I Believe - Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games

I Believe!!!! I am so proud to be from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on the eve of one of the biggest events ever staged in our beautiful city.  Want to see why I am so proud, click here  and watch the amazing and beautiful "I Believe" by Nikki Yanofsky (Vancouver 2010 Music Video: Olympic Torch Relay).  If you're a Canadian and proud pass along this link ..................I'm sure you'll feel overwhelmed like I did and want to share with your friends and family.  Happy Olympics Vancouver............I'll be watching!!!!!

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Logo based on Inuit Inukshuk

The logo and mascot of the future 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics is based on the Canadian Inuit inukshuk. The inukshuk is a stone marker that has been used by the Inuit to help guide through the northern Arctic terrain for centuries. The Inuit inukshuk has also become a symbol of leadership, cooperation, friendship and the human spirit. This contemporary design of an inukshuk by Vancouver based Elena Rivera MacGregor and her team of designers was chosen from 1,600 entries from across Canada by an international panel of nine judges. The mascot will be named Ilanaaq which means ‘friend’ in the native Inuit Inuktitut language. Rivera MacGregor claims that her winning design represents the culture, environment and people of Canada.

Valentine's Day Blog Candy Giveaway................. Will You Be A Winner?

I have a very exciting announcement to share with you, but I can't share it just yet. To celebrate, I will be giving away some Blog Candy when I make my announcement on Feb 14th. Everyone who makes a comment on my blog from today until Feb 14th will be entered to win my Valentines Day Blog Candy. When I share my announcement I will announce what the Blog Candy is and who the random winner is. 

It's in the Bag!

I just finished making a fantastic purse/ bag and three cards using the new Sweet Pea DSP, and just have to share it with you.  This particular DSP was so easy to work with and made matching up the cardstock a cinch.......... I used Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Bermuda Bay.    I used the Great Friends stamp set for my sentiments and one of the flower stamps from the Pocket Silouettes Stamp set.  Ribbons and bling were non SU.

The tutorial for this great project was posted on the UStamp With Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010" site by Creative Designer Becky Roberts.  Becky's was made with the beautiful Sending Love Speciality DSP from the 2010 Mini Occasons cattie...............and it just rocks!  If you haven't had a chance to check out Becky's website Inking Idaho be sure to pop in by clicking on her name above - all of her projects are just so super cool and her tutorials are written and shown in clear and concise step by step instructions. There's still time if you're interested to join in all the fun at UStamp and taking advantage of all the great tutorials for this series.  Just click on Dawn's website for registration information. 
 Here is a closeup view of one of the cards I made following Becky's instructions.  Can you guess what new punch was used for the flower vase?  Here's a view of the inside of the card too.

Today is My Birthday!!!!

Hi Everyone. Just a quick note to say hello and many, many, thanks to all the great gals from around the world (UStamp, Swap Sisters, Just Say Ink, Family, Friends, Colleagues) who have called, sent cards and emails today wishing me a Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!  Wow what great friends I have!  You know who you are and you've all absolutely made my day.   

I've reached the point where there are too many candles on the cake........the big 60!  Never really thought I'd make it to this age, but now that I'm here I'm looking forward to what life has in store for me.

I spent some time today looking back at my blog and my goals that I stated in my very first blog post one year ago and mulling over what I have achieved and thinking about what further goals I want to add.  So here's the list.

My Original Goals:

• Get out there and grasp life, try new things and stop procrastinating about everything.  Bring about some positive changes and help usher me into a new life style.
• One of my goals was to start a blog that I could share with my friends who love cardmaking, stamping and paper engineering ...... a fun place I could showoff some of my creations and thoughts.
• Post regularly

Things I've achieved and I'm proud of:

• Helping out a friend with cancer who needed assistance and care in her final months;
• Helping my mom with her physical care and organizing and helping with her move to a new home following her fall and recovery from breaking her hip;
• Going back to work providing vacation coverage........... just enough to keep me happy and keep my hand in;
• Learning to play shuffle board and play golf - even though I'm not good at either, I'm enjoying the participation and the outings;
• Surviving my kitchen reno in Palm Springs..... living for 2 months off a two-burner hot plate and without a kitchen sink.......... who knew it would take that long!!!
• Making new friends in Palm Springs and joining these gals for outings to restaurants and plays, and not worrying about taking time out to do those things;
• Joining Ustamp with Dawn and Friends and finding new friends around the world to share my love of stamping and paper designs
• Becoming a Guest Demo on UStamp with Dawn and Friends twice this year............ yeah what fun!
• Attempting card making challenges and swaps and feeling like what I make "is okay".........I'm always my worst critic. 
• Getting in touch with old friends who I haven't been in touch with for a long time and making the connection again.............. very important in some cases to let go and in other cases to get going again!
• Doing my blog posts and taking pictures of my work to share with others.
• Having fun making projects and doing what I love and not feeling totally guilty about not doing the housework, or errands or whatever life deals out while I'm having fun.
• Meeting all of you and having you as new friends!

