Joining the Club!

I just had a most fantastic weekend!

On the heels of Stephen being away for the week, I thought I would need a break and invited my friend Leanne and my newly repatriated cousin Sharon over for the weekend to help with the kids and indulge in some scrappy goodness. It was an almost-sleepless, snack-filled, gourmet cooking, scrappy chat fest!
Sharon just moved back to Canada after spending 15 years in Northern Ireland, and while we've seen each other regularly in Montreal most summers, we've never had a girls' weekend together. I've always said that Sharon would LOVE to scrap, and that her artistic side would make her a natural!
I don't know many ladies who can be as proud of their first project EVER as Sharon can be of this layout! This page about Sharon and her hubby (also Stephen) on their way to see Lady Gaga is fantastic, don't you agree? Welcome to the scrapping world, Sharon! I know you'll take it by storm!

More on the pages and mini album I created this weekend coming up next.

Ooh la la la....

Have you heard the commercials? "It's better in the Bahamas!" Well, Stephen and I were able to experience that first hand this past week. Yes, we are each wearing a tan as our Halloween costumes today after just returning from a week in the sun. Here we are at our resort on Great Exuma island.

We took a day trip along the Exuma arparchipelago, a group of 365 tiny islands in the southern Bahamas. I have never seen water so blue. It feels like you can see forever. The weather was fantastic and our tour guide was full of knowledge about the history of the Bahamas.


We stopped at the island apparently owned by actor Nicolas Cage, where we fed grapes to iguanas who were very excited to see us. In the photo at left, this little guy is eating right out of my hand. It was a fabulous day.



We traveled with the same fantastic group that we went to the Rhine with last year, and our evenings were full of great functions, laughter, warmth and wine. The resort was stunning at night. We're home now, just in time for trick or treating! More on Halloween to follow soon.

Home Sweet Home mini album peek

Ages ago I took a class at Scrapalicious from Layle Koncar in which we created her gorgeous Home Sweet Home mini album. Back then we were still living in our former house and had no idea we would be moving! Isn't life full of surprises? Well, I've finally filled all the pages of this album and just need to journal.

It's a sweet and nostalgic trip to create this album from my new perspective of no longer living in this house. It was definitely a wonderful home for us, and we do miss it, although I would change our current home for the world! I'll have more to post of this album once I have a chance to do some - yes, get this - hand-written journaling! Stay tuned!

100 Photos of Fall

I had a blast this summer during the Scrapping Nook's 100 Photos of Summer challenge, and was thrilled to find out I won a Picture Keeper! Thanks to the Nook for helping me to capture our summer! I also submitted two of the photos I took during this challenge at our local fall fair, and won two ribbons!
This photo took second place in the people category, and my photo of Evan walking Merlin (or is it Merlin walking Evan??) won for pet photos! Now the Nook is hosting a Fall Foto Festival. Here's one of my first fall photos - the kids at school scooping out pumpkins for soup bowls.


I'll post more photos as the season progresses. If you are interested in taking part in this challenge, look here.

Rhine Cruise Mini Album

I've finished my Rhine travel album almost exactly a year after we returned from our Rhine River cruise. I have far more photos of our trip in a photo album, but for this mini I wanted to capture the most memorable shots of each city and country we visited.

This album was so quick and easy to put together, and literally any scrapper has the materials to make one of these sitting in their stash without so much as a trip to the LSS! Truly, it is simply three pieces of scored and folded cardstock embellished on both sides with photos and related elements.



The album is so much fun to look through. It's nice to open it up completely and get an overview of the entire album, but it folds back together quickly and easily for display.





It is also really easy to flip through it in sections to see each topic and read the journaling. IF you've never made an album like this before, I highly recommend it. It couldn't be quicker and simpler, not to mention easy on the supply budget! I'm sure this one won't be my last!

Leader of the Pack!

Our dude was quite proud of himself when he arrived home from Cubs the other night. He was selected to be Sixer - that's Scouts Canada speak for a leader within his Cub pack. This change is indicated by the new shoulder epaulet he is wearing with double green stripes. Doesn't he look sharp in his uniform? Way to go, Evan!

Rhine Cruise Mini Album peek

Last year this time Stephen and I were just getting back from our cruise of the Rhine River. This weekend I finished a mini album of highlights of the trip that I started quite a while ago. Here's a peek at the cover. I'll take more shots of the album in daylight and post them in the next few days. Stay tuned!

