Monday, June 7, 2010

A Little Bit of Scrapbooking........

Thought that it was about time to do a little scrapbooking.


I decided to try to create a page for a photo of my daughter Laura and I wanted to try and use all Stampin' Up products. I used pages torn out of a book(the ONLY non-Stampin' Up product) that I would never read for the paper for the roses. We made these roses the last time my Stampin' Up group met and our leader and good friend, Jodi showed us this technique. I do believe the tutorial can be found here at Beate's website. I (we) used a six petal flower template that we made ourselves.

I used the new Stampin' Up Summer Mini Designer Paper Presto Patterns. I used Baja Breeze and Pixie Pink Classic inks with a finger dauber to apply color to this paper and watched the embossed design pop out.

This was the end result. I was inspired by a layout from a new lady I was steered to by Urban Scrapbook. This lady is at Karola Witczak Handmade. She uses alot of Webster's Pages product. She is an absolutely gorgeous designer. Her cards are very uniquely done using different card shapes.

Next is a page for Tara.

Well that's all for now, have to clean up the creative mess before my appliance guy, Tony, comes tomorrow to fix the washer, the dryer AND the dishwasher.


Thanks for looking!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Just a couple of quickies.......

Just a couple of baby cards that I made yesterday to post today. I made one that is vintage and one that is modern.


First the vintage. The Buggies and Booties stamp set is a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up. This was one of my first stamp sets that I ever ordered from them. It's still one of my favorites. I used the polka dot deep impressions folder, kraft (now crumble cake) paper and pink pirouette paper and chocolate chip craft ink from Stampin' Up. The rose is from Prima. The ribbon is one of my favorite things, it's hand-dyed and antiqued from Marilyn Healey of Memrie Mare on Etsy.com. This is a wonderful site where people sell all sorts of handmade items. The crocheted cotton lace is a Dollarama special (where I buy ALL my lace)

This one is a little modern, I made it for my lovely neighbour, Kendra, for a baby shower she is going to this weekend.

This was made using the Bundled in Love stamp set, polka dot deep impressions folder, Sweet Pea DP and Pixie Pink and Whisper White papers, Pretty in Pink ribbon from Stampin' Up. The pearls for the duck were a dollar store find, button from Papertrey Ink. The white ribbon roses I found in Fabricland. You can also buy these by the metre (yard) at most scrapbooking stores. Webster's Pages also has packages of ribbon roses in beautiful colors. I haven't had much opportunity yet to use them, but I will plan on using them more on upcoming projects.

My dear hubby is on his way back from Kelowna, B.C. (McNugget Open, golf tournament for MacDonald's Western Canada) so I feel compelled to clean the house up today and make a nice supper. This is mainly so that it looks like I have done something other than blog the past four days!!! Ahhhhh the tricks of the trade.

Happy Creating! See you later.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

It's good to be back.......



Over a month since my last blog. How very neglectful of me! Actually, I have been very busy and yet I can't quite pinpoint how. Needless to say on with show........


I found myself at the beginning of May on a roadtrip with my sister, Linda and my Mom. We went to Naicam, Saskatchewan for 4 days. We spent the majority of the time with my Great Aunt Edie, 89 and Great Uncle Roy, 98. Probably 4 of the most cozy days ever! Her home was small and old and filled lots of things that I remembered from visiting them as a youngster. Seeing the boundless energy of my Aunt was very inspiring, watching and listening to her I found that I now know where alot of who and how I am is from.

She has a very common sense and calm approach to all things in life. One thing that she put in from of me is as I was sitting at the table over about the 40th cup of tea and a bar/cookie treat (I gained 5 lbs while I was there) was this lovely book, Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Book.


Published in 1906, it belonged to my Great Grandmother. Not only is it filled with wonderful recipes, but wonderful directions on being "The Housewife" which includes everything from directing servants to table napkin folding. Sometimes we "housewives" receive "looks" when asked what it is that we "do". The opening of this book summed it up for me as to why we should (if we don't work outside of the home) and why it's important.

"It is not given to us all to become famous, but in this busy world there are few who, metaphorically speaking, need "waste their sweetness on the desert air," or, in less poetical language, lead a useless life." (Ha, ha, love it, so upfront!)

"Far from the humblest or the least dignified one is that of a housewife in whom, if she faithfully fulfills her duties, will center all the home interests and cares; while to her and to her alone is given the power of making her house, however humble, the embodiment of our ideal, "Home, Sweet Home" (That's right girl, be in control, make it happy, paint that wall and buy that couch!)

"Unselfishness, industry, patience, perseverance and thoughtful care for others are most needful qualities for the good housekeeper to possess, for with her rest many responsibilities." (Wow, will those things transfer well to a resume? They should!"

It's a lovely little gem, too bad she gave it to my sister! It sucks being the baby sometimes.

I spent some quality time at the Naicam Thrift Shop as well and found these little vintage lovelies for 50c apiece




I had two vintage aprons that I found at a tag sale about 8 years ago and have been wearing them for a long time and now I have these to wear. I'll take a couple up to the cabin (that now I have gone back to my Aunt's house, I know why I love so much and find so comforting to be in)

I love the apron on the bottom right it inspired the card below. It has a different kind of matching envelope.




