Creative Scrappers - 188 - Thank you, and a baby in a box.

Hello all,
I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday. I did!
So, I know I haven't participated in a challenge in a while. To be honest nothing was inspiring me and I wouldn't have been able to share it anyway since all the scrapping I have been doing over the last 6 weeks has been for memory books for my siblings for Christmas. When I saw sketch 188 from Creative Scrappers I knew it would be perfect for the thank you card that arrived for me from my friend April. I also got lots of scrapbooking stuff for Christmas ( lets just say that I wont have to shop for patterned paper for a very long time) and I couldn't wait to break into it. And I really wanted to use my new Crop-A-Dile.
So here is sketch 188:

And here is my take:

I also wanted to share this sweet pic of my niece Alexis.

Baby in a box!

She really liked the box my gift from Dad and Sandra gave me. The best gift I got this Christmas was kisses from Alexis, she was giving them to everyone on Christmas day. Best gift ever!

Small Town and it's enough.

Good morning all!
Just wanted to share a LO that I've completed recently. Now usually I don't share pages that are not linked to challenges but this one I feel, sums up well how I've been feeling about a certain topic. With the discussion surrounding the move of my Dad and step-mom back to the town that I spent my highschool and college years, I have been asked this question many times: "When are you moving back?" And the answer is honestly and frankly..."If I can help it.....never." You see this town they plan to move back to is a big town...a city...surrounded by three other cities...all, almost touching.  I have nothing against this place.....I love to visit, but it's not for me. I recently took Soul Restoration 1 by Brave Girls Club (click on their link in the sidebar and check them out) and part of that course was exploring what made us feel good, what we wanted, what was enough. John Mellencamp puts it best in his song:

Small Town – John Mellencamp

Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small townProb'ly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities

All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity, hey!

Educated in a small town
Taught to fear Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another born romantic that's me
But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me

Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small townGonna die in this small town
And that's prob'ly where they'll bury me

I know that there are people out there who won't understand this (you know who you are) but living in this small town, the one that I spent my childhood in, is enough for me. And I'm not settling. Not at all. I truly love it here. Sure it means being away from my siblings and some of my friends. Yes, it will mean that I'll be away from my Dad when he moves (which I really really hate but can't change). Sadly it means that I don't get to see my beautiful niece and goddaughter Alexis everyday like I'd like to. It might mean, it will take a little longer to meet the husband (although I'm not convinced that's true - I think it might take a little longer because of who I am and not where I live) and I'm okay with that. Living here....I can go to the beach whenever I want, it's only 20mins away. I get to have a relationship with my Grandma that I otherwise would not have (she calls me her buddy). I could walk anywhere if I wanted to. Sometimes my patients know my grandparents and I get to hear stories I wouldn't otherwise hear. And many many other things that are equally as wonderful. But most important - I can breathe in a small town and that's good enough for me.

Bridesmaids - Creative Scrappers - 178

And another from Creative Scrappers

At April's wedding her sister Vicki and our friend Jenn made very beautiful bridesmaids. I'm pleased with how this LO turned out b/c it was the first time that I had used paint on a LO. Taking Soul Restoration 1 by Brave Girls Club has really inspired me to take a few more risks with my scrap booking and not always worrying about being perfect. For this LO the risk was worth it.

Together - Creative Scrappers

Here's one from Creative Scrappers

This summer my cousin Roo got married. I love love how this LO turned out. I love the colours. The picture is actually their thank you card, which I thought was a great idea.

The Last - Pencil lines 255

Here's another one from Pencil lines

The LO is called "The Last" because the bride, my friend April is the last one of our middle school friends to get married. Well technically I'll be the last once I do get married but until then, she is the last.

Soak up the sun - Pencil lines 254

Over the last couple weeks I've been working on some LO's. Here is one from Pencil lines

This summer I had a couple of awesome beach days with my bestfriend Liz. We even managed to get into the water a couple of times.

