*I Just Had to See*

I saw this on Jacquie's Blog and had to try it out...

Your Easter Bunny Name is


Cadburry Fluffypaws



Get your Easter Bunny Name at Quizopolis.com

*Sometimes It's The Hardest Part*

Are there any other bloggers that agree that sometimes the most difficult of creating a new post is coming up with a title? I may have to resort to titling by posts by date. I just never know what to say.

Should I call this one *Happy Hump Day* or how about *Another Store Sample* or *No Stamping Required*??

It's hard!

Anyway... I'm still battling the headache I've had for a few days now. Thankfully it's not constant, but when it's here it hurts. Maybe I need a good massage. Who knows.

Todays card is another store sample, done when the store first opened. I used some Bazzill Bling Cardstock and some great paper and epoxy stickers from Creative Imaginations.

Thanks for stopping by... sorry it wasn't more rewarding!

I think I'll head down to the stamp space now.... make you something pretty to look at!

Jumble!

Go to Pogo to play 100s of Fun Games!

*Happy Monday*

Another Monday... the last of February. How has that happened? A week from now we're already into March, a week after that we will have already changed the clocks ahead an hour, and we'll be that much closer to spring!

Doesn't it seem like Christmas was just a few weeks ago???

I am, however, looking forward to the sun being high enough in the sky for me to be able to take my photos in the bright window in the kitchen again...

I've been suffering from a headache on and off (mostly on) since the drive home from the tournament on Saturday evening. It really makes it difficult to get through the day to day. But I did. I even managed to go get groceries after work. Go me!

I created this card from some images I stamped up a few months ago while playing with the Cal-Gals. I think the image is Shannon's and it's a Stampendous Fluffles image. I used sketch challenge #143 from Splitcoast Stampers as an inspiration.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Bashful Blue; Classic Crest white
*Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
*Images: Stampendous
*Ink: Palette Black
*Tools: Cuttlebug and the Nestability Scallop Square dies; coloured pencils, odourless mineral spirits and a blending stump
*Embellishments: Crystal Stickles

*I'm Home*

And I bet you didn't even know I was gone!

The four of us packed up into our two vehicles and made a trek to the south east corner of British Columbia (about 3 hours away) on Friday. The three guys all took part in a Taekwon Do Mini Tournament in the Crowsnest Pass on Saturday. The original plan was for me to compete as well, but I have done some damage to my knee (THIS describes it pretty good) so I decided to sit this tournament out (as well as our training for the next few weeks). We head to this mini-tournament each year as this is where our Instructor trained and where his "master" is. All of the participants at this mini-tournament have some connection to the Master... many of his black belts have moved to different areas and they have started training others.

Our club had 10 members participate in the tournament this year... fewer than last year due to conflicts with the weekend. Both of my sons and my husband competed.... Alex won first place in the 11 and 12 year old green belt boys division, Matthew won third place in the 9 and 10 year old green belt boys division, and Bruce won first place in the adult male yellow belt division.

I left Bruce and Alex in the Pass with our Instructor and his wife and family and Matthew and I drove home last night. Everyone else was going to spend today skiing in Fernie.

The card today is a little out of my element, but you know what, I really like it! I went though the box of patterned papers that Bruce bought for me from Costco and found this great brown and purple and green paper and decided to see what I could do with it.

I took inspiration from the Christmas Card that Tracy sent me... just loved that layout!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Barely Banana, Close to Cocoa
*Patterned Paper: K&Co
*Images: Autumn Leaves Mindy's Flowers
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst
*Embellishments: silver brads; black marker

I hope you enjoy your Sunday!!! I'll be back later with a photo of my fighters with their trophies!

*Flashback Friday*

I am amazed... I had someone unsubscribe from my blog today... their reason is that I don't update often enough. Ummmmm, several posts a week isn't enough? Sorry about that LOL!

I'm not offended, just surprised. I thought I was doing pretty good posting at least 3 or 4 times a week.

