Peppermint Pages

Happier than a fat kid on a Smartie....

2009-12-29T06:11:00.000-08:00

So. I'd made an Oath to my Kindred that I would have 15 layouts done for an "All About Me" scrapbook album by December 31st, 2009. DONE!!! :-) What does this all mean? Well, first, the layouts could NOT include anything to do with the kids. Um, okay. Uh, I suppose that'll be cool...I mean, I've got LOTS of stuff about myself to share.....right??? ;-) Lemme tell you how HARD it was to come up with ideas to make an album just about ME...pfffffffbt...ya, "me"...the one people give gifts cards to and not money cuz they know I'll just spend it on the kids....but I digress....

Here's some more :-)

What else does it mean?? Means I accomplished a goal, and also means that I'm a person of my word :-) Pretty freakin' COOL, I tell ya....although last night's last layout came with it's share of testing....my printer wouldn't work...at least, not until I rammed a piece of photo card up into it to reveal *drum roll, please*...and itty bitty teeny weeny piece of styrofoam that had been caught up in the rollers. Are you kidding me? This, of course, being after I smacked my head on the printer stand (y'know, those nice, solid IKEA ones?)...and also after sitting in frustration only to find myself flat on my ass on the floor from missing the #$% chair....uh, ya....that would be the "Phoenix" layout I was finishing...y'know, the one that talks about my perseverance? Look up "irony" in the dictionary...my photo is there....in all it's made-for-tv-movie glam ;-)

So now I'll be moving on to finish up some Design Team schtuff for Tina (finally!!) Stay tuned!! Same Bat time, same Bat channel....

Wishing you and yours and wonderful holiday season from me and mine....hoping you can take a moment to have a gander at the Blue Moon that will ring in the New Year!!! Can't wait!!

Back from the Twilight Zone....

2009-12-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

Um, so yes, I've since noticed my last post being in July??? *gulp* Well!! What's new and improved??? Flying solo with five kids has been, well, chaotic at best, "i-want-to-run-my-head-into-a-wall" at worst.....thinking of patenting those mocha choca vodka valium lattes I so desperately seem to require ;-) with oodles of whipped cream...cuz I need to sustain myself on SOME form of empty calories, right? LOL!!!!

This year's theme for me at Nav-Can was to work on my "All About Me" album!!!! YES!!! I have finally found the "oompf" I needed to get this on the go....what I did, as well, was make an Oath to my "family", my Kindred, that I would complete 15 layouts for this album by December 31st, 2009....otherwise I would resign as a CTMH rep......here are the first of those layouts:

What's been going on? Well...Nav-Can, of course!!!!!! :-) There's a quote out there that says scrapbooking is cheaper than therapy. I must disagree. But it's INTENSELY much more fun ;-P And when I get together with some of my most fave gal-pals for a weekend of no kids, no cooking, no cleaning, do-whatever-the-heck-you-want??? AWESOMENESS!!!!!

These are my fave by far....especially scrappin' my fave fave FAVE Twilight and True Blood layouts....I seem to have this tiny, miniscule vampire addiction ;-)

The Murph-Man cometh....

2009-07-15T05:43:00.001-07:00

Cake, courtesy of Sarah Elliott...it's my mini-replica "Bella's Cake" from New Moon...

I hate Murphy. Really, I do. The old adage "if it can go wrong, it WILL go wrong" is always taunting me....but Murphy's Law is no match to a mother of 5. You can't scare me, Murph-Man... ;-)

So...the ScrapShack has been delayed due to funding being re-directed to my car. Good news is that my car is now fixed!! I can travel in excess of 60 km/h!! Life is good. But now I'm back on track to commence Operation ScrapShack by month's end!! Next week, in fact :-) Life is still good!!

I managed to pump out some layouts at a crop I attended with my darling gal-pals...unbeknownst to me, it was actually a surprise birthday party :-) I've never had one!!! And believe me, it was WELL worth it!!

So I did, in fact, get some stuff done...among all the chattin' and eatin' ;-) I did these up for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations...I love that store!! And the owner is pretty darned cool, too ;-P I was just out for her Glimmer Mist class...Thanks, Tina, for yet another wonderful addiction...I'm supposing I should get a shelf for the ScrapShack JUST for the Mists I will certainly be accumulating!! LOL

Notice how I punched out another photo in the star....

Notice the white-space?? Sometimes it's hard to do, but I challenge you on this...try it!

I don't always feel that each and every layout needs journalling....*GASP*....yes, I know...probably a big faux-pas to most of you...but really...this layout is just about the photo...and the bling ;-)

Hopefully I'll be able to get a ton more pumped out in the next coming weeks...I have classes to plan, Design Team goodies to complete....LOOKOUT!! ;-)

Cheers for now...keep creating!!

Has it been that long?!?!?

2009-06-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

(Heidi Grace "Baby" paper line, felt from CTMH, bling from Heidi Swapp)

Yes, indeed. *sigh* but the great news cometh!!! :-)

First, I missed the much anticipate crop at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations out in Winchester....boo on sick!!! With the local store here closed, and the other full on many of the spur of the moment decisions to scrapbook, my time has been, well...not limited, per se, but the SPACE certainly has been!!

SO. Commencing next week....stay tuned for my "ScrapShack" transformation!!! :-) I'm turning my master bedroom into a scrapbooking room!! EEEEEEEK!!! So flippin' excited!! I'm getting down and dirty with it, too....chucking the queen sized bed to a twin....losing the dressers...the works....enough said that my whole wearable wardrobe fits into a 5 drawer utility unit from Canadian Tire....

This year I'd made a very "off-ish" resolution...."Me, Myself and I"....and I mean it. I put so much into my five children, my daycare, my friends and family...I often get lost in the mix.

