Creating

I was desperate for some cards last week so I did a little creating.  In the process of moving things around on my table, I found a photograph that just needed a layout too :)  I used the leftovers to create the cards. The card designs were inspired by the Stamp It Vol. 9 issue of Papercrafts magazine.

The photo really doesn't do this one justice (the card itself is actually turquoise cardstock the colour of the chevron washi tape) - but I mailed all three of them off before I realized this was the only picture I had taken.  The hexagons are chipboard by Pink Paislee from the Nantucket line and the #2 made it perfect for a second anniversary card!

Creating

Last week one day, I walked into my scrapbook studio and realized just how much I was missing the photos, words and layouts that I create.  So I left the box of tomatoes waiting in the kitchen and used an enlargement that I found at the bottom of a pile on my desk and came up with this!

During Big Picture Classes Big Idea Festival, Becky Novacek's big idea was to go bold so I used this big picture and came up with this response.  The paper and journal card are from the Birthday Girl Line by Echo Paper.  This was the first time I used washi tape (from The Sweetest Thing line by My Mind's Eye) - it was fun!  I can see myself playing with that again!!

Creating

Here are some more pages from my 30 Days of Lists project.  Already I love looking back at these even though it's only been a few weeks since I created them!

Day #5 (which I forgot to photograph earlier) - Words to Live By

- I'm sorry.

- Please forgive me.

- I love you.

- Let's talk.

- Can you help me?

- I'm proud of you.

- Good night / Good bye - I love you.

- What would you like to do?

- Gramma, can you come over?

- Where should we go next?

- Let's take the scenic route.

- It's all in God's hands.

Day #10 - Today Was Awesome Because

- the sun shone

- we worked in the greenhouse

- it was Saturday!

- Fabricland had 50% off all fabric in the store

- Costco let me in at 5:53 p.m.

- I had a Chapters gift card to use

- I travelled to Edmonton and back safely

- Kelsey texted me

- I went to bed early - daylight savings time started

Day #11 - Right Now

- I am easing back into babysitting

- enjoying Blake's affection and the way he calls me "Gram"

- enjoying Helayna and Meadow's kindergarten year

- praying for new soon-to-arrive babes

- looking at booking a trip to NB in June

- staying up way too late!

- figuring out photo displays for a 90th birthday party

- reading Deb's pick for April's book club

- doing 4 days of subbing at CSS - and surviving!

Day #12 - Super Powers I'd Like to Have

- photographic memory so I remember where I put things

- grow money trees

- mad baking skills, especially with a rolling pin

- green thumb so plans and seeds grow

- wiggle my nose and have housework done

- pastry making chef

- aerobic breathing for hiking

- fly anywhere in the world

- ability to power nap to gain hours

- super-hostess for entertaining and being prepared

- super human strength to lift things

Day #13 - 10 Years Ago I Was

- 47 years old

- had 1 married daughter

- was teaching third grade

- hadn't travelled outside of North America

- had 3 kids in university

- not blogging

- didn't have a garden

- yearning for a camper and a quad

- only 1 year into not milking cows anymore

- helping with new baby calves from our beef cows

- staying home in spring break

- a scrapbooker, not a sewer

- consumed by my work

So much has changed!

Day #14 - Tools and Toys to Try

- flatiron for hair

- iPad

- scooter

- iPod

- iPhone

- Kitchen Aid food processor

Day #15 - Overheard Today

- "You're our sub?!?!" on day 1

- "Are you coming again tomorrow?" on day 3

- "I wish you could be our teacher everyday." (loved that one!)

- "Why can't I sit here?!?!  That seating plan is for the other room."

- "Can you come back again tomorrow?  I want to work with you again."

- "Let's have her come in to cover those classes."

- "I want to talk to Gramma too."

Day #16 - Pet Peeves

- bad manners, especially at meals

- discussing bodily functions in public

- bath towels not hung up straight to dry

- wild children in public spaces

- not acknowledging colleagues when passing in the hallway

- empty containers put back in the fridge or cupboard

- dirty dishes piled helter-skelter in the sink

- vehicles driven home with the gas tank on empty

- eating from the crockpot before it's finished cooking

- wearing dirty clothes when visiting

- messes on the coffee table

- water splashed from the shower or tub and not wiped up

Day #17 - Favourite Dayz(s) of the Year

- Christmas - any of the days we have our family home to celebrate

- our grandchildren's birthdays

- first day of summer vacation or spring break

- when daylight saving time "falls back"

- vacation days away from home

- camping and quadding days

- paydays

- sleepovers, including going to my sister's

- wedding days

- lazy, weekend days

- sunny days

Creating

Work on my December Daily album is still in progress!  I'm using the daily date templates from Ali Edwards that I printed out and then I made the pocket protector for some extra photos that I took on this day at Helayna's school.  

