A few things to share today....

#1. I have an Inspiration Post on the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog today. I posted an inspiration post and a layout to go with it.

#2. I also posted a layout on the MSS blog this afternoon for the June Featured Product Challenge.

#3. I had a bit of time this afternoon to attempt the Papertrey Ink Make It-Monday #21: Polaroid Two Step Masking. Here's the card that I made:


I used PTI Kraft cardstock, Fresh Snow ink, Daydreamer stamp set and Happy Trails stamp set (for the sentiment). The patterned paper is Cosmo Cricket.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #20

I wasn't sure if I'd get a chance to play along with Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday this week. The technique featured this week was reverse masking and looking at my stamps, I didn't think I had anything that would work.

Then, I got my PTI orders in the mail and decided that my new Postmarks set would work very nicely for making some stamps with this technique.

I made this two cards last night, after my family had left. We'd had such a great time yesterday together, especially at the mini-golf course that my brothers treated my family to. So I wanted to make them each a thank you card, to go along with the copies of photos I'm giving them.

Both cards are similar and made with the same products: PTI kraft cardstock, Mendhi Medalion stamp set, Postmarks stamp set and Think Big Favourites #5.







Thanks for looking!

PTI June Blog Hop

I decided to play along once again in the June PTI Blog Hop this month. This month's challenge was an inspiration one, based on this photo:



I was inspired by the colourful wall and pulled out my ink blending tool to make this card with seven differnt inks:


I used PTI cardstock (Stampers Select White, True Black) and my new Happy Trails stamp set.

I also decided to make a layout using this inspiration and the same supplies:



Thanks so much for stopping by!

Five for Friday

A quick post today to say five things that have "made my day" this week:

1. Yesterday, I (reluctantly) volunteered in Austin's school for the morning. I'd been dreading it a little, but it actually turned out to be a good morning.

2. While I was there, one of the students in my group asked if I knew her sister (who attends the high school.) When I said that I did, she said: "She says that you're cool." How sweet was that?! That is definitely not something I hear very often (although, I know that the kids are thinking it, of course! ;) )

3. On Wednesday, I was the highest ranking at tae kwon do and led the class (a first for me.) I was told be several members afterwards that I'd done a good job.

4. This post on the Papertrey Ink Forums totally made me smile. The question was asked "Who's scrapbooking style do you admire?" and someone said me!

5. My brothers and their families are coming out today with my mom for the weekend! I can't wait to see them.

Okay, off to vaccuum before they get here....
Thanks for looking!

Graduation cards

I wanted to make some graduation cards for a few of the students that I know that are graduating from high school this week. I decided for the sake of time, to make them all the same.

I was inspired by a card on Nichole Heady's blog. The school colours are black and red, so I thought I'd incorporate them into the cards.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Stamper's Select White & Smokey Shadow), Mat Stack #1 stamps and die & Tag Its #4 stamps.

I had put the cards I made on the piano until I had time to address them. Cameron saw them and asked if I could make two more for him to give. I decided to use some of my new PTI goodies that I got in the mail this week:


I used PTI cardstock (Stamper's Select White & Smokey Shadow), Happy Trails stamps, a Think Big Favourites #5 stamp & a Tag Its #4 stamp. I also used Crate Paper patterned paper and border sticker.

Thanks for looking!

A little inspiration...

For an inspiration challenge at MSS , Marcy posted this:


Which, I must admit left me a little stumped. Should I scrap the design, with the windows as inspiration for photos/patterned paper in a grid? The colour scheme? Or maybe use my Crate Paper "books" patterned paper?

After quite a bit of pondering, I decided to scrap, in a sense, the theme of the photo, "reading." But since I'd done some "I love to read" type layouts in the past, I decided to open the theme up a little to pasttimes.


I had this Fancy Pants journaling card for a while, and even though I knew it didn't apply to me at all, I had held onto it. I cut it out and layered it onto a scrap of MME patterned paper that I cut using a PTI Mat Stack #4 die.