Okay, well ALWAYS.

So now it's MOMMA'S turn :-)

IKEA HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!

I was able to get some power scrappin' in for Tina, however. Thankfully. Would've posted earlier about it, but our "new" fancyschmancy computer was in the shop. Yes, I did lose all the photos I had on it. Yes, I have a backup of MOST of them. NO...there was no backup to these latest.

(Bo Bunny "U Bug Me" paper line, Thickers letters, Say it With Crystals bling)

Ode to Nav-Can...

2009-04-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz.....okay, well not yet, but Spring retreat at Nav-Can??? :-) SCHWINGGGGG!!!!

Where to start? A weekend of shits'n'giggles does wonders to lighten the soul...no cleaning, no cooking, no kids and no men :-) 'Nuff said.

Tally for the weekend...1 page, 31 cards :-) I completed 2 full card kits from CTMH, and handmade a bunch of others....I was actually going to start my line of "anti-sentiments"...but the card looked so pretty, I couldn't bear it ;-) It was going to be "Celebrate...it's not yours!!" for the maternity momma LOL!!!!

Why one page? Cuz it's all I could think about in the week preceeding the retreat..."Grace Over Diamonds" is a local band that has recently equalled my addiction for Edward ;-) In a chaotic routine of the mundane in my life...their music is truly an escape for me!!

Here are some of the cards....all CTMH, of course!!! I am having a BLAST with this company...they are literally a one-stop-shop of product!!

I'm going back in October....how many days?? ;-)

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

2009-03-13T07:32:00.001-07:00

So, once again my mother's birthday has come (yesterday) and it was fab!! I took her out for dinner and we had an uber-cutie for a server ;-P But I digress....

THIS is what I came up with for her birthday:

I wanted something she could display for her wall of all her grandkiddies (and yes, if you're new to my site, they're all mine!!! *twitch*)

I got the frame at Michaels....I think this will be the gift of choice for friends and family!!!

Using all CTMH, of course, I always leave aside some rub-ons to put on TOP of the glass, and on the frame itself...it lets you embellish "open" spaces after "assembling" your pages!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom...I love you :-)

Origami Box and more!!

2009-02-24T06:14:00.001-08:00

I had the opportunity to crop Friday night AND Saturday...and I actually (really really) got stuff done!! :-) I wish I had that chance to also do some stuff @home, but, well....y'know....so off I go again this weekend!!! Yippee!!!

This little treat I'm doing as my last CTMH club project....I won't be doing clubs for myself, instead, I'll be setting up classes!! So, there won't be any committment to be made, it'll be a flat fee...AND...IF you feel like ordering something at that night's class, well, take 10% off for yourself :-) Stay tuned for scheduling....lemme know if there's a technique you'd like to try, too!!!

So here is the "origami box" that I'd had sent to me by gal-pal Carole...she found it on Splitcoast...believe me, it looks WAY harder than it is, so that makes it uber-fancy to show off to friends :-)

and the funkiest part is? THERE'S NO GLUE for the "box" part itself!! Just grab a bone folder, and have fun making creases ;-)

I was also able to put out a few layouts as well...using my fave, "Stardust" paper line from CTMH....

And I was also able to finally scrap my absolute favourite pic of my three younglings at the piano :-)

Can't wait to plan more!!!! :-)

Keep creating!!!

Getting there...

2009-02-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

....slowly....so...many....plans.....

1) I need to get my album of CTMH samples DONE.

2) I need to go to IKEA and get m'self a kickass shelf for storing stuff...I am agonizingly frustrated by having to go upstairs, downstairs...heck, even out to the garage (ACK!!) to find supplies.

3) I need a vacation.

Okay, so that last one is a dream, but still...I AM going to Nav-Can in April!!! :-) WOO HOO!!! Just me. No kids. No meals to make. No alarm clock. NO little fingers under the bathroom door when I'm trying to hide and/or pee.

I digress.

I made a layout and a card at a....well...10 hours gal-pal crop I went to last Saturday ;-) too much gabbing, but very theraputic!!

Both contain solely CTMH products.

As an aside...I need a new printer. Mine won't print properly NOR will it scan properly. The glass is warped. How can glass be warped, you ask? I don't know...but it is. I swear!! ;-) As for the printing issues...could be from the little ornamental ROCK I plucked from it's bowels yesterday...courtesy of Thing 1, I'd imagine...he NEEDS to know how everything works....what he lacks is the capacity to realize that he's BREAKING the damned things!!! ARGH!!!! I'm loving the Epson I currently have...very cost efficient on the inks...let me know if you have one you love that has a scanner, k?

Keep up the creativity!!!

Yes, I am alive....

2009-02-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

If I had've taken any longer of a hiatus from posting, I'd be brushing cobwebs off of myself!!! SHEESH!! You'd think I had five kids or sumpthin' ;-)

Where to begin??? Well...my passion for scrapbooking has been renewed with a vengence!!! Two passions, really....Close to My Heart (http://www.closetomyheart.com/), and Tina's Scrapbooking (http://www.tinascrapbooking.com/). Let me fill you in on both!!!

Tina's store is located in Winchester. Why would I pick something a little further away? Because of the variety of selection and the total awesomeness that is Tina. She won't even charge you for her awesomeness ;-) I've so far completed a few layouts, cards, and a TOTALLY awesomely wicked Christmas album...you MUST check it out if you're in the neighbourhood of her...I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Yes, I admit that sounds a little cocky, but given my "understanding" that I'd let her choose a "mini" album...I thought it was an, oh, 6x6 or something.

