Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch

Welcome to a brand new week friends,

Today is all about Studio Calico.  There is always something fun going on over there, whether on the Message Board or on their Blog.   For the first time this week, I played along with the Sunday Sketch.  There's a new one revealed every Sunday.  Here is April's sketch from last week

And here is my take on it

and a couple detail shots

I combined this sketch challenge with on online challenge from My Scrap Shoppe's weekend virtual crop.  There were some really great challenges posted by Marcy and her crew.  If you're in need of some scrappy inspiration you should pop over and check them out.

That's it for me today, short and sweet.  I'm off to check out a new gym.  I've got a one week free trial.  Let's see if I can get back into it after two months off and not pull anything.

Thanks for stopping by today.

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Today

I saw this on Elizabeth's blog yesterday and thought it was pretty cute, and good for a Friday post.  Thanks for the hook up Elizabeth!  Because I write my posts in the morning I decided to do this one last night so I'd have a full day's worth of activity.

Today -
Today I went to get groceries, to the Dance Studio, and to Dollarama

Today I hoped to get a position on the Scrapbook Nook design team
Today I dreamed that one day I would feel like I am where I belong

Today I forgot to watch Isabelle dance in her first Competitive Jazz Class

Today I heard my brave Isabelle (Gr7) say she wants to try out for the grade 8 volleyball team
Today I read an email that gave me hope
Today I watched Rookie Blue, a new fave tv show

Today I said I was happy for my friend's good news
Today I believed that things happen for a reason, and God's timing is perfect
Today I felt a little sad, and a lot happy

Today I wondered how crazy it will be for me while hubby is gone for 2 weeks
Today I bought a lot of tissue paper, a few groceries, and one tall mocha frappuccino

Today I cleaned the kitchen several times

Today I created a couple of cards, and tried my hand at these.

Today I was me
Who are you today? 

Happy Friday Friends, I hope you have a relaxing weekend in store.  

Thanks for popping by!

♥ S.

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Real life isn't always a bed of roses

It occurred to me last night, that I haven't posted any entries that highlight struggles I may be going through, and that most of my posts are fairly lighthearted and have happy undertones.  I know, for myself that, that was something that use to really get under my skin with some blogs I use to read.  I thought all that perkiness made the blogger seem less authentic.  Does that makes sense?  Now, of course no one wants to frequent a blog that is continuously full of negativity, pitiful inward thinking, and whining.  I think it's safe to say we all appreciate an honest and real depiction of the writer.  Please know that I, in now way live a perfect life (just ask my girls and hubby).  I feel very blessed to have the life I have.  The good, the bad, and everything in between.  I realize, however, that  when I sit down to write about what's been going on in my life, I'm often filled with happy thoughts, and reminded of all that's great about my life.  Who wouldn't want to share the ups?  I just wanted to be clear that I definitely have my downs too.  I struggle with self-esteem issues on an almost daily basis.  I have long since memorized Jeremiah 29:11 and can easily recite the words written in Psalm 139:14, but I still struggle with comparing myself to others.  Whether it's my parenting, my knowledge of scripture, my crafty hobby, home decor, my cooking skills, you name it.  I'm a perfectionist by nature, and can't help but see my faults when compared to another.  The thing is, that there is no scripture to support this kind of thinking.  No where does God say that He understands our beating ourselves up because of our short comings.  No where does He say He'll tolerate such disregard for His work in us.  Scripture is full of reminders of just the opposite.  Great leaders of the Bible were utter failures before they discovered their unique greatness when walking in right spirit with their Maker.  I must remind myself of their examples over, and over again.  This life is not about me.  It's about walking in right spirit, and trusting my God, to do what He said he'd do, give me a hope and a future.  Hope, future, promise those are not built upon distrust, worry, or an outlook that is based on the poor me syndrome.  With the help of my Savior I get incrementally better at accepting my inability to be perfect in all things, and trusting the Holy Spirit to help me be the best I can be in the areas that matter most.   I began the day thinking about the DT call at My Scrapbook Nook, resolved to the fact that my name will likely not be on the final list that will posted later today.  But I had to be honest with myself, that I was not resolved, if I felt sad about it.  I was disappointed rather.  I had to tell myself that that's okay, as I really do believe in God's timing for all things, even the ones that might seem trivial, including scrappy related things.  The same is true about how I felt when a friend announced her upcoming spotlight in a popular scrap magazine.  I was very, very happy for her, but still a little sad for me.  I have to say it out loud so that I can be honest with myself, accept the truth that is Jeremiah 29:11, and move on in faith that rejection is not going to kill me.  As much as it stings, in the end, it really does make one a little bit stronger for the next time.   The funny thing about this morning's musings for me, is that when I opened up my email, I discovered my own scrappy 'stamp of approval' so to speak.  Funny how God works sometimes.  I seriously think He looks down with such pride on His children when we finally understand in our head AND our hearts what it is He is trying to say to us.  I'll share my happy news, and the results of the DT selection as soon as I'm able.  Until then here's a fun little layout I completed yesterday of my sweet, and funny Théa.

