{ January Happiness Giveaway Challenge }

**NOTE: This post will remain at the top until the closing of this challenge. Please scroll down for new posts!**


That's right! It's that time again. I was so lucky myself last month with my blog candy winnings that I wanted to make this month a good one. I was out today at Michaels and picked up some yummy candy...at least I hope you think so. So onto the challenge...



Your challenge is to make something with a new item you received for Christmas. It can be a new stamp set, Designer Paper, Embellishments...whatever, but it must be a new creation with something new! Got it?



You have until 9:00pm MST January 31st to get your entry in. You can enter as many times as you wish, but you must use something different eachtime. You can post a link to your blog or email me a pic of your creation. I will make a random draw from all entries received.



Now here is what you are playing for...

* 1 K & Company 4 X 6 Scrap pad

* 1 K & Company Rub ons

* 1 K & Company 3D Alphabet Stickers

* 1 K & Company 3D Flower Stickers

* 1 K & Company Ribbons

* 6 Acrylic Michaels Stamp sets - Series 7

Okay now...get your groove on...

p.s. you can see my creation below on my Hanna post.

{ I don't know about this one! }

I decided to go ahead and try out both of Allison's challenges...last weeks and this weeks together. I had this brilliant idea in my head...or so I thought. But I am not so sure it worked out. Maybe, it's just that I am not use to using different patterns and textures together. What do you think? Is it as awful as I think it is?

Don't forget...Last day to get your challenges in for this months giveaway!! :0)

{ Make a Wish }

I just realized that I have not posted a new creation in a few days...so here we go. This was a card I made this past weekend for a friends daughter who turned 4 on Saturday. My girls went to the party on Sunday and had a blast. It was at a local Dance Studio(Dance with France). My friend Robyn says that I *need* to get my girls into dance now! My youngest was able to borrow the bday girls extra pair of dance shoes and all she keeps saying now is that she wants her own pair of ballerina shoes!! Too cute!

Well...I am off to create. Thinkin' I need to work on Allison's challenge and last weeks one too...since I missed out! :0)

It is warmer here today. I think it is around -25C ( -13F) with the windchill right now...it actually feels quite warm!! How sad is that??!!

{ You make my day! }

I was a very happy girl to receive this awesome award from Norma the other day. Thank you so much Norma!! Now it is my turn to nominate 10 bloggers who inspire and just generally make my day! In no particular order...

*Bobbi - I just recently found Bobbi's blog and so VERY glad I did! Her photos are simply stunning...many have brought tears to my eyes.

*Alex - I just love Alex's creations and she always makes me laugh! And she always leaves such great comments on mine and others blogs!

* Maria - What can I say?? Maria is one super talented lady and she definitely makes my day!

* Dawn - A fellow Canadian stamper and one Super talented one at that. Her blog is a great place to go for inspiration!

* Nancy - A great friend and fellow Calgal. Even though she is a workin' woman now and does not have as much time for bloggin' and stampin' I am always inspired and entertained. ;0)

* Shannon - Another fellow Calgal and awesome stamper. I am always inspired by Shannon's use of embellishments and color!!

* Allison - The final member of our Calgal group...What can I say. Allison's blog is not only inspiring for her own creations, but all the great links to all the other great creations out there. And she always makes me laugh. ;0)

* Julie - A great friend and fellow Canadian. I always love to see what Julie has altered now!! As our girls are pretty much the same age...I love to hear all the updates on her family life and life out East! :0)

* Tammy - I have just recently found Tammy's blog and she has found mine. I love to see what's new...you gotta too. And she always leaves me such great comments...good for my stampin' ego. ;0)

* Anna - I would be lost without Anna's blog! I am a hugh lover of photography and Anna's photos are just amazing!! And so are her stampin' creations. And I love to just get caught up with life on the farm. I just love her... ;0)

Okay...there are a ton more that I could add here, but I am only suppose to do 10...this is why I don't do too many of these tags!! But hopefully you have found a few new blogs to browse!

{ Too freakin' cold!!! }

Wow! I knew it was gonna be cold, but... It is -48C with the windchill right now here in Calgary. That is -54.4F for you Americans!! Pretty freakin' cold if you ask me. I was not sure about sending the kids to school today. We drove to the bus stop and I decided if the bus did not show after about 15-20 mins that we would head home and they would not go today. But the bus actually showed up a few minutes early today! I just was worried about the bus breaking down on the way. She is on her way anyway. We will see about the other bus later this morning though.