NOPE. This thing has SECTIONS...complete with tabs!!! I used every single scrap of paper she'd left in my package. You must-see.

I've since completed some layouts, which I'll post here, and which will soon be in her store, so you can get the goodies!!

For my personal scrappin'...I have a new addiction to altering photo frames...you know, the ones that have multi-photo-ability (can you tell it's past my bedtime???). ANYhooooooo...for Christmas gifts for the grandparents, I made these multi-photo serving trays into...YUP.

...a "mini scrapbook".

And now....on to "Close To My Heart". I've had an epiphany, of sorts. I'm so "gung-ho" it's crazy!!! I will no longer be doing a personal "Hostess Club". If any of you wish to accumlate some gals pals and we meet at YOUR place? FUN FUN FUN!!! :-) You'd need another 5 gals plus yourself...I can let you know how it works for some FREE stuff!!

So NOW I can focus on doing classes :-) I love teaching!! Or, really, just getting to hang out with my OWN gal pals and chit chat whilst drinking some java and munching on something sweet. ;-)

My goal is to get a newsletter up and running before the month's end...any sooner and you might just see me on the news. Not so good.

I made this little layout with all CTMH product...this stuff really IS the schizzle :-) Lovin' it!!!

I'll keep you posted about new stuff I'm working on, I promise!!! In the meantime, keep creative!! xo

Scrapbookers need thumbs...

2008-11-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

who knew? Well let me tell you, spraining the thumb of your "useful" hand whilst trying to catch Thing 2 launching himself off of the top of the stairs can really hamper the production factor!!

These are "pre-sprain", from a crop weekend a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I'm late...it's because I had no thumb!! ;-) I'm hoping to get out again this weekend to work on some DT stuff for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations (http://www.tinascrapbooking.com/) and am SO excited!!! Could also do some xmas cards and...NO!! Wait!! That's right...I'm all DONE!! :-) Oh, the sweetness of it.

Nav-Can!!!

2008-10-27T17:23:00.001-07:00

Posting a little late on this one, seeing as how my life fits into the "they can't make this stuff up even for a B-movie" kinda thing......

So. I went to my second retreat with some close gal-pals the weekend of the 17th, and WOW. Seriously. Fun times!!!!!!! The laugh till you pee kinda fun :-) It was crazy!!! I had a ton 'o things I'd wanted to get done, and most of which I really did!!!

I also time warped ahead to thinking about Christmas, and taught my Close To My Heart Christmas card workshop with some of my best students EVER in attendance...and even included my mom!! :-) It was a riot. These ladies ROCKED the class!!!

I have a few others things on the go, a hostess club on Wednesday night, and planning for Design Team schwing.....life is never boring in these parts of the world! ;-)

Chipboard Album

2008-10-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here's a challenge I hosted on Lovebug this past weekend (http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.com/) where I wanted to use up all those bits and pieces of chipboard I have laying around...which is a TON ;-)

So I took a handful of odds and ends...and put together a mini-album!!! I particularly liked that I could use some less-than-perfect photos because they would be cropped small...not enough to fit a layout, but perfect for this!!

The gals hosted a TON of challenges for you to "scrap your stash"...so go check out the forum and try them!!! :-)

Pull-out Scrapbook

2008-09-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Whoaaaaaaaaa Nelly!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I managed to pop this off whilst shaking Thing 1 off my chair and Thing 2 grabbin my arm. Oh, the sacrifices for the art ;-)

This is a project I'm doing for my hostess club, called a "Pull-out Scrapbook". This, in one word, is AWESOME. Why? Because it suits any level of scrapbooker. You can make it just with your papers, or you can add stamps. You can add eyelets, embossing and fibres. The list, really, is endless. This is pretty simple, consisting of papers, CTMH "Stickease" stickers (seriously, I used stickers) and two stamps (on the cover).

Think a quick birthday gift (you don't have to add the pics, they can!!), a hostess gift, teacher gifts and XMAS gifts!!! You could put some pics in it that cover the past year!! :-)

Dahlia Fold Cards

2008-09-12T05:45:00.001-07:00

I love them. End of story.

Dahlia fold cards are the BEST way to get that "my card is better than your card." Period. ;-) LOL!!!

These little beauties I will be teaching at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations (http://www.tinascrapbooking.com/) on October 4th, 2008 at 1 p.m. Check out her website for some new products and such, too!!! THEN....head on over to her design team gallery where you'll find....ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOOOOOO excited to have been selected as part of her design team for the 2008-2009 season!!!! :-) Thanks, Tina...I'm honoured!!!

These cards feature the "Love You" line by Daisy Bucket...by far my most favourite paper line company for doing dahlia fold cards!! First, because they're THIN papers. This makes it so much easier to fold the little pieces (what pieces, you ask? come take the class!!) Second, because they're double sided. I'm always looking for "more bang for your buck". And for these particular folds, it just makes sense. THIRD? I love the colours.

Hope you find inspiration today!!

Time away!

2008-08-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

Finally this weekend I was able to get out and about and spend some quality time scrappin'!! :-) It's been far too long, and it feels GREAT to be back in the saddle again!!!

So I was out Friday night and Saturday at the Scrapbox (http://www.thescrapbox.ca/) and had a blast!! Finally picked up some new goodies (Bo Bunny "Beau Jardin" line!) to play with and FINALLY worked on the Mother's Day picture I've been waiting to scrap!

I also picked up some of the new felt from Prima...similar to the Queen & Co. "felt fusion"...but even more awesome ;-) I'm also addicted to the ColorCore cardstock..this one is "Cauldron" and I sanded it to reveal the matching teal colour of the pp. Of course, being a page just for MOI...I wanted some flowers, but they were a little too stark for my liking. So I stamped on them using the Autumn Leaves "Stampology" flourishes to match the paper :-) How friggin novel!! Also, the AC Thickers were a little stark..so I stamped on them, too!!

