Snow Day

December 13, a huge snow storm hit Ontario, forcing the 402 and all eastbound roads from Sarnia to London to close due to white outs caused by high winds and heavy snow fall. Over 300 vehicles were stranded , and 100s of people took shelter in nearby Wyoming and Petrolia where I work. Helicopters lifted stranded people to buses where they were taken to safety while the entire community east of Sarnia shut down for 3 days. I have pictures of rescue workers taken in Wyoming that tell the story of the severity of the storm. It was a harrowing experience to be so close to, and our communitites rallied to help those trapped in their cars for over 24 hours .

Blankets food, and toiletries were brought to shelters and snowmobilers assisted wherever possible in conveying people to safety.

For my snow layout, I used the papers and kit designed by Cathy Smith at Lasting Impressions. I really enjoyed adding the gathered ribbon to the layout and will stitch it down tomorrow. The journalling will come later. I also stamped some snowy swirls on the borders of the pattern paper, and then added smooching paint in electric blue (it is a type of liquid pearlescent ink with an applicator like the one in liquid eyeliner) and also some stickles in light blue. You can add detail work with the smooch applicator nicely and also use it right on your stamps!

The photo of the house was taken 9 am the morning of the storm. The other pictures were taken the following day, aas schools were closed for 3 days. The effects on nature afterward were incredibly beautiful. The sun was bright and the sky was blue after the storm, and the branches looked like they were dipped in cotton balls.

It was an opportunity for me at home to scrap and indulge in some baking with my son. We also played Scrabble with his girlfriend Carolyn one afternoon. I am grateful I had him with me, to help shovel, and to keep me company.

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.

Happy New Year !

Today I am all alone in the house. Chloe is in Toronto heading to Ocho Rios Jamaica and Colton is at the World Junior hockey games in Buffalo New York. I have all my housework done and some leftovers ready to warm up, so an afternoon in the Studio is in the works!

I am also excited to be heading to New Years crop on the 30th with my dear friend Peggy N at Lasting Impressions to make 2 layouts... so look for more posts very soon!

I created 6 Serenity cards with an elegant touch of ribbon make a lovely gift. I had fun doing up little bundles of these cards for the special ladies in my life. More than ever, I appreciate that Life is a Gift... and wish every one a very Happy New Year ! All the best in life . xo Stephanie

Merry Christmas 2010!

finally I can reveal : my Christmas card for 2010!

It measures over 5x7 .

It was inspired by Lorrinda Holman on Big Red Scraps!

I wasnt sure if I like the polar bear or the 2 deer better, so I made several of each.

I was very pleased with it, in particular enjoyed creating Northern Lights

on 25 cards !

there are 3 kinds of embossing on this card.

Can you spot/name all 3?

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Summer Layout

Very bright, very clean, and simple... a happy layout, to celebrate our family get together this summer with my brother and my cousin and our families! I got some great photos of the kids in front of the house. I think the colours pop out on the all white background!

All Star Layout

My son has played competitive hockey for 11 years. One of the highlights of his high school hockey was being selected to play on the all star team. Players were chosen from 7 high schools to represent the LSSAA all stars. He had many good friends from several high schools that he had met throughout the years play in this game which was also televised. Colton as goaltender played half the game, and his team won. It sounds cliched but every player there was already a winner so the win was just for fun . The spirit of sportsmanship was much more important to every young man who participated, as evidenced by the smiles and handshakes all around.

I used a wonderful print paper on the right hand side of the layout which I "matched" using CTMH dotted background paper, Lagoon and Moonstruck cardstock gave me some deep blue colour as well.

I incorporated 3 flip flaps into the layout, so I could add the article from Sarnia Sports about the game and the list of players, as well as a few extra photos. Handy... I didnt have to cram everything onto the base of the page and could showcase the photo of my son on the right hand side.

I am showing you 3 photos of page one, with flip flips closed and open on the vertical and horizontal photos.

Viva la Vida!

I worked on this layout over the past weekend at the chalet retreat. The pictures are from our trip this past March to Mexico, and I had already scrapped most of the book. There were just 2 more to do to finish the album but for some reason I put it off .

I wanted to use the colour red as a background and make it really vibrant. Papers are from Moon Doggie (ctmh)The layout is taken from Magic , also ctmh, and is called Backstage. I used a chipboard dimensional circle element to set off the circle. There are tiny adhesive twill fabric squares that I stamped , underneath the OLE letters on the right. Lots of brads and chipboard circles for texture. Best of all, I got ALL the journalling written into the album this weekend . Phew. I am very pleased with how it turned out!! Hope you like!

Pure Love

This is page two along with Umbrella in the Rain (previous post)

The three of us (Julia H, Bernie T, and moi ) are having our fifth fall
scrapbooking retreat at Bernadette's chalet by Talisman.
Bernie is all digital. She tried teaching me a bit about creating photoshop layouts and gave me some pages and such. Hm. Not the easiest, simplest thing I have ever worked on .
I was right back to the paper after doing one page.
But you never know... LOL

Umbrella in the Rain .

Umbrella in the Rain...

Chloe looks so parisienne in her knee socks and beret under the umbrella.

This photo was taken as she was coming to work, and was posted on Facebook!

I used Julia's punch for the notebook edge on all the papers. Such a nice antique effect!

papers:

Game On , cranberry CS

Tiny Typewriter alphabet by CTMH

Circle of Life

This stamp is so much fun to work with because of all the detail!

First I stamped in Versamark and heat embossed using silver embossing powder.

