Sunny Day

Today was a fairy nice day outside I am told, unfortunately I did not get to see it. I have been laid up for two days now sick with the flu. The really not nice part is my baby is also sick. We took him to the Children's Hospital late Monday and were there until Tuesday around 10 am. His Gallbladder is enlarged again, but his tests came back 'mostly' normal, so the Dr's want him tested again in a week.

In honor of the nice day out here is a LO from MDS using the Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit. I love the blue patterned paper that comes in this kit, you can use it for so many things. I also love that you can take an already done template and add a few things to it and maybe even take a few away and in about 3 mins you have a great LO.



Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

new patterned papers

Another reason I love MDS is all the cool new papers. Without even purchasing the additional downloads there are so many new patterned papers already in MDS. I love this textured one and the depth it add to any page without actually 'wallpapering' the whole background page. I also love being able to use the Simply Scrappin' kits and knowing I'll never run out of that nice paper or embellishment ever again.

I have been slowly working on a project for my wonderful hubby and I am hoping to be done it in another few days and when it is all done I will post it all here for you.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

MDS Pages

Here are another 2 LO's from the album I posted from yesterday. I again used the photo edit tool to change the color of the numbers patterned paper, but this time used the Blue tint. You can also resize most of the embellishments as well, which I did to the star brads.


I got another goodie box from Stampin' Up! today and now I am off to play with my goodies. Just a quick reminder that there is only 1 day left to order and get wonderful Sale-A-Bration rewards. If you are interested in placing an order please call or email me and I will make sure it gets in before the deadline.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

I've been meaning to posts these...

for a long time. Way back in October I made an album with MDS of my son's 'second' year (from his first birthday to his second birthday). I still have only printed out 1 of them, but I will be ordering about 8 more soon-ish. I started this trend when I decided to make a gift album for his great grams and then my twin aunts asked if they could have one too since they live so far away (Saudi Arabia) and don't get to see him very much. Then my mom's other siblings asked for a copy and I added my Mom, Dad and his wife, and my in-laws and I ended up making 10 of them. Sadly, this was before I started digital scrapbooking so I did all 10!!! of them the traditional way.... and let me tell you, had it not been for my hubby I am sure I would still be doing them. I realized about 13 days before the twins came home for a visit, if I had them all done I could give them out in person instead of mailing them all. I ended up working day and night on them, but after the last 3 all nighters we finally got them done.

I will never again do something so stupid. From now on I am doing MDS albums for them and then they can buy them and have them shipped directly to them. It saves so much time.

I have actually gone back in and changed a few LO's like this one, and added more journaling and swapped out a couple pics to make it better suit the intended recipient. I also love that I can change things that I never would be able to in real life. The animal print paper is from the hoppy memories kit and is actually orange on orange, but if you add it as a photo instead of as a page layer, you can make it B&W, Sepia, Red tinted or Blue tinted.

I will be posting a few more of these LO's in the coming days. If you have any questions about MDS please leave me a comment and I will try my best to answer it.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

I'm scrapbooking again.....

....finally! Do you ever get stuck in a rut and you just can't get out? I have been making cards and cards and cards lately, and doing no scrapbooking. Don't get me wrong, I like making cards, but I got started doing this because I love scrapbooking, and I am so far behind that I really need to get my butt in gear and get scrapbooking. I did a 2 page LO for my club this month since we normally only make cards, I figured it would be a good thing to do. I should also mention I am a chronological scrapbooker. I like to start at the beginning and go from there, so this was a bit of a challenge for me since I an no where near Easter, but I wanted to do an Easter themed LO.

This was also a different sort of LO for me since I did a lot of things on here that I do not normally do. I am a very basic type of scrapbooker, it took me a long time to even use patterned paper. I have never used rub-ons on a LO before (esp on a picture!!) but I think it looks good. And doing the whole background paper as a patterned paper is also a new thing.

I have to apologize for the crappy lighting, I took these pics at night and I have really bad lighting in my stampin' pad even during the day but at night it is almost non existent.

