Guess Who's Gonna Be on TV?

Me that's who. This morning we taped the Treasured Memories "Show" for the Global tv morning show. It will air next Monday (the 4th) at 6:00am (I think). Our little snippets will be scattered throughout the show, one every hour or so. I think I might be on at 6:45 (or 7:45 depending on if they totally changed the order from the original info we got). I got to talk about "environmentally-friendly" scrapbooking, a subject near and dear to my heart! And it was kind of fun! Lorraine Mansbridge, the host, goes over your subject matter with you, then tells you what she's going to say and ask you, and then the camera's on and you're talking.

Anam was there with little Lily - her first crop and she's only 5 days old!. Jill also got to speak on camera (I missed it as I had to go home and get Lucas). As well as Trisha and Kim and Talia. The store was all a buzz, and it was only 7 in the morning! But Laurie bought us coffee so we did okay...at least I appreciated it! We put a bunch of people in the crop room, and had us a good old time!

And Lorraine Mansbridge is taller than I imagined! But she's got nothing on Jill for looks! Kudos to Miss Jules for getting this all set up! Woot!

Here are the pages I did up special for the show. I also brought some in that I had from before that have some found items on them. Sorry the images are so craptacular...the lighting in the back room leaves much to be desired!


(this one is primarily made up of packaging...Prima and Love Elsie. The "rose" at the top is made out of tissue paper from one of Chantel's gifts)

(this one has a used paper towel, stamped bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard, packaging from Ranger tags, and Making Memories ribbon that was tied to my apron when I got it)

(this one is all about using your scraps, I also used lots of packaging, the leftovers from some Doodlebug letter stickers, the lid from a PC-brand formula can - added a little alcohol ink, and the fresh seal lids from coffee tins! As well as the tag from a dolphin stuffed animal, a bread tag, and the word "California" cut from my pillow's inspection tag!!)




I also managed to snag Mom's canvas back from her to display in the store for the shoot. i don't think it ever made it on camera...but I did get a pic of it so I could post it here! The background is from a 1960s seed catalogue! I'm still working on other little canvas projects, and am planning in my brain the giant one that is going to hang in my grandma's living room!



The quote says: the keys to life are friendship, laughter and love. I used a bunch of suuede Glimmer Mist all over the keys and the edges of the canvas. In the sun it sparkles!!

ooh baby!

Am just taking a quick break at work...checking some blogs. Elsie, of course. Check out this rad artist: http://www.amandavisell.com/ She has really neat-o, whimsical stuff. Reminiscent of the opening credits to Monsters Inc., Ren & Stimpy cartoon, old school. Love it and want it!!

One Fine Day

So today was an awesome day! I am feeling way better, despite the crazy heat! Lucas and I went to two different playgrounds FOUR TIMES today. Trip to TM and Tims. Bought lots of goodies at the Farmers Market. Met up with Mom at the Farmers Market. Had a good lunch (only 1/2 a gram of fat! Holy Cow!) and got my Techneek of the Week done. Yay for me.

But when I look at the to-do list that has been piling up, I am a little freaked out! I kept putting things off because I wasn't feeling so hot, and now that it comes to Thursday, it is a long list!!! Mostly scrapbooking related...but it's all for work or for Riff Raff DT, so it is important! I better get off the computer, get some tiny-underwear in the dryer (I wash a lot of tiny underwear nowadays!) and get moving before So You Think You Can Dance starts and I lose all track of time.

later

oh, that girl!

So, when first saw pics of Claudine Hellmuth on Juli's blog, I couldn't figure out why she was so familiar. Even when Juli mentioned her name on the phone the other day, it rung a bell, but I wasn't sure why. As soon as I checked out her Blog I knew why. She was featured in an issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine...one that Anam lent me (and that I haven't given back yet...oops!...am getting around to it!!). She does these "whimsical" little mixed-media doo-dads of people, with real photos for their faces and painted bodies. And she always puts them in a rad scenee...flying a plane, swinging on a tire swing, etc. So that's how I know here. Neat stuff!

Speaking of rad artists, at Capital Ex (in the Agricom somewhere), there is a huge exhibit of local Alberta artists...lot of different, beautiful work! I think my jaw was down on the floor for most of the time (that was worth Russel's $10 to get me in...by far!!). There was one artist in particular that caught my eye. Really abstract, contemporary kind of stuff. And it is shiny and metallic and amazing! I read on one of the little placards that they are mixed media pieces, but I was wondering: "mixed with what?" So I went a little farther into his booth and saw a list that blew my mind!! He paints with crushed diamonds, gold and silver leaf, paints made from fruit and the real Alberta-kicker: TAR SANDS material! As if that wasn't rad enough, his work is so beautiful and bright and it has a 3D element. I was totally blown away.

