We put Lizz on the spot last night.

We were supposed to go to a card class at Skraps and Scribbles in Sarnia last night but Mother Nature did not cooperate. The roads were fine from here to Arkona but not good the rest of the way. We ended up staying at Lizz's and put her on the spot. She shared these cards with us and then we all played with an Easter stamp set. Thanks Lizz for your hospitality.

Birthday card from Eliz

I haven't had the chance to be too creative the last few days but I wanted to share this lovely card I received from my friend Eliz.

Being 50 is not all that bad.

The cake says it all. "It's not the age, it's the attitude"

I'm sure glad my kids are still young.

Don't know if I'd feel the same if they were in their 20's

Special Deliveries

I received several special deliveries for my birthday and am thrilled. Thanks so much!

The mailman brought me a package containing cards and a pair of gold hoop earrings. Eliz dropped off a card and Timmy's gift card in my mailbox. The Hoekstra's sent me a lovely floral arrangement. Thanks so much everyone for your wishes.

The kids had fun picking out some birthday balloons for my party today. They are over at Granny's decorating for a dinner Granny is hosting. I took this photo with my new digital camera. {No Arthur did not read my earlier post on my blog. I presented him with a deal he couldn't refuse. No tax event at Real Canadian Superstore. He did take me out for dinner and then we ate brownies and watched a movie at home.)

Close to you

Did this page for Memories on Main St. I used Bazill cardstock, Bazill scalloped circle cardstock,

Valentine paper by Doodlebug. Title was cut using Jasmine Cricut cartridge. Stickles and clear paper glaze added the bling.

A joy fold card

I have not been able to post as much as usual this week but have been working on things. A few of them are just not ready to show yet.

Here is a joy fold card. Really simple to do if you follow the directions found here
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141637&highlight=joy+fold

A Black Tie Affair

Found this card in my stash of things and thought I'd share it. It is made from 1 black and 1 white 4 1/4 X 5 1/2" piece of cardstock folded so that they meet in the middle. The white one fits inside the black one. I folded the lapels down on the black and then the white tuxedo collar on the white one. Added a red rose and it makes a great invitation to a black tie affair.

How I spent my Family Day

Aaron had to make an amusement park for his science project.

This was in addition to a rollercoaster to illustrate various kinds of motion.

Dollarama finds

I only went in to Dollarama for pipe cleaners. Honest. Couldn't resist these scrapbook supplies. Card kits, embellishment, ribbon and matching

fabric coloured brads.

Layout from Saturday

It's a Small World. I must admit my photos of this attraction at Disney were a disaster so these are ones downloaded from the web. I used a couple of dolls and rub ons I had found at Dollarama ages ago and the blue and white gems were ones I found there just the other day.

Great Scrapping Day

Spent the day scrapping with some of my best scrapping buddies. It had been far too long since we had seen each other. Thanks Rachel for hosting.

Will take some photos of what I accomplished and post them in the morning.

My dear KIND @ wonderful Friend

Thanks to Lizz and Eliz for your delivery of stamps, coffee and Valentine's wishes.

Look what I did with my new stamp set while I was working this afternoon. I used some Melissa Frances paper and chipboard coasters. Should have bought the brown Bind It All coils.

Happy Valentines Day

Just wanted to wish all of my dedicated readers and anyone else who visits today a Happy Valentines Day.

Monitor colours pastel after power disruptions

When I turned my monitor on this morning the colours were not the traditional windows red, blue, green but a very pretty shade of pink, aqua and light green. We had some power outages the other day and I hadn't been on this computer since. No it was not my monitor going. I don't have the extra cash to replace this monitor right now. I'd had a similar situation with another computer before. I remember something about Degaussing = the process of decreasing or eliminating an unwanted magnetic field. This is how to fix it according to http://www.wikihow.com/Degauss-a-Computer-Monitor
How to Degauss a Computer Monitor
Degaussing a computer monitor clears electromagnetic buildup from the screen. Although it is hardly ever necessary, degaussing can sometimes slightly improve picture quality.
Steps
Simply turn the monitor off and turn it back on. Most modern monitors degauss themselves automatically each time they are powered on. When the monitor is turned on, you should hear a distinctive "dwoing" sound. If you hear no sound when you turn the unit on, it may not degauss itself automatically. If that is the case, proceed to the next step.
Look for a button labeled DEGAUSS. This may be combined on an EXIT button. (Mine didn't have it)
Otherwise, locate the menu button on the front of the monitor.
Bring up the on-screen menu, locate the degauss option (the ohm icon), and select it. You should now hear the degaussing noise, and the screen will probably display a brief burst of color.
Problem fixed. Just thought I would share.

