Five for Friday

1. We woke up to snow Monday morning, but today is gorgeous -- sunny and hot!

I even wore sandals to work today. :)

Our weekend plans: to work in our yard & soak up the sun.

2. I had the day off on Wednesday, so I decided to switch up some of my décor for summer.

My friend gave me this sign for Christmas -- I love it!

I placed it outside my front door and it totally makes me smile every time I see it.

I took down my Christmas cards in our hallway and decided to

display some summery layouts.

A few summery items on our computer armoire...

... and I changed up a few things on our piano,

including a new verse on the chalkboard.

3. Last night, Austin, Jonah, Sage & I drove to Winnipeg to see

our favourite comedian: Matt Falk.

He was filming a live show at the Garrick theatre downtown and, since tickets

were only five dollars, we had to go.

It was rush seating, so I dropped the boys off at the door and told them

to grab some seats while Sage & I parked the card.

Well, they did well -- front row seats!

A quick picture before the show started.

Matt is so funny!

And it's so nice that his material is clean and appropriate for the whole family.

We had a great time!

4. As I've mentioned before, I'm taking Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook class at Studio Calico.

This week, I made a layout using Sketch 4:

I found this sketch more challenging, but I'm happy with what I created.

I decided to showcase some photos of Sage & my "girls weekend" last month.

I stamped my title using PTI's Wet Paint Alphabet.

I used some Crate Paper patterned paper on my layout,

and a Crate Paper chipboard embellishment.

I stamped and diecut these SSS Flowers On My Mind from some 

Bazzill Basics CS White cardstock and used the same cardstock for the base of my layout.

Here's a close up of my journaling.

5. And, as has become my habit, I also made a card using the sketch.

I decided that instead of paper-piecing the background in a grid like

I did on my layout, I would just create the grid with my score-pal.

I did a little smooshing on my background with a mango gelato onto

a piece of Bazzill Basics CS White Cardstock before adhering my flowers over top.

The sentiment is from PTI's Graceful Greetings.

I matted my card on a piece of Bazzill Basics Blossom cardstock.

Thanks for looking!

Countdown to Confetti: Leaping Lions & Pineapples Aplenty

Happy Easter, 'Fetti Fans!

Welcome to Day 1 of the special April Release for Reverse Confetti! 

This is such a fabulous release, with five new stamp sets and eight new Confetti Cuts!

Lots of sweet goodness coming this month!

Today, we are introducing two new sets with coordinating Confetti Cuts: 

a super cute set called Leaping Lions and a super fun set called Pineapples Aplenty.

But first up, I have an Easter project to share that I made using a really cool

Confetti Cut that's being released this month: the Tassle Confetti Cut.

I added a banner of tassles to the chalkboard that sits on my piano to help celebrate Easter!

I used three different colours of tissue paper that I diecut using the new Tassle Confetti Cut.

It's so fun! 

Here's a close-up:

Next are the cards that I made using Leaping Lions.

This is such a fun set!

Here's my first card:

I wanted to build a circus scene, so I diecut a "tent" using the Double Edge Scallop Border Confetti Cut

and stamped it with one of the striped stamps from So Stripey.

I wanted the lion to take centre stage, so I diecut a post-it note using the largest circle from Circles 'n Scallops Confetti Cuts and took two more post-it notes to create a mask so I could ink 

the background using harvest gold ink and my Tim Holtz blending tool to create a spotlight.

I then used one of the Leaping Lions Confetti Cuts to diecut a mask from another post-it note

and inked that using the same technique with summer sunrise ink.

Then, I stamped the lion, replaced the mask and stamped the pedestal that he's sitting on.

This I coloured in using some markers.

This was such a fun way to colour in this sweet lion!

For my next card, I decided to place my lions on the african savannah.

I created my background with aqua mist and spring moss cardstock.

I diecut the lions using the Leaping Lions Confetti Cuts and stamped them 

and the sentiment in versafine onyx black ink.

For the trees, I diecut some dark chocolate cardstock using the trees from Branch Out Confetti Cuts

and trimmed off the top branches.

And the leaves were created using the largest clouds from Sun 'n Clouds Confetti Cuts.

And lastly, I have two projects to share that I made using Pineapples Aplenty.

I used several new products on this card!

For my patterned paper border, I cut apart one of the new Piña Colada Quick Card Panels.

I stamped my Pineapples Aplenty stamps on one of the coordinating Pineapples Aplenty Confetti Cuts.

To make my banner, I trimmed a piece of cardstock and then diecut it with another new 

Confetti Cut that's being released this month: Layered Banner Duo Confetti Cuts.

I added the score lines to my cardstock using my Scor-buddy.

A few enamel dots finish it off.

Next, I made a layout.

I used some Amy Tangerine patterned paper for this fun summer layout.

Once again, I stamped my Pineapples Aplenty stamps on one of the coordinating Pineapples Aplenty Confetti Cuts.

Isn't this sentiment fabulous?

And those fun slide frames?

I diecut those using another new Confetti Cuts that's being released this month

called Shakers 'n Frames.

I stamped them using a couple of stamps from So Stripey.

 

 

 

 That's it for today!

There will be a $15 gift certificate up for grabs, so you make sure you leave a comment 

on each sneak peek post for each designer to increase your chances of winning!