His name is Edward Michell, and I've included a link to his website, but the photos there totally don't do his work justice...at all! If you get down to the Ex this week, I totally recommend checking the art exhibit out....there's something for everyone!

And I totally got goosebumps watching the Native Dancers...there was a young guy doing the hoop dance, and it was hard to take your eyes off him! He was amazing! The athletic ability that these dancers have, plus there's a totally spiritual feel to the whole thing! Awe-struck, really. And Lucas really enjoyed it as well. Too bacd he started freaking out and we had to leave.

Didn't get into the Butterfly Pavilion...not Russel's thing, and I didn't want to go in by myself. So I just stood outside for a moment and watched the ones on the very edge of the tent. Still very cool.

Lucas also really liked the kids area, where he got to be a farmer. He wasn't very happy about the whole thing at first (of course!), but once he and Russ got going, he seemed to enjoy himself. He got to carry around a little bucket and collect eggs and feed fake chickens and pigs, and even milk a fake cow! At the end you got to "buy" a treat for completing the circuit. And what does my son choose? Not the cookies or the juice or the fun stuff...he picks out a bowl of Cheerios!! Goof.

Went to Taste of Edmonton Monday night with Russel's sister. My goal this year was to only try things I had never eaten before (aside from the sweet potato fries from Brewsters, my only weakness!!). So I had some Chicken Tika from New Asian Village and Lahem Mishwi (halal beef with hummus and parsley on a pita) from L'Espresso Cafe. It was very busy there, as per usual and I am really not liking the new set-up...it is way too crowded along the east side, where most of the vendors are and the whole centre of the square is the beer gardens and the stage. Totally not enough picnic tables or places to sit and eat (if you weren't also drinking). Also, people have totally lost all common sense: "hey here's a good idea. let's stand right in the middle of the traffic lane and eat our food in our big group of 8 people, preventing all people from getting through, or getting their food. we are totally not in the way or anything. yay us!" ARGH! I will give some much deserved KUDOS to the volunteers, who kept the site very clean, and the garbages from overflowing. My only suggestion to the organizers (and this is the same thing I thought of last year) is to stop serving food on styrofoam plates and bowls! Talk about a tonne of garbage!!

K. I think I am done for today. Am feeling crappy, so I might just sit on my big butt and do some doodling for the rest of the afternoon. Yawn.

la dee dah

So, if you are at all interested in all the new things ready to hit the scrapbooking world, you really need to check out Juli's blog. There are so many new lines to check out you're head will explode! But I am not going to go crazy...it is always more exciting anticipating their arrival, their immediate arrival and the short time it takes to unload the boxes. And after they are actually in the store, they start to lose their gleam. I need all of it right now, but I know in a couple of months I will have changed my mind, and as soon as the stuff hits the store I will have changed it again...nothing will be so necessary anymore.

That's really the only thing keeping me from creating a very strict budget and starting to save my money now! This happens every time something *new* comes in. Since it is all shiny and new, you think you have to have it, and you must buy it immediately before everyone else discovers it and buys it up from under your nose. But the product will last in the store, even when the fascination with it fades. Take a breath. Take a step back. And use what you have!

Am not working very hard on scrapping stuff lately. I hit my peak and I think I'm done for awhile. Still have some Riff Raff stuff to finish up, and get some photos printed for the August kit pages. As always, I am busy doing up demos for classes and everyone at the store is preparing for our television debut (August 4th, Global, EARLY morning).

Man. This was a boring post. BOR-ing. My camera is at the store (I forgot it two days in a row...FOCUS LISA!!), so I can't upload any pics. Russ and I went to Capital Ex with Lucas on Sunday, and were at my grandparents place for my Mom's b-day party on Sat. night, but since my camera was at TM, I have NO PICTURES of either event (except or the handful I took on my cellphone at Capital Ex). Duh.

P.S. Claudine Hellmuth does have a cool new line...not for everyone though. It's all paints and gel medium and adhesive canvas. I'm excited about that one, but only really if with my discount it's cheaper than the stuff I already buy at Colours! I go through a lot of gel medium!!!

say click...take a pic

here's the brown and orange and black one. love it when I can be productive at work!! tee hee!!

love crackle paint and glimmer mist! LOVE IT!! This is black paint with suede and perfect peach glimmer mist.

