Scrapped

Valentines for the Sweet

2012-02-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to enter My Pink Stamper's challenge so I decided to make these sweet little Valentines cards for the kids at school. They look good enough to eat!

I used brown card stock, some Martha Stewart Christmas paper from a couple of years ago, pink ribbon, glitter covered Styrofoam hearts from the dollar store, some punches and some Stamps of Life stamps. I got the idea from something I saw on dollar store crafts last year.
First I cut the Styrofoam hearts

I used a serrated bread knife to slice them in half

Then I punched out the circles and labels and stamped them.

I added red ink to the edges

I added brown ink to the edges

I tied small bows and cut thin strips for the stick, then assembled it all together.

Admit it, you want to eat them!

No Valentine stamp, so I combined 3 stamps to make this

The perfect stamp for the back of the card

Thanks for looking.

Saturday's cards

2012-02-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

I was checking out my email this morning and saw some card sketches that really spoke to me, simple but beautiful. They offered a free download, so I took it and made these 4 cards. It is unfortunate that the website I took it from is having a contest that I can't enter because I don't own any Papertrey Ink products. This is a must to renter their contest. I did try to order some products once, but when I saw how much the shipping was, I screeched to a halt. I do get stamps from another American company, and they charge me $1.50 USD for shipping. So I order from stampsoflife every month.
Anyway enough gripping, here are the cards

Improvements

2012-01-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

I was checking out some old cards I made a few years ago, and decided they needed an upgrade. So here are two sets that I made.
The first set I used Stampin' Up stamps and then coloured them in. (Note to self: buy new markers). There are 3 of each in this set.

Then I improves a set of 4 with a stamp set that I found at Winners or Home Sense, (I have no idea who makes the stamps, but they are different, and I like them. The sentiments I gathered from a bunch of different sets.

A gift for Frances

2012-01-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Frances is one of the lunch supervisors in my school. She helps out with the senior school, and I usually go to her lunch room with the child I work with during the week.
She is leaving on Tuesday as she is retiring. I know she is looking forward to it, so I wish her all the best.

I made two sets of cards for her, and here they are.

Butterflies and Friends

2012-01-19T18:59:00.000-08:00

This is a birthday card for my aunt in England. She is turning 85.

This one didn't quite turn out the way I planned, but it's okay anyway

Owl Miss You

2012-01-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

I got word that the OA at school was leaving, and decided I needed to make her a little gift. For some strange reason I felt that Veronica and I had a connection some how. Anyway I set to work making this pack of cards using an owl, because it just seemed right.
However, shortly after making the cards, I discovered that I had wrong information, and that she isn't leaving. Then over the winter break our connection made itself known. Veronica knew George, my partner who died 15 years ago. She used to babysit his kids!
I held on to the cards to give her at a later date, but in the end I wanted her to have them, and explained my mistake. Turns out she loves owls, because she is a Brownie leader!

Here they are:

I added a mini pen, pencil and eraser, and stamped all the envelopes too.

Danny's 60th birthday

2012-01-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

My cousin Marilyn is married to Danny. He is turning 60 in a few days and I heard from my sister that there is a party for him in England. She can't go because she is vacationing in Egypt. When I was talking to my aunt last week, I asked where the party was going to held, and she said she couldn't tell me because it was a secret. I told her I wouldn't tell anyone, because I'm not even in England. She said I'd probably post it on Facebook!!!
Anyway here is the card I made for Danny. He sells luxury cars, so I remembered there was a cut on the Nifty Fifties cart.

Pin It

Latest Baby Boy Book

2011-12-31T05:19:00.000-08:00

I heard at the end of last week that my friend's daughter had her baby, a little boy named Calvin. In the same email with that information was the annual invitation to my friend's home, after Christmas. So I got busy on making yet another paper bag book. Here is the result.

His name is Calvin

These are places to add photos

There are many tags to add journaling or photos

I embossed the rabbit on this page

Perhaps add a baby sleeping photo here

Other memories can be added here

I love this page

This is the last page

And this is the bag I made to put it in.

Please add any comment below, I'd really appreciate it.

Minibook Challenge

2011-11-13T17:08:00.001-08:00

I was checking out Robyn's My Pink Stamper blog hop and decided that I should take the challenge she offered. However, I started late and felt a little rushed.

I made a mini book using From My Kitchen cartridge to cut out the pages and the covers. I cut out the pages using both cardstock and patterned paper.

So here it is.

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tires"

Stephanie Barnard Stamps

2011-10-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

I am a member of The Stamps of Life, have been for over a year. That means I get a new stamp set each month. I got the owls2love set and loved the little owl, but wasn't sure what I would do with it. I was checking out the gallery on Stephanie's site and suddenly had the funniest idea for this set.

So after working it a bit, I ended up using 5 of the sets from her collection, and here is the end product...

That large fish is actually the owl's body!

Anyway go check out the site and see if there are any stamps you like. They are very reasonably priced, and fun to use.

Happy Hallowe'en (A tribute to Steve Jobs)

2011-10-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

Although this isn't a card, book or scrapbook page, it is something created by me.

My friend Vanessa came up with the idea to be an iPod for Hallowe'en, so we scavenged what we could in the art room at the school. We came up with felt, a sheet, some mactac paper, clear page protectors, some apple sauce cups, some grey material and from the gym we borrowed a couple of skipping ropes.

I got to work on my sewing machine, with just an idea in my head, and this is the end result.

We used the skipping ropes as the ear phones, that was probably the hardest thing to figure out!

You can see them here as Vanessa is holding them up while I am rocking out!!

We shall be wearing these at our schools, and then we are thinking it would be a great idea to go to the Apple store in the Eaton Centre.

