Thanks to all of you who have e-mailed me and asked about my well being over the last three months. I've had to deal with some health issues, plus it was extremely busy time for me. I've had lots of work to do for my clubs, classes and workshops. And, BIG NEWS: my cards are available for sale in West Vancouver IGA!!!! I am hoping to be up to speed next week and that will mean more time to update my blog. I will be posting my three month event calendar and few cards from the IGA series in the next couple of days.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

I have some retired stamps sets for sale. Here is the list:

All in a Row $12
Beautiful Batik (set of 9) $20.00
Beautiful Beach (set of 7) $20.00
Beautiful Season (set of 6, a stamp missing though) $15.00
Best Blossoms $12.00
Burst Into Bloom (set of 4) $10.00
Christmas Peace (set of 4) $10.00
DD Sunflower (set of 4) $10.00
Delight In Life (set of 6) – 2 available $10.00 (1 sold)
Frames With Flourishes (set of 7) $20.00
Garden Blocks and one more picture (set of 8) $15.00
Good Ol' Summertime (set of 5) $10.00
Grapes (set of 4) $10.00
Happy Harmony $12.00
Heartfelt Thanks (set of 9) $20.00 (pending)
Hedgehog Happiness (set of 6) $15.00 (sold)
Holiday Woodcuts (set of 6) $15.00
Houndstooth (background – 1) $10.00
Island Blossoms (set of 12) $20.00
Little Bit Of Happiness (set of 4) $10.00 (sold)
Looks Like Spring $20
Love Ya Bunches (set of 6) $10.00 (pending)
Mostly Flowers (set of 4) $10.00
Petite Patterns (set of 4) $10.00
Polka Dot Punches (set of 4) – unmounted, 2 available $10.00 (1 sold)
Quick Thinking (set of 4) $10.00
Reason To Smile (set of 3) – 2 available $10.00
Roses In Winter (set of 9) $15.00
Send A Celebration (set of 4) $15.00
Serene Spring (set of 4) $10.00
Serene Sunflower $20
Sidekick Sayings (set of 3) $10.00
Simply Spring (set of 8) $10.00
Solemn Stillness (set of 6) $15.00 (pending)
So Many Scallops $12
Spring Pansy $10.00
Spring Solitude (set of 6) $15.00
Spring Solitude wheel $4.00
Weather Or Not (set of 4) $10.00 (sold)
Yummy (set of 3) – mounted, never used $10.00
Yummy (set of 3) – unmounted, 2 available $10.00 (1 sold)

Please note that I can only sell to Canadian customers, as per SU demonstrator agreement. I am advertising these on Craigslist as well and will be updating list very often. Stamps are in very good condition, staining on some. Shipping charges are not included, they will be calculated depending on where the stamps are going to, but I will do it the cheapest possible way. Pick up available and preferred if local. E-mail me if interested.

It is a beautiful Monday. Not a cloud in the sky and it is warm. Just as I thought that it couldn't get any better, my postie rang the bell with new goodies from Verve. Oh joy!

So, instead of gardening, or playing, or reading on the deck - here I was, making a new card with my brand new stamps. You do understand though, don't you?

Look:

Supplies Used:
Paper: Bashful Blue (SU!), Precious Metal by We R Memory Keepers, Sonoma Rosalie Street by Scenic Route, Whisper White (SU!), Natural White (SU!)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (SU!), Basic Black (SU!)
Stamps: Up, Up And Away (Verve)
Other:dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!), Dusty Durango marker (SU!), Crushed Curry marker (SU!), sponges (SU!), Signo white gel pen (SU!), paper piercer (SU!), clear crystal stickers by Mark Richards

I hope you like it. Off I go to play in the sun now. Blog y'a later.

Wow! I just discovered a fantastic blog candy. Steph from "Where'd All My Money Go?!" is giving away $150 to be spend for what you like. :-) ALl you need to do is to post about her candy and provide her with a link to that post. Easy, peasy, eh?!?! So, go now...