Stamps: none
Ink: Orchid Opulence (on the bunny)
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Old Oilve, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Misc: Large & Small Oval Punches, Ornament Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Paper Snips, Cricut Pooh Font (for the title) Wiggly Eyes

I am planning on going quite a bit more scrapbooking in the coming days, I just hope I actually get it done instead of putting it off like I have been doing. It is so much easier to just make cards since they take less time and the ideas come to me so much easier. I had wanted to do another LO tonight, but I am getting behind on my running schedule, so I am off to run for 55 mins (yuck!!) If I survive I will attempt a LO tonight.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

monochromatic wedding

Have I mentioned how much I love My Digital Studio? I needed a wedding card and since I do not own any wedding stamps I figured it was another perfect opportunity to play with MDS. I do not actually own anything that I used in this card, but that is the beauty of it, you can use and play with stuff you don't have. I have seen so many nice cards done with this stamp from Razzle Dazzle but it still had not made it's way to my buy list, but I thought it would be perfect for this card.

I am also loving being able to do the insides as well, and again I manipulated an edge stamp to make it better fit my needs.

Stamps: Once Upon A Time, Razzle Dazzle
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Misc: My Digital Studio

I have not been doing nearly as much as I normally do this week since I decided to start running. I am sore and tired and hurt in places I didn't know I had. I am following a running schedule and I only get 2 rest days a week, and one is actually for cross training, so it has been eating up a lot of my time that I normally use for blogging and creating. I am hoping once I get a bit faster (since I am the worlds slowest runner) and more used to the effect on my body that I will get more time again for blogging and creating. I am also teaching a class this weekend and getting ready for that took up a lot of time. I should be back to normal in a week or two, but I will try to post as much as I can anyways.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Simple Friendship

I know I haven't posted too much about My Digital Studio, but I really love this program. I especially love that I can use stamps that I do not have. This card is one I made since I have always loved this stamp set, yet I still do not have it. The cool part is you can also design the inside of you card too.


Stamps: Simple Friendship, Torn Edges
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery and Blooms DSP
Misc: 1/4" Bermuda Bay Grosgrain Ribbon


It's really neat how you can drag an object and make it bigger or smaller to better fit your needs. I made the butterfly a little bit smaller than it normally is, and the torn edges stamp a lot smaller. I have a few more cards I want to show you, but I will drag it out over a few days.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Pixie Birthday

This is another card that was done with colors I am not used to using. The main pink is Pixie Pink and while it is really bright, it does look nice with other bright colors. This was done for a niece of mine who loves pink.


Stamps: Garden Greetings (retired)
Inks: Real Red, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion
Papers: Whisper White, Gable Green, Pixie Pink
Misc: Sponge Daubers, Texturz Plates backgrounds #1

I am off to watch another movie.... Today was my birthday party and a few of us are still here at my place partying the night away as best as we can (seeing as most of us are parents and will need to be up in the am). We are eating tasty dips and drinking awesome beverages.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

birds are not my favorite thing....

...but this one is pretty cute. Ever since I was little I have either not liked them or been terrified of them, depending on the bird. I am getting better, but you will never catch me with a pet bird in the house, a snake or lizard yes, birds no.

I have also been trying to use colors I don't normally use, esp for masculine cards. This was for a nephews birthday, and I really did not want to do my typical tree or tool card, so this is what I came up with.


