An adventure...

I don't know if anyone here has visited Canada before, or more specific Banff in the Western Canadian province of Alberta. I live near there and it never ceases to amaze me when I take day trips around the area and see what a beautiful space I live in. I love the mountains and the nature that exists there.

Yesterday, I ventured out early with my dear friend and her visiting family. I told the young passengers that there is never a guarantee that we will see any wildlife, as times have changed from when I was a child and we would most certainly see something.

Yesterday was amazing! It started with deer....


And, then the Big Horn Sheep and Elk....

And then......


BEARS!!! A momma and her two cubs (yearlings and very large!)!

A very exciting day, indeed!

Projects of late...

Thanks all for the well wishes. It has been a long month, with school ending and family issues. All is on the mend.

I have also been busy with paper crafts. I made 63 graduation cards for the '08 class, as I have worked with the majority of them for all 12 years. I made the cards, put a variety of quotes inside and then a personal message for each grad. It was hard work but worth it.

I also made these altered notebooks. Both to give to friends and they turned out great!

And then....I used acrylic sheet and some beautiful paper to make my MIL a clock for her office. It is hard to tell, but there is a lot of void, clear space on here. I love it and will be making more!

So, for now I am off....12 more school days left!!!!

Cheers!

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4-day Weekend!

So exciting...no work until Tuesday! I am so glad. I have had a rough week, along with my family. Grandpa was buried on Tuesday, after a semi-quick bout with cancer. He felt that he had had it for some time, but didn't act on it.

I have always said it is such a shame that you learn so much at funerals. The stories that come from these gatherings should really be shared and laughed at prior to when your loved one is gone. I wish, wish, wish I had of known that grandpa liked playing Canasta. Canasta!? Something so simple and I would have loved to have played with and learned from him.

I am going to open all of my windows today and clean my house! I am actually quite excited by that thought. I want to have my house listed and on the market within two weeks. Can it be done?

I will check in later....

I am pooped!

I am tired. Tired in general; Tired of work; Tired of being tired.

I feel like complaining and it is only Monday....boy, it's going be a long week! LOL

Working with kids is usually so great. Today is just work. I think many of them are feeling overwhelmed with workload and other expectations. The ones I work with are just 'off'. That makes for a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day!

I wish I could just be at home...purging my belongings. I am in the mood to unload! My SIL is having a garage sale this weekend, so I will be carting stuff to her. I don't even care if I make any money, it is just an excuse to get stuff out of my house.

I also want to scrap and make cards. I was not feeling inspired this weekend, but I am now! I want to just sit in my room, with the windows open and music on, crafting away!

41 more school days (with kids) left until summer break....did anyone else just here Alice Cooper's song in their head????

Cards today - OSW (I made 10!)

I completed a OSW (one sheet wonder) today. I chose a spring page and cut it, allowing for approx. 10 cards to be made. You can really have fun with these, completing a set!




I really need to start giving out cards!!!

Ciao!

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A lovely 'Sun'day!

Sun is out and it is perfectly lovely here in Calgary. We had a WICKED snowstorm on Thursday that took the area by surprise. Heavy snow and whiteout conditions. My usual 45 minute commute to work took 2.5 hours and had it not been for material in my car needed for a presentation, I would have turned myself right around and went home. I also had a dentist appointment later that morning. Bad girl I am....first one in almost 8 years. So, left my house at 7:15am; got to work at 9:45; dropped off materials; checked on my coded students; got back in car at 10:00am and made it to my 11:00 appointment in record time of 1 hour 15 minutes for a half hour drive! I was a walking ball of nerves.

I then had a great scrap/card making weekend. I hosted it at my school and had a small group of ladies come in Friday night and Saturday. I loved it. I am going to finish some of my cards right now and perhaps post photos later.

Ciao!

It's Been TOO Long!

Why?!?! I don't know. I just know that I have not been too motivated to much of anything lately. I am taking a quick break from some serious spring cleaning today. I have made some very fun altered notebooks and a few cards lately. I also finished Volume I (of III) of my Italy vacation. It is quite cool. I may make a slide show of it. Stay tuned for some pics.

Post later!!!

A birthday card for MIL and Valentine Card for DH

This is the card for my lovely MIL. It took some time, but I figured out the scale and measurements. She loved that it was different. I found a great verse inside and brought flowers to her at work.

Also, for Valentines Day, I wrote my DH a love letter and put it in this card. We went out for a super Greek dinner.

Tagged again - About me!

I was tagged by Lastel !

