Canadian Scrapbooker Spring 2008

I was happy to receive my copy of the newest Canadian Scrapbooker magazine this week, as I have a layout featured in it. This page highlights the crazy antics of our kids just before Easter a few years ago, when they spent a ton of time putting together a collection of bright, colourful Easter cookies which they then had absolutely no interest in eating. I love this magazine, since it features exclusively Canadian artists. Congrats to all of the fellow scrapbookers I know who are also featured in this issue.

Five is Fun!

After celebrating the girls' birthday all week at Disney World, we kept the celebrations quite low key here at home. We had some family over for cake and a small party, sang Happy Birthday and the kids entertained the grandparents with all of their Disney World tales. The cake had Disney princesses on it, naturally!
Later in the week, we headed out one night for a family skate at a local rink. Well, it was a family skate, all right! For a good part of the night, our family had the whole rink to ourselves. It was a great way for the girls to practice, and they are getting quite good. Evan didn't stop the whole time, of course, not even for a photo or two!

Can you believe that it's been five years already? Happy Birthday, sweet girls!

Catching Up

Now that we are back to our routine after our Disney trip, I'm trying to get caught up on the Scrap Away Your Winter Blues Challenges at Scraptivity. I'm still working on Week 4, while the others are already working on Week 6. For Week 4, the challenge was to create a vintage looking layout using distressing. I used tearing, sanding, inking and crackle paint to create this layout.
The layout's photo, which is of my father and two of my uncles, would have been taken around 1925. My Dad, the eldest boy, is in the centre. They grew up on a farm, and it wasn't an easy life. Sadly, Tom died in his early 20s in a farming accident, and my Dad passed away about 20 years ago.

Nick is the oldest remaining living sibling, and he will be 91 years old this year. I love this photo since it gives a glimpse of the boys when they were young and spent a lot of time together, something they were unable to do as adults.

I received this photo, along with many of the other photos of my Dad's childhood, from my cousin Phyllis in Texas. I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to scrapbook them.

A Cure for the Common Cold!

If all of this cold weather and snow is getting you down, you may want to do what we just did! A trip to Walt Disney World in Florida will cure literally anyone of their winter weather blues! For the past week or so, I've been doing my blogging from Orlando. It was our first Disney trip as a family, and it was truly fantastic. Perhaps the weather wasn't perfect, but it was warm enough for lots of fun!
We stayed at Disney's Polynesian Resort, just a quick boat ride across the lagoon to Magic Kingdom, our favourite of the four parks. We visited all of the parks as well as Downtown Disney, and managed to meet some of the kids' favourite characters. Minnie and Cinderella were the biggest hits with the girls, and Evan was excited about meeting Buzz Lightyear and the Incredibles.
While I haven't yet worked my way through the 1000+ photos that we took on the trip, I've added a few fun moments here. I was quite pleased to see how well Disney delivers on their promises, with wait times minimized much of the time, characters available everywhere, and staff - or cast members - who really recognized special occasions, like the girls' birthday, at every turn.
Next time around, I definitely will bring my DSLR. I really missed it; and I realized that I shoot in manual more than I thought. My hubby felt it would be too much to carry around and it might limit our ability to go on some of the rides as a group, but in the end, it would have been fine. I'm going to add more photos when I get a moment, so stay tuned for more Disney. It was truly an awesome trip!

A Love Story

I had a wonderful time putting together this mini album with Basic Grey's Two Scoops papers and stamps this month with my Scrapalicious DT kit. The paper collection is truly so versatile, and I found it perfect for this album of favourite photos I put together of a recent family wedding. The album itself is a mix of two different chipboard albums from Basic Grey.
I used the Scallop and the Bracket albums, alternating pages, and I like the variety and little peeks at the upcoming pages that it added. Other than the Heidi Swapp chipboard and American Crafts velvet alphabets, the Bazzill cardstock and a few of the ribbons, everything remaining in the project is Basic Grey. It was my first time using Basic Grey clear stamps, and I must say I love them!
I used the Sweet Sentiments stamps, which match the Two Scoops die cuts and are simply beautiful. They stick to stamping blocks very nicely and stamp very crisply too. The words "Love" and "cherish" (left) are stamped first in teal Staz-On, then again with a The Essential Glue Pad, both by Tsukineko, and then sprinkled with Art Glitter. I like the nice subtle sparkle it adds.
Since the colours the couple chose for their wedding were pale pinks and greens, these photos simply wouldn't stop calling my name when I came home with this kit. There are 7 pages, 14 sides and 14 photos in this album, and while it did take a while to put it all together, I have to say that this is probably one of my favourite scrapping projects ever. I kept the journaling minimal in this album, as I am pleased with the photos I took at this wedding, and wanted them to tell the story. I love that smaller albums make a group of photos so quick to look through, while being both unique and beautiful. As you can see, I've become completely enamoured with mini albums lately, and I'm sure there will be more to come.

