I'm Sharing My...

creating

2012-02-02T22:23:00.000-08:00

to create you have to feel it - a great space has something to do with it, but you have to love your paper, your pictures, your content, your inspiration, your "stuff" you want to add to the page... I feel very blessed that I have a job that inspires me constantly, I spoke to a few ladies today - and I love to ask "what are you working on?" the answers always vary, and the projects that are shown to me, are so great - thanks for sharing:-)
that being said, I want to share with you, I have been scrapbooking for a while now, and I ALWAYS had to scrap in my bedroom - now you know how much stuff you can accumulate - you all tell me you have a store of your own in your house...but finally after many, many years of this...
well I wanted an old pic of my bedroom scrap space but could not find it:-( If I do find will add it afterwards)

...from the bedroom I was then in my cold unfinished basement for quite a while...

Hey, I had a plug in heater - an extra lamp, and it worked!!
But then we finally decided it was time to finish the basement, I was SO EXCITED that this meant I would finally get my own space, and would have a place to create - and shut the door to(as I am a messy creator!!)

then the day finally came and I could move in....I had to organize ALL of this!!

Now I kept on telling myself I would post pics of my space when it is all cleaned up and perfect, but that being said - it never is!! I ALWAYS have something on the go - so here it is, as I work in it and play in it...

My Space

the space is actually quite white with great lighting - the combo of the flash and the chandelier makes it kind of yellowy in the pictures!

lovely storage from that "M" place!

this wall has my own heater (absolute awesome feature) and my rolling trolly from Cropper Hopper, love this, but am looking for a tiny laptop desk...maybe this in white??

case on top - holds my printed photos, bookshelf has my inspiration and a few stamps in the white bin

more inspiration - and a layout that I had just gotten back fr Cdn Scrapbooker as it was published:-)

just a few mini books -I keep a bunch more upstairs where the kids/company can look at them

I still love my wooden stamps:-)

my lovely sewing machine - courtesy of MCC thrift store - my typewriter is from there too, but it is in the closet right now

Cropper Hopper bins - normally used for cardstock, but I use them to house my current pages/projects - I generally sort pics, and add paper and embellishments, and put projects into giant Ziplocs, that way, if I get inspired, I am pretty much ready to tackle something!

yes - there is the Dec Daily - all done, just have to bind it up and I will post the finished product (sorry, flash went of again so photo got yellow...)

there is it, in all it's messiness, however I have not met too many scrapbookers who admit to being neat and tidy - I love it, and am down there in my own little "scrappy" world, almost everyday...

Here are a couple of things I have created in the last while!

Punched circles out of My Mind's Eye's beautiful Valentine line, in the store now!

I sprayed both the TH ticket and the butterfly with OA pink Sprinkler spray...

sprayed the word heart and this butterfly as well

crinkled the ribbon with sookwang tape

used the starburst punch from Martha Stewart - the word celebrate and butterfly are from the OA Sidewalks Miscellany pack

these layouts are inspired by Marcy of My Scrap Shoppe/October Afternoon design team... I used the Starburst punch again

OA sprinklers again

journal tag is chipboard and from Studio Calico - as is the paper

pretty much the same layout, just flipped a couple of things - photos were from the same photo shoot

thanks for your time today, I hope you feel inspired!!

If you have photos of your own Scrap space and would like to share a link - I would LOVE to see it:-)

Flip album continued...

2012-01-11T22:06:00.000-08:00

okay so here we are finally again, seriously is life ever gonna slow down??? The kids are at Awana clubs tonight and so I have a few minutes to share with you:-)

As I said last Blog post - Tannis D made this AMAZING flip album and did a whole bunch of classes - now some of the ladies in those classes wanted me to post the photos of that book so they could do the finishing touches on their books - so here you are!

Tip for the binding - cut a piece of kraft 8x12 inches, measure 1 inch and start to score the 12inch length every 1/2inch until the last score line is 1 inch from the end. Then you fold the score lines into an accordian fold and glue 2 scor-lines together with Sookwang or scor-tape.

Here is a picture of the binding that I did for my version of the album -

the 1 inch I left at either end of the scored portion, was glued to the chipboard, and then covered up with patterned paper

This is what it looks like with the outside covers on ( they are 6"x12") before I added the patterned paper

I cut out various photo mats out of cardstock or patterned paper, always making them larger than the photo, then I put sookwang on the backside of the end that would attached to the binding. I left my binding "open" so to speak, so the photos and flaps could move a little more. Tannis put the photo between the binding edge and put sookwang on both sides to keep the flap in place.

Now that's ALOT of photos:-)

I hope you feel inspired!

catch up and a gift:-)

2011-12-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

hi all, here's hoping you had a Wonderful Christmas:-) We sure did at our house, Santa came to visit - we enjoyed great food, I loved it that it was not so cold...all it all it was a nice holiday...and when this particular holiday is over, I feel like ORGANIZING!!! So scrapbook room was cleaned up (TRUST me - it needed it) We traded out a piece of furniture upstairs, and organized the kids movies...I guess they just don't know how to put them back in a case!!! Seriously, they were ALL out of their cases!! Mark cleaned up his side of the closet (now I look like a total pig...I guess that is tomorrows job:-)...something about bringing that stuff in makes me want to get rid of stuff, and organize more stuff...feeling the same way???

Then there was finding time to play catch up...with my creating, so here are a few more pages in the Dec Daily:-)

still following the same principle of just documenting photos, not each and every day...some days have more, some days have none, and I am ok with that...as with any mini book, I work on each page, put it together and then do my final "Embellishments, details & journaling" I kind of need to see the BIG picture before I totally am completed with a project...so these pages will probably all get a little something "Extra" by the time I am through....

That being said, I would be further along in this book if I had not decided to do another project...but what a fun Project it was!! Tannis Drobot - who teaches at the store quite alot, came up with and taught a Flip Album recently...this class was a hit and people LOVED it...

I never took this wonderful class, but figured I could just 'figure" it out...so here is a small peak of what I came up with...

I will post a description of what I did and photos of each page shortly....I gotta go to bed so I have energy for our After Christmas sale in the WPG store tomorrow:-) 25% off the whole store:-)

p.s. will also post those recipes I promised shortly as well...there just is not enough time in a day!!

good night,

I hope you feel inspired!!

seriously falling behind...

2011-12-13T20:25:00.000-08:00

so the goal was a documenting December...I can't even seem to do that!! The book is at this point -

the plan is to use, kraft cardstock - leftover journal covers from a journal class I did in Nov...

30 journals - for 30 amazing Moms at my church:-)

- Lily Bee alphabets, Doodlebug stickers and a Doodle pop elf (front cover I think) - patterned paper from Bella Blvd - some ribbon...

I went with a 6x9 size - as that was the size of the journal covers, I did cut some 6x8 pages and a few 4x6 pages...turned some into pockets using sookwang tape - oh and I see now a little bit of Crate C-mas paper,is all cut up too - so I will be using that as well...as for accents/embellishments...not sure yet - I will see what is in my stash to use as I go along:-)

tonight I finally started to print some photos - once again, soo happy with my Canon Pixma 4600 series printer, awesome color on photos...I will say though I always read that you should use the photo paper by the same manufacturer as the printer - which I have been doing religiously...then I picked up a package of Epson photo paper in the 4x6 size because it was a super great deal, and oh my word - the QUALITY is AMAZING!!! I am a convert - the paper was thicker and just felt like a better quality photo, and the canon ink printed very well on it.

