"Our Grey Kitty"

I did the Monday Challenge at Sisterhood of Scrap Forum this week. I love those challenges!


I am so excited! Deanne had posted a new Sketch for the Design Team Call over at her blog-- Create-it Green.

I used her sketch and met the Monday challenge over at SOS,which was:
"we'd like to see some FALL colors -- orange/brown/yellow/red/green."

Pull out journaling reads: "Jessie came to live with us in 1997 from the Middleton Animal Shelter. He has the sweetest cat personality ever! Not graceful or quick, but oh-so-loveable." [Journaling Nov 2009]

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Adornit Blog Hop!!

When Georgana invited me to contribute to the Adornit Blog Hop, I juast HAD to- the last one was such fun! Hope you're enjoyin' your time hoppin' along!

My contribution to the Blog Hop today is a detailed hand-drawn Holiday Sketch. Life has been busy, and sketching layouts relaxes me- so here it you go! Hope you like it and find a way to include a little something special on the layout you create with it.

I'd love to see what you create- be sure to post a link here in the comments or email me at pete ali@ eastlink .ca (with no spaces) when you have it completed. I'll be sure to go check it out!

Here is my contribution to the Adornit Blog Hop!

Adornit Blog Hop Sketch by Ali

Thanks a million for stopping by! Here is the next spot to check out on the Adornit Blog Hop.

Get hoppin'! LOL

Your next stop is to visit Vicki at: http://qksc.blogspot.com/

See you there!
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Our little guys at the Duck Pond

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Once again, Bryan (14) was flying "under the radar!" I will make a point of getting some pics featuring our oldest son up soon.


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Our beautiful girl rides...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Scrapbooker's Club House is having a Fall Ball Mini Crop!

See you there!

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Kudos of the Day...

I received Kudos of the Day at Scrapbooker's Club House today for this card:

Kinda made my day!

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"Ali's Sketch Nook" has gone live...

at Creatively-Green: Art Supplies with a Conscience!

Here is where to find the inaugural Sketch!

Come see!

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Participating in the Blog Hop with Adornit!!

So excited! will you be participating too? Everyone is invited! Click on the Adornit blinkie for details! On Nov 11-15- see you there!

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Another sketch is up at S:CY!

This is a Sketch created for the "Sketches: Creatively Yours" site.

Hope you like it and will give it a try! Leave us a note in the Comments section over at S:CY. We (me and the S:CY DT) will come by to visit!

Thanks for looking!

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Part 2: What can you do with an old pair of jeans?

Idea #2: Make a Utensil Pocket for a Trip!

Yesterday, Kate (15) travelled to Toronto with Evangeline Pony Club for the 75th Anniversary of Pony Club in Canada! That was her first time on a commercial aircraft!

The group of 9 (6 youth, 3 chaperones) were planning to eat breakfast in the hotel and take along healthy packed lunches or salads as they would be travelling around Toronto as well as attending the Royal Winter Fair!



Because of the breakfasts and lunches, Kate needed some utensils: a knife, fork and spoon to take along with her. Instead of throwing them in the suitcase loose, I made her a little denim utensil pocket to take safely along.



I used some scrap denim from a pair of old jeans and stiched it up. The I added a tie made of Nova Scotia Tartan bias tape. This way the packet could be tied shut.


TIP: I needed something fast and bias tape doesn't fray, so I used that!


Here are some pics!

(1)

The utensil pocket: empty

(2)

Loaded pocket- Ready to go!

(3)

Tied closed, ready to pack and travel!!

Thanks for reading another recycled jeans idea! Kate loved this little pocket, by the way!


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Part I~ What can you do with an old pair of jeans?

Here is one GREEN idea!

Just the first "blogged-about-recycling jeans-idea" of the many that we have used over the years to recycle jeans into useful items!

FIRST, never throw out ANY old jeans! Wash them, dry, and store near your mending or fabric supplies. I also usually use a sharp pair of scissors to cut out and set aside the 2 back pockets. Save them for other crafts.

