December 15?!!!!

I can't believe it is December 15th already.  It feels like it's still the first week of December.  I've been busy decorating, shopping, mailing parcels and cards (store bought - did I just admit that?!) and I'm just about done.  I still haven't finished the cards I am making, I was hoping to finish that yesterday.   I always plan to make all of my cards, and then the closer to Christmas, the list just keeps shrinking!  Are any of you like that?
This December is a lot different for me than last year.  It was a year on December 2nd, that my journey with breast cancer began and I spent the entire holiday, waiting for my results, which I never received until the first week of January.  In my heart, I knew that the results weren't going to be good, but I tried to keep positive.  It was really hard to enjoy the holidays, especially since I didn't tell anyone, except my husband and my sister Pat.  I am so grateful and happy that I am here, healthy and ready to appreciate life; the good and the bad, so I am enjoying all the little things that December brings too.  Even this blizzard we are having  today!  I know that sounds weird, but I love looking outside when I'm in my scrapbook room, or snuggled up with a good book or watching t.v.  Is there anyone else out there that likes this, or am I the only weird one?


My sister Pat, her daughter Kayla, and I enjoy going to the "Festival of Trees" every year to start off our holiday season.  We love looking at all the decorated trees.  I usually go home and want to buy more decorations!

Last Sunday night, my husband, son and his girlfriend, and I went to Devonian Garden's Luminaria.  It's on for two evenings in their Japanese Gardens.  They light all the pathways with candles in Luminary bags.  This is the first time we have gone, but I don't know if we would go again.  It was so packed with people, you couldn't really enjoy the beauty of being out in the garden with just the light of the candles.  They had carolers, but we heard them sing just one song, and we didn't see the wood sprites (lit up with twinkling lights) wandering around the garden.  There were bonfires going, but a lot of people were gathered around, trying to keep warm. I am glad we went though, I always wanted to check it out but never seemed to make the time to go.  That's the trouble, sometimes, when an event is so popular, it gets way too crowded.   I took my camera, but managed to get only one good photo.  Note to self:  preset the camera in the light, so you can see what you are doing!  It was so dark I couldn't see the settings!  Seems I wasn't the only one with that problem!  I did take my monopod(my son bought it for me last Christmas) instead of my tripod, which is so handy!  It's easy to carry and I just rest it against something to stabilize it.













This Friday is our staff Christmas Party, which we all look forward to.
It's just us girls from the store, no husbands!  I hate to admit it, but I think we all have a better time with just us girls.  Pat and Lori make the most amazing hors d'oeuvres and that's what we eat, all evening!
Speaking of Urban Scrapbook, check out their blog . They have been giving away prizes everyday!

Here are my projects for December's kit from "The Little Black Dress Kit Club".  This month's kit was full of bright and colorful papers and embellishments!







































This is the first layout.  I used my Slice (again!) for the snowflakes, bell, stars and poinsettia.  We moved out to the small town of Gibbons, when we were starting our family.  Every Christmas Santa would arrive on the town's fire truck, and hand out candy to every house.  The kids loved this!

Did you know that when your kids grow up and leave home, you are reduced to dressing up the family pet so you can take christmas photos?  At least she will sit still and pose for the camera!  Actually she will do anything for a treat.  I cut out the poinsettias on this layout, using my Tim Holtz flower die.  On one of his 12 tags of Christmas, he showed how to cut apart the flower and make a poinsettia.  Great idea, so check this out and his other amazing techniques.  I cut out the corrugated paper with my Sizzix snowflake die and reversed the snowflakes to the backside, used some stickles to sparkle them and pop dotted them.  Love these mini letters from Glitz too.

Seeing as how some of the papers were Teresa Collins' birthday collection and the rest were so colorful, I decided to do a few birthday related projects.  This is my oldest son, Reece at his 2nd birthday party.
He was pretty excited after blowing out the candles on his Bert and Ernie cake.  Love all the vintage cards that were in this kit!




















A birthday card.  I loved this orange trim from Making Memories that was in the kit.  I wish they made it in other colors!  I added in some crepe paper(it wasn't in the kit) gathered, stickled the edges with Tiara Glitz Stickles.  This color is my favorite, it's more sparkly and kind of vintage colored.  I cut out the "Happy Birthday" with my Slice.
                            
