*On The Mend*

I think that Matthew is on the mend....  the headache and fever are gone, throat is not nearly as sore, and the general aches and pains are barely there.

I still feel bad for thinking he might have been faking it.

Not a proud parenting moment.

But reality, I suppose.

I do the best I can... what more can anyone ask?

I am packed and ready to head to Shannon's house to play with the CalGals tonight!  I had to pack early as a friend and I have tickets to see "New Moon" later this afternoon and there won't be time to pack between the movie and the Starbucks run I offered to do before heading to Shannon's house.  I have packed all of my Christmas paper (easy to do since it's all in it's own 12X12 plastic container), some cardstocks to match, the inks and ribbons to match that, and some of my favourite Christmas images.  I also printed off a few of the challenges I still need to complete this week.  I sure hope I do more than sit and watch the others play tonight!

It won't be a late night tonight as Shannon has to teach at the Scrapbook Pantry at 9am Saturday morning and is dropping Hailey off at my house at 8:15.  Blech!  If Matthew continues to feel well, I am heading off to get the three of us our H1N1 vaccinations now that we've made the cut of who's eligible (Bruce got his last week).  Bruce will watch Hailey while I am gone.  Not like she's tough to look after at 4 months old!

I sure hope there isn't much for lineups for the vaccine!

Enough chit chat...  I should be making and eating lunch instead of chatting away on my blog LOL!

This is another of the cards from when Heather was here....  you can see the original sketch idea HERE.

The sketch was pretty easy, once I decided what colours to use.  I found the little strip piece of patterned paper in my stash, something I had done with one of my border punches months ago to see if it would work.  I chose paper I never thought I'd use and I have no idea why I kept it!

Why wouldn't I use this paper? Well, it's the Imaginisce Halloween line from last year and I don't do Halloween cards.  But I thought about it and decided that the colours were perfect for fall.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  Imaginisce
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities; EK Success Border Punch; Paper Piercing tool (above & below the patterned paper)
*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flower (coloured with Copic); Kaiser Pearl; Liquid Pearls


I could see this being a great layout for a Christmas card as well... I see a snowflake where that flower is.  Hmmmmmmm

*I Take It Back*

Well, he's not faking it...  sorry bud, for even thinking that you might be.

I don't pull out the thermometer unless the kids feel really warm to the touch.  If it's just a slight fever, I don't worry too much about it.  Because of that, I had to teach my 12 year old son how to place the thermometer in his mouth yesterday morning.

And when it was all said and down, his temperature was around 102F

The fever came back down to more acceptable levels (just a low grade fever) over night and the aches and pains are a little less.  Throat is still sore.

It's just so hard to tell when they're not sick enough to be sleeping the day away.  In fact, the kid has been bored and has wanted to be on the computer, which I've not allowed.  I figure if you're home sick, the most excitement you get is daytime TV.

I have had the time, the desire, but not the mojo to create this week.  Or maybe it's just I've been too lazy to pull out the papers and inks needed to create cards? It's just too easy to watch TV, surf the net, read...

So that means I am good and behind on the challenges I like to do each week!

The CalGals are meeting at Shannon's house tomorrow night... I am hopeful that I will get *something* done while I am there!  It's so hard to pack to craft elsewhere as I am used to being the host for everything.  But with Ian still out of town, it's easier for Shannon to have Hailey at home for the evening and we've missed Shannon the last few months!  So I will pack up some stuff and smile, and enjoy being with my crafting friends tomorrow night!!!

This is another card I created while Heather was here back in September...  Another of her challenges.  You can see the original card HERE.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Going Grey, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! brad; ribbon from Michaels; Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons


This card came together quickly and I am pleased with it...  I like how the colours work together.

*Still On The Couch*

Matthew is still home and resting on the couch today.  Slight fever, sore throat, headache.  He's not feeling very hungry but he just scarfed down a fruit smoothie so I'm thinking the cold from the frozen fruit felt good.

He's not really sick, but there's something in his system.

Today I am sharing another card that I made while my sister was here.  Heather had fun sending me cards to challenge my creativity and keep me busy.  And I appreciated the kick in the ass to get me going.  You can see the original card HERE.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Staples White; Stampin Up! Rich Razzleberry
*Patterned Paper:  Imaginisce
*Images:  The Angel Company Petal Pack
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nesstabilities
*Embellishments:  Kaiser bling

*How Do You Know?*

This morning, Matthew complained of a sore throat.  Not seeing anything alarming, I sent him to school.

