Life is This...

Our Favourite Winery

I realized that in the craziness of the late... there are a few SEI projects I need to share still.  This one was posted on the blog a while back and it is one of my favourites of recently.  You can see the post HERE if you like.

Living in the heart of the Niagara Region here in Ontario allows us to often hop in the car on a Sunday afternoon and drive to all of the different wineries around us.  I definately have a few favourites... some I have developed a need for their wines on my stressful days... others I just love visiting the wineries and the beautiful gardens and surroundings.  Never is it more beautiful then in the fall when the leaves are turning colours and the grapes are being harvested.

I wanted to remember this wonderful part of our fall tradition with my husband so I made a quick layout about it.

To create this layout I used the rich and vibrant Homestead Collection from SEI with twine and my own cork stamp added in.  I love the look of the rub on overlapping the photo - I must remember to do this more often!

Thanks for letting me share!

Thinking outside of the box with Holding On...

I did mention that I have been keeping busy in my scraproom.  I still can't share all of my projects but I did have one up on the SEI blog last week that I can now post here.

As you all know 2011 hasn't really been a very good year for our family.... I actually can't believe it is almost over and hopefully next year will bring brighter and happier times.  

When families - or even couples go through lots of stuff sometimes it brings along a wedge that just comes alongs and sits itself right between you and your spouse... I've seen it happen to friends... I have felt it happening to us in the past.... but kicked it out of that space very easily.  There is one thing for certain in my life and that it the rock solid relationship me and my wonderful husband have. Yes we fight... Yes sometimes we get on each others nerves... but in the end he really is my best friend... even when all we want to do is cry... we somehow manage to make each other laugh.  I know I have talked about this before... and I apologize if you are sick of hearing it LOL - but I guess I am just so aware of how lucky I am to have found my soul mate.

This layout uses A Fair Day line from SEI.  Although it has a Carnival/Park theme to it - again I wanted to showcase it in a different way.  Sometimes we have to think outside of the box and document our feelings without all of the drama.  When I first say this line I again wondered how I was going to use it as my boys are out of the ride phase - and as soon as I say the rollercoaster paper it came to me... my life.... it is a roller coaster... and I knew what I wanted to document.

You can see the layout on the SEI blog here.

Here it is with some close ups as well.

HOLDING ON

I love the background on this layout.  I used my SEI Tumble Dye inks and instead of spraying them I just unscrewed the cam and "flinged" in on the paper.  I also used some of the pearls from White Elegance and placed them sporadically with the My Fair Lady hearts on the Embellishment sheet.  I love the whimsical happy feeling it gives it.

I hope you are all having a great weekend... feel free to say hello....

Lucky to be me....

There is something about NYC that inspires you... or at least me.  I have been creating up a storm since I've been home - after I caught up on all my sleep that is LOL!  Take a look at all of the goodies I have to play with!

Not only do I have a new box of product for being on the team once again - (and by the way their new Christmas line is one of my favs - SO cute!!!!) I also have a wonderful surprise from Pink Pailsee and came home to my Studio Calico Kit (can you say FAST!!)

First I guess I should explain the Pink Paislee box. One day last week I came home to a delivery on my doorstep with Pink Paislee on the box, hmmm.  I was wondering what the heck is this? Why are they sending me something... I don't remember winning anything?  I didn't order anything? For a fraction of a second I imagined them sending me product to design for them... then I came back to reality... but I was so curious - how did they get my address?  How do they even know my name?

So I think I made a complete fool of myself and got on the phone and called them directly, spoke to Rebecca at Pink Paislee and she informed me that Miriam, (the former owner of Collage Press) - asked Pink Paislee to send us the complete Collage Press Collection that they are not manufacturing for them! Wow!! How happy was I (OK was a little shattered as my dream was still hidden deep down LOL) - and a little emberrased too!  I have changed my email since being on the Design Team for Collage Press and I know now that it went to my old email addy! Hmmm.... I guess I should go and check at what else I've missed! 

Take a peak at what I have to play with this weekend!  And FYI - I still have a dream of getting more boxes for them one day!!

I also came home from NYC to my first Studio Calico Kit... I really miss kits... I really miss designing for kit clubs... something I hope to go back to soon - (keeping fingers crossed here)... but in the meantime I'm really enjoying playing with my SC kit.  In all honesty - its a little out of my comfort zone... the colours... the style... but I'm letting myself play and have fun and just create for me... which in itself is a great feeling again.  I could just spend hours and hours in their gallery... they have an amazing group of people to be inspired by... it makes me happy! I have just finished up my first layout and am working on my second... which Im sort of struggling through so I've walded away and may take another look tonight at it.  I should have something to show you in the next day or so... I would like to play more this weekend with this as it wont be long before another is on my doorstep!

So I said I've been busy creating - what exactly?  Well I have finished up a layout I started before NY and am working on another with some cards for SEi - and I love them all!

It feels so good to be creative again.