Hallowe'en Cards

2011-09-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

I had such a difficult time with my Cricut today. All I wanted to do was make some cards for the kids at school using the Hallowe'en cartridge, but even after changing the blade, it still refused to cut properly, either ripping the paper, of getting small pieces stuck under the blade, or the paper slipping off the mat.

So I ended up using another cartridge, and still had trouble. So I didn't get as many finished as I had planned. I think the rest will be stamped.

Anyway here are the results today, not the best, but the best of what I did manage to save.

More Christmas cards

2011-09-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

I got into the groove today with some more cards.

Christmas in August!

2011-08-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

I was inspired from the Christmas card workshop I attended last week, to get some cards made for the jolly season. I got new stamps from Stampin'Up, one of which is the cutest little girl pulling a sled with a tree.

Greeting Card Kids stamps from Stampin'Up!

I can't find the label for this stamp, if you recognise it, let me know. The greens don't show in this photo, they are better in real life.

Marilyn's Book

2011-07-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

I decided that on my latest trip home to England, I'd make my cousin Marilyn a book. She crafts as well as sews. She is a seamstress extraordinaire. I showed it first to her mother, and her reaction was what I had hoped, and knew that her daughter would have a similar reaction. Below is the book.

The Box

Back Page

Page 15 A creative mess is better than tidy idleness

Page 14 Behind every sewer is a huge pile of fabric

Page 13 There is no such thing as screw-ups in sewing. There's only design opportunities.

Page 12 Sewing and crafts fill my days.... not to mention the living room, bedroom and closet

Page 11 Dull women have neat sewing rooms

Page 10

Page 9 Never let a sewing machine know you are in a hurry

Page 8 Sewing forever, housework whenever

Page 7

Page 6 Memories are stitched with love

Page 5 Love is the thread that binds us

Page 4

Page 3 Just as cute as a button


Page 2 Friendships are sewn one stitch at a time

Front Page

Woo Hoo!

2011-05-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a friend of mine a while ago, about the 4 blogs that I own. I have a general life one, a dating one, a card one, and a scrapbook one. I also used to have another one where I sold cards that I made, but I deleted that one a while ago. I was saying that it sometimes becomes crazy trying to keep them up, only to not post in months on one or the others.

So imagine my joy just a few minutes ago, when I googled, "How do I merge my blogs?" and it came up with a simple answer!

So now my general and dating ones are merged and my card and scrapbook ones are merged also. Now if you are interested in my general life stuff, you also get to read about my dating life! (Well you would if there was one!) And now my craft stuff is altogether, as it should be.

So go ahead, check out my blogs.

Flashback Friday

2011-05-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am adding this card here, to participate in a Flashback Friday challenge. The challenge is to post the first wedding card you made. Well I have made a few, but I think this is the first one that I photographed. I didn't post it here at the time as it is for my secret pal, who I have been sending cards to for the past few months. If she sees it now, she will know it is me!

Anyway, this card was made in November 2010. I used the "Stretch You Imagination" Cricut Cartridge.

There is another one that I made in 2009, but I only have this picture of it, and it is a copy of the original wedding card, but sent as an anniversary card.

My first class ever!

2011-04-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Today I tried out a class at Bizzy B. It was Glazed Metal Effects by Jenn Starr. The day started out well with getting my choice of colour on the canvas, but then I had to emboss so much tin that my hands and shoulders hurt!!
After a very long time I finished and began inking up a storm. Unfortunately I felt as though I had no idea what I was doing, but in the end it all turned out. No one finished the project, so I didn't feel too bad. Later, at home in the evening, I decided to see if I could get one canvas done. I didn't like the colours I chose on my metal, so I used some alcohol inks and they turned out wonderful.
Here are the finished products, however, the blue one feels unfinished, so hopefully I will figure that out soon.
Enjoy.

This one is Jenn Starr's creations.

This is my first one, it says Dream.

The blue on says Live and Love.

The blue one feels a little disconnected somehow.
Let me know what you think.

Sadness

2011-03-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

I have sent a few sympathy cards recently, starting with my newly found distant cousin. She contacted me saying she thought we were related, and I eventually met her on one of my trips home. There was a message on Chris's Facebook page one day saying she had died. I was shocked! I later heard it was very sudden and unexpected, but she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Then last weekend I found out again, through Facebook that my friend's brother David had died suddenly. It was a tragic death that has left his family heart broken.

I made this card for David from an idea I saw on Kristina Werner's blog. I will be seeing my friend tomorrow, we will cry some tears I am sure.

Paper Bag Baby Album

2011-02-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

I have made lots of these albums in the past year. Lots of babies being born. So I thought I'd try to take photos of the process.

I begin with taking 8 paper bags and cutting them down and adhering them together.

Then I usually ink the edges of each page.

Then I choose the papers that I will use in the book. This time the recipient doesn't know if it is a girl or a boy, which makes it a little more difficult for me. This is the first time I haven't used "baby" papers.

I adhere these papers to the pages.

I cut out two pieces of card that is firm enough for the front and back cover. I cover both sides of the front and the back.

Here I have only covered one side. Next I decide what colour cardstock I will use as mats for the photos and journaling. I also pull out lots of embellishments. I start to put the pages together.

The inside of the front cover

On the next page a tiny pocket with a tag


There is a pocket between these 2 pages that hold 2 large tags


In the tiny pocket I cut a window to see the tag within


This is the inside of the back page


Here you can see that within each paper bag there are large tags to add more photos

The final step is to attach the front and back cover with a coordinating piece of paper

The completed album. Well except to the front cover title and embellishments. That will be done over the weekend.

