The Most Wonderful Time ~ Mojo Monday

TGIF everyone!! Fridays are fun days in class :) A story in the library with the librarian, book exchange, P.E. and centers :) How fun does that sound? But the most wonderful time is when you get new goodies in the mail!! My friends and I bit the bullet and had our PTI order shipped to Canada (braving shipping and customs costs). We usually get it sent to my brother's in Bellevue and then either he brings it up on his next trip or my husband picks it up on his way back from work. But there were no planned trips before Christmas and we had to have our order before then. So this card is a mixture of some new purchases lately: petals a plenty embossing folder from SU; PTI Holiday Button Bits set and buttons plus the Holiday Cheer paper from last month's order. The sentiment was part of the free digi stamps from Verve's release last week :) I finally found a card for it!! I had all these colours out from my Wednesday card so I thought I would go with the same colour scheme...I'm lovin' it!! I've got a hot date tonight with my dh ;) Don't wait up!! LOL

What's in it?
Stamps: PTI Holiday Button Bits; Verve digistamp
Ink: Colorbox Pigment ink in Gold
Paper: PTI kraft, cream, raspberry fizz; scarlet jewel, chocolate, Holiday Cheer dp
Accessories: circle nestabilities; SU embossing folder; stitching; buttons; sheer ribbon

Let's Talk Organization!

Good morning, everyone!! I thought I'd throw in something a little different today. I cleaned my desk a bit last weekend after the Verve release and took a few photos of the "studio." Though not as beautiful as Nicole Heady's of PTI or Julee Tilman's of Verve, it's my own little oasis :) When the dh and I finally build a new house on our lot, it will be a little more spiffy. After each photo I'll tell you what I love most.

My Stampin' Up! demonstrator's husband made my ink storage cabinet. I showed him a picture of it and voila! In 4 days it was made for only $30.00!! I love having all my ink facing out at me :) I also have my PTI buttons in the flat little jars lined up on the wooden shelf.

I read a thread on Splitcoast Stampers last spring about storing nestabilities. This has been the best idea for me :) I cut matte board (scraps from my BIL who teaches art at a local high school) into squares and adhered sheets of magnet (dollar store) to them. I cut out the corresponding shape to act like a file folder tab. For small nesties, I put SM on the tab and to remind me which Label die I'm using I put "L" and then the number.

Here they are all lined up in my basket!! It's so easy to use!! I love it. And it hardly takes up any space!!

Oh, I love this ribbon holder! I saw this idea on Lauren Meader's blog. It's a can holder from Home Depot!! It was about $30.00 I think. I told my dh about it and he loved the idea of going to one of his favourite stores and picking it up for me. I love it better than a spool/dowel system as I can rearrange or add more ribbon by just placing it anywhere! You don't have to take all the ribbon off a dowel. We put a piece of cardboard down on each shelf section so the ribbon moves smoothly. As you can see, it's very full...time for another one? LOL

I think this idea came from Lauren Meader as well. It's an over the door shoe holder for most of my punches. The smaller punches are in a drawer by my desk. Got it at Zellers (Canada) but you can get them anywhere. Just make sure the pockets are clear, not opaque (or you'll be returning it like I did!)

This wooden cabinet came from my school! I was looking at it during an inservice day while we were in the Gr. 7 classroom. I asked the teacher what she used it for as nothing was in it and it was collecting dust. She said it was her globe stand ;) I asked if I could have it and voila! It turned into my cardstock holder. I've organized by colour as best I can and there is scrapbook paper at the bottom as well as some patterned paper. My dh picked it up from school, brought it home, dusted it and painted the outside the same as the studio walls. Wasn't that sweet? It's housed in the closet.

A quick shot of some of my embellishment containers. Just plastic tackle boxes from the Dollar Store or Walmart.

This last photo is of a clip frame I picked up a few weeks ago at Pier 1. I thought it would be the perfect display for my newest cards. I usually line up the new ones on my computer hutch, but they fall down a lot. The frame came with 9 little clothes pins, one in each section. Looking at it now, my husband could've made one...perhaps he'll make a larger twin for it when we build :) I hope you've enjoyed this and maybe it's given you an idea or two :) If you have a wonderful storage idea, I'd love to hear about it!! Just leave a comment :) Thanks!! TGIF tomorrow!!

