Happy Birthday Courtney!

Today is my little sister Courtney's birthday. Happy Birthday girl! She is such a beautiful woman and I am so very proud of her. She has the voice of an angel and her fingers just fly over the piano keys. She has a great job as a teacher and I bet she will be the teacher many young children will remember as "one of the good ones", when they get older.
I thought I would share with you some pictures and memories!! (I apologize for the quality of some of the pictures because I scanned them from my photo album...and of course they were my photo albums before I learned all about acid free etc. etc....so some of the pictures are stuck in my book)

This picture is from the day Courtney was born! Wasn't she the cutest baby ever? She was a very good baby, always bright eyed taking everything in.
I love this picture of Courtney. She was so cute. She has perfect posture sitting there posing for the picture. I remember that little dress she has on, my mom sewed for her! Her little shoes had bells on them so when she moved her feet they jingled.
Check out the shades!!!! I remember Courtney had the best "gut giggle". You know that laugh when little kids getting laughing so hard they almost get so weak they can't even sit up! We used to sit her up on the top of the fridge and then she would wiggle her butt to the edge of the fridge and drop down and we would catch her! Then she would laugh. She used to love to do that.
We used to play dress up quite a bit. Her pretty hat here is actually one of those wicker covers spring flowers came in. We used to play this one game where we would dress up with all these weird things like swimming goggles, flippers, hats, boots etc. and then we would go into the other room and remove something and you had to guess what was taken off. The garbage pail in the kitchen was just the right height for her to sit on to take pictures!!!! We used to spend quite a bit of time together doing different things, like finger.......er...... face painting!
One of my favourite times of the day was helping get Courtney all bathed and ready for bed. There is nothing better than the clean smell of a child after they have had a bath and have their PJ's on and are ready for bed.
She had the cutest little smile....I think there was a little bit of mischief in there too!!!! I'm positive she got that from Dad!
Halloween was always fun, trying to come up with fun and interesting costumes. I remember we used to go out with Aunt Gloria and Lori and Charlene. I honestly can't remember though if Courtney came with us or not. I don't think she did cause I think she was too small when we were still trick or treating.
Here is her school picture from 1988. She finally has some hair! and her school picture from 1989
Even at a young age she loved to sing. She kind of has a Pippi Longstocking thing going on in this picture! Another set of shades too!
Ballet was another one of Courtney's activities...... but then she went and grew up!
She found her own sweetheart and has a very successful career as a teacher. I am so proud of her and wish her all the best in anything she chooses to do.
This picture was taken last year at our Granny's 90th birthday party, isn't she beautiful?
Love ya, Courtney.

Chow for now,
Jacqui

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog

This week over at the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog, we were challenged to create an embossed card. We could use either dry embossing or heat embossing, so I used both!! Of course! The base of the card is Brushed Silver card stock from Stampin' Up! The next layer is Razzleberry card stock. I punched out the "greenery" using the Martha Stewart punch and adhered it to the card using two-way glue. I used the Faux Metal Tin Ceiling Technique that I learned from the tutorial on Diana Gibbs (my sister)'s web site. Click on the link if you want to see the tutorial! Once I made the little squares using this technique, I punched out some circles using Razzleberry and I added the letter brads to spell the word XMAS. I have had these brads for ages...finally got around to using them! I heat embossed using silver embossing powder the ornaments and then added a little bit of bling in the top right hand corner. To be honest I'm not sure how I feel about this card. I like the colour combo with the silver and razzleberry, but I'm not sure I "love" the way it turned out. It's different than any other card I have done, so we'll see what you all think of it! Chow for now, Jacqui

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog

This weeks challenge over at the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog was a big challenge. We were challenged to create a card inspired by some items from the Pottery Barn.

So we had to use the colours in the picture, as well as leave a large amount of white space and add a bird to the card. This was kind of tough, cause when I look at this, I don't think Christmas. But I went with the challenge and came up with this card. In order to leave alot of white space, I went with the KISS technique...that would be the "Keep It Simple Stupid" technique! I used white on white, embossing the layer with the holly Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then stamped the Christmas Cardinal and coloured it using the Copics. I then cut it out and popped it up on the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. All in all, I like the way it turned out. These challenges are fun, if you haven't tried them, you really should!
Chow for now,
Jacqui

