I have been neglectful......

I have had SO much going on, with building the house, my knee surgery and getting back to work full time, and now Christmas, that I have been overwhelmed to say the least! One of my New Years resolutions is to blog more. Hopefully it is one that I can keep!!!

I have been asked to post pictures of my house on Facebook, and I will, once I get it all "put together" and I will do the same here. I also have some new layouts and projects that I will post soon.

Stay tuned :)

I won some stuff!!!.......

Well, I never win anything so imagine my surprise when I found out that I won this fabulous prize on Tara Orr's blog!!! Wow, I am dying for it to get here so I can play with all the goodies. How generous of Tara! And to make the best of it, she is one of my favorite scrappers. And that was before I won this prize- honest!! Her work is truly amazing.

Also, during the blog hop at Paper Issues I won the Holidays and Celebrations edition of Somerset magazine on Susan Tutt's blog- yay!!!! I was so excited :)  It was my first blog hop and it was so much fun! It's amazing to see all the talent and creativity of different people. What a great way to get motivated and inspired. Needless to say I will be blog hopping again!

Ok, so here are a few more wedding layouts. I really need to sit down and count them up. I probably have more than an album full by now. I just adore doing them though. I was so happy with my wedding pictures, and of course it was one of my most favorite days ever :)

Blog Hop!!!.......

Hop on over to Paper Issues , they are having a blog hop. It actually started yesterday. There are 3 categories that you can follow, or you can follow all three- altered girls, scrapbook girls, and card girls. I went to all the blogs and there are some absolutely fabulous creations!!!!! You can also win some awesome prizes. All you need to do is comment on the blog. But the inspiration is the main reason you should go. People's creativity never ceases to amaze me.

Wedding layouts.......

Finally got my scrapping mojo back!!! It's been very difficult with my surgery, selling the house, moving in with my parents and building our new house- whew!!! We are settled down somewhat and moved in as best we can be, so I finally got the interest to start scrapping again and did a few wedding layouts. So here they are :)

You would think....

that I would blog everyday since I am off work and spend altogether too much time on the computer. I chalk it up to me being lazy, and not having anything interesting to say! I hope to start scrapping again regularly starting this evening or tomorrow as all of my stuff will finally be moved to my parents house and we have officially sold our house. So, really, I have no excuse not to update this blog :) We will see how it goes.

Check this out.....

Doodlebug Design Inc is having a cool giveaway! Go here for a chance to win http://www.doodlebugblog.com/2011/07/storybook-12x12-and-8x8-scrapbook.html?spref=fb

Packing and more packing......

My house is like a disaster area!!!! I am trying to get things packed up and it's not easy when I still have a hard time getting around. I am working on the kitchen and actually there is not a lot left to do. I am donating bunches of stuff to a friend, who knows someone who needs stuff for an apartment. I have sold a bunch of furniture as we want to get a lot of new things when we move into our new a house. I sold our dining room set, a sofa table, console table, end table, another small table, and a few decorative things. I have a bunch of other things that I am going to try to sell before we move. If not, I will donate them too!!!

As for scrapping, I still have not been able to do anything- not enough time or space at the moment. Soon, very soon!!! I miss it so much.

It's been along few weeks......

I am doing very well since my surgery but it feels like it has been months instead of just over 3 weeks!! Oh how I hate this being laid up!!! The pain is under control, well gone, so if I could start sleeping well, life would be so much better!! I have had trouble sleeping long before my surgery but I need to sleep well now in order to help with my recovery. My doctor, thankfully, ordered sleeping pills to help.

I hope to get back to doing some scrapping soon. Over the next few days I will have to decide what scrap supplies I will take to my parents while the rest gets packed away for a few months. I miss my scrapping!!!

I have been busy and preoccupied.....

Life has been hectic this past month. Not only did I have a major surgery on June 22nd, but about 3 weeks before, we decided to put our house up for sale. It certainly was quite the coincidence, as my hubby never ever wanted to move, but it came up in conversation and he was agreeable to build a new house and gave me the budget for it, so I jumped all over it...lol...I darn near killed myself before my surgery getting the house ready to list. We had someone come in to paint but there were many little things that needed to be done. My Mom, Dad and sister helped me out, as did my hubby when I forced him to!! He made it clear from the get-go that he was not having any part of getting the house ready or building the other one, that was all my baby. I guilt him into doing some things as I can't do it ALL myself :)

