June Garden Sketch~

Once again I made sure that I created a layout using The Cutting Garden's June sketch. Such a sweet sketch deserved one of the sweetest photos!

This is The Cutting Garden's June sketch that I based my layout on.

My layout was created using Echo Parks's Bundle of Joy Collection of patterned papers and coordinating stickers. This collection is available at The Cutting Garden.

Sketchabilities #92~

From time to time I like to sit back and be inspired by a great sketch. This has been one of my favourites to work with by the challenge blog Sketchabilities.

Here is the layout I created using the sketch. I used patterned paper and embellishments from the Simple Stories, 24/7 Collection. Great, fun colours to work with. When I pulled out the paper collection I knew exactly what photos I was going to use. Photos I took just the other day of Zoe and Margaret skipping home from school.

This is the Sketchabilities sketch that I based my layout on.

Thanks for stopping by, I challenge you to create using this great sketch as well!

Challenge #57: Masculine~

It is that time again for Use It Tuesday's bi weekly challenge. Use It Tuesday challenges everyone out there, to dig into your stash of paper crafting goodies that you may have laying around and CREATE!

This time around the challenge was Masculine. Often harder to do than one may think. Ask any scrapbooker you may know that has boys. I love using flowers and anything that's shiny. But for this layout I went simple using My Mind's Eye, Tres Jolie collection that I have had for over 6 years. I remember buying it at The Cutting Garden 3 locations ago! I added a paper bag ruffle border for texture and a little blue thread.

But for the final touch I used this ornate wooden button from Buttons Galore & More.

So I challenge all of you out there to get a little Masculine in the next couple of weeks and take our challenge. It's fun and it's easy to enter, just swing over to Use It Tuesday for all the information.

I Love the USA Blog Hop~

When I was given the choice to participate in this blog hop or not, I jumped at the chance and said yes. I love a challenge. It's not often a Canadian designer  really gets to create with red, white and blue and a patriotic theme. All of the other designers come from all walks of crafty life. Most of them with loads of experience working with fabric. I will admit, as a paper crafter...not often do I work with fabric. Those who know me will tell you that sewing machines and I do NOT get along. I am here to tell you that there is a product out there that paper crafters are going to love!

Here are some of the I Love the USA Blog Hop sponsors:

• General Fabrics~ America the Beautiful designed by Laura Kelly
• Plaid
• Fiskars
• Coats and Clark
• Buttons Galore & More
• Joann Stores
• Cre8Time

The I Love the USA blog hop is co hosted by Laura Kelly of LauraKellyDesigns.com and Jen Goode of 100Directions.com

So, there it is in the photo below in all it's glory...Phoomph. What is Phoomph you may ask? Simply put, it is a dense felt with a strong adhesive on the back and front. You can adhere fabric of your choice on one side (or both sides) and then using scissors or your paper trimmer you can cut the fabric into any shape you wish. Fantastic right? The other good news is that it comes in all sorts of colors. I just happened to use red, white and blue on my projects.

For my first project, I stayed with what I know best...scrapbooking. This is the layout I created with some of the fantastic products we were provided. Laura Kelly was kind enough to supply me with some great 4th of July photos.

I knew right away when I saw Laura Kelly's fabric that I wanted to create a great ruffle border for my layout. Make sure you use a good strong adhesive before attempting. Hot glue would work best.

I used Phoomph and a section of Laura Kelly's fabric for the title banner. I cut it out with scissors and followed the design itself.

The great red, white and blue button mix from Buttons Galore & More provided the perfect accent. I used the white embroidery floss to string each button, and the red and blue thread to tie knots on some of the buttons.

Something I love to do with paper is create mitered frames with patterned paper. Phoomph allowed me to do this with Laura Kelly's fabric.

My second project is a table display for a 4th of July BBQ. I simply added strips of fabric to the tray itself and knots of frayed fabric on the handles.

One tin holds drink labels and the Laura Kelly doodling marker by Sharpie.

The next tin holds napkin wrapped utensils tied with strips of frayed fabric.

The third tin holds sparkler cards. Simple cards of layered cardstock with a slit where the sparklers feed through. I added a small Phoomph border of fabric and I cut out the sweet little dog. Then I tied another strip of frayed fabric around the whole card.

Thank you for stopping by during the I Love the USA blog hop. I hope all that you've seen has inspired you to get a little crafty for your 4th of July celebration!

