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Friday, May 30, 2008

*I Forgot in My Last Post....*

I forgot to mention in the post below that the curved sentiment is really a straight stamp. I just played around a bit with getting the curve I wanted by manipulating the stamp and then put it on my acrylic block with the curve.
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*Stamp Something Challenge*

What a great day... the sun is shining, the landscapers are working in my yard, I don't work today, I have no errands to run, and I'm heading out soon to meet my mother-in-law for lunch.

After my morning walk with the dog, I was able to come home and get myself cleaned up... and instead of heading off to work, I went down to my stamp space to create for a little while! Of course, I had to blog surf for a while first.

While surfing, I came across a great sketch challenge over at Stamp Something. This is my first time participating in their challenge. I just fell in love with the sketch and had to go play.

It took me a little longer than usual to make this card... I knew I wanted to use this sketch and then I knew I wanted to use this great Wild Asparagus paper.... but then the rest of it didn't flow so nicely. I like the result, but it was difficult to get the card to come out of my desire to create.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Vintage Violet, Blue Bayou
*Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus
*Images: Stampin' Up! Time Well Spent; Hanna Stamps
*Ink: Palette Noir; Stampin' Up! markers in Pale Plum and Black
*Tools: Cuttlebug and Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Crystal Stickles

Thanks for stopping by to visit today... Enjoy your Friday!

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Thursday, May 29, 2008

*Sunshine!*

Happy Sunny Thursday Morning everyone!! It's been so nice having the sun back after 6 straight days of nothing but rain. I was out in the grass in the back yard picking up dog poop yesterday and after 2 days of no rain, the grass was still wet! Crazy, I tell ya!

Have I told you that I love Thursdays? There are few reasons...
*I don't work on Fridays
*my youngest, who I still make lunch for, buys lunch on Thursdays so I don't have to pack him a lunch

Just makes Thursdays nice, you know?

This is another card that I created by colouring the black and white Imaginisce paper with my Copic Spica markers. The store that I work at (The Scrapbook Pantry) carries the paper and similar pens... theirs are called Twinklettes. I just love the look of the sparkly pens on the black paper. I also added little pieces of bling to the centres of each of the yellow flowers.

Items Used:
*cardstock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate
*patterned paper: Imaginisce
*images: A*Muse
*ink: Purely Pomegranate; Copic Spicas
*embellishments: bling; Dew Drops



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Monday, May 26, 2008

*Another Special Order for Chuck & Mona*

My friend Mona and her husband Chuck have kept me busy with special orders over the last few years.

First, there were Liam's Birth Announcements. Then came Chuck & Mo's wedding invitations. And then the wedding thank you cards. And most recently, Logan's birth announcements.

When the My Mind's Eye paper arrived at the store (The Scrapbook Pantry in Calgary), I secretly hoped that Mona would have a baby boy as I fell in love with one of the papers. As soon as I had word of Logan's arrival, I bought half of the paper that we had in stock.

I knew I wanted to do a pocket card so I started creating. These cards had a lot of cuts (and I had to do 50 of each cut!!!) but I think that the results were worth it. I sent the cards to Chuck and Mo along with some double-sided adhesive and they put Logan's photo on the back of the pull out.

I was totally thrilled with how these birth announcements turned out.


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*Thank You Nicole*


A big thank you to Nicole for the beautiful card that was in my mailbox today!! Sure brightens up a rainy day!

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

*Another Wet One*

Yup, more rain today. The forecast is saying that today is the end of the rain. Still cloudy and cool for tomorrow. I think this is day 6 of rain. Please make it stop now....

Had a great time out with a bunch of friends last night. We went to our favourite hole in the wall pub where we ate wings and fries and onion rings, drank a little and watched the fight on Pay Per View. OK, I didn't watch much of the fight, but the guys all enjoyed it.

I'm still in a bit of shock over all of my news this weekend. I am so excited to be going away with my sister!! I just know we will have an awesome time! I will miss Bruce and the kids, but it will be great to have some sister time! And the tattoo? Part of me thinks it's just a fake piece of art... but then I remember that it's not. So strange.

On to the card-making...

This card was the 3rd and final card I made at the staff crop at work a few weeks ago. At this point I had given up trying to use the patterned paper I had brought with me.

Like I keep saying, I don't do well crafting anywhere but home.... but maybe if I do it more I'll get better at it!

I think we are off to see the new Indiana Jones movie this afternoon... although part of me would like to sit at home where it's warm and dry and read or craft.

