*Washi Tape Christmas*

Less than a month until Christmas....  and I will be spending my day off at the mall putting a big dent in my Christmas shopping.  I know what I want to buy, I just have to buy it.  I'm trying hard to not panic at all I want to get accomplished before Christmas.  I wish I had been better prepared before I went back to work!

Speaking of work... it's been 3 weeks and I'm enjoying it.  I am getting used to the hours and the long days, and even getting used to working for 6 hours on a Saturday.  Everyone I work with is fun and friendly and our patients are very nice.  I don't like getting out of bed to go to work, but once I'm there I have a good time.

I created this card while I was in Ontario at the retreat with my sister...  washi tape sure makes a quick and easy background!

Enjoy your Monday!

*FTL218*

We've had another snowy week here in Calgary....  last weekend was warm enough that snow was melting but the shade that hits the front of our house meant that the snow didn't melt on the roof.  It was finally clearing up on Monday so Bruce took some time off of work on Tuesday so he could put the Christmas lights up.  Tuesday we hit our daytime high at 3am and by morning it was foggy and there was a layer of frost on the roof.  By the time he got home after lunch it had started to snow a bit.... and now it's snowed some more and I am not at all sure that we will have Christmas lights on the house this year....

I love this sketch from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.... I saw it and knew I had to play with the Martha Stewart snowflake punches I just purchased...

All of the cardstock I used was shimmery....  so in real life, this card just sparkles!

I hope you'll play along with us this week!

*Strips of Paper*

Another quick and easy card that's a great way to use up strips of patterned paper....  I used left overs from a paper pad I have.... I love paper pads as the papers all go together.  I really like that many of the paper companies have done 6X6 pads... the 12X12 pads often have patterns that are too large for cards.

I've been making a lot of white based cards lately....  hmmmmm

*Swirls and Snowflakes*

Another Monday... it's nice to have them off of work!  I don't dread Monday like most people.  Saturday morning I'm not a happy camper, but at least the office is very busy on Saturdays and the hours I am there just fly by.

This morning I am off to babysit my favourite 3 year old and her little sister for a bit while their Mommy heads off for a much needed massage.  I'm looking forward to it.  They are such cute little girls!  And after that, I'm heading downtown to meet a few of my former co-workers for lunch.  Yum!

I created this Christmas card while I was in Ontario at the retreat with my sister back in October.  It turned out OK but it looked so much better in my head....

Enjoy your day!

*FTL217*

It's time for another weekly sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog....  I almost got away with not using a stamp on this card but needed a sentiment for the label layer.  I thought that this one (by Penny Black) suited the feel of the card perfectly.  I outlined the Spellbinders label with a marker to help make it pop... sure wish my Perfect Layers Tools could do curvy bits LOL!

Most of the elements of this card are from a Bella Blvd sheet I purchased last year.  I wish I had bought more than one!

I hope you can play along with us this week!  Check out the Clean and Simple Stamping website to see some more ideas and to add your card to the linking tool!

Cheers

*Three Simple Snowflakes*

I am really loving this new Gumball Green ink from Stampin' Up.... it's a great Christmas green in my opinion.

This was a very quick and easy card to put together thanks to clear stamps and my Perfect Layers Tools!

Have you started your Christmas cards yet?

*A Laugh Is A Smile That Bursts*

Happy Monday morning friends...  the weather has warmed up in Calgary and the snow stopped (but not until we had almost 9 inches of snow fall).  It's amazing how warm the freezing mark (or just above) feels after a few days of cold weather.

I am off today... in fact, I will always be off on Mondays as the office is closed on Mondays.  Bruce is home today as well as his office is closed to mark the Remembrance Day holiday (which was yesterday).  Strangely enough, the kids had to go to school.

I am hoping to spend my day working on Christmas cards...  let's hope Mr. Mojo cooperates!

