Lost...but not yet found

But the canvas I made yesterday gave me a little release and a little smile at least. I had lots of fun in Nadia and Laurie's class. It was good to be the one getting advice for once, instead of the one always giving it. Plus they have lots of paint and foam stamps to play with!! Heaven.



I have decided that my word for the year is "trust". And yes, I know that the year is almost half over, but bear with me people. It will be next June that I finally pick next year's word, so it works. Trust, because I need to be able to trust that my ideas and my decisions are good ones. Trust in my abilities and trust in the people around me. Trust that when someone compliments me, it's the truth. Trust in myself. Hmmm. Yah. Something like that. I had a rough night last night. Was up till 3:30...yay me...just journaling and watching Hellboy, which is a totally rad movie by-the-way. Found out some news that hit me a little harder than I thought it would. Had a moment of quiet reflection during which I totally had an inward freak out and got some of it out on paper. Mostly just doodles, but some of them might make it on to a page or a canvas! I've been getting better at dealing with my "emotional time of the month..." lately, but this time it hit me really hard. Super. I know working out and eating good stuff helps, but I think this time it just snuck up on me and caught me off guard and I just wasn't prepared. Having a "word" and really focusing on that one thing does help though. Focus Lisa!!

Work was good. Made up the new staff kit for July and promptly decided that I wasn't going to do a scrapbook layout with it...so I bought some Love Elsie frames (on sale...woot!!) and am doing up a little hangy-do for my front door. Shut the front door!! It was nice to see Lindsay again...missed that girl so much I had started to forget what she looked like...beautiful as ever! Starbucks treat. Juli dashes to a wedding...how come her husband will wear a pink tie and mine won't!?!? Learned that I am an anti-girl!

Went for yummy Greek food with some friends from high school last night (expensive...yikes!!!) and then sang karaoke. This is my friend and her fiance's favourite past-time, I swear. Whenever we go out, it's like, do you want to go karaoke after? It's so funny! They know the best place to go and they pick their songs out really quick and just get up and go. I even did a little number last night...1234 by Feist. I know. Not very creative. But this place we went to has "the best selection" and they mean it! There were HUGE GIGANTIC ENORMOUS binders full of song choices. You really have to know what you want before you go. It was pretty busy too, so lots of singers. Four of us sang. Sarah kicked our asses. Scotty D rocked out!

Russ and I had a nice quiet breakfast at Albert's this morning (Lucas at gmas for a sleepover). It turns out we both used to go there when we were kids. His parents took him when he was just a little baby and showed him off to the waitresses. And I went after swimming Sunday mornings at Kinsmen with Grannie and Pa and Mom and Dad. We would eat pancakes and be all sleepy from the pool-action. Hazaa to the good-old-days.

Lucas is home (I really miss him when he's away) Napping. I just had a nice cold freezy and am sitting in my nice and cool basement playing here. Maybe will scrapbook/create something later. Russ is at his buddy's house. Dad's for dinner. Russ has tomorrow and Tuesday off for the holiday. We are volunteering at the Millwoods Canada Day celebration (set up) so we will be busy, but having fun!! Hope it's not as hot as it was today...killer. I stop functioning after it hits 25! They have a crap-tastic splash park at Millwoods Park...but I might not care as long as it's wet!

do do do do do do do do do

'Sup my peeps!?!?

I have been scrapping...I have the painted fingers to prove it! Just finished some layouts for a class at TM that hasn't even been scheduled yet! Talk about being prepared! That never happens! (Posted a little sneak peek over at the TM Classes Blog)

Am very excited about the class I am TAKING on Saturday with the ladies from Lost & Found Studio. WOOT! I have a bunch of supplies to buy, including a "lifestyle" magazine...hmmm.

