Christmas happenings

This past week has been a blur of activity interspersed with singing gigs. can't wait until Boxing day. Always a day of rest for me.
So last weekend, we finally got our tree. A few years ago, we took a picture at the boy scout tree lot with tons of snow. This year, there were dried leaves in the Christmas trees!


When I got home from singing, the tree was up and ready for decorating. We put on the Polar Express movie, made popcorn and had hot chocolate while we decorated. The kids had such a great time. Here is the best part... topping the tree.


Later in the week, we took a visit to santa. I love this santa. Been going there since rafael was a baby. If you go after lunch, when all the big kids are in school, he talks to you forever. And you can take your own pictures. Because of that, I don't care what the "professional" photo is like. I have my own ideas for candids.

She would not look up. I had to place her on Santa's knee. She played the shy card very very well.

So then I brought her away from Santa while Rafael chatted him up. I like this picture the best. Santa is always watching. Whenever I get my desk cleared off, I will make a scrapbook page of this one.


A few days later, it was the school concert. There were so many kindergartens, they let the parents take photos for about 5 minutes before they performed. My son was a great ham.. shouting over the crowd, "Hi daddy, Hi mama, Where's Braggie? " (my uncle) "Love you Braggie!" clear as a bell. cute as a button.


So, that is what we've been up to.
More sewing to do.....
thanks for looking,
Amanda

Apple of my eye

My uncle Glenn, artiste extrodinaire, sent me this photo of my parents last week. out of the blue. Since it's rare to get one of them together, i was inspired to make it a keepsake.



Paper is by Bo Bunny. The letters are from a box that spell out Adventure, live out loud and play. I was able to spell out apple with it. I used a d for a p.
Love that it has the same colour palatte as the paper edges. Total fluke. My son drew the white apple tree on the right on acetate. That's why the wooden buttons are there. To cover the glue dots.
The apple on the bottom symbolize my parents 6 grandchildren. So they are the apples of my parents' eyes. it's not an earth shattering layout, but I like it.

yes mom, I will be sending this in the mail to you with other pictures of your grand children. Just don't go checking the mailbox everyday. you know how I am!! LOL

Stampin' up foam

Look what happens when your kids are bored of watching you cut rubbah!



Poor Dora, even she couldn't be spared!

have a great day.
Amanda

I did it!!

Yeah! I finally scrapped a page!! I've been wanting to like forever. I've been taking pictures with the intent to do it. I've been collecting scrapping stuff. And tonight... I did it!!
This layout is from Jennifer Akirk's blog. I discovered it while blurffing. I would go back everyday to see it, but realized that it she had stopped blogging in March!. But I love so many of her layouts. Here's the one in February.



The paper on the right side is SU. It was a little too white for the American Craft dotted paper, so i used creamy caramel chalk on it. Kinda hoping it matches one of the circles. And look!! I used glitter!! Lots of it. My room is a mess. My clothes are a mess! I haven't looked at my face yet. And I'm still here!! THe swirl is from a 2nd hand sale. Don't know who it is by, but I have almost 4 whole sheets of circles and swirls. Yeah. I used the martha Stewart glitter on it. The letters are from the dollar store. Can you believe it? 1 buck! Even better as my LSS didn't have brown. I better go buy more, now that I'm into this scrapping thing. :}


Instead of putting my journalling on white paper, I printed it on acetate. Then used the 3 teeny, tiny brads in the corners.

I'm so happy I actually did it. It's not heavily embellished or a lot of photos, but I like it. I printed off a few more photos and am looking at layouts to make more. Just not getting anywhere with the card thang. Maybe this is the change I need. I'll welcome it. :}

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Crochet flowers

When I was in Portugal, I couldn't watch tv or go on the net at night. I was in creative withdrawal, so I bought some crochet thread and a hook and set off to make some flowers. But I couldn't remember how to do it, nor how to read a pattern for one.
This past week, DH's aunt came over and we had some time to make some. See how nice they are? She's good. Me, not so much. I forget how to start already. I really need to write it down, but don't know the terminology.
Anyhow, here are a few flowers she did. I watercoloured the background and added half self-stick pearls from Stamping Bella. Sentiment is a Michael's stamp from a few years ago.

