Paper Bag mini----my first mini EVER!!!

Hiya!!!

How has everyone been??

Where as time gone to, I ask? It's already the weekend, the end of it. I did not see the week fly by!!

Things are a little hectic here, but I did manage to get something done that I've been ..'admiring.. from afar for awhile. A mini album. Yep. I have never, EVER done a mini before. But I can cross that off my list of things to do. Because I have ACCOMPLISHED that!! (I'm still ...'intimidated'..by them, though! lol) I guess the reason I have never done one is that I don't like to work in 'small' spaces. I like working in lots and lots of space. Claustrophobic I guess. is that possible?? ;)

Anyways, I made a mini. I went pretty basic, as I had not a clue as to what to do. I had found a paper bag album that I fell in love awhile ago..........and, with a deep breathe, I decided to make one. lol.

I think the clincher for me was that on CropChocolate.com, te weekly challenge has been extended until this coming Friday, the 23rd November. Seeing as I look forward to doing these challenges, I was disappointed to learn that there wouldn't be a new challenge for the weekend to accomplish. HOWEVER! On Instructagram (a new venture from CC's owners) there are 2 contests...one is for a Cameo (le sigh!) and another for a Kitchenaid mixer (double sigh!) The one for the Cameo calls for ....get this...a mini tutorial.!!! Yowza! BUT I did it (Insert happy dance!)

 Here's my mini!

This is the cover----LOVED doing this! It was so fun! AND Easy Peasy!!

This is a sample of my pages.

I absolutely loved doing this. I may make some more. I just need to figure out what pictures I want to put in there now.

To see it more, here's the link:


http://instructagram.com/igrams/563

Have a great week!

Laura

Just another Manic Monday

Hello fellow readers!

Did you all have a nice weekend? Eventful? Got crafty?

How about a moment or two of silence for our war heroes on Remembrance Day (or Veteran's Day, if in US)? There was a lot of coverage on television yesterday---I have a hard time watching or listening, as I get very emotional, and once the tears come, I cannot stop them.

I had an eventful weekend---well, it started off eventful! I broke 2 of my toes (same foot), all because I was in a rush, pulled open the drawer too hard/too fast, and the drawer fell on my foot. I'm thankful that it was my foot, and not my daughter's, as she was right beside me. So, a small blessing, I guess. It hurt, and still does. I am now known as 'Two Toes' in my household. nice. lol. I had my MIL and SIL over for supper on Saturday, and I managed just fine. I had called our Info-Sante on Friday, and they told me that I had to keep my foot elevated. (Apparently there's not much to be done for broken toes!) Yeaaaahhh....wellll...I kinda have a problem with that! I'm not one to sit still, and I am always bustling about. But I do elevate it when I sit down---even if it's for a few moments. I kow, stubborn. Never said I was perfect! ;)

I have a technique on how to get upstairs to my craft room. Very carefully---but pretty quickly too. lol. There's nothing that's going to keep me separated from my scrapbook room!!!!!

And then I got crafty! This week's challenge on Crop Chocolate was to incorporate more than one color  in your background using ink or paint. I wasn't sure of what I wanted to do. But I did do something I had wanted to do for a while. Just swipe the ink pad onto my paper. I used TH Distress ink in Picked Raspberry (great color) on my background which is (surprise, surprise!) MME, the So Sophie collection (LOVE this brand!). And just swiped. I actually like the effect. Then I positioned my pix and other elemets onto my LO. I'm broadenig my horizons. Not being so 'afraid' to use my stash! (sort of!)

Yep. I kinda like it!

I was wowed! this weekend. My sons go to a great school, where they have many opportunities to explore. One of these opportunities is Music class. And what a music class it is! Robert is taking bass, and brought home his bass guitar this weekend to practice at home. He put on a little show for me, and I was blown away!!! I was amazed on how much he learned in class. He has a good ear for music, it seems. Obviously, he did not, I repeat NOT get the music gene from me or my side of the family!!! lol It's his dad's side! (thank goodness!)
Here's my boy:

Don't mind the lamp --PLEASE!--DH will NOT let me get rid of it! eww!

Anyways, that's one of my boys! Momma's so proud! :)

Have a great day y'all!

Be safe.

Laura

Inspiration.......with a few cards

Hello everyone!

How was your week?? The weather? Here, in my neck of the woods, it's snowing. Yep, snowing. I guess it's acceptable because we are in November---wow! Christmas is coming!

