Back to school

The kids are back to school and I don't know where the summer went. I always say that but this year is even worse. I've gone back to work full time and am finding it challenging to balance work and family, especially since I work shift work in a residential group home. My family has been so understanding and helpful.
We were able to spend the last few days of summer on vacation. We spent a few days in Toronto. Highlights included Arthur doing the Drop Zone at Canada's Wonderland, the tinsmith at Black Creek Pioneer Village, using our fingers to eat at Medeival Times and browsing at IKEA and Bass Pro Shop in Toronto.
I am looking forward to a more regular schedule that will include time for stamping and scrapbooking.

Surprise!

Happy 70th Birthday! Granny was surprised by a trip to England from her family. She just needs to get her passport, and then pick the dates.

Carol, Arthur, Kelly,

Murray

Karen and

Mum in the middle.

Granny and 12 of her baker's dozen.

Tiffany is missing because she had to do a first aid/cpr course.

back row

Kinesha, Aaron, Jamie, Murray, Jasmine, Victoria and Cassandra

front row

Colin, Wyatt,Scott, Granny, Jenna and Melora

Layouts created in the wee hours of the morning.

I promised to post the layouts I created in the wee hours of the morning at work last weekend but have been too busy until now.

Got to Scrapbook today!

Eliz picked Jenna and me up this morning and took us to our favourite scrapbook store, Scrapaholics in Mt. Brydges.

I found some perfect summer papers and Eliz gave me some photos from our recent Point Clark Lighthouse roadtrip. Together with a little stickles they made a perfect summertime layout.

Thanks Eliz for taking us. It was just what the doctor ordered. (and thanks for the photos)

Martha Stewart arrives in Canadian Walmarts

Just picked up a Martha Stewart doily lace scallop punch that Michaels had been sold out of for weeks at a Walmart Superstore at Hyde Park in London. $17.99 not a bad price. They didn't have everything out yet on the weekend so I don't know what is in the collection. (The punches at Walmart are light green and not white.)

Spoiled myself today

I spoiled myself today. Bought a new outfit and had some time before I was going to take Jenna out for dinner so I got a manicure and my first pedicure.

It was worth evey penny. Especially with the massage chair.

Stops on our Road Trip

Our roadtrip took us to Memory Lane in Zurich,

Keepsake Cottage in Goderich and the Point Clark Lighthouse.

We had a fun day and can't wait for the next one.

Road Trip Tuesday

I've worked so many hours in the past week I don't quite know if I'm coming or going. I do know however that tomorrow, Eliz, her grandaughter Giselle, Lizz, Jenna and I are going on a road trip up the coast of Lake Huron in search of scrapbook stores and lighthouses. I know we have a stop planned in Grand Bend, Zurich, and Goderich and will see where else the wind takes us. I'll post some photos when we get back.

Pagemaps blog challenge

Becky Fleck (Pagemaps) now has her own blog and to celebrate is holding a contest using this sketch from Jan 2008 Collection
Check it out. I may just have to use my Bluewater Fun Park Pictures for this challenge.

Love what Jay did for her entry. http://hablandodescrapbooking.blogspot.com/2008/07/page-maps-challenge.html

Now this is Summer

Spent the day with my 2 favourite kids at Bluewater Fun Park in Sarnia.

A little water, a little sun and a whole lot of fun!

New Book arrived

Ive been looking at this book for a while and when it was available through the Scrapbook club I couldn't resist. Its packed full of great ideas to add interactive fun elements to your pages. Well worth a look.
Click on the photo to see if you can browse the pages. (Not sure if you have to be signed in to the Scrapbook Club to do so.)

July Sheetload of Cards ready for download

Click on photo to get download link

Page Map July Sketches are Up

Just downloaded the July Page Maps and half maps

GSD file downloads reinstated

Just a quick note to let you know that my GSD file downloads are now available again at the link on my sidebar. Apparently they had been deleted because I had not logged in in 30 days. I'll watch that in the future.

Last one for today

This layout is one that we did at a Thurs. afternoon scrapbook page class at my friend Lizz's. Still have to add some journaling and a couple of their more casual cruise photos.

Finished off some layouts I had that needed photos.

I hate having layouts that still need photos. I did some while I was helping out at Memories on Main so set out to finishing some up this afternoon while Eliz came to visit.

Finished Got Sketch 101 Sketch #3

This is sketch # 3 of the Got Sketch 101 class.
The mats on the right side of the layout are hinged along the top so added 8 photos to the page.
I took the photos with my 35 mm camera so wasn't sure how they would turn out but I was pleased.

