Only 5 More Sleeps!

This time of year is just so busy! There is Christmas concerts, dance viewings, school parties, gift wrapping and giving, baking, cleaning, planning and so on...but through it all, I love it! Yes, I love the excitement and the general feeling of doing something nice for someone else. I love getting together with family and friends and having no firm commitments to be somewhere and to do something.

Right now, Madison and Danielle are bursting at the seams in anticipation of Santa! Our house smells like gingerbread cookies (love that smell!) and I have just wrapped all the fruitcake I made today. And this year, I am almost scared to say...I am ready! OK so I have a few Christmas cards to tuck into the mail yet but I am almost there! LOL

I have not been around too much as I just had the some nasty GI virus. Goodness, it just wiped me out! It has been a week now and I am still a bit queasy and whoozy and tired. On a more positive note, the ulcer on my leg is healing and the plastic surgeon is happy with my progress. My rheumatologist has been working very closely with me to find the right dose of pain medication as I tough it out until my ulcer heals in its entirety. I so really appreciate my doctor and the much better health I had before this nasty infection took hold.

So a short post tonight as I am quite tired but I'll be back tomorrow with something to show you. I am starting to work on the Scrap Shotz January reveal - if you have ever thought of joining a kit program, do consider this one! Scrap Shotz has amazing and luscious kits month after month! It's like Christmas every month of the year!

Thanks for dropping by!
-Virginia

It's So Revealing!!!

It's the beginning of December and you know what that is, right? Uh huh...reveal day at Scrap Shotz. This month's absolutely scrumptious kit is SEI Alpine Frost lines. Check it out here. Let me tell you that the papers and accents are even more beautiful in real life and boy oh boy, this kit is so versatile!

Here are my projects this month...

This layout is very special to me because it is a summary of the various childrens' Christmas parties before Danielle was born.

Here is a close up of the Prima felt gate that I cut up and adorned with a Making Memories brad.

Goodness I look young in this photo! LOL

Here is an altered Melissa Francess album from last years Scrap Shotz December kit. It is all ready for my 2008 holiday photos. I especially love the glimmer misted Maya Road people. And I used the inside of the Prima felt gate as the chimney.

Here is a close-up of the album title whose shape is cut with the Nestabilities. Don't you just love the Prima glittered trees? I know I sure do!

The next two layouts put a huge smile on my face! I love seeing the joy and wonder in my girls' eyes on Christmas morning. The first layout is of Madison - she is overwhelmed at the same time as excited and rarin' to enjoy her gifts! Those velvet Maya Road flowers are luscious - absolutely luscious!

This layout showcases the many feelings flowing through Danielle on Christmas morning. It was the first Christmas where she really REALLY understood Santa...and I just love it!

To make the tree, I cut a triangle from the glittered paper and used the Making Memories pearl brads to create the ornaments and the tree trunk. So easy and so effective!

And my last layout is of Madison skiing at the Kimberley Snowstars race this past March. It was a great day of skiing and I am so glad I was able to capture the moment and the story.

This month I also had the opportunity to do another Valerie Sketch - sketch #72 to be exact! Here is my layout...

A close-up of the giant snowflake! I am loving snowflakes these days! The black bling is from Glitz Designs...totally love their products!

My last bit of show and tell is the Scrap Shotz December DT Sketch Challenge! The sketches are from PageMaps - they are super easy and versatile, a must for this busy time of year! Here is my layout interpretation...

Supplies: Pattern papers from Scrap Shotz Kits Take 2 - KI Memories; Bazzill scallop circle cardstock; Making Memories Mini Alphas; Heidi Swapp chipboard flowers; Urban Lily circle chipboard; Glitz Designs gems for the flower centres and American Crafts alpha stickers.

Here is my card using the Scrap Shotz kit featuring Crate Papers - Prudence. Chipboard sentiment was a RAK from a very special friend!