I still enjoy scrapbooking and telling the stories but that hobby has definitely taken a back seat to sewing lately!  I need more hours in my days and more days in my weeks :)

Creating

A few weeks ago, the talented Danielle Flanders shared a giveaway on her blog (you should drop over and see her beautiful creations) - and I was the lucky winner!!  This lovely package of Echo Park's "Season's Greetings"  arrived a few days ago and I am really looking forward to using it in my December Daily album.  The package includes all the papers, alphabet stickers, element stickers, cool brads and a set of clear stamps.  Thanks so much, Danielle - it was like getting an early Christmas present!

Creating

A few years back, circle journals were a hot project in the scrapbooking world.  I joined two groups and faithfully completed layouts in each journal as it came to me, using the journal topic that each participant had chosen.  The first group was made up of 13 people - and that journal has not yet arrived home!  I wish I could get it back - hopefully one day.   But this weekend I finished my entry - and the journal! - for the last person in the second group.

Jackie chose the topic "Happiness" and this is what I created for her book.  I quite like how it turned out with all the little tags and I know Jackie is going to have fun seeing what everyone shared with her.   Another checkmark on my to-do list!

Creating

It was National Scrapbooking Day on Saturday and Heather and I spent the day at a crop event in Calgary.  It's been a long time since I've sat down and created from noon til midnight - and that's just what we did!

Several scrapbookers that I admire, including Stacy Julian and Leigh Penner, have lately done "Right Now" layouts that feature their children.  So I took that inspiration and created layouts featuring our grandchildren.  I am half done this little project and am so happy with how it's turning out.  Someday I'd love to mount these and display them in our living room.

Becky Novacek said today that she'd like to wallpaper her house with pictures of her grandchildren - and I'd be just fine with that idea!!

Helayna

Samuel

Maëlle

The journaling describes some of the unique characteristics of each of them at this stage in their lives.  I'm looking forward to having all 6 of them completed soon.  Thanks for looking!

Creating

Leigh always inspires me with her scrapbook layouts and when I saw this, I knew right away that I wanted to use the design with a picture that had been on my desk for a long time.  I am so happy with what I created - thanks so much for the inspiration, Leigh!

This is a picture of Bob's mom (2nd from the right) and her sister and brother, all with their spouses.

Bags Are Packed

And I am off to spend tonight and tomorrow scrapbooking at the local school!  A new school is nearly complete and in an effort to raise money for the playground, the parent association is sponsoring this crop.  I am looking forward to it and hope to get my December Daily album ready since Advent begins on Sunday.   Next week  I'll show you what I've  accomplished.

Have a marvelous weekend, doing something that you truly love!

Creating

I've had these photos on my studio table for a long time and when the newest issue of Creating Keepsakes arrived last week, I found some inspiration to put together a layout!

The magazine showed several ways to make fair ribbon rosettes and I think this one looks perfect!

Ten on Thursday

1.  We had 2 days of rain and big storms earlier this week.  In all, the rain measured 3 inches and the ditches and depressions in fields are all filled up.  We have a shelterbelt of spruce trees, carragana bushes and willow trees and the wind whipped lots of branches - some of them really big ones - off onto our lawn.

2.  I used a really cute basket as the gift box for my sister's birthday present and while it came with a bright summery liner, I sewed her something that could be changed up for winter too.  I like how it turned out!

3.  I've been purging stacks of stuff and while leafing through a stack of old Simple Scrapbooks magazines, found some awesome ideas for layouts.  I miss that magazine!

4.  My mom, sister, aunt and niece are leaving for Europe today.  I'm going to be thinking about them every single day!  

5.  Check out the Big Idea Festival over at Big Picture Scrapbooking!  It starts in August and is FREE!  You can click on the button on to top of my sidebar and it will take you directly there too.  Please come and be inspired!

6.  I spent a little time reading Kayce's blog (she's one of the Big Picture Scrapbooking partners) today and want to share this story that she posted earlier.  

Two Wolves Inside Each of Us

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.  “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

 “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other wolf is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person too.”

The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

7.  A certain little miss has requested some new pyjamas for hot days so I'm tracing a pattern for a nightie and hope to work on it later today.  I love when people ask for specific sewing projects.

