Skating on the Canal.

We went skating on the Canal yesterday. I didn't get the best pictures because it was a wee bit cold for bare hands. So I may wait until we go next time and get some others for my little book. The kids are such troopers! I couldn't believe how far they skated and how many times Cassidy fell without complaint! Some of the falls she took looked painful! Ahhh a girl after my own heart. Haha. Drake is getting to be pretty good. He said it's like riding a bike. And little Quintin and I, well we walked and every now and then daddy came and took him for a spin, he loved it. Next year he will graduate to skates.

Winter Wonderland Book

This is a little scrapbook I made using the Aspen paper pack. I made it to house some pictures of my family skating on the canal. We go several times a year. The Canal is the World's longest skating rink, which is home to Canada's Capital, Ottawa. The part of the Canal that you skate on starts at Dow's lake and ends right down town. 7.8 km long! While there we usually enjoy some hot chocolate and a beavertail. Yum. For those of you that may not know what a beavertail is, it's a yummy fried pastry with several different topping choices. I tend to stick with the Cinnamon/lemon. The original! Sooo good. I'll post some pics after we go.
This is what the front looks like, the four pages are different sizes and made to over lap.

These are the fronts of the pages.

These are the backs of the pages.

Sweet.

I have loved this photo ever since I took it. I just love the smile on my Grandma's face, and Quintin's cute chubby legs. It really is a sweet picture of them. She loved holding the babies in the family.

I often forget to tell what I used. First off this is one of my designs. Just messing around. This is the Chocolate Chalet collection from Cloud9 designs. I love it! I used the papers, stickers, chipboard flowers, and gel stitches. I also used chipboard letters from another company. The edges are painted with white paint from our distressing kit. I used a plate to trace and cut out the circle ;0) I am trying to use up some non CTMH stuff. I have sooooo much and it's a shame to let it sit there. This LO would look good with the Adorable PP as well.

Fun in the Snow!

It has been snowing here since about 1am. I'm not sure how much has accumulated yet but my guess would be over 40cm so far today. A beautiful winter storm. I tend to like them, just not the remnants of them in April. The kids played outside after school. Yes they still went, lucky kids. It wasn't snowman snow so they started a fort instead. They had fun throwing it at me and the little one enjoyed eating it! We'll save the snow lesson for next year when he understands a little better. At least it was fresh!
This is Quintin waiting for the bus.


This is my oldest Drake.

This is my Daughter Cassidy.

Working on the fort.

Throwing snow at me, check out the diva's earings. LOL!

Here he is tasting the snow.

LOL!

A Tribute and a Gift.

My Dear Grandmother passed away in the early hours of New Years Eve. She had been in the hospital for a few weeks. The family decided to remove her life support after finding out that tests revealed a massive stroke affecting a part of her brain that would essentially require her to stay on life support in order to live. She would not be waking up from this one. It was a blow that my family was not ready for. We had a short time to say our good-bye's and tell her what she meant to us and how much she was loved by all. Something I'm assuming and hoping she already knew. My mind at times is a jumble of memories, and at other times calm with snapshot pictures in my head of her smile. We have a wonderfully large family. She had ten children of her own, two of which are with her in heaven, along with her adoring husband of over sixty-five years. Of those ten children came over fifty( Yes I said 50) grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and yes great-great- grandchildren. What a legacy she leaves behind. So I'm working like a mad woman on a scrapbook which is a tribute to her life and also will be a gift for my Mom I have enlisted the help of my sister with some stunningly beautiful pages of her own that I will ask if I can post when it is all done. Here are just a few pages.
This is a picture that was taken at the church of my grandparents, shortly before my grandfather passed away, also in the photo are my mom, and aunt.

This picture is of the four remaining daughters and grandma.

These pages are of my wedding day.



