Reflection After A Week

You know, despite going back to work after CHA, this week has been completely relaxing. The kiddo was with Grandpa and Grandma for the rest of this past week. Of course, now he is home and the hubster is back to work and here I am, back at scrapping.

So what did we do?

We took full advantage of this short time by reliving our days when we could come and go as we please. We had date nights. A movie. Supper alone. We just decided to do things together on a whim, and it just feels nostalgic you know, even a little bittersweet.

But I did miss our little nuthead and glad he is back home.

I spoke to him on Monday night when I got home and after he greeted me, he said, "Mom, I am having a really good time at Grandpa and Grandma's, but I miss you."

Such a sweetheart, my little man.

So with all that, I just vegged this week. Didn't email. Didn't scrap. If I haven't returned a message of dropped you a line this week, that is why. I just needed a small breather and had to seize the time alone with my guy. (wink, wink)

Before I say anything else, I want to extend a big CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend Anam Stubbington and family for the arrival of baby, Lily Mae! I cannot wait to see her, she is a beautiful baby. I think she takes after her cutie patootie big sister!

And I know I am late in doing so, but I also wanted to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Leica Forrest and family as well for their new arrival Ireland! Another little beauty!

I swear, it is like a baby bonanza around the scrappy world. Good on you girls.

And.....I did reflect on CHA and this morning, I got back to some scrapping.

I must say that one of my favorite booths at the show was tucked back in a corner, but it was some of the most interesting paper designs I found. This company only started a few months ago, but they are starting to create some buzz and I can see why!

The Black Market Paper Society. I love their stuff and I wish them well. I got my hands on some of their paper and in honor, I did a page with it. I wish them much success!


I mixed it up with a little old school Hambly, some American Crafts Thickers and of course a dash of Prima.

Also, the last little bit, I have been playing with my friends Trisha Ladouceur and Michelle Van Etten's creations, the Prima Build A Books. I am trying out some phunk-ay techniques with them.

And in fact, before I show you my album and some fun things to do with them, I need you to take a special note of the page I just showed you. I actually used one of their vintage scalloped pages on my page. They just aren't for mini albums!

So, what else can you do with them? Of course you know that they are great for layering. But I am talking about more than just paper and embellishments. It is time to pull out your inks, paints and other stuff. Let's show you how I got my hands a little dirty!

Here's the cover that I created for my mini album. I used a scalloped circle and layered various embellishments.



I layered my paper and embellishments both in front and behind the acrylic. But my next page is a little more interesting....


So how did I get those funky aqua dots on my page? First, I randomly dabbed Ranger's Adirondak Acrylic Paint Daubers in Aqua on top of the page. Once dry, drew a white line aound the paint with a white paint pen.

Next, I covered the dots with Ranger Glossy Accents and let it dry. Lastly, I lightly accented the circles with some Ranger Stickles. To cover up my handy work on the back side, I simply covered it with double sided patterned paper.
I also painted a fun border on my page using acrylic paint and a white paint pen. I simply painted my border in black paint, and once dry, I drew the white with a paint pen.

Also, notice that I used some Ranger Stickles to one of the tabs.

See, lots of fun to be had with the Build A Books!

Another Prima Sneek Peek and a talk About Retail Friendly Hybrid!

Told you, more sneeks! I had fun playing with the new Christmas Fancy Collection from Prima!
I love the papers, but there is something more exciting it too. Well, not just the Christmas line.....


....but also the Pulse Collection I used on my last sneek project.

Prima is launching what is introducing what is called RTH or "Retail Friendly Hybrid". They have created CD's that have coordinating digital paper and embellishments that have been specially designed to coordinate with their traditional products.


This concept allows you to work with both the physical and digital products to create the customized look of digital, but create a layered look that only the traditional can achieve. It makes hybrid scrapping so much easier!

If you are going to CHA, go visit the Prima booth #1443 for a RTH make n' take.

And as for my own CHA preparations, I decided it was high time that I "de-frump-a-fied" and got a new, funkay hairdo. I've had it for about a week now and I love it and it has got some rave reviews.

It's not the best quality pic but say hello to the new me!


Have a great day!

Talk German to me......Oh. And of course I am scrapping.

Sweet silence.

Well, maybe not so much. It is Sunday and I am playing in silence as the boys are busy and have left me alone. This is the first time in a while that I have had a large stretch of time all to myself and the funny thing is, day 1, I was completely bored as hell.

And what is even funnier is that there are many times I have longed for a day that I could have a day to myself and do what I wanted, with NO DISTRACTIONS. And what happens? I have no idea what the heck to do. It kills me!

So, now I am out of that funk and I have a few things on the go. First and foremost, I am getting my fingers extremely dirty. I decided to play around with some stamping and my supplies and pulled a mucky-muck.


A little Staz On. Some Ranger Perfect Pearls, Alcohol Inks and Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints. Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.

I am getting onto the Glimmer Mists a little more. They are definitely growing on me. They aren't just for spraying projects. I am having a ton of fun shaking them up and then dipping a paintbrush in the bottle and just giving my projects a color wash.

The Crackle paint is also pretty fun. I am having a good time trying to figure out how to get the best results on a project. Some stuff works brilliantly. Some not so much.

I tried it on metal and the results were more of an interesting texture. Cracks, meh. However, they are awesome on the Tim Holtz Grungeboard.

Now, I have to tell you about the COOLEST SITE EVER! Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Or maybe you want to brush up on a language you have already learned? Or maybe you need to learn a little bit of a language for a trip? Then you NEED to visit www.livemocha.com.

This site is completely FREE. You register and tell what language you are fluent or native in and you set up what languages you want to learn. Then you take lessons that teach you how to speak, read and write it.

Here's what so neat about it too. In the community, you help others and others help you. You work together with others and help them hone their language skills. And.... you speak to others over the net! How neat is that? Now I need to pick up a microphone, though.

So, now that I found this place, I am going to try to sloooowly to learn a few languages just for the heck of it. I am starting on French, just mainly because it is our second official language here in Canada and I always learned a little through my life. I have no idea what I'll try for next. I guess whatever tickles my fancy.

Anyhow, there you have it. Join up and maybe I'll be speaking to you soon! Later!

Funky cool find! Paper, paper wonderful paper!

I absolutely love to find cool new things and particularly when it comes to scrapbooking. Sometimes you want to find some things that are different and unique. I was so excited to find some great paper that I really haven't seen a lot of around these parts.

Here I am wandering the aisles at my favoritist scrapbook store Treasured Memories and there it was!

It is paper company from Germany called Danyeela patterned paper. Her designs are so striking and screamed, "BUY ME JANINE! BUY ME!"

And so I did. And I'm sure I'll but more.

And in case you don't believe me, here is a page I did using this gorgeous stuff.


See? Told you! The paper is AMAZING. If you want to see more, make sure that you go look at work by the uber talented ladies Janine Langer and Nathalie Kalbach.

Hope you check it out!