My Daughter's Blog!

My daughter Ashleigh, who will be 9 in October, is always wanting to hang out with me and scrapbook or make cards. So she asked me this morning to set up a blog for her. She sat last night and made about 7 cards, so we'll be adding those throughout the next couple days. If you'd like to check her blog out, you can see it here. It's called Ashleigh's Creations. Leave her a comment and let her know you stopped by, she'd love that!

Hip, Hip, Hooray! (Magnolia Challenge #11)

Here's another challenge entry! I've been trying to enter different challenges to keep my stock up and then I am going to buy something to organize all my cards and I'd like to start sending one to my grandma once every couple weeks. Something for her to look fwd to. Just have to get her address and then I can get started! This is for the Just Magnolia challenge. Thank you to Christine, for letting me stamp this image.

STAMPS: Magnolia's Tilda, CTMH 'Good Times'
PAPER: Michaels
PUNCH: Stampin' Up! Scallop
EMBELLISHMENTS: Flowers and brads (Dollarama)

House Mouse Challenge #44 - Thinking Of You

This is my House Mouse Monday Challenge entry for this week. The challenge this week is Paper Tole. Learn what this is here. I did the technique with my hummingbird and I've shown a side view so you can see it better. The card turned out really cute! I'm still perfecting my hand sewing machine. It only does the one stitch though, so I may invest in something a little bigger, but not to big.

I hope you like it!

Wishing You Sunshine and Smiles...(SASSC21)

This is a little 6x6" card I put together for the Fresh Batch Challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. You can use whatever stamp you wish as long as you follow the sketch. I'm planning on buying some of their little stamps though, they're really cute! Thank you to Christine for letting me stamp this image.

STAMPS: Magnolia's Tilda

PAPER: Tickled Pink (CTMH May Campaign)

COLOURED WITH: Lyra's and OMS

EMBELLISHMENTS: CTMH prisma glitter and ribbon, Dollarama bling

CUTTLEBUG: Paisley embossing folder

"Make A Wish" - HHC #37 - Stars or Stripes!

This is a card I put together for this week's High Hopes Challenge. The card is 8 x 3.5". I wanted to try doing a card with no stamps at all, just embellishments. I think I'll put this away for my nephews birthday in July! ALL product is CTMH!

STAMPS: none!
PAPER: Stardust
EMBELLISHMENTS: Stardust Stickease and flexi labels

Pattern is from the new WISHES book

Thank You SEW Much! HM Challenge #43

Good morning! Well, it has been VERY hot this week here in Ontario! I've found myself indoors more in the afternoon and then the little ones are napping, I can play in my scrap room a bit. I decided to join in the House Mouse Monday Challenge this week. We had to follow a sketch and here's what I came up with. I've also added some fun flock to the little 'mousy' bear to add texture. Thank you to my friend, Tanya, for lending me her stamps!

STAMPS: House Mouse
PAPER: Paper Pack from WalMart
EMBELLISHMENTS: bling (CTMH), Fun Flock (CTMH)

Thank You

Tonight, I had one more teacher's card to make. I don't really have alot of masculine stamps and when I was at Michaels last week, I had this stamp in and out of my hands several times. Finally, I thought I had better just buy it. Usually if you spend that much time debating on something, you'll kick yourself for not getting it. Well, I would have kicked myself. I've used it for my Father's Day cards and now for Ashleigh's teacher, Mr. Simon. I thought the sentiment was kind of nice for a teacher, seeing as they lead our children on a journey each day. Since Mr Simon loves Tim's, we gave him a couple gift cards.

STAMP: Tim Holtz Collection
PAPER: Jack and Jill Collection

Tip: Using your ink, in this case I used cocoa, go around the edges of your CS to give it a distressed look.

You're The Best! Stamping Bella Blog Challenge 06/25/09

This is my entry for this week's Stamping Bella blog challenge. Nicky came up with the above sketch and I went to work. I had planned on making something for Ashleigh's teacher, but as the colors emerged, I thought..hmmm, won't really work for Mr Simon! All is well though, as Andrew came home with a gift from Miss Hurwitz, who he had in Gr 5 and has always kept in touch with. We all loved her! We all still keep in touch. He helped her with her fish tanks in the classroom all year, so she gave him a nice card and gift today. So, Miss Hurwitz will be the receiver of this cute card!