Anyhoooo....keep posted as I'll be posting some pics of the dahlia fold cards I'll be teaching in October shortly :-) They ROCK!!

Another nice addendum to the weekend was the number of Close To My Heart business cards I passed around...check them out if you have the chance (www.closetomyheart.com) I'll be doing a couple of Christmas card classes in the coming months!!!

Speedy Gonzales....

2008-08-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

NOT! I've been working on about 3 different layouts and not one is the way I want it >:-(

But I digress....looking forward to fall in the worst way!!! ;-) I have the potential to be doing some really great and exciting things.....but....well, I have no control over any of it and that's very hard for me ;-) Just sitting here waiting....tapping fingers...and planning....it's the power of positive thinking, and I tell you...I'm just givin' 'er!!! LOL

Anyhoooooooo...the latest: Kids are spawn, life is good :-) Thing 1 and Thing 2 are a year and a half now, I can't believe it!!! I just bought them Dr. Seuss Thing 1 and Thing 2 Halloween costumes!!! *BEAMING*

Drama queen has recovered from her surgery and is in tip-top shape, I'm happy to report!! Still full of drama, but that I can deal with (or at least lead people to believe I can!!)

Oldest is full of pre-teen laziness...right on track ;-) I did this layout of him because I could. Seriously. Getting a decent picture of him NOT playing video games is a feat of gargantuan proportions!!!

AND....I scanned it :-) This is a big deal for me. NOW I will submit like wildfire...they may not ever use any of mine, but I tell you this...they will eat, sleep and breathe my name...baby steps. ;-)

Also, I used Photoshop CS3 to alter the main photo of him...see if you can pick out what I did!!!

Back at it....PHEW!!!

2008-07-29T07:41:00.001-07:00

I was seriously getting behind....who would think?? But I have two less daycare kids this week, and I can bribe the one I have left with craft time :-) Life is good.

So, for the first....I don't like it. It didn't turn out the way I'd wanted, and of COURSE because I haven't figured out how to $#@ scan...it looks too dark. Whatever. There were two things I wanted to pull off...one, the Autumn Leaves "Stampology" edges acrylic stamp (say that 10 times fast) and two, the photo...the "selective colouring" in Photoshop. LOVE it.

The second I had SO much fun with....the "Frenzy" line by Whiteout...used Photoshop to do the half circle journalling for the first time. COOL.

Cheers to new-found mojo ;-)

Reconnected...

2008-07-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

A day without phone, internet AND cable makes me lose my mind. Period. Not the insanity of raising kids, but the feeling of being disconnected from the outer ring of my "adult" life...from who's doing what and when...the weather (who'da thunk you could just walk outside and see?)...the news.

I am now reconnected and life is good. Apparently there was an "issue" at the company. The company doesn't have five kids. The company doesn't understand why playing Dora-babies on Treehouse.com is a GOOD thing for mommy, kids be damned. Internet = QUIET. Phone = adult conversation. Cable = "connection" to all things gloriously vegetative...a state of which I would like to have a few more minutes during the day.

This layout features a pic taken by my friend at a Christmas party...I remember the moment, not just because I had no prior "vogue" time (y'know...to fix up hair, reduce the shine?)...but because it was such a quick, blink and you miss it, kind of moment. But for that one, fleeting moment, my son and I "connected" with a bond stronger than even the best tape-runners...

Mission (Im)Possible

2008-07-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

I have FINALLY done it!!!

I found EXACTLY 12.2 minutes to figure out, in Photoshop, how do to this effect! :-) This, by gawd, is THE most exciting thing that's happened in the last, oh, two days....only to be topped by the fascinating way my twins can fandangle their little chicken butts up onto my dining room TABLE....but that's another story....

Anyhooooooo....I've seen it, I've been sent instructions to do it, I've even attempted the impossible and tried to do it myself (apparently I missed the "impossible" part...I never "got it")...but today my friend told me about the instructional area on the Scrapbooks Etc. site...under the "Digital Scrapbooking" area :-) Seriously, it is SO user-friendly.

I've done a couple more that I'm hoping to scrap this weekend (in the alter-reality of my mind I have a TON of free time)...fingers crossed!!! I picked up some of the Black Magic and Vintage ColorCore Cardstock I'm also hoping to play with!!

Loooooooooong week!!!

2008-07-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I've FINALLY made a few things!! phew! I was starting to suffer some serious withdrawals, I tell you!! Between the new daycare girls (the hell was I thinking??) and Hannah's surgery, well....you know. I'm too tired to even type!!!

So. I got me just a bitty of the new Basic Grey Euphoria line...just a teaser, mind you...I'm off to the Scrapbox (http://www.thescrapbox.ca/) to get momma some more ;-) Anyhooooooooo....I've been wanting to do up some cards FOREVER...and I've finally done it!! LOL ya, five...I understand the irony...considering the "whole stack" I really want to get to!!!

I'm STILL trying to figure out what kind of a scanner to buy :-( bloody hell...I hate taking pics of all the stuff!! You never get the "true" colours and texture of anything!!! ARGH!! So if you have one you love, lemme know!!

A Mother's Touch...

2008-07-13T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm behind in the scrappin' factor...and for good reason, believe me!!! Hannah had her surgery to have her adenoids and tonsils removed for "obstructive sleep apnea" on Friday. Not only was it the longest day of my life, it was the hardest...and with that evening still to come (we'd had to stay overnight at CHEO).

