Please Vote!!!

My friend Lucy owns a store called Simply Scrapping in Cambridge. She is a super person and it is a wonderful store. This year, Simply Scrapping has been nominated for a Reader's Choice award in the Cambridge Times for Best Craft and Supply Store - Local. Voting is done online and requires a simple, but free, registration process. Please help Lucy to win this honour and support her store by voting here. Thank you so much!!!!! I really believe in supporting my LSS so I'm reaching out to everyone I know.

Blog Candy Alert

Jeanette at Happy Thoughts & Inkspots is celebrating - her blog is close to 10,000 hits!!!!!! Congrats Jeanette!!!!! She is offering this awesome blog candy to be awarded October 12th. Doesn't it look amazing? If you're interested, pop on over to her blog and take a look around. I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit :)

The Final Layouts for the LIITD Online Crop

I finally finished my last few challenge layouts for LIITD. There are several, so bear with me :)

"A Little Guy Talk" was completed for the Fab 5 challenge. I had to use 5 pictures 3x

3 or bigger. I love these photo

s of Sam and his Uncle Stephen. I adore my brothers (both of them) and love that my children adore them too.

"BFF" is for the A Little Friendly 

Scrappin' challenge in which we had to scrap about a friend. I chose my very dear friend Rita, who is also the Godmother of my children. She is one of the most precious people I have ever been blessed to know and I am proud that she calls me friend :)

"Don't Let The Diaper Fool You" is for a challenge called Don't Let The Diapers. We had to use a photo of someone in diapers along with the quote that you see on the

page. I love how this one turned out -- and I love this photo of Sam :)

"Puddle Play" was completed for the A Little Sketchy challenge. I was stuck for which paper to use until I found the Jack's World Wa

ke Up paper from Cosmo Cricket. I love Cosmo Cricket -- they always have a bunch of things that I fall instantly in love with.

"Li'l Cowgirl" was for the YeeHaw challenge in which we had to use

 at least 3

 western elements. I was inspired to scrap these great photos of Sara with her rocking horse.

Look What I Got!!

I'm a little late posting this, but look what I received the other day. I guessed how much Kelly Jo's new baby Benjamin would weigh on the Fiskateers blog and I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I'd receive a small package - I was blown away by the size and weight of the parcel I received. She really spoiled me. I used some of my goodies on my Eew Gross layout. 

It sure is great being a Fiskateer. If you aren't one, you should join. After all it is free and you get a wonderful surprise for joining.

Thanks Kelly Jo!!!!! I love all of my goodies!!!!

Simply Fabulous

I thought I better post a "pretty" layout today to balance out the "gross" one from my last post. It isn't often that we have a reason to take a picture of Sara that isn't adorable and beautiful. This layout is a great example. Sara loves playing in the backyard and loves posing for the camera when she is dressed in pretty outfit -- well, most times :) She is also a master of facial expressions.

"Simply Fabulous" was completed for the Cut It Out challenge at LIITD. I cut out two circle sections of this We R Memory Keepers paper so that the photos could be placed behind. I then did some accents with my Stickles to make small sections of the paper sparkle.

Hope you enjoy it :)

Happy Birthday to Mom - and A Layout!!!!

It was my Mom's birthday on Thursday so I treated her to a day of shopping at various scrapbook stores. I think she really enjoyed it. It was kind of fun shopping with my Mom again -- just don't ask me to go grocery shopping with her LOL!!!!

The layout is one I did based on the September 22nd sketch challenge at Cutters Creek Yahoo group. I converted the sketch to a 12 x 12 and added the second page. Thanks for looking :)

Want Some Candy?

Check out Elin's blog for some fabulous blog candy. You have until October 1st :) Good luck :):):)

If you want a chance for even more blog candy, drop by Hannah's blog for a chance to win some more. Again, the deadline is October 1st.

Please Enjoy the Following :)

"Sam's Static Hair" is a layout I created to showcase these fun pictures of Sam.

"Dish Duty" was created using a sketch by Ally at SoSketchy. I created if for a challenge at LIITD to use at least two pieces of chipboard (I used 5).