Comments will close at noon CST on Tuesday, April 7th and the winner will be 

announced later that day at 5pm CST.

Want another chance to win? 

Head on over to Reverse Confetti's Facebook page and 

look for the graphic posted there.

Thanks for looking!

Seven for Saturday

I was hoping to pop in yesterday with a "Five for Friday," but this week has been a little crazy.

So, I thought I'd share a "Seven for Saturday" with seven things that I did over spring break.

1. Last Saturday, Austin drove us into Winnipeg (he has his learner's permit!)

He attended a Yugioh tournament while I attended a taekwondo referee seminar & did a little shopping afterwards.

After I picked Austin up, we went to Target, where I found some really cute bedding for Sage.

Austin & I had supper at Five Guys and then he drove us home.

I'm really proud of how well he's driving!

2. Sage was thrilled with the new bedding (did I mention it was only $11?!)

We had thought of painting her bedroom over the summer, but I said: "Why wait?"

I had a 1/3 of a gallon left of the Serendipity (gorgeous aqua colour)

that I painted my room last spring & the solid and striped walls in my craft area.

So we added 1/3 of a gallon of white to the aqua, which gave us enough to paint three walls.

 We painted the fourth wall white, but added some flowers to match the bedding over her closet.



Here's a close up:

We had fun putting together a collage of frames that Sage painted in coordinating colours.

The dark grey one still needs a photo: I have a perfect one of Sage at 11 months old, 

but I haven't been able to find it.

Sage wanted a jewellery stand for her dresser, so we went to a couple of stores

to look for one, but they're pretty pricey.

One store had a framed patterned print with hooks to hang the necklaces, etc. (for "only" $65! Eek!)

We decided to hit the thrift shop where we found an Anne Geddes print block mounted for $2

and a wooden framed print for $3. 

We bought both, painted them, pounded in a few finishing nails and voilà! 

A necklace holder that matches her room perfectly!

Painting the room took all day Tuesday and most of Wednesday (for the flowers over the closet.)

On Wednesday evening, Jonah commented how fun it was that Sage got 

to change her room around.... but maybe that was just for girls. Hmmm.
So...

3. On Thursday, we cleaned out the boys' room.

We tidied the closet, took everything off the double shelving unit they have and cleared off their dresser.

We washed their bedding and tried to come up with a way to change things around.

They liked their bunkbeds up against the different wall, but we couldn't get the shelves to fit.

So, we took the shelves apart (I have to add that we did all of this with a screwdriver

-- it took forever!) and reassembled them with six shelves in a single unit.

The results? Their room looks so much bigger now!

And, it's so clean and tidy!

We'll see how long that lasts....

4. On Thursday, we also said goodbye to Lucy.
After dog-sitting her for over four months, her owners came to take her home.
While I won't miss having the dog hair around (& having to vacuum every other day!), I will miss her.

I know Jonah is missing her, too!

5. With all of the busyness of the week, and plans to go to my mom's in Winnipeg today,
I almost forgot to make some treat bags for my Sunday School kids.
So, with my MISTI and the Easter Bunny set from My Favourite Things, I made the quickest Easter tags!

All I did was trim a piece of 8.5x11 cardstock into eight pieces measuring 2.75x4.25".
I stamped them all and then scored a line 1/2" from the top.
I used this to fold over the plastic bags, filled with chocolate eggs, and I stapled them in place.

6. I was able to get into my craft space a little this week.
I've been working on projects for Reverse Confetti's special April Release.
Be sure to come back tomorrow, as the sneak peeks start then!

7. And lastly, in honour of spring, which I certain is just around the corner --
can you tell I'm choosing to ignore the snow we had today? -- I changed the look of my blog.
What do you think?

Thanks for looking! 

A few things to share....

Well, we're definitely starting to get into Christmas mode here....

Last Saturday, it was a little warmer outside -- 

meaning I could go and work outside without ski pants and not freeze my butt off --

so, I decided to decorate the outside of my house.

I strung some evergreen boughs along my front window and porch railing.

And I also decorated near the front door.

The bright, shiny silver rectangle at the bottom is a sign that I made.

I found a piece of MDF in our basement and spray painted it silver -- well, actually, the colour was called "chrome" (this, too, I found in my basement.)

Then, I diecut the Bible verse with my Silhouette and some vinyl.

I started decorating the inside of my house on Friday.

And we put up the tree and the lights yesterday, but had several interruptions,

so we didn't get it decorated.

Hopefully, this afternoon....

And Jonah & Sage had their parent-teacher conferences on Friday,

so, of course, I made batches of butter crunch to give away.

For the tags, I used this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Stamping a Plaid Background.

I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy this technique, because stamping backgrounds

isn't my specialty, but I was surprised at how much fun I had!

I diecut eight tags using classic kraft yardstick and Tag Sale #7.

Then, because I don't have any stripe stamps, I searched through my sets to find

some line stamps I could use.

The diecut words are Wet Paint Cuts.

I made four different designs, with two different colour schemes.

These first four use ripe avocado, terracotta tile and white. 

 

And the second colour scheme is ripe avocado, hawaiian shores & white.

Thanks for looking!