Laugh

Hi all,

Just a quick post tonight to prove I haven't totally disappeared! Things have been busy but good: a fantastic fundraiser (more to share later), folks visiting from out of town, two birthday parties, some purging and some gardening............have all kept me from blogland this past while.

Tonight though, I thought I'd share this layout I put together a few weeks ago after flipping through some of my stash and finding this super old paper with a "ready made" title. I thought to myself, Hmmm, could likely whip up a quickie layout licketysplit - I don't know about licketysplit, but it was pretty fast comparatively speaking! It is a bit difficult to see the title in the photo - it says LAUGH.

Take care, I hope to visit soon - this week is shaping up to much more low key than last.
Cheers,
Shanna :)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!

Good Monday evening! I hope you have all had a great weekend!

Yes indeed it is good even though it is a Monday since it happens to be a holiday! Hooray for holidays! I have once again been missing from blogland as I've had my parents visiting from Southern Ontario which means I have had extra hands to help with lots of things and going out and about and doing fun things with my boys. As with so many May long weekends, the weather was gorgeous leading up to the weekend and turned nasty Saturday! Oh well, what ya gonna do? We had a lovely weekend despite the weather and although my Dad left this morning, we managed to kidnap Nanny and so we get to keep her until next weekend! It's gonna be a very productive, and very busy week! (more about that later...)

The card I have to share today is my brother's birthday card - Happy Birthday Shawn! But it is also for Kraftin' Kimmie's Challenge this week - *TEXT* me! When I saw this image, I knew I had to make my brother's next birthday card with it. He has always been into motorbikes and the dude in the image even looks a little bit like him! lol Thanks to Donna for suggesting the brads in the upper right hand corner, I was struggling with some open space, but the brads seemed to do the trick. I was so happy to use some of this fun Rock N Roll paper I've had for ages and I even "fussy cut" the image - I hestitate to show you the close up as this is not one of my strengths....

**There is a great fundraiser/awareness event happening right now in support of CNIB's Vison Health Month - many of you who are regular readers know that I work with children who are blind or visually impaired. The non-profit organization that I work for is CNIB and May has been declared Vision Health Month - it is all about reminding people how important it is to take care of their eyes - visit your eye doctor regularly and wear your sunglasses! There is currently an auction of celebrity Sunglasses happening to kick off Shades of Fun Day on May 26th. If you are interested in the auction you can check it out HERE. For more info on Shades of Fun Day, click HERE. (There are some great children's activities for any teachers out there.) They have already sold Justin Bieber's shades but the sunglasses of many other celebrities are currently up for auction.

My son and his class are busy planning a Shades of Fun Day event at his school - he is having a bake sale and encouraging students to wear their shades and make a donation. His goal is to raise $500, I am so proud of him! Wait until you see the goodies we have been working on for the bake sale...

Whew, that was a long one - I guess I shouldn't go so long between posts! I have so much more to share, but I know it will be a busy week with the fundraiser on Thursday, a plant auction on Thursday night, a plant sale and birthday party on Saturday - it's gonna be a good week! Hope to be back soon, but until then,

Take Care - happy stamping and happy gardening!

Shanna :)

Sending you Birthday Wishes...

Hello my bloggy friends! So glad you stopped by today. I have been MIA again for a few days since I went on a work trip and ended up with no internet!

I do have a card to share tonight though for the current challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges - In the garden. Well, after all that work I did building my new perennial gardens last summer, I am sure hoping to find some of these.....
in my garden this summer!

I also want to mention that I was very lucky to be selected as a "Cupcake Cutie" two weeks ago over at Cupcake and will display my badge proudly! Thanks girls!

Here is the second version of this card.

When rifling through the stash - yes I even have an ink stash - I came across a Kaleidocolor ink pad that pre-dates many, many other things in the stash. I thought to myself, hmmm, I wonder if this is all dried up - that is how old it is! Well, it wasn't dried up and I had a jolly time inking up these butterflies while thinking about my bloggy friend Loopy - she has a thing about butterflies! She shared a story some time ago involving an outdoor Wedding and the release of live butterflies.....

Well, I do have a number of creations to share if only I could get around to posting. I will try, but I have to admit that my garden is calling.....dare I say that I think perhaps spring has finally arrived. All at once I have several spring flowers blooming - the scilla, daffodills and pansies showed up last week. Now I also have grape hyacinth, bergenia and pasque flower blooming - hooray for spring, there is finally colour in my garden!