Here's a close up of the journaling:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock, Mat Stack #4 die, black felt (that I used to cut out the letters for my title, with my Quickutz Cotton Candy alphabet dies) and Fancy Flourishes stamp. I also used The Girl's Paperie, My Mind's Eye and Fancy Pants patterned paper. The little bicycle is a Hero Arts stamp that I absolutely adore!

Thanks for looking!

SEM Challenge #2

Hey there!

I just wanted to share a layout and a couple of cards that I made recently for Scrapping Everyday Miracle's Challenge #2: Scrap the everyday blessings in our lives.

What are they? Who are they? Share what blessings are happening in your life right now. Look at your life and find the everyday blessings.

Scrap Twist: Use this quote by Young: "How blessings brighten as they take their flight!" Also use a banner of some sort.

For every project you complete for this challenge you will be entered to win a
$20 Gift Certificate to Ringo Crafts...



They have the cutest ribbon sculptures, felties and flowers! The design team members were blessed to be able to use them in our projects and I made a couple of cards with them that you'll see in a moment...

Here's the layout I made for the challenge:


I used Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye & Stampin' up! patterned paper, a Creative Cafe stamp ("everyday"), Quickutz Cotton Candy alphabet dies, a Papertrey Ink Mat Stack #4 die, a PTI Woodgrain impression plate & a Little Yellow Bicycle journaling card.

A few detail shots:





And here are the cards I made with the adorable Ringo Crafts products I received:





Thanks for looking!

Two more cards...

that I made today for my co-workers, to wish them a happy summer. For the first one, I used this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I got creative and used my Papertrey Ink Mat Stack #1 die (trimmed down on the ends) to make a vase for the flowers I stamped using Wildflower Garden. I also used PTI cardstock (Vintage Cream, Simply Chartreuse) and Tag Its #4 sentiment stamp. The patterned paper strip is SU!, as well as the border punch.

And for this next card, I used PTI cardstock (Aqua Mist) and Tag Its #4 stamp set. The patterned paper is Pink Paislee and I used a Hero Arts cling stamp to stamp the background text.


Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #8

Here's another card that I made today using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Stampers Select White, Kraft) & Botanical Silhouettes stamp set, Mat Stack #5 die and twine.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #7

I wanted to share a birthday card that I made for my mom, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream) & Botanical Silhouettes stamp set. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye, the ribbon is Offray and the border punch is SU!

Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #6

I wanted to share a birthday card that I made for a friend of mine, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Berry Sorbet, White), Botanical Silhouettes stamp set, button & twine. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #5

Today was the last day of work for some of my co-workers, so I made a couple more "happy summer" cards for them. Here's one of them, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (kraft, white), Fancy Flourishes stamp set, Tag It's #3 & #4 stamp sets, Mat Stack #5 die, Fresh Snow ink and Simply Chartreuse felt. The button is Autumn Leaves.

Thanks for looking!

An "almost summer" Five for Friday

1. I have only one more day of work until Fall! So nice!

2. It was my turn to post a "Praise Post" on the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog. My first instinct was to praise God for the summertime, but upon reflection, I decided to praise Him for the good year I had this past year at work, as well. Here's the layout I made:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock, Echo Park patterned paper, American Crafts thickers, Creative Cafe word stamps and My Mind's Eye doily stamps.

3. Today was the last day of work for some of my co-workers, so I made a couple more "happy summer" cards for them. Here's one, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used PTI cardstock (Raspberry Fizz, Kraft), Wildflower Garden stamp set (the flowers and the "friend" sentiment), Tag Its #3 sentiment, twine and button. The strip of patterned paper is My Mind's Eye and the punch is SU!

4. I started a Summer Sketch: 2011 Edition at My Scrap Shoppe today. You can click here to see the sketch and the layout I made.

5. In a week today, my brothers & their families are coming out for my mom's birthday. I'm so excited! This will be the first time that we're all together...... well, ever, really. We've never been all together in the same place since Tatiana joined our family a couple of years ago. This will be great!

What are you looking forward to?

Happy Summer

For those that don't know, I work as a substitute teacher in at our local high school and my year is almost done! I am scheduled to work tomorrow and Monday will be my last day.