I love that May Arts ribbon, and could make flowers out of it for just about every layout.

Oh, I almost forgot.  Photos of the fabulous September kit, featuring Crate Random papers are finally up on the Nook site.  You seriously don't want to miss this one, it'll go fast so get moving people.  You can get yours here

Hope your day is sweet friends.  Thanks for popping in.

ETA: I didn't make the DT after all.  But am so happy for a few of my friends who did, especially those that have been trying for a while now.  Thanks for all your encouragement and well wishes friends, it really meant a lot that you were all there right alongside me in the journey!

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And They're Off

Like many of you, we celebrated the first day of the new school year this morning.  I really don't think celebrate is too strong of a word either.  Sure, there were no balloons, no singing, and no cake (the official sign of anything party in my opinion).  We did however, have chocolate chip pancakes, pretty hair, and outfits, and lots of picture taking to capture the event.  The girls were both excited and a little nervous for the change in teacher, classroom, and in Isabelle's case, a change in school altogether.  I'm happy to say they were up, dressed, and fed, captured on sd card, and each one arrived on school on time.  When the kids were little women would often comment that "it goes by so fast".  I truly didn't believe them.  I found the days of crying, pooping, fighting, biting, making messes, and cleaning up after them to be somewhat mundane and drawn out.  That's not to say that there weren't many moments of joy: at the first giggle, the first step, the random use of the word 'actually', the big sister reading to little sister(s) moments, the dress up games, and all the fun stuff of pre-schoolers, there was indeed plenty of that.  I just remember many moments of feeling depressed, and isolated during those times, it clouded my perspective of how sincerely short that season of kids truly is.   For those of you with little ones, believe them when they tell you.  They've been there, they know what they're talking about.  Today as I was taking photos of my girls I was almost overwhelmed with how many days are already behind them.  I realized I likely won't have them to myself for hours at a time ever again.  I am struck with how all those hours of reading stories, going over the alphabet, teaching them their colours, making bunny bow after bunny bow in order to practice tying shoe laces have paid off.  My girls are now fully functioning members of their classrooms, they are students of academia now, learning more complex things like long division, and the tricky grammatical rules of the English language.  I am all too aware, that the days of childhood do indeed go quickly, and soon enough I'll be looking back on today, thinking how much they were still like babies, even though as they left for their first day of Grades 3, 4, and 7 they all seemed so grown up.  I pray that with the Lord's help I will continue to be a teacher to them, a primary influence in their lives.  I pray they learn compassion, and kindness in even greater proportions than academics.  Schools will always be there to teach that which can be learned through books, my role is to model to them, and support and encourage them in the ways of Jesus, and to nurture in them the Fruit of the Spirit. 

So off you go my girls, I am so proud of each of you as you boldly take first steps into the 2011/2012 school year.  I love you!

My heart melts to see them so happy together, even for just a moment

She was a little nervous walking into this sea of Jr High kids.

This guy.  Not sure what he's going to do with himself for 6 hours with out his playmates today.  If only I could teach him to dust, do laundry, and scrub toilets.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world friends.  Thank you for stopping by, especially those of you who stayed with me to the end of the post :)

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Last Weekend of the Summer

Happy Tuesday friends!  Everyone was up early here today, as if it truly were the first day of school.  Dressed, beds made, grooming done, and breakfast eaten by 8:45.  Whew!  All I know is we're all in for a rude awakening tomorrow, when we have to be out of the house by 8:10, that's a 35 minute gap to be accounted for.  Wish me luck.

