Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Today is one of my favourite days of the year and I am looking forward to a spooky day and night! We will be carving up our pumpkins and getting ready to go trick or treating, and hoping the rain holds off until tomorrow!

We had fun last night at our church Halloween bash and I will post some pics from that and our other Halloween happenings tomorrow. For today, I have a special spooky story for everyone - written by my very talented 13 yr old daughter, Hannah! She has a great talent for writing, and apparently being 13 leads her down a rather dark train of thought!!! This a great story - and I would say that even if she wasn't my daughter!! You can click on the link to download and enjoy!!

Have a spooktacular Halloween!

Crisscross Card Tutorial & Blog Candy for You!!

Today's tutorial is a quick card that is fun and easy, and also makes a great gift card holder! Click below to download the instructions with photos, so you can make your own card! These are so fast, fun and easy - you will want to make a bunch!!!!

Enjoy the tutorial and I would love to see what you come up with! Make your own crisscross card and link your creation back here and I will pick a random winner on Friday October 30th!

Can't wait to see your cards!!!

Layout Inspiration

I had so much fun at the weScrap Think Pink crop this past weekend!! I got a lot accomplished and thought I would share a few things with you. The above was a card challenge.

This layout of Josh uses one of my favourite quotes ( on the photo), and one of my fave photos of Josh! Paper is from Sassafrass Lass and CosmoCricket. The letters are from Scenic Route.

This is my favourite layout of the weekend. My friend Donna came to visit us in September and brought this and a few other photos of Hannah's first few days. Donna is a special friend who was present at the birth of all of our kids as my a support for both Mark and I. Thanks Donna!

I really can't remember how small she was. . . so fun to scrap those baby pics again!!! Paper is from Basic Grey and the embellishments are a mish mash of stuff I found in my stash!!!

Thanks weScrap! I had a great time! And hey everyone - check my blog tomorrow for a tutorial on how to make a crisscross card!!!

WHOOOO LOVES FALL???

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Think Pink Crop Starts Today

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and weScrap is hosting a great crop this weekend with lots of challenges, games, prizes, and a grand prize giveaway - a brand new PINK SLICE!!!

The above layout is a little public service reminder to get yourself checked and to check yourself!!! It is also one of the challenges going on this weekend!!! Check out the link here:
THINK PINK CROP FORUM for all the details and lots of great inspiration!

Under the Sea

I promised last week I would put up some photos of our trip to the new Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney, so here are a few! It is a really cool place, with lots of opportunity for hands on fun for the kiddos! Emily loves the whale skull (above), while Josh and Mark liked the touch tank!

I was fascinated watching the jellies, as was Josh! they really are the coolest thing - and I love this photo!!

Ben and Hannah voted for the very large ( and I would add, creepy) Giant Pacific Octopus. The thing actually swims over top of you, because of the tank design - freaky, but fun!!!

Another reminder that we live in a remarkable place. I loved how my kids could name all the creatures, and knew all about their habitat and how to protect it. I am definitely and Islander now - no going back to the prairies for me!!!

For more info, check it out here: Ocean Discovery Centre !!!

Happy Day everyone - check in tomorrow for more about the Think Pink Crop at weScrap and a fun little weekend project for you!!!!

Think Pink Crop and Halloween Kit

I hope you will join us at weScrap for the Think Pink Crop! Beginning Friday October 23rd, and running until Monday October 26th, it will be lots of fun, games, challenges and great prizes, including a PINK SLICE!

Here is a sneak peek from a challenge I am doing - it is gonna be a ton of fun!!!

And while you are over at weScrap, check out the new Limited Edition Halloween Kit - only $9.99 for a great bunch of Halloween treats for scrappy girls and ghouls!!!!

Kit Contents:

Patterned Paper

{1} Pink Paislee Twilight Diecut

{1} Basic Grey Mummy

{1} Basic Grey Tombstone

{1} Basic Grey Cauldron

{1} Basic Grey Dracula

{1} Basic Grey Evil EyeCardstock

{1} Bazzill - Raven

{1} Bazzill - Painted Desert

{1} Bazzill - WhiteEmbellishments

{1} Fancy Pants Ball Trim

{1} Fancy Pants Trick or Treat Black Cat Glitter Cut

{5} Assorted Buttons

{18} Basic Grey Erie Brads, Assorted

Hope you will join us at the crop!!!!

Fall at the Harbour

Happy Monday!!! Is it really Monday already???? Where did last week go? Yikes! I cannot believe it past the middle of October - time is really flying by! We had a lovely weekend, despite the rain on Saturday - Sunday was a glorious fall day!

With friends Deanna and Steve visiting from Calgary, we went down to the Harbour - fall is definitely here - the cool weather has finally turned the leaves into those vibrant red and golds that I love! Emily collected leaves, Josh was on the hunt for the eagle statues that are all around the downtown, and I was simply enjoying the sunny weather and time with friends! Some of the things we spotted. . .

Now that fall seems to have truly arrived, I can't wait to pick pumpkins this week!!!!!

Happy Day everyone!

Fall Festival Reveal!

Well, I promised it yesterday, but here it is today! here are three of the items I created with the Fall Festival kit from weScrap! I was able to make a mini-book, 2 layouts , 3 cards, plus I still have some leftovers to use on other layouts!!! Love the Sassafrass Lass paper - always a challenge to go with different styles based on what is in the kit! Hope these provide you with a bit of inspiration today!

Tomorrow I hope to post some of the photos from our trip to the new Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney - we went on the weekend and it was very groovy!!!

Happy Day, everyone!!!

weScrap October Kit - Sneak Peek

The big reveal for the weScrap October Kit is tomorrow and I can't wait to see what the Inspiration Team has come up with! Don't forget to check out the weScrap October Kit Gallery tomorrow to see what's been created, and for only $20.99 - this kit is a great deal. Here are a couple of sneak peeks to get you interested. . .

