Pages

Friday, October 28, 2011

*Playing in Paradise #39*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week Tracy challenged us to create a masculine card....  definitely not easy for me.... I don't even make cards for my husband LOL!




Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

*Pattern Paper:  My Mind's Eye
*Images:  Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink:  Versamark
*Tools:  heat tool
*Embellishments: clear embossing powder; unknown button; Twinery twine
*Challenges:  SBPC#39




I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

*Use It Tuesday #18*

Welcome to another challenge with the Use It Tuesday Design Team!!!  Seeing that it is the end of October, the girls decided to challenge us with Halloween inspired colours....

For this challenge, you need to create a card using black, orange and purple.

As you know from my Scrapbookers Paradise challenge card, I am not a person who makes cards for Halloween... so I decided to play with the colours and have some fun!

Items Used: 
*Cardstock: Bazzill Bling
*Images:  Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink:  Versamark; Stampin' Up! Lovely Lilac, Only Orange
*Tools:  heat tool
*Embellishments: white embossing powder; Michael's Bridal flowers; Doodlebug Sugared Brads
*Challenges:  UseItTuesday#18

I've had the Bazzill Bling cardstock in my stash for a long time.... and Only Orange and Lovely Lilac hardly ever see the light of day....  I also don't do a lot of heat embossing and the brads aren't in colours I grab for very often....  yup, lots of stuff from my stash used in this card!

I hope you'll take some time to play along with us!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

*Fall To Layout #163*

I am home today after spending the last two days at the Jingle Bell Crop... an annual event put on by MondayNightClass (where I've been working for the last year).  This was my last event as one of their staff members as I prepare to start a full time job in two weeks.  We worked hard this weekend and had a lot of fun too!   I packed a bag of crafty stuff and ended up not even taking it out of the car!

I ended the event in a big way.... while helping to mop the floors in the rec. centre, I managed to slip and fall on my back.  I was truly worried last night as everything hurt....  today it hurts, but not nearly as much as I feared it would.  More than anything, I am stiff.  I think I landed directly on the part of my back kinda between my shoulder blades... that area hurts the most.

I definitely went out with a bang LOL!

Anyway... here is my creation for this weeks sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.... I have so many other ideas on what to do with this sketch!!!!  I love it!
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Images: Hero Arts Essential Messaegs
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Callypso Coral, Poppy Parade

*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flowers; Kaiser pearls
*Challenges: FTL163; ColourQ103

Friday, October 21, 2011

*Playing in Paradise #38*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week we're playing spooky!!!  It was Angie's turn to choose the challenge and she chose Halloween....
Now, before we get to my card, you have to understand that while I love Halloween, I have only made a few Halloween cards ever.... and those other ones were for a class I was going to teach at the scrapbook store when I worked there.  The class never happened.  I had some Halloween paper, but no Halloween stamps.... so you're getting one heck of a quick and easy and simple card....


Items Used:
*Cardstock: Coredinations; Stampin' Up! black

*Pattern Paper:  Imaginisce
*Embellishments: Thickers; Twine
*Challenges:  SBPC#38




I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post HERE before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

*Perfect Layers Tool*

I am so excited to be part of a program with the company that created the Perfect Layers Tool.... for a while Stampin' Up! sold this wonderful tool for layering and many people have said they found them on QVC in the US.  I bought mine through Stampin' Up! and lately use them on almost every card I create with straight edged layers.

The tools are SO easy to use....  simply choose the size of mat you want (I use 1/16" most of the time)....  attach your top layer to the next layer with adhesive.  Then, take the Perfect Layers Tool and slide it over the top layer until the edge of the layer catches on the guide.  Then, using your craft knife, simply cut.  Do this on all sides to create a perfect layer every time!

No more guessing at your paper cutter, no more crooked cuts, no more off centre layers!

If you're interested in these great tools, simply go HERE and use the coupon code nelrick5% ... and you'll get a 5% discount!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this tool.... and will be sharing more projects made with it soon!  Some of my recent projects are now tagged with PerfectLayers... click on the word in the tag on the right and you'll see some of the creations I've made recently!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

*Just Because*

Finally, a chance to post a card that isn't for one of my design team commitments....  I don't have a lot of these in my stash and I fear it's only going to get worse soon...

I hope to make lots of great cards to share while I'm at the retreat in Ontario at the end of the month... but when I get home from Ontario I only have a few days before I'm heading back to the workforce!  I accepted a full time administrative position with an engineering consulting firm here in Calgary and I start work in November... this will be my first full time job since before Alex was born back in the spring of 1995!  I'm a little nervous and a lot excited.  My friend Tracy, one of the CalGals, also works at this company, as does the husband of Dianne, another CalGal!

Anyway... here's a card for you.... I love the fall colours...
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Island Indigo
*Images: Stampin' Up! Baroque Motifs
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie
*Embellishments: twine from The Twinery; Kaiser Rhinestones
*Challenges:  ColourQ#99



I absolutely love this stamp set!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

*Fall To Layout #162*

I hope everyone is having a great weekend... ours has been quiet, but I'm not complaining.  The sun has been shining on and off all weekend, there is a chill in the air (but not too bad), and everyone here is healthy and happy.

It's going to be a busy week for me... my sister arrives on Wednesday and I have some stuff I need to get done before she lands.  The Jingle Bell Crop put on by MondayNightClass (where I currently work) is Friday and Saturday so I am sure there will be lots to do to get ready for the doors opening at 4pm on Friday including shopping for food, set up, seating charts....  and then of course, a fun event where I get to play and work!

Next Tuesday I hop on a plane with my sister and we head back to her place in Ontario where we will enjoy each others' company for a few days before packing up and heading off to a scrapbooking retreat put on by The Kit Company... I went with Heather and Birute last year and had so much fun that I'm doing it again!  I plan on taking my Christmas card supplies and making Christmas cards again!

