Planning it out

I have been enjoying documenting life with my Heidi Swapp planner.

Rather than using my planner only to pre-plan however, I have been using it to document what has already happened also.  It's a great way to keep track of the events I need to remember and the memories of said event too.

My planner is more like a mini version of my Project Life style moments in between album that I haven't touched in quite some time.  Everything is just on a smaller scale, with fewer photos.

Each month has 2 inserts like the one you see above.  So 4 photos to keep at the beginning of the month or stick into whichever week you'd like.  Now that I seem to have less photos on my camera roll, this actually works just fine for me.

I have really fallen in love with adding bits of embellishments to my planner.  It creates a little more bulk than probably is best, but I figure I will deal with it when that time comes.  The sentiments you see here are all from the Heidi Swapp Hello Beautiful collection.

If I have more photos that I would like to add I simply insert them into the date portion of the week, or even print them a little larger and fill the opposite box on the page.

As you can see I am not following any strict set of rules, simply flying by the seat of my pants.  Some days are pre-planned, and others are simply filled in after the fact.  The particular week was filled in the Sunday following the first Sunday of the week.   The one thing that has remained consistent thus far is that I choose one paper collection to use on 2 pages, sometimes I go for two weeks using the same collection as I have here, and other times I only use one collection for one week.  It pretty much only depends on if I am working ahead or going backwards.  If I already have it all out I am more inclined to keep going.

Pretty much everything I have used in my planner is available in the paper Issues store.  If you're looking to pick up a few supplies for your planner, or other scrappy needs feel free to use my code at check out to save 20% off everything in your cart.

That's all I have got for you today friends.  Thanks for stopping in today! Pin It

On The Slopes

Who would have ever guessed that the Funks would have become a ski family?  It's only too bad that we live so far from the mountains?  It's one of the major reasons why living in Calgary is a dream we have.  To be able to wake up and be on the slopes in just over an hour would be such a treat.  Not sure if it will ever happen for us, but we can always dream.

I found a way to use us some older A Flair For Buttons badges and combined them with the Oh Deer Collection by Fancy Pants and created a winter themed layout.

Seeing this photo makes me even more anxious to get my gear on and get back out there. here's hoping that we may be able to get back to Banff at some point this year. 

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

Guest Designer - Fancy Pants Designs Part 2

I almost forgot to share the projects I created with the True Friends Collection for the my Guest spot on the Fancy Pants Designs post a while back.

We just all just happened to be wearing coordinating colours to match the collection on the night Isabelle graduated from Grade Nine.

I enjoyed layering several of the tags and photo frames together, and how cute is that button collection.

And for the first time in a long, long time I was even inspired to create a few cards.

I had a blast guesting for them, and really enjoyed the products they sent me to work with.  I was overwhelmed by their generosity.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

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Guest Designer - Fancy Pants Designs Part 1

I had the privilege of guesting on the Fancy Pants blog last week.  I may or may not have squealed a little when I get the request.  As many of you know they are one of my absolute favourite manufacturers in the industry, so it was a real treat to get to play with both the Oh Deer and the True Friends Collections.  And let me tell you, they are incredibly generous, I more than enough goodies to play with.

Although I am not a traditional crafter by nature, the Oh Deer ephemera package, totally inspired me to create a Christmas project that the girls could use during the Christmas season.

I used my 50% off coupon and picked up this double sided easel from Michael's to create a Christmas countdown calendar for the kids to fill out starting today.  They are pretty excited to take turns using different coloured chalk to write in the number of days.

I used varying layers of 3D adhesive to create a sweet little scene in the bottom corner of the chalkboard side.

On the whiteboard side I did something similar in two corners.

There were so many pieces in the package that I just kept working with it and created this layout.

How cute is that chipboard holly?

Trust me when I tell you that is was hard to use up this vintage looking white button.  I kind of just wanted to hoard if for a season or two.

I'll be back later in the week to share with you my True Friend projects.  Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

Oh Deer **Product Spotlight**

It's that time of the year where the sights and smells and sounds of the Christmas season are making their appearance all around us.  As the Christmas collections were being revealed the Oh Deer Collection by Fancy Pants made the short list in my books for cutest collection.  There are so many sweet elements to it I just had to create a project designed to use as many embellishment pieces as possible on one page.

This page using tiny prints of each of my girls showing off a favourite gift from last year allowed to me use a combination of several pieces from the button set, the ephemera pack, and the 6x6 pad.

How about you?  Have you started on your December projects?  Would you like a chance to win some of this collection for yourself?  If so, hop over to this post on the Paper Issues blog, and leave a comment telling us what your favourite holiday movie is.  One winner will be chosen to receive this collection of goodies courtesy of Paper Issues.

