The Best of 2009

2009

What an incredible year. 

This has definitely been my most memorable year of scrapbooking to date.  I have created more than I ever have.  I took a photo editing class with Jessica Sprague and can now "edit like a rockstar", or at the very least I am much more adept than I use to be.  I've had an incredible year of publications and design team work for which I am deeply honoured and truly grateful.  I have blogged more than ever.  I attended CHA for the first time this summer and met some of my online friends in person.  I have a wonderful network of scrapbooking friends online and off line who continually offer a multitude of laughs, inspiration and encouragement.  For all of you who have been a part of this wonderful ride, please accept my most heartfelt appreciation.  None of it would have been possible without you.

Before totally wishing 2009 a fond farewell, I give you my most memorable projects of the year.

Best Mini Album:

Best Card:

Best Altered Item:

A Few Favourite Pages:

Most Memorable Publication:

Scrapbooks Etc. Quick Class - May/June, 2009

Thanks so much to all of you who faithfully check in on me.  Your comments and support are truly appreciated.  I look forward to another year of creativity with you all.

Have a SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

O Christmas Tree

Supplies:  Stamps (myStamp BOX), Cardstock (Bazzill), Star (Michaels), Gems (Kasiercraft), Punches (Martha Stewart)

When I saw the Martha Stewart loopy punch set to make a Christmas tree in the December issue of Creating Keepsakes, I knew I had to give it a try.  I cut a triangle out of cardstock, slightly larger than my stamped image.  I started at the top with the corner punch then worked down each side. It took a couple of tries to get it just right.  The O Christmas Tree stamp set from myStamp BOX was the perfect set to finish off the card.

Speaking of Christmas cards, here is the photo that I sent out with my cards this year.  It's not exactly as I had planned, but it works just the same.  I have NO idea what I am going to do when I have three girls to try and tame for a photo!

Hope you are all nearing the end of your holiday "to do" list!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Joy

When I bought this paper, I thought it would make the most beautiful fall page.  What I hadn't considered is that is makes an even better Christmas page.  Yes, Christmas.  I decorate my home with coppers and golds so this photo of my daughter holding a copper ball is just perfect paired with the orange and pinks of the Delilah line.

Thanks to some inspiration from Amanda, I used a lace doily to frame the inside of the die cut page.  What a gorgeous effect. THANKS, Amanda for yet another fantastic design idea.

Supplies:  Paper (Bo Bunny), Lace Paper (Basic Grey), Chipboard (Riff Raff), Stamp (myStamp BOX), Flowers (Imaginisce), Button (Making Memories), Star (Dollar Store)

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Christmas Craft

I am always on the look out for fun little craft projects to make with the girls.  I saw this reindeer idea on the Scrapbook and Cards Today blog last week so we gave it a try.  We cut out enough hand and foot prints so that the girls could make their own and that I would have a set left over for me.  Here is a page I made with one of my sets.

Here is a detail shot of the journaling block stamp from myStamp BOX.  I use this set over and over.

There is another cute idea on that same blog post using hand prints and paint.  That one is next on the list so stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by.

Advent Calendar: Party Ideas Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Let's Party!" blog hop for myStamp BOX! If you have just happened upon my blog, you'll want to start at the beginning of our blog hop. Take the time to leave some love on each design team member's blog post and you could be be picked to WIN a myStamp BOX stamp set of your very own! You have until Friday, December 11th at 6pm EST to leave your comments for a chance to win. The blog hop winner will be announced on the myStamp BOX blog on Monday December 14th.


I am showcasing two holiday stamp sets with this project:  O Christmas Tree and Deck the Halls. 
 

 

Since I have two toddlers, counting down the days until a party or celebration really helps make the whole concept of time a little easier to understand so I chose to alter Kaisercraft's Advent Calendar.

 

I won't deny the project is a labour of love, but the sturdy wood construction and fantastic design really make it a project that can be used year after year.

Paper by Pink Paislee.

Notice the two stamped trees.  This is such a timeless set.

And a few more stamped images here.

Now on to Tina's blog to catch more fun ideas for all kinds of parties. Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to be eligible for our blog hop prize! Good luck!

Blog Hop TOMORROW!!!

Hope to see you then!!!

Funky Circle Tree Tutorial

Join me on the myStamp BOX blog for a tutorial on how to make this card.  You can also see this card in Scrapbook Trends' Holiday Card Idea Book that was released this fall.

someone PINCH me!!!

