Monday 21 December 2015

My Friends are part of MY STORY | A DIY Christmas

Here we are.  My besties. A photograph from last night. Pictured with our DIY Christmas Gift Exchange.  A group of girls whom I love dearly.
_

I turned 34 a week ago. Many things can cause one to reflect. Lately I've been counting my blessings.  Every. Single. One. As I looked through the photos in creating a small scrapbook for my project, I saw happiness. Happiness. Yes, folks.  I saw years and years of moments... and ridiculous hairstyles.  And these girls are a constant.  These days it's hard to get together on a regular basis but we try really hard on birthdays and Christmas.  I want them to understand that I cherish them deep in my bones. Thank you for being YOU and making me feel like I can be ME.
#blessed

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of my project.  But I created a story for them foreshadowing our annual get together by changing the name of "Twas the Night Before Christmas. (That's a long story) Although you won't understand all the jokes or even any of the jokes, you'll understand the message.   Below are some of the pictures I used in my 4x4 scrapbook, as well as the story.  

My friends are part of MY STORY and is a part of who I am today.

They look pretty awesome, don't they?
And yes.  Halloween was a pretty important day.

Cathy

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: Girlfriend Rendition
2015

Twas five nights
Before Christmas
When us girls got together
Miraculously we all made it
Despite rotten weather.

With some treats and a drink
It’s a tradition each year
In hopes
That Elise Jerrett
Soon would be there

Nicole Moores would host
With her best Pinterest spread
While visions of concerts
Danced in her head.

Tara in her leopard print
And I with my wine
Had just settled down

On the couch for a time

When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter
We sprang from the couch
To see what was the matter


We looked out the window
To see a red flash

Like a solid jogging suit
With a white cotton sash


A pointed santa hat

Was found in the snow

We looked at
each other

and the object below

When what
To our wandering eyes
Should appear
But an Elf on the Shelf
With a case of beer

Wearing black high heel boots
She staggered and fell
I knew it was Jones
When she began to yell

She stared at us and cursed
For drinking before her
She stumbled
And shouted
And called
Us rude names
Now Bodman
Now Dumar
Now Wooddawg
Now Moores
On LC
On Dexter
All you evil
W%&ores. (sorry it rhymed)

She made it
to the porch
And then banged
into the wall
Now run-away
run-away
run-away all

We got
Her some whisky
And sat
her down.
It’s time to
Start, we’ll
Have another round.

And then
In a twinkling
I heard from the street
It was Tara
With Chris
Ordering
A treat.

As I drew in my head
Elise was turning ‘round
She couldn’t decide.
She mumbled.
Then out came a sound.

“Maybe chips.
No. Candies.
No. Ice cream
Or Nachos.”
She didn’t know.
She could not decide.
What should she choose?

Then Aoife ran from
The kitchen.
Exclaiming
Let’s play a game.
Let the
Competition begin
So I can have my
claim to fame.

Her eyes.
How they twinkled.
That elf
was merry.
Her cheeks
Were like roses
Her drink
She did carry.

Bring it on Miss Jones
There’s nothing I don’t know.
Let’s play this game
I’ll crumple you up like a bow.


You are all going down
But not without a fight.
That Aoife, a gamer.
Nicole, who loves
A good trivia night.

And all this while, Tara
Watched from her seat.
She stood up and laughed.
with a bowl full of sweets.

She told us we are lucky
To be such good friends.
It’s Christmas. Let’s be jolly.
Let’s just make amends.

“It is now a new year
We have nothing to lose.
Let’s find more time
To eat out or to booze.”

Then she began to dictate
Her many many
rules.
After seven.
Before twelve.
And no runny stools.

She laid a finger
On her once broken nose.
She giggled.
We agreed.
And unwrapped the gift we chose.

We sprang
From the couch.
For we heard
A Noise outside.
We watched
Out the window
Like children
A red sleigh ride.

We heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
Happy christmas to all
And to all a goodnight

Saturday 19 December 2015

Little Boxes using Tim Holtz row houses die

Creating in multiples today using the Tim Holtz row housing die and a retired Stampin' Up! stamp.

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one 
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky 
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Little Boxes by Melvina Reynolds



Merry Christmas!
Cathy

Friday 18 December 2015

Watercolour Happy Christmas | #tgifc34


Hello everyone!

This week at TGIF Challenge blog, we were asked to use the following as inspiration for a card.   Well, I didn't take it too literal and simply created a Christmas card.  


I am getting so excited for Christmas - my planner is jam packed.  Seriously.  So jam packed.  I doubt I'll be getting much crafting done.

Hope we've inspired you and Merry Christmas!
Next week, the TGIF Challenge blog takes a short break.  See you in January!
Cathy




Thursday 17 December 2015

Photo Tags | Fancy Friday


Welcome back to another Fancy Friday blog hop!  We've got new friends joining us - hold on to your seats because everyone in this hop is a current or past Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team member!


This month's theme is 
"Last Minute Fancy Christmas Tags"

For me, I've still been playing a lot with photos. I made this peek-a-boo card a couple weeks ago for the TGIF Challenge Blog (join us every week!)

I figured that I could easily do the same for tags.  I used my Canon Selphy printer and printed a couple photos in colour and a couple in black and white.  I then stamped with white Staz On ink. Seriously easy and seriously cute.

If you are looking for more easy tags, here's an idea I did for Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine.  Check out their blog for more details! They have 12 days of giving too so make sure to get your entries in!


 Keep hopping along to see the wonderfully pink Erica Cerwin!

Friday 11 December 2015

the beautiful outdoors | #tgifc33


Hi friends!