Gastown Motorcycle Show & Shine was a highlight of the last weekend. Well, at least for my husband. Three of us went along and looked at all the bikes with him. My older son, 6 year old, learned how to spot a shovelhead among the other Harleys. What an accomplishment, eh? :-) My younger son was more interested in the motorcycles, and really wanted to sit on this one that was all done up with skulls and bones and chains. Here is a photo, it doesn't show the bike completely, but I think you can leave things to your imagination when you see Charlie posing with the owner of the bike.




I have made quite a few cards lately, for some reason I was too lazy to take pictures, touch them up in Photoshop, upload... I am having a lazy summer. But, honestly, I am still making things. Here is a card I made for a local realtor for a thank you card for his clients. I quite like it.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Craft (SU!), Basic Black (SU!)
Ink: selection of SU! inks for colouring, Basic Black (SU!) for stamping
Stamps: Trendy Trees (SU!), Neighbourhood wheel (SU!)
Other: dpaper snips (SU!), blender pens (SU!)

The following card was made just because a paper I had reminded me of a coffee on a morning I was staying away from my morning dose due to some blood test I had to do later in a day. Was I ever ready for a shot intravenously later on. :-)

Supplies Used:
Paper: Whisper White (SU!), Really Rust (SU!), Crush Collection Coral by Crate Paper, Natural White (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Close to Cocoa (SU!), Real Red (SU!)
Stamps: Pun Fun (SU!)
Other: ddimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!), blender pens (SU!), Chocolate Chip marker (SU!), sponges (SU!)

I am teaching Watercolouring class on Saturday, celebrating Charlie's birthday on Sunday (I can't believe my baby turned 4 yesterday), so I might not blog before next week. But then, you never know.

Blog y'a all later!

Wow! I've been living in Vancouver for about 15 years now, I don't remember a summer as hot as this one. So, I decided to do a watercolouring class (it's hot - water - watercoloring - can you follow this one, huh? LOL). It will be on Saturday, August 22nd, 2-5 PM at my place. The cost is $20. Please e-mail me to sign up or pre-pay using Pay Pal (look on the side bar). You will get everything you need to make three cards - papers and pre-stamped images, plus detailed instructions. Here are couple of samples done with High Hopes stamps. I was too lazy to change my watermark, so it still says Stampin' Up. High Hopes is going wholesale only, I am not very happy about that, I must admit. Now I have to find a retailer with the biggest selection of their stamps, I think they are just adorable. I can foresee an extensive research coming up.

Supplies Used:
Paper: watercolouring paper (SU!), Soft Suede (SU!), Soft Suede (SU!), Natural White (SU!)
Ink: Black Staz-On, selection of SU! inks for colouring
Stamps: High Hopes stamps - forgot their name
Other: dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!), blender pens (SU!)

Supplies Used:
Paper: watercoluring paper (SU!), Soft Suede (SU!), Natural White (SU!), unknown DP
Ink: Black Staz-On, selection of SU! inks for colouring
Stamps: High Hopes stamps - forgot their name
Other: dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!), aqua painter (SU!)

I hope you like new look of my blog. I sure do. I still have to work on posting my links again, so if yours is missing, please don't be alarmed. Unfortunately, I have to re-enter all of them again.

And, by the way, my Open House was a HUGE success. A big thank you to all who showed up. Maybe I post the projects from that day in my next post.

Be sun smart with this heat wave. Stay in the shade and stamp. Blog y'a all later.

If you live anywhere in Lower Mainland - you are invited to my Stampin' Up New Catalogue Party combined with my Rubber Rummage Sale!

Not only will I be selling my retired stamp sets (63 of them) & accessories at AMAZING PRICES, I will also have FREE make & takes (please RSVP for make & take), lots of samples on display (bring your camera!), door prizes, ordering specials, munchies and of course the BRAND NEW 2009/2010 Stampin' Up! Catalogue.

Earn Tickets to Win Awesome Door Prizes….


