Manly Man Cards

Do you like the new look? I've been working on this for a while!

I guess you knew this was coming, didn't you?  The cards are made using the Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman" collection. I did use a few scraps from the 12x12 paper, but for the most part used papers from 8x8 paper pad.  I generally like 8x8 paper better for card making as the images are a better proportion for cards!  Two have been left without sayings, as the cards are versatile enough to be anything from Thanks, to birthday to thinking of you! I hope you enjoy these! My next project the March Recipe Cards for the Hilltop recipe swap!

I'm Challenged

Yesterday, my world was rocked a little when I found a new, at least new to me, blog!  What a talented, "BRAVE" woman this person is!  She has gone through some exceptionally difficult times and yet, when we walk into many a scrapbook store, we are reminded that she is a winner! I read, I cried, and I couldn't help thinking about the life lessons she has to share! I hope that you will give her blog a read and learn more about the woman who started and later sold Chatterbox and is now behind the very hot "Chip Art" tools.  I am of course speaking about Melody Ross. When you read her March 1st entry, you will see what I mean!

In my efforts to be more actively creative, I did finish another Graphic 45 project.  I made the frame using their new "On The Boardwalk" collection. I love this photo of my mother as a young girl going to the beach, not because it is a happy picture, but because it isn't! It is a "real" moment, one of the ones we so often fail to capture! My grandmother's choice of dress for a beach outing is another interesting item in the picture, as are the shovel and pail my mom is holding.

This is not a layout, though this shot might make it look like one.  It is a frame I found when foraging for items to alter! Other than the frame, all I've used is some paper from the Graphic 45 "On the Boardwalk" collection and a yard or less of ribbon!  I've added a second picture, just because I think the colours are truer and the project does look more like a frame and less like a layout on it!

Another Graphic 45 Project

Yes I know there is more out there than Graphic 45, but I'm on a mission to create/alter a number of things using their paper.  Why?  Because I've admired it forever and I've been collecting it...that's right, collecting and not really using!  If I were to say that I've decided to stop buying and just work out of my stash, I'd be lying, a big, big lie that!  I've been to the local scrapbook store twice this week and sorry to say bought some cute paper both times!

Does it give me a pass if I have people in mind to gift what I am doing to?  Well at any rate, here is my latest project, finished last night! Hope you enjoy it and if you do, please take a moment to let me know what you would use it for!  Thanks for looking and reading!

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I got the box itself, which was originally white,  at Homegoods.  After adding the paper to the inside and the outside drawer, I thought the box needed something more so I applied some paint and smeared it till it was dry. That done, I felt the outsides were too plain for the look from the front so I added paper, lace, flowers and some bling.  With just the paper and lace on the back, the left over space looked like a giant sky in need of flying birds and butterflies, my friend Charlene gave me the stickers and I handpainted the smaller birds with Smooch Ink to fill in the sky a little more.  I also used the Smooch ink to outline each layer of the paper flowers.

The materials used are: 

Paper is Tudor Rose from the Graphic 45 Renaissance Faire Collection

Melody Ross stickers

Kaiser flowers'

Smooch Ink

JoAnn bling

Lace from Hobby Lobby.

Spellbindder Nestability die

Bazzill cardstock .

A Very Manly Box - Graphic 45

I love Graphic 45 paper and decided to make my next few projects using it.  So after getting the paper, I went on a hunt for just the right items to alter.  The first was a black laquered box I found at Homegoods. I think it looks manly and is just perfect to place in my guest room, which just happens to have the same color scheme!

I can't wait to see if it is accepted into the Grahic 45 Gallery!

5 Things you DREAM of Accomplishing...Contest!

The first day of March heralds a bit of a change on the Friendship Corner. Instead of giving out blog candy to a random poster, you will now have to work to qualify! I thought we'd start with a one page challenge that describes 5 things that you DREAM of accomplishing. The operative word here is dream... While this can be weight loss, it can also be being the first woman to open a scrapbook store off world... and for the record, that one is taken, by me, LOL!

Your layout can be digital or traditional, but must include 3 or 5 pictures or drawing that come from your library or that can be staged by you just for the layout! I hope you can have fun with this. I am sure that we will all be better for thinking of and sharing our dreams!

In addition to posting your name and link in the Mister Linky box below, you must also leave a comment in the blog comment area.  This distinguishes between people just leaving a quick link and those who are serious about this contest! Deadline is 12:00am Eastern, March 31st, 2010.

