Had an Awesome first day of summer

We had an awesome first day of summer. A friend invited us to join her at the Brain Injury Awareness Day held at East Park Golf Gardens in London. The kids played a round of mini golf and then spent the afternoon playing on the water slides. The weather was perfect. We had such a good time.
We also had the kids fitted for new bicycle helmets they were giving away for a donation.

Couple of cards using my Wishblade

We are losing both our Principal and Vice Principal this year so I made a couple of cards using my Wishblade and downloaded files. I just love the intricate cuts. If only I could learn how to design stuff this beautiful.

Finished Stamp/Scrap Day Layouts

I know its been a long time coming but here are a couple of Stamp/Scrap Day Layouts I finished up last night. The sentiment is one Deb used on a layout for the store.

The St Thomas Air Show one worked well with the colours in Jenna's shirt

Teacher's gift card holder

I spent hours playing with a gift card holder for this year's Teacher's gifts. We bought cards from Chapters Book Stores. {Aaron wants to insist his teacher buy something for herself and not the class with it.}After several attempts I decided to use the Hidden message slider format http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/hiddenmessageslider.php
with an oval card holder as seen in http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/578032?cat=500&ppuser=89711 to show the apple and book on the gift card.
This card it way too thick to mail but I'm please with the results. The greetings on the card were done using some $1.50 acrylic stamps from Michaels. The doodle style of the words match the flower and the Basic Grey patterned paper I used.

I love a challenge

As some of you already know I love a scrapbook challenge so my friend Eliz called me with one this morning. She wanted a 1 page layout for 2 photos she has of a recent fire in Petrolia. I have some glitz and glitter to add to the flames. Oops I gave it to her without taking a photo of it.

St. Thomas Air Show

Summertime and the living is easy. We got comfortable this afternoon at the St. Thomas Wings and Wheels Air Show. A little sun, a little food and a little entertainment. The aerial manoevers are just amazing. That they can control the aircraft and make it look so easy.Show. A little sun, a little food and a little entertainment. The aerial manoevers are just amazing. That they can control the aircraft and make it look so easy.

Favourite Summer Song

Now that summer {my favourite season of the year } is officially here I am compiling a list of all time favourite summer music. I want to make add some summer music to a MP3 player and need suggestions. I already have


Walking on Sunshine- Katrina and the Waves
Under the Boardwalk - The Drifters
Kokomo- Beach Boys
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Under the boardwalk? (added by Leeny)
Tequila Sunrise - Eagles
Pina Colada song {Escape- Rupert Holmes}
Margueritaville -Jimmy Buffet (am I sensing a theme)
Summer Lovin' - Grease
Summer in the City - Loving Spoonful
School's Out - Alice Cooper
Surfin USA - Beach Boys
Hot Fun In The Summertime- Sly and the Family Stone
Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
Summer Of '69 - Bryan Adams
Brown-Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
Dancing in the Streets, Martha & the Vandellas
Locomotion, Little Eva
Seasons in the Sun- Terry Jacks

In a scrapbooking mood

I was in a scrapbooking mood last night and this

afternoon. I finished a couple of layouts I have had kicking around for a bit. The home one is a scraplift of one that Deb did for the store and the pool one is one I did when I scrapbooked in St. Thomas. The birthday one was a scraplift of 2 different layouts in the current issue of Scrapbook and Cards today. Still have to add photos to that one.

I think I only have 2 more layouts started that need photos. Both of them I did when Eliz hosted our stamp and scrap days. We are going to an air show tomorrow so will be able to complete one soon for sure.

Some scrap paper cards

I was making up cards from extra kits I had at work today so continued on this evening with cards made using scraps of paper. I used the Becky Fleck card sketches at http://www.pagemaps.com/

and some strips of patterned paper and cardstock. The stamps are the $1.50 ones from Michaels.

Thanks Eliz, Ann, Cheryl and Kathy for coming in to crop today. It was nice to see you.

A New Look

We changed the screen door on the front of our house because the cat could come and go as she pleased but so could the bugs. Several people who visit regularly said it was a good thing the car was parked in the driveway. They almost didn't recognize the house. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad.

We are also redoing the bathroom just because I wanted a more energy efficient light fixture. Didn't know we were going to have to exert so much energy to redo the walls.