1 ticket for attending
1 ticket for each uninvited “new to Stampin’ Up!” adult friend you bring
1 ticket for every $50 (before tax and shipping) order you submit or
3 tickets for every $100 (before tax and shipping) order you submit
5 tickets for booking a workshop held before October 31st
10 tickets for joining my Stampers Club or Scrapbooking Club (runs Sept – June)
15 tickets for signing up to become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
*new catalogue orders only (not rubber rummage sale items)


11:30 - A thank you for my club members
12:00 - Door opens to everyone. Make sure you fill in the door prize form, get the tickets if applies for the additional draw
2:00 - Demonstration No 1 - "Look here" Bigz Die for Big Shot (unless I change my mind - LOL)
4:00 - Demonstration No 2 - "Kind Thoughts" stencil (ditto)
5:00 - End of the event/Door prizes draw

In between these, you will be doing make 'n' takes - three, I think. Door prizes - there will be three. One from everyone who came, one for people who place an order with me on that day and one for club members. You could earn extra tickets as described in my add. Door prizes are really NICE!!! People who don't have a new catalogue can purchase one for $10. Every new catalogue will receive a set of catalogue tabs with it. I have made cardstock samplers, they will be sold at $7.

Also, everyone who places an order of $80 or more, before the tax, will receive a full size Classic ink pad in colour of their choice.

I might have couple of more surprises once you're here, you never know.

Off I go to get ready for Saturday. Blog y'a later.

So, here I am again. I promised a card about a week ago. Strange things happen in my house - a day turns into a week, a week turns into a month, and a month becomes a year before you know it. It was such a great weather, I hardly stayed in the house at all. And, trust me, a card is nearly impossible to make on a playground or a beach. But, I was taking lots of pictures for scrappin'. So, yesterday I finally took a photo of the card I promised a week ago. Look:

Supplies Used:
Paper: Whisper White (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Soft Suede (SU!), Natural White (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive (SU!), Versamark
Stamps: Medallion (SU!) note: my stamps are no longer captives to Agriculture Canada, hooray!!!!
Other: Old Olive marker (SU!), sponges and daubers (SU!), dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!), paper piercer (SU!), green crystal brad (can't remember the company), stencil "Kind Thoughts Brocade" - small.

Now, this next one is a total copy of Brandi Wiggins' work. A while ago, I saw this scrap page she made and I thought it was great. The image really stuck to my head, and here we are, this is my take on that (thanks for the inspiration Brandi):

Supplies Used:
Paper: Craft (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Not Quite Navy (SU!), White - Craft (SU!), Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Doodle This (SU! - retired), Simple Friendship (SU!), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (SU!)
Other: Chocolate Chip marker (SU!), blender pen (SU!), crystal brads (SU!), dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!).

OK, another post and run, I have to go get ready for my Open House next week. Lots to do...

Blog y'a later.

I've seen Kristina's challenges before, but haven't done them. I have decided to give this one a try. I like the colours, they speak summer and happiness to me. Well, here is the card...




Blog y'a just a little later...

I've placed an order from the new SU! catalogue last week. It was supposed to be here yesterday, but while tracking it online, I saw it encountered an exception: AGRICULTURAL HOLD. Lol... My mind started twisting and turning and thinking of these poor customs guys reading through my order: snail adhesive refill, wheel Always in Bloom, Razzleberry Lemonade, Elegant Bouquet, etc... It does sound like I have food, plants or animals in my parcel, eh? I am still laughing about this one. Then I remembered that song by Corb Lund "The Truck Got Stuck". You know the song, right?!?! They stole some canola seeds to use under the wheels of a truck that got stuck in mud. One of the lines is: "Agriculture Canada is definitely gonna be looking for us". If you don't know the song, go look it up on YouTube or somewhere, it is so funny. You can click here to read the lyrics. Maybe SU! should come up with new SU! Canada theme song...