It was a chilly weekend here in Manitoba.  The lake turned out to be a little less fun than anticipated, as we were quite chilly for the most part.  I didn't even bother to walk down to the beach.  Needless to say, we packed it in and came home on Sunday afternoon.  A little disappointing, as the time away didn't unfold as I had anticipated.  We still enjoyed the pig roast, and the steak dinner, albeit in the rain for both, but gaming, and relaxing with a good book simply is not the same when one cannot stop shivering.  The girls also missed Halloween (something they do at the lake every September Long Weekend).  The good news is, that D and I made a little game of Halloween here, at home, instead.  The girls got dressed up, well the younger two anyway, and went searching all over the basement for a few treats we had hidden. 

T was convinced these capris were appropriate Cowgirl fashion.

E was a Hula girl :)  This was the costume she wore for her Surfin' Safari number at The Manitoba Dance Festival.

We also made it home in time to watch our local Football team get their butts kicked by our division rivals in the second biggest game of the year.  Again, not how I had anticipated it unfolding.  But there's something to be said for history.  Our team has lost this Labour Day Classic game in Saskatchewan every year since 2004.  Next week it's our turn to host the Banjo Bowl against said team, and we're not use to losing that one.  It is the biggest, and most celebrated game of the season.  Aside from football, we did some sprucing up around here, setting up those 5 Expedite units we brought home from Ikea a couple of weeks ago, clearing out the girls' closets, and a little reorganizing, and cleaning all around.

I did manage to finish setting up my scrap space.  I've added a couple more Jet Max storage units, an Expedite, and some cute boxes.  Now I just need to get some things up on the wall, and it will actually feel more like home.  Here are a couple of layouts I pulled together on Sunday night.

Celebrating a sparkly night out with friends.  Used the December Nook kit featuring MME

Added to the design by stitching a circle around the photo, also effectively holding the alphas in place.

I trimmed one of the chipboard banners, and added Stickles, and MME brads to the Maya Road snowflakes.

Celebrating Isabelle's first year in Jazz class. Used papers, and trim from the Sept Studio Calico Boardwalk kit.

Flower made from Pink Paislee mistable trim.  I used Studio Calico Bluegrass Mr. Huey, and added a smaller AC trim flower topped with a Crate brad.

I wanted a quilt look, so I stitched the squares with my machine

I stitched the letters on to prevent them falling off.  I really dislike the fact that AC alphas don't hold their adhesive.

Hope your week is off to a great start friends,

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Raise your hand if you're ready for a Long Weekend

Whoot, whoot it's the Long Weekend.   What are you plans?

I am so looking forward to shutting it all down, and heading out to the lake with the fam and friends.  No computer, no phone ringing, no (DH's) Blackberry buzzing every couple of minutes, you get the idea.  Just the water, good food, good friends, and all the time in the world to be in God's beautiful creation, enjoying being together.  Bring it on.

It's been a wonderfully scrappy week, and I thank you all  for your kind and encouraging words.  I love that I can share my scrappy creations here, and know that there are others out there who appreciate seeing them.  And all your well wishes with the Nook DT search really makes my heart swell.  I'll miss 4 days on the Forum while I'm away, I certainly hope I don't miss too much.  The new DT will be announced on Sept 8th.  Here's hoping.

No scrappy shares today, but how about 10 Random Facts?

1. My favorite colour is purple
2. I love thunderstorms, but usually sleep right through them
3. I've always said I'd never own a dog, but currently own a white miniature Poodle named Wilson.
4. I'm not a morning person, but neither am I a night person.  I am a solid afternoon person :)
5. I almost always wear socks to bed
6. If I don't drink at least one cup of coffee in the morning, I get a headache
7. I was 27 the first time I tried Caesar salad. 
8. I could watch HGTV all day long if I was allowed
9. If Coke is unavailable I will absolutely not drink Pepsi as an alternative
10. I don't keep every piece of art work my kids bring home, never have.

