Igloo Fun

Today's Coloured Image

Old dog... Teaching self new tricks... Here's my first attempt at colouring the  "Squirrel with Flower" stamp set by Whimsey Stamps. 

Eight more images are stamped for me to try... We will see if it gets any better.... LOL

Today's Card

Here are two of the 100 or so cards I have made for teacher gifts this Christmas.  They are all a little different.  These two are of the same pattern and there are 6 different patterns in the "coffee series".

I find it a little tricky to make gifts as you never know what people will like! The boys want to give their teachers cards and I hope these go over well... I mean,  how many teachers are not on a caffeine drip during this time of year?  They have done reports, interviews...the students are hyped up for the holidays and the teachers are desperately trying to get through curriculum... Not to mention all the teams, clubs and concerts they are also planning for parents... I am tired just typing it all out!

Creative Scrapbooker

I was so blessed to be selected for the winter issue of Creative Scrapbooker.  My layout of my little dude (not so little any more) curling is on page 35 and I am so honoured to be in a magazine with so many talented people.  It is a great issue with a number of inspirational articles, cards and layouts... Plus it is made right here in Canada!

Awesome artwork...

My dude's awesome artwork from 4 Cats Studio here in town.  He and a buddy did a ten week class and this was the final project ... An amazing multi-media piece. 

He was so excited to make it and is so proud to have it hanging in his room. 

Happy Thanksgiving...

Not being American it might be odd for me to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving... But I know I have many reasons to be thankful... I know many people who have many reasons to be thankful too... Taking a second to say "Happy Thanksgiving" and thanking family and friends for being part of my life is a good reason to blog today.  Enjoy!

Today's Layout

Oh my... I did it again...

Bo Bunny Paper, American Crafts Cardstock

Thinking of Holiday Cards...

Well... This is not as good as Lora or Donna, Sue or Roberta, Terri or Raye... But it is as good as it gets when it comes to colouring in my world!  More than two colours (ha) and an attempt at shading (double ha). 
I think I will hold off on the other 70 or so Christmas cards until I can get some advice... Either way, I love love love that High Hopes penguin!  He is so cute!

High Hopes Rubber Stamps - Happy Penguin 

Today's Layout

Lawn Fawn and Bella Blvd Paper, American Crafts Cardstock, Bella Blvd Stickers, Unknown Buttons

I am a sucker... really I am.  When I see that smile and listen to the "story of lunch" I just can't resist this kid.  He is one awesome dude!

Today's Layout

Oh my gardenia the photo is not right.  Will fix later...

Photoplay Paper, Bella Blvd Stickers and Flower, Pebbles Wood Veneer, Bazzill Basics Cardstock 

All Fixed!  No longer upside down... LOL!

Today's Layout

Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Wild Whisper Paper, Bella Blvd Stickers, Maya Road Journal Card, Bo Bunny Elements

My guy wanted a buddy to go with him to camp, so off these two went for a week of fun.  They had a good time and for his friend, this was his first real week away alone.  This is a great camp and my guys have always had a great time there - this guy has gone for 6 years!  No matter how you slice it, camp is a great way to spend a week at the lake during a short Canadian summers!

Happy Halloween 🎃

Monster Donuts ready to go... One thing the boys insist on every Halloween.  Both of them took them out with them today... The little dude to school and the big one to a party.  Bring it on!

Today's Layout

Basic Gray Paper and embellishments.... oh how I miss BG!

I was very torn as to if I should send this in for publication or not... It is a great layout - My Dude looks great in the red contrasted against the other colours, but as we all know, BG is no more and I don't think a layout with their paper will be considered... but I love it... I really do.  

I must say, this is one of my favourites!

Today's Layout

Today's layout is a new kit just loaded up at One Crazy Stamper in town... It was a fun one to create because I LOVE those pumpkins... look at those grins! I do love the fun side of Halloween - not the scary side - and this layout does have that "fun" feel to it!  Enjoy.

Bella Blvd Paper, American Crafts Cardstock

Dreaming of summer...

Check out @ohmygardenia's Tweet: https://twitter.com/ohmygardenia/status/919270597280051200?s=09

Today's Learning: When Twitter gives you a hard time, just upload it yourself!

Thinking about colour...

Neenah Cardstock, Memento Ink stamped with my MISTI stamping tool

It is clear I am a HUGE Lawn Fawn fan... there are some Avery Elle, Mama Elephant and Stampendous stamps on these pages too!  I have been trying to learn how to colour... which is marginally entertaining for those watching me.  I usually end up forgetting the shading and just colouring in the image in bright bold colours with my Spectrum Noir markers!  It works, it isn't something to rave about, but you will notice I have been flirting with more than one colour on an image!  Insanity Peppers!

A dip in the lake...

Needless to say the water was cold... But the guys did a great job.

The dock is in!  Nexy year we will do this in September... Promise.

Today's Layout...

Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Bella Blvd Paper and Stickers

This is one of my favourite shots of this dude.  It is an older one now, but it shows his great smile and who can resist that awesome Canadian shirt?