Here are the kit contents:

KIT CONTENTS:

Patterned Paper

{1} Sassafras - Fractual Garden

{1} Sassafras - Marvel

{1} Fancy Pants - Hip Hop

{1} Fancy Pants - So Cute

{1} Fancy Pants - Dancing Girl

{1} Jillibean Soup - Blue Stock

Cardstock

{1} Bazzill - Kachina

{1} Bazzill - Jubiliee

{1} Bazzill - African Daisy

{1} Bazzill - Arctic

{1} Bazzill - Desert Marigold

{1} Bazzill - KraftAlphas

{1} Doodlebug Designs - Shin-Dig, Beetle Black GlitterEmbelishments

{1 Sheet} Sassafras - Sweet Treats Cardstock Stickers

{1} Maya Road - Light Purple Velvet Ric Rac

{1} May Arts - Fuchsia Trim

{1} KaiserCraft - Adhesive Pearls, White

{5} Imaginisce - Paper Flowers, White

Check back tomorrow for the projects I created!

And the winner is. . .

Joshua Green!!

Yup - he won a pumpkin in the Rogers School Annual Turkey Trot!!! He was pretty darn excited, and since he got to pick his own, well, he naturally gravitated towards the largest (read: heaviest!!!) pumpkin in the patch!!! We of course had to weigh it when we finally got it home - "you don't mind carrying it, do you mom?". 21.5 pounds - that is almost half the size of Josh!

The prize for me??? Take a look at the smile on that proud and dirty little face!!!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my fellow Canadians - take a moment to reflect on your blessings and to be thankful for all the big and little things that make your life meaningful. This little guy and his great big pumpkin are just a couple of the many fabulous things in my life.

HAPPY DAY!

Happy Fall!

I love the fall season, and I especially love taking photos of all the fun fall things that I love about the season - crisp colourful leaves, pumpkins, scarecrows. . . and of course harvest time, Thanksgiving ( in Canada) and Halloween.

Today's layout (above) is a series of photos of things I love about fall. The product is almost all Scenic Route, with a tiny bit of My Mind's Eye for good measure. Try and get out and enjoy the season this weekend if you can - it is supposed to be lovely here in Victoria, so I want take advantage of the warm days and sunshine while I can!!

Happy Day!

Is it really Tuesday??

I am not really a Monday kinda gal!!! I am slow moving most Mondays , but yesterday Ben and I were both under the weather and spent a snuggle day watching cartoons and hanging out. It was nice to have some time with him, even if we were sick! Today is Emily's turn - she is feeling all sniffly and has a nasty cough, so today is our day to snuggle. I am not getting a whole lot done, but that is not a bad thing!!

I have been trying to get some of the photos from our summer 2008 road trip( all 5000 of them). I have been working on 2 or 3 layouts and here are a couple of them:

These photos are from Houston, BC, Haida Gwaii, BC, and Jasper Alberta. Paper is all Scenic Route - which I am very sad to say is going out of business.

I was absolutely obsessed with all the eagles we saw in Northern BC. We see them frequently here in Victoria, but nothing like in Prince Rupert, where these photos were taken. We saw dozens of them - every time we went out! Amazing! this is mostly Basic Grey
paper and a few odds and ends!

And if you want a chance to win some awesome blog candy from Allison Cope at Your Memories Canada, check out this LINK !!!

I almost won last month - and I will be giving it a try again this month - I love her blog and the prize of stamps from my StampBox is irresistible!!

Happy Day everyone!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!! Who knew there was a holiday especially for cardmakers!!!??? I am glad I have finally become one - now I get to celebrate the day! I am posting a few cards which will hopefully inspire you to make some of your own! The first uses paper from Graphic 45 - one of my favourite "vintage feel" paper companies! You can check them out on their website here. The green distressed paper is made from a combination of Glimmer Mists from Tattered Angels - love these!

This next card comes courtesy of my StampBox - fabulous sponsor of the weScrap ABC card crop - still going on everyday until October 10th - check it out here! The stamp set is call "Abundant Blossoms" and I am in LOVE with these clear stamps from a Canadian Company! Check out my StampBox's website for more of these great stamps!

This is a quick and simple card using the Zinnia Decorative 6 x 6 pad from My Little Yellow Bicycle, and some Prima flowers and a bit of bling for fun!

Finally, this last one uses paper from Glitz, mystery ribbon and an embossed stamp ( design by Imaginisce). That sweet little owl is from Hero Arts.

I hope you find a bit of inspiration in these cards, and that you take some time today to create and SEND a card to someone special! Happy Day everyone!

Outdoor fun

It is no secret that my kids love nature - Emily, in particular loves the outdoors and every little creature she can sneak home. These are some photos from a trip to Beacon Hill Park in Victoria - we are so blessed to live in such a wonderful city with lots of green space to explore. You may be wondering what Ben, em and Josh are stalking in the first picture-it was a peacock - they run wild in the park and love peanuts! A lovely elderly lady made our day by sharing her peanuts and showing the kids how to hand feed the peacock!!

It is supposed to be nice this weekend and I can't wait to get outdoors in the crisp fall air for a time to enjoy the beauty of the world around us!

Happy Day everyone!

Welcome to my new blog!!!

Welcome to "Scraps of Life", my new blog! Actually it will likely be the same old blog you have come to know, but with all the fun bells and whistles (not to mention ease of use!) that Blogger has to offer!

I am really excited about the new look, and it will still be evolving over the next few weeks!! Please change your bookmarks and be sure to sign in to follow me, so you can keep up to date on all the exciting and not so exciting blog news from me!!!

In the meantime - here is a thought for today:



Happy Day, everyone!