On a side note, if you are at all into musicals then you have to be sure to see Wicked when it's in your city.  I went last night with a girl friend, and was not disappointed.  So neat to peek inside the story of the two witches before they were known as "THE witches".  The costumes, the set, the special effects, the music, all so, so good.

Happy Labor Day to my US friends.  And a Happy Labour Day to all my Canadian friends.  Enjoy the extra day off all.  As always, thanks so much for stopping by my little corner of the world.

See you in about a week.

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Inspiration

Happy first day of September!

I can't believe we're here already.  The girls are lamenting the changing of the page on the calendar, signaling, officially the end of summer.  I have to remind them that we're not done quiet yet, there's one more long weekend with lots of fun in store.  

The other day at My Scrapbook Nook, we were asked what most inspires us when we scrap.  For me, number one has, for a long time been other scrappers.  I have a file saved on my computer of layouts/cards that others have done that I'd like to try out.  It's called 'lifting' in the scrap world.  Now it's important to note, just as in literature, movies, song writing, etc that when and if a crafter has lifted another scrapper's work, credit should be given to the initial creator.  It gets a little muddy when you stop to consider things like page design, for example.  As there really are only a certain number of ways you can put together a 12x12, or 8.5x11 layout  especially when working with primarily 4x6 photos.  That said, however, it is common courtesy, to always mention where, and/or from whom you got the inspiration to try the design, and/or technique, etc.  I have to say, it's happened to me where I've been sloppy in saving a file, and have forgotten to note the name of the scrapper, I've only noted the site I took the photo from.  In my opinion stating it as such is fine.  At least I've made an attempt to credit the individual, and the point is that I'm not taking credit for something for which I was first inspired to do by another.

Anyhow the question got me thinking about a design/technique that I saw Wendy McKee use a while back.  That I had wanted to try, but totally forgot about.  Last night, I changed that.  I knew I wanted to do a layout about me, I wanted to include a photo, and have point form journaling.  I even knew which papers I wanted to use, I just had to choose the embellishments and the design of each tag.  I loved making this layout.  I just love adding bits and pieces to paper, it makes me happy.  Here is Wendy's layout...

and here's my lift...

Rather than have a running element running through my layout as Wendy did with the butterflies, I chose to make each tag it's own free standing creation, using only the colours to tie the tags together.  When I completed the layout, I really felt it needed a frame.  I was going to stitch a blue frame with my sewing machine (shocker, I know, it's not like I don't do that 80% of the time or anything, hee hee - for some reason, it just adds a finishing touch to a layout for me).  Before needle met paper, however, I changed my mind, and decided to ink the edge rather with blue ink.  I think I like this look even better, because it's a little less predictable for me.  And helps to keep me out of 'the box'. (eta: I only noticed now that I see both layouts side by side that Wendy also inked hers.  Had I realized that I probably would have stuck to the stitching just to make it that much more different, lol)   Here are some close up/detail shots.

 

 

 

 

So glad I did this.  I'm going to frame it and hang it in my scrap space.

I also created this layout for the Aug Sketch Challenge over at the Nook

I used a very old Crate line called Pink Plum. If you look very closely you can make out the faint misting I've done of the flourish on the bottom and the butterfly on the upper left.  It's hard to see in the photo as it's white mist on a banana colour cardstock. 

As for the Design Team Call Top 40 over at The Nook.  It's been a fun couple of days.  I've never spent so much time on my laptop.  It's hard not to, there are 39 women to get to know.  If you know me, you know I love, love, love getting to know people, much to my dear hubby's chagrin, especially when he just wants to get home (think Sunday morning, church, Bears game starting in 30 minutes).  I've met some lovely ladies from all over the world.  And when I say all over, I am, in no way exaggerating.  They come from all over: Singapore, Sweden, Idaho, France, Toronto, Florida, Georgia, Belgium, Alabama, Arizona, The Netherlands, Japan.   Ev. Er. Ry. Where.  It's the best place in the world to be if you're at all interested in this scrappy love fun I so adore.  I don't envy Leah, and her team at all.  These women are sincerely all so kind, and the talent is crazy.  I'm so happy to have met each, and every one.

That's if for me today.  Thanks so much for popping in.  I'd love to know you were here, it would be nice to hear from you too, leave a comment and say "hi".

Cheers,

♥ S. Pin It