okay, I've done it!

I've started a new blog at :

• http://10-4livingoutloud.typepad.com/

I've moved to Typepad. It definitely took awhile to get used to the different format, but I think it will be better in the end. Please come see me there.

Maze & blogging help please!

today is Rhys' birthday party. We are so excited to go.She turns one! Here is a few pictures from yesterday when I took the boys to the maze. I'll tell you more about that later, I have to go and start getting the kids ready.

Also I've used up all my photo storage on Blogger. So if you are a super blog person, please tell me, since I have to pay for more storage space for photos, is it better to switch to a Type pad account? I notice that most people are doing that. What is the benefit? Thanks for your help.

• I didn't realize there was a cap to how many photos you could put on before paying, and I have so many to show you, more layouts like crazy, so I definitely have to decide this weekend what I'm going to do!

Design Teams!

So today I am so Excited to announce my new adventures. You guys have already seen me discuss this fantastic product but yesterday Alessandra phoned and she asked me to join their team!!! STIX 2 Yes I'm jumping up & down for joy. Like how cool. They have such great adhesives, I LOVE their PVA glue & foils, seed beads & glitter. I cannot wait. They gave me a package to use at Scrapfest and I came home and foiled everything or added beads & glitter. I'm down to my last 2 foils! So she is sending me my design kit next week. SO awesome! Thank you to everyone in this design family, I've received the nicest welcomes! Also they are becoming a huge sponsor on the Crop & Cruise. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

So last week, I became a part of the amazing team of Tilano Fresco! They have just sent out my package so I haven't even been able to work with it yet. But after seeing Pam's wall, I'm EXCITED! They are donating stuff to the cruise, and both of the Cruisin' Away Crops at Yesterday's Memories. One of their product will be in the package that someone who is NOT scrapbooking there will win. Just come say hi to me for your chance to win this package!

Here is some samples off of their site for you to see the type of products they have.

So this is my game plan: I am currently designing for LUXE designs, Tilano Fresco & Stix 2. 3 totally different companies in style, product & design. It is nice to be able to interact the 3 of them in many ways. So I've decided that starting next week, every WEDNESDAY will be "Design Day" I will feature a layout or project from one of these fabulous companies (maybe more sometimes). I'm going to create individual galleries for each of these companies, then if you want to see a specific product you can. So if you ever have any questions about the products, please feel free to ask. Cannot wait till next Wednesday!

Exciting NEWS!

Well, today started out blah! Truth be told. I couldn't wake up, thank goodness my sweetie loves to phone to make sure I don't sleep through the alarm (I have been known to do this when I'm super tired!) Jag & I took Riley to school, then we ended up pulling out of Riley's school right behind Jim! too funny. So we followed him & then jumped in for an hour to go load gravel and then he dropped us off. Jager LOVED it. (Me too!) So that waws just the bright spot I needed to start the day! When we returned Jager & I went and scoped out places to go and get our family photos taken by Melina. Found a super secret spot too! EXCITED!~ Then we picked up Riley & went home. For the next 3 1/2 hours I was on conference calls to the states, and the coolest people in Canada! My parents dropped by & I only visited with them a brief sec. But it was great. The boys were so excited to see them, and then of course expected to be going to the farm with them. Needless to say our day crashed then. They were so sad. I made a few more calls, and then realized that I was missing the point! My boys were sad, needed attention, and I almost let those moments slip through my hands. So I dressed the boys warm and we went and found a conservation area to go hiking on by the river. We spent almost 4 hours doing that. And I felt wonderful. They smiled, climbed, wrestled, "discovered" new bugs, counted sticks, watched the pelicans & seagulls in the water, crawled on logs...the day was the BEST! So yes I took hundreds of pics! we had so much fun. Then they were HUNGRY! and when our boys say that, it doesn't mean when we get home, it means RIGHT NOW! So the only thing close by was the Berry Barn. Yes most people are now thinking I'm crazy, taking 2 little boys in there by myself. But you know what, I treated them like adults. I let them order what they wanted off the menu, I let them have special Saskatoon Berry lemonade, and then some sweet soul told the waitress that these kids were the best behaved kids they'd ever seen and sent over a special dessert for them. I was told so many times through the course of this meal that they were amazingly well behaved. They even used their please & thank you's without prompt! Yes I was grinning ear to ear! For I knew that sometimes they act exactly the opposite. But I made such an emphasis that this was a fancy place, and we would have a nice meal. I talked Jim's ear off about how proud I was for so long! He totally coudn't believe it was our kids!ha ha. The funniest was that Riley told the waitress, that "This is a beautiful joint, I like it!" So I guess the inner person does still come out. Who says joint? It's funny how kids really are give & take. When I get distracted by things I want to accomplish (whether it's just getting the house super clean & finishing the laundry) I see them acting out more for attention. They just want this time with us! I love them!