I created this card when I had some friends over a few weeks ago....  I love the look of the black and white on the Kraft cardstock.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

*FTL216*

Good morning my friends... I am up and ready to head to work....  I am going to assume that Saturdays will be busy at the clinic and that the four or five hours will FLY by....  That's what will make working Saturdays easier to take....  that the hours will fly by.

The Fall To Layout at the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog is a quick and easy one this week....  I used embossing at the top of my layer, but I think you could do some all over random stamping or use a large background stamp as well.  I hope you'll play along and link your card to the challenge!!

I might try this card in reverse....  a white base with perhaps a shimmer blue layer that is embossed with the sentiment embossing in white....

Have a great day!

*Four Squares Happy Birthday*

Just a quickie post for me.... work has been going well.  I'm not working my regular schedule this week as they are training me.  My first days were shorter and I worked Tuesday when normally I wouldn't.  Today I am working a full shift... it's going to be a long day.  I will be there from 8:30 until at least 6:30....

My head is swimming with information and I'm good and tired at night...  but it will all get easier.  I remember this feeling from a year ago when I went back to work.  It just takes time to get used to a new routine and to using my brain in a different way.

I honestly think that the hardest part of my job will be remembering patient names.... I am not good with names at the best of time, no matter how good my intentions are.  Hopefully it comes with time and gets easier.

Another non-Christmas card to share....  although I did make a very similar card as a Christmas card while I was at the retreat in Ontario a few weeks ago.  I like this one better....

I used some old papers from Stampin' Up and rounded two corners on each square with my Corner Chomper.  I added some pearls and a sentiment and voila!

*Hope Your Day is Fabulous*

It's a Monday, I was awake earlier than I wanted to be, but it's all good.  Just more time to get things accomplished.

I decided last week to put my laptop back in the basement at my stamping desk and have left my iPad by where I sit on the couch.  I have actually come down here every day since then.  I haven't crafted every day, but in less than a week I have finished four cards and have one that needs a ribbon and a sentiment.  I think this was the best decision I have made in a while as this is the most creative I've been at home in a year.

Other news in my world is that I'm going back to work, again.  I went back to work full time on November 7th of last year and was laid off 7 months later.  I took the summer off and started looking for work again in September.  I've sent out more than 50 resumes and have had NO bites.

Then, while I was in Ontario, I had a phone call... my chiropractors office was calling, which is strange.  The last time one of the chiropractors called was in the spring when they offered me a job.  I turned them down as I was working full time and was happy where I was.  Well, 10 days ago, I was offered the job again... and this time I accepted.  

I head back to work, slightly less than full time, tomorrow (November 6th).  I will have Sunday to Tuesday off most weeks which gives me both time with my family and time to myself.  I have to give up a few hours on Saturday, but I think I can be OK with that in time.  

I'm really excited about working in this office.... I've been a patient there for 3 years and have always found it welcoming, relaxing, fun and friendly.  

We'll have to see how the new schedule works out with card making... I think it can work!

Here's a card I made a while back....  Heartfelt Creations dies cut out of white cardstock and coloured with red Copics.... and a great flourish by Inkadinkadoo.  The sentiment is by PTI

*FTL215*

I love love love these intricate dies from Memory Box....  they are just so beautiful!  If you happen to purchase some for yourself, save yourself some grief and order the metal shim as well....  it makes the cut cardstock just pop out of the die, saving you a lot of grief and wasted cardstock.

For those wondering, I use my Xyron to put adhesive on the backs of my intricate die cuts.  The glue pen (the one that looks like a gel pen) dries too fast for the larger dies and I found that my Mono Multi just made a mess.  I ended up buying a Xyron with a 5.5" base to fit all of the dies I have by Memory Box.

*FTL214*

Happy November my friends!!!  Where on earth did October go?  It seems to me that the older I get, the fast time flies by!

Did I warn you the other day that the majority of my card will be Christmas cards???  

I used to make some different prototypes of cards and then decide on one favourite and make that design for all of my Christmas cards... the last few years I've made mostly single designs and sent those off.  If my deadline is approaching and I'm short on cards I will choose a few designs to make extras of and make a dozen of those instead of trying to make all different designs.

