Chalk Town

I made one more layout this afternoon, with some photos I took this past summer, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique.


I used PTI cardstock (smokey shadow) & American Crafts cardstock, PTI dies (love lives here). The letter stickers are Studio Calico and the patterned paper is Lily Bee.

Thanks for looking!

Peace Garden layout

I started this layout two weeks ago at my crop & finished it this afternoon using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique.


I used PTI cardstock (vintage cream) & Bazzill cardstock, stamps (turning a new leaf), and dies (mat stack #4, bloom builders #3). The letter stickers are Making Memories, brads are Basic Grey and the patterned paper is Authentique (thanks again, Marlo!)


Thanks for looking!

A Christmas card

Here's a card that I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique.


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white, scarlet jewel), stamps (tranquility trilogy, tremendous treats: Christmas), and dies (two triangles). The music notes stamp is a Hero Arts Cling.

Thanks for looking!

A trio of tags-- #3

I made three tags this week for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique. Here's the third one:


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, pure poppy), stamps (peace be still, fancy flourishes), button, twine and dies (tag sale #5, peace be still). I used some ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

A trio of tags-- #2

I made three tags this week for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique. Here's the second one:


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white), stamps (tremendous treats: Christmas) and dies (tag sale #5). I punched the circle with my SU! 1.75" circle punch and used some ribbon from my stash. The music notes stamps is a Hero Arts Cling.

Thanks for looking!

A trio of tags-- #1

I made three tags this week for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique. Here's the first one:


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white), stamps (love lives here: holiday, tremendous treats: Christmas) , button and dies (tag sale #5). I punched the circle with my SU! 1.75" circle punch and used some ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. We had another four day week here, as today is Remembrance Day. I actually had a three day week because I didn't get called it yesterday, which was a nice day to catch up on things around the house and with friends.

2. We found out on Wednesday evening that our taekwondo instructor has decided that Austin is ready to test for his poom (junior black) belt next Saturday! I'm excited and nervous for him, as well as really proud!

3. In other taekwondo related news, I'm attending a referreeing seminar in Winnipeg to get my provincial certification. I'm kind of nervous about this, but excited to learn something new!

4. I made a card using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Reverse Applique. As I love sewing on my cards and layouts, this wasn't a difficult challenge!


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white and scarlet jewel), stamps (postmarks, holiday lights, love lives here: holidays, big & bold wishes) and dies (postmarks).

5. And then, because I couldn't bear to let some perfectly good diecuts go to waste, I made another card:


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white and scarlet jewel), stamps (postmarks, Fillable Frames #9, big & bold wishes) and dies (postmarks).

Have a great weekend!
Thanks for looking!

Less is More

This month, Amber Ink is sponsoring Less is More: a clean and simple challenge blog.

Here is the card I created for the challenge to use orange & red:


I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (Think Big Favourites #9, Peace be Still) and dies (Mat Stack #4 & Fillable Frames #7). I also used Amber Ink patterned ipaper.

This challenge also coincides with Sue's Papertrey Princess Challenge to create a card using non-traditional colours (& while I realize that I didn't create a fall card, as per her instructions, I did got out of the box using these colours for a winter card.)

Thanks for looking!

Hey, y'all...

It feels like it's been forever since I posted!

On Saturday, when I went to check my emails, I couldn't get my desktop to appear on my computer, just a black screen with the little white arrow for my mouse! I took it in immediately and picked it up this evening. Thankfully, it was fairly simple and inexpensive for them to fix. Whew!

I wanted to post a card that I made recently, using this beautiful digital stamp from Amber Ink. I was inspired by a card that I saw in a magazine by Maile Belles.


In addition to the Amber Ink digital stamp, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, sweet blush, kraft), stamps (Iconic Images, Signature Series: Dress Form (sentiment)) and dies (Mat Stack #4, Fillable Frames #7). I also used some SU! pearls.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday: the late night edition

Well, it'a still Friday when I'm posting this, but just barely...