I have made some decisions the last few days about my teams and my future and will let you in on it when the time is right.  I realize what it is I need and want out of this hobby and what makes me tick and what doesn't... and it feels great!!

I will leave you with a sneak of my SEI page using lots of sprays, paints and pearl pen - my new favourite product!!

Have a great night - I'm off to watch Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice!!  Yippee!!  Its been a great day!!!

Oh and PS... happy anniversary Honey!  Here's to 21 more! Love ya!

2012 SEI Design Team

 
Its official!  I am once again apart of SEI's wonderful Design Team for 2012!. I was so happy and honoured that I made the team again and that they are putting their faith in my work for another year, especially after the last few months!  Honestly when I recieved the email I was so happy - and I am even more excited know that my fabulous teammates have been revealed! 

The 2012 team will consist of the these amazingly talented ladies:

Amy Kingsford
Emily Branch
Jennifer Holmes
Kim Stewart
Lori Mancini (Yeah thats me!)
Melissa Mann
Patricia Kumfer
Pearl Lui

 Congrats Girls!!

 

I'm an Athlete Mini with SEI

Before all of the chaos started I had started a cute little mini using SEI - I'm An Athlete line.  This rugged sports collection has covered all of the sports for boys - Soccer, Baseball, Basketball and Football with coordinating papers and accessories.  It just so happens that over the years Jared has played all of these sports at one time or another - so I anticipated a sort of sport "career" mini album.

Well I started to create my project and then realized that even though he has been playing baseball for about 8 years and football for only 4 years now - for me the papers just screamed football - with the colours - the feel - and of course I have so many photo's of him on the field it turned into a football mini!  It is funny how sometimes we start to create something and then the project takes on a completely different life of its own!

Well this little mini stayed "almost" finished for a few weeks during our hospital visits but I fianly made the time a few weeks ago to complete it! All it neede were some embellies and final touches - and it turned out to be a cute keepsake for my youngest.  Looking back at it now - I think to make it even more special I will add some more pages between a few of them and "expand" on the journalling a bit - now that the emotions are a bit more settled down... LOL!!

Although I do realize that this is not my best work - it will hold a special place for me always. Why?  Because with every thing I had going on - just sitting and creating this really reinforced my love I have for this hobby.  How it destresses me. How I can sit in my room in the we hours of the morning and feel completely happy and content. How now more than ever before I have realize that this hobby is about preserving our memories.... telling our stories... and how fortunate I am that I am given products to do just that with.

I am so lucky to design for such a wondeful company like SEI.  I am anxious and excited to see who will be apart of their new team.... who ever is choosen is very lucky!  Even thought this was posted a few weeks ago on the SEI blog -  I haven't had a chance to share it with you here yet so here it is... hope you like it!

 

 

 

Thanks for letting me share - and I will have a few more things to post soon!  I am diving into some of my new CHA stuff and I am feeling the need to make some cards... my supply is getting very low!

Have a great evening everyone!

More SEI love to share....

Hello everyone - hope your all enjoying your weekend.  This afternoon I had the most wonderful day... spent it with my good friend Lee... eating a delicious lunch... talking about everything and anything... laughing... and just relaxing.  It was perfect, fun, and JUST what I needed!!  

I came home from our hours of visiting and felt creative - and I put the finishing touches on a project that will be coming up on the SEI blog next week!  It felt fantastic to create again!!

The last few weeks have been overwhelming with sadness - and as you all know I have been putting my creativity on the back burner.... but I have also come to the realization that I NEED to be creative to feel complete.  Sure sometimes the mojo leaves... any artist will never feel creative ALL the time... but if your patient enough... it will come back.

Here is a little peak of a mini album I made using SEI's "I'm an Athlete" line.  I started with something different in mind but it took on a life of its own and I am thrilled with how it turnd out - and the best part is my youngest loves it too!!

While loading this image I also found some cards done previously for SEI that I somehow forgot to load onto here to share with you all.  These cards are simple and some of my favourite's using While Elegance papers and Die Cuts.

Hope you like them - and thanks for letting me share!!

The call for the new Design Team for SEI ended tonight - and I am so excited to see who is on the team next year!  Good luck to everyone who applied - it is a fabulous company to design for and it has been an honour to be a part of the Design Team for the past year. 

 

A New Adventure.

As I hinted yesterday... I am really excited to have been asked to join the DT of MOMENTA!!

I have had my eye on a few of their new releases from this past CHA and I think this is going to be a really fun and inspiring team to be on. Here is a list of the talented ladies that will be my team mates for the next 6 months...

Aymee Gandy     
Abigail Prado   
Carrie Walz    
Christine Hertel       
Christine Meyer 
Cristal (Pinky) Hobbs
Erin Morehouse
Jamie Cripps
Joanna Bandelin
Jodi WiltonKristine Berc 
Linda Abadie   
Lori Mancini (thats me!!)
Monika Wright 
Sarah Mullanix
Sherri Thompson 

Make sure to go and check out the blog - where I will have my first post up at the end of the month!  