Oh well... I hope you at least enjoy what I post when you come to visit.

I made this card many moons ago... back in my beaded creature phase. He's hard to see on the black and green marbled background, but he's a little Gecko made out of green, black and yellow seed beads and some gold beading wire.

I was absolutely IN LOVE with this marbled glossy cardstock. Had it in a few colours, but I think that the green was always my favourite.

Thanks for popping by!

*Cindy's Stamp Sale*

My friend Cindy is selling off a pile of Stampin' Stuff.... please pop by her blog to see what she's got!!! (click on her name)

*Typing Test*

88 words

Speedtest

*Calgary (and area) Stampers Celebration UPDATE*

Hi all... I've had several people email me or leave comments that the Stampers Celebration Website says that there will be no Stampers Celebration this year.

I have been in contact with the organizer (her name is Carol and she owns Crafting With Carol & Co in Airdrie) and there really truly IS going to be a Stampers Celebration in May 2008. The website will be updated with new information on March 17th.

*Already Wednesday*

This is what I like about long weekends.... the week afterwards seems to fly by. You think it's Tuesday, but really it's Wednesday. And then tomorrow is Thursday and that means my work week is done. Yup, that's the good thing about long weekends.

Was glad to have Crystal (the owner) back at The Scrapbook Pantry yesterday. She was at CHA last week so it was fun hearing about what she saw... and bought for the store. The next several weeks are going to be a lot of fun, but busy with all the new product we will have to unpack, sort, put into the computer, price and put out. Should be interesting!

She did give me the information about the Grand Opening on Saturday (February 23rd). If you're in the area, you should stop by the Pantry on Saturday. Not only will our new class list be out, but there will be lots of other things going on as well... first and foremost, chocolate! And then there will be demos, make and takes, give aways.... and the entire store will be on sale!!!!

Definitely worth a visit!

I used a new set I bought on my trip to Toronto to make this card. I think I have a "thing" for flowers and swirls. I love these images... but I sure had a tough time figuring out what to do with them. Am I the only one who buys images that she loves and then can't figure out what the heck to do with them???

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black
*Images: Autumn Leaves Mandy's Flowers; A*Muse
*Ink: Palette Black; Versa Magic Spring Pansy and Aloe Vera; Brilliance Moonlight White

Thanks for coming to visit!

*Family Day Monday*

It's a holiday here in Alberta (and in some other provinces in Canada as well). According to Wikipedia... "The holiday was proclaimed by Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley, on the advice of her premier, Don Getty, in response to a drug scandal involving the Premier's son, Dale GEtty, who had been arressted for possession of cocaine and was revealed to have a cocaine addiction. Premier Getty was embarassed by the revelation, and admitted publicly that he had neglected his family, saying that it was also important for all Albertans to take more care with their families."

Thus the reason we have Family Day on the 3rd Monday of February every year. I love that we have a day off between Christmas and Easter... January just seems so darn l o n g !!!!

Bruce had to work on Sunday, so I spent the afternoon and part of the evening in my craft space. I only managed to make a handful of cards, but that's OK. Better than nothing right?

This card was a sample I made for the store a few weeks ago. I couldn't wait to play with some of the new line from Imaginisce. There is no stamping on this card, just patterned papers.

Enjoy your Monday...

*Stampers Celebration 2008!!*

Yup, it's really true!!! Alberta's best Stamping Convention is BACK!!!

Here's the information I have....

hosted by Crafting with Carol & Co

May 2nd 1pm to 9pm
May 3rd 10am to 6pm

featuring
Rose-Marie Kerr of Frog's Whiskers Ink
Carol Pearse of Crafting with Carol & Co.

* Classes * Shopping * Make 'n' Takes * ATC Contest *

All information to be posted to the website
on March 17th, 2008
http://www.stamperscelebration.com

The Best Western Regency Inn
121 Edmonton Trail S
Airdrie AB T4B 1C2
(403)948-3838 or 1-800-558-4844

Special rates at the hotel for
Stampers Celebration Guests

Apparently all of the vendors and instructors are in place.

