DebbyVisser

New Magenta Products!!

2011-05-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Magenta has a new release!! They always make the most fun chipboard shapes, shapes you don't see elsewhere! Been to Paris lately, or how about New York! Yep they have AWESOME chipboard sets in those themes and more! You really have to check out their new catalogue! And if you can't find these products at your local store, ask them to get it in!

Click HERE to go see the new catalogue. Once you are there, just click on the blue title and you can download the catalogue. Let me know what you think too!

My favourite paper is that grey sheet; Peace. It is beautiful on both sides, but that grey is awesome!! I used it on a Paris layout and on a snow layout! Grey is one of my FAV colours right now and it can be hard to find beautiful grey pattern papers. Well this one is awesome!

Here are 2 of my layouts so far: (both using that grey paper, Peace)

See!! isn't it great! Goes so well with my son's snow suite. Imagine that grey paper on a card with yellow!!! oh I need to make a card now! lol
Below you can see that same grey paper, and 2 other new papers; the purple and pink; Tranquility and Hope. They are so beautiful! And the chipboard shapes I was talking about. Both Eiffel Tower shapes and the word Paris came on the sheet. The little alphabet I used for 'Dreaming of' is Magenta and so are the flower shapes. Magenta has so many great chipboard shapes, you really do need to check them out! The little letters are great, I just use felts to colour them to any colour I need!

The Paris photos I found from a free site, there was no credit to who took the photos, please let me know if it was you so I may give you credit for your beautiful photos.

enjoy your Thursday! Thanks for stopping by!

Sewing Paper

2011-05-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Did some serious sewing on this layout. My sewing machine sees more paper than cloth, lol. I mainly used Echo Park on this. LOVE this line, okay I love all their lines!!! lol
I did this a few days ago, actually haven't done anything scrappy since this. Been playing lego with the boys. I resorted it all by colour and now we are rebuilding some of the sets they have. Mostly they have Star Wars sets. And Mega Blocks pirates sets. There are a few creator sets mixed in there too, like city streets, vehicles and I think a space set too. My boys are big collectors of lego and my hubby built a great place for them to play - and me too. lol
Rainy yucky day here, perfect for lego building.
Enjoy your day!

Socker Boppers

2011-05-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a double page layout I did using Basic Grey mainly.

This was Danny's 8th birthday party. Instead of giving out goodie bags, we found these and gave them out instead. The kids loved them! Even Granny got in on the fun. My kids still have theirs and every now and then they bring them out to play again. Good fun and you really can't get hurt. Well I am sure you can, but so far nothing serious has happened. lol

I am happy to report Zuki is back to normal, her foot has healed really well and she is not chewing on it at all. The cone is off, came off after 3 days, and I think she is very happy! lol
Hubby signed her up for a training class. So far she and he have gone to one. He came home with some great ideas for us to work on with her and I just got an email with some homework. Some of the ideas I really like and can see working. I really look forward to a dog that listens well, plays fetch and loves camping/water play! Right now she is still a puppy, but learning quite well.

Tonight is my Mother's Day Father's Day class. Here is what we are making:

I am looking forward to it, shall be fun!
Have a great Tuesday!
Hope the sun is shining where you are!
Debby

Cone of Shame

2011-04-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

The other day we noticed Zuki, our dog, chewing on her foot. So I took a look and it was all red and raw, right on the pad. Poor thing, so off we went to the Vets.
Vet said she probably stepped on something, got a cut and then she just chewed away at it. Easter Sunday she was in the kennel for most of the evening while we were at dinner, so that is probably when she chewed it raw.

The poor thing is running into everything, I feel sorry for her, but at the same time I can't help but laugh. Vet said to make sure it stay dry as well, so when she goes outside, we have to put this plastic bag on her foot. The plastic bag is actually a recycled intravenous bag. Love that my Vet recycled that! They are tough bags and so far withstanding her going outside and walking on cement.

The bandaged foot and cone of shame have slowed her down a bit too, which is nice! She is such an excitable puppy, not aware of her surroundings 99% of the time, so she has to slow down or run into everything.

Here she is in all her cuteness, teehee

And I have a layout to share, this is Danny, 10 years ago!

Enjoy your day!
Debby

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

3 years ago, my middle son came home with his Easter craft of eggs in a basket. He loved those eggs, spent lots of time creating them and wanted to sleep with them for ever. He was totally heartbroken when I told him the eggs either had to be eaten or thrown out. They would spoil and could not got to bed with him.
Here are the pictures I took of him crying, while he decided what he was going to do with his precious eggs.

I comforted him, then took pictures. My sweet boy.

I am happy to report that 3 years later, he is okay bringing home his eggs and throwing them out as soon as they crack. Or eating them, depends on 'crafted' they are. Some eggs are full of paint and glue and sparkle inside and out! lol

Hope you enjoyed your family this weekend.
I am truly blessed with my family.
Debby

The ULTIMATE snowball

2011-04-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Just popping in quick to share a layout I recently did. I let the diecut paper and the photo be the main focus. Very little decorating on this.

But a memory my son will always remember; how 'GOOD' he got his big sister!! lol
Enjoy your day! Thanks for stopping by!

Paper is BoBunny, chipboard letters are Basic Grey.

Sweet Sunshine

2011-04-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

Oh the sunshine this morning is glorious and beautiful!!
Even though it is killing me! lol I have a migraine and the bright sunshine is soooo bright!!
I don't want it to go away, instead I am waiting for meds to dull the ache. I love the sunshine! It is so beautiful, inspiring and makes me happy!
Especially after yesterday mornings blizzard! Was that not crazy! It is Spring! Bring on the sunshine, birds, bees and flowers!

I have a layout to share today. (so not springy, lol) This was done for a challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper using a Pagemaps sketch. I love those sketches, and this one is easy. Hop over and play along if you have a chance this weekend!

Yesterday I was called into the Doctors to discuss some results. Looks like I have an unexplained 'hazy' area in my lungs. I have not been 'sick', meaning a cold or cough or fever so they are ruling out pneumonia. I have to have a CT scan to see if they can figure it out. Sigh. And as I mentioned above, I have started migraines, oiy they can be bad!! And I am not sleeping well at night. All makes for a grumpy mommy who doesn't want to do much. lol
Doing my best to stay positive, but I have to say it is hard. I trust in God, and I know His plan is best, but I am struggling to keep on this positive, patient path. Prayers and scrapbooking. That is my answer right now. Prayers for obvious reasons and scrapbooking to keep my brain busy on something else.

Thanks for stopping by little corner of the world!

Lindy, can you PM through Sisterhood of Scrap your address so I can mail your prize?

I need to add some things to my blog, like email me option. When I changed things a while back I didn't realize so much disappeared. And now I updated the computer and it went to Internet Explorer 9 and I have been having issues ever since. I can't publish my blog without going through Google Chrome and my emails are different and other things. OIY change and me don't work well together. lol

Sooooo tired!!!

2011-04-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I am so tired, but so awake!!! I have not been sleeping well at all lately. Today I was up at 4am, WIDE awake. No chance of sleep coming back. First I tried to do some crossword puzzles to lull me into sleep, but nope, so I got up. I switched the laundry, made coffee, and played Mahjong till the family got up.

I was also reading more about some of the new medications I am taking and one of them lowers my immune system. Great! Just what I need, to get sicker! I know, I know, it lowers it so that it can kill or heal or do whatever easier, but now I am scared to go near anyone for fear of getting their bugs and then in turn those bugs going crazy in me!! bleh!

Yesterday I went out with a good friend to my favourite second hand store; I know I was going to go on Monday, but they were closed. So we went yesterday. I found some great deals. Some new t-shirts for me, a few for hubby, a cute little shelf for upstairs, cute cute cute wood maple buttons and a puzzle. I am heading back today, I saw a bag of thread and forgot to grab it. hoping it is still there, dollar store thread is just crappy, it breaks way to easy and I am too cheap to buy brand new spools of thread if I can help it! lol

I have lots of errands today; bank, prescription refill, insurance, x-rays, and grab a few groceries. Then home to make supper for company. Making a maple bacon pot roast with mashed taters and some kind of veggie.

I have a few projects on the go too. Thinking of doing a Mother's Day/Father's Day class so working on that. I have a post going up this Friday over at The Inspired Scrapper, and lots of challenges for Sisterhood of Scrap and The Scrapping Nook. 2 great sites full of inspiring challenges and great ladies!

Here is another photo of my neice and her little family. So excited for them and can't wait to meet baby! Hoping I might even be able to be at the hospital when he is born!!!

And this is a little keepsake box I have created for her to fill with things. I am just making a little mini book to put in it too.

Also wanted to say thank you for all the well wishes, hugs, prayers and thoughts you have expressed to me. I appreciate them and hold each one dear!

Oh and I forgot to announce the winner of my RAK!!!
Lindy!!! Email me your addy and I will pop your prize in the mail!!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Death by Cheesecake......

2011-04-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness I have a weakness for really good cheesecake! It is soo good!!!

Today I went to the doctor, have been put on 2 new meds, have to have some x-rays done and more blood work done. He is not taking me off the steriods, like I thought was going to happen and I am not to wean off them anymore either. I am to stay at the dose I am at now.

And I am going to the doctors once a week again instead of every 2 weeks. Sigh! Guess he didn't like all the info I gave him of what had been going on the last 2 weeks with me. He didn't really say I was in bad shape again, or heading that way, he just filled me with more meds and tests to do and said see me in one week. HHmm

SOOOO to make me feel better, I bought cheesecake while waiting for my new prescriptions. Got home and dove right in! I bought the Artisan Supreme Cheesecake Sampler from Safeway. It has Amaretto, Caramel Pecan, Raspberry Sensation and Chocolate Swirl! YUM! But I can only eat a little at a time. I need to hide this baby in the back of the fridge so no one else sees it! lol (yes I carefully picked off the nuts!)

