pages with papertrey challenge #7

Once again, I am participating in Leigh Penner's Pages with Papertrey Challenge.  And this time,  the challenge is to use a PTI sentiment stamp on your layout. It can be used as a title, a subtitle or an extra little embellishment. 

About one month ago, we started this little blog of ours.  It is actually an outcome of casual conversations among friends on what else we can do together as a group.  We all felt like we want to share what we do on  the crafting department but cannot commit to posting everyday.  The solution... why not share a blog where we can take turns and have more variety?  And that's how Craftmates was born.

So here we are...32 posts, 18 followers, 3 recognitions, 4200 views and 200 comments later. Time sure flies when you'e having fun!  To celebrate our 1 month anniversary, I made a layout of the "photo shoot" we had last May.   This was taken at a park near our place after our "Last Sunday Craftday".  We try to get together for crafting once a month (usually last Sunday of the month) to create stuff, catch up and eat cake.   But last May, instead of crafting, we took photos (and ate cake).

Here is my stamped sentiment. I love this picture of us since it was very candid and captured how we are "off camera".

I used Papertrey's stamp (wildflower, calendar basics), buttons and die (ric rac).  I also used Bazzil cardstock, October Afternoon and PTI patterned papers and some washi tapes from Martha Stewart.

I am also sharing a layout of one of our Sunday Craftdays.  Look at us, busy at work.  (Missing Bebsy who was sick at that time).

I used Papertrey stamp and die (button boutique, edger die), October Afternoon and MME paper, Martha Stewart cardstock and Quickutz alpha die.

Some close ups..

Thank you for visiting and for all your sweet comments!

pages with papertrey sketch #10

I am back with another layout I made for Leigh Penner's Pages with Papertrey challenge. This time it is a sketch challenge. 

 Here is what I came up with.  I pretty much followed Leigh's sketch (why change something that is already working, right?)

My DD will be going to Junior Kindergarten this Sept (really,  where did time go?).  Earlier this month, we attended a parent orientation for incoming students where we met their teachers, walked through what to expect and how to prepare for the big first day and had a tour of the classroom.  The kids also went through several "stations" where they performed different fun activities.  The second picture above is the spelling station where they were given alphabets to spell their name.

I used Bazzil cardstock and patterned papers from October Afternoon and Michael's. I also used Papertrey's stamp (school time) and dies (script alphabet, spiral notebook and fruit fusion: apple).

Here is a close up of some of the elements.

And the journaling...

Enjoy the rest of the week!  I plan to do so for the rest of summer before she goes to school...

make it monday #72

Today, I am again joining Papertrey's Make It Monday Challenge.  I love being able to create a card for the fun of it and not because I need to.  This also allows me to actually use my supplies instead of just lovingly gazing at them :)

This week's challenge is from the talented Dawn McVey.  She is one of my favourite PTI DT (design team) members.  I always like her style and the card I made for this challenge is a CASE of her typical card layout.   I got the inspiration from her recent post on vintage-inspired ephemera.

The challenge is to include a handmade embellishment in our creation.  And here is what I came up with...

I used PTI cardstock (rustic cream), stamp (button boutique, birthday basics), die (button card, beautiful blooms, sending you), felt (raspberry fizz, simply chartreuse), ink (dark chocolate) and patterned paper. 

I sponged some dark chocolate ink on the edge of the button card and card base to give it a vintage look. I am so happy with how it turned out.  What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday - Salad Table

Summer's here and I'm enjoying the outdoors. Since I have no sewing projects to blog about, I thought I'd share some photos of our salad table instead.  

Stay cool!

papertrey's june blog hop challenge

It's that time of the month again!  Papertrey's Blog Hop  Challenge ... a day dedicated for PTI-loving addicts crafters to share their works of art through their personal blogs based on an inspiration photo.  And this month's inspiration is a fun take on florals, ruffles and pleats.  Look at those colours... so perfect for summer!

Here is what I came up with. When I saw the inspiration photo, I immediately thought of my yoyo maker which I got from here.  I became addicted to these babies last year after seeing it from Michelle Wooderson's blog.  I used it for projects for my DD's third birthday last year (scroll down to the end for some pictures). Then I added some paper pleating... something that I have been wanting to try.

I used Papertrey's cardstock (vintage cream), stamp (Birthday Basics.. I love that set!), dies (turning a new leaf, doily details) and button.  I also used patterned papers from Echo Park (Victoria Gardens collection) and Pebbles.

