Just when I thought I was done. More shopping

Today was a full day of shopping.

We were at Mall of America at 7:40am as it opened at 8:00am. The mall is so peaceful when no one but the mall walkers are there.

I was lucky to get a quick photo of my girls before they headed to one of their favourite stores, Forever 21.

When I took this photo Kristy said "your such a mom" lol. 

After the girls left, Wayne and I snuck down for a yummy breakfast of crepes ;) 

The crepe place is near a really neat card and paper store. I love their window display, I have shared it on my blog before. 

But today they had 3 new displays. 

I was so impressed with how creative they were I had to give a compliment to whomever designed them.

I asked the salesgirl. She informed me the Christopher Straub from season 6 of Project Runway designed and made them. 

I have never watched that show, but anyone can see how creative he is. 

He was going to be at the store for a signing and promoting his new cards. 

As Wayne and I were walking around the mall I saw these huge onmaments hanging from the ceiling. I had an urge to swing on one and sing "I came in like a wrecking ball". My joke was lost on Wayne, lol. 

I think my blood sugar was low, so we went for some cinnasticks. 

We were at MOA for 7 hours. 

Can you imagine 7 hours of shopping and no crafty stores!!!

Unless you count the dollar store for scissors and glue so I could play with my new punch board?   I don't, lol

Because of that, I ended up retracing my steps from yesterday. 

Funny as I was just going to get a couple of pieces of paper so I could make a pillow box, lol

First Archivers 

Then found a Tuesday Morning. 

Lastly micheals, I had more 50% off coupons ;) 

I am still keeping up with the photo a day challenges  I am doing. 

Heidi Swapps prompt for today was "Crowds"

Perfect for today. Mind you we were surprised it wasn't busier. 

Canadian Scrapbookers challenge for today is

"Shopping"

Another perfect prompt for today. Here are my daughters with their first haul of the day. Wayne and I usually bring their packages to the jeep so they don't have at carry them all day. Such sweet parents they have ;) 

That is all from me for tonight. I am going to take a shower, try my hand at that pillow box board and then head to bed. Another early morning. 

I hope you have all had a creative and warm saturday. It went down to -20C here. I hear it's a lot colder back home :(

Tracy :)

Shopping, I never tire of it ;)

Today has been a long, fun and exciting day.

We are in Minneapolis as a whole family!!

Wayne and Ashley took today off work. Heather and Kristy didn't have to work today...and I'm retired ;)

So our day started off very early.

Here is what we have done today.

It goes perfectly with Canadian Scrabookers photo challenge for today.

I guess you want to see some of my crafty purchases ;)

Here are my goodies from Archivers. I was so excited to find this pillow box punch board !!

If I had adhesive with me, I would have whipped up a few of these :)

I found the actual pillow boxes that Becky had posted of on her blog at Target. Thanks Becky :). http://fourthouseontheright.blogspot.com/2013/11/easy-wrapping-for-small-gifts.html?m=1

I picked up all but the green letters from Archivers as well.

I also purchased a 17x23" making memories black self healing cutting mat. 

Scrapbooks Too was our first stop. I was a bit disapointed with my findings there :(. I usually find a lot there. Maybe I bought it all last month when I was there, lol. 

I really love the paper with the numbers. I do my December Daily for the whole month, but most of the Christmas numbers only go to the 25th. 

Joann's was another small haul. 

Lastly was michaels. 

I had a couple of 50% off coupons, so Wayne used one as well. For me of course ;)

I wanted a certain product and it was the last one. I noticed it was taped shut, so thought I should look at it first. You could clearly see that one of them were used, there were 2 to a pack. But I still could make it work for what I needed it for, but not for full price.

Talked to the manager, she told me she will give me 50% off the price.

I told her I was going to use my coupon for it and 50% off for an unused product, yes, but 50% off a used product that I can only use one of isn't worth it. 

So I got it for 75% off :) 

I think that is all of my purchases besides some Bear Claws chocolate from Cabelas ;). 

I looked all over for today's photo for day 6 of Heidi Swapps photo challege.

"Elf"

I had nothing, but told Wayne and the girls to keep a look out for me. 

Wayne found these stickers from (I think) Bo Bunny. 

I hope you all had a creative Friday :)

Tracy :)

Its a cold one today

It was a bit chilly today.  -11C/5F.
Actually with the wind it was really cold.
We didn't get as much snow as they predicted.

Kristy and Heather spent the night at Ashley's, as they didn't have to work today.
So when I went to pick them up I first ran to get Sebastian some kitty litter.
Not sure what is wrong with this guy, but he sure likes litter, lol.
He kept scratching and clawing at the bag, lol.
As I was at Ashley's I did one (hopefully) last coat of paint on part of the project.
Seriously this project is just moving in slow motion.

