Family Happenings

This is my 300th post. Wow. Just did blog candy, so I don't have anything more right now... maybe at 400, or at more hits... I actually just do it whenever I feel the urge.

Here are a couple family happenings shots. First, Steve and the boys coming out of Home Depot with our fence stain.


Steve staining the fence - inspired by the great job the neighbour did on his fence, so we even got the exact same stain.


With the basement playroom all set to go, we went to Ikea and got some toy organizers, and hauled all the toys from the small main floor playroom downstairs, and Elise is getting the small playroom with just baby-safe toys, and all the little people stuff that we have.

Scott left Elise with a parting gift in the playroom, as he graduates to the new, bigger playroom downstairs - a life-sized self-portrait on the wall. Hmm... where did that purple crayon come from? I guess I could get out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but on second thought, I think I will leave it on the wall. It's a playroom, and although I would prefer Scott to draw on paper or on the Magnadoodle, it's kind of cute (don't worry, I won't tell him that I like it). He was sleeping when we discovered it, so I haven't even talked to him about it yet. He has only ever drawn on the wall in hidden places in the house... wall beside his dresser, wall beside MY dresser, around the corner in the playroom, etc. And thankfully, as far as I know, he has never drawn on the wall at anyone else's house... but he usually signs his name, so you would know. Not very inconspicuous! Maybe next time we go to Ikea I will actually get him that art easle that we saw there. But Steve said he doesn't ever want to go to Ikea again.... we'll see!

Elise is a little more interested in tearing things apart than setting them up.

Scrapbook in an Evening

Tonight I had my Scrapbook in an Evening class, and here is the book we made. Everyone made 20 6X6 pages. One front and one back page and then 9 double layouts for inside. We used the Friends and Flowers scrappin' kit that was in the level one hostess section of the last catalogue. Pictures and additional stamping will be added later.

Scrapbook in an Evening

A quick reminder that my "Scrapbook in an Evening" class is this Wednesday. It is $30 and we'll start at 7:30pm. There are still a couple spots left, so if you are interested, please email me at stampinsars@hotmail.com for more info, or to sign up!

This is cool....

Just came across this blog of painted rocks. I used to love painting pet rocks, but I never did anything this cool. Check out Diana's Rocks here.

Scott's Art

Makes a mother proud.....

Workshop Projects

Yesterday, I did a workshop for a really fun bunch of women. Here are the projects that I demonstrated....

This card is the same layout and marker techninqe as the card I posted a few days ago, only in blue. I used Brocade Blue wide grosgrain ribbon.

Here is a card using the Pick a Petal stamp set to make the little ladybug. Then I used a black marker to give it a flight pattern, and the It's Your Birthday set for the sentiment.
This card was so easy to make.... I rolled the Spot on Jumbo in Certainly Celery and then added some stamps from the Seeing Spots set. Brads and taffeta ribbon finished it off.
Our make and take was this 6X6 s/b page. I had some magnets there as well that the workshop guests could put on the back of their pages if they wanted to give it as a card to someone, and the recipient could put it on their fridge.

Happy Thanksgiving

Everyday should be Thanksgiving! Here's a card that I made using Lovely as a Tree, and the Holidays and Wishes stamp set. This is not even close to a new design, but I love using this technique (markers directly onto the stamps) with this set. And I like the ticket corner punch with the Vintage Brads in the corners as well. This could also be used for a masculine birthday card.

A Cased Card

A couple days ago on Stamper's Showcase (on the SU! demonstrator website where they show samples everyday of artwork done by Demos) I found a card that I really liked using the Three for You punch box... so, I cased it! (CASE = "Copy and Share Everything").


The card was made by Raedean Shibata, and here is the original card:







Here's my take on it... I ended up using different colours from hers because I was doing it in my head... I think hers stands out more with the darker blue.

Adventures in Swimming Lessons

For the next 2 weeks I get to go on a double date with my 2 boys to the swimming pool every day! Today was the first lesson. I thought Todd would be the brave one, and he was for awhile... he stepped into the water first, wore the biggest smile, etc. But after about 20 minutes of the 30 minute lesson he just said he was DONE. He refused to go back in the water. Scotty definitely had a better lesson today than Todd did. Scott let the teacher lead him around the water on his front and back, and even jumped in the water from the side of the pool. I think he might have been trying to impress the little girl in his swim class... she has already taken swimming lessons this summer so she was the bravest of all.

But with the thought in their heads that it will be impossible to ever go to Duck Island when they are older without learning how to swim, I think I can get him in the pool again tomorrow!!! There are only 3 kids in their class, so it is a great size for learning how to swim. (Duck Island is the Disneyworld waterpark... I think! they've been talking about it for weeks after watching a Disney promo dvd that we got for free....) edit: Louise commented that she's never heard of Duck Island, so guess they got it somewhere else... when I figure out where it is, I just might take my kids there - you never know what is going on inside the mind of a 3 year old!!

