It's great to

have my husband home again!! He was in Calgary this past week visiting our daughters and it was a verrry long week here without him. Our youngest dd had surgery on her knee and it went so well she is back on her feet already. Although I know they
loved having their dad with them I am happy to have him back here!!


I have been trying to organize my new craft space without success and
finally figured out the problem. The walls in the room I was using are
a very deep purple and it just was not working for me so on Friday
night I switched rooms and feel so much more comfortable in my new
orange room. I actually have it organized that I can reach most of my
stuff quite easily.

I went to New Ross on Saturday and got a couple of cards made. The first 2 cards are made using the DCWV Pocket full of Posies Stackmat. These are perfect for card making
as you waste such a small amount of paper from each piece. They are both from sketches although for the life of me I cannot find where the first one came from!! The second is from Di Hickman

I also used MM's paint, HA stamp and SU stamp from Doodle This.

I used my SU punch, HA and SU stamps as well as Stampendous Diamond stickers.
This next card is from Beate
The PP is from my BB Gypsy pad. Paint is MM's and stamps from SU.

and this last one is using Doodlebug pp and HA stamp.

Let's see if I can

get back into this again. We are now pretty well settled into the house
we are renting. I have set up a small studio in an exercise room and NO
it has not motivated me to start exercising!! I had the privilege of getting together at Debbie's house. What a great time we had and even made a card or two. Thank you again Debbie for having us again. I look forward to the next time we get together.

Shari brought all of us the materials for all of us to make this card. What you can't see from this photo is the transparency over the top of the ribbon. It adds just the right touch to it.
I also got this one done. My goal was to get one card made so I guess that means I surpassed my goal!!

This one is made with Scenic Route pp, Genx chipboard, MM gem stickers and misc. buttons.
Elaine (who has just started blogging!!) brought this ATG gun for me. I love it, and I won't lose it on the table in the middle of a project!!

You can see I am trying to get my ribbons organized yet again!! I had them wrapped on cardboard but found it too flexible so I am redoing them on mylar and will be glad when I am done!!!! Well, I have a lot to catch up on on other people's blogs so have a great Tuesday!!

There's definatley no cardmaking

in my house right now as there are boxes everywhere!!! We are almost completely moved. I am in the middle of cleaning and I think we will be moved into our rental house on Thursday. I have packed up my craft room and sent part of it to my nephew's house and have some carts that will go with me to the temp. home. This is a counter Paul made for me years ago, it was suppose to fold down when I wasn't using it, but it was never empty enough for that to happen!!

I photocopied pics years ago to scrapbook and then figured I might as well use the originals to scrapbook. I didn't want to throw out the copies so I covered the countertop with them. I took it down yesterday and will put it in the new house somewhere as it has so many memories on it!!

But..I have been taking time to spend with the family as the godchildren are only home for a week or so. We went to the Canada Day fireworks in Hantsport last night and everyone had a grand time.
This is my cousin Chris, he lives in Calgary and has come home for his sister's wedding on Saturday. Ashley and Zackary are thrilled he's home while they are here.

Zach had a blast using Chris's camera!!

Zach had Uncle Paul all lit up with his lightstick while we were waiting for the fireworks to start.

Shhhhh.....don't tell

that I've been making cards instead of packing!!!!! I think the key is to shut down the computer but we all know that is not going to happen. It has been a very busy week around here though. I celebrated my birthday on Friday, took the day off and spent it at the lake. It was a great way to celebrate.
Hmm..our youngest daughter wrote this on the outside of the envelope for my BD card and our friends thought it would be cute on my cake. Yum..it was good regardless. Well, 20 years ago we were celebrating the birth of our second child. Happy Birthday Princess and know how much you are loved!!!
Momma duck seens to have lost some of her babies. There are only six left!! Mother Nature can be cruel sometimes.

We also got out to see the baby gulls. They look so much like the granite rocks that you can easily miss them. We didn't stay on the island long as the mommas were flying overhead and they were not impressed with us. I am glad I was wearing a hat just in case!!!


I did get a couple of cards made also. They are sketches from Di Hickman

With this one I used BG oh Baby Girl pp,HS writer's Block circle,ribbon from stash, Cuttlebug design, jelly roll pen and chalk ink

and also from Beate
With this one I used WR Memory Keepers Silver Lining Brillance (which doen't show it's true glory in this scan), HA sentiment, 7 Gypsies label it stamp and my Marvy Scallop circle punch. I have decided I am not very good at following the rules as you can see by my cards, but they certainly motivate me to play and I guess that's what it's all about.