Next, is a project that took me longer than I had planned, a birthday party hat gift box.  


I took a papermache round box (about 4 or 5 inches in diameter).  Cut out a cone shape out of brown paper or cardstock.  I found  this template on the internet and played around with the size.  The website is Creativepartyblog


I attached the cone to the top of the box, using strips from a brown paper bag and white glue.  This attaches the cone securely.  I then painted the rim and underside of the top, and the bottom and inside of the box with white paint.  Next cut out a cone with patterned paper.

This paper from the kit, was Teresa Collins.  Glue this onto the brown cone.  I've done the two layers to make it stronger, just like the box.
Next, cover the bottom with patterned or colored paper.  This green paper is from Glitz.

To make the ruffle, I cut three strips of paper, machine stitched a large gathering stitch down the center of each strip.  Next, wet the strips and dab with a paper towel.  This is the only way to gather your paper, take care not to tear it when gathering.  I find it's easier with the thicker paper, it doesn't tear as easy when it's wet.  Let the strips dry, then ink the edges.  I sewed a gathering stitch down the center of some crepe paper (the rolls found in party supplies) and gathered.
I dipped the edges of the ruffled crepe paper in white glue and then dipped in glitter.   Adhere the crepe paper ruffle to the rim of the boxtop, then the paper ruffle.  I then cut three strips (1/4" wide) pleated these strips, and adhered to the center of the ruffle.  You could also use thin ribbon, but there wasn't a long enough piece in this kit to do that, so I used paper.  I cut out a star and the matching shadow with my slice, and used the Glitz big rhinestones down the middle.  I used the tulle that was in the kit, for the top and a bit of ribbon.  For the banner that's inside the box,  I covered the Jenni Bowlin chipboard shapes with paper, and used the Glitz letter stickers to spell out Happy Birthday.  I punch two little holes on each banner and strung them on some embroidery floss.  And there you have a gift box.  If I'm giving a gift card or money as a gift, I try and make or find a cool box to give it in, so it feels more like a gift.
Those are my projects for this month's kit, hope you enjoyed the little tutorial.
This is a long post!  That's what happens when you haven't done it for awhile!  I better go work on those Christmas cards!  I have to get those done, before I work on my December Daily, which I'm falling behind!

Take care  and have a great day tomorrow!

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It's December 1st and...

I've decided this is the year I'm actually going to do a December Daily.  I started preparing one for last December, but that's when I went for my mammogram and well, for those of you who know what I've been going through this year, you can understand why I really didn't feel like doing it.  For anyone who doesn't know what a December Daily is, just check out Ali Edwards, who started doing this every December.  I have so much to be grateful for and I really want to appreciate and enjoy the small things that this month brings. I think documenting something everyday will inspire me to enjoy each day. I used my 7Gypsies photoholder for this project.  I bought all the different pages for this and never got around to doing anything, so I thought this would be perfect for this project.  It's also a great way to use some of those Christmas embellishments and papers that I have been hoarding these past years!


















I did this layout last night.  It was nice to just sit down and create something that wasn't "homework", as my husband calls my scrapbooking for the store or design team.  I used Basic Grey's Christmas "Jovial" papers and embellishments for this.  The letters are "Ruby Rocket Designs"and the deer were cut out using my Tim Holtz die and grunge paper.






















Have a great evening!
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Tradition...

is the word for Urban Scrapbook's December challenge kit.  I'm sure we all have certain traditions that we do each year during the holiday season.  This month the kit is filled with Teresa Collins paper and embellishments which is so easy to scrapbook with!  We all had to do either a 2-page layout or a layout and two cards, so make sure you check out what the design team came up with!
Our family has a few traditions, but I think we all enjoy going out to Lake Isle every Boxing Day (that's our Canadian "Black Friday" on Dec. 26th) and just enjoying the peace and quiet.  By that time we are all shopped out and need to get away from the commercial side of Christmas.  There's usually a couple of patches of ice cleared on the lake for skating and hockey games, so depending how cold it is, some of us enjoy that.  I love going for walks along the quiet roads.  Last year, three deer ran across the road, right in front of me.  Luckily I had my camera and managed to get a few fast photos!  There's usually a crib game going on inside and someone always brings a puzzle for everyone to work on.  We all get pretty determined to get that puzzle finished, as you can see by my photos on my layouts.  The men seem to think that it's better when they stand while working on the puzzle!  One year, nobody brought one out,   but luckily our niece's daughters got a Miley Cyrus puzzle for Christmas.  It was pretty funny to see all the men gathered around working on that puzzle!











































