My mom is here to play with Magnus and I am going to get some scrapping done!  So just a quickie today.

I realized I forgot to post about our Earth Hour night.  We fully participated with every little light turned off and spent the evening chatting, playing board games by candle light and I got a chance to play with my camera a bit. 

Low light photography.  Yup, it is hard.  And often I get photos that I am not happy with.  So in an effort to understand my camera a bit more, I played around with it in the semi darkness to see if I could capture what I was seeing.  I got a few shots that I was happy with but I have a long way to go.  Practice, practice, practice!

So happy scrapping if you are out there scrapping today. :)

It's frozen again.  All that melted snow has been frozen into ice.  I am ok with it though because the sun is out today.  Yes - the sun!  I will take ice if I can have sun!

I am not blue today.  Got some sleep, the sun is out and I remember that my new Basic Grey arrived!  I have no idea what I was thinking yesterday!  LOL  I actually got up this morning and dove right into it.  Actually went right to working on my All Boy Mini Album class.  (This one is only at the Texas GASC - Thursday, 6pm)  I am offering this class because it is sometimes hard to find classes and products that are definitely boy.  The new Archaic line from BG just screams boy!  And this class can be used for any male theme - from little guys to our biggest boys!  Here is a sneak peek of it so far.  Hopefully will get a chance to work on it later so I can finish it up.

It is turning out really cute.

It looks as the GASC - Chantilly, VA show is open for registration if you are thinking of attending.  Hope to see you there.

And now because we can all use some inspiration every once in a while check this out.  Art by Peter Callesen.  My mom forwarded me this thinking that I would love it and she was right.  This amazing artist makes works of art with paper.  A lot are done with an ordinary piece of paper.  Something we see everyday and he sees as the base for his art.  Simply stunning. 

Be sure to check out his website and see some of the big pieces.  Here are two of my favorites from regular paper.

Holding on to Myself, 2006

47,5 x 37 x 7 cm

Acid free A4 80 gms paper, glue, acrylic paint, and oak frame

And this one.

Happy Fools Day.  I am feeling much too sorry for myself today to play any tricks, lol!

I cannot even tell you how sick I am of winter!  I feel like it is never going to end!  Even now as I look out the window I notice that it is snow a bit - SNOWING!!!  What?  I do feel like I have the winter blues and could use some sunshine to give me a lift.  I know I am Canadian and supposed to love all things winter but, shh, don't tell...I hate it!  I mean we have been there, done that - time to move on to spring!

So tired of looking out my window and seeing this.  Snow and dormant (let's be honest - dead looking) plants.

It is totally dragging me down and it definitely has an effect on my creativity.  I have not been creating at all these last few days.  I have had insomnia for a few nights which doesn't help but I got some new goodies in the mail today and nothing.  Nada.  Zero.  Ziltch.  No desire to create with them - just spread it all out so I can admire it.  It all feels so wrong, lol!  Why?? **insert me shaking my fist at how wrong it all is***

So with all my beautiful new Basic Grey sitting on my table and not getting any attention from me (it is the new stuff that I am making a bunch of classes from - I will keep you posted on those classes - you really do not want me designing classes when I am feeling this creatively sorry for myself - LOL) I went outside to look for signs of spring.  Well, actually Magnus dragged me out, kicking and screaming and I brought the camera along to cheer myself up. 

You know what I discovered?  There are lots of signs of spring (they are just not far along enough!!). 

What I like to call  "pre-signs" of spring.

Water.  Everywhere.  The thaw just started the other day so everything is flooded.

And toys - long lost in the snow and now being rediscovered.  (This 'puddle' was to the top of Magnus' boots - he loved it!).  But look - there are bare areas!  Spring has got to be soon right?

This is my driveway right now.

At first I felt like everything just looked like a giant watery mess.  Bits and pieces all over the place and just generally looking gross.  But then I looked through my camera and looked at the details.  It was pre-spring.  We need this soppy mess in order to get to the good stuff - green leaves!  That is what I like about taking photos. 

Looking through my lense makes me focus and see things in a new way.

That's it.  My deep thought for the day, lol!  This is not a new discovery for me - my love of taking photos and how it changes the way I see the world but today I got to appreciate it again.

And then look what I discovered.  Something that really made my heart sing.

Burried under the garden mulch some early daffodils & tulips.  **insert heart singing here**  Planted just for this reason - so I would know that after a long winter that spring eventually will come.