I feel better with yummies in my tummy, but not totally. While eating my yummy cheesecake, I was reading the info on the new meds and well that depressed me a bit. More stuff to watch for. sigh, so I am off now to go to my favourite second hand store here in my town; Bibles for Missions. Going to see if there is anything crafty, any nice old old frames, some nice material maybe, a new shirt, pants for the boys..........

Oh the other day I stopped at the Salvation Army and found the circus playmobil set for $6!!!! It had so much more and some missing I am sure. But it had like 20 people, 6 horses, the stand, band instruments, a truck and trailer, 2 boats, rhino, clowns, hippo, seal, buffalo, trees, chairs and soooo much more! I love playmobil!

And my photo share today is one of my neice and her little growing family. The baby is due any day now! So excited and thrilled for them!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Simple and sweet

2011-04-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here is another layout I have done recently. More of Kimmee's senior shots we did last year.

I used up some older stuff again, American Crafts papers, Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha, Dollar store alpha and a bunch of flowers and brads.

Been busy this weekend with my daughter here visiting and renos happening upstairs. We have all the walls on now and painted! That is what Kimmee, Kolton and I did. Painted the walls white.

Today the floor might go in. Hubby picked a wonderful laminate. It is a very distressed old wood looking. I LOVE it and can't wait to see it down!

Enjoy this rainy yucky cold Sunday as best you can! You know the saying April showers...................
:)

Have you seen the new ECHO PARK papers

2011-04-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

I just saw some new paper sets coming out from ECHO PARK!!!
And I can say I am in love!!
Splash
Metropolitan
and another they have said, but no picture yet - Candy Shoppe ( I think)
I saw the photos on their facebook page, go check them out! Seriously they are one cute awesome paper company!

I don't have any Echo Park, haven't been able to find it. Hoping my friend Kari is getting in ALL the lines, old and new!!!!! I want the complete sets of quite a few of the lines.
Oh I love scrapbooking, new papers, new designs, new stuff!!!!
lol

ICE a Winters day walk

2011-04-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Created a layout the other day. I used up some really old product. Ki Memories Wonderland, WRMK Bohemia chipboard letters, and little brad hearts I think I got 8 years ago! Oh and an older Deja Vu rubon with older Basic Grey alphabet; I think that alphabet was from Jackson, one of their first lines. Feels great to 'use' up stuff!
The pictures are from January this year, it was very very cold out. The boys were eating ice pretty much the entire walk. A free frozen treat to boys I guess. lol

The layout was created for a challenge over at Sisterhood of Scrap, an online messageboard. They have great challenges posted each week. Perfect to help get that mojo going.
This Friday, the 8th, they have a big online crop starting, come by and join us! You have the week to play and I think there are prizes!!!

I've opened an Etsy Shop to help sell off some of all the crazy things I create. Stop by and take a peak! I have lots more stuff to load, just need some time!

My Etsy Shop

Leave a comment that you stopped by and I will do a random draw for a RAK! I will leave this open till the end of the day April 10th.

OIY, been a rough week. Spent the last week in quite a bit of pain and discomfort. And a 'mini' flare up. I don't think anything specifically set it off, maybe just stress. So I am back to my very plain and bland diet and quiet days at home. I have been resting and just trying to take it easy. I see the Doc on Friday and we will go from there I guess.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

So Pretty...

2011-03-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

I have a new layout to share. It is Kimmee, my daughter. We did a photo shoot last summer. I love these photos of her.
The large corrugated shape is from Magenta, isn't it AWESOME!! Seriously, you need it! If your lss doesn't carry Magenta, tell them they should!!!

I traced a bit of it onto the blue paper to duplicate the wonderful design.
I love this layout, it is my current fav!
thanks for stopping by!

Pincushion Teacup

2011-03-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

I had this idea to alter my Grandma's teacup for some time and I finally got around to doing it. I only had 1 teacup, no saucer, no friends, just one all by itself.
I never used it and never planned too, it just sat on the ledge in my scrapbook room.

To begin I used a large styrofoam ball from the dollar store and wrapped it in the yellow polka dot material - which I found at the second hand store. I find almost all my material at second hand stores.

Next I hot glued the fabric ball into the cup, then decorated with lace and ribbon. The white lace is also from the second hand store and the daisy ribbon is from Making Memories.

I added a flower and 2 antique buttons. In the buttons I put the sewing needles, and the pins all around.

I love it and think it looks so cute by my sewing machine. :)

I hope you find some time to be creative this week!
thanks for stopping by!

Vacation Mini Albums

2011-03-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today the challenge over at The Inspired Scrapper is Travel, Vacations and Getaways.
Here is what I created for this challenge. Pop on over to The Inspired Scrappers Blog to see what the other girls have done!

These mini albums are so easy to create when all your papers and elements match like a Basic Grey kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

2 more scallop cards

2011-03-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the last 2 scallop cards I created.
A cute little whale and hippo.
The set of all the animals is from Stampin Up, as well as the water colour pencils I used to colour them in. Forgot how much fun that could be. Had to dust them off, it had been so long since I used them.

Enjoy your day!
thanks for stopping by!

I stink you're sweet!!

2011-03-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

Catchy title eh! lol
It is a cute little Stampin Up skunk image and sentiment. I used him on another scallop circle card I created. Isn't he the stinkiest!! If you look close, I used the puffy white snow stuff on his stripe. Hard to see in the picture, but it is cute!!
I also used October Afternoon papers, Bazzill cardstock, Snow Marker by Marvy Uchida

We have been pretty productive today, love that feeling! The kids did some cleaning, colouring, had a treasure hunt and then we had waffles. I made lots of extra waffles to freeze for a later date. They are sausage, potato and cheese waffles; yummy! Grandpa was here to mud the stairwell - we are renovating that area. And I took some photos of more projects to share.

If I feel up to it in a bit, we might make some caterpillars from the egg carton that is staring at me.

That's it for today, have a great one!
thanks for stopping by!

A New Look

2011-03-21T13:53:00.001-07:00

I think I finally found a look I like!
What do you think?
I like yellow, but couldn't find a set with mainly yellow, then I found this set with clouds and that cute owl and I was sold.
Yes I bought this design. I bought it from The sweet Shoppe, you can find the link on the right. It came with step by step instructions on how to do it and it was only $6.00. I figured I could squeeze that into the paper budget! teehee.
It makes me happy, that is what matters.

On my desk right now I am working on a double page layout!
I know I don't do them often!
AND it is a birthday one!
I know! I don't do those either often enough!! lol

I got my motivation form the The Scrapping Nook, a site I joined just recently.
I was invited by my friend Dee many moons ago, but just got around to joining.
So far they are a lovely bunch of ladies, with some great motivation, challenges and inspiration. Come join us!
I haven't belonged to board in a very long time, it is kinda nice to be 'somewhere' to say hi and share this great craft again.

I will share that double page layout soon too.
Kids are still home this week, so time to myself is a bit limited. We made paper airplanes this morning and tried to see who could get it out the boys room the farthest. The boys bed are built into the wall, high up so they have the floor space to play. Jaxon did the best.

Here is a card I created over the weekend. I have been wanting to create scallop circle cards for awhile and finally got to it. And I used my water colour pencil crayons, forgot how much fun those are too!

October Afternoon papers, Bazzill cardstock, Stampin Up stamps, ink and watercolour pencils, Nestabilities. I hand cut the inner circles as I don't have the nestability circles - yet! lol

thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Morning

2011-03-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

It is beautiful outside! The sun is shining, it is warm(ish) and glorious!
The boys are off to church - no I am not attending yet, but soon - then when they come home, they are packing up and heading down to the river for an afternoon of quading, wienie roasts and playing in the mud/water/rocks.
I won't be joining them, there are no bathrooms to be seen down there and right now that is important to me with Crohns and Colitis! No wholes in the ground, behind some bush for me! lol Sorry if that was too much information!
I shall stay home, organize a bit, possible sew and scrapbook.

My wonderful friend Jillian nominated me for stylish blogger award, thanks Jillian!
I am supposed to list 7 things about me, so here goes:

1. I have Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis - I am newly diagnosed so fumbling my way through these diseases and what they mean to me.
2. I love Survivor, Amazing Race and American Idol, watch them every week!
3. All 4 of my children are mine, even though they all have different hair colour, they all came from me. I get asked that alot. I have a blonde, very dark brown, orange and light brown haired children.
4. According to my friend Kari, I have 'freakishly' small feet! I can take a child's size 4. :)
5. Most people know, but I am addicted to paper crafting. I love playing with paper, glue and scissors.
6. Hubby and I met at a work BBQ and have been together ever since.
7. If I could only do one thing in life, it would be to cure diabetes for my daughter and the millions who live with it.

I am now supposed to link to 7 other bloggers, but my friends are terrible bloggers - Kari, Renee!! And everyone else has been awarded already.

This is my son, right after he pulled out his tooth!

Enjoy your day today!
thanks for stopping by!

Last Few.....

2011-03-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

I created just a few more Grey and Yellow cards. And now all the supplies are packed up.
I pulled out my stash of October Afternoon and created a layout and 6 cards that are almost done.

Here are the last grey and yellow cards:
I made 4 of these little robot cards, great for a grab and go birthday boy card. Robots are Maya Road, paper is Crate Paper, Bazzill cardstock and strips, Stampin Up sentiment.

I used a bunch of my edge punches on this one and another one of those FAB Magenta stencils.
Bazzill cardstock, paper is Crate Paper, Magenta stencil, Stampin Up sentiment, Close to my heart ink, handmade ribbon flower.

This is the layout I did, need to add the journaling yet. It was my son's birthday and we had water balloons. I remember Kimmee daring me to get her, and so I did. I don't think she thought I could. ;)
I used almost all October Afternoon, except Maya Road chipboard alphabet, Bazzill cardstock, and Martha Stewart little heart and green journal block.

Thursday I went in for another round of Remicaid. The days before Thursday were bad days. Yesterday was okay and today is better. Tomorrow might be great, or......
I always feel better after Remicaid, but not forever. But must keep positive and just deal with what comes. I am so thankful things are not as bad as they could be. I am cooking every night, doing some cleaning and able to play in my scrapbook room. God is good and has blessed me with so much. I am thankful.