I'm not sure about this card... I love the new Gumball Green by Stampin' Up but on this card, I think it's too much solid green on the bottom of the front panel...  perhaps I should have done some embossing down there....

I hope you'll play along with our sketch this week... as always, our sketches are "current" for two weeks, meaning you have more time to post your card using the linking tool at the end of the post on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog (the link is in my left sidebar!).

*FTL213 A Little Late*

I'm a day late and a dollar short (more like 5 days late) posting my card for the sketch for Fall To Layout 213 on the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog.  I had the card made with enough time to post it, but I made it while I was in Ontario visiting my sister and I only managed to unpack my stamping bag yesterday.

I hope it's better late than never!

I had a great time at the fall retreat in Brantford Ontario (at the Circle Square Ranch) organized by The Kit Company.  This is the third year in a row that I've flown to Toronto to spend a week with my sister and to attend this retreat.  Some good friends, food and fun!!!

I used Washi tape to create the strips on this card... it was a little tricky to cut the ends but so easy to use otherwise.  I loved it so much that I promptly spent about an hour surfing Etsy for more Christmas themed Washi tape... and am patiently (?) waiting for my order to arrive!!!

*Perfect Layers Tools*

I have been wanting to do a post for a while, showing what a difference my Perfect Layers Tools make in a card.

A lot of people said to me that they can just cut a larger mat for their layers and save the money.... what they are missing out on is the idea of the layers being perfectly centred, every time.  No matter how careful I was before I got my Perfect Layers Tools, my layers were never straight.  If they were, it was a fluke.  The Perfect Layers Tools take away the human error of crooked layers.

It also takes away the math.  LOL  You just decide how wide you want your layers, find the right part of the rulers and voila!  There are 8 choices on two rulers for sizes of layers.  It doesn't matter if your smaller layer is an easy size to measure.  Just have the lip grab the smaller layer and use your craft knife to cut the lines of the next layer down.  There is a great video on their website ... just click the Perfect Layers Tools graphic on the right side of my blog.

One trick I've found with using patterned paper or thinner cardstocks....  flick the edges of the smaller layer up just a little bit so that the rules can catch them easier.

Now... on to the photo....  I wanted to show how a 1/16th contrasting layer can really make elements of your card POP!

The card on the left is nice enough... but I love the card on the right.... just a little bit of a POP!  It just stands out better.

If you're interested in Perfect Layers Tools, click the graphic on the right under Perfect Layers Tools.  If you use nelrick5% in your checkout, you'll get a 5% discount!!!

*FTL210*

Just a quickie from me....  a great sketch this week from the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.... grab some papers from a line or paper pad and have fun!!

Of course, I had to use my Perfect Layers tools!

*FTL209*

I am so sorry that it has been another long absence... I just haven't felt overly inspired to create.  I sold more than 200 Copics in the last month and am thinking about what else I could purge from my stash... but then, Sunday I went down to play and had a great time!  I have a few friends coming over on Friday to play... hopefully I get more done than just chatting!

When I saw the current sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog, I knew that I just had to use the Washi tape I purchased and have never used...

The hardest part of this card was figuring out which sentiment I wanted to use!!

*First Day of School*

As promised, I am back with some back to school photos....

First... a photo from 2002....  ten years ago Alex was heading in to grade 2 and Matthew was starting Kindergarten...

And now the photos from this morning... Alex is starting grade 12 and Matthew is starting grade 10...

WOW how time flies.... sorry that Alex's photo is so dark... the sun is just barely starting to rise at 6:45am!

*FTL206*

I have thought today was Sunday for most of the day.... I love holiday Mondays!  Although this holiday Monday means an early day tomorrow and tired boyz tomorrow evening since they are heading back to school tomorrow.  Alex has a full day (first day of grade 12) and Matthew will be getting on a city bus and heading off to his first day of grade 10 (a half day for him).  I don't know where the summer went, let alone the last 12 years of our lives!!!