An Edmonton Visit

I mentioned in my previous post that I took some photos in the house I grew up in, which is now for sale. Here I am with my Mom and my brother in that familiar kitchen. The decor has changed, but the memories remain. I put together my first childhood scrapbook on the floor of that kitchen, with a construction paper book as my album and Elmer's white school glue for adhesive.
I'm sad to see it go, but the house has just become too large and too much work for my Mom, and the time was right to put it on the market. It will be strange to visit Edmonton and not have it to come home to.

While I was home, I managed to hook up with my girlfriend Heather who - I can't believe - I haven't seen for almost 20 years!
I also spent time with my oldest and dearest friends, Cathryn and Mark. They, along with my dear friend Mary, tolerated my sentimental cravings - I don't have access to Earl's or the Olive Garden at home! And thanks so much to Connie for introducing me to yet another Edmonton must-see, Treasured Memories. It has aisle after aisle of awesome product. I'll definitely be back!

Pikachu!

For Week 3 of Scrap Away your Winter Blues at Scraptivity, we were challenged to draft our own sketch, and then create a layout from it.

This was a great exercise for me. Typically I don't work from sketches, but Wow! This layout came together extremely quickly using one. It think I may be giving more sketches a try!

This is an older photo of Evan, who has always had a fascination with the Pokeman character Pikachu. He was captivated by a little Pikachu keychain we had when he was a baby, and now, the obsession continues with Pokeman cards.

The journaling on this layout talks about a humourous slip of the tongue - asking to play Pikachu, rather than Peek-a-boo! I think it was a sign of things to come!

If you are interested, I posted my sketch in the S! gallery here. It's hand drawn and rough, but it worked. I think that if I am going to be doing more sketches, I really need to start learning Photoshop!

Chillin'

In contrast to the icy cold weather I experienced during my second trip to Edmonton in January, I arrived home to a balmy six degrees celcius and absolutely no snow.

Well that didn't last long. We were blasted with a winter storm (by Ontario standards, anyway!) and a whole lot of snow. This made the kids extremely happy. Over the weekend they created this masterpiece of a punk rocker snowman. I'm not sure what I like most, his green mohawk hairstyle or his dangling earrings! What do you think?

He's still in one piece so far, but I don't think he'll be sticking around for too much longer. The warm air and sun just won't let him chill!

Here's the Scoop...

I'm just finishing the mini-album I've been working on with my Scrapalicious DT kit. It's a wedding album, and the yummy Basic Grey Two Scoops collection is the perfect complement to any love story.

Sneak a little peek here. More will follow very shortly, so be sure to check back!

On the Street...

Whenever I plan a trip to Edmonton, I inevitably slip in a good excuse to drive by the very first apartment I lived in on my own. I loved living here so much!

It's called Annamoe Mansion.

Nowhere else I've lived had the same degree of character and style. It had a wonderful dark wood staircase with a red carpet runner down the centre. My former living room window is in the lower left corner, behind the green sign. My suite had a wonderful view of the river valley, a sunroom and an old-fashioned, clawfoot bathtub.

As each older building on the street is purchased by large development firms and torn down to make way for high-rise condominiums, I wonder - each time I look at this building - whether I will ever see it again. Upon my arrival this time I saw the scaffolding along the building's front, and thought for certain that its days were numbered. I then realized, however, that the construction is happening at the building next door, and that the sidewalk is simply covered for pedestrian protection from overhead hazards. So Annamoe Mansion is safe - at least for a while.

One day, I know I'll walk down the street where I lived, and this building will sadly be gone.

On the topic of residential history, a difficult moment during my Edmonton trip was watching the house that I grew up in be listed for sale.

First we sat with my Mom and the real estate agent and went over all the details of listing the only house she and my Dad ever owned. We then drove over to the house and wandered slowly through its empty rooms, all the while reminiscing about the orange and brown 1970's kitchen curtains and the original print carpet that adorned the living room.

I left the street that day with quite a feeling of melancholy. I will post a few more photos of my childhood home sometime soon. I expect that I have already set foot in it for the last time.

So Very You!