I've heard some fantastic things about Fall Scrapfest, which just finished up this weekend in Oshawa. Maybe the stars will align better this year and I'll be able to go. Scrapbooking combined with gut-busting laughter is always a good thing!

If you missed out on Scrapfest but are free this coming weekend, you may still be able to head over to Destination Create in St. Catharine's. I've attended this event in past years and it is an absolute blast! If you're going this year, I'm totally jealous. Have a great time, ladies!

We Are Family LOM Title Pages

Here are the Library of Memories title pages I created for each member of our family. I've left a journaling block on each page to add a personal note later. I used a similar format for each page, since I wanted a consistent look. The larger photo is 5 x 7 and the smaller are wallet prints. Here is Alicia's page. She was quick to point out to me that I'm not finished making title pages yet - I need to make one for Merlin! :-}


Vanessa's page is pink. I used Chatterbox's artsy.licious line for all of these layouts. I snapped quite a bit of it up so can make whatever additional title pages I decide I need in the future as I expand my Library of Memories.











I used Evan's title page the sneak peek in my last post. The large photo I used on this page is one of my favourite pictures of him ever.













I used a photo of me when we were on holidays in Jamaica a few years ago as the focal photo for my page. Hmmm, I feel like I am about due another tropical vacation any time now, don't you think? :-}










For Stephen's title page, the large photo is of him playing DJ at a New Year's Eve party a few years back. He's so totally in his element!

If you don't know what Stacy Julian's Library of Memories system is (and you have tens of thousands of photos on your hard drive - like me :-o ), take a peek here. I love the concept she has built around photo and scrapbook page organization.

I don't follow it to the letter, but I have used many of her processes to organize my pages and photos, making them so much easier to find. This class typically runs once a year at Big Picture Classes. I highly recommend it!

More Library of Memories Title Pages

To complement the four main category title pages I created for my Library of Memories last year, I've created individual title pages for each member of our family. These will be the first page in each of our albums. Here is a peek at Evan's. I have photos of each of the pages to post in the next few days.

I picked up a ton of artsy.licious paper when Scrapalicious had it on special at Scrapfest last year. I was thinking ahead to many more title pages I may have to make to organize my albums, since I do want all of the title page papers to come from the same collection.

BTW, if you're heading to Scrapfest this weekend, I'm totally jealous! Unfortunately we just have too much going on at this time of year, so I can't make it. If you're heading there, have a blast!

Oh, and if you're cropping, bring a crash helmet! :-}

Canvas Swatches

I took this class quite a while ago, but finally have photos to post! I love Donna Downey's style and spending time with her in a workshop was a wonderful learning experience. We created three altered pieces at Donna's Swatches workshop, and this one is my favourite!

I have quite a phobia about writing directly on my scrapbook projects. but Donna wouldn't let anyone use that as an excuse! We used India Ink - which is totally unforgiving - directly on these canvases. Yes, it was intimidating at first, but I love the result. I also love the stamped "I love you" in the puddles of paint.

In Donna's original design, the blue canvas was the only one with photos on it, but with the incredible backlog of photos I have, I decided to add photos to each of these canvases. The quote on this reads "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are".

This canvas with it's gorgeous golden orange colour is the perfect home decor item for fall. I chose the lyrics to Greatest Love of All for this canvas.








Here is a zoom of this canvas. It's on display in our the fireplace mantel in our family room right now.








Now our fireplace mantel is ready for fall! Ironically, we are having gorgeous, summer-like weather this long weekend. We even spent time in the pool this afternoon!







While I was shooting these photos, Merlin didn't want to be left out. Here he is, happily chewing on a toy while I take pictures. Isn't he just the cutest pup ever?

I hope that you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend.

A Peek at my Canvas Swatches

I mentioned a little while back that I finished the canvases I created at a Swatches workshop with Donna Downey. Here is a little peek at the three canvases I created at (and after) the workshop. I'm extremely happy with how they turned out, and have these to blame for my recent fascination with altered art!

I'll post a photo of each of these canvas swatches in the next few days.

Yes, it's Definitely Fall!

We definitely know that summer is over when hockey season starts! Practices and games are now in full swing and the girls sometimes accompany me (and my camera) to watch their big brother at the rink. Here are the two of them, watching and cheering on Evan's team during practice.

The other inevitability, along with Stephen being away frequently on business at this time of year, is homework! Fortunately our kids are good troopers when it comes to getting homework done regardless of what other activities we are running around to on a given day.

In the midst of all of this craziness, I did manage to scrapbook this weekend. My friend Leanne and I Skypebooked together into the wee hours, and I will finally have some projects to post this week.