Day 5 for Canadian Scrapbookers photo a day challenge.
"Breakfast"
 Today my breakfast consisted of oatmeal and blueberries that I had picked this summer at our cottage.
Yummy :)

I am also following along with Heidi Swapp's photo a day challenge.
But with Heidi's challenge, she doesn't share the photo prompts until the day of.
Today's prompt was "Tree"
Since I don't put up our tree until December 12th, I don't have my tree to share.
So I used a photo I took yesterday.

I have an exciting weekend planned :)
But I have to get up at 5:00am.
I am thinking of just staying up as I am NOT a morning person ;)

I hope you all had a creative Thursday :)

Tracy :)

Snow, calendar and photo challenges.

We received a bit of snow today, and there are predicting a lot more in the next couple of days.
We are on a storm warning right now, but it seems to be blowing around more than actual snow coming down.
These are the trees I purchased at Michael's. You remember the ones I couldn't use my 30% off coupon on as they were 1/2" to high….yes I am still a bit bothered by that, lol.

Yesterday I received my 2014 Pagemaps Calendar.
I had never seen one before. All I knew was it was a calendar with sketches in it.
So I purchased one for me and one for my friend for Christmas.
What I like about it….it has 30 sketches in it. One for each month and then a bunch on the back 2 pages.
I like that it has a completed layout for each of the months sketches.
I like that the calendar is 8.5 x11"
I like that it is coil bound and can lay flat, even when the pages are pulled around to the back.
I like that the calendar isn't glossy, so you can use any pen or pencil to write on it.
I like that there are about 4 journal blocks for each month.
What I don't like is that there is also a full page advertisement for each month, I really didn't like that :(

I spent a lot of my day at Ashley's.
I haven't forgot to share with you the project that I am working on for Ashley. But I want to share the totally finished project.
I had to put clear coat on it and paint one other part.
Hoping to finish it tomorrow.
Heather and I were at Ashely's when she came home for lunch.
She cleaned Sebastian's litter box, then he went in it and had a little rest, lol.
I have never seen a cat that liked its litter box as much as this little guy does. Silly kitty.

Day 4 of Canadian Scrapbookers photo a day challenge.
"Good Morning"
I don't usually read the prompts until later in the day…until Kristy informed me that I failed with my photo today.
So I had to set this one up, lol.

Day 4 of Heidi Swapps photo challenge.
"Stockings"
I don't put up our stocking until later in the month.
But I did find this little gift card holder stocking ;)

Today I had to go to the doctor.
My heel has been so sore since June or so. It feels like I have a big rock in my heel. Sometimes I can't even walk on it.
Oh, are you wondering why I didn't go to the doctor sooner….I was hoping it would go away and I don't really like to go to doctors, lol.
Well it turns out I have plantar fasciitis.  Not fun for someone who loves to walk as much as I do :)
As I was waiting to be called I took a photo of the Sleeping Giant….or lack of, lol.
The first photo is from a few months ago, the bottom was from today.
The visibility outside is even worse now.























I hope you all had a wonderful, warm and creative Wednesday :)

Tracy :)

Turtles, hot chocolate and something cozy.

Today was chocolate turtle making day :)
Every year my friend Myra and I make these yummy treats :)
Today we made 320 of them.
 Most of mine are going to be given away as gifts.
Oh I think I see a squashed one…guess I need to eat it ;)

Day 3 of Heidi Swapp's photo a day challenge.
"Cozy"
These are my favourite jammy pants.
I don't sleep in these, but I love to wear them around the house.
Plus my favourite bootie slippers :)

Day 3 of Canadian Scrapbookers photo a day challenge.
"Toasty Hands"
Actually this mug was so flippin' hot I couldn't even hold it, lol.
I was going to crop my head out of this photo, but Kristy told me not to :)

I was at Myra's most of the day, so I didn't get to put my December Daily done today.
I hope you all had a wonderful and creative Tuesday :)

Tracy :)

Photo Challenges and Catching Fire

Here is my photo for the Canadian Scrapbookers photo challenge.
The prompt today was hat.
So I put on this winter hat that Wayne bought for Heather and ran outside to take a pic.
What you don't see is I am wearing my jammy pants, teehee.
Oh ya and I forgot to put on makeup…oh well :)

Tonight Heather and I went to see Catching Fire.
We loved it!!
We loved the books and this movie was so close to the book.
When we were told which theatre we were to go to…Heather whispers…we're going into District 12 ;)
If you are familiar with these books, you'll get it ;)

