Scrapbooked Gifts

This layout was created to put into a silent auction.  It is framed and ready for someone else's photos!  I kind of ended up liking it, so might have to make one for me.  The papers are Basic Grey, from one of their page of the month kits.  I never do the pages they send instructions for, but I did copy their accordion flower embellishment this time!  There is also some 7 Gypsies, Prima, Maya Road and Harmonie stuff on this page.

I needed a card to invite some special guests to a 'Local Faire' celebration supper that I am helping to plan.  (Sort of a 100 Mile Dinner, with liberties taken).  I went for inspiration to Twisted Sketches and found their new sketch #82 to be perfect!  It even had a twist of 'orange'- perfect for some fall leaves!  Supplies used: 7 Gypsies paper, Prima gems, Making Memories glittered chipboard, and Pageframe Designs for the card base.

Wanted: Child Interpreter!

Yesterday at breakfast, my daughter says to me,

"Mom, I think I should stay home from school today.  When I'm at school and Madame asks a question, I always put up my hand.  It just shoots up; I can't even control it!!  Sometimes I don't even know the answer."

Mom (aka Me!) is bemused, bewildered and curious.  "Why do you need to stay home because of that?"  A legitimate question, I think.

"So I can rest my voice," she replies with all the duh-ness her eight year old self can muster.  Which is a lot, actually.

Request denied (whilst stifling a sigh and a giggle).  Off to school she goes.

Shortly after she leaves, a school about a half hour out of town calls with a sub job for me.  I accept it, and hustle my way out to work.  Just as I pull into the parking lot, my cell phone rings.  It's my daughter.

"Mom. I really don't think I should be at school.  I have a sore throat, my head hurts and I feel sick."

Ah. Obvious, really.

The Search for the Perfect Trimmer

I have been a scrapbooker for roughly 7 years now.  In that time, I have been through many, many trimmers.  Here are their stories.

1. Like many people, my first trimmer was a Fiskars.  Compact, inexpensive and readily accessible, it served me well for many years.  Sure, it didn't cut straight, but my scrappy style does not rely on precise, straight lines.  We co-existed comfortably: without passionate feelings but with a certain understanding of each other and acceptance of one another's flaws.

2. One fine day, I was introduced to the possibility that I wasn't just a crooked-ass paper cutter.  That the askew lines may not have been all my fault, because even when I really really tried to cut straight, things happened.  Like crookedness.  And askewness.  I learned that it just might be my trimmer and not me at all.  After a few years of crooked, this was quite a revelation!!!! And so I invested in a Tonic trimmer.  It had a rotary blade, a pricier price tag and lots of promises of straight lines.

It was still portable, and could easily pop into my bag and accompany me to crops.  It had a cool factor because not the many people had a Tonic trimmer.  I was in love again!  Cue fresh beginnings, endorphin rushes, and slow dances in flower filled fields.  Life was good.... for a while.  Until the rose came off my glasses and I realized that this thing was actually kind of hard to use.  The extension arm didn't lay completely square.  It was unwieldy to get the paper under the paper holder.  The markings were hard to see.  AND! The tab that held the blade loosened up, causing my blade to go flinging off if I wasn't careful in stopping it before it bumped the edge.  I returned to my Fiskars which still cut crooked but was ultimately more cooperative.

3. AND THEN! I heard about the Purple Cow.  Everyone raved about the purple cow.  Two blades on one cutter! There were fancy shaped blades for the rotary end! It could cut up to 10 sheets of paper at one time! It was named the purple cow!  By this time, I was teaching classes and decided that despite it's large size I needed it for quicker class prep. Hel-lo? Cuts 10 sheets of paper at once!!!! And so I invested. I spent more money than ever before on a trimmer.

And quickly learned that 10 sheets at a time actually meant 2.  If you were careful.  If you cut real slow. It made fine, clean cuts.  Straight cuts even.  But functionally only on one sheet of paper at a time. And it was large.  So, it fell out of use and I returned to my aging, crooked but familiar Fiskars.

My craft area looked like a hillbilly junkyard filled with surly and decrepit trimmers.  I was defeated, resolved to invest in no more trimmers.  Until now....

4. Enter Westcott.  And compact trimmers in fun colours.  That work.  Like, as in, cut straight lines. Even for me! I am tickled that I was not too jaded to try another trimmer.  I am so pleased with it that I have even tossed out my good old backup Fiskars.  And my Tonic trimmer.  Like as in, kicked them to the curb!!!! I now have a lilac trimmer, with scissors to match and an attitude of gratitude for the good folks at Westcott who make such great tools.  Compact, affordable and they work!

TaDah! The glorious Westcott TrimAir Trimmer.  Behold it's purpleness:0)

I am so glad they came out to Canadian Scrapbooker's Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival and gave us a chance to try them out. I am a happy girl!

Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's October Sketch

I had some glorious unclaimed time today, and so I dove into some of my scrappy supplies and created a layout based on Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's "It's a Sketchy Challenge" for October.  Follow the link to find out how you can play too!!!!

I totally enjoyed playing with Harmonie's Shabby Love papers.  So, of course, I had to scrapbook a photo of my sweetheart!

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper- Harmonie, Fancy Pants, Basic Grey, Mark's Paper Company; Letters- Prima; Chipboard, Ribbon & Brads- Harmonie; Flower Die- Spellbinders; Other- Score-it Board, Ranger Ink.

Now I want to see yours!!!!!  

UPDATE: I kept looking at this layout and was bothered by it.  Finally I realized it just wasn't done!!!!  So I added stuff.  NOW it's done:0)

Gratitude

Today I am thankful for....

You. And you.  And you!  I am richly blessed with a wonderful circle of family and friends.  Thank-you for being lights in my life.  For supporting me.  For challenging me to grow and learn and be my best self.

My body.  It allows me to climb mountains. And downward dog. And comfort with hugs. And be creative.  And give a nap spot for purring cats. And feel sunshine or rain, smell flowers- physically appreciate the fullness of life.

My lifestyle.  I have everything I need.  I get some of what I want.  And I have the ability to share with those that may not.  I like that our family has to make choices on how we spend our money. I am grateful that priorities lead us to family activities and extra-curricular enrichment for Avery rather than toys and electronics that keep us separate and insular (although we certainly enjoy a little of that too).

This beautiful fall!  Every drop of sunshine is golden delight to me!

My spirit.  I am grateful that I live in a time and place where I can explore the connectedness of every living thing, how to live in balance and harmony with others and our earth and be given opportunities to grow as a human being. And I can do so with freedom, without oppression in whatever avenue speaks to me.  In fact, I can travel several avenues at once! What an abundance of opportunity!!

Work.  My two jobs offer me an interesting outlet for my creativity, opportunities to make a small difference in the world, an invitation to playfulness and bring many wonderful people into my life.

Panning for 'jewels' at Prairie Gardens!

Avery almost went into the haunted house this year.  Three steps is better than none:0)

Climbing haybales=itchy underwear.  Now you know.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Cool Toy Alert!!!!

I saw this baby in action at the Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival this weekend and I have to say that I fell in love!!!!  

This clever little machine is not just a photo frame you can use to display your digital pictures, but a photo printer as well!!!  The print quality was great, the speed of printing was excellent and the process to select and print your photos was pretty easy to figure out.  What a great addition to your scraproom!!!

And (because Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine rocks!!!) they have hooked us up with an exclusive coupon.  Savings, scrapping and cool ideas.... life is grand!

Click here to get your coupon!

You are welcome:0)