I will get up early tomorrow morning to take our traditional back to school photos....  and I promise to post them along with some older ones so you too can see how these boyz have grown!

But for today, I have the Fall to Layout #206 card from the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog.... these are truly my favourite sketches ....

*FTL205*

Happy Hump Day my friends....  a week from right now I will be the only one in my house.... I can't believe how fast the summer has flown by....not to mention how fast my kids' childhood went by.  Alex will be starting grade 12 next week and Matthew is starting high school (grade 10).  Crazy!

I really wasn't sure when I saw this sketch for this week.... but I sat down to see what I could come up with. I played around with a few ideas before I thought of this great Memory Box die...

And of course I had to use my Perfect Layers tools to create that perfect 1/16" mat...

*A Chilly One Today*

We have had a wonderful summer here in Calgary....  we've been warmer than average and there's been lots of sunshine... our daytime high is usually somewhere around 23C (73F) but we have had lots of days closer to 27-30C (80-86F).... you can imagine that waking up to 8C (46F) this morning was a bit of a shock to the system!  We had a cold front blow in last night bringing the cooler temperature and rain.

The good news is that the weather is set to change again this weekend... nicer tomorrow and beautiful and hot by Sunday!  Today is a good day for a sweater and a hot tea!

I've got a lead on a job and should be hearing from them soon....  I wouldn't starting until after the kids are back in school which is perfect.  I hope it works out as it sounds like a good opportunity.

I am hoping to hit my crafty space this afternoon....  I've barely been down there this summer....  I did find some time a few weeks ago and I made a few cards... this is one of them...

This was NOT an idea I came up with on my own... I don't remember where I saw it but I fell in love instantly.  I love these Memory Box Dies... this card uses one of the corner dies, cut four times to create the medallion...

*That Was Some Hail*

Thought I'd pop in with a photo of some of the hail from a storm that hit us last night....  we didn't get a lot of this sized hail.... thankfully most of it appeared to be pea sized.  It sounded, for a while, like someone was tossing a baseball on our roof...

We didn't get much damage... there are still flowers on most of the plants in my garden.  There is one crack in our vinyl siding though....

*FTL#202*

Hi all.... we had a great weekend camping in Saskatchewan this past weekend.  Bruce's Mom's family had a reunion at a campground near Carrot River SK... there were 110 of us there ranging in age from 1 to the late 80s (or maybe even the early 90s).  There were I think four different generations there... aunts and uncles, their kids, the kids of those kids and even a few kids of the kids of the kids LOL!  The weather was great and the mosquitoes were hungry!

I wasn't sure about this sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog but I ended up really liking the card I created...

I love how the Perfect Layers Tools helped me make those layers just POP!

*Garage Sale*

A friend of mine has been busy sorting through her Mom's craft room after her Mom passed away earlier this year... and she's got a garage FULL (see the photos below) of paper crafting items, many of them brand new, all set up and ready for a garage sale.  

DATE:  Saturday, August 11th

TIME:  8am to 4pm

LOCATION:  305 Activa Ave, Kitchener ON

If you have some time and are looking for some great finds, please stop by on Saturday!  Her note to me says she has kits, albums, paper, cardstock, embellishments, stamps, stickers, tools and accessories, Cricut cartridges and so much more!

Please please share this information with family and friends who might be in the Kitchener area....

Here are the photos my friend sent...

*Too Much White Space*

Hi all... here is my take on Sketch #201 for the Clean and Simple blog....  I think there is too much white space.  I had hoped that the twine would be enough, but it's really not... perhaps I should have used an embossing folder or something....

*With My Feet Up*

I am writing from the La-Z-Boy portion of our sectional in the family room, where I have been camped out for a few days, on and off.  

Monday, I was being silly and went to do a TaeKwon Do kick and managed to kick the railing in my kitchen with my right foot.  This happened just as our company for dinner walked in the door.  Bruce came to my rescue and got dinner on the table while I sat with my foot up with ice on it.