I decided to make some "Happy Summer" cards for some of my co-workers using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used PTI cardstock (Berry Sorbet & white (for the label, which I ended up distressing with ink to match the cream in the patterned paper), Mat Stack #1 stamp & die & Tag it's #4 stamp set. The patterned paper is Pink Paislee.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #2

Here's the second card I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.


I used Papertrey Ink Cardstock (White & Lemon Drop), my PTI Sunshine impression plate, Wildflower Garden stamp set & Tag its #4 stamp set for the sentiment.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #19 -- attempt #1

As is becoming routine for me, I decided to play along with this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Rock & Roll technique.

I have tried this technique in the past, so it wasn't totally new to me, but lots of fun just the same.

I made this card for Cameron for Father's Day:



I used Papertrey Ink Cardstock (Chocolate Brown and Vintage Cream), Sunshine impression plate, Simple Circles die and stamp set, Grunge Me stamp set and Tag its #3 stamp set for the sentiment.

Thanks for looking!

100% enjoyment

I wanted to share a layout that I made for this week's Triple Threat Challenge at MSS. Here are the things we needed to include on our layout:

From Flo: A number of some sort
From Marcy: Mist (my nemesis-- ha!)
From me: Stitching


I used American Crafts cardstock and Crate patterned paper, chipboard accents and stickers. For the alphas, I cut them out of Crate patterned paper with my Quickutz Classic alphabet dies. For the mist, I used my SU! spritzer and markers (which I'm not enjoying very much. I just don't think I'm a misting kind of person.)

Thanks for looking!

MIM #18-- attempt #5

Here's is my fifth attempt for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: adding tissue paper to your project for texture:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Zest (vocered with tissue paper for the tab behind the photo) & Spring Moss), the packaging from some PTI patterned paper & Wonderful Words stamp set (I used the "i love" and then selective stamped the you from "yours" and Botanical Silhouettes, buttons & twine.

My daughter took this book out from the library and we both loved it immediately. The words are just so perfect (especially because, for a while, she would write me notes that said: "I love you and I know you love me.") So I found a wallpaper image online and printed it out onto glossy photo paper. I then trimmed around the bears and added them to a circle tag stamped with Botanical Silhouettes and Wonderful Words.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #18-- attempt #4

Here's is my fourth attempt for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: adding tissue paper to your project for texture:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Hawaiian Shores for the "you" which I covered in tissue paper and cut out the word using my Wonderful Words die, Summer Sunrise and Vintage Cream) & Wonderful Words stamp set. The patterned paper is Studio Calico & the label stamp is Jenni Bowlin.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. We've been doing some painting! This week, I had a couple of days off and it was too windy for Cameron to seed at the farm, so we got the bathroom painted, as well as a first coat on our hallway. I wanted to share the colour, but couldn't find it online. For the bathroom, we used a Beauti-Tone paint from Home Hardware and the colour is called Breeze-- think a cross between PTI Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist ;)

For the hallway, we went into the basement and searched through the leftover paint down there. Cameron mixed three of them together and got a light golden off-white colour. It's nice and brightens it up quite a bit.

2. The next job is a bit bigger... we're going to tackle the exterior of the house. We picked a dark grey for the siding, the stucco & trim are going to be white (again) and the front door is going to be Benjamin Moore Raspberry Truffle:



3. I started stripping down the front screen door to get started on the exterior job (I'm leaving the soffits, etc. to Cameron!) What a big job. It got me thinking though about my life and how God works on me, layer by layer. How it take patience and care and is sometimes painful-- lots of spiritual analogies there. I want to take a photo of the front door and make a layout about it and write out my thoughts.

4. I posted my last Spring Sketch for 2011 on the MSS blog this morning. I chose a Page Maps sketch from January 2011 & I made this layout with it:


I adjusted the sketch to be 12x12, but other than than, stuck to it pretty closely. It was fun creating a blocked layout like this-- something I haven't done in a while. I used Crate Paper patterned paper, American Crafts thickers, My Mind's Eye brads and a Papertrey Ink Turning a New Leaf die.