Here is the latest card I made while waiting for Agricultural Hold to clear. It is designed for my "Friends 24-7" Class in the Mail. Contact me to purchase it or use the Pay Pal option in a side bar.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Whisper White (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Natural White (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Real Rust (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Close to Cocoa (SU!)
Stamps: Friends 24-7 (SU!), Friendly Words - wheel (SU!), French SCript (SU!) - I've ordered En Francais finally - it is held a captive by Agriculture Canada.
Other: Chocolate Chip marker (SU!), sponges and daubers (SU!), Modern Label punch (SU!), dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!).

Gotta go and do some work now. Blog y'a all later.

Hey all! I know how much I like free stuff. I know how much you like free stuff. Over at Stampin' Addicts they are giving away a pack of brand new dies for Big Shot. Those are all the new ones from the newest Stampin' Up catalogue. I shouldn't be telling you about this. Less people link = more likely I am to win. Oh, well... You have to share if you win, OK? By the way, Stampin' Addicts is becoming another great resource site. Go check them out. I'll be back later with a new card.

Blog y'a later.

Very quick post - Happy Canada Day to my Canadian visitors. Down there is a quick card I've made a while ago, for my son's friend. He said it was a cool card. So, here is a "cool card". Lol.

I know I am. I can not wait for the new SU! catalogue to go live tomorrow. So many things I need. Yes, you've read that right, I need them, every single one of them. I do not need a manicure, or a pedicure, God forbid a facial or a massage, but these... I simply need them all! Have you seen the catalogue yet? Oh, you're missing some serious excitement if you haven't. I've got them - give me a shout!

On to the cards.

The first one is a mix of new and old - new stamp sets, one new colour, a new punch, an old punch, retiring paper... It's funny, I have not used Kiwi Kiss not once before. Now when it is retiring I am discovering all these possibilities. Oh, well...

Supplies Used:
Paper: Kiwi Kiss - retiring (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Bermuda Bay - sneak peak (SU!)
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black (SU!)
Stamps: Circle Circus - Sneak peak (SU!), Teeny Tiny Wishes - Sneak peak (SU!)
Other: Sizzix Big Shot (SU!), Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (SU!), Eyelet border punch (SU!), Ticket corner punch (SU!), clear embossing powder (SU!), silver brads (SU!), Signo white gel pen (SU!), Modern Label punch - Sneak peak (SU!), dimensionals (SU!), paper snips (SU!).

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Bermuda Bay - Sneak peak (SU!), Razzleberry Lemonade - Sneak peak (SU!), Bermuda Bay - Sneak peak (SU!), Rich Razzleberry - Sneak peak (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!), Perfect Plum (SU!), Versamark
Stamps: Circle Circus - Sneak peak (SU!), Warm Words (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Eyelet border punch (SU!), paper piercer (SU! is starting to sell paper piercers on their own - whoohoo!), paper snips (SU!), crystal clear brads (SU!).

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!), Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Ink: Old Olive (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!). Close to Cocoa (SU!)
Stamps: Baroque Motifs (SU!), French Script - retired, I guess it is time to change it for En Francais, eh? (SU!), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (SU!), Inkadinkado Birds
Other: dimensionals (SU!), brayer (SU!), Signo white gel pen (SU!), markers - Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, So Saffron (SU!), gold pen (unknown origin), green crystal brad (Making Memories???), paper snips (SU!).

I hope you like these. More projects coming tomorrow.

On the other note, we just came back from camping at Cultus lake. It was great, weather was beautiful, water cold but refreshing... We're off to Green Lake up by 70 Miles House next weekend. Bring on the s'mores!!! Stayed tuned for scrapbooking story of summer 2009. Many beautiful pictures to scrap. Too many. Now I'll be behind again. My older son befriended a caterpillar and was extremely upset that he had to leave him behind. He cried and was mourning for quite some time. No way I am getting them a pet.

Blog y'a later!

We're back and fully recovered. Charlie, my three year old was quite heavily jet legged but we're pretty much back to normal. It was an awesome trip. Here are some pictures:

These are my kids at one of our favourite restaurants in Mostar.



This is also a part of the Old Town in Mostar.



Kids having a walk in the lake near my mountain house, Boracko Jezero.