The journaling reads...
Some moments are made of simple things: A smile, a kind word, or just being together. Other moments are marked with pictures, food, and lots of family and friends. For me this moment was of great significance because not only did I marry my life partner, I got to witness and thank-you and grandpa for the commitment you made to eachother for over 65 years. You are truly an inspiration to me and something I strive to be. Thanks for providing me with countless memories and moments in time. Big and small. xx

A Christmas Picture

I don't often get my picture taken, but we decided that we would take some on Christmas Eve after mass. This is my favorite of the ones with the kids. The tree in the back ground, and Christmas music playing. After this we read some Christmas books, among them my favorite, T'was the night before Christmas. We then put little baby Jesus in the manger under the tree. And Finally put out the milk and cookies for Santa, then it was time for bed. This is where the wait begins for us parents, ours; about two hours long! LOL! Who do you think was up at the crack of dawn? ME!!!! It really was a great Christmas this year, not too fast paced, with enough family and tradition surrounding us. I hope everyone's was as good as mine!

Star Book.

So I've been neglecting my blog. Christmas, 3 kids, full time job, and my only living grandmother in the hospital, with only days left... I did however want to post this because I really Love it and it's so much fun to make. time consuming but fun, and the results are beautiful. Pictures really don't do them justice, you have to see to appreciate them.
cover

open a little

open all the way

page 1 & 2

3 & 4

5 & 6

7 & 8

9 & 10

11 & 12

13 & 14


You'll need:
12 sheets card stock
4 sheets each of 3 different colours
2 pieces of chipboard cut to 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 each
2 sheets patterned paper 8x8
embroidery thread
Adhesive


Cutting instructions:
colour 1: 7 pieces of 6x12, folded to 6x6- this is layer 1.
colour 2: 7 pieces of 6x10 1/2, folded to 6x5 1/4- this is layer 2.
7 pieces of 6x1/2, folded to 6x3/4- this is the spine.
colour 3: 7 pieces of 6x9 1/2, folded to 6x4 3/4- this is layer 3.


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Center and glue the BACK SIDE of the patterned paper to the front of the chipboard pieces. Next, fold over the extra paper and glue to the BACK SIDE of the chipboard.
2. Apply adhesive to each inner edge of the spine strips.
3. Attach the BACK SIDE of layer 1 to the glue side of the spine, matching the center crease. Do this for all 7 pages.
4. Using a paper piercer or awl, make holes down the centre of the crease (through the spine and layer 1) at 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 4 and 5.
5. Sew the 7 pages together using the following method: start by numbering all the holes on all of the 7 sheets. EG. Page 1 is- 1, 2, 3, 4. Page 2 is- 5, 6, 7, 8. and so on. * remember that the holes must be lined up as you add each page to sew them together.
start on sheet #1: In 1, out 2, in 3, out 4; Over and in 5, out 6, in7, out 8, over and in 1, out 2, over and in 7, out 8; over and in 9, out 10, in 11, out 12, over and in 5, out 6, over and in 11, out 12; over and in 13, out 14, in 15, out 16, over and in 9, out 10, over and in 15, out 16; over and in 17, out 18, in 19, out 20, over and in 13, out 14, over and in 19, out 20; over and in 21, out 22, in 23, out 24, over and in 17, out 18, over and in 23, out 24; over and in 25, out 26, in 27, out 28, over and in 21, out 22, over and in 27, out 28; and tie off floss.
6. Adhere the BACK SIDES of layer 1 pages together as in a book. The first and last pages will be attached to the cover in the next step.
7. Attach ribbon to the BACK SIDE of the front and back covers. Adhere the front and back covers to the first and last pages of the book. Close the book and place it under something heavy to keep it flat while you complete the next steps.
8. Decorate layer 3 pages, and adhere your photos and embellishments.
9. Apply a strip of adhesive to the 6 inch outer edges of the BACK SIDES of layers 2 & 3.
10. You can now attach layer 2 to the book pages. Match the glued edges to the book edges.
**TIP** Remember that the creases will not line up.
11. Attach layer 3 pages to the book as you did in the previous step.
ENJOY!!!!