Remaining 2009 Calendar Pages

Our weather here has been absolutely fabulous the past several days! All of our snow is gone and I can't resist spending time during the afternoon on my balcony where it has been a glorious 20 degrees Celcius each day.
While I was browsing through my blog, I realized I had never finished posting my calendar pages from the calendar I had made for my husband and I last year. I have posted them here however I can't remember all the products I used. I am very sorry that I can't include the recipes with these. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

July Page:
For this page, I used pictures of my children when they were very young.

October Page:

This page features pictures of my fur-baby's first Halloween in 2006. The 'princess' is Angel and the 'fireman' is Zeus.

November Page:

For this page, I was inspired by an article and photo submission in a Canadian Scrapbooker magazine. One day while I was babysitting my grand-daughter Kasey, I took her outside to play in the leaves and explore the colours of autumn. These are some of the pictures I took of her that day.

December's Page:

Once again, I chose pictures of my children from years ago. These were taken on Christmas 1986, my daughter's very first Christmas.

Thank you for stopping by to have a peek.

Hugs, xoxo

2S4Y, Cupcake Craft Challenge & MSW

I love trying to participate each week/month in several of the various blog challenges that are out there. It is an added challenge when you want to try and make a couple of the challenges go together into 1 item. This week was no exception, but as an added bonus I found I was able to roll 3 different blog challenges all into 1 card...whoo hoo!! Kazan at 2 Sketches 4 You provided the sketch for the card, Cupcake Craft Challenge provided a specific detail that had to be found on the card, and Alecia at My Sketch World provided the "recipe" for making the card. When you have a few moments, be sure to check out each of these blogs. You will find a never ending pool of inspiration at each of them.

Kazan's Sketch 47:


Cupcake Craft Challenge 80 - Round & Round. "We want to see lots of circles..."

MSW - Alecia's Recipe Card Challenge:
Make a card using the following items - atleast 1 hole cut out, atleast 2 patterned papers, ribbon and atleast 1 button.

Here is my efforts on Kazan's sketch 47, Cupcake Craft's Challenge 80 - Round & Round and Alecia's Recipe Card Challenge:

2010 Scrap-A-Thon

MSW Sketch-a-thon was a month long challenge where diffent sketches were posted every day for the first 20 days in the month. We then had until March 3rd to upload them into the Gallery and onto each specific challenge thread. I had a lot of fun doing these challenges and sketches but I only managed to complete a few of them.

Lucy's Sketch:

My take on the sketch:

I totally enjoyed making this card! The garden hose and water are heat embossed and the plant was stamped with a glue pad then glittered up. I paper-pieced all the clothes, even her Crocs and the scarf on her hat.

Recipe:

HOTP papers

Stampendous embossing powder

CTMH "Ms Gardener" & "Say It In Style" stamp sets, inks, and water colour pencils.

Lucy's Sketch:

My take on the sketch:

Recipe:

Prima Flowers

Creative Memories pens, templates and letter stickers

Unknown cs, die-cuts and pape

Lucy's Sketch:

Here is my take on the sketch:
I had to alter this one a bit because the sketch was designed for a 12 X 12 page and I was working on an 8-1/2 X 11. It is not one of my favourites for sure.

Recipe:

Creative Memories Vellum Title

Everything else is Unknown

Thanks for stopping in for a peek.

Hugs xoxo

Back Into The Swing Of Things

Hi All!
I know I have been away for a very long time but I am hoping things have settled down enough that I can get back into the 'groove' of things. Between my son, daughter, grand-daughter, husband and myself, our whole family has had such a long stretch of colds and illnesses that I was beginning to wonder if we would ever break out of it...lol. I also took some time to concentrate a bit on my CTMH business and finally have my first Stamper 6 Group up and running which I am very excited about. I am working with such a super group of women and look forward to each of our get-togethers with gusto.
Anyway, on to today's cards............
My good friend Darcy Magbanua asked me if I would be interested in hosting a workshop at this year's annual Scrap For Heart. This is a huge event each year with all the proceeds going to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I said "sure" and began my search for what I would do for this. Naturally I began checking my fave blogs and it turns out this was perfect timing! This month My Sketch World is hosting their 2010 Sketch-a-thon. From February 1 - 20, Lucy will post a different sketch each day, rotating between card sketches and layout sketches. You have until March 3 to upload your creations to have your name entered into the drawing for a chance at some super prizes. So, I used a couple of Lucy's sketches to make my workshop samples AND I am able to enter them into the Sketch-a-thon contest. I love it when I can combine 'challenges'. Well, you only have 45 minutes for your workshop at Scrap For Heart and that has to include set-up and clean-up time. This only leaves you with 25-30 minutes TOPS for the actual creating....YIKES!! Because of this time frame and the fact that I have never put on one of these before, I have kept the card the participants will make very simple; I just hope it isn't too simple. The first card in this post is the one the participants will actually make. The second card is another sample to show the participants a variation on how it can be done.