IDEA #1 SIMPLE "SUPER MARIO" SUSPENDERS!!

Let's Make some fun "Mario" overalls for a kids' costume! LOL We will use the old jeans to make suspenders.

Daniel (9) wanted to be "Mario" (a character from the Super Mario Bros games) for Halloween. We needed denim overalls, but we didn't have any! We had NO friends the same size with overalls to lend, so I had to make a pair of "overalls" for him!

I will post a li'l info here on how we made them from a pair of OLD jeans... Very "green" and I think it will interest a lot of you! LOL

I knew I needed long strips of heavy fabric that I could double to make the overalls' "suspenders."

a) I laid the jeans on my floor and began a slit with the scissors, starting at the bottom..

b) I ripped up along the whole length of the jeans, starting at the slit I had made. Did this twice until I had a LONG strip.... oh, about 4" wide and as long as I could get it. (Depends on the length of your jeans. These were 30" length, a pair that belonged to an adult. If they were jeans belonging to a child, you would have to piece them until you had the length you needed to go over the child's shoulders as a pair of suspenders would. Measure as you go by trying the length of the suspenders "on" the child.)

I repeated the process to create another 4" wide, long narrow strip.

TIP: The old 30" length adult jeans ended up making the perfect-length suspenders for a 9 year old boy.

c) Leave the jean hems intact on the lower end of the strips, don't bother cutting them off.

d) Get your sewing machine threaded up with matching thread-- use navy, very dk brown or black b/c it works well on denim as far as colour goes. Loosen the presser foot a bit. (Jean fabric is heavy.)

NOTE: To be "green," I try to use up spools and bobbins of thread that are close to being gone. My Mom saves hers for me!

e) 5/8 " from the raw edge, use a medium zigzag stitch to zoom up one side and down the other of each strip of fabric. This is just one way of finishing the edges. This is done on a SINGLE layer of fabric.

f) Then trim about 1/4" from the zigzag using sharp scissors.

g) Now fold the long denim pieces IN HALF lengthwise, WRONG SIDES TOGETHER. Pin if you wish (I didn't.)

h) Using a medium-length straight stitch on your sewing machine, stitch the long narrow piece of folded denim lengthwise along one edge and across the two ends to seal them off. Trim neatly, close to the stitching as seen here.

i) Try suspenders on the child- have him wear an older (not his BEST) pair of jeans. Pin the suspenders in place on the jeans. Be sure you check that the suspenders are long enough. Cross them in back. Secure them to show just where they need to be secured. Mark where the child wants the decorative yellow buttons placed.

TIP: Use a safety pin to secure the suspenders in place. The safety pin won't "poke" the child.

j) I then used some strong Koban thread to stitch the suspenders in place, front and back. Use a strong needle and a thimble if you like...the fabric is tough to go thru- several layers.

TIP: This stitching is temporary and the suspenders can be removed from the pr of jeans the child is wearing after the costume is done with.

Or: If you like, the "overalls" can be put in the Dress-up bin for playtime.

k) Stitch on some big yellow buttons.

l) Try on the jeans with suspenders in place. There you go: Pretend "overalls!"

m) Add a good-sized red "M" in a white semi circle to your child's red ballcap. It is Mario's ballcap, now!

TIP: I used a monogram letter "M" from my alphabet letters stash, but I needed the letter to be RED! ! Applied glue stick, then red paper (cardstock) to the right side of the letter. Flipped it over and cut around the letter "M." There: RED!! Glued red M to a white semicircle of cardstock.

n) Apply red M to a white semi circle with gluestick. Glue semi circle to front of ball cap.

TIP: Use double sided tape to do this- mine came from the Dollar Store


n) Put on a red t-shirt or sweater.

TIP: Shirt first- THEN face painting, for obvious reasons!


o) Paint face like Mario's. We used Folk Art acrylic paint in #925, Wrought Iron and a medium sized flat paint brush.