Stamps: Best Wishes & More
Ink: Bashful Blue, Crushed Curry, Garden Green
Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, Crushed Curry
Misc: 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

I can not believe how fast this week has gone. Monday was a wasted day, and then Tuesday we spent the afternoon at my SIL's place and even had supper there (she made this amazing BBQ beef on a bun) and yesterday was my birthday so I tried to relax and have a day to myself. I ended up watching a couple movies with my son and we cuddled up in bed to watch them. It was great. John took me out for supper and then we came back home and I made a casserole for supper tonight and Won Ton's which I froze so we can eat them later. Today I am starting to get to work on the cakes I am making for this weekend. I am making a modified Black Forrest Cake for my party on Saturday and a 2 tier baby shower cake also for Saturday. That will keep me busy for a couple days, but I hope to get some major scrapbooking done on Sunday. I have a few more cards I haven't posted yet, so I will get those up tomorrow and Saturday so you will at least have something to look at.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

one messed up day

Today didn't start out very well, and while it took most of the day to get sorted out, it ended up fairly good, overall. I was up at 5:15 to get ready to do the online registration for Skating lessons. I had called friday to make sure that everything would do smoothly since the phone lines would not open til 8:30 and all of the spots would be full by then. I knew there was a date overlap for the last day of swimming lessons and the first day of skating lessons and I wanted to make sure I would still be able to register for skating.... I was told several times that yes I would be able to register still. Well.... 5:30 rolls around and what happens..... surprise surprise I can not register for skating lessons because of a date overlap! I tried adding a second kid to the list so I could register under that name, but you can not add a kid online, you have to do it on the phone, I tried canceling the swimming lessons but you have to do that on the phone too. Needless to say that by 8:30 I was getting a little miffed. Then I called in and was put on hold for over an hour waiting for someone to actually answer the phone since it was the first day of spring registrations. I finally got a person on the phone and was basically told that since the spots were all full there was nothing they could do. I asked to talk to someone in charge and was actually put through to the woman that schedules the lessons. She ended up looking at how many of us were waitlisted after only 6 hours and opened up 3 more sets of lessons, so I FINALLY got my baby registered for skating lessons. I had tried 2 other registration periods before this and never managed to get in, since these are basically the most popular lessons they offer. I am just happy we finally got in, I had wanted him to learn when he was 3, but I guess 4 is not too bad either. I never did get back on the computer earlier today while I was trying to get this all sorted out, so I still have not set up a weeks worth of posts, but I hope to get time each day to do so.

On to the card....this is one I had done way back in August for an Open House and I love it so much I re-did it again.




Stamps: Upsy Daisy:
Ink: In Color Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
Misc: 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Top Note Die, Big Shot, Stampin Dimensionals

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

sweet sweet birthday

There are a few stamp sets I don't use all that often and this is one of them, although I am not sure why. It's not like I do not like it, it's the opposite in fact. I really like this set, you can do so much with it. I made this card for a sister in law's birthday a couple weeks ago. Sadly it has taken me that long to get back to the computer to watermark it and upload it. I now have quite a few sitting in the backlog, and tons of swaps too.

Yesterday I went to Regionals, which is basically a conference for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators. It was awesome!!! I had such a great time, and met so many fantastic people. I even met and hung out with one of my e-stalkers (just kidding on the stalker part.....sort of... :-) ). I learned so many new techniques I am dying to try out. I think I will be in full stamping and scrapping mode for a while now. Unfortunately I didn't get anything done today since I had to clean the mess up in my scrap room.... I made a huge mess making my swaps for Regionals literally at the last minute. I thought about starting them in January, but figured I still had all of February, so I put it off and then being sick for 3 weeks didn't help, so I enlisted my wonderful hubby to help me. He spent the better part of the night cutting all my paper for me, which saved me hours and hours.

Enough of my ramblings, you all are here to see some stamping...




Stamps: On a Pedastal
Inks: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Textured Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Textured Bermuda Bay
Misc: 1/2" Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals

I am heading to bed early (for me) tonight since I have to be up super early (for me) to register my baby for skating lessons tomorrow. They fill up super fast and last time were full in less than 10 minutes. If I get a good night's sleep I will stay up after and set up a weeks worth of blog post for you all.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Marching along

I am finally feeling better, and getting back up and around. I spent the day today catching up on much needed cleaning and sorting and then spent the night at my grams' place. I have not seen her in almost a month. I did not want to give her my sickness, esp with her osteoporosis being so bad. Last spring she coughed and broke her back, so I was staying far far away. I had so much fun just hanging out with her again tonight, and seeing her and my son play games.

