Christmas 2010

Arthur and the kids were sick for my family Christmas so my sister and her husband generously offered to have us over for dinner this evening. Thanks so much Annemarie and Brad for a lovely dinner and Christmas celebration.

Merry Christmas to one and all

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The weather outside is frightful

A State of Emergency has been called for the Sarnia area

My son and I are on day 2 of snow days this week. My daughter joined us today. Last week my kids and husband were home for 3 snow days. Its only the beginning of the winter. What will be instore of our January?

Thank goodness I am not one of the 300 people standed on the 401 yesterday. I started out and turned around once I heard of all the cancellations in Sarnia. Now at least we are snug and warm in our home.

Spent the day playing with my Wishblade

I have lots of new photos so wanted to do some titles for the layouts I am going to do using my Wishblade. I am using Funtime Scrapbooking Software with my old blue Wishblade and Windows Xp. It took me some time to figure out how to fit text to a circle but once I figured it out I'm going to have so much fun with it.

Looking back I probably should have purchased the Sure Cuts a Lot software or

Making the Cut Software and then I could have used the same software with my new Cricut using a USB cord. Oh well, live and learn. May just have to get that software after Christmas to use with my laptop so I can be more portable. It would mean I would not be limited by the cartridges I have but could use my laptop to create titles using any True Type Font or Dingbat.

Enjoyed a day off

I enjoyed my day off today. The sun was shining and I had the furnace off and the front door open to get some fresh air while I battled the dust bunnies in my living room.
I finished up some layouts I started at the funraiser scrapbook day and then went out for lunch with a friend. I'll post some of the completed layouts when I get a chance.
Tomorrow, I hope to squeeze some Christmas cards in between appointments. Wish me luck.

Treats Talents and Treasures

We had a fund raiser at work that includes a Treats, Talents and Treasures raffle. Although I no longer am a Stampin Up Demonstrator, I enjoy teaching so my contribution is some stamp sets and a free card making or scrapbook page class. Congratulations to Megan. I hear you already have a group of avid scrapbooker and cardmakers ready for me.

More layouts

Some scrapbook pages

Was playing with my new Cricut digital. Jenna cut and I pasted. So easy. All you do is enter the words you want on the keyboard , set the style and size, and it cuts the paper out for you.

Hallowe'en at Shelter Valley Campground

Spent yesterday celebrating Hallowe'en a little early. The Dog Whisperer and the Clampitt family even made an appearance. Everyone had fun. Thanks Karen and Carol for the invitation.

Kally approved Guest Room

Aaron and Jenna transformed my landlord beige craftroom into a grass green oasis for guests to stay in. Kally approves the transformation and so do I. Thanks guys for all your hard work. The room is beautiful! Just need to add the brown embroidered sheer valance and it will be complete.

I'm dreaming of a new scrapbook room

I'm dreaming of a new scrapbook room,

just like the one I saw in magazines.

With white shelving units and wire paper racks

to hold my multitude of stuff.

Aaron and Jenna are keeping me true to my word. After dinner we went to buy a dryer and a new upright freezer (to make room in the new scrapbook room for our things.) Can't afford to start from scratch so they helped me move most of my white shelving units down. Still need to move the computer desk, table, and wire paper racks down but will leave that til tomorrow. Its already after 10 pm.

The room is a little bigger and a different configuration so we will be able to have more than one person sit at the table to work. Just have to pick up an area carpet to keep our toes warm and we will be happy.

Already have the bedding for the bunk beds that are going in the old scrapbook room and will pick up a can of paint tomorrow so we can paint on the weekend and get the spare bedroom ready for guests on Friday. My dryer and freezer will be delivered then too so I be a happy girl.

Arthur says if I spend more time down there he will spend more time working in the tool room to reclaim the floor. Then I will really be able to do a happy dance.

Proud moments

Aaron graduated from grade 8 with the computer and technology award, a citizenship and an academic award. It was nice Oma, Opa, Granny, Aunt Annemarie and Aunt Carol were able to join in the celebration.