If you have time to make an entry of your own, you have till 5pm EST tmw night! Email your entry to Emily and it'll be posted on Friday. You have a chance to win $20 bellabucks for your entry and another chance to win $10 bellabucks just for posting a comment on the entries!

This whole card is made using Stamping Bella products

Apple Of My Eye, Teacher's Gift

Here's another teacher's gift I put together using the Mocha Sugar Body Scrub. You can find the recipe here. This one is for Ashleigh's Social Studies teacher.

STAMP: Stamping Bella's 'apple of my eye' and 'appleybowl HUGGABUG'
PAPER: Jack and Jill series
EMBELLISHMENTS: CTMH prisma glitter, ribbon (Stamping Bella) and bling

Congratulations Graduate!

Tonight we have another nephew who's graduating from Grade 6. He goes to a small town school and they only go till Grade 6 and then they attend middle school in Sharon for Gr's 7-8 and then off to high school. So tonight we celebrate all of Ryan's accomplishments in his years at Queensville Public School!

Good luck as you start a new school and a new year in Grade 7, Ryan!! We're all so very proud of you! Keep up all your hard work and always reach for your dreams. Congratulations!

Meistro Mouse! A Teacher's Gift

This year I wanted to try something different for the kid's teachers. Awhile ago, I found a body scrub idea on a fellow blogger site and I loved the idea. So, I went researching body scrub recipes and I found one called "Mocha Sugar Body Scrub". Since Andrew's teacher loves music and is a music teacher (an amazing one at that), I went with my little Meistro Mouse. He's colored in with watercolor blending pencils and then on the top of the little jar, I did the same image using CTMH 'white daisy' ink. Want to try it yourself? Here's what you need:

• half cup (white) sugar
• 3 tbsps coffee grinds
• 2 tbsps cocoa
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 2-3 tbsps almond oil
• pinch of vanilla extract (optional) ashleigh and I added a little to ours

In a glass bowl, mix all your dry ingredients together and then add your almond oil to you reach your desired texture. Don't be surprised if you use a bit more. I ended up using a bit more cinnamon and added vanilla. I followed the recipe and then added things till it smelled just right to me. I also added a bit more oil as well. I tried it in the shower yesterday and mmm mmmm mmm! Bathroom smelled like a nice blend of coffee and chocolate!! I have to be honest, when you first open it, the first thing you think is "WHAT is that??" But it leaves your skin feeling soft and smelling yummy!

Enjoy!

You Did It!

Tonight we will be going to my nephew, Hayden's, Senior Kindergarten graduation. Amazing how quickly time flies. He'll go into grade 1 in Sept. My son heads into grade 8 in Sept and my daughter into grade 4. Somewhere along the way, as my sister has recently said, we blinked and all these kids started to grow up. I got pretty emotional the other day thinking about Andrew graduating grade 8 in another year, God help me when he does graduate!!

So, tonight we celebrate all of Hayden's accomplishments in JK and SK and he's had so many. He's made many friends, his speech has improved tremendously, he's grown taller and developed a personality all his own. Hayden, we're all very proud of you sweetheart and wish you all the best in Grade 1!!

Paper and Embellishments: Michaels

Number One...

This is a card I made my dad for Father's Day. It actually turned out really nice! I didn't have any masculine images, so I was on the hunt on Saturday and came across Tim Holtz stamps at Michaels. Seeing that my dad, father in law and hubby are all into old cars, this one seemed very fitting.

STAMP: Tim Holtz Collection

PAPER AND EMBELLISHMENTS: Dad Reflections kit from CTMH

Happy Father's Day!

This is a card my daughter Ashleigh made for her dad. I helped her choose/cut the paper and that was it! She decided how she wanted to design her card and away she went. A true scrapper and cardmaker like her mom! She loved 2 verses that we had found, so we used both. Hopefully you can see them if you blow them up. I had to laugh because she said it's only from her and Andrew has to make his own. Ummm, he likely won't, so might as well let him sign it! LOL! He just turned 13, so he's too cool to make cards!

PAPER: DAD kit from CTMH

EMBELLISHMENTS: Bike stickers from Michaels

'Hey There Cupcake!' - SASSC20 Challenge

This is my first entry over at The Fresh Batch: Weekly Sketch Challenge! I am really loving these sketch challenges. I've entered 2 today! If you scroll down on my sidebar, you'll come to a "Stamps and Smiles" badge, click there to go see their blog, you'll love the stamps they carry! The best part about their challenges is that you can use your favourite stamps, doesn't have to be Stamps and Smiles, thank goodness because I don't have any....YET!

