Teresa's Embossing Paste class!

What a great group for Teresa's Embossing Paste class featuring the Dreamweaver Bare Tree Stencil! This is a picture from her 1st class. Her 2nd class is scheduled for November 16th from 6-8:30pm.

Teresa is a VERY talented person and we are VERY lucky to have her. If you have taken any of her classes, you will know what I am talking about. It is the little details that Teresa adds to her cards and projects that give her work a special touch.

Did you know that Teresa is an incredible artist, and by artist I mean painter! You should see her watercolour paintings! We're not talking colour by number. She has a true gift. We are hoping to highlight more about Teresa in the weeks ahead. But we want you to know that you don't need to go far to learn incredible techniques, or how to create that extra special card or project. The talented designers that we have are amazing. We also have some NEW designers joining us and we can't wait to tell you more! We just feel that you need to know more about them. Look for special designer highlights and profiles in the weeks ahead!

Stacey

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Although this has nothing to do with paper crafting, it is a very important issue as most of our customers are women! Do you know what is in your cosmetics? Your baby formula shampoo? Click on the link and watch the video, it will be an eye opener.

Susan

Breast Cancer Short Film

My cousin's daughter (young blonde girl) and her friend were asked to be in a short film about breast cancer. They are featured in this short film which will be screening at Breastfest 2010! Very exciting.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to remind everyone to go get their "free" yearly mammogram. Susan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nFLej3s6rk

Blackberry vandals.....

OK, for those of you who I might be offending, I will apologize right up front.....But there are some things that I just don't either agree with or understand in life: stealing, lack of respect or vandalism to name a few.

Today as I was leaving my house, there were about 10-15 people in front of my house picking blackberries. Buckets in hand and some were the LARGE Wine buckets!

Yummy I understand, nature is free (I get it!), sharing the wealth that nature brings....These are all awesome....BUT....one thing that I don't get is the fact that when some people are taking advantage of what nature brings to us and don't clean up after themselves, why did they start in the first place?

So just before I left my house, I just had to pull out my camera and snap a picture! I think it was to bring it all to reality for me. Yes, I have a picture with the people in it, but I am not posting that one just so I don't expose who some of the people are. To put this into a bigger perspective, there was even a lady with garden sheers. (Did she just happen to have them in her car?!) When there was a bramble in the way, she cut it down; Blackberries not quite in reach....cut some more! My initial thought was "I'm sure they will clean it up when they are done...blackberry bushes do grow back". But when I arrived home, my thoughts were proved incorrect. Brambles lay over the ground and some were even tossed ontop of the brambles. Is this me ranting....Yep! But I guess this is therapy for me. The pictures here don't do it justice. I know what I will be doing tomorrow....cleaning up the neighbourhood and doing my part!

So to bring some light to this, I found some projects completed by other talented ladies that I would like to share. Hopefully all of the blackberries picked today will be enjoyed to the maximum.....since there were Wine buckets, I thought that I would show you some projects from Crafty Secrets using the Wine Lovers set.

The card on the left was completed by Crafty Secrets designer Marisa and the series of wine projects on the right was completed by Lisa Zappa, another Crafty Secrets designer.

For more inspiration I am adding some links to their galleries. Here is a link to Lisa's Crafty Secrets gallery: http://www.craftysecrets.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=39

Here is a link to Marisa's Crafty Secrets gallery: http://www.craftysecrets.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=207

Finding FORGIVENESS & LOVE through crafting!

Stacey

Donating Blood

So I go to donate blood last night and I am talking to the man putting in the needle & I say I hear there are 10,000 needed to have enough blood for this summer, and he says yes it's a difficult time of year to get donors in. However, he tells me that 25% of all blood donated in BC comes from the Island! So way to go Islanders, just one more reason to be proud of living here.

Gift of Hope

In the last few weeks, my aunt and uncle have both been through a lot mentally. They have both been diagnosed with Cancer. Not only one, but both! Yes, husband and wife. I'm not sure what they will say to me for posting this, but I guess it is like a little bit of therapy for me. For some people, talking about the "facts of life" in this instance is the best for the soul. I believe this to be true for me. It all becomes "real" and the process of acceptance can begin. As my aunt and uncle (and their 2 daughters) are my only relatives in the western part of Canada, they are my family. In fact, it was my aunt and uncle who welcomed me into their home when I decided to venture on my own and leave Nova Scotia. Although we had our moments (picture an early 20's gal who had lived on her own for a few years with her "own" rules entering into a family with an 11 & 13 year old and a whole other set of rules...I'm sure you get the picture!), but we have made it through and our bond is stronger now than ever.



Well, what is my reason for posting this? My uncle started radiation on Wednesday and today was my aunt's first chemo treatment. I just had to do something! So, I planned out a "chemo kit" to take to my aunt. Here are pictures of the "chemo kit" that I made for her and I filled it with many different items that may help her out during the process. I decorated an empty paint can with Basic Grey Kioshi papers, used the Scrap Pink Kit from Sizzix to texturize the paper. I sponged over the texture words and ribbon symbol with ink from a stamp pad. I added a die cut of a large ribbon and a few brads to embellish. I wrapped the handle with tulle and added a few ribbons on each handle to finish it off. (note: the lid is just tilted to show the paper covering the lid)

Items that I included in this kit:

Soft Slippers, a bottle of water, mint candies, anti-bacterial hand cleanser, hand lotion, word puzzle, journal & book mark (yes, I forgot the pen!), kleenex, and lip balm.

I hope this gives you some inspiration for a project!

Stacey

Show Time!

Why is there a picture of Bill Cosby and "The Cosby Family" on our blog?! I just had to share my news with you.

While I was growing up I think that I "grew up with the Cosby Family". Well, not in person of course. But it was a show that was watched religiously in our house. The humour, laughs and lightheartedness of the show pleased many while still covering many subjects that really hit home with almost anyone. Just the vision of Bill in the kitchen makes me smile...and an apron at that! Looking at the picture with the family at the table is a reminder of how "family" is a stronger unit when they come together and work as a unit. I always love being around families with this strong bond: happiness and joy abound!

My news: I am going to see Bill Cosby tonight as I won tickets! YEAH~~ I can really use a good laugh and I'm sure that won't be a problem~....see, it pays to watch the news. THANKS /A\ NEWS!

A VERY lucky and happy Stacey!