Lately at on the TGIF Challenge blog we've agreed to every second challenge from a design team perspective so I hadn't planned on participating this week.  That was until I was busy blowing through my December Daily and inspiration took shape.  

This week is a sketch challenge and I had decided to do a scrapbook page instead of a card.

Most of the product from this layout is from the new Occasions Catalog to be released on January 5th. This is some of the papers from those collections.


Essentially, I die cut a few circles using my Circles Framelits and starting piecing the pictures together.  The cute little enamel dots are from the Cottage card kit collection.  The words are just typed out onto regular computer paper.  I used Remington Noiseless as the font.


Happy Friday everyone! 
It's my birthday on Friday so I'll be busy celebrating ME all weekend!
Cathy



Friday 4 December 2015

a colour challenge | #tgifc32


It's most definitely a countdown now to Christmas for our family! The tree is up and the outdoor lights are on.  I have a pile of Christmas cards that are ready to go out the door.

This card will be sent out to someone like the swim instructor or the UPS man.  Notice the I used the curvy trio punch to chop one corner?  Underneath is some red foil on the inside of the card.

I'd for for you to love myself and the other designers of TGIF Challenge Blog.  Share your projects with us every week!


This is a stamp set called Flurry of Wishes and actually has a punch that goes with it.  The skinny washi tape comes from the Hello December accessory kit and is a staple of mine. I love putting pearls on every project!


Back to the christmas card sweat shop!

Cheers!
Cathy

Friday 27 November 2015

'Tis the Season | #tgifc31


Now that my lovely American friends have lots of turkey in their bellies and while we all count our blessings... it just might be time to declare that
'Tis the Season!

WEEEEEE HOOO!


I am bringing you this card today as part of the TGIF Challenge Design team.
We bring you challenges every week to help inspire you!
This week is a remix challenge, where by you should use inspiration from 2 of the other challenges of that month. I chose the sketch challenge and the "white christmas" challenge.


The "tree paper" is actually vellum.  Its lovely and is retiring so make sure you get yours soon!

Don't forget to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s Black Friday deals as well.

Have a great day!
Cathy


Friday 20 November 2015

watercolour merry | #tgifc30


Back again with the TGIF Design Team with some more inspiration.
Are you in full swing for the holidays yet?
This challenge is based on the following image - don't feel restricted to a sketch.  Create a project in how you interpret this image!


I created a watercolour 'splash' and then heat embossed in gold.
I wasn't happy with the layout initially so I continued to play until I was...
... and I loved every minute of it.


I am ready for the holidays with numerous Christmas parties in my schedule!
Bring it on!


Cathy



Thursday 19 November 2015

Documenting December with Hello December | Fancy Friday


Back again with another Fancy Friday. Things have changed around here though - you are in for a real treat as we have some fresh designers ready to blow your socks off.  Every single one of them have been or will be a Stampin' Up! Artisan! 


This month's theme is Christmas using Non-Traditional Colours.
Immediately I decided to show off the Hello December 2015 Project Life kit.
I figured that the watercoloured blue wasn't the traditional green and reds.
To each their own, right?

For my album cover, I used the 6x8" Stampin' Up! kraft album and painted it using 
white acrylic paint. I embellished using the Hello December Project Life Accessory kit 
and the wooden snowflake embellishments.

Like many scrapbookers, I am documenting December in it's own album.  I am attempting to build the album and the foundation pages prior to the month so that I can quickly tell my stories and get the album completed. In order to build those pages, I wanted to think about our family events in the month of December before I started.  I printed a calendar and made scribbles - then I used washi tape to place it in the inside cover of my album. 


Because I have over 30 foundation pages to show you, I thought it was best to show you a video where I flip through the album.  However, I have some of the layouts here as well.








Here's the video so that you can see it all - my apologies as its very amateur.  I just didn't have the time to properly edit it.  And as usual, the video cut off in the middle so its a little choppy.  Enjoy it all the same! (I totally just sold it, didn't I?)

Don't forget to add my channel - its brand spanking new!

Next up is my old friend, Erica Cerwin who is busy getting ready for her retreat in Texas! 

Cathy


For anyone wishing to know what my December intentions are... here's what I wrote and included in my album:

Hello December.

Hello Jack Frost. Hello Red Starbucks cups. Hello Hustle & Bustle.

My oh my have we all been waiting for you.

Like most families, our calendars are jam packed with event after event. Our to do lists are longer than we can manage and our bellies are always full.  Families are making every effort to make it memorable.  All the stops are being pulled.  New hiding places for the elves are being researched. recipes are being shared.  Sleep is moved lower on the priority list.  We are no different than all those families.

I cannot wait.

Hello again December.

I’ve missed you.

I long to get up before the rest of the family and before the sun has risen to enjoy a cup of coffee in my chair in front of my perfectly decorated fireplace next to the white lights of the Christmas tree. I long to turn on The Grinch Before Christmas and eat popcorn under a Fort in the basement.  I long to get that perfectly ridiculous photo of my two children on Santa’s knee. I long to  see their faces on Christmas morning plowing through the stockings to find the candy and savagely tearing off the paper of each new toy.  I long to play with them. I long to eat turkey and dressing with gravy.

Oh December. A Big Hello to You.

This year Jack is speaking and understanding more about the Holidays. I am looking forward to his animation and reactions to the spirit of the Season.  This year I want to teach Jane about giving and the importance of the Season rather than just presents.  I am simplifying this year and I intend to be more present.   I will continue to an abundance of pictures but this time Jane will take her own as well.  We are growing as a family and it feels special in the month of December.

Let’s do this December.