Jungle Baby Card

I was so happy to see all the people who wore green yesterday for St. Patty's Day. I went out for lunch with my niece and I totally forgot the place we were going was an Irish Pub - so needless to say there was green beer and a number of very hyper people wearing green! I probably should have posted this card yesterday to go with the green theme, but I'm usually a day late and a dollar short, so I'm posting it today. I was asked to make card for a baby shower. The invitation was done in browns and greens, so I decided to make the card using browns and greens. The girl who is going to the shower is pretty sure that the mom is doing the baby's room in jungle animals, so I went with that theme as well! Chow for now Jacqui

Pink and Brown Bridal Card

I got another order for a bridal shower card! The girl who asked me to make the card brought in the invitation for the shower so I would have an idea of the colours. The invitation was pink and brown and there were polka dots as well. So I went with the pink and brown colours and tried to stick with the "circular" patter. I used pink textured card stock for the base. I then cut a piece of designer paper that had all I was looking for. Browns, pinks, glitter and circles. I used my Martha Stewart border punch. It is the scalloped one with holes in the scallops. I then used the same border punch along a piece of pink textured card stock. I stamped the greeting on the pink textured card stock and used the oval punch to punch it out. I then used the oval punch to punch two pieces of the designer paper and layered them to make a pseudo frame behind the pink oval. I put pink eyelets in each end of the oval piece of designer paper and threaded pink organdy ribbon through. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop it up on the card. I then stamped the dress image on a piece of white card stock and coloured it using the Copic markers. I sponged Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip ink around the edges of the image punched out with my large scalloped circle punch. I used a scalloped circle Nestibility to cut a large pink piece and then a larger scalloped circle of the designer paper. I popped the central image up using Stampin' Dimensionals. I like the way this one turned out. I hope the bride likes it too!
This last picture, I just like the way it looks with the light coming through the blinds of the window. It shows the glitter on the dress I added with Stickles a little better as well.
Chow for now, Jacqui

For Miranda

I have been getting quite a few requests to make cards for people at work. It's fun! They ask me to make a card and give me some ideas of what it is for and what the person likes (colours, themes, etc.) My friend Dina asked me to make a card for her daughter for her birthday. Miranda loves Tinkerbell so she asked me if I had any Tinkerbell stamps. I don't have any Tinkerbell stamps, but I knew that Jade (my daughter) had a Tinkerbell calendar from last year, so I figured I would be able to do something with it. I used Not Quite Navy as a base for the card. I used the Happy Birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder to add some texture to the Night of Navy card stock. I then cut a piece of this beautiful designer paper with fairies on it and adhered it to one side of the card. I used some Stampin' Up! rub-ons to create the greeting "have a super happy birthday". I then punched out the greeting using the label punch. I punched two more labels and layered the greeting on them. I cut out 3 Tinkerbell images from the old calendar and randomly placed them on the card. Not any stamping, but I was pleased with the way it turned out. Miranda liked it as well. Chow for now, Jacqui

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog

This weeks challenge for the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge Blog was certainly a challenge for me! We were to design an "out of the box" card, which meant not a standard square or rectangle card. I tend to stick with the more common and standard sizes of cards, so this definitely had my brain workin'!
I'm pleased with how it turned out though.
I used Bashful Blue textured card stock and I ran it through my Big Shot using the Scalloped Circle die. Some blue gingham across the top tied into a neat little bow and some sparkly snowy embellishments. I paper pieced the tutu and popped out the ruffle on the tutu to add some texture.
I can't wait to see what designs everyone comes up with!
Chow for now,
Jacqui

Celtic Thunder has a new show!!!!

Can you believe it?? I was surfing my online television guide to see what I would put on while I was getting my papers ready for the tax man...and I saw that Celtic Thunder was on PBS. I thought well that is perfect, I'll put it on in the background and I can listen to it while I work away. Well much to my surprise, IT'S A BRAND NEW SHOW!!! I'm so excited. I hope they decide to go on tour again. I checked out their website and it looks like so far, the closest they are coming is New York. I hope they do a Canadian tour. This show is so much different than their last two shows. There is dancing, a new set, and much more choreography than before....and they have added Neil Byrne into the show. Neil has been with them from the beginning, but he sings a bit this time. We always saw Neil as he played the mandolin and the guitar and always looked GREAT in his kilt, so it's nice that he has been added to the group. From the looks of the show, it is still the main fellas, but Neil sings a few.

We spent the afternoon at Joel's indoor soccer play offs. They didn't make out too good, so he is not playing tomorrow.....he won't be playing again until next season. The team did not bad and Joel played well considering he was out for a few weeks with a dislocated knee. He played hard and scored some goals this season and I think he had fun, and that is the main thing.
Here is the third card I designed for our card class we had last week. I used the new glittery paper that I love, and I the embossing folder to add texture. Chow for now, Jacqui

Bumps and bruises....

