Happy Pumpkin Day!

Hope all your little pumpkins have a happy, fun and safe night!

13 Years Ago Today....

My life changed in an awesome way!  My youngest son was born on a beautiful fall day.  Wow!  Thirteen years today.

Clayton has been such a blessing and he has kept me young.  My older two children are now grown up and both married.  My oldest son is 27 and daughter is 25 and now my youngest son is 13.  Yes, it is like having two families, but I feel very blessed and can't imagine Clayton not being in my life.  He has always been a very quiet boy with a great sense of humour.

Clayton - ages 3 months to 9 years old

Clayton 2012 

Happy birthday son and I hope your teen years are fun and that you continue to grow and become a fine young man.

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #319

Wow!  It's another Monday sketch reveal at Scrapbook Challenges and time is just flying by.  Here are the sketches for this week that the very talented sketch artist and fellow team mate Chanell Rigterink designed:

Sketch #319 Single

Sketch #319 Double

Here is my take on the single sketch:

I used the Witch Hazel Collection by October Afternoon to create this Halloween layout and also used my Silhouette Cameo to create the skull background.  To make the skulls stand out more and make the black night sky more scary, I broke out my white Pan Pastel and applied it to the black card stock.

I hope you enjoyed the reveal today.  Check out what the rest of my awesome team members created with this week's sketch at Scrapbook Challenges.

Have a great day!

Let's Capture These Sketches - Sketch #155

Every Thursday is our reveal day over at Let's Capture These Sketches for Sketch #155 that was designed by the super talented Natalie Roy. Here is a layout I created for the sketch and thought I would scrap the lovely season of Fall in my area:

I created this with the Farmhouse Paper Company Sugar Hill Fall Collection for the papers in this layout and used my Silhouette Cameo for the title and die cuts and machine stitched around the edges of the background and added a few pearls and some Webster's Pages ribbon.

Come play along with us and link up your creation and also see what the entire team did with the sketch here.

I hope you get time to create this weekend.  Have an awesome Friday and thanks for stopping by!

Scrap It With A Song - Somebody's Watching Me

Scrap It With A Song is rocking today with the Rock Chicks.   I thought it would be appropriate to scrap a Halloween layout for the song "Somebody's Watching Me" by Michael Jackson and Rockwell.

I wanted to create a spooky layout so I used my new Witch Hazel papers and stickers from October Afternoon and got busy.  The sketch is courtesy of Kristine Davidson.  This is my take on the song:

My neighbour's house, two doors down, always goes all out at Halloween and one night I asked if I could take photos of their home because it rocks at Halloween.

I hope you are inspired to create something to the song "Somebody's Watching Me".  Join in the fun and upload your layout at Scrap It With A Song by October 31 and you may have a chance to be our guest designer!

Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

My New Silhouette Cameo!

Silhouette Cameo

If you are an avid scrapbooker like myself, you enjoy learning new techniques and also love spicing up your pages. 

Two months ago, I decided to make the plunge and purchase a Silhouette Cameo.  For those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, it is an electronic diecutting machine that you can make intricate cuts on cardstock, patterned scrapbook paper, vinyl, transparencies and it also cuts out and prints special digital files.  Another nice thing about the Silhouette Cameo is that there are several online websites that sell digital designs that can be cut with the Cameo.  I also like that I can use my Mac with this fabulous machine.  Designs can be purchased through the Silhouette Online Store as well as other website. They average about 99 cents a design and the files are yours forever!  I love that there are always new designs being added and Tuesdays there is always a free design to add to your collection.  There are Pinterest boards and new online classes to be inspired by and I really don't think it is a fad, I think it is here to stay!

It is changing the entire way I scrapbook.  I really don't need to buy paper punches, stencils, masks, flowers or even greeting cards for that matter! Greeting cards are very expensive to buy now so I am going to try and make mine.  I think I will definitely get my money's worth out of this machine and wish I would have had one when my children were planning their weddings.  

