Cut 'n Paste

My favorites

Photo courtesy of Stampin' Up! 

Here's a short list of a few of the stamp sets from the new Stampin' Up! catalog that I'm diggin':

• Lots of Bots: Item 115293 (below and finished samples above) 
• Framed with love: Item 114389 (below) 

 

• For all you do: Item 115360 (below)
• Woodgrain Background stamp: Item 117100 (below)

 

• Gallery: Item 113776
• Owl together now: Item 111534  

I am also really digging the following accessories and papers:

• INKS: the new IN-colors, especially Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede.
• Moments & Milestones Simply Scrappin kit: Item 115694
• Razzelberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper: Item 115675  (pictured below)
• Photo corners Punch: Item 109042
• Finial Press Embossing folder: Item 115963     

( You may click on any image to open a larger version of it) 

 

Photo courtesy of Stampin' Up!

While I've been gone...

Image courtesy Stampin' Up! Samples feature the new in-colors

Thanks so much for your patience...life has been speeding by this summer and I took an unofficial break from the blog world for a bit. While I was gone so many things happened:

• Hubby and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary
• We enjoyed catching up with 2 different sets of out-of-town visitors 
• We researched and booked our summer holiday 
• The season began for our hometown football team - Go lions! 
• We almost burnt our house down (faulty wiring for our dryer - until it's fixed, I'm guessing I'll be knocking on my mom's door with laundry in hand!) 
• Rick's softball team went undefeated in their league year-end tournament.     

While it has been nice to sit back a bit from the blog and recharge, I've also missed the interaction with you all!

Creatively, I've been in a bit of a slow period. I've been trying to organize my craft room, and have been doing more thinking than doing these past few weeks. While I have completed a number of layouts, until they are published, I can't share them - sorry. As far as what's been driving my creative spirit this week, I definitely wanted to take a moment to let you know that Stampin' Up!  just released their 2009-2010 catalog yesterday. So excited about this! They have some great new stamps, and their new in-colors are fabulous. I'm especially partial to the Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo! On Monday I'll share my favorite stamps from the catalog.

You can check out the new catalog here.

Today...

(A few more treasures from the Paris and Normandy flea markets. I came home with an assortment of vintage photos -gee, it's hard for me to turn them down! The frame/pendent on the right is actually fairly large. The interior is about 2.5 inches high.)

is a beautiful, sunny day here in Vancouver. I'm looking forward to enjoying it!

I wish you and yours a lovely day too :)

It all started with a date...

(Supply list: Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!, October Afternoon, K&Co., Cardstock: WorldWin and Bazzill., Stamps: Hero Arts ('I have you in my heart' and the Hearts), Stampin' Up! (the letter stamps), Buttons: Making Memories and Vintage mother of pearl, Ribbon: Stampin' Up! grosgrain, Ink: Pink Petunia and Aegean Blue Versa Magic ink pads by Tsukineko, Other: Clear embossing powder and heat tool, pink photo corners.)

Yesterday I had some fun new products to play around with, so I decided to make this layout. It took me a surprisingly short amount of time. It was one of those that I could 'see' in my head before I started making it. Love it when that happens! The photo is one of the few we have of my mom and dad from while they were dating. 

First, I scanned an old photo and enlarged it. Then I asked my mom and dad to help me out with the journalling. I asked them to write something about what they loved about each other while dating, or something along those lines. This morning I opened my email to discover what they'd written - I loved it! Hope you like this one as much as I do. (As usual, you can click on the layout to see it larger.)

PS - There are just 2 days left to take advantage of the May special from Stampin' Up!. They have two special offers: 'Buy 3 get one free' sale on all packs of Designer Series Paper or 12x12 cardstock, and they are also offering a fun alphabet set, a preview from their upcoming 2009-2010 catalog, at 20% off. (I used the alphabet for the 'x' and 'o' on this layout). Check out details here.

Ivory Flower

Yesterday as I was cleaning my studio I discovered the bag of treasures from my French flea marketing last fall. As unbelievable as it may seem, I had yet to unpack them. This particular broach is one of my favorites. It reminds me so much of the candelabras with carved ivory flowers which adorn many old Catholic churches. For the bargain price of €5, I bought this broach along with one other. This treasure was purchased at a large, dust filled shop which we happened to drive by in the Normandy country side. (See story here.)

If I can ever learn to properly wire wrap, I think this pretty would look fabulous as the centerpiece of a necklace.

Have a great day!

Thank you very much...