2010 DESIGN TEAM!!!

Angella Peardon

Claude Campeau

Nancy Burke

Renee Dowling

Elisa Kammerdiener

Cathy Schellenberg

Jenny Svensson

Julie Bonner

Jamie Lane

Tracey Taylor 

Delaina Burns

You can see the official announcement HERE.

An Extra Special Monday

Remember this page??

Well, you can check it out HERE.

WOOT!

If that wasn't enough to bring a little sunshine to this rainy Monday, a concert date with my husband surely is. 

Hope you all enjoy a wonderful Monday, too.

Sugar Rush

Today is my day to issue a challenge on the myStamp BOX blog.  Take a moment to stop by for some projects that sparkle like this Halloween page.

Supplies:  Paper (Making Memories, My Mind's Eye & Fancy Pants), Letters (American Crafts & Jenni Bowlin), Glitter Cut (Fancy Pants), Stamps (myStamp BOX),  Bingo Card (Jenni Bowlin), Pin (My Little Bit of Whimsy)

Bling it On!!

Hangin' with my Sister

Supplies: Paper (My Little Shoebox & Making Memories), Flowers (Petaloo), Butterfly (Prima), Letters (American Crafts, Making Memories & Pink Paislee), Journaling Card (Jenni Bowlin), Cardstock (Bazzill), Heart Template (Crafter's Workshop), Gems (Kaisercraft), Pearl Swirl (Zva Creative), Brad (Upsy Daisy), Trim (??)

Design Details:  I cut the heart out of patterned paper then punched a series of circles (5/8 inch) and tucked them under the heart to form a scallop.  I sewed these in place then topped it with the lace trim.  The rest of the page elements were popped up with foam crafts sheets and foam mounting squares for added dimension.

Tomorrow I'll be back with another layout that sparkles.  Hope to see you then!

Fall Fun & Vintage Findings Deal

I got the BEST deal at Michael's last weekend.  The entire line of Vintage Findings by Making Memories was on clearance for 80% off.  Lucky for me, it was also one of those extra coupon mornings with an added 20% off your entire purchase.  I'm sure you can see where this is going!  You can bet I snagged a whole bunch of it, including the 12 x 12 specialty paper package for $3.99...24 sheets of varnished and glittered paper.  Looking through the package the floral varnish paper was one I liked the least at the time, and low and behold it ended up being the first page of the whole package I used.  Funny how that happens sometimes.

"Fall Fun"

Supplies: Paper (Crate, Making Memories), Felt Flower (Basic Grey), Trim (Making Memories), Calendar Sprout (Jillibean Soup), Trinket Pins (My Little Bit of Whimsy & Maya Roads), Letters (Maya Roads), Glitter Cut (My Little Yellow Bicycle), Chandelier Crystals (Heidi Swapp), Brads (Imaginisce)

Check out that little handmade pumpkin pin. Isn't that just too cute.  Steph makes the BEST scrapbook embellishments.

Here is a detail shot of the chandelier crystals.  LOVE these.

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE fall, especially when it is unseasonably warm?

Have a wonderful day!

Magnetic Layout

Some of you may remember this magnetic project kit I made a few months back.  Today I thought I'd share with you how the piece has evolved with the changing of seasons.

***For those of you who are new to my magnetic layout display, it is a 13 x 13 reversible magnetic board from Websters.  I made a neutral coloured "frame" from chipboard, patterned paper and magnets with a clip that holds my photos in place.  I also magnetized a variety of embellishments that I use to create my display.  The piece is constantly changing as the seasons change and as I take new "favourite" photos.***

Here are a few of my latest examples:

Next up, holiday photos!!  Stay Tuned.

GCD Studios Spotlight

As I was blog hopping this evening, guess whose mug greated me on the GCD blog?  That's right. Mine!  What a nice surprise.  I knew it was coming but I wasn't sure exactly when.  Thanks so much, Heidi, for the spotlight and for your kind words.

Since I'm on the topic of GCD Studios, here is a page I made this week using their Loverly line.  My oldest daughter is VERY curious about Santa Claus right now.  Every day she talks and talks about him asking question after question.  Today we took the girls to an event in the city where they got to see Santa and his elves, get their faces painted, and eat lots of treats.  They had a ball. 

And so the questions continue. 

I may need to do a part two of this page!

"Deep Santa Thoughts"

Supplies:  Paper (GCD Studios), Wood Swirl, Pearls & Gems (Kaiser Crafts), Chipboard (Scenic Route), Acrylic Magnifying Glass (Tattered Angels), Letters (Jenni Bowlin, Websters, Making Memories)

Since I made the page, I have more questions to add:

-How old is Santa?  Five?  Six?? SEVEN!?!?