Ashley came by tonight.
Look no socks on the floor…but you can see her purse, keys and coat on the floor.
I guess she didn't want to disappoint me ;)

Remember I am doing 2 photo challenges.
This is the photo for Heidi Swapps photo challenge.
Her prompt was Red.
So I used the wreath that Ashley made me last year….it is the only Christmas decoration I have on display inside the house so far :)

Talking about Heidi's challenge, I still haven't put my album together.
First I was going to make the album from scratch…then thought, no I am trying to keep things simple this year.
Then I thought of getting the Smash Christmas book. I like the inside pages, but not the cover…I peeked at one at Michaels.
I have Pink Paisley binder I was thinking of using.
But finally decided to use the Sn@p binder and divided page protectors.
So I pulled out some of the papers I got in a kit that I purchased when I was at the Crop & Create event and…so far I think this is what I am going to use.
 I am going to do my December Daily and add the photos from these challenges to it. As well as the photos that Kristy and Ashley are posting. As they are doing the Canadian Scrapbookers challenge along with me :)

I hope you all had a very creative Monday :)

Tracy

Christmas cards and all day of Walking Dead

It is now December, so I can share some Christmasy things with you now ;)
34 Christmas cards complete :)
Every year I make all my Christmas cards.

I make two batches.
Trash cards:
Those are the cards made with my scrap papers and are for the people, I know, will trash the cards at the end of the season.
Fancy cards:
Those are the cards that take a long time to create. Usually I colour the images with my Copic markers and use my prettiest of papers.

But this year I had seen this card on Pinterest (you know I always give credit to the original creator…if I can). I followed the link to Tamara's blog
Of course I didn't have the same stamp that she used, but had this one in my stash.
The blobs you see on the trees is wet stickles.
And yes that is my thumb in the photo, lol.

Since I took step by step photos, I might as well share them with you on how I mass produced these cards.
First off I did 3 cards and then figured…yup, these are going to be my cards for this year, so then  decided to assembly line these puppies.
I also did them in groups of 10 as I was still playing with the idea of doing a different type of card for the card keepers in my life ;)

Okay, so the first thing I did was cut my card stock up to make my card bases.
I always use 110 lb card stock from Staples. I purchase it in packages of 250.

Next step is to stamp all of my images.
This stamp is a wooden stamp from Inkadinkado, but doesn't have a name on it.
The reason they are stamped on the paper like this, is because when I make my 5.5" x 5.5" cards I am always left with a strip like this…so this was a perfect way to use them up :)

Next step…cut coloured card stock and mount the images on them.

Now to cut the flags.
I knew I had a lot to cut out, so I made this template to make things move along more quickly and easily :)

Like the original card, I liked that the stripes were on a diagonal.
I didn't have any paper like that (actually I didn't look to hard, teehee) so I cut this pattern paper on an angle to get the same or similar look.

I put the first flag on just perfectly, then I used that one as a template placement for the rest.
I put the flag onto the flag of the template.

I added some adhesive (my tape gun) to the back of the image piece and then placed it on top of the template image.
Because the adhesive is on the image piece it will pick up that flag perfectly straight :)

We are getting there people ;)

I then adhered the images onto the card bases…Lookin' good ;)

Second to last step…stamp on the sentiment.
I didn't have a dark enough blue ink for this, so I coloured on the sentiment with my Stampin' Up maker.
This sentiment came with the snowman blueprint stamp from Tim Holtz.

Here I used a sentiment stamp from the $1.50 bins at Michaels.
Last step is to add stickles to the ground and trees.
I don't think the original card had sparkle to it.

I love a stack of homemade cards, don't you?

I am following 2 photo challenges this month.
The first one is from my favourite creative magazine Canadian Scrapbookers.
I shared that on my post yesterday.
The prompt is: Warmth.
I chose my snuggle blankets.
I keep these two in my living room and you can find me under them every day or night,
I love my blankies ;)

The other photo a day challenge is with Hiedi Swapp
I am suppose to have a album made and share my pages daily.
Because I just found out about it today, I will make my album or journal tomorrow and share the page tomorrow.
The prompt for this challenge is "So it Begins".
"Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas"
This is a photo of Kristy and I putting up our outside Christmas decor.
This is the earliest I have ever put them up.
I usually am climbing up piles of snow to do this. And freezing my fingers off.
It was -4C today..so not to bad :)

We had a Walking Dead marathon and pig out day all day today.
Just finished watching the mid season finale of tonights episode and Oh My Goodness!!!
I won't spoil it, but intense!
I think I will be watching it again tonight.

Hope you all had a very creative Sunday :)

Tracy :)