Too old for Valentines?

I asked the kids if they wanted to take Valentines to school. To my surprise and disappointment my grade 6 boy adamantly said no. Jenna also said no. She is only in grade 4. I didn't mean mushy kind of thing. So I went ahead and made sucker covers and didn't even put their names on them. I had to use my new Valentine stamp set didn't I? They agreed to take them and give them to their classmates tomorrow.

Its one of those things that although its not as important to them, I'm not ready to give up the tradition. I'll be the kind of mom who will continue to send some kind of treat to school with my kids on Valentines Day. I'm sure there are many other moms who feel like I do.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-- Robert Frost

Its so nice to see the sun this morning. As I look out of my window while surfing on the net, I happened to see a bird sitting on a branch and was reminded of one of the few poems that we had to memorize in elementary school. Although we complain about the snow I have to remember to see the beauty in it too.

3rd Annual Arkona Stamp/Scrap Day

A couple of good friends of mine are putting on:

ARKONA'S
SCRAPBOOK & STAMPING EVENT

Bring your friends, family, neighbours and join us for the 3rd Annual

when: Saturday, April 5, 2008
10:00 am until 10:00 pm
where: Arkona Senior Citizen's Hall
7355 Arkona Rd. (corner or Arkona Rd &Victoria St.)
includes: Lunch, supper & refreshments
cost: $40.00 per person (Proceeds to Cancer)

Demonstrations/Make & Takes provided by:
Stampin Up
Close to My Heart
Creative Memories
(Consultants will be on hand to take any orders you may have.)
We also have Skribbles & Scraps Store from Pontiac Drive, Sarnia (for those supplies you just have to have)

Seating is limited and spots will go quickly
Prepaid Registration is required by March 21, 2008 to hold your spot.

To register or for more information contact
Elizabeth Peters Lizz Vanderkant
519-828-3799 519-828-3850
Box 205, 7357 Arkona Rd. 8061 Tamarack Line
Arkona On. NOM 1BO Arkona On. NOM 1B0

A Little Bit of Fairy Dust Wishblade/Silhouette file

The layout was one I did the other day. Jenna collects Tinkerbell and Fairy things so what more fitting than to add a little bit of fairy dust to the gorgeous fairy which is part of a file by Erika Phillipson entitled Wisteria Fairy. A little Bit of Fairy Dust is a title I created using Inkscape. It took a while to cut but I like the effect. The title file is available for download at my link on the sidebar. Password is happy2008

This post is for my husband to read

I'm posting this here so maybe my husband will find it. Valentines and my birthday are both coming up this month and I am currently taking digital pictures with a camera that has a red and white pipecleaner wrapped around it to hold the battery compartment door closed. I dropped it and lost the plastic cover. Do you know you feel a shock if you try to hold it closed with your fingers. I guess it has something to do with touching the metal. Its also really hard to get the subject in the viewfinder and to take the photo if you are holding the batteries in.

I really would like a new Canon digital camera like my mom and Eliz have. I really would like a 6.0- 8.o MP. I can even shop around and find an awesome deal!

So please Arthur, I hope you find this post.

Found refill pages for Costco Albums

Anyone need refills for the gorgeous leather 12X12" albums that Costco carries. They come with 15 pages but I gave my mom the pages out of my album so she could finish off her cruise album. The albums are made by Memory Stor and you can send away for refills if you live in the US. If not Michaels carries Century Craft refills. A package of 25 for $16.00. 40% off if you use a coupon.

Heather has done it again

Heather has done it again. Jenna went to her kid's class this morning and had an awesome time. She can't wait for the next one. Ps: not all of the jelly beans made it home. Its a long ride to Strathroy you know.

Better day

The trees looked so pretty this morning (this is not my photo but I wish I had taken some on the way to Lambeth.) It was a much better day on the creative front today. Sad though that the snow and ice from yesterday prevented Lizz and Eliz from joining me at Memories on Main today. Will have to take a rain or should I say snow check. So glad Carolyn was able to make it.
Finished the layout I was struggling with and am much happier with it now. I also completed some more layouts that I will post when I put finishing touches on the.
Went to a stamping class at Heather's tonight. Cute projects. Thanks Heather.