All three boys climbing their way through the ancient city of Pocitelj (founded in 1383).



Kravice, beautiful falls in Hercegovina.



Playing in the sand of the Adriatic Sea.



It is really good to be back. It was a great trip, but we all missed our home. I will post again tomorrow and show you what I've made in the haze of jet legged days.

Blog you later.

Well, I had a very interesting two months. Lots of school activities, small trips, we were all sick with one type or another of a flu or a cold. I haven't even realized it's been almost two months since my last update. Ooops. I am back now.

Today is a gorgeous day in Vancouver. Practically summer. I am sitting in the garden with my laptop and enjoying it with my kids. It is only last few days that the weather got better, it was pretty miserable last month. I've been stamping a lot. I finished working on my craft room and I love it. It is so easy to find everything (provided I put it back where it belongs). :-) It seems that two techniques took over - watercolouring and soot stamping. I love both so much, I've hardly done anything else. An old stamp set by SU!, Natural Beauty was a great one to play with. Some cards were cased, some not, I made so many I am not sure anymore... Wanna see? Here are the five I really, really like...

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!), Watercoluring paper - 140 lbs cold pressed (SU!), One of the SU! blues - I really need to learn my blues, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Really Rust (SU!). Baja Breeze (SU!)
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU!), Linen (SU!), Sincere Salutations (SU!), French Script (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), blender pens (SU!), paper snips (SU!).

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, Watercoluring paper - 140 lbs cold pressed (SU!), Almost Navy (SU!)
Ink: Black Stazon, Old Olive (SU!), Pacific Point (SU!)
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU!), SIncere Salutations (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), blender pens (SU!), paper snips (SU!).

The next three cards are all made with the same soot stamping technique, out of less than one sheet of glossy white.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, Watercoluring paper - 140 lbs cold pressed (SU!) for the butterfly, green emboseed dotted paper (I am not sure of the company), glossy white (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Real Rust (SU!)
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Zip Dry glue, paper snips (SU!), blender pen (SU!), candle, acrylic sealer matte

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, Watercoluring paper - 140 lbs cold pressed (SU!) for the butterfly, glossy white (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Real Rust (SU!), gray from K & Company (Remake Night Blacks Mat Pad)
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Zip Dry glue, paper snips (SU!), blender pen (SU!), candle, acrylic sealer matte

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, Watercoluring paper - 140 lbs cold pressed (SU!) for the butterfly, glossy white (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), More Mustard (SU!), Real Rust (SU!)
Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Whisper White Craft (SU!)
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU!), Friend Definition (Inkadinkado)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Zip Dry glue, paper snips (SU!), blender pen (SU!), candle, acrylic sealer matte

I am hoping to be posting more often in the next few months. We are going away for a month to Europe. I will try to prepre stuff to post, I am not sure how much I can do on the road. There will be lot of photos though - stick around.

Blog y'a later!

I took Milan to school and it was a beautiful brisk morning. I really enjoy these morning walks with two of them; We have a chance to talk and just enjoy our morning. And also see all the people we know in the neighbourhood. I love our neighbourhood. We have good schools, good neighbours, wonderful parks... I feel like I really belong here.

My open house was a huge success. Thank you to all who showed up and helped make it so successful. These are some of the projects we did that day:






In all this time I wasn't posting, I did make quite a few cards, so here are two out of bunch:






I will come back to this post later and add all the details, off I go to a playground now...

Blog y'a later.

We had a great day today. The weather was just fantastic, sunny and cold. I kept thinking that we should be somewhere in the mountains roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. No such luck, but the boys had a really fun day. They played outside all day, they would just bring their rosy cheeks in when hungry. I love days like today. Not too many chores, lovely weather and boys full of beans. :-) They should sleep well.

I made this card the other day, but didn't have a chance to post it yet. As I didn't make a new card today, I'll use this one.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, Autumn Wine DP (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Close To Cocoa (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: Just Buzzing By (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Prisma pencils, baby oil, paper piercer, gold brads (SU!), 1/4" circle punch (SU!), Chocolate Chip Stampin' Marker (SU!), ticket corner punch.