OLW: "If"

Wow. I did a challenge. Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles.

Am very much into teal and black and white as of late. I haver another page at home that are these same exact colours. Hmmm.

But, not to worry. The page I did today at the store is brown, orange and black! Like a rad A&W ad!! Maybe I'll post that next. Am working on a b-day canvas for my mom...for tonight. So that has priority!

"I've been working on the railroad...

all the live-long day."

And I've been getting lots of scrapbooking done! Yay me! Got the August kit for TM to work on (and I'm actually ahead of the game...woot!). Have been playing with all those canvases I bought...so much for my stocking up!! Got some new Riff Raff shapes that are Super-Rad! Techneek of the Week went well, so I am busy putting something together for this week's blurb...TOMORROW. Etc. Etc.

Share:

This is a little canvas that started out as a play-time activity for Lucas. He saw me painting and wanted to help. (I've already done up the layouts with pics of him with paint all over!) Am in love with Glimmer Mist on canvas...it livens up the white underneath, but still lets your images show through. Very rad.

For the August kit. Used some paper form an old German book I bought @ Wee Book Inn on Whyte Ave. I think it's a "Cowboys and Indians" story! There are goofy pictures on some pages. I bought it for the text. I'm going to do a companion frame with a picture of Russ and Lucas. (Love those little IKEA frames...and a good price too!)



Chantel bought me this rad sepia watercolour of the Bam Pop Robot ages ago, so i decided to give it a buddy! Mine is hugging a Hambly tree! again, mounted on German text.




My dining room wall is really starting to shape up. Still have to move some stuff around, and figure out what to do with the other half of the wall! Up top is a Making Memories clock kit that I got for free from TM 'cause all the glass broke out. Decorated with stuff from August kit. Will take a closer pic of it once it's totally finished.


Sneak peek of something I'm working on with stuff from my last Q-Tea kit (all deer-themed). I'm trying to figure out what photos I am going to use and what direction the page is taking. I have a couple of different ideas so I might have to do a second layout! Thanks to Juli for providing the glimmer mist-stamped heart and Anam for the flower goodies! I love it when people get rid of stuff!


This is my final Q-Tea kit in my subscription. They do give you some rad things! This time it is "food-themed" with old school labels, recipe cards, apple ribbon, and the piece de resistance the cover from a Music book for the UKULELE! It is so rad! Not sure what I am going to do with it yet, but I love it!

While cleaning up my scrap space (and having a minor meltdown) yesterday, I put together little baggie of items I thought would look rad together, so I am going to go play with those! Lucas is having a late nap (we were hanging at TM with Kirsten, KC, Chantel and having a sprinkle donut and playing on the Cars website...lucky boy!) so I have some time to kill before dinner...which I think will be "out on the town" because I don't want to clean off my DR table!
The ladies and Gordon are off to CHA tomorrow...and I am so not jealous of them...they have to deal with Juli the micro-manager (JJ..love ya dearie!) But they are going to be so busy and have so much fun...and bring back lots of goodies!!! For those scrapbooking blog-stalkers out there, keep checking the main TM blog for photos and updates throughout the show. (link on the sidebar). Juli has already been posting lots of sneak peeks...and I am impressed! Lots of yummies coming out...I might have to get a fourth job! Or at least put in more hours at my other three!!!

Techneek of the Week

Premiered on the TM Classes Blog this morning...Chan I hope that's okay with you. I kind of just had the idea and I thought I'd run with it!

Some "green" techniques for you to try, plus a page layout to copy (uber-simple...at best)

It was fun though. I hate seeing all the work I put into classes go to waste when no one signs up. This way, I can still share my work-work with the Blog world and maybe get more people interested in classes...why just read the Blog when you can get hands-on with me in the store!!

Like my spelling!?!? Pretty rad-dish eh?

dreams come true

Page two of the "over the rainbow" stuff. still have to get some journaling together, but it looks so rad! yipty-hooray!

my scrap space is so messy right now! but I am tired. so i'm just going to watch the last of the Hellboy animated movie, and go to bed! The mess can wait till tomorrow.

...happy little bluebirds fly...

