Welcome April!

April is here and ironically we've had more snow in April than I think we've gotten all winter! Great big snow storms followed by sunny days that take it all away... spring:0)

It is Easter weekend here, and I am grateful for a few extra days off for the weekend. It gave me a little time to play with my scrap supplies, and the first thing I tackled was the April "It's a Sketchy Challenge" from Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine.

Hope you like what I came up with! I had a lot of fun making this one.  Of course, what is not fun about a layout featuring a banana split bigger than my kid's head?

 Supplies used: Patterned Paper- Glimpses by Signify Pink; Diecuts, stickers and gems and ephemera- Glimpses by Signify Pink; Cardstock- Bazzill; Chipboard- Pink Paislee; Ink and Glitter- Clearsnap; Gems and Pearls- BoBunny; Charm- Stanislaw Imports. 

I had total fun making the hemp swirls, as per Canadian Scrapbooker Webisode #26, adding an extra swirl of glue on top that I glittered up using the Fairy Dust Glitter by Donna Salazar for Clearsnap. Sprinkle a few bits and pieces around, and viola! "Dig In" was done!

April is shaping up to be a busy month! Dance festival season has begun, and Avery's first festival was this past weekend. She danced with her hip-hop group with all their pink badness to "California Girls". This is her first year in hip-hop and she loves it! And I loved seeing her dance her heart out up on stage.  As a first year group, the audience always AWWWW's at the cuteness that arrives on stage, but as an eight year old, this is serious business!  Here are some first festival pictures. She has a few more this month- another chance to perform her hip-hop routine and two for her tap routine.  

All dressed and made up! Complete with fake eyelashes, lol!

No group in their category got gold, and Avery was completely thrilled with her silver medal. Her group was awarded the "Most Promising Group" designation and one of her classmates was singled out for having that little extra spark. Avery was so excited for her friend!

And to top off a busy month, I've been asked to do a guest design spot at Scrapbooking Fanatics.  I'll be working on a week's worth of blog posts and projects for April 23-27.  My dt kit has arrived and I am so excited to dig in and play!

Always good to remember...

March's "It's a Sketchy Challenge"

Spring break has started here, and since we aren't traveling one place or another to see family, I have some time to play in my scrap room.  Although time evaporates way faster than I think it should, I have lots of scrappy plans for the week.  In between playing with my family, getting together with friends and dance festivals of course...

First on my list was to play with Jill Sarginson's yummy March sketch over at Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's "It's a Sketchy Challenge".  Take a peek at the sketch:

I loved the banners, but using so many photos is outside of my comfort zone.  Of course, that makes it good to go there! I actually had more pictures printed but didn't use them all.  Baby steps... I think I have a hard time covering up beautiful paper, even with my beautiful daughter's face!

I used Fancy Pant's Childish Things line for this layout, including the letters, trim and glitter cuts.  The flowers are from Prima and the cardstock is Coredinations- a line they put out with Fancy Pants. It went perfectly and added some great texture to the background.  I made me think of the promise of spring flowers emerging from the mud left after the melt...

I used up some scraps to make this baby girl card. It kind of looks like I used the sketch, but was more like a card I loved and pinned on Pintrest.  I actually pinned the same style of card a few times, so I figured I should make a banner card pronto to get it out of my system!!

Did you create with this sketch? I will be watching for you on the CS sketch page, or send me a link in the comments if you also post to a gallery or blog so I am sure not to miss it!

you know you've been married a long time when...

Our good camera recently experienced some trauma. As in it got dropped, and the main lens' body got kinked.  So we have been looking at options for repair, and finding that what we really want is a different camera.  When we bought our camera, it was our first foray into an DSLR and the rebel seemed like a good choice. It was a stretch for us to buy it, but we waited for a good sale and Mark especially has learned to use the camera off the preset functions.  We've had it for 5 years and have invested in additional accompanying lenses and an external flash, with long range plans for more!