The winner will not be dissapointed in the prize that he/she will receive, promise!


Latest Entries: (posted 03/16/2010) Some people are having a bit of a hard time getting their links to work so here are two layouts we've gotten so far:

Kate I: (Kate did a digital LO)

Janie's LO: (Janie's LO is a traditional layout)

I think that Billy missed me so much that he is scrared to let me out of his sight.  He follows me everywhere and cries if I don't let him into the room I'm in.  That rather sounds like a dog, doesn't it! Thanks to Billy, I'm pretty tired today! Guess who hid away last night so as not to be kicked out for the night! I closed the bedroom door thinking that my furry friend was out of the room  and discovered, at 1:30am, that he wasn't when he jumped on the bed and walked all over me, bumping and purring and wanting some loving! I was way too tired to get up and kick him out and so he woke me wanting petting all night long! When I finally did kick him out he pounded on the door to be let in. Not this time, kitty, your "staff" needs some sleep!

I've been working on restarting my scrapbook business up here.  It's important to me to do something both creative and that will earn me a little money to pay fort my scrapbook hobby!  No, no, don't even think that it should be described in other terms, my scrapbooking friends!

I've just signed up for a typepad business blog and am also working on a french language blog that I hope to work on with Marie-Laurence. One of the things I really need to do today is go down to the studio and get things organized, work on class samples, and yes, that again, the heritage album! But, sad to say, I'm not that motivated today! It's a veg type day!

CK Convention - Louisville, KY

I know, I've been home less than 48 hours and back on the road I went!  To put it in perspective though, when you've driven 933 mi – about 14 hours 27 mins nonstop or 18 or so hours with stops, what is a mere 99.9 miles?

Anyhow, I went, walked around for a couple of hours and came home. Was it great, no, not sure it was even good.  It seemed like most of the booths were selling page kits of various kinds, or stamps.  There was very little from the Winter CHA new products on display.  Perhaps it was too early for that, but one would have thought that the manufacturers would have made sure that that these retailers were towards the top of the shipping list given the importance of such conventions in generating local interest in their products.  But what do I know! 

I was facinated by a little stamp company that creates stamps that work with the spellbinder nestabilities and decided to get a wholesale account from them. Here are a couple of pictures of what they've done with the stamp and die. I'll be working on posting the stamps and nestabilities for sale perhaps tomorrow.  Today has been long enough and a good Canadian must watch the curling finals...

Retrospective of my Florida Trip

It was so wonderful to be able to see so many of my friends!  Not all, and that is always the thing when you are just visiting, but so many!  I was able to:

Spend some quality time with Ashley and Shaun:

Celebrate Janie's 65th birthday:

Attend the Hilltop "Winter Retreat" scrapbooking extravaganza:

 Host a crop of my own for my scrapbooking friends:

and most importantly,

 make peace with my move to Kentucky!

I say make peace, because being in Florida made me realize that it is no longer "home" to me.  Even walking around the "house" that we still own, my heart didn't recognize it as "home" anymore.  Life for me now, is here in Kentucky, though there is no doubt that I miss Shaun and Ashley, Janie and Marie-Laurence and Alicia, my wonderful neighbor from Florida, Joe, and all my FL scrapbook buddies. While in Florida, I discovered that I missed not only Hubby and Billy, but my home, my friend Charlene and my new scrapbook buddies!  That is a good thing and as it should be!

So today I celebrate my forever friends in Florida and my new friends in Kentucky, without forgetting my forever friends in Arkansas, Kenda and Debbie or all the friends I've left behind in Canada when I moved here! I'm also lucky enough to have some truly forever friends online that I know I can count on now and always. I can only hope that my friends know that they can count on me, now and forever! Lucky? You bet I am!

Fun In Florida

If timing is everything, then mine wasn't bad at all!  Instead of looking at snow, lots of snow in my yard in Kentucky, I got to see some sunshine, water, boats and palm trees.  It is obvious that the cold weather has played havoc with the grass, trees and shrubs which are far more brown than is normal for Florida at this time of year! But still, it ain't snow!

Since being down here, I've visited with a number of friends, Janie, Alicia, Marie-Laurence, Tami to name a few. I've visited scrapbook stores, scrapbooked, worked on a fabric box and had lots of good food. On the negative side, I'm still battling some sort of bug, seems that's been with me since November! Hopefully it will decide that it wants to stay in Florida when I go back home!!!

