I want gold eyelets

I want gold eyelets, simple gold eyelets. Yet they near impossible to find.

They must be passe.

Star book!!!!!!!

Here is my star book. It's going to be a quote book when completed. Just for me.

I spent a leisurely afternoon (well when my teacher wasn't cracking the whip - she knows me to well...) at BizzyB with Marissa and Karen.

I loved, loved, loved this class. I even let myself fold the paper without a bone folder. Trust me when I say I wanted to go buy a bone folder.

I had difficulty stitching the signatures together. I did it wrong in every way possible.

I undid my stitches many times. I needed a sticker to mark the top. Really it would have helped.

I still need to add the final pages. I decided that the original colour (goldenrod) no longer worked once I added my cover. Once I have the measurement I can cut my paper.

Thanks to Marissa for a fun, uplifting class.

Thanks to Karen for taking the class photo and the perfect gold ribbon.

picnic

I've always wanted to go on a picnic in one of the many Toronto parks.

This year am I going to.

Now I'll need to find the perfect picnic basket. Any suggestions?

gel-à-tins update

**** Final update **** April 27

It arrived by expedited post the next day.

**** Update 3 **** April 26

It's in the mail!

**** Update on the update **** April 24

I sent an email to the customer service team and I got an answer.

They have a file open for me without any contact information as it was not properly recorded during our initial call.

Apparently they were back ordered on this stamp set but did not realize it until the next day.

Let's see if it arrives soon.


*** Orignal Post *** April 19

I wish I had one about my defective stamp set.

Not cool anymore.

Much ado about nothing

I chuckled today about the "outage". The ensuing hysterics were amusing.

Some quotes I especially enjoyed were:

“I started freaking out,” he said. “I started taking it apart. Turning it off. Turning it on. I took the battery out and cleaned it on my shirt. I was running around my hotel like a freak. It’s very sad. I love this thing.” (My mouth is still hanging open)

"We're 14 hours into no Blackberry, so you can imagine how things are" (Um, no life?)

"It's been a challenging day because I'm missing things left and right. That's not fun." (OK, a little slack - maybe it really was important)

"I felt like my left arm had been amputated" (I sincerely doubt it)

"vulnerable and uncomfortable" (poor baby - there, there) & "caused him to miss a breakfast appointment with a colleague" (Uh, phone call? The phone still worked!)

Perhaps if my livelihood depended on immediate communication my response would be quite different. I would have also got myself to a computer if it was that critical.

Don't get me wrong I love my crackberry. Particularly the fact that when I get mail I know it'll be someone I want to hear from.

achievable

Consult
not your fears but your
hopes and your dreams.

Think
not about your frustrations
but about unfulfilled
potential.

Concern yourself
not with what you tried
and failed in,
but with what it is still
possible

for you to do.

- Pope John XXIII

Spring at ATC Night

I made to the meeting almost on time.

Participants for this month were: Ludgera, Susan V., Diana, Marissa, Jacqui, Martha, Daniza and Sarah.

Thank you to all who I traded with.

This time I did bring my camera, however, I neglected to check if the battery was charged. Foiled again.

I completed my ATCs at 6AM Friday morning. I awoke at 5AM feeling guilty that I was planning to show up empty handed.

Due Date: 13APR07
Theme: Spring

Supplies used -
Paper: Cardstock (unknown)
Ink: Jacquard - Castaway (Clear), Versafine - Onyx Black
Stamps: PSX, Inkadinkado

Shamefully, I did not even complete my own side swap. I plead exhaustion. I promise I will have a self-portrait ATC for trade next month.

Martha brought a stash of goodies from Artfest. I admit I had a touch of envy.

Susan W., Mryn, Beverley and June we missed you.

It was suggested that tiaras should be worn at the next meeting. I concur.

Castaway!!!

I love the look of bleach stamping, however, I was reluctant to use bleach with my own stamps. I figured I would eventually get around to taking a class.

The advert for the new Castaway stamp pad immediately caught my eye - bleach stamping effect without the bleach. Interesting. I eagerly anticipated it's arrival in a local store.

A women saw that I was planning to purchase the stamp pad and casually shared her personal experience. Her opinion after taking a class was that the product was sub-par. Summary = Very smelly, smokey and very inconsistent results.

Based on this new information, I sadly put the stamp pad back on the shelf. I'd notice it everytime I'd go back and wonder if it was really that bad.

Thankfully that changed this weekend! I not only bought the stamp pad - I bought re-inkers too.

Play day

Yesterday was fun.

We started out by searching fruitlessly for the right bank machine. Then onto more important things like COFFEE and visiting Carmi at the show.

A quick bite to eat and then we were off to ASD in Bolton to attend:

1. a stamp of the month demo (which I only listened to - there was shopping to do)

2. participate in a card exchange (see - I'm not a mass hallucination)

3. a castaway bleach stamping class with Kelley Grace

Here's one of the cards I made in class. I wasn't even the last person to finish my card! Woohoo. That's gotta be a first.

