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Thursday, January 31, 2008

*Not a Stitch of Stamping*

Ahhhh, Thursday... the end of my regularly scheduled work week. I am looking forward to some crafting time with my friend Kelly tomorrow. She and I used to get together a few times a month to craft, but lately we hardly even see each other!! I have really missed our time together.

I sure hope I can produce some good stuff tomorrow!!!

I had started this post late this afternoon, but then our power went out momentarily. When I restarted the computer it went through some diagnostic thing that literally took hours! What a pain in the "you-know-what"!

This is another card I made for The Scrapbook Pantry. I absolutely LOVE the Bazill Bling papers... I'm a sucker for bling, I guess! The patterned paper and epoxy stickers are by Creative Imaginations.

*Mom Updated Her Blog*

After a long hiatus, my Mom has updated her blog today!!! Please pop by and see the wonderful work she does!!!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

*Another Scrappy Card*

I was able to work at the store today. After two days of there being no heat, it was a real treat to go in today and find it nice and toasty warm. I'm looking forward to when I'm at the store all day instead of running back and forth between the school and the store. I will miss the school, but it will be good to be at the store for more than an hour and a half at time!

We were busy today pricing and putting out some great new Imaginesce stuff... so cute!!! Penguins and flip flops... gotta love it!

This is another card I made for the shop. It was supposed to be for a class, but we decided to take the class in another direction.

Once again I have used the Two Scoops line by Basic Grey in both the patterned paper and the letters. The cardstock is Bazzill.

Have a good one!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

*Stuff For Sale*

Hey Everyone... I have some stamping stuff (some Stampin' Up!, some not) that I'd like to clear off of my shelves to make room to buy new stuff!

All of the items listed below are used, in good condition. The prices listed are in Canadian dollars and do not include shipping. If you are interested in an item (or items) please email me privately and we'll make arrangements for payment. I will take email money transfer (online banking) or PayPal (I prefer email money transfer though).

if you don't like my prices, make me an offer!!!

buyer pays shipping... in Canada, shipping will be done using Xpress Post so that we have a tracking number and insurance

Here's what I have....

Marvy Mega Circle Punch -- $12
Marvy Mega Scallop Circle Punch -- $12
Marvy Giga Scallop Circle Punch -- $15
Marvy Mega Oval Punch -- $12
Marvy Mega Scallop Oval Punch -- $12
Marvy Giga Scallop Oval Punch -- $15
Marvy Mega Scallop Square Punch -- $12
Marvy Giga Scallop Square Punch -- $15

Stampin' Up! All The Best -- $20
Stampin' Up! Good Things Grow -- $20
Stampin' Up! All Around Alphabet Upper -- $25
Stampin' Up! Word By Word -- $15
Stampin' Up! Looks Like Spring -- $25
Stampin' Up! Simple Sketches -- $30
Stampin' Up! Shapes and Shadows -- $30
Stampin' Up! Letterpress Alphabet -- $35
Stampin' Up! Take Three -- $15
Stampin' Up! Perennial Favourites -- $10
Stampin' Up! Sweet Shapes -- $20
Stampin' Up! Everyday Flexible Phrases -- $35
Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Thanks -- $35

Stampin' Up! Bold Brights Classic Stampin' Spots -- $20
Stampin' Up! Earth Elements Classic Stampin' Spots -- $20
Stampin' Up! Rich Regals Classic Stampin' Spots -- $20
Stampin' Up! Soft Subtles Classic Stampin' Spots -- $20
Stampin' Up! Bold Brights Craft Stampin' Spots -- $25

Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons (full set) -- $85
***these are hardly used***

Stampin' Up! Stampin' Pastels (full set) -- $23

*Waving Hi to Colette!!*

So, I went into work yesterday, at The Scrapbook Pantry.... and unfortunately, with our cold snap here in Calgary, the heat had stopped working. I was in the shop for an hour and a half with Crystal (the owner) and neither of us dared to take off our outside wear. Poor Crystal was there until 5 and I don't think that the place started to warm up until sometime in afternoon.

This morning I was back at the store for 9:30. I was the first one there... and guess what? It was even colder in the shop this morning than it was yesterday! I could actually see my breath! Crystal and Michael showed up a few minutes after me and Crystal decided to close the shop for the day.