Onto todays creation. This is one of the projects I did with my ladies for our monthly stamp class. This is a gift card holder. You can check out the full picture tutorial on the Scor-pal website on Feb 1st...by moi!! These are so easy and fun to make. I apologize...the pic is a bit blurry. I actually ran the red strip through my cuttlebug with the circle folder. We also used some Irridecent Ice on the Mickey Balloon.

Hope everyone has a great day! And if you are in Alberta or BC...stay warm!!

{ Yes...I am still here }

I just realized that I have not posted all week! Wow! I have been busy working on some samples for my monthly stamp class tomorrow evening and didn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone! ;0)





I do however, have another Hanna that I can share with you all. I was not too sure about this one...but I think it has grown on me. What do you think?

We went along on a field trip to Fishcreek Park yesterday with my youngest. It was a bit chilly, but was a pretty fun day. I was pretty excited...we had a BIG deer walk right in front of us! She was only about 12-15 feet away from us...and of course I forgot the camera!! It was fun though...looking for deer, snowshoe hare, Red Squirrels, coyote, blacktop chickadee, bluejays and woodpeckers. We are definitely gonna head out there in the summer! I can not believe that I have lived in Calgary my whole life and had never been there before! Crazy!

Well, I am exhausted...so off to bed I go. :0)

{ This was kinda fun! }

Your IQ Is 100

Your Logical Intelligence is Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Above Average Your Mathematical Intelligence is Exceptional Your General Knowledge is Above Average

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

{ What a pretty kitty }

Don't you think so? Here is another Pink Cat Studio image that I swiped off of Allison during our last Calgal gathering. I also used my new Two Scoops paper and matching buttons. It is a very simple design...but I like it. Well, I am off to take my youngest to the bus stop and then work on some class samples and DT work. Hope you all have a great Monday!

{ Another Weekend Sketch Challenge complete! }

I managed to get a bit of stampin' done yesterday. Not only did I work on a Beates' Weekend Sketch Challenge, but I also got one of my own New Years Challenges done. I decided that I want to do 4-6 Christmas cards each month, so that I don't have a ton to do at the end of the year again! So low and behold...here is my first Christmas card of 2008...and it's only January!! I know...I am probably the only one in blogland working on Christmas cards, but it's a start! ;0)

This one is done using another image that I swiped off of Shannon, during one of our Calgal gatherings. I believe this is a High Hopes image. I just luv this one! I am thinkin' I might have to get this one on my next High Hopes order. I also used the Verve Visual set and snowflake brads that I won from Toni. And also the DP was from a stack that I won from Cindy! And I used my new Nestabilities!! Okay the cardstock, ribbon and ink were mine. ;0) Thanks ladies...see I am putting it all to great use!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. It has been a pretty lazy one here. The girls are on the mend. The weather turned a bit chilly and snowy here, so it is a good weekend to stay indoors and stamp!!

Be back tomorrow with another Pink Cat Studio creation I did this weekend. :0)

{ Lovin' this sketch }

I really love this weeks Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge. I actually did a couple, but this one is the one that turned out the best.

I used a stampset from my blog candy win from Maria in December. Love these flowers!! I also used some clear medallions on the bottom ones. I had won these as blog candy last year...I think...and had not used them yet. I am actually quite happy with the way this one turned out! I am thinkin' I might make a few more with this sketch. Thanks for the great sketch Julee!!

Well, I will make this a quick one. We are just on our way out the door to make a visit to the Dr. I have both kids home sick today!! Yikes! The oldest probably could have gone, but she now has this rash in a rather personal area and I don't want her scratching herself all day long! ;0) Besides that fact that I can decide if she sounds sexy or sounds like the devil!! Poor thing!

Hope you all have a great weekend! I am gonna try and get some projects done this weekend. I have been meaning to make a journal and I have some samples done for my class next week...as well as work on some DT stuff for Diana over at Scor-pal. So a busy weekend of stamping ahead! :0)

{ Tag Time }

I was tagged by the lovely Alex. Thank you so much for the great intro too. So here we go...