Let's Capture These Sketches - 100 - Sand bug

Let's Capture These Sketches celebrates their 100th sketch, so I played along. This sketch was perfect for pictures of my friend Fez's little girl at the beach when they came to visit.

She loved the sand!

Sketchy Thursdays - 9.22 - Our Irish Brother

The whole time I was away I was itching to get my hands on some paper and glue and pictures. I knew I had a stack of pics waiting at home for me. So this sketch from Sketchy Thursdays helped me satisfy that itch once I got home.

This summer my Nana had an Irish border named Ciaran. He quickly became best-friends with my brother Tim and truly part of our family. We had lots of fun together. These pictures are from his good-bye party. My Dad brought over his red surge for Ciaran to try on. We will miss our Irish brother.

Ten on Tuesdays - the French adventure.

It's Tuesday and I thought I would play along with Kim at It's a Crafty Life. for her Ten on Tuesdays. I recently spent two weeks in the south of France with my brother Dan and our Mom... Now before you get all excited...it wasn't a holiday. My step-dad passed away (Denis is from there and my Mom and him had flown back there two weeks before for cancer treatment) and according to my Grandma our mission was to bring Mom home with us. Really our mission was to be with her and if we could bring her home great, but we would be relieved in two weeks if it couldn't be done. It almost didn't happen but Dan and I did manage to get Mom home with us. I learned some interesting things while I was away and would like to share them with you.

1. It is possible to fit just enough stuff and Teddy (my stuffed bear I've had since my first Christmas) into a backpack. It is possible to do this after crying to your Dad that your brother is a tyrant. It is possible to do this after only 4 hours of sleep b/c you worked nights the last two nights.

2. Brothers are awesome! Well mine are anyway and Dan sure proved it once again. He is a very patient person. He is a stay clam, don't panic kind of guy. I have the tendency to panic depending on the situation. Imagine this: we get off the train in Paris and need to switch trains to get to Nimes. We need to get to another station to get that train and we only have 1 hour to do so. We think about taking a cab but the que is really long and we know that we will never make it. I get pooped on by a pigeon. We decide to take the subway. We have less than 45mins. Dan figures out which one to take and then we confirm it with the info guy. We get on. We are down to 15mins. We can't get out of the subway station without our ticket...mine is at the bottom of my very large purse. Panic!!! My brother Dan calmly tells me we will be alright. Did I mention that we had to catch the train to Nimes b/c it was the last one that night? Dan puts my bag on the ground and helps me look for it. Found! We get sorta get lost finding the train and have to run in order to catch it. I would still be in Paris if it wasn't for Dan.

3. My Mom is not a fan of John Lennon.....She blames him for breaking up the Beatles....She doesn't even remember what she was doing when he died. She loves the music he wrote for the Beatles (before they got weird, she says) but she's just not a fan of him.

4. My Mom didn't know that the Backstreet Boys got their start in Europe...but my brother, who is in a punk rock band did..Huh?

5. Bread in France is really good. But they don't have peanut butter.

6. Round abouts and one way streets are in abundance in the south.

7. The villagers where Denis is from, hate Mondays so much that they often keep their shops closed. Only the big supermarket is open.

8. Castles are cool and damp and mossy. But cool! We did manage to spend one morning exploring and toured a nearby castle.

9. It is possible to get six suitcases between three of us, on and off the subway in Paris. But only if the other passengers help. I am amazed by all the help and kindness we received on our travels. Since we can't thank each of them...we'll just have to pay it forward.

10. The Dutch really like their potatoes. At dinner the night before our flight out of Amsterdam each dinner came with a baked potato, french fries and tater tots. Too much food to eat.

It was an adventure for sure. Maybe next time it could be a holiday too.:)

Ciao!

I remembered....

Amid the sorrow of losing my step father and flying to France to be with my Mom, I did remember that day ten years ago. Because I am not @ home and the time difference is 6 hours I was unable to remember the same as the rest of you, my Canadian and Americian friends. But I did remember and if you get a chance check out http://wubtub.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-i-grieve-but-dont-despair.html, I found it very moving.