Ahh.

So I guess spring is on the way for me now. 

I know that some of you who read this have had spring already start in your area (grrrr) and are probably thinking - what?   Just know that you are lucky.  Enough said.

So I'm much better these days.  That was a killer - I realized yesterday as I left the house that I hadn't been outside in 6 days!  What?  I had the windows open a few times for fresh air but nothing else!  Yikes!

So anyway, I feel like I have so much to tell and show you.  I have been blogging in my head as I lay around getting better.  I will start slowly though, lol.

Today will be a sneak peak of a new class I am offering at the GASC this year.  It will be at all four conventions - see below for a list of times.

This class is going to rock!  It is brought to you by Cloud 9, Fiskars and Memory Makers and is just jammed with cool stuff!  We will be using the adorable 6"x6" chipboard books that come in their own box from Cloud 9 - wow!! I could make a lot of projects with these board books.  I love that the one we will be using is white so no worrying about sanding the edges or making sure the paper covers everything completely.  Love that!  This class is called Summer Fun in a Box because the album will be perfect for any summer photos - lots of green and blues which look great with just about any photo.  The album doesn't have to be summer themed if you don't want - you could just create your own title - I'm flexible that way ;)

Here are some peaks of the project.

Can you see in the last photo all the cool textures?  There are gel stickers that look like stitching, glitter papers, shimmer papers, etc. 

So those is the cool parts from Cloud 9 - but what about Fiskars you may ask?  LOL. Well, the amazing people at Fiskars have done it again.  They came up with a great new tool and you will get a chance to try it out - the Fingertip Craft Knife.  Now I had heard some buzz about this tool but I had never used one so I wasn't 100% sold but thought - let's give it a work out!  So, so, so, so, so, so LOVE this TOOL!  I hate cutting with a craft knife and will usually try to get away with as much as a can with sharp tipped scissors.  I just can never get it to go where I want - well, I can, but I hate every minute of it.  I actually shouted out to my family when I tried out the Fingertip Craft Knife - I cannot believe how easy it is to use!!!  (OK. I am going to stop now cause this tool really deserves a post all of its own so I will save more gushing until another day since this is supposed to be about the class...)  OK so you will get to use this tool plus a few others from Fiskars - the Treading Water border punch (way cool punch!) and some of the super-easy-to-use-that-even-Magnus-can-use-Squeeze-Punches. (I really think the marketing people at Fiskars should ask me to name stuff!!).

Can you tell I am excited about this class? (I am long-winded when excited!) When planning classes I usually plan everything in my head.  I am a totally visual person and will work on the design and everything without even touching the paper when planning classes.  So I planned this whole class without ever actually touching the stuff - just looked at the images of the product and let the ol' brain do all the work.  So when all the product arrived this week and I got to actually play...well, I got really excited!  This little book rocks - I really love this project and I hope everyone else will too.  I mean how can we go wrong - Cloud 9 and Fiskars!

• Class schedule: All GASC shows
• Saturday at 3:00-4:30pm (registration is open for Arlington, TX)

So anyway...will be back soon with more posts of all the things I have been blogging about in my head.

Friday started with a cold and by Saturday I was fully sick.  I slept all day Sat and then some!  Easter dinner was to be at my house this year so I was determined to be better on Sunday.  My hubby got the house ready while I napped and I was awake when people starteed arriving.  I got the appetizers heated and then decided that I should lie down for a bit.  Well, I woke up hours later and dinner was over and everyone had already left!  My hubby had made the ham dinner and everyone had enjoyed the meal and I slept through it all! 

I tell you ladies, I seriously have the best husband ever!!

So weird to have had a houseful of people and had them happy and fed and not know anything about it! 

I have to say that I barely even made it through the egg hunt with the kids in the morning.  It was sheer willpower that kept me upright. 

Yesterday I went to the doctor cause suddenly my throat was killing me and the cold symptoms had gone away.  I was right - a throat infection but what surprised me was that my lungs were infected and I had no idea.  The doctor kept asking me if I was coughing a lot and I had to keep telling him that I wasn't coughing at all!

So now I am just about sick of being sick!  I can't do anything cause as soon as I exert myself I get the shakes.  The doctor said three days and I will start to feel better. 

So that is it for now.  I wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted links to their galleries or  blogs.  I am going to go through them soon and check everything out.  I am just not up to it right now :)  I am sure there is tons to be inspired by so it will be perfect once I am feeling better.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and that spring is on the way in your area!