First post for 2011

2011-01-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it's been months since I had something to share! I have been making cards and sharing ideas with friends, but not a whole heck of a lot!

I discovered Custom Crops through Robyn's site, My Pink Stamper, and they have had some amazing deals lately, and with the Canadian Dollar doing so well, I don't mind ordering from the USA. So I have ordered a few Cricut cartridges from them while they had their sale on. My latest one is From My Kitchen. I have always loved the images, but it has never been on sale before. Guess how much? $23. Yes that is all. Here in Canada you would be looking at least $70. So I have been cutting away this weekend in preparation from a project at school.

We have a snack program that supplies kids with 2 food groups each morning, veggies and crackers, salsa and nachos, yogurt and fruit, muffins and milk, etc. We have a kitchen that also provides a hot lunch for $3. The kids are sent home each month with a snack envelope in hopes that parents will donate about $5 per child. We are a small inner city school of less than 200 kids. We have been averaging about 10 - 15 kids bringing donations. The snack program is in jeopardy, so we need to encourage parents to scrape together a few dollars to help out. So my idea is to have a poster in the front hall, where the parents come in, and show them photos of the foods that are served for snack, and some info on the cost of such snacks and the benefit of a healthy start to the day.

These are the cuts I have made so far, and I will be adding some veggies and words.

If you know of any company or individual who might be able to make a donation to help keep our snack program up and running please leave me a comment on how I can contact them.

Thanks for looking!

Out of Commision.....sort of

2010-11-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

I had surgery last month to repair a torn rotator cuff. The recovery is long ans painful with pain meds and lots of physiotherapy.

I really wanted to get my holiday cards made for the kids and staff at school, but as I am not allowed any resistance on my arm, that means I can't even fold a piece of card stock in half! So instead I put my Cricut to use and made tags instead.

I know they will understand why they will not be getting the usual fancy gifts this year.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2010-11-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

I am recovering from surgery that repaired my torn rotator cuff. I am taking some time off to help with the recovery. I thought I could catch up on cards, albums and scrapbook pages, but alas, no. I had more pain than I had anticipated, so although I have managed a few easy card ideas, I will not be able to do all that I wanted.

My friend Kietha shared an idea for a mini album, it was so lovely, and I had an idea immediately, so I had to give it a go. It was pretty easy to put together, and I didn't use as many embellishments as I usually do. So here is Thomas through the years at Christmas...

I did manage to make tags for the kids and staff at school instead of cards. These were pretty easy, as I just used my Cricut machine to do all the cutting so I only had to assemble them.

The cute reindeer with the red nose are for the kids, and the other reindeer are for the staff.

I wanted to add something different to my Holiday Decorating this year, so I put mt Cricut to use and came up with this idea.

I have a JOY one as well, but I am in the process of redoing the embellishments as I really didn't like the way they looked.

Now I am working on my annual newsletter that I send out to family and friends all over the world. My challenge is to edit it more so that it goes from 6 pages without photos to 4 pages with them!

A few new cards

2010-10-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is the card I made for the children in my class

This card I made for friends of mine for Canadian Thanksgiving last week.

I got new stamps from the Stamps of Life from Stephanie Barnard and tried them out

Think Pink

2010-10-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

These are a few bookmarks that I made in honor of Breast Cancer awareness. I saw a few people today who were returning from their Run.

Hallowe'en is creeping up on us.

2010-09-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

I made these cards for a fundraiser, and wouldn't you know it none of them sold!

I took a bunch of my cards to the weekly Couchsurfing meeting at Tranzac on Brunswick to sell to other CSers. All the money collected would go to the Food Bank. Other people brought along non perishable food items, Anf taught salsa for a donation and Joanne did Henna tattoos. I asked for a minimum donation of $2 and ended up with $77. I was happy with that. It made my stock of cards lower which means I can make many more!

It's beginning to look a bit like.......

2010-09-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Christmas!

I made a list of things to do over the summer, and I have completed almost every task I set out. One of the things I didn't get to was to start my Christmas cards. So this morning I got up and had an idea of what I wanted to do. Here are a few that I came up with.

I think I like the hot chocolate one the best with the snowman a close second.

The hot chocolate takes a bit of time as I have to use markers, then stamp 3 times and cut out the cup and heart from patterned paper. The stamp is Hot Chocolate from Imaginisce Snag 'em Stamps.

The snowman is all cut out by my Cricut machine using the Winter Woodlands cartridge, but again the time in setting up the paper, and gluing it altogether, not to mention the 2 embossing plates, D'vine swirl and Swiss dots from Cuttlebug.

The snowflake one was to try to come up with nontraditional colours for winter/Christmas. It is okay, but not a card that I will repeat. The snowflake is also from the Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge.

I used the same sentiment in all three, from a stamp set I won early this year from Debbie at Country Heart and Home. I added Stickles to all the cards too, just to bling them up a bit.

New Stamp Set

2010-09-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

I get a stamp set once a month from Stephanie Barnard who is in the States. I love her sets, and what makes her very special to me, is that she only charges $1.50 for postage and packaging. I have wanted stamps from other companies in the US, but they charge more than the actually set, so I don't usually bother buying anything from south of the border. Except for the lovely and versatile stamps from The Stamps of Life.

Here are a few cards I put together using her August stamp set.

The September set has just been sent out, and I am looking forward to playing with that one as it is a Hallowe'en set. Then kids at school will love it, I'm sure.

Baby Boy Mini Album

2010-08-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last couple of days working on this baby book. I had a friend in mind when I planned it out, however I still don't know whether she is having a boy or a girl. Anyway I love the way this one turned out, and if she had a girl, then I will have to make another one, and this one will be available to purchase, should anyone be interested. Just drop me a line and let me know.