Pencil lines. 248 - Inocent

Here's a sketch by Pencil lines
 
And my take.

I was very surprised when this little guy allowed me to get so close to capture his photo. It's kinda sad to think that it was probably only because he hasn't learned to be afraid yet.

Srapping with Ella - Slide

Today Ella  featured this sketch.

So I thought I would play along. Here's my take on the sketch featuring an afternoon @ the park with my bff's little girl Miranda.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pencil Lines 247 - The pipes.

Here's a LO I did based off this sketch from Pencil Lines.

It worked well for this photo of my cousin Roo playing the bag pipes @ his wedding. It wouldn't be a family wedding without them.

I'm adding a close up of the photo, b/c if you look closely, there is a lady in a blue dress with her hands up in the air....yeah that's our Grandma. As you can see she is having a great time.

Sketchy Thursdays 7.21 - Dance.

Hi everyone,
After working all weekend, yesterday I decided to play with some photos I have recently gotten processed. I used this sketch from Sketchy Thursdays for some pictures from my cousin Roo's wedding.


It was perfect for some pictures of their first dance, as well as Unc dancing with his daughter, my youngest cousin A.

As I mentioned before this wedding was a blast. I'm really looking forward to Roo's sister's wedding on Labour day weekend.
Well that's all for now. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Creative Scrappers - 163 - Nana Jenings' rocking chair

Hi everyone! Happy Canada Day long weekend!!! Happy Independence Day to all my American friends out there. I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend where ever you are.

I spent the wrap up to my long weekend working on a LO based on a Creative Scrappers sketch.

Journalling reads: Nana Jenings is my Nana's mom. This rocker was her favourite place to rock babies or contemplate life. The arm rests are worn where she rested her hands. Right now it sits in my living room. Hopefully someday it will sit in a nursery and I will rock my babies in it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketchy Thursdays 6.23 - You amaze me

Hi everyone!
I finally completed my Punta Cana album this week and have started on some other photos that have been waiting. I used this sketch from Sketchy Thursdays for a couple of photos of my brother Dan and his daughter Alexis.

It's called "You amaze me." Dan is my younger brother and it's kinda strange that he's a Dad. And he's a great one already. He wants to be involved. I can't even explain how proud I am of him. Lexi is so lucky that Dan is her Dad. I love these photos of them together. Our friend Becca shot these when Lexi was only a few weeks old. Visit her blog if you get the chance.   I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far.                           

They're back and hangin tough! NKOTBSB ten memorible moments

Last Wednesday my best friend and I went to see the NKOTBSB concert in Toronto. What a blast. Anyone who knows me, knows that The Backstreet Boys are my not so guilty pleasure. As for the New Kids, they were the first musical group or type of music that was not influenced by my parents. So, I wanted to share some of my fave moments with you and some pictures too. Although the pictures are not that great b/c we were too far away for my camera and my camera hates the dark. I did get a couple of okay ones off the screens.

1. First, I got to go with my best friend Liz. The amazing energy started with Jordan Sparks. She genuinely wanted to be there and was having a blast herself. She had us singing, the moment she stepped onto the stage.

Liz and I before the show.

2. They opened together with a Cold Play beat and NKOTB's "Single" and BSB's "The One". I personally loved this mash-up, even though I don't know "Single" very well. Liz had mixed feelings about it.

3. TEAM NICK!! Anyone who has known me along time knows that I have a major crush on BSB's Nick. Each guy has a special place in my heart but Nicky has always been my fave. He looked smokin' HOT! He performed very well too, he was on fire.

My boy Nick.

4. Team Brian represent!! It warmed my heart that BSB's Brian got the most and loudest screams. Team Brian in da house!

B-ROK aka Brian

5. NKOTB's Joey's end to "Please don't go girl" was emotional and amazing. The other guys left him alone to finish it. He slid across the catwalk and ended the song on his knees. Very powerful. I wish I had caught that on video.