So no I did not take pics from my class yesterday. TOMORROW for sure! Anyways I have absolutely awesome news!!!!! I have just been asked to be a part of 2 new design teams. So I am really excited because I want to be a designer for a "real job" for a living! I'm super excited, and I get to work from home and CAPTURE my family memories. So please check back tomorrow, I will reveal the companies and tell you about their fantastic product! And the best part is I get to give some away at my CROPS & the CRUISE!!!!! Are you coming? Remember starting at 10am Saturday Sept.29th I am giving away extra tickets to try to win the major prize for those that couldn't get into the crop. Just come to Yesterday's Memories, introduce yourself to me and it's as easy as that! See everyone can win. I know I've mentioned this lot's but the date is rolling around quick. Come & say hi, visit, shop, and please show me your work! If you are really interested in maybe teaching/designing yourself, make me a photocopy of your 3 best, most favourite layouts ever, put your name,info,email,phone number, blog site & photo of yourself on the back of one. Staple them altogether. I'd love to be able to pass on a bundle of Saskatchewan talent to those interested! There are a few people I know right now searching for additional designers & teachers so maybe YOU might get chosen. Anyways, totally tired. Talk to tomorrow.

hello!

Cheryl, please email me when a good time next week is to drop off your prize. Jody, cannot believe that you were at my house & I forgot to give it to you! Ei yi yi!

• Leica's email: scrap-mommy@hotmail.com

So I have an awesome Family Album Class tonight. Looking forward to it. I'll post my class layouts tomorrow!

So are you coming???

SCRAP SWAP & CHAT is TONIGHT!!!! It's for a great cause. Let's have some fun chatting & munching. Cannot wait to see you guys here! Okay, so I just realized that I HAVE NOT posted scrapbook layouts for awhile. Sorry. I did 5 layouts the other night at splurge but they all were missing some little detail (because I didn't bring those specific items I needed from home, Yes Pam's supplies were a good store that night for me (that girl packed way better!!!!). So I'll try and finish them up and start posting tomorrow! I cannot even say how much fun I had the other night. I am so looking forward to getting together once a month with this group of girls! Okay, got to go start putting out all my swap items on the pool table. (good thing JIm is at work, He'd kill me to know that my scrapbooking supplies are going to be taking over his "domain" tee hee. If you see here, I have extra stamp pads that I never use, why save them??? And if you think that yours are dried out, bring them anyways because there is a cool ink refresher product out there and maybe we can see if we can bring the life back into them. Also, I have an 8 1/2x11 trimmer that I NEVER use anymore. It still is perfect for kids! Here is just a quick photo collection of what my pool table looks like after only 2 boxes of my stuff to give away have been displayed. I have more. Lot's is brand new that I've won at contests and never used, some scraps (but atill really good sizes to work with) Everyone thinks that I'm giving away yucky stuff, but the truth is if you have seen my scrapbook room you'd understand! I'm a hoarder, I save every scrap everything. But I DON'T have the room. So there is a lot of good stuff to go.

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1nZ7UAVum7y35jDPkR4S4PQ3MySyhAo-q-rZ2td9ekdJratypxueoaggzlFpMKVopip3aL0Nu15zW9bjk7VZlvZD8XiDnSWkOVXhDni1Zp1TfsvjyqHQEKkT376H6uPwa7luqdyjX8jv/s1600-h/IMG_6734_edited.JPG"> so other suggestions of what you can donate: old magazines-resources for the kids is always welcome. pencil crayons markers templates SCRAPS!!! so many uses for these Cardstock PatternedPaper you don't use Ribbon no longer used. buttons stickers

• this list is endless. Just remember, they are kids, they don't know what is hip and cool and wanting to keep up with the latest scrapbook trends.
• also, you can come browse for a minute or the whole time. Love to see anyone and everyone come out for this cause!
• See you tonight.
• phone or email for an address!