Hope to see you there!!!

The last Stampers Celebration was held a couple of years ago, also hosted by Crafting With Carol and Co and it was a blast!!!!! People from all across Canada came.... lots to buy, lots to learn, lots of people to meet!

*Favourite Stamping and Papercrafting Magazines*

I'd really like to know what your favourite stamping and paper crafting magazines are... please leave a comment on this post!!

Thanks!

*Flashback Friday*

Happy Friday everyone. I've had a rough day... don't really want to get into details, but suffice it to say I've had better. Nothing earth shattering. Nothing to worry about. Just something really got to me.

So, instead of chatter, just an old card for you...

This one is from the 2003 file... the star image is by Moote Point stamps I believe. I stamped and embossed it in gold on navy blue cardstock and then coloured one of the stars in. I cut it out and layered it onto some gold tissue, and then onto a navy blue card. The word "dream" was handwritten with a gold gel pen.

Thanks for looking!

*Happy Valentine's Day!*

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Cupid has already paid a visit to our house (or so my youngest tells me). I couldn't wait any longer to give my husband his iHome clock radio. The clock radio he's been using is finally dying... he got it as a Christmas gift from his parents in 1978!!! Yup, it's 29 years old! We got our oldest son the iHome for Christmas and I thought Bruce would like one as well as he likes to listen to his iPod as he drifts off to sleep. It's a great contraption with some good sound.

Cupid also brought the kids a little goodie... a chocolate heart with Rolo candies in it. They don't need anything big, just something chocolate!

I don't know if other parents get a little something for their kids for Valentine's Day, but I always have. Much like my Grama always gave my sisters and I a plastic heart shaped container filled with cinnamon hearts. I don't get the boyz anything big, but there's always a little something for them too.

I don't have a true Valentine's card to share with you this year. I don't really like making cards for Bruce.... the card is never "just right". I put too much pressure on myself to make the perfect card for him, and it never works out.

So today you get another store sample.... had I changed the sentiment, it could have been a Valentine.

I created the background on the black cardstock using some Perfect Pearls (gold powder) in a spritzer with some water. It creates a great shimmer spray much like the Radiant Mist spray by LuminArt.

The store (The Scrapbook Pantry in Calgary) just got in the Radiant Mist and Twinkling H20s so I decided to come home and play a bit with my H20s that I haven't had out in ages.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Bazzil Black and White
*Images: sentiment unknown; flower Rhonna Farrer by Autumn Leaves
*Ink: Brilliance Black; Brilliance Gold
*Tools: Twinkling H20s; Perfect Pearls; Mini Mister

*Purple Purple Purple*

Allison emailed me today to tell me of a contest over at Slumber Cards.... it's a challenge to create a purple card. I created this card last Friday when the Cal-Gals were over. This card uses the Verve Visual challenge sketch, but since it uses no Verve Visual sets, I can't enter their contest.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Almost Amethyst
*Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
*Images: Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer
*Ink: Black Palette; Lavender Lace Stampin' Up! marker
*Tools: Cuttlebug and D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder; Stampin' Up! Word Window Punch
*Embellishments: Crystal Stickles; bling gems

*Interested in the New Products Being Shown at CHA?*

Then do I have a link for you! Check out the Lifetime Moments Message Board... click on each of the threads to see photos of a lot of the new Paper Crafting Goodies!

*Thank You Pat!*

My mail today included these wonderful gifts from Pat.... my treat for Jen's January Aloha RAK Club

Thanks so much!!! These items are totally "me"!!!!

*Another Coaster Box*

Today was my first day of having only one job to run off to.... what a treat! Unfortunately, by the time I decided I wanted to eat lunch it was too late in the day to bother so I had some fruit when I got home instead. The day sure can fly by though...