Your next stop while hopping should be Laura Bray's blog, http://laurabraydesigns.com/sit-upon

For a complete list of the Blog Hop participants be sure to check in at Laura Kelly Designs or 100 Directions

Hopscotch~

I am so excited every month when my kit comes in the mail from Down a Dirt Road Scrapbooking. I can't wait to open the box and see what Alicia has sent for me to design with. This month, the patterned papers were from Basic Grey's, Hopscotch Collection. Part of the challenge of designing, is that sometimes you are given product to work with that you normally wouldn't pick for yourself for whatever reason. In this case, it was the color. I rarely will pick out paper for myself that has light blue as one of the main colors. The only other color I would use less than that would be purple. I don't know why, just not what I gravitate towards.

The color challenge made it fun! Turns out I had lots of photos to go with the papers and it all worked out!

I had quite a few left over flags from the previous layout, so I decided to make a quick and simple card with them.

All the products came from Down a Dirt Road Scrapbooking. To check them out click here.

Coming Soon~

The I Love the USA Blog Hop is just around the corner. Be sure to check back to see all the red, white and blue craftiness!

A Year Has Flown By~

It is so hard to believe that it has only been a year since the day that we picked Kya up from her foster home in Halifax through the Atlantic Small Dog Rescue. She has added so much to our family, that it seems like she has always been here by our sides. The happiness that she adds to our lives on a daily basis with her antics and sweet face is priceless!

It was the Sunday immediately after marching in the Apple Blossom Parade last year, that we arranged to pick her up outside of Halifax. We then made our way to Pictou County to get our engagement photos taken by Christine of WonkyEye Photography. When we arrived Christine's sweet rescue dog Paddie was so excited to have a friend to play with. Christine and Dave have a large beautiful property in the country, she ensured us that Paddie would never lead Kya to harm. So we let Kya out of the car to run and play while we had our photos taken. The photo below is one of 2 photos that Christine got of Kya, during a quick pit stop. Then she was off again to play. Our first family photo!

Soon enough after that it was summer time, which meant her first trip to PEI to visit her Nanny and Poppy. She put them to the test the first evening we were there by eating the arm of their couch in the sun porch while we popped out for supper just up the street. But since then she has been spoiled, always getting little pieces of meat from Nanny and playing fetch in the back yard with Poppy.

When in PEI, we LOVE going to the beach! So this year we were sure to find all the dog friendly beaches for the whole family. Blooming Point beach is a favorite so far. We soon found out that she loves to dig in the sand.

This photo makes me laugh every time. Both the look on her face and my photography skills. She LOVES the water, and will try to swim whether it's in the ocean, a lake, a pond or a puddle.

We had a good deal of beach time last summer, and we're looking forward to the same this year.

As a family we also started a new hobby last summer, geocaching. Kya loves it too! We find our hidden treasures and Kya always finds sticks!

Kya, soaking up the cuddles from Margaret at Masstown Market.

We were back and forth on the ferry last summer about 10 times if I remember correctly. Kya became a pro.

Soon after Kya came home with us we realized just how far her love of water would take her. If you are not careful she WILL get in the shower with you. Which also makes it easy to bath her when she does need it.

A snapshot I took while decorating the Christmas tree. She always keeps an eye on what we do, rarely are we out of her sight. so when I needed to lay the lights down to test them...she was on the couch next to the plug. She wasn't bothered in the least.

Turns out she loves the snow almost as much as she loves the water. She could be a professional snow catcher.

We could not thank the Atlantic Small Dog Rescue enough for all that they do to find forever homes for all the sweet animals that come their way big AND small. Our family is forever changed for the better.

A Few Great Days~

I have had a pretty great weekend of fun, festivities and news! Today was a continuation when the mailman left my summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker magazine. A layout that I submitted showed up 3 times in the publication, and I am thrilled!

First was on a subscription page, "Never miss an issue!".

Next was the full page next to the introduction to that section of the magazine, Photobooth Fun.

Then the actual full page of the layout itself. The magazine had a call for layouts with photobooth photos as the theme. This was one of my favorites from our wedding, so I had fun creating the layout and took the chance submitting it. Before I knew it I got the email asking me to send the layout their way for publication.

In case you missed it, I found out yesterday when catching up online, that I was named May's Featured Fan for Teresa Collins Designs. Teresa Collins has to currently be my favorite designer! I adore her collections of product! So to be given the chance to be a featured fan, is beyond fantastic for me!

To check out the Teresa Collins post click HERE.