Keep your face to the sunshine

This is the project I have been working on for Unity's {Be Inspired} Challenge. See below for the graphic. I love these colours and it prompted a garden theme which led me directly to Andie Girl cares for what she loves.

I laid down the colour with my distress markers, then went to town with my waterbrush and spritzer and let it dry before stamping. I think I like the result. After, I did a bit of "in the lines" colouring with my distress markers, but I don't like the effect so much - the boots, the flowers in the pot - layering like that can make for muddy colours. Oh well, it was an experiment after all, but I like the overall effect.

Here is the inside:

I would also like to share at:

Pile it On - focus on colouring

Creative Moments - anything goes/inside out

Crafty Cats - spring time

The paper shelter - flower power

Thanks for your visit!

Shanna :)

What I used:
Tim Holtz Distress markers - spun sugar, broken china, mustard seed, spiced marmalade, weathered wood, worn lipstick
Unity's Andie Girl "cares for what she loves"
and sentiment from "face the sunshine"
CTMH "Kindred Spirits" D1239 and "For Every Occasion" D1187

Liquid pearls, burlap, random flowers from stash

WISH

Hooray - it's finally Friday! It is also time for Friends with Flair!

Here is my project. I had so much fun creating this fun background with distress inks. I plan to make more like this - once the background is ready, the rest is easy peasy! Once I decided to dry emboss the pink panel, it all came together.
Here is the inside:

I would also like to share at Seize the Birthday where the current challenge is Anything Goes.

Thanks for visiting!

Shanna :)

What I used:
Unity Jan 2014 Kit of the month, Candles & Cake (with and wisdom)
Tim Holtz alterations sizzix embossing folder
Tim Holtz distress markers - Dusty concord, Worn Lipstick and Weathered Wood, waterbrush
washi, vintage seam binding

"I am robot"

A page I did up after my sister and nephew visited last month. I LOVE having my new photo printer - I think it will inspire me to scrapbook or smash more often since it is so easy to access photos! So nice to work on current stuff!

Graham found these paper masks in Cam's room and had a blast with them. They came with the McDonald's coupons you get at Halloween! I was the Witch, his Mom was the Kitty Cat and he was the Robot. He walked around the house in a halting sort of way (just like a robot) saying "I am robot." It was too cute. Since we had more of the masks, he took some home (perfect to play with on the plane!) and I nabbed the rest to smash!

Hope your week is going well.
Shanna :)
What I used:
Stampendous "Love Robotz"
CTMH - Photogenic B1436, #30yearsofhappy CC1030, Framework Alphabet E1027
SU - Kinda Eclectic (background dots)
watercolour pencils
misc. stickers

Live simply, Love generously

Today I am playing along with The Challenge where there is an inspiration photo. I have been on a kick with making square cards for some reason. 

Obviously, I was inspired by the flowers, but I changed up the colours.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Shanna :)

What I used:
Unity - January 1014 Kit of the month
sentiment - CTMH - Country Life C1498
Stampin' Up embossing folder

Embrace New Beginnings

Hello Saturday!
I've been playing with my Unity goodies again!

The inside:

 

I would like to share at:

Inkspirational - use the colour purple - optional challenge is to make it a Wedding theme

and

Make My Monday - things with wings

I need both a Wedding shower card and a retirement card in the next week or two - I have decided that this design could work for both! So, if I am short on time, I am all set because I can just repeat this design. Thanks Unity for such a fabulous sentiment!

Thanks for visiting!

Shanna :)

What I used:

Unity - Jan 2014 and Nov 2013 Kit of the month

Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix embossing folder

black and pixie ink

inside sentiment - CTMH

Unexpected places

It's Friday and time for Friends with Flair at Unity! I have been having so much fun with my Unity this past while, I can hardly choose what to share! 

 I have a "thing" for maps, so when I saw this stamp combined with this fabulous Robin Williams quote, "No matter what people tell you words and ideas can change THE WORLD," I just had to have it!

I had fun with the background here. I was trying to achieve a bit of a water look by laying down distress stains/markers and spritzing, then laying my paper down on top to transfer the ink to it. Hmm, I think you call this smooching?
Such fun!

I would also like to share at City Crafter Challenge blog today where they are looking for inky projects using one or more of: 

Smooching

Stencilling

Splattering

Sponging

I would love to know what you think of the result! Thanks for visiting!

Shanna :)

What I used:
Unity - "Love Brings you home"
Tim Holtz Distress stain
washi
paper from scrap bin

Have a Happy Birthday

I have been playing some more with my distress stains, inks and markers and I am closer to figuring it it out! :) 

I think I might be able to sneak in just before the deadline over at Shopping Our Stash where the current prompt is to use your oldest washi. I have, ahem, just a few rolls, lots of washi, so it was a bit tricky to figure out which was the oldest. I am pretty sure it was the one by Tim Holtz - the sorta see thru tape with the scripty writing - Tim calls it Tissue Tape, but I say it counts, lol! Once it was on there though, I decided my card needed a bit more black, so layered the thin black one on there. It may be an older one too, but can't say for sure. :)

This card has been a work in progress for a bit now, I struggled with the flatness of it and yet that makes it perfect for mailing. 