Did up a rad-dish 12x12 layout with pics from Nadine's "Panty Party." Plus I actually completed one of my assignments for the Riff Raff DT. Gasp! I am ahead of the game again! There must be something in the water. It's fairly rad, with a dash of awesome-sparkle thrown in for good measure. I really love next month's shapes...and I'm pretty sure everybody else will too! There will be a run on the *blank* and the *blank* and especially the *blank* and probably the *blank* too, even though I have no idea what to do with it.

Not up with challenge blogs lately...have too much of my own thing going on. My latest challenge kit is "due" on Saturday, but I'm not holding my breath as I still haven't seen anybody's but Juli's for the last one! I'm going to take a summer break and then be back in the fall, better than ever!

Hope to work on some other projects tonight, ones I have been neglecting because I just can't get into them. There are no creative juices currently flowing on these fronts: Gordon tattoo design, Bella Brunette Rocks! lyrics. I have some random ideas for both of them, but nothing is coming together just yet. Will need a night of just sitting with some good music and my sketch book and letting the ideas flow! Whatever I get will be better than what I have so far...which is not much to look at!

Later gator,
:isa

P.S. Still thinking of maybe going to a crop night coming up...will be working the one on the 11th cause it's Miss Chantel's b-day...so maybe I'll save my stuff for then and Jill can be my inspiration. I always seem to get a lot done up front at Crop nights! If anyone wants to join me and maybe work on a Lisa Challenge Kit...they would be more than welcome!

simple layouts

Here are a couple of layouts from my San Diego trip. They are super-simple...but I still like them! Just need to add some journaling, and they're ready to go. And both are different sizes: mom-in-law is 8x8 and James is 6x6. All in keeping with my multi-sized album...which is going to be so rad! But I have spent too much money on this album already...so I'm going to go through my extensive paper stash and see if I can use scraps throughout the rest of the album. Shouldn't be a problem!

Hope everyone is having a good day...I've already been on a long bike ride with Lucas. We went to Shopper's Drug Mart, TM, back to Dairy Queen for lunch, and then home. I think I need to adjust the seat on my bike...my legs feel all scrunched-up. Plus I still need to buy a helmet and get Lucas wearing his! He does like his little trailer...he's very quiet, every once and awhile telling me (very quietly) what he sees and if he's doing okay back there.

Russ is going to Vegas in August. For three days, for a course, and the company putting on the course is paying his way! He probably won't get to see much of Vegas, but it will still be fun for him to get away! Maybe I'll have Mom/Grannie/Grandma watch Lucas that week and I''l get a bunch of scrapbooking done! I'll still be working on my San Diego album...I just know it!!

Day Six: DISNEYLAND

So I had a total blast at Disneyland...I wish we could have had one more day there and skipped Sea World. Oh well. We'll have to take Lucas back when he gets a bit older. We didn't get to go on a tonne of rides, but he ones we went on were all good! The best were Astro Blasters and Indiana Jones...both of which Veronica recommended! (thanks Miss). First time using the Fastpasses, which are a genius invention! We stayed as late as we dared, as Russel still had to drive 2 hours to get back to the hotel! We missed the fireworks, but saw the parade. And we didn't get into California Adventures, which would have been cool, as none of us have ever been.

Pics from left to right:

1. I put this one in 'cause I look gorgeous!

2. Uncle and Lucas. They actually rent pretty rad strollers at these places! And since Lucas gets in for free, I didn't mind paying the $10 (well, Russel paid, but I didn't mind!!)

3. Uncle James in Astro Blasters. Russ beat us with 40000+ points, but I beat James with my 30400! James was busy taking pictures.

4. The Queen of Hearts. She was walking around with Alice and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and I chased them around until they finally stopped so I could get a picture. Some lady waiting to get a pic and autograph called Alice "Sleeping Beauty" If you can't even tell the characters apart, get out of line sweetheart!

5. Russ and Lucas outside Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I think this one was Lucas' favourite ride becuase Poppa got to drive a little red car all crazy. But when asked he will tell you it was Winnie the Pooh, but I think that's because he went on it twice, so it has stuck in his memory better. He fell asleep on Haunted Mansion after freaking out when the lights went out in the elevator and all the kids started screaming. He kept asking to go home!