Enjoy your day, whatever you end up doing!
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Saturday, May 24, 2008

*All My News*

OK, I've talked to my Mom so I can spill the beans on my blog now! I have two pieces of big news....

#1.... this morning my husband and I decided that I will be able to go on a Southern Caribbean cruise with my sister in March! I am so excited to not only go on a Cruise, but to be going on a week-long getaway with just my sister. It's going to be absolutely amazing!! You can see where we're heading by clicking HERE. I am so excited!!

#2.... yesterday, my good friend Denise and I went on a little adventure. I have been talking about getting a tattoo for quite a while so we went down to a local tattoo shop to have a look around and ask some questions. Denise has known the owner of this shop since she was a kid (she is good friends with his younger sister) so I wasn't at all nervous about going in (never been in a tattoo shop before!). Well, we looked around, one of the artists drew up a sketch that I liked and I hopped into the chair and got inked!

This tattoo is my first tattoo... on the inside of my right ankle. It didn't "hurt" for the most part. A few parts were more painful than others. Mostly it just felt like being stung repeatedly by a wasp. The "babe" part of the tattoo isn't there because I think I'm a total hottie... My Dad called my sisters, nieces and I all "Babe" so I did it to honour him a little.

Denise also got inked while she was there. She wasn't planning on a tattoo at all... she got a great flower on the outside of her right ankle.

So, that's all my big news for today! Enjoy your Saturday night!



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*Flowers and Giraffes*

Another rainy rainy day here in Calgary. I'm looking forward to seeing the sun again soon!

Lots of big news to share with you, but I want to make sure a few people hear it from me personally instead of reading it on my blog. Maybe tomorrow? How's that for teasing??!! LOL

I created this card at the staff crop a few weeks ago. As I've said before, I find it really difficult to try to pack up the right stuff to take to craft elsewhere. I do so much better when I can craft in my own space.

I took Shannon's advice for the crop and chose some patterned papers to take, then took cardstocks, inks and stamp sets that would work with what I had chosen. My biggest problem that night was that I wasn't "feeling" the Basic Grey 6X6 pads that I took with me.

I had a great time playing with The CalGals (plus Shannon's Mom) last night. Lots of laughs which is always good! We all managed to get some cards made... except for Allison who was busy colouring ducks!

Have a happy Saturday!
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Thursday, May 22, 2008

*Flowers on a Wet and Rainy Morning*

We're paying for the beautiful weather that we had on the long weekend... it's been raining since Monday night. Not all the time (we're not looking at flood conditions) but we haven't seen sunshine in a while. Apparently it's supposed to pour this afternoon.

I don't mind the rain as I know it means green grass and some blooming flowers, but I do mind it right now as it is delaying the start of some landscaping we're getting done. It was to start yesterday but it is too wet. Hopefully they'll be here next week to get busy. I just want it done... we've been talking about it for so long! I'll have to make sure I head out to take some "before" shots.

I am enjoying a shorter week of work.... 3 days instead of 4. I love having my Fridays off! Don't get me wrong.... The Scrapbook Pantry is a great place to work.... but I like having "me" time too!!

This is one of the cards I created at the Staff Crop a few weeks ago. It was so difficult for me decide what to pack and then have to be in the mood to use only those things while I was out to play. I think next time I will just stamp up some images and take my coloured pencils and OMS and colour.

This was my favourite of the cards I created (and the first one too). I didn't write down what all I used so I'm going from memory and guessing a little. The cardstocks were Whisper White, Wild Wasabi and Purely Pomegranate. I believe I used my blender pen and Purely Pomegranate plus a pink and So Saffron on the flower. The flower is by Lizzie Anne and I don't recall who makes the swirl I used. The patterned paper is one of the new Basic Grey 6X6 pads. I also used a Dew Drop in the centre of the flower and a Marvy Scalloped Square punch behind it.

Thanks for popping by!!


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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

*Project Parade Challenge*

Verve Visual currently has a Project Parade Challenge going on. Unfortunately the only Verve Visual stamps I own are Christmas so I wasn't able to use their stamps to create a card with the colour challenge that was posted.

I don't think I ever would have thought to put all of these colours together, but I was very intrigued when I started seeing cards popping up in blog-land using them.

