Cottage Christmas cards

I loved this line of paper by Imaginisce called Cottage Christmas as soon as I saw it and I knew the 6X6 paper pads would be perfect for class.  Love how the prints are all smaller too and you get 3 sheets of each print in these pads!

This class includes the paper pad and a sheet of the "glass" stickers as well as everything else you need to make the 7 cards you see!  This class is also available as a kit and you can see all of these in person at the store anytime!

Hope to you see some of you that are local at a class soon!  The new calendar should be out veeeery soon!

Cheers,

New Passion

Now, some of you that pop by once in a while might remember that Kyle was doing Hip Hop last year.  Well, during spring break, we tried a one week karate class partly for something to do and partly because Kyle had been talking about karate.  This was an inexpensive way to try it out and not have to get a gi or anything.  Well, he loved it and it's all I've heard about since. 

We talked about doing it over the summer, but we were so busy that it didn't happen.  Finally after hearing about it multiple times a day for weeks, I registered him a couple of weeks ago and he's loving it!  He's already asked about belts and how long he has to practice before he can be tested.  We registered him for a month to get going, but I don't think that'll be the end of it by any means.  He can go 3 times a week, but only needs to go twice; however, we've been there 3 times a week since he started!  I'm glad he's found something he's enjoying.  It's unfortunately the same nights as dance though, so we've dropped that for now. 

Of course, Nathan had to get in on the pictures even if he's not taking karate!  I asked if he was interested in trying it, but not yet at least.  I want to find him something that he'll enjoy.  We need to get him registered for swimming soon for sure!

Well, that's it for right now.  Better go think about getting the kids an early lunch as they have preschool this afternoon!

Cheers,

Happy Monday!

Yes, well, since Tracy started her new job last week, it's not quite as happy as it used to be since I have my niece and nephew now on Mondays too, but such is life.  I went to bed early last night and got up with a little more time to relax and get going.  What a difference it makes!  Everything ran more smoothly this morning for sure.

We got soaked taking Kyle to school.  It was only drizzling when we left, but the sky opened up while we were walking to school and it was pouring for our walk home.  We came in, got jackets changed and grabbed preschool snacks and off we went again.  Dropped Nathan and Sophia at preschool this morning and they were excited to be there.  Matthew and I headed home with a stop for a Starbucks for me!

At home here, I was puttering on the computer while Matthew had a snack and played.  I saw a sketch for a card (LPSC86) and got inspired.  I grabbed my last Taylored Expressions kit and played!  It was wonderful to be doing something that wasn't for work and just for fun!  I always seem to be short of birthday cards and these Penny Black stickers are easy.  I stamped a birthday quote on the inside as well.  Sorry about the poor lighting for the picture, but on a rainy day...

Well, I'm now back from getting the kids from preschool and need to get them lunch and Matthew in bed, so I'd better get going.  Hope you're having a good one!

Cheers,

A Sneak Peek of an Upcoming Card Class!

OK, so for anyone who's local, this is a sneak peek of an upcoming October class that I'll be teaching called Winter Joy!  It uses paper and chipboard from the Bo Bunny line of paper with the same name.

The pictures don't really do the cards justice because between the gems and glitter added to them, they're pretty sparkly!  The best part is that you'll do the 6 cards in class and then have a lot of extra chipboard and paper to take home to do some more cards!

The October calendar isn't out yet, so there isn't a date, but keep your eye on the website and your e-mail (if you get the newsletter) for more information!  It'll be out soon! 

There will be kits available for this class as well. 

Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Back to School!

...and apparently back to blogging!  Wow!  I was shocked when I saw the last date that I'd posted anything - more than a month ago!  The summer seemed to fly by, especially the last bit and here we are back at school again already!

Nathan and Sophia has their first day of preschool today.  It was a shorter class and only half the kids (the others go tomorrow), but they were excited.  I forgot to take pictures before we went since it was a little rushed getting Kyle to school and then the 2 of them to preschool, so we took pictures when we came back.

These two are so darn cute together, but they both have trouble smiling without the cheeseball smile these days!  So funny!

Anyway, preschool went well and Matthew and I went and ran a couple of errands while they were there since it was a shorter class.  Came home and had lunch and did some cleaning and then it'll be time to pick up Kyle here before I know it!  Dinner after that and then I'm teaching tonight and I think the class is full now!  Yeah!

Anyway, guess that's about it for now.  Will update on Kyle and the rest of us soon, but all's well!

Cheers,

Scrap The Boys Giveaway!

Check out this fabulous giveaway that they're doing at Scrap The Boys!

Cheers,

Christmas Cards in August!

Yes, it's amazingly the first of August!  How that happened I have no idea!  Being the first of the month, that means another challenge over at CCAYR!

Here's our challenge for August.... Since many of us have had a lot of heat this summer, we're going to cool things down with SNOWFLAKES! Yes, as some of you guessed from the sneaks, your cards this month need to have snowflakes of some kind - in the paper, embellishments, stamping or whatever you like!

I pulled out some old Basic Grey Figgy Pudding and found this big snowflake sticker and that immediately created this image in my head!  The best part is I have everything I need to make another one too since it was a huge sticker I cut in half!

Check out the blog for all the other design team creations as well.  It's amazing to see how different all the cards are based on the same challenge!

*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 AUGUST! (this challenge CAN be combined with any other blog or forum challenges that you do this month.)
This month the RAK is another great set from SU!


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.

Cheers,

A First?

