My birthday girl

Sage turned seven today. I just can't believe my baby girl is seven....

I thought I'd revisit some of my favourite layouts that I made about her over the years...

This one is from 2005:


2006:


2007:


2008:


2009:


2010:


And earlier this year:


And here she is today:


And here is the birthday card I made for her, using the new-to-me PTI goodies that arrived in the mail today. I love happy mail days!


I used PTI cardstock (aqua mist, stamper's select white), stamps & dies (Little Bitty Bird.) I used an SU! marker to colour in the leaves and SU! Wonderful Wisteria cardstock. I cut a little piece of Lily Bee patterned paper to make the hat and topped it off with a SU! pearl.

Thanks for looking!

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

It's time for another challenge on the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog. This week's challenge is from Wendy and she challenges us to firstly, consider ourselves a miracle - perfectly crafted by the Creator, and to create a layout celebrating yourself.

The Scrap Twist: You must use a picture of yourself (it can be the whole you or just a part) and make sure to include some handwritten journaling to celebrate that gift also!

In her challenge, Wendy quoted the verse from Psalm 139:14: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," so I took that as my starting place for my journaling, which reads: "The Bible says that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Why then, do I struggle so much against my flaws? Is it best to accept them as "how I was made"? Or, should I treat them as opportunities for growth? I'm thinking the latter..."

And here's my layout:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock, stamps (Button Boutique) and dies (Button Boutique, Bloom Builders #3), and My Mind's Eye patterned paper and decorative brads.

Thanks for looking!

A pink cowgirl party....

... for my best, best girl!

Sage had her birthday party today (she turns seven tomorrow!) and we celebrated wtih a pink cowgirl party. I was inspired for the theme by this post and adapted it for Sage.

We started off at our house where Sage opened her gifts and we gave each of her guests a pink bandana to wear (I had bought white ones at Dollarama and died them pink). Then, I drove the girls (& my boys) to my MIL's farm. We asked our friend, Chelsea, if she would be willing to bring a couple her horses there to give the girls some trail rides and she did. The girls loved it!

Here's Sage on Podunk:


And Cameron leading them around the yard:




I got some great shots of all of her friends on the horses, as well as some group shots in front of the grainery & on the hayrack, but I'm not going to post them here, as I didn't get permission from their parents to do so.

After the trail rides, we climbed on the hayrack and Cameron took us on a hayride.

I took this photo of Jonah (& Austin) on the hayride:


And one of Cameron driving the tractor:


Our destination? Stanley Park. I think it took us about 20 minutes to get there. It was quite windy on the hayrack, but everyone had a great time. While Sage and her friends went to play on the playstructure, we set up the decorations. Here's the banner I made:


And I found two little pails like this on clearance at Walmart. I filled them with sand and then topped them with some oats. I made the decorations using PTI cardstock and Limitless Layers dies and adhered them to some wooden skewers.


In lieu of treat bags for the kids, Sage and I made some of these cowgirl cookies in a jar for the girls to bring home, bake and enjoy! I also baked some for the party-- they're very good!


Sage loved her banner!


Cameron roasting some wieners for our guests:


I loved the banner I made for the cake for our back to school feast so much that I decided to make one for Sage's cake. I let her choose what she wanted it to say.


After the cake, the girls went to play some more while we cleaned up. Then it was a windy hayride back to the farm, where we loaded up the van and drove the girls home.

I wanted to share one more thing.... This is the card that I made for Chelsea as a thank you for her bringing her horses-- the girls enjoyed that so much! I used this week's Make-It-Monday at Papertrey Ink: stamping with acrylic paint.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, kraft, hawaiian shores, harvest gold), stamps (Modern Wood Mats, Gratitude Journal), twine, button and dies (Mat Stack #1 & #5, Beautiful Blooms II #1) and my 1 1/8" circle punch.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

#1. I was so excited to win last week's Make It Monday contest at Papertrey Ink! My prize? A free stamp set. I chose this set. What do you think?

#2. I've been busy getting ready for Sage's birthday party this weekend. I can't believe my girlie is turning 7! We're planning a pink cowgirl party... it should be fun!

I was reorganizing photos on my computer last night and came across three layouts that had never been posted (I don't think anyway....)

#3.


I used Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, sticker and brads and Papertrey Ink stamps (happy trails), twine, woodgrain impression plate and dies (wonderful words & mat stack #5).