It has many pockets where there are double sided circular tags waiting for photos. There are lots of smaller tags to record the events and there are some other bigger tags to either add photos to or to journal on.

I used patterned paper from DCWV called Nursery, it is the from the Baby Boy 6 x 6 paper stack. I used brown lunch bags, cardstock, white ribbon, ink and stamps, and a few other embellishments.

There is a slide show on the right panel of this blog, or you can click on it to go directly to the pictures. Check it out.

New Paper Purses

2010-08-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

I bought this template from Becky over at Inking Idaho and hadn't had a chance to try it out until today. I love the way they turned out. I will spend more time with this template and with some patterned card stock, to save one of the steps.

Sympathy Card

2010-05-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

I just found out yesterday that a friend of mine that I work with lost her husband. I have no idea what the circumstances are, as I am not able to talk to her, so I wanted to make her a card to let her know I am thinking of her.

I used the flower from the George cartridge and the scrolls are from the Home Decor cartridge.

Another mini album

2010-05-23T23:42:00.000-07:00

I really loved making Beatriz's black and white mini album, and wanted to try my hand at another one. I am trying my best not to buy any more paper or cardstock this year, as I have so much of it.

The album I made for Beatriz used double sided patterned cardstock. I only had a few sheets of double sided, so I thought I'd give it a go. The papers were from a kit I got a while ago, and since I wasn't a big fan of the colours and design, I hadn't used them yet.

The covers and inside covers still need work, but I wanted to post it now before I go to bed.

So here it is, what do you think? Leave a comment to let me know.

Front cover

Inside Cover

Page one (2 small tags and one big one)

Back of page one (One big tag)

Page two

Back of page two

Page three

Back of page three

Page four

Back of page four

Page five

Back of page five

Page six

Back of page six

Inside back cover

Back of book

More sweet candy!

2010-05-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Jessica in Australia is celebrating the fact she is now a design team member for The Stamp Spot Online Store by giving away some pretty nice stuff. Check out the link, follow the instructions on how to enter, and wait for the happy news! You have until June 9th.

Cute Flowers

2010-05-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Go and check out Amy's blog. She is giving away some gorgeous blog candy. Just follower her or subscribe to her and leave link to your blog. You have until May 31st.

April's Project 12

2010-05-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

I have been busy making other paper crafts in the past month and my Project 12 completely left my mind. The cut off date is the 20th I believe, so I quickly threw this one together. I like the paper colour combination, I knew which photos I wanted to use, but when I put it together, it looked a bit lopsided and crowded!

Anyway here it is. The photos are:
Frenchy, celebrating her 5th year in Canada at the Fox and Fiddle pub
A stall outside St. Lawrence Market on Easter Day
Smoke from a fire at my building
Dinner at the Hard Rock after watching Grease at the Canon Theatre
Beatriz at the Distillery District on Easter Day
The Black Jacks for the scavenger hunt at Nathan Philips Square

Colour Challenge

2010-05-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Over on Kristina's page she has a colour challenge. This is mine:

Cards for Meredith

2010-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Meredith has been my trainer at the gym for 8 months now. She is leaving and returning to PEI where she is from to do work, that is more in her field.

My gift to her is a box of all purpose cards. I found the directions for this very easy box here.

I know she is going love them, I do!

Beatriz's Birthday Book

2010-05-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

I spent a few days putting this book together for my good friend Beatriz. I got the idea from Laura at Follow The Paper Trail. She makes some incredible books. I was watching her create an amazing book one night on Ustream, and when I saw the papers she was using I realized that I had some of the same ones. So that gave me inspiration and I set to work at making my friend's book.

Front Cover

Inside front cover. I used my Cricut and the Home Decor cartridge for this page.

There are 2 small tags and one large one. I used rub-ons here. The pulls are pink plastic discs I found ages ago at the dollar store to which I added pink jewel brads.

Here you can see I have pulled the large tag out. A photo will fit on the back of this tag.

This is the back of the first page. This is a large tag where a photo can be added on the back side.

The 2nd page again has rub-ons.

Another tag at the back.

I love the paper I used in this book. The pulls here are felt flowers that I found at the dollar store.

The back had this lovely design on the paper.

The 4th page has this green double sided paper and I used both black and white rub-ons.

This is the other side of that green paper, gorgeous.

The 5th page again has black rub-ons. I also had some glass marbles that I used on a few pages.

I used a few plain white cardstock pieces so that it isn't too busy.

There is a transparency that says Giggle attached to this large tag.

The back of the last page.

The inside of the back cover, again I used my Cricut.

The back of the book.

You may have noticed that there is an empty hole in the middle of the binding, that is because I only had 2 binding rings that fit this book. I didn't realize it was going to be this thick, so as soon as I get another one I will add it to the book, along with the ribbons that are waiting here!

The papers are from Luxe Designs and Rouge De Garance. I got them in a kit way back in July 2007 from Scraptivity

Beatriz loved this book. It is a very special book for a very special friend.

Challenge #12

2010-05-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

Make a scrapbook page, card, or other project using an animal or critter.

I used the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge to cut out this butterfly. I found some great scrap background patterned paper, and put together this 'Happiness' card.

Challenge #11

2010-05-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Make a project using 1 or all of the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue)

I went through my scraps to find a piece of rainbow patterned paper, and came up with this one. I added some flowers, sequins and ribbon then to finish it off I added this unusual stamp.

Challenge #10

2010-05-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Make a project using flowers or something Springy!!

I'm not a fan of flowers, so it is always a challenge for me to use them.

I stamped these beautiful flowers and added a leaf stamp and drew in the stems.

