myStamp BOX Fall Showcase

Note:  My apologies - this post went live in error, prior to the myStamp BOX posting so I'm re-sharing it!  You can view the design team members' projects here.

Today, the myStamp BOX blog has a Fall Showcase to inspire you, with projects from the design team!

For my project, I FINALLY completed a mini album with photos from my family's last Thanksgiving together with my mom, in 2004.  I started decorating the album at the SK Scraps crop last year and I've had the photos printed for a while.  I just haven't had the inspiration or heart to work on it.

Until now.

Here's my mini:

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; SEI patterned paper; Maya Road chipboard album; myStamp BOX stamps (Straightforward, Repeat After Me); Tsukineko and Tim Holtz Distress inks;  Ranger embossing powder; Maya Road chipboard swirl and key;  Scrap FX chipboard flower; KaiserCraft pearls; Me and My Big Ideas rhinestone; American Crafts felt flower; Ranger Glossy Accents; Glue Dots; miscellaneous book rings, flower, skeleton leaf, ribbons and lace. 

The Maya Road Coffee Break mini album was a board book-type mini album, but I wanted more range of movement between the pages.  So using my craft knife, I split the binding and cut it apart.  I then used my Crop-o-dile, after completing all my pages, and punched two holes through each page and assembled using book rings.  And of course, I had to fancy it up with some yummy ribbons and lace!

It's very subtle, but after inking the chipboard with gold ink, I used a brown ink and stamped a burlap pattern, using the Repeat After Me stamp set.

The mini album title was stamped in gold ink and embossed.  I then fussy cut it and adhered it with foam dots.

All pages feature one decorated page with journaling and a full photo on the facing page.  I've also included some detail photos to show the stamping.

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics bling cardstock; SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Seal It!, No Place Like Home, Just Add Notes); Tsukineko and Tim Holtz Distress inks;  Glue Dots; The Twinery twine; Marvy Uchida pen; miscellaneous button.

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Mini Pennants, Just Add Notes); Tim Holtz Distress ink;  Glue Dots; The Twinery twine; Marvy Uchida pen.

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Funky Circles, Just Add Notes); Tsukineko and Tim Holtz Distress inks;  Ranger embossing powder; Marvy Uchida, EK Success and Creative Memories punches; Fiskars foam adhesive; Marvy Uchida pen.

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics bling cardstock; SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Repeat After Me, Mini Alphas); Tim Holtz Distress ink;  Fiskars and McGill punches; Marvy Uchida pen.

Supplies used above:  SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Repeat After Me, Funky Flowers, Just Add Notes); Tim Holtz Distress ink;  Creative Memories punches; Glue Dots; KaiserCraft pearl; Marvy Uchida pen.

Supplies used above:  SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Passport to Adventure); Tim Holtz Distress ink;  Creative Memories punches; KaiserCraft pearl; Marvy Uchida pen.

The last three pages featured similar layouts, with little variation:

Supplies used above:  Bazzill Basics bling cardstock; SEI patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Repeat After Me, Mini Alphas, Bold Blocks); Tim Holtz Distress ink;  Making Memories paper piercer.

If you've make it this far, THANK YOU! :)  And be sure to check out the other Design Team members' projects for more inspiration!

Hmmm

Anyone remember Sharon, Lois and Bram from the 80's?

Lately, I've been walking around humming this song:




With good reason!!   Something tells me it's not going to slow down much until after Christmas... :s

Hope your Wednesday's happy!

Seven Sunday Blessings

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This week, I am thankful...

1. For swimming.  I know it takes a lot of time, energy and money, but I love how it builds confidence in our kids and that they love it so much.

2. For cool fall days.  This is my favourite season.  I love dressing up in a warm hoodie and hanging out by the campfire in the evenings.

3. That Connor has found a good friend that lives close by.  As an added bonus, our families mesh well and have fun together!

