I scrapped!

OK, so last night I actually managed to start a new book and do some of my own scrapping.  I find with planning new classes and then prepping them that I'm not scrapping as much of my own stuff.  Last night, I needed to work on a layout for a challenge for the online crop at Scrapperie this weekend and I had so much fun pulling this together with a combination of new and old!

I fully admit that this layout was inspired by one I saw on Jana Eubank's blog and I'm all good with that.  When you want something to be fun and easy, then make it fun and easy!  I got to play with some new Upsy Daisy papers, a new Cuttlebug embossing folder and a new Fiskars border punch, but also got out some older Making Memories paper, stickers, buttons and lettering!

Anyway, here's the challenge I posted...

Recipe Challenge - use the following on a layout!

An imperfect picture - Feel free to add more than one picture and the other(s) may be perfect if you wish!

Buttons or brads - Your pick!
Journaling on a journaling spot of some kind
A paper technique - tearing, distressing, rolling, etc
Stitching - get out your machine, use a sticker or rub-on, do it by hand - it's all good!
Ink or Paint - Your pick!

Feel free to add other things to your layout as long as it has the items in the above list! I sure did!

My layout has...
An imperfect picture - Fea blurry picture, but it's the only one I have, so I scrapped it!
Buttons or brads - buttons
Journaling on a journaling spot of some kind - done on the block with my title as well
A paper technique - tearing, edge distressing, embossing and punching
Stitching - I used a sticker!
Ink or Paint - ink on a lot of the edges after I edge distressed

Check out this and all the other challenges as well as games and other fun going on all weekend at Scrapperie!

And, yes, I've been saying for ages that I'm going to start reading again and just can't seem to find the time.  Well, I picked up a new book on a whim the other day, The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly, and have started it and am really enjoying it so far.  I used to be a voracious reader and want to get back into it for sure!

The boys have gone to get haircuts this afternoon, Matthew is sleeping and Sophia and I are just kind of hanging out.  A nice quiet afternoon for now...  And then it's off to work for me tonight!

Have a fabulous weekend!
Cheers,

I've actually started!

OK, so I knew I had to make my in-laws a calendar this past Christmas since I hadn't made them one the previous year and got hints about it all year long!  I had given them one the year before that and hadn't realized quite how big a hit it was until I didn't make them one!  Lesson learned...

Now, I knew about this little project all year long and yet ended up creating almost all of it on Boxing Day before we went to their house for dinner!  I decided I wasn't going to do that this year and to help me, I offered to post a Calendar Challenge for Challenge Masters and then actually at Scrapperie as well!  If you play on both sites, it's a 2 for 1 deal!

The above page is the current challenge which is...
Create your page for the month of Fenruary (with or without pictures depending on the type of calendar you're doing) and include something that wouldn't normally be considered a "scrapbooking product". This could mean something recycled (like the packaging from a toy I used in my layout), an office product, a piece of fabric - it's endless! As long as you wouldn't normally find it in your lss, it's all good for this challenge.

I can't possibly tell you how good it feels to be working on this well in advance and know that one of my Christmas presents will be taken care of well before Christmas!

This was the page I did for the challenge last month for the first page of the calendar.  I thought I had posted it actually and realized I hadn't.  I can post the pages here without worry either since my in-laws won't see them. (No internet if you can believe it?!  Can't imagine!).  You'll be seeing more in the months to come!  Come and play!

Guess it's off to bed for me!

Cheers,

Scrappy Goodness!

OK, so is it just me or are other people having this problem with loading pics.  It only wants to load in this orientation and no matter what I do, I can't flip it?!  Weird!

So, I have some gift certificates from work that I have been "saving" for all the new CHA product once it started rolling in and it certainly has been lately!  I finally got a few things last night.  Look at all that lovely new paper and I love the new Cuttlebog embossing folder with the stars - perfect for boys.  And, of course, the always practical refill for the adhesive I recently got.