Nothing in the world makes me feel as powerless as I did when I saw my daughter in the recovery room. I like to think I am a woman of eloquence...but words fail me to describe the sight I beheld my little girl going through. Even as I held her crying in my arms, not knowing her surroundings, with her pain, her disorientation...I couldn't even muster up a small prayer for anything...anything at all. I was at a total loss. The only thing I could think to do was sing...so I did. And she settled. I sang....and it was the worst singing I've ever done as I tried to choke back my own tears. But still, she settled. I cupped her head in my hands and wished with all my might that I could somehow transfer her pain to me...

So I sat up all night watching her. I was on the clock before the nurses asking for her pain meds. But truth be known, she is a little fighter and I wish I had half the pain tolerance she must have!!! Little bugger fought off not only the morphine, but the codeine as well!!! She didn't fall asleep until HOURS after her surgery!! Meanwhile, I'm looking like a woodpecker knocking on trees, my head was so heavy from fatigue!! Good God, did they slip me some as well??? Hook me the hell up!!! ;-)

Anyways, she's doing just fine. I, however, am still traumatized. Although I know this will all be, at best, a figment of her imagination, I toil in the realization that even though I may feel like I can't do anything for my child in times of need, I am, indeed, the most powerful person in the world.

I am their mother.

"Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children." William Makepeace Thackeray

I'm lacking...

2008-07-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

in the photo department!!! I have almost scrapped all my recently updated pics, and I have a rule that I don't touch older photographs, unless I know and have EXACTLY the right papers and such to go with it. Bizarre, I know, but you should be accustomed to that by now ;-)

So, the weather is HOT, the kids are grouchy...but I'm scrappin' tonight :-) All's good.

This is my first attempt at the Prima Paintables!!! I really did enjoy playing with the Twinkling H2O's ;-)

Legacy and Losses

2008-06-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well, these two recent pages reflect both past AND future, ironically enough. And I love them both, for their significance to ME. That got me thinking. Lately I've been doing a lot of scrapbooking to impress other people, and that's NOT what it's about. But it wasn't until I completed these two pages that I realized I am giving these gifts of remembrance not only to my children, but to enable myself to feel emotion AND have the outlet to capture it on "paper". Set in stone, if you will.

The first is with my daughter, who just turned 3 last week. I see in her myself, obviously, but also of that typical "I want the best for her" - thingy ;-) Watching her grow up, being all girlie-girl, I realize that she is totally NOT me, having been a tomboy, and growing up an avid hockey and football fan!!! I see in her the potential to have a daughter of her own...and thus, my legacy.

I also finally compelled myself to compose a layout remembering my grandparents...but not how they used to be, how they used to look or how they used to "live". I chose, rather, to honour the fact that they are "GONE"...and my emotions attached to said fact. The photo in the layout are the corner pieces of each of their caskets, of their final resting places. I ache that my grandmother, who so verily believed I was a boy, in utero, that she'd bought all blue baby stuff, never saw that I had a daughter of my own, after two boys. I ache that neither were able to drop a jaw to learn that I was carrying not one, but TWO little lives in my womb...my grandfather was supposed to have met the twins but two weeks after his passing. I miss them terribly, I still grieve at their loss...but know in my heart that their blood runs through the legacy they've left FORWARD, not behind.

Challenge me this.....

2008-06-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

PHEW. Seriously, working under pressure can have it's advantages, but after the week 'o' snafu I've just gotten over...well...MAN!! I was up for a "game" of sorts at Lovebug, but when you've got a deadline and it's the final hour....I'm pretty stoked with what I came up with!! LOL

Actually, these are the two of my better ones...the last I just DON'T accept...I'll fix it later ;-)

Dirt and divas....

2008-06-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

I friggin LOVE taking pictures of my kids!!! :-) seriously, to do a layout of, say, a flower? unheard of!! LOL one day I'll surprise you, I promise!!!

So another all-day crop yielded wonderful results...I was ON the game, I tell ya!! Finally dug out my BG "Archaic" and actually USED it...I love this stuff....fibres, chipboard stickers....PERFECT with having two littles "Things" that highlight it's FUN!!!

And I took a trip outside the box and played with my new Heidi Swapp goodies...pink and black? I think it turned out well!! I layered the birds in the bottom left-hand corner...hand cut the largest, the second is a transparency and the last is a little PINK mirror bird!!! I also layered the title, I've never done that before...I could be addicted already ;-) The "sassy" is Heidi Swapp bling over her foam alphas that co-ordinate with the paper line...

Lastly, I got to do a couple of single pages....one of Thing 2 lookin' all devious...little cutie!!!

And of Hannah stopping to "smell the roses"....which, in this case is a weed...dandelion ;-)

Looking forward to this week...I'm going to try to learn how to scan my images, instead of almost tossing my camera out the door!! :-)

Conspiracy Theory

2008-06-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about having twins, I'm finding, is the amount of trouble they get into. Well, maybe "trouble" is the wrong word...how about "conspiracies"? or "kunundrums"...or....

I swear, they plan this stuff, I'm certain of it!! Got your eye off your Diet Coke for ONE second, and Thing 2 has given himself a bath in it. Got a chair? Thing 2 is up on the dining room table. I have no more chairs in my dining room, and my computer tower is blocked by a baby gate...just waiting for them to figure out their fingers can poke through and STILL turn it off!!!

I just noticed Thing 2 can reach the doorknobs.

Perfect.

It's ON!!!

2008-06-10T08:41:00.001-07:00

Officially a guest designer for the month of June for Lovebug Scrapbooking....this forum ROCKS!!! http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.com/ You need to check it out! The best part? They have a store AND forum AND gallery!!