Here is a peek at the inside:

Thank you for visiting!

Shanna :)

What I used:

Unity - "Take care of you" and "Enjoy this Day"

CTMH - A little Everything and Celebrate Life

washi and tissue tape

Tim Holtz distress stains, waterbrush

Ranger specialty stamping paper

Music themed Thank you

Happy Sunday! Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

I would like to share at:

Crazy 4 challenges:

sketch

Little Red Wagon - make an impression

CASology - music

hmm, this may not be CAS enough - certainly it isn't fussy, but it isn't super CAS either...

Thanks for visiting!

It's a cloudy, rainy day. I have cleaning and laundry to do, but I hope to spend some time crafting too!

Shanna :)

What I used:

CTMH "Delightful Ditty" and "Sweet Music"

Early Espress CS (SU)

M-Bossabilities embossing folder

SU envelope template

Cricut Cartridge - "Quarter Note"

Summer Smash 2014 - quotes

Here is another page from our Summer Smash book for 2014. I shared another page on yesterday's post. I jotted down several quotes/funny conversations on this page while at camp and added photos and embellishments later. The coca cola bottle is cut out from a case of Coke. My brother, Shawn, has always been a Coca Cola fan.

BBQ man is my husband, Gerry. It is tradition that he cooks the first big BBQ dinner at camp - always steak, often accompanied by BBQ shrimp, chicken and always peppers & mushrooms.

The embellishments may appear random, but they make sense if you read the journaling.

I love using washi tape in my smash books!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shanna :)

What I used:
washi - SU
stamps - CTMH (retired set)
Coca Cola stickers I have had in my stash for about a million years!

Viparita Karani

It's Friday and time for Friends with Flair! I missed last week, but had started this page in my Smash book. I was able to finish it in time for today's linky party!

For the last couple of summers, I have compiled a Smash book for our summer activities/adventures- focused mainly on our time spent together with extended family at camp on Mink Lake (near Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada). I usually start before we leave, using the book as my organizing spot - jotting down our "agenda" or timeline, important info and all our lists (packing list, grocery list, do not forget list, the menu - organized ahead of time by my sister and myself). Once together, we are a large group and so the groceries, packing and cooking takes lots of organizing (camp is not close to town for groceries or things we forget!)

Once at camp, I keep the book accessible and invite everyone to jot things down if they wish - funny things people said, comments on the cooking or weather, fave activities, top 3 fave things, etc. We always have a page where I ask everyone to write down what they are currently reading. I bring a small kit that includes a variety of pens/markers, adhesive to glue in things like postcards and ticket stubs or random stuff we want to include (learned this from Lauren and the way she does her travel journals) and maybe a few stickers and rollsof washi. 

EDITED to add - Thanks for all your comments! If you are interested in what other pages in this style of journal look like - go to the search bar at the top of my blog and type "summer smash" - it will bring up many of the pages from my Summer 2013 smash book. Many were posted in July/Aug 2014. I don't tend to post every single one, but there are quite a few. I am working on photographing more from the 2014 smash journal too.

Of course, we take lots of pictures, so once home, I print and "smash" and putter and add details as time allows. I still have photos to add to our journal from two summers ago, but the cool part is that the journaling is pretty much done, because many different people added their own comments to the blank pages before we even added photos. This project works great for "in the moment" journaling when approached in this way. Because of this, I think these Smash books may well become our most treasured albums - it's the real deal folks and includes everyone's handwriting and comments, not just mine!

A couple of years ago, I took up yoga and have been practicing regularly ever since. I was able to practice a bit last summer while at camp and invited others to join me if they wished. I used this page to recount the experience of doing yoga at camp and included a funny thing that happened while doing yoga with Grandma Joan and my Mom.

We were in fits of giggles trying to move into this relaxing pose against the front wall of the cottage...

 ...when Grandma Joan said, "When my family hears that I've had my legs up the wall on the front deck of the cottage they're gonna say, "No more going to Mink Lake with those Camerons!"" lol

When I saw "Serenity Fashionista" I knew it would be perfect as I didn't have any photos of us doing yoga but had a story to tell.

Here is a closer shot of my title - Viparita Karani means "legs up the wall" pose. I also used Unity's "Take Care of You" to add some detail in the background.

I did not set out to colour this fashionista when I started, but once I had stamped her, I thought I would give it a try. I don't think I have ever tried to colour in a stamp on such a bold colour, but it worked out and I quite like the result.

My title was stamped with "Framework Alphabet" from CTMH - love this unique and versatile alpa!

Thanks for visiting and Happy Friday!