1. Name your two favorite Scrapbooking topics. Well, actually I don't scrapbook! But I really want to...I guess when I do it would be my girls and our travels...either Disneyland or Camping

2. What are the two best places you've been to? Okay this one is easy...Disneyworld and Maui. I know this probably sounds strange, but when I was in Disneyworld, I felt like I was 'home'. And Maui? Well, I was married on Maui and it is just so beautiful

3. Name two things you do everyday. Read my daily blogs while eating breakfast and think about my next stamping project!

4. Name two things that pretty much everybody knows about you. That I love Disneyworld! and I love stamping!

5. What are your two favorite stores? I would have to say Michael's and Dollarama!!

6. What are your two favorite accessories to stamp/scrap with? Bling and Brads

7. What are your two occasions to make cards for? Christmas and Bday's

8. What time of day or night are you able to do most stamping? The majority of my stamping is done between 8 - 11pm.

9. What two things do a lot of people not know about you? I can't really think of anything...I am an only child...my hubby and I were together for 11 years before we got married...shocking I know. ;0)

Okay now I have to tag 2 people...

Julie... Julie and I met through an online Yahoo group for Canadian stampers and have been in many swaps together. We email on a regular basis and have become quite good friends. Julie and I have girls that are very close in age too...which is pretty cool. And if you don't know already...Julie is the 'Altering Queen'...go check out her blog!!

Charlene...Charlene and I also met through the same online group and we too were involved in many swaps together. I also consider Charlene to be a great online friend. Charlene too a bit of a bloggin' break recently but she's back...go check out her awesome creations!! Oh...and she is a soon-to-be Mommy too!!

I will be back soon...I worked on Julee's Mojo Monday sketch and I am actually pretty excited to share it with everyone. :0)

{ Better get stampin'! }

That's right. This is my last card that I can share...so I best get a move on. ;0)



Here is another image that I stole off of Allison last weekend. This one is from
Pink Cat Studio. I like this image...fun to color. Not 100% sure of this card, but I guess it's okay. Again, I am just never thrilled with my ribbon.



Well, I gotta a sickie home again today. But it could be worse...I thought I was gonna have both of them home. They both came off the bus yesterday feeling lousy. Em(my oldest) could barely speak and El was complaining of a stomach ache and looked so pale! Then Em ended up with a wicked nose bleed lastnight that lasted about 30 mins. Then first thing this morning the same thing happend. I hope she makes it through the day without another one. El is home with a slight fever and very sore throat. All she really does is nod...poor thing. Daddy was complaining of a sore throat too. It just never ends. I wish I could encase them in a bubble when the leave the house...I don't want anymore sickness!! But I know lots of you out there are going through the same thing this year. Oh well...this too shall pass.


Hope you all have a great day! I know I will...I think my Nestabilities are at the post office for me to pick up today!! Woohoo!! If they are, I am sure I will have something new to show you tomorrow. :0)

{Fluffles...sweet Fluffles}

I am in love...yet again! As I told you yesterday...I was lucky enough to stamp off some Fluffles images from Shannon on the weekend. I must say...I love them! They are just so cute...and fun to color.

I really like this card! I had started out with a few Sketch Challenges in front of me. None of them came out the way they were suppose to, but I am still happy with what emerged. ;0) I like this one so much so, that I think I might use this sketch again for one of the other Fluffles images I have colored. So stay tuned for more Fluffles.

{ More treats from the CalGals }

I was out stampin' with the Calgals(Allison, Shannon and Nancy) on Friday. We all traded off stamps once again. I was lucky enough to get some new Hanna's off of Shannon and here she is!!

Don't ya just love her? I was not too sure I would like the short hair on her, but it was pretty fun. Now, my only problem is who do I give this card to? I think it will have to be hubby's Vday card. I don't think I could give this to a girlfriend...since I put XOXOXO inside!! ;0)

Stay tuned...I also stamped off some Fluffles from Shannon and some Pink Cat Studio off of Allison. I made 3 cards lastnight and I am actually quite happy with all of them. Thanks again ladies for bringin' your stamps!

Have a great Monday all! :0)

{ New element }

Just wanted to point out a new element on the sidebar that I added today.