For those who are wondering, our temperatures are in the -30s right now (-22F) plus wicked windchills. Very BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

While I was waiting for Crystal to come in, the phone rang.... and on the other end was my co-worker Colette who gave me grief because I haven't mentioned her on my blog.

So there you go, Colette, you've been mentioned now!

Colette does some beautiful things with her scrapbooking... I wanna be just like her when I grow up LOL!

Todays card is another I made as a display sample for the store. The cardstock is Bazzill (I think this one was Leapfrog) and the patterned paper and letters are from the Two Scoops line from Basic Grey. I outlined the letters and the strip of paper with a black marker to help them "pop" out a little.

Because this is a scrapbooking store (with a small selection of stamps and inks) I wanted to show that you can make cards with only scrapbooking supplies. A little (or a lot) out of my element, but I'm trying!!

Crystal still thinks I need to start scrapbooking.... I'm not so sure!!

For those of you dealing with this cold cold weather, stay warm!! For those of you who are lucky and have warm weather this week, enjoy it!!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

*Allison's Suggestive Sunday #1*

Last week, Allison introduced her Suggestive Sunday on her blog. I know that this will shock her, since she suggested this idea back when the Cal-Gals got together earlier this month to stamp and I was a little less than enthusiastic...

But Allison, this one is for you!

I created a card with a bird. I am not a fan of birds... not in real life, not in art, not in stamping. But for Allison, I created a card with a bird.

I am a week behind, but here it is....

Items Used:
*cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black
*patterned paper: Stampin' Up! in Almost Amethyst
*images: Rhonna Farrer; A*Muse
*tools: coloured pencils, odourless mineral spirits, blending stump
*embellishments: Stickles; Robin's Nest Dew Drops

Saturday, January 26, 2008

*A Store Sample*

Happy Saturday everyone!

When I got the job at The Scrapbook Pantry here in Calgary, I was also asked to make some display samples for the store. It's been tough for me as there aren't a tonne of stamps and toys in the shop yet.... and what's there now isn't totally my "style". But I am trying!

Since so much of my time has been taken up making samples, class ideas and working, I've decided to share some of my design work for the store with you. Unfortunately, all I have are the photos... the info about paper companies is at the store with the cards.

So instead of information, you'll just have some stuff to look at for a few days, or at least until I get through the cards I've made for the store.

One of the things Crystal asked me to do was to have cards for different occasions and reasons. I thought a nice subdued "In Sympathy" card was in order. This was my first time using an acrylic alphabet... and let me tell you, it won't be my last! I loved working with the clear alpha! I had tried putting all of the letters on to the block together but it was all spaced too far apart. So then I tried it one at a time... so easy to figure out where to place the next letter!!!

The colours on this card are brown, pink and white.

EDIT: The alphabet is the Clear Stamp Timeless Alphabet by Stampabilities

Friday, January 25, 2008

*Flashback Friday Question*

Over to the right you will see a poll.... please take a minute to answer!

Thanks!!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

*I Told You I'd Be Back*

See, I said I'd be back with a card soon. I'm so sorry that it's been so long. Time is just getting away from me right now.

I do have big news.... I decided to go with my gut and have given notice at the school... as of the middle of February I will be working at The Scrapbook Pantry Monday thru Thursday. I'm going from working 8 hours a week to 20... should be interesting! It's got to be better than running back and forth between the two jobs.

The card for today uses some of the new paper I got for Christmas... I just love this stack from Costco!

Items Used:
*cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Blue Bayou
*patterned paper: K&Co.
*images: Stampin' Up! Time Well Spent
*ink: Palette black; Stampin' Up Blue Bayou and Purely Pomegranate; Blender Pen
*tools: Cuttlebug and D'vine Swirl embossing folder
*embellishments: bling

Monday, January 21, 2008

*Don't Give Up On Me!!*

I know, it's been a whole week since I've posted to my blog!!  Please don't give up on me!  I'll be back soon with some pretty stuff to share.

I've been out of town since Wednesday... I flew to Toronto to visit my sister and niece and will be heading home tomorrow afternoon.

