Make a wish

Today I am sharing my most recent creation, I love the incredible fall colors in Imaginisce's new Apple Cider collection.  I also used some of Core-dinations gemstones cardstock, It is a little hard to tell with my photo but I love the little bit of shimmer that it adds, it compliments the orange satin ribbon nicely. Plus it is the only shiny cardstock that I have found that I can easily print on. The cute little birdie is another one of My little bit of whimsy pins, the earthy colored ones are a perfect match for these papers.

I don't know about the rest of you but the idea of spending money to put my kid into a sport, only to have him hate it, frightens me a little. This winter I gave my son the choice of which sport he wanted to play. He chose hockey even though he had only been on the ice a couple times. I was so nervous that he would think it was too tough and want to quit. I would not want to force him to go, but that would have been way to much money to let him quit. I had no idea how much gear they had to have.

What would you do you do if your kid hated something that you paid money to sign him\her up for ? Do you let them quit, or force them to keep going?

 So far I am thrilled that he is making huge strides in skating and he is LOVING it {sigh of relief}. There were only a couple of moments where I was really worried.

How cute is he in all that gear {says biased Mommy}?

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Make a wish

It's beginning to look a lot like..........

Christmas????? Ok don't shoot me, but I was at my local scrap store and they just got in the new Cottage Christmas by Imaginisce. I love this line, traditional colors, clean lines, and adorable creatures. Right up my alley!!! I always find new stuff inspiring so I dug through my photos and found these pictures of my sons, when we went to get our Christmas tree. 

 I bought the i-top button maker on sale at Oh my crafts a little while back {I love that it is black} and I used it to create the little reindeer button, the scallop stamp is one of the snag ems, and what would a Christmas layout be without a little queen n co sparkle.

The give away for the Elmers Crafting challenge is still happening just scroll to the post below, and leave a comment on that post for a chance to win. I also want to say a BIG THANK YOU

to all of you for joining me here, I have read each and every comment and it has brought me such joy these last few rainy days. I am trying to touch base with each of you in some way. Bare with me if it takes a little while as there are more of you than I imagined. {{{{{Hugs}}}}}

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It's beginning to look a lot like..........

Elmers, not just white glue!!

Ok friends this is gonna be a lengthy post with lots of pictures so you may want to grab a cup and pull up a chair. A little while ago someone from Elmer's contacted me and asked if I would like to participate in a Crafting challenge. My first thought, like I am sure many of you, was "hhhmmm glue eh?" I agreed thinking "well you can never have to much adhesive right?". Then they sent me this list of the products that I had to work with and I was blown away..........things are always better explained with a photo, so here is what arrived at my doorstep.

I had no idea that Elmers made so many products!!! I have always had a stash of there glue sticks kicking around because they are perfect for my large surface gluing needs and they are not so expensive so I can let my kids use them too. As I told you all yesterday, I just got my hands on the *new* Core-Impression by Stacy Jillian and I wanted to create something bright and inspirational for my scrappy space. So I set to work creating this...............................

Let me walk you through the process

I glued my cardstock down to my chipboard with my glue stick

then once the cardstock was stuck down I used this FABULOUS {and I say that because the shape of this is so comfortable to hold} x-acto swivel blade to trim around the outside edge.

I used the trimmer to cut down my photos, I have never owned a guillotine style trimmer and I have to say this rocked for cutting my chipboard as well. Plus the best part is the storage underneath the cutting deck. It fits the glue sticks, scissors and x-acto knives. Very cool!! 

I used the scissors to cut all my really small embellishments. They were super precise and had a great comfy soft grip.

I used the Elmer's glue runner to stick down my photos and other elements. It glides so smoothly and is super sticky, {plus I love the orange color LOL}

For the first panel, I used the x-acto circle cutter to cut the brown circle and used the fun decorative edge scissors for borders. Also I want to be able to change the pictures so for all the photos I used the Elmers photo corners.

For this one there is subtle layering of all the decorative edge scissors on the left, just adds a little interest and texture.

For the third panel {my favorite} I used more decorative edges and I used the x-acto to cut out the branches. I used Elmer's wonderful gel pens to add a little extra details to the cardstock leaves by October Afternoon.