My foot was pretty darn sore all evening long, often with sharp shooting pains while I was sitting completely still.  Sleeping was difficult that night because I had trouble keeping my foot comfortable.

Tuesday morning it wasn't any better... there was bruising, still the sharp shooting pains.... so I asked a friend to take me to get it checked out.

After approximately 4 hours at the Urgent Care Centre and an X-ray, I was told I broke two toes on my right foot (the baby toe and the one next to it).

Now, they don't do much for broken toes....  rest, ice, elevation....  Tuesday night it was still really bad, Wednesday, which happened to be my birthday, I woke up and it was feeling somewhat better.  I could walk with a little less hobbling.  I went out to lunch with friends, had dinner out with my family.... and then the sharp shooting pains began again.  I guess I overdid it.

So today, I have been on the couch other than to prepare dinner for Matthew and I (Alex is in New York and Bruce has to work late)...  it's more sore than yesterday but better than it was on Tuesday.  The bruising is beautiful shades of black and blue.

And I am so bored I could scream LOL!  I wonder if I could set up a way to get my foot up and still create??  I might have to try that tonight.

For now, I am showing you a card I created a while back....  I really wanted to play with bright colours on black.

*#200*

It's an exciting week at the Clean and Simple Stamping Blog as Natasha has hit the 200 sketch mark!!!  I hope you will find some time to play along with us for this milestone!!

I almost skipped doing this weeks' sketch as my first few ideas just weren't going to fly.  I'm so glad I stuck with it because I like the card I created.

I'm thrilled that I finally had a chance to try out one of the washi tapes I bought a few months ago...  what's what the polka dot layer is.  I also made use of my Perfect Layers Tools to create at great 1/16" border around everything.

*Fall To Layout #199*

It's been a wonderful summer so far....  it's kind of a blessing that I got laid off when I did so I can enjoy some of this wonderful summer.  We went camping for the long weekend (my sister flew in from Toronto to come with us) and then four days after my sister left Calgary, I hopped on a plane and flew to Toronto.  She wanted me to be there to celebrate her birthday with her so I went.... she and her daughter and I drove down to Niagara on the Lake for two nights and enjoyed some sight seeing, a ghost walk tour, a day by the pool and some great time together.  I got home on Monday night and found myself with some time to create this morning.

I loved this weeks sketch over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog and I knew I wanted to play along.  I'm so glad that time and mojo were on my side!

I really think you could make this sketch more "busy" by simply adding some layers....  I chose to do a one layer card this time...

I love the colours of these flowers.... 

Enjoy your day!

*Fall To Layout 196*

Happy Thursday everyone....  I found some time last weekend to play along with the latest sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.  But then the weather hasn't been nice enough to get outside to take a photo... until today!

A wonderful quick and easy sketch.....

*Wet Weekend*

I am a single mom this weekend as my hubby is in Winnipeg for his nephews high school graduation.  I think he is getting much better weather there than he would be "enjoying" here at home.  It's not too chilly out but it is grey and wet.  I SO hope that the weather turns around for the Canada Day Long Weekend that is coming up.

I am thinking I might spend part of my afternoon in my creative space today....  why not?  Not like I want to be outside!

I'll let you know how it goes.

I created this card a few months ago (that will be a popular refrain as I still have a few cards to share from the last time I was being creative)....  I don't love it, but I don't hate it either...

Thanks for stopping by!

*It's Been A Long Time*

Wow, it feels like I haven't been here in a long time.... and I guess I haven't been.  I haven't stepped foot in my crafty space in so long....

But that might be about to change.  Sadly I was laid off from my job last week and I have decided to take the summer off and to start looking for work again later in the summer.  I'm trying to look at it as a positive.. who doesn't want the summer off??

I've been home almost a week and still haven't created but I am hoping that inspiration will hit soon....

Anyway... here's a card from a few months ago...