But for today.... more quiet around our house.... some laundry, maybe a little card marking.... maybe even a chick flick!

I loved this sketch that Natasha came up with for this week`s Clean and Simple challenge....  I hope you'll carve out some time to play along with us!
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi
*Images: Hampton Art; Hero Arts Sending Smiles
*Ink: Versamark; VersaFine Onyx Black
*Tools: heat tool
*Embellishments:  white embossing powder
*Challenges:  FTL162

Friday, October 14, 2011

*Playing in Paradise #37*

Happy Friday everyone!!!    Friday means another challenge over at the Scrapbooker Paradise blog... and this week I made my fellow challenge design team members a little crazy by choosing a one layer card!  That's right... the only cardstock or paper allowed is the base of your card.... stamp it, ink it, embellish it.... but only one layer!
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White
*Images: Bo Bunny; A Muse
*Ink: Blue Encore Ultimate Metallic; Versafine Onyx Black
*Embellishments: Kaiser rhinestones and pearls
*Challenges:  SBPC#37

Monday, October 10, 2011

*Use It Tuesday #17*



The girls over at Use It Tuesday sure have picked some tough challenges... at least tough for me!!!  Each time I have a thought in my head but no way of completing it without heading off to buy something, which is against the rules of the Use It Tuesday challenges.


Yup, you're supposed to dig into your stash to find the items to create your project following the challenge prompt.... and then you need to tell us exactly what you dug out of your stash.


This week, the challenge is to use METAL in your creation....


So this week, my second idea was to use some old Stampin' Up! brads that I *had* to have, but that were "too pretty for  me to use"....  I figured I might as well use four if I was going to use one....  I also grabbed out some Bazzill Bling cardstock that I haven't been using lately as well as a piece of silver shimmer cardstock that I cherish too much to use LOL!

Items Used: 

*Cardstock: Bazzill Bling; PTI White; silver shimmer
*Images:  Hero Arts Sending Smiles
*Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools:  Martha Stewart border punch
*Embellishments: Stampin' Up! decorative brads
*Challenges:  UseItTuesday#17

I hope you'll take some time to play along with us!

*Fall to Layout #161*

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends.  We typically try to do our big  meal on the weekend but instead I am going to be cooking it today.  We have 5 others joining us for dinner tonight for turkey and all the fixins!  I love the way the house smells when it's all cooking... and I love that we get the leftovers!

I am feeling rather blue today....  I had thought that this year would be easier, but I am missing my parents so much today.  There is such a hole in my heart.  I am thankful that I miss them so much because it means they meant a lot to me... I am just so sad that they are gone from my life.  I miss seeing them, hearing them, being held by them.  I truly find it difficult to feel thankful when I feel like this....  but I am thankful for a happy and healthy family, a wonderful husband, great friends, a supportive and loving extending family, a roof over our heads and food on our plates.

I love the card that I created for this week's sketch over at the Clean and Simple stamping blog... I hope you'll find a little time to play along with us this week!
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Melon Mambo

*Images: PTI Mega Mixed Messages
*Ink: Stampin' Up! chocolate chip
*Tools: Stampin' Up! circle punches; Big Shot; Tim Holtz die
*Embellishments: unknown button; unknown brads; Prima flowers; satin ribbon
*Challenges:  FTL161

Friday, October 07, 2011

*Playing in Paradise #36*


It's time for another Playing in Paradise challenge over at the Scrapbookers Paradise Blog... and it's time for another of Allison's sketches!  

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to play with some Christmas papers and images....

Items Used: 
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Real Red
*Pattern Paper:  unknown
*Images:  Impression Obsession
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics
*Tools:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments:  grosgrain ribbon; Stickles

I invite you join us in playing this week... simply add your card to the links at the bottom of the challenge post before midnight on Thursday for your chance to win a prize from Scrapbookers Paradise as well as a chance to play along with the Design Team in a future challenge.

Take a few minutes to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to...

Monday, October 03, 2011

*Fall To Layout #160*

Just a quick post from me today as I am some kinda tired...  I've worked the booth for MondayNightClass at the Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival put on by Canadian Scrapbooker  for two weekends in a row...  one weekend here in Calgary and this past weekend up in Edmonton.

I had a fantastic time, laughed a lot, but let me tell you, I am totally exhausted today!  I'm so glad I have nothing pressing that needs to get done today!

This is my card for the sketch this week over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog .  I love how this sketch helps me showcase this beautiful paper!
Items Used:
*Cardstock:  PTI White; Stampin' Up! Old Olive
*Pattern Paper: Stamp It Australia
*Images: Stampin' Up! Warmest Regards
*Ink: Versafine Onyx |Black
*Tools: Martha Stewart border punch
*Challenges:  FTL160



I hope you'll take the time to play along with us this week!

Saturday, October 01, 2011

*World Card Making Day Canadian Blog Hop*

Welcome to the next stop in the World Card Making Day Canadian Blog Hop!!!  If you got here without starting at the beginning of the hop, please head on over to Tara's Blog to see the start of the hop.....  and then, when you're done with this hop, head on over to visit Nicole as she's the start of the other ring of Canadians doing the blog hop today!

We all got together on Facebook a few weeks ago and decided it would be great to have an All Canadian Blog Hop for World Card Making Day....  and to make it more fun, we were all challenged to try to use at least one thing from a Canadian manufacturer.  I managed to find not only a stamp by a Canadian company, but all some paper!
Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Pattern Paper: Upsy Daisy
*Images: Stamping Bella
*Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics; white gel pen
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Challenges:  SSS75



Now that you're done with my blog, 
head on over to visit KIMBERLY 
as she's the next participant in the hop!