Wrap It Up

Yes, this is a DIY wrapping paper post. Coming a week after Christmas. But I would argue that it can be used year round. So there.

I wrapped all of my Christmas presents like this. And it was simple, and it's cute, and it's free!

You will need: White packing paper, scissors, washi tape, pencil crayons or markers, regular tape (because the washi tape isn't strong enough to keep these packages sealed!)

Be creative! Put that washi tape in whatever pattern you want! For Nadine & Anna's I used the tape to "write" their initials. Add bows or string or ribbon or pom poms, doodle and paint. If you want to get a little bit more complicated, the sky is the limit with this basic background.

Layer your paper. I found that while the paper I used is very sturdy, it is also very translucent! Double up on the layers to make the entire package much stronger and to discourage peeking!

Get help. This is a great way to get the the little ones involved. Lucas wrote the "to & from" on a couple of boxes, and I think that if he was in the mood I could have had him draw or doodle on them as well.

Personalize them.  Write a fun message or note to the recipient. Who needs a card, when your entire present can serve the purpose?!

And I still have loads of this paper (and loads of washi tape), so I definitely plan on using this system to wrap all my presents next year!

Today is my replacement DIY Sunday with BFF, so I hope to have more fun (and easy...so easy) DIYs for you in the next couple of weeks. Until then...

later loves

Let's Play Catch Up!

With some layouts. I have been on some kind of mad roll lately (mid-February...so a month ago now!), pumping out the layouts like nobody's business. It's a welcome change from the creative slump I was experiencing only a couple of weeks before.

Um...so I like colour. A lot, apparently. Dude was very freaked out for all the rides at Disneyland. Even Mr. Toad's! But we just HAD to go on Space Mountain, so we went. He was not impressed.

Indiana Jones was another traumatizing experience for him, I'm sure. But we are either the worst parents ever or the best, for making him helping him face his fears and go on these wild rides! Maybe he'll appreciate us when he's older.

later loves

Scrapbook Flashback

So, if you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed that I went a big crazy in the scrapbook-shopping department a couple of weeks ago. This meant I had piles of pretty paper to play with. Which then means that I have to dig back through the photo archives to find pics I haven't played with yet and get gluing.

Here is a sweet photo from New Year's Eve...enjoy!

 We got home from Disneyland in the evening, around 6pm I think. I had been texting Mom, letting her know we got in safe and she let me know that my sister was having some family over for snacks and games. I called them up as soon as we got home, and ensured we would be cordially greeted when we arrived an hour or so later!

We were tired from the full day of travel, and the early wake up (like 4am or something ridiculous! Youch!) but Dude really wanted to see Jacob & Evan, and I really wanted to be somewhere other than in my own house for New Year's!

It was a fun, low-key night. Jacob was SO HAPPY to see Lucas, he pretty much just followed him around all night. I've got a good Instax picture of them snuggling in a big chair reading a book that I should find...hmmm. Oh. I see it on the wall. We're good!

I especially love ringing in the new year with my favourite guys! I had to teach Dude about the New Year's kiss. I even texted BFF to say hi. We caught up on our missed chats and I wished him a Happy New Year, but he fell asleep before the clock struck midnight! Oh my...at least I didn't have to watch Bieber on TV like last New Year's Eve!

later loves

Technique Tuesday is BACK!

Well....for now. I've got another technique post going up on the TM Inspiration Blog today, so I thought I would share those layouts with you here, and maybe inspire you to head over there to check things out.

This set of layouts demonstrate how to paint on vellum, thereby creating patterned vellum in whatever colour & design you choose! Yay! I'm all about custom embellishments...

I think these are my two most favourite layouts right now. Yeppers. Pretty proud of myself with these ones...pat on the back proud!

And finally, I used gold paint AND gold glitter to create some fabulous polka dotty vellum.

So, are you headed off to paint on some vellum yet? Go get 'em Tiger!

later loves

Another "Successful" Photo Shoot!

Every year we take a "Christmas Card Photo"....that I add to our Christmas cards. Self-explanatory, I think. This year we didn't get a chance to do one in the fall. But on the first weekend in December my Mom wanted to get a photo of the big group of us for her Christmas cards, and so I thought while we were at that.....

Awww! We're so cute!

Gots to get some goofy ones in as well. For good measure and all that.....

Dude & Captain were SO MAD that they had to sit for a whole five minutes and get their pictures taken. I think they freaked out for longer than the whole photo shoot took! Evan is the smart one. He just sat and played with his toes until we were ready.

And in case you're interested, here are some Christmas Card Photos from the Ghost of Christmas Past...

And the Final Good-Kercher-McGarvey Family photo. Another year is coming to a close....and we are still looking pretty damn awesome!

Standing l-r: Heath, Sean, Amy, Russ, Lisa
Sitting l-r: Jacob, Arlene, Evan, Lucas

(and then I promptly went and scrapbooked the darn thing....cause that's how I roll!)

Hello Studio Calico November kit!

later loves

EAT CAKE!

I think I might have to start posting layouts more often than twice a week. You see, my birthday was in September, a whole month ago, and I am still posting layouts I made using those pictures. It's October 22nd people. But I will be the first to admit that these aren't my most popular posts anymore...for the audience at least. I still love posting them, though, so you're kind of stuck with them! HA!

 Birthdays mean cake, obviously. And there was lots of cake involved in my Birthday Weekend Celebration. Thankfully, I have almost fully explained my gluten-free and dairy-free preferences to my friends and family, so most of my desserts were dietary compliant. Simone & the girls at work got me a super amazing chocolate flourless torte from Bon Ton Bakery in town. Ermegherd it was so delicious, and so rich and chocolately! Holy doodle.