I need to play with this stamp some more.... this card is too sedate for my liking!

*Fall To Layout #190*

Happy Saturday everyone....  it's been a great week weather-wise in Calgary.... nothing like last Saturday where it snowed and the flakes were the size of cotton balls!!  I can see my peonies poking through the ground... my stargazer lilies as well.  I love spring!

I really like the card I created using the sketch for this week at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.  The colours are a little bright for me (Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Black and White) but I still like how it turned out.

I hope you'll be able to find some time to play along with us this week!  Check out the link on the left sidebar to see the sketch and to see what others have be inspired to do!

*Thinking of You*

I decided to have some fun playing with some buttons .... and came up with this.... I love how simple it is.

*Fall To Layout #189*

It would appear that my blog break wasn't as long as I feared it might be.... I was given some extra time at home today and after running a few errands, I decided to play a little.

The company I work for is renovating the floors in the building I am in, floor by floor (we have offices in five different buildings downtown), and the 10th floor, where my office is, is next.  So we spent a few days this week packing all of our personal items and all of the files for our project and the movers are moving us to the 9th floor tomorrow.  I was at work at 6:45 (my normal start time... I know, I'm nuts) and by 10am pretty much anyone who would have work to give to me was gone.  I had a little stuff in my inbox that I decided to get through before leaving so that I can spend time on Monday unpacking and getting settled.  I left the office at 11:15, got myself some new sandals (a great pair of Birkenstocks), went to Walmart, had lunch... and then came home and created.

And the best part?  I actually like the two cards I created!

For today, I have my take on the current sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.... I hope you'll find some time to play along with us....

This card is just bright and fun and spring-like....  the flower is a smaller version of the flowers I made a few weeks ago.

Have a great Friday evening!!!

*Sigh*

I am so sorry that I haven't been around lately.... I think I am going to take a blog break.  I haven't really been crafting at all lately and with the blog and design team work, I have felt stressed about creating which means when I do have time to be creative, I don't have any mojo flowing.  I want to create because I want to create, not because I feel like I have to.

Keep me in your Google Reader or your Subscription list...  one of these days I'll hit the groove again....

Thanks for all of your support over the last few years.... I truly have appreciated your visits and comments!

Cheers

*FTL#185*

I'm not really sure about this card.... I feel like it needs some texture or something... perhaps I should have put the elements on the left side through my Big Shot with an embossing folder or something.... and maybe I should have made the card base pink and the flower orange or something.  The flowers are kind of lost on the card...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, So Saffron
*Images: Hero Arts Sending Smiles
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Copic
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Embellishments: Michael's Bridal flowers; Kaiser Pearls
*Challenges:  FTL185; ColourQ#131


I hope you'll be able to find some time to playing along with the sketch at the Clean and Simple Cards blog....

*Gerbera Daisies*

I have a few different favourite flowers....  lilacs, peonies, tulips and Gerbera daisies.... All four of these types of flowers just make me smile.

I was checking out Pinterest this morning and found a link to a great tutorial to make beautiful Gerbera Daisies out of paper.... Just yesterday I was talking about putting some sort of paper flowers on to the "tree" I put my Christmas cards on to justify having the tree out all year long.

I was thrilled when I discovered that this turtorial uses a die I already own....  I created my own centres using large brads and copper embossing powder and  made a total of 8 daisies to start with....

Aren't they beautiful??!!!  I think I need some yellow ones next.... and maybe some more of the dark reds...

*Reverse Layers*

Happy Easter Weekend all....  I am enjoying my long weekend so far.  I went and got my hair done on Friday and then Bruce and I went off to see "21 Jump Street" on Friday night before going to a friends' house where we played cards for a few hours.  This morning I was up and out to get my nails filled and get a pedicure and have spent a quiet day at home since.  Tomorrow we are having some friends join us for turkey dinner.  I was smart and booked Monday off as a vacation day....  Bruce has to go to work, but the boyz and I will have a quiet day at home.

I am also hoping to find some creative time this weekend....