I've had a great time with my sister and niece... we even jetted off to Montreal for the weekend to celebrate Rachael's 18th birthday in style. We spent one evening in a great little jazz club and then sat in a happening club called Thursdays on Saturday night.  We all had a great time.

It's been a great trip and I'm sure there will be tears tomorrow.   I always hate leaving...

Monday, January 14, 2008

*My Name*

What Nancy Means

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.



You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.
You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.
A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

*Thanks for the Ideas!!*

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to give me some ideas to take to the owner at The Scrapbook Pantry here in Calgary.

As promised, there is blog candy! I used the random number generator and am pleased to announce that #16 won...

A big CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Bonnie who posted the winning comment....

Copic markers. I don't even know if people use them in scrapboooking, but they are artsy and dang hard to find. There are only two stores in Calgary that sell them.... and one of those stores should be boycotted for poor customer service (yes, I am still bitter and I will not go back to that company)

Bonnie just had some surgery today so I'll put together a package for her to play with when she gets out of the hospital!

Thanks again to everyone for their input!

*Running Out*

I am slowly running out of cards to share with you!!! I've been so busy creating cards for the store that I haven't been stamping much just for me! I know I could show you the samples for the store, but I've already taken them in to Crystal. Not to mention that the cards I have been making for the store have been out of my element and I'm not sure how proud of them I am. It's difficult (at least for me) to be creating cards using only the stuff I can get at the store. It's a flashback to the days I was trying to make a real business out of my Stampin' Up! stuff.

Perhaps I'll take my camera to work and will try to get some good photos of my cards there this afternoon.

Today I do my first day of my schedule of split shifts. Should be interesting. I'm at the store for 90 minutes this morning, off to the school for my 2 hour shift in the lunchroom and then back to the store for another 90 minutes. I think I will be tired tonight... especially since there's something up with my left knee.... sore, stiff, swollen.... Could be interesting!

Anyway, enough of my rambling.... on to the card for today...

Yup, it's one of those long and skinny cards. I don't buy them pre-done from Stampin' Up! Instead, I simply cut them myself. I figured out what size would fit in a business sized envelope and voila...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Bashful Blue
*Patterned Paper: K & Co.
*Images: Lizzie Anne Designs Floral Frenzy; Stampin' Up! Wonderful Words
*Ink: Palette Black; Black marker
*Tools: professional quality Pencil Crayons with OMS and a blending stump; Marvy mega circle and giga scallop circle punches

Saturday, January 12, 2008

*Sunny Saturday*

Ahhhh, another weekend... gotta like that! I had a great time playing with Allison, Shannon and Tracy last night (aka the Cal-Gals). I was able to get some samples done for the store as well as new nametags for all of the staff.

The samples for the store are tough... while I use scrapbooking elements in my card making, I don't do totally "scrappy" cards for the most part these days. I decided I should take a peek through my Cards Magazines for some more inspiration as a lot of those creations are more scrappy inspired.

Today I share another card with you that I'm just not 100% sure of....

I had stamped up a few of this flower image and decided to try colouring this one with my new Copic Spica Glitter Markers. In real life, the flower has a great shimmer to it.

Again, not so sure about the spotted background on the top half of the card.... It needed something but I'm not sure this was it.

Items Used:
*Carsdtock: Whisper White, Yo Yo Yellow, Basic Black
*Images: Stampin' Up! Time Well Spent
*Ink: Black Palette; Copic Spica Glitter Markers
*Tools: Marvy Mega circle punch and Giga scallop circle punch
*Embellishments: Michael's Ribbon; Robin's Nest Dew Drops

Friday, January 11, 2008

*Would Love Your Input*

I would love to hear from some of you to find out what you think is "new and now" in terms of stamp companies. I am trying to help the shop owner at The Scrapbook Pantry here in Calgary grow her stamping section, but we'd both like to try to offer things that aren't found at all the other stores here.

Please let me a comment on this post telling me what you find to be the most popular companies out there that can be sold at a retail location.

To entice you, there will be a small BLOG CANDY prize awarded to one lucky commenter! The contest will end on Monday afternoon!

Thanks!!!