Happy Winter...

...or words you'll rarely hear me speak!! LOL Like Fall, Winter is not my favourite season (but a favourite blog buddy!! LOL to Winter!). I guess I'm spoiled with all four seasons here in Beautiful British Columbia. Oh, I love a good snowfall when all the trees are covered in a lovely white blanket...but then you have to shovel it and drive through it and don ten pounds of clothing and boots before heading out. It's a love/hate relationship. I do love Friday nights in front of the fire when it's snowing out...then I would say, "Happy Winter!" So I strive every year to love winter (and Fall)...and this card helps a lot!! It's for Mercy's sketch this week. I LOVE this sketch!! As soon as I saw it I knew I had to play. It begs for a simple card base with a stunning panel. My new PTI Holiday Cheer paper fit the bill without giving me too much vertigo this time !! LOL The snowflake border punch is the one by EK Success when they called their punches Papercraft last year. The snowflake is made from my new MS Jumbo Himalayan punch put together with a Heidi Swapp ghost flake and the smaller MS snowflake punch. This card makes me smile and {almost} makes me want to shout, "Happy Winter!!"

What's in it?
Stamps: PTI rustic snowflakes
Ink: SU baroque burgundy
Paper: PTI white, raspberry fizz, scarlet jewel; Holiday Cheer dp
Accessories: cuttlebug ef; circle nestabilities; ek success snowflake border punch; MS snowflake punches; Heidi Swapp ghost snowflake; PTI satin ribbon; crystal brad

Thinking of You ~ Karen's Sweet Sketch

Good morning, everyone!! A quick card today...I wanted to use some more of my lovely PTI Autumn Abundance paper before the snow comes. We've been having a lot of rain here the past few days and there's snow up "in them thar hills!" I wanted to give the card a bit more visual texture so I rounded the corners on the middle panel...but now think I should've kept them square...oh, well, next time. Added some luscious PTI scarlet satin ribbon to kick it up a notch :) My class and I are off to a Pumpkin Patch today...it's the best field trip of the year. The weather is supposed to be ok and hopefully dry :) Have a wonderful day!

What's in it?

Stamps: Verve circular sayings; SU autumn splendor
Ink: SU choc chip, baroque burgundy, pumpkin pie, more mustard
Paper: SU durango, choc chip; PTI summer sunrise, cream, scarlet
Accessories: SU circle, scallop and corner rounder punches, linen thread; PTI button, ribbon.

You've Put a Spell ~ Cinema Saturday Challenge

Today's card is so fun!! OMG! It turned out very close to what popped into my head after seeing this week's film on Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge. The movie is Hocus Pocus and the requirement is to make a "Halloween-y" card. Well, believe it or not, I have zero Halloween stamps. Oh, maybe I have a "Happy Halloween" sentiment somewhere in a SU set, but no pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, witches, goblins, spiders, nothing!! I have a few old stamps at work, but nothing appropriate for card making. I also like to make cards I can use. So I thought of my husband and how he "swept me off my feet." Not too Halloween-y so how about "You've put a spell on my heart." I have A Charming Font that I downloaded free years ago and it's perfect for this card! Add some black and orange and you've got a Halloween-y card!! It's even masculine enough to give my husband!! LOL This was really fun to make and I hope it's inspired you to look at challenges in a new way :)

What's in it?
Stamps: SU french script; PTI Heart Prints
Ink: SU Pumpkin Pie
Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie, black, apricot appeal, durango; PTI cream, Autumn Abundance dp;
Accessories: nestabilities hearts, MS border punch; silver pearls; button; floss; A Charming Font in black printer ink; stitching

Bloom Where You're Planted ~ Mercy's Way Late Sketch!