I needed to make a card for my niece's birthday party the other day, and I forgot to take a picture of the outside, but I made the inside with My Digital Studio and then printed it out at home. This is the front side of the gift card I included in the card. I love how fast and easy it is to use the program, and also that I can use paper and stamps and embellishments I don't actually own. It is a great way to get to get so much more bang for your buck.

I should be back to creating in the next day or two, esp since I have a few swaps that I need to get cracking on.... Regionals is Saturday, and I have not started my swaps at all yet.... I hate being sick, I wasted 3 weeks of February. I hope to have more to show you all very soon.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

finally....

I am finally up and around a little bit tonight. I actually made it all the way out to my Stampin' Pad where my main computer is!!! That is a major accomplishment for me after the week I have had. I have spent the majority of my time in bed, thinking I was dying. I ended up at the hospital 3 times as well. I am slowly getting better, I am no longer in ridiculous pain when I cough, only kind of stabbing pain while I cough instead of it lingering. I have had Pneumonia before, probably 10 years ago, and while it was bad, it was no where near this bad. I think I would rather have another natural childbirth than go through this again.

I want to thank those of you who have commented and emailed me get well wished. I also want to very publicly thank my wonderful sister in law Catherine. She is so amazing. She not only brought me and my son lunch yesterday, she took him back to her place for a play date and then when my hubby went and picked him up she gave us a huge casserole dish with my favorite meal in it!!! I was getting my appetite back yesterday and ate a little, but today I was starving and that Spanish Rice has never tasted so good.

Disgusting warning here, if you are squeamish don't read further.

I also need to thank my hubby. He has taken such good care of me, even when I was coughing up blood all over him and the pillows. The house might be a little dirty-er than before I got sick, but all my laundry has been done and meals and meals of soup, jello and pudding. I have looked awful and I am sure smelt awful too, but he has been right beside me trying his best to make me feel better.

I am sure hoping I will be back making cards by the end of the weekend. I have felt so crappy that I did not even make good use of My Digital Studio to get some scrapping in.

Thanks for sticking with me and understanding and sending well wishes. Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

a little update

My wife has asked that I post a quick update on here for you all. She is quite sick with pneumonia and has been in bed for the last several days. When she is feeling better she will get back to creating and posting for you.

Very Thankful

I love taking stamps that are meant for one sentiment and using them for another. I saw a really cute card on Andrea Walford's Blog and really wanted to re-create it. The only turtle stamp I have is the one from the Ronald McDonald Charities set Very Thankful, so I used that one. I created a stencil or mask of sorts out of scrap paper to help me make my cloudy background. I used Tempting Turquoise and Bashful Blue for the sky, that way you get a bit more definition and it looks nicer (and in my opinion more real).

Glitter and the Sweet Pea Felts are a great way to add a little something that makes the card (or scrapbook page) a whole lot better.



Stamps: Loads of Love, Very Thankful
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise and Bashful Blue Classic Inks, Aqua Painters and Reinkers - Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Old Olive
Misc: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Sweet Pea Stitched Felts, Fine Supernova Glitter (Olive), Sponges, Paper Snips (to make the grass fringe), Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

I hope you are not too sick of Valentines Day cards yet.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Pretty Bows

I like to think that I can tie a pretty bow. I don't do it very often, but for special cards, like the one I actually gave my hubby on Valentines Day I will do them. They don't take that much more effort, but for some reason I save them for special cards. I also love using the Bride Specialty paper and changing the color of it. It is so easy to do, the easiest way is to use a brayer to roll the color over the paper, and then take a Kleenex or paper towel to rub it off leaving the white swirl pattern. You can also take the ink pad and just rub it over the paper and then take the Kleenex and then wipe off the excess again, but sometimes you do not get as even a job as if you used a brayer.