Joey.

6. Anyone who has bought their albums knows BSB's "10,000 Promises" and NKOTB's "Tonight", fan faves that weren't big singles..in fact "10,000 Promises" wasn't a single @ all. But the guys know this and they performed them..love songs for their fans.

7. BSB went into the crowd and pulled a girl each up onto the stage and serenaded them. I looked @ Liz and was like "OMG is this happening? They are so lucky." I bet those girls will never forget it and either will I. These boys love their fans and they showed it, by making 4 girls feel very special. Thus making each of us feel special too.

8. The little girl next to me was grooving so hard, she hit me a couple of times.

9. When they introduced each other, AJ introduced Donnie as his brother from another mother. Brain sang Joey's songs and Joey sang Brian's songs when they introduced each other, much to the delight of the fans.

Brothers from another mother.

Brian singing to Joey

Joey singing to Brian.

10. During their encore of "Hangin Tough" Donnie came out wearing a Canadian flag as a cape.

The best shot I could get of that dancing Canadian flag.

My only complaint is, I wish they had sung each others stuff, together more. This show will definitely be a highlight of my summer. Thank you Brian, AJ, Howie, Nick, Jordan, Danny, Donnie, Johnathan and Joey for a fabulous night. Good luck and prayers for the rest of the tour!

Sketchy Thursdays 6.9 Yesterday

It's amazing what a new stack of paper and the Backstreet Boys will do for creativity. Also an awesome sketch from Sketchy Thursdays.

Another Punta Cana LO. We went to the Italian place one night and the entertainment was playing @ each table. When they got to ours they asked if we had any requests. Zeke asked for the Beatles. They played "Yesterday" and we all sang along. A memorable moment for sure.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far.

Sketchy Thusdays 6.2 - Speedo Wednesday

This week I played along with Sketchy Thursdays.

I used this sketch for another Punta Cana LO.

 I had almost forgotten about Speedo Wednesday until I came across this picture. Maybe I was repressing it! Love you Zeke!! Anyway the story goes that @ Zeke and Crystal's wedding trip, Zeke treated everyone to his speedo and ever since then on trips he breaks it out. He did not disappoint. Even Jenny's Dad joined in on the fun.
I had finally gotten into a groove with my trip pictures again, when.....I ran out of adhesive. Guess I know what's on my list to get on the weekend.
Hope everyone enjoys theirs!

Top Ten fun stuff I did on May 2-4 weekend.

Today I decided to play along with Kim over @ It's a Crafty Life and her Ten on Tuesday linky party. In Canada this past weekend was a holiday weekend. So I decided to share the Top Ten Fun things I did this weekend.

1. My friend Fez came over with her hubby and their daughter Miranda. While her parents were busy, Miranda and I played in my yard. It was so nice to have a little person running in my grass.

2. I got so dizzy I thought I was going to yak playing on the playground equipment @ the park with Miranda. Normally I hate being dizzy but it was nice to be dizzy b/c I was having fun and not b/c I had a migraine.

3. On the advice of a co-worker I bought a weed remover by Fiskars . Yep, the same people who make craft punches and scissors. It might take me all summer to pull the dandelions in my lawn but I will do it.

4. I cleaned the outside windows to my bedroom and the spare room with this product from Windex . It's perfect for just out of reach windows and was so easy to use.

5. I discovered that the living room windows flip open on the inside, making them really easy to clean. So I cleaned them too. Okay so it only took me a year and a half to figure that out. :)

6. My cousin Roo got married and their first dance was "Give in to me" from the movie Country Strong. It was perfect and I cried.

7. My cousin Sean, the grooms brother and best man, gave the best speech. I loved that he included Roo's love of He-man as a boy b/c I remember it well. Patti and I loved She-Ra during that time. We loved them so much that for Hallowe'en one year my mom and Uncle Mat dressed up as He-Man and She-Ra and surprised us.