4. That the rain has finally stopped.  For now, anyways.  I was beginning to think that we'd never see dry land again.

5. For West Indian Curried Chicken.  Made in the crockpot yesterday, to be enjoyed today with (hopefully) homemade roti!

6. For Broken Down Golf Carts.  A blast from my past that was revisted last night around a campfire.  On second thought, this morning I am decidedly NOT grateful for them.

7. For Extra-Strength Advil.  (see #6).

What are YOU thankful for this week?

Sketchy Saturday > September 24

Today, I'm sharing a layout that was created for my Leave Your Legacy challenge yesterday, using this great sketch by fellow iTeammate, Jennifer Benoit, for Sketchy Saturday at WeScrap:

I just recently got back our photos taken with the disposable waterproof camera that we bought on a whim, heading onto the Maid of the Mist boat trip.  I had forgotten that I had dropped them off for developing so what a blessing it was to browse through them and revisit our fun holidays with the Lepages!

I used this photo, even though it is less than flattering, because I think it totally catches the unadultered glee and wonder that we all felt, being on that boat. It's definitely something that has to be experienced, because it's hard to describe the deafening roar of the water; the fine mist that falls all around you; how completely SOAKED you get, no matter where you stand on the boat!  (but of course, we ran ahead to the very prow of it! :D)

Here's my layout (I dug DEEP into my stash of stuff for this one!):

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics and Scenic Route cardstock; Cherry Arte patterned papers; myStamp BOX stamps (Passport to Adventure, Repeat After Me, Border Lines); Stampin' Up and Tsukineko inks; Ranger embossing powder; Heidi Swapp distressing tool, Creative Memories border ruler (traced on green paper and cut out); American Crafts foam alphas; Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock (tag); Tattered Angels glimmer mist; Tim Holtz ink applicator; Maya Road Sheer sheet (used as mask); Fiskars paper crimper; Marvy Uchida pen; jute, staples.

This layout came together pretty quickly.  Mostly because I was working from Jen's awesome sketch, but also because once I had misted the paper, it was like all inhibitions went right out the window!  It was very liberating - I threw caution to the wind and even started adhering everything to the page BEFORE I HAD DECIDED ON EVERY LAST EMBELLISHMENT!!

*gasp*

I know, right!?!?  That's HUGE, for me... 

I started with a piece of patterned Scenic Route cardstock - I just flipped it over and used the plain side.  I laid down my partial sheer sheet (I used part of it for this layout!) and just started misting!  I love the shimmer that the glimmer mist adds...

For the journaling card, tucked under the photo, I added navy and green inks with my ink applicators in random splotches and then misted the entire area with the glimmer mist.

As a throwback to the 80's (or maybe it was early in the millenium?), I dug out my paper crimper and added some texture to my layout.

The edges of my layout were frayed, using a Heidi Swapp distressing tool (still my favourite!) and then stamped with myStamp BOX stamps to mimic handstitching.

The upper corner was torn and backed with co-ordinating patterned paper.  I stamped and embossed the frame and ticket and cut them out.  I then adhered the frame to my layout and laid the ticket on top where I wanted it (no adhesive).  I stamped my circle, added foam adhesive to the back of the ticket and then lined it back up, matching the pattern.

This prevents it from looking like it's been cut off, regardless of the angle from which it is viewed.  And here's a closer look at the stamped stitching:

Thanks for looking!

Leave Your Legacy: Maiden Voyage

Time for a new Leave Your Legacy challenge! If you're new to my blog, welcome! You can learn more about my Leave Your Legacy challenge here.

We live in a beautiful country.  According to Wikipedia, Canada is the second largest country in the world, after Russia.  She has the longest coastline in the world.  She also has more lakes than any other country, containing much of the world's fresh water.  Despite all of these features, she is still a country with one of the lowest population density - shhhhh...  Don't tell anyone how great Canada is!! :D

And so, having lived most of my life in Ontario (with the exception of my third year spent at L'Universite Laval in Quebec) and a mere 3 hours from one of Canada's seven wonders, Niagara Falls, it's slightly embarrassing to say that while I've been to the Falls several times, I have NEVER experienced them via the Maid of the Mist!