More pics here

Day Five- @ the Zoo

So their Zoo is huge! And they have lots of monkeys and apes. I love zoos! Lucas fell asleep on the bus tour, but was otherwise having fun playing with his stroller and checking out the animals...the ones he could see! The 'rents left us after lunch because they wanted to check out more museums...the Zoo is within Balboa Park. And we lost Angela too...she was busy trying to get pics of everybody!

Pics l to r:

1. Uncle and Lucas, who never looks at the camera it seems!

2. Who's the lady in the sexy blue hat?

3. this polar bear was splashing around and playing with all his toys. when asked, Lucas will tell you that this was his favourite animal at the zoo

4. the tour bus...maybe not the particular one that Lucas fell asleep on, but you get the idea. And because we are awesome Canucks, we got the bus tour for an extra $1, not the extra $6 it costs everyone else!

5. Gorillas are my favourite of all animals, and these ones were so wonderful. A momma and her little one sleeping together all cuddly! Awwww!

I put some more pics of the zoo on my other blog.

OLW-Challenge...that I missed

The Word this time was "One." But I was having technical difficulties with my brain, and missed my deadline. Oh well.

The journaling is about how many photos my sis-in-law Angela took on our little vacation...she did get some good ones!

ScrapMojo

The challenge is to use the Martha Stewart-made-famous phrase "it's a good thing" and to also use a stamp. The photos are from my trip...I especially like the goofy street sign in the bottom pic: it is actually advising a u-turn in this particular location! What a riot!

Day Four- Hanging Out

Monday was a slow day for me and Lucas. We just hung out at the hotel and had some relaxation time. Russ and James went to Tijuana and his parents and Ang were at Balboa Park taking in some museums. And if you think I take a lot of pictures of trees and flowers, you haven't met Angela! She is a scrapbooker at heart!!

When everyone else was home safe and sound, we went to a tasty mexican place for dinner. The first picture is my yummy dinner: a guacamole enchilada with extra avocado on the top! The second pic is of the flags that were hanging on the patio. The last pic is of a giant palm tree in the middle of the parking lot!

Word of the Day

thanks to Tina aka LifeLovePaper for this little gem!!

Blogtarded.

Me thinks I am going to use this one often enough to be considered only mildy annoying. I don't think it will replace Rad or Super-rad, but it's up there.

I think my printer is printarded. One of the ink tanks is unrecognizable. Like it got a bad nose job, or had some life changing experience after which it just wasn't the same anymore. It's there! Magenta is there! It's fine. Now just get on with it for Pete sake.

And if I wasn't already totally in love with Studio Calico kits, I am more so now. Still haven't ordered one...someday...I'll just keep eating up Tina's handiwork and maybe that will keep me satisfied for the time being.

Speaking of time...

stuff-ity-stuff

Surfing Anam's links while I should be finishing Juli's canvas, I found a person who's work space looks like mine!! Shut up!! Messy and "unorganized" (to the untrained eye!), with projects everywhere!


Alter Me

it has begun

so i've started the mammoth task of my San Diego book...and I've already completed a bunch of pages! Imagine that!! I've implemented my new scrapbooking strategy, and while my pages are very simple, they are done and, well, they are done and that's what is most important!

I left my album at the store, but I'll try to remember to take photos of the layouts tomorrow and post while I'm at work. There is one 12x12, one 6x12, a couple of 8.5x11 and 8x8 and even one 6x6!! I even did two for challenges...but the deadline for OLW was a couple of hours ago (oops!), but the page is still totally rad!

Awesome-ness: we got some new page protectors in the store for the new Fancy Pants 12x12 albums that are 4x6 photo holders! And they sort-of fit in my American Crafts album!! So now I can totally print all the "extra" (i.e. non-scrapbookable HA!) pictures and keep them in the same album! Rock on!!

See you in a couple of hours Juli...I'm counting down the seconds!!