Now we were faced with a decision. Fix it or replace it? Now that we know more, we want a camera that can do more.  But $200 to replace the lens is a long way from $1000 to upgrade the body and replace the lens. A month and a half of indecision went by...

Before the issue/opportunity of the camera came up, we had been looking at getting an iPad.  I especially want it to use with my students at school. There are tons of educational apps that I can use to support the literacy activities I already use. Given that my position is over in June and I have no idea which school I will be in, with what age group, come September I have to be honest in saying that it is mostly for me (and my family).  But still, the cool things I can use if for in school just tip the balance, however short term that may be.  With the intro of the iPad 3, the 2's came down in price and looked more enticing than ever.  We laughed at the irony of looking at two high-end items at once.

This week, we made a decision on the camera.  A sale came along at Vistek and on Saturday Mark headed into the city to get our new camera.  While he was there, I got to thinking.... and thinking... and thinking!  Finally I decided to just go ahead and order the iPad. We'd figure it out somehow.

When he got home, Mark found me at the computer just about to check out our new iPad.  He asked me if I was sure we should do it.  "Yup!" I said happily.  "Let's just go for it!"  Whereupon he told me I had better wait, and he ran out to the garage.

Back he came with a new iPad. He had it hidden out there so he could get it all set up before surprising me with it.

And the kicker... he got the same color (white) body and cover (green) that I had chosen!

Avery reading on the iPad, Mark reading about the camera, and me taking a picture with the camera!

Make it a great week everyone!!!!

Canadian Scrapbooker February Sketch

I turned this:

Into this:

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper- Basic Grey. My Little Shoebox; Punch- Stampin' Up!; Stickers- Basic Grey; Stamp- Donna Downey for Unity; Book text from 'Alice le Fee'.

I thought it would be neat to try tone on tone for the title.  I was right.  It is neat- it just doesn't photograph well with my little instant camera. (Our regular camera was dropped by the beautiful photo subject here. Sigh.)  I used one of Avery's old books to make the ruffle frame around the photo, something I learned at Cropazanza in Red Deer from Donna Downey.  It killed me a little to rip up the book.  Avery is happy though.  She is planning on using the pages to make paper beads, so I guess all is well!  The little Basic Grey envelope holds some notes from Avery on what she wants to be when she grows up (vet, fashion designer), who her friends are and what she likes best about school, etc.

You can see what amazing layouts others made with this sketch, and find out how you can play along too right here.

A Taste of CHA!

What is CHA, you ask? CHA is the big tradeshow for the craft industry.  It happens twice a year, and all us hardcore peeps anticipate them eagerly as all new releases are revealed and showcased.  I, of course, am all over the scrapbooking supplies but actually there are many representatives from all across the craft industry.  The trade show floor is so big you cannot see it all in one day or not in any way that does it justice. Although I have been to CHA before, I don't get to go to all of them.  So I am delighted that Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine is serving up CHA buffet style with 'A Taste of CHA'. 17 favourite manufacturers represented in 10 days, and you can win the whole kit and caboodle!!!  Seriously! $400 of NEW release scrappy supplies.  It takes a little bit of effort (if you consider showing the prize sponsors some love effort) and a facebook account but the tour and the prizes are totally worth it!  You have until midnight on February 29th to enter!  Just go HERE to learn how!

Overheard...

I really, really, really {heart} working with little people!  They make me smile each and every day!  I have to share with you a conversation I overheard today.

But first, let me set the scene.  It is Valentine's Day at the school. Love is in the air, glitter and paper hearts are everywhere.  Sugary treats are being dispensed with reckless abandon.  How does one contain oneself in such an atmosphere? Well, you don't even try if you are in the first grade!

Two kids were admiring their plastic heart rings they plucked from the icing of their valentine cupcakes and marvelling that they matched!

Girl: It shows that we are really in love, and will get married!
Boy: Yes! But not yet.  I think we're a little young for that.
Girl: True.  And we haven't even lived with each other yet!

Hope your Valentines' was happy!