Winner will be announced in my next Product Spotlight blog post on the Paper Issues blog on November 26th. 

This is the first of several Christmas projects I have completed over the past few weeks.  I have been keeping a little secret, that I'll soon be able to let you in on *wink*.

In addition to this cute collection, there are still several Christmas collections available in the Paper Issues shop. Use code:SHERRI to save yourself 20% off your goodies.  And remember all orders over $60 prior to discount ship for free within the US.

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First Love

I was asked recently to complete a layout that had it's focus on journaling.  It's something that I try to incorporate on every layout, even though sometimes it may only be a quick line or two.

These photos I discovered on my phone of Belle with her baby provided a pretty great opportunity to get a story on paper.  We've had Wilson for 5 years now, and I don't think I have ever really documented how much he means to Isabelle.  Wilson has been such a gift to this girl of ours, I honestly think that he calms her, and tones down her "teenage moments" tendencies.  When she's had enough of all of us, she disappears into her room with him, and by the time she re-emerges all is right with the world again.

I'm really loving the look of text on vellum whether it's typed with my typewriter, or written in ink, I think I'm going to incorporate more of it into my pages.

These papers are mostly from the Fancy Pants Meology collection, with the flair from {aflairforbuttons}.  I love how there is always a piece that Shelley has designed that will go with what I'm working on.  Always!

Thanks for stopping by today friends! Pin It

They're So Fancy

Happy Monday friends!

What a busy, but fun-filled week we just had.  Despite the drama that has been our lives these past several weeks, Darwin and I have been having a lot of fun together, but it's been keeping me out of my scrap room.  It's funny how the tough stuff really does bring you together.

Speaking of fun, yesterday afternoon was exactly that for me.  I got into my scrap room for the first time all week, I pulled out this layout that I had started, live streamed the Winnipeg Jets game, and spent the afternoon locked away, scrapping and listening to hockey.  It may be hard to believe simply by looking at me, but there are few things, aside from being with the people whom I love the most, that bring me as much joy.

This layout was started a week ago.  I had the idea of creating a completely stitched background.  After some thought, I decided it would be more interesting to add bits of patterned paper to the stitching to provide some contrast and really show off the stitching.  I pulled out the Bella Blvd scraps I had from this layout, and set to work.

Next I grabbed an old DIY Shop overlay from Crate Paper, and attached it to my photo using a Studio Calico flag clip.  

A couple of Fancy Pants tags, popped behind it all, one with a little bit of journaling.  Then, throw in one super cute owl flair button, and boom, done.

It has been quite a while since I've created a layout just for fun, and this one felt great.

Thanks for popping in today friends!

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PI +Pinkfresh Studio

It's another new Issue over at Paper Issues.  We were lucky enough to partner up with Pink Fresh Studio this week.  I grabbed some of my True Friend goodies, and set to work using a Fall theme for my pages.

This is one of my most favourite photos ever, I'm pretty sure I've scrapped it at least once before, and I know I for sure have another layout upcoming to share with you using this as one of two photos on the layout. We had just finished our little family photo shoot last Fall when we decided to gather up as many leaves as we could off the path and create some "fun" photos to end the shoot.  I just love the look of joy on the girls' faces.

The gold foil alphas (spelling 'Fall') are pretty cool, sorry they just don't photograph well.

The Pinkfresh embellishments were so easy to incorporate into my design, and the colours were a perfect match.  Hop over to the Paper Issues Blog to check out all the details of our Woodn't You Know It's Fall Issue, and see some other gorgeous uses of the Pinkfresh products.  there are some fun ideas for projects you can link up, and remember your projects do NOT need to be brand new for the issue.  Linking up will earn you a chance at a Pinkfresh Studio goodie bag.  You have until October 26th to link up.

Thanks for stopping by today friends.  I apologize that I've been MIA for the past couple of weeks. For those that follow me on Instagram and Facebook you will know that life has been a bit of a roller coaster around here with Théa's health scare almost two weeks ago, as well as another situation that I haven't yet shared with my social media friends.  I haven't quite had the time, nor the presence of mind to really figure out how to put it all into words and document it all.  I just want to reassure the few of you that follow me here on my blog,  that I DO NOT plan on shutting down my blog, I just have had a lot going on in my personal life.  With that said, I also wanted to say how very grateful I am for all of the love and support that you all have sent via text, private message, IG comment, even phone calls and cards.  From meals, to flowers, to most importantly, your prayers.  My family feels the love from around the world, and I can not thank you enough.  Théa is healing wonderfully. It's almost hard to believe that she even went uneer the knife only one and a half weeks ago.  The results of the pathology report should be available for us in a couple of weeks when we go in for her post op appointment.  Someday, when I'm ready I'll share all about this crazy chapter of our lives.  Until then, please know that I have a few scrappy projects lined up to share through for Paper Issues and {aflairforbuttons}, aaaannnnd a really fun scrappy secret that I'll let you in on in a few weeks, it's a good one!