I Love Elsie

New stuff on Elsie's Etsy! All Yummy, of course! And inspiring! I just read that she became a painter when she heard her current beau's music for the first time! Isn't that interesting!


I would say that I was born a painter, but that as part of my tv-watching childhood, the connection between my brain and my painting-hand was damaged and I can no longer get my ideas out without having them look like radiation victims. So I scrapbook instead! And "pretend-paint" with my mixed-media canvases and stuff.

Speaking of scrapbooking...here is the latest.

Pic of Lucas and Russ at the park on the long weekend in May. I know I know...the quote is from Spiderman, but there is a comic-book Batman on the page. It's still rad! I used one of the pages V posted that she was going to scraplift as my inspiration. Thanks V!




And these pics are from a couple of weeks before we left on vacation. We were having the in-laws over and so I cleaned the lawn chairs and set them out. Lucas went and made himself, and his cars comfy! I'm not too keen on the flowers, but it was late, and I glued them on with the heavy-duty stuff so they aren't coming off! Maybe I'll stick another button in the centre and call it done.

My new favourite way to scrapbook is to have a bag full of random supplies and paper at hand (leftover stuff from a kit that was sitting out, or a baggie of supplies from the last crop...doesn't matter) and just limit yourself to use what you have in front of you! Yes, you get some simple pages, but you can always add stuff later (if you must). And it forces you to be a bit more creative with what you do have. I'll have to use this "technique" while I'm organizing my scrap-space. This is also a good technique to use when you have "too many supplies" and want to use some up before heading out to the store again to indulge yourself. Plus I feel much better environment-wise, as I am getting the opportunity to use up some of the rad papers I hoard and not waste them!

I got my first QTea kit in the mail while we were away, and am just now starting to play with it. Kind of fun, not a tonne of stuff, but it's all unique and non-scrapbooking little bitties. I'll have to see what the next kit offers!

And a cute pic of Lucas all painted up from yesterday's messy play!

Day Three- Race Day!

Sunday was Race Day! James was up super early (4am!!) to get to his corral on time to start at 6:30am. We made it to the halfway point around 8am. But didn't see him because we are a bunch of weiners! No...he was just running a little behind schedule and we left right before he showed up because we wanted to make it to the finish line on time (and we did...but only about 2 hours early!!). Lucas fell asleep in my arms at the finish line and my legs fell asleep sitting in the parking lot holding him!

The Marine Recruit Depot, where the finish line was, is acutally a beautiful place. nice yellow stucco buildings and plam trees everywhere. We did a lot of walking that day...lots and lots! The weather was nice, not too hot with a bit of a breeze. James, Ang and Russ got a bit sunburnt. James' was the best: he had a nice white line where his purple headband was, with a burn above and below!

Pics from Left to Right: The halfway point in the race...no James! They have these purple trees all over the place down there, and I have no idea what it is, but I am in love with it! At the finish line, James is #17579. Lucas and Uncle...I had Lucas waving our little Team in Training sign and shouting Go Team Uncle Jimmy Go Team Awesome!! A picture of the base.

For more pics of the city and Lucas, check out ...and other song titles...

little help here...

(Juli-mostly) I am looking for Wilna Furstenberg's blog...if she has one. I can't seem to get a link from any of the other blogs that mention her stuff. argh.

also, I have an irresistible desire to put lace on all of my layouts. lots of lace. what is wrong with me? do I need professional help or just a kick in the behind? Kara, do you one piece of lacy ribbon in your awe-inspiring ribbon stash that I could use just so I can get passed this bump in my scrapbooking road? much obliged.

also, I think I am missing the results show of So You Think You Can Dance. Last season, I somehow watched all of the dancing episodes, but missed most of the results episodes (at least the best part...the first 10 minutes when they do the rad group number). Perhaps I am doomed to watch it on YouTube forever and ever!