Then I came home and discovered my better half made meatloaf and creamy twice baked potatoes for supper. I'm pretty sure there was another vegetable but I don't recall. Yum!

gel-à-tins

I've been a fan of this stamp company since I first discovered them. I'm an even bigger fan now.

Several months back whilst shamelessly shopping over someone else's shoulder at a local lss. I saw, loved and acquired an 0h-so-pretty set called Flourish.

I couldn't wait to try it out at home. I wasn't that pleased with the end result - the image just seemed indistinct. I just assumed it was me and put the set away for another day.

I was struggling to complete my cards when this set caught my eye again. No matter what I did I just couldn't get a crisp image from any stamp in the entire set. Maybe it wasn't just me.

I'm pleased to say that their customer service is awesome. I called and left a message with a brief description of the problem. I figured I'd hear back the next day. I was wrong. They (Wendy) called me back within 1 hour. A replacement set will be in the mail by tomorrow.

How cool is that?

Waitin until the very last minute...

You may recall that I had an idea for my upcoming card exchange?

Well, it sucked on paper. Yes, really. It was sooo much better in my head.

But just after midnight inspiration struck!

Visiting Carmi at her BIG show!

June and I snuck out tonight to visit Carmi at the One of a Kind spring show.

I waited until almost closing time so that I could snap a photo without getting her in trouble.

Doesn't it look beautiful?



My favorite booth was Carmi's (of course!) followed very closely by Honey Hollow.

They have the most divine churned honey. I must have been insane to forget all about them. They used to be my very first stop at the show. I know brains huh? Weigh yourself down right at the beginning of the show...

Coming Home

It's been a wonderful week with my parents. I've enjoyed every minute with them.

My son has been running wild. He will have a big adjustment when he goes back to daycare.

We coloured easter eggs on the final day (*sniff*)










Thank goodness the dye washes off pretty easily. lol.

Gotta get cracking on my cards for the card exchange. I've planned it out on paper. Let's see how well I can execute it.

Night out

Grandma and Grandpa graciously babysat the little guy last night.

So we could go to the casino. Makes us sound like parents of the year doesn't it?

I was queen of the roulette table. I was up at the end of the evening. It was my kinda of table - .25 minimum. I'm not a risk taker - I can't do it.

I'm thinking of all the scrapbook or art supplies I could buy instead.

No art this week

No art this week. I miss my supplies. Does planning my ATCs and cards count?

I had a very small bag packed to take with me. It's still on the computer desk at home. Really I don't need another trimmer, scissors, etc. Do I?

I've visited three scrapbook stores in Edmonton.

Scrap-A-Lot - I liked them on the last visit - this time the lady working was cordial to everyone (the dreaded regulars) but distinctly icy with me. Likely won't go back. What a shame because it's a nice store.

Creative Scrapbooks - no opinion. It seemed to be a very nice store, however, I had four people waiting for me in the car. Which doesn't lend its self to a leisurely browse.

Scrap and Bean - See here for opinion.

I did purchase two new books. I'm a sucker for technique books. I'm just not the type read at the computer. I'd rather curl up on the couch with a book and hot beverage.

I also bought 1300+ brads. It was accidental - I didn't realize how many I actually had.

The lady at the store asked if I had a big project.

I replied that I didn't - then she simply thought I was nuts. Plus she likely wasn't enthused that we had to count them all by hand. You try giving them back after the final count.

I didn't have the nerve.

Road Trip

We went to Calgary today - for about two hours.

I do want our little guy to know his cousins. Don't ask me why we do this to ourselves. It's exhausting.

It would have been much nicer if they could have made it to the party to have a proper visit.

Card night

I admit it.

My aunt and uncle introduced me to a this game.



I'm addicted.

Again?

Bunnytastic

We told our son that Grandma and Grandpa had bunnies. He has been searching for them every day since our arrival.

Finally a sighting. We are such a city family - all three of us went out to see the bunny. lol.

Fantastic scrapbook store

I have been wanting to visit this scrapbook store ever since I found it on the web.

I wasn't disappointed.

It is located a fair distance from my parents house, so I've been unable to visit until now. I chatted with Camille a few minutes and she was helpful, personable and professional.


The name of the store is the Scrap & Bean. The layout is warm and inviting - it draws you right in. To browse, to relax, to socialize and create. It is such a charming store.

They recently celebrated their first anniversary - I hope they have many more.

I would love for this store to be my lss.

The tourist thing

We are going to West Edmonton Mall today.

The pint sized attractions such as Galaxyland, Sea Lion's Rock and Sea Life Caverns should interest our little guy.

Conveniently for me there is a scrapbook store across the street from the mall. I chuckled when I read that on their website.

I'll need more specific instructions as the mall spans the equivalent of 48 city blocks.