Hi Tiffany!

If you're checking my blog while you're on vacation, SURPRISE! I saw these photos on FB and loved them. I hope you don't mind but you look terrific, as always, in these photos. Say hi to Michele and Kim because Michele's in the layout as well.

I used the kit, My Everyday Kit by Mye de Leon and  a template by Captivated Visions.

This is so not Ava!

"Little Miss Sunshine" could also be a description of Ava's personality, but on occasion something will annoy her and she has no problem letting me know. Since she was at my house when I took this picture, I can only assume I did something to displease her little self. God Bless!

I am looking for pictures of each of the grandkids with unusual expressions on their faces so I can make more layouts for Crabby Kid, a kit by Laura Banasiak and Jennifer Fox Designs which is available at DigiChick.

Ava makes muffins

While Phil is doing training for a new job at his work, I have Ava three days a week instead of the usual one day a week. I like to do stuff with her but the weather is cold and snowy here. That's the time to turn on the oven and make some goodies. There's a small kid-size table which I brought into the kitchen. After cracking the eggs into the bowl I gave Ava a spoon to beat the eggs. Then she mixed the flour to get rid of the lumps and, finally, we added the blueberries to the mix. After a couple of attempts to get the batter into the muffin tin, I helper her out a little. Into the oven they went and the waiting began. Here's a pictorial story of our muffin-making.

The muffins were delicious, Ava was pleased with herself and even Burt had to have a bit! Wonderful, wonderful success!

Do you like the new look

I signed up for the Blog Design Basics at Jessica Sprague and, voila, a new look. I'm still tweaking some little bits and pieces, but generally speaking, I like it very much.

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

Ava is beginning the transition from little girl diapers to big girl panties! I just had to take some pics of her on Friday when she asked to use the potty. It's impossible to say no when they ask, isn't it?

I used the kit, Potty Like a Rock Star. It's a collab kit by Spinky Dink Scraps and simply.scraps. Also, the chart is from the Hybrid Add-on  also available at Gotta Pixel.

I made this a long time ago and forgot to post it. My bad!

I created this in the hopes of being published in a prestigious digi-magazine. It never happened, but, personally, I think it is one of the most beautiful layouts I've ever created and I want to share it with you now.

Credits:
Spring Garden Embossed Papers by Lindsay Jane.
Elements from Autumn Rain by KMESS.
Font: Pristina

Here's a page I made for the Speed Scrap with Connie Prince last night.

I used the kit, Sugar Plum, by Connie Prince. It's part of the Black Friday Grabbag at Gotta Pixel.

A is for Autumn

And, unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to Autumn soon. As one last hurrah to Autumn, here's a layout I created using Crisdam Designs kit, A is for Autumn. It's our house in Thunder Bay, ON and when the leaves left the trees, it was time to crank up the fireplace. That's the most likely place you would find Hank, our first Devon Rex kitty. He loved to be warm and after 3 - 4 hours, he would sort of slide down the hearth like he was melted butter, just to cool off for a few minutes. It was always fun to watch him stretch and languish in front of the fire.

The journalling mat is from Write It Down 2 ~ Templates, also by Crisdam Designs. Both are currently available at Gotta Pixel at the sale prices of $2 and $1, respectively.

All I want for Christmas....

Do you think Ava's old enough to dream about Santa Claus? I took this picture of her just before I had to wake her up from her nap last week. She sleeps like a dream and is just so pleasant, even when woken up by Gram-Gram.

I used the kit, Sweet Christmas by Connie Prince.

Gram-Gram has forgotten how to....

help a little one get dressed! Ava is with me for the whole day on Wednesday's. We have great fun together and she sleeps like an angel when it's nap time. Every grandmother's gotta love that. Yesterday, after her nap it was time to change the diaper and fix her hair, etc. After getting the diaper changed I was helping her into her jeans and couldn't figure out what the heck was going on. I finally put on my glasses and discovered that I had gotten both legs into one leg-hole. Ava was happy to pose for me while I took these pictures. In the photo of her looking down, I can almost hear her thinking, "What's Gram-Gram trying to do to me?". I just had to capture this moment and share it with you here.

I used the November 2010 Grab Bag by Lindsay Jane which included the Dotted Borders and the kit, First Love.
The font is CAC Pinafore.

Let's Play House!

Ava received this sweet little doll for her 2nd birthday last week. Every time you push the belly, the doll giggles and then Ava tries to imitate the giggle. It is just adorable to watch. She takes the doll to bed with her and hugs so tightly to her new baby.

I created this layout using In The Hood by Crisdam Designs. You can pick it up for just $2.00 at Gotta Pixel during the $1-$2 Pixel sales this week.

ED: The link to the word art file isn't working properly. I'll fix it up and re-post here when it's corrected. Sorry about that.

Are you Gonna Grab It?