Shanna :)

What I used:

Unity: Serenity Fashionista, Take Care of You

CTMH - Framework Alphabet

CTMH watercolour pencils

The Giant! May 2015

Have you ever heard of the Sleeping Giant?

If you are interested in the legend behind this breathtaking landmark at the head of Lake Superior, click here.

Here are a few shots from when our visitors, my sister and nephew, were here earlier this month. Wow, how time flies, it has already been a week since they went home!

3 boys in a tree!

One brave climbing boy!

 Graham is the Sleeping Giant...

do you see the resemblance?

 "I have idea!"

One more shot of the Giant! Unless its foggy, I see the Giant every morning on the way to work - am I lucky or what? 

I am working in Kenora (6ish hours drive) this week, so won't be hanging around blogland much until the weekend. There was lots of snow on the way here, but the roads were good and pretty clear by the time we were driving. We did see some cars in the ditch though from earlier in the morning when it was slushy and slippery! Hmm, snow and slush, in Northwestern Ontario, that must mean May long weekend is around the corner, lol!

I plan to be back on Friday with a project for Friends with Flair. :)

Take care,

Shanna :)

They're like dads only smarter!

I must admit that Mother's Day totally snuck up on me this year! I put this one together while my sister was visiting so that she could hand deliver it for me tomorrow. I had been wanting to play with this CTMH set for awhile.

The shipping tag pulls out and says "Sooner or later, we all quote our mothers."

I would like to share at:
Heart 2 Heart - Mum's the word
Little Red Wagon - Distress it!

Happy Mom's Day! 

Thanks for stopping by!
Shanna :)

What I used:
papers - scraps from the bin!
stamp - CTMH "Mother's Day" C1577
small shipping tag
random embellishments, die cut paper bag

One

This is the 1st Birthday layout for my nephew's baby album. I am almost done his album, just one more layout to go! (If you would like to see the rest of it, just go to the search bar and type in Graham's Baby album.) I am so  happy to have only one layout left to do as he will be three in August! (yep, I LOVE to scrapbook, but I never said I was fast!)

The Scrapbook Cottage had an on-line crop for National Scrapbooking Day - they provided a number of awesome and fun layouts to use. This is the one I chose to do. Great inspiration!

I would like to share at Shopping Our Stash where the theme is "Big, Bold & Beautiful," because they are celebrating their 200th challenge! Congrats SOS, I always love playing along with your challenges! I used a BIG circle and bright colours. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 
I had a wonderful visit with my nephew and sister (pictured above) over the last several days and was sad to have to see them off at the airport this morning. We have such fun when together, it is always a bit sad when they have to go. I so appreciate that my lil' sis is always willing to fly up here to the Great White (and often COLD - last time it was hardly safe for humankind to venture outdoors for more than 5 minutes!) North to spend time with us. This time though, we had such fabulous weather during their visit. I plan to share some photos of our awesome adventures soon! Love you Kris and Graham - we miss you already!

Hugs,
Shanna :)

What I used:
Sketch from the Scrapbook Cottage
papers: Amy Tangerine "Ready Set Go"
various brads from my stash (and Donna's - thanks!!!)
brown Zig writer - for the doodled circle
the one bee is from CTMH's "Happy Everything" D1653

Happy Scrappy Day!

I am playing along with the current challenge at Jingle Belles - sketch! As you can see, I flipped the sketch around to make it work with my papers and changed the shape of the focal point, but the bones of it are there.

I was also inspired by the colours in this card at CASE-ing Christmas:

I haven't been hanging about in blogland much this week as I was working out of town for the first three days, and now my sister and nephew are here for a visit!
I spent a good chunk of today scrapping with my sister, Krista, and girlfriend, Donna! Big thanks goes out to Donna's hubby Trevor who offered to watch the little guys so the girls were able to fit in some scrappin! I actually did a scrapbook layout which I plan to share tomorrow. Here's hoping you had a chance to get crafty today!

Thanks for stopping by!
Shanna :)

What I used:
papers - from scrap bin
up-cycled playing card - a yard sale find!
Unity plaid background stamp
poinsettia - Prima

Best Wishes

I am sharing today's card at Friends with Flair on the Unity Blog. I made a couple of orders recently and this birdhouse stamp is my current fave. It looks like one of the birdhouses in my garden. :)

I would also like to share at:

Little Red Wagon - things that start with "B"

CASology - flight

Just sharing a couple of photos from my work trip to Sioux Lookout, Ontario earlier this week. Went for a walk both evenings. There are open spots but still quite a lot of ice on the lake. At one point, I had to stop to have a closer look at the reeds in the lake - they looked almost like art - many, many geometric shapes at the water's edge. The photos really didn't do the "art" justice, but I had to try. The second photo probably shows it best.

On our walk the second evening, we saw several ducks and a beaver!

Happy Friday!
Shanna :)

What I used:
stamp - Unity
sentiment - CTMH
copics - E47, E43, E31, B97, B95
polkadot paper - Bo Bunny