{my favourite}

Just popping in to post a quick layout this afternoon before I leave for work.

With everything that's been going on lately, I realized that I haven't been scrapbooking very much... but I've missed it. So I decided to make a layout this morning and to keep it simple. I also incorportated this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: ribbon pleating.


I used American Crafts (white) and Papertrey Ink (smokey shadow) cardstock, PTI stamps (Grunge Me), button & dies (alphabet block). The patterned paper is Fancy Pants and the journaling card is Crate Paper. The ribbon is from Walmart.

Here's a close-up of the journaling:



Thanks for looking!

Passing the torch

Well, my month as torchbearer for Amber Ink has come to an end and I'm excited to pass the torch onto Ashley Nguyen Newell, a very talented papercrafter who designs beautiful cards!

I also wanted to share a card that I made for my friend, Kathy, who's celebrating a birthday today, which fits perfectly with Bethie J.'s Papertrey Princess challenge, to make a birthday card. I also incorporated this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: ribbon pleating.


I used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white), stamps (think big favourites #7), button, twine and die (mat stack #5). The green cardstock is SU!, the ribbon & fabric are from Walmart.

Thanks for looking!

Amber Ink Recap

I've had a such a great month serving as the blue torchbearer for Amber Ink this month! I wanted to share a recap of my projects that I made this month...

AND, in looking through my project file, I discovered one more Amber Ink project that I hadn't shared yet: a sweet sixteen card...


I used Amber Ink's digital "I believe in pink" stamp, Papertrey Ink cardstock (raspberry fizz, white, kraft, aqua mist), stamps (signature series: cupcake) & dies (doily details, mat stack #5). The pink numbers are Pink Paislee.

Thanks for looking!

Thank you

I just wanted to say thank you to all of my friends who've offered me their condolences on the passing of my father-in-law this week. Your love and support is very much felt and appreciated!

Our church has been supportive, too, with friends bringing flowers and food (always a great combination!) I wanted to thank our pastor and his wife for dropping off some soup and cinnamon buns for us, so I made them this card using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Layered Background with Sentiment Stamps.


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (soft stone, new leaf), stamps & dies (wonderful words) and Crate patterned paper.

Thanks for looking!

PTI November Blog Hop

Once again, I've decided to play along with the Papertrey Ink blog hop this month and once again, the challenge is an inspirational photo:



I was inspired by the photo in different ways, so I actually made three cards for the hop this month.

For the first photo, I was inspired by the gingham chair, but unforunately, I couldn't find any red gingham paper in my stash. However, I did find some green Authentique gingham and decided to use that.


I used PTI cardstock (vintage cream, pure poppy), felt (pure poppy), stamps (holiday tags 2011) & dies (damask snowflake, doily details). The patterned paper is Authentique and I trimmed the bottom edge with pinking shears.

For this next card, I took my cues from the different patterns in the photo and the bucket of greenery on the stairs:


I used PTI cardstock (vintage cream, simply chartreuse), buttons (pure poppy), felt ( simply chartreuse), stamps (Christmas labels, tremendous treats: Christmas) & dies (Christmas label, Christmas poinsettia). The patterned paper is Authentique.

And for the third card, I decided to play with my new stamps sets a little to create a one layer card that was inspired by the garland on the banister and the bucket of greenery and balls on the stairs:


I used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white), & stamps (2011 Holiday Tags, tremendous treats: Christmas).

Thanks so much for looking!

MIM #42 -- attempt #2

Happy Thankgiving to all of my American friends & family!

I made another Christmas card for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Layered Background with Sentiment Stamps. I had made some one layer cards to sell and on this one, I hadn't been happy when I'd stamped the dove. So I decided to redeem it by diecutting the dove with felt and adding some extra sentiments to the background, as well as some patterned paper.


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, spring moss), stamps (peace be still, think big favourites #9) and die (peace be still). The patterned paper is Authentique and the little pearl is SU!.

Thanks for looking!

