampers where Jessica Crawford did a tutorial, but have seen it a few other places as well.
Cheers,

Christmas Memories Catch Up!

OK, it's been a busy couple of days around here, but I wanted to post the pictures that I'm going to be using in my Christmas Memories mini once I get a chance to print them!

December 1st
Mum and dad bought the boys books for Christmas and they were both hits! Kyle got the Shrek the Halls book and Nathan got a Christmas story and puzzle book. he's now done the 4 puzzles in the book umpteen times! He's very proud!

December 2nd
We had a fairly busy day today. I had a slightly more relaxing morning with my niece, Sophia, not getting here until about 8am. The boys slept until about 6:30 which is late for them lately, so I was thankful even for that! We got Kyle to school and the little ones and I hung out this morning.

We had a rushed lunchtime though since I drove to pick up Kyle and we went straight to the dentist for the boys. They were great and so was Sophia thankfully considering it was lunchtime! There were no tears and no cavities, so I was ecstatic! We stopped at Burger King on the way home since lunch was already late and the 3 kids shared 2 meals - perfect! Then it was bed for the little ones and a little computer/project catch-up for me while Kyle played.

This picture was first thing this morning though. Nathan got up first and was very cuddly, so I offered to tuck him in on the sofa just as Kyle got up. They both wanted to "tuck tuck" and the watched Teletubbies! Kyle still likes it?! Good thing I got this one picture at least too because the batteries in my camera bit it after this!

We had a quiet afternoon with the little ones napping and Brian coming to get Fia at about 3pm. Had to wake her up! Nathan slept til about 3:30 and then we played a bit and Kyle was very eager for dinner. He's the pickiest eater, but loves tacos for whatever reason! He asked for that for dinner and I said yes this morning, so he spent the rest of the day asking if it was dinnertime yet. He offered to set the table for me and asked if he could do chores for a treat after dinner. I told him that if he cleared the table, he could have a treat since he was such a big helper today!

I spent the evening watching a little TV and finishing up a few details on layouts for classes. I just need to get titles on them, but I need to do that at work, so I'll be going in tomorrow night to get that done!

Kyle, Nathan and I were watching YouTube Christmas videos this evening since I have Kyle hooked on My favourite "Do They Know It's Christmas". I found a fav sung by Michael Buble who I love and as we were sitting here cuddling and I was listening to the chorus, I got a little teary-eyed. I just wish for all these things to make their lives easier too... Have a listen!



Well, better run for now. Pop in tomorrow for a tutorial that I'm doing for the Scrapdango 12 Days of Gift Ideas! Better call it a night!
Cheers,

Hello December.

Wow! Along with so many other people, I'm a little surprised it's December 1st already! I'm not sure where the time goes, but I do love this time of year and it's fun with Kyle being so excited about it this year as well. Nathan isn't sure about the whole Christmas thing yet I don't think, but he sure loves all the lights and decorations!

I've got a lot to share today and I'll start with a layout that's in the new WeScrap newsletter! This was based on a sketch by Cami.

Supplies: Background and polka dot and patterned paper by Fancy Pants. Red star paper by Scenic Route. Gingerbread man stamp is from Imaginesce. Scalloped punch is Marvy. Ribbon is Fancy Pants. Rub-ons are Creative Cafe by Creative Imaginations. Sticker lettering is Pink Paislee. Felt heart is Fancy Pants. Misc brads.

Scrapdango has some fun going on as well! The DT girls are doing the 12 Days of Gift Giving showing you some fun and generally pretty quick and easy gift ideas! Julie started today with some wonderful ornaments!

The Tres Chic Girls at Scrapperie are also doing a Card a Day from now until Christmas, so you should check back daily to see the wonderful cards and ideas. We'd love for you to play along and show us what you're creating too! Keely started today with a fun card with non-traditional colours!

I've got my Holiday Memories album on the brain today too and need to get pictures going for this. I know what today's picture is going to be already and I just need to take it! Hope to get that done this morning!

I have been working on preparing classes for January and love the snow themed one I've been working on! I'll have to post some sneaks here soon! I've got that and a boy themed mini album and I'm hoping to get at least one more class finished up today: more boy related stuff!

OK, guess I'd better go get a few more things done here, but keep coming back since I'm going to be doing the NaBloPoMo again this month and trying to post daily! And I hope to have more scrappy stuff this month than last too! Love to see who's dropping by, so leave me a comment and you never know what glittery goodies could be off to someone!