So I'm bad.  I mean, kinda bad, in a funny sort of way.  You see, today is Good Friday and my kids climbed into bed this morning for a snuggle and asked why Daddy wasn't at work.  Well, to make a long story short I told them it was Good Friday and that GOOD Friday meant that they had to be really GOOD all day long so the Easter Bunny would come and if not, well... See. I'm bad but you've got to admit it is really funny.  I had them going for awhile too!  I got really elaborate too - telling them that I was obligated to report to the E.B everything that happened today so that she (??) knew how many eggs to hide, etc.  I was thinking I was going to have about the best day ever, with perfectly behaved kids but they know me too well and figured it out. ;) 

My husband and I often make up spur-of-the-moment elaborate stories to tell the kids so they are always take stories like this with some skepticism but every once in awhile we can hook them.  I guess we just have a sick sense of humor - but it makes us and the kids laugh so hard after.  Just how our family works. :)

So I tried to post photos yesterday but I was rushing and my computer went wonky and then I never got to come back to it.

First, I tried to wish you Happy Spring.

I splurged and bought myself some spring blooms.  It so does not look like Spring around here (snowingl ightly) so I thought the tulips might make it seem more like Spring was coming.

And this is what we were up to yesterday.

And I worked on my Easter mini album.  As you can see I drew up a quick mini plan - really quick!  LOL  I wanted to divide the album into section - all the event that I know will happen this weekend.  The Prep, The Eggs, The Hunt, etc.  This way I could see how many pages I had for each section.

The album is still not done but it is off to a good start.  Quite a few pages are decorated and it should take me hardly any time at all to finish it up after this weekend - once the photos are taken.

I will take better photos once I have more done - after this weekend.

I hope everyone has a great Easter this weekend (if you celebrate) and don't eat too much chocolate! OK who I am kidding - eat until you bust!

I was just taking a moment to read recent comments on the blog and I was reading a comment from Tarren (yesterday's blog) and I responded, telling her that I wanted her to link me to her gallery, blog, whatever but I realize that I want you all to do that.

I want to see what you all are doing.  You see what I am making and creating.  I want to see what you are making and creating.

Please inspire me.  It is Spring and the creative juices always flow at this time of year.

So add a link or web address to the comments of this post and then I can have them all in one place.  This weekend I should have some free time and I will blog/gallery surf and be inspired by all of you.

Please.

I am definitely feeling better today.  Not completely over it but better then yesterday.  I am eating a popsicle as I type this and it is making my throat feel oh so good!  My hubby said I wimpered in my sleep last night.  How is that for dramatic?  Apparently, I can be dramatic even in my sleep!  Who knew?

Here is one more page from last weekend. I haven't filled in the date yet but you will get the idea.  I think this photo is from 2006.  Magnus used to ride Harper's Barbie horse to make me laugh. 

I have a few more from the weekend but they need journaling so I will wait to post those.

And today I put aside my idea for a 'comfort' mini album (have come up with lots of ideas/things that bring me comfort.  I now need to take some photos of those things.) and started in on an Easter mini album.  I had the thought that maybe I should start it before Easter rolled around so that once Easter was over all I would have to do was drop in the photos.  Sort of like, I am in the mood for Easter decorations and goodies now but after this weekend I will be sick of it so I will put off making pages or albums.  Ever feel that way?  So I am trying to be proactive on this whole Easter thing. 

(Of course the "easter bunny" hasn't gone out to do the "easter shopping" but at least the album will be ready!  Priorities!)

So now that the kidlets are in bed I am off to work on it some.  Haven't done much so far but should have more to show tomorrow.

Love my little yellow bunny!

And one more thing I have to share.  For this album I am using papers from Cosmo Cricket and when I flipped over the paper this is what was written on the bottom strip.

Totally made me giggle.  Got to love a company with a sense of humor! 

And now I am off to scrap...

I guess it was to be expected after the recent stress but doesn't mean I like it.  I am not 100% sure I am even truely sick.  I have a sore throat, etc but it is more that I am weary in mind and body.  I think I need a day of watching favorite movies and not doing anything - so NOT going to happen!  My life goes on even if I want to cuddle up and take a break.  Instead I am taking comfort in this...