Frustrated scrapbooker

Scrapbooking was hard work today. I guess it was one of those days. I struggled on a layout I started yesterday but didn't know where to go with it. I'll take a fresh look at it tomorrow. This afternoon I scraplifted a store layout and am working on a 2nd page. It was nice to see a few people I know come into the store today.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the ice rain and snow are finished so a few friends can make it in to the store to scrap with me. I also want good weather tomorrow evening so I can go to an Easter stamp class at Heathers. That's not asking for too much is it?

Some Layouts to Share

The first 2 pages are the ones I did at Eliz's. Thanks for the Stampin Up paper! They are recent photos of my Mom and Dad on their Panama Canal Cruise and their dinner with my sister and her husband at the Races.

The 2nd layout is one I did for Memories on Main St. It is of my brother, sister and I when we were young. Paper is Melissa Frances Wendell, Ramona and Hazel. Cardstock is Bazzill. Round photo frame is Melissa Frances and the title is a Cricut cut.

The last layout, Limited Edition is of my family. Paper is Tinkering Ink: Humphrey Bogard and Rudolf Valentino. Brings to mind a bit of romance doesn't it? The Limited Edition is a Cricut cut and the flowers and the scroll are Stampin Up Brocade Motif set stamped and embossed in detail black embossing powder. Notice the scallop along the top - cut with the Creative Memories circle punch and cut in half. The hearts are cut with a Creative Memories Punch too.

Happy Pancake Day

Just got home from work so this will be a quick post. Have to go make some Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday.

Have done lots of scrapbook layouts in the past couple of days. 2 pages yesterday at Eliz's and 2 layouts today for Memories on Main. Will post them after I find photos for them.

Happy Groundhog Day

Split Decision.
According to news authorities
"Three of Canada's top groundhog weather forecasters have emerged from their heated, custom-built homes and predicted an early spring, capping a week of snowstorms and bitter cold that kept Canadians burrowed inside their own cozy dens.
However, it seems the country's revered rodents did not confer with their counterpart across the border before making their predictions, as Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil indicated to thousands gathered at Gobbler's Knob to hunker down for six more weeks of chilly temperatures.
Legend has it that if a groundhog emerges to a sunny day and sees his shadow, he will scoot back into his hole for another six weeks. If not, winter's chill will soon be over. "
I suspect though either way there is still a lot of winter in store for us.
Happy Groundhog day everyone. Enjoy your day!

Found a wonderful site for Wishblade/Silhouette Designs

Found a wonderful site , the Latest by Mary. She is very generous with her Wishblade/Sihouette/CraftRobo files. I have a lot to learn to get even close to the level of her files. Gives me something to work towards. Every time I use my machine, I learn something new.

Home Life

I finished up the pages from the other day and here is yesterday's layout.

Was playing with the large 5 petal flower by Stampin Up. and put a rubon

in the center.

The title Home Life is a brown rubon which is hard to see with a black Life rubbed

over it. To make the brown rubon stand out more I went around the edges with

a gold glitter gel pen.

Some basketball Wishblade/Sihouette files for friends

Because of a snow storm some friends were not able to spend the day with us as planned so

in addition to scrapbooking, I played with my Wishblade and created a couple of things for their basketball pages. The players are the first paper piecing I have done with my cutter.

The files are available for download at the link on the sidebar for Gerrie's .gsd files.

Password is still happy2008

February Page Maps are available

Becky Fleck's Page Maps are up for February. She has included a set of round maps.
Had some trouble getting in today but tried later and got them.

What better to do on a snowed out P.A. Day. Spend the time scrapbooking!

Our weekend is starting early

Our weekend is starting early. It's a P.A. Day so have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Heart Month.

Some New Layouts

A few new ideas I got from Memories on Main. The first one
is a kit by My Mind's Eye

The left side is a scraplift of a store sample and the right one is one I saved from a magazine.
I'm working on a title on with my Wishblade

This third one is a scraplift of one of Sue's layouts. Still need to
cut out Birthday girl. Haven't decided what font yet.

This last one is a scraplift of Carolyn's scraplift of a Ninabrook Layout.

