Beautiful, Stubborn, Sassy, Random . . . GIRLS

Man, I've been trying to use this new line of paper since we got it in; but my girls don't really wear these colors. I grabbed my favorite picture of my girls and made it work. I love this photo because it really shows what they are like at any given time. Faith usually is making some kind of a face because her sisters are being "stupid", Sky is usually acting "silly" and Jade is "somewhere else" in her own thoughts. Eventhough I finally managed a good picture of them all looking and smiling; I prefer this one because it captures "THEM". I doodled around the "GIRLS", the flowers, the photo, the corners etc., I really enjoyed creating this layout. Might put some bling on the scallops.

Full of Wonder

We got this wonderful beach paper at JSI that looks 3-D. I really wanted to use it; but we never got anywhere near the beach . . . so when I found this picture of Lucas when we were at Lake Dieffenbaker and thought I might be able to use it. I used an older blue patterned paper for the background and cut out some of the bottom part of the shells. Ralna thought I had lost my mind when I picked up a fancy pair of scissors and held it up to my paper. I did use it and it worked well around some of the scalloped shell edges. See, still using some of the "old" stuff. Then I cut up a rub-on and scattered it on the page where I wanted it. While most of my pages show everyday life, occasionally I do a more artsy page that I just like the look of. As you can tell, I don't have a lot of portrait, set-up photos, they are daily life snapshots. I like to intersperse an array of heritage, girly, portrait, daily life etc., when I scrapbook so I don't get into a rut.

Using Up the Old Stuff

So, any of you have any older patterned paper that you "had" to buy because it was new and you loved it . . . and now it is sitting with your scrapbooking stuff . . . piling up . . . getting deeper and deeper until you have forgotten you have it? Well, I have decided to use some of it. So, if you see some of my pages in the next while that don't maybe look "today", it is because I am attempting the impossible . . . actually using it on a layout. Some have turned out okay; some, which you may not see, don't look so hot; but they are done! I must admit, I feel a sense of accomplishment both using older pictures, older paper and previously purchased paper and embellishments. I am just using them in a more current way.

Cousins

Cal was given his childhood photos last month, so . . . If any of you have done pictures taken in the 60's and 70's, you can sympathize with me. The colors are difficult to work with and as it seems . . . there was only one photo taken of each event and from a distance. So, I'm trying to group them by subject while taking into account the colors. I am a firm believer of using the original photos -- it is what we are trying to preserve. With this layout, I had both small and large photos given to me so I used both.

Just Talk . . .

Hey, been working lots lately which is GOOD! Haven't had much time to blog...been scrapin' more and have lots to post; however, haven't made it home to get on MY computer to upload photos. Did a fun page of my three girls...luvd it. Hopefully tuesday will give me some time to update this puppy. Hope everyone is enjoying the sun (just remember Nov. - Feb COLD!!!!) Rather have the 35 c than the -35c anyday!

New Hairdo!

My fabulous hairdresser Sheryl Schmidt cut me a new do. I need some feedback . . . does it stay or go? I poofed it a bit more, following my Jaderoo's suggestions. Trying to get rid of the 80's look.

Nature

I took these photos while on a walk with a Grade 5 class. We went around Arbour Creek. Like any other scrapbooker, I was taking pictures of everything: the sky, the ground, flowers, weeds . . . you guys know. The students were whispering: "Look what she's taking pictures of now! HeeHeeHee! I explained to them that I was a scrapbooker and did what I did for the love of nature, memories and the craft of scrapbooking. I developed the pictures in wallet size and did a single page out of them using Heidi Swapp Ghost letters, Mini Flowers and of course, my acrylic stamps. Just my way of preserving my days!

Recipe Project

For some reason this project has not wanted to download . . but this morning waalaa, it worked. I again, used the Zutter machine and made it so that it would stand. I put my favorite recipes in it so that I would always have them very handy. We continue to get "food" paper and embellishments in at JSI. I only used a few on this project so we could keep them in the store. It is in the store for those that want to see it in person.

Girls Rock

I found this picture while I was cleaning under Faith's bed. The colors were very difficult to match. While the page was about a girl playing an electric guitar, she is also wearing a pretty dress . . . oh, what to do? Flowers, metal, hearts, wings, skulls . . . it works I think!?!