TIP: Remind your kiddo, no giggling! The painting TICKLES! (Giggling is fine, I was just KIDDING! LOL)

Daniel, age 9, as Super Mario!

Oct 31, 2009

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Carla's Question....

My friend Carla, one of the three sisters who began "Sisterhood of Scrap" Blog and Forum, ALWAYS asks the BEST questions!

Thanks for the great questions, Carla- you really make me think!

On Nov 5, Carla's question to us was:

If you could write some advice to a "younger " you, what advice would you give??

Here is my response to this...

Dear Ali...

Give up on the perfectionism early in your young adulthood- it's well worth it!

Remember you will eat your words sometimes.

Never say "never."

You will surprise yourself.

"It is what it is." Never let it get you down.

Be someone people can trust. It's important.

Weigh the pros and cons, make a decision and then move forward. Don't over-analyze.

TRUST YOUR INTUITION, you are USUALLY RIGHT.

Be a leader although it's a lot easier to follow.

Relax, it will be OK.Breaking new ground is hard and you will HATE IT but it has its' rewards.

Find something you love to do and throw your heart & soul into it. It will be a HUGE help for you in so many ways.

Remember the value of praise- it can make a difference to almost anyone.

Sometimes, what's important today will NOT be important three days from now.

If something seems like a disaster to you right now- remember that in two years, you will LAUGH about it.

Do the right thing even if it hurts.

Advocate- because they need you.

Teach- because you are pretty good at answering questions.

Don't be afraid- you will never "stop" nursing. It's a part of who you are.

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KIT PRIZE up for grabs!

Want to win a GREAT kit? Well you COULD! Guess how? SUPER EASY!

All you have to do to be entered into the draw for this kit is do at least one of the Monday Challenges over at Sisterhood of Scrap Forum (a very friendly and fun place) during the month of November!! Monday Challenges can be found at Sisterhood of Scrap right HERE.

The name of the kit is "Lollipop Guild" and it is one of the add-on kits for November at Studio Calico .

Isn't it PERFECTLY DELICIOUS?????

Here a little bit of info that Deanne had posted on her blog-- about Studio Calico!

Committed to inspiring creativity, Studio Calico features the work of noteworthy designers, provides online support and encouragement, and offers products that are both fun and innovative.

We are dedicated to design and an old-fashioned commitment to customer care.Each month, Studio Calico combines the latest scrapbooking products with unique finds from a variety of sources while staying true to the basics.

You'll find kits filled with products from a variety of manufacturers, coordinated for ease-of-use by both the advanced and novice scrapbooker.Studio Calico also offers add-on kits to supplement the main kit, or to stand alone.

Whether it's a main kit or add-on, Studio Calico is devoted to providing the resources to help members put innovative products to use.

We hope to encourage the creative process by providing the best supplies on the market as well as a community that is supportive every step of the way.

In the past 2 years we've grown from an idea, to a small boutique of sorts, to manufacturing our own products. As we've grown, we've stayed true to the basics, while looking to the future.

WOW: Thanks so much to Lori of Studio Calico for sponsoring SOS this month! You clearly ROCK!

Come ON everyone-- you WANNA enter, right? See you at SOS!

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Freebie Fonts! Freebies here! Some are gorgeous! [url]http://www.scrapnfonts.com/searchprod.php?showingonly=FREE[/url]

There are 15 free fonts offered at Lettering Delights today! Go see!

Freebies: Some are gorgeous!

((HUGZ))~

A 1-Layer Christmas Card!

At Christmas Cards ALL Year 'Round the Design Team was handed QUITE the challenge for November! It was to create a 1-layer card! I have never done this!

So, we were to "create a ONE LAYER card using only brads, buttons, lace or ribbon as embellishments." I considered the glass beads as "buttons".... and here is my card!

Please note: we were ONLY allowed 1 layer OF patterned paper atop the CS.

It's a lot more sparkly in real life.

A Non-Traditional Christmas Card

Come on over and join us at Christmas Cards all Year Round!