#4.

A layout from our trip to Minneapolis last summer. I used Bazzill cardstock, Girls's Paperie & My Mind's Eye patterned paper, American Crafts thickers (which I inked red), and Papertrey Ink Half and Half dies.


#5.

I used Bazzill cardstock, American Crafts patterned paper and chipboard letters & Papertrey Ink dies (seeing stars.)

Thanks for looking!

A Papertrey Princess Challenge....

... from me!

I'm very excited to be posting my first Papertrey Princess challenge... so here it is:

Create a card using at least two different patterned papers.

I actually made a set of cards using 3 or 4 patterned papers each. Here they are:








For this set, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (ripe avocado, harvest gold), stamps (beautiful blessings, half & half), buttons and dies (mat stack #4, Half & Half.) I also used My Mind's Eye patterned paper and twine.

Thanks for looking!

Pages with Papertrey -- Sketch Challenge #1

As part of the Pages with Papertrey challenges I'm posting every month, I decided to post a sketch challenge mid-month as well.

I love sketches! I find them a great starting point for a layout. Sometimes I follow the sketch exactly, and other times, I'll change things (the # of photos, the placement of the title, etc.) or turn or flip the sketch. There are so many options with sketches....

For my first, Pages With Papertrey sketch, I decided to revisit a sketch that I used earlier this year. It's this sketch from the Crate Paper blog, posted in April.


Here's the layout that I made for it earlier this year...


I used AC cardstock, Crate Paper patterned paper, my Quickutz Jolly alphabet dies, Papertrey Ink dies (Mat Stack #1, Beautiful Blooms II #2) and My Mind's Eye brads.

And here's the layout I made using this same sketch last week:


As you can see, I used two photos instead of the suggested three and put some patterned paper in the space of the third photo instead.

I used AC (white) and Papertrey (sweet blush) cardstock, Studio Calico & October Afternoon patterned paper, Studio Calico & Lily Bee letter stickers, Papertrey Ink stamps (modern wood mats) & dies (Mat Stack #5, Bloom Builders #3) and My Mind's Eye decorative brads and a Fancy Pants fabric covered brad.

Here are a couple of close ups:





If you'd like to play along with this sketch challenge, just post your layout in this thread on the Papertrey Ink forum.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #11

I made another layout with this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps.




I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, lavender moon), buttons, twine, stamps (Happy Trails, Modern Wood Mats) and dies (Mat Stack #5). The corrugated butterflies were sent to me from my friend, Joyce. The alphabet stickers are October Afternoon.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #10

After 9 attempts at making cards or tags with this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps, I decided to try it on a layout.

Coincidentally, this was also Challenge #8 on the My Scrap Shoppe online crop. Other challenges that this layout fits with are #4 (a new technique) & #5 (use a stamp, buttons and flowers-- I used buttons with flowers on them and stamps with flowers in them!)


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream), buttons, twine, stamps (Iconic Images, Gratitude Journal) and dies (Journal Tabs). I also used Echo Park patterned paper.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #9

Here's another card I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps, this time using Iconic Images.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (kraft) and stamps (Iconic Images, journaling lines (the tiny brown asterisk at the centre of the pink flowers)) I also used a SU! scalloped border punch, SU! pearls and My Mind's Eye patterned paper.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #8

Here's another card I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps, this time using my Mat Stack #1 stamp set.


I used I used Bazzill (red), SU! (Island Indigo) and Papertrey Ink cardstock (kraft), stamps (Mat Stack #1, Gratitude Journal) and dies (doily details, limitless layers). I also used a SU! scalloped border punch.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #7

Here's another card I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps, this time using Sweet Love. I'm finding this technique a little addictive!


I used I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (stamper's select white, kraft, pure poppy, aqua mist), stamps (Sweet Love) and die (doily details, two triangles (to cut out the ends of my banner)). I also used a SU! heart punch and paper crimper.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #6

This week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps is making me dig through my stamps and look at them in new ways-- I love it!


I used I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, dark chocolate), felt (simply chartreuse), button, twine, stamps (Fall Elegance, Mehndi Medallion) and die (leaf prints).

Thanks for looking!

MIM #31 -- attempt #5

I am loving this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps. It's not something I've really done before, but it's lots of fun.

