Heidi Swapp -- Crop and Create 2017

I've just returned from the Crop and Create Cornwall 2017.  What a great time we had, each and every event I meet more people and it is really starting to feel like home.  This years special guest was Heidi Swapp, what an honour it was to meet her.
Heidi spoke at the event, she lost her son a couple of years ago, she spoke of why what we scrapbookers do is so important.  I always knew I loved scrapbooking, but listening to Heidi made me reflect on why it was important to me.  So I decided to tell you a bit of my story.
I lost my mother to cancer when I was nine years old.  It was a long journey for her she was in the hospital for two consecutive years before she passed away.  I don't have much left of her, an old sewing case (cookie tin) she kept her threads in, her old singer, and a couple of photo's.
My youngest brother was diagnosed with cancer when he was 16 years old, he was given just 9 months to live, but I'm happy to say 30 years later he's still doing great.
When I was in my late teens my first sister in law committed suicide, she was 7.5 months pregnant at the time.  What a loss, and seeing my brother in such pain was heartbreaking.

I was diagnosed with cancer in 1997 at the age of 35, I was told I probably had 5 years, I spent nights looking at my sleeping children, crying, you know you are strong during the day, but just crumble at night. I had letters written for my son's who were 6 and 8 years old, letters for graduation, letters for Christmas, letters for the day they got married.  Thanks to a clinical trial I was on I'm  happy to report its now been twenty years.  I've grown accustom to not having any breast, ovaries,or any female parts and I love who I am.
Last year I lost my oldest brother to cancer.   I completed 6 scrapbooks for each of my remaining siblings and my parents and sister in law. he was a good man and lost his life too early.

This year my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and we are coping with that, one day at a time.  I spent much of the weekend scrapping the loss of our precious dog Cooper for my husband (Cooper died in June).  I needed to bring him some joy.  When I showed him the pages he smiled and wiped tears from his eyes.

This year I wanted to spend some of my marketing dollars (Allstate pays half of what I spend), at the Crop and Create.  It was important to me that my $$ went towards something I was passionate about.
Heidi asked me why I donated 2 $200 gift cards, I said, scrapbooking is what represents me.  As I reflect on Heidi's message I know its because this is what matters in life, it is what helps us in hard times, it helps us move forward.  It's why I wanted to take part in such a small way to give two people some joy.

Heidi's message is simple:  When our treasures become our memories, our memories become our treasures.  Document them, share them.

Hugs and thanks to Catherine for the lovely way she presented the gift cards.  Thanks to the whole gang for such a great weekend.

Halloween wreath

This is a wreath I made this past weekend.  I had planned on making a 14 inch wreath but Michaels only had a 16 inch frame.  I used tulle for this in orange, black, purple and green.  I found the witches hat and feet at the dollar store.

Dragonfly Birthday.

Wow, its been so long since I posted.  We have a new puppy at home and I don't seem to get into my craftroom very often.
I'm getting ready for a Crop and Create weekend in two weeks and I hope to get 30 layouts done, I'm setting my goal very high this year, in past years I've managed about 15 layouts.
On with the card.  This card was inspired by a watercolor post I saw on Pinterest, I'm not sure who made the card as the link was not working.  It was very simple and quick to do.  I used an old Stampin Up stampset, and an inkadoo stampset.  Watercolor paper, embossing powder and a couple of gems.

Cake topper

I made this cake topper for the mother of one of my co-workers.  She found the image on google and asked me to make her one.  It is made out of gold glitter paper which we put modge podge over so that the glitter would not fall onto the cake.  Of course I made this with my cricut.

Happy 50

This is a card that I made for a co-workers mother's 50th birthday.  I'm not sure where the inspiration came from as she showed me a picture of what she wanted and I recreated it.

Daisy border

Its been so long since I've posted.  I have been working on things, but time has just gotten away from me.  My parents moved into a retirement home recently, I took all of the photo's off their walls and I am scrapping them in a book (obviously), so they still have them.  I am keeping the pages simple with no titles for the most part.  I used the daisy border from Storybook cricut cartridge for this page,  I love this border.  The paper was a light weight desinger paper from K&Company.  It doesn't stand very but I swear the border is straight.