I placed the photos in the book, but did not adhere future pages yet...might change a photo size or paper as I go along - but for now everything is in order up until todays date...

at this point it was only 9pm - the night is still young soooo I began to play:-)

Cover :-)

the kids get 2 calendars - in the morning they open the Kinder surprise one from Grandma and Grandpa - in the eve they open the Karen Foster little drawers that I carried in the store...I need to take a pic of calendars to add to a future page!

documenting the Winnipeg Grand Opening:-)

We have an AMAZING group of friends - and we always celebrate Christmas with a turkey dinner, early in December - we take turns every year - the host makes the turkey & potatoes and everyone else brings everything else - all of our kiddies just LOVE celebrating too!! This year - we went on a sleigh ride before supper, VERY cold but fun all the same:-)

are you documenting your Dec???

I hope you feel inspired!

inspiration comes from many places...

2011-12-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

and does not always pertain to paper either! When I have time, I like to dabble in all sorts of things, I always say if I would let myself I would be a "collector"of fabric - oooo all the lovely colors and patterns - I just love it! And then flowers, I love those soo much (lucky for me my hubby knows that and get I blessed with them every so often)...and then there is decorating for Christmas! I will be honest with you, I used to LOVE it!! Before kids, Mark and I would put lights all over the house inside and outside, I would do something different with lights, garland, wreaths and more every holiday season! and then kids came along...and I will be honest with you, I just didn't have the time, or the energy to add decorating to the list on top of babies, diapers and more! I felt very overwhelmed with everything - I simply could not decorate and enjoy the same way I did.

Well it's good that life has it's seasons, and that as your family grows and changes, your energy and time changes with it. This year, really for the 1st time in a long time, I felt like doing more than just putting up a tree in the house...In Nov I picked up the Christmas issue of Style at Home magazine and it had such lovely pictures in it...I was inspired, totally! So on Monday morning, I headed over to Oakridge greenhouse and started to look around for some items to do up a few Holiday arrangements!
Seriously, fall has been pretty busy for me, so this is what they looked like before I started -

yes - they looked terrible, I had not even pulled out the dead flowers!! I am soo ashamed:-(

Anyways that was all about to change - with this bag of goodies!

now the red berries were from a past Christmas, the poplar branches, were from a floral arrangement I received in the past - I love to keep special things and "recycle" them in a new way.

So after some arranging and playing this is what I came up with!

the "after" shot of my front entrace...

I totally feel like this is soo much more of a representation of me and my family,

and it really was soo fun to do!

Thanks for taking this little journey of "no paper" with me today (there is a fabric ribbon around the one planter though!)

I hope you feel inspired!

Grand opening & Christmas Open House

2011-12-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

what a lovely day - so many wonderful friends and family came on by - to create a project, or to have some yummy apple cider or a cookie or two:-) to come and meet the staff here at our new store on Meadowood, and to check out the fabulous products and classes we have to offer:-)
just a few pics of the day -

wonderful homemade cookies - monster and shortbread made by my mom-in-law Marlene:-)

recipes coming soon!!

some lucky ladies getting 1st dibs on those doorcrashers on Friday!

I received an adorable visitor on Saturday:-)

Grandpa and Aubrey had to spin the wheel for Grandma as she bought something!

She won a magazine for Grandma!

Thank you, thank you! To all our FABULOUS customers, whether you made it out to the Open House or not, all your excitement and encouragement to me and the store means so much! You are all so much more than customers, I consider you all friends and I hope you feel that each and every time you pop in to say hello. We hope to provide a friendly place full of inspiration for you for many years to come!!

Happy December!

2011-12-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

what a wonderful month - the food, friendship and fun...it's a little busier than others but yet there is something so special and magical about these days leading up to Christmas! Normally I do a December Daily - see previous posts here ....but this year I think I might go more into the "Documenting December" mode - my life has been uber-busy and I don't want to get stressed about scrapbooking everyday...that being said I usually prep and make up a "Skeleton book" ahead of time too...not this year - so it will be very simple and just hold onto the basics for me:-) I will let my brain mull on that a little and see where it takes me.
I have been creating a little bit - getting ready for the Christmas Open house and Grand Opening for the Winnipeg Store - We did get in the OA Sidewalks line and since OA is my absolute fav - playtime was seriously in order:-) So here is a little layout about my friends boy Jackson:-) Playing in the sand at one of my fav places in the world, Betula Lake....

I just want to say I am LOVING those "Sprinklers" - super fun!!

now it's time to go over to the Ranger site and Watch Timmy's 12 tags of Christmas video...my friend T and I are going to make each and every tag this year:-) so who knows, they might make their way into my Documenting December book...

I hope you feel inspired!

I'm back!

2011-11-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

and hopefully this will be the start of new ideas once again and not just renovations! Some days lately I have been feeling like I am blogging about home improvement - that being said, you all need to see a bit more about how the Winnipeg store came together - so here you go!

our awesome customers, waiting to snap up those doorcrashers!

Me working the till - Kathy asking me some questions!

A Bird's eye view of the action!

this used to be brown and all scratched up!! Look at it now - a great find at Value Village for $69.99!!

our lovely classroom!

what a lovely day! be sure to check out the store soon!! we are just waiting for a few more racks and product and are planning for a Grand Opening and Christmas Open house on Dec 2nd & 3rd!

and I thought I was busy getting the Steinbach store ready!!

2011-11-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

I am sure life is busy for all of you too - and I know you know how I feel just a little, but I have to say - these last few weeks have been even to busy to post anything!!! That being said, I have not done that much "Cosmetically" to the space, but it is more the phone calls, arranging things, setting up stuff, interviews and more that just take time. I am SOOOO thankful to my Steinbach "Cottage Girls" for holding up and taking care of the store while I am running around, and to my instructors who keep on teaching even though I leave them with 3 Vintage photo ink pads when they would have liked 6 for a class (wink, wink Tannis!!) but that being said it is going great!

The space did not need alot, just some paint...and then Kathy and I took a closer look, we needed to clean, clean, clean....buy stuff, seriously - even just stocking a cash desk = a HUGE trip to Dollarama!!
The floor in the classroom looked pathetic!

so we headed over to Home Depot to look for a quick fix....Stick on Tile was the answer...and then we brought it back to the store and started that project when we realized our math skills were less that perfect, and the solution that we thought would cost $100, was going to cost closer to $500...so after phoning around, Epoxy paint was the answer - and here is kind of how the beginning of it looked! -

it's glossy - it's black and AMAZING!!!! and see - the gorgeous wallpaper has a home in this store too!!!
As for all the other goodies - more pictures will be posted but here is a peek of it right now, with some of the racking - it is actually starting to look like a real store:-)

we will be loading it up with product this week....hoping for this Saturday to be our open day!!! - But will post it, send out a newletter and put it on Facebook if that is what happens...so stay tuned:-)

Here is just one more fun picture of the day we got the stock to stock the new store - only 78 boxes of product/racking...Our Purolator guy said it was his biggest order to one spot on his route ever!!

Here's to another crazy week!!!

in the midst of all this renovating....

2011-10-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

I find the need to create!! Creating big spaces has filled my mind lately...but that does not mean that enough of my creative brain gets used... so here are a few things that will hopefully inspire you to get into your Supplies!