Nadine & Mom both baked gluten-free & dairy-free cupcakes and a cake (respectively). Both also very delicious! Dad went for the standard Marble Slab ice cream cake, so after my tiny little piece my tummy was screaming at me! But it was still delicious...if not a little "inflammatory"!

For the scrapbookers...if you're still out there: The misting along the edge is a happy accident. I used this sheet as a mask for another layout, and kept it all this time (well...duh) just in case. Ink is Hero Arts NEON pink & dark blue. Chevron stamp is one I designed & carved myself. "Smile" is from Pebbles. Letters are American Crafts Thickers that I pushed into the blue ink and let dry.

later loves

Explore Stanley Park

A layout....

We had a lot of fun wandering around Stanley Park. Lucas & I skip, and sing, and run really fast, then walk really slow. We pick up leaves and sticks and shells and rocks. And we giggle....a lot.

I love little adventures like this.

later loves

Life needs more nights like this

This already seems like forever ago. Back in July R & I went with some friends to Taste of Edmonton, to enjoy some bevvies in the Beer Garden, and some great tunes c/o Wide Mouth Mason.

It was a great night...spent with some amazing people that I just don't see enough of. The rain held off. The drunks went away. The band was amazing. The beer was good too!

Life DOES need more night like this...

Who wants to join me?

later loves

Orange you glad

I'm not the biggest fan of this layout, but I do love how the background turned out, and I love all the elements on their own! Funny how that works...

This is the last layout for awhile. It's still from the same batch I started posting back in June. And now it's done. I was saving it to post next week, but it turns out I am being very very boring quiet this week and needed to use it NOW!

Layout Deets: The mist in the background is new Studio Calico Mister Hueys. TM got the latest colours in, to go with the new line. They are so tasty looking! Stencils are Crafter's Workshop/Julie Balzer and Jenni Bowlin. I've got a bunch of washi tape on here. I find this is a great way to add strips of colour where I normally would have used paper.

later loves

Lisa! For Pete's Sake, no gushing!

So I started typing this post, and it was going to a place I wasn't too comfortable with. And I thought, maybe too personal? Maybe too much for this blog? Which is weird, because so little is off limits for me here. I just don't have that filter (in my brain) in place.

So I figured I'd leave the good stuff for my art journal, and just include some photos and the briefest of introductions. I'm just no good at public-gushing.

This is my new best friend Dan. He makes me laugh and think. And sometimes he even buys me coffee.

He likes bow ties, old movies, strong coffee, and beer!

His turn-offs include urban sprawl & crowds.

Please send all fan mail to me, and I will be sure to forward it along! Ha!

please note: this layout is like the scrapbooked version of this post. It's very "art journaly"!

Layout Deets: The red "stamped" arrows on the right are actually the Studio Calico wooden arrows that I sprayed quite liberally with a red Mister Huey. I wanted to see what it would look like if I tried to stamp with it. I like the look, and carried the arrow theme along with the hot pink label tape.

 The man & woman are also Studio Calico wooden shapes that I laid on the paper before spraying with ink, then removing the images. It wasn't as crisp as I wanted, so I outlined the shape with a black marker. I like this look better. Even though it's still not "crisp". And it's a good thing too, being permanent Sharpie and all...

This layout is all tapes and stickers...no pattern paper here. It came together quite easily with the Studio Calico Fabrips and lots of washi tape on hand. I think I might do more layouts like this one!

later loves


p.s. I use the "BFF" terminology ironically, and "tongue-in-cheek"...but it still applies, I think...

Delight

I posted the "how-to" for the backbone of this mini on the Inspiration Blog two Sundays ago. You can see the full post here, if you are so inclined. I added the photos and embellished it on Friday. I filled it with pictures of the lake behind my Dad's place. I had to opportunity to wander around there last Sunday while he and Lucas threw rocks in to it!

 I think this is the point at which I ran out of adhesive! So I had to get creative with the washi and a stapler!

It is a simple matchbox mini album, alternating pages between pattern paper and 4x6 photo protectors (American Crafts). This was a guinea pig for me in terms of measurements and construction, so I learned a lot - which just means I made loads of mistakes! The next one will go much more smoothly, and thankfully I have a bunch of page protectors left over to make that next one a reality.

Supply List: Stamps from Heidi Swapp's latest travel line. Bella Blvd. washi tape. My Mind's Eye label stickers.

later loves

Washi Love

I bought nine rolls of washi tape at TM last week...I know I am not as bad as some people, but that's a hefty dose of washi! So I promptly went home and used a bunch. I hate to "hoard" new supplies...I'm a user.

These photos are from our Jasper trip back in October. I was going through my files, printing photos for another project, and I found these gems that were never put to paper.

 Featuring...banners, washi, and those precious tiny wooden stars from Studio Calico.

*****

Next..."true blue, baby I love you!"

 More Baby Evan! I actually hate that blue, stamped "E" at the top of the layout. It did not turn out how I wanted. But live and learn...the rest of the page is pretty sweet!

I added the washi tape right in with the strips of pattern paper. I love how versatile and gorgeous this stuff is. I am planning a mini album using washi tape as the only embellishment. And if I had better luck with online workshops in the past, I would be taking this class from Studio Calico. But I haven't, so I won't.

And here's a sneak of another layout I'm finishing up, featuring loads of washi.

I still have to add a title, and some stitching maybe? I haven't thought that far ahead! I just wanted to get that pretty washi on the page...oooh...ahhh...

Any other washi-lovers out there?

later loves