1. Several weeks ago, the kids and I arrived at home after taekwondo to find a kitten in our house! Cameron had found it on the the side of the highway one evening and brought him home. Because of my allergies, we couldn't keep him, so Cameron took him to the farm to stay with his mom. The kids named him Lynx.




He's quite lovely and pretty good with the kids. He loves to play and grab though and is a good jumper, too!



2. Tonight, Jonah & Sage tested for their blue stripes for taekwondo. (We're still waiting to hear if Austin will test for his poom belt (junior black belt) on the 19th.) It was a great test! As a black belt, I now get to sit along the front of the room with the other black & poom belts:


I also got to conduct a portion of the test (a group of green stripes). I really enjoy conducting. It's definitely a learning experience...


Jonah and Sage did really well!





3. At the test tonight, I received my Kukkiwon certificate, certifying my black belt status! I was very excited! It looks so cool!


Here's a photo with my instructor, Mrs. Allison Braun:



4. There was no school today, so I finished a set of cards this afternoon (in between loads of laundry and tidying up...) I'll be selling these sets at church to raise money for my mission trip to Congo in March.










For this set, I paired my Papertrey Ink Daydreamer and Beautiful Blessings stamps sets.

5. I also made a card this afternoon for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Multi-stamp Background Building.


I used PTI cardstock (kraft, plum pudding, spring moss and rustic white), stamps (turning a new leaf, iconic images, communique sentiments) and dies (doily details).

Have a great weekend!
Thanks for looking!

HB2U

I wanted to share a birthday card that I made for Austin's friend, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Multi-stamp Background Building. I was inspired by this card by Karen Thomas to use my PTI Boy Basic: Game On and Grunge Me sets, which are so perfect for teenage boys...


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, kraft, pure poppy, true black), stamps (Boy Basic: Game On, Grunge Me). I also used my EK Success border punch.

Thanks for looking!

Thank you cards...

... for the latest Papertrey Princess challenge.

Last Thursday, Sue posted a challenge to make 5 gratitude/thankful cards for people who presently bless or who have in the past, blessed your life. This was such perfect timing, as I had some people who helped me out with my Crop for the Congo that I wanted to thank.

So, for Susan (who helped me make lunchbox note diecut treats and door prizes), Mandy (who came to the church Friday afternoon to help me set up tables and chairs), Val (who made cinnamon buns for our snack Saturday morning) and Nancy (who made muffins and helped with lunch), I made little thank you treats, using my PTI lunchbox note die and this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Multi-stamp Background Building.


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white), stamps (falling leaves, fancy flourishes and Mat Stack #1 (sentiment)) and dies (lunchbox note die). Inside each note, I tucked a Ghiradelli chocolate (from the ones that Kim so kindly sent me) or an areo bar (for Susan.)

When I first ordered the Falling leaves stamp set, I went looking in the PTI gallery to see what the DT members had made with it. I was blown away by this card by Kim Hughes and knew that I wanted to make something similar. So, I made this card for Gloria (who made the lunch for my Crop for the Congo: lasagna soup and Olive Garden bread sticks-- so yummy!-- as well as an apple strudel for dessert):


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, harvest gold), stamps (falling leaves, distressed stripes and Mat Stack #1 (sentiment)).

Thanks for looking!

Halloween photos & Pages with Papertrey #3

We had a great Halloween! The weather was perfect-- I still can't believe how nice it was!-- and everyone had a great time!

I thought I'd share our costumes...


Jonah was a clone trooper, from the Star Wars Saga. He got the helmet for Christmas a couple of years ago and I picked up the white hoodie at the thrift store for $1.


Sage wore her owl costume again this year and looked absolutely adorable!


I made Austin a Harry Potter costume, using a tutorial from Fiskars. I was really pleased with how it turned out!


And I decided to be Harry's snowy owl, Hedwig. I made the top a tank top I found at the thrift store, to which I sewed large scalloped strips. For the hat, I altered a white tuque (also from the thrift store) and added some polar fleece eyes and nose (the grey eyes I cut out using my PTI damask snowflake dies). It's always fun dressing up, but I do get some people who look at me a little strangely. I try not to let it bother me though, because I know my kids LOVE it when I dress up with them!