I hope you got out and enjoyed the sunshine today; that is of course if you saw it in your area. We did, it was a blessing, we haven't seen it much lately. Tomorrow is supposed to be another great sunny day.
Prayers going to Japan and to my husbands cousin. :(

thanks for stopping by!

A few more Grey and Yellow....

2011-03-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Here are the last few Grey and Yellow cards I created. I loved working with this colour combo. I found it to inspiring to also have all the materials on my desk.
I pulled out what yellow and grey paper and cardstock I had, oh plus white, then pulled out ribbons, tags, gems, sayings, letters, and anything else in those colours. Made creating more fun and easy. And it helped me use up stuff.

This first one is my favourite one, I just love it. The old kettle, the fabric and sewing.

The paper on this card was from my son, from Christmas. I think he found it at the dollar store.

This one was another lift from Cardmaker magazine, I didn't write down the creators name, so sorry! I sent the book along with a friend already. eekk!

I created the background paper using my Stampin Up craft ink, embossing powder and stamps. The little butterflies were at the dollar store. Yellow paper is Crate. Sizzlet die for the little tag and Stampin Up sentiment. I think the ribbon I got at Michaels.

Oh and I have one more thing to show you. I was playing with Magentas stencils and created this cute little holder that I will probably fill with Easter Candy of some sort. I put the stencil down on the cardstock, then used a sponge to dab the ink in. I just love it! The set comes with a few different branches and some trees and some other shapes I see that would be perfect for Christmas!!! If you see some of these, grab them up! EASY and beautiful! The little flowers are punches from Magenta papers, ribbon from Michaels and sentiment from Stampin Up.

I had my Stampin Up party last night, was a great deal of fun catching up with the ladies, doing some creating, learning from our FAB rep Tara and of course doing some shopping! Thanks ladies for coming, I really enjoyed seeing each one of you! I hope you are all inspired to create this week(end).

Today was a bit of a bad day for me, okay it was a bad day. Hubby thinks I have been doing too much lately, and well maybe he is right. I am off to the hospital tomorrow for another round of Remicaid, keep me in your thoughts and prayers please. Hoping this will give me another pick me up or something! :)

Enjoy your evening and get out and enjoy the forecasted sunshine we are supposed to get tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by!

Spring Break has started...

2011-03-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

It is the first week of spring break here and so far my kids didn't get the memo. No sleeping in.
Not that I am sleeping in. Ever since the hospital stay, I have been getting up early. I have tried to sleep in, but can't.
But the kids couldn't either because today is the day the big tractors and trailers rolled right in front of our house, shaking the whole house, to replace the big pipes. And the school beside us - private - is still in, guess they start spring break next week.

The kids have spent the morning building lego, what a great invention. My kids will play with that stuff all day. I used to play with it when I was a kid, and am so glad they love it too.

I have some more cards to share with you. Made some more over the weekend, and today I am working on a few more.

I am still playing with the grey and yellow colours, just can't get enough of them!
I did change it up a bit though, I created a St. Patty's day card, very simple with older supplies:

Then I switched it up again and used purple. This was Erica's idea, and it is so pretty!! The rubon on the back is really old and half peeling off, of course after I rubed it on it started to fall apart, not before. sigh. I wish now I had rounded the top corners of the cake layers. The color is much more vibrant, but grey dreary day here makes for hard pictures!

And another of the grey and yellow colours. I seem to use white with them too. So pretty! I used a shipping tag and sprayed it with gold smooch. The old sewing machine stamp is from Stampin Up and is in the catty. I love 'old' stamp images. And I played with fabric, found that yellow stuff at a thrift store, and the silver netting on the back is from Websters Pages - which was a gift from my friend Bev, thanks Bev!

That's it for today! Hope you are having better weather than us! If not enjoy your day inside.
Sending prayers to Japan
thanks for stopping by
debby

A great Friday

2011-03-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day. I had full intentions of blogging this morning, but my day filled up quick.
Chatted on the phone with a great friend and made dinner plans and a doggie/kid play date.
Then a great friend came over, we scrapped a little then went shopping and did some errands, including a trip to Tim Hortons for an apple fritter! yum!

Hubby came home early today, so we spent the afternoon together. First to the doctor. Things are going well. I am having a great week, no episodes, no pain, things feel normal, well except my massive amount of swelling and the weakness still. But otherwise I feel pretty good. So he put me on a schedule to slowly wean off the steriods and then go on this different med. I also found out that I am not to take Advil again. Too harsh on my system. I am to stick to the meds he prescribes or just regular tylenol.
Hubby and I then popped over to pick up my prescriptions, including the super drug and found out that Safeway gives you 7x airmiles on the full amount of your prescription - even if you don't pay the full amount. The superdrug - Remecaid - cost $3000.00!!!! so yeah, we totally racked the airmiles today! And will do the same for the next round! woohoo!

We picked up kids from school, came home and prepared a wonderful meal of ham, scalloped potatoes and fresh fruit and veggies. (no fruit or veggies for me) Then had a wonderful family over for dinner. They brought a yummy apple pie! mmmmmm! Yum!

One of the kids is staying here for a sleep over and he asks my son 'hey wanna ask your mom if we can do crafts?' I was like, uuhhh YEAH! let me get some stuff out for you!
So I had 3 boys creating cards and posters and whatever else they did here in my scrapbook room. And no I didn't get any pictures, totally forgot! lol

Kids are all tucked into bed now and I am finally getting a chance to get in here. I have tons of stuff to share, but I am so tired now, so I am only going to share a bit. Will hopefully get back here tomorrow and share some more. I have been creating like crazy! Mainly cards, but still creating!!

First here is the Magenta layout I did following their sketch. It is a pretty simple easy sketch. If you have a chance you should play along, then load up over at Magenta! I used older 4 x 6 photos and cut them down to fit the sketch. Look at the little kid chipboard shapes! Are they not cute or what! And the outlined chipboard hearts, love those too! Even the corrugated scallop piece is Magenta! They have really cool stuff! Look on the right of my blog page and you will find a link directly to Magentas blog!

And here is another of the grey and yellow cards I have made. I actually made 5 of these, very simple!!! I used the owl punch from Stampin Up. Love that little guy/gal! lol

Well off to bed for me! Thanks for stopping by, hope your Friday was a great one!
Debby

Grey and Yellow.....

2011-03-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have been totally inspired by the colours grey and yellow lately. Loving them, espeically when mixed with a bit of white or kraft.
It started while I was in the hospital and my friend Lisa brought in a copy of Paper Crafts Magazine Jan/Feb issue. They have an article in there about Grey being the new black, and some incredible samples!!! They mainly focused on grey and pink, but had a few with yellow.

Well I have been itching to create with these colours ever since and I got started the other day. Right now my desk is covered with all things grey, yellow, white, kraft........... and I am loving it!

Here is the first card. It is a plain scraplift of Maile Belles, her card is in the Paper Crafts Jan/Feb issue page 65. It is simple and beautiful. Thanks Maile!

That card got my mojo going and I have more to share later.

Crate Paper also has a challenge going featuring these colours, so I played along with that too. Their challenge is on their BLOG and you must use Grey Yellow and Kraft. Here is what I did:

My sons football team. More pictures in the scrapbooks, woohoo! You can barely see him in the pictures, but I know he's there. :)

Today is a great day. Yesterday was a pretty great day too. With the help of my mother in law, I went grocery shopping, out for lunch, put the groceries away and baked a bit with the kids when they got home from school. Thanks Mom, for helping to make a great day!

And today, I am creating more cards and working on building more muscles in my legs. Going to go up and down 1 or 2 stairs and try getting up out of chairs without pushing off. I would love non-wobbly hips and knees! lol

Doctors tomorrow, praying for good news!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Debby

Monday Monday

2011-03-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

I love Monday mornings, almost more than Fridays.
The boys go to school and hubby off to work, that leaves me in total silence with a cup of tea. Total silence is a blessing on a nice sunny Monday after a busy loud crazy weekend.

Thank you so much for all the recommendations on teas! I didn't know there were so many 'tea specific' stores. And I am really looking forward to trying some of your favourites!
This morning I am have a lemon zinger, it is just from a box of tea samplers hubby bought for me. It is nice, but I expected a bit more of a lemon bite. Can't really even tell there is lemon in it, oh well.

Besides the regular crazy weekend routines, we had birthday parties, sicknesses, an extra service at church, visitors and more.

Hubby actually opened the trailer on the weekened too, just to see how things were going. We have a tent trailer, a large tent trailer that we want to keep free of mold and mildew.

I think I am starting to look like I have the mumps. My face is getting so fat! Even my eyes are feeling squished! lol Oh I am a site, let me tell you! lol
I had a pretty good weekend, besides this terrible cough. It seems to be going through our entire household. Right now Kolton and I have it. And I have a head cold, bleh! Can't take much for it because of all the other drugs I am on.

The doctors on Friday didn't go as well as I had wanted, again. sigh. He reminds me all the time that I am sick, must rest, take it easy, don't take too many chances with food and on and on.
I was sent for blood work, and we talked about weaning off the daily dose of steriods to another medicine. We talked about my next round of super drug 'Remecaid'. And he gave me a different prescription for pain, the other drugs were making me wide away in the middle of the night.
Basically, I was hoping he was going to say you are doing great, you are healing, you are almost done................ I hope for that and want to beleive it everyday.
But he reminds me differently. He is a great doctor and he does really care. He just gives you the facts in plain english, while at the same time encouraging you. He really listens and pays attention to all the little details, I really like him.

Anyways, today I am going to try to put together a meal plan for the next 2 weeks, and I need to weed out Jaxon and Danny's clothes. Wednesday I might try grocery shopping - with my mil, not by myself.