Have a fabulous day and may this be the beginning of an amazing month. I'm going to leave you with my favourite Christmas song...



Cheers,

Christmas Blog Tag!

Found this on Darlene's blog and thought I'd play along since I'm getting into the holiday spirit!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this and paste into your blog. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you.......
'Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapped
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial since we were in the condo and weren't allowed a real tree though I'd love one again! I liked just going to the tree farm as a kid and picking out the tree!
3. When do you put up the tree? The first week or so or December
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but not too much. Love me some Eggnog Latte!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? a 3 story Barbie house with an elevator!
7. Hardest person to buy for? my dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? my sister generally
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail for sure
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm...can't think of anything horrbile off the top of my head though DH did misunderstand the stocking thing last year and thought the two of us weren't doing it, but he was WRONG! Had to fill my own!
12.Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Maybe Christmas cookies
16. Lights on the tree? Red
17. Favorite Christmas song? "Do They Know It's Christmas" - Band-Aid
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home in the morning and my aunt and uncle's for dinner usually.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes
20. Tree-top angel or star? Star
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? the unpleasant people - agree with Darlene!
23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Blue, white and silver
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Candied yams and mashed potatoes with gravy!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new camera for sure!!
26. Who is likely to respond to this? Good question, but I can't wait to find out!

Happy Holidays!
Cheers,

Card a Day Blog Card

I did a card for the Card Sketch a Day Blog and you can check out the sketch there!

I got to sleep in this morning and I took full advantage! I did have to work today, but not until 1, so it was a relaxing morning. I spent the afternoon at work and did a couple of things there for a class afterwards. Came home and had dinner and then we all went for a drive to check out some of the Christmas lights around here. And, yes, we're really looking and Christmas lights already; the boys love them!

Well, better think about getting some sleep here since I'm up whenever the boys are in the morning and it's always early these days!
Cheers,

Faraway Friends

I can't believe that this picture was taken almost a year ago now. My friend, Julie, (who's in the middle) was up with her husband, Simon, and their boys: Alex and Rhys. And when I mean up, I mean up from Australia! We had a fabulous visit and even managed a coffee night with another friend, Sandi. A great girls night out with lots of laughs and catching up.

How times change though! When we were in Hawaii for Julie's wedding, I was single and none of us had kids! Now we're all married and all have a couple of kids! I'm thankful for good friends and the chance to see each other! Now if only I can manage to get down there!
Someday...
Miss ya Jules!

Cheers,

A Reminder...

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."

- Ghandi

Cheers,

Thanks Sarah and Kim!

Well, I was lucky enough to receive this not once, but twice! Sarah and Kim were nice enough to leave me a little love with this award, so I'm going to pass it on as well! I could easily list the people they did again, but I'm going to try and pass it along to a few people that maybe haven't gotten it yet!

1. Carrie
2. Heather
3. Kathi
4. Tara
5. Lucy

This list could be soooo much longer, but there are a few to check out anyway!

Cheers,

Fall Layout

This layout was done as part of a layout tag at Scrapdango and they just did the reveal. These pictures were from a little outing we did the night before Kyle started Kindergarten!

Supplies: Cardstock is WorldWin DoubleMates. Patterned paper is My Mind's Eye and Crate Paper. Misc flat top eyelets. Rub-ons are Creative Cafe from Creative Imaginations. Misc leaf punches. Stamp is from Autumn Leaves. Ink is Palette Burnt Umber. Title lettering is Prima.

Busy day around here with the three kids again and trying to get a few chores done! This is always like my Monday on weeks when George is home the extra day. We'll see what we can manage!

Cheers,

Oops!

A quick recap...
- "slept in" until about 7:30
- realized I still had no voice!
- got up and got ready and helped get the kids ready
- George dropped Kyle and I off at school before he and Nathan headed off to an eye appt
- Kyle went into class
- I went to a meeting with the principal, but didn't stay long since I can't talk
- hung out at home for a bit with a coffee and the computer and enjoyed the quiet
- George and Nathan got home and George went to pick up Kyle
- lunches
- Nathan down for a nap
- George and Kyle head out for some errands

and THEN, I get a call from work at 1:10...
Tara (the manager): "Did you know you were supposed to work at 1?"
Me: "Oh *$#*! NO!"

So, this was me calling George to come home so I could rush off to work! Thank goodness he wasn't far away! And then I get to work and get nothing but grief! Oh well, there's a first time for everything and tomorrow is another day! Maybe it's a good thing I'm working from home!

Well, better get some sleep here...
Cheers,

Silent Sunday

Well, I can type, but this is about the best way for me to communicate right now since I seem to have developed laryngitis!! I was sick with a cold about mid-week and called in sick Friday night since I was feeling awful and knew I had a class to teach yesterday morning. I got in and was OK, but all through class my voice started to slowly get worse and worse until by the end of the day, I could barely talk at all.

I went and babysat my niece and nephew last night and that went well. Sophia first wanted her mum and dad and then wanted to go to bed at 6:30! Once she got over that though, we had a good time and I got both he and Matthew to bed and hung out and watched TV a bit and did a few things on the computer over there.

I did actually go to work today as well. I feel fine other than the fact that I feel like I'm whispering! It was the running joke all day at work. I got some jobs accomplished and managed to help a few people too, so it was fine. Of course, Tara joked half the day that she she was enjoying it like this with me not being able to talk! Very funny!

Another week starting again tomorrow! I swear I don't know where the time's going these days! I'm supposed to be going in to see the principal at Kyle's school tomorrow to help out as long as she still wants me with no voice! George is home and he has a doctor's appt, so he's going to take Nathan with him. I'm hoping to get some creating done too as I have more Christmas cards to make and classes to prep right now!

Better run and get some sleep!
Cheers,

School Pictures

I've had these pictures for a little while now and just forgot about posting them to be honest! All the kids had school pictures taken and you could of course, order what you liked from them. We got a page of each of the pictures and one 8X10 of the first shot to display. I was quite happy over all considering that Kyle isn't much for posed shots these days!

This one is definitely my fav of the 2 and really seems to show a little of his personality somehow. The photographer even managed to get little smile out of him!

He just looks like such a big boy in this one! I can't believe he's really in Kindergarten and cant imagine him starting full-time school next year for Grade 1! The wonderful thing is that he really does enjoy going to school and loves his teacher and it's no wonder because she's fabulous! Let's just hope that continues as he goes to school!

Well, off for a busy day today! I'm teaching my Christmas Memories mini album this morning and then working in the store in the afternoon as well. I'm then supposed to be watching my niece and nephew for a few hours this evening too.

Thankfully, after going to bed at 9 last night and getting a good night's sleep, I feel much much better this morning though my cold certainly isn't gone yet. I think my cold is moving into my ears and chest, but at least that's better for me than the raging headache and runny nose!

Better get a move on here since I want a little extra time to set up before class! Have a fabulous Saturday!
Cheers,

A mini!

Kyle was a little sad the other day with not seeing his Nana and Grandpa for a while, we we decided to make a little mini album for them with family pictures!

The best parts about this project were that
- we used pretty much only scraps from my scrap files for this
- we just used random pictures I had already developed that were on my table
- Kyle did most of this himself
- we got to spend time doing it together
- my parents were totally surprised when they got it and absolutely loved it!

I made it through another seemingly neverending day being sick with 3 kids! I was pretty much done by the time George got home and I was thankful he picked up pizza! I was also thankful that one of the girls covered for me at work tonight because there's no way I could've worked until midnight and then taught in the morning. As it is, I'm hoping my nose copperates tomorrow! I'm off to bed now as a matter of fact!

Cheers,

Short and Sweet!

Well, what this post amounts to is me being sick and not wanting to do much of anything. I managed to get a few things done early today while I was ignoring being sick, but as colds tend to do, I've gotten worse and worse all night and now feel like my head is going to explode, so I'm off to bed and hoping to feel better tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

The good thing is that Grey's was a good one tonight! Well, that and I got some great cuddles today from my little man!

Here's a healthy Friday!
Cheers,

I got in!

Well, I've always liked the idea of my work being seen and being published, but don't send it in often enough to actually think too much about having this happen realistically. I had been looking at a card I did with my Scrapperie Spring Break kit a few months ago after Tara asked us about crackle paint on the Scrapdango board. I decided that since it was all Basic Grey papers that I'd submit it to their gallery even after sending in other things before and not getting them accepted, but guess what!? They accepted it!! Yeah!! Check it out HERE!

Just another hanging out kind of day with the kids - Kyle needs to go to school, chores need to be done, dinner needs to be made, etc. The nice thing is that the weather is actually OK again by the looks of things, so that makes for a much nicer day all around. I'm afraid it might be a long day with Sophia since she went to bed late and was up early, but we can only wait and see! I need to get a layout finished off as well today and Criminal Minds is on tonight to look forward to!

Hope you have a fabulous day!!
Cheers,

Heard this morning...

After asking Kyle to put the hood up on his jacket as we were walking to school...

Kyle: It's (the hood) almost like a campfire for your ears!

He says the most hilarious things these days that catch me totally off guard and make me laugh. They make so much sense and allow me to see life through his eyes at least a little! It's a wonderful reminder sometimes that life doesn't always have to be so complicated.

Look around today and check things out from a different perspective!

Cheers,

Upcoming Class - Holiday Memories Mini

Just a reminder to any of you that are local that there are a few spaces left in my Holiday Memories Mini Album class at Precious Memories! Call 604-530-2917 and register today!!

Looking forward to this class and then doing my own album in December too! Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

My list...

This was a get to know you type thing that Heather posted as a blog challenge a little while ago at Scrapdango and these are fun once in a while!

4 THINGS I WAS DOING 10 YEARS AGO
1) I was living in downtown Vancouver and loving it.
2) I owned a little green Mazda sports car.
3) I was single!
4) I was teaching ESL downtown at Modus and making some fabulous friends!

4 THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST FOR TODAY
1) have a biiiiiig cup of coffee since the kids are up early
2) get a tutorial to Kerryn for the Scrapdango newsletter
3) hand out with George and the kids
4) talk to mum and dad about dinner tomorrow


4 RANDOM THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY HUSBAND
1) He's spontaneous.
2) He's funny/silly.
3) He's amazing with the boys.
4) He loves surprising me.

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD
1) bussing tables
2) working in a convenience store/gas station
3) managing a women's clothing store
4) teaching in Japan and Vancouver

4 MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED MORE THAN ONCE
1) Grease
2) When Harry Met Sally
3) 4 Weddings and a Funeral
4) Dr Zhivago

4 PLACES I HAVE BEEN
1) Hawaii
2) Japan
3) Cambodia
4) Thailand

4 PLACES I WANT TO VISIT
1) Australia
2) Greece
3) Egypt
4) England/Scotland (OK, yes, I know that 2!)

4 TV SHOWS I WATCH
1) Survivor
2) Criminal Minds
3) Grey's Anatomy
4) The Young and the Restless

4 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME
1) I watch Coronation Street religiously
2) I have to have International Delight French Vanilla creamer in my coffee at home
3) I wear my mum's first wedding band 24/7. (She had a new one made with my great grandma's diamonds when she inherited them) I started when I went to Japan to have a piece of my parent's with me all the time and I haven't taken it off since.
4) I have a tendency to get migraines, so I go to a massage therapist once a month for preventative treatment.

Think this would make a fun layout too! Have to think about that!
Cheers,

November Scrapdango Reveal

This was the fabulous November Scrapdango kit full of Collage Press paper this month along with a ton of other goodies! I had so much fun doing these projects and have more in the works considering how packed this kit is!

A little layout about Nathan and how I'm enjoying spending some time with him alone these days while Kyle is at school since he's growing so quickly.

This double pager is full of pictures we took while we were waiting for Kyle to go in for his tonsil and adenoid surgery in August.

Love the die cuts that came with this! Made for a pretty quick card to put together and I love the result!

These papers are so much fun to layer together!

And this was a long overdue project since Kyle and I have been talking about it for ages. I had a little book when I was a kid that my mum would write words I was interested in into. I told Kyle about it and he wanted one and I finally put it together here!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day! I'll be at work the better part of the day and then we have a staff crop this evening, so that should be a fun night!!

Cheers,

Friday Photos...

This is just a quick one with a few pictures I've taken in the last few days...

This was Kyle reading his printing book with little poems in it to Nathan the other afternoon for the millionth time that day! He was very proud...


These last two are of mu y nephew Matthew with Nathan in the one above and Kyle in the one below. The boys always want to hold Matthew when he comes to visit!

We've had a busy day and the napping didn't go as planned, so I haven't had a break all afternoon. We dropped Kyle at Kindergarten and then the kids and I went to a community play/drop-in thing. There's lots for them to do and the timing is good in terms of picking up Kyle afterwards.

Anyway, we were gone all morning and then picked Kyle up and came home and had lunch. I put the little ones to bed afterwards and Nathan was up about an hour after that - just as Kyle was laying down. This, of course, meant no rest for the weary! I did manage to get all my Scrapdango design work scanned for the reveal tomorrow at least! The best part is that I'm off to work 6-midnight in the store and then again most of the day tomorrow as well! I'm tired already!!

Well, better run and finish getting ready! Have a great night everyone!
Cheers,