Our second assignment in the Scrap Away the Winter Blues challenge at Scraptivity was to create a layout featuring journaling. My page tells of Alicia's fun-loving nature and her knack for making people laugh. I just adore the little stickers on the bottom of her ballet slippers in this photo!
I've found the entries for this challenge both diverse and creative. More about, (or join in) this great challenge here.

Teddy Bears' Picnic

I get around. I mean it.

In January I made not one but TWO trips to Edmonton. The first, planned. The second, sadly, was to attend the funeral of my dear friend Cathryn's father. On that second trip, I was in Edmonton all of 25 hours. So, while it's been longer than usual between blog posts lately, there's been a good reason for it.

During this time, I've scrapped, I've taken photos, I've worked on my latest DT creations for Scrapalicious, and I've slept occasionally. I have LOTS to post, and I'm finally starting to get caught up now, though.


Thanks for being patient with me.

So in the interim, I'll leave you with this adorable photo of my dear nephew Jared and the favourites from his gigantic collection of Teddy Bears. He was taking them all for a ride around his living room. Not one could be left behind. His favourite - a panda - is unfortunately hidden from view in this photo. Is he adorable, or what? And he sings a mean Mighty Machines!

I'll be back with more scrap-happy stuff as soon as I can catch my breath!

Once Again, We've Got Class!

My friend Leanne and I spend a few fun filled hours last weekend at a great class over at Cherished Scrapbooks, taught by award winning scrapper Vicki Boutin.

We put together three layouts using Scenic Route's new Loveland collection, we foiled, we glittered, and we laughed a whole lot. If you ever have a chance to attend one of Vicki's classes, you simply must go for it! It's a blast, and you learn so much while you're there - about Disney World, Tai food, marshmallows and - of course, scrapbooking!

I will post the layouts I created at the class once I finish adding photos and titles to them. In the interim, check out Vicki's blog by peeking here. It will always bring a smile to your face!

Thanks, Vicki, for a fantastic time!

Winter Blues?

So, in all of my spare time ;-) I've decided to join in on the Scrap Away Your Winter Blues Challenge over at Scraptivity! I'm truly not sure where I'll find the time, but one week into the challenge, I'm keeping pace! Here's my layout for the first challenge, which was to use four different stamps from the same set. I used four stamps from Gel-a-tins Build your own Flourish set, along with 2 other Gel-a-tins sets and one EK Success set here.

Journaling says: Vanessa, when you were 2 years old, all you wanted for Christmas was a penguin. You learned about penguins from the movie Madagascar. I knew that when you opened this present you would be thrilled - and you were. The look on your face was absolutely priceless! The arrival of Douglas - December 25th, 2005, Vanessa 2 years old.

Two Scoops, Please!

While it's not ice cream weather right now, I can't wait to sink my teeth into Basic Grey's new Two Scoops collection. Here is a glimpse at the DT kit I am playing with for Scrapalicious this month. The colours are reminiscent of delicious ice cream scoops, and they're so perfect for Valentine's Day. Stay tuned for creations with this cool kit - coming soon!

Tagged Again!

I've been tagged by my friend Angie and asked to post 5 random and weird things about myself. Since I was previously tagged with a similar request here, I tried to come up with a new list of even weirder things than I had previously mentioned. What do you think - did I do a good job?

1) Since Angie's post mentioned Habitant Pea Soup, here's a tidbit about how we use it in our house. We have invented a meal called Soup and Patty, which consists of a spicy Jamaican meat patty, cut into bite size pieces and dipped into a hot bowl of Habitant Pea Soup. Mmmmmm - it may sound weird, but it's a staple around our house! Don't knock it until you try it.

2) On the topic of weird food combinations, I love to dip hot buttered popcorn into soft serve ice cream. Do it with the popcorn really hot - so tasty!

3) When I moved to Ontario, I quickly dropped many of my western colloquialisms because I was teased endlessly when I used them. One favourite word I have eliminated from my vocabulary is the word "parkade". Really, it's so much more efficient than saying "parking structure", don't you agree? On my recent trip to Edmonton, I saw the happy word within moments of my arrival.

See - I didn't make it up!

4) You all probably already know that I used to play the accordion, so I can't use that weird fact, but I can add that I know how to Irish dance - yes, just like Riverdance!

5) I received a Cuttlebug for Christmas, but haven't had time to take it out of the box yet! Is that weird? Maybe this weekend?

Angie has already tagged my friends Mary and Jen R, so I am tagging Howard & Trish, Tara C, Heather V, Angela and Vanessa. Here are the rules.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Don’t break the chain!