Challenge #9

2010-05-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Make a shaped card, shaped scrapbook page, or shaped project!

I spent a long time thinking about this one. I seldom make shaped cards, although I have often thought circular cards would look really cute. So here is my attempt at a shaped card.

Challenge #8

2010-05-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

Make something using monochromatic (which means only 1 color with a neutral color) and add a flower!
I had fun with this one, but initially I forgot to add the flower, so I had to figure out a way to add it afterward. I added two brads in the bottom left corner. I think they look okay there, although I was considering using the brads for the eyes, but that would take all the fun away!

Challenge #7

2010-05-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Make something for a "Dad" or guy in your life. It does not have to be for Father's Day but try to make it masculine.
So far this has been the most challenging! I made my dad's Father's Day card already and I'm just not good at masculine!!
So then I thought I'd do a layout, but I always forget how time consuming they are, even when I think it's just a simple layout. I over think it EVERY time.
This was my dad's pride and joy for 15 years. He was so sad when he had to have it put down because of cancer.

Challenge #6

2010-05-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Make something WITH a child or for a child.
There are no children around so I made something for a child. I found a video last week showing how to make a little bag out of a single 12 x 12 sheet of paper, origami style. So here is my attempt, I made 2 because the first one ended up with the pattern inside instead of out. The bag contains a ruler, an eraser, a pencil, a pen and a heart stamp.

Challenge #5

2010-05-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

Create something for Teacher Appreciation Week OR for someone you appreciate.
Since I work in a school, there are many occasions when I need a "Thanks you" card, either for students, their parents or perhaps even a staff member. So I made a set of Thank You cards. I will likely add more to the set, having only made 4, for the time constraints. I love the tiny little box, (although it's still bigger than the previous shirt box!)

Challenge #4

2010-05-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Make a project using your least favorite or least used cartridge.

This was a pretty easy choice for me. I had seen all the great boxes that people were making and I longed for Tag, Bag, Boxes and More. When I got it, I quickly realised that it works better if you have a Cricut Expression. I have the little one that only takes 6x12 paper, so the boxes are way too small for anything. Also I seldom ust the Blackletter cartridge, just not a fan of the font, but it came with my Cricut, so I figured I should use something from that one too. It looks nice, but when you consider I cut this at it's biggest, the shirt box came out at 4" x 4 1/2" and only 1/2" high. I don't think my shirt will fit in there!!

Challenge#3

2010-05-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Think Outside the Box. Do something on your scrapbook page, card, or other item that you wouldn't normally do.

Well here is mine. It is an anniversary card for my sister and her husband, they are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary May 4. It's funny I still think of her as my baby sister!

So I used gift wrap that is embossed, and I also glued beads onto the card. It is a pretty simple card, but I think the white and silver make it look classic.

Challenge #2

2010-05-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

Again from My Pink Stamper, the challenge is to use up scraps. I decided to use just what was on my workspace. I made a beautiful mini album for my friend Beatriz's birthday yesterday, and one of the pieces was cut out at the wrong size, so I decided to make the focal point of the next card. Here is a card that can be used to congratulate someone on just about anything!

National Scrapbook Day

2010-05-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

Today is National Scrapbook Day, but I am celebrating all the weekend. There are a number of challenges online today, so I may pick one particular website or try a bunch of them.

My first challenge was from My Pink Stamper, and the challenge was to create a layout or card with your mother in mind. I wanted to make a card, but since my mum died 6 years ago, and Mothers Day in England has already been celebrated in March, I would make a card for my sister. She has supported me in anything I do, so even though she is younger than me, she is a mother figure for me.

Flowers

2010-04-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

I was reading Card of the week.com and discovered another way of making those lovely paper flowers. I have seen Christina make them on her blog but this one instructs you to separate the card stock into two after breaking down the fibers. So instead of 1 flower you get 2.

It looked so pretty when I tried it, I wanted to post it here. No idea yet what I will do with them.

Happy Birthday Beatriz

2010-04-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

Due to reasons beyond my control I am not working at the present time. So I have tried to keep busy with some paper crafts, exercising, walking and watching up with appointments.

My very good friend Beatriz is celebrating her birthday at the end of the week, and I wanted to make a card that shows her how important she is to me. I found this stamp set on one of my many road trips with Keitha. I thought it had a really good message.

Thanks to Dawn for the tutorial.

Father's Day

2010-04-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd get a head start with my Father's Day card this year. It is over a month away, but always good to get started early.

I got this idea from another card maker Brian, but made some changes to his original design.

This is the card, it is actually a mini album.

It has a belly band that keeps the card closed.

Here the album is opened up to reveal 3 photo mats

And here the photo mats have opened up to reveal photos and journaling.

I could have added photos on the closed mats, but I didn't have the right photos. Most of the pictures of my dad include my mum, and he is still heart broken about her death 5 years ago, that anytime I include Mum's picture, he gets very upset,so I don't add her any more.

The measurements are as follows:
Base strip 12" x 4" scored at 2", 5 3/8" and 8 3/4".
3 strips 7 1/2" x 3" scored at 3 3/4"
4 photo mats 3 1/2" x 2 3/4"
Belly Band 7 1/2" x 1 1/4" and 7 1/2" x 3/4"
The tag on top is 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"

I used my SCAL and my die cutting machine to make the word DAD, welded it and cut it and the background out.

Really easy, so give it a try. If you have any questions or messages, please leave a comment.

March Layout

2010-04-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't posted this layout. I am trying my best to get one a month done, (how sad is that!) as I am participating in the Project 12 with Scrapbooks and Cards Today magazine and Davinie.
So here it is:

Check out this blog

2010-04-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

I found a new blog that is very helpful in the making of cards. My son bought me Sure Cuts a Lot for Christmas, and I can use images online to make cuts on my machine. This blog that I found offers a whole bunch of very cool images and cards that I can use for free.