Guess What I did Tonight

I haven't laughed this much in a long time! I'm not quite sure if all the silliness was scripted.  It didn't seem like it was, but it definitely was a good show!  I heard hubby laugh more than he had in a long time! Jeff Dunham is one talented guy!  If you need a laugh, you can watch some of his routines on YouTube.

So was my day with the scrapbook buddies yesterday!  Fun and can't wait to see them again! Have a great week everyone!

M-C's Hug Your Friends Crop - February 17th- Riverview, FL

Have I ever mentionned that I have the most awesome friends, here , there and everywhere! I am so happy that I'll be going down to Florida to visit with my son and my some of bestest friends!  It will be a whirlwind, but one of the most exciting events for me is that I will be able to gather my friends for a crop on the 17th!


I was lucky enough to get a free private room at a venue in Riverview, that has all the amenities I might want for such an event! We'll be meeting from 5:50 to 10:30 and since there is a bar and a restaurant, anyone that wants to will be able to buy themselves something to eat and drink and I don't even have to clean up afterwards! We are all set to have a great time! Even friends that can't stay to crop are planing to show up.  How lucky am I! I am so grateful!


I'm pretty sure that I won't get a single scrapbook page done, but I do plan on bringing a camera, photo printer and a couple of premade layouts to add the pictures too!  I have a feeling that it will be one of those evenings that I will treasure forever!


I'm so excited, you have no idea!!

eCraft Electronic Cutting Systems

OK, I know, you're wondering what's up with me today! Nothing for days and now 3 new posts on the same day!  Like I said, things are changing in 2010!

I recently came across this new electronic die cutting machine and I am really excited to get this one!  As you may know I first got the Cricket and sold that and got the Silhouette by QucKutz.  However, I'm not a big fan of it either.  I hate the idea of sticky mats and having to play with the pressure depending on the thickness of the paper and the price and size of the Cricut cartridges are a real turnoff for me.  I did get a Slice and I have gotten most of the cartridges for it!  I actually like the Slice's portability.  However I am again at the mercy of proprietary software.  I can only buy MM Slice cards to use in the Slice. 

All that said, this new cutter, does not use sticky mats, it uses a paper tray and you can use any true font on your computer to create words  either directly by connecting the eCraft via a USB port or by transfering the image to an SD card and popping it into the card slot in the cutter.  It can print using 12 inch by any length paper, using a roll which allows you to print long banners! The eCraft also regulates the pressure needed to cut different medium, paper, cardstock, grunge paper, etc automatically. It also draws and cuts without the machine having to stop as it holds both the cutting blade and the drawing pens simultaneously. It will first draw the image and then cut it out! Watch this video and do let me know what you think!



Truly looks like Craftwell USA has solved a number of the problems of the first generation cutters.  And the colored ones are really cute!  BTW, I hear that they will cost between $199 and $300 and the pre-loaded cards will sell for around $30.  Not too bad...

Coming this week!

I've decided that 2010 is about triumphing over my normal sedentary nature and especially about forming new friendships and cementing existing ones.  In my great wisdom {ô.ô}, I've determined that I needed to step out of my comfort zone to make things happen. So, this week, I've got my friend Charlene joining me Tuesday to scrap and play.  On Wednesday evening I've organized a meetup for local empty nesters and then Friday I'm driving to a weekend scrapbooking retreat at the French Lick Resort Springs Hotel in Indiana.

I'm excited as I get to catch up with one of my longtime on-line friends Sandy who it just happens shares my birthday, though I do believe that she is a couple of years younger! I am truly looking forward to getting there, but I'm not sure what I'll bring with me! I've actually paid for two people, I was hoping that my buddy Janie would be able to come up for a visit, but unfortunately that didn't happen. So, if anyone reading this wants to join me and share my room, your cost is $129.50 plus tax. Package for one includes two nights, Friday night reception, Saturday box lunch, workshops and speakers and 20% discount meal coupons. There will be stores on site, including Archivers. It will be interesting to see how Archivers sets up and what they bring with them. I'll try to take pictures! Now to figure out what to bring!

Scrapbook Buddies - Meetup Kentucky

With the new year comes even more catching up to do! Last Wednesday evening, was the first meeting of the Kentucky based Scrapbook Buddies! My friend Charlene showed up early and brought some treats with her! I had already set up the craftroom and after making sure everything was in order, we went to grab a quick bite. Four other people showed up and it would appear that they had a great time! The room setup worked well and everyone seemed to interact with everyone else!  I can't wait for the next gathering.