Pure Sweetness

As you may recall, I did a digital layout of Pure Sweetness back in January.  As a last minute NavCan kit, I threw together a few things that would allow me to recreate this layout.  As great as digital is, I am still one who loves the lumps and bumps of the traditional layout.

the colours in this layout are exaggerated some, thanks to the flash.  The purples are not all that purple and some of the browns are not so dark.

On a side note - CONGRATULATIONS CANADA!!! 

I have always been so very proud to be Canadian for many reasons and now I add another.  To all of our Olympians - with a glowing heart - bravo!

You represented yourselves - and us - with pride.

 

February ATC

Here are the ATC's I made the other night.  Sadly, I wasn't able to drop them off to the Scrapbox for last nights trade so I will just consider myself a month early for the next batch.

I attached canvas to playing cards then gessoed for protection from moisture.  Using layers of paint and water, I built up the paint colours before adding the flower and journalling.  The background doesn't quite have the depth that I was hoping for but it was my first time so I will just have to try it again.  I only made 8 cards and little did I know when I started that it was going to take me 4 hours to complete them.  Next time .. something a little less time consuming. :o)

Woohoo!

well - - a half hearted 'woohoo' at least.  While I am finally functioning with a cell phone again after 3 weeks (less a day) without one, the phone that I am using sucks.  It took two weeks for Telus to order me a new Blackberry Curve and then , when i went to pick it up, they failed to mention that I was supposed to bring my damaged one so I left empty handed.  Then I got it in my head .... lets get the phone I really, really want and have wanted for some time now.  An iPhone.  So I am holding out, borrowing a friends old Blackberry Pearl (which I hate - pls dont text me. argh)  but at least I have a communication tool again.  In the meantime ... if you want to sell your iphone at a reasonable price, give me a shout!  lol

On the upside, I crafted last night.  I was in the mood for some assembly line stuff so I made 8 ATC cards.  The looked better in my head - and they werent as time consuming - but they are done and I am not unhappy with them.  I will post a couple of pictures over the weekend.

Speaking of which - - HAPPY FRIDAY.  Enjoy your weekend ahead.

Cherish each Moment

My feeble attempt and a digi-layout - - so much to learn.

~ Mom & Nana - Christmas 2009 ~

oh how I love them so

Before & After

Oh how i ** HEART ** photoshop and it's abilities.  The changes are not vast (there are 6) .... but they are definitely there. 

Before                                                                    

 

After                                                                      

Family Bracelet

I was inspired by what I found via a link on Ali Edwards blog a few weeks back. Thanks to a friend in the beading business, she hooked me up and ordered the charm I needed to complete my bracelet.  It was the perfect end to my NavCan weekend.   I narrowed down the words to my top 10 and K picked the one he thought was best suited for me. I took the bead idea from a chain and added that to my bracelet thus coming up with my new family bracelet. The pink swarovski crystal represents October (Hannah's birth month), the blue represents December (K's birth month) and the last one represents January - me.  I love the link chain but it is just not bracelet material although perfect for a necklace.  Within 5 minutes and whilst walking to the washroom, my bracelet went flying.  Those links just weren't made for walking, it seems.  Sadly, I had to give it back to Marlene but I know she will come up with a stronger solution so I can have the look I want.  I can't wait to get it back and wear it.  In the meantime, I have these photos to share and enjoy.

PS - it doesn't hurt that my best friend's birthday is also in December ... two birds with one stone to carry close to my heart. yay!

My Creative Escape

I was lucky enough to go for a creative weekend at NavCan.  After packing lightly for the first time ever - and thanks to the discovery of the page kits - I was more productive than I have ever been at any other crop.  Because I had to use what I had an there were no embellishments to sort through or ribbons to chose from, I completed 7 single layouts and 1 double.  That left me with 2 page kits that didn't get completed.  Not too bad, all in all  ... or I don't think, at least.  While my layouts have the simple look, I can't believe how time consuming most of them were.  Between the double page taking me all Friday night and a few that took a couple hours each due to time consuming elements, I wasn't as productive as I had hoped but alas ... I am not complaining.  I also could have produced on more layout Sunday afternoon but I made a family bracelet with the goodies I had ordered from Marlene the week before.  It is simple but effective. 