There is a lot to learn and it is very user friendly.  Two months ago I purchased mine online through Scrapbook Steals.  They have two daily specials and the deal was too good to pass up as they were adding a nice tote to carry it to crops, three mats and two $10 cards to use to upload designs.  All I can say is WOW!  It is the best purchase I have ever made and I am also impressed with the telephone support at Silhouette.  They have always been efficient and able to help me out.  

If you get a chance to try one, go for it!  I think you will be very impressed.  Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Or Winter?

Today I am not sure whether it is still autumn or if winter is going to arrive for real.  Here are my photos from this morning.  We are expecting 10-20 centimetres of snow and unfortunately the weatherman was correct for this forecast.  Where I live, winter is long but we are a tough breed.

Rear Deck

BBQ anyone?

Patio Furniture

Street View

Front Porch

Front Porch

Time To Shovel

There is more snow to come but I can't help think about when I lived eight hours north of here for 5 years and we would get a lot more snow then this and it would last all winter.  Where I live now, we have chinooks, which are warm winds from the mountains and they melt the snow occasionally before it would snow again.  The temperatures aren't as cold here as 8 hours north either.  I remember coming home from work in the evening and the car's outside temperature gauge would read -42 degrees.

You might think it's funny, but being where I live now, it is like summer to me compared to 8 hours north.  If you are a skier, you will love this because the mountains are only an hour drive away, but if you are a commuter and have to drive in this everyday, it is a nuisance.  I am very thankful that I work from my home and don't have to do the long commutes that I had to in the past.

Should we complain or just embrace it?  I know that it's an inconvenience sometimes, but I must say I love the seasons where I live and each season has many things to embrace.  For now, I will go out and shovel my driveway, deck and sidewalks and get some much needed exercise and then come inside and make a pot of soup and sit down and scrapbook.

Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to pass the time in the winter, but I am also looking forward to escaping our winter here for a few days in November when I go on a scrapbooking/photography trip to Hawaii.  It should be good!

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #318

How about a new sketch to start off a Monday?

SC 318 Single

SC 318 Double

and here is my layout that I created from the single sketch above:

Born To Be Wild

It's a layout of my rescue cat Sheldon.  He is a crazy cat, but I love him!  He is in mid yawn in the bottom photo, but I thought it seems like he is laughing.

I used the new Fancy Pants Country Boutique Collection for all the papers, used a coordinating piece of lace and my Silhouette Cameo for the cat diecut and title.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope I inspired you to try these sketches and share with us at Scrapbook Challenges what you created!  Have a nice day!

Sketches In Thyme Design Team Call

Time for a Design Team Call!!

Would you like to be a Sketchy Maven? The 6 month term for
 our talented Mavens is drawing to a close, and while some will
 be staying on, we are looking for new members to join our
 Sketches in Thyme design team! If you enjoy creating 
layouts from sketches, participating in blogs and motivating
 others to take part in challenges, this might be your chance
 to be a part of our Design Team! Your term would run
 November 2012-April 2013, and you would be asked to 
complete 2 layouts per month. If you would like a 
chance to be considered, here's what you need to do:

1-Have an active blog and be on facebook (so you can be
 part of our SiT DT group)
2-Create a new layout based on our sketch below.

3-Post about our DT call on your blog, along with your
take on our sketch.

4-Leave a comment here by October 20th telling us that
you would like to be considered for the DT, along with a 
link to your blog post. Be sure to include your email address 
so we can get in touch with you!!

Don't forget, our Design Team Call runs until October 20th,
can't wait to see your take on our fun sketch!!

I have created a layout of this awesome sketch of my daughter's cute doggie Elly.

I used the new Fancy Pants Country Boutique Collection Kit for this layout.
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to apply!  It should be fun!!!

Photo Contest

I entered a photo contest recently, and no I am not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination,  but this photo was a spontaneous "light bulb" moment that I had when my husband and I were out for a drive one fall evening when the sun was going down.