*Flashback Friday*

I was all set to post one of my new cards today when it dawned on me that it is Friday. This has been a strange week for me... It honestly feels like Thursday (and yes, yesterday felt like Wednesday) and I feel like we've been back at the routine for two weeks, not just this week. Maybe because I've been sick? Maybe because I've been busy? Who knows!

Yesterday was the first day that The Scrapbook Pantry was open here in Calgary. There were a few glitches in the system (like no debit/credit card machine) but when I was there I thought it was going well. I'm hoping to pop in today to see how the whole first day went.

This card is from that "older cards" file, so it's pre-2003 sometime.... I loved this DeNami Dragonfly. And, apparently I loved gold embossing too. LOL Well, to tell the truth, I go through phases for embossing .... I haven't done a lot of it lately other than Iridescent Ice to gives things a shimmer. There was a time, though, that I embossed everything.

This card was a navy blue card with white, navy and gold layers and an accent with gold gel pen lines. I still like the layout.... might have to tweak it one of these days!

Have a spectacular Friday!!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

*Inspired While Blog Surfing*

Last week I visited AJ at the Willow Garden and absolutely loved this card she created. I have a few of the Cuttlebug mini embossing folders, but the one time I used it I found I ended up with the lines from the folder embossed as well as the image. So these have sat in my drawer unused for months.

Fast forward to the weekend.... I tried the idea of three circles in a row on a piece of scrap cardstock (yes, there are images on the back... I truly grabbed this out of my recycling bin) and tried it for myself. Imagine my surprise when there were no extra lines embossed on my cardstock! I was thrilled

So I cut the scrap piece down to size and decided to try to design a card using the scalloped framed circles I created.

I decided that this Michael's stamp was the perfect size for inside these circles. I stamped them, picked my patterned paper, coloured them and kept going.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
*Patterned Paper: K&Company
*Images: Michaels
*Ink: Black Palette; Stampin' Write Markers in Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence; clear and gold Copic Spica Glitter Markers
*Embellishments: stitched ribbon
*Tools: Cuttlebug and Decorative Circles Embossing Folder; paper piercer and White Gel Pen

*Big News!!*

Well, it's official.... I have a new job!!! For now I will still be working in the lunchroom at the school and will work around those hours. I don't want to give up that job until I know that my new job is a good fit.

Last Friday I applied to an online job ad for a new Scrapbooking store opening up here near me... the store is called Scrapbook Pantry.

Anyway, I applied to the online ad and had a phone call later that afternoon. I went into the shop on Saturday afternoon for about an hour to talk with the owner and to see the store. She asked if I would like to teach classes, do up samples for the shop as well as work in the store. I decided after meeting her and seeing the shop that I'd like to give it a shot.

So, I've been in there a few times this week for a couple of hours helping to "merchandise" the store (that means get everything set up). The store will be opening on Thursday morning.

Starting on Monday, I will be working at the shop Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 9:30 until 11am, and then again from 1:30 until 3pm. If it all works out and I truly enjoy working there, I will give up the job at the school and will work Monday thru Thursday from 9:30 until 2:30.

I'm a little nervous about the job as I am not a big fan of change in my life... not to mention I haven't worked more than 8 hours a week in about 13 years!!! I'm also a little worried as I am a stamper/card maker and this is a Scrapbooking Store... not a lot of stamps in there, at least not yet. I am hoping to convince the owner to carry more stamps as time goes on.... I just need to find some new and hot stuff for her to carry!

So I'll be a little busy for the next little bit, running between the two jobs... but I think it will be a fun adventure!

Monday, January 07, 2008

*Back To The Routine*

I know I'm not the only one out there who finds that breaks from the regular routine go by too fast... vacations, holidays, weekends.... It doesn't seem possible that the 2 weeks we had off over Christmas are over. But then again, it does feel like Christmas is a lot further in the past than it really is.

Strange how my mind works when it comes to time.

I managed to get some good stamping time yesterday.... there are now a total of 6 cards made in 2008 to share with everyone! Woo hoo! Wouldn't be cool if I could do 365 cards this year? Ya, I doubt it since last year was under 200. But I am aiming to have more than last year.

This isn't one of the cards I made yesterday... I made it last week. I had seen so many blogs using this Level 3 SU! Hostess Set that I had to finally cut mine out and start playing with it. This was a set that SU! sent all of it's demonstrators as a thank you for all we do. Cool, eh? The only thing that wasn't cool was that they sent it when I was in Christmas Card mode... I didn't even cut it out until the day I made this card!