Gotta Pixel is having their GGI weekend through Tuesday when the designers put their products on sale for $1.00. Crisdam Designs is offering Morning Pleasures at $1.00 for the element pack and $1.00 for the paper pack. You can check out the Creative Team's work at Isabel's blog for more inspiration. For now here's a preview of the kit and a layout I created this morning.

So, if you didn't get enough shopping last weekend during DSD, the goodies continue through Tuesday at Gotta Pixel. Click here to see the offerings of all the designers at GP.

I'm getting behind in my posting....

Holy Smokes, being on CTs is keeping me very busy...I've got some "catchin' up to do, Lucy" to paraphrase my favourite commedienne.

First up is a new release by Connie Prince entitled Perseverance. Look closely and you'll see my page in the previews.....YAY! And, here it is in full life size and the photos were taken on Ava's 2nd birthday and I just had to put in my own words what I thought Jackson was whispering in her ear.

Next are two pages using Crisdam Designs "Captured" kit.

The above page was created as a result of a challenge to make a page of what DSD weekend meant to you. I can say, without hesitation, that DSD weekend was a whirlwind of activity. Here I am trying to chat and scrap at the same time. I was dizzy from jumping between screens, trying to follow the chat and make a page. Ladies, it's not possible, at least for me.

This page was made for the November Element Challenge at Gotta Pixel. I've long admired my daughter, Kirsten, and her husband, John, for always making sure their children, James and Owen, are kept busy and active. It's no easy task for hard-working parents to keep up with busy kids when, sometimes all you really want to do is sit down and veg out. That last statement is from my own personal experiences of raising four kids. I know how exhausing it can be!

DSD is over ~ Now back to the regularly scheduled sales!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is $1-2 Pixels sale. Here's a couple of layout created with some goodies that Crisdam Designs, a.k.a. Isabel Mendez, will have available, Harvest Spice and Doodle Do Page Borders.

Journalling reads:

While Owen was visiting Canada on a school break and enjoying himself in the pumpkin patch, Jackson was in school. That's why he's not in the photo with the other kids on their visit to Strom's Farm. Oct. 25, 2010.

Look for these great kits tomorrow at Gotta Pixel.

Two Speed Scraps in 14 hours -- must be a record

DSD weekend is filled with events (as I've said before). Last night I attended a speed scrap at Gotta Pixel and this morning there was one at Scrapbook Graphics....both were fast and furious. By happenstance, I used the same kit for both scraps, And I Quote Collection by Connie Prince. Please, check out both forums for more special events this weekend. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program of showing off my grandchildren.

This is the layout from this morning's scrap at Scrapbook Graphics.

This layout of Jackson is from last night's speed scrap at Gotta Pixel.

DSD Weekend begins

There are so many things happening this weekend in the digi-world that my only advice is visit your favourite forum and have fun. I'm going to be playing all weekend at Gotta Pixel. You can click here to see all the fun things that will be going on. There are chats, speed scraps, contests.....well, just check them out for yourself.

I've been working steadily creating layouts for Connie Prince Designs and, now that the weekend is upon us and the kits have been released, I can show you all my hard work. After the layout, I will post where the kit is available for purchase.

KIDZONE

All Aboard

The layouts used the kit, Whirly Gig Collection. It includes full-sized kit as well as pre-decorated pages, templates, and word art. An amazing value and you can get it at Scrapbook Graphics. 

And I Quote

 For this layout I used And I Quote Collection and is available at Gotta Pixel. With four grandchildren, I can see this kit will be used over and over again. In fact, I've got two more "quotes" that I've written down and will be using them very soon, probably at some of the speed scraps I'll be attending at Gotta Pixel this weekend. Again, this collection includes word art, pre-decorated pages, templates and a full-sized kit. Don't miss it on either of these amazing collections.

Too early for Christmas....I think not!

I remember this Christmas well. I lived in PEI at the time, but flew into Toronto and spent the night in the nursing home with Mom. The staff brought in a roll-away bed and it was right beside Mom's bed. I think she enjoyed having me there and what I remember most was the heat. Now that I'm getting older, I realize how much more I can feel the cold and now I know why the heat in nursing homes is kept so high. It was a fun visit and it was great to gather together, with Mom, for one last Christmas.

If you're new to digi-scrapping, one of the best ways to get started is to use a pre-decorated page. The above layout was created using one of the PDP available in the newest release by Connie Prince, DSD Grab Bag.  Here is a preview of just the PDP in the grab bag, but do go take a look to see the kit, the alpha, the templates and much, much more.

Is book-learnin' too much for Jack?

Now that Jackson is in school for full days, it takes its toll. The poor little man just conks out at the end of the day. Week nights he's in bed by 8 pm, but he gets to stay up later on Fridays and Saturdays.....just how much later is unknown. He looks so peaceful sleeping on the couch with Chevy in his lap...beautiful pictures.

