wall words

my next project - some vinyl cuts. I've done the top two lines for my friend Kim at Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge and the bottom two for me. I love vinyl!

Adore

Love this photo of Jamie, my baby girl. The photo is one from her wedding last year, wish I could have seen her for myself! I made this page for a challenge to use many pictures on a page. I thought this photo was ideal to turn into a mosaic. The background paper and tags are from Creative Memories. Adore cut from my Home Decor cart.

A little creating finally

I feel like I've been spinning my wheels since the holidays - got a bit of my groove on this week finally.

Here is a page from just a FEW years ago! This is my dear friend Betty Anne with me. We  have known each other for 35 years. We've lost touch a few times over the years but always manage to reconnect. Now through the beauty of Facebook, we're in permanent contact again, YAY! In the summer of 1980 we went to visit my parents in Kelowna and enjoyed a week of partying and drinking and sunning on the beach. Good times, good times...

I also managed to get a card done for another challenge - i love the pearl centers on the flowers...

Creative Zone today...

Okay, I'm realizing I'm not using my space effectively and therefore, well, I'm just not using my space. I have to get it in order so I have the desire to be in there. I'd like to dedicate a couple of hours each morning to working in that room, and wow will I be on top of my crafts!

My $5 pair of shelves

One year ago...

My daughter and SIL just celebrated their first wedding anniversary on January 6th - which also happens to be my niece Jodi's birthday (Happy Bday Jodo). The two eloped in Victoria (planned elopement, just the two of them) and then returned to a party the  next day. TRIVIA TIME: Victoria, BC is the elopement capital of Canada.

I am reminded of the fun we had making things for the party. Jamie wanted a winter theme - she said she wanted to bring the outdoors in, so wanted white, silver and blue. Throw in a touch of red for a pop.

The invitations were made using a pre-cut petal card ins a soft blue-grey. The invitation was printed on white stock framed in red for inside. The lettering was printed in black with the monogram in red. Finally, the invitation was tied with a 3/8" ribbon and a snowflake brad.  I ran the envelope flaps through my Cuttlebug in the snowflakes folder, and finished them off with return addy labels decorated with a little red snowflake.

work in progress - pre-cut cards, MS punch snowflake

first mock-up. We dropped the blue, otherwise pretty true to the final product

 My mom flew out the day before the wedding. Was she ever surprised when Derek greeted her in the airport! We three went and decorated the beautiful Ridge Meadows Clubhouse (thanks to Derek's friend for the facility). Then - Derek left us the following morning (BEFORE the wedding) to report to Basic Training. "You're in the army now..."

Gram and big brother Derek helped decorate the day before

The welcome table was draped with white linen and covered with  little silver ornaments on blue ribbon and the cutest little chiffon and ribbon "crackers" filled with candies - so cute! All guests left with a favour box filled with gourmet jelly beans.

The boxes were cut with Cricut Tags Bags Boxes and More cartridge. I used the heart box cut, inked the hearts red, then heat embossed with SU's Iridescent Ice. Monograms cut with SU's circle and scallop punches were glued over 1/4" red satin ribbon.

Table decor was simple - votive holders with red hearts on them, short vases filled with water, cranberries and floating candles, and tall vases filled with gel crystals and carnations. The finishing touch - tables were scattered with blue glass and ice crystal beads.

The buffet table was draped with blue fabric and tulle, and branches spray painted silver and wrapped with white lights. I made a bunch of huge white pompoms - Derek got a few hung up on the lovely vaulted ceiling but it was a tough go, so he told me that's all I got --- and I wasn't allowed up the ladder to try to do more. So, the rest of the pompoms were placed on the buffet table :)

3 1/2 generations - Jamie, Gram, Mom

Guest signing pages for album

I created a wedding scrapbook for Jamie and Adam. Rather than a guestbook for our small crowd, I did the signature pages above. Their photographer Lori Hawrychuk was wonderful with them, and made sure I had the proofs before the party so I was able to have their wedding photo in this snowglobe for the party. I also put together a slide show of the photos - that way we felt a little more like we were at the wedding.