Don't Forget tomorrow!

I'm having a SCRAP, SWAP & CHAT night from 6-10pm. Bring any of your gently used supplies that you'd love to donate. Then we'll all swap with each other, visit & eat. The rest will all be donated to Kate's charity. Please phone me if you are coming & I'll give you directions. Oh, some people have asked that if they have nothing to bring can they still come? Yes, the idea is that we are trying to round up as much stuff as possible for this great girl. So if you have no extras to donate than you can always buy a trimmer or adhesive to donate. She is in desperate need for those items especially.

• Sorry for the wussy blog today, we helped build Shane's & Andrea's deck yesterday, a little tired today. But fun. Those kids are ambitious! Move in Wednesday, build deck Sunday, next weekend the fence???
• Talk later. Looking forward to tomorrow!

random pics. I'm done!!!

So I have to put this on my blog, Jeffrey, the event control coordintor. No idea what to call him. He just made sure things happened and that they flowed smoothly! He thought he'd particiapte in some of the scrapbook fun. Here is what he made. We gave this guy a hard time all weekend, so Jeffrey thanks for helping us out lot's! A pic of us at supper. Fun!

one of the scrapbooking crop rooms!~

a quick Marketplace shot!

Okay, so I never did find the scrapbook page that Cathie Allan made for me, but when I do, I'll post. It is cool. So all in al , scrapfest was a blast and now I cannot wait to scrap at West Ed! CSC4K is going to be a blast. Hey, if anyone I know is going, give me a shout out. I'd love to see ya! Also since I only had 3 people respond to my contest I'm going to give you ALL a prize. Jenn, I'll give yours tonight, Jody call me & Cheryl Leuschen, email me your address! Congrats girls. I love giving stuff away!

So have a great weekend everyone. I am so pumped for splurge I can barely wait!

Scrapfest 401 & Cards for the Troops

Sorry I'm posting so late today. My cousins needed me to haul tables to their house for their garage sale, then I had banking to do for our business, then we visited Shane & Andrea at their new house, then the boys and I jumped in with Jim to have some family time in the truck. The boys were in their glory "working" with daddy. Especially when we got to go to a new quarry and load. These boys are probably the youngest kids ever to know exactly what the machines are called. Just a quick story. Riley was 2 and Jager just a baby, and a semi passed us carrying a bobcat and a tractor. Riley said "mom look at the pay loader", I said no Riley it's a bobcat. This went back n forth, me trying to correct him. Then Jim phoned, I asked him what the heck a payloader was, and yes...my 2 year old was absolutely correct. He was talking about the tractor on the semi as I was pointing out the bobcat. I took a beating on that one, having now had my Class 1A for now 8 years, not knowing the different machines. So now if my kids say a back hoe, yes I assume they are right. LOL

• So we had a small intimate gathering to make cards last night. But it was fun & efficient. We made 44 cards for the troops. Hooray! The best part for me was getting the time to just hang with fabulous friends and work for a cause. I look at my grandparents & parents. Anytime someone needs help, or there is a cause to support, they step up immediately. It just doesn't seem to be the case very often with my generation. My gramma Elliott makes crocheted blankets for needy kids and the preemies. My Gramma Elian makes quilts to be sent over seas for the needy and also she knits booties & hats for the newborns. My mom is the first person to volunteer in any situation someone needs a hand. I think we need more of that. I can remember when we had a huge garden & orchard(like acres for real!!!! I know cause I had to weed it!) at the farm. We always took what we could eat, then gave to all our relatives & friends and then we always took huge boxes in for the Friendship Inn. It just was so automatic in our thinking. It is really important to me that this art of helping isn't lost , I want my kids to think it is natural to help others. So I went to bed absolutely happy. I hope our troops are safe and enjoy a little home made touch! Also Jo-Ann, you have left a huge impact on me!, I loved meeting you at Scrapfest, and having a great talk. I hope that your husband receives one of our cards! I'll be thinking of you & him this season. I will pray for his safety! I saw that you checked me out. Julie Cortens is a link on the right hand side of my blog. She has powerful military layouts of her son Mark. They are a must to check out. She is an outstanding lady that I used to work with, whose site is always interesting as you can see that she shares her passion for her family, her religion and her art in such beautiful ways. Here is a link to her site: http://www.cortens.blogspot.com/