This is my creation using Soft Sky, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Regal Rose, old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
*Image: Stampabilities
*Ink: Palette Noir
*Tools: Cuttlebug and Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Prima Flowers; Imaginisce Bling Fling



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*Blog Candy From Kim*

A big thank you to Kim Hughes over at Paper Hugs and Stamped Kisses for this great blog candy that arrived in my mail today!!
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Sunday, May 18, 2008

*First Rub-Ons*

Happy Sunday everyone... it's been a beautiful weekend here in Calgary. I sat out on the back deck for a good portion of yesterday afternoon with a good chick book and ended up with a bit of a sunburn on my arms and legs. Silly me. Later in the week we are expecting cooler temperatures and rain, but we'll take this beautiful weather on a long weekend anytime!

We also enjoyed the deck all evening yesterday... we invited friends for dinner and sat outside enjoying our BBQ steak, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes and salad. It was a great evening.

Bruce, unfortunately, had to go into work this morning. Not sure how long he will be there. I am trying to decide between stamping or the mall.... hmmmm

I created this card a few weeks ago to send to my good friend Cindy for her birthday. This was my first attempt at using Rub-Ons. I think it looks better in real life than it does in this photo. I wasn't totally thrilled with it, but I was pleased enough.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black and Purely Pomegranate
*Image: Stampin' Up!
*Ink: Pallete Noir
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! Rub-Ons, Bling

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Friday, May 16, 2008

*The New Me*

Yup, I did it... I went and got my hair chopped off. I've had the same hair style for several years now and decided it was time for a change.

I went from....


to....


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*Finally*

Again, I am so sorry it's been so long! I still don't have all of my stuff on my new laptop (thank God Bruce is not technically challenged otherwise I'd never have them on there), but at least I am able to post from the desktop computer still.

It's the beginning of a long weekend here in Calgary. I don't work Fridays so my long weekend has already started. Both boys have today off school and Bruce took the day off too. Four day weekend! Woo hoo!

I really like everything about this card... except the bling. I needed something to go where I put the bling and this was the best that I had on hand.

I took the sketch idea from a card I saw by Lauren Meader.

Items Used:
*cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Old Olive, Blue Bayou, Barely Banana
*patterned paper: Basic Grey Cupcake
*ink: Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou
*image: A*Muse
*embellishments: bling

I'll have a little something else to show you later too... just gotta get a photo first!
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

*National Chocolate Chip Day*

Did you know that Thursday, May 15, 2008 is National Chocolate Chip Day???

I'm busy making cookies right now.... to take into work tomorrow....

If you're in or near Calgary tomorrow, be sure to pop by The Scrapbook Pantry to have a chocolate chip cookie!!!

(not to mention that there's some great new die cuts in the store (Disney, sports, vacation spots to name a few), some great dog and cat paper from Boxer, bulk buttons, bulk eyelets, more ribbons, crushed velvet cardstock and brads...... Lots of fun stuff has come into the store this week with more still to come!!!
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*I Promise to Share Soon*

Please be patient with me as we work through some technical difficulties. I got a new laptop on the weekend and we had a bit of a malfunction when trying to move data from my desktop to my laptop yesterday.

As soon as my photos are on my laptop there will be something new for you to see

Thanks for your patience!!
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Sunday, May 11, 2008

*Happy Mothers Day!*

Good morning everyone... I'm enjoying an easy (for me) morning today. Bruce is working like a busy little beaver creating brunch for 9. His Mom and her husband, his brother and his wife and his other brother will be here in an hour. This is something we seem to do every year. Sometimes my brother in law and his wife host, sometimes we host. Today we are getting bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, vanilla yogurt, hard boiled eggs, toast, strawberries, pineapple and grapes.

I tried really hard this year to make a Mothers Day card for my Mom.... I had this great idea in my head.... and then it turned out looking like this. It's OK, but not nearly special enough to use for something as important as Mothers Day. So yes, my Mom got a Hallmark this year.

I hope that everyone gives their Moms an extra thought or two today. Moms rock.

To MY MOM.... I love you with all of my heart. Thank you for instilling in me the values and beliefs that I am now passing on to my children. You made each of your daughters beautiful and strong. I love you Mom!
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Friday, May 09, 2008

*Yard Update*

Some photos of the yard, taken at 2:30pm today.... you can tell where the yard doesn't see a lot of sun! It's currently 6*C (about 43*F), which is quite a bit cooler than it should be in Calgary in May.... but at least the sun is shining, it is looking less like winter, and the grass is turning green. We needed the moisture to green up the lawn, but I would have rather gotten rain!!

The trees are beginning to bud... saw a few leaves popping out on my walk on Monday night... but not in my yard. My poor little Lilac in the first picture went into distress late last spring (it got flower buds, but then they started to


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*Another Fun Mail Day*

I received another wonderful RAK in the mail today.... for those who don't know, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness. You send someone a card or little gift for no real reason, other than to put a smile on their face.

