Layout #22 for Sketches in Thyme

Well, if you were hoping for a place to rest your eyes, this layout is probably not for you! It is wild and crazy, which totally suits the mood of the subjects! I am submitting this one to a new sketch site I found through Sarah, and it's called Sketches in Thyme. For their Open Challenge, you can submit any layout created with any sketch, and mine is based on a sketch from Scrapbooks, etc. Magazine. (April 2011, P. 87) You would never know I based my page on this sketch! Their samples are clean and simple, and mine is... well, not!

I made this page for Nolan to remind him of a time when he and Ailis were the best of buds. I love Nolan to bits, but he is my "difficult" child. If you don't have one of these, you won't know what I'm going on about, but we seem to conflict every day over just about everything. This move has not been easy on him, he's not fitting in at school, (never has, but we kept our fingers crossed that this time, maybe he would find one kid who "gets" him - no luck so far!) and Ailis is finally getting fed up with him tripping her, pushing her around, screaming at her and calling her names. She is a very tolerant little girl, wise beyond her years, but she's distancing herself from him and no wonder. I'm not sure if they'll ever be close like they used to be, brings a little tear to my eye.

Well, that's enough of a sob story for today. Hope ya don't mind me unloading a bit! Enjoy the rest of your week, hugs to all, Roxy.

Supplies: Fancy Pants Designs patterned paper, My Mind's Eye stickers and patterned paper, Creative Memories pen and letter stickers, Close to My Heart patterned paper, Tim Holtz Distress Ink and Perfect Pearls (on tag), unknown buttons, monster cards, and baker's twine, tag from Nolan's pants

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Card #4

Wow, 2 cards in one day, who knew I could manage such a feat? Certainly not I! This second one was quick to put together because the image was already coloured from the Beginner Copics class I took the other night. (Did I mention I dragged my mom along? I'm loving that I get to spend more time with her these days!) So, alas, I cannot take much credit for the colouring of this image. All of the expertise is Cheri's, I simply copied everything she told us! I quite enjoyed colouring this guy, he is just so cute! I am going to enter this card in Creative Accents' Challenge for May, which is to make a party themed project.

Supplies: Copic markers, Close to My Heart and Creative Memories cardstock, Ranger Stickles, Little Yellow Bicycle patterned paper

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Card #3

First off, let me say I've been trying all week to leave comments at some of your blogs, and blogger is still not letting me, grrrrrr!!! I will try again this week, but rest assured I am keeping tabs on all of you, haha!

Second, it is great to be back in the Cariboo (the region, not to be confused with the caribou animal!) I was able to get in to my LSS, Creative Accents, a couple of times this week, once for a Beginner Copics class with Cheri, and again yesterday (Jason wanted to buy a canoe, more on that later). So even though this particular LSS is an hour drive away, it is still more accessible than say, a 5 hour drive to Whitehorse or a 2 hour drive to Smithers. And their class list is quite extensive, so I should be able to get my craft on there at least once in a while. So stoked about that, woohoo! Anyway, check out the Creative Accents Challenge Blog here. They are just getting started, and you don't have to be anywhere near us to take part in the challenges.

I bought this Andrea Acorn stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie there, and the sentiment that goes along with this set is just perfect: "Aw, nuts, I forgot your birthday!" Happens to me all the time, so I think this set will get a lot of use. I coloured her up with my Copics, but seeing I don't have that many, her dress is the same colour as her hair. Probably didn't need to point that out to everybody, but in case you are wondering why I chose to do it that way, well, there ya have it, heehee! Cheri gave some good advice to invest in some grays, so I bought a gray and that way I was able to make some shadows in the green robe without even buying a green. Neat, eh? I made the green robe using a Close to My Heart Olive ink pad and blending pen, which probably didn't give ideal results, but I don't think it's too bad.

I'm hoping I can get in on some challenges with this card. I used sketch 219 from CPS, and I used the backside of the Webster's paper from my last post as the patterned paper, which means I can enter Scrapbooker's Anonymous bonus challenge. But, the main reason for making this card is because I missed my Burns Lake friend Maria's 40th birthday, which happened sometime in May. Happy Birthday, Maria, miss you and hope you had a great birthday!

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Layout #21 - Bubble Beard

This layout took for freakin' ever to finish!!! And here's why:

1. I did a bunch of hand cutting, so I could showcase as much of this GORGEOUS Webster's Pages paper as I could.






2. There's a whole schwack of stamping! I stamped the cardstock matting the photo and inked one up with Distress Ink and and some Perfect Pearls. The blue hearts and title are also stamped and distressed and/or Perfect Pearlized.






