Christmas crafts

Have you been busy crafting for Christmas? There are so many great ideas out there and a ton of inspiration if you have the time to look for it. If you're crazy busy at this time of year and don't have the time to look ~ read on. I've posted links to a couple I'm planning on trying this year.


Here are a ton of great ideas for making pretty ornaments using glitter, paints, letter stickers and rubons... This is my daughter, she's 11, making a simple ornament by dribbling Making Memories paints down the inside of a glass ball. We used 2 or 3 different colours; often using a metallic for one. Once the colour has covered the inside surface of the glass ball leave it upside down overnight for the excess paint to run out.


I used some SEI Christmas rub-ons and some pretty ribbon from Unforgettable Memories to finish of this ornament.


It's so easy even Daddy can do it.

Hmmm! We'll have to tell him not to shake it next time. I think ours are prettier.


Did you notice the little snowflake box hanging beside the 'pretty' painted ball above? I made those last Christmas and posted a 'how-to' here.

I bought these big carboard monograms by Making Memories last year but never got around to using them. So last week I picked up some peppermint candies and we glued them to the big B for Breanna. It is hanging on her door.
She told her brothers she was going to lick it everytime she went by so they wouldn't be tempted to steal her candies.

I love the idea of making a 'time capsule' ornament like they did here. I picked up another pack of clear balls from Unforgettable Memories last week so I can make one for each of the kids. It's been a busy fun year with trips, building forts, broken bones... I'll post a picture when they're done.

CROP DATES REVISED....

Sorry Folks, The dates originally posted for the retreat weekend were incorrect and have been revised to March 12th 13th & 14th.

I appologize for any inconvenience.

Regards,

Lynette

One good Christmas photo

Yesturday I dressed the girls in some matchey matchey outfits and tried to get one good photo to make some Christmas Cards using the new online options at Unforgettable Memories. Well; two hours later, some crying, yelling, laughing and complaining I managed to capture 80 or so pictures and maybe one of them is photo card material. They are so bad I feel like choosing the worst one to use on my card. I can't believe how hard it is to get one good shot of two pretty cute kids. Do any of these look like any of your Christams card photo shoot pictures?


This next one is the best shot out of the bunch. I was able to edit it online and make it look not too bad. Then I selected a photo card base. Added some text. Placed my order. And tomorrow when the store reopens I should be able to pick them up, grab some envelopes and stick them in the mail. Pretty easy.

This is one more of my precious photos. Look at their faces. So typical of their personalities. What do you think? Should I make a couple photo cards and send these ones just to the Grandmas. Hee Hee!

Get busy right now. Take some great photos of your family. Better luck to you! Go online and make some Christmas photo cards today!

Christmas Giveaways

I've been cruising the internet looking for fun ideas. While checking out the manufacturer blogs I've found a few Give Aways that (fingers crossed) I could win. Or you could...

Tim Holtz is on day ten of his annual '12 tags of Christmas'. Check out his blog to see his beautiful creations and learn some new techniques. Unforgettable Memories carries all the stuff you need to create your own tags; distress inks, paints, dabbers... and Tim posts step by step instructions for each tag with lots of pictures. That's good. I'm very visual and can follow instructions better when looking than reading. And if you leave a nice comment for Tim he might pick your name out of the hat and send you some Ranger goodies.

One of my favourite manufacturer blogs is the Prima blog. Not only do they have talented designers and lots of eye candy, they also have giveaways fairly regularly. One of these days I'll win. Check out there latest Give Away here. You might win some of these goodies. I just picked up a package of those gorgeous birds at the store last night. I can't wait to find a project to use them on.

The Scrapbook and Cards blog is having their annual “12 days of holiday giving” starting tomorrow. I'll be visiting their blog every day.

Cosmo Cricket has a give away on their blog. I love reading their posts. Even when they're not scrapbook related they are always entertaining.

You all know how much I love playing with the messy stuff, like Glimmer Mists. My Tattered Angels has a Give Away happening around the announcement of their new 'angel' who will be announced Dec 14. So head on over and make your best guess.

And lastly I joined this party late. Pink Paislee has been doing the 12 days of Christmas Give Aways and I just stumbled across it today on the 11th day. So go comment on their post and tell them your favourite Christmas movie. Don't forget to go back again tomorrow for a last chance at a Give Away.

Good Luck.
I hope you all win!

Prima's December sketch

I was going to wait till I finished my layout before posting the sketch, but it would be more fun if some of you scrapped it with me. So here is Prima's December sketch.


Check out Prima's blog to see how their designers used this sketch for their pages.

Spring Retreat Registration Opens This Saturday

Spring Retreat 2009

Whew where has the time gone. It just seems like last month we were all scrapbooking and having a great time at the scrapbook retreat in September and look it's almost Christmas! Well you know what that means....registration for our spring retreat is going to open up on Saturday December 12, 2009 at 10am.