Colette and I had a great time at the shop this morning... making posters and signs for the "The Pantry Cat is Away, the Pantry Mice Will Play" sale.... I do have one tip for my readers.... do not, and I repeat, DO NOT, use glue dots on a window... they take a while to get off. Sigh.... We did a lot of laughing today, and a lot of work too! I almost didn't want to leave Colette and Sam when 2:30 came around, but I needed to be on my way to pick up some groceries and go to the Post Office. Always on the go!

I decided to make another coaster box to have on display at The Scrapbook Pantry. I just love coaster boxes. I need to play more with my coasters to come up with some more neat ideas!

The paper and brads are all Basic Grey Two Scoops.... can't remember who makes the stamp. I also added some Crystal Stickles to the centres of some of the designs on the patterned paper.

Thanks for popping by!!

*Where Did My Weekend Go?*

Here it is, 4pm on Sunday afternoon and I have no idea how we got here! My weekend has totally flown by! I don't honestly feel like I had much of a weekend... running around, not a lot of relaxing. Like a weekday only the kids and husband were in the way! LOL!

I created this card earlier this week while cleaning out my stash of patterned paper scraps. I just love this black and white patterned paper by Luxe. The other side is the same design but it's more black where this one is more white.

This card is a variation of Sketch Challenge #105 over at Splitcoast Stampers.

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black
*Patterned Paper: Luxe
*Images: Imaginisce
*Ink: Palette Black; Stampin' Up! Markers in Real Red, Garden Green, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
*Embellishments: Robin's Nest Dew Drops
*Tools: Coluzzle

*Two Challenges, One Card*

I had a great time with the Cal-Gals last night. It took me some time to get warmed up, but I was finally able to make two cards and get a start on a third. Some days are just harder than others when it comes to crafting.

My card for today I honestly just love!!! I used this Penny Black stamp of Shannon's (and took a couple extra images for future playing.

This card satisfies the requirements for both Allison's and Beate's challenges.... it's a card I could send to my nieces for Valentine's day (Allison's Suggestive Sunday Challenge) and it uses Beate's Weekend Challenge #34.

Items Used:
*cardstock: Bazzill Smoothies White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie
*patterned paper: unknown
*images: Penny Black; Hanna Stamps
*ink: Palette Black; black micron pen
*tools: Prismacolor Artists Quality Coloured Pencils; Odourless Mineral Spirits, Blending Stumps

*Flashback Friday*

Happy Friday everyone!!! Gotta love Fridays. They're good for me as I don't work. My plan for the morning is to craft craft and craft. I might also go to the chiropractor and maybe Costco. We'll see. It's gotten cold here again so I'm not sure I actually I want to venture out!

My youngest gets Friday afternoons off, so he'll be hanging with me this afternoon.

Tonight the Cal-Gals are coming over... that's Allison, Shannon and Tracy. We have been getting together monthly at my house to eat, gossip, share images and create. We always have a great time... I look forward to it every month!

Today we find ourselves traveling back to 2003. And, unfortunately for you, it's back in the day that I was convinced that scanning my cards was better than taking digital photographs of them. So it's not the best quality image.

The card is white, the strips (which I cut on the diagonal) are navy blue, burgundy and silver. I stamped the greeting on vellum and embossed it with silver embossing powder. I added two silver eyelets to attach the vellum to the card.

Quick and easy.

*A Tough Day*

Yup, it was my last day at the school. I got to work at 11 as usual, worked in the office doing some photocopying for 45 minutes and then went down to the lunchroom. The bell rang at noon and by 12:08pm I was in tears. Some of my grade 5 students (I do lunchroom attendance for three grade 5 classes) had made me some cards and had written some wonderful things in them. I couldn't even look at the cards then. I got so many hugs from the kids today. Two of them wanted to tape me to a chair so I couldn't leave. Most of them made me promise that I'd be back to visit.

I won't miss being the babysitter and maid. I won't miss the noise. I won't miss the mess.