So, when our friends, the Lepages, visited from Saskatchewan, I knew that this was something that I wanted to experience!  It was definitely a highlight of our sight-seeing trip, made all the more special because I was able to share it with them.

Now, here's your challenge this week:

Be a tourist in your own city/province!  Do something tourist-y that you haven't done yet and then scrap about it!  Be sure to journal about why you haven't visited this tourist location yet, and with whom you finally shared your experience!

My layout was created using a sketch by Jennifer Benoit that will reveal tomorrow for WeScrap's Sketchy Saturday, so you'll have to check back tomorrow!  Here's a little sneak peek for now:

Don't you love the play on words for the title?  "Maid" of the Mist + first trip on the boat = "Maiden Voyage"

Yeah, well, I thought it was pretty clever.  What do I know? :)

If you'd like to participate in this year long challenge, please share your layout below, using Linky Tools, by 11:59pm EST on December 31st, 2011. Please see the Leave Your Legacy page for guidelines, before linking here. Winners will be announced on January 1st, 2012.

Sneak Peeks!

Despite the pressure of deadlines, I seem to have found a little bit of pressure to complete a few projects that will be revealed later this week - and I'm excited about both of them!

So I thought I'd share... :)

Coming up on tomorrow, myStamp BOX is featuring a Fall Showcase on their blog.  My project is a mini album, documenting my family's last Thanksgiving together with my mom, before she passed, in 2004.

I finished my second project in the wee hours of the morning today.  It's based on Jennifer Benoit's sketch for Sketchy Saturday at WeScrap this week.  I killed two birds with one stone and used the sketch to complete a layout for my Leave Your Legacy challenge that will be posted here on Friday.

I FINALLY dug into my mists that I've been hoarding and used them!  This layout actually flowed very easily - I think I stopped over-thinking the whole thing and just went with the flow.

Literally... ha!

I'll post both projects this weekend!  TFL!

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Just linked up my blog to FB via Networked Blogs... just testing the settings to make sure I did it right!!

ETA - couldn't get it to work (I think FB was upgrading?) but Gary found me another app that I can use - will try later in the week.

The Great Canadian Scrapbooker Carnival!

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Not only is this Friday the Fall Equinox, but it's also the start of the 4th Annual Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival!!

If you are in the Calgary and surrounding area (or if you don't mind traveling for your scrappy fix!), then be sure to head to the MacEwan Conference and Events Centre on the U of C campus and hang out with my awesome CS editor and teammates:  Jackie, Cathie, Christy, Allison, Connie and Susan!

They are teaching some incredible classes, there is a two day crop, tons of vendors to feed your shopping habits - and I've heard rumours about a CUPCAKE BUFFET!!

Come on, people - that alone is worth the drive!

If you can't make this weekend, you can check the GCSC in Edmonton on the following weekend.  I think there's a few spots left so check out the CS website here for more info.

One of these days, I'm going to make it out there, too!

Winner Announcement

Oops!  I forgot to announce the winner from my LCOM Guest sketch designer post!

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Congratulations to Heather H for sharing her layout!

Heather, pick out your favourite stamp set from the Prior Kit stamp sets or the Standard stamp sets and send me a PM on LCOM or an email to sue {at} canadianscrapbooker {dot} com.

Seven Sunday Blessings

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This week, I  am thankful:

1.  that I was blessed with an incredible mother.  She would have been 81 years young last Tuesday, had she not passed seven years ago.  I still miss her every day.

2.  for my new furniture!!  It arrived last Saturday and while we still need to paint, we had the deliverymen set it up for the time being.  Ahhhh, so comfortable!  The leather chairs are much bigger than I remembered so it's a bit of a tight fit, and they had to bring the couch in through the back French doors because it wouldn't fit through the front door, but all's good!

