An unusual shower on September 1, 2007

Sky watchers are expecting an unusual shower on Sept. 1, 2007.
Update: Sky watchers in Western Canada did see the meteor shower. Have not been able to find any posted photos or anything on the NASA site yet. It will be interesting to see if any new info comes from the sightings.
Some time in the 40 years or so around 4 A.D., comet Kiess (C/1911 N1) passed by the Sun, ejecting a cloud of dust particles. The comet returned in 1911, after completing one orbit. The dust particles were pushed by the Sun's light into slightly wider orbits and have been returning ever since, forming a thin ongoing stream of dust that usually passes just outside Earth's orbit. On occasion, the combined gravity of the solar system's planets moves this dust trail into Earth's path. Earth encountered this 2000-year-old dust in 1935, 1986, and 1994, causing a meteor shower known as the Aurigids.

This very rare shower will occur again on 1 September 2007. A brief shower of tens of meteors will radiate from the constellation of Auriga, many as bright as the brighter stars in the sky. The Earth will be in the thick of it during the one hour centered on 04:33 a.m. PDT. The shower will be visible by the naked eye from locations in the western United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, from Mexico, and from the western provinces of Canada.

This unique encounter could provide insights about how long-period comets loose large dust grains and about how to translate the observed dust trail crossing into physical data about the parent comet, and even provide more evidence for the hypothesized "pristine crust" of a comet. This crust would be the product of cosmic ray bombardment during the years when the comet was in cold storage in the Oort cloud.
http://aurigids.seti.org/

Don't forget to get your September Pagemaps

Received an email yesterday that the September Pagemaps are up early. Don't forget to go to http://www.pagemaps.com/ to get download and print your copy.

Have a wonderful Labour Day Weekend. We are going to have one last hurrah of summer. Hope you get to do some summertime activities, as the weather is going to be perfect at least in Southwestern Ontario.

Trying to locate this stamp

Update:

Dina located the stamp she used in this card for me. I just love the beach scene. Very much like my bathroom border isn't it.

I have ordered it and hope it won't take too long to arrive.

Bottomless Card Boxes

I know I talked about these before on my blog but hadn't started them. The 10 wooden cigar type boxes Jenna and I found at Dollarama were staring at me sitting on our craft table. We thought they would be great to give as gifts filled with hand made cards. To make it even more lasting with each box will go a note explaining that just like a bottomless cup of coffee this is a bottomless box of cards. If the recipient returns the box to me, Jenna and I will make more cards to fill it.

To fit the box I had to trim 1/4" off the 5 1/2" side of an invitation size card to fit 2 cards side by side.

The plan is to make a variety of cards for different occasions but I have yet to finalize the details. I don't want it to get too complicated or confusing to keep track of. It wouldn't be as much fun if family members or mutual friends receive the same handmade birthday card from 2 people. I could use a different stamp set for each box but am not quite sure if that would work for masculine and children's birthday cards. I'll have to play a bit more. In this case I started using Stampin Up's Baroque Motif set and cased a card made by Renee Van Stralen, posted on Splitcoaststampers. I changed the size a bit to fit the box and added stickles to the flowers instead of using the brads on the darker brown portion. I decorated the inside of the box by stamping directly on the wood. I'd like to paint the outside of the box the pale green of the ribbon and decorate it too. That however I'll have to leave for another day.

Back to the Rubberroom

My friend Eliz and I went to the Rubberoom for their Bargain Tuesday class this afternoon. I had to take Aaron to camp in London for 1 and pick both kids up at 4 so it left us just enough time to stamp and then make a quick stop at Michaels. We made the first card and then got to play. Here are the cards I made. The tree I found in the scrap bin and couldn't let it go to waste and the teacup stamp was just crying to be coloured and layered. It was a nice way to pass the afternoon.

Update on my broken paper trimmer

I returned my broken paper trimmer to our local Staples without the box and receipt and they replaced it no problem. Because the store just opened last week they had more trouble knowing how to record the exchange than actually doing it. I'm glad to report that in this case they lived up to their lifetime warranty.

Niece and Nephew Birthday Party photos

If you haven't seen the photos on Facebook here they are again.

How to fold a shirt. Bet you can't watch it just once

My sister-in- law Kelly sent me this. What a time saver! If laundry goes faster you might have more time to stamp and scrapbook.