Farmer's Market season is upon us. Russ, Lucas and I wandered over to our little one tonight. I bought some baby cukes (yummy-lucas had one on the walk home). And then we walked a couple of clicks in the complete opposite direction to get a free Blizzard...it's Russ' birthday tomorrow and he got a coupon for BOGO free. We're going for dinner at BPs with his family Friday, then dinner with my family on Saturday, and yummy Marble Slab cake at Dad and Heather's on Sunday (our recent tradition: each birthday boy or girl gets to pick their flavour of choice and Auntie Marcy and Grandma make sure it's ordered for the big day. Russ chose key lime with coconut and graham crackers...his fave!)

Anyways...I should get my butt up off this semi-comfortable computer chair and do some scrapping!

P.S. Yes Juli, you do take up a special place inside my heart...I miss you too!!

Freebies...Hazaa

So Juli sent me this email a million years ago with a list of artist freebies. And since I am a total dork, and have the memory of a starfish, I am just now checking it out.

yay Freebies!

My fave is the Paper Money, and the Travel ephemera, and the old pics of Ladies, and...well...you get the picture!

And on the email front...all y'all with me in your Address Book (thanks by the way!) can change my contact info. Since Telus is a not-some internet/phone/tv provider, their email services also leave something to be desired. They only allow for 15GB of email space...heck my spam fills that up in one heartbeat! So I have switched to GMail (Read: Russel has painstakingly switched me and all my old messages to GMail). I can still get mail to my old Telus account, but there's no guarantee that I will actually get it.

My new address is: lisakercher@gmail.com

(I know...really inventive!)


...Make a note of it...

ACK WHAT WAS I THINKING!

So I just submitted a layout to Scrapbook Cards and Today. I filled out the form and clicked "Submit" and there you have it. What have I become? What do I think I'm doing!?!? Stupid Anam, sending me all those pub calls (tee hee!!). I guess one of them had to make it through the block in my brain! We shall see what happens, and if I ever decide to submit again!

On another note, I finished two layouts last night, and two more that just need pictures printed! Hooray for me! Finally getting my mojo back!

Also, I got Lucas painting this morning. I was finishing off Juli's canvas, and Lucas asked if he could paint something. So I got out some ratty brushes, a scrap sheet of paper and let him go crazy. He has sort of a cross between a smushing an a smooshing technique. And just like his momma, is face and hands are covered! He's so cute! I'll post the pic later.

Hope everyone is having a good week.
:isa

Day Two- at the mall

On the second day we were in town, we went to the raddest outdoor mall! I didn't get to do a lot of shopping as Lucas was not interested in going into any of the stores...he just wanted to walk around. But I did take lots of pics, and visit Bath and Body Works! (yummy!!) There were lots of cool stores (some of which I am just learning we have in town...so whoopty do!) and really neat window displays!

In the afternoon we went to a pasta party put on by Team In Training so the runners could "carb-up" before the marathon. The food was super good (great salads and pasta, and giant cookies for dessert!) and there were some speeches and what not, which I missed because Lucas wanted to run around outside.

(Pics from left to right: the outdoor mall. a Coach ad for Juli (they had a Coach store but we didn't make it to that side of the mall). the security guard on his Segway who yelled at my sis-in-law for taking photos in the mall (no such admonition for me!!!). Gepettos: a cool toy store that Lucas didn't want to leave. James and his Alberta team before the pasta party (there were 28 runners form Alberta)

Lisa's Challenge Kit, etc.

Remember ladies that I have two challenge kits out there right now. The "Home" one was "due" last Saturday (thanks Juli for being the only one with it done!!) I'm not too concerned with getting those right away, and will post them when more of you get them done.

I have lots of the newest kit still available (@ the store). The theme is "going places" and the challenge is to "use texture." It is "due" at the end of June. I'll try and finish my version of it and post within the week. I need to get a pic from my Mom, and then I'll do it up.