The day after the night before - many many thanks to my wonderful brother Mitch who came with me to clean up the room the next day. What a good sport, love you bro!

shopping spree

I went shopping yesterday with my friend Sharon. Mom gave me a Michaels gift card, so I spent it. And more. But what a haul!

The whole Michael's haul

75 cent bling, 5 dollar cuttlebugs, oh my!

 

and three pads all marked down - thx to Sharon for finding this last one of heavy kraft prints!

Then we took a side trip to Winners/HomeSense to see if we had some luck in their little scrapbooking area...

two packs of stickers

two paper pads

and these crazy 1960's stickers - of course I had to have them!

2011

A new year. As always, a whole lot of talk about what we're going to do this year, what resolutions are we making, start of a new year, new beginnings and such. We're in a bit of a deep freeze right now too, so all I want to do is hunker down with books and craftiness in front of the fire. Three months of that, and I should have so much done!

No set resolutions for me, besides to look after myself better and craft more. But that's not so much a New Year's Resolution as something I tell myself A L L the time!

Instead - The List of 2011... work in progress

1. Reorganize and decorate the Creative Zone.
2. Redecorate my bedroom - grey, blue, beige. Dropping the beach theme and going for more floral and vintage look.
3. Start an "all about me" scrapbook by doing monthly challenges with my Soul Sistas
4. Prepare and teach some courses at Grasshopper Gallery; including paper quilling and a Project 12 scrapbooking monthly class.

... more to follow ...

And now it's all done but the leftovers...

Christmas with my son and my Mom. Pictures? Um, nope, forgot to pick up the camera! However - Jamie took pics of Max's first Christmas and our Boxing Day with them. My grandson is the cutest thing --- ever!

Max with Uncle Derek --- he's home!!!

Look at that little bum - inching his way to the shiny wrapping

Max and Daddy Adam playing with cars

Uncle Derek helping open Max's gifts

Jamie got presents too!

Reading a new book with Max

How blessed am I

My son has been home since Saturday. Drove all night Friday, stopped to snooze for a couple hours, and the doorbell rang at 5:30 am. I was obviously sleeping lightly waiting for my boy.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

 I opened the door, smiled, backed up so Derek and his bags could come in, then moved in for a hug. All I want for Christmas is... HERE!

Jamie and Mr. Max were here too, waiting for Uncle Derek, so we went up and woke them - we let them "sleep in" til 5:45. As you can see, four months away did NOT mean Uncle Derek was forgotten :)

 Had a wonderful long weekend with my wonderful family, and now Jamie and Max have gone home to prepare for Daddy, who gets home from work on the 23rd. 

Christmas Sale table...

Forgot to post pics after Sharon and I were in the Airdrie Christmas Sale three weeks ago. We did "just okay", but it was -25 that day so traffic was minimal. All my remaining Treasures ended up at Grasshopper Gallery.

Those word blocks are Sharon's and can be custom-ordered (for any occasion - not just Christmas) on her Facebook page "The Crafty Hunter"

 

Drool on...

How's this for a DCWV give-away. I wish I lived near this Roberts Arts & Crafts --- or perhaps it's a good thing I don't?

http://blog.robertscrafts.com/2010/12/freebie-friday-dec-3-2010-dcwv-giveaway.html

Christmas Sale just four days away...

There is a sale at the T&C on Sunday hosted by Airdrie Women In Business. Sharon (Stampin' Up) and I are sharing a table. Here's a bit of what I've been working on for the sale. Come see us on Sunday if you can!

snow-filled glass ornaments

Aren't these cute, filled with Christmas lights

Kids love drawing kits

notepad folders for the ladies too

Christmas Bingo for four!

Note folders for kidlets

The notepad folders I made were such a hit at the Irricana Women's Conference sale, so my dear daughter suggested I make them for kids too. Jamie was one of those little girls who wanted to pretend she was working in an office, thrilled when I got her stuff "just like Mommy's at work". So - here you go, a dozen made for the sale on November 21st, complete with notepad, post-it notes, and three felt pens:

Next up - Advent calendars using my wonderful Stampin Up petal punch. Production has begun (barely)...

scarves for sale

All are approximately 80" long, and since I've been using my stash, are only $20.00 each... so soft and cushy, and hand crocheted in my smoke-free home.