And hour later, he phones to tell me that his throat is really sore.  I ask if there's anything else wrong, he says "no" so I tell him to stick it out until lunch.

About 90 minutes later (and before lunch) the school secretary calls to tell me that Matthew really isn't feeling well so Bruce went to pick him up from school.

He's complaining of a sore throat, more like the jaw area inside his mouth, but we see nothing.  No fever, no cough, no sniffles... just his claim of a sore throat/jaw.

This is one of those times I hate being a parent.  I hate that he is home, on the couch and I have no idea if there's something actually wrong or if he's just got a little sore throat that will be fine in a few hours.  Am I being "played" by my 12 year old?

He's not usually one to want to stay home if he's not sick.... so I have to assume that something isn't right... I just have no clue what that is.

Being a Mom is hard work!

I had fun playing with the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge this past weekend.  I knew what I wanted to do almost as soon as I saw the sketch...  I envisioned the Cuttlebugged snowflakes and a snowman on the front.  Not thrilled with the colouring or the colours of the snowman, but otherwise I love this card.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  PaperTreyInk White; Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! (retired)
*Images:  Hero Arts
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Snowflakes Cuttlebug folder
*Embellishments:  Kaiser bling
*Challenges:  SC254

*I Started Today*

It's official....  I've started listening to Christmas music.   The Santa Claus Parade in Toronto was yesterday and I've used that parade for years to mark when I can officially start singing along to my favourite Christmas music.

I had it on in the car this morning on the way to drop something off at Alex's school that he forgot to take with him this morning.  I enjoyed it immensely!

I love the music I remember from my childhood... Nana Mouskouri, Boney M, The Carpenters, Kenny and Dolly... and I've added in some great new stuff too like Barenaked Ladies, Robert Downey Jr, Crash Test Dummies.  My Christmas music taste is *very* ecclectic.

Making Christmas cards has been different for me this year.  I've been participating in Tracy's Christmas card challenge making 5 cards a month since January (although I actually started later than that!), plus I've made a few cards here and there.  Instead of playing, trying to find the perfect card to mass produce, I will be sending out various different cards to people.

Different for me, but not a bad thing (except when someone says "I love the card you sent" and I have no idea what card I sent LOL!).

This is another Christmas card I created this past week.  As soon as I saw the sketch on Mercy's blog, I knew what I wanted to do.  I love it when cards come together like that.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTrey Scarlet Jewel, White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  DeNami (ornament); Hero Arts Holiday Cheer
*Ink:  Versamark, embossed with gold embossing powder
*Tools:  Big Shot; D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder
*Challenges:  MTSC47


The only thing I am not thrilled with is the skinny burgundy layer... I should have decorated it with a different Cuttlebug folder or something...

*I'm In A Good Mood!*

I have had a great day so far today!!  I started bowling again this fall after a 20 year break.  I bowled (5-pin) as a kid until I moved to Toronto in 1990.  I always thought I'd get back to bowling but there was always a reason not to.  This fall I finally took the plunge and I bowl in two leagues each week.

A few weeks ago we were bowling in the leagues to qualify for a qualifying tournament... totally based on pins over average.  The top 50% over average were invited to bowl this  morning to qualify for a team going to the Southern Alberta Provincials.

I qualified and after a bad day of bowling on Thursday, I seriously considered staying home.

But since I'd committed, I went.

And this morning I bowled awesome and managed to not only qualify for the team (top 4 women and top 4 men over average) but also take first place for the women (which happened to be better than the top man as well).

I am very proud of myself!  I had fun and I bowled well.

It was awesome

So I'll be bowling in a tournament on December 6th... not sure how the four of us will do, but hopefully we'll do OK!

So ya, I'm in a good mood!

I created this card last week for the Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge.  Unfortunately, my photo isn't so great so you can't tell that the photo is pink and black, not white and black.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pink Pirouette
*Images:  Rhonna Farrer Swirls
*Ink:  VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  Tuesday Morning Sketches #18

*First Christmas Craft Fair of 2009*

I went to my first Christmas Craft Fair of 2009 today... this one used to be held at the Catholic elementary school in our neighbourhood but has moved to the new Catholic High School.  I haven't been in a few years, but I went today because my friend Tara's Mom was going to be at this one selling her awesome stamped domino necklaces.

