Fun with Felt!

The Two Scrapbook Friends Forum has started running weekly challenges to get everyone motivated during these doldrums of winter. I love felt, so when I saw that challenge, I knew I could make a few fun Christmas cards for next year. Some bling, pearls, buttons and stitching really complemented the texture of the felt.

Hearts Challenge Card

The Little Red Wagon challenge this week was for hearts. A Valentine's Card would make sense, but I have been on a mission to make as many Christmas cards as possible for next year, to avoid the usual last minute scramble! This "let it snow" heart was a perfect fit. A little bling and three heart rivets finished it off.

Retreat Fun

It's that time of year when my two dear scrapbook friends and I think about booking a spring retreat. This year we decided to do something a bit different.

But it did get me thinking back to all of our past retreats and how much fun we always have. In October we visited the historic Elmhurst Inn in Ingersoll for a small retreat.

We had such a blast. The food was lovely not to mention the evening beverages and tons of catching up. The weather was crisp and cool and the leaves were really in full colour. We even went for a half hour jog on Saturday morning. That must be some kind of scrapbook retreat record!

Before every retreat, we always challenge ourselves to only bring what we can carry in one trip from the car, and that has to include our overnight bags and wine and snacks! This is my scrapbooking supplies for a whole weeeknd!



It was a very productive weekend of scrapbooking. For added fun, the three of us made a challenge to all work on the same photos from a recent birthday event and see how different all our layouts turned out. Here's my take using We R Memory Makers papers called "Grandma's Kitchen."

The soft tropical colours in these Tres Jolie papers from My Mind's Eye worked really well in this Florida layout.

During the weekend I also made "mates" for single page layouts I had done for Survivor Scrapbooker in the summer at Two Scrapbooking Friends. This one used the fun papers "Friendly Forest" by Colorbok.

Basic Grey papers and buttons really helped highlight this fun photo from our recent trip to Dubai. And I got a lot of use out of my floss and Bazzill stitching templates.

This page no only honours my dh's dear aunt from Munich, but features handmade background paper using sprayed paint and painted mesh. The papers and chipboard are from We R Memory Makers.

At the end of the weekend I got a huge surprise when I won layout of the weekend for this one of a recent trip to Germany. I created the background paper using paint and the Basic Grey papers from "Offbeat" really seemed to coordinate with the photo. What a great honour!!

I can't wait for our next girls' weekend together and for our next scrapbook retreat!

Snowflake Card

I tried out another challenge at Little Red Wagon this week. This time snowflakes were the featured element. I used papers from Bo Bunny, some ribbon from my stash and this cute little stamp. Glossy accents on the polka dots and Frosted Lace stickles for snow finished off the card. Now I can say I have at least one holiday card ready for next year! And with all my snowflake themed stash, there will be more to come for sure.

Polka Dot Cards

The ladies over at Little Red Wagon have issued another challenge. This one was to use polka dots. I didn't realise how much polka dot stuff I had until I went through my stash. Here is one of the three cards I made.

I used 3 Bugs in a Rug papers, Prima flowers, ribbon from my stash and a cute stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. What fun and I got three cards done in one night! Thanks ladies for such fun challenges.

Favourite Books

I love to read. I don't usually have much time to read for pleasure, but when I do, it is such a wonderful treat. I also like to record my feelings and impressions of the books I read. That way I can recall which authors I want to read more of or which books I want to recommend to friends and family.

When my store-bought reading log recently ran out, I decided to make my own. I decorated this little notebook with ribbon scraps, Prima flowers and flocked brads and the cutest sparkly letters. Inside I used one of my journalling stamps to create lines and spaces for my thoughts. It sits proudly on my desk, reminding me how much I love to read!

Last night I started Patricia Cornwell's newest tome, The Scarpetta Factor. (a Christmas present from my bro). Looks like a good one and I can't wait to record all my thoughts about it in my new little notebook.

More Sunshine...

I was so inspired by the layout I did for the TSF Christmas sketch contest that I decided to make a second page to go with it. I used the same My Little Shoe Box papers with some added embellishments from Portafolia. And this is the first time in a long while that I haven't used a sketch for a layout. These pictures taken on Christmas day and Dec 28th in Punta Gorda make me just so very happy, especially when I look out today at the cold January snow!

Christmas in the sun

We spent Christmas in Florida this year. A real treat. To honour this non-traditional holiday, I created this layout using a Christmas sketch by Karan over at Sketchabilities. I substituted palm trees for the traditional fir tree elements. The pinks and greens of these My Little Shoe Box papers seemed a good compliment to the colours.

Mother's Day Card

It's never too early to start making cards I say! I got some inspiration over at
"lil red wagon" blog. The challenge this week is to use pins on a card. Here they are as antennae for my butterfly. Pretty cool! I used My Little Shoe Box papers.

Advent Calendar

We have a special tradition in our house in the lead up to Christmas. I always fill an advent calendar for my DH. His old Laura Secord one was looking pretty tattered so I decided to scrapbook one when Karen Foster came out with those cute ones ready to decorate.

I used pp from Die Cuts with a View, chipboard letters in black and white from BG, vinyl Thickers, and Stickles in Holly and Diamond.

I love how the little drawers hold so much chocolate. He loved it!