Good Sunday morning! I was going to miss a few challenges this week because the Verve release week sketches kept me so busy, but after chatting a bit with Mercy at the Release Party, I thought I'd join in this week again. Or maybe it was just this oval panel that really intimidated me ;) I'll never tell! LOL, I just did :) I was heading for the Fall colours, but saw this uncut patterned paper...isn't it gorgeous? I got it at Michaels and it's the perfect match to Soft Sky and Ruby Red. I also wanted to ink up a new Verve stamp. When I first saw this sentiment a year or so ago...I didn't think much of it. After stopping to ponder the meaning behind it, I started to love it. I have tried hard over the years to think about my place in life. I am not meant to be rich or famous in this life...that is not my purpose; so I'll bloom here in my modest townhouse that I bought on my own and work at an inner city school with my sweet little monkeys and dream of one day going to France and visiting Monet's garden. I am richly blessed in so many other non-monetary ways that I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday blooming where you are :)

What's in it
Stamps: Verve Floral Symphony; SU French Script; PTI Polkadot Basics
Ink:SU Bordering Blue, Black; versamark
Paper: PTI white, aquamist, shimmer white; SU baja breeze, ruby red, black, kraft; My Mind's Eye dp
Accessories: pearls, Oval nestabilites and blossom dies; button; linen thread; stitching

Button Wreath ~ Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge #18

Good morning! It's time for another colour challenge from Dawn. I was a bit happy with the break she took from them to focus on the PTI release. It gave me a chance to clear my mind. I really try hard to make something unique for her challenges as she has so many talented followers. I've been so inspired by her non traditional Christmas colours that I thought I would try to make a Christmas card for the challenge. I could've gone the button bouquet route again (miss those!), but decided against it. I don't have much in the New Leaf green colour except for buttons :) and some left over Wild Wasabi from 2 years ago. A green wreath vision came to me Wednesday and I tossed it around my head at the gym again. When I got home, I made the base of the wreath with 2 nestabilities blossom dies. Then I played around with various sizes of buttons. I desperately wanted to use my new retro background basics and Dawn's Signature Christmas sets as well. The background is stamped in versamark so it didn't over power the sentiment. I'm really pleased with the result :) I love the shimmery hot pink ribbon and the scalloped sides. Not too much struggle this time, except the thinking on the treadmill and finding the perfect buttons. Oh, and tying and fiddling with the bow to make it just right :) Enjoy your Saturday and thanks for visiting :)

What's in it?
Stamps: PTI background basics retro, signature christmas
Ink: versamark, SU choc chip
Paper: PTI cream, raspberry fizz; SU kraft, choc chip, wild wasabi
Accessories: EK success border punch, nestabilities blossom die, sheer ribbon, PTI new leaf buttons

Live Your Bliss ~ Embellish Colour Challenge with Bling

Greetings and TGIF friends!! Today's card is for the Embellish Colour Challenge. They are honouring Breast Cancer month with this challenge and the requirement along with the chosen colours is BLING!! Ah, my own backyard :) I had a couple of different cards in my head but this one found it's way onto my desk after playing around with paper. I love all the different elements; stitching, punching, flower, button, ribbon, and of course, the bling. I wish a wonderful weekend to you all.

What's in it?
Stamps: PTI mega mixed messages
Paper: PTI cream, raspberry fizz; SU basic grey, dp
Ink: SU basic grey
Accessories: stitching; button; linen thread; nestabilities Labels 4; dritz pins; prima flower; EK Success border punch; gemstones

Honouring Tanny ~ Verve Release Week Sketch #4

Good morning blog friends! Today I share a lovely thing that happened to me yesterday. I was checking my email at work and received a gift from Tanny of All That Rubbish. I was overwhelmed with her generosity and sweetness. We have only met on our blogs and SCS (she's Mys T). She's been a loyal commenter and great inspiration (i.e. my lovely light box!). She just wanted to thank me for my support on her blog, which I enjoy reading each morning before work :) She's also a fellow Canadian so we can talk snow and hockey and slow postal service!! LOL I just wanted to send her another "thank-you" and let her know that to honour her, I will pay her random act of kindness forward. That way the positive energy she has can travel out and hopefully keep going (like The Wave!! LOL) So within a month I will pay it forward, Tanny. Your kindness touched my heart and made me smile today, just as you do everyday with your kind comments on my blog:) Blessings from B.C.!!




