Do what you love.....love what you do!!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Countdown is On!!

Can you believe Christmas Day is just 9 days away??!! How did that happen?? I've been busy making Christmas Cards, they are finally in the mail! Here is one I made for Malcolm's teacher at school:


I really love these reindeer, but now Malcolm wants to know why the reindeer on our lawn don't look like these ones!! I used some Fancy Pants paper, Bazzill cardstock, the stamp is from Stampendous, and is stamped using Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, embossed with clear powder, coloured with pencil crayons.

Have a great evening!!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

You + Me = Happy!!



Here is my third layout created from SGD's December Scrapbooking Kit....and I LOVE it!!

Every so often the picture in my head actually materializes in reality, and this is one of those times!

I made my own stocking and presents from chipboard and covered them in patterned paper, bling, ribbon, brads, inked the edges and voila!! It is easily the heaviest layout I have ever made!! And I don't know if it will fit in an album it is that thick!! Oh well!

Close ups: I covered these little Maya Road chipboard dinos in ink then twinkling H2Os.



Have a fantastic day!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

December Kit Release Time!!



"It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!"

Today is the day Scrappin' Great Deals releases the December Scrapbooking Kit. And here it is:

I have to say I am partial to the kit because I put it together (with Sheila's approval of course!). So many possibilities as always, winter themed, family themed, Christmas, it goes on and on!! A mix of papers from SEI, Fancy Pants, BG, Pink Paislee and Lilybee. Websters Alphas, Bazzill cardstock, CI journal boxes, Kaiser pearls, Pebbles Glitter Dots, Dew drops, the list goes on and on!!

Here are two of my layouts, one more is started and one more is in my head. (My head was overflowing this month, so many ideas!!)

Layout One: I used some twinkling H20's to stamp the background snowflakes, and I painted on some shimmerz to the snowflake punch outs along with a dollop of stickles.

Close up: Added some stardust stickles to the Thickers:


Layout Two: Loved this Pink Paislee paper! It has a built in resist so I just used my foam applicator and rubbed Tim Holtz distress ink all over it! (three shades!!)

Close up: A Pink Paislee Artisan Emblellishment, they come in a creamy colour and you can paint/colour how you like! I used some more twinkling H2Os to colour it up. Love their subtle twinkle!! I used it on the chipboard swirls too.

Stamped some more snowflakes from Tim Holtz's stamp set in a couple of shades of blue distress inks.

Hope you like them!! Make sure to pop over to Sarah's blog to see her outstanding creations!! This is her last month designing with the store kits. She is such an inspiration, a really incredibly talented lady and super nice as well!!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Happy Second Anniversary!!



TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!

IT'S


SCRAPPIN' GREAT DEALS'

SECOND ANNIVERSARY!!

AND THEY ARE HAVING A PARTY!!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010

10:00AM - 3:00PM

DOOR PRIZES!!

MAKE N TAKES!!

REFRESHMENTS!!

IN STORE SPECIALS!!

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!!!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Sneak Peak Time!!!



Just a quick thank you to the ladies who took my class on Saturday!! You were terrific, and you did an amazing job! I loved how your trays turned out! Thanks for your patience with me!! It took a lot longer than I anticipated! Glad I had the paper all cut in advance or we might still be there!! It was a good day! Thank you!


Now for a sneak peak of Scrappin' Great Deals upcoming December Scrapbooking Kit:


I love these colours together! So many ideas floating around in my head, now to get busy getting them out! Have a great day!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Time is Running Out!!


There are just 3 spots left for my shadowbox class, coming up this Saturday, November 20, 2010!!! Come on out and join us!!

Call Scrappin' Great Deals to register today!! 519-473-5751

Hope to see you there! :)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Configurations



The latest and greatest from this man: Tim Holtz


Scrappin' Great Deals is now carrying these shadow box configurations. You can see them here.

How incredible are they??!! So many possiblities! I am sure you can look for a class coming soon!! Love it!!

An Addition....