CARD SKETCH: FEB. 16th by LUCY CHESNA of MY SKETCH WORLD

MY TAKE ON THE SKETCH:

RECIPE:

Close To My Heart - "Flower Child" & "Say It In Style" stamp sets, ink, cardstock and patterned paper

Unknown - daisy flower and ribbon

CARD SKETCH: FEB. 2nd by LUCY CHESNA of MY SKETCH WORLD

MY TAKE ON THE SKETCH:

RECIPE:

Close To My Heart - cardstock, purple plaid patterned paper, button, fibers, ink and "Flower Child" & "Say It In Style" stamp sets

Hot Off The Press - pale purple patterned paper

Unknown - ribbon and bling

I will be back after Scrap For Heart to share my new layouts with you which, will of course, be made using more of Lucy's fabulous sketches. Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Hugs xoxo

August Sketch Challenge Voting

Hi All:
So Sketchy has posted the page with all of the August creations on it as well as the rules for casting your vote for the best creation in August. Just click on the link It's Voting Time and you will be taken to the post where you can cast your vote. The voting will remain open until Thursday, September 10 at 10:00pm MST. Stop by there and check it out.
Hugs, xoxo

So Sketchy August Sketch Contest

I managed to get a few pages and cards made in August and I was able to use some of them to double up on some challenges too. My Sketch World hosted their ABC Summer Crop during the entire month so I combined a couple of the August sketches from So Sketchy with the "recipe" from MSW and uploaded my creations to both blogs. I LOVE it when I can combine challenges because I have more time to spend on each creation. AND So Sketchy is trying something new .... the winner of their August Sketch Contest will be picked by YOU! The deadline for sending in our entries was Sept.4th which means that Allison will be posting the entries and voting rules anytime. Once she does that, I will post the direct link for the specific post on my blog. So, be sure to hop over to Allison's So Sketchy blog to have a look at all of the fantastic entries and don't forget to cast your vote for your favourite.

Here are all of my entries for the August sketch contest. (Allison doesn't allow anyone to post her sketches on their blog so above each of my creations you will see a link to the specific sketch on her blog.)

Sketch August #4

Sketch August #7

This was my calendar page for August.

Sketch August #9

Sketch August #11

This is September's calendar page.

Thanks so much for stopping by to have a look at some of my creations. I hope to see you again soon. Hugs xoxo

2 Sketches 4 You Laura's #33

Laura was in charge of providing the sketch this week over at 2 Sketches 4 You and what a great sketch it is. I really enjoyed doing this one. Here is her sketch:

And here is my take on it:

I also used this card for the V=Violet chanllenge over at My Sketch World in their ABC Crop. I will be back to post more in a day or so. Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs xo

Cupcake CC Birthday & 2S4U Kazan's #33 & MSW P=Patterned Paper Challenge

I finallay found some time to work on one of Kazan's sketches over at 2S4U I had not submitted anything all summer, so I figured I should get back to 'normal' and I decided I would give her sketch #33 a try. I just loved this sketch when I saw it, and I was able to make a card to use for 3 challenges all at once. This card was perfect for the challenge at 2S4U, of course, MSW "P=Patterned Paper" Challenge and Cupcake Craft Challenges "Happy 1st Birthday" Challenge.


Here is Kazan's #33:

And here is my take on it:Recipe: All patterned paper is from DCWV Sweet Stack, CTMH "Cupcake Sprinkles" stamp set and inks, Prima flowers, Ranger Stickles, Offray ribbon and Kaisercraft Pearls.

Cupcake Craft Challenge is having their Blog's 1st Birthday Celebration this week and the prizes they are giving away are AMAZING. Each member of their Design Team is giving away their own blog candy plus CCC also has their own prizes. Pop on over to the CCC blog and read all about it.
The P=Patterned Paper challenge at the MSW Forum required that you make a card using atleast 3 different patterned papers, so again this card was perfect.
Thanks for stopping by :)
Hugs xoxo

Guest Designer Spot at My Sketch World.

