Welcome to...

... the Scrapping Everyday Miracles September Blog Hop!

Scrapping Everyday Miracles is having a blog hop this weekend and has included 2 Cute Stamps to join in the fun. The Design Team Members from SEM have all created a project (or two) based on our theme friendship and you can "hop" from blog to blog to check them out!

All you have to do is visit each of the DTs blogs for inspiration, become a follower and leave a comment. There are RAKS to win along the way and if you leave a comment at each blog you could win one of two grand prizes from our sponsors.

Here's the DT blog line up:

Scrapping Everyday Miracles
Wendy
Jeannine
Lisa
Leigh (me!)
Roulien
Nicole

Here is the card that I made with a digital stamp from 2 Cute Stamps:


For this card, I used some My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Papertrey Ink cardstock (dark chocolate), stamp (Happy Trails (sentiment)) and die (Mat Stack #5). I did a little paper piecing and I used my SU! watercolour pencils to colour in the image.

So, your next stop on the hop is Roulien...

Thanks for stopping by!

Home

I wanted to share the layout that I made for the Authentique Paper September Colour Challenge last night.


I used Bazzill cardstock, Authentique Paper patterened paper, Papertrey Ink twine, buttons, stamps (Love Lives Here) & dies (Bloom Builders #3, Mat Stack #5) and a My Mind's Eye label sticker.



Thanks for looking!

A couple of birthday cards

Our church's secretary, Pam, sent me an email yesterday, asking if I would make five cards for the residents of the Tabor Home who are celebrating birthdays this month.

So, last night, I sat down at my table and decided that my Iconic Images stamp set would work perfectly.

So, I made this card (in conjunction with the Authentique Paper September Colour Challenge):


I used Authentique patterned paper, Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (Iconic Images, Communique Sentiments) and die (Mat Stack #5).

And then, I made this card...


I used K&Company patterned paper, Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (Iconic Images, Communique Sentiments) and die (Mat Stack #4). The little pearls are SU!

And then I made two more like the latter. For the one gentleman celebrating his birthday, I made a masculine card using some Cosmo Cricket and my Leaf Prints stamps, but the picture I took of it didn't turn out.

Thanks for looking!

Die storage

So, seeing Heather Nichol`s die organization this week made me rethink my die storage system. Basically, I store my PTI dies in the little clear bags they came in, in baskets.

I thought about using the binder system that Heather described, but realized that I would be frustrated with it.

Then, I thought about the stamp storage system that I have, using Tim Holtz folders and wondered if I could adapt it for my dies...

So, I stopped at Staples and picked up an adhesive magnetic roll and gathered the rest of my supplies (some Tim Holtz folders, some white cardstock cut to 8.5x6, with the corners rounded and some scissors.)


Then, I set to work sorting my dies...


I decided to keep like with like, so I sorted by the following categories: tag & labels, my Mat Stacks & Tag Sale, holiday, flowers, leaves, miscellaneous.

Then I fit each category onto a piece of white paper to see if they`d fit.


I cut a piece off the magnetic strip at adhered it to the white paper and laid my die on top. Once I`d done this for every die on the page, I could slide it into a folder.


I repeated the process with each category and ended up with 10 folders full! I haven`t added my Half & Half, border die (I only have one) and lunchbox note dies yet, but it`s starting to feel more organized already. I can just flip through my folders to find the die I`m looking for... easy-peasy.


Thanks for looking!

PTI September Blog Hop

Once again, I decided to play along with this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. This month's challenge was another inspiration challenge, using this photo:



The photo left me feeling a little stumped at first. Then I realized that I could use my new Distressed Stripes stamp set. I had just bought On My Couch from an online friend and thought that a little striped couch would be adorable.... but would I get the set on time?

So I came up with this card:


I used PTI cardstock (pure poppy, stamper's select white, harvest gold), stamps (distressed stripes, modern wood mats, big & bold wishes), dies (edger #3, beautiful blooms II #1) and button. The twine is My Mind's Eye.

Then, on Friday, my On My Couch sets arrived in the mail!

So I made this card:


I used PTI cardstock (hawaiian shores, kraft, dark chocolate, pure poppy, stamper's select white), stamps (distressed stripes, On My Couch & On My Couch additions), dies (edger #3, mat stack #5).

So I guess it was two for one from me this time! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Missing Beth

My friend, Beth, moved to Toronto at the end of August and I've been missing her. So I thought I'd make her a card to tell her so. I used a digital stamp from 2 Cute Stamps as well as this week's Make It Monday technique at Papertrey Ink: Frosted Images.


I used My Mind's Eye & The Girl's Paperie patterned paper, my SU! watercolour pencils to colour in the image, Papertrey Ink cardstock (dark chocolate), stamps (Falling Leaves, Tiny Tags) and die (Tiny Tags).

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. Last Saturday, Austin & I went into the city with his youth group to attend the Rock the River Tour concert at the Forks. It was pretty cold out, but we dressed for it and had a great time! It's nice to be able to spend some one on one time with my eldest. Thanks to Mikayla, one of the youth group members, who took our photo!

2. It was picture day this week for the kids. Because I never order the packages, I let them pick their own poses for the photos and then just take my own when they get home.




I will be planning an afterschool photo shoot soon to take some fall photos of my kids. I love fall photos!

3. Cameron brought a kitten home last night and created some excitement in our home! Unfortunately, I am allergic to cats, so I kept my distance (& need to vaccuum after work today!) Sage was quite upset that we couldn't keep it and is not very impressed with me right now.... Cam will take it to the farm, so hopefully they can enjoy playing and visiting with him (the kitten) there.

4. It looks like I will be joining the team from my church and returning to the Congo in the new year for a short term missions trip! I'm quite excited about this and have lots of ideas spinning for raising funds. So, I will be planning another Crop for the Congo for all of my scrapbooking and card making friends, on Friday, October 28th (6pm - 11pm) and Saturday, October 29th (9am - 4 pm). More details to follow...

5. And because I like to share crafty things...


I used Crate Paper pp, Papertrey Ink cardstock (stamper's select white), stamps (Big & Bold Wishes) and dies (Mat Stack #1 & Bloom Builder #3). The decorative brad is My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for looking!

Wonderful Day

I wanted to share another layout that I made yesterday for the Pages With Papertrey Sketch #1. It's using photos of my Jonah at our friend, Chelsea's, that I took last fall.


I rotated the sketch 180 degrees. I used PTI cardstock (vintage cream), stamps (Gratitude Journal, Think Big Favourites #4 (I selectively stamped the "wonderful" from "Wonderful Friend"), impression plate (woodgrain), & die (Mat Stack #5). I also used My Mind's Eye patterned paper and decorative brads and Making Memories cork alphas.



Thanks for looking!

Three down & three to go

When I saw this sheet of patterned paper by October Afternoon, I knew immediately what I wanted to make with it...


In addition to the OA pp, I used Pink Paislee letter stickers, PTI cardstock (Berry Sorbet), stamps (Postmarks, Tiny Tags) and dies (Gratitude Journal, Tiny Tags.) The twine is My Mind's eye.

A few close-ups:





Thanks for looking!

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!