And tomorrow I have a great layout to share featuring Magenta products and following the next Magenta sketch. The sketch was a great one! I used photos from just over 10 years ago! Love that! It is the first page I have created since being sick. And I have another on my desk almost done. Loving this hobby again!

And because I cannot leave you with a picture - or 2 - here are 2 older layouts again, sorry if you have seen them, but maybe they will inspire you to create.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!
Debby

Yeaaahhh its Friday!!!

2011-03-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

You know, that really doesn't mean much to me. I don't have a job and I don't go to school.

BUT my hubby and kids do, and Fridays mean they are home and that makes me happy!
(Don't get me wrong, I love the quiet during the day when they are gone too!!)

Today I am feeling better. A few days ago I tried a new food; carrots. And well carrots are no good for me and will be added to me 'DO NOT EAT LIST'.

Carrots, a simple enjoyable raw or cooked vegetable. sigh.

So far on my DO NOT EAT LIST:
Carrots
Bananas
Broccoli
Corn
Caffeine
Tomato
Decaf Coffee - hearing some pretty bad stuff about this so going to just have herbal teas. I am not liking Green tea, but do you have suggestions of some great teas to try?
Nuts
Seeds
Skins - like beans, potato, fruit

Off to the docs today, but lunch first with a friend - yippee! Hoping doc lessens the meds again, I am tired of this big fat 'MOON FACE'!!! lol

Hoping for a great weekend!

I have been creating! I am almost done 2 different projects using Magenta products. Both will be shared a bit later, need to finish and wait for Magenta to load first on their site.

One is a great little mini album with a theme of 'Girlfriends'. One of the stamps I used looked exactly like a family members little one, so I am having her fill it with her beautiful girls and info. That will be shared at the end of the month.

The other is a page made following a sketch. The sketch and samples will be up on the Magenta blog on the 8th I beleive. Then I will share it here. I used photos from 10.5 years ago, that felt great!! Outta the sleeves and into the scrapbooks!

My friend Lisa shared some great card creations dhe did with the colour combo of grey and pink, they were so beautiful! I am really looking forward to doing some too, but I am going to do grey and yellow. That will be my next little project I think.

Do you have crafty plans this weekend?

And because I cannot leave you without a picture - but it is older, might have shared it already, sorry :)

This time will be coming soon! And I can tell you my hubby is excited about riding again!
Have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
Debby

Stampin Up Party!!

2011-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

I am going to host a Stampin Up Party! I love so many of the stamps and accessories in the Occasions Mini Catalogue I can't help it! PLUS it is Sale-abration time! That means free stamps just for buying a qualifying amount! Who doesn't like free stuff!

The party will be March 15th, my house, starting at 6:30. I figure I can handle this, as all I have to do is sit. And hubby is there to help me if needed. Time to start trying to get back to some kind of normal.

I de 'seem' to be feeling better these past two days. Still weak and my hips have been bugging me. But I am hopeful things might be turning around.

Went out for coffee last night with the ladies, lasted about an hour when I started to feel enough. Was great to see the ladies. I of course did not have coffee, I had a hot caramel apple cider! YUM!

Must be running, my friend Mari is coming for another Reiki massage session. They are so relaxing and wonderful. If you are interested in learning more, get in touch with me and I will get you in touch with her. :)

Oh wait, must leave a picture!
Here is a layout I did awhile ago - before I was sick - using lots of Magenta products. LOVE the paper and the cork! They have so much self adhesive fun cork shapes to play with!!!

Enjoy your day, stay safe in the wind storm that is coming!
Thanks for stopping by!
Debby

My Story....

2011-02-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

Hello bloggerland here I am again. A bad blogger I know. This time I have an excuse for my tardiness, and today I am going to share my story.
(might be a tad bit long)

Maybe there are others out there with a similiar story or maybe my story will help or encourage or enlighten or grosse out - hopefully not. But I do go into detail in some areas, please be warned if you are queasy tummied!! :)

My story begins in January, but I do have to say that I had a feeling of unwell ever since before Christmas.

Anyways in later January I just started to feel exhausted all the time, as well as unwell. I had cramps more than usual - which I was chopping up to my period playing games on me again - (I should say I have always had inconsistent periods). And the bathroom was becoming me relief. As you can tell from my previous blog post, I thought I had a touch of the flu without puking.
I struggled along for a few days and had a few days of not so bad, then things just got horrible. I couldn't eleviate the cramping pain, and the diarrhea was getting worse. I tried heat pads, hot baths, and was taking pain meds every 4 hours on the dot.

Then one night I just couldn't stand it anymore, I got out of the tub and asked hubby to take me to emergency. It was about 4am. While he was getting the kids up, I started puking. Basically from that point on I only remember puking, pain, diarrhea, pain, IV's, and pain.
I heard words like doctors, tests, blood, stool, meds, and so on. But didn't make any sense of them.

Basically the first week I spent in the hospital I don't remember much.

Once they diagnosed me I heard more words like Crohn's, and Ulcerative Colitis and Remacaid, and steriods and IV's, but still things weren't making sense.

I guess it was once all the medications started and the pain meds were lessened that I started to wake up and make sense, somewhat, of what was going on.

I was in the hospital, had been for just over a week and I had 2 diseases that were wreaking havoc on my GI system. Great, put me back out please. lol

While they were diagnosing me, I had many different tests and doctors and I had my appendix out. At first they said they took it as a precaution, but then said they were glad they did as it was all diseased too and would of had to come out anyways.

They started bringing in information, some in pamphlet form and LOTS in just doctor words. I tried to soak up what I could, but it just felt lost on me. I am so thankful my loving husband was at my side almost the entire time to soak up what I just couldn't. He then patiently took the time to explain to me what was going on little by little. I was not staying awake for long, and I couldn't concentrate for long.

I had 2 diseases, which is a bit rare, usually you get one or the other. And I presented with what they called a sudden onset of them. I was going to the bathroom all the time and there was lots of blood and diarrhea. They showed me a picture of one of the tests they had done and I couldn't beleive the amount of ulcers I had! No wonder I was in so much pain. One doctor put it this way: It is like someone took out your intestines, blow torched them for a bit, rolled them back up and put it all neatly back inside you.

Oh that sounds lovely! NOT!!! That is what we are trying to heal now. And it was going to take some pretty powerful medication that they are trying to get funding for from the government right now. It is called Remecaid and cost $3000.00 for each dose! OIY!

So my days in the hospital went like this:
7am - wake up blood tests, then usually Dr. Caustons resident doctor would come in and do a check up on me, listen to this, push here, ask this and so on. Then my family doctor would come in and check up on me. Then breakfast would arrive, as well as my student nurse and her super excited get to work with real patient attitude, with more tests to do. Blood pressure, temps, lungs, check this check that, okay you can eat now. Oh wait here are your 5 pills and more IV meds! After breakfast, Dr Causton would come in and check up on me, take a look a tummy, ask questions and give more info with eager beaver student nurses just waiting for instructions. I was sent for x-rays some days too. Then Dr Vivien would check in on me, he is the big wig on the diseases. He would ask questions, change this, add that and give me more info too. Lunch would arrive, as well as more pills and more IV meds and then it was time for more student nurse happy go lucky tests! lol I don't mean to sound bad, but I was in no way happy go lucky like them and some just about drove me insane. I know they need to learn and most did a great job. Some tried to insist on sponge bathing me, but I put my foot down and let them know only hubby was sponge bathing me thank you very much!

Anyways, after lunch I usually got in a little nap, then was helped to do a little walking then more resting. Soon dinner arrived and more pills and changing of IVs and more student nurse tests, and more rest. Sometimes a doctor would come back to check on me.

I also had lots of visitors. Almost every morning afternoon and evening was filled with visitors. I loved it when they were there letting me know what was going on in the outside world and if I had a visitor, most of the student nurses stayed away! lol

My food for the first while was clear fluid: apple juice or cranberry, tea and jello.
Then I went to full fluid: juice, cream soups, broths, ice cream, milk and tea.
Then on the last 3 or so days there, they bumped me up to soft foods: mashed potatoes, mushy pork or chicken, mushy carrots tea juice milk pudding.
Hospital food, yummy NOT! lol

Apparently I have weak viens, cause I had to have my IV changed a few times as they kept falling out. And it was very hard to get a vien when they were trying. My arms were so marked up, bruised and ugly I looked like a serious druggie!! Those marks are just finally about gone.

I got approved for the Remecaid and the procedure began. It was a big deal with bags being changed often, blood pressure and temps being checked every half hour... I think it took 3 - 4 hours for this to be done. Even though I was just laying there, it was very tiring.

I am pretty sure this medication is doing its job, slowly, but surely. After the first dose, maybe the next day or so was when I told the docs I wanted to try food. I was tired of fluids. And from that point on I started to improve. Now I won't say heal, but at least be able concentrate, want to eat, want to walk, and desperatly want out of the hospital. I felt I could do my sitting and staring at walls at home. But I had to wait. I think it was 3 days later I finally got news I might be released.

Once I got home I thought everything will be better. I had the super drug, I am home I will heal fast now! aaahh no. I was shocked at how much weight I had lost. How much strength I had lost and how it was not coming back very well.

You see these diseases are fighting my body, almost making healing immpossible. The inflammation has stripped my instines of their lining. That lining is what is needed to absorb the nutrients and liquids our bodies need. That part is Crohn's I believe. So basically the food goes in and maybe 15 - 20% is getting absorbed and the food goes out, pretty quickly. Then the Ulcerative Colitis part is my colon is filled with ulcers, making passing anything extremely painful. Both cause massive inflammation and pain, but I think the UC is most painful.

So to help me get the most out of my diet with the least amount of pain and discomfort I have to eat food that are in the simplest forms, but enriched with needed vitamins and minerals and other stuff.

I am to consider myself lactose intolerant during flare ups. I might not be, but milk and dairy products could pose problems so it is easier to just cut it out. So that means Soya milk - boy is that expensive! In cereal it doesn't bother me, but to have a glass of it, yeah not so much. Problem is I need calcium and lots of it, so I drink it.

