Christmas Cards & Tags!

It is almost the end of November and that means that our Christmas card and tag swap is coming up at the store. I decided to join in both (not sure what I was thinking there, but I managed to pull it off) and I am super excited to share my creations.

My tag was inspired by a few different ideas that I spotted on the internet. I love working with kraft cardstock and white ink (the combination is amazing) so I combined it with glitter and Christmas colours to make my tag!

My cards also include kraft cardstock and this time I added the details with a white pen.



They were inspired by a design that I found on the Jillibean Soup blog. I added a touch of Stickles to each of the gifts to make them sparkle.

I can't wait to see what all the other 'swappers' have been up to. I will be sure to post everything after the swap!

So Excited!

Today I submitted my application to be a part of Allison Davis' new Sketch blog. As most of you know, I have been a big fan of Allison's sketches for a while now, and I never thought that I would end up working with her.

I have had the opportunity to do a layout for Allison for an upcoming article for ScrapStreet (it will appear in December and I will post it then) and I was also a guest designer on her blog for Sketch Week in November. When I heard about the opportunity to be a part of a team and work with the sketches each month, I just knew I had to apply!

Here is my single page submission.

Here is my double-page submission.

Wish me luck!!!!!

Please Help!

Can someone please explain to me why I ask him to do dishes?

This Is So Cool Dude!

I am typing this post from Erie, Pennsylvania! I left this morning at 5:45am on a bus with my sister to do a little shopping. It is now 8:35pm and I am on the computer in the lobby of the hotel.

I just had to get on here and do a post about my very first guest designer spot. I was this month's guest designer for Allison Davis' Sketch Week!

Here is the sketch.......

Here is my layout........

Layout details:

• To create the patterned paper background sheet, I hand cut the border from the paper.

• I used my sewing machine to add blue stitching to the pattern paper. It helps to define the space and pop it off the white background

• I arranged the photos very similar to the sketch. I added 2 smaller prints to the 4x6 spot on page 2. I also sanded the edges of each photo to help them stand out on the dark blue background. I always mat my photos.

• For the title, I used a variety of products......chipboard, stickers, pattern papers, etc. This creates a focal point on the page that helps to describe how Jason was feeling when we were on this trip. The arrow points to the photo of the artist doing his work. Jason was so fascinated by this.

• For the other embellishment areas, I added some buttons, die-cuts, stickers etc to tie in the theme of the page. I used foam adhesive on the stickers in the lower right corner of page 2 to create some dimension on my page and help balance out the title.

• I wanted my journaling to be present, but not stand out. I chose to used white for the journaling strips, but I added the square brads to help pull some of the yellow from the photos on page 1 over to page 2.

• I applied Vintage Photo Distress Ink to all of my pattern papers, cardstock (not the dark blue), stickers, die-cuts etc. I love how it softens the entire layout and pulls everything together.

I had so much fun playing along.

I Remember

This November, make remembrance more than something you feel. Make it something you do.

Yikes!

So, Joanne made me this sweet jar for our retreat weekend and it was full of Skittles! Yummy!!

I don't know what happened, but it is empty. I have lots and lots of things I need to do over the next few days, and I am not sure I can get through it all without my sweet jar.

Joanne, if you read this post, can you please refill my sweet jar? Thanks so much :)

Sneak Peek

I have been busy working away on my tags for the tag swap we are having at the store! I have to make 20 tags in total and on December 1st we get together and swap them with everyone that is participating.

Here is a sneak peek of mine:

I tried out a new product and technique I discovered at Scrapfest! Actually, Amanda is the one that pointed it out. I worked with glitter, stamps, Copics, ink, ribbon, and even a candy cane!

I will share the finished product closer to the swap!

My Scrap Space

I was on our forum yesterday and I noticed that someone had started a thread about our scrap spaces. I really enjoyed looking through all the different posts and decided that it was time for me to post some photos of my space!

I need a space that is all about function. I don't have loads of money to spend on all sorts of fancy decor pieces. I totally love the area that I have created! It is located on the main floor of our home. We have an office off the kitchen and I share this space with my hubby. It works out great when he is working with his computer stuff, I can play with my toys too. My kids always know where I am and I can even prepare meals while I play (this usually doesn't end well, as I usually forget the meal part and end up burning something).

This is Cooper. He is usually in my room with me. He climbs up to the tallest shelf in the room and plunks himself down.

This is a tower that holds 12 of these fabulous drawers. I have them labeled and when I need something I pull the entire drawer out and rummage through.

Here is where I keep my stamps, blocks, mounting foam, photos, floss, etc.

My clip it up is packed with left over things from sticker sheets, chipboard pieces and odds and ends.

I recently made a space for my sewing machine. I found I wasn't using it because it was not accessible. I need to make a cover for it. For now I use an old pillowcase from when I was a kid. It does the job, but not so pretty!

My Cricut machine has a special spot so that if I need it, all I do it turn it on and we are in business.

This is another wonderful cabinet with 6 bins filled with various items.

My Copics, pencils, and my Cuttlebug.

My laptop is right by my side. I listen to music, chat with friends, visit forums and my favourite blogs.

Here is my workspace.......it never looks this neat.

Here is another angle......oh, see my sweet treats?

Meet Maya! She wanders in and out of my room as well. Sometimes she climbs up on the hutch next to my small Cricut and falls asleep!

Right next to me I have 9 little drawers that hold my ribbon, inks, mists, adhesive etc!

This is where I store my paper scraps. On the left is all cardstock and the bin that is opposite it holds the pattern paper. They are labeled by colour families.

This bin holds my Cricut stuff, punches and Cuttlebug stuff.

That is my tour! Like I said, nothing too fancy but very functional. I just spent a bunch of time tidying up and it is ready for me to start creating again.

What An Adventure!

It has been a while since I have scrapbooked. All my time has been spent on organizing for Scrapfest and planning for our Fall Retreat.

There was one weekend in between both of these events and Joanne and I escaped to a fundraiser crop and spent 12 hours cropping together. I spent most of my time working on my Christmas tags for our upcoming tag swap and making up a sample calendar for the store.

I did take some time to make up a kit that Shelby had designed for the store. It was based on a sketch by Allison Davis and I just knew I had the perfect photos for it!

This was one of the days that I kidnapped my kids and took them to the railway tracks in St. Jacobs. I took so many photos and I couldn't wait to get some of them on a layout.

I couldn't let this page go without stitching something, so I added some to the stars.

I changed the title up and added these corrugated letters that I stole from Joanne's stash. I sanded them down and that exposed the core colour. I also added 2 rows of white pen lines around the entire layout.