Nice RAK!

Happy Halloween, everyone!
I recieved this simply elegant card from Nancy Grant. Thank you!

My last Halloween project this year...

Well, I guess this will be my last halloween project for this year. I used Jen's sketch for this card. This is a great sketch and I will use it again!

Di's Sketch Card

I used Di Hickman's last sketch for this Halloween card.
I bought these stamps at Michael's for 1.50 each. The paper is unknown. The card stock is Basic Black and Only Orange from Stampin' Up.

Almost Time For Halloween...

and I've got so many Halloween stamps, paper and ribbon that I'd better get creating!
This clear can is from Stampendous. I used paper and ribbon that I got from Connie, as well as numerous other scraps of ribbon. The green, orange and black grosgrain ribbon is from Stampin' Up.
I left some of the clear container showing, so when i fill it with Halloween goodies, we will be able to get a peek!

Sunday Sum Up

Last week I began, and finished, reading Alex Haley's Queen. It was absolutely moving, and I thought I had better read Roots. Now, I remember watching the miniseries on TV with my family, but I was only 7 years old, so I did not grasp the true meaningful experience of it all.
Because my local library doesn't have this book, (SHOCK and HORROR)! I bought it. It has been 30 years since Alex Haley wrote Roots.
I finished the book in 3 days. It was extraordinary. Growing up in Canada, we did not study American history, so the details of slavery, it's subsequent wars, and Civil war were not known to me. All I knew about slavery was that Canada did not participate and granted salvation to any blacks that made it to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
Roots, as well as Queen, opened my eyes and interest in this part of US history that spanned so many generations. It stirred up so many feelings, which good literature should do, I suppose.
In any event, if by some chance you have not yet read Roots, or Queen, you absolutely should. This is history that should not be forgotten.
So that is my sum up for this week...reading two American classic novels by the late Alex Haley.

Kaleb and the Box

Here's another LO I did last weekend.
The paper is Enchanted from CTMH; the alphabets are Typewriter Keys and Rustic from CTMH.


I have a craft show tomorrow that I need to get ready for. I always leave everything til the last minute...bad habit!

Noel

This is one of the cards I did this weekend. The paper is from the Just Chillin' set by CTMH, the snowflake is from the set New Fallen Snow (CTMH) and the letters are from Typewriter Keys, also CTMH.

This week has been horrid. On Monday, I realized that someone stole my beautiful double stroller! I cannot afford to have it replaced...it was a Peg-Perago double stroller. I am so pissed off! I NEED that for my day care.
I am really upset by this. It bothers me that someone would waltz into my yard and steal somethinbg that is so necessary in my life. Consequently, I am pretty depressed and haven't taken the kids out for a walk all week.

Busy Scrapping Weekend!

I was very busy scrapping this weekend. Saturday, I spent the day at Sandra's Scrapbooks store and completed 7 layouts. Sunday, I was at my monthly Blackburn Scrappers crop and completed 1 layout and a few cards. Here are 3 of the LOs I did!

This is a picture of my bestest friend Jen's daughter. Yes, she stuffed herself into the play washing machine at her pre-school!



My neighbour's dog, Chevy, relaxing on our couch.



This LO shows what happens when you let 4 kids have their way with a sticker book.

Why am I so excited? (plus some altered art)

I am so excited because I am today's featured artist over at Distinctive Touches! You may recognize this blog from the Thursday Throwdowns I do almost every week.
I am thrilled, amazed, embarrassed, shocked and mostly EXCITED that I was chosen. Please check it out!
I have been really interested in altered art lately, and yesterday's challenge at Splitcoast Stampers was just what I needed to get my butt in gear for these 2 frames. The first one is actually a shaker, with cute spiders inside! (That was actually mike's idea). The second is a small frame from Wal mart.
Both projects use goodies I got from my halloween swap partner, Connie!

Best Witches!

I followed Di's latest sketch to make this Halloween card. The paper actually has sparkle in it! This paper and Best Witches stamp came from Connie. I LOVE everything I got in my swap and I'm having so much fun playing! I hope Connie gets her swap package soon!

Just playin' with my new stuff!

So, I am going ga-ga over all the Halloween stuff I got from Connie, my swap partner and trying to decide what to use first! I decided to try Angel's sketch.
I used some of the stripe paper from Connie, (I LOVE all the papers I got) and I used the "spooky" and "halloween" rub-ons. That was so fun! The stamp set is Batty For You by SU.

OMG, my halloween swap came! (More Added)

OMG, there's more!

These little gifts were all wrapped up! Black Brads, and this stamp from stampendous that I have wanted FOREVER!
This actually made me cry. Seriously, it did.

OMG, my swap came...in 2 packages! Connie spent an INSANE amount of money on shipping-just crazy!
First, the card. Connie says she is not good at making cards. Really, she said that! What a liar! This card is FAB! It's a pocket card with great Halloween paper and ribbon and lots of layers! LOVE it!


I emptied the big box contents. Emma is helping me. See all the individual WRAPPED items? How cool is that? I am afraid that I did not put this kind of effort in wrapping Connie's gifts, I'm sad to say.


Emma decided it was time to unwrap the gifts.