Snowflakes

Well, with the snow we got here last week, I'm inclined to believe, although rather reluctantly, that winter is here.

Sigh.

Oh, well, at least winter lends itself to one of my favourite pastimes-- staying inside where it's warm! LOL!

I wanted to share a few more projects that I made with some Amber Ink digital goodies. First up, a couple of cards...


I used Amber Ink ipaper and a digital stamp for the sentiment. I also used PTI cardstock (rustic white), Peace Be Still stamps and dies, twine and buttons.


I used Amber Ink ipaper and a digital stamp for the sentiment. I also used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white), twine and dies (damask snowflake, limitless layers). The metal star is Making Memories.

And I also made an ornament...


I used an Amber Ink digital stamp for the sentiment. I also used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white, aqua mist) and dies (damask snowflake, limitless layers.) The little pearls are Hero Arts and the glitter is SU! Dazzling Details. Now I just have to figure out how to hang it... ;)

I've had so much fun as a blue torchbearer for Amber Ink this month-- what an honour to have been asked to do this!

Thanks for looking!

MIM #42

The amazing Betsy Veldman shared a video tutorial for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Layered Background with Sentiment Stamps, and I just had to play along, using some of my new PTI goodies that I picked up yesterday:


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, scarlet jewel, simply chartreuse), patterned paper, stamps (think big favourites #9, fillable frames #8, fillable frames #9) and dies (mat stack #5, quatrefoil coverplate, poinsettia). The brad is My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for looking!

A card and a layout

... that I made using some My Mind's Eye sketches.

It's been a while since I played along with a My Mind's Eye sketch. This afternoon, I made this card using their card sketch #29:


I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper, PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, vintage cream), stamps (love lives here, gratitude journal) and dies (love lives here, edgers #3). The flower die is Tim Holtz.

And I made this layout using their layout sketch #29:


I used Bazzill cardstock, My Mind's Eye patterned paper, "so sweet" diecut, sticker & brads, PTI dies (beautiful blooms II #2). To make the scalloped edge around the "so sweet" diecut, I used the holes that got punched out with my border punch and adhered them to the back of the die cut.

Thanks for looking!

He did it!

Yesterday, Austin and I drove to Winnipeg for Austin to test for his poom (junior black) belt. He seemed pretty calm on the drive in. His only concern was being asked to do more knuckle push-ups than he was able to do.

He got called up twice with his group. They asked him to perform kicks and patterns, to kick targets, do step sparring and controlled sparring.


He also got to break a board, with the kick of his choice. He chose axe kick and broke it on his first try!


And guess what? They never asked his group to do knuckle push-ups! He was so relieved and happy about this!

Here he is getting his new belt.


And standing with the other three new pooms:


They took a group photo of all the black and poom belts present:


And we got a few other shots, too. Here we are together:


Here's Austin with our instructor, Master Allison Braun (she tested for her fifth Dan yesterday):


And with Master Lea:


And because I was so proud of Austin and the hard work he's put into this, I made him a card to let him know:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (soft stone, pure poppy, stamper's select white), stamps (wonderful words, grunge me and boy basics: game on) and dies (wonderful words).

Thanks for looking!

Ten tags

This week, we had our parent-teacher conferences at the kids' schools and I always like to bring a little something for the teachers. You know, just to say: "Thanks for putting up with my kids every day." Ha!

This time, I made some Cowgirl Cookies and put them in bags. Then, of course, I had to make some tags. I decided to use Ren-Yi's Papertrey Princess challenge: "to dust of your old first loves and create something around your favorite stamp sets."

The first PTI stamp sets that I bought were Fillable Frames #8, 9 & 10. So, I challenged myself to make some tags for the bags using these stamps and dies. I needed ten (Jonah and Sage have 6 teachers between the two of them and Austin has four. Crazy!)

So here's what I made:


For these, I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, kraft), stamps (bb:newsprint, happy trails, fillable frames #10) & dies (tag sale #5, fillable frames #10).




For these, I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, harvest gold), stamps (in bloom, fillable frames #8 & 9) & dies (tag sale #5, fillable frames #8).