Photos by the bridge

For our photography class we met by the bridge. Of course chosing one of the longest nights of the year to take night shots had us waiting until almost 10 for it to be dark enough to use the bulb setting on the cameras.

Strathroy Turkeyfest 2010

We just returned from the Strathroy Turkeyfest. Jenna found some friends and had a blast with her ride all evening wrist band. I was playing with my camera and got some fun shots.

Lazy Sunday afternoon

Just spent the morning at the 1st Strathroy Swim Up Ceremony and have returned home without my boys. They are busy doing "guy" things together. At home, I have lots I could be doing but I'm spending some time on this lazy Sunday afternoon watching old movies. I caught the last few minutes of the Wedding Singer and a little over half of You've Got Mail.

Back from class trip

Aaron returned from his 4 day class trip to Celtic Sports and Leadership camp and had so much to talk about. He thoroughly enjoyed his time with his classmates.

Going to simplify my life

I have not made a card or scrapbooked in so long. My craftroom is so full of wonderful supplies I have collected along the way but cannot even find my workspace. I am starting to feel guilty if I even think of shopping for more supplies. It is for this reason, I have decided to simplify my life and step down as a Stampin Up Demonstrator. I have met some extremely friendly and creative people on my journey of working in the scrapbook and stamping industry. In fact everywhere I go if I know someone, my daughter says, "Don't tell me, you know them through scrapbooking". To these people I say thank you. I'd also like to thank my customers, you know who you are, for your continued support.
By doing this I hope to relieve some of the self imposed pressure and get back to the real reason I started scrapbooking when my son, Aaron was born 14 years ago. Creating with paper keeps me sane. At the end of the day if I have created something, I have a tangible measure of the success of my day.

Mother's Day Gifts

I bought a tutorial a couple of years ago and at a day long crop Jenna and I both made one to give to my Mom and my Mother-in-law for Mother's day. We made cards using a different stamp set than Becky did to go inside. If you'd like to make your own, I highly recommend Becky Robert's tutorial.

http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com/2010/03/tote-ally-awesome-tote.html

Happy Mother's Day

The spring Fairie has arrived at our house

Hopefully she will help them grow too.

Kally at play

Kally was on the prowl but took some time out to roll in the gutter and then back to the hunt

Spring

Aaron was playing with the camera and with a little cropping got this shot. The tulip photo is uncropped.

Caught in the act

Caught our kitty washing her paw in her favourite place to hang out. Love the new camera.

Happy Birthday Mom

Just wanted to wish a very special Mom a Happy Birthday. Thanks Mom for all you do and thanks for being you. We all love very much. Aaron, Jenna, Arthur and Gerrie

They are raising the roof.

Arthur's sister Carol and her husband are raising the roof literally. Work is under way to make their storey and a half home into a 2 storey one. We drove by yesterday and Aaron used the new camera in sports mode to take lots of shots. Here is just one.

Never thought of myself as much of a Rebel

Never thought of myself as much of a Rebel but now I own a Canon EOS Rebel XS 10.1MP DSLR Camera. I traded in my point and shoot digital and received an extra $50 off the sale price.
The deciding factor was not being able to get any pictures of Jenna's skating carnival with my other digital. It kept saying change the batteries, because the battery door was not closing properly. I had already investigated having it repaired but it would cost $100 just to look at it.
I looked at the point and shoot cameras and then found the Rebel on sale so decided to go for it.
Now I have an excuse and the time with my new job, to take a photography course I always wanted to take.

Easter treats

We looked in the states for some different Easter treats and found Kit Kats with bunny ears on them, and Snickers, Milky Way and York Peppermint Patties wrapped in pastel coloured foil.

They looked good enough to eat on our Easter treat tray we took to a family Easter party.

It was much more fun to put together than our traditional tray of secret recipe brownies.

Kaleidascope of colour

Outside one of the shops in Frankenmuth we found a Kaleidascope. Turn the floral basket and look through the lens. It was pretty amazing to see. Aaron thought these would make wonderful placemats if we would laminate prints.