I'll be back when I come in from the garden....sometime....maybe......if it rains.....or gets cold....which it is likely to do.....

Shanna :)

Happy Birthday Auntie Krista!

Good morning!
This week was busy, so I took a little break. I am back today though with a card for the challenge over at "If the shoe fits" - black and white with a splash of red, yellow or blue.

When I saw these fun Twilight themed papers from DCWV at our LSS, DAT'S, I just couldn't resist! Since my lil sister's birthday was coming up (and she is a big Twilight fan - my fault), I just had to use some of the papers to make her card! The image on the front of the card (looks like a photo) was one of the papers in the 4x6 stack. I decided to treat it as though it was a photo and have some fun with the inside. Just to the side of the ribbon, there are two black sparkly hearts overlapping - hard to see in my photo.





And here is the inside. I couldn't resist playing around.

I hope you had a great birthday little sis!

Have a great Sunday everyone! We are hoping for some sun so we can head to one of our favorite parks for a couple of hours.

Shanna :)

What I used:
stamps: CTMH - Encore & Happy Bday, Craft Lounge - For-bitten

embellishments: misc organdy ribbon

Thinking of you

Happy Weekend!

This week's challenge over at Little Red Wagon is bicycles and I just had to play along! The best part is that I've had "WishIlookedsogoodonabikeabella" for ages and she was un-inked until yesterday -gasp - isn't it terriblez?! I am thrilled to have seen this challenge though as it prompted me to finally get some ink on that stamp!

Though I love the patterned papers I used on this, I am finding there is too much white - I think next time I would sponge around the edges....I also used my new Paris Dusk memento ink to stamp my image so that could be throwing me off as it's the first time I've used it.

I paired her up with these fab papers I've had for quite awhile and have been itching to create with. Aren't they fun? At our house, we are all about reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, compost, etc. so these papers just called my name. Can't wait to put a layout together using them!

Since it's already Saturday night, I'll wish all the Mommies out there a Happy Mother's Day! Here's hoping you get to sleep late, craft long and hug lots!

Hugs,

Shanna :)

What I used:

stamp: Stamping Bella

papers & ribbon: TPC Studio - Woodland Whimsy

copics: BG13, BG15, RV17, RV55, E47, T8, C00, E000

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Happy Friday!

So glad it's the weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

This last while, I've decided it's fun to start with the paper and go from there. This is exactly what I did with this - rifled through my collection looking for inspiration and this is what I came up with. These papers worked perfect for the challenge over at "If the shoe fits" challenge - to use Green!
I needed an anniversary card, so thought this generic sort of quote on the front would work if I put the Happy sentiment on the inside.

Have a great evening!

Shanna :)

What I used:

papers: CTMH Wings - LOVE this paper!

stamps: inside - CTMH Say it with style, outside - Inkadinkadoo, flourish - CTMH You & me D1495 - current promo

embellishments: butterfly punch, SU ribbon, kaiser pearls

Chairs to you - again!

Hello and thanks for stopping by today!

Cupcake Craft Challenge blog is looking for "something that begins with C" for this week's challenge. Well, if I'm not mistaken, "chair" definitely fits for this one and not only do I have two chair images, but a "chair" sentiment as well!

I just can't get enough of the current CTMH stamp of the month - Chairs to you! I'll be honest, when I first saw it I thought, hmmm can't see using this too much, but I've had so much fun just playing around and paper piecing this particular chair that I can't seem to put this stamp set away!



Because I paper pieced the chair, this card also fits into the challenge at Wee Memories this week - to use paper piecing!

The papers on this card are from the current promo from CTMH for National Scrapbooking Month. I used my edge distresser to give it a bit of a shabby look - it needed something, then I added the stitching. One of my many mottos - if in doubt, add stitching - usually can't go wrong.

And here is the inside.....when I stitch directly onto the card, I always cover up the stitching with paper on the backside. The script you see there is part of the design of the paper which I love!

Hope you are having a great week - now for the downward slide to the weekend!

Cheers,

Shanna :)

What I used:

stamps: Current CTMH stamp of the month (May) - Chairs to You

papers: Current CTMH promo for May

embellishments: stitching, Bo Bunny ribbon

inks: chocolate and bamboo for sponging

CTMH's May Promo layout

Happy Tuesday!
As promised, here is the layout I made using the current promo from CTMH.....I've been wanting to scrap this photo for quite awhile now and these papers seemed perfect!