5. Here's is my third attempt for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: adding tissue paper to your project for texture:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (Hawaiian Shores) as the border and also covered a piece of it with tissue paper and ran it through my Cuttlebug with at Mat Stacks #4 die. I used my PTI Wonderful Words die and stamp set for the sentiment and added some PTI buttons (Hawaiian Shores) with PTI twine. The yellow button is Basic Grey and the patterned paper I used is MME.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #18-- attempt #2

Here's is my second attempt for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: adding tissue paper to your project for texture:


I used some October Afternoon patterned paper that was in my scraps stash and covered it with the tissue paper. I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock, my Seeing Stars die (to make the compass symbol) & a sentiment from Think Big Favourites #4 stamp set. The compass stamp is Pink Paislee.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #18-- attempt #1

This week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink is all about adding tissue paper to your project for texture. This seemed like a great challenge to attempt, so here's my first card:


I used some Basic Grey patterned paper that was in my scraps stash and covered it with the tissue paper. I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock, Mat Stack #4 die & Botanical Silhouettes stamp set.

Thanks for looking!

A couple of challenges...

... to share with you today...

The first one is for the My Scrap Shoppe June DT challenge: alter your alphas.

When I was making this layout, I'd added my photo, patterned paper and embellishments. When I went looking for alphas to add, I liked these My Mind's Eye ones, but they're were too pale to go with my layout. Thankfully, I was scrapping with friends! Mandy suggested I ink them up to change the colour. I wasn't sure how well it would work with the letters being velvet, but I tried anyway (with a "?" I think!) I pressed each letter into my SU! Melon Mambo ink pad and was thrilled with the results!

Here's my layout:


I used My Mind's Eye, Crate and Scenic Route (another perk with scrapping with friends-- this piece was from Mandy's scraps!) patterned paper, MME chipboard letters, Papertrey Ink Button Boutique stamps and die, PTI Beautiful Blooms II dies and PTI buttons.

The second challenge that I want to share is Scrapping Everyday Miracle's first challenge: Little Things Challenge.

The challenge is to a layout showing what God is doing in your life, focusing on the little things....those everyday miracles!

What is an everyday miracle? An everyday miracle is something maybe you would have overlooked... something maybe we haven't looked at that way before... or something simple that reminds of us of how great our God is... It is that hug from God that says I'm here.... It is seeing God in the simple things-- everyday He has miracles all around us we just need to take the time to look.

Don't forget the Scrap Twist: use computer journaling and paint/mist.

Everyone that completes a layout for this challenge will be entered to win a
$15 Gift Certificate to Crafty Girl Crafts, our Challenge #1 sponsor.



When I was asked to join the Scrapping Everyday Miracle DT, the first two challenges were set without sponsors. So, I created my layout for the first challenge, focusing on the arrival of spring and how it reminds me that God always keeps His promises:




Then came the news that we got sponsors. However, because I live in Canada, I didn't receive my sponsored product until late last week (this isn't a punishment for where I live, it's just that things sent here from our neighbours in the US take a while to get here). I thought the feltie bird was adorable, but didn't see how I could include it on the layout I'd already made. So, I decided to make a card with it, instead.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock, Woodgrain Impression plate and stamp sets: Turning a New Leaf, Signature Series: Cupcake & Wonderful Words and of course, the Crafty Girl Crafts feltie.

Please link your layout to the Challenge #1 post at Scrapping Everyday Miracle by June 30th.... and you could win a prize from our lovely sponsor Crafty Girl.... remember to stop by and check out all their fun products.

Not only can you win a $15 gift certificate from Crafty Girl Crafts but from all of the layouts submitted for June's Challenges the DT will pick their top 3 layouts.... and if you are our top favourite you will win a spot as our Guest Designer for August.


Thanks for looking!

