Archive for 2013

JUGS # 181 - Photo inspiration (and a sad good-bye)

| Published 3.23.2013



Hello friends! Long time, no write...

This is indeed a sad post for me to compose, but, as they say, the writing is on the wall - this is to be my last post as a member of the Just Us Girls DT :'(.

I have been a part of the JUGS DT since 2010. And I have been playing along with the challenges since I started my blog back in 2009. So it's been a fixture in my life for quite a while... and I am sad to see it go :( The JUGS DT has changed a little over the years but all the ladies, past and present, are so, so wonderful!!! It has been my privilege and pleasure to be a part of something so special and met these amazing people :)

So, on to my last challenge... a photo inspiration challenge.


You don't have to use all the colors shown - the colors and the pics are merely for inspiration. 
And here's my take...


I used the tissue paper technique - stamp on a piece of cardstock, cover it with glue from a glue stick, then press on tissue paper (that has been previously crumpled). Pretty easy but gives a neat effect.

Please swing by the Just Us Girls blog and see all the fabulous inspiration that awaits! Thanks for constantly amazing us all, ladies!!! I'll be checking in on you all ;) Thanks for all the support, JUGS fans!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TTFN,
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Just Us Girls #174: Sketch Challenge

| Published 2.02.2013


Wow. Over two weeks since I posted last...where does the time go? 

I had aspirations of returning more to blogging in the new year. 

Epic. Fail.

Well, I'll give myself a little break. Our new boy Parker (affectionately known as "Parker-pants", seen below) has been occupying more of my free time. In good ways, I might add. I've been outside more, despite the freezing cold, walking our lovely man. He has so much energy, I've also been arranging play dates with other friends who have dogs that can wear him down :) It's been a blast watching him play with other dogs - I've missed the "joie de vivre" that dogs have. Seeing him run and play is such a wonderful reminder - it really is the simple things in life.

Anywho, on to the newest Just Us Girls Challenge - a sketch hosted by our wonderful Vicki!


I took this beauty of a sketch and flipped it on it's side...


...and in the place of the ribbon tails, I placed my sentiment. The die cut is from my Silhouette Cameo - the floral circle was a Friday Freebie from A Little Hut. I just welded two rectangles to either side to create the band. I had a much more elaborate card planned (and started) but it just wasn't coming together. So back to basics I went.

I have to say, I really am loving the Cameo. It is versatile and pretty straightforward to use. Plus it works with my Mac seamlessly. Bonus.

Don't forget to swing by the JUGS blog to see what the other talented ladies have come up with! Their links are also in my sidebar.

So now on to pictures of "Parker-pants". Sadly, he didn't escape my nickname fetish...I always come up with some creative ones for my pets. Please feel free to skip this part if your pressed for time :)

Here he is playing with one of his most favourite friends, Quid (Parker's the golden retriever). These two just love each other and it's so fun to watch them play :)


Love this next picture - he loves to run :)


Here he's demonstrating his versatility...and by versatility I mean he goes from running like a madman to curling up on the couch. So darn cute though!


That's it from here. Hope your having a great weekend :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TTFN,
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A new toy...

| Published 1.14.2013

For my CR84FN post, click HERE.

Helloooo sports fans! 

This here's a non-crafty post, my first in quite some time. Feel free to skip it if your pressed for time - I'm just sharing :)

First, let me start by explaining that I am no cook. I love to eat but I typically don't like cooking - I don't enjoy the clean up and I don't find it particularly relaxing. I'm lucky in that my hubby LOVES to cook! Thank goodness for the both of us, 'cause if it were left up to me, we'd have microwave meals or those that take under ten minutes to make :)

But baking....I like baking. Go figure. Not sure why, but I do. I like easy to moderate baking projects, nothing too labour-intensive. I like the end results and I like that I get to use cool toys like this one...


This was my brand new purchase. I decided it was time - I don't bake a lot but probably would if it were more convenient. I figured this would make it more convenient...at least that's how I justified it to myself :) 

The first thing I baked were these Fudgy Oatmeal Bars. My goodness, they are gooooood! They were good enough for my normally financially conservative (I hesitate to call him a tight wad :)) hubby to proclaim, "I don't care what the mixer cost, it was worth it!".  It's hard to see how great they are from just this shot of the pan but trust me, they are so good. If you like chocolate, oatmeal and walnuts, you will love these guys! I decided to give them a go after trying a similar looking bar at Starbucks. They are rich, no doubt about it. I would make them again in a heartbeat - the recipe is easy and it took a total of about 1 hour, start to finish. Not too shabby. 
Course, I could have done it without my new stand mixer, but it made it so easy, and hands-free when it came to mixing the dough. Now I am specifically looking for recipes to use the mixer - 'cause it just so darn pretty!

Have a great day!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

TTFN,



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CR84FN #70

| Published 1.13.2013


It's CR84FN color challenge time again!


How springy and beautiful are these colors?! When I saw the gorgeous graphic, I thought of sun and sand, especially since I live in eastern Canada and we have snow and more snow right now :)


I used my new Cameo to make the sun and the sand. I ran the sand cutouts through my Sizzix to give it texture. I also tried playing with shading chalks...with variable success. I've leaned a few more tricks so hopefully my next attempt will be better ;) I created the aqua sky with Distress Ink. The clouds are die cuts from Papertrey Ink. The wonderful sentiment is from DeNami Design - so cheery!

Make sure to check out what eye candy awaits at the blogs of the other DT members (their links are also in my sidebar);
Lisa Snowdy (our guest designer for January)
Mona Pendleton

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TTFN,
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Just Us Girls #170

| Published 1.05.2013



Happy new year my friends!

I'm hostessing over at Just Us Girls this week and I've got a sketch to hopefully tempt you. But before I move into the sketch, since I missed posting last week, I wanted to say a very sad farewell to my friend Lynn, who is stepping down from the JUGS DT :( All good things must come to an end but I'll be around checking in to see what beautiful things Lynn's whipped up! Here's wishing you all the best in your future endeavours - we'll miss you! 

On another note, we also have exciting news to share. Please help me welcome the super talented Tangii Crain to our DT! We are so excited that you are joining our JUGS family Tangii!!! Welcome welcome! Can't wait to see what fabulous creations you have in store!

On to my sketch...


Here's my take...


I made the background with my new Cameo... man, do I love it! Once the holiday dust settles, I can't wait to get to using it more :) I took one of the free designs that came with the Cameo (moroccan flower) and copied it to create a pattern reflective of the sketch. I flipped the sketch on it's side then added my angled banner sentiment. Gosh, I love that machine so far. I was a bit nervous about taking the plunge and buying it (I bought a cricut several years ago and it's a great dust collector now) but so far, I am not one bit disappointed. Like anything, it has a learning curve but the software and the machine are pretty user-friendly. This card was done in minutes.

Make sure to swing by the Just Us Girls blog and check out what the other fabulous ladies have whipped up! Their links are in my sidebar too.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

TTFN,
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