My First Altered Journal

So, I've been wanting to try one of these for some time now...finally got around to trying one. I really had fun doing this and I'm happy with the end result. I used pink and green tones of Bazzill cardstock, as well as Holiday Thyme double sided design series paper by Stampin' Up! I love these SU papers, I just find it hard to decide which side to use...

The prima flower was one that I received a few days ago from a blog candy contest that I entered. This is also my first time using primas, I think it adds a nice girly touch. :)

It's hard to see the saying on the antiqued buckle, it says, "Friend."

Happy Birthday, Catherine! This one's for you! :)




This is the co-ordinating Birthday card that I made for Catherine. This is the 2nd card...slight mishap with the first one involving a cup of coffee, a cat and me being absent from the room for a minute!

Note to self...reinforce no drinks near crafty items rule!

You're a great friend, Catherine! Have a Happy Birthday! So sorry I'm a few days late. I couldn't give you the book without the card... lol :)

A truly touching story

As I sit here with tears running down my cheek, I feel compelled to share this story with you all. I don't know Jen or her family, just learned of her story and what she's going through and it touched me and brought back a lot of memories. I've just been reading this website, that's been written by her husband. She is a 27 year old dying of colon cancer. At this point, her family is just praying for peace in her passing. She is on her way soon to a better place. I can relate as a friend of mine passed away last year of breast cancer at 32 years old, the age I am now. She left behind a loving husband, as well as 2 beautiful little girls that also loved her dearly. I can't imagine the loss that they feel now having to grow up without a mother by their side. But, I know Michelle is looking over over them and will keep them safe, always.

Jen's story is very similar. You can see from the way that her husband, Chris writes about her, that he loves her sooo much. They also have two very young daughters that she will be leaving behind. I would just like to ask that you pray for her little girls, her husband and the rest of the family that she will leave behind. You can see from her pictures and from her words, that are on the website, that she is a beautiful young woman, inside and out. The stories from her husband have left me weak with emotion as I think of them in her final time here. He shows such admirable strength that I would hope that I could even half way possess should something this terrible ever happen to my family.

If you're interested in sharing in this story, here is the link to her website. http://jenniferireland.blogs.com/weblog/

Please pray for peace and comfort for her in her final moments....I'm off to give my girls a hug and spend some precious time with them, because I can.

They are
not gone
who live in
the hearts
of others.
~Native American Proverb

Stampin' Up! Party cards

Ok, so these are the two cards that I made at the party. The first one used a new product that I've never used before. Puffy paint...who knew! What cool stuff. You squirt it on where you want it, wait a few minutes, heat emboss it and viola you have a really cool effect! This one made the foam for my latte.

We did some masking to add the straws to give the effect that they were immersed in the drink. A cute card. These are my favourite colours to work with lately. I love chocolate brown and pinks together! The two punches for the tag was also neat. A quick way to make a tag and layer it. With two quick punches, you're all set. See what I mean, I need more punches! lol :)





This is the second card that I made. Another pretty colour combo. I like the posies and the saying a lot. We all have room to dream a little, don't we?

Thanks again so much girls for coming over to play tonight! So nice to have a girl's night!

Well, that's all I have to say for tonight, my house is cleaned up, the kids slept through the whole party, thank goodness for sound sleepers...they'll never be the wiser that I had people over tonight! lol However, I won't be laughing in the morning when they come in to wake me up...it's already 1:45 AM now! Ahhh! Gotta call it a day!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Stampin' Up! Party Tonight

So Mother Nature decided to work with me tonight and hold off on the bad weather that we had expected. Nice of her since tonight was my Stampin' Up! party! We had a great time. Yvonne demo'd some neat new projects and we got to make a couple of nice cards. I also met a couple new gals that I've known of for a while on CST (Canadian Stamp Talk, a Yahoo Forum that I belong to.) Nice to finally put a face to the name and cards that I see. Kim and Val are very sweet and are truly talented ladies! And...from what I hear are very sick girls when it comes to stamping and the amount of stamps and ink pads that they have! lol :) Stamping truly is a sickness, for which I am am getting more and more ill as time goes on. What a wonderful hobby! :)


This first project is one that Yvonne Balmer, (my SU Demonstrator) demo'd. What an adorable little heart shaped oragami type basket to hold little goodies. I can see myself making these for my girls for Valentine's Day! You use a 6 x 6 piece of double sided paper and with a few folds and and minimal cutting for the heart shape, ta-da! You have the cutest little basket. For this one, she filled with gummy bears and yogurt covered raisins. Humm, wonder how long those will last! lol :)










For the next project, Yvonne demo'd, as well. This was a beautiful little portfolio to make to hold another card or cards on one side and the envelopes on the other. They slide down into a pocket and area held in place with the ribbon that you see that ties to hold the portfolio closed. I can see myself making some of these, too. A very nice idea! Thanks for idea, Yvonne!










This is the final card that Yvonne demo'd. Another sweet little card. Love the colours and the posies and adorable. Simple, but nice. I really like the effect of the cut out stamped flowers, but I 'hate' cutting things out! I wish I had a punch to do all the work for me for all the stamps I have that I like to cut out! I just need to win the lottery and I'll have a punch made to go with all those stamps! :)

So again, these three projects were made by Yvonne Balmer, my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. Both a super demo and a super person! Thanks so much for coming out to play, Yvonne!

I Won! I Won!

I added a comment lately to a blog for a chance to win some blog candy...and my name was picked! I never win anything, I was so excited! I received my primas tonight, thanks again so much, Kim! I can't wait to use them...I'll have to brainstorm for ideas... :)

Oh Yummy Goodness...

I just finished making my ice-cream cake for tomorrow nights SU party. Now, if I could just get a little help from Mother Nature to hold off on the bad weather that's expected until after everyone is back home safe and sound! I'm really looking forward to having all the girls over. Jim's been away for 2 weeks now and I'm bored! I need some adult chit chat and stamping thrown in there is a huge bonus! :)

Here's the recipe, if you're interested in making it. It's easy to make and sooo yummy!

Julie's Ice-Cream Cake

2 cups flour
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup rolled oats
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup margarine, melted

1 bottle (250 ml) butter scotch / caramel topping
2 litres vanilla ice-cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Take ice-cream out of freezer to partially thaw.

Stir together first 5 ingredients, arrange crumble mixture onto a 9” x 13” baking sheet.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Add ½ of crumble mixture to bottom of large spring form baking pan.

Drizzle on ½ of butterscotch topping, then 2 litres of vanilla ice-cream; spread smooth.

Add remaining ½ of crumble mixture over ice-cream.

Drizzle on remaining ½ of butterscotch topping over crumble mixture.

Sprinkle sliced almonds over top.

Freeze overnight to firm up again.

Remove from freezer about 15 minutes prior to serving.

Use a sharp knife dipped in boiling hot water, then dried, to cut the cake for a nice clean cut.

Enjoy! :)

A little Princess Castle

So it's cold here again today, so thought I would try to entertain the kids with a crafty project. I have a hidden agenda...trying to keep the floor as free of toys as I can, so less to clean up for my party tomorrow night! Too much other stuff to do, rather than have to spend time cleaning toys up, too! But, the girls had a blast!

I got the foam cut outs at Michaels a couple of weeks ago on sale for $5 for a whole container full of shapes. Bought the foam sheets today at the dollar store. We covered an old coffee can that I put through the dishwasher to get rid of the coffee smell. Not that it's a bad smell, but thought the girls would appreciate a clean smelling castle! lol So, a cheap project to do and the kids are happy as pie!

I'll be making the ice cream cake after the kiddies go to bed, so I'll post that pic later tonight with the recipe.