For A Special Family

My brother and his family have always lived very near to us. When we moved to Conquest three years ago, we were 45 minutes away and that is the farthest we have ever been. Needless to say, the kids are all very close.

Well, this past summer, my brother, his wife and their four kids moved away…far away…like a whole different province away. We miss them so much.

I saw the challenge for this week at Heart2Heart and it was to create something for someone you are thankful for. We are thankful for all the years we had living close to them and now we are thankful for the times we are able to get together with them.

This is what I came up with:

Supplies Used (CTMH unless noted):

Paper:
Passages (retired)

Stamps:
Homestead Alphabet (retired)
The Works Alphabet
Serve the Lord (Clear Dollar Stamps)

Accessories:
Wooden Rope Frame (Dollarama)
Eclectic Alphabet Irresistibles
Rub-Ons (retired)
Fabric Flowers (LSS)
Sparkles-Green Assortment

Pair-A-Phrase

I didn’t have time to do a page layout this week, but I did make several cards. Cards are easier for me because I can do them on my down time at work. I can’t very well pack all of the supplies I need to do pages, but I can take along stuff for card making. I decided to make cards with the Pair-A-Phrase stamp set and boy, did I make a lot of cards.

In fact, I have an extra set of 10 cards to give away. If you would like a chance to win them, all you need to do is become a follower of this blog and like my facebook page.

Here are the cards:

Supplies Used (CTMH, unless noted):

Stamps:
Pair-A-Phrase (retired)

Paper:
Magnifique
Fanfare
Animal Cookies
More To Adore
Jingle
Passages
Sweetheart
Wonderland
Life Delights
Grace
Dreamin’
Lucky

Accessories:
Clear Sparkles
Glitz Glitter Glue – Stardust

Round One – Adult Birthday

I hosted a scrap card swap again. Everyone gets the same scraps to create with, and a theme, and we all get to see what different ideas we come up with. Here are the scraps from round one:

…and here is the card I created using these scraps…

Supplies Used (all CTMH unless noted):

Paper: Passages Level 2 (retired)

Stamps: Make It Count

Embellishments: Cocoa Crossgrain, Clear Buttons, Colonial White Waxy Flax, Mocha Opaqes

Come back tomorrow to see some other creations with these scraps.

Live Inspired Frame

I love the way this frame turned out. It was fairly quick and simple to make and yet, I think it looks really elegant. It was my first attempt at Staz-On and it may be one of my new favorite things to use. It is inked on the outside of the glass, and while the picture does not do it justice, it gives it some dimension.

Supplies Used (CTMH unless noted):

Paper: Passages Level 2

 

Stamps: Live Inspired

 

Embellishments: Cocoa Crossgrain                                    

                                     Build-a-brad (SU!)

                                     Fabric Flowers (LSS)

Happy Birthday, Brother!

No, it is not my brother’s birthday, but when it is, I have a hard time making a card for him. Him, or any other male for that matter. No matter how hard I try, my cards always look very feminine. Making masculine cards is definitely something way out of my comfort zone. When I do make one, it always ends up looking so plain. I ordered the Passages paper, hoping for some inspiration on making a masculine card.  Well, I got the paper on Monday and decided I would try using the Heart 2 Heart challenge this week to design my card. They did a sketch challenge. It is City Scape from the Wishes Idea Book. Here is a graphic of the sketch:

…and here is the card I came up with:
(front)

(inside)

All of the products used to make this card are CTMH. I used the Passages WOTG, A Little Everything (March 2010 SOTM), Cocoa grosgrain ribbon and Wonderful Friend (June 2010 SOTM). The watch face on the front of the card is covered with Liquid Glass. The final size of the card is 5x7.

Little Boys!

There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.
Mark Twain

This perfect layout is another Passages by Sherri. This is the last of the swap postings. I want to thank all of the ladies for making this a great swap and for helping me add to my memory albums. Few things in life are as important.

Hooked on Camping

We are going camping in four days and we are so excited. We have not gone camping since Courtney was a baby, so this will be Alexandra’s first experience. We plan to spend a few days at the lake, taking in the Canada day celebrations.

Another great layout by Sherri. She is sure doing an excellent job of showcasing the Passages paper and it’s many uses. Actually one of the things I love so much about CTMH is that there are so many uses for all of their products. Take Liquid Glass for instance…I use it for scrapbooking, for fixing things, as an adhesive..etc., etc., etc.

Leave me a comment stating your favorite use for Liquid Glass. On July 15th, I will random draw from the comments and the winner will receive a bottle of Liquid Glass from me.

Live Inspired!

“Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be…Close your eyes and let your spirit start to soar, and you’ll live as you’ve never lived before.” Erich Fromm

The first time I saw the passages paper, I was reminded of this quote. I would love to find it on a stamp set. It would be so fitting.

Yet another wonderful creation by the Passages Queen, Sherri! Absolutely breathtaking!

A Second Passage

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost

I loved reciting this particular Frost poem when I was a kid and I love that Sherri used it on this Passages layout. It is so fitting, so perfect, so wonderful. It kind of makes me want to go on a road trip…you know?

Happy Father’s Day…

…to all the amazing dads out there, and especially to my husband, Marc. He is the world’s best Daddy and our kids are so lucky to have him home with them all the time. Happy Father’s Day, honey!

These Passages pages were created by the incredibly talented Sherri Lynne. She has had a lot going on in her life lately, and yet she still created some of the most amazing artwork I have ever seen. She created a different layout for each person, which makes the swap all that much harder. I am definitely inspired by her. I thought today was a fitting day to post them.