I am hoping for another day like this tomorrow. Kids don't have classes, it is a Pro-D day. Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather. Off I go to put kids to bed. Blog y'a later.

Next Saturday, January 31st, I am having an open house. The new catalogue is in, Sale-a-Bration is starting on February 1st, enough to get a party going. We will do couple of make and takes with supplies from the new Stampin' Up catalogue. You can get your new catalogue for $10, or you can have it for free with a $75 order of SU supplies. This is a no-fee make and take session, but please pre-register so I can prepare enough make and takes. There will be snacks, make and takes, couple of show and tells, and little gifts. Please join me if you're free. RVSP to happyinker@gmail.com or (604) 684-1666 and then come to 3150 Stephens Street in Vancouver.

I do not have a new card today. Or, I do have few new cards but I didn't take photos of them. I'll do it tomorrow. Here are the photos that I did take...






Can you tell it was a day spent with boys today? I had a blast. OK, I doubt this is what you came here for. Oh, well... :-)

Blog y'a later.

While I was waiting for my SU! pre-orders to come in, I played with some of my older SU! stuff. I love "Embrace Life" set, I've made many cards with it. And it never seems to get old. I can play over and over with it. Here is the latest card I made:

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White (SU!) for card base, More Mustard (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), Autumn Wine DP (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!), Really Rust (SU!)
Stamps: Embrace Life (SU!), Warm Words (SU!)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Prisma pencils, baby oil, paper piercer, gold brads (SU!), 1/4" circle punch (SU!), colour spritzer (SU!), sponges.

Tomorrow a friend is coming over to play in my studio. I have to get ready for my Saturday class, we will do few Valentine's cards. My "Love You Much" bundle is finally here (all of it!!!!), as well as some other new stuff. I love new rubber. Maybe I use this card as one of the non-Valentine's Day cards for the class... we'll see.

Kids are back to school and that means lots of running back and forth for me. I love our days on the playground after school though. There is a group of kids that are becoming very good friends, and it is such a joy watching them play. By the time we get home semi-frozen and tired, we're all ready for some hot chocolate and grilled cheese sandwiches made with smoked gouda. Yum.

My younger son's school is collecting money for the new playground, they had to take the old one down as it was made with that pressure treated wood that is not safe for kids anymore. Right now, the young kids under the age of 6 have nowhere to play. I would like to help, so I decided to schedule my classes and some make and takes on one Saturday in February or beginning of March, and give all the proceeds to the school. Stay tuned for the exact date and your E-vites. If you're reading this and would like to be invited, but you don't belong to my regular mailing group, send me a quick e-mail or leave a comment and I will make sure to include you in this fundraiser.

Blog you later.

I hope this year is a very successful one for you all, filled with health, wealth and laughter. I know I couldn't wish for more...

We had great holidays. It doesn't happen very often in Vancouver, but we had a white Christmas! Oh, joy!! We were out frolicking in the snow, tobogganing, firing snowballs at each other and shoveling. Even shoveling didn't feel so hard. Look at me speak, I shoveled for about 5 minutes, my hubby is a "man", it is his job, so I was not allowed to use a shovel. He drove around in our Volvo with a shovel in the trunk and took on helping people who got stuck all over the place. We are probably the only ones beside the police who have snow tires and chains in this city. :-) I am not sure which he (my hubby that is) enjoyed more - helping people or lecturing them about being on the road with all seasons tires. Santa spoiled us too, my kids got all the toys they asked for, I got few things I was wishing for for a long time, like "Toolset for Dummies". I also got a little "to go" set of pink tools. My other half got saddle bags for his Harley. But most importantly, we got to spend quite a bit of time with our family. I still feel all warm and fuzzy.

I didn't craft a whole lot over holidays, all those Christmas cards took a toll on me. I recuperated and enjoyed my family. I did work on my craft room a bit. I cleaned it up, purchased Bygel racks from Ikea for my punches, we'll be putting them up today. I do have a card to show though... I saw this sketch somewhere long time ago and jotted it down. I can't remember where though. If you know let me know.