Jenna asked me if I was going to change everything in the house. I told her that after being here almost 8 years, we have only redone her room and Aaron's. It was time the rest of the house had a facelift too. So watch out Arthur. I've got lots of projects up my sleeve yet.

Father's Day

What could be finer than spending Father's Day with Dad:
* A warm summer afternoon.
*The kids got to go swimming at the public pool across the street.
*Then mom's best apple pie
*Family movie night watching Mrs. Doubtfire to top it off.

Major changes ahead

Some recent events have made me take a hard look at things and decide that it is now the time for some major changes in my life. I have decided that after the summer I will leave the business world of scrapbooking behind and re-enter the work force to use my education, training and skills in other avenues. We have some plans that require me to contribute more to the financial goals of our family and our children are now old enough to allow us to leave them alone for short periods of time.
Wish me luck and I will continue to maintain this blog as a creative outlet.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Arthur says he doesn't like cats but judging from the photos I'm pretty sure that Kally has won just a little bit of his heart.

Good weekend so far.

Last night the Scouts went to the Delaware Speedway and invited family to come along. It was a beautiful evening to spend time together. We had a nice time. I hadn't been to the races since I was a child. We had neighbours who were involved at least 35-40 years ago. The took us a few times.
It was so nice to come home to a house that is nice and cool. We had been without air conditioning for a week and I put off calling a repair service afraid that we would have to replace the unit. Fortunately that was not the case. We needed 2 new capacitors although we had replaced one a couple of years ago. In any event it was worth a good night's sleep.
Tonight when I get home from work we will celebrate Aaron's birthday. I'll have to remember to get the camera out. I haven't taken photos in a while and want something new to scrap.

Treasure the Moment

This layout is a scraplift of a Ninabrook layout. I spent some time with a great friend at the Great Lakes Mega Meet in May. We had so much fun we are saving for next year.

Finally some pictures from the latest and greatest Basic Grey Class in Buffalo

These are still not quite finished but they are far enough along to give you the idea.

Love: My husband is not usually romantic but once in a while he will come home with a bouquet of roses when I am least expecting them. Thanks so much Arthur (sorry for the glare on the main photo)

If you haven't seen the new Bazzill Bling cardstock you are really missing out. Wonderful sheen on it. Too pretty to cover up. It was used as the main photo mat here.

Another Stamp and Scrap Day

This time it was Eliz's turn to host. She's been ready for a month with her projects. Love the Sunflower stamp. We made 2 cards, a fridge magnet and a scrapbook page. Notice how I used the fridge magnet idea as an accent to the page. Now all I have to do is add photos, a title and some journalling.
Thanks Eliz, you never disappoint us. Great lunch too!

Whole family working with paper.

I had my whole family working with paper this evening. No we weren't all making cards or scrapbooking. We were stripping wallpaper {I never liked} off the bathroom walls. Had to stop though because the boys went to cubs and it was so hot in the bathroom with 4 of us in there and the air conditioner not working the wallpaper wasn't coming off very well anymore.
Tomorrow we'll take off the mirror and finish taking off the paper behind it. Probably won't be able to get it done by the weekend but I'm sure I'll like it when we are finished. All because I wanted a more energy efficient light fixture.

I'm being spoiled this week

Wow this is turning into a nice week after all. Enjoyed last evening at Lizz's. Great stamping/scrapbook projects Lizz and Mary. Barb, thanks for sharing your ideas too. Eliz the coffee was perfect.
My rose bush is flowering. (sentimental significance*My rosebush in Windsor was in full flower when we brought Aaron home from the hospital at 5 days old)
My new bathroom light fixture has been installed. Still need to rip off that ugly wallpaper and repaint but that's ok.
My hubby is taking me out for lunch and a movie this afternoon for a belated anniversary celebration. Tomorrow is a stamp/scrap day at Eliz's and Friday I'm taking Carolyn out for her birthday lunch.
I get to spend time with all my favourite people this week. Who could wish for anything more.

I should buy a lottery ticket

I think its time to take my chances again with a lottery ticket. Friday Jenna and I won some Pearl ex as a door prize at Heather's Stamp Camp and last night I won a stamp set as a door prize at Lizz & Mary's Open House. If 3's a charm I'll have to try my luck.