The envelope is made by sealing a regular size card envelope shut, cutting off the top. Cutting paper to cover the bottom and top. I saw the original idea for this card on Splitcoaststampers from this crafty little gal. I used the Itty Bitty Buds stamp set from Stampin' Up. Little accents of white on the flowers was some 3D paint in an iridescent white. All paper and ink was from Stampin' Up. The sweet blush vintage button was from Papertreyink. The sentiment is from Favorite Thoughts, a new clear mount set found in the Stampin' Up summer mini.

I know exotic warm locations are a wonderful place to be (especially to escape the winters here in Canada) and our immediate families and the lives we lead can occupy a lot of our time, but I highly recommend making the time to be with extended family and older generations if you can, you may find some comfort and inspiration while your there!

Monday, April 26, 2010

One of my favorite things........

that I did in Orlando last week, while my husband attended the MacDonald's Worldwide Convention, was finding a Fresh Produce store at Universal Studios.

In this store I was introduced to a line of handbags, totebags and accessories by the designer Vera Bradley





They had so many wonderful things in this store and everything was wonderfully displayed. I fell in love immediately. From gift sets consisting of an apron in a recipe box to nifty flip flops that you can change the ribbon to be what ever you feel like and happen to have handy in your craft room. If you are taking the kids to do the Disney World/Universal Studios thing, make sure to find this store at Universal on their CityWalk Shopping.

Doesn't this just inspire me to make purses now??? Yes, it does.

But despite my craftiness, I couldn't help myself, I just had to run back and grab this one..



It's definitely become one of my favourite things!

I did manage to be a little creative last night. I made a thank you card for my Orlando buddy and fellow DSL Inc. wife, Tammy Retz. Not only did she chauffeur us around everyday, she was a wonderful shopping companion, and I had a lot of laughs with her and her daughter Melanie.



Using Stampin' Up's Three Little Words stamp set. I used Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Whisper White textured 12 X 12 and Barely Banana paper. The Baroque Motifs scroll stamp was embossed in white . A white gel pen was used for the dots and the mat pack template and piercer for the sewing line border. Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and Prima Marketing Forever Flowers with a Papertrey Ink New Leaf button in the center finished it off. It's hard to see, but I used a little Dazzling Diamonds on the "T".

I was inspired by a card on Pickled Paper Designs for this one.

No matter where you are, who you are with or where you look, inspiration is everywhere!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

I'm back.......

I have been pretty busy (who isn't?) with kids, babies being born, a baby shower, birthday parties, and preparing for a trip to Florida that I went on with my husband. I'm just now settling down to update.

Firstly the babies!

This is my great niece, Caelyn Meredith born on March 26, 2010 to my niece Selena and her husband Paul. Caelyn has a sister, Ainsley and a brother, Brayden.




This is my great nephew, Zack Malay, born on April 4, 2010 to my husband's nephew, Kenan and his wife Stephanie.



Congratulations and love to all of my wonderful family!





The baby shower to celebrate Zack was a lot of fun to plan and have. I tried to just base everything on the colors used in Zack's room. A pale bluish-purple, chocolate brown, cream and a light green. It was the first time I was ever the hostess for a baby shower, but I think everyone enjoyed themselves, including Stephanie, my wonderful niece-in-law. I was able to Skype in her mother-in-law, Avril from Barrington, Nova Scotia and her sister-in-law, Glynis from Detroit, Michigan. Technology is wonderful!







I was inspired by so many creative people on some wonderful sites.

This was the cake that I ended up making for the shower.


I used a great White Layer cake recipe I found at BusyCooksAbout.Com. I was inspired to decorate it by a cake that I saw on the Wicked Cakes website. I made sure to frost the cake with Buttercream first. I have my own really simple recipe for Buttercream Frosting. I have been using it on cakes for many years and just add 1/3 cup of good quality cocoa to make a chocolate version. My recipe is as follows:

2 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp. Epicure Pure Vanilla Extract
2 - 4 tbsp. cream

Mix with hand mixer until a smooth spreadable consistency. This will be enough to cover a double layer 8" round cake.

The fondant recipe turned out to be very easy and quite tasty, made with marshmallows. I found it at Peggy's Baking Corner. It was a lot easier to work with than I thought it was going to be. The light purple color of the cake was used to match the of the walls in Zack's room. I used gold cardstock and just ran the letters off with my Big Shot and an embosslit alphabet die. I found the whole cake to be a very enjoyable challenge and it tasted great!


The diaper cake was a cinch and took about 20 minutes and about 84 diapers. I rolled the ones in the middle and secured them elastics and then just layered the outside diapers evenly all the way around. Tie with chocolate brown ribbon, stick in a stuffie and done!




These were the baby shower favors. They are simply glassine bags with perennial sweet peas, the flower for the month of April. I printed Zack's name and birthday, the meaning behind and simple instructions on kraft paper. I was inspired by one of my favorite creative persons, Amy Sheffer on her blog Pickled Paper Designs. Check her blog out when you get a minute or two, she has wonderful layering techniques and insides of her cards are almost as beautiful as the outside!