Thanks for dropping by!
-Virginia

ShortCuts DT Finalist Assignments

I am so excited to share my ShortCuts Design Team Finalist projects with you! It has been quite the journey as my package of products never arrived...even now, I had Dominic run to the mail box and there was nothing for me...:-( Sigh...Canada Post...it's like playing roulette! My friend, Carla P., another finalist, mailed me her leftovers...but again, no happy mail. Luckily, my friend, Ann S., who is currently on the Design Team, gave me a clear card, a frosted card and a gift card holder folder.

So without further adieu, here are my projects. Here is my clear card titled, "Hi" - this is a front view. With the exception of the red bling, all supplies are from the Scrap Shotz kit featuring SEI products. I scored the clear card to create a card similar to a gate fold. There is a "buckle" of pattern paper on the front that clips under the giant brad to close the front flaps. What stood out the most when I worked with the clear card is that the material is sturdy but not rigid. The clear card took the scored line without cracking...and I really REALLY like that! :-) The other point is...no fingerprints! How many times have you worked with a transparency, step back to admire your handiwork and gasp at the fingerprints? I don't know what magic is in these but no fingerprints from me (or my little fairies!)

Here is a close-up of the buckle and the front layering of the hand-cut blossoms.

And here is a picture of the card open.

For the second challenge, we were asked to decorate a gift card holder folder. OK, these are so darn fun! It takes minutes to them up, insert your gift card and wow your recipient! For my gift card holder folder, I decided to made a "tote bag." I added the front "pocket panel" and used ribbon to create the top stitching and tote bag straps. Inside the covered the panels with more of the luscious SEI pattern papers and popped in a Costco gift card.

Let me show you the front of the gift card holder folder. Isn't it cute? I even added a miniature tag for the recipient and a "latch" to close my tote bag. It clips under the giant brad on the front. I am pretty happy with how this turned out. :-)

Here is a couple of side views so you can see the latch and how well it stands up just like a tote bag.

And for my last project, I used the remaining frosted card to decorate twig wreath I had at home. If I were truthful, I am unhappy with my project. I had grand visions to create a twinkling butterfly mobile that hung from the wreath but I just did not have enough of the frosted card to create more butterflies. As a result, I ended up adhering them directly to the wreath and will display it right up against the window so the sun can shine through the frosted elements rather than having it hang above her bed. While you cannot see clearly in the picture, I lightly applied some Making Memories glitter to the butterfly wings and the inner sentiment. The sunlight twinkles beautifully on the frosted elements. One thing I will say about the frosted card is that the card is of high quality. It is easily decorated as it accepts liquid mediums well. Additionally, I thought I would play with the bits on my Cuttlebug and it embosses oh so wonderfully...so when my Design Team package arrives, guess what I am going to do? Yup, emboss!!! LOL

Here is a picture of my wreath from the front view. To create the butterflies and the inner sentiment, I used my Cuttlebug and my handy dandy ProvoCraft butterfly die and the wonderful nestability, respectively. The butterfly bodies were adorned with Close To My Heart bling. The organdy ribbon is also Close To My Heart...I just love that ribbon!

Here is a slight side view...

Thanks for letting me share! Now that you've seen the ShortCuts products, what are you waiting for??? Click here for further details.

-Virginia

On the 12th Day of Christmas...

...my true love gave to me...

Don't you just love that song??? I do and at Scrap Shotz we have a ball making quick and easy gifts for Christmas. Check it out here. Our 12 Days Challenges were so fun to scheme up and make! Want to see my challenges? OK...here we go!

On Day 8, I made Shimmery Stars. Click here for the details!

On Day 11, who could resist a pail of snowballs? I know, I couldn't so I made them! The girls can't stop touching them! LOL. Click here for the instructions.

And on Day 12, I ended the challenge with a 12 month digi calendar. I've always wanted to make one but was absolutely intimidated. And do you know what? It was a breeze! I am calling mine "One Good Year" and all the grandparents, aunts and uncles are going to be receiving one this year. Details can be found here.

And just this past Friday, I hosted Scrappy Hour at Scrap Shotz. Guess what we made? Yes, those cute and adorable paper bows that we spend the big bucks on! They are so easy to make and oh so addicting! Check out the instructions here.