I was lucky enough to see "Wicked" when it came to Winnipeg:-) My hubby had surprised me with tickets, a friend to go with, supper and he even arranged childcare!!! LOVE that guy!!

Truly a night worth Scrapbooking!

Playing with Bo-Bunny's Forever Fall!

used the Martha Stewart branch punch above.

Harmonie wooden tree - used Pumpkin Pie Glimmer mist and vintage photo distress ink around the edges

I truly hope you find a little time to "Create" for yourself this week!

more exciting news:-)

2011-10-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

I have a question for you??? Does this area of Winnipeg look familiar to you??

Well - if you are in the St Vital area, this is where it is - you are staring at the Theatres, right by the St. Vital Mall... why in the world would I post this on my blog???

Because this is the view you will see as you step outside - after you went shopping at our

NEW WINNIPEG STORE!!!!!!

Yes - what you are reading is true -

Mark and I have been planning and looking for space for over a year and a half, I knew I wanted a spot near the St. Vital Mall, I knew what size, I knew I wanted it to be easy to see and to find, and I knew I wanted good parking.... and the day I saw this space I was scheduled to look at 2 other spaces, I saw a sign in the window of this space on the way to the other appt's. I saw the other spaces and did not feel good about them. I called up this company, and they had time to show it to me and I walked in and I just felt it -

"this is your space"

It felt sooo right - it is so perfect! And I am soo excited to take this next journey, I have no idea why this happened so close to the Steinbach store moving and everything, as I looked at and was negotiating on this space even prior to everything with the other store. All I can say is that God's plan is so much bigger than mine, and I truly feel like his hand has been in all of this - everything has just fallen into place & the way it has is just perfect:-)

So as I plan the next adventure - here are some pictures of the store the first time I saw it.

this last pic is a little dark, but it gives a really great view of back to front, how much space there is! I can hardly wait to get my hands dirty and start "Creating" a beautiful space for all of you!!

The Address is 60-166 Meadowood Drive

The open date is planned for sometime in early November:-)

I will use the quote again that has inspired me during this time of decision making!

"Look for the dream that keeps coming back. It’s your destiny"

I wish you all Scrappy dreams:-)

& Happy Thanksgiving!

playing with the blog's look...

2011-10-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting something a little different for a while - I guess I was over the bright colors of the blog as it was, I was in the mood to "renovate" that too so to speak:-) So I am playing a little - made a few mistakes...HTML's are not something I understand, but I think I like it so far, it is quite "vintagey" (not a word I know!) but I will live with it for a while and see...wanted something more toned down...pretty...

sometimes we just need to play:-)
ttyl! S

p.s. going to tell you some news tomorrow, that I eluded to a while back - the Croppers that were at our CG already know it:-) ttyl!

Our Grand Opening:-)

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

What an amazing day - the day you all got to see the store we worked so hard on... A HUGE thank you to all of you who came out on Saturday!!! What a fun day and my heart was sooo full with joy and love for all of you and it was just awesome to see how excited you all were to see the store:-) I think it was a mixture of that love and pure exhaustion that had me close to tears many times throughout the day... But I truly feel that is beautiful place is for all of you - so many of you come to the shop to relax and chat and get your creative juices flowing - this space is meant to do just that for you! Enjoy:-)

Here are some pics of some of the action, and of our Beautiful new store!

Yes - I did wear an outfit to match the store for opening day!!

this is the "rest of the story" from yesterdays blog post...Warren the MTS guy came to my rescue, he showed up at 8am, and we were up and running by about 9:45am...seriously 15 mins for we opened the doors - now that was cutting it close!!!

all the lovely ladies waiting to take advantage of our Doorcrasher specials!!

they are all looking for those deals!

Cottage Girls - Pam & Lori were my Make n' take ladies!! Everyone loved our huge class area!

more make n' take action:-)

Cookies & Coffee for everyone:-)

ladies looking at product and checking everything out!

would you like a meter of ribbon Candace?? thanks for snapping this pic Alanna!

Bonita snatched my camera to take this pic of me and Cottage Girl Marilyn

do you sell albums...why yes we do!

lots of room to shop and look around!

I cannot believe how many ladies came to see us!!! And they all had lots of space to look around:-)

some of the GORGEOUS flower arrangements from customers and friends!!! Thank you!!!

Meet Millie! She is all dressed up to match the decor in the store!

gorgeous tissue paper flowers lovingly made by my friend Sherri

the punches and patterned paper...

lovely racks of new product'''

the kids - one more look at our old space, they were cheering "yeah for the bigger store"

it was great to go in one last time, to smile and say thank you to the space that was so special for so long - back to the mall where so many of you found us...

We are about documenting memories, and encouraging you to do so, thanks for creating so many memories with us in the old place...we truly look forward to making many more with you in the new store!!

ttyl,

setting up...

2011-10-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

Date - Friday, Sept 30th
The Place- 363 Main Street
The Goal - set a whole scrapbook store up in one day
The People involved - Sharon, Tannis, Temara, Cathy, Nita, Debbie, Jen, Jeannie, Pam, Lori, Marilyn, Jenna, Shannon, Deneen & Mark,
The Result - AMAZINGLY WE DID IT

We started at 9:30 am- starting with the sorting of boxes to different areas of the store ( most of the racking/ shelves had been put in place the night before) and sticky notes were on the wall for product placement - let the fun begin!

Nita-Spellbinder & stamp walls

my sister Jen, quickly painting the backs of some cabinets, as now you would see those backs!

Temara, punch wall...

Jeannie - flowers

Debbie- window display

the chandelier in it's new home!

this was at 4:30 in the afternoon - still piles everywhere!!!

Then at about 9:30pm, I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed at this point! My sister stayed till after 10pm (but then had to take her kids home and put them to bed!!). And then Shannon texted me asking if I still needed help - the answer was a resounding YES!!! So she came, and we finished everything off, Mark was there too, doing last min stuff! And we were done at 1am - the store needed a few more "touches" but it was almost ready!

The only MAJOR Stress of the day was MTS, I booked the appt with them to change over my phone and internet (internet is a MUST to operate the debit machine!) 5 weeks ago... I called them at lunch again to see if they were coming, they said yes...and then I received a phone call at 3:30pm - saying they would re-schedule my install until Monday....I could NOT BELIEVE IT!!!! I said that was not acceptable, and I needed someone today!! Well after 3 different phone calls I got someone in on Sat morning - 8am.... do I keep up the suspense?...did they show up before we opened on Sat?...tune in tomorrow for the rest of the story:-)

putting on baseboards and other fun stuff:-)

2011-09-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

tonight, September 29th...and we are all moved in - NOT organized yet!! But moved in and it is a great feeling! Especially after last night where we worked till 1am, and we had our kids there...and they did not fall asleep there, we are the worst parents ever!!!!- oh well, we had to get everything prepped so we could move in today!!

So I posted on Facebook, that I installed a toilet! You bet I did:-) So last night, it was baseboards!! Yep - we were supposed to pay big $$ to get them installed, so we bought the stuff and did it ourself - I tell you, if this scrapbooking thing doesn't work out for me, I think I might go and be a handyman of sorts:-)

ok - now you have to see this, our NEW sign & LOGO!!!! I adore it:-)

right now there is a HUGE tree, kind of blocking the street view, I have talked to the city and hopefully it will be pruned asap, but in the meantime, just look for the pretty White brick building in amoung all the ugly brown ones on our block!

so we packed throughout the day, and then at 5pm - we locked the doors and it was MOVING TIME:-)

and with the help of Lorie, Pam, Shannon & Debbie (Cottage Girls) Deneen, Candace & My hubby Mark...oh yeah and these crazy guys

Mitch, Colton & Matt - your Steinbach Pistons!

we got EVERYTHING there in about 3.5 hours!!!! That is sooo awesome!!

seriously, who orders all this stuff???

now tomorrow, we get to make it pretty for all of you!