8.  All the rain around here is growing some very interesting mushrooms!

9.  I spent a little time on Pat's Back Porch today and enjoyed pictures of the area around her home in Missouri.  I really hope to visit that part of the world someday.

10.  Patterns in clouds and the sky have fascinated me lately and this was over our house today.

Pounding rain followed and then an hour later the storm circled back and it poured again.

 

Creating

Lately I've been trying to get a handle on all the pictures I have in assorted envelopes, albums and stacks!  Then last week I read a post about mixing patterned papers  which made me want to try the suggestions.  And I've also been inspired by some of the summer postings regarding travel pictures.  So - - - all that added up to this layout that I made last night.  

I used papers and embellishments, including the transparency over the top left photo, from the "Ooh La La" kit  by My Mind's Eye that my sister gave me - thanks, E! Letters are Thickers by American Crafts.   The pictures are old, from a little road trip we took in 2003 and it feels very good to get them onto a page.  I think I'll do a few more layouts on this theme featuring other places that we've visited over the years.  

Creating

Remember the Sweet Talk Your Journaling challenge over at Log Your Memory?  I created this layout using the alphabet prompt as my starting point.

The color scheme was inspired by Jody's "Take a trip to Australia" week at Write. Click. Scrapbook..  I used the rainforest colors - perfect for a layout about the Amazon Rainforest, right?!

The trip took us to the rainforest, the outback -

the beach and the Great Barrier Reef.  

I created these color inspirations and have them hanging in my studio.  Totally inspiring to see them every time I sit down!

Creating

After I cleaned my scrapbook table off,   I found this picture that I've been saving for a LO.   Then Heather posted a ruffle challenge during the Scrapshotz online crop last weekend so I decided to use the idea and actually get a page created.   

This design developed based on some of what I learned in the Design Your Life class with Cathy Zielske last year.  And the papers are SEI "Aunt Gertie's Kitchen" from at least 5 years ago.  Always a good idea to use some of my stash, right?!  

Here's a closeup of the ruffled ribbon that's under the polka dots.

Picture was taken the day Silas came home from the hospital.  I'm so glad I have this story documented.  It feels good to create again!! 

Sweet Talk Journaling Challenge

 Join Me For Some Sweet Talking!

We’re kicking off a month-long challenge at one of my favorite sites today … the Sweet Talk Journaling Challenge at Log Your Memory! 

I hope you’ll come on over and check it out today … there will be an entire month of scrapbooking challenges with a focus on “real life” journaling, plus the chance to earn points and prizes along the way! And if you’ve never visited before, you’re in for a treat! We have a wonderful group of friendly, helpful scrapbookers just waiting to say hello and show you around!

Get started by visiting the Log Your Memory Blog HERE and get ready to journal your way to becoming a Log Your Memory Sweet Talker!

Creating - In A New Way!

When I checked my email inbox this morning, I found a digital scrapbooking tutorial and free template from Jessica Sprague.  I've been wondering about how to do this stuff and Jessica is an amazing tutor so after watching her video, I started.  I had to watch the video about 10 more times as I was trying to do things but eventually I was successful and created this!!

I kind of wish I could change the title but that's not an option on this template.  Now I know to find that out before I begin - I might have chosen different pictures for the LO.   I am quite pleased with my results.  The real test will be if I can do it again all by myself!!

Creating

A few days ago I was in my scrapbook studio searching for a piece of paper I knew I had and in the process I came across this inspiration book that I had created while taking Stacy Julian's "Think Big" class at Big Picture Scrapbooking.

I had forgotten all about creating this little piece and I had so much fun looking through it -

and being inspired all over again!!  I still have lots of pages to fill in the book and I left it out on my table so I can keep working on it.  What little treasure do you have hidden away that you can stumble across and be excited about again?  Go and start looking now!!

Ten on Thursday

1.  Today I picked the first ripe tomato from our plant!

There are more coming!  So I guess I won't be buying tomatoes at the farmer's market this week :))

2.  From the garden today:  snap peas, regular peas, yellow beans, cucumbers (a surprise when I looked under the leaves), red potatoes, raspberries and zucchini.  We are in full summer production - and it's a happy thing!

3.  Speaking of zucchini - I made muffins, a loaf and zucchini cheese squares.  Would you like the recipe for this lovely lunch dish?  It also makes a great appetizer when cut into small pieces.