Of course, I still have a stash of things at work I need to get and I know there's more coming.  The hard part is the picking and choosing.  Well, and then there's finding the time to actually use it which is a whole other story!

This was posted at the beginning of the month, but better late than never - the new challenge at the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog!  The challenge for the month of March is to use mostly green on your card and ...snowmen!

Leave a comment if you do our challenge! Please only enter NEW CARDS that are made in MARCH.

*Remember, if you do 5 cards this month following the challenge, your name will go into a draw for a prize at the end of MARCH! (this challenge CAN be combined with any other blog or forum challenges that you do this month.)

Please upload your cards to your blog, a gallery, or photobucket and remember to give us the EXACT links to see them. You can do 5 of the same cards or 5 different ones (as long as they follow the current challenge) If you do 5 of the same, please show us a picture of them altogether. Thanks!

YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW IN THIS POST WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE 5 CARDS IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MONTHLY PRIZE.

We can't wait and see what you create this month! Have fun!
Cheers,

Ramblings from Sick House...

OK, so I was reading blogs this morning and when I saw Nicole's title, I totally thought of our house and how things have gone of late.  So, yes, it's been ages since I blogged and after doing so well there for a little while too. 

We have literally been sick in our house (and Tracy's for that matter) for about a month now.  First of all, Matthew (my nephew who I care for 4 days a week) got sick with the flu and it slowly made it's way through pretty much all of us in both houses in varying degrees.  Then, just when everyone seemed to getting better I thought, Kyle came down with a nasty bug that turned into a trip to emergency last Tuesday only to find out he had pneumonia.  That was the end of the week of school for him and that was after being away a few days with the flu bug too!  Poor kid!

Now, Sophia didn't do very well either.  She had the flu quite badly and then this cold developed into croup for her, so she had a trip to the hospital this week!  The rest of us have had good days and bad, but I'm hoping we're on the other side for now!

It has been an amazing couple of weeks with the Olympics here as well!  I'm not sure I can even put into words what it was like and the energy and unbelievable patriotism that was shown here.  I know some people from other countries have claimed that it was "un-Canadian", but we're all very proud of what our athletes accomplished and how the city came together in so many ways to host a wonderful winter games!

I was also lucky enough to be able to go and see an event - speedskating at the Richmond Oval.  Tracy and Brian won a VIP package and were only going to be able to see part of the event because of an overlap with the hockey game they were going to, so she managed to get Dad and I in to see the speedskating and it was so much fun to be there.  We didn't see any Canadians medal that day, but we did see some of the women who would later medal in the games!  It was also the day that Maelle Ricker won her gold and the place went nuts when they announced it there!

- I've been busy with work and classes
- George was volunteering during the Olympics (driving)
- Kyle is still enjoying his Hip Hop dance classes on Thursdays
- the preschool has now been closed for 2 weeks due to a flood
- Kyle has his class picture taken this week and he came home with another wonderful report card this week
- totally happy that I finally managed to order PVR service today and they'll be here Monday for the instal!
- a 2 week Spring Break starts at 3pm today essentially
- the boys are registered for a one week karate class starting Monday

It just seems like there has been so much going on around here between school, classes, sick people, work, doctors, etc!  I don't know that Spring Break will slow anything down, but I'm hoping for a pj day in there somewhere, but without people being sick!

George was going to be away for Spring Break volunteering for the Paralympics, but that has changed and he's now working next week and will have the second week off to hang out with us.  Let's hope the weather is still nice!

I'll hopefully catch up with posting some scrappy stuff in the next day or two as well, but here's a layout I did as a class sample for the From Sketch to Scrapped Class that I do monthly now.  It was based on a great sketch (with permission) from the always fabulous Jana Eubank.

Have a fabulous weekend and hope it's healthy!
Cheers,

More Cards!

Another one with Scenic Route paper based on the previous cards I did.

OK, so in my last post, I realized that I needed to make a couple more cards for Nathan's preschool teachers, so I used the same designs and papers in a slightly different way and here are two more Valentine's cards!  Quick and easy!