3. that I have a new little swimmer!  Aili tried out for the WEST swim team this year and while we expected her to be put in the first level, she wowed the coaches with her freestyle and backstroke and they placed her in the third level!  WTG, Aili!

4. that, while the kids' swim practices will create some stress initially while we shift and manage, they will eventually force me to be more prepared and organized.  At least, that's the plan...!

5. for this announcement on Monday.  Grateful to be chosen again to design with these talented ladies - and loving that I'm now incorporating more stamping into my paper crafts.

6. that Connor was chosen as one of two students in the French Immersion program at his school to attend a 2-day leadership camp in October.  I'm hoping it will help him overcome his shyness and reticence that developed after a few difficult years with bullies, and allow his to build his self-confidence and leadership skills.

7. for President's Choice Loads of Mocha Almond Fudge ice cream.  Just because it's the perfect end to a wonderful week.

What are YOU thankful for this week?

Leave Your Legacy: Sleighbells Ring...

Are you listening?

Welcome to a new Leave Your Legacy challenge! If you're new to my blog, welcome! You can learn more about my Leave Your Legacy challenge here.

Whether it's stuffing yourself silly with turkey and passing out during the fourth quarter of the football game, or heading to the shore every summer, holidays seem to make up a good chunk of our memories.

Ever since I can remember, my family celebrated Christmas on the eve of the holiday.  We had a family dinner, gathered around our Christmas tree (always real) and exchanged gifts.  When midnight neared, we went to mass to celebrate our faith.

Even when my sisters and I got married, we all congregated back to our parents' home, dragging our boyfriends, husbands and children with us.  And sometimes even our dogs!  About 15 years ago, we decided that, as adults, we would pick names.  It eventually evolved into what has now become of our favourite traditions on Christmas Eve:

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Secret Santa!  It always results in giggles, playful banter and memories to last a lifetime.

Here's your challenge this week:
Document a family tradition that you and your family (immediate or extended) have.  Include details so that the tradition may be carried on by future generations.  It doesn't have to be a Christmas tradition.  Maybe you have an annual Thanksgiving family football game.  Or an Easter Egg hunt.  Choose a tradition that holds special meaning for you.

Layout to follow...

ETA:  I just discovered that I haven't really captured the essence of our Secret Santa tradition so I will complete this layout after I get photos this year!!

If you'd like to participate in this year long challenge, please share your layout below, using Linky Tools, by 11:59pm EST on December 31st, 2011. Please see the Leave Your Legacy page for guidelines, before linking here. Winners will be announced on January 1st, 2012.

Coming Soon!

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The Leave Your Legacy challenges for September 16th will be posted sometime this weekend!

myStamp BOX Tutorial Day!

Today, I shared a tutorial on the myStamp BOX blog on how to create this card box, which would make a great hostess or teacher gift:

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basic cardstock; Echo Park patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Colorful Companions, Symbols, Border Lines, Itty Bittys); Tsukineko and Stamp Crafts inks; Ranger embossing powder; Marvy Uchida pen; Glue Dots; Martha Stewart Crafts scoring board and punch; Nestabilities die; The Twinery twine. 

Click here for this step-by-step tutorial and visit the rest of the blog to view some more great inspiration from my design teammates!

More Layouts!

Two more layouts to share today, using the WeScrap September kit, Off The Press!

Here's the first:

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basic cardstock; Basic Grey patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Just Add Notes); Stamp Craft ink; Marvy Uchida pen; Fancy Pants chipboard alphas; Slice die cutting machine and Basic Shapes design card; Glue Dots; custom painted buttons.  Photo by Gary Sykes.

This photo was taken at a Sarnia swim meet, but it was such a great photo that I had to use it in this layout, documenting our life as a "swim mom" and "swim dad".  Granted, Gary has taken Connor to most of his swim lessons in the past, but in keeping with our "hands on" approach, I want to become more involved this year, and meet more of the parents.

