Been WAAAAAAAY TOOOOOO LOOOONG!!!

Hello Blogland,

Boy oh boy has it been a while!  So much has changed in the last couple (or more...*gasp*!!!) years since I last posted.  Thats a story for another time.  Amongst all the crazy that is my life I regret that my papercrafting has taken a back burner place in my daily routine but I managed to conjure up a little bit of my passion to make a birthday card for a dear mentor/professor/friend.  It felt sooo good to get back into it (despite having to dig through boxes and bins and messy desktops of scattered craft supplies...seriously....I don't even have scissors handy!?!)...and I'm happy my creative juices haven't completely dried up!  This one is for the challenge this week over at Simon Says Stamp: Add Texture.  The nurse stamp is from The Greeting Farm (always one of my fave stamping companies) which I recently got from SSS called "Get Well Soon".  Love it!

Thanks for stopping by....hopefully it won't be this long until we meet again!

Lizzie

All Good Things....

Hey everyone,
It is with a saddened heart that I (we) must say good bye to 123Get Scrappy.  Life just gets in the way sometimes and we must move forward.  It's been 2 years!!  I've had the opportunity to work with some very talented ladies whose layouts have definately inspired me.  I know you all feel the same.  Here's hoping to see you all again in the blog world!

SOOOOOOOO with that in mind, I hope to see many many entries for this last July Challenge #24.  We are looking forward to a great send off!  And I know I'll miss seeing all your creations!

Here's my take for Challenge #24:

 I used the last column: Lots of yellow-a beach element-ribbon

I dug these photos up from my stash.  Reminiscing about my eldest daughter (who is now 11!).  Blows my mind how little she is in these pics.  So cute!  I remember her first beach day like it was yesterday.  There was sand stuck everywhere: sticky nose, face, legs.  One our first experiences with swim diapers and realizing how useless they are when water is flowing in and out of them (like on the shoreline with waves) YUCK!  But the smiles and the giggles and the freedom to run around without a care...that's priceless!  Longing for those days sometimes. (but definitely happy to be in the 'now').

Here's to fun, Sun and family!

I'd like to submit this to the following blogs:
-Scrap Our Stash: Challenge #28 

P-pink buttons
H-handwriting
O-orange buttons
T-three photos
O-orange ribbon
S-stamp (journal)

 
Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

123 Get Scrappy-June Challenge!

Hey Everyone!

June challenge is up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!  Can't get enough of this awesome challenge!  I hope you feel the same!

Here's my take this month!

Paper: Recollections, MME; metal flower Making Memories, "DAY" letters:KCCompany, embossing folder: Cuttlebug

I used the last column of the fabulous 123 Get Scrappy bingo board:
-cork (banner behind "pioneer")
-paper clip (twisted into the shape of a heart)
-metallic element (copper flower)

I can't wait to see what you create!

I'd like to also submit this to the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: For the love of Plants
Scrap Our Stash Challenge:#27 B.R.A.D.S (Burlap:Ribbon:letter "A": Dots (polka dots):Stickers (words-top right))

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

3-D Birthday Card Fun!

Hey Blogworld,

I'm soooo stoked to share with you a card I made for my daughter's friend's birthday.   I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  You can find it here.  It's pretty awesome and I just HAD to scraplift it!  Here is my creation:

Sentiment stamps: Hero Arts, Simon Says Stamp; image stamp: the Greeting Farm-Anya Treats; banner punch: Fiskars; balloon punch: Martha Stewart; Penguin sticker: Jolees Boutique; markers: Copic; letter stickers: Thickers; embossing folder: Lifestyle Crafts; patterned paper: Misc.

The tutorial to make this card can be found here.

This accordion style 3D diorama card folds flat enough to put into an envelope (although I do recommend that you make the card at least 1-1.5cm smaller on all sizes than the envelope you want to put it in).

It always makes me smile to see something like this come together from a plain starting point.  Ain't creativity fun!?