I take my camera everywhere and for this photo I was so glad I did! Today there is a vote for the best photo in our local newspaper for sunrise and sunsets and out of the 128 submissions, the newspaper editors chose 7 finalists. Mine made it to the 7 finalists!

I personally don't think it is the best photo of the bunch as I know there are a lot more experienced people out there and they are also professional, but I was quite flattered to make it this far.  Yes, I have taken some photography courses, but do not know any photo editing programs and just use my iphoto program in my Mac to edit.  For that matter, I just finally learned how to create a watermark so that nobody steals my image.

Here is the photo I entered:

Sunset Through The Mirror

Here is the link if you would like to vote for me.  The voting ends tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!  I would really appreciate your vote!

Paper Cone Wreath Encore

My Winter Paper Cone Wreath

Here is a great paper cone wreath tutorial that I posted last Christmas and have had some people ask about it so I have reposted it.  It would be great for any theme or season and it makes a great gift.  

I was totally inspired by a paper wreath that Greta Hammond created on the Little Yellow Bicycle blog that I had to make one to decorate  my home for the entire winter. 

Blue is my favorite color and I just love Little Yellow Bicycle's Winter Twig collection but I think any nice paper will do.  The colours are gorgeous!  I used many of the collection's patterned paper, and added some ribbon, a snowman sticker, letter stickers and a plastic star ornament to complete the centre of the wreath.  It was a little tricky making the paper cones at first, but once I made a few, it was fine.  You can find a good tutorial here.

Be sure and let me know if you make one and share your wreath.  I would love to see!

Have a wonderful day!

Scrapbook Challenges October Featured Member Scraplift

At Scrapbook Challenges we love our members and for the month of October, we are featuring Phillis who is always active on the boards and gallery, and participates in many of our challenges.  We wanted to honor her by scraplifting some of her creations.  I chose to scraplift her layout "Madeline & Jailey".

Aunt Mary

I also inked all the hexagon shapes in Black Soot as well and popped some up with dimensional adhesive for extra dimension.

I typed the journaling in Word and cut out paper strips and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot.

The title was cut out with my Silhouette Cameo.  I cut the letters four times and stacked them, glued them together with Glossy Accents to give them extra dimension and finally applied Glossy Accents to the top of the letters for even more dimension.

This layout is of my husband's amazing Aunt Mary.  She is 92 years old and spent 30 years as a nurse serving the people of Ethiopia and Kenya.  She has quite the stories to tell.  

Thanks for stopping by and check out Scrapbook Challenges blog for our feature on Phillis.  Who knows, you might be the next member that we feature so be sure and sign up.

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #317

Where do the weeks go?  It just seems like I posted the Scrapbook Challenges Sketch#316 and here we are on another Monday! Yes it's Monday and I thought maybe a nice bright cheery sunflower on a layout might brighten your day.  Today's sketch was fun to create with.  I loved the simplicity of the sketch.

Sunflower Love - Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #317

I tend to scrapbook with the seasons and this layout definitely has an autumn colour palette.  I used white cardstock and scored the paper at every one inch mark and then used some Tsukineko Walnut Ink Spray to give it the rustic look.  I then inked and distressed all the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Tim Holtz.  Next, I took out my favorite new scrappy toy, the Silhouette Cameo Electronic Diecutting System  and cut the tiny flowers below and the wheat flourish behind the photo and then used my Tsukineko Walnut Ink Spray and spritzed then to look more rustic.  The green polka dot paper at the bottom of the layout is made to look like grass with my Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors.  Next, I machine stitched around the entire outside edge of the paper, placed my title after painting the Maya Road Chipboard Letters of the word "flower" with green acrylic paint.  Lastly, I embellished with some sunflower stickers from Jolee's Boutique and small Prima Resin Flowers.  The patterned papers are from the Farmhouse Paper Company Sugar Hill  - Fall Collection.  I hope you enjoy the sketches.  Every week there is a single page sketch and a double page sketch.  The choice is yours!