I thought I'd give it a try to see how it turns out. So here is the card cut from Wanda

It turned out pretty cool. I'm giving this card to my friend Ildiko this afternoon.

I also found another cut but I can't remember where I downloaded it from, and I tried that one out too.

Beautiful

2010-03-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have been reorganizing my scrap stuff for a week now and have wanted to quit and just play with the stuff instead.

I discovered the light box that I bought a few months ago, I also found a bunch of things that I bought when Keitha and I went on a road trip looking for new stash.

So this afternoon, I decided enough, it was time to use some of my stuff. I found photos too, and picked one from August last year, and put together this layout, using flowers from the Home Decor cartridge and my Cricut machine.

It came together pretty quickly, and so did the clean up. Hopefully I can keep the new scrap space clear now that the reorganizing is ALMOST over!

LUCKY ME!

2010-03-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day, and although I am far from Irish, I seem to be having lots of luck lately.

In posting the Sunshine award to Debbie, she informed me that I had won some stamps a while back, and I had missed that posting somehow.

Then while I was checking out the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, I discovered that I had won some amazing product from Imaginisce - Live Loud. So pretty lucky, huh?

So now that I've had my luck, go on over to Scrapbooks & Cards Today blog and enter this weeks giveaway. From Stampin' Up, My Digital Studio, or a pair of VIP tickets to Scrapfest next month in Kitchener, Ontario. I'm passing on my luck to you.

GOOD LUCK!

Sunshine Award

2010-03-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

I received this Sunshine Award from a friend I met through a yahoo group a number of years ago. I finally met Kathy a couple of years ago in Michigan on a scrap retreat.

I'm going to pass this award on to six other creative people who bring Sunshine to me!

1. Maria at http://www.dolliesscrapper.blogspot.com

2. Robyn at http://www.mypinkstamper.com

3. Christina at http://www.creationswithchristina.com
4. Jess at http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com
5. Debbie at http://countryheartandhome.blogspot.com
6. Susanna at http://www.cardoftheweek.com

Now the rules of the award are:

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.

Pass the award to six bloggers

Link the nominees within your post.

Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Thank you again, Kathy, for the Sunshine!!

February Project 12

2010-03-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

This is the February layout I put together for Project 12.

A new layout

2010-02-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

I have finally got my muse back. It has been so long since I put together some pages, but since I have been sick for over a week, I had time to come up with a new one.

Altered Cork Mats

2010-02-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

So I was at the Dollar store today and saw these coasters made of cork. I picked up the one that had the scallops. I thought it might make a good mini album.

There were 6 coasters in the pack, and they were fairly sturdy.

I sorted through some very old pictures and chose some that show kids from my home daycare that I ran for a few years.

Then I cut them out with my Cricut.

I looked in my school scrap supplies and came up with a few embellishment and papers.

I traced around the cork shape and then cut it out with scissors. I am envious of those who know how to use an exacto knife to cut things out, I tried and messed it up!

And then I used Zip Glue to put it all together. I used up some of my stash, which is always good, and I got some very old (1982) pictures scrapped.

If It's Groovy

2010-02-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

I recently joined another group called If It's Groovy where there are lots of challenges. One that appealed to me was the altered art idea, of buying a clock and altering it. I did one, but had to take it apart again because I couldn't see the black hands against the black in the photo. So I simply used a silver marker on the hands, then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. This is the finished product.

SKI

2010-02-11T15:16:00.000-08:00

I found an old photo of my brother of when he went to Austria with his boarding school way back in 1967. So I added a snow boarder accent from Meri Meri Accents that I found at Winners and some Gossip White Pop Culture from K I Memories, and came up with this layout.

I think that I work better without a sketch, I prefer making up my own layouts. Using a sketch limits me, because I am so influenced by the idea already there.

Using my Cricut

2010-02-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

Since I am home with bronchitis I figured that between coughing and sleeping I should make an attempt to create some cards.

I seldom use my Cricut for cards, so I am making an effort to do more with it. The first one is a child's birthday card, the dog image is from Everyday Paper Dolls. The flower in the card is an idea from Creations with Christina, but I only used a single flower. The flower was cut from the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

This one was an idea I saw on Posh Designs Scrapbook Store. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to try it. I used the birds and love word from Home Decor. I love the way it opens out to reveal a different look. I have posted a few angles that the card was taken from.

Tag

2010-01-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

Here is My Pink Stamper's 3rd challenge, a tag for a gift. I am making gluten-free muffins tomorrow, so I will give some to a friend of mine.

Spring

2010-01-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

With the bitterly cold weather we are having here (but no snow), I made this spring card to brighten the day. This is another challenge from My Pink Stamper

Dad

2010-01-30T19:55:00.000-08:00

I actually accomplished a very simple page today. It is my dad. My mum took this photo a number of years ago and it turned out to be very good. I simply added all of the things that he has been throughout his life.

This turned out to be another red and black project!

My Pink Stamper Challenge.

2010-01-29T16:02:00.000-08:00

One of the blogs I read daily is My Pink Stamper. Robyn is snowed in and decided to do some challenges, and I thought I'd give it a try. The challenge was to make something using your favourite colour and to add black to it. So here is mine. Can you guess my favourite colour?

January

2010-01-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

This layout for January is missing something, especially at the top right.

Dad's upcoming birthday

2010-01-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

My dad will turn 83 in February. He's doing well, even though he has Alzheimer's Disease. He lives with his dog Lucy in a 3 bedroom house in England. He has family that check in on him regularly and also 'carers' who visit 3 times a day to make sure he has eaten and gets his meds.