I was inspired by this card by Betsy Veldman to make this card:


I used I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), felt (simply chartreuse), button, twine, stamps (Leaf Prints, Fillable Frames #9, Fall Elegance (sentiment)) and dies (leaf prints, Fillable Frames #9). I also used SU! cardstock (Calypso Coral).

Thanks for looking!

My Gratitude Journal, part 1

After making a Gratitude Journal for my SIL (which you can see here & here), I wanted to start on mine. But for some reason, I was a little stumped. So I worked on some other projects in the meantime.

Then, I was inspired by this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps and a card I made for it.

It's definitely going to be a work in progress, but I have the title page and the first page done.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, kraft), impression plate (woodgrain), felt (vintage cream, simply chartreuse), button, twine, stamps (leaf prints, BB: Text Style I, Fillable Frames #9, Gratitude Journal) and dies (leaf prints, Fillable Frames #9).




For this page, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white) & stamps (leaf prints, Fillable Frames #8, Gratitude Journal).

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

#1. The kids started school yesterday! Hooray!

Well, Sage and Austin went for their staggered entrance on Tuesday afternoon and Jonah went on Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday, they all went for the whole day.

Yes!

As much as I adore summer and spending two months at home with the three of them, it was definitely time for them to go back. And so, it was time for our yearly first day of school on the front step photo. As you can see by the fingers they're holding up, Austin is now in the 7th grade, Jonah is in grade 4 and Sage is in grade 2.

#2. While the kids were in school yesterday, I tackled a big job that I've been putting off for a long time...


Putting my layouts in albums.

While I don't scrapbook in chronological order, I do like to place my layouts that way in albums. So I took my very large pile and sorted them by month, going back to February 2010.


Then I went through each month and put them in order and then slipped them into page protectors in the albums. I had four albums and was worried that it wouldn't be enough, but thankfully it was and I have room for a few more layouts in the last one. ;)

I got all of my 12x12 layouts done, but I have a bunch of 8.5x11" layouts that still need to be put away. Maybe today...

#3. It's my turn to post the Friday Praise Post at Scrapping Everyday Miracles. You can read my post here, where I share about how thankful I am for the great summer we had.

And here's the layout I made to go with my post (because it's no fun to post without a layout. ;) )


I used American Crafts (white) and PTI cardstock (kraft), The Girl's Paperie patterned paper, My Mind's Eye brads, PTI stamps (Fancy Flourishes) & dies (Beautiful Blooms II #1).

A few close ups:





#4. When I finished this layout, I decided to use the scraps to make a card for Mara's Papertrey Princess Challenge to include a banner on my card.


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white, vintage cream), The Girl's Paperie patterned paper, PTI stamps (Fancy Flourishes, Wonderful Words), twine, button & dies (Beautiful Blooms II #1, Two Triangles (to cut the end of the banner)).

#5. And one last card to share.

I made this one after I had made these tags (I just love the efficiency of using supplies more than once before I put them away!) Once again, I used this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps.


I used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white, hawaiian shores), stamps (Big & bold Wishes, Happy Trails) and die (Happy Trails). I also used some Pink Paislee patterned paper.

Thanks for looking!

Homebodies

I love being at home.

As much as I enjoy going out and visiting friends, I also love spending time at home.

And thankfully, my kids are the same way.

I made this layout for an inspiration challenge that Jeannine posted on Scrapping Everyday Miracles:


I used Bazzill cardstock & Pink Paislee patterned paper & die cuts. I also used a Papertrey stamp (Half & Half), die (limitless layers), buttons and twine.





How about you? Are you a homebody?

Thanks for looking!

And we're back....

... to school this week.

We delivered treats to the teachers today, which I think were all appreciated.

However, I didn't want to leave out some special women that I work with.... the secretaries at the high school where I substitute teach. So I packaged up some cookies for them, too. And I made them their own tags, again, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: creating backgrounds with non-background stamps.


(I apologize for the not-so-great photo. I took it quickly before we left for our school division banquet this morning and didn't realize that it was a little blurry.)

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (stamper's select white), stamps (Fancy Flourishes (background, Falling Leaves & Fillable Frames #9 (sentiment)), buttons, twine and die (Tag Sale #3). The twill was from a set of dishtowels I bought at Pier 1 Imports several years ago.

Thanks for looking!