Supplies:

White textured Cardstock: Tantra

Scalloped Circle: EK Success punch (a big TY to my wonderful friend Deanne Burton)

Corner punch: Creative Memories

Flowers are made of ribbon (premade by Make it Special)

Angel is a felt lace, bought at Carshand Mosher, Bayer's lake, NS

Patterned paper is Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding ('Festive')

Sparkles: Stickles "Diamond" by Ranger

Brad from my friend Sherry, :o) (TY)

Pink Rhinestones: Make it Special.

Lace: Melissa Frances (Thanks to Nicole D. over at SBCH)

Clear glass beads- Make it Special.

Glossy Accents by Ranger used to adhere the glass beads & create part of halo.

Here is the sketch I created for this card. It's posted over at Creatively-Green.

How lucky am I? I was asked by Nicole Terry, another Design Team Member at Creatively-Green, to sketch both a LO and a card for a November Challenge that she set for the members of the site! So, above is the card sketch!

You can see both the card and the LO sketches over at C-G! Why not join Nicole T and meet her challenge? There is a prize involved too! (TBA). Pop on over!

See you there!

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Great Prize Alert!!

Go to the Annabelle Stamps company and check out the awesome Blog Candy Giveaway they have goin' on! Great stuff! Good Luck! ~

Used my Uhu Glue Roller: A review...

I was lucky to be in contact with UHU (Thanks to my good friend Deanne Burton) and received a free sample of their UHU Glue Roller to try out and review. I chose to try it out while creating some Christmas cards for a client.

Christmas card designed and made by "Yours Truly" using Uhu Glue Roller as the adhesive

I have NEVER had a glue roller (tape roller) that didn't gunk up, "stall" and get all clogged and stuck. I have tried pretty much every known brand including those from Scotch and Creative Memories. NO LUCK.

This is by far the best glue roller I have ever used and I unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone needing a good adhesive. Great stuff, acid free, and the dispenser is of an excellent function and design- it was sooo easy to use. I've used it on large and small areas with no problems, as you can see on these Christmas Cards:

I've been super busy with "The Perfect Card...." my card creating business over the past month. I've been making an amazing number of cards for my clients! So much fun! Above and below are some cards I designed & made. This product definitely sped up the gluing process for me! Time is valuable and this tool met the mark on that issue!

More Christmas cards:

Thanks for peeking and be sure to get that Uhu Glue Roller!

**I will be looking for it on the Uhu display at the store where I shop! **

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Kate and her horse Grace

Some photos for you to enjoy: Kate (15) and Grace (7)... taken this past weekend....

Photo by Kim M.

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did! Grace is a beautiful Thoroughbred/Hannevarian cross... great horse!
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"Crooked Trees" Tags Tutorial: Using Scraps!

I just love the look of what I call "Crooked Tree Gift Tags!"

I make them solely from scraps!

Here is a fun and easy way to use up some scraps and help get ready for Christmas Gift wrapping time...

SCRAPPY TIP: Kids would really enjoy this easy idea too!

Crooked Tree Gift Tag Tutorial

You'll need:

-Scrap of ribbon or yarn- 5-6" long

-Small scraps of CS and Patt paper, does NOT have to be Christmas-y

-2 larger scraps of pp or CS (These will become front and back of tag. You choose size. I recommend 1 scrap of each.)

-Possibly your trimmer, depending on size of your chosen cs/pp tag scrap

-Glue stick

-Hole punch

-Corner rounder or corner punch

-ink

-scissors

Here's what to do.

1. Choose a piece of scrap CS and a piece of scrap PP. Here I chose a leftover pcs of BasicGrey "Dasher" CS and a piece of Generations patterned paper. They are green and red and coincidentally, both have a pattern but it is subtle.

2. Next, glue-stick the 2 pieces together.

3. I then trimmed the red piece off from around the green. I used scissors for this step but I could have used my trimmer. Your choice!