Yes, tea.  I love a good cup of tea.  Totally random I know but since I cannot curl up in the couch I am carrying tea around with me.  This of course got me thinking.  I am too tired and icky (is that a word?) to scrap but that doesn't stop my from scrapping in my head.  So this is what I was thinking.  Comfort.  What brings me and my family comfort in times when we need it?  This would make a great layout or even a mini book.  I am thinking a mini book.  Maybe the one I started the other week that I only got covered in paper.  One page for each person in my family.  Hmm.  Stay tuned.  When I get some energy back I will get to making this.

So until I am feeling like myself again I will continue to post the pages I made last weekend.

Again, here is one that uses a really old photo - from 1996!  I found it during my cleaning spree behind another photo that was in a frame.  It was like I found a little treasure when I uncovered it.

This is me and my very good friend Nicole.  I can remember this day so clearly.  We had a picnic down the river from my hometown.  It was the first of many day trips that summer. We are still the best of friends even today (though she lives in England and I live in Canada!)  I actually will probably make another layout with this photo talking about how much I can still remember from this day (I scanned and reprinted the photo) but for now this layout is about the beginning of our friendship.

And then this page...

This one is really about the journaling.

It is funny because this photo is from 2006 but I can still remember this moment so clearly.  It was like I saw Harper less as my little girl and more of a girl who was growing up and away from me. I wasn't sad - it was just a moment of clarity for me.  (I took the time of date from the time stamp on the digital photo - my memory is not THAT good!)

The title was because I am sure every mom can relate with their first born.

 And another page.

This one is much brighter in real life.  Have you noticed the repetion of little bit of product on these pages? When I first started my scrapping marathon I took out a bunch of papers and embellishments that worked together.  I then tried to turn to these each time I started a new page.  Sometimes I went in search for something else 'cause what I had wasn't "quite right" but mostly I stuck to the stash I pulled out and my scraps.  See the cream colored paper that runs across the page?  That was from the page from yesterday - Ready, Set, Launch.  The labels I have used on quite a few pages - still have about 3 left on the sheet but plan to use those soon.  See this...

The little oval type shape made of chipboard?  That is from the inside of one of the letters from the page  Ready, Set, Launch also. 

And this...

Left over pieces from a chipboard flower.  Painted and then layered with a clear/green flower and a sticker.

It was great to use the entire package of something.  And paper scraps.  This is probably why I got so much done.  No searching.  Just scrapping and enjoying.

I know.  A weird title but it will all make sense as you read. :)

First I want to say thanks to everyone who emailed or posted a comment about the death in my family.  Your warm thoughts were very appreciated. 

Trauma. So this is the trauma part.  For too many days last week I believed my father had died.  Drown actually.  As you can imagine I was horribly upset.  Then my wish came true - it was all a horrible mistake.  If you have ever had someone close to you die then you know you spend some time after wishing that it was all a horrible dream and that you could wake up.  Well, that happened.  I got to wake up from my nightmare and find out my father was alive.  I cannot tell you how thankful I am.  Go and hug your dad for me.  You won't regret it.

Classes.  The registration for the Arlington, TX GASC goes live today at 3pm (EST).  I am offering a whole wack of classes so be sure to check it out.  Here is a peek at my Tinkering Ink class called Unique Mini Accordion Album.

I am offering tons of variety - mini books you create yourself, double page layouts, altered canvases and even a class based on my new book, Cut Loose.  Be sure to check it out and I hope to see you there.

New Pages.  Well, last week during the trauma I spent many hours cleaning.  I don't know what you do when you are upset but I like to clean (so totally not me!!).  I needed to be occupied as I awaited news so I puttered around tidying and cleaning.  This meant that my scraproom got a good cleaning.  And then when there was nothing more I wanted to clean I sat down for some paper therapy.  Yup, I got scrapping.  Nothing for deadlines.  Nothing for classes.  Nothing for anyone but me.  I needed it.  And weirdly as I sunk myself into it I was really productive.  In two days I created about 8 pages.  Not two full days - just a bit of time here and there.  I guess I really needed it cause the pages just flowed.  I love paper therapy - makes me feel so much better to slice and tear and glue!  I also used some older items I rediscovered in my stash.  I loved it - mixing the old with the new.  It all felt good.  And most of the pages used photos two years or older - some I discovered when I was cleaning.

A few pages I need to look up photo dates for and add but here are two that are completely finished.

Remember this blog entry?  That is how I created the above shaped page.

A two pager that uses photos from 2003!

Have a great week everyone and I will be back with more pages tomorrow.

Due to a death in the family I will be taking a break from blogging.