PAPER: CTMH 'Tickled Pink' May Campaign
STAMP: CTMH ' Cupcake Sprinkles'

Just A Note -Flutter By Wednesday Challenge Entry

This is the first entry I have done for Danni's Dream's "Flutter By Wednesday" challenge. This week's challenge was open and we just had to have a butterfly and/or fairy on our card. So, I came up with this one! The stamped image is from my friend, Kelli.

Frame: Magnolia
Sentiment: Stamping Bella
Fairy: Susana's Custom Art & Card Design
Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots folder
Ribbon: Cosco
Butterflies: CTMH Butterfly Kiss Acrylic Stamp

Wow, Another Blog Award!

Wow, I am so honored! I've received my second blog award from a fellow CTMH Consultant, Sheila at Sheila's Scrappin' Place be sure to go over and pay her a visit! Thank you so very much, Sheila!!

The rules to this award are:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted you the award, and include his or her blog link
2. Pass the award to 8 other blogs that you have newly discovered
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know you have been chosen for this award

I would like to pass this out to my following blogger friends, in no particular order:

• Lee Ann
• Nutmeg Stamping
• Sarah
• Michelle
• Joanne
• Lucia
• True
• Michelle

I have so many blogs that I follow and find inspiring and I find new ones every day. These are just a few that I have come across recently and find inspiring and hope you will to!

Popcorn's A Poppin'!

I was checking out my favourite blogs today and came across Jeanette Lynton's and she has a really great recipe on there to make popcorn balls that your kids will love! What a great summer treat idea!

Run over and check out her popcorn ball recipe here!

A Special Girl - Bellarific Challenge For June 19th

This week's challenge over at Bellablog is another sketch and I love it! I love sketches because I find them very inspiring. I had an idea in my head, but it didn't quite work. I had taken a card class with Nicky and we did a card using just the heads of the stamps, so that's what I was going to do...but, my squares are too big, so I went with this instead! The card is 6x6" and the squares are approximately 2x2". I cut them out with a large punch. Below is my incorporation of this week's sketch challenge!

TIP: Another technique that I learned from Nicky is 'paper piecing' which is another thing that I love to do! Stamp your image on white paper, now choose a patterned paper that will incorporate into your finished card and restamp the same image. Cut out and piece onto your orginal stamped image. See below where I've paper pieced the dresses? I just used paper that was already incorporated into my card and I love that it all ties in together. Now it's your turn!



STAMPS: Ivy KETTO and Maisy KETTO (Stamping Bella)
SENTIMENT STAMP: For A Special Girl (Stamping Bella) I had to cut off the 'For' to make it work for my card
PAPER: Dream Street (Stamping Bella)
EMBELLISHMENTS: Baubles (Stamping Bella), Prisma Glitter (CTMH), Flower (Dollarama)
TECHNIQUE: Paper Piecing

Thank You Gift

I showcased this card last week and I couldn't say what it was really for till I had given it to my mother and father in law. Ashleigh decided she wanted to try riding lessons this yr and they were a huge help in finding a place for her to go as well as helping out with lessons. I didn't realize how expensive riding actually is. We are so thankful to them for everything they have done for us and we wanted to give them something nice as a thank you. So, I took some photo's of Ashleigh and then I made her card to match the photo. Unfortunately, the photo is grainy, but you can still get the idea. You can see the card better here.

Summer Has Begun!! (Photo's)

I have come to the conclusion that kids are resiliant to almost anything. Over the winter, we had a tear in our pool cover and with the weight of the snow, it tore a bit more. So, when we took the cover off this yr, the water was pretty brown. Keith finally had a wknd off, so he got to work getting it up and running. We're about a mth behind this yr, but the night's have been so cold, it didn't really matter. Last night we finally had it done. Filter's running, water's clear and it looks beautiful. Did I mention it's VERY cold?? I'm thinking arctic cold! LOL! There's not a drop of hot water in there! Apparently kids don't mind a bit. As soon as the filter was running, the bathing suits came out and the kid's were in the pool. Ashleigh went right to the hot tub afterward. I think they're crazy, but oh to be a child again!!!!!!!!!