I'd like to submit this card to the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Make your Own Background
The Greeting Farm: Farm Fresh Friday: Oh So Girly
Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge:Challenge #101
A Blog Named Hero: Embossing Time

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

New Challenge over at 123 Get Scrappy!!

Hey Everyone!

A brand new challenge is up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!  Fun, fun, fun!

Here's my take!
I used the top row: Earth tone background-frame-wood elements

patterned paper: MME, Recollections, various; stamps: Stampin' up, Hero Arts, Kasiercraft, wood pieces (birds, flower, title): Recollections, Make it Crafty; paper flowers: Prima

This layout makes me giggle.  Especially the title.  My hubby's parents are absolute experts at gardening and all things planty!  Their thumbs are greener than green and have been known to bring a seemingly dead plant back from plant purgatory!  There are over 150 tomato plants and even more other delicious vegetables and plants in their city backyard which yields enough food and beautiful flowers to service a small country, I'm sure!  As for hubby and I, we're not quite so skilled....not even close.  So when hubby's parents decided to plant a small vegetable garden in our backyard in an attempt to get the grandkids on the gardening wagon we rolled our eyes and gave the garden a couple weeks before it became a lesson in disappointment.  To our pleasant surprise, the garden flourished! By late July we had delicious cucumbers and grape tomatoes and fresh herbs filling our dinner plates until September!  I never thought we'd be able to keep a garden going...but now...I'm a believer!

Here is the April Challenge Bingo Board for your creating pleasure!

Be sure to linky your creations over at 123 Get Scrappy by April 30 for a chance to win a guest design spot on our blog!
I can't wait to see what you create!

I'd like to submit this to the following Challenges:
-Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: April Showers/Spring Flowers
-Scrappin Great Deals Challenge: Mood Board (I was totally inspired by the flowers and wood background!)

-S.W.A.T.: Drill #53 (love all those spring flowers)

-Love to Scrap: Stripes and/or dots

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

Happy Birthday Simon Says Stamp Challenge!!!

Hey Everyone,

Just popping in to wish the folks over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge a BIG Happy Birthday!!!  I must admit, their blog was the first challenge blog I ever participated in and dare I say, they were the ones who first encouraged me to start this little blog of mine.  It's been 3 years (*GASP!!*) and although I don't get to blog and share as much as I'd like I'm so very happy for the inspiration to have done so and to keep it up as often as I can.  This week's challenge theme is (of course) BIRTHDAY, so I'd like to share with you a little birthday card I made. I used a clean and layered approach to this card.

I would also like to submit this to the following challenges:
Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge: #100
The Card Concept Challenge: #32 (coral, aqua, green, white)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

123 Get Scrappy-Challenge#20!!

Hey Everyone!

Another board is up and running over at 123Get Scrappy! WAAAAHOOOOO!!!

Here's my take:

Patterned paper: WeRMemory Keepers, DCWV; Butterfly paper punch: Martha Stewart; scallop border punch: EK Success; pearls: Recollections

These photos were taken this past summer.  My hubby is not much of a camper and the spontaneous hail that arrived during this particular camping trip didn't help sway him on the virtues of camping.  Our tent flooded, and most of our towels and sleeping bags were also soaked.  Luckily our camping trip was not of the roughing it variety and we were able to set up camp in a cozy bedroom of the house in whose yard we were originally set to spend the night.  Still a good time spent with family and friends.

Here's the 123Get Scrappy bingo board of inspiration.  I used the diagonal: Lace-Pearls-Use a Paper Punch

I also used a sketch from Stuck?!Sketches

I hope you are inspired to get to your scrappy stash and create something beautiful!
I can't wait to see what you create!

I would also like to submit this to the following challenge:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Special Lady/Girly 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: B is for... (butterflies)

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

Happy New Year, 2015!

Hey Everyone!