We had a piece of gold vellum in our kits, so I stamped mine in spots with Staz-on ink and a music note stamp, then cut out snowflakes with punches, my Slice and Spellbinders.  I also embossed the bottom strips of red cardstock with a Tim Holtz snowflake embossing folder.  It's hard to see here in the photos, but it embossed so nice!
Tomorrow is December 1st and Tim Holtz starts his 12 days of Christmas Tags!  Even if you don't do the tags, he has some amazing techniques and ideas, so be sure you check out his blog.  I'm sure he will be using some of his new dies and embossing folders, so I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with.
Also, starting tomorrow; Urban Scrapbook is having 12 days of Christmas specials - so check your emails!  If you don't receive their emails, sign up - because that's the only way to get in on the specials!
Have a great day!
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Some Little Black Dress....

projects for their November kit.  Love all the new Glitz paper and embellishments in this kit!



































Love all these "Glitz" vintage looking cards.  The papers used here are My Mind's Eye and The Girl's Paperie. I used my Slice Mistletoe cartridge for the gingerbread man and the snowflake.  I circled the numbers; 3,7 and 9 on the bingo card 'cause that's how old my kids were!





















The background paper here was Basic Grey, but I inked, masked and stamped it.  I also cut out a square the same size as my Tim Holtz "Postcard" embossing folder from that same sheet (in that same spot you see it here on the layout) and put it through my Cuttlebug.  I cut out two sheets of Glitz paper, each one a little bigger than the other and layered them underneath the embossed paper, sewed around the edge of the plain paper and distressed the edges.  I then adhered that paper back over the area where the hole was, after I placed the photo and diecuts.  I cut out the flowers with my Slice. This was the last time my daughter came home for Christmas, I wish she could come home every year!  This year she's spending it in Italy! (Lucky girl!)  In this next layout, she's 2 years old here, where did the time go?






















Lots of inking, masking, misting, stamping and distressing here too!  I used everything on this Glitz polka dot paper.  I like to lightly stamp in the corners or different areas of the paper so you can barely see the stamp.  Just like some papers that you buy already like that.  In the kit, there are some vintage book pages and I tried to emboss one.  But it kind of fell apart so I inked and glued all the pieces behind the polka dot paper. There's some Teresa Collins paper too in this layout, more Glitz diecuts, Jenni Bowlin chipboard button, and a Maya Road flower.  I used my Slice again for the star, snowflakes and words.




















More Glitz paper and diecuts here and the background paper is Pink Paislee's Anthology line(inked and misted). The deer are cut out using the new Tim Holtz deer alterations die, then embossed with Ranger's glitter embossing powder.






















I had this unfinished wooden box, so I covered it in the My Mind's Eye,"Lost and Found" paper.  I then used a flower from the kit, diecut, glitter tulle and  flowers made with my Slice and decorated the top.  It's always nice to give a gift certificate or giftcard in a special container, then it feels more like a gift!
Well, that's my projects for this month's kit.  I still have some bits left, I might just try to do a few cards to  use it all up.
Have a great weekend!
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Time to move on....

I packed up all my Halloween decorations yesterday, it's time to start thinking about Christmas.  My house looks so bare right now, but it's way to early to decorate for Christmas.  I am hoping to start  earlier this year on my Christmas cards (I say this every year!) and actually make all of them instead of just for the Girls at Urban!
 Here's my November page challenge for Urban Scrapbook.  We all had to use the word "happy", in our title or journaling and this month's kit was filled with Fancy Pants papers and embellishments.












