Life Is...

Someone once told me that life is what happens while you are making other plans. No kidding!

Life is changing for us big time. Everything seems a little topsy turvy, and we've been spending a lot of time getting ready for a new lifestyle -- and we have no clue what it is going to be like!

What's happening? I'll give you the short and sweet rundown...

DH is changing jobs in a major way. He's been working for the same company for eight years -- and they are awesome people to work for. But he's recently decided that he wants to direct his own future, so he is leaving his job to work his way into my dad's construction company. This is a completely different industry than he is currently in -- but he's smart and ambitious and hardworking. I just know he will succeed. But it means a lot of changes for us as a family -- work hours, his availability, and he's going to be doing a lot more physical work -- so he will probably be exhausted when he gets home. He's excited, though, and so am I. And so is my dad. DH is going to bring a lot of new things into the company too. This is our major whirlwind!

And I've been asked to teach a few scrapbooking classes too --

First, I'm teaching a class at Just Scrap It -- my LSS in Saskatoon. It's my first class there, and I am so excited! It's this Friday, April 4th. It's a tin box album -- and students get to choose their theme. If you are interested, check out the information here: Amanda's Tin Box Class.

I've also been asked to teach a class at a charity retreat this summer by a new company called TwoLittleCupcakes. I am so honoured! The crop is on July 19th -- and looks like it's going to be piles of fun. :) All proceeds from the day will be going toward the Children's Health and Hospital Foundation -- so I am glad that I can be a part of that. Registration has started, and if you want to be a part of it you can find what you need at the TwoLittleCupcakes blog here!

Spring is coming -- which means many things....soccer...yardwork...renovations...lake season...it's all heading our way! Not to mention, we are still getting ready for DD's confirmation in May and my sister's wedding in October.

And I have a new addiction....digital scrapbooking! Mom and I went to P.A. to see an amazingly talented, generous friend of ours who spent the entire day teaching us idiots how to digiscrap! I learned so much from her -- and I'm working on a few pages right now -- not to mention downloading elements like a madwoman. Plus, I have used some of the techniques she showed me to create elements for the website that DH is developing for my dad's company.

And -- I have to share -- this was us Saturday morning:



I'm not in this pic -- because I was taking the Timmy's run -- but we all gathered at 7 am to register for JSI's Spring Fling crop. Sold out in about 15 minutes...but we got in!

This crop is always so much fun -- we've made it a tradition to crop together at JSI. Janet, Corinne, Andrea, Dawn, and myself -- my best scrapping buds -- and I wouldn't miss it for the world!









That's life in a nutshell -- thanks for listening -- and now I've got to go get some work done. I have a bunch of housework calling my name (unfortunately) and I'm not letting myself scrap until it is done!

Cheers!

Reminiscing Layouts

I was going through a folder on my computer this morning, organizing my scanned and photographed layouts. I came across so many that I've forgotten to share with my online friends, so I thought I'd put up a few of my favorites here.

Enjoy, and thanks for looking!

PS...I am on a scrapping roll -- I created 4 LOs yesterday -- and I'll be sharing them with you shortly! (I just have to decide if they are submittable first!)

This last one is still one of my favorites...and is really special to me. It is about how learning Braille changed my perspective on life. Plus, it is my first pub ever -- it was published in CK in July 2005.

SO excited!

I've been asked to teach a class at my LSS, Just Scrap It, in Saskatoon!

They liked one of my projects and asked me to come to teach it -- you can check out the details here:

JSI Xtreme Guy Class

Maybe I'll see you there!

Free Online Class!

I just want to share with you that Jusr Cre8 is having a 12-day online crop with prizes and challenges and all sorts of wonderful things!

I am teaching a free class online...a unique and fun project -- one of a kind!

Check it out here:

{ My Just Cre8 Online Classroom }

Enjoy! And don't forget to let me know what you think!

An Inspired Project!

Remember that "WOOHOO" I had the other day? When I went into the LSS and found the perfect supplies that I never knew I needed? LOL Well, the project is finished and here it is!

I had taken some great shots of DH when he was kiteskiing the other day -- and the project that came out of it wasn't exactly what I originally pictured it to be. I intended to do a double page layout. During the drive home, however, my idea morphed into something totally different -- a tin box album -- and I am so pleased with it! Here's what it looks like:

The covers are actually the top and bottom of a tin box. The tin is bound right into the album, and the pages are staggered like this:

And a view of the inside of the back cover of the tin:

This little album was so much fun, and surprisingly easy. The materials I used were the new "Zach's Life" line from Little Yellow Bicycle. I also used a few Maya Road Office Sheers.

If you'd like to see this project in real life, it's at Just Scrap It in Saskatoon. :)

TFL!

5 days left!

Until the big birthday bash at Just Cre8!

I was scrapping with the April kit today, and the LOs are coming together so fast!

BTW, I just wanted to let you know to watch the blog at Just Cre8...they are giving away some RAKs this week, so leave your comment on the blog and you could win! You have until tomorrow to leave your comment...so what are you waiting for?

Oh...and have you bought your bra yet?? LOL If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the post here. :)

Look Out!!!

Mo and Jo are in the building ... and they've brought their friend MAJOR with them!!

OK, that's a bit riddle-ish, but I think anyone who scraps knows what I mean.

I was in JSI this afternoon, and a fabulous dose of Mojo (aka inspiration/insight/creative juices) hit me in the head with a brick. I think Laura was laughing at me, because I was dancing around like I had ants in my pants.

I was struggling with a layout a couple of weeks ago -- but today I found the PERFECT paper with the PERFECT fibers with the PERFECT die cuts just waiting for me. (Thanks, you know who!!)

So I am now going to go rip apart the LO I started and start over -- I can hardly wait!!!

There's a party going on....

Well, it's been officially announced...

Just Cre8 is turning one, and we're having a big online party over there to celebrate! You'll find the announcement and some of the details here.

The Scrap & Celebr8 birthday bash begins on March 15, with the reveal of the April kit -- and another big secret that you won't want to miss. We'll be cropping with challenges, contests, celebrity chats, prizes and online classes until March 26. That's twelve days of scrapping inspiration!

I am excited to be teaching my first online class -- and it's free! You can find the supply list here...and I can almost guarantee that you've never scrapped with underwear before... ;)

And if you want to check out the kits at Just Cre8 (which are awesome, BTW!) you'll want to be there on the 15th for the reveal of the April kit. The March kit sold out in less than 3 days!!

I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this community for the last year. I began my term on the Cre8ive Crew in June 2007, and it's been a wonderful experience. I can't help but be inspired by all the talent there -- from both the design team and the members. We've just added five new members to the Cre8ive Crew and we are all working together to make Just Cre8 the place to be! So come check it out -- it is a gr8 place to be!