Blog Poll...

Here's a question for you... totally NSR (Non-stamping related :) How much should I be paying a babysitter?? Talking with my sister tonight I realized that for the same number of kids (3) I pay less than she does. So, for 3 kids, what do YOU think I should be paying a 12 - 14 year old babysitter an hour?? (If you are a 14 year old reading this... you're NOT allowed to say $15.00 an hour!! But you are definitely allowed to answer the question!)

Part B of the question is: Does the rate change if it is daytime or evening babysitting? Because Louise was also saying that she pays her babysitters (usually in the evenings) more than she is getting for having daycare kids during the day. Is that right?

Ok, comments, please! I thankfully don't have to hire a babysitter all that often because we are blessed with Grandma and Grandpa in town most of the time and they love Grandkid time!!!!! Thanks :) And I love Reciprocity - a babysitting "swap" - you have my kids one day and I'll have yours another. This has worked well with friends with kids in the past.

3 in a Row

Recently we switched Elise's carseat around to be forward facing. She loves it!



FYI: Just a note about Scotty's seatbelt (in case you noticed!)... I took this pic while we were stopped and Steve was in the store. Before we started driving we did up his belt :)

Stop for the Roses

I went for a walk today... early. Maybe not early for you, but it was quite a bit earlier than when I am usually even up, let alone out of the house! But I saw these pretty roses on my walk and I had my camera along, so here are a couple shots. I stopped for the roses, but I didn't smell them... there were a bunch of ants on them and I am pretty sure I would have ended up with one in my nose... so I just stopped to take a few pictures of the roses!!!

Same rose but using the colour accent feature on my camera - it only picked up the green.

Wanted!

Here's a 6X6 page that I demoed at my last workshop. I love all the Boho West line that Stampin' Up! came out with this year. I have the "Wanted" set, and the Outlaw paper, but I have my eyes on the Round Up scrappin' kit and some of the other westerny sets too. The picture on this page is of Scott last year when we visited relatives in Alberta. It was printed off of our old printer... pretty lame colours, but we have a brand spankin' new printer now that so far I am happy with! I haven't put the new one to the "picture printing test" yet, though.

Fun??? at the Fair!

We went to the Fair last night. And Scott so desperately wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel - well, there was one in Charlotte's Web, you know! So, we looked for something a little more the boys' speed, and they soon fell in love with this Dragon Wagon ride. Sure... we watched a few other kids go on it first and they thought they could totally do it.

Well... take a look at how it all went down...
Counting tickets....
Settling down for a fun ride!
Still happy... once around
Sheer terror - they stopped the ride early!
Elise had fun at the fair too!!!

My stairs are clean!

A few days ago I got a call from a company doing a health survey. Usually, I tell people that I am not interested in taking their survey and think to myself, "Get a new job!" But I decided to answer her questions unless they got to pushy or private. Basically she wanted to know if there were any allergies in our home, any smokers, etc... easy questions. She said my name and phone number would be entered in a draw for a $500 gift certificate. Nice!

Got a call yesterday that I had been drawn for either a pair of quality binoculars or for a 2 night getaway... yes! So, they were going to "hand deliver" our 2 night voucher... hmm... this has 'time share presentation' written all over it! But I asked if this was part of a time share program. She said, "no." Ok, what do I have to do? She said, "we have a new product and we want your opinion!" Ha! gotcha!!! I knew it was too good to be true. What is it? An air filter. Well, we already have an air filter so, sure, come on over. We have the strength to say no!

Tonight the presenter came and he had an air filter to show us. So what, ours is better. BUT, he also had a vacuum cleaner. So, I was falling in love with this vacuum... especially the part where the man said, "ok, I am just going to go around and vacuum your house for awhile!" Go right ahead! Come back next week and do it all over again, please!

Anyway... yada yada yada... we have a lot of dirt. So, then comes the price. Ouch! We didn't buy it, but the guy should be an actor because I thought he was going to cry. I wanted that vacuum, but I think I could easily buy at least 8 Hoovers for the price of that machine.

Our stairs are clean, and we get a free vacation! All for a mere 150 minutes of our time.

Accents card

Here's a card I made last night using the Accents and Elements tin called "Build a Flower." What an easy way to make a card! All the flowers and flower pieces are all self-adhesive die cuts. Just build your flower by adding different sizes and colours on top of each other.



Todd got this b-day card from Kylie, way back in Feb. and he got to colour it (it came black and white with 2 crayons included). He has been working on it for awhile now, and declared this morning that he was done! What a masterpiece!

Punch-A-Bunch Promo

card from the SU! website

To see how to get 30 textured love notes FREE... click here! This is Stampin' Up!'s August promo, and I am sure you will love your Three for You punch box.