1. Stamping Style: Fun and experimental - I like to see things and figure out a way to do it.
2. Inspiration: I really enjoy blogs and take ideas from colours or objects I see around me!
3. Color: Love pink/blue with brown; Ginger Blossom DP from SU right now is my fave.
4. Work Space: Stamp with friends or my club and also have craft room set up in a spare bedroom.
5. Perfect day: A day that I can devote to doing what I want, which usually includes craft or a day with hubby!
6. First Job: McDonalds! Funny thing is they moved me from kitchen duty (as I talked too much) to drive through or lobby. I got to do all the birthday parties! I still work with kids.
7. Wildest dream: We move to land either on Van. Island or somewhere tropical - maybe Greece!
8. Ink: SU Chocolate Chip.
9. Family: My love of my life, Jason.
10. Beverage: I love and am addicted to Diet Coke.
11. Biggest Challenge: Dealing with change.

I will tag all my SBS 10 Sisters , you know who you are !

Checking in

Good morning all.

Since my post of my 101 in 1001 List, I have been busy. I will update that later. I am still working along on my 365 Photo-A-Day Challenge and having fun with that. Taking a photo a day, doing a layout a week. I am sure it will be a great album when finished.

I have also been busy making cards for the graduates at the school I work at. I have got most of the cutting done and moved onto the simple stamping. I will then assemble and then write in each one. There are about 65 grads, so it should take some time. I have given myself until beginning of May to finish this.

I am also now preparing for next weekend - a retreat! An entire weekend to scrapbook my trip to Italy! So excited. I have everything I need, with the exception of some adhesive that I will get at Michael's this week. I just have to pack well and I leave on Friday afternoon. So excited. I will need it after this week. It is going to be busy, starting with a funeral today. My sister-in-laws brother passed away last weekend in an avalanche. So sad.

As I get ready to downsize...

...I stumble across this "unclutterer" website. It has some interesting ideas and projects.

TAGGED... the Middle Name Game

These are the rules: You must post the rules before you give your answers. You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name. After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers. At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name (be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details).

My middle name is Ann...easy and plain. Sidenote, I always wanted to change it to "Anne-with-an-E" after reading "Anne of Green Gables".
A - affectionate ~ I am a very affectionate person, though have a large "personal space bubble". With those I trust and know very well, I will show affection to and in different ways.
N - nostalgic ~ I am constantly looking back to the past, enjoying and remembering experiences. I love looking at old photos and visiting, in my mind, that time and situation.
N - not disorganized anymore! ~ I am now getting quite organized and settled into my craft room. I can actually just come in and sit and create! Now, if only I could attack the rest of my house!

I am going to take 3 people from my SBS 10 group...Sarah, Heather, and Lesly. Cheers ladies!

wish I were scrapin'

I so wish I were at home and scrapin'. I bought some more chipboard to play with. Anyone have ideas on how to decorate? I am not a fan of covering with paper, so other ideas would be great.

I also purchased one last (hope not!) modular storage cube from Michael's. They are not necessarily re-stocking, so they have sold out in Calgary. I love them. So organized now.

I also can not wait to start my 365 album. I will be starting Feb. 1, as I did not find out about it until after Jan. 1. I am quite excited.

card for my husband

An accordian card, adjusted, to give to my hubby tonight! To thank him for letting me do my own thing all day!

Crafty Sunday

So...I have made the cute purple and pink paper bag/box, as well as the so cute brown and pink gift card holder. I will thank Julie (Paper Pleasing Designs) for the gift card holder and I will go back and find out how did the tutorial on the bag/box. Very easy and cute.

My first layout for 365 Project

This is the opening page for my 365 project. It tells of my word for the year and just a shot I took the other day. Here I go!

I am almost finished! Tackling my craft room and making it a usable space, rather than a storage room. I can actually sit and scrapbook! What a concept! Instead of just gathering (and hoarding) papers and other items, I can use them. I don't now have to wait for a retreat to get some serious work done. I can sit, in my own house and room, and work. Music on, computer there for resources and ideas...all while doing what I enjoy! Whoohoo!

I have a large bookshelf and on that I have put many photoboxes, that are now refered to as "project boxes", as they contain specifics for certain scrap projects. For example, my Italy trip...that box contains photos, embellishments, trinkets, and pamphlets....anything to do with that scrapbook. I can then grab it, sit and have everything I need. I have labeled them and they are all bright and cheery. I then have started buying units for the modular storage system (above). I currently have 6 units and would love at least 3 more. They are a perfect size. There is one unit with a large, deep drawer with dividers inside, creating 16 small spaces. I found spice jars (clear glass and silver lid) that fit as though they were made for each other. Bought those last night and will be putting embellishments, flowers and anything else into those.

Phew...now to finish my Las Vegas album...should be done in 30 minutes!

A cool contest!

A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible!

Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers -10

Well, this should help ensure that I post, both to the blog and my creations. My name is Lori and I am 35 years old. Goodness, that sounds like I just stood up at a 'meeting' and admitted something. Yes, 35 years old.

I live in Calgary, Canada and am married to a wonderful man. I have no children, but would like to change that fact this year.