Journaling says:
Chester is such a thinker......That little brain of his just never stops! The swing at Nanny and Papa's is a great place to sit & ponder....
May 2006

I am going to enter my layout over at Cupcake Craft Challenges where they are looking for "I spy something beginning with C" - my "C" is for Chester who is the boy on the swing - okay, so maybe a stretch but it's true! Although Chester is only his on-line name, his real name also starts with a C. :)

You may purchase the kit for $38.95 or pay only $16.50 with a minimum purchase of $55.00. Check out what is included:


1 – My Acrylix® You & Me Stamp Set (D-size)
1 – 12" × 12" Colonial White Cardstock
6 – 12"× 12" B&T Duos® Papers
(New! Cardstock-weight)
1 – 6"× 9" You & Me Irresistibles™ Chipboard
Die-Cut Sheet
1 Yard – Chocolate Stripe Ribbon - yummy!!!!
1 Package – Opaques Mocha Adhesive Gems
1 – Instruction Guide

This stamp set is fabulous, it was so fun to play with as was the ribbon! Here is a close up to show the "irresistables" chip board pieces once I sponged them up with ink. Quick and easy title!

Hooray for getting another layout done! This really got me in the mood to do more, though I switched back to cards the next day - ya know, cards tend to be quicker and I do like immediate gratification......though I must admit that this layout came together quickly since I was working with a kit. Hmmm, maybe I'm on to something here....

It has been a very long day, best run and finish up the dishes and put away the groceries!

p.s. The info regarding the kit is meant for my customers who also follow my blog, for everyone else, please don't feel I'm trying to sell you something as that is really not the purpose of my blog. :)

Cheers,

Shanna :)

p.p.s. Hope to be back tomorrow with a card I made using both the stamp of the month - Chairs to you and the papers from this kit.

A pinwheel for Mom

Here is another take on a pinwheel card. It is similar to one I made a couple of weeks ago, but this time I used different papers, added some zigzag stitching around the edges and some NEW buttons from CTMH! I LOVE these new buttons. They have been sitting in my stash for a number of weeks and now that I popped them open I realize I already need more! lol

Little Red Wagon is looking for Mother's Day cards this week and I think this one fits the bill.

Well, I was greeted this morning, on the second of May, with tiny "balls" of snow as I walked out to my car to head to work. At least it didn't accumulate! I am trying so hard not to complain about this icky fall-like weather, but it is so hard! Spring will come sooner or later, it just has to! (self pep-talk!)

I have sore muscles today after "swimming" with Pickle Pants yesterday. We weren't really doing much swimming - yours truly was the sea monster from "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (the book we are currently working on) and he was Eustace fighting me - it entailed lots of me "throwing" or pulling him around on a pool noodle - which means that every muscle in my upper body including my abs are sore today - I guess at least I got a bit of a workout from all that role playing! lol

I'll be back tomorrow with - gasp - a layout! I put together a fun layout using CTMH's promo in honour of National Scrapbooking month.......stay tuned. :)

Wishing you all a great start to the week! Here's hoping that spring is greeting you at your doorstep!

p.s. Thanks so much to those who took a minute to stop by Chester's blog and leave a comment - you made his day!

Cheers,
Shanna :)

What I used:

papers: CTMH Key to my Heart collection (retired)
stamp: CTMH from May Word Puzzle (retired)
ink: tulip
embellishments: *NEW* CTMH buttons

Congratulations!

Happy Sunday!
Well girls, I think my mojo might be back........I had some fun in my scrap space last night making some cards and even a layout! I should have enough posts to last a week! Now that makes a girl feel better....

The challenge this week at Less is More is to make a CAS Thank you or Congratulations card. Here's my take.

I've had this fun CTMH set for quite awhile now and had only used one or two stamps from it. It was time to ink up that RAINBOW and did I ever have fun with it! I will share a few more versions later in the week. I also played a bit with some of the newer CTMH inks - sometimes they sit for quite awhile before I start using them regularly since they don't exist in my "mind's eye" until I've used them a few times, kwim? :)

And here is the inside.

My son "Chester" has started his own book blog. We had the idea after visiting the blog of another young reader who was writing short "reviews" of the books she was reading. He decided it would be fun to do the same and I promised him that I would spread the word. If you have a minute to drop by and leave him a word or two of encouragement, I'd really appreciate it and so will he. What a great venue to share a love of reading and practice writing and typing all at the same time! :) He called his blog "The Bookworm's Apprentice" and you can find him here or on my sidebar.

See you soon!

Shanna :)

What I used:

stamps: CTMH D1426 Over the Rainbow

inks: sunflower, sunset, tulip, lagoon, black