Some days, I could just complain and complain about Canada Post but I won't! LOL I am anxiously waiting for a package from Alicia so that I may finish my projects for the Shortcuts DT call...hence, no post as of yet! I remain hopeful that it isn't lost! LOL So stay tuned for my projects - I am just so excited!

Thanks for dropping by!
-Virginia

Yikes! It's Mid-November!

Goodness, I swear time goes quicker as soon as October hits! And this fall, I have been quite unwell...but I am happy to report that I am finally on the mend. The most exciting news for me is that after 55, yes 55, days with an IV, I am finally finished. Yes, you are reading this correctly, I had my PICC line removed on Thursday and it feels great to move more than 3 feet from my portable friend, Mr. IV Machine! LOL

Therre is lots happening in my scrappy world. I am lucky enough to be finalist for the ShortCuts Design Team call. Definitely exciting for me! I absolutely love the idea of making the most of your time by using a few pre-made products here and there...and that is what ShortCuts is all about...making the most of your little papercrafting time. So stay tuned for my projects which will be posted on my blog at the end of November.

And over at Scrap Shotz, we are running the 12 Days of Christmas in November. The DT challenges are quick, easy and fun. They range from cards, frames, centrepieces and decorations. Don't be shy; come join the fun and say hi! I will be posting my challenges at the end of the weekend!

No pictures today but by Monday there will be more fun projects to inspire you! Thanks for dropping by!
-Virginia

Check This Out!

October and November have been exciting months for me in terms of scrapbooking! Just before Halloween, I had the opportunity to be featured with Valerie Salmon's sketches. If you have never tried them before, just do it! Valerie is sooooooooooo talented...and her sketches are so versatile! Here is my interpretation of Sketch #69.

Supplies: Pattern paper - American Crafts; Bling - Glitz Designs (row), Prima (heart and xoxo), Flowers & Buttons - Making Memories; Ribbon - Close To My Heart; Plastic Embellishment - American Crafts; Chipboard - Urban Lily; Journal Strips - StickStock Linen from Close To My Heart.

And I am not done! LOL Here is my take on Becky Flecks HalfMaps sketch.

Supplies: Pattern Paper - Tinkering Ink (big pink flower); Basic Grey - background and mat; Alpha - American Crafts; Mini Alphas - Making Memories; Bling - Glitz Designs (clear rows), Kaiser (on butterflies); Butterfly die cut - ProvoCraft.

And here are a couple of close-ups! Can you tell I love my Cuttlebug butterflies?

Thanks for coming by!
-vw

Being Prudent!

It's November 1 and you know what that means right? Yup, reveal day at Scrap Shotz. This month's kit is Crate Paper, the Prudence line. OMG, it is absolutely gorgeous! Each piece of paper was stunning with beautiful patterns and rich colours. The die cuts were amazing...and let me tell you, I don't usually like die cuts but I loved all the different shapes and glittery touches in the packet. And the font of the alphas was beautiful! So here are my reveal projects...

When I first saw the papers, I knew immediately I wanted to scrap some wedding photos! Yes, it is true...I haven't finished my wedding album yet! I absolutely loved the sepia tinted photos with the November kit. All supplies are from the November kit. Here is another wedding layout. Although it looks like there is a piece of cardstock at

And my last layout is about Danielle...isn't her smile infectious? Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks and tickle her? Well, she is this happy each and every day...and let me tell you, I absolutely adore it!

Now I definitely wanted to do more projects with the kit but my week went awry unfortunately. Yes, I am still struggling with my infection and all it glorious complications. This week, I had a severe adverse reaction to one of the IV antibiotics and I was very sick for 48 hours and am still just recovering from all of it. At the height of it all, I really really appreciated my health and am working on getting better.

The beginning of the month at Scrap Shotz also marks the start of new Design Team challenges. This month we have a wonderfully innovative challenge on the go - check it out here. I encourage you to join in on the fun and make some wonderful items!

So I have some more news but I will save it for tomorrow! Thanks so much for dropping by and see you tomorrow!
-Virginia