I need to stay away from almost all fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. I am unable to digest these in raw forms and seeds and skins can cause serious pain. I can drink juices, just need to drink real juice with added calcium and vitamins. So cranberry, apple, fortified orange juice with no pulp.

I have to eat white breads and pastas only. I need stay away from Fiber.
I can have potatoes as long as they are cooked well and no skins.

I have to take multi vitamins, gas pills, and a protein shake that has added Vitamin D Vitamin B12 and as much calcium as possible.
To help with diarrhea I am to eat gellatin products, and eat pretzels and plain potato chips. Apparently they help to 'thicken' you up.

I can eat chicken eggs pork turkey and tuna, but limit red meats.

I can't have ice cream and I can't have cheese!

I have also found out bananas are terrible with me and so is caffeine. So I have gone to decaf coffee and you know what it is okay. After being in the hospital without it for so long I guess I detoxed.

I have a wonderful friend that is coming and doing a Reiki massage once a week as well, it is a calm practical healing method to decrease strain, ease pain, and help cure. I always feel so rested afterwards.

I keep a daily food journal and write down everything I eat so that I can see what may have affected me.

The diet and eating aren't so bad. I don't mind eating and taking what I have to. It's just hard how much more expensive some of the this stuff is, especially when I am not absorbing it all. It's like dumping it down the toilette, literally!

The steriods I am on are giving me a side effect known as 'moon face'. My face is very very round and fat. My cheeks are so fat that I constantly bite them and have mouth sores. And the inside is constantly peeling. joy joy! And as the doctor slowly decreases the steriods there are all kinds of other complications that could arise. One we have seen so far was the massive joint pains. The pain was so bad I had to go back to the hospital. OIY! Another side effect is my skin is itchy and feels like 'glass'.

And through all this, my strength is not returning. I cannot go up and down stairs without help. I need a walker to help carry stuff to the table. I cannot get up if I am on the floor. I am a very nervous walker, as I think my hips and knees are going to give out. I look like a little old lady wannabe! How sad is that! lol

I am not driving yet. I have attempted to do dishes a few times, I just do a little at time. And I have started to help cook. Fortunatly for my family we have been blessed with so much help. Almost every night since I have been home from the hospital, someone has come by with dinner for my family. And we have had others just fill our freezers, cookie jars and counters.

We truly are blessed with wonderful family and friends.

I just keep thinking that sooner or later I will enter a remmission. That is the blessing part of this disease. I will come out of it. Might not be for long, but I will get 'breaks' if you will. During those breaks, I might be as normal as I used to be, or I might have a few things to be careful of, but I won't be weak, and in so much pain. That is my motivation for being okay with just sitting here and staring at TV now.

There is no 'cure' as they are still learning so much about these diseases. I think they have only been known about since the early 1930's.

As of today right now, I am feeling a bit better than I have. I 'think' I am gaining some weight, but we don't have a scale in the house to check. I have had a second dose of Remecaid and have 2 - 3 more coming up. All depends on how I am healing. I just try to keep being as positive as possible. My heart and most other organs work just fine, I can breathe and I am home.

Oh one other thing I wanted to mention; these diseases effect each person in different ways. Which makes it hard for new patients, as they have to just grapple and figure out what works for them. The symptoms could be different as well.

And there is a big difference between IBD - Irritable Bowel Disease - like Crohns and Colitis and IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
According to my book; IBD has harmful physical effects like inflammation, ulcers and so on. But IBS has no physical effects, it is mainly just stress related or maybe allergy related.

I can say that since being diagnosed, I have learned there are so many others out there that have similiar stories. I am hearing of others who have the disease. Some took years to diagnose.

I have learned to be more patient, I have learned to rest and know that it is okay to rest. I have learned I had myself stretched WAY to thin. I need to slow down, say no and spend more time with family. I have become stronger in my faith and that God is good and does have a plan for me. Even though I might not understand that right now. I have learned my husbands love for me is very deep and very committed. I know I can count on him, lean on him. I have learned my kids love me, but they are pretty capable little men. They need me, but maybe not so much as I insist they do.

If I am feeling well enough, tomorrow night the girls are getting together at a coffee shop. I am really looking forward to my first, non doctor/hospital, 'me outing'. I feel great just thinking about it.

If you read through all that, you are a trooper. Thank you for sharing my story with me. Please feel free to leave comments or questions. I would love to hear from you.

And I can't leave you without a picture. Excuse the bit of fuzziness. I took this the other day, forgot how heavy my camera was! I was a bit shakey. But I like it. It is my backyard after the recent snowfall, which is gone already.

Stomach Bug

2011-01-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

I spent the weekend with a slight stomach bug. FUN! NOT!!

I wasn't the flu, as I never got sick. Felt queasy from time to time, and weak and crampy and just over all grumpy and sore. My back is still hurting today. I haven't slept well either, I swear I am waking every hour!

I am thankful though, I hear the flu that is going around, can be nasty! So I will take my uncomfortable weekend over a puking weekend!!! lol

Because I was sick I didn't get to all the things I wanted too over the weekend. I wanted to get my next class as planned out, I wanted to get some more frames painted, pictures added and put up on the wall, and I wanted to go over the photos I took of the boys in the snow. Going to try and do all that this week. Need to get some housework done too. I sure wish cleaning fairies were real! lol

I did play with one photo this morning. Getting good photos of the boys in the snow is something I am trying to master. Especially with Kolton; bright white snow and he has dark hair, dark eyes and wears grey or dark clothes. hhmmmm a challenge for sure!
Skin tone is something I need help on. Might look into getting Erin Cobbs clean colour program, only thing is I don't have Photoshop or photoshop elements. hhmm

well here is the photo of Kolton.
Enjoy your day, thanks for stopping by!!

2011-01-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

Been playing with my wonderful stash of Magenta products. I LOVE their chipboard shapes and their stamps!!
Magenta has laser cut chipboard shapes and you really need to check out their new shapes!! Flowers butterflies, families, mom and tot, borders and edges...............
Oh and check out their corrugated cardboard stuff too!!
Oh and did you know they are an awesome selection of laser cut, adhesive CORK shapes!! Those are FUN!

Check out THIS LINK to see the new stuff!! Some serious fun there!!

Here are two cards so far that I have created:

Magenta Supplies: papers, chipboard butterfly, both sentiment stamps and corrugated cardboard star, cut from a sheet of 12x12.
Other supplies: Bazzill cardstock, Ranger stickles, Nestabilities to cut stars, Fiskars edge punch, Tombow pen, Stampin Up ink.

Some new photos I caught. Getting great pictures of fast moving kids in the snow with a brilliant sunshine can be very difficult! The sun creates crazy harsh shadows, and getting a true white colour of the snow is a challenge!!

Danny is crying cause he got a branch in the face. aahhhhh poor boy! I love him sooo!

Enjoy your day!
Thanks for visiting

Excited Overwhelmed and Frustrated all in one......sigh

2011-01-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! Wow I remember back in high school thinking 2000 was crazy! 2011 just seems weird and I don't know....futuristic and spacey! lol

New Years Resolutions.
Do you have any?
Do you make them and then just a short jog down the path, break them?
I don't make them. I don't want to be disappointed with myself.

But this year I did make one.
My resolution; FINISH STUFF!!

Yep, I am a starter and a leaver. I have sewing projects started and left, cross stitch patterns half done, half painted items, half renovated hallways and bedrooms. Not to mention tedious little jobs like organizing the recipes, and the favourites folder, and the photos, and .............. the list goes on.

So I hope to finish some of these. If I finish all of these this year I will be A-M-A-Z-E-D!!! Seriously! But if I only finish a handful I am okay with that. At least something got finished!

I am off to a good start though; I organized the recipes in a nice little holder, and I have organized my favourites folder. Oh and back in November I organized my email contact list - but it could have another weeding through, I am thinking! lol

If I am watching TV, I am trying to have my cross stitch in my hands and working on it. I can't even begin to tell you how many patterns I have on the go! OIY! :)

I do have other goals for 2011, but not necessarily 'resolutions'.
I hope to learn more with photography. And take that step of courage to possibly start taking photos for people, and maybe get paid, but need courage first. I hesitate to call myself a photographer even, need courage. I love taking photos, and I think I am pretty good, but I can get frustrated when I am not getting something, so then I give up. aahhh sounds like above, maybe it does fall under the 'finish stuff' resolution then!! Finish learning - or keep going - learning more!!! hhmmm I can do that!
I am also wanting to learn more about post processing. I can edit my images, but I want to do more, I want to understand more............. OIY lots of learning in the future!!
I have downloaded the free trial of lightroom and have been playing. I really like it so far, but I still need to learn more so I don't get frustrated and quit, and fall into the 'start it and leave it catagory again! :)

In September we added a member to our family; Miss Suki or Zoomin Zuki as I call her. She is one ball of energy! Never quits; aahhh maybe I could learn something from her! haha. She is a chocolate lab; here she today at 5 months old

I love her dearly! Right now she is outside running as fast she can from one end of the yard to the other, stopping to eat as much snow as she can fit in her mouth and then she is off like a shot again. Sooo funny! During the day it is just her and I, so we are spending some great quality time getting to know each other while the males in our house are in school or at work. (We love the daytimes - just us girls!!! lol)

And another thing I am going to try again; classes. I haven't done them for a bit, but love them. I love teaching crafts. I love how excited ladies get when they learn something new and I love the friendships that develop out of these classes. So keep an eye out for emails from me about upcoming classes. I already have one all planned; cards. I hope to teach a variety of crafting projects: cards, scrapbook pages, mini albums, altered art, wall art, decorations, gifts............
If you want to be on my mailing list, just leave a comment here and I will get you added. If you are unsure if you are on the list, just leave a comment to make sure you are! If you have a friend who you think would like to be added, send them here!

Well I think that is it for this first post of 2011, I am now off to try and finish soemthing! lol

Oh yeah, I have just put up a post over at The Inspired Scrapppers blog, go check them out!