The banner was inspired by Connie Tumm at Splitcoaststampers. This was so quick and easy to make. All supplies used were from Stampin' Up, with the exception of the letters. I just printed them off the computer. Hung up over the mirror was probably not the best place to have put it to take a picture though.


I truly loved being able to share in Stephanie's happiness in the birth of Zack with her mother, Linda, friends and family. It was a great day.

Well, it's late now on Saturday night. I am hoping to get downstairs and be a little creative and will check back in tomorrow and share a fabulous find from my trip to Orlando!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Stuff



I hope the Easter bunny found you! He found us and the children are in a state of chocolate shock and watching some cartoons. They never woke up until 7:00 a.m. Not bad compared to previous years.



We had a fabulous Easter Egg Hunt in the crescent. There were quite a few kids and lots of fun.



This is Tara with her Easter Bunny.





This is one of the kid's neighborhood pals.

Look at the glow!I wonder if this was what the golden, glowing briefcase in Pulp Fiction had in it?





This was a card I made for my husband, Dave. I gave it a vintage french flair with the black
lace/blue flower strip and green leaves are from Prima Marketing. I used Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla cardstock and polka dot window sheet from the Night and Day specialty paper from the Fall 09 Mini, with K&Company green flourish paper. The image was downloaded from http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/. The sentiment was just printed off my computer and the inside simply says "Nothing" because I didn't think there truly was anything better than a naked lady in an egg.

Small dinner today, just us and my lovely lady neighbor, Kendra. I will be running out to buy some bunny ears for the new Malay that we should be getting a phone call about ANYTIME!

More later! Happy Easter!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Chicks and Baskets.......











Only a couple of things to share today. A little bit of Easter inspiration. I just love these little chick egg cup holders. I can't remember who gave them to us or if I picked them up somewhere it was so long ago. They have a little bit of a malevolent look in their eyes, but I still think they are pretty cute.






Set up with the lemons and the daffodils it gives a little bit of sunshine to my kitchen. The lemons are going to be used tomorrow for lemonade at the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt put on by our wonderful neighbors, Maria and Tom. I'll be sure to post some pics of that egg-citing event (Groan)



The one thing that I got finished today (finally) is the Moses Basket for the newest addition to the Malay Clan. This is a basket that I used for my youngest son, Carson. My husband's nephew and and his wife, Kenan and Stephanie, are overdue by a week now. We are hoping for a baby to soon fill this basket for Easter. I'll have to girl it up with some flowers made with my Big Shot if it's not a boy.



I was inspired by this Moses Basket that I saw online at www.caboodle-place.com. It's REALLY nice! Mmmmmmm........maybe I'll be able to make it too.



Well, it's a pretty busytime ahead, lots to do before Easter Sunday. Until then, have a good night and day.

My First Night...........










Hello! It's 12:30 a.m. and I am writing my first real post! I'm hoping that this blog will be additional inspiration to make and create more to add to my already beautiful life.

I'm very fortunate to be able to stay at home with my four kids and have a space to create and have opportunities to be inspired everyday. I receive a lot of inspiration from everyday items and surroundings to old movies to wonderful sites on the web that show me the beautiful things that others are creating on a daily basis.

It's almost Easter and the children are getting excited for that rabbit to show up! They received some lovely pussy-willows from their math tutor (as well as some other goodies). The little dolls decided to share them with their Mama. Thanks Mrs. Chetek!

I was able to make three vintage Easter cards a couple of days ago. I'm hoping to make a few more before the weekend. I picked up the vintage images at Hole's a couple of weeks ago (along with some other Easter treats). They are little vintage cards and........I hacked them up and made these:


On this card I used cardstock and designer paper from Stampin' Up. The background on the Apricot Appeal was stamped with the SU Bella Toile background stamp in Basic Grey ink. The lace (I LOVE LACE ON CARDS!!) and rhinestones are dollar store finds. EK Success punch, random ribbon and a beautiful vintage button out of one of my many "button boxes" received from special relatives. A little SU Dazzling Diamonds with a glue pen on the eggs and hat band.


I love these kids! This was some paper that I found at A Paper Affair (Good bye! Sad to see you go.) There was no identifying labels on the paper, so if anyone knows what brand it is let me know and I'll give credit where credit is due. I used the SU pink corduroy buttons and vanilla hardware frames. The roses are another dollar store find.


Have to love and use the Prima roses and leaves! Love them. The adhesive pearl is a dollar store item, button from Papertrey Ink, glitter brad and round leaf label are from Making Memories. Paper is SU Confetti and Mellow Moss.

Well.... not bad for a first post I hope, off to bed to get some rest so I can embark on another oh, so interesting day!

I am thankful for.........my friend Nicole from my Stampin' Up group who told me a while back that I should do this, my son, Christian for pointing me in the right direction, coffee and spell check. And most of all my children and husband who I love, from whom I learn from everyday and who drive me crazy to the point that I must craft to keep sane!