See you Sat!!

almost there...

2011-09-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

this has been a whirlwind of a week, moving day is Friday all day so both stores are closed!! Here is some of the action this week:-)

Don't you LOVE the new cash desk:-)

"good-bye sign!!"

KP Projects did alot of the heavy duty work for me, when I asked if they were okay with me taking a picture they said "Which view?" - I said the ladies would appreciate the "Rear one:-)" Anyways, this sign is now on the back wall, by the back entrance of our new store!

Packing up the back room!!! Yep - LOTS of stuff!!

a little sneak peek of some of the fun - that will be on display at the new store!!!

that's it for now, just a quick post because I need to sleep a little:-)

ttyl!

another update...

2011-09-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

well we have spent many an evening at the space, the kids are getting really great at entertaining themselves as Mark and I work...

this is Dain pretending he is in a hamster wheel, using the wrapping from the ceiling tiles:-)

Here are a few more pics of where we are at!

The new siding and back entrance area from the outside...looking good!

the new back door-inside view

Aubrey took this pic of Daddy still working hard on that ceiling

This is the bathroom, after the toilet and sink came out, ugly blue tile is out... wall covering going in and it's going to be the color...stay tuned:-)

starting with the pretty stuff - I am IN LOVE with this wall paper!!!

once again my mommy, queen of wallpapering did pretty much all the work...see she is working so hard she does not even have time to smile for photos:-)

that's pretty much the latest... lighting panels also went in today, the bathroom is ready to be painted tomorrow, the outside will hopefully be finished on Thursday, the sign has been sent in for the final proof,

the space pretty much only needs a little more paint...like that back door, a little more wall paper, and then next week is moving time already!!! I can't believe it - we are almost there!!

ttyl,

a few more pics of the space:-)

2011-09-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the wall that was put in - as I referred to in my last post, this room was initally open/part of main area, however this is now the office/storage area.

This is the bathroom...definitely will be the "before" photo...obviously we have not tackled this yet!

piles of tiles for my new ceiling:-)

Dain was super-helpful tonight, vacuuming:-)

I honestly think the song "anything you can do I can do better" - is on repeat in Aubrey's brain...here she had to help her brother!

slatwall!! Starting to look like a retail space!!

This large hole in the wall is what I saw on Friday morning...old back doors came out..new one is going in this week:-)

This is the back of the building - "Before"photo taken on Friday once again...it already looks different! Yipee!!

glad they fixed that hole in the wall... this is the "temporary" fix till that door comes in - hopefully by Wed!

well there you have it - still a few more things to do to the structure, before I can go in and make it pretty, but we're getting there!

ttyl!

Labour day...and we laboured a little:-)

2011-09-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

well I took tape and stickers of all of the gorgeous windows out front, it took about 2 hours and a half bottle of goo-gone, but they look sooo much better...no pictures though, because seriously, I am not sure if it was that exciting. But we did do something super-fun...we Wallpapered the ceiling! Yep - good ol' Martha Stewart and her crazy ideas - but I needed a solution that was cost effective, and easy for me to do for above the Cash desk (it was the only place that did not have the suspended ceiling, and had old tiles that were quite an eyesore...I looked into paintable ceiling tiles, they = manual labour, and were quite expensive for a little area...so I went to good ol' Rona (seriously spending a TONNE of time there these days:-)

see old to new...sooo much better...will look even better when it gets painted later on in the week:-)

my mom - she was awesome help, and she loves to wallpaper...bonus!!

Yeah!!! All done!!

Till next time, Thanks soooo much for all your well wishes and that you are all getting so excited too!! It is awesome to share this journey with you all:-)

okay - so will I find time to scrapbook this month???

2011-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

read previous post!!! We are opening a new store, moving into it and there is LOTS to do!! Oh yeah and there is the Fall Creative Gathering to prep for...oh and maybe something else in the works I cannot share with you yet...but soon:-) I am seriously a little cookoo!! But I know you will all put up with me, and irregular blog posts and everything else, and I will need LOTS of coffee to get through, so I take my coffee with 2 cream, thank you very much:-)
Anyways.... here are some fun summer pages I did recently in a Class in Red Lake, both layouts were using sketches that I got off of this website Inspired Blueprints which I found out about from the lovely Tanya Dery:-)

This layout is working off a sketch that Tanya did a class on at our last Creative Gathering - I used the fun "Sew Easy" tool to create the stitched banner on the side of the page:-) Paper is from Hey Sunshine by My Mind's Eye.

Using the leftover diecuts from the above layout, and a little more paper from the same line, and another awesome sketch from the site above, I came up with this layout too!

I encourage you to visit the site if you are just looking for a little inspiration to get you going!

day 2...still tearing it apart:-)

2011-09-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Mark took the day off, the kids and I pitched in (hey the kids will work for a slurpee so their child labor works for us!!) and here is a few pics of what we did today!!

Dain was a HUGE help today, from carrying tiles for dad, to loading garbage on the truck!

look at those little muscles:-)

the crazy bulkhead was knocked out today!

The painter, Sandee said to Aubrey she needed to be in the picture to make it look like she was doing all the painting! Aubrey LOVED pretending...though she did paint a little!!

it's looking good!! the top will be painted tomorrow!!

yep - still painting! too fun!!

yanking out the ceiling tiles - so we can put in LOTS of Great lighting for our Crop/Class area:-)

so cool to see it happen... I forgot to include a photo of the new wall, I will have to do that in the next post!

have a great night!!

Exciting News to share...

2011-09-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote this week that definitely applies to my life in this moment!

"look for the dream that keeps coming back. it is your destiny."

I love what I do, and I truly hope it shows, I find such reward in discussing your projects, your triumphs, your struggles, your goals whether they are scrapbooking or personal...so many great things, sharing ideas, sharing inspiration....I am truly living my dream:-) and I want to thank you all for that!

I believe in God and Jesus is Lord of my life, and I believe so strongly that he is in control of my life and has blessed me with a great opportunity to serve you all while I serve him...this being said he has provided an AMAZING Opportunity for the store that I want to share with you tonight!!!

Yep, this is me holding the key to the NEW Scrapbook Cottage store!!!!

The store will have a new home with our Grand Opening being Oct 1, 2011.

We have purchased a building for the store and will be moving to 363 Main Street in Steinbach:-)

So here is the deal, we currently lease a space, the lease is up on Sept 30th, even though we moved to this current space back in Dec, I still found the size challenging - ESPECIALLY when we offer classes. The classes are full, and when there is a class, it is quite difficult for the regular customer to wander around the store and enjoy their shopping experience.

So we (my wonderful and supportive hubby Mark & I) looked at this space back in June, and then just discussed it and prayed about it for the summer, we just really wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do.

We took possession of the store today, and I FEEL WONDERFUL about the decision, and I am sooo excited to share this next phase of this journey with you all!!

Here are some pics of the outside, as of today -

ugly right:-)

the painter will take care of that starting tomorrow!!