Happy fall...

 I do love this cottage... the lake is a quieter one and, at present, there are no cottages across the lake from us.  It is peaceful and beautiful no matter the season...

Birds in a tree...

This is the quintessential October photograph - taken in colour no less!  A dark sky, massive birds, fantastic silhouettes... all on Ravenscliff Road.  A very fitting location for the whole image... if only they were actually ravens, it would be fantastic... too bad they are turkey vultures!

Today's Layout...

I am still working on mastering pocket scrapbooking with our Florida Trip...  The "front" is fine... The "back" is tricky!

I see why working on a weekly schedule to document a year is so popular for this style of scrapbooking because keeping things in chronological order is tough... Are the photographs the right way?  Do I have the supplementary elements to fit?  It is a little overwhelming. 

My planner brain has decided to throw all caution to the wind!  My album is totally out of order... Totally... Completely... I have a disclaimer at the front on a "schedule" page - a day by day listing of  where we went and what we saw.  I suggested to one gal she do the same thing when faced with the same problem for her mini album about her Disney trip.  For her I suggested she put different coloured stickers on the pages to link back to her schedule page of her mini-album.  She thought this was great and fussy cut the cameras from the Simple Stories Disney Line... Each day a different camera in the corner of the layout or photograph.  I admit I am sticking to the schedule with no stickers... Fussy cutting a million cameras... I shudder... Whatever works... Right?

Echo Park Paper and stickers, Amy Tangerine and Bella Blvd. Paper Die-cuts, American Crafts Thickers, Recollections Glitter Dots 

Today's Layout...

I recently needed to organize five layouts to show my "style" as a scrapbooker... it was a tough job... I have made A LOT of layouts over the last 13 years... and after much deliberation, I did end up with five.  The following layout was the last one to be "cut" from the pile of "layout layouts" over a "pocket layout"... my boys were the ones who made the final cut and I was impressed with their logic.
I still really like this layout... it is simple (too simple the older one said) but I love the title (an old trick the younger one said)... maybe because it was such a great night, maybe because the simplicity makes it great or maybe it is the fact that Hedley is so awesome, it is still one of my favourite layouts!

American Crafts Cardstock, Thickers, Bella Blvd Card, 3M Glitter Tape, MME Tape

Solo Stove Breakfast Part Two: This is the life...

... and breakfast was devoured!  

Solo Stove Breakfast

For reasons, only known to adolescent boys, this dude decided that a fall day needed a warm breakfast prepared outside to start it off right.  Out care the eggs and the butter, "the" chair and the stove.  I had to smile... he even checked to make sure he could cook with the wind levels for our fire permit!  So with his faithful dog trying to catch a bite as well, breakfast was made!

Titles for kits... Watch 'em go!

The next kit is a little different... lots of cutting on the machine and with scissors... it should be in the store next week!  Wa hoo!

Today's Layout...

Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Lawn Fawn Paper, Bella Blvd Stickers, Unknown Paper with Words, Thickers (My Fav. Ones)

We visit the cabin as many times as we can in the winter - if we are north, we try to make a trip in.  Sometimes I shake my head and ask myself, "... am I really helping to feed the birds in -30C weather?"  But I do and while I wonder if I will ever feel my face again, I am always happy that I went.  We light a fire, we have tea and then we stomp on out again and hope the car starts! 

All joking aside, it is beautiful with the snow on the trees and it is wonderful to feed birds right from your hand... the car always starts (okay, there was that one time we had to wait until the sun shone on it, but it did start a few hours later) and the snowshoeing in is always fun; the company is good and the boys love it.  Really that is the key, I will freeze off my face, toes, hands, because the boys love the walk, the sledding, the fire and feeding the birds from their hands.  Almost makes me wish for snow.... almost!

Lunch at Ikea..

Why we have a PA Day on a Tuesday, I will never know, but I do know that meeting Nana for lunch at Ikea makes any Tuesday a better Tuesday!  We had fun munching away and then walked it off around the store.  We picked out gifts for our little one who turns three this weekend and made a long list of cool things we would like ourselves!

Hanging at the Derby...

Something to be said for spending a Friday night with your kid watching drivers purposefully hitting each other.  It was a GOOD time!  With the rides all lit up in the background and everyone cheering for their favourite car, it was exciting!  The two of us agreed that it must be a lot of fun to be the drivers down there in the pit too!  Maybe I will be cheering for this dude one day!

Nothin' says hometown like a derby..

Today's Layout...

Bella Blvd Paper and Stickers, Recollections Stickers and Dots, Heidi Swapp Word Sticker

Who knew that that this guy would look so cool in glasses and kayak gear?  What this layout does not say is that he gets in a kayak and "takes off" for hours on end.... freaking out his mother! However, I digress... I love this layout and I love this kid a whole lot more (even when he disappears for hours on the water!).

Today's Layout...

