Sunday, November 18, 2007

T is for Trucks


Well, this one didn't quite make it on the the Lotus Paperie website for Challenge 45, even though it was done in plenty of time...call it an email glitch. It is one of my favorites for this months layouts! I also love Challenge 46: S is for Shoes (below).

Monday, October 22, 2007

It's Finally HERE!!!


It's finally here...feels like I have been waiting forever, but it was barely more than a week! I signed up to become a Close to My Heart sales consultant and today I got my kit. I am SO excited I even photographed it! I love getting mail...especially stuff for scrapbooking! The acrylic stamps from CTMH are the best...if you want to check them out just let me know. Heck, if you are interested in ordering some (or some of the other cool stuff they sell) or even having a scrap party at your house (we could make a card or a tag or whatever else), I'm your girl!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Challenge 42

I am cruising along in my Alphabet scrapbook, I have about 6 layouts done now and it is looking pretty great. The best part is, I don't have to follow any chronological order. I find this so freeing. We have made many trips to the playgrounds near our house, and I am sure we will make many more! Jenna is finally big enough to ride on the swings which is great cause she is getting pretty heavy - yup at her 6 month check-up she was 23lbs and 72cm tall...she may end up taller than her brother at this rate!!!
PS Anyone interested in taking a stamping class on Thursday from 7-9pm? Sign-up ASAP or the class may get canceled! We will make 3-4 cards using some super cool stamps so it should be great fun!! The class is through Courtenay Recreation and costs $25/person.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Scraps

It has been awhile since my last post. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. I have started tutoring three nights a week and just taught my first card making class earlier this month. I have been meaning to post my sample cards on my blog to show you, but of course they are still stuck on my camera - soon, I promise. I do however have two layouts to share (created using the kit and challenges from Lotus Paperie).

Sunday, September 30, 2007

September Layouts

Figured I may as well showcase the layouts I created for Lotus Paperie on my blog too so here goes...enjoy!
Challenge 36

Challenge 37

Challenge 38

Challenge 39

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Artistry Unveiled

Well, I haven't posted in awhile...I've been busy working on the October layouts for Lotus Paperie - 3 down, 1 to go! Anyways, this is my painting...when my mom saw it she asked me if it was finished...well, I am finished with it! I started it at an art class last fall, and finished it early this summer. It was inspired by a photograph I took of two of the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road in Australia (in case anyone is wondering). I let Jayden use the other canvas to makes his first painting. Have a look...

He had a blast! I let him paint it outside so the mess wasn't too bad either! I plan to hang them both in Jayden's room side-by-side - should look great...if I ever find the time!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Back to Scrappin'


I just got my new design team kit and I am totally stoked...the October stuff kicks butt...but you will just have to wait and see! I haven't posted a scrap layout in awhile since I have been busy with the September layouts that will be unveiled on the lotus paperie website starting this Friday. You will have to check it out. Anyways, here is my latest and greatest (you may recognize most of the photos on it). I do so love brown and pink! The hot pink words are felt rub-ons - I love them! The first layout was inspired by Challenge 35 and the second was Challenge 27 - hey better late than never!
C

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Accomplishments

Jenna's latest accomplishment was quite a shock. While we were staying in Ucluelet Jenna decided to cut her first tooth! We had no idea one was even on the way. She was her usual happy self so it took me by surprise when I let her chew on my finger and I felt sharp bumps! These last few days she has been a bit crabbier, and today I found out why...her second tooth is ready to break through - well they do tend to come up in pairs. We also introduced her to the jolly jumper this week (as you can guess from the photo), since she is a little heavy to dance on your lap! She is a healthy 20lbs or more these days!!!!

As for me, I finally came up with a second stanza to the song "Daisy, daisy, give me your answer, do/ I'm half crazy all for the love of you/ There won't be much of a marriage/ I can't afford a carriage/ But you'll look sweet upon the seat/ Of my bicycle built for two." Maybe you have heard of it? I have never heard any further stanza (though I figure there must be more) so I invented my own. I have been playing around with it for awhile and here's what I've got - "Donald, Donald, I can't marry you/ You've got no money and daddy won't approve/ You need to cut your hair/ Become a millionaire/ And I'll look sweet upon the seat/ Of your Beamer built for two."....I know such a worthy accomplishment. I also organized my first garage sale (with a little help) and it went quite well today. I am now 1/7th of the way to my new camera. It's a start!

Friday, August 31, 2007

I've been Tagged...

I have been meaning to write so many things down these last few days...I am SO far behind!...And now I've been tagged by Karen at http://mckinnonphoto.squarespace.com
...So I have yet another thing to write here. Being tagged, for those of you who haven't been fortunate enough to experience it, means writing 8 things about yourself and then tagging 8 more people to do the same so here goes...

1. I am a slurpee junkie
2. I live for my two kids...I have no idea what I did with my life before they came along...oh wait...
3. Spent more quiet time with my husband. Yup we have been married for five years, but to me our anniversary is Halloween '97, when we held hands and it all started...almost a decade ago now!!
4. Together we have backpacked Australia and New Zealand, honeymooned in Rarotonga (in the Cook Islands), cruised to Alaska (thanks to my parents) and visited Mexico in the heat of last summer with our son in tow (right after we found out we were pregnant with Jenna)...I am a travel addict.
5. I am having a garage sale tomorrow (Sat) - I am saving up for my dream camera and accessories...yeah so come and buy lots!
6. I am a professional student as well as a teacher, though right now I am more of a full-time mommy.
7. I want people to think I am both funny and creative.
8. I take Lyrical Jazz dance classes

Phew, that was hard, hope you enjoyed it 'cause I don't do a lot of these type of chain things because...