MIM #17 -- attempt #6

Here's my sixth attempt at this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Cracked Glass, as well as being a layout I made for several challenges at the MSS June online crop :


Here's a close up of the tag I made with the cracked glass technique:


I used Bazzill cardstock, Pink Paislee chipboard letters, patterned paper, packaging and die cuts, & PTI cardstock, twine & buttons. To create the tag, I used Papertrey Ink stamps from the Tag It's #4 set.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #17 -- attempt #5

Here's my fifth attempt at this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Cracked Glass:


This one is very similar to my attempt #4 , but for a reason. I'd stamped the image from Attempt #4 onto white cardstock and while it was cooling from the UTEE, I used my woodgrain impression plate & Mat Stack #1 die on a piece of white cardstock. However, when the UTEE was cooled and cracked, it looked more cream in colour, so I impressed a piece of cream cardstock instead. Not wanting to waste the white cardstock I'd impressed, I decided to make a fifth attempt at the MIM challenge.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock: Raspberry Fizz & white cardstock, Woodgrain impression plate, Mat Stack #1 die and stamp & my Beautiful Blooms II die and stamps from Tag it's #3.

Thanks for looking!

MIM #17 -- attempt #4

Here's my fourth attempt at this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Cracked Glass:


This one is very similar to my attempt #5, but for a reason. I'd stamped the butterfly onto white cardstock and while it was cooling from the UTEE, I used my woodgrain impression plate & Mat Stack #1 die on a piece of white cardstock. However, when the UTEE was cooled and cracked, it looked more cream in colour, so I impressed a piece of cream cardstock instead. Not wanting to waste the white cardstock I'd impressed, I decided to make a fifth attempt at the MIM challenge.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock: Raspberry Fizz & Vintage Cream cardstock, Woodgrain impression plate, Mat Stack #1 die and stamp & a sentiment from the Botanical Silhouettes stamps set. The butterfly stamps is SU!

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. We've had lots of cool, rainy weather lately. But on Wednesday, we saw the sun! And, it was my day off, too, so I made the most of it and worked in my yard.


I'm currently downsizing my perennial beds and have been busy transplanting what I want to keep, putting down some landscaping fabric and adding woodchips. The kids and I went to the town yard Wednesday and filled eight garbage bags full of wood chips. I spread them out that evening and still need more! Hopefully, I can get this project finished for/on the weekend...
I took these pictures yesterday morning, before the clouds arrived.

2. I posted another Spring Sketch on the MSS blog today.

For this week, I chose the Crate May 2011 edition sketch and made this layout with it:



I used Crate and American Crafts patterned paper, American Crafts thickers and Basic Grey & PTI buttons and the Papertrey Ink Simple Circles stamp set.

3. We're having our monthly online crop this weekend at MSS and here are some layouts that I've made to go with challenges I'm posting...

This layout is for my challenge to create a layout with a two word title:

I used Bazzill cardstock, Crate patterned paper, Pink Paislee letter stickers, Basic Grey & PTI buttons, the Papertrey Ink Simple Circles stamp set and a My Mind's Eye brad.

4. This layout's challenge is to create a layout using complementary colours :


I used Bazzill cardstock, Echo Park & My Mind's Eye patterned paper, a MME sticker, a MME key, Creative Cafe stamps ("a" & "good"), My Favorite Things die & stamps ("I'm so Grateful for you"), Papertrey Ink felt, PTI twine and PTI Beautiful Blooms II dies. The word "brother" was made with my Quickutz Classic alphabet dies.

5. And this challenge is to be inspired by a layout you've made to make a card..

The other evening, I had lots of fun getting out my new Wonderful Words dies and stamps (I swear I was almost giddy as I cut out my first word!) I made this layout, using a favourite photo of one of my favourite people:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock, a PTI Wonderful Words die and stamp, my PTI Woodgrain impression plate, & a PTI button. The patterned paper, brads and die cut (adore) is all My Mind's Eye. I tucked the journaling behind the photo and attached it to the MME die cut to pull out and read.

After making the layout and seeing the patterned paper scraps lying there, I decided to "lift" myself and make a card:


I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper and Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words die and stamp & Woodgrain impression plate.

Happy Friday, everyone!
Thanks for looking!