So the house went up for sale on June 20th and off I went to the hospital on June 22nd. My surgery was scheduled for 8:15 so I had to be there at 6:45. I was pretty nervous I must say. Hubby was with me right up until I went in the operating room. I saw my surgeon before surgery and he marked my knees so in case they could only do one, for some reason, he knew which one I wanted done first. Thankfully I had two of them done when I woke up! I don't recall waking up in the Recovery Room but I remember getting back to my room on the floor. Luckily I was in a private room. Nick was already there when I got back. I was well medicated and slept a fair bit that first night. I was back in my room at about 1 PM but not allowed out of bed until the next morning, so unfortunately I had to use a bedpan until then..lol..not fun. The next morning started with getting up to the chair. Oh my, feeling like you are going to faint and vomit at the same time, not a good feeling!!!!! However it quickly passed and I did well. The next time up I was wheeled into the bathroom so I could wash and then I walked out with my walker. That was the last time that anyone had to help me ambulate. From then on I was able to get around with my walker by myself. It was slow going but I could do it. Going to the bathroom was a major ordeal, and still is!

So I spent 5 nights in the hospital. I actually did not mind as I was in no condition to be home before that. I lost my appetite completely after the first 2 nights and hardly ate anything which did not help my recovery. It's only now slowly coming back.

I have had a few ups and downs since coming home a week ago. Yesterday was a low point as I was having a LOT of pain in one knee and had to go to the Emergency Dept for pain meds. They gave me enough for three and a half days, which I made last longer than that, but I really needed something else and the doctor ordered it no problem. Today I am much better. My husband has been super supportive and has gone above and beyond  for me since I came home. I don`t know what I would do without him. My parents and sister are also very supportive so I am well looked after. And my sweet little dog Soda- well, hubby said that she was lost without me while I was in the hospital. Since I have been home she is sweeter than ever! She stays close, and whenever I get upset and have a little cry for myself she comes over and gets up with me and puts her little head on my chest and just loves me.

Needless to say, scrapping has taken a back seat for the past few weeks and will continue to for at least a few weeks more. I am dying to get my stuff out but I can`t sit at a table long enough to do anything. I will make up for it at some point :)

House, hockey and baby....

The painting and fix ups are coming along. I think it may be early next week before we get the house listed. We also have to replace the sink and faucets in the main bathroom. I spent a little over 2 hours outside today pressure washing the siding and patio. Now my knees are killing me. I knew they would be, that was way too long for me to be standing like that. Oh well, I get 2 new knees in just over a week :)

Below is my Tim Holtz configuration box. Oh my heavens, I adore these things!!! They are so much fun to work with and there are so many things you can do with them. I was skeptical at first that I could make it "work" but I have to say that I am very, very pleased with how it turned out. I got lots of very nice comments from my friends at ACOT which is where I get my inspiration and motivation. Also my sister's reaction when she saw it was awesome. She absolutely loves it, it was like she was in awe. She doesn't get like that over just anything. That made me happy.

So then there is hockey. My poor Vancouver Canucks are not doing well. This is the night they could take home the Stanley Cup but instead they are losing 4-0. I don't see them winning this one. So it will be back to Vancouver to play on Wednesday night. Oh my nerves!!!! Hubby went to bed after the first 2 goals were scored, so he never got the email from his brother telling us that their baby arrived today, 2 weeks early!!!! Alessandro (his Mom is Italian) weighed only 5 pounds but he is perfect!!!! Thank heavens. They had a scare early in the pregnancy when they were told that the baby may have some problems. So I look forward to lots and lots of pics of the babe as I have no idea when we will see him as they live in London, England.



So here is the configuration box. I call it my Steampunk shadowbox as I used all graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante papers. I wish I could afford a new lens for my camera but right now, it's going to be awhile before I can get one. So for now, I am taking pictures with my Blackberry, so these are not great pictures.

Day two.....

of painting, cleaning, etc to get the house ready. Our bedroom will be painted today. I might want to stay after everything gets done..lol..it will all look so pretty and new! After the bedroom, the landing and stairway will be done, then the half bath and spare room. That's everything upstairs totally painted except my daughter's bedroom. I have some things up there packed up, ready to put out of sight, and we need to move an armoire down to my sister's house. Once the spare room is finished, we are going to stage it as a boys bedrooom. I know someone who has a toddler race car bed that I can borrow in order to do that. I'll get some boy decals to dress up the wall a bit, and a few little extras and we are all set. People tend to not be able to picture the room as something else, they need to see it with there own two eyes.