SC Sketch 317 Single

and

SC Sketch #317 Double

I hope you are inspired to get your scrap on with these.  You simply have to check out all the other layouts that the team created. Come share your layouts with us at Scrapbook Challenges in our gallery, and join our forum.  We are a friendly bunch!  

Have a great day!

Let's Capture These Sketches - Sketch #153

It's Friday!!!! That means it's our reveal over at Let's Capture These Sketches.  This layout has a lot of meaning to me.  When my husband and I were dating, we stopped at this same place in Banff National Park to take a photo of the mountains that we both love so much.  To make a long story short, this is about ten years after the first photo was taken.  We have changed a bit with a little more weight and gray hairs, but hey, isn't that what growing old together is all about?

Together We Live, Laugh, Play

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the piecharts and stars and sprinkled some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists randomly on the layout.  The papers are some scraps I had of Simple Stories "Summer Fresh" Collection.  I am loving Simple Stories at the moment!

Thanks for popping by and please check out what the sweet gals at Let's Capture These Sketches did and also see the sketch that inspired us.

Have a great Friday!

Scrapbook Challenges October Wildcard Challenge

Today at Scrapbook Challenges I am sharing a challenge to try and bust you out of that creative rut.  We all have them and sometimes we get so comfortable in our rut that we are scared to try something new.

Here is a layout of my oldest son that I created with my Silhouette Cameo and wanted to try some circles and stars in different sizes.

If you don't have an electronic die cutting machine, it's no problem. You can do any technique that you wish as long as it is something that you haven't done for a while or have never tried.  So it's time to get creative and bust out of that rut.  How about painting on a page or using gesso or misting or fussy cutting?

Have some fun and get creative.  Be sure to link your layout or creation up at Scrapbook Challenges under the October Wildcard Challenge and in our gallery by the end of October.

Thanks and have a fun, creative day!

Scrapbook And Cards Today Magazine Ombre Challenge

Summertime Nails

What a surprise to see my layout featured on the Scrapbook And Cards Today Magazine's Blog!  There was a challenge to create a card or layout to do with the ombre craze.  Check it out here.

Ombre is everywhere these days and I love it!  My sketch was courtesy of Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #310 designed by the talented digital designer Tanyia where I am also on their design team.  Thanks for stopping by!

Scrap It With A Song - A Thousand Years

Today the Rock Chicks are rocking to the song "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.

This is such a romantic song and since I'm a hopeless romantic, I thought this layout of my husband and I on our recent wedding anniversary would be the perfect thing to scrapbook.

A Thousand Years 

I used an older collection of My Mind's Eye called Andrea Victoria for the papers and my mom gave me some vintage buttons that she has had in a jar forever.  I also used some pearls from Queen and Company and also a jewel flourish from Prima.  The sketch is courtesy of Page Drafts.

Wouldn't this be a perfect song for a wedding dance or a 50th wedding anniversary?  Enjoy and link up your layout over at Scrap It With A Song by October 31, 2012.  Looking forward to seeing your creations!

Beginner Scrapbooking

Today it is my turn on Web Wednesday over at Scrapbook Challenges.  I have a tip for all of you beginner scrapbookers who want to learn to scrapbook but feel overwhelmed and intimidated.  I think we have all felt that way when we were beginners.  I know I sure did.  When I learned to scrapbook ten years ago, I didn't really like it and didn't know what the big deal was but somehow I got hooked and never looked back.  For me, personally, it's not just the recording of all the memories, but it's my therapy.  It makes my soul happy creating and I also love the social interaction.  It has been great meeting such wonderful friends who come from all walks of life and it doesn't matter what age the person is, it's a passion and a bond.

I wanted to encourage all you beginner scrapbookers to check out my suggested website.  It is a great little course delivered to your email box everyday for 24 days and there is no time limit.  It is self paced learning and at the moment Scrapbook.com is offering it absolutely free!