And of course, I must let you see the 1st day of school pic. We went in the afternoon, but were expected in the morning. They sent me the wrong info. He's registered as morning. Took me the whole summer to think as a kid going to school in the pm, now, he's in the am. Oh well. I had to be out of town for the next day, but my uncle said he got up, got dressed and was ready to go to school 45 minutes before the time. Eager beaver.

And here is a pic of my daughter's 1st day at the learning centre. She made one blue swipe on the paper behind her and I think she fell in. She was also not too impressed. lol


thanks for looking,
Amanda

a scrap page! and a bday

Here is the scrap page I did last weekend for my sister in law's impending addition. The paper matches the decor in his room, so I went with the star theme again. It is made for 5x7 photo in black and white.


My baby turns 2 tomorrow, but we celebrated with friends today. We celebrate with her avo (grandfather) tomorrow.

I put on a little sing song at the party with my ukelele. I just got a nice big tenor one, so it was cool to play. I was slated to perform on stage at an outdoor event, just before Max and Ruby came out. But the rain started right on cue for my time slot! Let's hope it stays away tomorrow.
Here's Neve playing the maracas. She is so dirty. Too many strawberries and a flood of rain at the sailing club where we celebrated. What a mess, but much fun. Happy Birthday babe.


Thanks for looking,
Amanda

c'est fini

After making 42 of these.....(I forgot to take a picture of the final product)


I wanted to be a little simpler for 21 of these...
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Man, anyone else find it hard to make a card without using the cuttlebug? Even a simple card needs to be grinded through that machine. If I didn't put it thru the embossing folder, I would have wanted to use the nestabilites or Quickutz dies. Geesh. Tiny mosaic folder and heat embossing on the elephant circle which come from the set of all my other baby stuff. Wish I remembered the name before I threw the package out. Then I could call it was it is instead of that set I bought at Joann's. ANyone know it?

And now for something completely different, my son is a fish!

He has only been in a big pool 3 times this summer. With his water wings on, he is very confident. Now he's jumping in the pool by himeslf. SO much so, that I had to tell him to take a rest to catch his breath in between jumping. We're going to Nova Scotia next week for 2 weeks where there are 2 pools. SO I'm sure he'll be quite wrinkled by the time we get back.lol
Don'cha love summer and the things kids can do??

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

lame post

I'm so lame in posting! I have been making stuff, but just haven't coordinated getting the stuff, camera and computer all int he same room at the same time. not even 2 out of 3.
Anyhow, I did find this easter basket in my iPhoto that I haven't shared.
I learned to do it at my upline's workshop.
6x6 double sided paper (if you wish). Score at 2 and 4 inches on both sides. Then cut up to the first score line on one side at 2 and 4 and then the opposite of the paper at 2 and 4. You get a square in the middle that isn't cut and 2 sides that aren't cut. clear as mud? I used the corner rounder to make the corners, then brought the sides together. made a coordinating handle and attached with brads. The Bunny tag is from a retired set, Tags so Much. DP is Bali Breeze.




When I downloading the camera, hoping there was some sort of card picture in there, I found this of my daughter Neve. I just had to be the gushing, proud mother and show ya! She's wearing Rafael's Thomas halloween costume. I think she'll be a dress up kinda girl. She went around in butterfly wings for an hour and got glitter all over the place. (if you know me, you know, glittah is my least favorite thing!)
Growing kids is a good thing!

I'm almost finished my baby presents for my cousin, so I'll show you pics of that. Gosh, I hope the kid isn't a fast grower, or nothing will fit.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

day at the beach

We went to the beach on Sunday. It was a great day. Record breaking 26 degrees. In October. Amazing.
Daddy came with us, so I had to get some pictures. Wanted to share this one. There is a scrap book page in this for sure, even though I'm not that confident with scrapping. It will come to me in a dream some day.

I designed a card today. In the daylight! WIth my son in the room, happily playing with his new truck. Daughter was napping. I actually got to make a few of the cards. But am too tired to take a pic. Tomorrow. That's why I gave ya the beach pic...lol

If anyone has page layout ideas for this pic, send 'em along.!

Thanks for looking,
Amanda