I am not going to list details for this card as I can't remember any of the designer's papers used. :-) Flowers were died with SU! re-inkers. The stamp is a SU! Lovely Labels, photo corners were done with SU! photo corner punch. There you have it.

The next card was done as a spoof. It is in my SCS gallery. Have you noticed lately how popular llamas are on SCS?!?!? I resisted for the longest time, but then I did join this movement. :-) For more info on how it all started go here and here. I downloaded a colouring page and resized it and fixed in Photoshop. The image was coloured with Prisma pencils. The bubbles on the paper are supposed to remind you of llama spit. Gross, eh?!?! Anyway, here is the card...



OK, that's it. Blog you llater (I am so funny, huh?!?)

I have sold 150 - 200 cards this Christmas season. Different cards. Pretty cards, cute cards, funny cards... The best seller, by far was this one:

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White for card base, Always Artichoke (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), DP (can't remember which one)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!
Stamps: Mudzy's Predicament (High Hopes)
Other: dimensionals (SU!), Prisma pencils, baby oil, paper snips (SU!), craft knife.

This card makes me laugh. Or, it used to... I couldn't imagine anyone really doing this. It could only happen on Christmas cards and in movies like Fargo or such... Until yesterday. We took the kids up to Grouse. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a blast. We threw snowballs at each other, slid down the hills on our bums, saw Santa and his reindeer. At the end of the day we were exhausted. While waiting for gondola to take us off the mountain, my two sons were standing and watching the trees over the fence separating us from a gondola. We were behind them talking to our friends. Next thing I know, Milan, my older son, turned to me to ask me something and I thought I would faint. At first I didn't know what happened, all I saw was this bloody mess on his face. As he saw my face, he got scared and started crying. It took me a second to realize that he "pulled a moose" on me. He put his lips on the fence while watching the forest. Well, good part of his lips stayed on the fence. Lesson learned. Today he is doing his show and tell in kindergarten - he will show them his lips and tell what happened so no one else would ever do it. :-) Too bad he was too upset for me to take his picture and scrap it.

Blog you later.

Over the last couple of weeks I received few blog blings that I didn't have time to do anything about. Well, here they are, all three of them:

This one I received from Loretta Rogers:


Thanks Loretta!

The rules say I should give this to 5 people and link to them. As I have to list more people for the other blings, I would probably need about 20 people. Instead, I will leave this to all of you who come to my blog, you all deserve it for putting up with me. Lol.

The next one is


I received it from Katherine Cosimano. Thanks Katherine! I did this back in the summer, maybe August... If you go to the older posts, you'll find it,

And the latest one was


from Tenia Nelson. I am very thankful Tenia!

Many thanks to you all for taking time to stop and look at my work.

OK, let's get on with a card...




The photographs are not the best today, I don't have time to redo them though. I started with (again) natural white for a card base. I apologize, I can't remember which designer paper is the one I used, I have a feeling it is one of the Heidi Grace designs. Anyway, that was matted on Blue Bayou and pierced. The snowflakes were done in embossing resist on Soft Sky with Pacific Point ink, and again, matted on Blue Bayou. I put a crystal brad by MM in the middle of each and mounted them on a piece of Whisper White matted on... guess... yes! Blue Bayou! "Marry Christmas" was stamped in Versamark and embossed with a Detail Silver embossing powder. This will be one of the cards we will do for my Technique class. Here is the list:

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White for card base, Blue Bayou (SU!), Whisper White (SU!, Soft Sky (SU!), Heidi Grace DP
Ink: Pacific point (SU!), Versamark
Stamps: Snow Swirled (SU!), "Merry Christmas" Stampendous
Other: crystal brads (MM); dimensionals (SU!), paper piercer, silver embossing powder, sponges, clear embossing powder.

Blog you later.