Nathan and Sophia had their Valentine's party at preschool today and I went a little early to help them hand out their cards.  Things were running behind, but it sure looked like it had been quite the fun day!  They were having snack (a cookie with icing they got to put on and sprinkles) and then went to run around in the gym across the hall before passing out cards and getting going.  Fun! 

Kyle and George were both home again today.  Kyle has a Pro-D today and since he came home early today and they were basically just doing their party today, I decided to keep him home.  George was supposed to be volunteering today, but he wasn't feeling very hot and thought maybe driving around all day (until midnight), might not be the best idea.  This bug has really taken it out of us this week for sure and let's hope next week is better!

Work tomorrow night and, of course, the opening ceremonies for the Vancouver/Whistler Olympics!  Too bad I'm working tomorrow night, but I should be able to see some of it before I go.  I'll be shocked if it's not Wayne Gretzky lighting the cauldron for it!  Have heard little bits and pieces about what'll happen, but they've done a pretty good job of keeping things quiet!  I'm sure it'll be amazing...

Will be watching the season premiere of Survivor tonight (as well as some of the Canucks game!) and then trying to get some sleep!  Don't want to end up sick again from being run down! 

Have a great night!
Cheers,

A Couple of Valentine's

OK, so we just can't seem to shake this bug around here.  I'm finally really feeling better, but George and Kyle are still "off".  Kyle was fine yesterday at school and then his teacher called today and said he wasn't feeling well.  He was home for the day about lunchtime and we're keeping him home tomorrow as well. 

This was inspired by a card from Feb 11th in "A Card A Day" by PaperCafts.  Super quick and easy with a sheet of paper from Scenic Route that already has the different strips on it!  The acrylic heart was misted with Apple Red Glimmer Mist.

What that means is that I had to whip up a couple of quick Valentine's cards this afternoon for Kyle's teacher and the teaching assistant in his class so that I could take them up this afternoon along with all the Spongebob ones for his friends!  George is home, so it was easy to do it today and impossible with all the kids tomorrow.

Used the Scenic Route paper again and some Cooredinations cardstock with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

I guess all we're going to be doing around here is trying to get everyone healthy and stay that way!  Kyle is, of course disappointed that he's going to miss his party, but for that reason, he won't miss much in the way of school either.  Friday is a Pro-D, so that'll be the week for him!

Nathan has his Valentine's party at preschool tomorrow too, so I'm sure they'll have a good time!  He needs to get his cards ready and I should do a couple more cards for his teachers!!  Yikes!

Cheers,

Finally feeling human again...

OK, so it's been a rough couple of days here with me being very sick with the flu!  I drank ginger ale all day yesterday and finally managed to keep a piece of toast down here this morning.  Am still wiped and now have a raging headache, but generally feel a lot better than I did.  So far, the boys don't have it and I hope it stays that way!

Just thought I'd post a few cards I've done recently for different things...

That's definitely all for today because I'm still wiped and need to try and get rid of this crazy headache!  Hope everyone else is healthy!

Have a fabulous day!
Cheers,

Three for Three...

OK, so this is day three of layouts I'm posting!  I'm just happy I have creative stuff to post and the fun part is that there's more to come in the next few days as well! 

This was also done for the Scrapperie Scraplift challenge.  Scrapperie has challenges posted every day - a different challenge for every day of the week!

This was yet another that was also done with bits I had laying around and it came together quickly.  There are products from about eight companies on this one!  It was nice to scrap this one since I don't have as many pictures as I should of the boys and I.  And this really is a little slice of our life - pjs and all!

Nothing unusual going on today really.  Matthew and Sophia should be here shortly and then we'll be getting everyone ready for school.  Some more of the neverending chores as well. Kyle has his hip hop dance class tonight too.  It's a busy night in the sense that I have a massage booked and George has a chiroprator's appointment as well!  Canucks game tonight that I might try and catch a few minutes of...  GO CANUCKS GO!