On a scrapbooking note, I dropped in on Scrapalicious' final day on Friday and it was surreal to see the store almost empty of product and fixtures. The absence of Scrapalicious will be a big hole to fill in the scrapbooking community in our area. All the very best to Lancia, Mike, Virginia, Debbie, Pam and all of the wonderful Scrapalicious family. Although it will be strange not to be cropping at the store, we definitely have crop dates in our future! :-}

100 Photos of Summer

Over the summer months I participated in a photography challenge over at Scrapping Nook Ltd.. The challenge was called the Nook's Summer Photo Experience, and it involved attempting to capture a list of 100 photos related to summer.



I loved participating in this challenge because it forced me to think about summer differently and capture images I might not have otherwise even thought about. I managed to post a photo for 95 of the 100 topics!




I plan on creating a slide show of these images and listing the title of each photo and some background info on each image. Until I manage that, here is a peek at some of my favourites, or you can see my challenge thread here.

Back to School for Another Year

Now that summer is over for another year, it's time for back to school. This summer flew by so quickly, it's amazing! It was a summer of the best weather we've had in years, we did so much, visited so much and had so much fun! Now the kids are excited about the school year, and I love the routine it provides!

Our new family member, Merlin, has fit in like a glove! The kids are stepping up and taking responsibility for his daily needs, which is a great experience for them. I walk out to the bus stop with them every morning, and they love bringing Merlin along to show off to their friends on the bus.

The kids love their teachers this year (and so do I)! Last week we fell easily into the school routine - can you see the bus in the distance? This week our activities start - piano, dance, hockey. . . no scrapping for me this week. But I do have projects and photos to post, hopefully soon!

On the subject of scrapbooking, I'm sad to say that Scrapalicious has decided to close its doors. For the past six years, Scrapalicious has been a wonderful community of fantastic people, and saying goodbye to the store is like losing an old friend. I'm happy for Lancia and Mike in their decision to move on to other chapters in their lives, but the hole left by Scrapalicious will be hard to fill for so many wonderful people! Hopefully we'll still find ways to crop and visit together!

If you're looking for a great deal on scrappy products, tools, store fixtures, or even just want to see Lancia, Mike, Pam, Debbie or Virginia, head to Scrapalcious before the end of September.

Our Summer Continues

We are really making the most of summer 2011! Last night we returned from a wonderful visit to cottage country, where we swam, sunned, fished, ate and - believe it or not - I actually scrapbooked! Yes, in busy times like these, there's something to be said about unfinished class kits. . . and I have plenty to choose from!

After days in the sun, the kids slept while Stephen and I stayed up late watching Season 1 of LOST (to which we are now hopelessly addicted!) while I worked away at partially completed class projects I've brought home over the years. So guess what - I will soon have project photos to post!

I've finished these, made title pages matching these for each member of our family based on this class, and made fantastic headway on the Home Sweet Home album I started at this class.

Stay tuned for peeks at these, which I will post once this beautiful weather is gone, along with a synopsis of our annual family trip to Montreal!

What has made this summer sadly bittersweet is the sorrow that has befallen two of my good scrapping friends - Sue recently lost her mother-in-law to cancer, and Lori just lost her father-in-law to amyloidosis.

If you know Sue and Lori, you know that family plays a huge part in both of their lives, and I am so sorry for their losses. My family's hugs, thoughts and prayers go out to Sue, Lori and their families at this sorrowful time.

Making the Most of Summer

After a very rainy spring, we are having beautiful weather this summer, allowing us to spend a ton of time outdoors doing what we love. The kids are quite tanned after many hours in the pool. They just love water fights. The dog - not so much! He's definitely not going to be a swimmer.


The girls are honing their soccer skills at soccer camp this year, which has been a ton of fun. There are a number of good friends from school in our soccer league this year, so I'm not sure what the girls are enjoying more - the games or the after-game play time.


We just got back from our annual Montreal trip, where we had a fantastic time with many aunts, uncles and cousins. More about that will follow in a separate post - hopefully soon!

Enjoy your summer!

Talk About a Sale!

Scrapalicious has been know for years to offer the very best in new, exciting scrapbook supplies and fantastic prices. Well, here's a new twist - what's for sale is Scrapalicious!

Yes, Mississauga's favourite scrapbook store is up for sale. Are you in the market? Then you better snap up this fantastic gem before it's gone! Check out some images below, and look here if you are interested in more details.