4. As you can see here, I punched a hole in the top of what is to be my gift tag.

6. Then, I used a CM fancy corner punch on the bottom 2 corners, and the Cm Corner rounder on the top two corners. I've also shown here a Fiskars corner punch one could use. It's called "Heritage" has 3 corner choices on it.

6. Ink the edges well. I'm showing the green side here.

7. Tag now is inked and has had its' corners "done." It looks like this:

8. Take your scissors, and cut some triangles slightly "off" - use patterned paper. Different shades of burgundy, reds and greens ar nice. Once in awhile choose a solid.

Scraps shown here are from Accord, BasicGrey, Fancy Pants and Dream Street Designs.

SCRAPPY TIP: Use the straight edge of your scrap as one side of the triangle when you cut!! This makes cutting a SNAP!

9. Use a Kraft, burgundy, or brown scrap of CS and cut small rectangles or "squarish" shapes "trunks" for your trees. Anything goes!

10. Assemble trees, glue in place and add a ribbon or some yarn as a tie or accent. You can decorate BOTH sidea of tag and add a "to:" and "from:" as well. There you go!! A Crooked Tree Gift Tag made totally from scraps!!

Here are some other Crooked Tree Gift Tags I've made from scraps. All they need are ribbon or yarn added as ties.

A]

B]

C]

Have a wonderful day and please do share the link with me if you make any "Crooked Tree Gift Tags!" I will visit your blog or Gallery and leave a comment!!

((HUGZ))-Ali

She's Ours!!

Grace, AKA "Goodness Gracious!" is now ours for sure. the 2 week trial is over and the sale has been completed. Kate is over the moon excited as are we. Grace is a fast learner, can jump, and has a wonderful temperament. She's just what Kate needed, and at 16.3hh, Kate would have to be 8 feet tall to outgrow her! Phew! LOL!
Above is a photo of them riding...

Had an email from Oakley's new family down near Halifax and she is doing super well there. They go see her and ride her almost every day. She had TWO little girls to love her now! Oakley apparently has a stall with a HUGE window and she loves it. In the spring, when the new barn is all done, she will move to a stall where she can go in and out at will. LOL! You earned it Miss Oakley. Wonderful girl.

Welcome Grace! We have already fallen in love with you.
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Design Team Call- deadline extended!!!

I have a DT call up at the Sketch Blog site I manage.... Sketches: Creatively Yours. See the October 5th post, please, and scroll down.

Response to the call has been good. Deadline was tonight (18th) at midnight but I am extending it to October 19th at midnight Atlantic Time.

All who wish to do so are welcome to apply. I have decided to go with a bigger DT (not 4-6, as previously stated) to allow more people to show off their work.

The workload is not heavy at all, BTW.

Check the instructions and Go for it!!!!!

My addy is peteali @ eastlink. ca (w/ no spaces.)

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I Won! I won!

Thanks to all of you for checking out "Polly and her Pony" Stamp contest over at Gina Rahman's "Your Special Delivery" site!

Guess what? I WON THE DIGITAL STAMP!

It's so CUTE! Here it is.... This is a watermarked image of it.

Check out this link for more stamps of Polly with her Western gear on, a lasso, and Polly gone riding. I think I shall have to have MORE "Pollys" in my collection...

What about you?

I seriously cannot wait to make a card featuring this little gal!

Many thanks to all my friends who voted for "Polly" and to Gina R. for the fun contest and prize.

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BLOG CANDY!!!

My AMAZINGLY creative friend Pam has a wonderful contest on her Blog.

Honestly, it's awesome! Go check it out and be impressed with her beautiful creations!

Enjoy your travels to Pam's Blog everyone....

Thanks Pam, my good friend, for the heads up! It is SOOOOO wonderful to be back in touch!

Love ya dear!

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Kate and Grace

Thought you'd enjoy a photo of Kate riding Grace on the weekend. Enjoy!

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FREE Uhu glue roller sample!

Check this out- I just sent away for mine! I use Uhu Glue stick almost ALL the time, so I'm excited to try another of their products & write a review for it!!