I used one of Connie Prince's newest kits, Hearts Blessing. It's available at Scrapbook Graphics where Connie is in the spotlight as an extended guest.
This particular layout makes use of one of the pre-decorated pages available in this collection. They are a super way to get started in digi-scrapping. Hop on over to SBG today and get this collection while it's HOT!

Crisdam Designs - $1 - $2 Pixel Sales

Don't miss the sales of Crisdam Designs this week at Gotta Pixel. There are two 'must haves' this week;

Warm Wishes is a beautiful Christmas kit utilizing unusual colour scheme.

Doodle Do Page Trims will add unique touches to all your pages, no matter the season.

Here are a couple of layouts made with these fantastic kits.

C'mon now, don't miss these great prices, go shopping now!

My BIG news is, are ya' ready for it.....

I'm going to be a November guest CT for Connie Prince Designs!!! I'm so excited because I absolutely love Connie's stuff. Being on the creative team means that I get to see and play with the kits before they are released for sale to the general public. It is my job to create layouts and post them around the digi-scrapping world and generally promote Connie's designs. That's the easiest thing in the world for me to do.

There is no doubt that Connie Prince is a designing ninja.....that girl turns out more kits per month than any other designer I know so I expect to be super busy this month. I've already created some layouts, but can't show them off for a couple of days yet. In the meantime, you can find Connie Prince Designs at the following stores:

Gotta Pixel
Elemental Scraps
Scrapbook Bytes
Scrap Matters

Connie has plenty of stuff going on in November, especially for next weekend which is DSD, or Digital Scrapping Day. Stay tuned for specials, contests and, most especially, FUN! You can also find out what's going on by visiting Connie's blog, Scrapinfusions, so there's no need to miss a thing. We hope you join us for a wild ride in November.

As if that's not enough news about Connie Prince Designs, it can now be told that Connie will be doing an extended guest spot at Scrapbook Graphics as well. I guess she won't be getting ANY SLEEP this month at all!

James loves Big and Small videos

We could have sat at the computer playing this Big & Small clip over and over. The more James laughed, the more I laughed, then James laughed harder....it was a great time.

BIG NEWS coming soon!

I'm so happy to have my daughter, Kirsten, and my two grandsons, Owen and James, visiting this past week. I'm happily tired trying to be of assistance with the boys, but it seems they are very attached to their Mommy. Poor James has been a bit under the weather but is now getting better. They return to England on Friday.

The BIG NEWS I posted in the title of this post will be revealed on Monday, November 1st, so be sure to stop by then.

I'm too tired to scrap just now, but do have some great pics of the kids and will get going as soon as I've had some sleep.

See you Monday!!

$1 & $2 Pixel Sale at Gotta Pixel

It's Tuesday, again, and that means great sales at the store.

Crisdam Designs has several items on sale today. Spoonful, Monsters In Space and Text Paths, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2.

Here is my first layout using Spoonful. It can be yours for just $2.00.

Next up is Monsters In Space and it's also $2.00.

There's nothing like a SALE!

Tuesday's at Gotta Pixel are very special days. That's when so many designers put selected kits on SALE for only $1 or $2, so that you can build your stash economically. Isabel Mendez of Crisdam Designs will be offering sales on a couple of kits. My first layout uses the kit, Merry & Bright .  You can pick it up on Tuesday, Oct 19th,  for a song.

See the words to Jingle Bells around the perimeter of the layout? Well, that was created using Text Paths Vol. 1 and it will be on sale on October 26th, along with some others.

The other kit that will be on sale is, All About Me. Here's my layout for that one.

The following week, October 26th, you will be able to get Monsters In Space for only $2.00. Here's my layout using that kit.

I'm letting you know well ahead of time because I'm going to be busy entertaining my daughter and grandchildren who arrive from the UK this coming Friday! I'm so excited and may not be posting much for a week or two and I don't want you to miss those sales. So mark your calendars and "shop till you drop"!!

YAY! Crisdam Design Layouts revealed

Here are three very different pages I have created with Whispering Autumn, the newest release from Crisdam Designs.

These photos above were taken by my daughter, Tiffany. Personally, I think that if she ever wanted to change careers she could be a photographer, but then I am somewhat biased!

These photos were taken by Kelly, my DIL's sister, during their recent vacation to Manitoulin Island.

Another picture taken by Tiffany.

Here's Jackson contemplating the leaves on the ground, or a least I hope that's what he's doing. With Jack, you just never know! A little boy with his back turned, head down......

So there you have it, three layouts, three very different presentations of Whispering Autumn. Go get it for yourself and have as much fun as I am having!