Have a fabulous day!
Cheers,

Another layout if you can believe it?!

Yes, I know, it's 2 days in a row that I've posted layouts!  Can you believe it?!  Shocking in fact!  Just shows that I haven't been doing enough of my own scrapping that's for sure!

I'm afraid the colours on this are sooo much better in person, but I can't be bothered to retake the picture.  You get the idea!  This was done for a scraplift challenge for this week at Scrapperie and the ones the other girls did will be posted a little later.  I've really been just pulling things out of my stash and playing and it's made for much faster layouts that are a lot more fun to create!

Have a fabulous day!
Cheers,

A layout I love!

This was based on a sketch by Debbie Gaydos (below) that I loved.  It's not a new one by any means, but I knew I'd end up using it one day!  The best part about this layout for me was that not only did I finally scrap some older pictures, but I used all stash stuff that was sort out of on my table when I was creating.  The big scalloped circle on the right was even a page that I'd used the center of for something else and ended up using the outer part for this!  Love that!

I have some other creative stuff that I've been working on and hope to get posted soon as well as some recent pics!  Speaking of pictures, I also need to go and pick up the ones I ordered for developing so I can create some more!

Have a fabulous day!
Cheers,

February Challenge for CCAYR!

OK, so today is the day for the new monthly challenge at the Christmas Cards All Year Round blog.  The challenge for this month is to create a Christmas card with at least three hearts on it since it's the month of love!  Here are the couple of cards I did for the challenge.

Leave a comment on THIS POST if you do our challenge! Please only enter NEW CARDS that are made in FEBRUARY.

*Remember, if you do 5 cards this month following the challenge, your name will go in a draw for the prize above at the end of FEBRUARY! (this challenge CAN be combined with any other blog or forum challenges that you do this month.)

Hope to see some of your cards!
Cheers,

Happy Birthday Hon!

Just wanted to wish George a very Happy Birthday today!!

I'll have to wait to post the picture of his card as I can't seem to get it off my camera right now for some reason?!

I have been slacking on my posting and I was doing so well at the beginning of the month and then it turned into birthday/party central and I didn't have time, but I'll have to catch up on that later as I need to get ready for work! 

Yes, I'm afraid George has the kids for the day on his birthday!  We went out for dinner last night - all 4 of us.  We also went and got George's birthday present which was a new point and shoot Canon camera since he wants to take some pictures while he's doing his Olympic volunteering, but doesn't want to be packing my camera around.  He was playing with it last night already!

Nathan has a birthday party to go to today as well, so he'll be gone for a couple of hours.  I'm sure Kyle will be wanting to play his new My Sims Kingdom game for the Wii that he's addicted to!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Cheers,

Busy Day!

2 busy classes + a late night last night = one tired girl who needs sleep!

At least I came home to fabulous homemade pizza made by my mother-in-law who was taking care of the boys today!

Have a fabulous Sunday!  I'm sure we will being at our family birthday party!
Cheers,

Finally Friday?!

OK, so yes, it is Friday, but it's not like it's going to be a relaxing weekend!  I have the kids today, chores to do and then work 6-midnight tonight for starters.  The worst part about this is that I'm already tired! 

Then, I'm up early tomorrow to head off to work again for a couple of classes.  My Cupcake Quick and Easy is already more than full and the other Playin' In the Snow layout class is almost full, so it should be a fun, but busy day at work too!

My mother-in-law is coming to stay tonight as well.  With me working tomorrow and George being in Whistler for the day for his volunteer training for the Paralympics, we had no one at home to watch the kids.  They love it when she comes anyway, so it's all good!

Then, Sunday we have a family birthday party out in Chilliwack and then I need to come home and finish prepping for my more than full Monday morning card class!  It's pretty much done, but needs just a few things put together. 

Crazy weekend ahead for sure!  Hope you enjoy yours!
Cheers,

Check these out...