Anyhoooooo...got my kit on Friday...The Little Yellow Bicycle "Delightful" series...YUMMY!! :-) Still have some on the go with some wicked Maya Road goodies...but of course...OF COURSE...I dislocated my finger yesterday dealing with offspring chaos....but that's another story.

For this layout, I had Stephane write the journalling himself!!! Although it seems a more "girly" line, it works just fine for the lads!!!

I wish my camera would take better pictures!!! LOL...or, of course, if I could ;-) but you get the idea, I hope!!!

I have a ton more stuff to get done....off I go, and hopefully the offspring will comply....otherwise perhaps some duct tape and brandy? ;-)

Sassy...

2008-06-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

My daughter is QUITE the little miss, full of sass and cheeky comments. I snapped this pic as she was pointing to me "no scrapbooking!!"

Hmmmm...wonder if I snap too many pictures to scrapbook? Can't imagine ;-)

I cut the flowers from the Cricut machine...stamped over the die cuts with the Baroque wheel from Stampin' Up! (it was just plain pink), then layered them to give it texture.

I need another...

2008-06-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

I need another retreat. Already. Only been to one, only 3 months ago...and it's time. Overdue, in fact. So I'm hoping a few of my gal pals will set one up for us the beginning of October!!!!!!!!

This page was inspired by my first EVER scrapbooking retreat, which had been hosted by Tomorrow's Treasures...and featured...VICKI BOUTIN!!!! Seriously, I know we all have our persons of inspiration, but she was one of the first (although in no way limited to) sources of scrapbooking inspiration for me when I first began. I scraplifted in secret (only cuz I thought that was a bad thing!!!), and I followed her blog religiously.

So. To meet her in person? Kid in a candy store, I tell you....S-W-E-E-T!!!!!!!!!!! She is so down to earth and funny!!! Anyways, that weekend was a highlight not only in my scrapbooking endeavours, but also on a personal front. I didn't have to clean. I didn't have to cook. I could go to bed when I wanted, and wake up when I wanted. A good friend of mine told me my voice tone dropped about 15 levels, I was so relaxed. It was the best sleep I'd had in EONS. I could shower without rushing!! Who knew that level of existing...well...existed?!?!? ;-)

Patience is a virtue...

2008-05-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

...that I just don't have...I REALLY want to make a TON of paper pieced cards...but cutting out all those itty bitties??? argh!!! But I certainly am LOVING the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge for my Cricut machine...you can even make costumes!!!!!

I would like to get my hands on the "Once Upon a Time" dp and accessories and make an album for my daughter...these little add ons I could put in it would be SO much fun!! It can cut castles....even a dragon!!! Need to stock up on Michael's coupons!!! :-)

Out on a limb

2008-05-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

I feel SO close to making it...I'm on the cusp, I think...or a really, REALLY long branch ;-) I'm reading through design books, learning colour theory...placement theory...you name it. I will be published SOME day!!!! It's a goal of mine that ticks in my brain daily...I'm always looking for ways to up the game, so to speak....

Just wishing...dreaming, really...

Contents under pressure!!!

2008-05-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

I am SO sick :( ugh. And to know I could theoretically be able to at least function if it hadn't been that I was up until 4 a.m. coughing!! ACK! But I manage, like I always do...and got in a bit 'o scrappin' this morning...which ordinarily might NOT have happened except that I have class tomorrow night...and had NO layout!! The heck happened there??? ;-) oops. The one I thought we were doing is not until the very last class....minor detail. LOL!!!

Oh well...off to find more java...I wonder if I could start an I.V. drip?????

The eyes are the windows to the soul...

2008-05-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

I never realized just how much my oldest son looks like me!! :-O It wasn't until I took this candid of the two of us, which actually turned out pretty well!!!, taken on Mother's Day, that I realized he has, without a doubt, my eyes. Out of five children, ONE of them has my eyes!!

He is going to be 13 years old this year...and I think I need to make more of an effort to find him amongst his video games to take more pictures of him...before he turns into a teenager and runs off with his friends!!! But I still get my hugs...and the best part? HE initiates them ;-) I love my son...it's a daily struggle sometimes, with all those tween hormones starting..but worth every second!!

Feet and "Me"...bizarre combo, eh?

2008-05-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

Ordinarily I don't like feet, unless they're in socks. Or, unless you're under 2 years of age...then I'm some kind of freak...taking off baby socks and stuffing stinky little baby toes up my nose...gotta love it!!!! I took this pic of Logan's dirty little feet a couple of months ago...I take a lot of "feet" pictures...not sure why, really, but "just in case"...no idea, don't ask...but what if one becomes Prime Minister, or an Olympic athlete??? Gotta have that "where will these feet take you" pics ;-)

And then there's me....The one thing I hate worse than taking a self-pic, is actually having to scrap it!! Nope. Not on my fave list at ALL. But I can step up to the plate, so to speak, down a package of pre-selected chocolate and, voila!!! ART!!! LOL

I wish all of you mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!!! You deserve the standing ovation I'm giving all of you....um....I'm also standing to avoid booger-feeling oatmeal spilled by Thing 1 on the computer chair, but that's a story for another day ;-)

I didn't cave!!!!!!!

2008-05-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

Seriously...down to some REAL birthday card making "genius-ness"...with a TON O HELP from the new Cosmo Cricket line!!! I'll buy them out, with all this boy-friendly paper line!!! *gush!!!*

So I finished the card and thought "what the heck do I put the gift card in??"...and then it struck me...those little "goodie" holders Michelle S. taught me at the crop in Winchester!!!! DUH!!! ;-) Like lightening, I tell you....

Finished!!!