(Yes Julie, I needed your business cards this weekend. I met so many fabulous military wives and I kept telling them that they HAD to check out your site. Hope you don't mind!) So this is my little burst of happiness this week. I am absolutely lucky to have married such a great guy who spoils me with flowers. He has done it so often that now I find it my little instant smile in the day. Now I want flowers around me at all times.(He's created a monster!) I love the colours, the fun, the smell. So I thought I'd share this little burst of sunshine with you.

Especially my little off balance sunflower. LOVE it!

Okay back to Scrapfest. So my passion for this new company STIX 2, all started by sitting down at the ever so fabulous Anam Stubbington's make n take. She is a designer for them and she was having us create our own doodles to play with. It is a Canadian company and I was privileged to have had the entire weekend to hang out with Allesandra (very beautiful woman!, with a great passion for her company) & Colette. I think that their booth was my second home that weekend. They just kept letting me try all their new stuff, and showing me their products that release soon. They create the whole line of amazing adhesives, for great prices for us. But, they have this one product...

that allowed me to create this fun page...

check out the detail...

(Even the "Pirate Party" is done with foils.)

and here it is! STIX 2 PVA glue. But not your ordinary PVA glue. This one stays tacky after it dries. When it is wet you can stick down micro beads, sparkles, really anything. But when it dries than you can break out the foil and have a fun party. Allesandra gave me a huge kit, and I've almost used up all my foils!

It takes about 15 min. to dry, then you just press the foil onto the glue and it is awesome. Here is what Allison did on her transparency.

Here is my transparency. So I came home and used the star and journal box on a layout already! I loved the result.

This is what the package of foils looks like. And CHEAP! I will never go without this again. I love the little bling it adds.

So 4 times a year you can get this magazine, Scrapbook & Cards Today for FREE! at Yesterday's Memories. All you have to do is a minimum purchase and then its yours. Each store only gets 100 copies and then its GONE! Its totally jam-packed with new products, great layouts, clean pages. I love this magazine. And I'm proud that it is made in Canada. They have a real concept that the art of scrapbooking is brought to us in scrapbook stores where we can see amazing products, learn from great instructors and be able to create friendships with other scrapbookers. They want us to enjoy, no LOVE our scrapbook stores. Their point is yes Walmart & Dollarama do carry supplies for cheaper, but that's it! There is no relationship that grows in our art, no learning that takes place in these places. Isn't that unique, a magazine that wants us to have solid relationships with our local stores, to be able to start friendships with other scrapbookers , to be able to share our art. I definitely think they have something going. So when the seasons change, you know their issues will be coming out.

Here are the girls behind this beautiful magazine. Kerry McRorie & Catherine Tachdigan. Totally cool girls too. Funny, down to earth and really awesome. Kerry taught some classes at Scrapfest and the buzz was they were GREAT! I saw the projects and totally wished that I could've snuck in on some of them! Next time!

So our booth was like the hang out booth, I think because we had nothing to sell. Only an adventure to discuss. So we had lot's of fun talking about the cruise, our sponsors, meeting great people and seeing people's portfolios. There are so many people that want to be an instructor next year. It was awesome to see everyone's uniqueness. If it was up to me I think I'd have more instructors than attendees. Good thing I'm not the person making the call. So it was really cool spending this weekend with Allison Orthner. It was cool to see this photographer/TV host in action. We both were on City TV and it was so much fun but scary. I knew I was on a specific segment so I was prepared for that, but Katharina Doyle (Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine) pulled me into the opening segment. Freaked me out! I didn't even get a chance to pee first! Talk about nervous! It was fun though. My cousin taped the segment on VHS but I have no idea how to get it onto the computer to show you guys. Jim & I had a good time watching it.I waited to watch it with him so that was even more scary wondering what it looked like. We had a good laugh. Allison of course looked flawless. Maybe somehow I'll find a way to show you guys.