My mum died 5 years ago and my sister and I thought that Dad would follow shortly thereafter because the two of them were hardly ever apart, and my mum was the head of the household. We didn't think he could manage without her and would die of a 'broken heart'. We were wrong!

I try to go home each year for a couple of weeks, to give family members a break, and to hang out with my dad. Sometimes it gets a bit uncomfortable as the disease will affect his mood. But for the most part I enjoy the trip. I won't be going this year due to some debt that I have. So hopefully he'll hold on for another year!

He used to be passionate about photography, but he seldom goes out to take pictures anymore. He was always in his developing room being creative with his work. But since the digital camera, he never does any developing anymore, except for printing on his computer.

He loves to fish, so for his birthday card I used my recently bought Cricut machine and made this card for him. I know he'll like it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY

1st. Birthday

2010-01-10T05:36:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine wanted a card for her friend whose baby just turned 1. I wasn't fast enough getting it made, but this was the idea that I had. Just as well, I had made this for a boy and it turns out it was a girl!!

So now I am submitting this one to Posh Designs Scrapbook Store for their challenge. Thanks Kim for the design.

The deadline is tomorrow.

I have at least 4 birthday cards to make this month, so I should get busy.

Blog Giveaway

2010-01-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

I read many blogs on a daily basis. Some for inspiration, some for fun, and some for information. Booth #32 is one I tend to get all that from. Aaron has a huge following and recently she was up to 100,000 hits!

If you are interested in checking out her wonderful articles, go over to Booth #32 and check it out. Oh yes of course, don't forget to enter the contest to win. Just leave a comment about your new goals for 2010.

Christmas Card Layout

2009-12-30T19:34:00.000-08:00

Every year I make a layout of the Christmas cards I receive. This is my layout for this year, 2009. I usually include the stamps and airmail stickers from my friends and family living all over the world on another page.

The following picture is from my 2008 Christmas cards.

And this one is from 2007.

Balcony pages

2009-11-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

I did a quick page with another shot of Thomas as a baby. I seem to be using lots lately.

He is on the balcony in the sun, and in the background is our neighbour we had at the time, Kenny. I think it's a great shot because Kenny was always working out on his balcony with his weights, and here they are both showing off their chests!

This 2 page layout show Thomas on the same balcony, probably the following winter. He is having fun eating snow and offering his "Horsey" some snow too.

Cards for my nieces.

2009-11-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

Who knew??

2009-10-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

I actually did another layout today. Must be on a roll! I have been sick almost all week and haven't had the energy to do anything. Now it looks like I'm a scrapper all over again!

Seems to be blurry here! Anyway this is a couple of photos of my parents and their long time friends. My mum is the one who looks like she's about to be under the table! While I was home in England this past summer, my mum's long time friend Connie died. She is the one in the top left corner. So now I figure the two of them are raising hell in heaven!

Christmas 2003

2009-10-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

After a really long time I finally got a 2 page layout done. I realized that the mess on my workspace was not allowing me to even envision anything creative.

So I cleared it off and immediately got inspired to get busy creating a layout.

I chose 2 sketches by Valerie Salmon, that complemented each other.

My mum spent her last Christmas with my sister Lorna and her family. We had no idea that it would be her last one, but they sure do look happy.

The paper, poem and some of the embellishments came from a swap that I did over 5 years ago. I wish I could remember who gave it to me, but I think it may have been from a yahoo group that I used to belong to, PST.

Amazing giveaway

2009-10-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

So, in the paper crafting world there are so many generous people who give away amazing blog candy on a regular basis. I don't think any other community does that. I often come upon them by accident, or other crafters leave messages on their blogs, or send out emails. We love to share the goodness that is out there.

I won my first blog candy a couple of weeks ago. I was so excited, especially since I wasn't having a very good day and then came home to an email with the great news. Posh Designs Scrapbook Store holds a giveaway every Tuesday, and my prize was 2 stamping sheets for my Cricut machine, as well as a $10 voucher to their store. I received them in the mail and now I am waiting until I can get out to the store to buy a deep cut blade so that I can make my own stamps. How exciting!

Every Friday one of the sites I visit often Scrapbooks and Cards Today has a giveaway and I wanted to share that with anyone who reads this blog. It is a huge prize. It is called the Creatopia and is a multi facited machine. It cuts, embosses, adheres and laminates. What more can you ask for? Anyway go over to their site and add a commnet telling why you need to have this machine.

Good Luck!

Finally....

2009-10-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

It had been a very long time since I put some scrapbook pages together, as I am so into making cards these days. I was invited to Keitha's place to get some scrapping done, and to catch up on what each of us had been doing. Here are the few pages I completed.

I am not sure why this is so blue looking! I will try to take a better picture later.

This is another layout that I worked on. It is awaiting some journaling about the amazing balconies I saw in Havana, Cuba.

I also took photos of a rum factory in Havana. I have started a 3 page layout, but have only put together the first two pages. Who knows when that third one will get started! Again, as you can see I have a hard time getting the journaling done. But now that I have a new printer, there really is no more excuses!

Card Sketches.

2009-09-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

I got the idea for this sketch book from Kristina's blog. I used the PDF files she offers and and decorated the front with fall colours. I've already added some sketches some of which are ideas from Kristina's blog.

Christmas cards

2009-09-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

After spending the day shopping with Keitha in Cambridge and the surrounding area, I found a great little 'share and tell' 4 x 6 creative pad. So I started making Christmas cards this morning. I love the way these turned out.