So I got looking at my layout that I posted yesterday and realized that something wasn't quite right. I looked and looked, it took me a while but I eventually noticed there was no journalling, no writing of any kind. Can't have that!! So I made some additions to the layout, added some simple strips that state who the picture is of. I can't believe I forgot!! (Well, really I can!) I also added a piece of Prima packaging I had left from some flowers, used my nestie label 4 to cut it out. That finished it off quite nicely. I needed another layer in there.


I am happy with it now, no more fussing! Do you ever do that...go back to a layout a couple of days later and play with it a bit more??

Monday, November 8, 2010

Another Sassy Girl!!


This is my third layout using Scrappin' Great Deals November Scrap Kit!

I have been blessed with two nieces, and both are incredible girls. Such unique individuals, beautiful inside and out. I used a picture of my niece Kirsten for this layout. She is three in the picture, she is ten now! Man am I behind!!

The colours in this layout are so not me. Purples, pinks, and coloured bling!!


I used some Shimmerz to paint the outside of the cardstock. I think I used Lilac. It really curved up the edges of the paper, I should have tried to flatten it out before I continued..oh well!
I do like how glossy it is, and translucent too. And it dries super fast! I stamped some big flowers using Night Sky Chalk Ink, some dots using both Pink Pearl Chalk Ink and Eggplant Chalk Ink, little butterflies also in Eggplant and finally a cute sentiment stamp "so sweet".

A close up of the title block:

I inked the edges of the journal card with some distress inks, used Sassafrass Lass sticker alphas, covered a chipboard frame with black walnut stickles, the butterflies are also chipboard covered with blue chalk ink, and glimmer glaze. A beautiful big Prima crystal flower added to the corner of the photo, and some Purple stickles dotted around for a bit more glitz!

Have a great day!!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Oh Anna!!!


This is my second layout from Scrappin' Great Deals November Scrap Kit. Here is the kit again:


And here is my layout:


My niece, Anna. How cute is she??!! I tried so hard one afternoon to get her to look and smile at the camera...did she? No. You can see her sassy little smirk though in the 3rd picture.

I love the velvet cream ribbon in the kit, it feels wonderful, and is really easy to work with. I covered the thickers with some Tattered Rose Stickles. Lots of stamping, distress ink, surprise, surprise, surprise!!


Have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

7 Gypsy Shadow Box Tray

Due to my little guy and his cough filled sleepless night, I didn't get my second layout done for Scrappin' Great Deals November Scrap Kit. So I thought I would show you my next class that I am teaching at the store. I gave you a glimpse earlier but here is the whole tray:

Just in time for Christmas!! As usual with my current fave style, there will be lots of techniques, distressing, inking, embossing.

Date: Saturday, November 20th
Time: 10:00 - 1:00pm
Cost: $60.00

Please call and register before November 18 so I can have time to prep!! Thanks!

Hope you can make it!!!

Believe in the magic!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Fall Fun

This is my first layout with Scrappin' Great Deals November Scrap Kit. A day or so late, but better late than never!!

This was one tough layout for me. I wanted to throw it out several times over the last few days but I kept at it and I am fairly happy with the outcome.

Do you ever have an image in your head of what you want and it just doesn't work?? I recently saw some samples of image transfers and remembered doing them ages ago in school. So I wanted to do it again. I really love the kind of hazy look they produce and thought they would make a great background. The transfers went okay, not great but workable. But nothing would stick on top of them. I don't know if the gel medium I used was the issue or what but I was making a mess. I was not happy! But then I started covering up my mess with some die cut leaves using my new Tim Holtz Sizzix die and the layout began to come together. It is a bit darker than I like and still seems a bit "dirty", but that is part of fall too so what the heck.

I made some paper curls and sprinkled some Prima pearls around, coloured the thickers with Glimmer Glaze, and voila! Time to work on layout Two!! Hopefully the idea in my head will be easier this time around to get on paper!!

Have a great day!!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Finally!!!