Where has the summer gone?? I can't believe we are over half way through August already. Whew, has this ever been a busy past few months! I am sooooo far behind on my posts and I have soooooo much to share with you. First, my huge news :) I was asked by Lucy Chesna from My Sketch World if I would be a Guest Layout Designer for August!! Naturally, I said YES. I was so excited when I got her email, I could hardly contain myself. She sent me the sketch I was to follow and I also had to write a short bio about myself.

Here is the sketch Lucy sent me:

Here is my take on Lucy's August 1st layout sketch:

In addition to being a Guest Designer, I also had to choose a "job" on the MSW Forum and do it from August 1 - 15. I decided I would do the "Gallery Pick of the Day". Each day, I had to browse the MSW Gallery and choose atleast 1 layout and 1 card that a member had made and then write a post in the forum featuring their creations. Even though it was pretty difficult to make my choices, I LOVED doing it and was sorry when my term was over. If you get a chance, stop by MSW and check it all out. The talent over there is amazing. Lucy is fantastic and all of the girls are just fabulous. I have made many friends there and I enjoy chatting with each of them. Right now, they are having an ABC Summer Crop during the whole month of August. The crops are always tons of fun and the prizes are super. Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs xoxo

I Won My First Scrapbooking Blog Challenge!!!!

I know I have been away for quite a while, and I do apologize for that but I have been super busy participating in various challenges over at My Sketch World. Lucy Chesna is the creator of this blog and her and her DTs post some amazing challenges on the MSW Forum every month. Well, back in May there was a challenge posted on the MSW Blog by Tara Thynne and the challenge was called "In Stitches". Tara asked you to "do some hand stitching on your layout!! Be brave and try this easy to do technique. You can use any of Lucy's featured sketches as the foundation of your layout. Load your layouts in the gallery and email it to me." Needless to say, the hand stitching intrigued me so I decided to give it a try. Here is the layout I made and entered:

Here is a close-up of the hand stitching I included on my layout:

I used a Bazzil template and I am hooked on the hand stitching. I have since bought another set of templates, this time with Swirl Borders, and I am anxious to get some use out of those very soon. But, there is more........Guess what?? On June 15th, I found out from Tara that I had won this challenge!! I was sooooo excited when I heard that. I haven't received my prize yet, but I sure can't wait to see what I won. Tara kept the prize a secret so I will have to wait for it to arrive before I can share it with you.

Well, as it is 11:52 pm and I have an early morning tomorrow, I am going to head off to dreamland for now but I have a LOT more news to share with you about My Sketch World.

I will be posting more news about the happenings at My Sketch World so be sure to keep checking in. Until we chat again.....Hugs xo

2 Sketches 4 You Ultimate Card Challenge

Have you heard about the Ultimate Card Challenge happening this month over at 2 Sketches 4 You? If not, then you have got to check it out! This is the sketch that Laura provided for us this week...
....and here is my take on it. I even used a NEW product (new to me anyway) on my card this week. It is called "Flower Soft" and boy do I like it. It gives you some fantastic dimension and can be used anywhere on your project. I have it in 3 different colours so far...lol. Did you also notice my glitter spiral and rhinestones. If you know me, you know I LOVE sparkly bling.

Here is a close-up of that swirl.

And, here is a close-up of the Flower Soft. I used the Fushia Flower Soft on this card.

Recipee:

De Ja View green paper

Fushia Flower Soft

Stampin Up "Spring Song" stamp set

Prima Flowers & Unknown glitter

HOTP vellum

Time 4 Crafts purple paper, ribbon & rhinestones

CTMH watercolour pencils

Thanks for stopping by to take a peak at my creations.

Hugs, xo

365 Cards Day 92 & Cupcake Crafts # 42

This week I wanted to try the challenge over at Cupcake Crafts, especially since their challenge was "Fairies" and I recently bought some very nice Fairy stamps. When planning out this card, I decided to use the sketch for Day #92 over at 365 Cards...2 challenges, 1 card.
So, here is the sketch...
.... and here is my card. Can you see the glitter for the fairy's 'pixie dust trail'?

Here is a close-up of the fairy I used and the glitter trail.

Recipee:

Inkadinkado "Beauty Fairies" stamp set

HOTP vellum

De Ja Views paper

Unknown glitter

Time 4 Crafts rhinestones & purple ribbon

Sheer Creations yellow ribbon

CTMH watercolour pencils

Thanks for stopping by to check out my cards.

Hugs xo