Here are some pics of the inside as of today -

I checked in at the end of the day and it already looked different (KP Projects got to working as soon as I showed up with that key!!)...I am so excited to share these pictures with you and I will post more as the month goes on...

Thanks to you, all my loyal Scrapbooking friends & Customers, because of you, the great things you say about the store, the awesome way to tell others about The Scrapbook Cottage, we can take the store from where it is now to this whole new place! I will share more with you in the weeks to come!

I am so inspired by you all - Thank you!!

S

Resist paper...

2011-08-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

so maybe you have played with this already - if not then I get to show you something cool! This line of paper with a built in resist was part of the "House of Three" release from Pink Paislee, we still have a little bit left in the store...we did teach a class with it at the last Creative Gathering event! Pink Paislee is releasing a follow-up version of products to this line called Mistables, which will be in the store VERY soon...as well, I ordered a tonne of these so we can show off the product in a Fabulous class!
In the meantime, while I am waiting for all that great stuff - I wanted to "play" with some of the old line and this is what I did:-)

using Mr. Huey's mist I sprayed the paper

once the page was sprayed, I did go over it with a paper towel to reveal the resist

using Glimmer Glaze from Tattered Angels, I drew a line on the outer edge of page

here is page 1 complete - I did the same techniques on page 2

I used glimmer mist on the Ivory "Rose" ribbon, the metal word is from Prima, the sticker words are from Authentique as is the ledger background paper.

Page 2 -

I hope you feel inspired this week:-)
S

getting ready for Red Lake...

2011-08-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

so once a year I head up to Red Lake, Ontario - for a Scrapbook weekend
We bring the store along (Don't worry we don't bring it all- so you are still able to shop here back at home:-)
And we offer a variety of classes - here are just a couple I am doing there this time around!

7Gypsies altered tray

Burnished Velvet on your scrapbook pages

Butterfly Mini-album

Grungeboard mini-album

Tim Holtz tags, summer mini-album, Cricut basics, Sew Easy on your scrapbook pages - and a few more!! So the kits are pretty much ready, I am just working on some last minute instructions, and need to make sure I get some sleep and have a voice for all the talking I have to do for 3 days straight!!

It is always such a great time, just a couple more days and we are on our way...

I hope you feel inspired this weekend!

Getting creative with those items in my stash...

2011-08-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

just a few layouts to inspire you today...

These layouts using "Togetherness" from Cosmo Cricket - paper and chipboard, Pipe cleaner flowers from Basic Grey.

This layout is using "Pixie-licious" from Cosmo Cricket, the layout was inspired by one I saw on their Blog a while back:-)

also Pixie-licious &and some Ali Edwards stamps...

this one I may have posted before...but love the mix of Material Girl & Garden Variety, the colors are just soo perfect together - once again proving you need ALL the paper from a Company, because the colors work together so well for ALL your pages!!:-)

Lots of Aubrey pages lately...so sorry to those of you with Boys out there!!! I promise more "Boy" inspiration will be coming your way shortly!!

I hope you feel inspired!

Hey - let's Play!

2011-08-09T05:22:00.000-07:00

did you miss me? I took off some time to spend with my hubby & kiddies, and then spent some time with my Sister, niece and nephews:-) but now it's time to get back it!
So I have been planning to play with "Playground" by Echo Park for a while, what better excuse to work with this paper line than to Scrap Dain's Picnic Day at the end of the school year!

Layout #1 -

Using 2 pieces of Bazzill Kraft a the bases - The Playgound Element Stickers, the letter stickers and paper - "Merry go Round" & Jump Rope" , Buttons are from Fancy Pants - Beach Bum - perfect colors!!

Layout #2

here I used Prismatics Orange as a base on the left side - patterned paper on both sides is Double Dutch, the striped paper used as a mat on the left is "Monkey Bars" I used the backside of "Capture the Flag, Double Dutch & Kick the Can" for matting photos. Lots of Element stickers again!

Layout #3

the final layout (for now:-) uses backside of "Jump Rope" as the main page, arrow paper is "Kick the Can", orange paper is backside of the "Journalling cards", and then smaller mats are the backsides of "Kick the Can & Capture the Flag".

there you have it 5 pages, a couple of pieces of paper, stickers and buttons...now no more excuses - I have all this great product in the store, come in and get it and then "Scraplift" these layouts - just think of how quickly you will get them done!!

I hope you feel inspired!

Pine Point Rapids...

2011-07-28T05:52:00.000-07:00

Here I used a Kraft background that I inked up the edges with Vintage Photo, patterned paper is all from the Imaginisce "Happy Camper" line... stickers are from the same line and a little OA thrown in for good measure:-)

these letters are studio calico's wooden letters, I sprayed them with Mr Huey mist in Clover and then painted them with Tim Holz Crackle paint to give them this look.

I hope you feel inspired today!

Inspiration...

2011-07-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

well this is kind of a "waiting time" at the store...saw a tonne of great stuff last week that were released at the show... here are a few things I LOVE!

My Minds Eye - Lost & Found 2 line is AMAZING!!! I already know we will do some Mini-book classes with these!!

OA - their little Cowboy line called "Sasparilla" seriously sooo cute, look at those banners!! I think Dain might be getting some cowboy boots so I can scrap with this!!

For Whimsical Christmas - loving Echo Park! There will be chipboard, brads and stamps to match - Yippee!!

Graphic 45 - wowie!! Christmas Emporium is stunning, and check out those stamps!!!

Cosmo Cricket released this ADORABLE retro line!!"Dear Mr. Claus" - sooo loving that Tiny Text...I'm actually kind of glad I did not scrap last years Christmas yet... gotta get busy as soon as this comes in:-)
Well those are just a few things I love! I have already pre-ordered Basic Grey, Little Black Dress & Picadilly (Oct releases), and all of the Bo-Bunny lines. Trying to decide which Halloween line to order (I usually only get one - maybe you have a suggestion!!) Christmas lines - oh at least 6-8 different ones are on my list!! - What is it with this obsession with Christmas paper!!!

So like I said... new stuff is coming, but while we wait we can look and create with some older stuff in our stash...I hope you feel inspired today!

Loving that Sunshine!!

2011-07-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

time to capture it! Check out these projects that I made with the Little Yellow Bicycle "Lemonade" line.

First up- this mini book! The Paper envelopes and inserts, binder rings, grommets and String all come in this adorable kit for $9.49.

first I inked the grommets with my Old Olive distress ink pad & then put together the envelopes according to the easy instructions inside the packaging of the album **you will need a Crop-a-dile or an eyelet setter of some kind to attach the grommets and string. Next - I added a few "word" & "Image" stickers from the same line...as well as some chipboard & journal cards from the matching accents! The chipboard and image stickers even have glitter on them (hard to see in the photo - but sooo great up close!)

I printed a bunch of 3x4 photos from a Sunday adventure at the beach and there you go...Sunshine in a mini-book:-)
Then because I was still having fun - and had to use up the great leftover embellishments, here are a couple of layouts!

the edge of the paper is the Bracket border punch from Fiskars, and then the zig zig border is a Canvas border sticker from the same lemonade line. They are self-adhesive so they just stick on, soo easy - as well the pennant banner in a photo above is from the same package:-)

check out that distressed edge! I used the Zutter Distezz-it machine on my cardstock for this layout...and I am in LOVE!! It's noisy, but soo great the way it just messes up the paper.... I think I will be adding a new toy to my collection shortly!

