Jillybean Soup Layout and More Pages in My Smash for Project 365+1

This was a fun layout to create. I love the fun bright colours Jillybean Soup offers. Lots of texture here.

Project 365+1 Meets Smash

I'm so happy that I'm keeping up with my Project 365+1 and getting my photos into my journal this year. Using my Smash Journal has made it super simple and quick. I only need to add a few embellishments for each week as the pages are so pretty just on there own. Thanks for stopping by!

A Couple Layouts to Share...

 

I'm a big fan of Pinterest. I spend way too much time on it oogling over all the beautiful creations that people have made. I wanted to do a layout that documented this pastime of mine. I seem to have developed a habit of perusing through all the DIY (Do It Yourself) categories and collecting ideas for my creative boards every night before bed. I get so much inspiration from Pinterest. I just love it!

  

My daughter couldn't wait to get her hands on my new DSLR camera and immediately started taking the coolest photos. I love this one of her. Like mother, like daughter!

I've been participating in Project 365+1 and have been doing pretty well keeping up with both my 365 blog and getting my photos into my Smash Journal. I really want to have a tangible book for this year's project. In 2009 I participated in Project 365 but only maintained my blog and didn't get anything scrapped much to my dismay after purchasing several digital kits.

I'm also participating in Project Life this year but am not doing it on a daily basis like I am with my Project 365+1. I loved Becky Higgens' kits so much I had to get one of them and decided on the Amber collection. I've decided to use mine a little different though and am using it to cover more than just one year and am including every day moments as well as a collection of milestones, celebratory events of days gone by and just every day life dating back to I'm not even sure when yet. I haven't decided. I'll share some of the pages I have done with you soon. For now, here are a couple of my Smash journal Project 365+1 layouts and January and February's Take Twelve collages. Yep, Take Twelve too. I'm going to scrap the collages and at the end of the year, my plan is to have twelve 12x12 pages for my Take Twelve album. Yes....I know, I have my crafty fingers in a lot of pies these days! lol

Take Twelve Collages for January and February.

 January 12, 2012

February 12, 2012

My Retreat to Gibsons

Diane and I had a lovely little trip up the Sunshine Coast this past weekend and stayed in a cozy little place where we spent 3 nights and 2 full days scrappin. We had a lovely time! It was totally relaxing and the weather was gorgeous! I have to admit too that I'm now a fan of Jeff Dunham lol. If you haven't seen him, he's pretty darn funny and he made us laugh all weekend! Right Diane?

Diane and I went on several little walks and took lots of pictures. Here are just a few. Thanks for stopping by. Did anyone else get any scrapbooking done over the weekend?

Gibsons - flash slideshow maker

A Couple Layouts

Here are a couple layouts I shared over at Tiny Seed. The photo of my grandfather is the only one I have of him. I just love this picture! He's holding my mom after her Christening. The gown she is wearing is the same gown that I wore when I was baptized and the same gown my little girl wore at her naming ceremony. It's pretty special!

Mixed Media Play

My good friends Izzy and Diane gave me the most wonderful calendar filled with gorgeous artwork by Lisa Kaus for my birthday last year. I love that it's only January and that I have 11 more months to enjoy it on my wall. Lisa has a fun whimsical style and each time I flip through the pages it makes me want to pull out my painting supplies and create! So, this week I pulled out my acrylic paints, glimmer sprays, and a variety of mediums and created this little page in my art journal. Ok, I have a thing for painting these little girls. They make me happy! Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

A Serendipitous Moment

Today's Mom's birthday. I really miss her. I was taking some photos of my kitty cat this morning, feeling comfort in my love for photography when the letter carrier arrived scaring poor Pearl as the mail came through my mail box. As I went through the mail, I had a serendipitous moment when I came across two pieces of mail. First, a beautiful RAK from my dear friend Diane, Prima scrapbooking flowers! Thanks Diane, these couldn't have arrived on a better day!

I then notice a letter from the BC Cancer Agency. When I read the president and CEO of the BC Cancer Foundation, Douglas Nelson's message that one day, all cancers will be manageable, rather than life-threatening illnesses and that based on the tremendous advances in cancer care and research being made at the BC Cancer Agency,  he is confident that that day is just around the corner, it reminded me of how so very important it is to donate and I thought to myself what better gift could I give on this day, my mom's birthday than my own contribution to this wonderful cause. It then inspired me to take the following photos and share with you all again, the amazing video that my dear friend Sue made for all those fighting this terrible disease and dedicated to my mom Eileen. Please consider donating. I truly believe and pray, that one day, we will all live in a world without this horrible disease devastating our family and friend's lives.