Thinking Of You - Magnolia Card

Last night a couple of us gals got together and worked on some cards. This is a little card I put together. I'm very happy with how it turned out! I think I'm really starting to get the hang of coloring with lyra's. Thank you to my friend, Christine, for letting me stamp her stamps!

STAMPS: Magnolia

PAPER: CTMH "Tickled Pink" Campaign

EMBELLISHMENT: CTMH Prisma glitter, bling from Michaels in the middle of the flowers

Happy Birthday!

This is a card I made for my father in law. We're going to celebrate his birthday tonight, so thought I would make a nice card. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the swiss dots and then used my sanding block to expose the white core of the cardstock. I stamped the sentiment on the acrylic tag using black StazOn ink.

STAMP: It's Your Day (CTMH) July SOTM

CUTTLEBUG: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

PAPER: Sasparilla (CTMH)

EMBELLISHMENTS: Acrylic Buttons (CTMH), Ribbon (Dollarama), Eyelet (CTMH)

So Happy!

Good morning! Another cool morning here in Ontario. I think Mother Nature has forgotten about springtime! I don't know if you can see it, but I added fun flock to the horse for added dimension. I did the horse the same as Ashleigh's horse that she's been riding and I did 'Bella' up as Ashleigh as well, right down to her pink cowgirl boots!

STAMPS: Giddyupabella (Stamping Bella)

PAPER: Unforgettable (CTMH)

STICKEASE: Unforgettable (CTMH) includes inside sentiment

EMBELLISHMENTS: Fun flock (CTMH) on the horse

COLORED WITH: Lyra's and OMS

On Cloud 9 - Stamping Bella Challenge!

Hello there! Well, this week, over on the Stamping Bella blog, Emily has given us another sketch challenge, which I absolutely love!! This week's sketch is above and you can also click the link to go to her blog. My incorporation of the sketch is here below. I also added a side view so you can see the fun flock that I added to the cloud to give it a fluffy look!

Paper: Dream Street (Stamping Bella)

Stamp: altee 'TUDE (Stamping Bella .. includes sentiment)

Bling: Michaels

Glitter: Glitter Stack from CTMH (retired) & Prisma Glitter

CTMH Fun Flock (clouds)

Colored With Lyra's and OMS

Feeling Under The Weather?

Saturday my cousin Nancy and her girls and myself and my daughter, went on a shopping trip to Stamping Bella and Pointer's. We had a fantastic day..took the girl's to Boston Pizza for lunch, after introducing them to Bella Land!! My daughter Ashleigh bought her first Stamping Bella stamp, 'Felix Ketto With A Flower'. I bought some new stamps as well, so stayed tuned for some Bella cards!!

This is my first 'Rachelle Anne Miller' (Stampavie) stamp and it's called "Lilly & Milo". I kept debating and Nancy said just get it or you'll regret. Well, we came back to my place and played and I am SO glad I bought this stamp!!! How cute is this card? I added lots of glitter and the puddle is done in liquid glass. The sentiment is from Stamping Bella. I colored it with my lyra's and odorless mineral spirits.

Moments To Cherish, 12x12 Layout

I did this layout again, using all CTMH materials. Unfortunately, the color is washed out a little, but the paper is very pretty!! These are all pics from my garden.

Materials: (all CTMH)

• "Unforgettable" LV2 paper pack
• "Unforgettable" LV2 Stickease
• Cherish Layout book

This Week's Challenge!

Sorry it's late, but here's this week's challenge. I thought I would go with a sketch challenge this week. Feel free to put an image where it says greeting. This is just a challenge for inspiration and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Thank you to making-birthday-cards for the sketch!

Ashleigh's Riding Lessons - 2 pg Layout

Hello!! It's another beautiful day here in Ontario! Summer vacation is just around the corner, so trying to get some pages done before I get more summer pics for this yr to scrapbook!! Here's another 2 page layout I've done with Ashleigh's riding pictures. Again, I've taken before and after photo's of this one as well. I also wanted to show how you can take the layout from the book and match it to your photo's. You'll notice I actually turned the one page around to suit my photo's. I've distressed some of the black CS and you'll see I added my own style to the finished layout! I hope you find this inspiring enough to try it yourself!

Materials: all CTMH!

• Cherish Book
• Sasparilla Lv2 paper pack
• Sasparilla Lv 2 stickease
• Distressing tool
• Hinges