...just a few interesting links for today!

- an article on going paperless in your kitchen!
- a wonderfully cute Valentine's card
- some great cards by a fabulous new co-worker
- another way to contribute to efforts in Haiti

Happy 4th Birthday Nathan!!

What a crazy day it was around here for me and I'll catch up on more of that tomorrow, but I could never let this day go by without wishing my little man a VERY Happy 4th Birthday! 

He had a fun morning at preschool with his friends while Nana was here helping out watching Matthew.  I took him to Subway for lunch since that was his pick!  Played all afternoon and opened presents throughout the day it seemed.  I, unfortunately, had to go to work tonight (though it was a fun class!), but my in-laws were here with George and the boys.  My mother-in-law makes homemade pizza the boys love, so she made that for dinner and they brought cake for Nathan's birthday too!  And there were, of course, more presents too!

Can't believe you're 4 already little man, but I love you very, very, very much!

Love,

Your Mummy

A Day in the Life...

OK, so the idea for this came from the 12 of 12 blog where you'd take 12 pictures on the 12th of each month and you'd have a picture of what your life was like!  I took some pictures today though certainly not of everything that happened.  What I did notice is that I have 2 pictures of coffee and 1 of tea!  Wondering what this says about me...  hee hee

The top picture was how I started my day - with those 2 darling little faces!  And the crazy thing is that my little man will be 4 tomorrow!  How did that happen?!  In the blink of an eye for sure.  Makes me all the more thankful that I'm able to stay at home with them (even on those not so fabulous days) and also thankful that I scrapbook and blog. 

So, my day went as follows...
 - up a little after 7
 - breakfast for the boys and coffee for me
 - some time on the computer
 - lost track of time, so a quick change of clothes for us!
 - made Kyle lunch
 - Kyle read me his alphabet book from school
 - walked Kyle to school though it thankfully stopped raining
 - had a nice chat with Allison and Matria after dropping the kids off
 - walk home and then a hot chocolate for Nathan
 - Brian dropped off Matthew and Sophia since they took their Nanny to the airport this morning
 - kids played and I laid poor sick little Matthew down for a nap though it only lasted about 30-45 minutes
 - I did some cleaning up and more purging (lots of that happening lately!)

- got an awesome bit of happy mail from a friend today for my headaches!

 - Matthew had a early lunch
 - Nathan and Sophia had lunch and then played
 - laid Matthew down again
 - I got a few more things done both on the computer and cleaning wise!  Happy about that!
 - Maria was nice enough to drop Kyle off so that Matthew could sleep longer, but that didn't happen anyway!
 - we hung out and played until Brian came and got the kids
 - George got home
 - dinner was spaghetti and salad
 - I did a great job of keeping track of my food today (have lost 7lbs)
 - went out with Kyle to get one more present for Nathan (another Wii controller and nunchuk so there's less waiting and fighting!) and the blueberry muffins he wanted for his snack for preschool tomorrow!
 - stopped and got a Decaf Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte tonight on the way back..  Yummo!

... and here I am!  The boys are playing a little Wii Lego Star Wars (we rented this one though think we'll be buying it!) before bed and I'm enjoying my Starbucks while doing this.  Need to wrap Nathan's presents tonight and I'm almost done prepping for my class tomorrow night, but need to finish it off.  Yes, I unfortunately wasn't thinking when I was asked about my January schedule a couple of months ago, so I'm working the night of Nathan's birthday!  At least I get to spend the day with him at preschool and maybe we'll go for lunch or something.  My parents will also be here for a while in the morning and George's parents will be here in the evening and they're bringing homemade pizza and cake!  All good!  We'll be having a party with some kids coming up here soon as well.

OK, guess that's about it for this evening, but another one of those days to be thankful for where I am...
Cheers,

Scrapdango Crowned Competition

Scrapdango is celebrating 4 years, and they are doing it in style with their  “Crowned Pageant” contest.  I played last year and it was soooo much fun!