For a Diva

Another birthday card for May,  after this card just one more for this month.  For this card I chose the Forever Young cricut cartridge for the woman and the mirror.  I did use the cartridge for the signs as well, but I did not cut the words, I stamped those from an acrylic set I have (I through out the package so I don't know the name it).  I made a banner and cut it in half for the walls and cut the floor out to match.  I stamped the floor with the hardwood stamp from Stampin Up.

Mother's Day card

.This card comes from Melody Lane.  She shared this file on her blog, i'm not sure where the cuts for this came from.

Birthday's with Janice

Last weekend was our card night with Janice Wardrop.  I was hoping we would be doing a Birthday card as I have 6 birthdays this month.  This is a card we made, unfortunately I don't know the colors, or stampset names.

Drummer Birthday Card

Today is one of my co-workers birthday.  He plays drums in a Scottish Marching Band, this is the card I came up with.  All cuts were done on my cricut explore and were uploaded from clipart.

I Love Soccer Page

this is a page I did of my brothers soccer team.  This was in a picture frame in my parents home.  I used sports mania for the title, and plantin school book for the grass.  I used some stickers for the soccer balls.

International scrapbook day challenge number six

This challenge was all about doing a Christmas layout.  I didn't have many pictures to choose from so I haven't done the title yet, I'm thinking I will change the photo and then put the title on the page.

International scrap day challenge five

For this challenge you had to use a kit that you haven't finished using yet, or complete a project that you haven't finished.  I don't usually work with kits so I decided to go and see if I had some stuff I hadn't finished yet.  I found these two cards that I started at a Crop and Create in 2014.  The class was with Angie Blom.  I never finished them because I didn't feel that these cards were my style, but the more I look at them now I think they are growing on me.

International Scrapbook Day challenge number 4

This challenge was to case one of the layouts you make a lot or just love or hate.  I chose this layout, it always varies a little but it is one of my favorites.

International scrap day challenge number three

This challenge was a challenge, lol.  We had to use, 3 pattern paper, one cardstock, texture material (I used fabric), dimension chipboard, and enamel dots.  This is my page.

International scrapbook day challenge two

Sketch Challenge,
For this challenge we had to pick a sketch.  This is my page.  The lovely lady in this photo was 101 years old.  She was the kids great aunt, we visited her at the nursing home every Sunday without fail.

International scrapbooking day

 I am scrapping today, here is the link to the virtual scrapbook day I am joining  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mercytiaras27daychallenge/?ref=nf_target&fref=nfThe bingo challenge

The first challenge is the Bingo Challenge, I used multi photo layout, wood veeners (stars painted yellow), 2 fonts, camera.

3D UPS TRUCK

My son's birthday is today and he asked if I could try and make a 3d truck for him.  I found a truck svg and made it into a 3d object.  I made the grill for the truck with just straight lines and welded them together.  I created a shelf in the truck and placed two boxes on it (very difficult to see in the picture).  The I used paper dolls and the outfit from the truck svg to create the clothes.  I used Peachy Keen stamps for the face of the delivery man.  The inside also has a cart loaded with two boxes.  I'm quite happy with how it turned out but I could have done the front of the truck a little better.

Mixed media scrapbook page

This is the first time I've used mixed media on my scrapbook layout.  I was inspired by Evi, from Life with Evi's youtube channel.  I have to say I love the look of mixed media, (thanks to Evi and Kati), but I have been terrified to try.  This picture has already been scrapped in one of my other albums so I figured I would give it a try. The embellishments are pretty simple, they came from a chipboard collection I received at the Crop and Create in Cornwall a year or two ago.  I used water colour paint from Michaels.  The pattern paper is from 3 different 6 x 6 packs I had lying around.  I used my typecast typewriter by WRMC.  I also used my Cricut to cut the word Bro's.  I used Gesso on the white paper and then just splattered paint, drying the paper between each colour.