I love fall... I love all the colours, smells, crisp days... I even put people into "season categories". There are winter people, there are spring people, there are summer people, and then there are fall people. The card I made yesterday is for fall people. It happens to be a birthday card, but that is not how I decide which category you fall in. I see colours when I look at the people, we each have a colour associated with us. Anyway, here is the card...





I started with a A2 size card. First layer is Basic Black sized to 1/16" smaller than the base. Beautiful Life Leaf was cut to 4" x 5 1/4", corners were cut with a ticket corner punch, then lightly sanded with sanding blocks and pierced. I used my Cuttlebug to cut two shapes with Top Note die - Basic Black and Boho Chic. With my paper snips I cut off the perforated part and then I matted it on black. Prima flowers were coloured with SU! re-inkers, pierced and a gold brad was put through each. I stamped Happy Birthday in Versamark and embossed with a gold detail embossing powder. The shape of the inner Top Note was traced with a gold gel pen. I popped the central piece with dimensionals and added Prima flowers with mini glue dots. Voila!

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White for card base (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Beautiful Life Leaf (Bo Bunny), Urban Window Collection - Boho Chic Fancy Free (We R Memory Keepers)
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: Elegant Greetings (SU!)
Other: gold brads (SU); dimensionals (SU!), Top Note Die used in Cuttlebug, paper piercer, glue dots, Prima Flowers, Su! re-inkers, gold gel pen, ticket corner punch, sanding blocks (SU!), paper snips

Blog you later.

Many of you have asked over the past four months about my kitchen. So, here is a very quick post with two pictures of what it looks like now. If you were to scroll way down, back to August I believe, you could see how it started.




Off to clean my office now. It looks as if a big bomb went off in there. Blog you later.

I admit. I am a bad blogger. What can I say.

Many things happening in my life and then we went away. We spent few days at Birch Bay State Park down in Washington State. You know, those State parks are great when cold weather arrives. Unlike our provincial parks, they have hook-ups for our motor home, plus they stay open all year. And they are a great deal for just $25 a night. We spent some time playing on the beach in the rain, went trails hiking, pretended we were great hunters chasing a bear... and watched people. People coming to State Parks at this time of the year are either really huge outdoors lovers as we are, or have a sad stories to tell. There was a woman there, all by herself, not really sure how to operate any of the RV features, how to hook up or use amenities... "It's a long story why I'm here all on my own", Fran tells us in her deep Southern accent. Her RV looks as if she packed up everything that ever meant anything to her. There are pictures, clothes, little notes scattered throughout her RV. A whole lifetime.

There was a Volvo station wagon there too. An older lady and her two cats sleep, eat and entertain each others in there. The only time she came out was to use the bathroom nearby. I can't help but wonder what her story is.

On to the cards... I haven't posted for so long that I think you should have more than one card to see. So, here they come.

These are the cards I made for a big order in Quebec for a friend of mine.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White for card base, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Ink: Bravo Burgundy (SU!, Gold (Encore))
Stamps: Season of Joy, Nombreux Joyeux messages, To You and Yours(SU!)
Other: gold brads (SU); dimensionals (SU!), punches - scalloped circle, circle, scallops edge (SU!), paper piercer

Supplies Used:
Paper: Natural White for card base, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red (SU!)
Stamps: Season of Joy, Nombreux Joyeux messages, French Script, Poinsettia wheel (SU!)
Other: gold brads (SU); dimensionals (SU!), Nestabilities, paper piercer, gold gel pen, unknown red ribbon

I also made lots of cards for people around here. You can find my cards in Campbell's Gold farm gift store in Abbotsford now. They have some amazing honey, wax and pollen products, pottery and mead! I might end up working for mead, who knows! Lol. I will show you just one of many cards I made lately. I have to save something for later.

Supplies Used:
Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Real Red (SU!)
Ink: Basic Black (SU!)
Stamps: Festive Four (SU!)
Other: gold brads (SU); dimensionals (SU!), paper piercer, Copics

I hope I kind of made up for not posting so long. I'll try to be more on top of things from now on. Honest. Blog you later.