My print is hanging in my bathroom.

I'm doing a happy dance. I recieved my print back in a beautiful double mat and frame on Saturday and just hung it up in my bathroom. It is a little bigger than I thought it would be but looks awesome. My sister in law also framed a postcard size print for the last spot in my bathroom that needs something. It is at my mother-in-law's so I will pick it up sometime this week and complete the decor. I love it.

Eliz, I think you'll love it too.

Fantasy Film

The fantasy film I bought the other day was clear but I may pick up another colour tomorrow. Jenna has a large fairy stamp that needs shimmery wings and this product would be perfect. I'll let you know how I make out.
How do you use Fantasy Film?
Ink stamp with a permanent ink such as Stazon. Set stamp on table with inked rubber side up.
Cut film into layers just big enough to cover stamp. Place between 2-4 layers of film gently on stamp surface (more layers = thicker film at end).
Without moving the film, cover it with a non-stick ironing cloth, baker’s parchment paper or even a thick sheet of vellum. With a dry iron on a medium to high setting (no steam), iron over the parchment for approx 20-30 seconds. Too much ironing time will burn the film and dull its appearance. Remove parchment and peel the film off the stamp surface.
Now cut out the stamped image and see how it looks against different coloured backgrounds! Makes great angel wings and butterflies etc.
Provided a permanent ink is used, the fantasy film image can even be washed if you want to sew it onto your clothes or linen! Alternatively it can be glittered and decorated up for mounting on cards or in scrapbooks (adding glitter means it cannot be washed though). It can even be stamped/ironed it without using any ink!!
Here is a link to the Art Glitter website with a tutorial for making a dragonfly. http://www.artglitter.com/lcdragonfly.htm

Shhhh! Jenna and I went to the Rubberroom

Shhh!! Don't tell anyone. I've lost it. While doing a couple of errands before going to the Niece and Nephew birthday bash, Jenna and I went to the Rubberroom. Wouldn't you know it, coming out as we were going in, was a long time stamper who goes by many aliases. We met her when I took Jenna to stamping classes before she started school. Jenna is going into grade 4 next week. Now my cover is blown. Jenna was a willing accomplice. I picked up some fantasy film and we both picked out a Housemouse stamp. Can't wait to use them. I just signed up for tomorrow afternoon's stamp meet while my kids are in London at camp.

Hockey fans come out of the woodwork

Both of our tv sets are tuned to the Canada vs Russia Hockey game and I'm sure its not hockey season yet. I didn't know I had resident hockey fans but is it the hockey or are the supporting Lauren's boyfriend, Cory Emmerton(http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/cory_emmerton )who is playing for Canada? I think its a bit of both but it sure is more fun watching someone you know isn't it. We'll post results for anyone who is interested.

Game 1= Canada 4 Russia 2

Birthday Bash Albums a resounding success

Steve and Carol held thier 9th annual Niece and Nephew birthday bash yesterday and although the weather was not great before supper it all cleared up after so the games could begin. The albums the kids and I made for each family were a resounding success. I did tell everyone however that they would not be an annual tradition. I'll have to come up with something different for next year.

Thanks Heather for a fun class

Went to a class last night at Heather Summers'. Had fun using my new

Garden Whimsey stamp set. Will have to put some of these cards in our Bottomless card boxes that Jenna and I are working on.

Niece & Nephew Birthday Bash Albums finished

Those of you who read my blog a couple of days ago know that I was frantically working on mini albums to give families at this year's Niece & Nephew Birthday Bash. I'm pleased to announce that other than to photocopy 3 pages I missed for one book they are finished. Staples/Business Depot just opened up in town so I can do that quickly in the morning.

Thank goodness my Crop O Dile went through the plastic covers and the 10 page protectors inside like it was butter.

I used Jenna's Provocraft trimmer to cut the plastic covers so will have to replace the blade for her. What did surprise me was that I will need to return the rotary/guilotine Staples paper trimmer I purchased a few months ago. Hadn't really used it until last night when I was cutting

out the 200 photocopies of the pages one by one. I was using the guilotine part of the cutter when the safety guide broke at the bottom screw. It wasn't like I was cutting the 10 sheets of paper that the instructions said it would cut. The product has a lifelong guarantee. Will see what our new Staples says about that.