Here is another shot which gives you a better view of the pleats.

Finally, here are some fun ways I have used the yoyo makers before.  Sassy sewer, Virns, helped me put together the handmade bags to which I attached the yoyo flower pins. 

And here they are as cute little clips packaged using Papertrey's Button Boutique collection.  Can you tell that she had an oh-so-pink party?  More about that party at a future post.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead!

here comes summer

I have been enjoying creating layouts and getting really caught up on my scrapbooking.  That has never happened before (I am always at least 6 months behind!). 

So I am back today with another 2-page layout.  It is for a recent trip we did for Mother's Day.  We went to one of my DD's favourite indoor waterparks, the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara. 

I used Papertrey dies (block and script alpha, flipping out and doily details) and buttons.  Patterned papers are from MME's This and That collection and Crate Paper's Paper Doll Collection.  I also used some Martha Stewart and Bella Blvd washi tapes and October Afternoon sticker embelishments.

Here is a close up of my fun elements... Don't you just adore those cute flip flops.  So perfect for summer!

Yummy washi tapes all lined up

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful weekend!

make it monday #71

Today, I am joining Papertrey's Make It Monday Challenge.  This week's challenge is to use a bordered, masked sentiment.  Betsy showed us a quick and easy technique to make your sentiments shine.

This weekend, we are going to a little girl's party.  I made her a card using this technique.  Here is what I came up with.  Don't strawberries remind you of summer?  Very fitting as yesterday was the first day of summer...

I used Papertrey cardstock (stamper's select white) and stamp (Strawberry Patch and 2012 Birthday Tags).  I also used copic marker for the border and some patterned paper from  my stash.  Here is a side view of the card...

 And here is how it looks on the inside...

Hope you are all having a sweet week!

Throw Pillow Covers

Throw pillows can liven up a neutral couch or sofa and add a pop of colour in any room. I recently sewed some throw pillow covers for our living room to brighten up our slightly drab sofa. I found a tutorial from Sparkle Power for an envelope style removable pillow cover and they are a breeze to make. Here are some of the pillows I made.

Bright lime green chevron print

I bought the fabrics from Tonic Living which is an online store that sells awesome fabrics. They also make custom made window treatments and cushion covers. 

Here are all the pillows together

My next goal is to make covers with zippered closures. I am a little bit intimated with zippers so wish me luck.  

Happy Sewing!

pages with papertrey #5

I am back with another layout I made for Leigh Penner's Pages with Papertrey. I really enjoy her challenges as they help me get my creative juices flowing.  The good thing is that there is no deadline for them so I can always go back and use them as inspiration anytime. 

Her challenge #5 is to create a layout using these 3 colours:  harvest gold (yellow) , fresh snow (white) and true black (well, black).   Here is what I came up with.

This is one of our early spring trips to Niagara. It is rare that I get a good close up picture of my DD so I wanted to capture that here.

I used mainly My Mind's Eye paper, The Girls Paperie brads and Papertrey's stamp and die (Postmarks).  Here is a close up of my Papertrey elements..

Eventhough we've seen it many times, my DH and I always make it a point to have a lovely stroll by the majestic falls every time we are in  the area.  My DD however looks forward to some water fun every time we go there.  Here is a separate layout I made of her water adventure for that same trip.

I used Bazzil cardstock, Quickutz alpha die (cotton candy), October Afternoon patterned paper, Papertrey die (eyelet lace) and buttons (hawaiian shores).

Thank you once again for all your sweet comments. It warms our heart to hear your kind words.

i think i'll have myself a beer

I am a huge fan of Reel Big Fish, a ska punk group based in California. They were in town last night for the first leg of their North American Summer of Ska 2012 tour, and of course I was there, front and center, amidst a sea of people half my age. 

One of their biggest hits is a fun song called 'Beer'.  And in honour of my love for all things ska and happy music, I'm posting this cake I made for Dave, a lover of beer (specifically a Labatt 50) for his 40th birthday.



Everything you see is edible (well, except for the cake board!). The cake is made of vanilla cake with Swiss meringue buttercream.

The Labatt bottle is made of rice crispie treats covered in marshmallow fondant.

I tried to replicate every detail on all sides of the box, handpainted with edible markers and paint.





It's a Monday. Have a beer...it's on me! :-)

Stay sweet!

Bebsy