Look at the 27 pounds of chocolate! Holy cow! Oh and some candy corn thrown in for good measure! A balanced diet and all that! There is a spider-web bowl with more chocolate in it.
OK, the altered frame is so cute! And Connie, did you cross-stitch that towel? It is gorgeous! I had mentioned in a previous post how much I like the Herbanella line, so Connie got me ALL of it! The paper, the stickers, the die cuts, the rub-ons...WOW!


I am OVERWHELMED with this Halloween swap! And embarrassed, because I did not send nearly enough chocolate! But, connie, I sincerely hope you enjoy your package, it was made with love, even if it wasn't wrapped up the same way! LOL!
A million Thank-You's, Connie!

Christmas Cards

I am getting ready for my November Christmas card classes that I will begin Sunday, November 4.
The first one uses one of Maria's sketches.
I used Peaceful Wishes and Mistletoe wheel. The image uses the cracked glass technique, found in THIS post. The colours are Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgandy.



This second card showcases the new Holiday Harmony designer series paper found on page 12 of the Holiday mini catalogue. The colours are River Rock and Purely Pomegranite. The sentiment is from the set Star-Studded Season set and the GORGEOUS satin ribbon, found on page 22 of the mini catalogue, finishes off this card.

Weekend Worshop card #2

The second card we made at Stephanie's workshop uses the Peaceful Wishes set and the Mistletoe wheel.
We wheeled in Versamark and used clear EP on Purely Pomegranite. We random stamped the pine branches with Always Artichoke ink on Always Artichoke card stock. The pine cones were stamped with chocolate chip ink on white card stock, then cut out. A few dabs of 2-way glue and added glitter on the tips of the pine cones add sparkle. One pine cone is popped up with dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with always Artichoke ink on white card stock.

Weekend Workshop

Sunday, I conducted a workshop for a customer and 11 of her guests. It was a great time and the ladies were a lot of fun! We made 2 Christmas cards. Here is one of them using the Season of Joy set that I borrowed from my upline, and bestest friend, Jen!

Thursday Throwdown (10-11)

Colleen is discussing The Rule of Threes today and offering up an awesome sketch for her throwdown! She also has last weeks players' cards up for viewing.

I used my customer's Haunting Halloween set...(I love it! I think i need it). The card stock is Old Olive and Basic Black and the paper is unknown. The images are embossed with black embossing powder. The sentiment is popped up with dimensionals.
I used a dauber to sponge the edges of the image and sentiment. I love that look!



(I apologize for the poor photo quality...it's raining here and quite dark outside).

Circles for Di

Di Hickman has her Wednesday crad sketch up! Here's my interpretation.
The paper is old, I've had it my stash for at least a year, I have no idea what company it's from...everything else is from Stampin' Up. The card stock is Chocolate Chip; the button is Old olive; I used the scallop, 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" circle punches and I used the Thank You stamp from the set Think Happy Thoughts.

Happy Tuesday!

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great long weekend! Mine was very relaxing!
I made this card for a contest over at Lifetime Moments.
Card stock: Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White
Paper: Halloween Night
Stamps: Batty for You
Acc: scallop punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, ticket corner punch, Tangerine grosgrain and black gingham ribbon.

New Blogger Featured Artist (10-05)

I was fortunate enough to come across Sarah Peale's blog The Digi Aisle the other day and boy, I'm glad I did! Her artwork is fantastic! She has a great variety of masculine cards, pretty flowery cards, fun Halloween cards, scrapbook pages and tutorials! Want to learn how to digi scrap? She has a tutorial for that!
Sarah, known as speale on Splitcoast Stampers, has been blogging since 2006. How did I miss this blog for so long? She has been published in Take Ten and Paper Crafts. Sarah's gallery on SCS is worth checking out also!
I encourage you to check out Sarah's blog, The Digi Aisle, I guarantee you won't be dissapointed!
Sarah lives in Vermont with her husband and 3 children.

Thursday Throwdown!

Colleen over at Distinctive Touches has posted her thursday throwdaown and I took the challenge! She says, "Create a card but no stamping allowed!"
I went through my stash of SU Simply Scrappin' kits and decided to use Vintage Travel paper and Tickets and Tokens self-adhesive die-cuts.

My Mom's Heritage Album

I thought I'd share some of the LOs I've done for my mom's Heritage album.
The paper is from the More To Adore collection from CTMH.
The colours are Blush, Chocolate, Hollyhock and Vanilla Cream.
The brown brads are from Bazzill.

The first LO won first place at the County Fair.




I adore this photo of my mom as a baby! Look at those rosy cheeks!

So, I got published....

Check this out! I got published in Scrapstreet. Mine is the Frank card.
This is my first ever publication.

Baby Boy

You know, I've really gotten into photographing my work instead of scanning it, but my darn batteries need to recharge, so I resorted to scanning this one.
I used the Special Delivery Boy Simply Scrappin' kit...no stamping on this card! The card measures 5.5" x 5.5".

A Sketch Card

I used Sherry's sketch for this card. The card stock is Chocolate Chip and Real Rust; the designer paper is Outlaw;the stamp is from Bronc Buster; the stitching is a CTMH stamp and the jumbo eyelets are from SU.