MNC Kit peeks

I have been working on a few kits lately, and am loving what has come together on the page. One is a Christmas layout, and the colors are traditional Christmas colors, but they are also really distressy... and I love me a good distressed paper line.The second is with the MME Lush line. So pretty. So, so pretty. There are no words for the beauty of this paper. It is a shame to cover it up.


I am hoping that if all goes well, today will be scrapbook for Kimberly day...... Cross your fingers for me!
TFL

MNC Calendar kits

I have been on a bit of a MNC hiatus because we have been waiting for new product to arrive. These, however, are two of the upcoming calendar pages this summer. Two very different lines, themes, color palettes.... etc. One was much easier for me to do than the other, but I am pleased with both.

Baby Molly

My friend Haley recently had her baby. It was a girl baby. And it is an adorable baby. I was lucky enough to get to take pictures of this beautiful baby girl yesterday. We had a lot of fun turning Molly into our very own guinea pig/model, and I am very happy with the result. This is just one of my faves.

Layout #19

I love this October Afternoon paper. You know when you love a paper so much you don't want to use it, because it has to be the perfect photos? That is how I felt about this paper. I have had it for over a year, waiting for good pictures. These aren't necessarily the perfect pictures, but they certainly showcase the meltdown my DS had when he couldn't reach his Easter chocolate last year. I still think it is missing something. I kind of wish I didn't use green cardstock. I have really shied away from cardstock as my base in the last few years..... And I find it really difficult to use when I do use it... Something to work on I guess.
TFL!

10 Randoms.... Crop 4 Kids

My friend Jennifer has done it again. This year was the second annual Crop4Kids for the Alberta Children's Hospital. It was another amazing event. This is a list of ten things I loved about it....
1. The free swag. The bag was awesome. That would have been good enough, but the paper, smooch, chipboard albums, stamps, magazine, etc. Super good swag....

2. Leica Forrest is one of the nicest, coolest, most down to earth people I have met. I have had the opportunities to meet some scrapbook celebrities... and people who think they are celebrities... and I have found that a lot of those people throw their success in your face. Like that will somehow make them more credible or something. To me, Leica is the most well known face of Canadian Scrapbooker, and I was lucky enough to spend the day with her. Not once did she come across with an "I am better than you" attitude. She didn't name drop, or manufacturer name drop. She didn't brag about her success. She talked about her kids, her husband, and how much she loves to scrapbook. She does this job for the scrapbooking first, the perks second. I love that.

3. Jennifer works soooo hard for something that matters so much to her. She has a team of people who make it possible, but without that girl.... it would be chaos. She was the perfect example of calm, cool and collected if an "issue" arose. She is all class.

4. Inspired Designs was on site. I LOVE that store. Donna has the newest and coolest stuff. And that girl is overflowing with talent. One day, when the whole world knows her, I will be able to say.... "I bought my Riff Raff and Harmonie from her...."

5. I survived my classes. And I got really good feedback. I was even asked to come and teach at "The Breast Crop Ever" in Red Deer this fall. I was flattered.

6. I completed a layout. I was pretty pleased with myself. I threw it together in 45 minutes. I love preplanning my pages. It makes things so much easier.

7. The glitter mishap. Or, the glitter incident. Whatever it will go down as, it was pretty funny. There was a friendly competition called "Iron Scrapbooker" and there was a little trash talking and attempted sabotage before the competition began. Leica innocently threw glitter at Christy, but unfortunately, it landed all over her face. And in her eyes. I don't know how Christy was able to work after that.... but she looked like a disco queen from 1973.

8. I didn't get to spend as much time chatting with Deanna, but I know that she and I will definitely get together and scrap one day. She seems like such a nice, genuine girl... and I am glad I had the chance to meet her.

9. I got to eat pepperoni pizza. That is always a highlight for me.

10. I can not wait until next year. It just gets better and better.

Tony and Tina's Wedding

If you are in Vegas, and are looking for some hilarious entertainment, you have to see this show. We went when we were in Vegas last November. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical. It doesn't have the huge hype and advertising cash... and so I think a lot is word of mouth. We heard about it from Haley and Brian.
It was so funny. Hilarious. We laughed the whole time. I think that if you pay money to see something funny, and you come out with a sore stomach from laughing so much, you got your money's worth. That was this show.
The layout is a little blech... but it is done and my 2009 album is quickly approaching completion!