Enjoy your day!
Debby

Magenta Sketch #7

2010-09-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

Magenta has a new sketch up!! Go check it out and play along if you have a chance!
Here is my go with it;

My daughter singing during the Christmas Parade :)

Sweet boys; Magenta layout

2010-08-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Created another layout using Magentas fabulous papers and supplies.
These photos are from my sils wedding last year. The colours were perfect for these papers. I love the subtle patterns of the papers. And of course the cork alphabet; so fun!
The little flowers were all cut out using the Magenta papers and my cuttlebug.

You can always count on Jaxon to bring out the craziest smiles, and Luke - my nephew - to bring out the grumpies. Boys. lol

And this layout is for the Inspired Scrappers weekly challenge. Pop on over there to check out the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
Debby

Magenta Love

2010-08-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sat down and created these two cards with Magenta stamps and papers.
I love the dandelion one, is it not so dreamy and makes you want to make a wish and blow!!
And the butterfly one was great to stamp 3 times and pop dot for dimension. I also added stickles around the outside.

Hope you find some creative time to play with your supplies!

I have started a new blog over HERE.
This is where I will put all my photos. I am loving my camera lately. Been out and taking pictures and practicing. And I signed up for a course at the local Univercity. Looking forward to learning more and more! If you have a chance, stop by and visit!
Have a great day!

My Parents

2010-08-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

The boys and I went up to visit my parents while they were camping today. They were camping close a river, so we went for a walk and let the boys play. It was very cold and refreshing water. Straight from the snow. They were camping in the mountains.
I took tons of photos and am still working on them, but these two just make me giggle. My youngest son must of told a joke and Grandpa thought it was hilarious! I love his full face smile and my sons look too. Adn getting pictures of my boys with straight simple smiley faces; umm yeah. Impossible. lol
I will share more later.

Win some Magenta products!

2010-08-11T13:36:00.001-07:00

Want to win some awesome Magenta Products!

Yes of course you do!! Then check out this entry on their blog:

BLOG CANDY!

Good luck!!

My dear sweet beautiful young daughter.......

2010-08-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last night our family packed up and headed out to Great Grandpas property to take some senior summer photos of Kimmee. Great Grandpa's property is beautiful, hilly, natural and full of fun old things. Lots of which he has built himself. :)
On the way out, the grey clouds started to come in; and they were full of rain.
I just prayed it would hold off, slow down and allow us to get a few shots before they totally covered the sun and opened up with rain.
We did get some great shots before the sun was gone, and thankfully the rain never came.
Even though I was ready to shoot in the rain. lol
Here are the first few. I still have some to edit. And we want to go out again, as we didn't have time to do it all. I really want to shoot her in her grad dress as well. So that will be another day.

Thanks for stopping by!
I think I might scrapbook tonight! Haven't done that for a bit.

NEW Release from Magenta!!

2010-07-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

You have to check out the NEW RELEASES from MAGENTA!

The stamps are just gorgeous!!!

I can't wait to get my hands on so much of this new stuff!! The ideas are already flying....................... and that makes me happy happy!! :)

Follow the link and then you can download the images!

aahhhhh, new stuff, especially inspiring new stuff is just bliss to a scrapbooker/crafter............ :)

Enjoy your day!

Here I am, Here I am!

2010-07-26T12:01:00.001-07:00

Yikes we have been busy! Summer is supposed to be relaxing and lazy!
I always think that come June; I can't wait for slower summer days with no school.

But it is always crazy busy! Off we go here, off we go there, here, there, here, there, and here again. LOL

We do have a few more trips planned, but nothing too big. So I think I can say: it is finally going to be a lazy week! woohoo!

I have blueberries to pick and freeze, gardens to weed and water, a bathroom that needs some serious scrubbing and I hope to scrapbook!!!

I have been cleaning out my room and coming across so much stuff that I 'had' plans for, but it is just sitting, taking up space, waiting. So I hope to get to some of that stuff. And some of it I am just going to get rid of. Seriously I could have all my friends over, they could create an entire scrapbook album EACH and I would STILL have tons of stuff left over. OIY!

And with CHA Summer 2010 products just around the corner I need to use up so I don't feel guilty buying more! lol

Check out the Scrapbooking Fanatics blog for some great links to new products!

Last week we spent the week up at Camp Kawkawa. It is such a great place. We always have so much fun, feel stronger in our faith, come home very sun tanned and TIRED! There are activities, games, and things to do from 8:30am - breakfast, till 11pm when my head finally hits the pillow. And sometimes it is even later; especially if you sit up talking with your teenager! - which is just awesome!!

Here we are at the end saying goodbye to one of our favourite staffers up there 'KEYS', his camp name, cause he plays piano. (when I first heard his name years ago, I thought he had a collection of keys, lol) And one of my sons favourite workers up there; Dip ;)
Back row;
my husband Chris, my daughter Kimmee, me, Keys, Dip
Front row;
son Danny, son Jaxon, son Kolton.

Inspired Scrapbooker

2010-07-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Check out the Inspired Scrapbooker for a great challenge!

I have been so busy lately I have not been able to find time to do much of anything!
(okay, yes I was finding 5 mins here and there to play that danged Fronterville - gosh is that thing addictive!! It is Kari's fault!!)

Anyways, sometime this week I hope to have up a picture and details of my chore list; as requested.

I have had a few parents copy this to some extent and implement it in their homes. I have even had parents take pictures of it.

So far I have only heard great things from parents; the kids not soo much. lol

It is a great system that works in our home and maybe will work in yours, or you can take what you like and leave what you don't. But feel free to copy it or just take some ideas. - that is when I get it posted! lol

Do your kids do chores? Do they get an allowance? Did you do chores as a kid and get an allowance?

Till tomorrow
Debby

Almost Done!!!

2010-06-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

There are only 2 hours left of school tomorrow morning!

I am excited, happy, tired, worried and sad all at the same time.

So excited for the summer plans we have; happy there are no more lunches, happy I don't have to go back and forth to school anymore; tired just thinking of all the things I need to do right now to get ready for 'stuff'; worried about entertaining the kids all summer; and finally sad as my kids are growing up sooo fast!

Next year I will have no one home with me during the day anymore! (I am VERY excited about that - and I feel a tiny bit guilty over that excitement...........

k, over the guilt now!!! lol)

I will probably do more volunteer time, that makes me happy. :)

Last week on The Inspired Scrappers blog, our assigment was a sketch. Here is the sketch and my sample;

Supplies; Magenta, October Afternoon, Nestabilities, EK Success, Cuttlebug

If you have a chance, play along with this sketch, would love to see what you do!

This week on The Inspired Scrappers blog, our challenge is to 'Scraplift'. I am working on mine right now, pop in Friday to see all the samples!

as always thanks for stopping by!

Magenta Sketch

2010-06-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Magenta has a fabulous 6 x 12 sketch challenge up! Check out their blog to see all the different samples from the design team!
Here is the sketch:

And here is my sample with this sketch. I don't usually work this size, but I have to say it was fun! If you have a chance to play along, make sure to share on the Magenta blog for a chance to win some goodies!!! :)

Do you ever use this size - 6x12?
Thanks for stopping by!

Bo Bunny Roughin It

2010-06-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Created this mini album with Bo Bunny's awesome Roughin It line and Piggy Tales Barn Door album. These albums are great! If you are a mini album maker and LOVE to use chunky embellishments; you gotta get one of these! The way they are made, they allow for so much depth to each page!

I am teaching this class at BC Scrapbooking Crop for Kids, coming up October 1-3rd in Abbotsford. I love that %100 of the class fees are going directly to Childrens Hospital.
Check out the site to see all the classes being offered that weekend!
Hope you had a great Tuesday!
Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Monday to you!

2010-06-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wow we have been BUSY! No moments to spare even. Okay, actually I had 10 minutes outside by myself yesterday morning, just before leaving for church. lol

One of the big highlights was Kimmee's graduation. I am so proud of her. Now the next stage of life begins.

Then yesterday I had 100lbs of strawberries to deal with! My mil and fil came out to help. We had a great assembly line going and had it all dealt with in no time!
Yummy! A freezer full of strawberries!!

Today I am doing laundry and starting to pack for camping.
Enjoy your day!

A picture is worth..........

2010-06-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words..........................and this one especially!

Just came across it in my pictures and had to share.

I think Kolton asked Danny to look underneath and see if there was a wasp nest; so Danny just grabbed the front and lifted. Yep he is strong like that. No idea why he is grabbing his head, maybe he is thinking, or maybe he thought there was a bug on his head..............but it sure made the photo funny!
Kinda like Danny was looking under the 'hood' to see why the go cart wasn't working, but forgot that there was still a passenger in it. lol

Oh boys, gotta love them!

Good Monday Morning

2010-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yahhhh it's Monday!

I know, that sounds crazy right!? It is just that we had such a busy weekend, Monday brings some quiet time for me. aahhhh
The kids are back in school, hubby is at work and I am here with just 1 little one and a pile of laundry! lol

Friday I was taken out for lunch for my birthday by a friend and we did some shopping till we had to pick up the kids. Then hubby came home and we went out for dinner for my birthday. And it was funny cause there was a lady there that looked familiar to me, but I couldn't place her. Turns out she was a fellow scrapbooker and also not sure who I was. lol Scrapbookers, we are everywhere! lol
Anyways, Saturday was scrapbook work, weeding and then a 40th birthday party for a friend. It was a 70's theme, and boy did everyone look awesome! We had a great time.
Sunday was up and off to church, then grocery shopping and off to a 4th birthday party.
Hubby and I were so tired last night, we just sat and watched 2 movies and headed to bed. Too tired to do anything else.
So today, Monday, brings some quiet for me. aaaahhhhhh

I will be doing laundry and cleaning house!! And of course scrapbooking somewhere in there!

Here is a page I did for The Inspired Scrappers blog; the challenge last week was wedding.

Most of all the supplies were from my Scrapbooking Fanatics DT kit. LOVE the banners, the smooch spritz, blossoms and bling!