But let me tell you, I will miss the kids!!!

The good news is, I am now free to work my full 20 hours at The Scrapbook Pantry. And that is a good thing! The owner left today for Anaheim to go to the Craft and Hobby Association Winter Tradeshow. This is where all the big craft companies (not just paper crafting) reveal their new products. Crystal hopes to shop shop shop while she is there... and product will start arriving in the store sometime in March. Very exciting indeed! I can't wait to hear about all the new stuff (and to see it, of course!)

This is the third and final card I had made when I proposed my Scrappy Cards class at the store. Maybe I'll have to try to do a scrapbook page and create some cards using the actual scraps from that card. Some day....

The patterned papers are all from the Basic Grey Two Scoops line... as is the brad in the centre of the one square. I used a black marker around all of the layers to make them stand out.

Have a great evening all... FRIDAY tomorrow!!

*One More Day*

Just one more day of work at the school. Thursday is my last day. While I am very excited to be able to spend more time at the store, I am feeling really sad about leaving the school too. I have worked in the lunchroom since the fall of 2006 and have come to know quite a few of the kids there. And I really the kids at the school. When they're not misbehaving of course. The one on one is awesome... they are all so friendly and fun.

The three classes that I do attendance for each day all know that tomorrow is my last day. I have had so many hugs this week. I know that tomorrow will be difficult. I hate to say "goodbye" to them.

But, like I said, I am excited to get to the shop and do my 20 hours a week. It will be so nice to be there for 5 straight hours instead of 3 hours in a split shift. I will be able to get so much more accomplished! That's a good thing!

This is a card that I made for the shop. It started out as a class sample. I proposed a class where I show that you can use only scraps to make cards. Great idea for a class. The boss loved the idea. Then, a few days later, she asked if I scrapbooked. I said "no", because while I have done a few pages, it is not my forte and I am not comfortable doing it. She had had this idea that perhaps the "Scrappy Cards" class should be one where you do a 12X12 layout and then use the scraps from that page to make a few cards. I agreed that this was a much better idea and the class has gone to someone else.

Sigh.

But I agree, it's a better way to teach the class.

So my three samples that I made for that class are now just store samples. I've blogged one other from my failed proposal... you can see it here. The other one will be posted tomorrow!

Have a great day!

*All Two Scoops*

Today was neat... for the first time since I started working at The Scrapbook Pantry, I was able to work my 5 hour shift. The kids were off school and I didn't have to work at the school (since there were no kids there) so I offered to work the full shift instead of my split shift. It was great. I found that I got so much more work accomplished. Much better than only being there for an hour and a half at a time!

This is my last week working both jobs... I start my 20 hour work week on the 11th. And I'm really looking forward to it!

I created this card with items from the Two Scoops line from Basic Grey. I was totally amazed to find that Basic Grey released some stamp sets that match the Two Scoops papers etc.

I do have one comlaint about the Basic Grey stamps... They smell something awful! There is a really strong odour that comes off them. I haven't run into that with other acrylic stamps.

For those following the story of Alex being sick, he is feeling a lot better today. Most of the pain is gone, his fever is gone.... guess perhaps it was a flu or something? Just glad it wasn't anything serious!

*Update on Alex*

For those of you who were wondering... Alex is back from the clinic. They did an EKG and a chest X-ray, took blood and urine.... will get back to us if they find anything. The EKG and Xray were both clear.

So for now, fluids and Tylenol.

Good thing there is no school for the kids tomorrow... he has an extra day to rest!

*A Sunday Dream*

Well, not really a dreamy Sunday around here. I tried to sleep in but was wide awake before 9. I guess, technically, that is still sleeping in, but not the sleep in I had hoped for.

Got up and discovered Alex wasn't feeling well. It started yesterday morning while he was at Grandma's... later in the morning a pain in his back near his shoulder. Today it's worse in that he is having a tough time taking a full breath and he can also feel it in his chest. He was also feeling sick to his stomach and had a touch of a fever.