I hope you collect a little sunshine for your layouts & projects today and feel inspired:-)

First Kiss....

2011-07-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

well for this little guy it was ( besides his mom of course!!)

Using Cosmo Cricket - Salt Air "Coral Blooms" & Co-ordinations cardstock that I sanded a little to distress it! Tiny Type & some thickers, and CC journal sticker complete the layout!

Take a close look at that last pic! I think the look on my friend Hanh's face is PRICELESS!!!

ahhhh, young love:-)

I hope you feel inspired!

Mama-Razzi....

2011-07-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

well I guess I kind of am - and here is proof as I was caught in the act!!

this layout has a little story...at the Fall Crop, I had walked by our beautiful "Wall of samples" Friday night many, many times. But then on Saturday morning, before anyone else had even arrived I took a closer look, just to admire all our designers great work...and then I saw this layout - I was shocked! I was even brought to tears wondering who could have done it??? Well when Marilyn had arrived I asked her, she said my wonderful Mother-in-law Marlene had done it, and when Marilyn had seen it, she thought it was great and we needed to add it to the wall. They wanted to see if I would notice - and I did. And my heart just smiled as this layout is really so me, I am not often in the photo, but can always be seen with a camera in hand.

I hope you feel inspired today!
S

Salt Air - Cosmo Cricket

2011-07-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Just a few pages with this fun summer line!

see that "hint" of sun? I used a My Little Bicycle die cut paper as my mask and sprayed over it with "Sunshine" glimmer mist. I used the Martha Stewart "Seashell border" punch for the bottom border. The patterned paper & the little doilies are fr Cosmo Cricket.

Here is a layout of my adorable niece and daughter wanting to be mermaids in the sand at the beach!

I used Ali Edwards stamps, Salt Air paper, chipboard & stickers, Plain "Sunrise" chipboard thickers which I altered with Glimmer Glam and Glaze.

We still have Salt Air in the store and online!

I hope you feel inspired today!

scrapping those beach pages...

2011-07-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

well I don't know about you, but I have a little "Beach babe" in my house, she's 4, she's cute as a buttton, and give her a sandpail, shovel and water and she is good to go:-) Using the Whole Fancy Pants Beach Babe line, all the patterned paper, the buttons, the chipboard & flowers and brads. I scrapped all these 12x12 layouts about some of our days at the beach (well one layout is at the pool - but who's counting!)

There you go - lots of ideas for your beach/summer pages today. Now all you got to do is get into the store and pick up some of the beautiful paper and fun stuff!!
(P.S.- not quite sure what Fancy Pants was thinking with the 1 red patterned paper in amongst all the bring teals, greens and pinks...but oh well I still made it work:-)
This is the way I like to scrap when I have a large project, With a complete paper line, all the matching paper and accents, the ideas just flow, you use up every last piece of product for your project and then you can say "Loved using you, see you later!" and then grab another paper line and accents for another project :-)

I hope you feel inspired!

it's the Little Things...

2011-07-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

isn't it? Siblings who get along "once in a while" beach days, being able to sleep in, going out to eat and not having to cook:-) All these are "Little things" for me that I love! I also love this paper line by Fancy Pants that goes by the same name...here are some layouts that are posted in the store now using paper & chipboard from this line!

I hope you feel inspired to scrap "the little things" today!!

July kit of the month...

2011-07-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

Is called, Summer Lovin' - here it is:-)

what is included??
1 -12x12 sheet of letter stickers by October Afternoon - Modern Homemaker
1pkg of each-Fresh Verse sheet of stickers & Canvas border stickers from Little Yellow Bicycle- Sweet Summertime
1pkg - of Green Baker's Twine from My Mind's Eye - Lime Twist
1 - flower sticker sheet from My Mind's Eye
3 meters of ribbon, 2 grosgrain and 1 Ric Rac to match all paper an accents!
5 sheets of 12x12 Bazzill Carstock - Hopi, Spring Meadow Green, White, Jacarda & Lakeshore
7 sheets of 12x12 pattered paper - Summer Soak, Clearwater & Soundwave from Lauderdale by Basic Grey,
Word & Dot from Barefoot & Bliss by Bo-Bunny, Hello Sunshine & Watermelon Hopscotch from Sweet Summertime by Little Yellow Bicycle.

There you go! All that for $30.00!

it will be online, as well as in the store. Call today to reserve yours!!

I hope you feel inspired!

Sparkles in the Sky:-)

2011-07-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a great Canada Day, or maybe you are celebrating the 4th of July!
Here is a layout I did of the fireworks at Disney, maybe this will get your brain going to try and scrap something recent, like those fireworks pics from just the other day:-)

I hope you feel inspired!

To inspire you today...

2011-06-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this adorable Mini-book with you that Tannis created for a recent class here at the store!

Signs of Spring Mini book!

Using the "It's The Little Things" paper line from Fancy Pants. Made the cover out of Chipboard and covered it with Spring Fever paper, cover word "Spring" & the bird is from the Chipboard Pieces pack.

Pockets consist of white envelopes, manilla tag pull outs are Manilla folders from Dollarama, just cut to size.

Album is held together with 1 inch binding rings (holes were punches with the Crop-a-dile Big bite.

All edges were distressed with Black Soot distress ink from Tim Holtz.

I hope you feel inspired today to create something too!!

Barefoot & Bliss...by Bo-Bunny:-)

2011-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Loving this new Summer Line by Bo-Bunny - a lovely customer named Cindy L, scrapped ALL these pages for a future trip! So is soo sweet and allowed my to take some photos so I could share them with all of you today...so introducing...over 20 Layouts with this lovely line:-)

Cindy, they are GORGEOUS, thank you for allowing me to share them!! And to the rest of you, YES - all that product she used here is in the Store right now!!! I know I will see you soon when you pick some up!

I hope you feel inspired!

Easy Summer Layouts:-)

2011-06-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Check out these simple summer layouts using Echo Park's "Summer Days" paper line!

I did the pages first with patterned paper, the element sticker sheet & Alphabet stickers.

then came the easy part...taking the pictures here at Summer in the City:-) and then adding them... here is what they look like now:-)

I did go through the matching Chipboard and Brads and just added a little to the pages:-) I really liked this idea alot! At first it took a little thinking when I looked at my photos and see what would fit on which page, but once again - printing photos from home was a great advantage, I could look and print what I wanted, I think I printed only 2 additional photos I did not use.
Whether you like to "pre-scrap" your pages or "scrap" them after the fact - I hope you take LOTS of amazing pics this summer and create LOTS of beautiful Layouts:-)

I hope you feel inspired!

finishing up the 100 days of Summer Mini album...

2011-06-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

in this post, I had started this book, it is all done now:-) Here are some pics of the end result.

so when you don't have time to Scrap all the BIG moments in a month - a mini book is a great way to capture ALL those special moments on a smaller scale.

I hope you feel inspired!

Years Mini Album-

2011-06-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

using the Bo-Bunny Timepiece paper line and stickers. Lydia cut out the word "Years" on white cardstock and then covered up the letters with the paper. Then she created all sorts of flip-ups and pockets, and here is the end result.

she bound the book with the Zutter machine and a black coil, and there you go - all ready for photos to celebrate Grad, birthday, anniversary or heritage!

I hope you feel inspired!

more cards...

2011-06-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

sometimes the mood just strikes, here a a few other fun cards using products that are in the store right now!