I have a Part time job in Scrapbook Store

For the next little while I'll be working at Memories on Main St. on a part time basis. This week I work Tues. to Thurs. 10-2:30 and next week Tues. -Fri. from 10-2:30. This week Sue is having an anniversary sale with 40% off everything except Bazzill cardstock, bling, scallops and magazines. She has a crop area too so if you would like to stop and crop come on in.

Heart Boxes

Found the directions and template for these cute heart shaped boxes at http://www.stampin.com/tips/heartbx.htm

I modified them to be cut by my Wishblade and cut 2 different sizes.

DOWNLOAD .gsd

Password is happy2008

Found another Gerrie

I was doing my blog reading today and came across a note that Gerrie had posted a comment. I hadn't so went to investigate. I found another Gerrie and checked out her blog. I fired off an email and she emailed me back. Its pretty weird seeing someone else with the same name. Not too many of us out there.

Struggled with this one.

I struggled with this one. It did not turn out as I had envisioned it when I set out. I started by stamping and embossing the swirl from Baroque Motifs in red on red cardstock. Then tried stamping and embossing on white vellum. It just got lost when I placed it over the background piece. I ended up putting a piece of white cardstock with torn and embossed edges behind the vellum. Scan doesn't show the vellum but it is still there. Its ok but I couldn't find the right ribbon in my stash.

Jenna is 10

And it is a sweet life. Jenna was showered with Webkins, DS games, clothing and money.
Ahhh to be 10 again.

Just hanging out!

Exhausted after a weekend of partying, Kally is hanging out with friends in Aaron's room. Away from the hustle and bustle.

Pyjama Party with Jenna and Friends

Oh my, It's only beginning. My 10 year old is having a sleepover for her birthday. I thought I had them all tucked into bed and asleep by 11:30 so I went to bed. At 2 am I hear them up. Go downstairs and find all 5 of them up and in the craft room. They sheepishly tell me they can't sleep. I sent them back to bed in no uncertain terms and told them if they didn't go to sleep I'd be cranky and grumpy in the morning.
I'm not quite sure what concerns me more. Them up at 2 or having 5 of them in the craft room which took me days to organize. I'm not even taking a look til the morning.

Scrapping in Arkona

Spent the day scrapbooking in Arkona. Eliz provided the paper and we participated in Cyndi's sketch challenge . Thanks Heather for directing us to it.
Here is my version. And yes the upside down D was an accident but works for the page.

Since it was such a beautiful day we made the quick trip to Canada's "Other Falls" at Rock Glen in Arkona, Ontario to get some winter shots.

Thanks Eliz for a lovely time.

Eliz and Lizz (my stamping buddies)

Why we love Tim Horton's

I have a couple of friends who rescue me with a Tim Horton's coffee and I just received a couple of coffees from friends on Facebook. It reminded me of the Tim Horton's commercials they had last year about why we love Tim Hortons. Well we have our own story.
1) Just after Aaron was born, I was accepted into the Social Work Program at Kings College in London. Great. The only thing was we were living in Windsor. So every Sunday evening I would pack up my little one and head for my parent's house in London, and every Friday after school I would pick Aaron up and head the other way. Invariably before we got home we'd have to stop at Timmy's because he was hungry. Fortunately for me he loved the cream of broccoli soup so we shared a bowl.
2) He always fell asleep in the car so if he was being cranky in the evening I would drive from home along Riverside drive to a drive through Timmy's the right distance from home to have him fall asleep. I would have my coffee and then by the time I got home we were both nice and calm.
3) This same trick worked for Jenna and was a life saver for me.
4) We only had 1 vehicle so in order for me to have the car I would have to drive Arthur to work
It was 1/2 hour away and when Aaron was toilet training we had to stop on the way home so he could go to the bathroom. I remember coming home from my sisters' house with my parents and Aaron had to go to the bathroom. Oma told him we'd be home in a couple of minutes. He told her no. He had to go at Tim Hortons.
5) Now Jenna is turning 10 and we still love Tim Horton's. There is never any hesitation when I ask them if they want to go for coffee. Their favourite lunch out is a bagel.
6) When Arthur is working nights we go for coffee after the kids go to school and that is our time to catch up on things that are going on.
7) What's better than a cup of hot coffee!
So thanks girls for the coffees and I'll just have to scrapbook them.

Someone else is on the same wavelength. Check out this post at Splitcoaststampers for
Jeanne's Timbit box template. It's a cute gable box.