Here's the whole gang:



And, on the topic of dressing up, I wanted to share the Pages With Papertrey challenge #3 for November: dress up a sticker with some PTI goodness.

Here, on my layout, I took a Lily Bee sticker, layered it onto a scalloped circle and then onto a Doily Details diecut. To finish it off, I added a decorative brad to the centre.


Here's the whole layout:


I used PTI cardstock (ocean tides, stamper's select white, pure poppy) & dies (half & half, love lives here, doily details). I also used Bazzill cardstock (12x12), Lily Bee patterned paper and sticker and October Afternoon letter stickers.

I tucked the journaling behind the large photo on the half & half die cut:



If you'd like to play along with this month's Pages With Papertrey challenge, just post your layout here in the PTI forum.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Halloween

I've been really looking forward to today. I've always loved Halloween, ever since I was a kid. A holiday that includes dressing up and chocolate? Bring it on!

Actually, I think I would get a little too excited about it.... I remember several Halloweens where I would end up getting sick and spending it on the couch, while my brothers would go out trick or treating. My mom tried to make it fun for me by suggesting I count the trick or treaters that come to the door. Nice try, Mom.

Anyway, last year's owl costume for Sage was such a hit that she's wearing it again this year. And Jonah wanted to be a Clone trooper, so I just found him a white hoodie at the thrift store for him to wear with helmet he already had. Only Austin needed a costume. Enter the Fiskar's email to save the day: they had the step by step instructions to make a Harry Potter costume. Sold! I got it done a few weeks ago. I told the kids we'd be doing a photo shoot today after school with their costumes.

The kids wanted to know what I was dressing up as. I'd thought about being Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb, but then had the great idea of being Harry Potter's white owl, Hedwig. I got my costume finished yesterday, modifying the idea behind Sage's costume to work for me. Sage wanted to be my baby, but we suggested instead that she could be Ron's owl from the books, Pigwidgeon. She's very excited about this!

Okay, enough rambling... I wanted to share my first project that I made as a torchbearer for Amber Ink blog:


I used the Amber Ink digital stamp Love Bug, which I printed out twice. Once on PTI rustic white cardstock, along with the rest of my title, and the second time onto Crate Paper patterned paper. I then cut it out by hand and adhered it over the cardstock title. I added some more Crate Paper patterned paper, PTI stamps (fall elegance, and dies (limitless layers, mat stack #4 and tag sale #5). Also, I did a little recycling on this page. The black mat stack die cut and pumpkin are from this this treat bag that I'd made for my pumpkin carving party. I just love repurposing!

Thanks for looking!

Crop for the Congo recap

Thanks to everyone who left comments on my blog wishing me well with my crop!

It took place on Friday evening and Saturday until 4pm and was wonderful! I took Austin, Jonan & Sage along with me on Friday afternoon to set up tables at my church and they were lots of help. My friend, Mandy, also came, with her boys and was very much appreciated! We set up for 32 people, as I didn't know for sure how many were coming. In the end, we had 29 in attendance.

Huge thanks again to all who attended! It was a great turn out and lots of fun! Everyone seemed to enjoy the fact that they had a table each for scrapping, the food (thanks again to Gloria, Val, Nancy & Susan for helping me out in that department!), the door prizes and the twelve hours of scrapbooking time. I had about 10 or 11 women participate in my card classes, which was a lot of fun! And lots of talking, reconecting and laughing! It was fabulous!

AND... I got three layouts done! Yay!

Here's one that I made, using some new Authentique patterned paper that my friend, Marlo, brought me back from Minneapolis:


Isn't it pretty? I loved how well it coordinated with my PTI felt (ocean tides, terracotta tile)! I also used PTI stamps (turning a new leaf, gratitude journal), buttons, twine and dies (turning a new leaf, beautiful blooms II #2, wonderful words). The cardstock is Bazzill.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

#1.

Earlier this month, I got an email from my online friend, Kristin Robbins, asking if I would like to be a torchbearer (guest DT member) for
Amber Ink for the month of November! I was so flattered that she asked me!

