Happy Father's Day!

I got the card done in time -- total me fashion too!!! LOL

It turned out a lot plainer-looking than I wanted -- but I'm thinking it's got something to do with the plain dark brown paper on all the layers. Oh well -- it's still beautiful! :) I dry embossed the leaf with a Fiskars shapeboss -- that is seriously one amazing tool to have! I've seen people adding these dry embossed cutouts to cards, and I've really liked the look. Thought I'd give it a try as well. And this may just be the first of many!  I found the message online -- it's totally perfect!

 Well, everyone is into Father's Day challenges on the blogs. Here's just a few I've found to enter this card in:

Pear Tree Designs: Father's Day
Crafty Cardmakers: Cards for Men
Totally Stamalicious: Celebrating Dads
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: A Tribute to all Fathers

Cap's Off To You!

As you might have noticed from all my recent posts, I've been putting all my time into scrapping layouts. It's not that I didn't have any cards to make -- I still have a list of cards I need to make...including one for Father's Day!!! Yes, I'm the queen of procrastinating!!! But honestly, I think I create my best work when I'm  under pressure! LOL If I have a deadline...that's usually when the ideas fly!!! Go figure!!!

So in typical "me fashion", I only started looking for ideas for a grad card on Thursday -- the card was delivered to the recipient on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL  But once again...I got it done in time. In fact, while I was at it, I made a couple...for next time. Back-ups do come in handy!!! :)

My photo doesn't do the card much justice -- it actually has dry embossing on the white squares. And the "grad cap" is 2D as I lifted it. I made the tassel myself -- for this card I simply went with gold, as it works for everyone! But for the next ones I make, I'll probably make the tassels the school colour. TFL

Sweet Stamping Challenge: Clean & Simple
Cuttle Bug: Use Embossing
My Time to Craft Challenge: Xtra Special 

It's a Dream

Coming up with the background for my layouts is one of my biggest challenges when I'm scrapping. I love using circles...and I tend to try using some in every layout I create -- and then getting frustrated when it doesn't work out! LOL

I tried something new with this layout -- simply using two different papers. I love the look of the darker border blending in with the paper on one side...and then standing out on the light paper! I was going for simple...yet different -- I think I accomplished it! :) Added a little bling...and a quote with letters from my stash and it was done! I especially love the way the "dream" stands out! TFL

Special Moments

My grandmother passed away a year ago next month. It was a hard time for all of us...she was such a remarkable and wonderful woman. For the past year I've been working on creating a layout in remembrance of her. But it's been a challenge...

During the funeral, the minister read an eulogy written by family and friends. Basically it was compiled of various memories people had of my grandmother...through the years. I knew I definitely wanted that as part of the layout -- and of course there was the remembrance card. But other than that, I had no idea what I wanted.

I printed the eulogy out on two smaller sheets of paper...trying to get them to fit in my layout. But even then, I realized I'd have to create a two-page layout 'cause there wasn't enough space! That just complicated things even more!

Then there was the layout itself. It ha to be extra special -- I guess that's why it took a whole year to come up with anything! Every idea I had, "wasn't good enough!" and I didn't even know what I wanted the final layout to be like! It was frustrating...but slowly the ideas came...and I just added what I liked...and set it aside until I came up with the next thing! LOL Talk about a process!!!

I was trying to find some rub-ons -- some extra bigs ones -- with a "remember" or "memories" theme. No such luck! Then I found some smaller memories themed rub-ons in the Dollarama. They weren't exactly what I had in mind...I was thinking BIGGER...but I moved on.

I chose to spell out some words with letters I had in my stash...just to give the page some dimension instead of just having rub-ons.

I have this picture frame with the quote "Remember the moments...the laughter, the happiness, & good times." I've always loved the quote -- it made me think of my grandma -- especially this past year. She's gone...and we can't bring her back, but we can remember the moments! I have such wonderful memories of her.. they're what I hold on to. So I thought I'd add the quote -- 'cause that's what she would want us to do. To remember her...but not to give up living. Life goes on...and so will grandma's legacy!

So I guess this project is now over! TFL

Gotta think outside the box!

My printer is still out!!! UGH!!! And unfortunately there's not a whole lot I actually do without it!!! I'm constantly printing one thing or another for both my cards...and my layouts as well!!!

So I had to find other means...to get some scrappin' done!

My sister found a great stamp set while garage sale-ing last week. And yes, she bought it just for me -- sometimes it's really nice to be the only one in the family that actually scraps and stuff!!! LOL Everyone is constantly thinking of me when it comes to the good stuff!!! :)

So, my sister brings home a "Stampin' Up!" baby stamp set.  Man, was I impressed!!!

I've had a baby picture of my best friend's baby on my "to scrap" pile for a long time. And after trying to make the printer work for like 2 + hours this afternoon, I finally just gave up on it...and decided to try something new.


I stamped the "quote" from my new stamp set...and embossed it with gold embossing powder.

....then I copied and cut out some letters...and lifted them...to give them a 2D look...

I also bought some more fabulous rub-ons yesterday, and found a few that fit...



Finally I added some punched flowers I made with my Fiskars daisy punch...and some buttons I won in a blog candy. :) The layout is still missing the birthdate, weight and length...but that'll have to wait for the printere! I'm thinking of writing it in brown...along the left-side of the photo -- strip journaling style.

It's amazing what you can do without a printer!!! TFL :)

A bargain indeed!!! :)

Well, my printer has decided it's gonna be a burden..and isn't working!!! So I can't finish off the scrapbook layout I've been working on since yesterday!!! Technology is so stressful!!!!!!!

I was in Wpg yesterday -- and man did I ever find some awesome stuff!!! A friend mentioned she's found some great papers in the Dollarama...so I went to check it out -- and WOW!!!! They have pack of 10 papers for $1.00!!!!!!!! They've always had 6 packs for $1.00, but for the most part I didn't like all the papers. And probably only used like 40% of what I bought! But it's just a buck...so not really that much of a biggie -- considering the Michaels sells their papers for $1.00 EACH!!! Like OUCH!!!

Just thought I'd post some pics...aren't these papers absolutely GORGEOUS!!! And there's not one in each of the packs that I don't like! Just beautiful!

(**Btw, the brownish paper pack is missing two papers, 'cause I had taken them out to scrap a layout)

An Update

Hi guys! No, I have not disappeared off the face of the earth...but this week has been soooooooo busy that I just haven't taken the time to update. I've not been doing a  lot of crafting -- hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things next week. Until then...have a great weekend! :)