Layout 006

My most recent layout..... I did this one at the Potluck Crop on Saturday night. ( I had a lot of fun. And probably could have kept scrapbooking until 5am! Thanks Ladies!). Buttons. That's my embellishment of the moment. Buttons. I probably put them on every page. But who can blame me? Right now there are so many great ones available. I'm also mourning the loss of this fabulous Rusty Pickle paper (the worn wood in pink & blue) as I hear it is discontinued. I'll have to stock up while I can.

Materials: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey & Rusty Pickle; Stickers: Making Memories; Buttons: Foofala & MOD; Stamp: Stampin Up; Font: Hopscotch by Autumn Leaves; Hemp: May Arts

Cards 002,003 & 004

These are the last couple cards I've made when I sat down and couldn't Scrapbook. They aren't FABULOUS, but let's face it, I'm a scrapbooker, not a card maker. Anyway, they're good enough to give away!

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper& Stamp: Autumn Leaves; Stamp: Hero Arts;
Clip: Making Memories; Other: Ribbon & Colored Staples

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye; Flower: Making Memories; Brad: KI Memories; Chipboard: K&Co.

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Stamps: Hero Arts; Pen: EK Success; Ink: StazOn; Other: Ribbon

Idea 003

Sometimes I sit down, ready to scrapbook, and I just can't. There's nothing creative going on upstairs. So I make a card. Just playing with all of the great products gets me in the mood to do more. I usually only use stamps, scraps and left over embellishments for my cards (I'm too cheap to use stuff from my Scrapbook stash!). Plus, if I start every scrap session with a card, my stash continues to grow, which means I wont get stuck without a handmade card when I need one.

Materials: Card: AMuse; Cardstock: Bazzill; Stamps: Autumn Leaves & Inkadinkadoo (I just LOVE LOVE LOVE their Kathy Davis stamps); Ink: Jet Black StazOn; Other: Ribbon & Colored Staples.

Michelles Layout

My friend, the talented Michelle Gier, was teaching a class tonight. Some of the ladies requested I post the layout for later refrence. Here it is.... enjoy!

Layout 005

This layout isn't new. But I just wanted to post another example of using Ink Jet Transparancies to journal on. I've been doing this so often it's given me an excuse to buy even more great fonts (like I need one!).

Also check out the "Here's the Story" stamp from Cat's Life Press (Top left, right page). Love it. Love it. Love it!

Idea 002

I'm telling you, if you've ever had a Martha Stewart (out of jail) moment, then this book is for you. I sometimes ask myself, "when am I going to have time for this?". But when the projects are this cute, you'll make time.

Maybe I am just missing Scrapbook Trends (we no longer sell their magazine since they increased their price from $8.95 to $18.95, no joke!) but this magazine is fabulous. I can't wait to get my hands on the other book they just put out 'Journaling Your Stories'.

Is it weird to take Scrapbooking magazines to the gym? I feel like I should be reading Shape or something.....

Layout 004

This was another one of the layouts I did last night.

I was so nervous to stamp the word Perfect in the middle of the photo. ( Top left). I wasn't dead on, but I am happy with it.

When I have a lot to say on my page, I often skip the handwritten journalling, becuase it takes up too much space. Plus, the chances of me really messing up are high. I've become a little addicted to ink jet transparancies. It's the perfect way to keep the impact of a beautiful patterened paper, when you are using so much journalling on your layout. I am entirely happy with this layout.

Layout 003

Last night I did 5 layouts! I sat down to clean off my desk (or at least try to find it!) and I pumped out 5 layouts. And you know what? I was happy with all of them.

I love this paper from Lil' Davis. So much in fact, that I wanted to use it all. So, I cut it down into smaller pieces & used some solids (it's double sided!) to tone it down. Lil Davis also had matching acrylic stamps, and so I HAD to use them too! (There are 2 sets of this page. I especially like the caption boxes.) But I think my favourite thing was the flower. Nothing new, as far as techniques, but the stamps just added to it. All of the journalling is in the pocket, and I love the ribbon (off of a present, I save everything!).

Start your engines....

And then let them run awhile....

It's cold here. And there's no shortage of snow. If I weren't leaving to Las Vegas tomorrow, I'd be locking myself into my scrapbook room for the weekend.