Spent the day scrapbooking

2 layouts same sketch. This one came from Heather and Dawn's new online stamp class at http://www.ustamp.com/

Its the free school days scrapbook pdf.

Easy and quick to put together and a perfect place to keep those report cards. Thanks girls for the inspiration.

U Scrap Online Stamp University

My Stampin Up friend Heather made her much anticipated announcement today.

Registrations are now being accepted for the FIRST ONLINE CLASS, offered World Wide, EXCLUSIVELY showcasing Stampin' Up! products.It is truly an exciting and historic time to be part of this fabulous Stampin' Up! learning experience!!Comprehensive educational tools will inspire you to create all the class projects at your own pace since there are NO HANDS in the University of Stamping Clock!North to South, East to West, all around the globe, all skill levels of stampers, scrappers, paper crafters, as well as, and especially, Stampin'Up! DemonstratorALL are officially invited to participate in the Fall 2008 University of Stamping opportunity hosted by Dawn Rapsas, United Stated Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and Heather Summers, Canadian Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!

Sign up and tell them I sent you and you will have a chance to win my own blog candy.

Click on the banner for more details.

I can't wait to get started.

Scraplift from current issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today

This is the title page for our summer album. Sorry about the glare.

It is a blatant scraplift from the current issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today. Just love the publication and have used many of the layouts in it.

I won't give you the page number. You'll just have to go and check it out yourself.

Paper, rubons and stamps are all by Stampin Up.

Sketch 4 Layout

This is sketch # 4 of the Got Sketch 101 Class. I added journaling pockets under the turquoise strip. Still need to add photos but wanted to get it posted.

More project ideas

The Get Sketch Class is now officially over but through Valerie Salmon's blog I found this great site for more project ideas. Fiskars is doing a project a day for the month of July and here is the first installment

(Click on the photo to go to the site.)

Just love the baseball centerpiece.

Check it out.

Happy Canada Day

Happy Canada Day! Hope you are doing something you enjoy with someone you enjoy being with.

Look what followed me home today

I went shopping with some girls from work today and look what followed me home from Build-a Bear Workshop. I guess she knew I needed some company this coming week.

Canoe Tripping

With all the gear that I have in my living room ready for Arthur, Aaron and Jenna to take canoe tripping they may have to rent extra canoes just to take it all. Keep your fingers crossed for them so that we have good weather.

School's Out for The Summer

Summer is always my favourite time of year because there is lots of time to spend with my children. This year will be a little different in that I have returned to the work force and have to balance work and family but I am looking forward to it.

Today we are meeting friends at a water park and then tomorrow will be getting everyone ready for a 4 day canoe trip.

Road Trip

After working 53 hours last week it was nice to have Sunday and yesterday off. I made good use of my time. Sunday afternoon we went to the beach and out for dinner and yesterday went on a Last Hurrah before School's Out scrapbooking roadtrip with Carolyn and Rachel. It was so much fun picking up cool new things. I'll use them on my next few layouts and point them out. We went to Cambridge, Kitchener and Woodstock. Tried going to Tilsonburg but the store there was closed.
Its going to be a very busy rest of the week getting my family ready for a canoe trip so I may not get a chance to scrapbook.

Having a bath

Ever since I had kids I don't close the bathroom door when I am in there unless there is someone else in the house. If I close the door the kids or the cat are trying to get in. Last night I thought everyone was asleep and it was safe to go and have my bath. Wrong. Kally came in to drink my soapy bath water. Jenna came in looking for the cat so I asked her to get the camera and she had enough time to get it and take this great shot of Kally looking at her. Maybe some day I'll be able to have a bath in peace but for now this is a fact of life.

Stamp Class at Lizz's

I went to scrapbook page class at my friend Lizz's yesterday afternoon and again was able to complete the pages with photos the same day. Got to like it when the pages are perfect for recent photos. Thanks Lizz for the layouts, the extras and the goodies. Eliz, love those egg salad sandwiches and pickles. I'm glad we are going to continue over the summer.

We're having a Wii Party

Aaron has some friends over for his 12th birthday party and it is a Wii Party. We have a couple of games, we rented a couple, he got one as a gift from one of his friends and another friend brought a couple of games. All I have to provide is food and supervision so I will be on the comptuer for a while in the family room. Easiest party I ever put on.

Good News for Meridian

My husband works in the struggling Automotive industry and we have been living with the uncertainty of knowing whether the company he works for will be here tomorrow. Good news is that they have been able to do some restructuring so that business can continue as usual for the time being.