I created this card a few weeks ago after seeing something similar on Pinterest.  I changed up the die and the colours but loved the idea of the reverse layering...

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz; unknown shimmer
*Images: Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Big Shot; Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch dies; Perfect Layers Tools

I used the waxed paper techcnique to create the background on this card... simply crumple up a piece of waxed paper, smooothed it out and put it between two pieces of cardstock.  I put a piece of scrap paper under the cardstock and on top of the cardstock to protect my surface and iron and then ironed it with a hot dry iron.  The wax transfers to the cardstock.

*Fall To Layout 184*

I created this card last weekend.... And had a lot of fun. The hardest part was trying to figure out what colours I wanted to put together. I could see this same card with some wonderful pastels as well....

I hope you'll be able to find some time to play along with us this week... Be sure to link your creation on the Clean and Simple Stamping blog... You can click on the link in the left sidebar of my blog.

*Fall To Layout 183*

I played for a bit on Sunday which felt great. The mojo was flowing and I had fun... It's been a long time since I had fun creating....

This is my take on the sketch Natasha posted last Friday over at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog...

*Fall To Layout #182*

After taking a fall earlier this week I found it tough to sit for too long so I didn't get around to creating a card for the Clean and Simple Stamping sketch until Sunday.... when I needed a card for a baby shower....

The sketch used circles but I hate trying to place circles, so I played with squares instead.....

*Just A Test*

Hi everyone! I am one of the many who purchased the new iPad last week. I am pretty much using it exclusively now and haven't had my laptop turned on in almost a week.

I wanted to try doing a blog post from my iPad.... I have no idea if it will work or how it will look.

But I am hopeful

I haven't been crafting much lately... Time and lack of mojo. I miss it though...

This is a card I created a while back... I love the little hint of color that the pearls give.

*You're The Best*

This is my card for last week's Fall to Layout at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog....  I kept meaning to post it earlier this week but somehow the week just got past me....  this working for a living is cramping my style LOL!

Wait, don't get me wrong... I really enjoy my job.... I like the people I work with.... I've surprised myself with how much I'm enjoying being back at it.  Believe me when I say I'm not thinking that at 5:45 on a Monday morning LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz
*Images: Hero Arts
*Ink: Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz
*Tools: Perfect Layers Tools
*Embellishments: unknown brads; twine from The Twinery
*Challenges:  FTL181

*Toilet Paper*

A few weeks ago I teased that I had created a card at Crop-A-Ganza using toilet paper... and sadly it's taken me a while to get around to showing it to you.

I played around a lot with toilet paper, trying to do more than what I ended up with....  but nothing looked quite right.  Perhaps some water colour would have looked nice but I think it would have ended up disintegrating the toilet paper.  LOL

I did learn that 2-ply is wonderful for it's regular use, but a good single ply would work better in your card making....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz
*Pattern Paper: toilet paper LOL
*Images: Unity
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*Tools: Perfect Layers Tools
*Embellishments: bakers twine


Fun, eh?

*Fall To Layout #180*

Happy Sunday everyone... it is bright and sunny here in Calgary with the promise of warm weather.  We had a bit of snow last night that is melting as we speak.

I simply can not believe that it is already March.  I have created so little so far this year and blogged even less.  I find I am on my computer a lot less now that I work in front of one for 9 hours a day.

And the whole Mojo thing is just depressing to me.  When I have the time to create I have no mojo or desire to create.

And you know what's sad?  I don't know that I miss it all that much.  I think when I start to really miss it, I will make the time to create.... and the mojo will flow.

For today, here's my take on the latest sketch at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog.  You really should click on the link on the left side-bar and check out Natasha's sketches... the come together quickly and easily....

Items Used:
*Cardstock: PTI White; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Pattern Paper: Imaginisce
*Images: PTI Mega Mixed Messages; Penny Black
*Ink: Versafine Onyx Black; Copic Spica
*Tools: Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities
*Challenges:  Fall To Layout 180