And I added my new FAV embellishment; FABRIC! I matted the photos in a nice soft white material.

I already has this layout on my desk when I stumbled across this new site; Color Combos Galore I suppose it is not new, just new to me. Anyways the colours were totally what I was working with so I played along. Check them out, seems like a great site and great people!

Well my quiet time is over, I have a hungry little man and laundry machines beeping at me; must go answer them!

Have a great Monday and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Debby

My 1st class is up....

2010-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well I can finally start sharing some of the work I have been crazily getting done! :)

October 1 - 3rd, 2010 is the next BC Scrapbooking Crop for Kids. I am teaching 3 classes that weekend and here is the first one.
It is sponsored by Scrapbook Parade and The Memory Workshop Scrapbook Company

While the crop is sold out, I think you can still register for a class pass. That means you can attend the event and take some classes, you just won't have a crop seat.
You can see more details of this class here:
My Minds Eye Double Pagers
Following this link will also allow you to see all the other amazing classes being offered that weekend. (some are still being loaded, so check back often)
The BEST thing about the classes, is 100% of the money goes directly to Childrens hospital!!! AMAZING!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

Off Fishing!!

2010-05-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

I leave in the morning to go fishing for the weekend.

I don't remember the last time I fished?

I know I did it tons as a kid with my parents.

I used to love cleaning out the fish and seeing what they ate.

But I NEVER ate anything I ever caught, or anything anyone else ever caught either.

Today, I prefer not to handle a fish, dead or alive and I still won't eat any.

I just don't like fish, or anything that comes out of lakes or oceans.
I know I am missing out on great food, that is also so good for you; but I will get my nutrients somewhere else.

So why am I going fishing?
Because I was asked to by my husband and his parents. It is just us 4. Me hubby and the inlaws. The kids are going to the Aunt and Uncles house. A weekend away with no kids, all expenses paid, in a cabin in the middle of no where..............uuuuhhhhhh sure, sign me up! lol

I have been told I don't have to fish. I can sit and read books all weekend, or take pictures all weekend, or cross stitch or walk or talk.
But I will fish. I have too, hubby bought me a brand spankin new fishing pole that is HOT pink and lights up when you turn the handle thingy! So I am going to look good while fishing too! teehee

So have a great weekend everyone, doing whatever it is you are doing.

Oh and meant to share that I had 2 pages picked up for the Fall issue of Canadian Scrapbooker. Thanks Canadian Scrapbooker!
I created this to put in place of my layouts; it is my son being as cute as can be with his cute little aliens. I have something to share next week with this photo and more!!!

as always, thanks for stopping by!
Debby

Happy Tuesday!

2010-05-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

We had such a busy full weekend I am actually glad it is over! kinda! lol

It started with a very sad but happy day on Friday. My husbands Grandfather passed, and Friday was his funeral. Sad because we are all going to miss him, happy because he is now home and no longer suffering. When we told the boys Great Grandpa died, our youngest right away said "Now Grandpa doesn't have a Dad on Earth anymore!" He was shocked and sad for that. They are so sweet! Our oldest boy said Great Granpda could look after Jake; our dog that passed in October. aahhh.

After the funeral, we stayed in town with family till late. Once we got home; hubby and I ran around packing up the boys, packing up the trailer, packing up my scrapbooking supplies, then crashing.

Saturday morning the boys left on a 'boys' only camping trip, while us Moms stayed behind and scrapbooked together. It was great! I was so glad to not be camping! The weather was not warm enough for me! They got rain, sun, sleet, ice and even snow! YUCK!

Monday was spent unpacking, cleaning, laundry and scrubbing down the little boys with dirt everywhere!! bleh!

Today is back to normal routine, boys off to school, Dad off to work and me home with the littlest one, finishing up laundry.

This up coming weekend, we do it all again, except this time we pack the boys to go to their Aunts house, while hubby and I off on a weekend fishing trip with his parents. Shall be fun! (I am praying for some sun and a little warmer temperatures!!)

On Friday I was up for contributing to The Inspired Scrappers Blog. Our challenge was to scrapbook with an animal theme. This is the cute little card I created. I used a Close to My Heart Stamp Set, Basic Grey papers, Spellbinders dies and Stampin Up ink and ribbon.

If you get a chance, pop on over to the Inspired Scrappers blog to see more and play along in the challenge!

Hope you all had a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by!

Swimming in Scrapbook stuff

2010-05-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have almost literally been swimming in scrapbook goodies! I love it!
A nice big box of supplies arrived Friday and I spent all weekend playing with those goodies.
Today another nice big box arrived, and I expect another big box on Friday.
I love new stuff, it smells awesome, they look awesome and feel awesome!
Life is good when you are surrounded by so much awesomeness!!!

I am working on a few projects that just happen to all be due by the beginning of June.
I have 3 classes I need to have ready for the BC Scrapbooking Crop for Kids in October. Yes the crop is not till October, but class samples and descriptions need to be up by June for class registration.
I can't share finished photos yet, but I can tell you they are awesome! 1 class features fabric, 1 class is an amazing mini album, and the last class is double pagers and die cuts.

I am also guest designing over at The Memory Workshop for June. The Memory Workshop is an excellent kit club. The kits come jamm packed with stuff, PLUS they have finished samples and sketches to help you use it all up!

And I have Scrapbooking Fanatics design team work too, I am using My Little Shoebox stuff for this! That stuff is sooo cute!!!! If you are not aware, Scrapbook Fanatics is back on line, they were down for construction. The store is up and running better than before! The Scrapfan blog is updated regularly with awesome inspiration, tips, challenges and more!! Plus join them on Facebook for even more good challenges and inspiration!!!

AND, this Friday I have stuff due for The Inspired Scrappers blog. I created the cutest little card and can't wait to share it! Every Friday there are new challenges for you to try out, check them out!

And because I can't leave with out sharing a photo:
This is my daughter Kimmee and son Jaxon

Thanks for stopping by!

Inspired Scrapper challenge

2010-05-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Another challenge is up over at The Inspired Scrapper. It is a challenge based on a Becky Fleck Pagemaps sketch. Here is my layout based on the sketch.

Hop on over to the Inspired Scrapper to see more detail, view the sketch and see what others have done with it!
Thanksf or stopping by!

More Mothers Day photos

2010-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more photos from Mothers Day!
Thanks for stopping by!
Tomorrow I have a sketch based layout to share through The Inspired Scrappers Blog!

Mothers Day photos

2010-05-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures taken on Mothers Day.
My dear husband, took over the camera, saying I had to be in photos. I appreciated that, there are not that many photos of me.
(But I have to admit, I missed taking all the photos and playing with the controls!!!)

She didn't quite fit in, lol
This was a really cool tunnel the kids all climbed in.
I put this one black and white cause my roots were terrible in the sun!
No idea what we were doing here, funny faces!

Then the kids all climbed into this wagon and said 'Mom, pretend to pull it!' I think my teenager enjoyed it a little too much! lol
Oiy! Another I should have turned black and white!
Tsk tsk tsk, Kimmee!
Just before leaving the kids danced around while the band was playing, was soo cute!

I will share more photos tomorrow, off to watch American Idol!!

Magenta Design Team!!

2010-05-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Today I received the best email from Valerie over at Magenta............
I was chosen for the Design Team!! Woohoo!!!

I am so excited, honoured and thrilled to be a part of this company with amazing products and very talented team!!

Go check out their website and blog:
Magenta Style home
Magenta Style blog

Congratulations to all the other talented ladies chosen, I look forward to working with you! And thank you to Magenta for giving me this opportunity.

Here are some layouts I have done with Magenta products:
This layout is on the cover of the current Canadian Scrapbooker, The chipboard swirl beside the photo is a Magenta product as well as the leaf and I used the negatives to punch out the letters for the title word. I designed the page and the photo is from Sheri Reguly.

On this layout I again used their chipboard leaves, this time using Ranger crackle paint on them.

Thanks for stopping by!
Tomorrow I will share some of my Mother's Day Walk photos!

Scrapbook Fanatics Friday Challenges

2010-05-07T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hop on over to the Scrapbook Fanatics blog AND the Scrapbook Fanatics Facebook site to see all the Friday challenges!
Here are my challenges:

#1 - Get a jump start on Mother's Day and create a layout or mini album to document what you did (or will do) on this great day!!

I created the mini album as seen in the post below, I can't wait to fill it up!!

#2 - Create a double page layout using 6 portrait photos. This is a great way to showcase lots of photos, especially a sequence of photos.

And now for a give away!! I have not done one forever!
Everyone is welcome to join in.
To be entered visit the Scrapbook Fanatics blog and leave a comment, then become a member/fan of the Scrapbook Fanatics Facebook group and finally leave a comment here that you visited each site to be entered!
Get 2 entries if you become a follower of my blog or the Scrapbook Fanatics blog!!

-If you are not on Facebook, you can still enter the give away! :)

Have a great weekend!
I am going to be busy all weekend! Today is a Mother's Day tea at school, tomorrow we are having a garage sale, and sunday we are off to Minter Gardens for Mothers Day! Plus I want to fit in some scrapbooking time!!
thanks for stopping by!
Debby

Mother's Day mini

2010-05-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is Mother's Day. Every year we always go for a walk, usually in Abbotsford and usually always around a certain park that has lots of playground stops.

But this year, we are going to Minter Gardens. I have lived in the area for years, but have never gone. My parents are coming with us. Unfortunately Chriss parents will be out of town.

I am really looking forward to spending the day in a garden with my family and my camera! I have been getting excited about all the different pictures!

I have already started my Mother's Day mini album. And yes, I told my family what colours they had to wear! lol

So looking forward to filling this baby up!

I used Crate Papers Pink Plum Collection. It is full of wonderful girly colours! Colours I don't get to use that often!

My boys; including hubby and grandpa, will be wearing orange and brown. The girls will wear pinks, oranges, browns, whites and so on.

The weather was threating to be ugly, but looks like it has change and we will have sunshine! woohoo!!!

