VC Rocks is back...

And it's blog hop time!

The blog hops this year will all have 'Cruisin' in the title. The first one is called, "Cruisin' For Special Occasions." As our blog hop leader, Robin, noted, the reason many folks go on a cruise is to celebrate something important.

I have only been on one cruise; the trip was a gift from my mother, to celebrate my graduation from university. My dad didn't go with us, because he really isn't big on travelling. It was one of those, 'Go on a trip in lieu of throwing a party' things. Really, I think Mom just wanted to go on a cruise. And I am glad she did. We did the round trip seven day Vancouver to Alaska voyage and I loved pretty much all of it.

I had a hard time deciding what to do for this hop. The one ocassion we all tend to celebrate is birthdays, and I wanted to step outside my box a bit. So instead, I'll show you a few graduation cards. That is rather appropos today, as I know that in the U.S. it grad time for many high school students. Our students attend until the end of June, but it is prom season. My niece's (well technically cousin) prom is tomorrow (Saturday) night & I am so looking forward to seeing her & her boyfriend all decked out. We're going down to the waterfront to do family photos. Please pray the rain holds off....

I found this idea of the clean & simple design on a blog last year. Although there are only two here, I made about a dozen, but some used dsp that wasn't Stampin' UP. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the white SU craft ink stamped.  Although I love the colours of the Rich Razzleberry card the most, I didn't actually cut the paper correctly on that card so I don't like the layout as much as the others. 

Now that budget time is over at the school district, I expect to have more free time. I have a whole bunch of cards that are already made that I'm looking forward to sharing. I went to a crop a week or so ago & I had a fantastic time.

Hop on over to VC Rocks to see the rest of our Hoppers' creations!

Card Details - All products Stampin Up

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Regal Rose, Pacific Point
Stamp set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
DSP: Various retired SU papers
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, White Craft

  

August VC Rocks Blog Hop!

Good evening!

I am so honoured to he the first stop of the August VC Rocks Blog Hop. This hop will be our final one of the season. Our theme for August is Punches, Big Shot, Simply Scored.

I almost didn't participate in this hop, because I havent' got the Simply Scored tool yet, and I don't really have any need for a Big Shot. I can use the one at the scrapbook store. Even if I wanted a Big Shot, I don't have room for it.

As I looked through my cards, I realized I have used LOTS of Stampin Up punches. In fact, there were so many that it was tough to choose. Ultimately I decided to focus on cards using punches that are still available. The majority of the ones I own border punches. The one used in the card above is probably my favourite. 

So far, my purchases have focussed on border, corner and label type punches. I want to be sure which shapes (ovals, circles, etc) I'll use before I lay out the money for them. I definitely need the circles that coordinate with my favourite set, Circle Circus. 

 Stampin' Up has some really unique shaped punches available. One that I really love is this Christmas decoration punch that coordinates with the beautiful Delightful Decorations set. This stamp set and the matching punch can help you make beautiful quick and easy cards! Although I want a few other sets first, I know I'm eventually going to end up with these stamps and the punch.

Last, I have two cards featuring the next punch I will be purchasing - the owl punch! I love him!!!! When I first saw it, I thought it was cute, but I couldn't see how I would get enough use of it to justify the purchase. I have changed my mind, in part due to the fun cards we've made with it at my stamp club and in part due to some wonderful examples that I see on blogs I follow. Mr. Owl is DEFINITELY going to be my birthday present to myself in October!

Well,l I hope that my post has inspired you to make your way through the blog hop and see the creations of the other talented women participating this weekend. Your next stop is Stamper Shirley's blog. If at any time you get lost, you can head back to the VC Rocks site to see the correct order. I also want to take the time to thank our hop organizer, Loni, for all her hard work in setting up the blog hops! I have really enjoyed being part of VC Rocks this year and I hope to be able to take part next year as well!

If you don't already subscribe to my blog, I'd love it if you did so. I have lots of cards organized to post on my blog every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, starting August 20, where I'll show you some cards using retired punches that didn't make the hop!

C-C-Changes....

Life has been super busy since late January, and between both that and the fact that I have been wiped out by that darned nasty cold that's been floating around, I have completely neglected my blog again.