OK, so I do have a bit of a paper addiction when it comes to my scrappy stuff - just ask my family!  And lately, I've been so busy with class stuff that I haven't done much of my own.  So, today I decided I wanted to play a little and there on my table was some of the new Imaginisce Birthday Bash line that I just got.  I was very good and only got a few sheets even though I LOVE it!

So, the "first" is that before putting it away, I actualy played with something new that I got!  This is also the first time I've used the punch and love that too!  The best part of this is that the red and white cardstock I used for this were also scraps!  How did it all come together and so quickly you ask?  I have resources!  lol 

I was poking around the Imaginisce blog and found a card by Kim Holmes and simply lifted it.  As I tell people in class, sometimes when you don't have a lot of time and simply want to play, don't worry about reinventing the wheel!  It came together quickly and I have everything out to make one more like this as well!  Might as well make 2 if I have everything out!

Now, on a completely different note...  The kids decided today that they were going to get busy and when I went in the living room, I was welcomed to "the rainforest"!  Who knew you could have a rainforest in your living room?!  Amazing where their minds go!

And here's just a little something from a couple of days ago that I thought I'd post since there aren't enough of these pictures of the boys and I!  I really don't like seeing myself in pictures, but I do know that they don't really care how I look and that as they get older, they're going to want these pictures.  I'm lucky enough to have them, so I just need to suck it up and get out from behind the camera sometimes as well!  They're getting so big...  Where does the time go?

Have a wonderful Thursday evening!  I'll be hanging out with my boys and then watching a little guilty pleasure that they call Big Brother!  If you're watching, who's your fav?

Cheers,

New Class Schedule!

These are from the Petal Pushers class I'm teaching in August.

For all of you that are local and thinking about a creative break, the new class schedule is up and classes are ready to go!  You can check them out in the store as well...

August Class Schedule

Birthday Bash with Penny Black

For the Men in Your Life II:  All Occasion Cards

Summer Fun Layouts

Basic Grey: Oliver Layout Class

Basic Grey: Olivia Layout Class

Think that's it for me in August!  And there are many more as well, taught by Jacquie and Alexis, so check them all out!

Hope everyone is enjoying this sunny day!  We're just taking it easy around here and I'm working tonight!  Looking forward to a day off tomorrow...

Happy weekend!

Cheers,

Summer Fun!

OK, so this is going to be a little bit of randomness today...

I know the summer is whizzing by, but there are still some things I'm hoping to do and looking forward to...

I'm hoping to pick this up again and actually finish it this time.  Ever since having the boys, I haven't done very well with my reading and I do miss it.  I pick up books and keep trying, but never quite seem to finish.  I saw the trailers for the movie and want to see that as well, so I'm promising myself I'll finish the book first!

Also looking forward to doing some camping!  May only be the odd day here and there, but looking forward to it!  We didn't do much last year and really missed it.  Need to get on it though!

Yes, OK, I'm sucked in again this summer!  Having fun watching the houseguests and following all the craziness on Big Brother 12.  The good thing now is that I can PVR it and watch it without all the commericals and can zip through the boring bits!  Who are you cheering for?

Bought a ticket for this for tomorrow night and thinking about how we could spend that $50 million...  It's endless...  Any ideas?!  lol 

We've already done some fun summer things too like the fireworks, water park, the boys had a sleepover at Nana and Grandpa's, and just getting out and playing together.  George is working on teaching Kyle to ride his bike still since he's so tentative, but I think he's gaining in confidence.  Hoping to still get Kyle registered for karate here as well!

I know there's so much more I was thinking about when I started this, but it'll have to do for now... 
Cheers,

Fireworks and Fun!

Wow, so here we are at July 21st already!  The summer is whizzing by and I feel like it just started.  Hard to believe it only another few weeks and we'll be thinking about school supplies again!

We did get out to the Fraser Fest fireworks this past weekend...  The boys were really excited about going as we've gone the past few years.  We used to have this great spot all picked out to watch them, but when we were there last year, we were quite disappointed as we could barely see anything because they had moved the location of the barge they shoot the fireworks from. 

George got out the Google Earth maps and figured out where he thought would be a good place to check them out.  We couldn't get as close to the river as we wanted for safety reasons, but one of the women working on them told us that a little park nearby would be a good place to see them from.  It was perfect because the kids played until the fireworks!  OK, so we all did!  Then, George has packed popcorn and iced tea, so we had snacks and watched the the fireworks - a fun family night!

Yes, Kyle's now at this age where he has a love hate relationship with me taking pictures all the time!  He sometimes asks me to take his picture and then other times, I get "the look"!  He's so very funny these days...

I'm afraid I didn't get the best pictures or very many since my battery was dying and I had forgotten the tripod!  Oh well, it was more the memory of us being there and spending time together that was important!

Looking forward to many more of these...  Love my boys!

Cheers,

CCAYR Design Team Intros!

Well, this is just a quick hi!  I've been soooo busy lately and haven't had too much time of my own to make many new cards (the above in from last Christmas!) though I have tons of ideas I'm working on.  Just popping to say hi since it's my day to be introduced on the CCAYR blog today because the design team has been introduced all week!

It's fun because I had a full class to teach on Saturday morning and it was Christmas cards! It was so popular that I'm running it again in August if you're local!  I'm having so much fun designing new cards for Christmas already with some of the new paper that's coming and there's a lot more on it's way! 

There may even be a little random giveaway drawn from any comments here as well, so feel free!  There's the giveaway on the CCAYR blog as well!

Cheers,

PS Will try to post some new crafty stuff and an update ASAP!