So Bruce has taken him to a clinic where they have given him some juice and tylenol (to bring down the fever) and have listened to his heart and chest and done and ECG (or was it an EKG?). So far, they are pretty sure it's just muscular pain, although Alex can't think of anything he has done in the last few days to make him feel like this. Right now they are still at the clinic... they wanted them to wait a half hour to see how his fever is. He doesn't have a cold or anything so who knows...

On to today's card.... where the "dream" in my title came from...

I made this as another sample for the store. I used Bazzill Cardstock as well as Basic Grey Two Scoops paper, stamps (yes stamps!) and letter stickers to create this card. There are also some crystal Stickles in the centre of the flower.

I stopped by the store Saturday morning and had quick visit with Jacquie and Emily as well as Kerry and her Mom who were there shopping. I picked up some more stamps and papers to play with... the newest Imaginisce stuff...

I was also thrilled to find that the store is carrying Twinkling H20s!!!! I came home last night and did a little playing with the H20s I have here.... be looking for those cards in a few days!

*More About Changing the Layout*

I was able to change the layout on my with with the information on the Pyzam website.... however, I didn't like how slim the main column was... that's where I had the help from my Computer Wizard.

If you don't mine a slim column for the main body of your blog, you'll have NO problems!

*My Nestabilities*

This is for Deb, and anyone who wants to know where I purchase my Nestabilities.

I am currently buying mine from Cut at Home... you can sign up with them for a 40% off coupon which you can apply to any one item. I just bought the entire set of ovals (classic and small in both scallop and plain). This counts as ONE item. Including shipping to Canada, minus my 40% off, the four sets cost me around $60Can.

*Do You Like?*

I decided tonight that I had grown tired of my blog layout. I found a bunch of wonderful free templates at Pyzam and had my husband, the Html wizard, make a few changes for me.

Hope you like it!

*My Nestabilities Storage*

I've started to collect the Nestabilities and had been storing them in the clear CD Cases... I put a few strips of double sided adhesive inside each case and could store two sets of Nestabilities in each case. In January I purchased the full set of ovals from UCutAtHome using the 40% off VIP Coupon. Today I ordered the full set of circles. Next month, the squares.

I was inspired by the storage idea I saw on Cindy's Blog. I believe she used a magnetic frame, however I didn't see any of those at Michaels. I did find these rather plain black edged frames, 2 for $8 so I picked them up. I came home and spent about a half hour ripping some Basic Grey papers creating a collage for inside my frame. I then took three strips of magnetic tape and put them down the frame. The Nestabilities sit on here just perfectly!

I have this on my wall, right by my Cuttlebug (as you can see). There's enough room on the wall up and to the right of this one to put my second frame.

I still have another frame to decorate. Once it is done I should have enough space for all of the ovals, circles and squares on the two frames.

Thanks so much for the inspiration Cindy!!!

*Flashback Friday*

Thank you to the 63 people who took the time to vote in my Flashback Friday poll on the right side of my blog. Last Friday I wasn't honestly sure if I should keep up with Flashback Fridays or not. Instead of posting a card, I posted the poll to get feedback.

The results of the poll....
38 people said "Yes, keep Flashback Friday"
19 people said "Nah, get rid of it"
6 people said "I honestly don't care"

So, "my people" have spoken (teehee) and Flashback Friday will remain.

Todays card comes from my "older cards" file, but I know it comes from 2002 as it was the birth announcements I made for a friend of mine.

This was my first attemped at watercolouring with real watercolour paints. Each card turned out a little different as I learned more how the paints worked. I used a natural cardstock with some flecks in it as the base of the watercoloured image. I believe the quilt blocks stamp and the "Our New Arrival" were DeNami stamps. The base of the card was this wonderful textured cardstock with almost a two-toned blue look to it.... I was totally in love with this cardstock for a while!

Have a great weekend everyone!