A layout to share!! Well a close up look at it. I can't get a decent picture of it tonight. I will try again tomorrow with more natural light.

But for now, just to tease you:

I am off to bed!! Sweet Dreams!

Halloween Costumes



A quick little post to show you what took up a LOT of my time over the last couple of weeks. My mom and I made a dinosaur costume for Malcolm. We got a lot of compliments last night. It turned out really well I think!!

Guess what his favourite colour is??

Fortunately Ben was happy with his store bought tiger costume!! He figured out trick or treating really fast!!!


November Scrap Kit Release

It's that time again!!! I can't believe it is November!!

Scrappin' Great Deals November Scrapbooking Kit:

A couple of close ups:




A lot of really great product in here! Love the colour combinations, the possibilities are endless.

I will be posting a layout tonight, and then a couple more over the next couple of days. I wish I could say it is to keep you coming back, but really the time just got away from me! Finishing up a dinosaur costume, a class on Saturday, finishing the shadowbox tray so the sample could be at the store. Anyway, I have three layouts on the go, I just have to finish them up!! Oh to have more time in the day! The juggling game continues......

Pop over to Sarah's blog to see her three layouts. They are outstanding! I totally love her style!
I hope you survived Halloween, now the sugar highs and lows begin!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Halloween Treat Bags



It is all Angie's fault that I was up until 10:30 last night making treat bags for the boys' respective classes at school and daycare. If she hadn't made those cute little treat bags for her girls, I would have felt okay with not making some for my boys. A little guilty perhaps but that is the curse of the super mom syndrome. Okay, really it is my own fault for humming and hawing all week long, should I or shouldn't I make bags, and then leaving it to the last minute to decide and thus complete.

Had to keep them simple, but I shamelessly copied Angie's idea. (Thanks sweetie!)

Malcolm's class:

Ben's class:


I still have a few last minute details to finish on Malcolm's Halloween costume, pumpkins need carving, yard needs decorating and a couple of layouts to finish for SGD's November Kit Reveal on Monday. Squeeze in there work today & tonight, a class to teach tomorrow, a party tomorrow afternoon.....busy busy busy!!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I Believe....



Yep, I do....I believe in the magic of Christmas!! Here is a glimpse of a class I will be teaching next month at Scrappin' Great Deals:

I can't wait to hang this up in my living room. I love decorating for Christmas!

What was I thinking??!!



I don't know how or why I agreed to this ... but I am now teaching classes at Scrappin' Great Deals!

I am so nervous!! But too late to turn back now! This Saturday is my first class! This layout was the first one I created with October's Scrapbooking Kit:


Class Description:

Create this SPOOKY layout, using products from our October Scrapbooking Kit!! You will learn various techniques, such as distress embossing, and use media such as PanPastels, Stickles and Distress Inks. We will stamp, distress, and punch! You are guaranteed to go home with inky fingers!!

There are still a couple of spots if you are interested!!
Saturday, October 30, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Monday, October 18, 2010

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Malcolm went to his new friend Hudson's, birthday party yesterday. New school, new classmates, new parties!! He had a great time, apparently Hudson is crazy about dinosaurs too! Kindred spirit perhaps??

Friday, October 15, 2010

Coming Soon....


.....to a layout near you!!! Ha!!

We were playing in the leaves last night, wearing the kids out before bed. Got a few really cute pictures of the boys. What is it with kids and leaves??? So much fun to be had.


Now if only the leaves would magically bag themselves up!!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Another Halloween Layout!!

I am still using products from Scrappin' Great Deals October Scrapbooking Kit. It is just stuffed full of great paper and embellishments!! You can create so much with every kit!


One dragon costume, two kids, four years apart!! Can you tell they are brothers?? If I looked back on these pictures twenty years from now, could I tell them apart? Not likely! Another important reason to scrapbook!!

Close up of the CC Designs stamp that I coloured up:

I used some more Echo Park paper that was not in the kit (the journal block and trick or treat tag), cut out the pumpkins and cat using the October 31 Cricut cartridge, used an EK Success border punch, orange stickles on the pumpkins and the thickers number "2", and inked all the edges of the paper with Black Soot distress ink.