If you're looking for a fun filled weekend away the join us for our 8th Annual Spring Retreat on March 12th 13th & 14th! (sorry this was originally posted with the incorrect dates)
Our fun exciting retreat takes place at the picturesque Log Lodge overlooking the Blueberry River Valley at the Blueberry Bible Camp. Surrounded by the beautiful landscape and cozy atmosphere of the wood fireplace we enjoy a fun filled three days of scrapbooking and crafting.

Doors open on Friday the 19th at Noon and we're packed up and ready to head home by three in the afternoon on Sunday. All meals and accommodations are included. Combined with a class project on Saturday and a fantastic goodie bag full of fun treats! You have the option as well to take a class kit and just enjoy the fun on Saturday or participate in the class, either way there's tons of treats in your class pack too!

Cost for the weekend is just $260.00 plus applicable taxes however early bird registration is just $240.00 plus applicable taxes when your registration is received before the end of the business day February 19, 2010.

Space is definitely limited so register early to avoid disappointment!  Hope to see you there!

I'll be posting the registration forms on our website at http://www.unforgettablememories.ca/spring-retreat-2009 on Friday for those who wish to print them off ahead of time and have them filled in :)


Questions? Email Lynette at unforgettable@telus.net

8 cards in 1 hour

I just completed eight cards in one hour. I used the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Greeting Card Kit. I love these kits. All you need is some glue and ink. You don't even need scissors. These kits are a quick and easy project. The only sad thing is that you finish them so quickly and then you have to move on to something else! I also picked up some Eskimo Kisses paper and embellishments from Unforgettable Memories and maybe tomorrow I will try to create some of my own cards. Hey, all you card makers we would love to see the cards you make using some Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. Make some cards and then leave a link to your pics in the comments or bring them down to the store to share. Happy card making!

Oh and I will be dropping off the Christmas Mini Book tomorrow to the store. So, when you are there picking up some Eskimo Kisses check out the book and then sign up for the class on December 15th. Come on it will be fun:)

December Daily...

I printed my pictures today at the lab (actually sent them in last night via the online site :) and it was great. Tonight I picked up my pictures before leaving work and come through with putting my pictures on my page and adding my journalling block.

I had forgotten my book last night at the office so I didn't post any pictures but remembered tonight...Here's some pics of the cover and the 1st of Dec. I used mostly the new Making Memories Mistletoe lline. I just love how this line all coordinates. I really tried to pull in some past goodies but I don't think it works so well, at least not yet..

Tonight was a real treat. I watched all day for some inspirational photo's. I've started packing around my camera, along with a spare set of batteries, but didn't see anything that caught my eye and they day was almost over until we arrived home and had a wonderful surprise. While we were at school and work Jeff had a little something up his sleeve...The house was all decorated with our Christmas Lights. In years past it's been a really difficult thing to get done. Without the deck on the house it's a 12 ft lift to the peak of the roof to get the lights hung...somehow it never gets that far. Well this fall we started on the deck and so therefore there was the platform to get the lights up. We love the lights and they put a smile on our faces when we see them on the house.  Jeff you're the best and we love you!

Well there you have it page two! Hope everyone is getting in the festive mood! Jen was so right when she said having a journal like this is really inspiring and gets you into the holiday mood since you are aware and keep your eye out for something worth filling your album!

Thanks again Jen and Jen!

Lynette

Christmas Mini Album

Here are some photos of my upcoming class on December 15th. This album is made using Pink Paisley Mistletoe & Co. Collection. We will make this album from scratch and what's cool about it is that you can display it on your coffee table in a special way. Check it out...

It all folds out and stands as a star! I was inspired to create this mini book from a one similar in this months Paper Trends magazine available at Unforgettable Memories. I new just what paper and embellishments I would use for this cool book. It is actually pretty easy to make so come and join me on December 15th!

Here is a close up some pages. I will bring the project to the store this week. I have to finish typing up the instructions.

I want you to do a December Daily

Well, December is here and it's time for the December Daily album that Lynette and Crystal have told you about already. I did it last year and the best thing about it is reading it now, a year later, and being able to remember through words and the photos what our family was like then. (And of course, what the month was like for us too.) I encourage you to start one up tonight! It's only the second...and it doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be Christmas-y. It doesn't have to have all the perfect "stuff" in it (though you know where to find it if you need any!)
It could be a plain notebook that you intentionally journal in every day this month, without any photos. It can be one photo a day on some cardstock, with a few lines about your day, or a favorite memory or a tradition you love.

I've been looking forward to starting my daily documentation for weeks. Last year, I realized that it really helps you to notice the details of your life and really enjoy them. Christmas didn't seem quite so stressful (even though the word 'sick' was written down much too frequently - oh my poor kids!) So now this book is not only fun and cool and interesting - it's also THERAPEUTIC. How can you go wrong?

If Christmas isn't a big thing for you, or you don't celebrate at all, it doesn't need to be about that just because it's December - the point is, it's a very cool and interesting project to gather the memories of a whole month and have them in one album. Your regular, everyday comings and goings, joys and disappointments, thoughts and conversations. Your LIFE, in the month of December, 2009.

This year's book is looking kind of skinny and sad still, so here's a few photos from last years album. And I'm serious! and bossy! start one tonight - you won't regret it.