9. I detest CHAIN email!....
Therefor to save some of you out there from being tagged, I choose to tag no one...sorry...yeah I know what your are thinking...maybe she just doesn't have enough friends...maybe...

PS...I am so glad blogger autosaves...I wrote this whole thing last night and then just as I was about to post it, the power went out! -- figures!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

The Last Days of Summer Vacation

I can't believe summer is over already...I am really going to miss the sun as it cools off and the days grow short and dark again...yeah I know, there is still some time before that happens, but it seems that school starting again is like a foreshadowing of the dark days to follow. ANYWAYS, enough about that! For our last weekend of summer vacation we took a final road trip over to Ucluelet. Seems no matter what the weather is doing, the West Coast is always radiant (and windy!). My baby girl had her very first sleepover party with a boy...have a look...

With so many little ones in one house we were all pretty happy with how well everyone slept. And it was pretty cute to hear on the baby monitor these two talking to each other when they woke up! The older kids had a great time together too...but the only proof I have is when they tried out the double stroller and were strapped (or rather trapped) in!

Tomorrow is the third class of "Chicks Who Click" so stay tuned for the unveiling of my "Heat" photo assignment.

I love my tripod...

I have been playing around with my tripod and my velvet fabric quite a bit in the last few weeks. It seems there are never any good photos of me (since I am usually behind the camera) so I thought I'd give it a shot...and I am quite happy with the results.

I also would like to mention that I am typing this with one 'normal' hand and one swollen hand -- yup I got stung by a bee...can you believe it? First a giant spider finds itself happily crawling along my room (I shudder just thinking about how huge it was) and now a bee attacks me...Critters...YUCK.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

When Daddy's Away...


Yesterday was a very "trying" day. They may look cute, but two can be a lot to handle sometimes. Daddy is away for the weekend so it's mom vs. the two tots and of course if one is getting my attention the other one is making a great effort to change that...you know by crying or screaming or as they say in Australia, "chucking a wobbly" on the floor! Boy was I glad when 9pm rolled around and the house was once again filled with the silence of two sleeping children. Today is a new day...here's hoping! Either way they are just too cute to trade in! Just look at this girl in her "vogue" pose...yup they are SO much easier to photograph when they aren't wandering yet!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Better late than never...


It seems I have so many projects on the go and so many things to do that this summer is just flying by. Anyways, here it is, my layout for challenge 31. "Family", cause becoming a mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have never felt so happy, amazed and proud all at the same time. - C

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Our Good Fortune...photo

Well, here it is, the photo Vanessa and I came up with...you can probably recognize her by the red of her hair! Well, I am pretty proud of it!
C

2 kids + 2 adults = 1 crowded motorhome!



Well, we managed to sleep really well on our camping adventure on Hornby Island...so well in fact that we added an extra night, staying a total of 3 nights. Actually our 4 month old (Jenna) is a dream baby...she sleeps better than Jayden does! ...And it was SO beautiful, with so much to see and do, who could resist.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Good Fortune




Well, like Vanessa, I also spent yesterday evening photographing fortune cookies with the "Chicks Who Click". It is so neat to see how each person photographed their cookies so differently! Here's what I found...course I don't have that beautiful macro lens to work with! The best picture I took (with Vanessa as my partner) was using Karen's camera so of course I don't have it to show off!

This one was just for laughs.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Jenna's Third Month's Layout


Well here it is, her third month's layout. This layout was inspired by a Becky Fleck design posted on the Comox Valley Scrap store's new blog. Sorry I don't have the address at the moment.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Who knew?


Summer is the best time of year. The sunshine and family time...I wish it would last forever - maybe I'll move to Australia! I have always been resistant to gardening, but suddenly I find myself ripping out the lawn turf to make room for more flowers and vegetables... Why, you ask? Well, I guess my son's enthusiasm for gardening is a bit contagious. He can't wait 'til after dinner when we turn on the hose and leave him in charge of watering his peas (which are growing nicely) and our flowers. I look forward to watching him pick them when they are ready. Today we picked raspberries at a U-pick farm and he had a blast. I love his love for the simple things in life.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

G is for Green!

Here is my latest page in a new book I have started for my kids...the Alphabet Book. I figured it would be a good place to use random favorite photos. And when it is finished it will be a great book for my kids to learn their letters with.
C

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Scrapbooking off and running

Now that I have joined Vanessa at Lotus Paperie on her Design Team I figured you might be interested in what I can offer...besides it is always nice to showcase these pages I spend many hours creating! I just finished this one last week and am eagerly awaiting her turning three months old so I can work on the next one!

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Smiles


My little girl is an amazingly happy baby. Once she learned to smile and coo she couldn't stop! She loves to talk to anyone who will listen and always has smiles for those who talk to her...and who doesn't love to talk to little babies!?! Of course, like I did for her brother, I have been chasing her around with the camera ever since her arrival!...Luckily she is not moving yet so getting her attention is easy...my son on the other hand is becoming more and more of a photography challenge. A challenge I love to take on. All these great photos end up in the scrapbook. Jayden loves to look through his whenever he spots the giant overflowing album that summarizes the moments in his first year of life. Jenna's album is already well on its way. The problem with baby albums is in choosing what to put in and what to leave out. It seems that in the first year every moment is more important than the last. My solution? I scrapbooked many moments in the first month of life and then moved on to do one page per month using some of my most favorite photos...the album still doesn't close but at least it is all contained within one book!