30th Anniversary card

I made this card for my dear sister and her husband from all of our family when we had a surprise 30th Wedding Anniversary celebration for them. The item for 30 years is the pearl and I wanted to incorporate this into the card. I was inspired for the colour combo and layout from scrapnextras (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/member.php?uid=18892) on Splitcoast.
Stamps: SU!: Always, Classic Alpha #s, Short Order #s
Paper: SU!: Very Vanilla, Soft Sky (2008 In Colour) and Spring Silhouettes DS (2008)
Inks: SU!: Soft Sky, Versa Mark
Accessories: SU!: Very Vanilla EP, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, ivory organdy ribbon, mini glue dots, dimensionals, Cuttlebug embossing folders: swiss dot and frills border, oval nestabilities and ivory half-back pearls

The Ride of a Lifetime-great sadness

It was with great sadness that I read today that Daniel Hurtubise's ride across Canada ended in tragedy. According to news reports, Dan and a friend and his two children were hit by a car. Dan and his friend died, they were 16 days into their journey and had just reached Manitoba. Their goal was to raise $500,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, (JDRF) in order to support diabetes research and to increase awareness of the disease and its complications. Dan had been a type 1 diabetic since his teen years and had just celebrated his 50th birthday, much like myself. I admire this man's accomplishments and determination, despite his diabetes. What a wonderful example he has set for others. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the driver of the car as well. To learn more, go to: http://www.readersdigest.ca/blog/ and to http://tinyurl.com/4d9kb3

Blue Jay

I was on my way for a walk and spotted this Blue Jay sitting on a fence. He was checking out the menu at the bird feeders in the yard beside the entrance of the path. A second later he flew off to have his feast!

Painted turtle

Well this guy was right in the middle of the path, far from home. We checked him out and he checked us out too. We went to put him in the water and he must have know because his head and legs came out and he was squirming! We got a quick pic and then set him down on the edge of the pond and off he went, happy as could be.

Eastern Kingbird

It is funny, this Kingbird is always in the same place when we see it. This time it did not fly away!

Blog work

OK, My siggy is not turning up anymore because we are working on some changes to my blog....hopefully it won't be too long and you will see my new look (sort of) just a couple of changes. This weekend is a "dud" as everyone is sick with some yucky stomach bug. It is so beautiful outside too. That reminds me...when we went for a walk the other evening we got some good pics of an eastern kingbird, I will try and post a pic.

My new siggy

How do you like my new siggy? Cool eh? That awesome lady, Beth Silaika designed it for me. She also did my watermarks and my banner, which I still love. You can find her at: http://freckledandfun.blogspot.com/ Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!!

Missionary good-bye

I made this card as a goodbye to one of our Sister Missionaries who was returning home to Utah. Sis. Laris was here for 7 months and seemed like family...well that is because she is, the big, big family!! We gave her a nice picturesque book about Ontario as she spent 2 years here. It is always hard to say goodbye but I am sure her family will be glad to have her back home again. We were truly blessed to have her devote this time in her young life to share the gospel.
I wrote a note on the inside on very vanilla using my computer and then I stamped some of the smaller flowers and the dove around the writing...it was very pretty.
Stamps: SU!: French Flair, Words of Wisdom, Carte Postale
Paper: SU!: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow and Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow, Versa Mark
Accessories: Nestabilities scallop and plain ovals, dimensionals
I really liked this colour combo from the previous card so I used it again!

Sympathy card CASed

I CASed this pretty card from "scrapshappen" on SCS. I only made slight changes. Thanks for sharing Paula!
Stamps: SU!: Warmest Regards, Baroque Motifs
Paper: SU!: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow and Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow
Accessories: SU! circle scallop punch, circle punches, grosgrain ribbon

Visit with Grand kids

The kids had a great time at the park. It was so nice to see them again.

Robin's Nest

I have found that if I go for a walk out behind our place, it is like a bird sanctuary! I have taken a lot of birdy pics that I will share. Today I found this robin's nest in a little tree by the path. I thought it would go with my last post.
I have been off work this past week with a shoulder injury. I feel really bad for the girls at work but it had got to the point where I was in agony all day and all night with it. I am going to physio now which is very painful but I am slowly regaining ROM with it. T3s are my best friend right now. At least my legs work, so I try to get out for a walk a couple of times a day and do some of my stretching exercises along the way.

Baby Robin came to visit

This sweet little robin landed on our porch and after a while it took a brave flight into the tree from whence it came. It clung to a stem of a leaf but the wind was blowing and it fluttered around. It ended up coming to rest on this fence post under the tree and the mommy robin came and fed it after a while. Eventually it made it to a stronger branch in the tree and the mother bird continued to watch over it and feed it after what was probably it's first flight. It keeps me in awe at how wide spread the instincts of motherhood spread throughout nature. Motherhood is indeed an awesome thing.