"Forever Together" is about my brother's wedding. It was created using the Vita Bella line from My Little Yellow Bicycle -- love that line!!!! I created it for a layout contest at Simply Scrapping. If you happen to be in Cambridge, drop by the Southworks Outlet Mall, go to Simply Scrapping and vote. My mother, who is a newbie to scrapping, also entered a layout, as did my friend Pat. Please come and vote for your favourite!!!!!! Thanks :)

"Our Family" was a kit from Two Scrapbook Friends. The layout showcases pictures from our 6th anniversary :)

More from the Love Is In The Details Online Crop

Here are two more layouts completed for the challenges at Love Is In The Details. 

"Queen of the Castle" was completed for the Pick 3 challenge. Lori from LIITD sent me the little pink doll, the bling and a blue flowered thong -- yup a thong -- and I had to use them on a layout. From the thong I created the "blanket" the doll is on, the flower in the corner, and I used the elastic to frame my photo. I then used the bling to decorate those pieces.

"Eve of Traditions" was for the Traditionally Yours challenge -- I had to scrapbook about a tradition in our family. My layout is about one of the stories we read to our children on Christmas Eve called "The Santa Key". We read the story then together we hang the key on the door so that Santa doesn't have to go down our chimney.

Hope you enjoyed these layouts :)

Want Some Candy??

Blog candy that is :) If you do, then scurry right on over to StarDust Gems and Ribbon to check out what Carole is giving away on September 25th. Yummy!!!!! She has the most amazing Halloween card posted too -- I LOVE it !!!! If you want some of her blog candy you need to post about it on your blog, then post a comment for Carole with a link to your post about her. And if you aren't interested in blog candy then go look at her cards. You won't regret it, I promise :)

Love Is In The Details

I'm working hard to complete the challenges posted at Love Is In The Details for their online crop. Time doesn't seem to be on my side on this one, but the important thing is that I'm having fun. If you've never visited Love Is In The Details you should pop by their forum -- there's a great group of people waiting to welcome you!!!! Or you can check out the blog.

Now to the layouts. "Pretty In Pink" is for the Scrap Pink challenge -- Lori at LIITD is making a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for each pink layout posted --- yeah Lori!!!!!!! What a great reason to do a layout!!! "You Hold My Heart" is my layout for the Hearts challenge -- I had to use at least three different sized hearts. The photo on this one was taken on Gary's birthday -- I love my wonderful family!!!!!! "Laugh" was for the pattern paper only challenge -- I couldn't use anything except paper. Thank goodness Fancy Pants has pattern papers that are cards and strips with words -- made my life easier LOL!!!!

I'm off to work on more challenges -- I'm doing a tradition one right now that has me doing Christmas --- YIKES!!!!! 

Orange Strip Tease

I completed this layout for a challenge called Strip Tease that required me to use strips of paper. I combined it with another challenge that required me to use predominantly orange. Hope you enjoy it.

How Scary Is This?????

Yikes!!!!!!! Definitely not one of my favourite photos or my finest moment LOL!!!! This was me last night at the Paris Sleep Lab - an experience I do not ever want to have to have again. What a nightmare!!!!! Do you know what happens when you take a person who has persistent headaches (for over eight years now) and attach all of these things to her head?? The headache gets WORSE!!!!!! Every spot on my head that had one of these sensors on it was a spot where the headache intensified. I spent most of the night feeling like my head was going to explode. That doesn't even count the discomfort of the wires wrapping themselves around me or the pressure of this thing on my finger they used to monitor oxygen or something. Nor does it take into consideration that the bed was like Fred and Wilma's on the Flintstones (i.e. rock hard), the room was freezing, the room was on the street side of the building so I heard every vehicle that went by, there was enough light coming into the room to read by (and that was with the lights off), and I could hear all the voices from the rest of the building all night long. My 'neighbour' had this loud deep voice and I'm positive that they sat in his room chatting most of the night because I could hear him talking long into the night. Arrggghhh!!!! Add to that the fact that I'm sensitive to adhesive tape so all night long the tape they used to hold things on was driving me nuts!!!! I also now have red rashes wherever there was tape on me -- THANKS!!!! (read with heavy sarcastic tone). To add insult to injury they insisted that I sleep on my back -- which I never do. So I didn't sleep!!!!! They should have called it the Paris Don't Sleep Lab in my opinion. Just be glad I didn't take an after photo --- even I would be scared of that!!!!