2008-05-08T19:15:00.001-07:00

Not MY layout...HER layout...by far my biggest honour in scrapbooking...doing my closest friend Angelique's wedding picture :-) I layered, I embossed, I put the bling on.....I hope she likes it!! ;-) You need to understand...her and I suffer "hallucination" problems together...we've bonded. LOL!!! Back atcha, babe!!!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!! :-)

2008-05-03T18:55:00.001-07:00

Okay, so it's almost time for bed, but better late than never!! ;-) What better than to have a day, let alone a MONTH to celebrate scrapbooking!!!

So what does scrapbooking mean to me? Well, how to begin? I thought I'd start to make some pages for my daughter after she was born......now, however, it's meaning has become a complex web of emotions in my life. I feel passion for what I do. I feel settled knowing my children will have keepsakes of their lives, my life and of the lives around us. I feel peace because as I scrapbook, I let go of the angst in my life...I have no resentments, no "baggage", no fear and no regret. I feel pride creating projects for the people in my life. I feel relief upon completion of a page.

And that's just to name but a few.

I was only able to make one page today....so I chose this picture of my grandparents. My grandmother never got to see that I had a daughter, my grandfather never had the chance to meet my twin baby boys...he died two weeks before we were to travel down to see him. It will be one year since his passing this coming Monday.

Scrapbooking has allowed me to revisit memories of moments in time in my life....and that helps my heart heal.

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz...oh what a week it is!!!

2008-04-29T16:02:00.000-07:00

Y'know...I'm convinced. There is some planetary alignment that is just NOT kosher with my life path this week...the newest? The dryer fried. Literally. As in, "snap, crackle...lots of blue sparks, omg the lint is on fire, pop." Spent $30 on a part we thought caused this light show, but no...it's deeper...MUCH deeper. We're getting a new one from the landlord (aka DAD), but I'm cringing watching the pile creep ever so high on the landing.

Anyhooooooooo....so is my made-for-tv-movie kinda life ;-) It'll get better. I know this, cuz I'll go spend some money that I really don't have...but the planets will appear that much nicer ;-)

Here's the latest:

I'd show you a couple other things...but I can't ;-)

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

2008-04-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

So I just finished typing up the instructions for one of the projects I'm doing for Lovebug Scrapbooking (http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.com/) and it's killing me not to post the picture, or tell you what it is!!!!!! All I can say is that for one of the two projects I chose to feature "jump rings". Why would you be concerned or excited about that?? Because it's really quite funny. Apparently I used up the quota of the four remaining brain cells I have left when I chose these things, because in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM were they ANYTHING like what I thought they were!!!!! :-O

Well holy crap!!! I'd known we had some at our store, but do you think that came to mind??? NO. Do you think I'd had even an inkling from the amount of noise coming from the package when you shake it what kind of "rings" they were? HELL NO! I would've given anything to see the look my face must've had when I opened the package...really. I don't think they could've scripted something like that in any movie!!

So then my mind was racing....what the heck? what the HECK??? Didn't I have a coffee this morning? Did I upset the cosmos for this cruel trick of impossibility??? Oh boy...as the one really kick-ass project I'd had in mind went flying out the window as fast as my grocery bill rings up!!!

ANYHOOOOOOOOOOO....the one I came up with is really quite fun. I can't wait to show you!!!

I'm happy to say that this experience has solidified my belief that there are NO mistakes in scrapbooking...only opportunities. I am, however, trying to bank some karma points so that this never happens again. ;-)

Thursday hod-podge...

2008-04-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

So it's gorgeous outside...went for a totally exhausting walk with the kiddies to WalMart this morning...and didn't buy a single scrapbook item!!! ????? ;) But, on the other hand, I made this oh-so-easy and TOTALLY fun mini-purse!!! What a cool way to put in a gift card, a few nail polishes and such for my mum for mum's day!!! And they're perfect for little favours for a workshop!!!

ARGH!!!

2008-04-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

All my scrappin' plans kinda fell through this weekend....mind you, no kidding...I'd planned to get everything organized Friday night at a crop I was working, when lo and behold, there was a stabbing at the restaurant next door!!!!!! :-O omg, seriously...I needed something a WHOLE lot stronger than a Tylenol that night!!!

Went to a crop on Saturday, didn't get much done there, either...except this layout of my little wee peanut ;-) can't get the little bugger to STOP, let alone SIT...and here I got a picture??? Carpe Diem, I say!!! Anyhoooooo....reason being, was the I was frantically cutting class kits for the card class...for TEN people!!!! :-) Grinnin' from ear to ear!! It was awesome...ladies were great, had tons of fun!! Thanks, Tina, for that opportunity!!!

Glad the weather is holding up...been out so much my house looks like a tornado hit...INSIDE. Who cares? I'm outta this cage! ;-) Twins are SO incredibly cute, and yes, they DO take off in different directions! Perfect.

Handmade Journals...

2008-04-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

This is WAY easier than it looks, believe me!!! ;-) This is what I'd submitted for an altered project on a site looking for guest designers... http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.com/ This site is a WEALTH of scrappin', stampin' and alterin' GODDESSES!!!! They have an online store, a gallery where you can post yer goodies AND a forum with an index list as long as my arm!! :-)

I'm looking to start another dowel/leather spine journal next...I can't wait to start it!!! This journal features bamboo skewers to keep the "hinges" of the spine in place....it's an incredible gift to give and would take you approximately 2.5 - 3 hours in total to complete...seriously!!!

Luvin' the Gelly's

2008-04-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm excited...beyond excited!!! I'm going to a crop this coming weekend...and teaching a card class!!! WOO HOO!!! Not only that, but the cards we're doing are using Gel-a-Tins!! MMMMMM...I LOVE them!! I'll certainly have to stock up while I'm there, too ;-) Check it out!!!

http://www.tinascrapbooking.com/

My eyes are bigger than my brain...