It's a beautiful set, totally my style.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Purely Pomegranate
*Patterned Paper: K&Co (from Costco)
*Images: Stampin' Up! Time Well Spent, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
*Ink: Palette Black; Stampin' Up Soft Sky; Blender Pen with Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate and Soft Sky Reinkers; Versarmark
*Embellishments: Iridescent Ice embossing powder (I coloured the flower with the blender pen and reinkers, let it dry and then covered it with Versamark and embossed it)

I'm not sure how I feel about the dotted background, but the card needed something. I'm just not sure that this was the something it needed!

Friday, January 04, 2008

*Flashback Friday*

edit: I just realized I hit save instead of publish on this post yesterday... sorry about that!!!

I haven't done a lot of crafting so far in 2008. I've been down to my craft space two times, each for an entire afternoon.... and I've managed to create one card per day. I'm having a tough time easing out of Christmas card mode I think. Either that or there are just too many new things in my room that I want to play with. Such a hardship, I know!

Good thing that today is Friday so I can post an old card for you to see!

This card was created sometime before I started organizing my cards by year.... so pre-2003. It was done during my "iris folding" phase. I still have a huge basket full of pretty papers, all cut and folded, waiting for me to get into iris folding again.

Iris folding is the process of filling a cut out (in this case, the vase) with folded strips of paper to create a look that is similar to the lens of a camera closing.

I decided to try creating an iris folded card using a stamped image instead of an iris folding pattern. Works well for standard shapes, at least for me. I know my Mom could make any shape into a pattern. She rocks that way!

Have a great day all!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

*First Card of 2008!*

Yup, I got to stamp yesterday! It took a while to find homes for my Christmas Stamping Goodies, but after that I decided to play. I wanted to play with all of my new Christmas Stamping Goodies, but guess what? I didn't end up using one new thing to make this card! The stamp set is new, sort of... it arrived about the time I started making Christmas cards so it has sat unused for a few months. I know, so sad!

I played and played... colouring, not colouring; layering, not layering.... and then I stamped this and loved how it looked.

Totally black and white. Not a stitch of colour. And I love it!

The plan had been to colour all those beautiful blooms with my new Copic Spica Glitter Markers... but that didn't happen.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
*Images: Stampin' Up! Warm Words; Lizzie Anne Designs Floral Frenzy
*Ink: Black Pallette
*Embellishments: black and white polka dot sheer ribbon from Michaels

*A Tip for 2008 for Bloggers*

Last year, I wanted to know how many cards I made in the year... so at the beginning of January, I started re-naming each of my card photos numerically... the first card I made I renamed to 2007-01.... all the way up to 2007-191. I know now at a glance that I made 191 different designs in 2007.

Start now, at the beginning of year.

In addition to knowing how many card designs you created, you can also see how you progressed in your art as the year went by.

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

*Congratulations #15!!!*

I used the Random Number Generator to find a winner for my 100,000 Hits Blog Candy. The lucky number was, #15....

Congratulations to TRACY who wrote:
Hmmm...well seeing as this is our first new years with our son....I am not too sure what we will do. My parents are trying to convince my husband and I to go out to a dinner party...but we aren't sure about leaving our son. I think we will go though!! Nice of my parents to babysit!
Merry Christmas to you and your family and I hope that you have some snow for Christmas, Here in BC we only have RAIN!!! BOOOO

Tracy, please email me before January 9th with your address and I will get your package off to you. Unfortunately, you were one of the ones who didn't leave your email address for me.

If I have not heard from Tracy by the 9th, I will draw another lucky winner!

Oh, and were you wondering what Tracy won?????? Well, how about this???

You'll find a great little Gel-A-Tins set with some images perfect for after-Christmas Stamping, as well as the Large Scallop Oval Nestabilities, which I have taken out of their regular packaging and put into a clear CD case, which is the way I like to store them. There will also be a few other goodies thrown into the mix.

A big Thank You to everyone who stops by to visit my blog! I truly appreciate your page hits, your comments and your support!

Happy New Year!