Something completely different for you

I started listening to PRT (Paperclipping RoundTable) a few months ago and let me tell you, these guys are hilarious, SUPER informative and keep me inspired. They are also great at keeping me up to date on new products and industry news. I haven't listened to this episode yet but hope to do so today. I like to turn it on and scrap away - helps my creative process I think!

Grab a cup of coffee or (like me) some photos that have been calling out to be scrapped, and enjoy!

My Experience of Your Experience - Paperclipping Roundtable, Episode 114 by Paperclipping Roundtable

I'm ba-ack!!

Wow! It's been awhile since I posted anything here!
Life has been more chaotic than usual and on top of that, I've been trying to wrap my head around the retiring lists and the new catalogue. Somewhere along the way, my mojo has been hard to find.
We also took a trip to Disneyland which really put a wrench into my creative routine! But we are back and I am back creating layouts so it's time to share one with you now.

I have been attempting to participate with Lain's LOAD challenge this month but have only managed to complete 8 or 9 layouts (travel will do that to you!). Today her challenge was to use something from the last layout we had done. Well, my last layout was this one. Do you see that flower in the lower left corner? I made it using my Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (the 4-petal flower). I was left with a piece of 12x12" paper with all these little flower shapes punched out of it (in basically a straight line) and I wondered if I could use them as a stencil of some sort. As I was playing with it and my Daffodil Delight ink, it became sun rays and I knew what the rest of my layout needed to be. I grabbed some Flirtatious Specialty DSP, some of the card stock flowers and pink jewels from the Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit (that I'd be hoarding for some unknown reason!) and very quickly put this together.

Here is a close up of two of the flowers I made with the kit and my journaling. It reads: May 6, 2012 First Day in the Magic Kingdom. The sun had yet to come out but our smiles and the excitement of the girls was as bright as the sun became later. What an awesome trip!

I love Stampin' Up! products. Really I do. But ... they do not make alphabet stickers and as someone who tries to be both creative and fast I rely on sticky alphas a lot! I have a drawer full of Thickers and a shelf of card stock ones. Yes, it's a bit of an addiction. I'm sure someone can direct me to the appropriate treatment facility!! So ... this title is made up of Basic Grey alphabet stickers. Gulp!

The Blossom Builders kit comes with the large pink rhinestones that I used as flower centres AND these itty bitty ones that I felt needed to be scattered a bit across my page. I love these rhinestones and  if they ever bring them out again I am stocking up!!

Well thanks for coming by. Hope you enjoyed my layout. There are only 12 more days to shop the current Idea Book and Catalogue! Can you believe it?! I have looked at the new catalogue and drooled heavily over it but have yet to make any purchases. After Disneyland money is a wee bit tight! That being said, I am planning a Catalogue Launch Party and Retired Product Garage Sale next month. Once I set my dates I'll be sure to let you know!!

Enjoy the rest of your long weekend everyone!

Retiring Products and Accessories

There are more retiring products to tell you about. These two lists are pretty long (and I'll admit to being a little more than confused ...) The new catalogue must be full of aMAZing new products as there are TONS of awesome products being retired or re-vamped.

First up is the Retiring Definitely Decorative list. ALL the Decor Elements products are going! There are some beautiful decals here that won't be available after June 1 so snap them up now! Here is a PDF with the list of products on it and here is a link to my on-line store where you can purchase these items now.

Next up is the SUPER LONG list of Retiring Accessories. I was expecting the 2010-2012 In Colours papers and accessories to go but I must admit I was not expecting some of the other items. Here is the PDF link for that list as well as a link for my on-line store. They have separate sections for each category of retiring products so take a moment and browse around.

Have fun shopping!

Retiring Stamps

Today Stampin' Up! released their list of retiring stamp sets. It's pretty long! I was initially surprised that they would be getting rid of so many stamp sets but with the new, smaller catalogue being launched in June a complete refresh was in order. Click on the icon on my sidebar to be taken directly to my website so you can browse through the retiring sets. You've got until May 31st to snap them up before they disappear forever!

Iron Stamper winner

As promised, I have drawn a winner from all the comments on my Iron Stamper series. There were a total of 17 comments so I went over to Random.org and the lucky winner is ...

#3 on my list was ... NANCY ... with the comment "Lovely! I really like the doily stamp and the crochet flower :)"

Congratulations Nancy! Please email me (alisonday at eastlink dot ca) with your mailing address so I can get some goodies off to you!!

I'll be back tomorrow with something new to share. Have a great night!

Project 12 Layout for March 2012

Here is my latest installment in my Project 12 album - a bit later than I had originally planned to post it but I blame Catching Fire. If you haven't read the Hunger Games series ... be warned. Once you get sucked in, all else gets put on the back burner! Now I really need to get book #3 back!! Monday's another holiday after all!
But, back to the business at hand ... if you're interested in seeing my P12 layouts from January and February please click on the links. This month I am using this sketch from Pagemaps March 2012 sketches.

Sometimes I use the sketch literally and sometimes it is more of a spring board for my own inspiration. Here is where this sketch took me this month.

I have a little problem with wanting to use more photos than a sketch calls for .. I'm sure there are therapy groups for it! 

This month I am using Beyond The Garden Designer Series Paper. (I am working on another little project using this DSP which I hope to have ready to post soon. It's super cute - you don't want to miss it!) You really need to click on the link and check out all the fun patterns and colours in this line. I decided that the blue and yellow complimented the colours from my pictures and then accented with pops of Melon Mambo.

And now for the close ups, starting with the left hand page.

And then the right hand side. 

And finally the embellishments.

I created the flowers using my Blossom Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch and 1" Circle Punch plus some buttons from the Neutrals Collection. Underneath are some different coloured doilies. I cut these out using my Paper Doily Sizzlet Die in shades of Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo for my other project which only required the centre portions so I used the outer portion to embellish this layout. Pays to be a pack rat at times!

The title uses more of my Alphabet Soup On Board letters which I inked up with Melon Mambo. It's a bit hard to see but I used my Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set to stamp the year.

Under this flower I used a small piece of 1/2" Scallop Dots ribbon in Melon Mambo. I also used it to add a knot detail (see below.)

The extra doilies came in handy to accent this picture of Marley's latest lost tooth.

Hope you enjoy it. Have a great Easter Weekend everyone!

Up, Up & Away Cards for All Ages

I've mentioned my Birthday Cards for All Ages class and if you've visited my Events Page or Event Brite site you may have seen a sneak peak of the type of cards we will be making. Here's a closer look at the stamp set we'll be using.

I have really tried to think outside the box, as well as come up with some fun cards that use the images in a more traditional fashion. Here's what you can make next Friday April 13th (I know, I know, Friday the 13th ...)

Make any 3 of these cards for $10.00 - additional card kits can be purchased for $3.00 each. Please visit either of the links above to register. Hope to see you there!