This is the project that Julie and I did together. I love the colors and think that it would be a very pretty present to give to a mother or grandmother. I painted the inside of the box with acrylic paint and covered the rest with paper, sanded the edges, inked the edges and attached embellishments.

Wild Thing

Cal decided to put his pool table on his deck . . . so we have all learned to play pool. We have jumped from the coolness of the pool to the deck to play pool, had some snacks and refreshments and done it all over again. What REDNECKS! My little Spud loves it and we all enjoy playing it together.

Dan Brown

Just another one of those things. I really enjoyed watching the DaVinci Code movie so I decided to read the prequil to it: Angels and Demons. I loved it. So, I read the novel DaVinci Code (which really gives much more detail). . . then I watched the movie again. Now I am beginning one of his other novels Deception Point which also looks to be a great novel. So, in keeping with me trying to do some pages about myself for my children down the road, I thought I would do a page on these novels since I enjoyed them so much. I put numbers on it that only mean something to me and symbols from the book. I doodled and added stuff until I thought "any more and this is going to be a gong show". I must admit: reading again is such a relaxing thing . . . one that I enjoyed before I had children and am now again since they can sit and read or amuse themselves while I get back into it. Lovin' it!

Baby Lucas

Yet another project. A small book with older photos of Lucas that I have already scrapbooked. It could be a brag book for Grandparents. I just wanted a smaller album that was quick and easy to do. Again, I was playing with the Zutter. The shape of the book was one that we have on the DieCut machine at JSI. It is an envelope die. I just cut the flaps off and used them. What remained was a square which can be used for another album or scrapbook page.

This is one of the projects that I did with our Zutter Machine. You can do almost any kind of binding with it. This album is small and every second page or so is a different size. It is fun to do and doesn't take alot of time. It also helps you to use up quite a bit of scrap paper, stickers and embellishments.

PINK

Since the store only got a few pieces of the new basic grey line, I decided to make the most of it. With the line being quite PINK, Jade was my subject of choice. I had to laugh though, because after the shift that I did this page, I picked up Jade and her boyfriend Nathan and told them that I did a page of Jade. Nathan, of course, asked what it was about. I just said it was titled "PINK". He laughed because anyone who knows or knows of Jade . . . knows that she is such a PINK girl. It suits her perfectly. I tried to use some Elsie doodles, Wilna journalling, ribbon, buttons, glossy accents, bling. Brit says my style is changing . . . everything evolves right? I like this page . . . and have gotten silly with a Dan Brown page I am working on. You'll see that one soon. Using a lot of old with the new. Fun, fun, fun!

Doodling Teen Girl

This is a 8.5 x 11 overlay that I thought was so appropriate for any teenage girl, so I found a picture of Jade and doodled a bunch of things about her life around it (I know she should have done it, but she wasn't around to do it that day). I like it and think it looks like a magazine cover with Elsie doodles.

It's Off . . . Finally!

After my hassle at the hospital two weeks ago, Lucas decided when his cast would come off. The wrap inside it was virtually destroyed, hanging out all over the place; so . . . in the middle of Scotia Centre, he pulled it all out and slipped off his cast -- in one piece! The wrist still looks a bit out of shape which I hope will straighten out with some use. It looked hilarious to see him hold his arm straight up and his hand flopped sideways -- so he held his hand back up and it flopped to the other side. Then he wanted the cast back on. After a few hours, he was feeling better about the whole thing.

Mom's Birthday

My children and I took my Mom or "Gramma" out for lunch on Tuesday to Boston Pizza for her birthday. In a kind of hap hazzard kind of way, all worked out -- getting all the kids there and organized (not on time) and getting me to my eye appointment across the street (on time -- without time to eat). I think she enjoyed herself (she loves spending time with her grandchildren). We picked up her car from the shop, got Jade's boyfriend and got me to work -- even with the drops in my eyes that dialate them to a point where soft sunlight feels like knives slicing them to pieces and tears pouring down my cheeks. I looked like I was really mad all day until the pupils closed (around nine o'clock). My children were left with the camera at lunch. You will see the "wonderful" photos they took for me for her birthday page. Anyhow, I hope to get some of my new pages and projects up on the blog. Just have to take my camera to work and take some pictures. Julie and I worked on a photo album/gift box together on Saturday. It turned out great -- it was quite a bit of work -- let's say we "bonded" over it. Thanks Julie for helping me out -- I couldn't have done it without you!!!