This layout is of my youngest son and his girlfriend.  They both graduated from University with a Bachelor of Design Degree this June.  Right now they are both in Shanghai.   Devin has been there since August designing office furniture and he has sent us one email.  Sarah joined him just over a week ago, and she has already emailed me, telling me all the news!  I've told him many times, don't do anything to screw this up, she's a keeper!!  He is so in love, I'm sure  there won't be any chance of that!  Anyways, this is my layout, check out what the rest of the girls have done at Urban.  Speaking of Urban Scrapbook; I worked on Monday and it was the first day open at the new store.  Other than not knowing where everything is now, it was so nice to be in the new location.  They are planning a grand opening on Nov. 6th, so come and visit us and see our gorgeous new store!
Have a great day!
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Happy Halloween!














































Aren't these the coolest carved pumpkins! They are done by a master pumpkin carver,  Ray Villafane , who even has a tutorial on his blog.  Check out his other pumpkins, they are amazing!
Well, Pat and I made it to Spooktacular on Friday night, but we were so tired from moving the store all day, that we just couldn't stand in line to go in the haunted houses.  After standing for more than an hour to get into the first house, and still not even close to getting in, we gave up.  We sat and had hot chocolate while Pat's daughter and friends went in.  It wasn't as good as last year, so we were a little disappointed.  The gypsy fire dancers weren't  there and the line-ups were so long for the haunted houses.  I guess Saturday wasn't as bad but hopefully they fix it next year.
Here's a spooky photo of Pat as we were leaving, it got really foggy out when we were leaving!  I added a few actions by JoesSisah to make it spookier.


















Here's a photo of the zombies dancing to "Thriller" in the graveyard.














Urban Scrapbook is all moved and ready for business Monday morning.  I am still amazed how fast we got everything done.  All the staff showed up with their husbands on Saturday and we got everything put back.  Come and check out the new store this week!  Pat and Lori are also having a big grand opening, check out the store's blog and website for details.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
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Trick or Treat?

Roxy has been practicing her tricks so she'll get lots of treats!




Are you ready for Halloween?
We've a bad week of weather (snow!) so hopefully it warms up a bit for Sunday.  I don't get a lot of children, last year was probably the most I've had, around 50.  I waited until yesterday to buy my treats, they seem to disappear before the 31st!
Here's a photo of a witch's boot that I made last year.  I had quite a few people ask how I made it (it was on display at Urban Scrapbook) and I kept the template somewhere, but I can't remember where I put it.
I basically made template of a boot sole, complete with pointy toe, and one of a boot side(cut 2 of these).  I didn't worry about them being perfect, as long as the length of the sole and the bottom of the side was about the same.
I made little cuts about 1/4 inch deep all around the sole and the bottom of the sides and turned them in.  glue the backs of the two sides together and then the tip of the boot.  Next glue the sole to the sides.  I then sprayed the whole boot with glimmer mist, until the boot was saturated.  I next molded the boot into the shape I wanted, let dry.  For the heel, I sprayed leftover paper and twisted and played around with it until it resembled a heel.  Spray the tongue and let these dry. Attach the tongue at the front of the boot, under the sides.  I used some 7Gypsies paper fasteners with string slipped through them before pressing the fasteners closed to bring the two sides together.  Attach the heel to the bottom.  This boot isn't meant to be perfect looking!  It was fun to experiment as I went along, I don't think you could ever get two exactly the same!

I love vintage looking Halloween decorations, and I seem to  have more witch themed things than anything!  Looks like I have accumulated a few witches!  Here are some of my favorites!


Pat and I are going with her daughter and friend to Fort Edmonton's Spooktacular Friday night.  We went last year and had a great time!
Our favorite part was the gypsy fire dancers who performed in the street and the zombies dancing in the graveyard to "Thriller".  Maybe we will see some of our Urban customers there!
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
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The rest of...

my Little Black Dress Kit Club projects.  I still had a couple of cards to finish and since I had some product left still, I decided to do another layout.  It's amazing how much is in those kits, and there are lots of cool vintage things that I really want to use, so I just don't stop!
Here's my two cards:



































I really try and make at least two cards with these kits, so I actually have some on hand.  I usually am making a card the last minute and I hate that!  Now if I would just make some extra envelopes too that would even be better!
This layout is of my sister Pat (sorry, sis) a couple of Halloweens ago.  We dressed up as witches at the store and had a lot of fun!  Pat looked great in her costume, but drinking her coffee was a little difficult!
I wanted to use these number and time cards, so I came up with this title.  I don't know about you, but I need my morning coffee!  That's one of the things I missed the most when I was going through my chemo, it just didn't sit right in my stomach, and it tasted terrible! (everything had a metal taste, especially coffee)






















The cauldron and star were cut from my Slice machine and the witch is one of Tim Holtz's new diecuts.
That's it for today, have a great week!
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Little Black Dress ...