I have scrapped for years and began making cards about a year and a half ago. Love it! I belong to a card club, where we meet once a month, create three cards and learn new techniques. I also take advantage of weekend crops and retreats. I will be attending a retreat in February, so will have many of my Italy trip pages complete, if not the entire album. Such a work in progress, as I get sidetracked.

I will try to upload some creations today. Ta ta!

Moments!

It just came to me...my word of the year. As I am also about to embark on the 365 Day Scrapbook/Journal Challenge, I realized that the word MOMENTS is the theme. I feel that the word signifies what IT is all about. What we treasure, what we seek, what we remember. Tidbits of time, a small piece or fragment of an experience. Along the path, it is moments that we learn from and take with us.

My A-HA moment!

It is what I live for. A moment of complete serenity and peace. In my husband's arms, holding the hand of a niece, reading a book (for the hundredth time) to a nephew, a smile from a true friend...when Dad says "I love you". Happy moments, sad moments, being scared or alone, cold and nervous, angry or completely frustrated. For as many moments that we feel we could do without there are as many as we must experience and grow from.

Celebrate each and every moment. Learn. Grow. Believe that there are always more moments. I do.

My Crazy 8’s

I found this on another blog (thanks Jen!) I think it is a neat idea. I am going to list it and over the next day or so, complete it. Cheers!

My Crazy 8’s
8 Passions in my Life:
~ My husband
~ family
~ friends
~ reading
~ children
~ freedom 9to be able to do what I want
~ scrapbooking/card-making
~ Diet Coke and I love coffee...does that count?

8 Things to do Before I Die:
~ have children
~ travel to Africa
~ travel to Australia
~ swim with Whale Sharks
~ grow old with my husband
~ go to a Spa retreat - alone
~ get a photo published in a magazine
~ feel satisfied - no regrets

8 Things I Often Say:
~ Aw, shitburgers!
~ Awesome!
~ This sucks monkey balls!
~ Dude!
~ Nah
~ Love you!
~
~

8 Things I’ve Read Recently:
~ Angela's Ashes
~ Time Travellers Wife
~ It's Never Too Late to Get a Life
~ 'Tis
~ Wifey
~ The Wedding
~ books and articles re: Autism/Asperger's Syndrome
~ Rachael Ray magazine

8 Qualities I look for in a Friend:
~ honesty
~ can make me laugh
~ common interests
~ adventure
~ can hang out and not have to say a word, still being comfortable
~ personalities compliment each other
~ similar tastes in many things
~ can be silly with each other

8 Things I have learned this past year:
~ it is ok to cry
~ I can travel with more confidence and less luggage!
~ I am okay with moving away from my family - if I must
~ That I love my husband more now than when I married him
~ many techniques for card making/scrappin'
~ change is good
~ adopt an attitude of gratitude
~ to laugh at myself and move on

My evening...

I spent time with Nini tonight, just shopping and hanging out. Dangerous, as I went to a new Scrappin' store (Scrapbook Pantry) and then Michael's. Nini and I decided to begin a 365 Day Challenge - scrapbook of a photo-a-day for a year! It will be fun. I found some lovely paper and a great scrapbook that I may get next week. As it is already into January, we are going to start Feb. 1. Isn't that just like me...a day late and a dollar short, I think the saying is. I feel like I am always playing catch up. Ahhh...my life!

Another day....

Another day of work. Another day that I would rather be doing something else.

If I could be at home, what would I do? Hmmm...

I would do my dishes and tackly Mt. Washmore. I am so sick of laundry. But, how can I be sick of it if I never do it?!?!? I don't know how that works.

I would rather be in my craft room. If I could lock myself in there, life would be perfect. I can hide out and avoid all else.

As I sit here and avoid work, I realize I am only making it more painful. Get up and go to work!

I have found a blogger that I will be swapping with. I am quite excited. I will post when I receive the package. More later!

Gimme Your Stuff

I just stumbled across this site, "Gimme Your Stuff", a swapping site to meet and swap with people around the world.

I would love to find someone to swap with...from anywhere!

Things I can offer:

• craft items, especially scrapbooking
• candies and treats from my area
• material
• yarn
• trinkets
• jewelry
• magazines and books
• letter from me
• postcards, and
• other items if you ask

Things I would like:

• craft and scrapbooking items
• makeup
• magazines
• music
• letter from you
• books
• postcards
• candies and treats from your area
• anything!

Thanks!

Lists

I am so easily distracted. There...I said it. I had full intentions of doing some work around the house today and have not even made a move to begin. Instead, I find myself looking at what others are doing to get and stay organized. Brilliant.

I am a list maker and love the internet. So, maybe I make a list on here and follow that list. Perhaps...

I would rather be doing so many things, but if we truly are focused on cleaning and selling the house in the near future, I have so much work to do.

I will begin. Now. Here I go.