8. Dancing to John Cougar with my mom, Uncle Mat, siblings and cousins.

9. Dancing to "Don't Stop Believin' with most of my siblings and most of my cousins. We knew all the words. Thanks Glee!

10. Cuddles and smiles with Lexi.

I'm sad to see the weekend go. Back to it tomorrow.

I should have cut the grass....

I should have cut the grass when the rain stopped and before it started up again but instead I played along with Ella and scrapbooked this page for my Punta Cana album.

Hopefully it doesn't rain tomorrow so I can cut the grass or it will have to wait for the weekend.

Pencil Lines. 239. Alexis Victoria

Hi everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying their May 2-4 long weekend. The unofficial kick off to summer. The weather has certainly been great! Yesterday my cousin Roo got married. It was so fun to have all the cousins together. One of the best moments was when a bunch of us danced to "Don't stop believin'". Uncle Mat got some good pictures and I can't wait to see them. Anyway welcome Laura to our family, it might be a bit crazy but it is full of love and we will always have your back!

Anyway back to the reason for this post. Today http://www.pencillines.com/ posted this sketch

It was perfect for a LO about my new niece. I loved the LO so much, I framed it and hung it on my wall.

This photo was from her newborn photo shoot. The photo was taken by our friend Becky, Heritage Photography she specializes in natural light photography. Her photos are beautiful.
Well, that's all for now. I think I might read for awhile.

Church, school and scrapbooking.

Yesterday was a busy day for me. An emotionally draining day, although I didn't realize it until I got home yesterday afternoon.

It started early off early @ my church for a..... conference I guess you could call it. Two of the United Churches in my town are in talks together with the intent to amalgamate, so this has gotten us thinking about our future and what we need to do to make it a stable one. Lots of changes are going to need to be made and it's going to be hard work. The good news is we are evaluating this at the right time. We have many years left before we would just have to walk away if we continue as we are doing.  And from the sounds of it, not many want to continue with just what we are doing.
Then I went to the library to their "making room" book sale and got some really good finds. Five hardcover books for five dollars and some fairly recent ones at that. I also went to the chip wagon for fries even though it was raining. So good.

Then I headed over to my old elementary school for an open house. They are tearing it down this summer in favour of a new school. It makes me sad b/c I spent many happy years there and my Poppa went there as a boy. This is the second school that I have gone to that will no longer be standing. I walked the halls that seemed so big back then with a girl who was one of my best friends then. Both of us looked at each other when we passed the taxidermy case filled with animals and said "We must have repressed that memory." In the gym there were scrapbooks. I don't who but during the years that I went there someone toke the time to cut out all the newspapers clippings about students and former students from my school. There I was with my sister Patti and our next door neighbour Allie pushing doll carriages. Darryl looking exactly the same. Zeke snow boarding. And Jay a classmate of Patti's who passed from cancer. I was amazed that some toke all that care to save those things, to know to look for our names. That is why scrapbook. As I entered my second grade class, I remembered another reason I scrapbook. My teacher Mrs R. had us scrapbook for some of our assignments. I think Mrs R. deserves a post all on her own, so here is just a quick look @ the books I made, that my mom toke the care to keep for me.

This is from my LOVE BOOK. It's funny but in my own way, I have been scrapping ever since. I have albums and albums of photos and clippings. I've been collecting, way before I toke my first scrap booking class.
Anyway, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to say goodbye to my school but when I got home I was exhausted. I had no energy to do anything. Good thing it was raining!
I did manage to whip up this little book about my 30th b-day.

I used box board, punched holes in, covered it with paper and used ribbon to hold it all together. I used the button my family made me wear on the front cover.

I included the invite my Dad sent out from Lexi. I had to fold it up, so it would fit. I also included the funny card on the right that Liz gave me.

Added some stickers and pictures.

I'm happy with how it turned out. I have never made a mini book before and it worked out perfectly for these pictures.

Anyway, I've got to run. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!