Happy anniversary card

This is the card I made for my parents anniversary this year. The card was made using stampin up ups a daisy stampset,  I used one colour of ink and I stamped off to make the two-tone affect the card was very simple I  just added some pattern card stock to the base added some dollar store ribbon and stamped the sentiment which was from a Inkadoo stampset.

Happy Birthday Cake Card

This card was another card I made for a co-worker who celebrated a birthday last week.  The scallop border was from Art Philosophy, and the legs for the cake stand came from Stretch your Imagination, (I used the slice feature to get just the legs and not the rest of the image. I then just make rectangles and used a corner rounder to round the corners of the cake pieces.  The sentiment came from Stampin Up.  The papers used were from an old 6 x 6 paper pack.  Sequins and jewels were from the dollar store.

Nifty Fifty Birthday

Well April is a busy month at work.  I had 3 people having birthdays.
The last birthday was for my former boss, he changed positions in the corporation but still works out of my office.  I don't know about you but I have such a hard time with male cards.  I went on a youtube hunt for inspiration and found a card by Edna Marie.  The link to her video is below.

This was simple to make.  I used stampin up black card stock, and then the rest of the paper was from recollections.  I used a stampset from the dollar store for the sentiments on the card.  I have to say I am quite impressed, I paid $2.00 for this set, and I love it. Ink was from My Pink Stamper.

The card base is 7 X 4.75 (I messed up on the measurements).  For the musical notes I covered them in glossy accents.

Here is the video     https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZSUU9VaGg-UQuA4KgzMHRA

Easter treat boxes.

Hi Everyone,

Wow its been over a month since I've posted anything.  I have a ton of photo's to make and post.  Since Easter is next week I thought I'd start with some of the Easter things I've been making.

The first up is the Fry box.  For this box I used the Tags Bags Boxes and More 2 cartridge.  From basic shapes I used the circle and created a circle and the ovals.  I also used from Art Philosophy the scalloped circle for the bunny tail, I cut the leaves from creative bug.  I stamped the box with stampin up hardwood stamp in soft suede. I inked the edges of all the bunny pieces with soft suede and then added two layers of glitter glue to the tail.

I used flowers from the dollar store and some brads.

My children did find this size of box to be too small, so I did create the treat box in a bigger size.

Granddaughters Birthday

This is another card from my Stampin Up workshop with Janice Wardrop.  I originally wondered who I would give this card to as I didn't think I would use it, but this is the perfect card for my 7 year old granddaughter.  This card was quick and a lot of fun to put together.

For you Card -- Stampin Up

Here is a card we made at a workshop with Janice Wardrop.
I didn't think I would like this stampset when I saw it in the book but I really like this card.

Wedding Album -- page 24

Here is the final page of the Wedding Album.  I have to say I ran out of steam on this album, not because of the amount of work to complete it, but because the couple is no longer together.  Even though they are separated, the grandmother still wanted the album for her granddaughter.  I chose a black and white picture and a simple picture of a flower.  I embellished with one of the cutouts from one of the paper packs I was using and the sandal was a card from the wedding shower.
I gave the album to the grandmother who loves it, unfortunately it is too painful for her daughter to look at.

Wedding Album -- page 23

Nearing the end, only one more page after this page.  I through this page in as the album had one more page that I wanted to be the final page.  I just chose a paper background and stuck the picture down.  I embellished with sequence and the me and you banner that came from the Flea Market chipboard package.
I will post the final page tomorrow.

Wedding Album -- page 22

Page 22 of the wedding album was all about the photo booth.  It was simple, just a few cricut cuts, I used the bow tie, glasses and cat face from Party Photo Props, the speech bubble came from gypsy wanderings.

I used Thickers for the title and the camera came from a chipboard package called Flea Market from crate paper.

Wedding Album -- page 20 & 21

Page 20 & 21 are pocket pages.  The bride gave me some items she wanted to keep with the album.  I decided I would make pocket pages for these items.  I decorated with some lace at the top of the page and I used some vines from Creative Memories.