This next sketch

is from Amy's Super Sunday Sketch

I used Basic Grey Gypsy pp and M's $1 stamps. These sketches just make it so easy to make a great card!!!! I think this is one of my favorites. It must be the colors cause they just make me happy!!
I also did a card based on the sketch from Di Hickman She posts a sketch every Wednesday and I do try to make a card based on that sketch.

This pp is from Imagination Project (Chloe's Closet), bazzill cs, $ stamps from M's and brads from my stash.

I'll probably be taking a bit of a break from cardmaking as I really have to focus on packing and I don't get ANYTHING done when I am surfing all the awesome blogs that are just a click away.

Great news...

my godchildren (who live in Texas) are coming to visit in just 10 days!! This puts a very big smile on my face. I am on vacation for most of their visit. Although we will be moving then, I am looking forward to spending time with them. They are 5 and 9 and LOVE to come to Canada!!

Help me!!!! I found tbis sketch and neglected to write down the blog I got it from!! Maybe one of you visited that same blog and can help me give credit to the rightful owner of the sketch.

It's official....

The real estate agent called yesterday and we've sold our house. I truly hope the new owners get to have some of the many joys of this home as we have over the years. It is the only home our youngest dd had and the only one our oldest remembers. It was the first and only home Paul and I have had. I guess I never thought of the emotional attachment I might have when we put it on the market, but man, there's a lot of good memories in these walls. BUT... we are ready to have a newer, smaller, one level home with a garage that I promise to always be able to park my car in!!!!!!

So the creative side of me has not had a chance to play this week, so I am posting a couple of scrapbook layouts I've done recently.

This was from an online class I took that required us to use corners. I will try to remember to post the supplies I used.

The next is one of myself and our youngest dd. She will be 20 next Saturday which means we will no longer have TEENAGERS!!! I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

This was taken when she was 16 and I never truly saw how much we looked alike until I saw this picture.
Don't forget to spoil dad a bit on Sunday and let him know how much you care.

Something to think about...

Lisa sent this to me. We pass a lot of these emails around but this one is worth reading. Send it on to a friend to remind them they are one of a kind.

All of us girls.. Old and young... Near and far... Hold special memories of
good times we've shared. We've had our share of hard times when our friends
were there to make us feel better. We've shared... our hearts our time our
secrets our fears our hopes and our dreams. Let us never break the chain of
friends!
I am only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair spray I use and the
girlfriends I have. Here's to you!

Why do we only have parties for each other when one of us gets married,
pregnant, has a birthday, or retires?

What would most of us do without our sisters, confidants, and shopping,
lunching and traveling girlfriends?
Let's celebrate each other for each other's sake! If you get this twice or
more, you are
lucky to have more than one girlfriend.

Remember: Someone will always be prettier. Someone will always be smarter.
Their house will be bigger. They will drive a better car. Their children
will do better in school. And their husband will fix more things around
the house.

So? Let it go! Be Happy! Love yourself and your circumstances.
Think about it:
The prettiest woman in the world can have trouble in her heart.
The most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
The richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the
clothes....might be lonely.
And the word says if "I have not Love, I have nothing."
So, again...
Love you!
Love who you are!

Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say:
"I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!"
"Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen"
Be blessed ladies and pass this on to encourage another woman.
"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might
be the world".

There's nothing like a day at the lake

to put life in prospective. What an amazing place to unwind and relax. We are so fortunate to have great friends like John and Dee who always welcome us to their piece of paradise.



I got some great pics of the geese that had been visiting, also a new momma and her 9 babies made an appearance yesterday. I hope momma can keep her babies safe as there are so many eagles at the lake this year.

Had fun playing with a couple of challenges. The first is a sketch Allison has posted on Sisterhood ofscrap

PP from My Mind's Eye (Tres Jolie), brads from the $store, leather frame MM's, HA sentiment. I cut away the back of the frame and used a sparkle glaze pen to color in the vellum flowers.

The second is a sketch challenge from Di Hickman that she posts each Wed.

For this one I used more of the BG Gypsy pp. again the HA sentiment, charm from $store and ribbon from LSS. I used stamps from a set I picked up at a local discount store and for some reason did not keep the company info. If you recognize these stamps, please let me know who makes them so I can label the case.

Happy Friday

Last night we went and picked some lilacs. Paul remembered picking
lilacs from this same bush as a child. I love the look and smell of
lilacs and try to get a small bunch for my dining room each year.