(Supply List: Patterned Paper: Stampin Up!, Stamps: Butterfly: Making Memories, 'Thank you very much': Hero Arts, Cardstock: World Win and Stampin' Up! Die Cut: Top Note by Stampin' Up!, Button: Making Memories, Pearls: Melissa Frances, Other: Scalloped edge punch by Stampin' Up, sewing machine, thread, clear embossing powder.)

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend. We tried to take it easy around here. We ended up deciding against booking a trip to Buenos Aires. As much as we wanted to go, with Rick's job it is quite possible that any holiday we book may be cancelled this year as he's on a big case. We also have so may things we want to do around here that we have decided to go more conservative on our plans for this summer.

Over the past few weeks I have been really crafting up a storm. Like many of you, I have periods where I am very productive, and times when I struggle to feel creative. I am finding myself falling in love with scrapbooking all over again. I am appreciating how it all boils down to telling a story. How our memories seem more real and tangible when we see them written on a page. What a delight to remember moments, achievements, goals, happy times, sad times, life, all on the page of a scrapbook. 

Speaking of scrapbooking, this month Stampin' Up! has a few great sales going on. If you're a patterned paper junkie like me, you will enjoy their 'buy 3 get one free' sale on all packs of Designer Series Paper or 12x12 cardstock. They are also offering a fun alphabet set, a preview from their upcoming 2009-2010 catalog, at 20% off. Check out details here. 

Our Adventure

 
(Supply List: Patterned Paper: K& Co. Autumn Leaves, Making Memories and Anna Griffin, Cardstock: Prism, Fonts: AL Uncle Charles, Copperplate Gothic Light. Stamps: Small heart: Art After Dark, Flower on left: Stampin' Up!, Large Heart: Stampington, Flower on right: Memory Box, 'Begins': See Dees stamps, Making Memories Chipboard and letter stickers. Other: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Stampin' Up! Scallopped punch, Stampin' Up! Top Note Die cut)

I was very excited to receive the Summer issue of the Canadian Scrapbooker magazine in the mail on Wednesday. I authored a travel article for the issue, and there was nothing like a deadline to 'encourage' me to finally get cracking on scrapbooking the photos from our holiday last fall.'Our Adventure Begins' is a layout chronicling the first out-and-about day of our vacation in France. It's also the first time that a photo from the fish eye lens I bought before our trip has been used in my scrapbook :)

I've been spending time Wednesdayand Thursday to try and decide on a holiday destination for Rick and I this year. We are very tempted to head to Buenos Aires. The airline I fly with has a reduced mileage promotion on right now, so Rick and I could fly for free. We're really not sure whether we should go for it or not. Deadline to book with the promotion is Sunday. I worry that if I don't use my miles soon, the airlines may change the policies or cancel them as they battle economic difficulties. However, there are a lot of things that we'd like to do around the house here (all of which cost money), so a lower cost holiday may be more desirable...lots to mull over, eh? If any of you have ever traveled to Buenos Aires and are willing to offer feedback, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the city/surrounding areas.

I wish all of my US friends a great Memorial day weekend.

P.S. - Click on the layout if you'd like to see a larger image of it.

Channeling my inner Rebecca

She is constantly inspiring and challenging me.  

This little ditty was made during a workshop last summer with Rebecca at our girls weekend away with myself, Rebecca, Teresa & Charlotte. How fun!  

Yearning...

 

...to be here. A little piece of paradise in the Normandy countryside of France.

To eat baguettes, boursin and pastries each day. To sit by the roaring fire each evening listening to old time radio programs via podcast. To dwell in a house that has seen so much history play out around it. To listen to the bells peel the hours from morning to night from the church directly behind the house.

This is the gite our family rented for four magnificent days last fall.

Today, this is where my soul longs to be...wouldn't you like to join me? :)

Hello Friend

(Supply List: Pink cardstock and Red patterned paper: 'Sweet Nothings' Simply Scrappin' KitI by Stampin' Up!, Aqua Chipboard: Making Memories, Stamps: flourish - Heidi Grace by Fiskars, thank you sentiment - Technique Tuesday, Pearls & Button: Melissa Frances, Ink: Versa Magic Chalk ink, White Cardstock: WorldWin, Ribbon: May Arts, Other: aqua and white thread, sewing machine. Scallopped scissors by Fiskars and scallopped border punch by Stampin' Up!)

I hope your week is going well. I'm in a cleaning mood and have been cleaning out my workspace.

Here's a little something I whipped up for a friend.

I'm really looking forward to tonight as the Canucks (my hometown and favorite NHL team) is beginning their second round playoff series. You can bet I'll be in front of the tv cheering on my team come game time :)