2008-04-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

At least, if my brain was anywhere close to functioning after a day of Thing 1 and Thing 2 clambouring like saran-wrap on my legs the whole day!! I had to hide in my kitchen just to scarf down a MICROWAVED bowl of Mr. Noodles...y'know...the ones you're supposed to BOIL???

Argh!!! But I digress....my eyes see this perfect sanctuary of a scrappin' space for myself in this house....but for the life of me I just can't seem to wrap my four brain cells around HOW I could actually accomplish such a feat! Bizarre, to say the least, considering there are FIVE children, FOUR bedrooms (and one had to be made by us), THREE phones, TWO cats.....and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeeeee (at least if one of the cats didn't get him).........

I want I want I want a scrappin' place of PEACE somewhere in here!! I know I could do it!! IKEA, baby, here I come!! But, alas...the logistics are not cooperating with me....*SIGH*....maybe on another day, when Hannahzilla and the he-beasts are less demanding, I just might be able to string a thought together and figure it out!!!

Mother

2008-04-09T04:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, as I scrapbook for my mom, I wonder what it feels like for her, to know that her legacy will be passed onto a whole new generation...for her to look at me, her only babe, having FIVE babes of my own ;-) Boggles the mind, I tell you!!

I was given a kit including the colorcore cardstock and Colorflowers I Collection...usually I'm not a huge fan of patterned paper with a big print right in the middle of the page...what the heck?? No wonder I hoard ;-) Love the paper, never want to make that cut! Anyhoooooo.....figured a simple, clean design would accent the flower of the paper. LOVING the colorcore cardstock, though...and did I ever put it to the test!!! I tore it, I sanded it....I wrung it through the crimper and THEN sanded it....woo hoo!! This stuff is awesome!! Played with some BoBunny self-adhesive chipboard...and Ranger Crackle Paint (my new "happy place")....this is fun!! I like to be challenged to use only what is provided...wonder if kids will ever come that way ;-)

Cost vs. fun??

2008-04-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

So, I'm trying to come up with fun cards for classes, without costing myself a ton'o'coin!! So for these cards, "Dahlia folds" as they're called, I just played with the paper, instead!!! I used one of the new Daisy Bucket line of papers :-) I LOVE them!! Aren't they so fresh and fun?? I think that the designs and colours compensate for the cost-wise lack of embellishments, do you??

Too many!!!

2008-04-05T12:50:00.000-07:00

So I've been tying a whole whack of new card techniques lately...and I must admit, I'm having a ton'o'fun with them!! :-) I'm not sure what lead to my sudden onslaught, but the next time someone's birthday suddenly moves up to TOMORROW...I'll be ready...bring it on!!!

So there's the "magnifying spot"...EVER so cool...I've been ransacking my stamp drawers to find another awesome stamp to use...And the split negatives are quickly becoming my fave :-) Hmmm...what else have I tried??? Faux leather, cracked glass...ACETATE...I LOVE these ones. I have enough StazOn to last in my scrapstore in my dining room until I move...which will be never ;-)

Now on to another task with cards...I'm gonna be blingin' them up...taking out the "hoard box"...all the rubons, chipboard, stickers etc etc and letting loose!!! I'll post some when I have the chance to play! :-)

Who knew??

2008-04-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Oh man, seriously...who knew this eleventyzillion dollar machine could actually DO something??? ;-) Check out the "flowers"!!! I also wanted to do something with all of the Stampin' Up! stuff I have hoarded, afraid to use because, well, because then it would be GONE....LOL!!!

So the trick is to actually use a little elbow grease and give your shapes some TEXTURE...I cut out all the shapes of the flowers in descending sizes, then crimped or pinched where needed. I outlined the "purely pomegranite" flower with my Stardust clear pen....mmmmmmmmm....sparkle-y...

Anyways, the picture is of ME. I was Hannah's age :-)

BG addict....

2008-03-31T06:03:00.000-07:00

oh, I SO am a Basic Grey addict!!! :-) Had the chance to finally pick up some of the new line prior to the weekend....SCHWING!!!! I had to restrain myself, though...it was a very difficult time for me ;-) For a fleeting moment, I actually pondered (pleaded, really) with my conscience, to borrow money instead of waiting 5 days till payday...just so I could get all the yummies that went along with the lines....!!! Gosh, have you seen them?? Chipboard stickers, rub-ons, STAMPS.....really? REALLY! Fibres, buttons...omigosh...the list is relentless on my stick-to-budget conscience....I made the one of Thing 2 (aka twin 2, aka Ethan for those of you who aren't as familiar with my spawn) using BG "Archaic"....HAD to get the chipboard stickers....they've got dinosaurs!!! :-) And the "Handsome" Thing 1 (aka twin 1, aka Logan) was made using the "Cupcake" line...*sigh*...if only you could see the schwing that goes with it....I also used the Bazzil "In Stitchiz" templates to create the title...I love those things....really, I do.

And you've gotta check out the l/o I made with my Stampin' Up! papers...Western Sky...I like to call it, and therefore dub said layout "Floating Picture"...see if you can figure it out ;-)

So here we go...

2008-03-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

Enter stage left, blogging.

But that's okay, because this one is for ME...all about ME, and what I love to do...scrapbook. Good thing, too, having...are you sitting down?...FIVE children!!! How the heck do you imagine I could possibly remember all the little comings and goings of their lives without being able to scrapbook them??

Ironically, I get out of the house more NOW, than I did when I only had my firstborn. Really? Really. Of course, I have about a trazillion less brain cells than I did back then, but whatever...I can function ;-)