I bought two things for me at the sale, nothing for anyone else....  a domino necklace and a hematite bracelet

The best part was running into a bunch of people I haven't seen in a while... Tara's Mom, Deb, Laura, Shelly (but I see her all the time), Kim, Kelly, Amanda....

Bring on the next one!

*Mojo Mojo Mojo*

Happy Saturday everyone...  a cool but sunny day in Calgary and we see some warmer than average temperatures arriving tomorrow.  After the crappy weather we had in October, we are all enjoying some nicer weather.

Bruce and I went to see "The Men Who stare At Goats" last night as our date for Friday the 13th.  It was a good movie.  A little odd, but a good movie.  The references to Ewan McGregor about Jedi warriors was hilarious.

It has been great creating so much over the last week.... but I have a total back up of cards to show you now!  I like to get my entries in on time for challenges and since many of my cards have been challenges, older cards keep getting pushed further and further back.  In December you might be treated to two posts a day!

I won't complain... I don't want to curse my mojo and send it running out the door again!

Today I am sharing my creation for Mojo112.  I saw Janette's sample and was instantly drawn to it... I knew I wanted to do my card nice and clean like hers...  so my card looks a lot like hers....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTrey White, Plum Pudding
*Images:  PaperTrey Mega Mixed Messages; Amuse
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic
*Tools:  Big Shot; Nestabilities; Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" Circle Punch
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! white grosgrain ribbon

I love how simple and clean this card looks....  thanks for the inspiration Janette!

*Happy Friday the 13th*

Long time readers of my blog know that we like Friday the 13th in our house.  It's simple really... Bruce and I met on Friday, October 13, 1989 and got engaged six months later on Friday, April 13, 1990.  Alex, our first born, was born on Thursday, April 13, 1995.

We had thought about getting married on a Friday the 13th, but I had really hoped for a spring/summer wedding and a Friday the 13th wouldn't have worked out in June 1991.

Would have been cool, though

We're back to a card I created while my sister was here back in September.  Here is the original card she challenged me with...

And this is what I came up with.

I am not in love with the card as the colours are just "not me"... but it's a fun card, perfect for a little kid.  If only I had little kids to give cards to still!  LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Staples White; Stampin' Up! Ballet Blue
*Patterned Paper:  Best Creation
*Images:  Stampendous
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics; Sakura Stardust gel pen

*What Day Is It?*

A day off in the middle of the week for the kids is super confusing to me!  Of course, I think Remembrance Day is a very good reason to have a day off, but in the middle of the week it's confusing.  I have to believe those that tell me today is Thursday cuz it kinda feels like the Tuesday after a long weekend.

Yes.  I am strange

But I'm OK with that!

The good news is... tomorrow is Friday!  And then there are a few more days without an alarm clock.  I like those days.

I discovered another "new to me" sketch challenge at The Sweetest Thing on Sunday and decided to play along.  Sketches can sometimes make my creating so much easier... other days I'm still stumped!

Items Used: 
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up!  Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  Imaginisce
*Image:  DeNami
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Embellishments:  Stickles; Imaginisce brads
*Challenge:  Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC43)

*Blog Candy to Win*

Please go check out my friend Anita's Blog for a chance to win some blog candy!!!

Take a few minutes to check out her creations too!

*An Easel Card*

I have never made an Easel Card before but I'm glad I've tried it now!  They are fun to make, and pretty easy too!  And yes, they fold flat for mailing

I was inspired to try this type of card as it is the challenge at Crazy4Challenges this week.

As soon as I saw what an easel card was, I knew what I wanted to do for it... I just had to find the papers to use.

If you want to make one, be sure to click the link on the right side of my blog here for Crazy4Challenges...  they have some links there for directions and templates to make this super easy and really fun card!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Brilliant Blue; Bazzill Bling
*Patterned Paper:  Masterpiece Studios
*Tools:  Marvy snowflake punches
*Embellishments:  Imaginisce Rub-Ons; Snowflake brads, Stickles
*Challenges:  C4C10

*A Break In The Week*

I am really looking forward to Wednesday morning... there will be no alarm clocks in our house tomorrow....  It's Remembrance Day in Canada and in Alberta, it's observed as a holiday (not all provinces give all people the day off.... when I lived in Toronto Ontario, I still had to work and kids still went to school on November 11th.)

I will be taking a moment of silence at 11:11 am on the 11th Day of the 11th Month to remember those who fought and those who sacrificed their lives to give me the life I am priveleged enough to lead.