Here is my latest from the TM July kit. Pick one up, if you haven't already!!
This was, like, a quick page. I just kept cutting and doodling and gluing until Lucas was asking for me by name, and then I stopped and here it is. (Lucas actually said: "Where is my momma? I want my momma!!"). I do so love the Jenni Bowlin stuff...and there is a lot of it in this kit!!


Inspired by the Wizard of Oz...one of the greatest movies ever made!! "Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue. and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

I have another pick of the clouds that I'm going to do up next...in some other size. I love this "random size album" thing that has caught on. very fun!!

because you're mine...i walk the line

I was reading back through my recent Blog posts (yes...I do that) and I noticed that it has been awhile since I posted a nice layout for y-all to be inspired by! Well, I hate to disappoint, but this post won't rectify the situation! Instead I am posting my completed staff kit, featuring delicious Love Elsie frames that were on sale and awesome new Riff Raff keys! And not to brag about killing two birds with one stone or anything, but this is also going to be a class I'm teaching in August! Hazaa!

Russ tricked me last night, but he probably doesn't even realize it. The other day he mentioned that he wanted to reorganize the computer area downstairs and that he would need my help with it eventually. Well, last night he asked me to come downstairs when my show was over, and I was sure that he was going to put me to work. It started out as such, but then he asked which movie I wanted to watch!! So we watched a "stolen" version of Knocked Up and it was so very hilarious! The dubbing was off, and all the voices were high-pitched, but it was still good!

I took some rad pics of the rainbow after the rain Saturday night, so I think I will print those off and work on them today...instead of doing dishes! Do I really need an excuse!?!? I still need to do some more pages for the July kit at Treasured Memories. It's very rad, but the way. All teals and reds. Me very happy!! Too bad I have not been in the mood to play. I haven't been up to much scrapping lately. Or Blogging, although some would disagree. Or Webbering. I've become re-immersed in my IKEA catalogue, planning and marking pages and writing things down and changing my mind. Things I thought I was desperate for last month just don't cut it this month. That's why I haven't redecorated my house since we moved in...I can't make up my mind what I want it to look like!! And Russ and I are still in disagreement as to what we would like to see in the dining room (storage-wise) so we might just keep waiting. Fine by me...it's cheaper that way!!

Juli's Canvas

I don't think I ever posted pics of this...hmmm. And if I did, oh well I don't have any other pics to share, so you gotta take what you can get!

I made another canvas on Saturday. This one for my sister, for her b-day. It is totally rad...but I forgot to take a pic, so you'll just have to take my word for it!! Amy, if you're reading this, could you take a quick pic and email it to me, so I can post for the world to see? Thanks dearie.

Am continuing the "renovations" of my kitchen...i.e scraping the contact paper off my walls. ARGGH! And then I'll have to sand it all and skim it with some joint compound and THEN I can paint. That's going to take forever! ARGGH! But it will be so worth it!

Am working on more TM classes. It's nice to be busy with that AND on top of things. I have pretty much all of my demos done for july except one...which is the one that will take the longest, but oh well. Am also thinking of some other cool things I can do on the TM Classes blog...fun things!

Had fun shopping in the madness of IKEA yesterday...SALE Day. Although I don't think I bought anything that was part of the sale! But I got lots of good ideas, and I did buy a shelf for my kitchen, some boxes and another shelf in the as-is section that was only $!1. I have no idea where it is going to go...yet...but it was a dollar so who cares! It will have a home eventually. The store was busy busy, but I don't mind walking a bit to my parking spot, and I found the cashier that had no line, and I beat the rain. Hazaa!

Yummy ice cream cake at Dad's for Amy's b-day...peppermint with oreo mixins from Marble Slab. YUM YUM YUM! If I wasn't fat already....tee hee! Next b-day isn't until August, so I guess I have some time to get some weight off so I'm ready!

Crap...haven't planned dinner yet...plus Lucas is probably waking up and I haven't even touched my to-do list...stupid Internet time-suck!

Check back in the coming days for my "Ode to the Blog Stalker" post. And for some more projects and pretty things.

Later.

hey mambo

Riff Raff meets One Little Word

Jill's layout makes me want to kick her butt! Am in love. And Nadine's cute little pic of her and Cory...dreamy!

Will just add that this just reinforces the fact that I am always scrapbooking something sillier than anyone else on the face of Edmonton (and any other city frequented by One Little Word-ies). That is my style I guess. Don't mind that at all

P.S. What is wrong with my darn keyboard? It sometimes won't let me type "a" and the backspace key doesn't always work. It is cordless, but I never remember having this problem before. And come on CTRL...just work, will you!?!?!?!??