Score it vs Score Pal

Its just about decision time. I've been wanting a scoring board and now the following are available locally. Which means no shipping charges. Hooray!

I've seen both the Score Pal Scor-Pal®

http://www.scor-pal.com/?gclid=CI6JoO-uj44CFQO1IgodyVUIdg

"creates accurate and precise scores giving you professional looking folds, no more crooked cards. Multiple scores are done in seconds without moving the paper. This is perfect for accordion folds, boxes, fancy fold cards and other interesting projects. It is lightweight and portable!" It retails for $39.99.

My observations are as follows. I've not used this tool but did watch a demonstration.

Plastic board with predetermined grooves and a bone folder for scoring.

can do mulitple scores on paper without moving. Not sure how easy the grid is to use.

Web site has lots of iseas

and the Score it Professional Score Board

http://www.clearbags.ca/details.php?heading=Envelopes%20and%20Card%20Stock&name=Scor%20it%20Professional,%20Quality%20Scores%20by%20Hand

-Professional QualityFast and accurate professional quality hand score lines for all of your card making, scrapbooking and paper crafting projects. It retails for $69.99

My observations. Raised metal ridge in between 2 rubberized pads.

scoring tool is wooden with a groove to slide on the metal ridge.

It has 2 clamps that can be adjusted along each side of the metal ridge.

I find that they sometimes slip. Ruler is only at the top and not running down the length of the board. It is heavier than the Score Pal.

I still have to think a bit but I am leaning towards the Score Pal. Anyone have either? Comments?

Buying school clothes!

Spent the day shopping with Aaron and Jenna for school shoes and clothes. Was more successful for Aaron than for Jenna. Jenna and I will go out on our own to get her some new clothes. Hard to do with a reluctant brother in tow. Had a nice dinner at my Mom and Dad's.
Now back to work on the mini scrapbooks. Have everything cut so just have to put them together. Everything under control.
The boys' Cub Camp has been cancelled for this weekend so it makes our weekend a lot simpler.
Have a great one!

It was a good idea at the time.

Saturday my sister in law and brother in law are hosting their annual niece and nephew birthday bash. Every year, Carol and Steve put a lot of effort and expense into a wonderful family gathering.

When I was at the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Buffalo in June I took a class with Stacy Julian and did a 6X6 album using 30-40 photos and only black embellishments. I chose last year's photos to do.

Now here is what was a good idea at the time. I thought it might be nice to colour photo copy the book and give every family a copy. Well it turned out to be a much bigger project than I had anticipated. The number of books we needed continued to grow each time we went through the list. We were able to copy 2 6X6 pages onto a legal size paper. I didn't think that was too bad but then realized that the book contains 20 pages so that would be 10 photocopies for each of 10 books. Beginning to get the picture. Then it is impossible to get reasonably priced 6X6 or even 8X8" albums so we had to make our own.

I found some nice notebook covers at Dollarama that could be cut down to fit. Purchased a box of 100 8.5 X 11" sheet protectors and sat down to trim the photocopies, the sheet protectors and the covers to accommodate the 6X6" pages. This is still a work in progress and I only have tomorrow to do it. Talk about making my life more stressful than it needs to be. Oh well, I know the books will be appreciated. However I am not setting a precedent that I have to do them every year. Next year I'll have to come up with something less time consuming or start a whole lot earlier in the year.

Scrap/Stamp Day

Eliz and Lizz joined Jenna and I at home for our turn at hosting Scrap/Stamp Day.

We used some of the coasters we bought. 2 square ones for a post it note holder and 2 round ones with an duct tape spool to make a cute trinket box. I'll have to retake the photos because the did not turn out well enough to post.

The real challenge was when I left them to recreate a scrapbook page with a diagonal theme to it. I was making lunch and they struggled. To tell you the truth when I sat down to do mine it looked nothing like the original but at least it was not running horizontally like so many of my pages have been of late.

Thanks girls, it was fun as always. Can't wait until we get together in 2 weeks.

Lots of scrapping today

My friend Carolyn invited us over for this afternoon and dinner. We scrapbooked while the kids played. Can it get much better than that? I finished the title page for my Ottawa album. Thanks Barb for the inspiration. See her original at

http://barbdean.typepad.com/fun_stuff/2007/08/more-pages-for-.html

and 2more layouts. The first one is an TLC Artist choice kit from a few years ago. The second one still needs a title.

