In My World

Here is the challenge:   http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/crafting_made_simple/message/883 And here's where it came from:   http://cateredcrop.com/2013/04/14/just-add-glitter-recipe-swap/

My newest book has been sent to my publisher.  I'm going to take a break now and enjoy the spring and summer . . . Well except for a couple more book ideas I might start working on. To celebrate, here is one of my favourite sketches from Scrapbooking With Two-Page Sketches :

My family are not huggers.  We were not raised to be huggers.  Our parents weren't raised to be huggers.  We are trying to break the cycle with our own kids and grandkids . . . What this means is that I am not a natural hugger.  So of course I went and married an enthusiastic hugger.  His family are all huggers.  I bet his parents were raised to be huggers. We've been married almost 30 years now and I'm pretty used to all the hugging now.  I still find it very difficult to initiate hugging but I really do enjoy being hugged.  I'm kind of a huggee rather than a hugger.  I'm working on it though. Most of my friends are used to my husband being a hugger especially if the friend is someone he doesn't see often.  Hubby popped into a social event I was attending on the weekend.  He, of course, began hugging people. And then he heard someone whisper behind him how disgusting it was for a married man to be hugging women who were not...

I just finished the second challenge in my online crop today . . . yes, I know I am slow but on this simple layout and had to reteach myself how to use WordArt to create titles and then it all had to be handcut.  Not complaining.  I love cutting paper.  And of course I had to write the story to go with. Here's the challenge:   http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/crafting_made_simple/message/882 And here's the original link:   http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/04/challenge-30-travel.html

I just finished the second challenge in my online crop today . . . yes, I know I am slow but on this simple layout and had to reteach myself how to use WordArt to create titles and then it all had to be handcut.  Not complaining.  I love cutting paper.  And of course I had to write the story to go with. Here's the challenge:   http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/crafting_made_simple/message/882 And here's the original link:   http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/04/challenge-30-travel.html

The challenge is to use older stuff from your stash.  I picked up these papers at the clearance section of a nearby LSS. Here's the challenge:   http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/crafting_made_simple/message/879 Here's the original challenge:   http://swatscrapwarriorsadvancedtraining.blogspot.ca/2013/04/drill-5-dig-deep.html

I got some scrapbooking done at the Pink Scrappers Crop on the weekend and it has really put me in the mood to crops some more . . . so I've posted 12 awesome challenges starting at 12 pm EST.  You have to be a member of  http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/crafting_made_simple/  to get the challenges.  I hope you will join in.

This is the March 1st knit-along called "Small Basket Weave." This is the April 1st mystery knit-along called "Growing Up". I like stitching dishcloths.  They are a fun and useful way to try out new stitches.  Since I make so many I often give them as gifts.  You can find the patterns for these 2 dishcloths and many others at  http://monthlydishclothoverflow.blogspot.ca/

I think this one is so pretty and I do get bored of making square dishcloths all the time.  The pattern was posted on one of my favourite groups, Holiday Mystery Gifts  and the designer is Wanda Neely.

This square was a bit tricky.  I found the pattern a bit difficult to follow on the white and purple rows.  Thank goodness for a good photo included with the pattern.  Isn't it cute?  You can find the pattern at  http://www.crochetmagazine.com/crochet_block.php?id=1

I have just purchased my first roll of washi tape . . . haven't used it yet . . . but these links give some great ideas. http://washitapecrafts.com/ http://scrapbooking.craftgossip.com/thursday-tutorial-cutting-straight-edges-in-washi-tape/2013/04/11/

The two younger grandsons received skateboards for Easter.  I suggested that their Dad could teach them some tricks since he used to just about live on his skateboard in his younger days.  They thought he probably wasn't that good anymore . . . ROTFLMBO!!!!!  Even Grandpa had to give it a try.

Hal actually had a couple of days off in a row so of course we FINALLY got to do some letterboxing.  This is our very first outing in 2013.  We were going to attend a meet up in High Park on Sunday afternoon and Toronto has quite a few boxes that we haven't yet found . . . we were determined to find as many as possible on our weekend. First stop was to find Zinnia Up the Garden Path  in James Gardens . . . sadly it was missing . . . but we had a great hike and can only imagine how beautiful this park must be in summer.   Our next stop was to find Global Village Backpackers . . . a quick find once we explained the box's hiding spot to the bloke behind the counter.  Right across the road from the hostel was a lovely pub called the Firkin on King.  Very nice and pub-bish looking inside and the hamburg and chips were delicious.  Well fortified with hot tea and a great lunch, we were once more on the trail. Our next stop ...

I got to play with my new tool -- the Sew Easy Circle Tool -- love it!! The charms are from the 50 cent lady .