Enjoy this new hobby and I would love to hear from you and would love if you shared your layouts with me.  Thanks for stopping by!

Canadian Scrapbooker Sketchy Challenge

Every month there is a new sketch over at Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine.  As you probably already know, I am a sketch fanatic so I thought I would give this sketch a try.  I thought I would challenge myself to take out some mists and masks and maybe try a different medium such as some glass beads to give the layout more texture.

Shannon and Elly

This was a lot of fun to create and it was fun to get inky and messy.  Purple for me is not a colour I find easy to work with but thought I would mix it with some green and blue for a more pastel effect.  My daughter adores her dog and when I was staying with her one weekend I took this photo.  I love candid photos the best.

I hope you enjoyed this and if you like to be challenged or just need a starting point then check out Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's Sketchy Challenge here.

Have a great Tuesday!

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #316

Today it is Thanksgiving Day here in Canada.  It is a statutory holiday here so I am busy preparing our traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings and gathering with my family.  I am so thankful for so many things and I thank God for all the blessings.  One of the things I am truly thankful for is my husband and wanted to scrapbook a layout on him.  This is for today's Sketch #316 at Scrapbook Challenges.

Above All Else Be Original, Be You

I recently purchased this collection by Authentique named Original
and I love it!  It's great for masculine pages.

Here are the sketches that inspired me and I hope they inspire you as well:

Sketch #316 Single

Sketch #316 Double

Have a great day and thanks to all my followers of my blog.

Never Too Old To Learn...

I love learning and know that it doesn't matter how old we are, we can always learn something new.  I have always had such admiration for people who are in their 90's that you hear that have received a degree.  It keeps them young and vibrant and alive!  Our brains need exercise to be healthy.

Art Doodling

Photography

Art Journaling

Mixed Media

Scrapbooking

I believe that I am just starting to really know me and now that I am fifty years of age and have spent twenty seven years of my life taking care of my children, I had somehow forgotten my identity. Raising my family has been my biggest undertaking so far and two of my children are grown up and married and I am finally seeing the fruits of my labour.  I can only hope that my youngest son, who is going to be thirteen years old this month, will be just as fruitful.  The teen years are a challenge and I have to go through that one more time.  Wish me luck!

The last two years have been a real journey for me in finding out who Lee-Anne is.  In my journey, I have taken many classes in the past two years.  I took a six month Anatomy and Physiology class, an art journaling class, some mixed media classes, a class on colour, a photography class, several scrapbooking classes and now I am registered to take Brave Girls Art School. Being a huge fan of Christy Tomlinson's workshops, I am confident that Melody Ross's classes should be very good as well. After all, they are very good friends and are both artistic!  It should be fun and I am looking forward to learning some new art techniques.  This week is the last week to register for this class so I thought I better sign up before the price goes up.  If you would like to check out the details check it out here.

I encourage you to take time for you. We are so busy taking care of everyone else that we can only grow if we discover who we are. Maybe I'll see you in the forum.  Have a great day!

Some Happy Mail!

This week has been full of happy mail.  I feel very honoured that my layout "Thankful" will be published in the upcoming November issue of Scrap N' Art Magazine.

Also, two of my layouts one called "Mom's Diner" and the other called "Baking With Love" are now published online in the October issue of Scrapbooking.com Magazine.

This world of scrapbooking has been very good to me in the last year and I feel very blessed and thankful.  It has also been wonderful to meet so many scrapbooking friends from the design teams that I  participate on.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to do what you love.

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #315

One of the best things about every Monday is a new sketch is revealed at Scrapbook Challenges.

Happy

Here is the sketch that inspired me:

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #315 Single

and if you prefer to do the two page layout, we have that covered too:

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #315 Double

We would love to see what you create with these sketches.  Come on over to Scrapbook Challenges and become a member and upload your creations in our forum and our gallery.  

Have a good day!