Well that just about sums it up for today.  I'm off to watch Super Bowl with 30 friends in our park.  We'll be making bets, eating, laughing and having fun for sure! Oh yeah, we'll be sharing my birthday cake and having more fun.  Hope your day is as good as mine................. it's my birthday and my anniversary of my blog!!!!

Origami Heart Card

Maria Pane a Guest Designer on UStamp with Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010" session, shared her awesome tutorial for an Origami Heart Card. 

This card would be equally beautiful for Valentines Day, a wedding, anniversary or other special occasion.Maria's instructions were easy to follow and in no time I made my version of her wonderful card. 

 I'm using retired DSP paper from Stampin Up, in Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Taken with Teal color pallette.  For my sentiment inside the card I used matching markers.  To hold the card closed I made a belly band from Pink Pirouette 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and added a heart rhinestone to give it some bling. 

If you're interested in having this tutorial you can get it by signing up with UStamp With Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010".... just click here.  There are so many awesome tutorials this time around............ it's well worth joining even if there is only one week left in this session.   Once it closes on February 14th this tutorial will no longer be available. 

Some More Valentines Projects

Hi everyone.  What a great week it's been, and it's sped by so quickly..... absolutely can't believe it's Friday again.  I had a chance to play with a couple more of the great tutorials on UStamp with Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010" this week and wanted to share the results with you. 

This first project was based on Jenny Moors Love Card in a Box tutorial.  Jenny is one of the most talented designers I've seen and I absolutley love everything she does.  This little box which measures 2 x 2 is certainly no exception.  Quick and fun to make it  could be used for any occasion.   Here are a couple of other views of it ... one from the top and the other looking at the treasures inside the box.  The unique thing about this box is the lid is completely built in so you're only working with one piece of cardstock.  If you're interested in this tutorial you still have time to sign up on Dawn's blogspot just click here for more information:

My second project was designed by another fabulous Design Team Member, our only Canadian member I might add............... Jennifer Picard.  Jennifer's style is so wonderful.  Her tutorials are always so easy to follow and she always completes projects that are clean and easy to complete.  I just love all that she does and can't wait to stamp with her when I get home this month.   So here's what I made using Jenn's tutorial for a "Love You Fun Fold Out" picture folder album:

The really cool thing about this album is that at first it just looks like a card, but it's really a card and album combined. How clever!   The front cover which is held in place with a button or brad opens up to reveal your message.  The inside holds two photos.

What a great little card/album........ I loved making this with the new Sweet Pea DSP paper pack paper from the Mini Occasions cattie.  I can see using it for so many occasions including Valentines Day, Mother's Day, to name a few.

Let me know what you think...................enjoy!

Stationary Box Gift Set

What a full and exciting day this has been.  Today I played golf for the first time since before Christmas.  My back held up and I had a great game......... for me!  I so love walking the course and soaking in all the wonderful sights....... truly beautiful.  Bob and I invited over all the other players from our group for appies and drinks following the golf game and we had a wonderful couple of hours entertaining in our back yard.  Such great folks.  The last of our guests left around 3:30 and we quickly tidied up and then headed off for a wonderful roast beef dinner at Margie and John's place.......... what wonderful hosts and such an awesome meal!
And, as if that wasn't enough fun and excitement for one day I turned on the computer and discovered that my Stationary Box Tutorial had been posted on UStamp with Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010" series.   There's still time to join the "With Love 2010" series so if you're interested pop on over to Dawn's website to check it out.  All the fabulous comments and encouragement I received from the members of UStamp just sent me over the moon!...............here's some pictures of my project. Hope you enjoy.

Here's a view of the outside of the Stationary Box.  I used Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Card Stock and Cottage Wall Designer Paper (115671) in this project. 

I used one of my favourite all time stamp sets Great Friend (113792) to do all the stamping for sentiments and design elements.  I love how feminine and sweet the images are.

Here's a view of the inside of the stationary box and stationary. 

The stationary has been hand stamped withe a flower and sentiment and is held together with a little band of DSP.  For a little bling I have used clear rhinestones both on the butterfly and the band. 

And finally, here is a picture of the finished project, which included a 3 x 3 gift card and a little notebook.  This set would make a great gift for Mother's Day or as a Teacher's Gift.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures of my latest project.  I'd love to hear from you if you did!