I got this great calendar for Christmas that has quotes and stories about Moms. Some of them are just too funny. So when I get a good one I will share it...maybe daily, maybe not. Be sure to check it out though! :0)

{ Happy Friday! }

Wow! Did this week fly by for everyone else, or is it just me?? Even Emily was surprised when I told her lastnight that today was the last day of school for this week. ;0)



Just a quick post today, but I have another Hanna creation that I did earlier this week and had not shown you yet. These first few were pretty basic, but I still like them.



Not sure if you can see the sentiment...'A Woman's Work is Never Done!'

Have a happy Friday! I am off to stamp with the CalGals tonight...should be a good one. And gonna check out that new store that opened up yesterday...the one Nancy will be working at. :0)

{ More Bella ATC conversions }

Since I was going down to stamp and I need more Bingo numbers...why not make another Bella card? So here is another conversion of one of my ATC Bella Swaps.

This lovely ATC was done by Karen. I just added one more layer of black onto it and then I did the rest. I saw todays sketch challenge on SCS and thought I would give it a try. I am actually happy with this one. Although, is it just me or am I the biggest ribbon loser there is? I don't know what it is with me and ribbon, but I just can never seem to get it looking the way I want. I see all these great cards with beautiful ribbon and when I sit down to make a card...well there is usually pieces of ribbon everywhere and then I just end up chucking it because it looks so bad. I really need a ribbon lesson. ;0)

I got two more cards made today...that makes 10 so far. 2008 is looking to be a great year for creating!! :0)

{ Bingo Round 2 }

Barb's Round 2 has begun and this round we are to make Bella creations. So I started thinking of what to make? One of my goals for this year is to actually use what I have and not buy more stuff. So that being said, I remembered that I have a stack of ATC's (Artist Trading Cards)from swaps that I was a part of lastyear. One such swap was a Bella ATC swap hosted by Laura. So I looked through them and picked out this great ATC by none other than Kendra Giles! I think I am happy with the way this one turned out. And guess what? this is my 8th creation this year. I am on a roll!! ;0)

Look at what I picked up at Michaels yesterday?!

I love this thing! I have been wanting something to organize all my tools that I use on a regular basis. All my pens, adhesive and whatnot are always on the other side of the room. Now they are right in front of me!! Very cool. :0)

And look at what else I did this weekend!! I organized all of my unmounted stamps!! I have 2 dozen CD cases full. The one on top is holding all my High Hopes and I have a few more loose ones...so I guess I will need to pick up a few more. But I am very happy with this storage system. It almost makes me want to unmount all my SU stamps...almost! ;0)

{ Mmmmm...Chai...}

I was so excited to see that Beate is back and with her Weekend Sketch Challenges too!! So lastnight I played with some new stamps and here is my entry into this weeks Weekend Sketch Challenge.

This is from the new stampset that my bloggin' friend Catherine sent me in December. I love this set. But I am a Tazo Chai addict...to the fullest extent!! Thanks again, Catherine. :0)

{ Lucky me!! }

You know how I said December was a lucky month for me and candy winnings? Well check this out! I just got my other winnings from Cindy yesterday. Wow!!

It was hard to fit it all into one pic!! Thank you again, Cindy! Be sure to check out Cindy's Blog. She has some beautiful creations and a weekly Heart Candy Giveaway!

{ Hanna Stamps are in da house!! }

Oh ya baby!! I was a lucky girl and got some Hanna stamps from my BIL for Christmas! Woohoo!! So today I had to play. This was just a quick one to start with, but I did try a new to me technique. I did some paper piecing with this one. I have never tried it before. It was fun. Especially with my new Xyron that I got for Christmas too...thanks Mom!

All I can say is be prepared...you are gonna get sick of Hanna soon! ;0)

{ I am one lucky girl!! }

Lookie what I got!! This was my winnings from Maria's Blog Anniversary Giveaway. She is one generous lady. There is a K & C 12 X 12 pad, SU Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Color Box Petals inks, Retired SU Cardstock In Colors from '06, 2 clear stamp sets, 1 beautiful card made by Maria and 2 hot chocolate holders!! I can not wait to dig into these goodies. Thanks again Maria! I am sippin' one of those Hot Chocolates as I type this. ;0)