Come for 4 weeks of Crowned Competition ScrapDango style! There will be weekly pageant competition challenges that will challenge your creativity.

Each week the DT will award points for each contestant’s creation. The contestant with the most points at the end of each week will be sashed! If you are lucky enough to be SASHED, you will receive a fun prize pack!

At the end of the month, the contestant with the most points will be crowned Queen of Scrapdango and win a guest design spot, including a full Scrapdango kit!

There will be other challenges along the way as well, such as scavenger hunts, posting challenges, games, etc. These are voluntary, but they do help you to accumulate more points.

The weekly pageant challenges are mandatory. The only way you will be de-sashed and leave the Pageant is if you fail to do the weekly challenges.

To play you must visit the forums, say hello and register in the “Crowned” Thread. So come join us and stretch your creativity as we challenge you to Evening Gown, Swimsuit, Interview, and Talent Competitions!  Please make sure you let them know I sent you when you register!!

The first challenge will be issued February 1st. Sign up in the special thread “Crowned” here at Scrapdango!!!!!

International contestants are welcome to play and will receive a $6 shipping credit toward any prize they win. The balance of shipping will be that contestant's responsibility.

Come and join the fun and remember to let them know you heard about all this fun from me!!
Cheers,

New Challenges @ Challenge Masters!

There are new challenges posted the first 3 Sundays of the month at Challenge Masters, so check out the January Challenges HERE!  I just posted the Journaling Challenge for this month as well!

A New Team at Scrapperie!

There's a new team at Scrapperie and there are actually seven different teams - one for each day of the week... so you know what that means, right? A challenge for each and every day of the week and tons and tons of wonderful inspiration to choose from and jumpstart your creativity.

Without further ado, here are your 2010 Très Chic Girls:

The Layout Sketch Team
•Amy Teets (AmyTeets), Team Leader
•Angie Gutshall (my3blessings)
•Jlyne Hanback (Jlyne)
•Kory Anne Dordea (Mama2Ainslie)
•Rebecca Kvenvolden (mamakven)
•Taryn Stothart (taryngirl)
•Teresa Matz (teresamatz)
•Tonya Boone (tontaboo)

Techniques Team
•Amy Wilges (wilgeshouse)
•Rita Barakat (rbaraket)

Scraplift Team
•Shannon Morgan (paddymack), Team Leader
•Andi Dickson (randomscraps)
•Colleen Heidrich (GenkiCOL)
•Heather Lough (hlough)
•Nura Keif (Nura Keif)
•Pat Bishop (scrappinvt)

Use Your Stash Team
•Michele Brooks (Michele), Team Leader
•Alexandra Sirugue-MacLeod (alexandra s.m.)
•Annette Graham (jazzgodezz)
•Anita Mulcahey (stamphappy6805)
•Julie Kelley (JulieK)
•Kim Tupponce (Kim T)
•Mandy Koeppen (mandyk)
•Stephanie Ackerman (happyscraps)

Color Team
•Stacey Hansen (cupcakemomcolorado), Team Leader
•Jayme Downs (scrapper_jayme)
•Leah Crowe (Leah C)
•Lyla New (junqueandroses)
•Megan Aaron (megamay)

Freestyle Team
•Amy Bender (Amy Bender), Team Leader
•Andrea Tuttle (andrea21)
•Cindy Buchanan (cindy10)
•Jackie Laing (Jackie)
•Leena Loh (findingnana)
•Shannon Blinn (1scrappymom)
•Suzanne Blickenstaff (Suzanne)
•Vicki Finchum (txscrapaddict)

Book of Me Team
•Susan Alton (ladymisssusan), Team Leader
•Andrea Ancich (scrappinandrea)
•Christi Wright (Christi W)
•Michelle Christian-Chasteen (Mchris1024)
•Sue Mylde (missusem)

Congrats to everyone and come and check out all the new challenges starting on the 18th!
Cheers,