I can't take credit for these though - Pam (Cottage Girl) made these stunning cards using the Martha Stewart Butterfly punches! Aren't they Beautiful! She used Alphabet Soup paper form My Mind's Eye.

just some simple grad cards for some kids of friends - using Graphic45 paper and the die-cuts are old Pink Paislee, the sayings were just perfect for this awesome occasion!

some thank-you's for some well-deserving girls:-) You know who you are! (Not sure about the lighting in this photo - that is terrible!!)

some Girl's paper paper and dies I had in my stash...I just love a little Vintage:-)

and some Pure Innocence Girls - I used Copic markers to color these, and the above is the sentiment inside:-)

I hope you do smile today, and you feel a little Inspired!

Cute Crate Cards...

2011-06-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

going through our "stash" of partly used products at the store...came across this chipboard by Crate Paper

isn't it great?

so then I thought I would make 2 quick cards using the chipboard and a few other Leftovers in the store "stash" this is what I came up with...

the house cards - of course for a housewarming:-) the little girl...just for fun:-)

I hope you feel inspired:-)

Finished Artist Tray...

2011-06-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

wanted to show you the finished product of a project I posted about way back when (I think Dec)...yes sometimes it does take that long to get it perfect:-)
This is a 7Gypsies artist tray in White - when I saw it I could just see the kids pics in it from the Beach last summer, so using October Afternoon paper - "Seaside" line, their stickers, some girls paperie charms, Tim Holtz metal and Vials (this is the reason it took so long! I was waiting for him to come out with these vials!!)

Sea shells and moss came from the sunny beaches of ...Dollarama:-) The Sand from the beach, and the water...from my tap! I needed it to look real! Now you know all my secrets:-)

I hope you have a great day and you feel inspired!

June kit of the month is called...

2011-06-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

"Traveller"
included in this kit is the following:-)
Kit of the Month - June
is called "Traveller"
Included in this kit s the following -
8 sheets of Patterned paper -
Daily Junque by Pink Paislee - Tabs, Map & Tickets
Sweet Threads by Basic Grey - Summer Wedges, Fashionista & Must Have
Lauderdale by Basic Grey-Bandana
Jillibean Soup Burlap Chipboard Alphabeans,
Prima - Vintage Trinkets in Metal
1 Meter of each - Prima Ivory vintage lace & Websters pages Brown lace
1 Soiree - Metal banner
2 Fancy Pants "Pinked edge Filters"
1 package of 7Gypsies - Apothecary labels
4 sheets Bazzill Cardstock in -
Pickle, London Fog, Vintage Pink & Rain
Kit cost - $30.00 + taxes
call or email the store to reserve yours:-)

here is a layout I did with the kit last night...it is not quite done but gives you an idea of what to do with this kit:-) I still want to add a few more photos from our "Travels" a photo of Europe, a Cruise, disney etc... Europe is on Film so I might have to dig up a negative!!! Seriously it is just crazy the way taking photos have changed!! If you are interested in the kit, call or email the store:-)
326-6777 or thescrapbookcottage@mymts.net

I hope you feel inspired!

Grundgeboard Mini album

2011-06-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

I guess I am just in a Mini Album kind of mood these days:-) Been busy creating and having fun, this album is a take on a class I took in Feb 2010, I played with the ideas and techniques and came up with this version of the album to teach here at the store. Now I am so sad to say that this Bracket Album, has been discontinued:-( however I am working on another version of this album in the 6x6 square and the Timepiece line

to create something fun for the ladies in Red Lake at the Mining for Memories convention!

But in the meantime, here is the book I "played with"

Cover - printed paper, used Tim Holtx (TH) mask for flourish, wrinkled distress technique on paper border, colored bird, flower & tag with Distress inks.

Page 2- used a wrinkle free distress technique for the left side (this was white paper to start) Websters beautiful patterned paper is used throughout the book.

Webster's paper, butterfly's punched with 3 different Martha Stewart punches (Double Monarch, Classic & die-cut butterfly)

This page, just two colors of distressing inks, using the ink blending tool. Then stamped with other colors.

More blending of distress inks, used another TH mask, stamped sentiment and then embossed with Distress embossing powder, more stamps more ink, and those little glass looking dots are Dew Drops (loving these).

Inked up a stamp with 5-7 different colors of ink, spritzed with a mini mister and stamped (produces a watercolor effect) used the flourish mask again to create some layers of color.

inked the whole back page with vintage photo distress ink, then used the mask again and went over the mask with Chipped Saphire, then stamped some images in Walnut Stain. The flower is the tattered Florals die cut out of Grungeboard, inked, embossed and used distress stain on the flowers to give them color and texture.

We there you go, a crash course in distressing...I will post the Timepiece album when I am done - just waiting for that 6x6 paper pad to arrive at the store so I can get busy:-)

I hope you feel inspired!

Salt Air & Sandpail mini Album

2011-06-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Maya Road has this Awesome Chipboard album, Tattered Angels has an awesome product called Glimmer Mist & Cosmo Cricket has this amazing paper line called Salt Air -
put them together and you get a super fun, summer themed Mini Book!

and this is the cover...

so much fun to do! But it definitely took me a while, I stamped the starfish & word beach with some white paint, and then either Sprayed with Glimmer mist or distress stains. All paper & embellishments are from Cosmo Cricket, I especially love those little paper doilies:-) they just make me happy!

I hope you feel inspired!

100 days of Summer...

2011-06-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

well I wish - at this point we would just be happy with a week!!

Seriously though, 100 days of summer is this AMAZING line from Simple Stories - that has paper, letter stickers and element stickers. But the colors are sooo beautiful and perfect for your summer layouts, or projects. Now the Simple Stories line is actually made for the WeR Memory Keepers divided page protectors

so the paper is made to cut up in either 4x6, 6x12, 4x4 (you get the picture) pieces to just slide into the page protector slots. From there you just add your photos and embellish with letters & shape stickers (from the line) or you add items from your own stash.

Or you can cut the paper up and create other fun projects like with Pennant Mini Book that I made.

I am still waiting to add the photos, but I titled the book August 2010 - so I just need to grab some favorite from last summer and there we go - Memories Documented:-)
Lots of fun with this new Tim Holtz die - this was my inspiration from the book, and my Big Shot machine:-)

Happy scrappin' everyone, I hope you feel inspired!

my little girl...

2011-06-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

graduated from Pre-School this week - seriously she is 4, and she speaks with so much detail and description, and she is so stubborn and so determined and soooo busy...and I have NO idea where she gets any of those characteristics from:-)
Just a few pics of "Grad"

Love milestones, love her:-)

oh what a night!

2011-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

well after a big event I like to have a little party with my "cottage girls" - and last Sat night was the night! So food was courtesy of Nel's catering - chicken fetticine "yum!" and dessert from P.S.Cakes - double yum!!!

The evening was lowkey - we just made a Tim Holtz tag -

We played with some of the other Scrappin goodies I gave them - as well, we had a mini jewellery party:-)

and Marilyn & Shannon showed us Yoga poses.....

I am not quite sure what pose this is - but it is supposed to make you less tired.... I will take their word for it:-)

It was alot of fun - it is great that we can be silly and have fun:-)

I hope you get a chance to relax - hey maybe try a yoga pose or two!

Soccer time...

2011-05-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

here is an idea for a Soccer layout just in case you are snapping away on the soccer field these days (I know I am:-)
Using Bo-Bunny's Blast Off! (I did a tonne of Boy pages with this line!)