3. The little owl button at the bottom is distressed also. Sprayed him with some Perfect Pearl mist I made with Heirloom Gold, then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.






4. Added a bunch of stickers.






5. Covered some Cosmo Cricket blackboard asterisks with paper, then inked them up with Fired Brick Distress Ink.






6. Took a week to decide where everything would be placed.






7. Agonized over whether owls, butterflies, and ducks could live in harmony on the same page. Still haven't reached a conclusion, but I've convinced myself that once I'm dead and gone, nobody's gonna care. (Or they will care, but I'll be dead so I won't!)

Anyway, I think I love it! What do you think about my little duckie buttons? Aren't they so adorable?! I found them in my mom's button stash, so they are truly vintage! Here's a couple of close-ups:

So with all that effort, I am eligible for a couple of challenges. I used a sketch and embellishment (Mr. Owl) from Purple Pumpkin (check out their blog here, it is always full of new products and inspiration) for their May challenge. Scrapbooker's Anonymous asked me to stamp two papers and three embellies for the May challenge. And I thought I would try and get in on Jenn's DT's challenge for the first time over at Scrap and Stamp, but I may have missed the deadline for that one. They asked me to pull out something I've been hoarding for a while. Well, that could be the paper (over a year old, and too beautiful to use) or the stickers (probably 8 years old and never inspired to use).

Gotta get back to Brenna baby, she just learned how to stand today without pulling up on anything, and she took her first step (Jason doesn't even know this yet!) Oh, now she's found a brush and is brushing her hair, too cute! Oh, remembered something else: I tried leaving comments on some of your blogs this morning, and blogger wasn't letting me! So, if you're missing my lovely comments, that's why (it's not my fault, honest).

Supplies: Webster's patterned paper, Close to My Heart cardstock, stamps, pen, and Olive ink, Ranger/Tim Holtz stamp set, Distress Ink and Perfect Pearls, Cosmo Cricket blackboard, Purple Pumpkin button, Creative Memories stickers, unknown date stamp, twine, and duckie buttons

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Friends - an old layout, finally finished!

Do you ever start a layout, then put it aside for journaling or embellishing for a looooong time? I used to never do that, so I'm not sure why I do it so often now, but I'm trying not to lately. It's just too hard to come back to something after putting it away, I forget what I wanted to say, or the concept I was going with, or I'm just bored with it. But this is one I really wanted to finish, because these ladies hold a special place in my heart. You Canucks out there are used to long winters, but can you imagine 24 hour darkness? I'm not kidding, in Dawson City, we didn't get direct sunlight in our home for about 2 months. It can get you down if you let it, but these two were kind enough to let me into their scrapping circle, and we shared many a warm and cozy Wednesday night without husbands or kids, just female companionship. And for someone a tad shy and new to the area, it's always wonderful to be included! So thanks, Maria and Sonya, I miss you both a ton!

Supplies (all CTMH): Bella patterned paper and stickers, die cut circle, liquid glass, prisma glitter, gems, ink, and stamp set

Other: Maya Road ribbon, Michael's trim, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Sketchabilities sketch

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Layout #20 - What are your essentials?

Seems like everyone's having problems with blogger lately! My last post was up for a day, I think, then it was gone, then I couldn't sign in to blogger, then I found the post and it was my old draft so I had to fix it and repost it, sigh! Anyway, if you didn't read my book review post and you like to read, scroll down to see what I've been into these days.

Here's a page I just finished, and it really made me think about what my scrapbooking essentials are. Before we moved, I had printed out a sketch, chosen this patterned paper to go with my photos, found the fibres and letter stickers to match, and put the whole shebang in a large ziploc bag so it was all ready to go when we arrived here. A little page kit! But then I spent an inordinate amount of time searching for my paper trimmer, and then ages more looking for my pens. So I guess a paper trimmer is my #1, and pens are #2. I think many of you use your computers for journaling - is a printer your essential tool? Once I got everything stuck down, it was looking a little drab, so I had to dig in my bucket of prize goodies (fortunately at hand!) to find some embellishments to cluster up. Do you recognize anything here, Mel? So, cute embellies would probably be #3, but of course you need adhesive to stick everything down, and then the actual page base is also essential whether you use patterned paper or cardstock...Wow, no wonder people get carried away with supplies, there are just so many things we need to do this hobby!