Happy Mother's Day!!

This card was made for the sweetest, kindest, most generous, loving and wonderful Mom in the whole world....My Mom. I actually spent hours making this card, thinking of her all the time and all the wonderful things she has done for our family. She has been a wonderful example to all of us. I am so thankful for her in my life.
Stamps: SU! Close to Nature, Canvas Background, All Holidays
CS: SU! Bashful Blue, White Confetti, Glossy White, vellum
Inks: Black Stazon, SU!: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun
Accessories: Marvy Giga scallop oval, Marvy Mega plain oval, glue pad, Dazzling Diamonds, stickles, glue dots, 3/8" and 7/8" white organdy ribbon
To all the mothers out there checking out my blog, Have a very Happy Mother's Day!!

My First Swing card

Here is another one of my old cards, it was my first swing card and although it was a lot of work, I love how it turned out. I should do another one of these soon...maybe for Mother's Day? Hmmmm.....
Stamps: SU! Simply Said and Dots and Daisies background stamp
CS: SU! Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, 2-Way glue

Past creations

I did this card ages ago and gave it away. I recently was able to take pics of a couple of my old cards.
This one was done using the "Dazzling Diamond Dust" technique which I learned from Splitcoast Stampers.
Stamps: SU! Doodle This and Wonderful Words
CS: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink and Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink and Certainly Celery
Accessories: Blender Pens, Ticket Corner punch, Versa Mark, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat Gun

A Card!!

Can you believe it? I actually made a card!! This is for my sweet sister's birthday but she was away and I still have to give it to her. I tried doing two different cuttlebug embossing folders on one card and I love the way it turned out. I used the paisley and swiss dot CB folders, Whisper White and Tempting Turquoise CS and Tempting Turquoise ink for the SU! Warmest Regards greeting, all together with the May Arts white swiss dot ribbon which I just love.
So Ginny, if you see this on my blog before I give it to you, Happy Birthday big sis!

Weeping Pussy Willows

These little pussy willows are from my front walkway, they are so pretty in the spring and I always think of that little pussy willow song I learned way back in Kindergarten. LOL! Each one is so intricate.

Love Always and Forever!

I thought it appropriate to add the flowers, pansies are my favourite flower and I love this picture of the two of them together, just like us. My dear step-dad was an artist and had sketched pansies on the front of our wedding invites 10 years ago. He then watercoloured his original and gave it to us framed as a gift, which we will always cherish.
Not sure what the other flower is but it was so pretty.

Spring has Sprung!!

Wow, I can't believe that it has been over a month since I posted anything. I have decided to slow down the pace a little bit and work on getting some things out of the way so I can play more with my stamps and scrapbooking. I went to Scrapfest in Kitchener with a dear sweet friend and we had a wonderful day together. I was very inspired by all of the creativity displayed there. We got to do some make and takes as well.
This past weekend my hubby and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and attended the Toronto Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We were sealed for all time and eternity and had a wonderful time together. Here are some pictures of our trip!

Crazy busy

Life has been pretty hectic lately, what with appointments, tax time, family, doing some research for a Dr. friend, heading up a new geneology program with training at our church, March break for kids and working.....my plate has been full lately. I was glad of some quiet time at my sister's last weekend when we got that huge dump of snow. We were snowed in for a day and a half. In our hometown, we had 40 cms.! Thats alota snow!! This pic was taken looking down the road by the meadow at the side of our house on Monday.
I hope to get back at creating soon, I actually started a card while at my sister's but even though I told her I would finish it, I still have to get 'er done!

3-D Easter Ladybug

I have CASEd this 3-D ladybug from Caroline LeBel. I love ladybugs you know! I saw this on Caroline's blog: http://www.craftincaro.ca/
I couldn't find a current easter coloured paper in my own stash so I used the SU! colour spritzer and the small flower from SU! Priceless to design the "paper" to cut my scallops for the ladybug. Then I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the ladybug and flower centers and tulips. It has a nice sparkle to it that doesn't show up too well in the photo. All supplies are SU!!
Stamps: Garden Whimsey, Priceless, All Holidays
Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Tourquoise, Pretty in Pink
Ink: SU! Markers: Tempting Tourquoise, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery & Barely Banana
Accessories: Punches: Scallop circle, designer Label, 1" circle. Priceless Classy Brass template,soft subtles pink brads, 2-way glue, Dazzling Diamonds, colour spritzer, dimensionals
Thanks for the inspiration Caroline!

Ladybug?

Ladybug?? In February?? In Canada you say?? Impossible! Not!! When I first started my blog, I posted a story of how ladybugs visit my stamp'in room all year long. I haven't seen much of them this winter until tonight when I was working on a card featuring a 3-D ladybug. Yes, seriously. I was working on my light table when this little ladybug came to bug me. Actually, I think it came to keep me company as our sweet little dog died yesterday and we are all very sad here today. I will post pics of my card when I get it done.