Gary, being the sweetheart that he is, said this picture reminded him of something from the horror movie Scanners. Too bad I was too tired to kick him for that one.

Sheetload Shortcuts Does it Again

Sheetload Shortcuts is offering a second chance at winning a sample of their Clear & Frosted Card Blanks and Full Sheets!!!! Yup, you read it right!!! Full sheets!!! How awesome is that? Get on over there and make a comment before the 19th for your chance to win an awesome sample :)

The Card Kabin

Make sure you drop by The Card Kabin before the 17th. Gina is offering up some fantastic blog candy. While you are there take a look around -- you'll be very glad that you did :)

A Great Weekend!!!

We had a fabulous weekend visiting Gary's cousin Shelley and her daughter Amber. Can't believe how much Amber has grown since we saw them last. She has turned into a lovely young lady :) Sara formed an almost instant bond with Amber, despite a nearly 15 year age difference. She wanted to follow her everywhere and Amber demonstrated a lot of patience in dealing with Sara. Both Sara and Sam loved Shelley and you could tell that she was head over heals for them as well. You'd never know it was the first time they'd met!! Visiting Shelley and Amber was like going home - the moment we walked through the door we felt comfortable and welcomed, and very quickly it was like we had just been together last week rather than six years ago. We stayed up until early Sunday morning talking about everything, then resumed our conversation first thing Sunday morning. Shelley really spoiled us too -- we ate like royalty. Unfortunately Shelley's parents were unable to join us after all -- her Mom was ill and her Dad was driving a charter bus --- what a guy!!!!! We'll just have to go back for another visit very soon so that we can see them too. It was such a great weekend that I was very sad to see it end and have to return home. I just hope we get back to visit them again soon :)

I'm Excited!!!!

We are off to see Gary's Aunt, Uncle and cousin and her daughter for the first time in six years!!!!! I can't believe we haven't seen them in six years!!!!! We've kept in contact with letters, emails, cards and photos, but we haven't actually physically seen each other since the day Gary and I married. They haven't even met Sara and Samuel yet. What an exciting day this is!!!!! I'm so looking forward to the reunion -- they are super nice people!!!!!!! What  a great day this is going to be!!!!!!

A Fun Layout and Blog Candy

And so it ends ... the Summer of '69 at The Scrapping Nook that is. This is my last layout for summer long challenge. It is a collage of the pictures taken of my cutout Bryan that we had to use for some of the challenges. I called it "Summer of Bryan '08". Thanks for a great summer Scrapping Nook!!!!! I'm looking forward to doing it again :)

I've found some more blog candy to pass along to you.

Nikki has a fabulous blog candy. It closes on September 17th, so make sure you pop over to take a look.

Crissy is offering some adorable blog candy as well. But you better be quick. She is picking a winner tomorrow :)

Sending love and prayers out to all those who lost a loved one seven years ago on this tragic day. I pray that the world will never again know a day like 9/11 and that our children will never have to feel the way we did 7 years ago. God bless you all :)

Sheetload Shortcuts Blog Candy

The Sheetload Shortcuts blog is offering some yummy blog candy. Hop on over and check out the blog for details. You could win a sampler pack of their clear and frosted blank cards. You can also take a look at the fantastic sample cards they have on display.

The Summer of 69 is Almost Over

This is it. 

The last week for The Summer of 69 crop at The Scrapping Nook. I've really enjoyed spending time with all the wonderful ladies from The Nook this summer. The challenges have been amazing and so much fun. You can bet I will be hanging around their forum from now on :) 

I still have some things to finish. I have some more photos to post and some to still capture as well. Better get a move on with that. I need to do some pictures with my Bryan as well. He and I need to write a song/poem and then I need to do a layout about my summer with Bryan. LOL -- lots of fun still to go!!!