"For the Love of Dogs"

"Then & Now"

"1000 Islands"

"Life is not a destination, but a journey"

"The Good Life"

{one of the time consuming ones no thanks to the hand embroidered dog house}

"Friends"

{product challenge with Tanya}

"Play"

"Canon Girl"

{another time consumer.  lots of pictures to cut, organize and prioritize.  'canon' was originally white then hand coloured using india ink and a nib pen.  letters covered in glossy accents}

Tanya & I late Saturday nights

{wow - this puts a whole new perspective my hair issues.}

So there you have it.  My weekend of creating.  If it wasnt for the fact that we are still having issues with our plumbling, I would have hauled out that last page kit and created it.  Instead, I crawled into bed at 8:30 and laid their in silence until midnight-ish.  Tanya currently has the photo of my family bracelet so you will just have to peek back in at a later day.

Happy Family Day.

I've Been Liberated!

Tanya and I are going away to NavCan this weekend with some friends.  It is going to be my first time scrapping - - really scrapping - - since April 2009 (and even then I wouldn't considered that a scrapping weekend because truthfully, I got nothing done.)  I have to say though, I really am a tad overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed with the amount of things I have.  Overwhelmed with the preparation.  Overwhelmed with the process. Overwhelmed with the idea of creating.  I feel like the scrapping world has moved forward without me and I have to rediscover myself again.  In the beginning of 2009 I felt stuck.  Not sure where to go.  Not sure how to evolve in my creativity ... or if I even was at all.  Today I put some layouts away in their album and took a moment to look back at my earlier layouts.  While I can definitely see a change, I see alot of back and forth in my style.  Full pages to simple pages to full pages again.  Just before my hiatus, I was drawn to the simplier layout and find that I am still wanting to create with that style.  I am hoping to be able to make my layouts look creatively complete whilst embracing the white space. 

Wondering where I have been liberated yet?  In the past, when going away from these scrap-cations, my XXL tote was buldging at the seams.  My plastic Loblaws carrier (the purple ones) was almost spilling over.  I often had a shoulder bag to hold items.  My tool kit was an entity unto itself.  Well ladies ... i did it!!!!  It may be 3am but I did it, none the less.  My XXL tote is packed and there is even room to spare.  I have nothing in the 3 side pockets and there are no extra bags to bring along.  Of course, the tool kit can not be packed because of the style so I have to carry that.  I decided to jump on the "scrap kit express"  and sketched out the layouts I wanted to do.  I bought some 15.5" x 13" zip lock bags from Zellers and filled them up.  I have a total of 8 page kits and one mini album kit.  I put my kleenex box, MM Slice (and cartridges), my large cup for bringing icy drinks back to the room, Cuttlebug folders, all of my containers holding my brads, bling, eyelets, etc., and a few random things in my XXL tote.  (did i mention that i even have room to spare?)   Who knows if I will get through it all but at least I am good to go and completely prepared.  I will use what I packed and won't have lugged hoards of stuff for nothing.  The preperation is so much more but, in the long run, it really is easier.  I am so happy that I tried this and am now completely liberated.  From now on, kitting is the only way to go!

Now let the fun begin.  I had to take a family day today and have a personal day tomorrow.  Monday being Family Day, I don't have to go back until Tuesday.  A 5 day weekend .... who could complain about that?  Since my cell phone is fried from the flood (don't bother calling or texting ... I won't be able to get it until I get a new phone), I may just turn off the ringers and stay snug as a bug on Monday and create more. 

With that I bid you all a wonderful long weekend and Happy Valentines Day to those who celebrate.  In the meantime, BRACE YOURSELF, BLOGGERS.  My next post will actually contain layouts!

Happy Friday.

In the lingo of today's youth ... FML!

Okay ... seriously ... FML is a tad overdoing it when you consider disease and disaster but, in that perfect moment last night, FML was all I could think about.  (not up-to-date with the latest teen jargon ... read more here to get the just) 

Ready to settle down in front of the tv for a movie and supper (not just supper but the supper that I had been craving all week ... spaghetti loaded with parmesan cheese), K calls up to me while the pasta was cooking:

K - what the h*ll are you doing up there?  (very loud and urgently)                       

M - making supper                                                                                              

K - what are you DOING up there? (same tone *sigh*)                                       

M - why are you yelling up to me like that?  what does it matter?                          

(uh oh-what is that noise in the bathroom?)                                                   

I quickly run into the bathroom to see my floor completely covered in about an inch of water and still pouring out of the toilet.  Then I hear it .... the worst thing possible.  (okay .. maybe not the worst thing possible but I was living in that moment when I thought of it) 

K - your scrapbook stuff is getting ruined ....                       