The store has been very slow (maybe becuase of the bad roads?) since Ranger Day. I've gotten in some new items, but there's no one around to buy them :(

I am looking forward to Las Vegas. We are finally going to eat at Mon Ami Gabi (a restraunt we always walk by and say "mmm that smells good!".) It overlooks the Bellagio fountains from Paris. We also got tickets to go and see O by Cirque du Soleil on Valentines Day. That should be fun. I loved Mystere.

I'll take lots of pictures (we're at Treasure Island this time).

Ranger Eve....

Thank you to both Nancy & Viola who bravely battled the snow storm to come set up for Ranger Day.

Layout 002

I always get compliments on this page. It made me realise just how important a good photo is. I like the page. It's good enough. But it's the beautiful picture of Heather (my sister-in-law) that really makes this page great (in my mind). Plus, I love that this photo wasn't staged. ( As if you could ever get Heather to pose like that!).

A while ago there was a teenage boy in here with his mom. He asked me who she was. "Does she live in town?" He asked. "She's pretty." How cute.

My worst (favourite) enemy...

I use to love mini eggs ( I really still do.). But my in quest to loose weight, I find that this time of year (when the mini eggs are starting to bloom) everywhere I go I am forced to exercise my will power. In the line up at Petro Canada (while buying a bottle of flavourless water .....) they call to me. " Buy me. Eat me. I will make you happy." Yesterday at Sobeys, after filling my cart with whole grains, greens & lowfatness, I intentionally avoid the last two aisles (cookies, chips & pop). As I approach the check-out, there it stands, a bright purple pylon of chocolately goodness. Luckily the line up is not long, and I am not forced to pick a pillow-shaped package of heaven to read the calories.

Reading the calories can only be bad. If it says there are...oh say... 150 Calories per package, then I can have them all. Once. If I stay on the eliptical for an extra 20 minutes. ( But I know in my heart it will not be just once). If there are 350, then I can buy them and only eat, say, 5 mini eggs. And throw the rest away. Yes, I could do that. No. No I couldn't. I would eat them all, and INSTANTLY regret it. ( Probably as I finished chewing).

I almost wish someone would tell me (please....lie to me) that Mini Eggs were made by small children in a Cadbury sweat shop in Taiwan. Or, that for every pack of Mini Eggs you buy, George Bush recieves $1. Or that Mini Eggs is really a front for funding drug dealers in elementary schools.

A girl's best friend.....

Last year, while in Las Vegas for Memory Trends, Brian & I ended up looking around in Tiffany's. I tried on this ring, and I can't stop thinking about it ( So sparkly!). We are headed to Las Vegas on Saturday (my Birthday!) and I have been thinking of possible ways in which I can afford to buy this ring. It is highly unlikely that I will be able to own it, so I downloaded this picture. Maybe just seeing it everyday will satisfy my craving....

Idea 001

I love ribbon. Love it. Rarely does a page go by without getting some ribbon. This month I am teaching a ribbon rehab class and I can't wait.

If you love buying ribbon by the metre, then store it in jars. These jars from Ikea are only $2.99 ea. I have a row of jars along the top of my stamp shelves. They are so easy to get at and so pretty too.

I'm always looking for new ways to store all of my Scrapbooking stuff. I was at my friend Kathy's house the other day, and amazed at how muh stuff she had. Even though her room was packed, it all seemed to be pretty organized. I can't wait untli I am there....

My room has been a lot of work. My Mom painted it (I picked out the chocolate brown & lilac colors) and Brian made me a desk (so fabulous). It's a perfect space to create...

Might be fun if...

........I posted my most recent layout.

All of the elements are available at my store. I was pretty excited with the way the centre of the flower turned out (it was an experiment). I just piled a whole bunch of black buttons into some Sepia Accents. I like it. Also LOVE the Photo Log stamp from Cat's Life Press. So useful.

Something New...

A new camera! And a new blog! How exciting.

Brian bought me a Rebel XTi. It makes me giddy.

It's minus 10 outside. And there's been at least 3cm of snow since last night. I would have to say that the beautful snow couldn't come at a more perfect time. I can't wait to get out there and take come pictures.

Today I am one sore pup. Yesterday was my first TRX class at Natural High. Becuase Thursday mornings is my only day off, I doubled up on classes. So I finish TRX and then do pilates (which I have been doing for a while now). Anyway, wow! What a work out. My entire body is aching. I can't wait to go back. If you're interested, go to fitnessanywhere.com. It's a little different, but I am loving it.