I then used the foam mounting tape {another product that I love} to pop them up a little, I used the glue dots for my buttons, it was nice not to have to wait for my glue to dry with this product. Very efficient!!

Lastly, for this panel, I cut out a collection of circles with the circle cutter, then cut them in half to create a place to hold my title.

So there you have it, my entry for the Elmer's Crafting Challenge!

 

So what is the prize you ask? The prize is $1000 dollars towards my favorite charity. If I won, the money would go towards juvenile diabetes. This is cause near and dear to me, as a few of my friends have little ones struggling with this disease. I can't imagine having to inject myself every day, let alone a 3 year old.  I need to amend this, I went back through the rules and it stated that is must be an educational based charity, so I don't think that this qualifies, so then my next choice would be a literacy foundation, because I truly believe the gift of reading can change your life.

and the best part is

I also have prizes for you, that's right. I get to give away three Elmer's prize packs!!

These prize packs will include:

X-ACTO:
4-pack Decorative Edge Scissors
Self Healing Mat
Retractable Craft Knife
Craft Swivel Knife

CraftBond:
Scrapbooking Tape: Repositionable
Extra Strength Glue Stick
Wet & Dry Dual Tip Glue Pen
Permanent Tape Runner

Talk about a give away WHooooo HOooo!! All you have to do is either post about this and link it back to me on your blog, if you don't have a blog, link it up on facebook and if you you don't have any of these, just become a follower.

When you are done leave me a comment!! I will pick a winner on Friday October 1st
Good Luck and Happy Crafting!!

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Elmers, not just white glue!!

Oh happy day!!

I am so excited to be back on a roll and scrapping again. There are so many things that I want to share. First up!! This week on the Core-dinations and My Stamp Box blog, they are hosting a little swap. No hopping around needing but if you leave a comment on both the sites you are entered to win a fantastic prize. They sent our DT a collection of goodies and I created this card with there fantastic leaf sets, this is the same set that I used with this layout a while back. The embossing folder is one of the new ones from sizzix and tim holtz. Isn't it delicious?

The next thing that I have to share is this, I am in LOVE......this is the new Core-dinations collection, Color me Happy by Stacey Jillian and seriously just looking at this paper makes me soooo happy :) I would like to place and order for a package of each of the dots {my fave} and then I want a whole bunch of this adorable scallop edge and then.... well, you get the idea. You will be seeing more of this in the very near future.

Here is a close up of the little crab I made, I was playing with fimo again!!

Lastly my work has been spotted over at Purple Pumkin designs today. If you have a second you should check it out, her creations are beyond adorable, they are created in Australia, but her shipping is fast and inexpensive. You may just have to stay up late to get your order in. {Especially if you live in Western Canada, like me}.

I've got some more super exciting news coming up, that I can't wait to share, but that will have to wait until tommorrow. But I can tell you there will be prizes involved :)

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Oh happy day!!

3 Scrappy boys DT Call

I cannot believe that it has been 6 months already, unbelievable!!! I have said it before, this is an awesome place, to hang out with your morning cup, the incredible bunch of ladies that are super supportive and ful of praise, and the kits are fantastic to work with. If you have been thinking about trying out for a DT, this is the time. All the details can be found here. Septembers kit continues to be a hit. Here is another layout that created with it, and I still have some scraps left. LOL!!

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3 Scrappy boys DT Call

Septembers Kit

So I just recieved the September Main kit from 3 scrappy boys and Wow is this Crate paper really gorgeous, It is not my usual style but it is the fabulous mix of colors and patterns and I really like that is gave me the chance to play with a new photo style, I kinda grunged this one up a bit put a scratchy overlay on it. I dug out my prima background stamp and really got into "aging" the page. I love the result.

In this layout I played with all sorts of strips, and check out the beautifully stitched prima flower, and you know I am not much of a flower girl but this one is just so cute.

On of my girlfriends just got back from some travels so this was the perfect time to make this card.

All this came from a 3 Scrappy boys kit, the only thing that I added was the pearls {Queen n Co and the tiny alpha's{adornit}

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Septembers Kit

Totally Tuesday

So it has been a wonderful weekend and I thrilled to have found my lost friend Mojo. The ladies over at 3 scrappy boys have kept me inspired and If you need a little bit of pumping up, these gals are top notch good cheer leaders. Here is one of my weekend creations. This is my sons first day at school. He looks so grown up to me, I know that I will look back at this photo one day and say.....ah he was so little. Today I just miss him. This is his first step away from me and I am not a super clingy mom but I know that I am taking this a lot harder than he is. 