Many online groups have this type of idea. I have signed up on Splitcoast Stampers (in the forums section) for the Blogger RAK Club... bloggers send each other RAKs when they feel like it and then the recipient is required to post that RAK on his or her blog.

The RAK I received today was from Jenn D... I sent her a card a couple of weeks ago and she has RAK'd me back! Please take a few minutes to check out her blog as she has some beautiful stuff to share!

Thanks so much Jenn! The card is beautiful!

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*Sympathy Card*

Sympathy cards are always difficult to make, especially when you make it with someone in mind. I wish I had a beautiful "with sympathy" stamp... will have to find one. And then I need to put together a few sympathy cards to have them on hand when I need them. No one wants to need a sympathy card, but alas, life happens.

An online friend of mine, Sheila, lost her Mom a few weeks ago after a battle with cancer. Sheila spoke to her Mom that afternoon and all was OK... around midnight that night, she had a call from her Dad that her Mom was gone.

I totally feel for Sheila.... losing my Dad was so difficult... I wasn't ready and I'm sure Sheila wasn't either.

I created what I believe to be a simple but elegant card for Sheila and her family, to let them know that I was thinking of them during this very difficult time.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Blue Bayou
*Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye
*Image: Impress
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou

Still thinking about your Sheila.... hoping you are doing OK!
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*Trina Has Blog Candy*

Hey all... my friend Trina is offering up her first ever Blog Candy! Go on over to her blog and enter your name in the draw quickly.... she'll be picking a winner on May 12th!
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*Welcome to Spring in Calgary*

This is what we woke up to....

Yes, this is May... This is the view from my back door

Another shot of the back yard. Must have been windy when it was snowing

From the front door... looks like the bunnies have been into my tulips!!!

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Thursday, May 08, 2008

*Didn't Someone Say It Was Spring??*

This is what we've got going on here today... hasn't started yet (just rain), but it's coming apparently..

City of Calgary
4:31 AM MDT Thursday 8 May 2008
Snowfall warning for
City of Calgary issued

Heavy snowfall today and tonight.



A cold upper low has crossed the continental divide overnight into southern Alberta. Laden with pacific moisture and tapping into cold air, the low has the potential to produce large amounts of snow. Snowfall amounts will vary depending on the amount of snow melting on contact with the ground.

In Jasper, Nordegg and Rocky Mountain House snow will continue today with additional snowfall amounts of 10 to 25 are expected before the snow ends this afternoon.

For the Banff region, Kananaskis region, Airdrie region and northern Okotoks region rain is changing to snow early this morning. In Calgary and southern Okotoks region rain will change to snow this afternoon. In these regions local snowfall amounts are forecast to reach 10 to 20 centimetres by early Friday morning.

This weather pattern will be closely monitored as the upper low develops over southern Alberta.
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*I Got Good Mail This Week!!!*

I was a lucky girl this week... two days, two cards in my mailbox! It's been a long time since there was a RAK in that bill-loving box!

The first card to arrive was from Jen R who reads my blog, leaves me comments, lives in Calgary and who was a part of the used stamp garage sale I had here at the house a while back. Jen was in The Scrapbook Pantry (where I work) one Saturday that I was shopping there with a girlfriend and my Mom and she took a few photos. She sent me copies of some of those. Unfortunately, the kids were required to tidy up the kitchen last night and now I don't know where the photos are... Thanks for sending them Jen!!! I will share them with Crystal and Mom and Kelly once I find them. Sigh

The other card I received was from Beate... I won the draw for her weekly sketch challenge a few weeks ago and she sent this card to me. I'm a huge fan of Beate's work and challenges... just wish I had more time to actually do the challenges when they first come out.

Thanks so much to both of you for making my week!!!

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

*After This I'm Screwed*

Yup, this is the last card I have on my computer to share with you all. I have one on the camera that I need to download and edit, but then, that's it.

Until I find time to craft again!

This working for a living, while I enjoy my job, is completely for the birds! There's no time to play anymore... or when there is time, I'm not in the mood.

I'm going to try to play after work today.... keep your fingers crossed for me!

I created this card for Beate's Weekly Sketch Challenge #42, but stupidly did not post it in time to have it included in her challenge. Oh well... at least I'm still remember to share it.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
*Patterned Paper: Doodlebug
*Images: Magenta
*Ink: Basic Black; Stampin' Up Markers in Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pixie Pink, Basic Black
*Tools: Cuttlebug and a circle Nestability

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