Zucchini Cheese Squares

(from Garden Way's Zucchini Cookbook, 1977)

1 cup zucchini, coarsely grated and drained

1 cup grated carrots

3 eggs

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 tbsps. fresh thyme, chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup Feta cheese, mashed

dashes of salt, pepper and paprika

1 1/2 cups flour

Place all ingredients in large bowl and mix well with flour.  Turn into greased 9 X 9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes until browned.  Cut into squares and serve.  

The squares are also really tasty the next day, even cold.  

4.   Back to school shopping is in full swing, as evidenced by the lineups at Staples today, when I stopped to get printer ink.  It's quite the industry, isn't it?!

5.  Here are a few glimpses of last weekend's hiking excursion, courtesy of Bob.

The Skyline Hiking Group, 2009

6.

One of the mountain meadows, in full wildflower bloom.

Evidence of other living things in the area. 

7.

Early in the morning, the valley was clouded in but high above it was clear.  I love how Bob captured it here. 

8.

And the wildflowers were absolutely gorgeous - such beautiful colors and so many varieties.  The multitude of mosquitoes, on the other hand, were huge and ferocious.

9.  This photo was chosen by the group leader from our World Wide Photo Walk as the best of our group.  I agree completely!  It was so interesting to watch Braeden compose the shot and then see his results on the screen.  I knew - and I think everyone did - right away that it was an awesome one.  

10.  If you are looking for some scrapbooking inspiration this summer, go to Big Picture Scrapbooking and sign up for August's  free online class called Busy Women Out of Time, On a Budget and Still Inspired.  I guarantee it will make you want to create something right away!  I'm really excited about the accordion album - so many possibilities with this little piece.  

Ten on Thursday

I've been thinking about my blog writing, trying to improve / fine tune / keep you interested! One of the things I've decided to do is move the Ten feature away from Tuesday and over to Thursday. I think it will be more interesting for you - and me! - that way.

1. If you head to Shimelle Laine's blog, you'll find one of Heather's layouts featured over there today! How cool is it that a creative spirit- and a well known one at that - in the United Kingdom would pick this up today to feature during her month on colors! Congrats, Heather!!!

2. Have you noticed the wonderful shades of green that are everywhere when you go outside these days? Absolutely amazing!!!

Mosaic of Green taken in Naomi & Jerry's Garden

3. Slices of cheese + slices of apple = one great snack, especially when eaten outside at the picnic table with a certain little "chickadee" (as she's calling herself today)!

4.  I stopped at my favourite greenhouse today and they've gone from 4 long packed-to-the-rafters buildings  down to 1 with not very many plants left at all.  The staff actually looks quite relieved :))

5.  Please pray for Melinda, Tyler and Samuel as Tyler leaves tomorrow morning to return to New York City and his hospital studies.  They will be reunited by the end of the month, we hope, once the 6 week appointments are over and Samuel's birth certificate arrives.  It will be ever so difficult for them to be apart for the next 3 weeks.  

6.  Isn't it nice to talk on the phone to friends that you haven't heard from for a long time?   I had a lovely phone call tonight that made me smile alot!

7.  I am really not a garage sale or thrift store shopper but in the last week I've scored at both!  Meadow had found a garage sale and we went back with her and her dad to buy a kid's slide that she really wanted.  While we were there, I found a box of books and bought Company's Coming Rush Hour Recipes for a mere $1.00!!  Then while dropping some items off at the local secondhand store yesterday, I found a few items we need for the camper, including a bowl, bbq tongs, 2 storage containers, some pint jars and kids books for a whole $7.00.   Pretty amazing what you can find at these places!

8.   Last week Sew, Mama, Sew hosted a giveaway day and all sorts of artists who create beautiful things gave away their creations.  I was lucky enough to win a cloth bag from the Green Bag Lady who is on quite the campaign.  So far, she's given away over 5400 bags in 38 countries!  Go over, check it out - and be inspired to sew a bag, use a bag, and help the world get rid of plastic bags.

9.  The other day, my sister and I looked through some scrapbook layouts that she made a few years ago.  We laughed, we reminisced, we marveled and we were reminded why we love this hobby so much.  It was good for the soul!

10.  I love having fresh oregano and basil growing on the patio.  It's so easy to pick and add to whatever is cooking - tonight it went into the pizza sauce.  Fresh herbs are way, way better than the dried ones!

Something New

I found this little tool at Staples the other day and I'm quite looking forward to using it on some projects this week.

But for now there are onions to plant, the last row of potatoes to dig into the ground, a yellow (yes, yellow!) lawn to cut and a university convocation banquet to attend.  It's a warm and sunny spring weekend with all its busy-ness and goodness.

Have a wonderful weekend!