Here is a press release on the company website if you are interested.

http://meridian-mag.com/news/?id=55

Got Sketch 101 Layout for sketch #2

This layout is based on sketch #2 of the Got Sketch 101 class. I didn't have the heart to crop Kally out of this picture as she just nonchalantly walked into my photo. The 2nd page is based on one of Valerie Salmon's earlier sketches using circles. I just turned it to fit the orientation of my photos.

Got Sketch 101 Layout for Sketch #1

Arthur took Aaron and Jenna to visit his sister and her family at their trailer (which they bought from my parents) in Goderich during the May 24th long weekend. It was cold but they kept toasty beside the fire.

This layout is based on a 1 page sketch in the Got Sketch 101 class.

(Someone might get the idea I like green as my last few layouts have been green)

For the 2nd page I just stretched the sketch and had the tags coming out of the side instead of the top of the photo mat. (You'd think I staged the boys wearing orange and blue and Jenna wearing green.)

Sheet Load of Cards

I'm helping to spread the word by Shouting out about SheetLoad of Cards.
Every month you can download card patterns and cutting measurements. Click on the image and it will take you to the June Preview.

Working on Get Sketch 101 class

I spent some time last night working on the Get Sketch 101 class I reversed the order of pre class sketches 1 & 2 to create this layout celebrating family and the love that is shared at my mom's birthday party.

In honour of her creative needlework skills I added crocheted flowers and stitching.

The 2nd layout is a make and take from Memories On Main St. in Lambeth that was perfect for the recent Total Eclipse of the Moon. Anyone who knows us knows that Arthur is a star gazer so we can't help be interested in what goes on in the sky. I added the lyrics to the song done by Enigma on the Voyageur album. I added gold ink to the edges of the layout and the patterned paper pieces. The photos I downloaded from the internet.

Community Quilt

Arthur and I joined Aaron and his classmates at Museum London for their very own art show. Their class was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a 3 session series of art classes and then to attend a show of their work at the gallery.

Refreshments included a candy salad bar, punch and cake. Each group was able to take their community quilt and the other art pieces they created home. Unfortunately their quilt was mistakenly taken by a high school group from Woodstock. The kids are now eagerly awaiting the return of their eagle quilt.

It was a fun morning.

Keeping cool

I am sure glad we put a new central air conditioning unit in our house the end of last summer. It was so nice to come home from working last night to a cool house. Arthur had put it on just before I came home.
The house was nice and cool for him to go to sleep when he came home from work this morning.

June Pagemaps and Cardmaps are available

The June Pagemaps and Cardmaps are available on Becky Fleck's site. Well worth a look!

my vent about computers

Computers like cars are great when they work and a pain when they don't. I picked up Aaron and Jenna's computer from the repair shop today set it up for them again. I found I had to reinstall the wireless network adapter. It was simple the first time I did it, but not so this evening. After many tries, I discovered by going to the manufacturer's website on our other computer that I needed an updated driver after service pack 3 had been installed. I downloaded it and then had to unzip it and transfer it to this computer with my flash drive. I finally got a network connection but no internet connection. After many more tries and reading the help files and the troubleshooting wizards I finally, 2 1/2 hours later got the internet working. Its now almost 3 am and I haven't been to bed yet.

So again computers are wonderful when they work and I think I should leave the rest to the experts.

Long time no see

I was at a stamping class at Heather's tonight and there was a girl who looked really familiar but I couldn't place her. She knew exactly who I was including remembering my last name. Michelle and I had graduated from Fanshawe College E.C.E. program 30 years ago. She is still in contact with several other classmates. How cool to meet again after all these years. It was nice to see her. I look forward to possibly having contact with some of the other girls as well.

Look what I found in my stash!

While cleaning up our stamping room I came across these acrylic stamps a friend insisted I buy last week. A whole year of calendar stamps in the $1.50 bin at Michaels. Now I should have something now for every calendar page I do.

Happy Birthday Eliz

For her birthday I treated my friend Eliz to a roadtrip. I took her to All About Scrapbooks in Woodstock, Ontario and gave her some money to spend. Can't take a friend to a scrapbook store and not provide her with resources now could I. She bought paper and I found something similar to a gift my aunt gave us when we were little. It was fuzzy powder and adhesive sheets to create pictures with. Fun Flock by Stampendous is similar. The sales staff recommended using Quickie Glue Pen, or liquid glue to adhere the flocking. I'll play with it and let you know how I make out. I bought blue, orange, green and brown.