Kit Club projects finally!  I still have a couple of cards to finish, but I thought I'd better post these because before I know it, the next kit will be arriving.



Loved the colors in October's "Romance at Dusk" kit and lots of fun vintage embellishments!














First up, is a Halloween Cone, which I am giving directions.


I used a paper mache cone purchased from Michael's and covered it with patterned paper from Glitz (Hallowed Damask).  I place the paper on the diagonal  and use a glue stick to adhere it to the cone.  You will have to piece a small part at the back of the cone, at the top; but you won't notice once the ribbon is in place.  Instead of using different ribbons at the top, I used paper.



































The top paper is black shiny cardstock punched with a Martha Stewart border bunch.  Next one, I pleated paper, about 4 strips and sewed them together.  The polka dot paper was sewn with a large running stitch down the center (3pieces).  I then wet the paper, dab to remove the excess water, and carefully gather.  Let the gathered strips dry and attach together. The yellow paper was just pleated and glued to the middle of the polka dot paper.  Before I glued down the polka dot strip, I glued down the satin ruffled ribbon.  The trick or treat medallion  was made using tissue paper and music note paper gathered and tied in a circle.  I then dipped the edges in white glue and dipped into glitter.  Set aside to dry.  The center was a journalling sticker, which I cut out the lined middle and stuck a book page behind.  Attach your letters (these are Thickers) and glue to the gathered papers.  Glue to the front of the cone.  I cut a strip of paper, fringed it, rolled it and glued it to the bottom of the cone.  Cover the end of the cone with ribbon.  I punched holes on either side of the top of the cone and strung ribbon through, tying a knot on the end inside the cone.  And that's your Halloween cone!
Here's some layouts, using the October Kit.






















My son, Devin, loved to imitate Jim Carrey all the time.  So when "The Mask" came out, that's all he wanted to be for Halloween.





















Loved all the pumpkins at Prairie Gardens, especially the grey ones!





















Can't have Halloween layouts without one of Roxy!  This was from last year and I haven't had a chance to scrapbook it.  The yellow, red and black colors were perfect for this photo!
I am always amazed how well she sits for these dress-up photos, she doesn't seem to mind wearing these outfits at all!  Of course she knows there are always treats for her after!
Check out what the rest of the design team did with this kit and also their special guest, Elizabeth Kartchner (Dear Lizzy) here.
Have a great Friday!
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Vintage Halloween Garland

I had intended to post this last night but it was getting late, so I decided to wait until today.  I had bought some vintage looking garland last year made out of tissue paper and thought it would be easy to make my own.  When I started to make it, I realized that my Martha Stewart Fringe scissors would make this project even easier!
Here goes:














These are the scissors and garland!























I bought two packages of tissue paper, one black and one orange.  I was looking for cream, but couldn't find any, so I went with two colors. Open up the sheets and layer, alternating the colors, making sure the edges line up.















Next, cut through all the layers (with regular scissors) a strip of about 2 - 2 1/2 inches in width, the entire length of the paper. Continue doing this until all the paper is cut into strips or how many you want to make.






















Next, you are going to take the strips and sew down the middle of each one.  I left some thread hanging on the ends so I could tie the garlands together.















Take your scissors (fringe scissors if you have them - makes it so easy and fast) and cut narrow strips toward the centre, taking care not to cut through the stitching.













Continue cutting all the way across and repeat on the other side.














This is what your fringed strip should look like.














Take the tissue strip in your hand and squish it until all the tissue is rumpled. 














This is how your finished garland should look.  Just tie as many together as you want, to get the length you would like.  I usually tie three or four together.  And there you have your vintage looking Halloween garland!

I have to show off my new purchase from the weekend!  Pat, Kayla and I went to the Antique Mall on Saturday (our favorite place) and found a few treasures.  This came home with me:














No, the spiders were not included!
I put spiders everywhere for Halloween; that's about as scary as I get!  Loved this old typewriter and I also found an old Kodak camera with it's original leather case.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have my "Little Black Dress Kit Club" projects done so I can share!
Have a great Thursday!
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