What's in it?
Stamps: Verve thoughtful blossoms; PTI fancy flourishes
Ink: SU choc chip, sahara sand
Paper: PTI cream, lavender, scarlet, SU choc chip, kraft; basicgrey dp
Accessories: circle punches; large eyelet, cuttlebug flower dies, chipboard, button, linen thread, SU grosgrain and satin ribbons; PTI satin ribbon, gemstones, fabric; stitching

Thanks Snow Much ~ Verve Release Week

Good morning! It's Wednesday already :) I've been busy with the Verve Release Week sketches in between watching Dancing with the Stars and keeping my husband happy :) He's home for a few days and then gone again this weekend. This next card is for the second sketch. I really wanted to use one of the free digistamps Julee is offering free this week, but it was too long so I had to find a shorter one...ACK!! Sorry Verve fans!! But I'm on a strict card making time line and there was no time to rework the card. I printed out all the sketches yesterday and made notes on them so I would have a plan and not sit at my desk wondering what to do for each card. I love this snow dp I picked up a year ago in Vancouver. The blue and purple are so beautiful. The tree image is from SU's Season of Friendship. I always love using this stamp :) I also love how you can stamp snowflakes, leaves or flower blossoms over the tree branches...genius!! Have a wonderful day and talk to you soon :)



What's in it?
Stamps: SU Season of Friendship; Thanks Snow Much
Ink: SU choc chp, eggplant; craft white
Paper: SU choc chip, white, plum, soft sky, kraft; Pebblesinc dp
Accessories: stitching, PTI ribbon, Grandpa's button; gemstones, linen thread

Blossom ~ Viva La Verve Sketch #3

This is so funny...when I went to post this picture, I couldn't find it!! LOL I looked everywhere in my picture files and even in the recycle bin...nothing!! So I had to get it off my SCS gallery :) Good thing it was there! This card is for the weekly Viva La Verve Challenge. Amber's twist this week is to use fabric. My sister who quilts gave me a bag of fabric pieces last month and I was drawn to this one right away. It's a very close match to the old SU In Colour Vintage Violet. I love how it contrasts with More Mustard. My sewing is WAY off, uh, I mean VERY whimsical. I think I should have just stitched the fabric before adhering it to the cardstock...HELP, Melisa!! It got a little wrinkly on me. I hope your week is going well. Thanks for stopping by :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve Plain Jane, SU by definition
Ink: SU vintage violet, close to cocoa
Paper: SU vintage violet, more mustard, choc chip, kraft, Autumn Vine dp; PTI cream
Accessories: button, SU birds and blooms die and linen thread; silver pearls; satin ribbon, fabric; stitching

Gift Cards and Wedding Pictures

Good morning blog buddies!! I'm a little chirper on this fine Monday morning for 2 reasons...our staff meeting was cancelled Friday and it's a short week as Friday is an inservice day. I really treasure our Professional Development Days as it gives me a chance to meet with collegues and reflect on my class; what's working, what's not and what comes next :) The following photos are the gift cards I make for my sister's wine stores in Vancouver. About 9 years ago my brother-in-law (rest in peace, passed away in 2002) asked me if I would make gift cards for his store as he wasn't happy with the ones he was being supplied with. Well, it's grown since then to the larger cards as well. I love being the "official" card supplier to the stores (my sister has 3 stores now!). She also gives me complete artistic freedom! These are the Fall samples being shipped this week.

Many of you know that I went to my nephew's wedding last week. Here are a few photos of the weekend. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, albeit very cold, as they married in a local park. This first photo is of the exchanging of rings. Note the rug they are standing on. It was made by Risha's (the bride's) great great grandmother in Russia. Her Aunt in the back married them and said that of the many, many marriages performed on the rug, there have been no divorces!! I like that track record :)

This last photo is the happy couple at the reception. Next up are photos of me with my son, Jake and one Tony took of us with my camera...he's very good a centering us:) He's had lots of practice! LOL The bottom left photo is of Jake and his girlfriend and me and my dh at the open house the next day. My nephew wanted to roast a pig, with the blessing of his vegetarian new mother-in-law!! So we had a 100 pound pig roasting in an outdoor oven. I didn't post the photo in case anyone would be offended... but he was really cute :) and delicous!! The bottom right photo is just me and Jake before getting ready for the wedding.

These last photos are of the trees outside our motel on Monday morning. The sprinklers had gone off in the night and everything froze!! Aren't these the coolest photos? I love the first one with the contrast of the sky. The last one is of the grass. I love how the ice pieces look like little tubes.

Well that's all for today...hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are :)