Sooo, I got crafty this past week. I finished up my cards for the Christmas card swap I am part of, over on Crop Chocolate. I had fun doing these, and I will probably continue on making more Xmas cards, for my own  personal use.

 You know, I mention Crop Chocolate quite a bit in my posts. And you may roll your eyes at the mention of it. But it is a great site. Seriously. And the talent that is there is unbelievable. I am always learning, am always inspired by these creative ladies. They certainly get the creative mojo going !

Here are my cards, in no particular order. I went outside of my box, and became more adventurous---and all is due to the creativeness of CC. Seriously. Lol.

 

My next project I am going to attempt is for the ornament swap. I have a couple of ideas of what to make----but I need to research some more, as these will be new techniques! Yep, I'm expanding my creative horizons!

But I am also going to tackle this week's challenge on Crop Chocolate. To quote,

 

I have an idea, or two. So, I'm going to try these. I'll post these once they are done.

I have a house full of teenage boys today. My boys have 4 friends over; they've slept over, and all I can say is that I am eternally grateful that I only have 2 teenage boys to deal with . 6 is way over the top. Lol Boy, can they eat!!!!!!!! Yeesh! Lol

So, until next time. Be safe.

Laura

Happy Hauntings!

Happy Halloween!!!

How is the weather where you are? For us, in northern Quebec, it's rainy, and mild. Not as severe as it was on Monday or Tuesday, after Hurricane Sunday. Wasn't that something?? I still haven't had contact with my good friend who lives in NJ, which seems to have had the brunt of this storm. I hope she is alright, her and her little boy.

Not the perfect temperature to go trick or treating tonight. But we'll see how the weather is later on in the day.  Hopefully Mother Nature will have a soft spot for all the kiddies, and have it clear for tonight.

It's kind of bittersweet for me. My 2 boys, whom are 14, are not as excited for Halloween as they used to be. :( One is not dressing up at all (party pooper) and the other is going as a ghost..........? It was fun over the past few years, getting their costumes ready. We made their costumes together. One year, Ray went as a Heinz Ketchup bottle! That was cool! He ended up in our local paper, along with his mad scientist brother. Another year, they went as salt and pepper shakers. Good times.

But I do get to experience Halloween with my DD . She's almost 3, and is now into princesses and mermaids and ballerinas. My SIL lent me a dress for her, so DD is going to be Ariel, from the little mermaid, with the big pouffy dress. I had to hide the dress, because DD wanted to wear it ALL......THE....TIME! Literally. Lol

Halloween is going to be different for us this year. We usually go to a little town closest to us, where the Main street is blocked off by the FD  on both ends, and the kids can roam safely door to door. Not this year. The road is being re-done, so this poses a danger to kids, so no Trick or treating there. The City hall will be the haunted house this year, and it's encouraged to give candy there. We will probably stop off there on the way home. We are planning to go the next town over, where there's a huge Halloween parade scheduled for 6 :00 p.m. And kids get lots of candy there from the patrons. Should be fun. I'm thankful that my kids are not candy crazy , meaning they are content with a 'normal' amount of candy. We are usually out for an hour max. That's it. I'm happy with that! My nieces and nephews are out for hours, and they never seem content with the amount of candy they get---which I never understood! But whatever! Lol

I got crafty again this past weekend!

This is for this week's challenge at Crop Chocolate----texture! I use corrugated paper (had that sheet for so long! Almost got rid of it many times--good thing I didn't!) and used my red Jillibean corrugated letters---love those!

I also received my cards from the Christmas card swap I participated in at Crop Chocolate. These, my friends, are from some VERY talented ladies!!

 

Anyways, be safe. Have a safe Halloween---Happy Hauntings!

Laura

Happy Thursday!

Good morning---or afternoon, wherever you are!

How has your week been going??

Mine--pretty darn good! For someone who was in a crafting slump a little while ago, I sure got bit by the crafting bug. It seems like I just want to craft, specifically scrapbook, all the time!

I also made a decision. A very BIG personal decision, it's big for me anyways. Let me explain. I receive many emails every day, mostly updates from scrapbooking/crafting blogs. (Love those blogs!) Anyhow, some of those updates are from companies like MME, Authentique, etc. Get the picture? And there are usually challenges being offered. I usually did the challenges for Crop Chocolate, which is fun---at times challenging, but fun. Sooo..My decision is to submit some challenges for other company/site's challenges. Which is a HUGE thing for me. I guess because it seems I lack confidence. I don't know why. Maybe it's the fear of rejection...who knows? But all I do know is that I have to conquer that crutch.