My RAK (random act of kindness) from Diane. Thanks again Diane, I love them!

Mom's little lilac tree and our little Buddha covered in snow who watches over her. This little tree was planted in memory of my mom and is loved and cared for and will be a familiar post on my blog as it grows into it's own beautiful tree.

I received this gorgeous handmade card from Sue yesterday with some beautiful comforting thoughts. Thank you so much my friend. I am so blessed to have you in my life. And, thank you to all my dear friends who called, texted and sent emails reminding me of how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends who truly care. I love you all!

Here is the link to Sue's video A Shave for the Warriors.

More Mixed Media

So this weekend I got to play with paint and other fun mediums. I added two more pages to my Art Journal. The first one I'm really happy with, the second, well, I liked my original design, but the image just doesn't "pop" off my page. The difference, my first one I used my acrylics, the second, my watercolour paints and pencils and some glimmer paints which were the culprit in me not getting the crisp image that I usually like. Next time, I'll apply those last instead of first. But hey, it's all about learning and experimenting in your art journal right? So have fun, go play and don't be afraid to experiment. It doesn't have to be perfect.

So far, to date, the one below is my favourite in my journal. See the difference in how much crisper and brighter the image is.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a creative week.

Happy New Year!

Wishing all my dear friends a very Happy New Year filled with good health and lots of laughter. Peace and happiness to all of you. Cheers!

Here are a few Christmas projects and some photos of the season I'd like to share with you...

I made these fun little treats with the Stampin' Up mini cello bags and my SU Deer Friends stamp set. I found the perfect little chocolate covered rice crispy treats at Purdys.

I made this little wall hanging for my mother-in-law.

This was one of my Christmas cards that I made this year and mailed to friends and family.

Some super simple but cute cards I made using some of my Elzybells stamps. I gave each my mother-in-law and sister-in-law an embellished accordion file box filled with some of my handmade cards. Each year at Christmas my plan is to re-fill them for them with some new cards.

 Our Christmas tree this year. Our first artificial tree. Dad didn't feel like decorating and having a tree
this year without mom so we gave their tree a new home. I just love it! No watering, no needles, no mess and the decorations never droop!

 Loving my new Canon SLR camera and the beautiful photos I'm now able to capture. Especially in low light.

 

DH made these madeleines using mom's special madeleine pan in honour of her this year. We've decided to make this an annual tradition and serve them with each Christmas dinner from now on.

Finally remembered to get one of the three of us! Trying to get Emily to pose and quit goofing around is not an easy task!

Me and Dad. I'm glad I have this shot of the two of us.

 Celebrating Christmas with my scrapbooking buddies.

Visiting the Capilano Suspension Bridge, just me and my girl.

A fun, beautiful winter day at the beach.

Celebrating with my wonderful friends over at Sue F's.

What a fun night! My stomach still hurts from laughing so much!

 

  Gawd did we laugh!!

Ringing in the New Year

Me and my new camera. I looked like this a lot over the holidays lol. I'm excited to start my Project 365 or as some call in now, Project Life starting January 1st. I've started a new blog and hope you'll come by and visit. The link is on the right side of my blog and here. Thanks for visiting and wishing you all a prosperous and healthy new year ahead.Take time for yourselves, be happy and laugh lots! Hugs

First Christmas Card of the Season

Today I received my first Christmas card from my dear friend Jo. Jo's work is just simply gorgeous! I love the unconventional soft pretty colours of this Christmas card. Isn't it simply stunning?! Thanks so much Jo!

Celebrating My Birthday

I celebrated my birthday this weekend and had a lovely time with both family and friends. On Saturday, my girlfriend Whitney took me out for a Sushi lunch and we hit another Christmas craft fair at the Heritage Hall. On Sunday, my girlfriends Izzy and Diane took me out for a super fun day at the Christmas Market and then out for a lovely dinner. I highly recommend the Christmas Market; the gorgeous decorations are to die for and the Feuerzangenbowle (a traditional warm German drink) is too yummy for words! I loved being able to walk around the market with our little ceramic mugs lol. Thanks again for making my birthday special and for such a wonderful weekend you guys! Here are a few photos from the Market.