So, in my scrapbooking world, this is the last layout I did a couple of days ago. It is of the peeing boy statue in Brussels, Belgium. He is quite the famous little dude and a huge tourist attraction in Brussels. He was wearing his Boy Scout uniform that day- I believe it was Lord Baden Powell's birthday. He has over 800 costumes that are on display in a nearby museum. We were actually in the museum, and for some reason, never saw them!!! I was disappointed when I found out. We found the museum to be rather boring actually, plus it was not air conditioned and it was HOT that day, so we saw a bit and left. I was sure to see the peeing boy himself though!!!

Yesterday I started working on my Tim Holtz configuration box!!!!! Boy, these are the neatest things EVER!!! I have the small rectangular one. It may take awhile to completely finish it as I want it to be perfect. Meaning, I want the perfect items to go inside of it, so that means I may have to order some things. I will certainly be making one or two of these for Christmas gifts.

Speaking of which, I must go work on it now for a little bit before I need to do more house preparation stuff. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

A sucker for punishment....

Yup, that would be me. Getting a house ready to list while I am off work, waiting for a double knee replacement, is probably not the brightest idea. Why did my husband have to be agreeable to this now?? I just came up in conversation somehow and he said "go for it", so I had no choice!! If I waited, he would probably change his mind! So, I have my Dad here doing a few little fix up jobs and a painter coming tomorrow. Meanwhile I am trying to clean down the walls, etc. I can only do so much as I cannot be getting up an down on a ladder or chair to reach up high. My knees are absolutely killing me tonight. I just called my Mom and she is coming to help me out in the morning. Thank heavens for parents!!

Meanwhile I did not scrap today :(  I finished one yesterday and I will post it later tonight or tomorrow. I had a few more scrap things from Ebay over the last couple of days- my Tim Holtz configuration box!!!! ballerina cameos by Webster's Pages and a Tattered Angels glimmer mist color kit. It's all so cool.

Excuse me now while I get an ice pack for my knee :)

I must be out of my mind.....

I am having my surgery in 16 days and we have decided to put our house up for sale. I need my head examined...lol...but I am SO excited!! My hubby has wanted nothing to do with selling and moving, but last week he said "go ahead". I should backtrack a bit.....my sister had gotten into building houses and has built 3 now so far. She has been after me to build a new house. I never, ever thought that we could build a decent house for a price that we could afford. Our home is older and 2 story. With my knee replacements less than 3 weeks away, a 1 story house would be ideal. So my hubby says if my sister can build us a new house between $-$$, go right ahead. I ran this by my sister and she said it would be NO problem!!!!! OMG, I was ecstatic. So, I already have a house plan done up, and the realtor was in today to look at our house. We have a small bit of painting to do and then we will list it- by next week!!!!! I have no idea what I am going to do after my surgery. We were initially going to bring our bed downstairs and put it in the living room until I am able to go up and down the stairs. But not now. I can't have the realtor showing the house with our bed on the living room floor!!! Thank heavens I can go and sleep down to my Mom and Dad's. With any luck, the house will sell in a short time. I hope :)

A new scrap package!!!!!!!

My package from A Cherry On Top arrived this morning!! The mail lady must think I'm nuts- I met her as she was coming up the steps with the door open. Boy, I was SO glad that they did not go on strike!!! I ripped open the box as soon as I got it inside. I have to share what I got- the only other people that get excited about this stuff are fellow scrapbookers :) The package was almost all Tim Holtz stuff- timepieces, sprocket gears, Coredinations paper pack, ruler ribbon, lost and found salvage stickers, tissue tape, grungeboard and a distress ink pad!!!!! I'm in heaven! I also got some Graphic 45 papers, frames and flowers and a few more things. Oh I am going to have SOOOO much fun! I already did one layout. I need to get some more pages of my son done. I tend to do more pages of my daughter as I find girl pages easier to do, as she is only 14, therefore still at home. It's awful to say that my son is "out of sight, out of mind" but it's sort of true. I hope that doesn't make me seem like an awful mother, because I'm not!!! honest!

Here is Christopher going to his high school graduation in 2002....

I should write something......

Or how can I expect anyone to read this?? It's not that I am too busy, that's for sure. I'm lazy. Yup, that's it!! I have been off for, what seems like, forever. I am awaiting surgery- a double knee replacement. I am going stir crazy. I can't get out and do much, so I do scrap every day just about, which is good. If I never had that to do, I think I would be insane. I am excited, yet terrified of the surgery. I cannot wait for the day to be able to walk normally with no pain or stiffness. I have had numerous surgeries and usually they do not bother me at all, but this is big. Ok, that was my vent for the day! TFL

I made this layout yesterday. It is my favorite so far. I love my "woman"- I have been wanting to make one of these for awhile, but I had to wait to get the dress form die cut. I inked the dress form in bronze, then inked the birdcage in black with a few brushes of bronze over it in places. All papers are Graphic 45 including the piece under the birdcage.