Stamps: Teen Tiny Wishes
Ink: Bermuda Bay
Paper: Welcome Neighbor DSP (SAB), Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Basic Black Cardstock
Misc: Crystal Effects, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Half Back Pearls (Pretties Kit), 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Holiday Best

Sometimes Hostess sets don't look all that appealing at first, but then you want to make a card and they are the perfect set for that card. This is one of those times. I chose this set only for the Christmas stamp included in it, and did not think I would ever use the other stamps since I do not make thanksgiving cards and my Halloween cards are for kids, not adults and I like them to be funny or scary, not elegant. This Valentines stamp was perfect for a card I wanted to make for my husband.

I used the Nouveau Chic DSP and chalked a little bit more color onto it. This particular piece has a bit of Apricot Appeal on it, but I wanted to add some more Sage Shadow in without it being overpowering, so I used the Stampin' Pastels. They are perfect for adding just a little bot of color since you can really control how much goes on.



Stamps: Holiday Best
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Whisper White Cardstocks, Nouveau Chic DSP
Misc: Sponge Daubers, 3/4" Circle Punch, 5/8" Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Pastels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Texturz Plates Backgrounds 1

I love the subtle added dimension that the Texturz Plates add to a project. It is not as crisp or defined as a typical embossing folder, but it still adds a little bit of interest. You can make it pop out more by adding a cardstock shim or two to get more pressure and get more definition.

Also if you are worried about your Satin ribbon fraying an easy way to seal the cut ends is to take your heat gun for embossing and to just hold it near ish the cut ends and it will melt the ends. You don't want to get too close, but you will see the change in the ribbon when you do this. I did it on this ribbon to show you what it looks like. You can barely notice that I did it, but they will not fray anymore.

To get the large scallop border I took 3/4" circles from the punch and cut them in half and placed them under the layer of sage shadow cardstock.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

a personal note

I wanted to give you all a heads up. I might not be posting too much after my pre-scheduled posts appear for a couple days or so. I spent the better part of yesterday and all night at the Children's Hospital with my son. It looks like he is getting better, and they had no beds for him so they sent us home, but we will most likely end up back there again before the day is over. Obviously I won't be able to create anything or post while I am there, but as soon as my little monkey is feeling better I will be back.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

More Valentines

I hope you are not too sick of Valentines cards cause I still have a few to show you. I have not been posting too much due to stuff in my personal life, so I am taking time today to set up a week's worth of posts so you will have something to look at each day.

My son really wanted to use a few sets for Valentines day and he insisted I use this set, so I went to SCS and found a card I wanted to case. It is done by Cindy Major, another very talented Canadian blogger. I changed it a bit, to better suit my supplies and my hubby. I used my Movers and Shapers Bigz XL die. It makes making unique cards super easy.




Stamps: Lots of Bots
Ink: Versa Mark, Basic Gray Classic Refill, Bashful Blue Classic Refill, Almost Amethyst Classic Refill
Paper: Basic Black Cardstock, Night and Day DSP
Misc: Silver Embossing Powder, Aqua Pen, Embossing Buddy, Movers and Shapers Bigz XL Die, 5/8" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Nuts from a spare light switch

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Be mine

I love black and white and variations of them, and think they always make for wonderful masculine cards. This is from the Nouveau Chic DSP and I love the WHOLE pack. Normally I really like most of the sides, but dislike a few sides, so I end up with 2 of the other side, but not this time! I had used quite a bit of the right side of this paper where it is only circles, but didn't know what I would do with the design on this side. It works perfect for this card, I love it when things work out well by accident.


It is fairly hard to see here, but there is Dazzlin Diamonds Glitter on the left side of the design, it looks great in real life, but did not photograph well at all. I hope you can see it.

Stamps: Holiday Best (level 1 hostess)
Ink: Purely Pomegranate (retired in color) Basic Gray (Stampin' Pastels), Platinum Shimmer Paint
Paper: Basic Gray Cardstock, Brushed Silver Cardstock, Nouveau Chic DSP
Misc: 5/8" Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Dazzlin Diamonds, Stampin Dimensionals

I hope you all had a great week and are having an even better weekend.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'