Have a great day! See you Saturday at the garage sale!!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Store Wide Savings!!!

SCRAPPIN' GREAT DEALS

We have so many new items now in stock - EVERYTHING is on sale!!

Break out the glue-guns & let's craft!!!

Shop online or in-person!!

From October 13th - October. 17th

it's FALLIN' in love time @ Scrappin' Great Deals!

Right now you can save up to 50% on over 140 fantastic items!

Our 12 Hour Special is loaded with ridiculous savings on outrageous items!!

PLUS .... Save 15% store-wide on regular priced items!!

You read that right ....

if it hasn't already been marked down, you will receive 15%!!

In other words - every single item in the store is on sale until Sunday, October 17th @ midnight!!

Please Note: There is no coupon to use for your 15% savings.

Your 15% savings, on regular priced items, will be calculated manually from our end.

This means that your shopping cart online will not show the 15% savings.

Once your order is pulled, we will email you with your new total & a detailed invoice will be shipped with your parcel.

If an item in your shopping cart hasn't been already reduced, we will manually deduct 15% for you!!

When aiming for FREE shipping; please remember to include the calculation of your 15% savings

Important - please read:

With our upcoming Garage Sale, please allow extra time for ordering processing

offer cannot be combined with other store coupons/discounts/pending orders

pick-up orders - please note: no orders will be processed during our Garage Sale weekend

we will notify you by email once your order is available for pick up

gift cards/crops/preorder items/clearance/classes are excluded

Pass the word, this is a fantastic savings event!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Thankful

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! I certainly did. Lots of quality time with my friends and family. A delicious meal that I didn't have to cook (although that means no turkey leftovers :( !!) Lots of pumpkin pie....including leftovers!! :) Fantastic weather! Who would've thought you could get a sunburn in October??!!

I have a lot to be thankful for and we are now trying to explain this concept to our 6 year old. We need to appreciate what we have and not always want more, be more generous and give more of ourselves, not always put ourselves first. After a huge meltdown this weekend over my giving away "HIS" pumpkin, we realized we have not taught Malcolm enough about these qualities. It is not too late though, he is just 6 but the time is now!! He is a good-hearted boy, and for that I am thankful!! :)

Two people I am thankful for:

Enjoy your day!!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

When Gremlins Attack!!

Don't be fooled by their cuteness....Gremlins will Attack!!

This is my third layout from Scrappin' Great Deals October Scrapbook kit (say that 5 times fast!!). I "borrowed" Sarah's idea of using themed paper/embellies for a non-themed layout. My son Ben is our little Gremlin and he loves to tackle his older brother. I thought the Halloween Dazzles worked perfectly as embellishments for this page. I attached them to patterned paper and cut them out and popped them up with 3D pop dots.

I added some Candy Dots by Pebbles, the colour worked perfectly; stamped the dot circles and glittered them up with Black Soot Distressed Stickles.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Layered Embossing


Here are a couple of tags showing some variations of layered embossing.


The fall tag is what I demo'd for the make n take at Scrappin' Great Deals last Saturday. Stamped Tim Holtz script with clear embossing ink, sprinkle with tea dye distress powder, heat emboss, stamped leaves in pine needle distress ink, sprinkle with peeled paint distress powder, heat emboss, stamped the pumpkin in spice marmalade distress ink, sprinkle with tea dye distress powder, heat emboss; then sponge on layers of distress ink, and stamp the sentiment in ColorBox black ink. Lots of steps but I love the result!!

This next tag was my second choice:

I used a cuttlebug embossing folder first for the spider web, sponged some black soot distress ink on top, stamped the Tim Holtz witch hazel script with red ink, then clear embossing powder, stamped the crow with a glue pad and sprinkled on some fine black glitter; then sponged around the tag with various colours of distress ink.

Happy Crafting!!!