A mini album for Susana

2009-06-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Susana is an educational assistant who was made surplus due to the cut backs in the school system. Fortunately she got a job at another school. This is her book.

Sandy's Paper Bag Mini Album

2009-06-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here is another album for another teacher.

Teacher's ABC Mini Album

2009-06-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

There are a number of teachers moving on to other schools this year . This is one of the many mini albums I made.

ABC Retirement Mini Album

2009-06-13T20:31:00.001-07:00

This is a mini album that I made for a co-worker who is retiring at the end of this month when school is out. It was a great way to use up pink paper that I seldom use. The paper came from a paper stack.

Father's Day Card

2009-06-13T15:09:00.000-07:00

I made this one while ago, and thought I had posted it, so here it is.

Paperbag matchbook mini albums

2009-06-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

These mini books are such a pleasure to make. Here are an assortment of them, made with card stock, patterned paper and a few other embellishments. In each one there are 5 paper bags that hold a tag where a photo or journalling can be added.

Dorothy's card

2009-06-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

I made this card for a friend of mine who celebrated her 75th birthday yesterday. She really is a foxy lady!

Here she is with the delicious lemon birthday cake made by Daniel et Daniel

BABY CARDS

2009-04-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have been making cards like crazy and enjoying every moment of it. I was asked if I could make cards for a baby shower and a baptism. These are some that I made.

These first three were made for a baby shower. They already know it will be a little girl.

The next three were for a baptism. It is for a one year old boy.

The last two I made thinking the baptism was for the same baby as the shower cards. So they are now spare ones for some such occasion, but I will put them on Etsy to see if I can sell them there.

CARDS FOR SALE

2009-03-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have decided that it is time to sell my cards as so many people tell me I should! (And it wouldn't hurt to earn a little extra too!) I have put them on another blog for the time being, until I get a better stock together. Pass the link around to your friends to browse and if you are interested please let me know.

Thanks for looking!

http://makingmaryment.blogspot.com/

Sophie's Baby's ABC book

2009-03-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

My niece was due to deliver her baby last Sunday, and I am still awaiting news. I made this ABC book for the new little girl, but I can't send it until she is born and her name is official because I want to put it on the front cover.Thanks for looking

Back to card making

2009-03-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last card, and March is a busy month for celebrations. I had completely forgotten that last month it was my brother's 25th wedding anniversary, so I made a belated card.Then on the 14th it's my nephew's birthday. It may very well be his 25th too. He is living with my dad at this time, because my dad is becoming more of a risk to himself. So James agreed, or perhaps even volunteered to live with him.Finally a card for my sister who loves frogs. Thomas bought me some embossing envelopes for my birthday and so it was perfect when I saw the froggy one. I knew I had to make something with it for her birthday.

BLOGS OF INTEREST

2009-02-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

Throughout the years I have gathered many craft blogs in my favourites. Some I follow every day, others I check out now and then. I think I should share the blogs that I have found. So once in a while I'll list some under "BLOGS OF INTEREST"

Kath's Blog

Dawn's Stamping Studio

Kristina's Blog

Mel Stamps

Angie over at Chic'n Scratch

Well that should keep you busy.

Friend's birthday card

2009-02-01T18:37:00.000-08:00

February 6 is my friend Jill's birthday. We went to boarding school together and we are the same age, but I'm pretty sure she's gonna be pissed at me for putting her age on the card!!
I don't remember the last we saw each other. She now lives in Malta and crews on sail boats for a living. She is never in England when I go to visit. But we stay in touch with MSN, email, Christmas and birthday cards, and the odd call here and there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!

February 1st Layout

2009-02-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

So I made this page today and completely changed the papers that I had originally picked out. This one is much more vibrant. Yesterday I was at Walmart and picked up 2 paper packs that ususally sell for $20 each, but I got them for $5. There are some very lovely papers in there, hopefully I will get them used up.

This was the last night in Cuba. We had dinner with friends that we made down there. I took a couple of shots from the dining room window of the sun going down.

January pages

2009-02-01T17:41:00.001-08:00

Here are 2 trees that were on the grounds of the hotel I stayed in while in Varadero, Cuba

On the way to Havana we stopped of at a little place for drinks and something to eat. I just wandered the grounds and found this amazing gnarled tree.

Here is Beatriz taking a rest in the very hot sun. We saw so much of Havana thanks to one of the restaurant staff from our hotel who showed us around.

Christmas card layout

2009-01-28T17:31:00.001-08:00

Every year I take the cards that I receive for Christmas from family and friends and make a lay out with them.

I also make a page with the stamps, return addresses and air mail stickers.

This is this years pages.

Valentine Treats

2009-01-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

I decided to make Valentines chocolate gifts for the staff at work. I love how these turned out. Then I decided to make something for the kids. I work with all but 2 classes this year, so that is a lot of kids. when I finished I had about 150 little chocolate gifts. Then I thought that it would be better to use these as a fund raiser for the school. We have a Winter Concert coming up next month, so it would be a perfect time to sell them. I think I can ask $1 each, and hopefully we can make $150.

Boxes

2009-01-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

I've been finding joy in making boxes, lately, here are a few.

Happy Birthday Dad.

2009-01-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

On February 3 my Dad will turn 82. He is the only one from his own family left. His parents, step mum and both sisters died many years ago. His wife of 51 years died 4 1/2 years ago, and he now shares his home with Lucy, his faithful dog. My 2 sisters visit him weekly, my brother makes it there when he can, and all that I can do is call him once a week. We talk for about an hour, and often he has very little to tell me about, but I try to fill in the gaps with memories of old times, or stories of my kids at work.

So I made a card for him and will put it in the mail tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Dad.