OH-EM-GEE!!!  I panicked.  "screw the floors," I though.  "F*** the hardwood," I cursed.  And flying down the stairs I went. 

You see ... when a person doesn't really scrapbook for more than 9 months things pile up.  I am not a naturally neat person so it piled and piled and piled.  (clean, yes. neat ... not so much.  i would LOVE tips on how to stay clutter-free, btw.  someone help me.  ahhhh)  The only space that was functional on my large scrapping surface (I admit embarrassingly) was the computer space.  I moved fast to salvage what I could, reaching big items first.  My Slice .... survived.  My Cuttlebug .... good to go but for a disinfecting wipe.  Scenic Route paper - not so lucky.  So long to my 15 or so fave sheets of lined paper.  It was great having you Tim Holtz tickets and goodies.  Thankfully, alot of things were in photoboxes for storage so that is all that got ruined.  Many things were still in packaging also (which is scary since I havent really shopped since April '09 either) so the product was saved and pakcaging was thrown out.  My Donna Downey projects are a little water logged but survived none-the-less.  Sadly however, the death of my blackberry was inevitable.  I was using it just before I went to make supper and left it by the computer.  It really had no chance at all since it was in the line of fire, so to speak.  It was completely water logged.  My track ball now represented the letter 'Q' before it quit on me altogether.  I have dried it out and am hoping that when I go and plug it in, it will be all dry and functional.  I am not holding my breath though.  Because I am only 10 months into my 3 year term, all I can do is purchase a new one.  There is nothing to cover events like this.  Bye bye Red.  It was fun while it lasted.

In the meantime, we have learned that it was not the septic tank that backed up like we initially thought.  (huge sigh if relief since I thought I was full of 'stuff' from hurridly moving things about whilst being drenched from above.)  We now know that we can flush the toilet (thank gawd) and have quick showers but can not run the washing machine - as we learned after testing our theory in a controlled environment tonight.  Still not sure what is causing this to happen.  K is going to experiment more tomorrow and I will hopefully have things at full function soon.  Tomorrow's trip to the laundry mat isn't going to be fun.  yuck!

On the upside to my weekend, even though we had to cancel our Superbowl party due to lack of facilities, my team won.  **WOOT*WOOT**  Tonight is the first time in history that the New Orleans Saints made it to the Super Bowl.  Actually, it is the first time ever that they even made it that far.  What a fabulous win for them and the city if New Orleans.  I should clarify, however, that the NOS are not really 'my' team - they are simply the team that I picked for my annual challenge with Stéphanie and was solely picked because I love Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kim's beau Reggie Bush plays for them.  Whatever works, I guess. lol  Woohooo Chiqua-bella.  Better luck next year (and i missed you tonight, silly girl)  I look forward to having another Stay Funny Design to add to my collection.

As for the week ahead, it is a busy one.  Trips to the laundry mat, prepping and packing for NavCan, MIL having surgery (which wouldn't be such a big deal but for the fact that she has a really bad heart), TEACCH training at work and a bunch of little, every day things. 

Happy Monday to all. Here is to a week of productivity, uneventfulness, and fulfillment.

The Beauty of Photoshop

This fall I had the pleasure of photographing a friends backyard wedding. Being a very amateur photographer mixed with the fact that a wedding is a huge deal made me rather nervous. Adding to that the fact that the guests did not respect the 'photographers perspective' and were constantly getting in my way for those crucial shots (no first kiss, no ring exchange ... oy!) as well as the major confetti throwing at the end of the ceremony (the father of the bride not only threw confetti at them but walked up to the alter, dumped an almost full bag directly on top of the bride's head and proceeded to mush it in .... and all after I begged him not to do it. Unhappy photographer. Unhappy bride), I am very grateful to have the power of photoshop on my side. With cropping and actions and filters, I was able to salvage some shots and remove the confetti from all her pictures. A very time consuming task but I just couldn't "put my name on it" - not that I have a name - for others to see. Needless to say, I was cursing her father throughout most of the process.

Tomorrow I will be giving the newlyweds another cd that will include all of the changes I made. Hopefully they will be happy with them ..... and her father will hear about how many hours it took me to remove that *&$# confetti! Here are some of my happier choices. TFL

Enjoy your day.