The layout was inspired by the Basic Grey paper, full of these wonderful circles!  However, they were a bit much for a background page so I grabbed my trusty circle punch and got down to business.  I popped a few, using dimensional foam adhesive and laid the photo on top of the popped circles.

The journaling reads, as follows:
Who - Gary and/or I
Where - @ the POOL!
When - 5/7 nights a week, meet weekends
What - w/ Connor in Beavers level, most nights will find us here, iPad in hand...

Using the Basic Shapes design card, I cut the stars out of vintage book paper:

And here's my final layout (so far!):

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basic cardstock; Basic Grey patterned paper; myStamp BOX stamps (Repeat After Me, Colorful Companion); Stamp Craft ink; Jenni Bowlin chipboard butterflies; KaiserCraft rhinestones; Kanban Crafts transparency; Fancy Pants chipboard alphas; Glue Dots; Marvy Uchida pen; custom painted button; Making Memories rhinestone brads, jute, staples.

I cut the tags out of patterned paper and added stitching stamps and hand doodling around the edges.  I then punched a hole in each and added a knotted length of jute to each.  The butterfly was stamped on the vintage book paper and then fussy cut and attached down the centre only, to add dimension.

Journaling reads:  "Sweet baby girl, with your sparkling green/hazel eyes, fair skin and curly hair... you melt my heart with your all kinds of cuteness!  I love you! <3 <3 <3"

The flowers were handmade and easy peasy to do!!  They are similar to these flowers, but I only used 3 different sized circles for each flower, instead of several layers of one size.

Not super crazy about this one - love the picture and all of the individual elements.  But I just think the placing is off... maybe the top half needs to be a smidge lower on the page?  I dunno - but I'm open to suggestions!!

WeScrap September Kit layouts

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This month's kit from WeScrap was so much fun!  I created four layouts, and still have nearly two full sheets of patterned paper and scraps of others left over to create another layout, or several cards.  I'll share two of them today.

Here's my first:

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Basic Grey patterned paper; Creative Memories, EK Success, Martha Stewart Crafts and Marvy Uchida punches; myStamp BOX stamps (Repeat After Me), Stamp Craft ink; Marvy Uchida pen; Prima paper flower; Glue Dots; Fancy Pants chipboard alphas; Stampin' Up! paper piercer; vintage book paper from stash.

Hee hee - love this photo of Connor.  I think he's about five or six months old here, maybe eight?  I'd have to check my notes.  Funny how when you look at the photos, you think you will never forget... Ah, it's a terrible thing, getting old! LOL!

I stamped my stitching around the edge of my layout and at the bottom of my book paper, using my Repeat After Me stamps.  Then, using my paper piercer, I added holes to make it look even MORE authentic! :)

I also used pop dots to add dimension:

The kit came with book paper but it was a little large for what I wanted, so I dug through my vintage books that I keep in my studio, just for this purpose.  In browsing through a tome of works by Jonathon Swift, I saw this page, which worked perfectly - "A Tale of a Tub":

The second is a layout with vintage photos of my mom (circa 1954) and my dad (circa 1953).

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Basic Grey and KaiserCraft patterned papers; KanBan Crafts transparency; EK Success, Marvy Uchida and Martha Stewart Crafts punches; Fancy Pants chipboard alphas; KaiserCraft chipboard birdcage; Glue Dots; vintage book paper; miscellaneous ribbon.

It's hard to notice in the image above, but the frame of the layout is a transparency so the outside border is clear.

(Just ignore my dry, wintery hands... :s )

I just loved the chipboard birdcage from KaiserCraft.  It's an awesome kraft colour that doesn't need any inking - my kind of easy!

Once I saw this paper from Basic Grey, I knew that I'd have to fussy cut SOMETHING out of it!  I actually planned my layouts that used this paper around the design that I wanted to use... :)  It's always a huge PITA to fussy cut, but I love the look so much that I keep going back to it!

It's seems fitting to end with this one, considering that today is what would have been my mom's 81st birthday.  Happy Birthday, Mamma - I miss you so much!