• Allison took this awesome pic of Vicki & Anam. totally fun girls! Us fooling around with the Canadian Scrapbooker girls. They totally ROCK! our Crop & Cruise booth

Allison & I doing a make n take. We had a blast! Talk about unprepared. We were told to go and take part in this, mingle with the attendees. So do you want to know how much you get razzed when you show up at all the different make 'n take tables with NO scissors, adhesives, or trimmers? LOT's! But it was still fun!

I only wished that Heather, Jill, Rae & Christine could've been there to get rowdy in our Crop & Cruise booth. Next time!

• Okay, so was it fun seeing some of the cool events that took place at Scrapfest? I really enjoy meeting all of the fantastic scrapbookers out there! Everyone has such stories to tell, amazing layouts, unique ideas. For me these events just ignite the fire in me to create more, to try new things.
• I have a few more fun random pics, I'll post a few more tomorrow.Then that's it! I'm so excited for splurge tomorrow. We have such a great group of ladies. It is going to be a blast!

WOW!

Okay, so when I came back to blogging in March with a new site, new name I decided that I had a goal in mind. To share my family,my life, my work and experiences. I am having a blast with it. On May 26th I decided to add a people counter to see if people were actually visiting me. I made it so that one person couldn't log in multiple times as that isn't very accurate how many people are actually coming. So today, almost 4 months later.....

• I am now over 10 000 hits. So this is my reason for the wow. I'm having fun. Hope you are too!

Next week I'm going to do some more step by step demos, fill you in a little about my Luxe projects, & now today I just became a part of a really cool design team. I'll tell you the details after I find out more. So has everyone got their entries in for my contest? It ends tomorrow! Well, have to go, I have a group of awesome ladies coming here for a GREAT cause. Card making crop for the troops! Also, I ended up on a few conference calls today so I didn't take pics of that cool new product. So that definitely will be first on the agenda for tomorrow. Thanks for checking me out and leaving comments. It's fun knowing we are all sharing our interest. See you tomorrow!

Scrapfest 301

Okay, have a few minutes before I wake the kids for school...First off ,Thank you to Sasha & Allison who had a crack at that photo of Janine. You guys both made the photo much better, and now I will enjoy scrapbooking it! Sasha, you are right, it is the story that is fun! Janine was really spunky & neat, that is what I will remember.

• So my big news I can finally reveal...
• I have been asked to be an instructor at
• Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids in Edmonton.
• This takes place Oct.12-14th this year!
• So I will be teaching 2 classes, a Family Calendar Canvas & a 5x5 Canvas accordion book. Both of my classes are sponsored by Canvas Concepts & Sassafras Lass and I am so excited.

• I would love to tell you a bit about this crop. It is taking place all across Canada to raise money for children's hospitals. It is the first of its kind and is only taking place this year. They are trying to get into the Guinness Book of records for having the most people scrapbooking together on one day for one cause. So are you in?
• This is probably going to be one of the most sponsored events in the world. Everyone thinks this is a major cause and the big wigs have come out!!!! Talk about prizes to give. If you want to check out some of the sponsors click here. Now, if you want to see some of the most amazing teachers click here. I'll be up today maybe (I had a little problems getting my pic to her.) But if you want to see the classes click here. The best part about this event is you don't have to register for all 3 days, you can go to 1, or 2, or all 3 days. So why not take your family up for the weekend, stay at the hotel and then when the kids go to bed you go down and scrapbook! I guess I forgot to mention that this takes place at West Edmonton Mall. Picture it now. Dad & kids go to Fantasyland, you to Crop for Kids.

Here was the crop for Kids booth. It was a very entertaining booth. It had some of the most amazing women in there. The coolest projects, the neatest kits to sell. You'll have to come to the event to believe me!

The head girl for Crop for Kids is on the left "Trisha Ladouceur" she is standing with Catherine Tachdjian (editor of Scrapbook & Cards Today)

Okay, so my favourite little green truck. Could you imagine having this as your scrapbook room? She drives all over for crops, a husband can buy a gift certificate from her and then to surprise you, she parks on your driveway and you get a prepaid for shopping spree. Hello? Exciting or what?

My brother Steven came to see me at this event. I took him to see this truck, asked him what Jim would think of it as my new vehicle to get around, since we are buying a new vehicle. I think this is right up my alley.tee hee. Well Steven just laughed. Men hey? You know every scrapbooker out there wants her own personal, shop anytime, having the latest greatest at your fingertips.