-Why does Santa say, "Ho, ho, ho"?

I know there were so many more.  I need to keep notes. 

Before I sign off, I must discuss the design specifics of this page.  The page came to life courtesy of a challenge Heidi issued on the GCD blog and a page template by Pam Callaghan .  If you have never visited Pam's blog, I highly recommend it. She has such a fun, graphic style that I knew I had to give her templates a try.  This page uses one of her Flower Templates.  I have bookmarked several others that have caught my eye.

That's it for now.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

When it rains, it pours!!!

My very first publication request ever was for this card.

CARDS magazine: February, 2007 

I was not a card maker at the time.  I'm not so sure I'd call myself one now, but it certainly is something I've taken a much keener interest in since I started working with myStamp BOX.   Some three years later, I am proud to say that I will have another card published with CARDS.  Look for me in the April, 2010 issue.  Appropriately enough, the card is called "Congrats on the New Arrival".  My little bundle will be a few days old when this hits the stands in March.

Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement.

Happy Scrappy Mail

I have two bits of news to share today.

The first is a Fall Photo Contest win sponsored by GCD Studios. 

The prize is the Provence paper package collection!  More fun fall colours.  I can't wait!

AND

The second bit of happy mail is a publication request! 

Do you remember the Magnetic Alphabet Board I made for my girls a few months back?  Well you will be seeing that one in the April/May issue of Simply Handmade.  I am just thrilled. 

Now I'm off to try and find a way to package it up for mailing.

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Four Years Today...

Four years ago today I became a Mother for the first time. 

What a wonderful journey it has been.

It's hard to believe I am now registering her for school next fall!?!

Where does the time go?

She loved her cake.

Mom and I had a great time putting it together.

It really wasn't difficult at all to make. If you'd like to make one of your own, you can find all the details HERE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALLIE!!!

More Kraft Paper

"Fall Leaves"

Supplies:  Paper (Fancy Pants, Jillibean Soup, Cosmo Cricket), Stamps (myStamp BOX), Leaves (Prima), Pins & Metal Word (Making Memories), Trim (Bazzill, K & Co.), Mini Letters (Jenni Bowlin), Gems (Kaiser Crafts)

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peek a Boo

I think fall photos are my absolute favourite photos to scrapbook.  It must be because I have a penchant for warm, dark, rich colours.  I don't know.  It also seems that this is when I get some of my best photos.  So maybe it's a combination of the two.

Supplies:  Paper (Basic Grey), Acrylic (Tattered Angels), Stamps (myStamp BOX), Letters (Scenic Route & American Crafts)

I used 3 different stamp sets on this page:  BOO!, Floating Leaves, and Just Add Notes.

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In other news.....GIVEAWAY!

"Passport to Adventure" is the newest myStamp BOX release.  If you would like to win your very own copy, please visit the myStamp BOX blog for all the details.

Good Luck!!

Going Loopy

After many, many weeks of searching, I finally got my hands on the Martha Stewart loopy punches - both of them.  Let me tell you, having the corner punch sure beats all the acrobatics you need to perform to try and get a traditional border punch to properly go around a turn.  It worked beautifully the FIRST time and took no extra thought or effort at all.  LOVE this set.

"Embracing the Lean"

Supplies:  Paper (Fancy Pants, SEI, Jillibean Soup), Stamp (Maya Roads), Letters (Pink Paislee, Rose Moka, Jenni Bowlin), Button (My Little Bit of Whimsy), Flower (Maya Roads), Cardstock (Bazzill)

Journaling Reads:

Every time I try to take your photo you lean towards the camera.  Not just a little tilt, but a full blown nearly knock you off balance lean.  Finally I just decided to go with it and got this shot. Who would have thought?

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This next project is very similar to the card make and take I did last weekend.  I used the corner loopy punch for this one.  Simply punch a series of the "corners" along a straight edge, cut them out and glue them on the back side of the circle allowing the loops to show.  You can make your loops go around any shape you wish using this method.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill), Stamp, Rub-On & Paper (Upsy Daisy), Gems (Kaiser), Embossing Powder (American Crafts), Punch (Martha Stewart - loopy)

So tell me. Do you have a favourite border punch??

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One more thing I did this week was add the journaling to THIS PAGE.  I much happier with it now.

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THANKS for stopping by!