So, I'm very excited to design with some Amber Ink products this month, along with my fellow torchbearers:

Debra
Meredith
Kirsi aka Pipertäjä
Jessica

Feel free to check out the Amber Ink blog: Amber Inklings, too. And you will see my first project that I made using a Amber Ink digital stamp here on Monday.


#2. I've been getting a lot of my Christmas shopping done-- and I haven't had to leave the house to do it! I got a few gifts on Amazon.com last year, but this year, I've gotten gifts for Jonah, Austin & Sage there, from myself and in shopping for my mom for the kids. It's great!


#3. I'm hosting my Crop for the Congo (to raise funds for my short-term mission trip to DR Congo next March) this weekend. We'll be setting up at the church this afternoon and cropping tonight and tomorrow. Wonderful friends are helping with set up, food and clean up, which is so awesome! It should be a great time!


#4. My friend, Susan, came over on Wendesday afternoon and helped me make these little treats for the attendees of my crop:


They're PTI cardstock, cut with the PTI Lunchbox Note die, with a Ghiradelli chocolate inside. (My super nice PTI forum friend, Kim Heggins sent me a box full from California! Thanks again, Kim!!) To finish them off, we added a flower made with patterned paper and the PTI Bloom Builder #3 die.

Susan also helped me crank out die cuts for my card classes. Then, if that wasn't enough, she came over again yesterday afternoon and helped me finish packing door prizes.


I have eighteen to give away and 30 women coming to my crop. I'm thinking that's pretty good odds for winning...


#5. As I mentionned in #4, I'm teaching two card classes at my crop on Saturday and I got everything prepped last night.


Here are the two cards that we're making:


This card is a complete CASE of the super talented Maile Belles, using the PTI Holiday Lights stamps set and some Glossy Accents.


For this one, I used PTI cardstock (I used Hawaiian Shores, but my students will have the choice of this one, Aqua Mist, Rasberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse, New Leaf and Pure Poppy), stamps (Candy Cane Christmas) & dies ((Candy Cane Christmas, Mat Stack #5). The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

What do you think?

Thanks for looking!

Chair-ished

Things have been fairly busy lately. I worked Monday & Tuesday, but had today day off, so I spent part of the day getting my house in order (vaccuuming, laundry, grocery shopping, baking chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, you know all that fun stuff...) and the other part getting ready for the crop I'm hosting this weekend at my church to raise money for my trip to the Congo. I'm expecting about 30 women, so it should be a really good time.

My friend, Susan, came down this afternoon and helped me prep for my card class and make lunchbox note dies for all the attendees. I'm sure I'll take some photos and post them soon....

In the meantime, here's a card I made about a month ago, but never got around to posting:


I used PTI cardstock (stamper's select white, spring rain, harvest gold), stamps (newsprint, on my couch & on my couch additions, half & half) and dies (half & half). The patterned paper is The Girl's Paperie.

Thanks for looking!

PTI October 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 pumpkins, so I decided to include some by stamping the pumpkins in my Fall Elegance stamp set. I also loved all the patterns, so I included some patterned paper on my card.


I used PTI cardstock (simply chartreuse, rustic white), stamps (fall elegance, think big favourites #7) & dies (picket fence-- these were sent to my from my PTI forum friend, Pattylt!). The patterned paper is SU! (text) & My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for looking!

Pumpkin Carving Feast

Yesterday afternoon, our friends, Bryan & Joy, with their daughters, Sara & Sonya, came over for our pumpkin carving feast! We had a great time, visiting and carving pumpkins.

We took the pumpkins out to the front deck to pose with our finished creations...




For supper, I'd made chili, a hot bread dip with bread & crackers, tortilla chips and salsa and cut up veggies and dip. For desert, I'd borrowed my friend, Marlo's, bundt pan and made a chocolate cake shaped as a pumpkin. I'd iced together the two "tops" of the cakes made in the bundt pans and then added some rolled up cardstock to make the stem. I curled some strips of cardstock around a pencil to make some vines and cut out two of my PTI leaf print dies to make the leaves.


It was super fun-- something I'm hoping will become an annual tradition.


Thanks for looking!