Bazzill Basics Cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Paper, AC Thickers, Embellishments from a variety of sources

I don't want to say that you have not lived until you have gone sucker fishing in Ontario, however, there is something to be said for stomping around in a cold spring creek trying to catch fish with your bare hands!  All three boys were successful in catching a sucker this year... quite the entertaining thing to watch and you know it is a BIG deal because all three were willing to have their pictures taken!  

We did not keep these - they are spawning in those cold spring creeks after all - so all were released back into the water!  We will see who can get one next year!  The yearly competition has started and we will see if I am brave enough to stand in the water - I doubt it!

Today's Card

A to Z Paper, Lawn Fawn Die (Hugs) 

Went to a fun craft night with the ladies in town - and spent time putting cards together.   Well, I did more chatting and relaxing than putting cards together, not to mention munching candy, but isn't that what a craft night is all about?

This card uses OLD paper... really old paper... back in the day paper, but it still works!  

The new Ensign of the 49th Regiment - huzzah!

The 49th has a new Enson

Today was an interesting day - the boys are at a Scout Camp (many thanks to the Bolton Rotary for being our sponsor!) near Niagara Falls.

It is a camp 1st Bolton goes to EVERY year called "Fort George - 49th regiment Scout Brigade".  It is cool because it is where American and Canadian Scouting youth reenact the war of 1812.  Now, they are not walking all the way to the White House to burn that thing down (but that would be fun) as history tells us, but they do act out battles which took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 1812 and 1813, which is pretty cool.  They march in a parade from Fort George all the way through town - which is also cool... and they get to dress up in period costumes with cap rifles - that is the coolest!  

The boys have different roles, one is a Surgeon, one is a Sargent and today, one became an Ensign (as you see here).  It is all in good fun, and truth be told, it really is fun to fire cap rifles and dress up in Shakos!  The entire group loves it!  The more they go, the more they increase in rank and I think that is what keeps them going back for more - even when they know how the battle will end!  LOL

Fall Harvest...

Today's Layout (Part Two)

OKAY, I know I have done a layout today... but in looking at files on my computer, I came across this one.  I don't have many layouts with me in them... sad but true... but I really like this one.  It makes me smile.

Today's Layout

Echo Park Paper, American Crafts Cardstock

While I cry a tear for the passing of summer, fall is not so bad either!  The days are always sunny in this neck of the woods during the fall season and there is something wonderful about a warm sweater and a down vest.  

Today's Layout is one for Lora at One Crazy Stamper and, I believe, she will be using it for her "Thursday Kit Night".  With fall colours around the corner, my layout is already planned in my head of which pictures I will take to capture all that I love about fall.

Kits for Fall Underway!

In the crop space.

I have decided one day a week will be dedicated to kits for Lora.  This is what happens when I work on designing kits - I seem to take over the space!  Hey, it takes a lot of space to be crafty! 

Lora is starting Thursday evening kit nights where you can go to the store and work in the crop area on your kit, at no extra cost than the cost of the kit.  Seems like a great deal... out of the house, get something done and have a cup of coffee!  It will be a fun evening and it is always nice to get together with crafty friends.

Now, I need to get me kits done!  First up is "Fall" layouts for September and then Halloween for October.  Busy busy busy!

Round Up Sunday

We always go to Round Up Sunday at church and after a busy summer it is great to connect with our church family.  The boys have fun chatting with friends they do not see at school as everyone seems to attend somewhere different.  The outside service is nice - being outside in the fall sunshine is hard to beat.  So is the awesome BBQ lunch after!

Today's Layout

I really love this photograph of my little dude.  It was taken last year, but it still reminds me of hot summer days - 2016 was indeed a hot one!  I like how clear the water droplets are in the image and I wanted to make sure the photograph was the focus of the layout.  I stayed with one paper line to make sure everything worked together and the Echo Park Paper is perfect for summer.  The sparkle in the Thickers reminds me of the sparkle in the water. Fun in the sun is always in style.

Echo Park Paper & Stickers, American Craft Thickers, Tim Holtz Stickers

Today's Layout

Crate Paper, Bella Blvd Paper, Lawn Fawn Paper, Bella Blvd Stickers Unknown Button, Unknown Die Cut Font 

I really like this layout of my dude at the fair.  We had a great time looking at Karen's animals in the barn and seeing all sorts of friends from around town who always come to community events such as this.  Who can resist a few rides, candy floss and holding new baby chicks?  Isn't that what the fall fair is all about!

First Day Grade Eight...

I am not sure this dude is happy to start school... it is bitter sweet - goodbye to late nights, swimming at the lake and playing outside whenever you want!  But this guy knows he needs to work, he knows he needs to improve in certain areas and he knows how to work hard.  He also tells me he is trying out for every team - even basketball - and he doesn't care if he doesn't make it, he just wants to try out!  A good attitude at on the first day of school!

What teenage boys do...

... For their mother who forget to pack milk in the cooler. 

In the bush with boys...

Welcome to September

Quotes by boys...

"Mom, this sandwich is good!  It's awesome. 
You're like a Nonna in training... Ya know, a Mama!"

I say nothing...

Today's card..