Happy Birthday Mom

Wherever you are, whoever you're with, whatever you're doing, I still love you and wish you all the happiness in the world.  

It's my mom's birthday this week and I'm sure that she thinks I don't remember or don't care as I'm so busy with my own life.  But I don't.  As you may be able to tell my mother and I aren't very close.  We use to be, but life happens and we started to need each other less and less.  But whatever life brings between us it doesn't stop the fact that I love her and I am thankful for her efforts in raising me.  Being a mother now I can appreciate the sacrifices that were made and the emotional roller coaster that comes from having a daughter of my own.

Anyhow, this card was inspired by another October Viva la Verve sketch.  It's not one of my best accomplishments but I do like the cupcake.  I layered it and frosted it with glitter.  I wanted to use a darker pink background with lighter ribbon but I also wanted to be able to stamp a sentiment.  Thinking back now I could have done that a white embossed the sentiment.  I'm starting to get back into my grove and I'm liking it.  It really is nice to find the time for this.  I'll try to find more time to surf the blogs and see what else I've missed while I've been gone.  I've noticed a couple of my other blog friends are currently on hiatus as well and it kind of makes me sad :(

Have a fantabulous day!!!

Is it Really?

Is it really that time of the year again?  In a couple of weeks it will be Halloween and then Thanksgiving (in the US) and the next thing you know it's Christmas and New Years.  I don't know about you but I always find that the next few months fly by.  I remember before I went back to work, I used to have all my holiday shopping done by now.  This year and last...not so much.  The same goes for having my holiday cards made.  And I can't bring myself to buy them when I have all that crafty goodness packed away in my cupboards.  

So heres my first card of the season, inspired by the October Viva la Verve sketch.  I've made another card for this sketch but it will have to wait.

Tomorrow we are on our way to Disneyland.  The one nice thing about being back at work is having a little bit of money to put aside for special things like this.  That and I traded in a bunch of travel points that we had been collecting for 8 years.  We are headed there with friends and neighbors and very much looking to our first family holiday.  I'm hoping for a fabulous family adventure, but wonder if I'll need to be put in a padded cell once we arrive home. LOL

Take care everyone and have a fantastic weekend!

Grateful for Time

Well it's been a long time hasn't it.  Almost a year since my last post and how I've missed it.  I've decided that I need to make time for me and what better way but in my craft time.  I really do need that time for my sanity.  And I do miss the support of this wonderful crafting community.

For my first attempt and getting comfortable with things I decided on the latest Mojo Monday sketch which just happens to be contest week.  I decided on a thanksgiving theme as tomorrow is our Canadian Thanksgiving.  I'm off to dinner tonight with the in-laws.  Anyhow I hope find some kind of inspiration and wish you all my fellow Canadians a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving and to everybody else enjoy a lovely week ahead.

Cheers,
Laural

Just the Ticket

Hello everyone...it's been a while hasn't it?  I did have plans to be on here more often but life just happens.  I have been busy these last few weeks but still managed to make 35 christmas cards.  And they're all in the mail!  Phew!  

Anyhow...on with the show!  I'm so excited to show this creation I made last night.  As I was looking through my stash of craft goodies, I was thinking about how much I'd love to find a unique way of making a fireplace and I happened upon the PTI set "Just the Ticket" and that's exactly what it was. When positioned just right those tickets made perfect bricks for a fireplace.  What do you think?  I did a ribbon treatment for the 'mantle' and 'hung' those lovely PTI die cut stockings.  It's odd that the first time I use that stamp set it would be for a Christmas card.  I'm going to try something with the ticket strip die.  Hopefully I'll be able to share that with you in a more timely fashion.

Tomorrow I'm heading out of town with my daughter as she has a scheduled ultrasound for her tummy.  She's had multiple issues these past couple of months and now we're having to run a multitude of tests.  Sick kids cause so much worry!  My son has been home with a high fever these last couple of days and I felt guilty for not being at home with him.  It's such a strange and sad feeling knowing that last year at this time I was at home full time with kids being able take care of them while they were sick and able to answer all the doctor's questions because I knew my kids so well.  Now...not so much. We are fortunate that we have family daycare so I don't necessarily have to miss work.  Hubby did stay at home today though and that made me feel much more comfortable not being at home.

That's my life for now and I'm looking forward to the Christmas holidays.  If I'm not around before then have a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2011

Like a Kid in a Candy Shop

My new craft room is pretty much the same thing.  And my favourite thing right now is my jars of scrap ribbon and buttons.  Just looking at all those colourful goodies gives me plenty of inspiration.  I need all the inspiration I can get right now because I need to get those Christmas cards done!  I'm half way there.

My desk looks out the window facing the cul-de-sac where my kids spend the majority of the time playing with the neighbourhood kids.  That will probably be less of the time now that the weather's getting chillier and wetter.  We're expecting snow later this week.  I don't enjoy the roads but appreciate that snow gets rid of the gloominess.

Anyhow I also have an extra table for a few friends  or kids to spend some crafty time with me. The tables also handy to spread out my materials and get creative.  Now I just need a handy peg board to pin up some challenges.

Operation Sunshine

This year my daughter started Grade 2!!!  No longer my baby girl and turning into a little lady.  Unfortunately the cattiness of little girls has begun along with the hurt feelings.  It's a whole new learning experience filled with growing and my hope that there's something positive to learn from it all. The goal of this project is for my daughter to give the girls in her classroom a book mark that would remind them what she appreciates most about them....spread a little sunshine.  A way of showing appreciation for their individuality even if she doesn't always agree with them. 

The idea for this project comes from something my daughter's preschool teachers made for her.  Each child made a picture and told each classmate which virtue (patient, kind, friendly, compassionate, etc) they saw most in them.  Those pictures were collected and then the teacher made a laminated book out of them.  I still catch T. looking at her book.  It's her feel good book.  And how good would it feel to get a genuine positive remark from someone you thought didn't like you or appreciate you?

Elements used in this are pretty simple...my only goal besides using up scraps was to create unique bookmarks, not one is the same.  Different buttons, ribbon, and stamp placement.  The pictures still aren't the greatest but I have to get batter lamps for my quickly put together light box.  It will all have to do for now.

Hope you see feel a little sunshine in your life today.  Have a wonderful day.

Never Forget. Always Hope.

My middle son made this beautiful poppy at Beavers (aka Scouts)

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands with throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields

If you managed to read the entire poem or recite it by memory, I encourage you to take the time to consider how this poem still resonates in our lives today.  To me it's not just a time to remember those that fought for our freedom but also for remembering those who fought a brave fight with Cancer, MS, ALS, Parkinson's, etc.  I also think about those who continue to carry the torch.  Our brave soldiers signing up for the unknown, those who run or bike marathons to raise money for medical research, and the families that are left to fill the whole that's been left from loosing a loved one.

Have a beautiful & thoughtful Remembrance Day.