I seem to say this EVERY time but WHOA!!!!  Where has the time gone!  I swear a month ago I was stoked and ready to blog about all the amazing Christmas cards I had planned to make.  Now (most of) the Christmas cards were made and sent out but not a single one was photographed or blogged!  And then before I knew it it's January 2015!!!  My youngest will be 4 in a couple of weeks! Seriously tooo fast!
Anyways...here's hoping I can stay on track with blogging, fitness, declutterment, healthy eating.....(blah blah blah).  It's been 10 days and I'm ( at least) keeping up with the daily exercise routine.  Heck I've even been sleeping earlier at night (although I find this more of a detriment than anything).  

There is a new bingo board goodness over at 123 Get Scrappy.  It's a fun one (as always) and perfect inspiration for those wintery pics I know you've been dying to scrap! 

Here's my take:

Patterned papers: Recollection, MME; letters: Making Memories, Thickers; Date stamp: BoBunny; Wood veneer snowflakes: Recollections.

 LAst year just before Christmas there was a huge Ice Storm in my neck of the woods.  It was beautiful to look at with everything covered in crystal diamond.  Also quite destructive as many many trees couldn't handle the weight of the ice for alot of trees were split down the trunk on had branches fallen off.  For the first time (contrary to popular belief) we could actual ice skate on the road with all the ice covering everything.  Very cool!  No need for a backyard ice rink when all around us was a skating rink.  (Not so fun on the driving front though).

Here is the bingo board! 
I used the middle column: Lots of glitter-Snowflakes-3 Different patterned papers.

I also used the December 2014 sketch from Scrap our Stash

Please check out the details over at 123 Get Scrappy and check out the inspiration for our talented Design Team (there are some new members you need to be sure to see!).

Can't wait to see what you create!

I would always like to submit this to the following blogs:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Something New
Scrap out Stash: December Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!
Liz

A Welcome Christmas Card Making Distraction

Hey Blog world,

Just sharing a little something I made for my daughter's BFF.  It was her birthday and so I made a little card to celebrate the occasion.  C2 and her friend both LOVE penguins and since I just happened to have these stamps out for the Christmas Card making season I decided to put them on her card.  It's a shame that most (if not ALL) of the penguin stamps I have are Christmas themed but I managed to make these little cuties look more like they're wearing birthday hats instead of Santa hats (I hope).

sentiment stamps: Hero Arts; background stamps: Hero Arts; penguin stamp: Wild Rose Studio ; banner die: Simon Says Stamp; inks: Distress Inks 

These little guys make me smile!  So cute and cuddly!  You can be sure these little dudes will make another appearance in some Christmas cards this year!

I would like to submit this to the following blogs:
Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge:#85
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers and More: #128-Distress it

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Liz

OMG!!! Technology Malfunction!

Hey Blogworld!

I'm SOOOOO sorry!  I scheduled this post to go online Nov 10/14 and I'm just checking in now and realized that it didn't get posted.  Not sure how that happened...(or what I did wrong) but here is my (hopeful) inspiration for this month's 123 Get Scrappy Bingo Board challenge!

I dug deep into my stash with this layout!  Soo happy to breathe life into some old tools and products.
Be sure to head over to 123GetScrappy to get the latest bingo board inspiration and join along in the fun!
I used the middle row: One word title: More than 2 ribbons: masculine

While I'm at it, I'd like to submit this layout the following challenges:

CMS: Challenge #74-Colour Scheme and use leaves on the layout!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Thanks/Thankful

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Can't wait to see what you've created!

Liz

Loving the Anything Goes!

Hey Blogworld!

Autumn is in full swing here in my neck of the woods.  Loving all the beautiful colours....not loving the feeling that snow is creeping its way into town (a little to soon for my taste!).

Here is a card I made for my husband's father's birthday this month!  Always love to add photos to the cards for the family.  Love looking back and seeing how much my girlies have grown (and I know the grandparents love to as well!).

Patterned papers: MME, Sentiment Stamp: Paper Smooches!

I would like to submit this to the following challenges!
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes
Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge: Anything Goes

Don't forget there is still time to head over toe 123 Get Scrappy to join in this month's scrapbook challenge!

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Liz

Challenge #15 Bingo Board Goodness Up and Running!

Hey Blogworld,

Another bingo board is up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!

See if you can guess the theme of this month's board! (It took a while before I realized it!).