Sorry for the bad quality of the pic but it was taken thru
a window at night. If you look really close to the bottom left side of
this picture you can see a very brave hummingbird sitting there. He
spends a great part of his day fending off other hummers from the
feeder. Mama Pusses didn't even know the little guy was there. Gotta
love nature.



Some of you know our oldest daughter Jocelyn lives in Calgary and our youngest Lyndasy
is there with her sister for the summer earning some $$ for school this
year. Well, Jocelyn sent me some pics of the flooding they had in the
city.OMG there was so much water. Here is a link to some pics Allison
has posted.
A
lot of rain

I did get a chance to make a card based on
a sketch from Maria's
Sketch
I am sending it to my Aunt Margie who has a birthday
next week. She is one of my favorites and was always like a sister to
my mom.





I used pp from the BG Gypsy pad, stamps from Hero Arts, SU Looks Like Spring and I think the butterfly collage stamp was from SU also. I have had that image stamped off for a couple of years. I also used the SU tab punch and ribbon from LSS.

Well, I am struggling to get the pics to post today so I will have to try again!!!!!

How many times

have you seen an idea and thought..why didn't I think of that?? Well, check out this idea that is posted on Libby Hickson has on her blog.



Now, how many times have you had an idea for a card, only to have it turn out NOTHING at all like you visualized it. I started with a sketch from
Maria's Blog but really wanted to use these images I had stamped off from our weekend get together and lo and behold this is what I ended up with!! I won't call it a card gone wrong, but it's not what I had in mind.




This next one is also using Skipping Stone Stamps

Selena was so willing to let me use her stamps!! It was fun to see all the designs available from this company.

This last one is from a sketch posted on Sketch This Card and I did manage to stick to the sketch with this one.



Well, today is Tim Horton's Camp Day not that I need an excuse to buy a coffee, but it's always great to see large corporations be involved in things that can change a childs outlook on life.

It's Apple Blossom

time in the valley,the sun is shining and it's Saturday. What more could a girl want. You can check out the official website at Apple Blossom . When our girls were young they always participated in the grand street parade with their grandfather and our youngest had the honor of being a child attendant for the Queen Annapolisa contest when she was eight. What a wonderful experience for her. This is a picture of her and Jill Barkhouse (Princess Canning 1995).


Now that the girls are older, we head to the lake for the weekend and relax with a fishing pole!!

I did get a card made last night. It is based on a sketch from Di Hickman
I used pp from Chloe's closet and the button are also a part of the same line. The lss just got this in and I am still not sure how we are going to manage after they close the doors at the end of June.



Oh, and did I mention barring no complications, we have sold our house!! It becomes official on the 15th of June and we need to be out by July 9th. Hmmm... should be interesting!!

I won't be close to a TV tonight so I need everyone to cheer for the Sens and they go into game 3 down 2-0. They are playing in Ottawa tonight so hopefully that is the motivation they need to pull of a win!

One more thing..if your at the Rocky Mountain Rodeo tour in Brampton Ontario, please give our oldest dd a hug as she is one of the athletic therapist working the rodeo this weekend. I am just so proud of her!!!!

What a great

weekend I had. It is just so much fun getting together with those who share the same passions as you. I will admit, I only got 2 cards made, but since my goal was to get 1 made, I guess I did just fine!!!!! I had a blast using Debbie's cuttlebug, thanks Debbie!!!

This card was made based on a sketch by Maria's Sketch
I used pp from Paper Pizazz Vintage pack, flower from stash, flower punch from Marvey, verse saying from M's and ribbon from lss.



I have also used this sketch as a challenge to our stamping group although I think I may be a week behind!!!

Remember, last night was just the first game and there are 7 in a Stanley Cup Final.

GO SENS GO!!!!!!

It's Friday........

But I do have to work tomorrow, although I am going to go to Debbie with Lisa and Selena and maybe Sarah Hmmmm.. not sure how many cards we will actually get done, but it will be fun!

I tried a couple more challenges and really enjoyed them. The first is from Colleen's Challenge

and is the Stained Glass technique. Colleen has so many challenges and techniques on her blog.



The second is from Allison's Blog . Allison has the most informative blog I have seen. I don't think there's a day that I haven't visited her blog at least once!!

Well, the little one flies back to Calgary tonight to spend the rest of her summer with her sister and trying to boost the bank account for school. It's been nice having her back home for a few days. She has such a great group of friends and they have been so supportive of each other thru a very difficult time.