We had a bittersweet time around the end of January. My brother and sister in law graduated from the Education program on the 28 and were one of a handful of students fortunate enough to get jobs quickly. That was the sweet part. The bitter part is these jobs are out of town - out of province, in fact - so they've had to move away. Right now we're hoping the move will be temporary, as both of their positions are maternity leave contracts. But we shall see. I am trusting that their future is in God's hands. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that this statement is, in and of itself, a big change. 

 Very proud of my sister in law, who got an scholarship for displaying excellence in teaching throughout the program. It was much deserved; although both she my bro are very talented, and their students will be lucky to have them, L. is something special. 

It was quite a whirlwind weekend; the grad was Friday, Saturday we had a family dinner to celebrate, Sunday they packed, and Monday they were on the road. We had some great Chinese food - best I think I've ever had. I was so busy eating it I forgot to take a picture of the spread. I got the desserts though. Of course, we couldn't have just a cake... oh no.. not us Eastern Europeans. Reason #65,28l,971,534 I love my family. My mother is hilarious.

The other reason being that they humor me when necessary. At the wedding, there is one picture I really, really wanted that we didn't get... one of both sets of parents, siblings and the bride/groom. I don't know why we didn't think of it... we just missed it.

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you.. L. did cut the cake twice. The first was for the two of them, to celebrate their grad, and then  it suddenly dawned on my Mom that, 'Hey, they won't be here for L's birthday! We have to sing!" Did I mention that my mother is hilarious? LOL.

 You have to understand that we HATE singing in our family. Ok, some of us (aka. me) do, and some others (aka my brother) act silly to egg on those individuals We really do love each other.... it's just our banter. I am known to be a typical, intense, slightly high strung oldest child. My brother is Mr. Easygoing. Oh, the joys of being the baby in the family.

So when L. was like, 'No, really, we don't have to...' I think she may have meant it. ;) But she's a good sport.

And now, finally, a card. This is the card I gave J&L with their going away gift. It is literally a COMPLETE lift of something I got in a a swap.And I mean that literally; I think the colours are even the same. Right down to the colours. I may have used a different stamp for my hearts, but that is it. And while the original card had a tag in it, I left my pocket open. Originally I had intended to put money or a gift certificate in it, and in the end I didn't. I found an idea for a 'New Teacher's Survival Guide" instead.

With the hearts, I inked them with a marker, direct to rubber, first with one colour and then with the other and randomly stamped.

Card details:
Cardstock: SU! Pumpkin Pie, Bordering Blue (I think), Night of Navy
Stamps: Stampin Up (Alphabet Soup); Fontwerks (unknown)
Ink: :Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy
Misc: ribbon -  Stampin' Up; brads Making Memories

Lovebug blog hop - May

Welcome to Lovebug Scrapbooking's "INSPIRE US!" blog hop!! Our blog hopstake place on the last Saturday of every month. Thanks so much for joiningus!If you just happened by this blog and didn't realize a blog hop was takingplace, please go back to Lovebug Scrapbooking http://www.lovebugscrapbooking.wordpress.com/ and start the Hop. You won'twant to miss all the inspiration from our members....... or the prizes :-)

Our theme for May is "Graduation".

What I want to show you today is that a graduation card doesn't have to have a diploma or a cap/gown. I know that I don't have many graduations to celebrate at this time in my life, so, for me, it hasn't made sense to invest in a set that is specific to these themes. Some of the same images you might use on a birthday card will work for graduation.



Include an inspirational grad type quote to the inside, and 'voila!'

Card details:

Cardstock: Bazzill

PP: Scenic Route

Ink: Stampin' Up Night of Navy

Image: Stampin Up Let's Party (retired)

Here are some great quotes to get you thinking, courtesy of http://www.quotegarden.com/graduation.html

• There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning. ~Orrin Hatch
• The tassel's worth the hassle! ~Author Unknown
• Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference. ~Arie Pencovici
• The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after. ~Newton D. Baker

This blog hop will run from today, May 29th until June 1st. We will bedrawing for winners on June 2ndFollow along in our blog hop!
Your next stop is Helen http://neverenoughtime-helen.blogspot.com/