While I was going through my crazy overload of pictures to scrapbook I came across these photos from a few years back and knew I had to preserve this memory.  How adorable and so very wonderful Nonno and Nonna are!  I am truly blessed to be a part of their family!  They would do anything for my daughters (and Nonno isn't exactly your 'softy type').  It's a big deal that he let them do this makeover for him...and I know he'd let them do it over and over again!

Here is my take:

I used Tim Hotlz crackle paint for the 'hair' part after masking the word with stickers.

I used the top row: Pink-Plaid-Peace

I can't wait to see what you create!  Be sure to head on over to 123 Get Scrappy and link up your project for a chance to win a guest design spot!

You have until the end of the month!  Looking forward to seeing what you create!

Liz

Operation Scraproom: Still Under Construction...

Hey Everyone,
Boy will I ever be happy when my scrappy room is finally up an running.  Shelves are on the walls and desks and other furnitures are all in their proper place but I've got a TONNE of supplies that need to be weeded through and organized.  It doesn't help that I went to a scrapbook store Garage Sale on the weekend and got a bunch more stuff to add to the stash!  But no regrets!  Some wicked awesome deals to be had!  Anyways, my point is that I despite the condition of my creative space at the moment I still managed to scrounge together some of my available materials and put together a birthday card for my BIL.  I used a Sketch #107 from Sketchabilities as my spring board to jump from.  The rest was scraps found in my scrap drawer.  Happy to be witting this bin down (little by little!)

Sentiment stamp: PTI, jewel flourishes: Recollections

I always love added photos to my cards for family.  Love to look back on them and see how my girlies have changed!

I'd like to submit this to the following blogs:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Sister Act Anything Goes Card Challenge: #76

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Liz

123 Get Scrappy Challenge #14 Up and Running!!

Hey Everyone!

Woooohoooo!  Another month means another challenge up and running over at 123 Get Scrappy!  The September board is sure to spark some inspiration (as they always do!).

Here is my creation!

I used the diagonal: Lots of Leaves: Brown Background: Long Title

And here is the Bingo Board for your creative pleasure:

Unfortunately crafting has been a scarce activity these last couple of weeks.  We had windows replaced throughout the house and a lot of the rooms had to be turned upside down and/or emptied to make room for the window installers and their equipment.  Of course this led to some redecorating endeavours which have yet to be completed.  One of those such rooms is my craft room.  All my stuff is packed away in boxes or under piles of other stuff making it hard to get any fun stuff done!  Working on limited supplies this week...but iz all good...all the more creative spark required!  Need that every now and then!  :D

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team over at 123 Get Scrappy and I hope to see your creations!

I'd also like to submit this to the following blog:

Scrap our Stash #18-"Back to School"-(A) graph paper, (B) alphas, pen, file folder (used to make the tag)

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

ALS #IcebucketChallenge Accepted

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to pop in to fill you all in on some important information.

http://youtu.be/00dgO0QWBlE

Please go to www.als.ca and www.alsa.com for more information!

Please do what you can to help!

Thanks!
Liz

SSS Kid's Vacation Challenge

Hey blog world!

My little C2 has been waiting for a kids challenge!  She was quite excited when Simon Says Stamp's Kids Vacation Challenge came along. It took a while for her to decide what she wanted to make her scrapbook layout on.  Once she figured that out she was unstoppable.  The 'make-a-layout-with-mommy' routine commenced.  She flipped through a binder I have full of sketches (mostly Page Maps) and she picked the one she wanted to do.  Then she went to my scrap paper drawers and picked out her patterned papers.  Once the bulk of that was done she added her embellies and boy was I quite impressed with what she wanted to have.  I'm pretty proud of her little creation and so is she!  (As my dad always says: "The coconut doesn't fall far from the coconut tree!")

Here's her creation.

Love her little Greeting Farm stamp and butterfly embellishments.  Not to mention the embossed baseball die-cute she aligned along the side.

Great job Miss C2!  Love ya!

Thanks for stopping by!

Liz