The kids have been asking to go public skating, so last week we went down to the Civic Arena for public skating. I strapped on the skates and started heading around the rink. My left skate was sliding all over the place....not sharp..crap.
So Jade wanted to go skating again today. So I headed out to Pete's Sports to get my skates sharpened. They put a nice sharp edge on them. Off to the arena we went!
I strapped on the skates again and started around the rink. I think I made 3 circles and then some pick got stuck somewhere.....the feet started slipping...the ground started getting closer....and down I went.....I didn't even have enough time to yell "I'm goin' down!". I landed on my knee, and then on my hip.....all the while thinking...good God I'm too young for a hip replacement!!! So off came the skates and I just watched the kids for the remainder of the time. I don't know where the ability to skate went to....I thought it was like riding a bike. You just strapped your skates back on and away you go. Maybe dislocating my knee 4 years ago has turned me into a wimp. I might give it another go next time......we'll see.

This is another one of the cards that I made for our card making day last weekend. I used the same layout as I did for the card here.
I like using the same layout and making completely different cards. It shows how versatile everything is.
Chow for now,
Jacqui

Happy Birthday Erin

My friend at work asked me to make a card for her daughter. She is a chef, so that was a bit of a challenge for me. I don't have any stamp sets that I felt were good for a chef, so I made a quick stop at the "M" store to grab something specific.....well...I didn't fair out as well as I had hoped. I wanted to find some little charms with a spoon, or a chefs hat or something like that, but I did not find any. I did find some stickers made by Jolee's Boutique, which if you have never seen stickers by this company - you should check them out....they are awesome. Layers and textures and great little bits and pieces. Lots and lots of fun - if I win the lottery I am gonna buy one of each kind they have!!! (just kidding - but I'd like to!) I apologize for the pictures of this card, I took them late at night without any natural lighting cause I had to take it to work with me. I didn't have the cooking Hanna stamp, so I tweaked the Hanna that is sitting with the Christmas package. I cut off the ribbon and replaced the ribbon in her hands with a whisk and a spatula. Then I put the bowl sticker in front so you could not see the package she had sitting in front of her. I made cupboard and counter using designer paper and some crystal effects. I ran a piece of Whisper White card stock through the crimper (remember the crimper....does anyone still use the crimper??) and I curved it a bit to make a chefs hat! All in all I was pleased with the way the card turned out. I tried my best to make a little scene.
On the inside I stamped a greeting and put some pink beads on the top of a little cupcake. I took it and gave it to Anna and she liked it, so hopefully when she gives it to Erin today she will like it as well. Chow for now Jacqui P.S...anyone else going through Olympics withdrawal?? I miss them!

3-D Flower Card

Well we had our card class yesterday. It was quite comical actually, about a hour into our class, the cell phones started going off....the girls were getting updated by those people who were at home watching the Canada vs United States hockey game for Olympic gold! I'm not a huge hockey fan, so having the class was a good excuse not to "have" to watch the game. If I had of been home, I probably would have watched it, just because it was the gold medal game. I'm glad Canada won, and I am proud to be a Canadian. I am proud of the behaviour of all of the athletes. Even when they didn't receive a medal, or when they received a medal less than what they were expecting, they were polite and treated the other competitors with respect and dignity...not like some of the other countries, that I won't mention (US Women's hockey team...tsk tsk). The closing ceremonies were pretty cool too.....well as much as I watched. Although, to be honest, I could have done without William Shatner and Catherine O'Hara. Can we have any event without William Shatner???? And..well...words cannot even begin to describe what I thought about Catherine O'Hara's display. I was so happy to see Michael J. Fox and loved the reaction he got from the crowd. That must have made him feel proud to be from such a great country and one that still loves him and supports him with all of his struggles of late. I hope we can find a cure for Parkinson's soon. I learned how to make this really cool flower at the John Knox Christian School fundraiser, so I had to make a card with it. This is one of the cards I designed for the card class yesterday. The base is Close to Cocoa. The flower was made with 5 scalloped circles punched and held together with a large brad. Each layer of the petals are then scrunched up to create texture. The Sale-a-bration punch was used to punch the border along the Whisper White and Pretty in Pink piece of card stock. The greeting was stamped in Close to Cocoa and then punched out. The girls loved the flowers....but like me...are wondering how the post office are going to like them. Chow for now, Jacqui