What do you do for Mother's Day?
Happy Mother's Day to all Mother's Aunts Grandma's sisters and single Dad's!
Thanks for stopping by!
Debby

Merlin.....

2010-05-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Look what I found at the second hand store!! Complete with the box AND instructions!!
AND it works!!!!

Do you remember this? Did you have one as a kid?

I remember this. I used to play it like crazy! Back in the day it was so 'space age'.
ROFL!

I was telling the kids this was our hand held video game system. :)

I have also found an almost complete set of Spira-doodle. Remember that? It had everything except the pens, it even still had the little push pins. Oh the fun we had with that too. Drawing fancy circles and flowers over and over and over.....lol

Oh one more I found a while back was Mastermind. That was game of the year in 1973!

My kids are all over these great games and that makes my heart happy :)

Have a great Monday!
thanks for stopping by

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

2010-05-01T13:34:00.001-07:00

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!

I hope you are all having a great day, scrapbooking, spending time with family, chores, shopping..............whatever it is you are doing, ejoy the day!
I am cleaning and organizing my scrapbook room. Amazing how much stuff is in here!

If you have a moment jump on over to the Inspired Scrappers blog. They are having a Design Team Call! Try out, you never know!

And just to leave you with a picture:
Hockey Cards, the latest craze in my house!

He LOVES Tim Hortons

2010-04-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, Jaxon our youngest, sometimes says the funniest things.

Yesterday I was pulling into the Tim Hortons parking lot; to get my fix, when my youngest son Jaxon, says 'Woah Mom, there are tons of kids here!' I explain that they are from the high school, out on lunch. I tell him that when you go to High school, you are allowed to go off school property and go to the Tim Hortons for lunch if you want to.

He says in a VERY excited voice

"YEAH! I am going to this High School, so I can go off popety to Tim Hortons!"

SO made me giggle! Yep raising him right, to love Tim Hortons! lol

I love his innocent way of thinking.

It is another ugly rainy day here. Perfect for scrapbooking!

Have a great Friday!
Debby

When the forecast is nothing but ugly, time to scrapbook!

2010-04-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

April showers bring May flowers :)
UGH! Enough with the rain and clouds! I want sunshine! Beautiful bright warm sunshine!!
I bet everyone in Alberta agrees right now! OIY! They have had terrible April weather!

Well when it is ugly outside, might as well just scrap! And I have been doing that.
Saturday was supposed to be sunny, so I was going to do weeding, but now it looks like rain. Which kinda works out great as Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day! I can stay inside and scrapbook, guilt free! :)

I have been working with stuff Jayme sent me, from Scrapbooking Fanatics. Mostly new stuff, like Sassafrass Lass, but I also broke out an older kit she sent me featuring Pink Paislee.

These are our boys digging in the backyard - before we turned this area into a parking lot. These feature Sassafrass Lass stuff.

This one features Sassafrass Lass as well. My son Jaxon and his love for corn on the cob. I had fun creating the little corn on the cob with a small circle punch.

This one is using Pink Paislee Cupid Line. It's me and Jaxon 5 years ago. I played around with fabric flowers on this one.

I hope you find some time to scrapbook on Saturday, there is so much going on ALL over the place!
Happy Thursday and as always, thanks for stopping by :)
Debby

Happy 11th Brithday Kolton

2010-04-26T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today is my oldest boys birthday. We had his party on Saturday and it was a great turnout, not great weather though!

Amazing how time flies!
I remember when he was little, I would look at him and wonder who and what he was going to become. Was he going to be tall, was he going to be loving, was he going to be a doctor....................
Today, we are getting glimpses of the man he is to become.
He is going to be a tall dark handsome man, who is very in touch with his femine side.
teehee

This is him at his party. The winners of the games we played got to do girly things to him and he was totally okay with that. He loved it and really played it up.

I think he will have something to do with the arts. He is always dressing up as some super hero or another, he writes the most imaginitive stories and loves to be center of attention.

We love you Kolton, Happy Birthday!

My Family

2010-04-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we finally got around to doing an updated family photo. My Mil and Fil were on hand to help capture some of the photos and get in on the action as well.
They turned out okay, but I think we will do it again. The scenery is great, but it looks fallish, not springy.

It is hard to be on the other side of the lens. I wish I had set the camera up so my husband and I were more in the middle of the children. But I still love this shot; us ignoring the fighting, bickering children. lol

Can't wait to scrap these now!
If it is sunny in your area, get out and take some pictures!
Thanks for stopping by!

My Heart Belongs..... SFDT work

2010-04-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is my sweet son Jaxon. I love these pictures, I caught the lights in his eyes and the right colour balances to show his freckles and colour of hair.
I did this page for Scrapbooking Fanatics DT work. Jump on over to the SF BLOG to see more details!

Here is another layout I did recently.

I have been trying to do more events and special days in my scrapbooking as well as use memorabilia. For this, I made a pocket and tucked in the kids report cards from term 1. Last week, the kids came home with term 2 report cards and I am going to repeat this idea. I get memorabilia in the books and it will show the growth of the kids over the year. If you have a chance give it a try!

Thanks for stopping by!
Debby

I made the COVER!!

2010-01-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

Well not me technically, but my layout did!!!
On the COVER of Canadian Scrapbooker!! Due out March 1st 2010!!

I am so excited!!!!
woohoo!
It is not my child, just my design.

Scrapbook Fanatics DT work

2010-01-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

I recieved the most wonderful package from Jayme at Scrapbooking Fanatics. It was filled with Pink Paislee Cupid goodies, Color Box goodies, lots of Bazzill and so much more!
I got this box yesterday morning and dove right into it. I was so inspired!!!
Here is my first page:

Doesn't that embossed Maya Road heart look like chocolate!!

I have a few more projects - rolling around inside of my head - I hope to get them out in the next few days!
If you don't have this line, run over to Scrapbooking Fanatics and grab it! You won't be disappointed, it is fabulous!!!

And in my world of 'Sickies', Kolton got it. sigh. He is much better today and going to school tomorrow. I pray we are done with this thing!!!!

Sickie here Sickie there

2010-01-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

Boy oh Boy were we hit with the sickies!
First it was Danny, and he had it BAD. Then Jaxon got it and it was bad, but didn't last as long. And the last few days is was hubby, and he had it BAD.
Now I am worried Kolton has it, he is showing very small - might not be - symptoms. So watching him.
I have been lucky enough to escape it so far, even though I have been with each sick person, playing nurse. Puke buckets, washing, cool cloths and so on.
I hope I continue to escape it! Lots of handwashing and lysol spraying!

For today I will be happy, everyone seems to be okay.

I have scrapbooked through all this though. As the sick one was finally sleeping, I would clean, then scrapbook.

I don't make resolutions, but I do have a 2010 goal. I am trying to scrapbook more events. Birthdays, sports, Christmas, Holidays and so on. Seems I pass over those pictures and do the everyday ones. But the events are so important!

I have started, and while I find it a bit hard, I am doing it. So far I have scrapped 2 school pages and a trip to the pumpkin patch.

My challenge this past week over at the Inspired Scrapper was to use pockets, so that is when I scrapped the pumpkin patch, as I had tons of photos. So the pockets were great in allowing me to add many photos, but still decorate. Check out the Inspired Scrappers blog for more details. Here is my page - and it is a double pager!!

I was asked to design for the Memory Workshop for January, here is one of the pages I did for them. You have to receive her kits to see the rest! I did 2 double pager, 3 single pages and 3 cards with Sandra's kit. These really go far and include so much to play with! She includes so much to play with, but I think my favourite thing is you get so much cardstock! I love cardstock!!!

Well off to scrap some more! Hope you are all finding some time to be creative!
Thanks for stopping by!

New Years Eve

2009-12-31T10:12:00.001-08:00

Happy New Years Eve everyone!

May you appreciate, love and learn from the year we are leaving behind and be humble, hopeful and excited for the year to come.

I don't make resolutions, as I hate to disappoint myself, but I am hopeful that I may continue to learn and appreciate what lies in my road ahead.

Tonight we are hosting a New Years Party. We will play card games, board games, some Wii and then we might even dance.

I have some fun New Years hats, but can't seem to find them. I know we lost some in the snowball fight at last years New Years party, but thought I still had some?
And do you remember those noise makers you used to get, remember you twirled them? hhmm wonder if you can find those anymore?

The above photo is of the kids playing in the snow we got yesterday. It was wonderful snow. Great for rolling the biggest snowballs possible!

Well Happy New Years everyone, may you be safe and warm!!!

Giving it a go here

2009-12-29T23:12:00.000-08:00

I am a terrible blogger.

And for the past few years I have been paying for a blog I hardly used.

Hmm, why?

So here I am, on a free site, where I won't feel guilty about not blogging.

Christmas was wonderful, lovely and tiring. I love Christmas, I love lights and decorations, I love Christmas crafts, and the look on people's face when they open special gifts and most of all I love spending great time with the family.

BUT I have to admit it is very very tiring too! For 4 days we cooked, cleaned, decorated, visited, drove, laughed, cried, cleaned some more, cooked some more and on it went!

My freezer is full of pea soup and turkey soup, great for those cold winter nights. Did you make soup stock? My mother in law helped me with my pea soup. I have made it once before, but was a long time ago and couldn't remember how. It turned out wonderful! But I am the only person in my house who enjoys it. So I froze it in small jam jars. Just enough soup for one! They have no idea what they are missing!

My fridge is still full of leftovers, trying to use them up. Tonight was shephards pie with all the vegetable and potato leftovers. Tomorrow is scalloped potatoes with baked chicken probably. The homemade perogies, they went in the freezer. My mom makes these every year and they are the favourite at the table. This year, she made tons and there were lots leftover that we had not even cooked. YUM!

During all the visiting we did seem to pick up a small virus. bleh! I was sick first, then hubby and then Danny. I am hoping it goes no further, but most likely Kolton and Jaxon will end up with it too.

Well off to read my book and tuck myself into bed.
Night