Beautiful

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!

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

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

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

A new layout

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

 

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

Dad's upcoming birthday

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

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

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

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

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.