New Years Crop : Lasting Impressions

A big thank you to Cathy at Lasting Impressions for organising a super New Years crop. We had pot luck snacks including bacon wrapped water chestnuts and red velvet cupcakes! Plus Cathy did a photo shoot on site with props she donated and printed photos for us to create a bonus layout of our evening. I completed three 2 page layouts including a Snow Day layout with BoBunny papers that Cathy designed for us.

Talisman

My sister in law invited Peggy and I to her ski chalet which backs onto Talisman near Collingwood 2 weeks ago to scrap. I got a bit accomplished, but not as much as i would have liked. It was a wonderful day for a walk and Peggy took some great pics. This is a little brook running down Talisman. Nature is amazing.

Mega Crop 1 : College Freshman Layout

I went down to the Mega Crop in Chatham with my friend Peggy N. I got 3 two page layouts completed in about 5 hours and spent 2 hours walking around, shopping, and talking to Phebe and Amy. I met a really nice Ctmh consultant named Heather down there who sold me 2 sheets of cardstock in desert sand, bamboo, colonial white, and vanilla cream and 2 sheets of textured outdoor denim. She also happened to be a teacher, AND her 9 year old daughter was named Chloe! Coincidences! After looting her stash and getting what I needed I was ready to roll out the creative truck and away I went.

For the College layout I wanted to use Caprice paper to bring out the yellows and blues in the photos. The photos were taken on the morning my ex and I and his wonderful wife moved my eldest into her brand new college dorm at Fanshawe. I needed some tiny letters for the Fanshawe College title so Phebe offered to lend me her quickcutz toolkit that she had just purchased used. I learned how to use it and off I went making the letters in different colours. No sight of Peggy , so I worked away on 2 complete layouts without any further interruption other than 2 breaks for coffee and a chicken wrap. Peggy wandered back to find me after doing some Copics card classes around 2:30 and offered to buy me lunch. "Peggy", I remarked, "if I always waited for you to buy me lunch I would lose 15 pounds!" Not that I have 15 pounds to lose... I only have about 7 ... ish. but that is Another Story. I am turning 50 this month, and in Turning 50 , one wants to appear at one's most desirable weight. Thus, eating light for the next 12 days. Whatever eating light means... more salad, no desserts, smaller portions might work. At least I am hoping it does. I will join the gym later.

Back to the main narrative :

Peggy proudly showed me the turkeys and hippos she had been working on. I asked her what the worms were doing at the bottom of the hippo. "They are not worms, they are supposed to be ribbons!" she insisted. Apparently, she did not use the Copics markers which give the correct 3D effect on the ribbon. After my insensitive remarks, she realised that she really needed to purchase several colours of Copics markers and 8 blending pens and acetate, after which she felt artistically fulfilled. This is what happens when you love the tools as much as the craft.

how i Lay it all Out

Yay! WOW i am caught up finally for 2008 and i am about to scrapbook our Dominican trip from March break... the big trip I took with my daughter age 17 and my son age 16.

i laid out all the photos that might go together in the 10 page album, and am putting the papers with them from Emporium.http://www.closetomyheart.com/Ideabooks/Spring09CANMyCTMH.aspx I am thinking I am going to have to order some Moon Doggie Level 2 from the new Idea Book. It has tropical leaves, florals, reds, blues, greens, yellows....and would be perfect. I can always use the Emporium for other projects.

Anyways... here is what the two 8 foot tables in the Studio/Atelier look like at the moment, as things start to come together in preparation. There are 6 2-page layouts, starting at the top left of the photo.

The grounds, the beach, a walk on the water, parasailing, snorkelling. Dining out and time with my brother are the other 2 themes. It wasnt easy getting good pictures all of the time.. remember, I went with my two teens.

I dont use layout plans much, since I usually end up working around the photos I want to include. but I saw some cute ideas with circles that I am going to try. Maybe the key will be in using less pics, and smaller prints (not my free 4x6 HP paper that I have 1000s of sheets of )

This weekend is supposed to be warm for the first time in six long months so dont expect anything to be posted before next week. LOL.

cheers to you!

my studio

I am lucky to have a big room for my craftwork. It is the Cutting Edge Studio... sharp name for Paper Crafting, isn't it? the font is Salvador DALI.

My dad built me the white block storage cubes and the shelf that lays on top of five rolling craft cupboards.

All my stamps, inks, tools, eyelets, brads, flowers and ribbons are stored there. I also have lots of magazines and books... a library if you will. My friends can sign out and borrow ... I am glad to share. I was lucky to meet some good people in Brights Grove who like to create . The studio gives us a place to focus and room to spread out and socialise at the same time. I have a frig in the studio, perhaps I should add a coffee station.

My friend Julia from Toronto loves to come and play with me in the Studio when she can.

Julia I love your espresso machine.

We also get together at my sister in law's ski chalet by Talisman to scrap. Her name is Bernadette. She introduced me to Julia, who became a scrapbook whiz and addict in no time. Julia is my Toronto downline with Close to My Heart.

We get lots done when we put the time aside to scrap.

It is true, it sounds like a cliche, but I treasure the friends

that I have made through my scrapbook hobby . We are protective of each other and supportive . We know that our time together is limited, special , and valued. When it becomes a privilege to have hobby time with your friends,

your entire perspective adjusts!