I went to bed a little earlier than usual last night...  by 7pm I probably could have crawled into bed, but instead it was 10pm.  And then the tickle in my throat started.  I sat straight up in bed around 11ish, out of a deep sleep, panicked that we'd missed the alarm again... guess I was dreaming.  I went back to sleep and was awakened again by the actual alarm clock at the right time.

Unfortunately, the tickle in my throat is still there and I have a bit of a cough... which is tough after I worked my abs for the first time in months at the gym on Monday.

Anyway....  enough chit chat....  on to the creative stuff!

I made this card on Friday (I think).  I love love love this Stampendous image... so much that when I saw a sample at a local store (Paper Pastimes) many years ago, I actually offered to buy the only one that was in the store....  the one in the classroom!  Thankfully the owner (Carole) was awesome and agreed.  I love this snow faerie!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Staples White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Silver
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! (retired)
*Images:  Stampendous
*Ink:  Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue
*Tools:  Heat Tool and Ranger Blue Pearl Embossing Powder; Big Shot; Snowflakes Cuttlebug folder
*Challenges:  Splitcoast Stampers SC253

*Yesterday WAS For Crafting*

Thank you to everyone who sent me crafting vibes yesterday.  I did spend the afternoon in my craft room and I managed to finish off six cards!!!

IN! ONE! DAY!

Yup, six cards in one afternoon.

They are all Christmas/Winter cards just cuz that was what was inspiring me yesterday.  And a good chunk of them are blue.  You'll have to deal with it.

But you'll have to wait for a bit to see the first card from my crafty Sunday.

Instead you get one of the cards I made on Friday following a new to me sketch challenge...  this is inspired by #46 at Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PaperTrey White; Stampin' Up! Whisper White; Cored'inations
*Patterned Paper:  unknown
*Images  Penny Black Hugs
*Ink:  Memento Onyx Black; Copic Markers
*Tools:  Big Shot; Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder; Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  Imaginisce glitter brads
*Challenges:  MTSC46


I am off to make yet another card...  kept putting this one off and now it's the day I need the card....  procrastination at it's finest!

Enjoy your day!

  

*Hoping Today Is For Crafting*

I have been feeling like crafting for days, but just not feeling the creativity.  I've put together a couple of cards in the last few days, but once I get one card done, my creative vibe seems to be gone.  It's just not fair.

I am really hoping to be creative today.  I have nothing else on my agenda that needs to be done other than working on the laundry, so it should be possible.

Please send some positive creativity vibes my way!!

This is the card I created for the current Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge (#18).  I started out using a flower stamp to create the design around the edges but I kept messing it up (messed it up four times before I gave up).  I then decided to play with some punched circles and it seemed to work not too bad.

The only part of the card I am not thrilled with is the size of the image on the front panel...  too much white space I think.  I think that I should have found something or created something that was longer on that white panel.  Oh well....  it's not that it's bad, just not right.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango
*Image:  Inkadinkadoo Fancy That
*Ink:  VersaMagic Onyx Black
*Tools:  Stampin' Up! 1/2" Circle Punch
*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! ribbon
*Challenges:  Tuesday Morning Sketches #18

Maybe a little busy, but I like it.

*I Love A Good Challenge*

Happy Thursday, everyone.... a beautiful day is forecast for Calgary with temperatures way above seasonal averages thanks to a Chinook that should be blowing in at any time.  Bruce is hoping to get up on the roof today or tomorrow to get the Christmas lights put up... better now than when it's freezing cold and snowy!

We went for a nice walk with Milo this morning...  beautiful morning for that.

I will be heading off after lunch to my ladies bowling league... I am the token middle aged woman there... everyone else is a little (or a lot) older  LOL  I only started last week and the ladies I met were all very nice.  I'm sure I'll have a good time each week.

It helps that I really do enjoy 5-pin bowling.  I'm not there to make friends (although it's always a nice bonus)... I'm there to help improve my game.

This evening I get the pleasure of babysitting Miss Hailey while her Mommy heads off to the Scrapbook Pantry to teach a Copics class.  Gotta love getting a baby fix!

Today you get to feast your eyes on another card that I created while my sister was here back in September. Another of her challenges.  You will find the original card HERE.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! (retired)

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Pocket Silhouettes

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate

*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate ribbon

That's a lot of Stampin' Up! LOL!!

Enjoy your day!