I hope you feel inspired:-)

More Crate paper fun...

2011-05-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

now time to play with Toy Box - such great Boy paper and colors, I always have so much fun on Boy pages, I don't know why? Sometimes I almost find them easier than girly pages... here are some layouts using this line!

seriously I have had these 2 photos printed out and waiting to be scrapped for 4 years!!! this line was perfect and so were the Chipboard stickers! I used Crate's label & border stickers, their paper, their brads & some 7Gypsies gears. I can finally add this page to Dain's album - sometimes you just have to wait for the perfect paper line - isn't that just crazy!!

This picture was from last summer, my nephew Carter got this little car for his 3rd birthday, and I took this pic of him giving Aubrey and his sister Tiana a ride! Everytime I looked at the picture, this Beatles song popped in my head!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wmvPP_-Qs

so that was the inspiration for this layout:-)

and here is just one more simple layout with Toy Box

I hope you feel inspired:-)

Some Crate paper fun...

2011-05-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sometime we just gotta scraplift! I tell you, I usually feel quite inspired but I constant look at magazines for ideas, I love all this paper but struggle with some lines and what to do with it - I am sure you have felt that way too! So when this adorable line came in by Crate Paper - Neighborhood, I loved it so much - but really didn't know what to do....soo off to the Crate Paper Blog I went in search of inspiration...and this is what I came up with...

These are QUITE similar to what I found on their Blog, but I loved the layouts so much why not "Scraplift!"
We don't need to re-invent the wheel everytime, the amazing thing about this hobby is that we are able to share ideas and inspiration, after all, it is supposed to be a fun hobby- not stressful!

I hope you feel inspired:-)

Disney Fun:-)

2011-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

so from May 7th-the 14th we were in the Wonderful World of Disney - we took our Daughter who turned 4 in March - for the 1st time:-) Dain and I have been there the same number of times before,this was our 3rd!!
Well she is a girl who LOVES to nap, so I knew it would be a little challenging, but she did just fine - we have at least 1 MAJOR meltdown a day...but I was expecting that! And besides the fact that she got "Pink-eye" while we were there, we had an amazing time! Here are just a few snapshots of our adventures... (all off of my Cyber-shot as I broke the lens off of my NIKON the day after we got home!!)

Looks like I need to do another album:-) Aubrey is so funny though, in preparation for this trip she repeatedly looked at the album from Dain's 1st time going, and she asked me "mommy will I be in the pictures next time?" that is just the sweetest thing! She she already picked her Disney album - it's Blue (her favorite color right now)

and she has been picking stickers as they come into the store...I guess I better get started!

here are 2 more pics...

these will definitely make it onto a page and I already know what it will say

"there is tired...and then there is Disney-tired"

I hope you feel inspired!

layout inspiration:-)

2011-05-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

who would have thought that Timepiece would work for weddings...but it's vintage look is perfect for those romantic wedding pictures! Great Job Shannon!

this line is sooo cute - Hometown Summer is a cute new line from Pink Paislee, super bright colors and fun accents- it is all in store right now!

I hope you feel inspired!

sometimes you are not behind the camera...

2011-05-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

my 4 year old often says "mom can I take a picture" and I show her what button to press, and she starts to snap:-)

some straight, so with a finger in the way...a little shutterbug in the works:-)

I hope you snap away today!!

fun pages:-)

2011-05-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

sometimes it is just fun to create...here is what I have been up to lately...

I hope you feel inspired:-)

May Cottage Kit called "Countryside"

2011-05-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hi there,
here is a pic of our May Cottage Kit, great stuff all for only $30.00+taxes. Call or email the store today and we can hold or ship one out to you - your May Kit includes...
7 sheets of 12x12 Cardstock- (2 sheets of Dotted Swiss in Salt & Neptune) other colors are 2 sheets of Kraft, 1 of Pickle, 1 of Lemonade, 1 of Gulf.
1 Scalloped paper from Twig
6 sheets of patterned paper - 2 from Studio Calico called Betsy & Barn Swallow, 2 from Cosmo Cricket-Upcycle called Re:Verse & Re:Love, 2 sheets from My Mind's Eye Good day Sunshine called Seaside & Head in the Clouds.
1 Sheet October Afternoon Mini market Alphabet stickers in Pine & Cream
1 Sheet of Flag Banner stickers from Jenni Bowlin
2 packages of Studio Calico Rub-ons - words & clouds
1 Crepe Flower and 4 Flag pins from The Girls Paperie
1 Repair Tag from Jillibean Soup
1 meter of Blue pompon ribbon and twine
1 bottle of Midnight Blue stickles

this is a great kit with lots of of great stuff to play with!

I hope you feel inspired!

Fun times in Brandon...

2011-05-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

so the last weekend of my crazy month came and went. I was in Brandon...in the snowstorm...to Crop the weekend away for a bunch of charities:-) Sooo fun - also got to teach 2 classes.

Here are some pics of the weekend...

the girls creating their lovely artist trays!

my lovely partner in crime - my sister Jen...see the Timmys(secret to late night cropping!)

Our awesome Croppin' buddies, Kim & Shanley:-) Kim was annoyed at me for taking a pic on Sunday morning, the day she did not get all camera ready! Sorry!!

all the croppers working hard!

me, being goofy - I worked on our last Disney trip ALL weekend!

people always ask me how I get organized...clearly I am not the person to talk to on this subject:-)

one of my favorite layouts from the weekend...it seriously looks amazing in person!

using the New Echo Park "Playground" line, soo fun!

Brandon raised over $2500 for local community charities with the Silent Auction alone!!! Way to go! The prize I donated (a tonne of really great Tim Holtz stuff) was won by my sister!!! She said she was going to win it and she did, lucky girl!!

I got LOTS done, even though I forgot my ENTIRE scrapbook tote at home! Yup, I showed up with some tools, cardstock and my pics of Disney (thank goodness) -so needless to say I did a little shopping at all the great stores on site:-) I was very thankful I did not forget any class stuff, as that would have been the worst.

Had lots of fun.. hopefull we will see you next year in Brandon too!!

I hope you feel inspired!

fun new things...

2011-04-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

I just love scrapbooking:-) What a great hobby! All the companies constantly come out with soo many great products to create with...

New Studio Calico - gorgeous soft colors, neat accessories - all in the store and online right now!!

sooo we survived!!!

2011-04-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

the craziness of another event!! Wow, what a busy couple of weeks! I did that fundraising crop at the beginning of the month, then the next weeked I was at a ladies retreat at my church, sooo great! At the retreat I was able to do this great little project with a number of the women there!

well a version of this project, the ladies were all VERY creative and this Prayer journal was different and beautiful for each one of them, as they received various papers from Bo-Bunny's Gabrielle line to play with!

I got to play with my new toy...

LOVING the Cinch... I think the ladies liked it too!!

Then the week was spent packing up the store for the Creative Gathering!!!

Here are just a few pics of our event-

Peeking in on a class:-)

Canvas Mini album class

Tannis- instructor showing off the project

Jodi & Tracey have their Twoonies ready for the next special!

Cottage Girl - Lori

Time for another special!

Lydia - doing a Cinch Demo

Everyone just cropping the night away:-)

Just a few of the great samples on our display wall - using all new products in the store!!

If you joined us - thanks for a great time!

I hope you feel inspired this week to create a little something:-)