For these ones, I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, kraft), stamps (grunge me, fillable frames #9) & dies (tag sale #5, fillable frames #9).

And for these ones, I used PTI cardstock (rustic white), stamps (fillable frames #9) & dies (tag sale #5).

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. It's been a good week. Well, except for the fact that I caught a cold. That hasn't been great. But Cold F/X and Tylenol Cold have been helping quite a bit.


2. This is the second year that Jonah has been singing in the voluntary choir at school. He has such a sweet voice-- I love listening to him sing! This week, his choir sang at ChoralFest in Winnipeg. I wanted to volunteer to go along, but they had enough volunteers. And even though Cameron drove the school bus for the choir, Jonah still wanted me to come. So, my friend, Susan, and I drove to Wpg to watch him sing-- the way his face lit up when he saw me was fabulous! It definitely made the trip in worth it! (& listening to the choir sing, too, of course! Oh, and going out for lunch with Susan and doing a little shopping-- that was good, too. ;) )

3. Austin is testing for his poom (junior black) belt tomorrow! I'm so excited and nervous for him! I think I'm more nervous for him than I was at my test in May! LOL! And is Austin nervous? Well, he says he is, but he still seems pretty cool about the whole thing.... maybe it'll sink in when we get there! Regardless, I'm super proud of him and the hard work and commitment he's shown to get here.

4. Amber Ink is sponsoring this week's challenge at Totally Papercrafts, a U.K. challenge site. This week's challenge is Black & White.

So, I made this card (to which I couldn't resist adding a little red):


For this card, I used Amber Ink patterned ipaper & digital stamp, Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (bb:newsprint, postmarks), and dies (double-ended banner builder, wonderful words).

5. And I had so much fun making the black and white card, that I decided to make a second one. I also combined this with a friendly challenge--- at my fundraising Crop for the Congo, my friend, Marlo, handed me some of her scraps and said: "Here, make a card with these." So, here you go, Marlo...


For this card, I used Amber Ink patterned ipaper, Echo Park patterned paper (Marlo's scraps), Papertrey Ink cardstock (true black, rustic white), stamp (Think Big Favourites #3), and die (tag sale #5).

Thanks for looking!

Some more cards for sale...

In the comments on my last post, someone wanted to know where they could see all of the cards I have for sale....

Here are the links to the sets of 5 that I'm currently selling for $10 to raise money for my short term mission project to the DR Congo in March: Click here, here, here, here & here.

And here is another set that I made yesterday, using Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white) and stamps (Mehndi Medallion, Beautiful Blessings)...










Thanks for looking!

Have you ever....

... inspired yourself?

After creating this card for this week's Less is More challenge, I thought the design and the stamps I chose would work well to create some card sets to sell for raise funds for my short term mission trip to DR Congo next March.

So here's what I created:










I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white) & stamps (BB: Text Style, Leaf Prints, Beautiful Blessings).

Thanks for looking!

Self-timer shot #3

I took this shot in the summertime, at the end of July, at the International Peace Garden.

I decided to scrapbook it using a sketch that I'm posting for my Pages With Papertrey Sketch Challenge #3:


And here's my layout:


I used Bazzill cardstock, Authentique patterned paper (from my friend, Marlo!), a strip of My Mind's Eye patterned paper from my stash, Papertrey Ink stamps (fancy flourishes, wonderful words), felt (terracotta tile), button, twine & dies (poinsettia and wonderful words).

Thanks for looking!

Believe

This month, Amber Ink is sponsoring Less is More: a clean and simple challenge blog. This week's challenge is leaves, with the card being one layer.

For someone who enjoys layering, this challenge was a little more difficult for me, but I did success in making a card that I was happy with and included a bit of layering after all. ;)


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white), stamps (leaf prints, bb: text style). The sentiment is a digital stamp from Amber Ink.

And because I'm sending this card to someone who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I stamped a verse from PTI's Beautiful Blessings set on the inside:


Thanks for looking!