These are my latest layouts. "No Fun Waiting" is for the Shake It Up challenge -- my first time using Magic Mesh and one of my few attempts using rub ons. "Happy Birthday Gary" is for the Stick It To Me challenge -- I had to alter the stickers for this challenge.

Hope you enjoy them :)

Art Inspiration

I completed this two page layout "A Beautiful Life" in answer to an Art Inspiration challenge. I used some of the new Bo Bunny A Beautiful Life line for this layout - it came to mind when I saw the inspiration. I also liked the way the paper has plants 'growing' up the one side of the paper, which also made me think of the inspiration.

Our Daily Bread

If you are looking for stamps with a religious theme you need to check out Our Daily Bread. The stamp sets are gorgeous, with images and scripture stamps in every set. I think they are all fabulous :) Right now you can even get a chance to win a stamp set of your choice by entering the blog candy. Check it out here. You can view the stamp sets here. So beautiful :)

Gina P Crafts Blog Candy

Woo hoo!!!!! Have you checked out Gina P Crafts yet? Her blog is packed full of fabulous cards that are absolutely yummy!!!! I wish I had her talent when it comes to making cards. Pop over and take a look. While you are there, check out her awesome blog candy :) She'll be picking a winner on September 9th.

Two Layouts This Evening

I have two layouts to post this evening - both completed for the challenges at The Scrapping Nook for the Summer of 69 crop. "I Did It" was done for The Cutting Edge challenge, which required the use of non-straight edges. I used the September 1st Sketch It sketch posted on the Cutters Creek Yahoo group for this layout. "With Eyes Wide Open" is for the Do I Have To Say The Words challenge. This week's word was 'open'. 

The Summer of '69 crop will be winding down very soon. I've had a lot of fun playing along and would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved for making it such a great crop!!!!! They are an awesome group of people!!!!!! Thank you Scrapping Nook!!!! It has been awesome!!! I'll be sad to have it come to an end, but I'll be sticking around to be part of the next fun event you have :)

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my wonderful hubby Gary's birthday!!! Happy birthday my sweet Bear!!!!! I love you sooo much!!!!!

My Sweet Little Man

Gary took these adorable pictures of Sam this morning. Don't you just love that adorable face???

Date Night

Tuesday night Gary and I went on a date!!!! It was actually part two of date night as we went out for supper on Sunday. It was so strange to go out without the children - especially twice in just a few days. We were going to do dinner and a movie on Sunday, but we talked ourselves into waiting for "cheap" night instead. Dinner on Sunday was fabulous!!!! The movie tonight?? Well it left a lot to be desired. I let Gary pick because I was treating him for his birthday (coming up this weekend). Of course he picked a "guy" movie - Tropic Thunder (I wanted to go see Mamma Mia). After sitting through over half an hour of previews the movie started 25 minutes late. We weren't impressed with that. The foul language was horrible -- I can't believe what passes for a 14A movie -- it should have had an R rating in my opinion based on all the F words -- ruined the movie for me. Oh well, it was a night out and that was fun.

On another not so great note -- we got a really bad scare tonight, but thankfully everything is okay. We didn't realize that we had something in our house that had been recalled recently and our dd got into it. We called the company's hot line number right away and after what seemed like forever agonizing over this we were reassured that the product in question had been tested and was negative for the contaminant. We were so relieved that we just bawled our eyes out. I'm still worried though and will be keeping a very close eye on her over the next few days for any signs of illness. Please say a prayer that what the company said is true and that my precious dd will remain healthy and strong. 

Oh, and take a moment to double check that you don't have anything on a recall list. We can't believe we missed this in the very back of the fridge. Very scary!!

Want A Blog Makeover???

In honour of 5000 hits Loreen is offering an awesome blog makeover to one lucky winner. Drop by her blog for all the details and to pick up an adorable blinkie from Wish On A Scrap :) Hoping for a fabulous blog makeover!!!!! Thanks Loreen!!!!!