Sooooooo close!

The votes are counted and it was so close this time...but once again Lynn takes first prize with her fabulous little cork bird card. Second and third place were each one vote apart and ALL the cards were so creative I honestly wouldn't have been able to choose one as a favourite. Each one has one or more recycled or repurposed items on it and customers really enjoyed hearing about the "Ingredients" of each card. Congratulations Lynn... and because it was such a close one, I am going to award a free crop session to June who came second with her fabulous paper rolled card with the little twig and bird and also to Kathy who did such a great job punching squares out of a grocery flyer and matting them together on a top note die for her "baby" card. Those are the first 3 photos and the remainder of the cards are in no particular order (did that sound like results night on Dancing with the stars? LOL)Thanks to everyone for taking the challenge and to everyone who voted. The new contest begins tomorrow and I will also have next week's class samples up...yes! I'm early for once.....!

Inky fingers all round....

Last night's class was lots of messy fun. I think we all went home with rainbow fingers, but as you can see from the photos, the results were worth it. Everyone kindly allowed me to photograph their creations and although the light isn't the best in the evening, you can see the variety of fabulous colour combinations that everyone came up with. Thanks to everyone for their patience while I cut out things I'd forgotten (oops!) and for sharing and helping each other so well (you must have all had awesome kindergarten teachers LOL!)I especially enjoyed everyone changing things up from the original sample. I didn't post pics of the ones that used the same colours and stamps as my sample, but they were all so well done. Next week is our Christmas card class using the Iris folding technique. Marie Palmer will be teaching that class and she will also be here tomorrow (Saturday April 24th) between 1 and 3 pm to teach basic iris folding. Anyone can drop in tomorrow and make a card for $5 and $2 will be donated to the "Wonderbroads to support their breast cancer awareness campaign. Hope to see some of you there. Have a great weekend.

A weekend away and some sad news....

I was excited to have last weekend off so I could attend Scrapfest in Kitchener and visit with my kids and my in-laws. It was a very busy weekend but it felt great to be out shopping on a Saturday again (it's been a while...LOL ) Scrapfest was awesome and I totally ran out of time because there was so much to see and I was on a pretty tight schedule. I discovered a few new Canadian stamp companies that I hope to do business with in the near future, and I treated myself to a new stamp set that will no doubt make it's debut in an upcoming class very soon. Many thanks to Jennifer for holding down the fort on Saturday...what would I do without you??????
Sadly when we got home we received the news I've been dreading. My cousin Caron's little grandson Joe, who has been fighting a rare form of brain tumour since he was two years old, lost the battle on Sunday, less than two months after his seventh birthday. Affectionately known as Superhero Joe to those who knew and loved him, Joe was bright, funny and incredibly brave. Although I didn't get the chance to know him personally (he and his family live in England), I felt a real connection with both Joe and his wonderful family through the journal updates his Mom Yvonne wrote regularly on the CaringBridge website. My heart goes out to Joe's family and I'll continue to pray for them as they learn to cope without him, but I know in my heart that Joe is pain free and happily making friends in his new home with the Lord. Rest in Peace Joe
On a lighter note, I finally had a minute to upload two of the cards we'll be making in this week's class. The butterfly card is not finished as I've been searching for the right sentiment, but it was made using the baby wipe inking technique and the new Tim Holtz Sizzix die. Everyone's cards will look a little different this week as each person can choose their own ink colours for both the butterfly and the emboss resist card. I used Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage distress inks for mine. There will also be a choice of images for the oval panel so I may ask the ladies if I can photograph their cards this week to show what everyone came up with :)
This month's contest cards are on display in the store and the creativity that went into these is just amazing. I'll upload pictures later this week.
Sorry it's such a long post and I hope the sun is shining on you today wherever you are.

3 birthday cards

I'm very frustrated with my computer right now! It's so slow...I guess it must be time to do a little spring cleaning on the computer as well as the house (groan!)
Anyway after much thumb twiddling while my photos uploaded here are the 3 cards we'll be making on Thursday evening. It's always good to have a few birthday cards around for those times when you turn the page on the calendar and realize that someone's birthday is the next day...not just the next month LOL. The colours on the bugs and kisses card are WAY OFF! The background paper is Basic Grey Limeade and it's so bright and funky looking especially after running it through the Cuttlebug in the swiss dots embossing folder...the picture really doesn't do it justice. I really like the argyle paper on the chocolate cupcake card, but I think we may add a bit more detail on the brown scalloped border in class...it needs a little something else ... not sure what yet, but I'll figure it out before class! The frame around the other cupcake card was made with a Spellbinders frameabilities die. It took longer to poke the holes out of all those scallops than it did to make the rest of the card LOL! Well, there's a little bit of sunshine left so I'm off to read my book in the sunroom 'til supper is ready. Have a great week!

No Foolin'

Drum roll please............ Congratulations to Lynn Joncas, the winner of our first Design a Card Contest. Her beautiful "Hello Spring" card, pictured above, received the greatest number of votes and so she will receive a $10 Papercraft Cafe gift card. Many customers told me they couldn't choose just one favourite as they were all fabulous. Although there were several entries that received multiple votes, none came close to the number Lynn's received and I'm sure everyone would agree that her creativity really shines through this card.
It make me smile just to look at it.
Well here we are starting a brand new month and we have a brand new contest for you. Since April is "Earth Month" our contest will make use of Cosmo Cricket's "Earth Love Elements" paper. Customers can pick up a sheet of this paper for $1 and create a standard A2 size card using one or more of the elements on the paper. They can use any other products they wish, but as an added challenge, they need to include one element that has been re-purposed. For instance, a piece of old lace, trim or fabric; an odd button; wrapping paper or anything else that you wouldn't have purchased for card-making or scrap-booking. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with, but there are only 20 sheets of this paper available so hurry in and pick yours up if you'd like to enter the contest. All cards must be submitted by Saturday, April 17th and voting will begin on Monday April 19th. We'll count the votes at the end of the day on Friday April 30th and declare a winner!
Today is the first day of our V.I.P. program. Pick up a V.I.P. card when you make a $15 purchase, and for each $15 (before tax) you spend in the store your card will be stamped once. When you have 10 stamps on your card you'll receive $10 in free merchandise! Class fees count as a purchase too, so whenever you attend a 3 card class you'll get a stamp on your card....is that cool or what?
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter full of blessings.