Okay, well time to get boys dressed for school so I will show you my favourite product later this afternoon. Sorry but preschool calls.

Congratulations Shane & Andrea!

How silly of me, so pumped to tell you more about Scrapfest that I forgot the most important item of the day... Congratulations to my brother Shane and his phenomenal girlfriend Andrea on your new house! They move in today into a brand new house in a really cool neighborhood. Stonebridge. We wish you guys the best moving in and of course we are always there to come and help you build fences, basements, garage, etc...

Scrapfest 201

So I realized that Cathie Allan had made me a scrapbook page so I will find that in my bags and take a pic to show you,(maybe tomorrow). Anyways, so I was privileged to meet the woman that created Fontwerks. Kah-Mei (pronounced Ki-May). She has a brilliant way of designing products and then working with him. Her booth was so much fun, I only regret I didn't have my camera on when I explored it. (picture is borrowed from Scrapfest site) She taught some cool classes and did make n takes at her booth. It was fun. I even got totally busted by allison! I was supposed to be working & I paused to shop (no surprise) and Allison heard me, ripped open the curtains and yelled your busted! So we all had a big laugh about that.

So here are a few of my new stamps I got while being busted!

Do you blame me? I came home and I used the little western like title one already. LOVED it, then revamped it with my new FAVOURITE product, that I will reveal tomorrow!

So when you open up the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine, we often see articles written by Mylene English. This would be the fantastic lady that is standing in the following picture. Yes she is patriotic, and they won the table competition. That is one of the cool events at Scrapfest, as a collaborative, each table can come up with a theme and then they try for a chance to win 1st,2nd,3rd. It is a blast. The tables were great. One table sang even. But anyways, Mylene's table totally went Canadian. Fun. She is such a down home, emotional person that has a big heart. It was lovely to chat with her. Cannot wait to see you again, and now when I read your articles it will be a pleasure to know the person behind these thoughts.

Roxanne Jegodtka- a woman who is making a big name for herself in the scrap world. She is Canadian. She is a mother of 5. She home schools. She has been published numerous times. She made it far in Making Memories Idol, she designs for Scenic Route Paper Co, Urban Lily (Australian Company) Urban Scrapbook a super cool store in Edmonton (they are one of my sponsors too!), Creating Inspirations. She also did the cover layout for Canadian Scrapbooker Spring 2007. In one word....ACCOMPLISHED! It was fun just chatting with her. I cannot wait to work with her next month. I mean for real, this woman is level headed, steady, friendly, beautiful in and out... how does she keep balance in her life. I cannot wait to talk to her more.

Jessie Lute- One of the creative minds working for"One Little Word". An amazing designer and so super cool in person. I loved hearing her camping story, unfortunately she probably does not ever want to go camping again. But it was cool listening to the fact that we aren't the only ones that experience dramatic experiences. She is also going to be at Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids. You must go and say hi! (pic is off One little word's site, unfortunately I didn't get one of her!)

Janine Wahl- This girl is hilarious, she makes me laugh! She is a paper & digital scrapbooker. She is an instructor at Canada's Scrapbooking Crop 4 Kids, a designer with Memory Makers Book Division, has a layout in CK this month, and 5 layouts in Memory Makers 601 Great Page Ideas. Check her out!!!! Plus she is just a hoot.

I am so sad that I moved while taking this. I started to laugh. I actually was outside the classroom and seriously far away from her, just using my telephoto lens. But I moved. She started striking all of these Vanna poses, changing them like she was on Vogue. Slowly some of the classmates started to wonder what she was doing. They couldn't see me since I was far away. So it was super funny! Is there anyone out there that can help me make this pic better? I love it and so want to scrap it!

Well, the event was full of amazing people, fun things to do, great shopping, see why I am stretching this over the week? Way too much to cover in one day! See you tomorrow! Card Making Crop for the Troops is tomorrow! Please make sure you let me know if you are coming. I will have many different cardstocks & patterned paper available to use. Please bring paper trimmer, adhesive, and any thing else you might want. Otherwise, come for the social aspect, the food, and most importantly the CAUSE! Supporting our troops is important, and it would be a fantastic dream to know that our cards have lifted their spirits for a moment.