Postcard Exchange.....

I was invited by the wonderfully talented Jules, over at ACOT to join a postcard exchange. All participants have to make a postcard a month and send it to the person who's month it is....ie: my month is May. So in May I will get 12 handmade postcards from a bunch of talented ladies. We could pick a theme to have our postcards come in, or leave it up to the ladies to surprise us. I chose to be surprised. Doesn't that sound like wonderful fun???? We just started an online group so we can get to know each other during the year.  I will post my postcards after each lady receives them in case they see this blog :)

Hop on over to Tara Orr's blog to see the incredible shaker tag that she made with the Bo Bunny Timepiece collection. It's gorgeous!!! Here is the link to her blog http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com/2011/05/shaker-card.html

It's in the cards......

I am on a card making kick. My Mom and sister think that I should make them to sell- I am thinking about it. I need to feel around to see if anyone would be interested. Why not spend your money on a lovely handmade card than the commercially produced ones that cost a fortune??

Here are the last few cards that I made.......

I am in love with.......

Tim Holtz. Or at least his stuff and techniques :) I haven't actually got any of his products yet, but am impatiently waiting for my orders. I adore Graphic 45 also, and the distressed/grunge look and I think that G45 and Tim Holtz complement each other. I am waiting for a configuration box!!!!!!!! (omg), crackle paint, distress ink, grungeboard, timepieces, sprocket gears, 12 x 12 pad of Core'dinations cardstock, sewing room die cuts and tissue tape. Oh, am I going to have fun!!!! The configuration box fascinates me and is such an awesome way to express your creativity. I know what some people are getting for Christmas :)

Little awesome things

I just saw a commercial for Maxwell House coffee. He talked about how you can let the dark things in life get you down, but there are little awesome things that happen everyday and focus on those things instead.....like popping bubble wrap- who doesn't like that????? :)  There were a bunch of awesome things in my day today.....first it was absolutely beautiful out and very warm. Hubby and I sat out on the patio for an hour. My daughter was in a great mood and we all sat together for an hour, chatting. We had great pizza for supper. My dog.

As I am waiting to get my surgery done, I have to focus on the little awesome things, as I have a tendency to get down when I am cooped up at home. So, I will try to focus (and blog) on the little awesome things, at least every other day.

Yes, I am lazy.....

I really shouldn't have a blog..lol..I will have plenty of time to write so I should keep up with it. I am officially off on sick leave now waiting for my surgery on June 22nd- a double knee replacement. I shoudl be out of my mind by the time that comes. I'll be bored silly. Yes, I will get lots of scrapbooking done, but, still, time will be long. I just wish I could wiggle my nose and it all be over.

I should get my Mom to come to my Grandmother's house to go through her attic and clean up. No one has touched it since she passed away. I spent many, many hours up there as a child and I am hoping to find some treasures up there that I can keep that remind me of my Grandmother. Since I have discovered altered art and Graphic 45 I want all the old things I can get. And what better ones to have than things that belonged to my Grandmother :)

Speaking of Graphic 45, here is a layout done totally with G45 papers. It is my favorite layout I have did so far, I just love it!!! I liked it so much I posted it on the Graphic 45 Facebook site. I will blog some more tomorrow folks!!

Mondays.......

*sigh* Don't you just hate them?? The NSD crop was over at 8 pm last evening. We have until midnight on Tuesday to submit our challenges. I have only 2 done but I may get another 2 tomorrow. I also did 2 of the fast scraps during the crop and 2 classes. Overall it was a great time. Here are a few of what I did.
The first is a bottle tag/gift card holder. I was very pleased with how it turned out. The flower was made by cutting the middle out of a doily, then using the outer edge to make the flower. Cut a circle out of cardstock and use the doily edge by going around in a circle while kind of folding the paper onto itself. Clear as mud??

The card below was for Mother's Day

Busy, busy.....

I have been non-stop all weekend with the NSD crop over at A Cherry on Top. What a great place, I just love it there. It's like another family- ones that understand your scrapbook obsession!! I have learned TONS from the talented members on the forum and the Creative Team members. Also they have the best online store I have ever seen and customer service is second to none.