So,my first attempt is for the MME October challenge.

 One of my handsome men this past summer.  Love this picture...well, the one on the left, anyways. The second  is not so bad neither, it shows his goofy side---gets that from his father, I swear! :)

So, that's my challenge submission. I hope it's ok. I think it is.

Until next time.

Laura

Monday morning blahs?

Monday blahs!

Who needs them?? Not me! I think the weather  has a lot to do with our mood. If Mr. Sun is rising, and his rays are coming through the widows, our mood is more uplifted. If the weather is damp and rainy , like today, then our mood is kind of blah! Which is a shame, because in all honesty, I love this time of year. Where I live with my family is absolutely beautiful----we're surrounded by nature. I will take pictures and post them just to show you what I see everyday! I am very grateful to live where I do. But today is a slow start for the week for me.

I did get some crafting done this past weekend.

I did the weekly challenge for one of my favourite websites--Crop Chocolate. The challenge consisted of making a project using neutral color (white, black or brown) and 3 bright colors. Sounds easy, right?  Well, maybe because I was in an inspiration slump, and just couldn't grasp a great idea, but I had difficulty coming up with a project. Soooo....I went through this fab site---maybe you heard of it?? PINTEREST!! So many beautiful projects on that site! Also very addictive! Lol

But I accomplished that challenge!! Simple, but I kinda like it. I know, we are our own worst critic!

 

I also did another card challenge for another site that I like to frequent. Their blog is great---I like! Crafty Steals! The challenge appealed to me because of the cause, I think. A 2 birds with one stone, kid of challenge. The card that we make can be sent to this  organization which will then give the cards to  centers and clinics for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought this would be great! If you want to check it out, here's the address:

girlslovemail.com  I am going to make more cards to send. Here's my card, to start:

 

I also did another challenge (Yah me!!) This time, for October Afternoon. I *LOVE* this line! I think it's because of the whimsy, playful  elements of their products. Just love it! And I did this months' sketch. This is my first time submitting a project for them. I am still unsure of my LO. I feel it is missing something. Not sure. But I still like it! Lol

 

So, that's my weekend in a nutshell. Now time to go for a walk with my DD and our dog Thunder. I'm sure he'll give us a few laughs, as usual. He loves the falling leaves---he chases them, and DD cracks up, which in turn, make me laugh! It's all good!

Until next time, which won't be as long as a wait. I do have to become more consistent with this blog business!

Keep smiling!

Laura

Got my craft on!

Good morning  to you all!

Happy Wednesday!

What will today bring? Who knows?

Yesterday I got crafty. With so many birthdays in October, I've been busy making cards. My nephew's 3 rd birthday is this weekend, and so is his party. A small get together for the younger kids. My DD, 2 3/4, is pretty excited---it's her first 'real' kid party, besides her own. She wants to make her cousin Royce a birthday card also. I think I'm also going to have to make another card like Royce's here.

So, I recently purchased the Cars cartridge for my Cricut machine, at a great price. (Thank you Brit!)

And Royce likes Cars--sooooo! I made him a card! Let me say this, though, I had difficulty with this cartridge---cuts so much better in bigger cuts, and there are many, many small pieces. The picture for the design is very small, so one must squint! Yeesh! Lol. But other than that, I think it turned out pretty good!

 

And so, his card is done! It'll go great with his gift--we bought him the Cars DVD. Can't wait to see his reaction---he's a cutie!

I also realized last night that Crop Chocolate has another challenge up, besides the Instructagram one. I will have to check it out, as it's due tomorrow.

Until then. Be safe. Get crafty. Love one another.

Laura

CC blog hop entries

Hiya!!

Happy Thanksgiving for my Cdn. friends, and happy belated World Cardmaking Day! 

A little late, but better than never! :)

I got some cards done for the Crop Chocolate blog hop....and it was great! These are super duper talented ladies!!! Some challenges were more challenging than ever for me....probably because I was in a creative slump, and I had so much going on here.

 So, without further adieu, here are my cards, in no particular order:

So those are my entries!

I had fun! I wish I was able to do more---but alas! Life happens!

Until next time.

Laura