Get blogging, folks!

We Were Rocked!

If you haven't had a chance to see We Will Rock You yet, try to fit it in. I saw it a little while ago, and found the performance a lot of fun and the music fantastic! I went with a group from work, and a few scrapping buddies came along too. We had a great dinner before the show, and I still have Queen music in my head to this day.

We were definitely rocked!

Got Class?

In October 2007, I had a great time at Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids, where I took two classes from awesome New Zealand scrapper Nic Howard. I posted one project earlier here, and said I would post the other layout once I completed it. Well, here it is, and I am thrilled with it! Vanessa's outfit in this photo goes so perfectly with the florals on the layout. The journaling on this page talks about how serious she gets about playing dress up.

Earlier in the year I attended the Divine Design event at The Scrapping Nook, and I've finally finished my layout from Jen Backler's class. It's a fun 2-page layout featuring paper that I adore, Cosmo Cricket.

This layout highlights the people I love most in the whole world, my hubby and kids, and it's appropriately titled Loves of My Life. I can't remember the last time I did a 2-pager, but I love this one. Thanks so much, Jen!

On the topic of classes, I'm really looking forward to playing with Scenic Route's Rockland collection at the next class I am taking later this month. It's being taught by the amazing Vicki Boutin, who is not only incredibly talented, but a total barrel of laughs as well. Vicki, I'm completely looking forward to it. So stay tuned for more class layouts, sometime soon!

A Peek at our Holidays

Our Christmas holidays were wonderful, and we managed to squeeze a lot of activities into our time off. Together with celebrating the reason for the season, we have a number of other annual family traditions. We always set out cookies for Santa, and race over to the cookie plate on Christmas morning to check whether Santa visited and ate his treats. Of course, he always does!
One of the girls' favourite gifts this year was a beautiful white satin wedding gown. They love taking turns walking down the aisle, and playing maid of honour on alternate turns. Here Vanessa is the blushing bride, and Alicia plays her best friend, maid of honour and flower girl in one. Notice the rose petals scattered on the floor!

Evan was big into SpongeBob this year, as well as the toy of the moment - Bakugan. His overall favourite gift, though, was our new aquarium. We're lucky enough to have a cousin who works at a pet store that specializes in fish, and his whole family participated in selecting our very first fish tank. The kids were over the moon!
Having a birthday close to the holidays often means taking a back seat to other Christmas activities. My sweet hubby and the kids made certain that didn't happen to me this year. We spent the whole day together; saw The Bee Movie, sang Happy Birthday, and had a wonderful chocolate cookie cheesecake for dessert that night. Who could ask for more? Happy Birthday to me!
We took advantage of all of the extra Family Skate times at this time of year, and went skating a number of times together. The girls are getting better with each skate! Evan, of course, was skating circles around all of us, and loved playing tag and skating backwards. We also managed to get the sled out to the local hill before the warm weather came and melted away all of the snowy fun!

Visiting with family and friends, getting used to our new fish, eating up the gingerbread house, reading (and a touch of homework here and there) and getting the house back in order also kept us busy throughout the holidays. I even fit in a bit of scrapbooking too!


We've had a wonderful visit with my Mom, and will sure miss her when she heads home at the end of the week. I guess like all good things, even great holidays must come to an end!

New Scrapalicious Designs

Here they are - my first layouts for 2008. These were created for Scrapalicious using the American Crafts Metropolitan collection papers and Fancy Pants' fantastic 12" x 12" felt shapes. If you haven't tried the felt yet, it is thick and sturdy and wonderful to work with. This page features a photo from last summer of Alicia and her eternal companion playing in the sandbox. If we let her, she would take that bear absolutely everywhere with her. You are never alone when you have a Teddy!
In October of last year, I was lucky enough to have taken engagement photos of my brother-in-law Justin and his beautiful fiance (who is now his wife), Rosa. I was thrilled to have the opportunity, and I managed to capture a number of photos that I really treasure. The fall colours of the kit I was working with this month were just perfect for my favourites from that photo shoot. Here I added a bit of sparkle with Doodlebug's sugar coated paper and my new Quickutz Metro font.
Here's is another favourite from the shoot, and I couldn't resist enlarging it, since I really love the white space that the brick wall provides. It seemed to be calling out for the title to be placed right on the photo.

I was really happy to get a good scrapping kick start to the New Year. I hope that this productivity is a sign for 2008. As another little resolution, I've also created a Life List, with my friend Tara's encouragement.I'll post more about that soon, so stay tuned!