Gotta Grab It! Sneak Peek

Being on the CT for Crisdam Designs is fabulous. I get to tease you all with a sneak peek at the fantastic new packs being released by Isabel this weekend. Gotta Grab It! is a monthly happening at Gotta Pixel. Designers are given a colour pallette to work with so that all the packs can go together. But, the absolute best thing about GGI is that fact that all packs in this category are $1.00 ONLY! That's a deal that you can't beat anywhere else in digi-world. So, starting Saturday, Oct 9th and continuing until Tuesday, Oct 12th, visit the Gotta Pixel store and load up your cart.

In the meantime, here's a little sneak peek from Crisdam Designs.

New Release by Sweet Digi Scraps ~~ Autumn Medley

Liz is in the Gotta Pixel designer spotlight this month and kicks off with this beautiful kit, Autumn Medley. In addition, you can pick up the Autumn's Medley Alpha by Danyale at the special price for $2.00 Tuesday.

Here's one of my layouts using this fantastic kit.

Seriously! No Fishing?

Looks like Ryan is quite the sportsman. He caught this fish with his bare hands, or so I'm told. I believe it, but thousands wouldn't. The fish was unharmed and released after the photo shoot!

I used the kit, Fisherman's Dream, by Laura Burger.

Have you heard the good news?

Crisdam Designs had a CT call recently and I applied never thinking I had a chance. Well my goodness, I have been chosen to be a part of this great team. You can find Crisdam Designs, a.k.a. Isabel Mendez, at two places: Gotta Pixel and A Cherry On Top. A huge thank you to Isabel and the CT leads, Cynthia and Trista, for having faith in me.

Here are my first two layouts.

What A Pear The Kit

Boo! The Kit

I'm just so excited to be a part of this great team and, every time there is a new release of Crisdam Designs product, you will be able to see it here.

Speed Scrap with Connie Prince over @ SBB

Boy, that girl (Connie) gets around! Again, the chat was fast, furious and fun(ny).

I used the kit, On The Hunt, a collab by Litabells Designs and Captivated Visions.

Speed Scrap with Connie Prince @ Gotta Pixel

For tonight's layout, I used the kit, Falling, by Litabells Designs. I was fortunate to have been picked by random.org as the winner of this beautiful kit and I just wanted to say thank you to Lita. The colours in this kit are just gorgeous.

Aren't these lovely little ladies just beautiful? Of course, I'm totally biased, but that's okay!

Another challenge completed

This one is entitled Scraplift with a Twist challenge and is hosted this month by Isabel Mendez at Gotta Pixel.
It was a really fun template to work with as Isabel had taken two separate layouts and created one template for us and I love the final produce. Thank you Isabel.

These are pictures taken during Phil's vacation earlier this month up on Manitoulin Island. It's a yearly family get-together for Kristyn's family and it sure looks like they have a lot of fun!

I used the kit, An Orchard Harvest by Graham Like the Cracker.

Annual Sweet Digi Scraps Creative Sweeties Favourite Blog Train Event

What an exciting weekend this is going to be. Gotta Pixel's very own, exclusive designer, Sweet Digi Scraps and her Creative Team will be hosting a Blog Train! Oh my! This is the first time for me to actually be a participant in a blog train! I have even created a quick page freebie and you can get it at the end of this post.

Here's a list of participants for this weekend's blog train:

Liz: http://www.sweetdigiscraps.blogspot.com/

Danyale: http://bygonesscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Lei: http://leidee-q.blogspot.com/

Kerry: http://www.kayjaysdays.blogspot.com/

Jan: http://intensemagicscraps.blogspot.com/

Sheila: http://www.scrappingmyjourney.blogspot.com/

Colie: http://www.coliescorner.blogspot.com/

Cynthia: http://thelatinmrspeel.blogspot.com/

Mary: http://texaschicstyle.blogspot.com/

Dana: http://www.scrappydoosordonts.blogspot.com/

Trista: http://www.busybee-hive.blogspot.com

Simona: http://lightmistress.blogspot.com/

LaShawn: http://the3cbears.blogspot.com/

Carolyn: http://carolynscommotions.blogspot.com/

Rachel: http://www.iwishiwasthatcreative.blogspot.com/




Here is the quickpage I have created for you using Photo Shoot by Sweet Digi Scraps.

DOWNLOAD HERE

The file you download will actually be a .png file and you will be able to slide your own photos underneath the frames. I hope you enjoy all the freebies available this weekend from the Creative Sweeties of Sweet Digi Scraps CT.

Speed Scrap with Mary

Mary is on the CT for Sweet Digi Scraps and yesterday she hosted her very first speed scrap. YAY! Mary! She did a great job and you can see the instructions here in post #14. Here's my LO following the directions:

I don't know why Owen is covering his eyes, but James seems to be telling him it's okay to look now. I will ask James next time I speak with him.

I used the kit, Photo Shoot, by Sweet Digi Scraps, but the stitches are from Spoonful by Isabel Mendez.