Layout #18 - For Cohen's first year album....

This is the last layout that needed to be included in Cohen's first year album... I have had it sitting around for EVER!!!! I am actually really happy with the end result. As always, it came together with a little help from my friends. I was hesitant to leave the raw chipboard on the page, but Haley convinced me that it would be fine.... I think she was right!
TFL! and have a great weekend!

Layout #17 - At this rate.... I will be getting nowhere.

This layout was a class I taught for MNC at Sheep River a couple of years ago. I have had it sitting around waiting for pictures.... but I never think to take pictures and bake at the same time. Mom and Dad were here this weekend, and mom loves to bake banana cake, so I took advantage of the free hands for myself, and snapped away! I have really shied away from two page layouts as of late, but I think this one is kind of cute... and can't wait to get my album back together to put this in it!
I also think that having only 17 layouts done this far into the year is a little pathetic on my part. What the heck have I been doing? Not scrapbooking obviously.
TFL

Probably as good as I am going to get.....

I love taking pictures. I really do. However, I also love being in pictures. I like to be able to look back through pictures of my past, and remember what I was thinking, feeling, loving, enjoying, doing back then. Since having kids, I have taken a million pictures. Since having kids, I am in maybe a dozen of those pictures. I want pictures of the kids and I because I don't have a lot of my mom and me when I was growing up.

So, that said, I took this today. We were all decked out in our St. Patrick's Day attire, and were looking quite festive... if I do say so myself. So I set up an impromptu photo shoot on the dining room floor. Gotta love self timer.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

10 Things I Am Looking Forward To

1. The arrival of Baby Bean Ross..... Any day now!
2. My income tax return. It should pay off the new washer and dryer!
3. Crop 4 Kids. I had so much fun last year, and this year I get to teach!
4. Getting a new 'do from Kacey.... She has a wicked plan in mind, and I can't wait!
5. Seeding. I know. I can't believe I said it either, but at least it means that Grant is in the same postal code as I am.
6. Getting paid this month. I feel the urge to splurge on some spring and summer attire.
7. All of the things I have recently bought online. New MME paper, old MME paper, a book, some new t-shirts, a pair of loungy capri pants, matroyshka key covers..... I can't wait!
8. SPRING. I love the smells. I hate the wetness, and the dirty melting snow... but I can ship the kids outside, and not have to worry about hunting for Cohen stuck in a drift somewhere.
9. The Brier final this afternoon.... I hope that Koe can kick Howard's a%*!
10. Did I mention baby Ross already? I want to take pics of that cute little thing when it gets here.

Layout #16

So, because I can't think for myself and do everything Haley does, I started a Christmas album. I have to laugh, because the layouts that are in there to start are OLD.... like basic cardstock only layouts! No embellishments, no nothing.
I certainly don't think I am all that when it comes to scrapbooking, but I do have to admit that I have definitely grown in my willingness to try new things, and to add stuff to my pages!
I also noticed that I didn't have anything to include for Avery's first Christmas, because all of those layouts were in her first year album, and I didn't want to take them out, so I did this on my weekend retreat. Again, Fancy Pants, and again, simple. But it can go into the Christmas album!
TFL!

Layout #15

This is my favorite Christmas layout I have done in a long time! It is the Fancy Pants Christmas line, and could it be any more perfect? I don't think it is limited to Christmas or winter pictures either. I think there are some papers that would work really well for wedding pictures.... hmmm...
I love Fancy Pants paper kits. I like that you get a couple of transparencies thrown in there... and their little journaling cards are always so cute.
I have scrapped this picture once before, but I think one will go in my Christmas album, and that other in my 2009 album. That isn't wrong is it? Scrapping the same thing twice?

TFL!