P.P.S. Am finishing my staff kit for this(?) month...will post once the glue is dry and I can take a photo!

Happy Belated Canada Day!

Russ and I and Lucas were having fun all day...and I have NO PICTURES to prove it!! Russ and I volunteered to help set up the activities at the Millwoods party. When we were done, we headed over to Mom's to hang out, have some BBQ and run through the sprinkler. It was nice to just sit and do nothing (except eat...we ate a lot!).

Then we went back to the park and Lucas saw some bunnies and a giant turtle and blew some bubbles and then just ran around. But he was tired and super hot, so we took off home after a short time there. We can see the fireworks at Millwoods park from behind our house, so Russ and I went up there...it's actually a pretty awesome show! Not-some...the dozen empty beer cans I picked up that were scattered all over the toboggan hill that we watch the fireworks from. Canadian, of all brands. What a way to celebrate our beautiful country...by dumping your garbage all over it.

I stayed up and watched Aeon Flux, which is a completely rad sci-fi movie, and Russ headed to bed. I discovered the back of both my legs were supremely sunburnt (boo hoo), but the rest of me and the guys did okay in all the heat.

P.S. I have started hanging my laundry outside to dry...better for the environment and better for my electricity bill. Russ got an email from the Chairman of our condo board, of which Russ is a member, stating that this contravenes our bylaws and we need to rectify the issue and that he expects as board members that we should lead by example. He is my next door neighbour and I want to go throw my laundry in his yard right now. I am SO MAD. MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD. There should be a law that prevents people from enacting bylaws, etc. that prevent someone from exercising their right to be environmentally friendly. I wonder if he knows about my compost bin...if he tells me to get rid of that I just might have to move. I am now searching online for a list of ways to reduce your carbon footprint that has "line drying your laundry" on it. And I will politely send him a link via email...as he didn't even have the courtesy to just walk over to my house and tell me himself.

cont.

In regards to my last post...I have calmed myself down, and found a tonne of websites dedicated to helping you reduce your carbon footprint. I just googled "Reducing your carbon footprint" and a whole bunch of results came back! And all of the ideas are good! There are sites with calculators, so you can find out what your carbon footprint is currently and how you can reduce it. The solutions are broken into areas of your life, like work, home on the road, etc. There is also a lot of other information on these sites about climate change in general, and off to offset the carbon you create when you travel, etc. etc. etc.



http://stopglobalwarming.org/

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/

http://www.naturecanada.ca/climate_change_reduce_ghg.asp

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/greenlife/story.html?id=09e43805-b530-4f8e-9cb6-c29350bc19b7&k=56193



http://www.zerofootprint.net/



http://www.earthlab.com/



http://www.goinggreenformychildren.com/index.html (their little sidebar ad read "we are in serious do-do. find out why" !!!tee hee!!!)



Some of this stuff is common sense, TO ME. But I have met a lot of people that have no idea how recycling works, that juice boxes are not only recyclable but that you can return them for a refund, and that a plastic Startbucks frappucino cup IS RECYCLABLE. I might have to do up a couple more posts on this, a subject near and dear to my heart.



For now I guess I can just hang my laundry inside to dry...in my tiny little basement...oh well. I'll just have to Russ to put up a clothesline. We can't have a board member breaking our precious little bylaws.

last vent...i promise

so you know why we have this bylaw? it's because we can't have people just hanging laundry willy-nilly all over the place and have it blowing around and MAKING THE COMPLEX LOOK BAD. This is an aesthetics bylaw. So, where are we going to draw the line? Are we going to sacrifice more things that could be making our environment healthier because it doesn't look nice? I have noticed that one of the biggest reasons that people/businesses don't recycle, or compost, or bike to work, or take the bus, or car pool, etc. is because they are lazy...or they use the excuse "it takes too much time/money/effort." We have to make little sacrifices now so we don't end up having to make the ultimate sacrifice down the road.

I will be the first to admit that I am one of the laziest son-of-a-guns on the face of this planet, but I know that this is important, so I just do it. If it takes me a little bit longer to sort my garbage or separate my compostables, that's okay. And I've noticed that I waste so much time on other things, that the time I spend on being green really doesn't amount to much, and it makes me feel good! Instant gratification!

But Russel is right...they didn't have to give us a warning, they could have just fined us or whatever and I did vote yes for these bylaws, so I should just shut my smart mouth. And I will. Right now. Sorry about the rant.