Speaking of the crop and CT members, I made this awesome carrying caddy from a beer holder - it was a class given by ChrissyTina, a CT member at ACOT. During the crop, there are always a few classes given by CT members. I loved this one!!!! Here is how mine turned out. I use it now to hold scissors, adhesives, rulers, etc, that I scrap with.

Here is Chrissy's tutorial on how to make it Drink Carrier Class

Book Binding

Check out this Book Binding  tutorial at Bo Bunny. Something that I definitely have to try. It would make such a great gift!

I'm getting new.........

knees!!! Yup, TWO of them. I have had longstanding knee problems. I had my first surgery at age 14 and it was a major one. That is what has led to a knee replacement in one knee. The other, I guess, has had to compensate so much for the other and led to it's current state.

I could go on and on about my knees but I will spare you! Let's just say that my quality of life has gone downhill dramatically in the last 8-10 months. I am excited that I am getting new knees, but also a bit scared. Hopefully it all works out for the best.

Here it is.....my first tutorial!!!!

Ok, so the idea is not original. Does that matter???? Is there some type of internet etiquette about making your own tutorial with someone else's idea? I hope not..lol..someone please tell me if there is :)

How to make a fabric flower (like the one on the Rock n Roll frame that I did). Chrissy asked if there was a tutorial, so instead of posting a link to one, I will do my own. yay!

I use a cotton fabric, made a little snip at the top with a pair of scissors and then ripped the fabric downward in a strip. The length and width of the strip entirely depends on the size of the flower you want, of course. The width of my fabric was approximately 1.5 inches and almost 22  in long. I like the look of the frayed edge and it gives your flower that "shabby chic" feel. Of course you can cut the material if you prefer.

You will need a hot glue gun, at least that is what I used. You could always use a Gluber, which seem to be pretty neat. I have never used or even seen them, but it would be easier and less messy I imagine.

Ok, start by twisting the fabric and making a tight little centre...

then start using your glue gun and put a dab of glue on the side of the fabric, while continuing to twist your fabric and glue, going in a circle. You can make the circle as tight or loose as you like, depending on how you want your flower to look.

Continue until you run out of fabric or your flower is as big as you like. Anchor the fabric on the back like below...

Then, voila! you have a flower. You can add a jewel or brad for your center, or leave it as I did. You can see how big my flower turned out by the markings on my cutting mat.

Hopefully I clearly explained the instructions. It's obviously not difficult!! I would like to learn to make them so they are a little less flat looking, but I guess that comes with practice.

Any comments on this would be greatly appreciated, as it was my first tutorial and I would like to know what you think! Thanks for looking!!

NSD Crop at A Cherry on Top!!!!!!

Sooooo, the big crop starts tomorrow- YAY!!!! I can't wait. It is a 24 hour/day crop starting Friday afternoon and ending Sunday evening. Boy, I'll be pooped!!!! I am spending today organizing all my scrappy supplies and trying to streamline a bit. My dining room table is my crop space, as I have not been using my scraproom since I had my knee surgery. It will probably be a long time before I use it again because I am going to need more knee surgery very soon. I'll know more after I see my surgeon tomorrow. Oh, I have a 2 story house and the scrap room is upstairs. I like scrapping downstairs anyway because DH/DD comes and sits with me at the table and we chat and stuff so I am not isolated in my room. I get more done this way.

I know that my followers so far are all ACOT members, but just in case someone happens across this blog, come and join us, it will be a BLAST! ACOT has the most awesome members and creative team, you won't be disappointed.

Pictures as promised.....

Here is the little craft item I made for my daughter. I had no idea I was going to do this as it started off as something different for someone else! I was going to make a shadowbox for my MIL but could not find one to buy, so I bought a frame that is recessed sort of like a shadowbox. Around the area for the picture is mirror and I did not want to cover it completely so I left bits of it peeking out. The pink fabric I used I had initially tore into strips as I was going to make flowers out of them. I was trying to think of something to cover the frame with and then I remembered the fabric and gave it a try. Once I covered it I thought this would be good for Kate, and it went from there. Obviously it is a very simple project but I think it turned out lovely, and she really liked it :) She had the lead role in the original musical "I Want to Break Free" in January,therefore the pictures and the "Rock Star" reference. I am taking pics with my Blackberry at the moment until I get a lens for my camera- mine is broken. You can also see me in the mirror on the frame in some of the pictures..lol.. I made the pink and white flower. It was my first try so it did not turn out as well as I had wanted it to, but I liked it and Kate loved it so I included it on her frame.