Highlights of our Ottawa Trip

Highlights of our week in Ottawa included The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Phathom of the Opera and visiting friends at their Grandparents' house. We had a good time and kept busy.

Too busy in fact to visit a scrapbook store for mom. Oh well may just have to make a return visit.

Quick look at some Stamp/Scrap day projects.

Here is a quick look at the cards we did at Eliz's a couple of weeks ago (They had been buried in my craft room. I have already posted the layout we did and I titled it Tree of Life) and the cards and beaded pen we made at Lizz's yesterday. I won't post the new scrapbook page until we return from holidays because it will be the title page for our Ottawa album.

On the pink birthday card, the cake is a scratch and sniff using red unsweetened koolaid and embossing powder. I don't think I heated the embossing powder enough because the red colour came off on a pile of other cards. Next time I'll be more careful.

The beaded pen has Happy Birthday stamped on it and the card and pen will be a birthday gift for my niece with some money inside so she can put it towards a digital camera.

Notice the cards are sitting on the table in our scrapbook room. It is looking much more organized and with a few finishing touches will be a better place to create.

Coaster Book

Quick bragbook project.
I used the extra photos from the Walkerton camera shoot and BAsic Grey Infuse papers

I used 6 - 4" square coasters
5- 4 X 8 1/4" pieces of patterned paper
2 pieces 4 X 4" cardstock for cover
1 4X4" patterned paper for spine.

While I was making it, Carolyn made a good suggestion: It is better to decorate the inside of the book before adding the spine to allow for the extra space photos and embellishments require.

Cropped til we dropped

Carolyn, Rachel and I cropped til we dropped yesterday. The food was awesome! (You are spoiling us Carolyn.) An added bonus was that we got to soak in the hot tub after consuming the best chocoberry cocktail I ever tasted. Needless to say I stayed overnight so I wasn't drinking and driving. Thanks for your hospitality Ron & Carolyn!
We made this matchbook album as a make and take yesterday at the Cat's Caboose. I couldn't wait to use it on this page to go with my Summer Layout that I scraplifted from Barb Dean. This allowed me to add 10 pool photos to this page. They were taken using a disposable water proof camera.

This was another TLC Artist Choice kit and easy to put together. It is waiting for the perfect photos.
Picked up the brads at Dollarama on our outing and they went perfectly with the paper I picked up for this Epcot World Showcase layout. Not sure what I want to do with the title yet.
I finished this layout I started at our last scrapbook day. Paper and ideas is from Stampin Up. Chipboard letters were covered with cardstock and distressed using chalk ink

Here is another layout I started last month and finished yesterday.
I also made a coaster album entitled Candid Camera and an artist canvas wall hanging that just need a few finishing touches before I can post them.

Late night projects

Last week was the week of late night projects. It was a hectic week with taking Aaron to Science Camp at the University, helping my Mother-in-law with a renovation project and keeping Jenna in a pool as much as we could. It seems like I spent more time away from home than at home. In order for me to feel like I accomplished something I returned to doing what I did when the kids were both little. I spent some time scrapbooking in the evening to have tangible proof to show for my day. The Looking Ahead Layout was a TLC Artist's Choice kit and The Tree of Life paper and layout ideas was courtesy of Eliz at our last Stamp/Scrap day.

Bottomless card box

Jenna and I found some unfinished Wooden Cigar type boxes the perfect size to hold invitation size cards and envelopes. An awesome gift idea came to me and we are both excited about it. It was inspired by the bottomless coffee idea. We snatched up 10 and are going to make bottomless gift boxes filled with cards. Each box will be painted and decorated to suit the recipient. It will be filled with an assortment of cards. Attached to each box will be a note letting the recipient know it is a bottomless box of cards. If it is returned to us empty, Jenna and I will refill it. Have to work on the note and will post when we have one finished.
If you have an idea please leave it in the comment section.

Trip to Ikea

The girls and I took a trip to Ikea and picked up some blank 4" chipboard coasters in square and round versions on the way. Anyone interested in purchasing some please email for details.
Jenna picked out a coffee table she would like for the family room. It even has room for storage.
Will have to make a return trip to Burlington in the not too distant future.