Finally!

I finally figured out how to put my picture on the side of my blog without the words being chopped up around it. It was sooo easy...I feel kinda silly not thinking of this way sooner. Only took me a year!!

Fall in Vermont Scrap pages

My sister and I made these two scrap pages for my Mom's 80th birthday, we put them in nice frames so she can cherish these memories all the time. The one page is of Mom in her Tilley admiring the birds on one of our hikes. My sister took an excellent picture (Way to go Ginny!!) of a woodpecker and although you can't really see it in these pics, it had it's pink tongue stuck out! It was so cool. The white flowers were so tiny and I zoomed in on them to get the shot, we like to think they are Edelwiess.
The other page is of the beautiful scenery and a crazy threesome on a hike, again! That good looking young guy is my brother who joined us and we got this nice pic with the mountains behind us. The bittersweet is a focal point in the middle as my Mom has always loved it and we discovered it on one of our hikes, again!!

Stamps: SU! Everyday Flexible Phrases, Fantastic Foliage
Paper: SU! Wasabi, Brown pressed fiber paper , Rusty Orange textured paper both from Michels
Ink: SU! Pumpkin Patch Spectrum, SU! Chocolate Chip, Metallic copper ink that my sister had (Encore, I think)
Accessories: SU! Antique Brass Hodge Podge Kit, SU! Photo Corner Punch, SU! Brayer, CM templates, printed Autumn Twill from local scrapbooking store

Snowy day

Well today is the third day that the kids have had their bus cancelled. Tuesday was too foggy when it was so warm, and Wed. and today we just got a ton of snow. So much for my plans to do some stamping today, we spent the morning shovelling our way out! So much for my day off :( I am going to try and post some pics of cards that I made a while ago as well as 2 scrap pages from our annual trip to Vermont in the fall.

Time Well Spent Valentine

I made this card for my SU! meeting on Monday night. We were asked to bring a Valentine card and I thought I would try out our new hostess set. This was easy and fun to do. The leaves are only attached at the base then curled up a bit for a 3-D effect, as well, the butterfly is only glued in the center and the wings lifted slightly.
Stamps: SU! Time Well Spent, All Holidays
Paper: SU! Rose Red, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: SU! Rose Red, Mellow Moss
Accessories: SU! watercolour crayon (Mellow Moss), blender pen, glue dots, dimensionals, 2-Way glue, dazzling diamonds, ticket corner punch, sm. & lrge. oval punches, wide white organdy ribbon

Valentine treat pull pouch

I started out doing this by following the tutorial on SCS but got messed up with my measurements. It turned out O.K. because it fits a regular size Cadbury Caramilk bar.
Stamps: SU!'s- PriceLess, All Holidays, Polka Dot
Paper: SU!'s- Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: SU!'s- Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: SU!'s- Priceless Classy Brass Template, crimper, Chocolate gros grain ribbon, dimensionals, Punches: Horizontal slot, lrge. & sm. oval, scallop circle

Mom's 80th Birthday

The picture is of Mom and Erin on Mom's 80th Birthday. I love this picture!!
I made the card from all of the grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren too!
Stamps: SU!'s-All in the Family, Wonderful Favorites, Family Accessories
Paper: SU!'s- Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: SU!'s Basic Black
Accessories: SU!'s- lt. blue 1/4" gingham ribbon, watercolor pencils, blender pens, sm. & lrge. oval punch, Marvy Mega scallop oval punch, Fiskars heart embossing template

Kirsty's card for Frankie

My 12 yr. old Kirsty made this cute card. She used the same supplies that I did plus the Marvy Giga scallop oval punch and some hemp twine. She did a fine job!!

Frankie's B'Day card

This was a nice masculine card for my dear Frankie. All supplies were Stampin' Up! Stamps: Noble Deer Cardstock: Old Olive,Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla, Ink: Chocolate Chip Accessories: Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, copper brads, watercolour pencils and blender pens

Angus' 17th Birthday card

I have finally got to taking a picture of one of the many cards I have recently made. Probably because this one stayed in our home. LOL! I CASED this card from teacher 114 on SCS with some slight variations. Angus thought the card was pretty awesome. I used my cuttlebug with the "Olivia" die cut alpha for the numbers and I cut the # sign to make the "th". The football is from the Stamp'in Up! "Just Football" stamp set and the birthday greeting is from SU!'s "It's your Birthday" stamp set. I used SU!'s garden green, chocolate chip and whisper white cardstocks and inks. As well I used SU!'s clear embossing powder on the football which is held in place with stamp'in dimensionals. I was a fun card to make and perfect for my football crazy birthday kid!