I've been going through my San Diego pics today to post them on my blog and am realizing that I have about a gazillion of them and am now freaking out as to how I will scrapbook them all! Or even a respectable portion of them! So I bought an American Crafts 12x12 album at TM (that's how serious I am!) and will start organizing things this week. I'm going to need a whole Sunday to put photos together and decide where I want to go from there. So if y'all get an invite to TM for a "private crop" one Sunday, or I start pestering you about the next LNC, you'll know why!

Also, had a total blast at Nadine's surprise wedding shower on Saturday. Check out Nadine and Veronica's blogs for pics!

P.S. My hands are actually numb because it's so darn cold in my basement. I'm having a hard time typing! You know it's time to get off the computer when...

P.P.S. My cousin got a court summons becuase he was caught doing 160kph on the Whitemud. He is 18 YEARS OLD! And has a graduated license! I wanna see how much that ticket is going to cost him!

Day One

So I am going to break up my San Diego pictures because there are so darn many! Expect a new set each day (since Blogger has future posting now, this will be mucho easy!) I will also be putting some on my other blog just to keep things interesting, and so I don't use up all of my "gigs" available on this blog!

(from left to right: Uncle James and Lucas at the airport in Edmonton. Russ and Lucas at the airport in Edmonton. Lisa and Lucas on the first flight to Seattle. The Rocky Mountains! San Diego from the air.)

I actually hate flying, it comes from being afraid of heights, and the plane ride really takes its toll on me...especially the taking off!! Lucas was totally awesome though! And only complained during the first takeoff that his ears were sore. He slept through the entire Seattle to San Diego flight there (and back), which is the longer of the two flights, so that was nice! Russ and I got some "private time" and watched Office Space and read my National Geographic that I had saved special for the trip. That's really the only reading I did...we were SO BUSY! It would be nice to go back when we had more time to just hang out at the beach and piddle around!

Hi-dee-ho

So we made it back safe and sound. The plane came in at midnight last night, but we didn't get home until around 1:30am 'cause Customs was lined up.

The trip was awesome but exhausting. Not a lot of down time. Disneyland was so rad! I wish we had more time there and had skipped Seaworld. Oh well...next time...

I'll try and get a nice post going later tonight or tomorrow...with some pics!

Remember my "HOME" Challenge Kit is "due" today. And the next one is available for pickup at TM for those of you who want one. Not sure how many are left...I didn't go to work today, but I'm sure there are still lots!

We're in San Diego!!!

So here I am Blogging from my hotel room in San Diego! Woot!! Lucas is playing with his Cars on the floor, Trudy, Gerry and Angela are in Balboa Park and Russ and James are in Tijuana. The trip and all the walking we've been doing has taken its toll on Lucas so I wanted him to have a day of rest before we get going again.

James ran his marathon yesterday and did really well...he's only got a couple of blisters and he was in really high spirits after the race, so it must have gone well for him! We totally missed seeing him actually run...we were too early at the half way point and the finish line was so busy it was hard to get close to it, and we figured we had missed him because he came through too early...we were wrong! We probably left 5 minutes too early at the halfway point and he hit his wall at about the 22-24 mile mark so he was slowing down toward the finish. Russ and Angela did get to see him as he finished, but then we missed him coming out of the finish area! We just weren't having any luck!

The weather is super beautiful here. It is warm, but not crazy hot (low 20s) and there is a nice breeze. I've already been shopping (finally made it to my first Bath & Body Works...OMG I love it there!!) in an OUTDOOR MALL of all places. They have a tonne of cool stores, most of which I didn't make it into because Lucas isn't too keen on malls!

Tomorrow we are planning on going to the Zoo and the next day DISNEYLAND! I'll try and get some pictures posted tonight after I get some help from Russel...I am not good with laptops! I have taken about a zillion already...there are so many neat-o things to see. I hope Russel gets me something fun in Mexico and takes some more photos!

love and kisses...Lisa

p.s. Lucas was really good on the plane ride and as soon as we got off in San Diego he said really loud and sleepy-like: "We're in San Diego" for the whole room to hear!! It was super-adorable!