I took these photos 2 summers ago when we were at my in-laws place at the same time Jason's cousin and daughter came to visit (I never know, is that a second cousin, and then what is she to the kids? We always just say cousin.) Jason's family are all a lot of fun, and I've really enjoyed getting to know them over the past 12 years. That's right, today is my 12th anniversary, I can't really believe it! Last night my mom babysat, and we went out to a restaurant at the same site as our nuptials. We had a fabulous dinner, only I'm paying for it today with a tummy ache (Jason says it's bad karma for eating veal!) and then took some photos where we exchanged vows. It's a heritage site, and they've added some extras over the years, which was neat to see. Anyhoo, it's beautiful and sunny for the moment, so I think I shall take Brenna for a walk, try and work off some of that dark chocolate lava cake!

Supplies: Fancy Pants patterned paper, Creative Memories patterned paper, pen and letter stickers, Maya Road fibres, Close to My Heart cardstock and photo hangers, unknown hemp, chipboard buttons, other buttons, tag, glitter star, and fussy cut flower, Design Dollies sketch

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Book Review Time!

So although I haven't done anything arty these past few weeks, I have managed to read quite a bit. Thought I would share my thoughts on some of my more recent reads:

Has anyone else read this yet? What did you think of it? I got Jason to pick it up for me because I kept seeing the cover everywhere (and you know I always judge a book by its cover!) and read reviews and it seemed like a good read. I started it, then put it aside for a bit, and I just finished it (and it just so happens to be my book club's choice for April/May). It was pretty good, I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars. If you're looking for a mature read, with some suspense and a topic that will pull at your "mom" heartstrings, you should definitely check it out. On the downside, it's told from the point of view of a 5 year-old, and I found the language rather irritating. If you can get past that, though, it's a book that will keep you thinking about it long after you've finished reading it.

One of the books I put "ROOM" aside for was this one:

I almost didn't read this book because of the main character's name, Katniss. It just sounds too much like "Cat Piss" for my liking, and I didn't think I could get past that. It's also a young adult book, and I don't like to think of myself as "juvenile", but I'd heard good things so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised! It's non-stop action and excitement, and because it's told in the first person, her name is hardly ever mentioned! I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next two in the series, and when I saw them on the shelf at the library, I snapped them up right away (and put down "Room" again) and finished them in a week or so.

"Catching Fire" is next in the trilogy, and it is just as fast-paced and thrilling as the first.

Then comes the final installment, "Mockingjay". A bit of a disappointment for me, but still good. It's just a bit slower than the first two. Anyway, there will be a "Hunger Games" movie, and I can't wait to see it in theatres! Should give "Twilight" a run for its money!

Right now I'm reading this:

Pretty creepy looking, eh? I'm not sure if I'm totally into the paranormal genre, but I am enjoying this book for the moment. It's a real whodunnit, with fast pacing and a lot of suspense. I'll let you know if it's a winner!

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Layout #19 for Scrap-tures

You might have wondered about this layout I posted a while back. I completed the layout, scheduled it to post, and then didn't have time to write anything about it. Then I promptly forgot about it with all the moving and packing and selling the house. Yes, it seems like we sold the house, without even listing it or putting up a sign! I won't rejoice yet until the money has changed hands, but fingers crossed, everything looks good...

My mom is such a doll, she's loaning me her laptop because we are still unconnected here, and she knows how much I need the computer (I'm "addicted", is how she described me to Jason!) I made this layout with the Scrap-tures April '11 kit for their online crop a few weeks ago, and what a lot of fun that was! I've never done an online crop, but I think it won't be the last time I do it! Anyway, the challenge I completed for this layout was to use a black and white photo. I had printed this photo of Brenna for my Project 12 January layout, but I didn't like the sepia tone with my other photos, so I left it out. I think it looks beautiful on its own with these papers, though. I really loved using that Maya Road trim and the MME "FUN" chipboard stickers. What looks like blue trim there is stamped with one of the MME stamps from the kit, I just masked it to use one bit.

Well, I should actually try to get some work done with Brenna napping, it's virtually impossible to do anything when she's awake. She's into EVERYTHING, and of course she doesn't listen when Mommy says "No!"

Supplies (from Scrap-tures April '11 kit): My Mind's Eye patterned paper, stamp set, title, and chipboard banner, Maya Road trim

Other: Close to My Heart cardstock and ink, Creative Memories pen and corner rounder, Page Maps sketch

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Yikes!

I'm really missing my blogging time, and missing all of you, my blogging friends! I'm posting this at the library because I don't have internet at home yet, and anyway, I would have nothing to post because everything is still packed. No crafty time at all! But we made it in one piece and everything is slowly getting settled. I will try to visit all your blogs really soon! Many hugs, love Roxy. Oh, and I didn't realize the last post would be posted without a story, but thanks for all your lovely comments and your understanding!

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