Thought I'd try another

sketch while waiting for Lyndsay to get up. She flew all night Monday night to get home in time for Corey's funeral and was both mentally and physically exhausted last night.

This sketch is from A Spoonful Of Sprinkles and I fought with it a bit but have decided I now like it. I got some new pp from the lss store as they close in 39 days and I guess I'd better get it while I can or at least that's my way of thinking!!! It is Wildflower Soup from Imaginisce and I also used my new stamp from Impress Rubber stamps.

Hmm.. I apologize for the bad picture, I guess it pays to check before you upload!!

Oh and did I mention the Sens are in the Stanley Cup Final!!!!!!Go Sens Go!!!!!!!

Thought I'd try another this afternoon. This one is from Di Hickman



and yes, I know, I know, this paper is getting it's share of use. It just works so well with this sketch!!

Another Monday already...

this weekend really flew by as I had to work
Saturday again although I did get to sneak out for an hour to go to a
Bridal shower for my cousin Misty who is getting married in July. I did
get a chance to try 2 sketches that were posted last week. The first is
from
Amy Westerman





The second one is from
Beate



I used Adornit flowery dots and Shabby Princess dot paper from Bo-Bunny Press for both cards. Bazzill cardsock and stamps from M's, Stampin' up and Hero Arts.

I have been struggling

since Friday to post on here. A young man from our community was killed in a tragic car accident early Friday morning. Corey Chapman went to school with our youngest daughter, they dated in high school, graduated together and have remained great friends. Corey was only nineteen and was to celebrate his 20th birthday today. My heart is breaking for his family and all his friends that are affected by this tragedy. I know there is a reason for everything, but I am really struggling with this one. Please say a little prayer for all those whose life Corey touched.

I decided to combine 2 sketch challenges
Distintive Touches and Kimmies Sketch to make a sympathy card to send to Corey's family.

It's a sad day

as the lss has decided to close. The 2 ladies who own it have provided the community with an amazing place to shop, incredible ideas, unbelievable projects and inspiration beyond inspiration. They always had the newest, latest and greatest in supplies and if you didn't get it when the order came in you probably missed it. They will be missed by all!! That leaves us without a lss to shop at and a void that will not be easily filled.

Hmm..another Wednesday off

as this is Victoria Day weekend in Canada and we all have to work Saturday. Sad thing is, we don't honour it in Nova Scotia with the stores being closed! Only if you work for the government or schools do you get the day off. Dang..shoula listened to my ma when she told me to become a teacher!!!!!

I am in love with BLOGS!!! I am having so much fun being inspired by others. Today I found one that has the most awesome cards
Oddabug Alley
Amy Westerman has a sketch on her site each Sunday, also Try something new Tuesday as well as numerous other terrific ideas. I took up the challenge for the sketch and was quite pleased with what I came up with. I used more paper from my Basic Grey Gypsy pad, Heidi Swapp XL brad, flower from $ store. The stamps are both from M's.



We are so fortuate to live in a world that at a touch of a button you are connected with so many amazing, talented people who are willing to share their talents. Take advantage of it, click away and see what ideas you can find, you never know where you'll be inspired.

Wow..where does time go

Happy belated Mother's Day. This was my first Mother's Day without
having the girls around so I figured I'd head to the city and do a bit
of shopping at M's so I didn't just sit home and feel sorry for myself.Well, I don't know what I expected with the new Martha line but I sure didn't see anything to impress me!! I did get some of the acrylic stamps that everyone has been talking about and a new floral punch. Went out for dinner with family friends and my 8yr.
old godson was there with a gift for me. Dawson was so excited for me to open the card he had made because he had stamped on it and he knows how much his Aunt Pat loves to stamp!!!



He did a wonderful job on it and I was thrilled with his thoughtfulness and that he knew just how much I would enjoy it. Paul and the girls got me a much needed foot massager to help at the end of a long day. Ahh..it feels so nice after wearing sneakers and walking on cement all day.

Yesterday Sarah Creations By Sarah brought me in my new stamps from Stampin'Up and my 2 new punches. I played with them for a bit this morning and
came up with a card for a wedding shower on Saturday. It was one of
those cards you can make in under 15mins . The paper is from the Basic
Grey line (6x6 Gypsy) that I picked up at the Cutting Garden. The stamp
is from Polka Dots and Petals.



WAHOO..... the Ottawa Senators won again last night, only one more win to get the Stanley Cup Finals!!!!! Selena, the Sens card is going in the mail today for Daren. Hope he enjoys it!!