Thanks to my friend Deanne for the heads-up!



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Grace

Farewell sweet Oakley
"Truly Scrumptious"

taken to her new family on October 6, 2009

Pokwock, NS
(Photo by Ali)

We are working with a new horse this weekend and for a 2 week trial period for Kate, who outgrew Oakley, our much-loved pony, 14 2 hh.

Here is what we are "doing" now on the horse-finding front:

Meet Grace: a Thoroughbred/Hannevarian Mare

Grace is 16 3 hh and a lovely big strong girl.

Grace arrived at 10 PM the nght before these were taken, trailered over to Rohan Wood Stable from NB by Kate's coach (TY Alissa).

Just look how relaxed and happy she seems! She had ONLY just been there a matter of overnight; was in a paddock with 4 other horses/ponies and was seemingly as happy as could be. She came over to me a few minutes after we arrived at the paddock, and sniffed my hands; what a sweetheart. Kate rode her yesterday as well. Grace has a beautiful smooth trot!

What a dear girl. I hope this can work out- we know there is training to be done but we have the best coach to help us with that and Kate is willing...

Here are a couple of photos:

Grace in the paddock at Rohan Wood, having breakfast.

Grace in the paddock, standing in front of Abe, whom I call the "the welcoming committee." Abe is such a gentle soul (Abe is the lesson horse that I have ridden.) Grace is actually a TAD bigger than Abe.

The inquisitive girl: Grace

Isn't she beautiful?

We promise to keep you posted on this wonderful adventure! It's pretty exciting!

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Chance to win a CUTE stamp PLUS I found 2 freebies!

from Special Delivery, a digistamp company!!

Here is that Contest link . Voting date is October 12th so be sure to pop on by and cast yours! Your opinion counts!

Special Delivery has a couple of cute digi-characters: Annabella Carolers and Annabella Snowman offered up as freebies for you! They are winter &/or Christmas themed. There are several other digital freeebies on that page as well.

Please note, the site is a lot of fun to browse thru-!! The characters are SO danged cute.Awww! I asked for the ones I mentioned, , as we were instructed to do, and they were delivered straight to my email inbox this Am with a nice friendly note. Be sure to ask for these charatcers and other freebies that you'd like to have and... Enjoy!


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New DT Position!

I am so thrilled to be able to announce some wonderful news! I have been asked to fill a Design Team Position at "Creatively Green Scrapbook Store: Craft Supplies with a Conscience!" I am beyond excited as this will really encourage me to continue to "create green" and share that experience with others!

I really like the site and have been participating in things there for a few weeks now. Have already made new friends as everyone is FULL of great ideas and very talented & friendly.

Please do check out the site, it's AMAZING, as is the wonderful store. Go on, explore a bit! Cool place!

Hey, Guess what? I just realized that our Canadian Thanksgiving is THIS WEEKEND! Goodness! Need to go buy a nice big honkin' turkey. Well I hope it doesn't HONK- then it'd be a Goose, not a turkey!!!! (YUCK!) To make it even better, Kate is off all day Friday and we may head to Frenchy's (second hand store) for a fun foray into the button bin (me-- YAY) and the clothing bins (her!) LOL!

Off to beddie-bye now! Sleep well!


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World Card Making Day was Oct 3rd!

I can't believe I forgot to post on that special day! LOL, better late than never! Here is a card I made in honour of this special day. I made it for an order I had through "The Perfect Card," which is my card-creating business.

I must add a HUGE thanks and HUGZ to ((((my friend Lois)))) in BC for the beautiful butterflies she sent me.

This card is very sparkly, in real life. Why don't pics ever really do anything justice?? I hope it brought a smile to a special person when she opened it.

Hope you like it! Have a super day everyone! ~

Beautiful Scrappy Work and Some News!

Some beautiful scrapbook pages and some newsy-news over at Sketches, Creatively Yours this mornin'. Why not go see?

Big HUGZ...

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