The Core-Impressions, was absolutely perfect for this and I am incredibly stoked about my whimsical use of the Bee for the letter B.

This is a little card that I put together with my son for his teacher.

This card uses a whole bunch of Jillibean soup and I love this stamp by My stamp box, so fun and funky.

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Totally Tuesday

Me Digital??

For those of you who may be concerned that I would go digital, fear not!! I tried it once and found that I need to feel my paper, get ink on my fingers and rip, tear and sand to feel like I am scrapping.  However a great friend of mine and digital designer, Day, asked if she could use some of my paper designs for her digital challenge. I am amazed at the marvelous creations happening over at Scrap Matters. It is awesome!!  Even if you are not a digi scrapper you really should check it out.

Also the party continues over at 3 Scrappy boys, there are a ton of great challenges both simple and easy. Here is one of the creations I whipped up last night. I only have two ball games left and then we are into dodgeball season, so I thought this would be a good time to scrap about it.

I am so super proud of this hand stitched baseball, easy just took a little time.

This baseball was a flat sandylion sticker that I put over top of a white button, it has great dimension now

and october afternoon's fly a kite collection had some perfect words for the page too!

Top it all off with some Jillibean Core-impressions and some queen n co bling and you've got one happy gal. 

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Me Digital??

Big fun crop

Happening right now over at 3 scrappyboys is a super fun back to school crop, it is happening all weekend long, there are some great challenges, wonderful prizes and inspiration gallor I have posted a class on bling and this months color challenge.

If anyone wants to give it a whirl, here it is, and be sure to post your creations in the gallery over there for a chance to win some goodies.

Here is the layout that I created with this pallete

It uses all sorts of Core-dinations and some fantastic Queen n Co sparkle.

Did you know that Core-dinations and Queen n Co have teamed up to bring you the perfect color match!!! Awesome right?? Check these out!!

Is that not AWESOME, I'm stoked, Buttons brads and bling Oh my!!

Other products used: Birdie by My Little bit of Whimsy, button by Purple Pumpkin, Jillibean soup Spots and Photo Corners by Scrapbook Adhesives.

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Big fun crop

Ahh the rain

Happy Labour day Monday everyone! Today where I am it is a cool rainy day and I am so thankful. It means that this morning I sat in my scrap room with a hot cup of tea and scrapped peacefully and guilt free, it felt so good to be creating. What got me rolling was one of my good friend Aphra's, wonderful sketches. It is being featured this week over at Creative Scrappers.

I was stoked to get to use this adorable Purple Pumpkin design button, her blog is loaded with adorable creations, but if you want some you have to be quick, she sells out fast!

and I have been saving this cutey for just the right page, he is made by My little bit of whimsy.

Other products used Core-dinations cardstock, Pattern paper by Jillibean Soup. Pearls by Queen n co.

Hope you all had a wonderful labour day weekend!!

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Ahh the rain

A letter to my blog

Dear little Blog

I am sorry that I have not written in a while things have gotten a little out of hand here at the Jackson house. Apparently motherhood and life is not as easy as some make it look. I am struggling a little with some terrible twos, also having a few pangs of heart ache as I send my eldest to school, and to be totally honest I am really beginning to wonder if I have made the right choice in trying to build a house at this time in my life. Ridiculous things just keep happening!! Like the stove that starts beeping at midnight for no reason and then quits working, the cat gets an ear infection, an allergy to my wedding ring, potty training regression. I mean really the list goes on and on.  Add that to the normal "getting ready for fall" activites, and the end of the summer get togethers, at the end of the day this Momma is pooped!

But make no doubts, life will get back on track shortly. The rains have started and with them the need to be indoors creating. Here is my most recent layout, We went to see the moster truck rally a little while back, it was unbelievable those guys are nuts!!

If you want to know where the tiny little OA elements come from, I used the sheet that comes at the front of the kit {you know the one that shows you whats inside} and cut out the little pieces, so cute and so thrifty!!

Hope your doing well

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A letter to my blog