In other news and so I wont be posting something without a photo - I will leave you a layout that I made for my Guest Design Team Spot back in May at a lovely little site called Colorful Creations.... I do believe they also have a DT call out right now so head on over and check it out!

Thank you so much for asking me to guest Design for you.... I had so much fun with the sketch you provided... I realize I LOVE working with sketches!

Here is my layout made with the new Winter Crate Paper... I hadn't had a chance to play with it and I am in love like most of are in the industry with all things CRATE.... 

And of course some closeups for the details:

 

 
Thanks for letting me share my exciting news....

Now off to work... Have a great day everyone!

Pinterest Inspiration for SEI

I think I have mentioned before I am officially hooked on Pinterest.  It is like a giant magazine full of pretty things.  Things I can make, photography that takes my breath away, cute crafts, home decor inspiration... and my absolute favourite... a wealth of funny, cute, and inspiring quotations.

I don't acutally Pin alot of stuff - only the best of the best - but I can get sucked into it for hours at a time - just looking, and thinking, and being completely inpsired!!  

While I was sitting down at my computer one night looking at Pinterest my SEI White Elegance was on the desk beside me and I was brainstorming (or perhaps procrasinating LOL!) on how best to showcase these lovely photos.  I love the SEI butterflies - "Glimmering Flutter" die cut accents - but with two boys - I was struggling to find a use for them... then it hit me.  Right there on my screen I went into my quotes and read it...

"If nothing ever changed... there would be no butterflies"

This quote just spoke to me and my life right now and I wrangled up all of the ideas in my head and came up with this months project for SEI posted on the blog.

 

This month I used the White Elegance Collection...sigh... unbelievably gorgeous!!  My first thought was wedding... but I wanted to mix it up a bit and create something more in tune to my mood as of late.  What I love most about this layout is the fun I had making it!!  It was so super easy... and all that colour... well that is just plain old Ink over the White Elegance papers.  I used my Punches for the Scalloped and the inside circle and then just started inking away - using my Ranger disstress inks and my inking pad tool!  Although it is really hard to see there is such a variety in the tones of the ink that it is beautiful in real life.  

I went on to layer some of the butterflies to each of the circles and did my final mounting on to cardstock with a border stitch to anchor the page... I just need to get a frame for it and I think this will hand in my scraproom... I love it!

So have you discovered Pinterest yet?  If you have make sure to friend me and if you are interested and would like an invitation just send me a quick email (you can find my link up in the corner under my profile) I would be more than happy to get you started.  You can find my Pinterest account HERE with all of my boards!!

Have a great day!!

PS - I have some exciting news to share - If you haven't already heard - I will post it later this evening!!  So excited!!

 

SEI Projects...

I haven't posted yet my most recent projects for SEI -  there will be some more going up on the blog next week but here are a few that I need to catch up on!

I love working with the COUTURE line.  It is so pretty... with a mix of purples, lavenders, greens, turquoise and greys.  Absolutely perfect for spring, wedding, romantic layouts of any kind.  Some of most favourite papers from the entire collection are from this line... especially this one.... the top page shown here.... it is absolutely GORGEOUS!!  I have it out on my counter in my room just waiting to be inspired to create something with it that will show all of its beauty.... it will come!

 

In the meantime I did have lots of fun playing with the entire collection and created 2 layouts and an altered project with it.

The first one is a little different from my regular style - cause GASP!! I didn't reach for my standard white background LOL!! (but don't worry I didn't stray too far ;) ). I was totally drawn to this paper as well and thought it was beautiful with a "mist" like appearance that is so hot in the industry right now.

This page celebrates mine and hubbies 20th anniversary.  Although not taken on our anniversary - the photo was taken at Disney while waiting to go see Cirque De Soleil last August - it was the closest photo we had taken to our actual anniversary date.... minor details LOL!

So here is the layout.... I am happy with the way it turned out!  

Looking at this layout now I think the paper I used for the background is a close tie to being my all time favourite... I love the distressed grungy, painty look yet it is still so pretty.  

For the heart in the center I was channelling my best Donna Downey and got all messy with my paints and with the fun Tumble Die Mist from SEI.  I used it a couple of ways in this layout.  First to die the heart in the middle (as well as my Golden Fluid Acrylics), I also used it on my title and my journalling strips.

For my title the SEI acrylic Letters were just a bit to clean and the colouring was off a little bit so I used my deep purple tumble Die and sprayed my letters.  Because they are acrylic letters the mist pooled on top of them and I just moved the mist around with my fingers and then heat set them (being careful not to melt the letters!)  You can also see a close up of the misting on the journalling strips - to soften it I went back and misted with water to have it dilute and become more subtle - Love the look of this - I will definately be using this technique more often!

And to finish a little embellishment cluster in the top corner with elements from the Couture Sundries and Die Cut Foil Accent pack.

 

I still have a few more projects to share with you from last months contributions - but right now I have some kiddies who are hungry...

Hope you all have a great weekend!