Layout #14

Because I am "such" a good wedding photographer, I forgot to take pictures of Rob by himself.... needless to say, there are a million of Jani, and not nearly as many of Rob, but I did get this one of him. It was the first time he saw Janelle the day of their wedding. Look how happy he is!
The pic is a little washed out, but you get the idea... :)

Layout #13

This was another layout I completed on my weekend retreat. Yep... that is Basic Grey Urban Couture paper.... and so that means I have had that paper since Basic Grey became a mainstream paper company....See??? My stash is ridiculous.
When I originally took this picture, I was positive it wouldn't work, because there were so many shadows from the trees.... but with a little creative photo editing on my part, I made it work! Again, this layout is full of old stuff..... I am actually quite pleased with myself. I thought using up my stash would be hard, and I wouldn't be able to do it, but I am really happy with how this little resolution is shaping up.
Old: PP - BG and Crate Paper, Rub-ons - SU!, Heart clip - Karen Foster, Flowers - Prima, Bazzill, and Petaloo

Layout #12

(Sorry the photo is crooked. I couldn't be bothered to retake, or recrop it).

This started out as a whole lot of nothing. I couldn't get it to come together. And my head was stuffy and snotty, and my nose hurt, and I was tired... and so I really didn't care... I just wanted it done. But then, Shannon and Anna offered up a bunch of their goodies, and it started to fall into place. I am happy with the final product... and I was in such a good mood when I had finished it, that I had to add a final spritz of glimmer mist on it before I tucked it away. I sprayed it on everything. I love that stuff.
Old stuff? Everything except the MM die cut paper. I had to pick that up when I was scrapping. Everything else is stuff I had, or stuff I stole, er... borrowed.
TFL!

Are you kidding me?

Okay... so if you were at the Calgary Zoo yesterday, and parked beside me, and this is your car... sorry. I don't want to offend you. But.......... Are you kidding me?
What the heck is going on here? Newspapers, pop bottles, detergent bottles, grocery bags, an old Electrolux vacuum...... And that is just what I can see on top! What is underneath all of this stuff???
And so I thought that maybe this person was just coming to the zoo on their way to the recycling depot... or something. But, then I looked into the front seat of said car, and the front seat was full of clutter, receipts, fast food bags, and everything else you can imagine! It was crazy! I have come to the conclusion that this is how this person lives. Yikes! So then I got to wondering if this person had brought a child to the zoo with them, or if the child that they were hoping to bring to the zoo was trapped somewhere in the back seat...
Is this even safe?

Layout #11

This is a photo of Avery's preschool class from last year. It was the end of school year wind up, and the kids had such a great time. I have been holding on to this picture for quite a while and I don't know why. It would go with just about any paper that I have in my stash.... but I am happy to finally have it completed. And, as for old stuff? Everything. That yellow felt ric rac? I have had that for at least four years!
Yay!

Breakfast Television

I am super excited to be teaching two classes at this year's Crop 4 Kids in Calgary. I went as a cropper last year, and had such a great time.

The crop itself is full, but there are still spots available in the classes! This morning, my class as well as one of the several make and takes was featured on BT with Jill Belland. She is so cute. I might have myself a little girl crush now too!

Anyhoo, if you liked what you saw... or are interested in any of the classes, check out the Crop for Kids site!

Layout #10 - Perhaps a wee bit overboard...

Yet another MME layout. Yet another layout for Jani's wedding album. I love this photo of her... and I also love that I got to use some "out there" colors. This layout is all of the MME Ooh La La feminine line, and the flowers are all varying forms of Prima. I love it. I don't care if it is a little over the top..... I think layering and strategically placing flowers takes major talent. Major.
tfl.

Layout #9

So, I went away for a weekend of scrappin' with some awesome girls. We had so much fun. We laughed, we poked fun at people, we listened to the gold medal hockey game.... Oh what a game!
I accomplished 9 layouts. I am okay with only 9. I felt awful all weekend. I am sure the food tasted delicious, but I wouldn't know. I didn't even get to taste the peanut butter I bought I was so stuffed up. I also went to bed early each night, and slept in on Sunday morning. I am totally okay with that. I went with the intention of relaxing, spending time with my girlys... and then scrapping, and that is exactly what I did.

This layout is from January when the torch passed through Lacombe. It is with MME paper (shocker....) and I think it might be my fave from the weekend. There were some Tim Holtz Philospohy Tags in the store at the retreat, and as luck would have it, they were in "gold", "silver" and "bronze" colors.... and as even more luck would have it, the words on the gold, silver and bronze medals all worked perfectly with the theme of the page, and what the future of the Olympic games in Vancouver would bring.
I think there should be scrapbook Olympics..... :)
TFL!