Making New Friends, Seeing Old Ones and Finding Time For Me!

You know what I love about scrapbooking crops? The chance to make new friends at crops, spending time with my old ones (who I never see enough of!), and making time just for me. Really! I find that scrapbookers are generally a happy bunch with a positive outlook and when we are all in the room creating our keepsakes, there is an energy and magic like you can't imagine.  Last weekend I was fortunate enough to go to a crop in Brantford with my new friends Laura, Anita and Elaine and my very wonderful friend Ann Jobes. I was creative and focused enough to get 3 layouts done. (Whew! That's a record, I must say.) Here's what I got done:

Using a Quick Quotes Canvas kit (without the canvas) and modifying it to get a 12x12 layout. I added the little birds in the tree and the splashes of red for effect. Thanks to Angela Smith Photography for this beautiful photo of my husband and me on our 15th wedding anniversary.
I also completed this monochromatic layout for a challenge at My Sketch World by Kim Holmes. I chose the colour blue. I used the Quick Quotes Line By the Bay, some Bo Bunny Brads and Flowers, miscellaneous inks. Photo is also by Angela Smith. Drop me a line and let me know what you think!

So, no matter what you do in 2011, if you love scrapbooking, get out there and scrap for an evening, a day or even a weekend. My favourite local store Two Scrapbook Friends has a beautiful spring retreat planned in April at the gorgeous Oakwood Inn in Grand Bend, Ontario. That's the ultimate treat!

Here's hoping you're doing what you LOVE to do.
Christa

There are exciting things afoot at Two Scrapbook Friends forum and gallery!

While I was away scrapbooking with my Scrappy BFF Ann Jobes, my hubby was busy finishing the ceiling and lighting in my Scrap Dungeon. I came home to a masterpiece! In fact, it's so light down there I could do surgery..if I wanted to! It makes it so easy to get some scrapbooking done when I have a few spare minutes. Guess what? I did find a few minutes this afternoon and look what I created! It's a response to a challenge posted by my friend Sharon at (TSF) Two Scrapbook Friends Layout Challenge.

This layout was made using My Little Shoebox designs and miscellaneous inks and letters.It shows my darling daughter "A" when she was just 5 years old when we were hiking the Elora Gorge. I seem to have a backlog of these great photos and playing along with these challenges gives me a chance to get my mojo going (and that backlog cleared out!)

Speaking of Mojo: TSF has lots of new and exciting events and there are lots of chances to win prizes. If you haven't already joined the forum and the gallery, you should! It's the only way to win! Who doesn't love to win?! But the real reason you should join the forum and post your layouts on the gallery, is that you can share ideas  with like-minded crafters  and get lots of inspiration  to create your own masterpieces!

There is word that there might be an online crop early in February where the design team will be online chatting and leaving lots of love in the forum and gallery for your all your posted layouts. They will also be posting challenges to get your creativity flowing. So watch for the announcement.

Unitl then, be sure to do what you love!
Christa

Crops! Crops! and Ice Cream!

 
The first week back into routine in January and I am managing to keep most (hee hee) of my resolutions intact! Of course  more scrapbooking was on the list and I have managed to get into the 'scrap dungeon'
now that it has been newly rennovated, atleast twice. Here's a sneak peek about what I was up to this week..

I hand traced a shape on to a template I had (pp unknown) and added the bling and swirl. Thanks to Sharon on the DT at Two Scrapbook Friends for the challenge and sketch. She introduced me to The Color Room for the colour inspiration. Finally, I am so excited about getting together with my BFF Ann (Inkspiration) on Saturday for some serious scrapbooking!

Talk about serious scrapbooking, be sure to check out Two Scrapbook Friends Pajama Day Crops on Saturdays in January (15th and 22nd). 
 http://twoscrapbookfriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/pajama-party-crops.html.

I am so excited for the fun games and events they have planned...oh and did I mention a sundae bar for dessert after dinner? Yummy.


Well, be sure you keep doing what you love, (it makes it easier to get up every day!)
Christa

What's Your Resolution?

Well a New Year always gets me thinking about change. You know, losing weight, changing the way I eat, finding more time to be with the kids, and of course more time for SCRAPBOOKING. But this year in addition to all those other resolutions, I have added a new one: Be more accepting. Lately, my daughter Adriane has really become a tomboy. I can't tell you how hard this is for me! She was my little Dolly, she loved to dress up and do hair and be all sparkly annd glittery. Now she is stealing clothes from her brother's closet and asking Santa for a skateboard.

Well, after lots of soul searching I realize that I can't make her be someone she's not. I decided she has to know I love her NO MATTER what. So I decided to scrapbook this resolution to help me think about this change I have to make in my attitude. Already we are getting along more smoothly and she seems happier..and fun thing is? I am too!

So, what are your resolutions? Comment and let me know, I'd love to hear from you. But one thing won't change for me in 2011, I will still be doing what I love to do! I hope you are too!

Christa

Happy New Year 2011

Happiest of New Year's everyone! What a wonderful start to the new year! We have so much rain here in southern ontario, so I wanted to post this sunny layout of my sweetheart Max. This photo was taken at Thanksgiving 2010 and it was a wonderful sunny day. This layout was designed for http://www.twoscrapbookfriends.com/ . The design team has created some wonderful layouts and cards this month. Be sure to check them out!

Here's hoping 2011 is a wonderful year for all of you and that you can Do What You Love each and every day!

Christa

Happy Birthday to ME!

In honour of my 40th birthday, my BFF Ann Jobes and I attended a crop at my Favourite scrapbook store, Two Scrapbook Friends. I created a few birthday pages that night and this one of Adriane at her 5th birthday is my favourite of the bunch. You can check out some of my other creations on their Gallery at http://www.twoscrapbookfriends.com/photopost.php. There are so many creative posters there and lots of inspiring challenges. Scrapbooking really WAS the best way to spend my birthday! Thanks to Ann, Shelby and Joanne who made it a special night!

So glad that I can do what I love! Hope you are too!
Christa

Two Scrapbook Friends has a new Design Team member..and it's ME!

Well ,I have to say how excited I am to be representing my favourite store! Two Scrapbook Friends in Waterloo is run by two of the most fabulous women, Joanne Burton and Carolyn Wolff. They posted a design team call and with the encouragement of my BFF Ann Jobes (see Inkspiration to get to know her), I applied. Imagine my surprise and thrill when I opened my email to see their invitiation to join their team of creative designers beginning January 1, 2010.
This month we are working with a Sassafrass line that is sure to provide lots of creative mojo for me. Be sure to go online to their Gallery and forum to meet the rest of the team and to see what we will come up with in the New Year.

Until then, here is a a Fall page I made of my daughter Adriane on Thanksgiving weekend (notice there is no snow on the ground?)

Wishing you get to do what you love everyday!
Christa