Once it was set, I dipped my waterbrush into twilight, purple pansy, indian corn blue and clover meadow to highlight the peacock feathers and plumes.

I added sparkles to the head feathers.

I mounted the image on papers from the Magnifique Collection, using the new colour Lagoon for cardstock.

All materials are Close to my Heart.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Two great cards, made with a really versatile inspirational stamp set entitled, the Present~!

I used Olivia papers , so pretty for fall, and added grosgrain and organdy ribbons, and a bracket stamped on barn red cardstock with a teeeny brad.

Serenity with Olivia

The last of the series of 5 Serenity Prayer Cards.
The Olivia paper needs little embellishment ...

so I kept these simple.

Four Great Floral Cards

I went to Marian Dunn's card class last night with good friend Jen R and new friend Julie S.

We enjoyed passing the baskets with all the pre-trimmed materials for cards inside and working at our own speed.

Most instructional card for me was the one with the 3 ribbon flowers.

I would not likely have attempted to do this at home.

We stitched along one length of the ribbon with a darning needle, gathered the ribbon,

tied tightly and voila! I have so many ribbon scraps this technique will be used on.

Serenity with Perfect Day

I used a vertical layout from Originals called First Impression for the fourth Serenity Prayer Card. Papers are Perfect Day by Close to my Heart (sorbet, juniper, tulip) It has a very dainty feel to it.

Have been busy pricing and packing for the Scrapbook Sale at Lambton College.

Hope to see lots of folks , tomorrow night .

We will be rolling in paper roses!!

Serenity with Miracle

Third in a series of five.
Another versatile paper kit that works great with the Serenity Prayer, because it is sweet and humble. I will be giving away a Miracle Kit at the Lambton College Foundation trade show on Sept 28!
also by ctmh: ricrac ribbon, sparkles
Originals Card Pattern: Overview

Serenity with Felicity

Second in a series of 5. The colours in this Felicity paper kit are soft, delicate and prayerful.

This was a Mojo Monday archived sketch.

Today was a day of celebration for Al Anon Sarnia . We attended the anniversary celebration and my good friends mother, Bev T gave her wonderful AA talk. I have the honour of making all these cards for Bev T, who has helped so many people recover, in her work as executive director at Westover, and at St Stephens hospice in London. Its inspiring to hear how others cope with challenges beyond anything I ever had to deal with. I am praying for the right attitude, and the willingness to surrender my willpower . It has gotten me into some tight spots, you see.

Live Inspired ... Dream

Here is my Mojo Monday entry for September 20, Mojo 157 as pictured in the sketch.

here is the link to the rest of the cards :

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/09/mojo-monday-157.html

Live Inspired:

I think thats an important message, for those of us who work outside the home and get caught up in kids, responsibilities, housework, and the rest...

Life is a gift and we can show our gratitude by living with love and zest.

papers: Olivia by Close to my Heart

Acrylic Stamp: Live Inspired

waxy flax, craft buttons, ribbon, twill adhesive fabric

Paper Rose Tag

This is the tag I will do as a make and take demo at the Lambton College Marketplace Sept 28.

I will show the ladies how to roll a paper rose from a 2 inch square in 60 seconds... time me! lol

There is a secret shortcut...

papers are Olivia by CTMH

Thank you with Felicity

First day of Fall and I have 8000 visitors. Nice~!

The Felicity kit came with 4 large 12 inch die cut doilies with a lovely floral design.
I discovered that they fit nicely on card fronts when cut into quarters.

I think these diecuts make beautiful cards!!

Papers: Felicity (January Heart of Winter 2010)

Acrylic Stamps: Felicity, Gracious Greetings

Chocolate organza ribbon, buttons

God give me the Serenity

...to accept the things I cannot change;

The courage to change the things I can;

And the wisdom to know the difference.

This is first in a series of 4 different cards made as a gift for Bev T, who helps people in recovery.

And since I am in recovery from surgery, I have time to make her a couple dozen in 5 different designs.

Papers: Veranda (Close to my Heart)

Magnifigue is Clearly Elegant

This card was made for the wonderful staff of Hillcrest school to thank them for a lovely floral bouquet. It brightened my world!

Tracey Mason can take credit for showing us that clear cards can be put through the cuttlebug and embossed. I discovered a lacey beauty of the clear embossed card , and I like layering the items on and under the front cover for effect. The inside of the card has a tag from Tender Tags acrylics and the thank you is from Gracious Greetings.

I totally LOVE the papers from Magnifique, and the gorgeous swirling peacock stamp from Circle of Love acrylix. I stamped the peacock in multi tones of purple, green, and blue using a sponging directly from the ink pad to the acrylic stamp. I then adhered it behind the clear card front.

Finally I poked holes in the side of the card and wound chocolate ribbon in and out , and added some large rhinestones. So satisfying.

Pinky

This card is the exact complement to Baby Blue! So Pinky is her name... (just like that pair of old fashioned paintings, Pinky and Blue Boy!)

Same pattern, techniques used as in previous card.

I know this way I will be covered, whether the upcoming recipient of this card is a boy or a girl, we are ready one way or the other!

Baby Blue

Using the Originals pattern, Right Spotlight, I scored the Heavenly Blue cardstock for this card with a vertical line and sanded lightly to let the white core show through. The background papers are from Miracle. The baby feet are Baby Impressions acrylix, and the tag is from Tender tags. I sponged differnt shades of blue and green and blush onto the tag and cut it out after stamping. I added a few of silver stickers for extra embellishment.

All materials except silver stickers are Close to My Heart.