Wedding Album -- page 18 & 19

Page 18 and 19 are just candid shots from the wedding reception.  I used a tear ruler to try and simulate sand on the beach.  the embellishments came from a paper pack I was working with.  The stickers for the title were creative memories stickers.

Wedding Album -- page 17

Here is page 17, it matches page 16. the title comes from an old creative memories wedding kit.

Wedding Album -- page 16

This is page 16 of the Wedding Album.  Very simple I used silver striped cardstock as the background and layered it with black then silver again to mount the photo.  I used some flowers from my stash and some embellishments I had.

Butterfly Birthday

Here is a card I made for a co-worker's upcoming birthday.  The cut for the card came from Martha Stewart, Elegant cake art, and was cut at 2.7" in width, I cut two of the top layers and I added Wink of Stella to it.  They layout for the card is from Cardz Tv, and this was a challenge this week to make a card using one of the birthday sketches.

Wedding Album -- Page 15

Page 15 is a continuation of page 14, the The title from page 14 was thickers, love the gold crinkle.  The paper on these two pages all came from the same paper pack but sorry I don't remember the name.  The Promise and the Love came from the same paper pack.

Wedding Album -- Page 14

This is Page 14 of the Wedding Album.  Very simple it is titled Family and centers around the Bride and Groom and their Daughter.

Wedding Album -- Page 13

Page 13 is the cutting of the cake.  I fussy cute the rest of the flowers that were on Page 12, then I simply added the photo, the washi tape and cut the title from the Simply Charmed cartridge.

Wedding Album -- page 12

Page 12 is the cake cutting.  I kept this simple again, I fussy cut a flower from a scrapbook pad, I just loved the flower on the page and wanted to use it, but I didn't want the whole page.  The cake was cut from the Tie the Knot cartridge.  Other than that the only other embellishment was washie tape.

Wedding Album -- Page 11

Page 11 was introducing the Husband and Wife.  I again embellished with the heart doily.  I kept it very simple with just the title Mr & Mrs cut from the Tie the Knot cricut cartridge, and an embellishment from the paper pack I used on the last two pages.

Wedding Album -- page 10

Page 10 was all about the Kiss, the Heart cut came from the cricut cartridge Home Decor and the Kiss cut came from Tie the Knot.  I just welded letters together for "the".  I embellished with a heart doily and a card for the bride to Journal on.

Spinner Birthday Card

Here is a card I made for a co-workers birthday.  This co-worker had recently suffered a concussion during a hockey game when he tripped and flew into the boards head first.
He is also a Sens fan, so of course I had to make it a Montreal Puck (a piece of chocolate, that I stuck between the hockey sticks).
The sticks were cut on my cricut, and the ice surface was drawn with markers on my Expression2, I used CTMH texture tools to create scuffs on the rink boards.  I love the interactive card, they always scared me, but they are really very simple.

Owl Valentines card

I watched a video this morning where spyrorocks346 was making a valentines card from a Lori Whitlock cut file.  I really liked the design so I decided to give the design a try with cut files from cricut.  Quite a few cartridges were used to make this card.
The card is a 5.5 x 5.5, the pattern paper I used was printed on my Imagine, I used the Mr. Frosty cartridge and the candycane hearts, I cut the owls from Create a Critter two and welded the base to a rectangle from basic shapes, the hearts were from basic shapes and I welded them to two squares, the branch was cut from Give a Hoot, the Love border was cut from Gypsy Wandering, and the I Love you was from Tags Bags Boxes and more.
Thanks to spyrocks346 and Lori Whitlock for your inspiration for this card.

Wedding Album -- page 9

This was the second page in the double page layout that went with page 8, the embellishments again are simple, this came from Auntie Em's scrapbooking store in Cornwall, which i purchased at the crop and create in cornwall this past September.  I failed to mention that on pages 8 and 9 I also used some washi tape that I purchased from Michaels.