Thank you for stopping by today, and for taking the time to leave a little love! Pin It

She's 11

This week at Paper Issues is week 2 of our Ticket To Ride Issue using Fancy Pants Designs products.  I created this layout using a carnival ticket from the Everyday Circus Collection to document Eden & Théa's mini party.  

Because my girls' birthdays always fall smack dab in the middle of Dance Competitions/Recitals we never really have time for a "friend's party".  To surprise them, hubby and I decided to arrange to pick up 2 of their friends each, and take them all for some trampoline, bouncing fun at SkyZone.  It was a nice way to celebrate, and made even more special by just having their 2 closest friends present.

A little 3D adhesive action for dimension here.

Again with my favourite journaling pockets.

Did you know you could win your very own Everyday Circus collection, simply by linking up a layout that fits our theme in the Ticket To Ride Issue? 

Hop over here to see some other takes on it, and get more ideas of all the types of projects that would qualify for link up.  The best part, is that your projects do not have to be newly created.

And if you're just up for shopping for scrappy goodies (all new Crate Paper, Kelly Purkey, Pebbles, and Pink Paislee are all in the shop), don't forget to use my code and save.

Thanks for popping in today friends.  I look forward to seeing what you create!

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We Are Jets Fans

It's a brand new week at Paper Issues, and today we have a brand new Issue for you called: "Admit One"

I went with the "use a ticket on your layout" prompt for first take on the Issue.

You might remember me talking about scrapping even the "poor photos" a while back.  This would be one of those photos.  I love it, because I remember the moment, and that's what's of the most importance to me.  It was my birthday, and we spent it by doing one of our favourite things in the world: going to watch the Winnipeg Jets play, at the MTS Center.  We even met up with my friend Tara and her hubby for a drink before hand.  The team lost, but the night was nice nonetheless.  I welcomed 40, in a fun way that involved the one I love, some friends I adore, and a team I will always stand behind.

These journaling pockets are my favourite thing about the new Fancy Pants Designs Collections.  I tend to hide my journaling behind my photos a lot anyway, this allows me to keep it a part of the actual page design.

I used teeny tiny pieces of 3D adhesive to pop those large letters off the page.

As you may have guess, this Issue is being sponsored by Fancy Pants Designs.  The lucky winner will get their very own Everyday Circus collection.

Check out how fun this collection is.  It even comes with the alphabet sticker sheets and several sheets of corrugated cardstock.  Hop over to the Paper Issues blog to check out how some the other DT interpreted the Issue, and link up your own take.  I can't wait to see what you create.  And if you missed it, I had a Product Spotlight post up this morning featuring Doodlebug Vellum.  You can see that post here.  And don't forget, if you use code:SHERRI at check out in the Paper Issues shop you will always save 20% off your entire purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

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The Scholarship

I've been wanting to scrap this photo since the day she received her scholarship.  Happy to be sharing the story and the layout with you today.

Our Théa had a wonderful Dance year in 2014.  Competition was once again a joy to attend, watching her "do her thing".  This year she was fortunate enough to win a scholarship for her Hip Hop Solo.  It was pretty fun listening to the adjudicator offer her his feedback.  He was practically gushing over her waves, he had so many wonderful things to say about her solo, my heart was bursting with pride listening to him recognize my girl's talent.  This photo was taken the evening of the Gala awards and show.  The show is filled with numbers from throughout the three week competition, all of which were top marks recipients, or adjudicator's choice.  Each scholarship has 3 recipients, but only 1 of of those are asked to perform in the Gala evening.  Théa was the lucky one chosen in her category.  She looked amazing and performed her solo perfectly.  It was a great way to end the competitive season for all of us.

Isn't that background paper awesome?  Especially for those, who like me, love the distressed look, but have never really gotten the hang of achieving it on our own.

I was a little surprised at the size of the burlap bows when they arrived.  I thought, somehow, that they would be smaller.  It just required a little "thinking out of the box" to figure out how to fit it into my design.  A simple 3/4" glue dot is all that I needed to tack it down to the page.

If you haven't yet, you can still get yourself some Burlap & Bouquets goodies here in the Paper Issues shop.  Use code:SHERRI and save yourself 20% off whatever you choose to order.

Thanks, as always for stopping by, have a great day friends!

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