It's the end of the year and also concert season. I see many preschoolers prepping for concerts by way of costumes and rehearsals. E has been enthusiastic about rehearsals, and keeping the suspense - she refused any sneaks for the grandparents!!

Meantime, J has a few more papers to go for the O's. Instead of gearing for the post-exam prom or graduation night, she is prepping for two mission trips and a leaders advance. She is also picking up the language. I'm so proud of her for setting her priorities.

New Mini Books Class

I have a new series of books for November at Made With Love - three books, in fact.  These are accordion-styled books but with a twist to each of them.  I totally enjoyed making the prototypes and samples, especially since the ecclectic papers in the Crate Paper Random Collection are so gorgeous to work with.  I'll let the pictures tell it all.  Hope to see you at the workshops.

Twist 1: Double Accordion



Twist 2: Winged Accordion, and I don't just mean the covers.



Twist 3: Star Accordion

Shout for Joy

You've laughed over the misspoken words of E. Here are the words from J, may you grow to know her through the thoughtful and few words she speaks.

Mulling over post-secondary options:
Here's why it's better not to go poly: you can't go on
mission trips because holidays are different. Besides I don't want everyday to be a fashion show.

Morning Has Broken

I count it a blessing to be greeted by this magnificent sunrise every morning from my front door.  With this beauty to start the day, I just know the rest of the day cannot be too bad.

While thinking of a way to frame this photo, I came across a geometric pattern that looks like spiralling rectangles.

 After cranking some black cardstock strips through the Sizzix and the On the Edge Postage die, I went to town with Dimensional Pearls, Liquid Pearls and Glimmer Glam, getting my fingers all shiny in the process.

The white foam Thickers were not spared the bling treatment: Glimmer Glaze in Blue, Red and Yellow blended and flowed together to create customised colours for the title.

Hope your day is great!

It's my turn to host a challenge at Made With Love!

I was thinking how some people would flip a coin to make a decision and thought of trying the scrapbooking equivalent.  I picked some random objects lying around - five rubber bands and a thick piece of string - and tossed them on a sheet of white cardstock to get my random placement guide:

Do you see a possible "heart" in there?

The layout -

The photos are set on the mesh background with eyelets and the Thicker letters for the title are sewn down with a variety of stitches using twine.

Love the fuzzy blue yarn - but at the rate I'm touching it, it will lose its fuzziness very soon!

Head on to MWL's gallery to read details about the challenge - looking forward to your participation.

Miss Spoken

E: What is this?
Me: A calculator.
E: What is it for?
Me: It's to add really big numbers that you cannot add in your head. (Seeding an early idea not to over-rely on calculators).
E: But these numbers (buttons on the calculator) are not so big!

Did September just sneaked in without me realising August is over?

In August, we had

Birthdays, national and E's:

An accident, and the family rallying together with the aid of technology:

Makes you wish this exist so we can speed through the tough levels:

Always therapeutic to immerse in craftiness:

A new class at MWL - five little books and lots of techniques and tips to share:

 Goodie bags - keeping it simple with 12x12 paper and 8 scored lines:

 And this smile every day to keep me going: