post-Christmas break

Our family has had a super Christmas season, so..................




..........we are off to Disney World to celebrate with these amazing characters (and hopefully a few Disney Princess for Asha)!!!!!!



See you mid-January to show you photos of Christmas, New Years & Disney!!!!!!!

looking forward to warmer weather {from the farm},
j.

last night & this morning

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful evening of music & classroom skits at Asha & Carter's school concert. My older sister, Lisa is the music teacher at their school. It was so exciting to see her in her "element". She's an incredibly talented musician & teacher -- my kids are so lucky to have "Auntie Lisa" as their music teacher.

And this morning I took a walk around the yard......enjoying the frosty weather.......

........ and the frosty faces.

Have a wonderful day!!!!!

{from the farm},

j.

around my house // Christmas time

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".

The welcome wreath at the front door.
Someone is looking pretty sad at the door these days -- it's cold outside.

So we allow Kayna in for a nap during the evening.
Our tree is so pretty this year (I think I say that every year).
We actually go slugging out in the bush at my brother-in-laws to personally pick our tree. We cut down the smallest one, bring it home & it usually ends up still looking massive in our living room.
This year.......it's just perfect.

Daria's new ornament this year.

Some other new sparkly balls for the tree.


Baking shortbread cookies.



Paper snowflakes (created by Asha) for my window.

Decor in my living room & dining room.

The "snowbaby" village that the girls set up every year.

The village buildings come from my sister and every "snowbaby" ornament is specially hand-painted by Ron's aunts at Christmas. We get to pick 5 for our family every year........which we add to the display.

One of my favourite traditions & memories.

We will cherish these ornaments forever.

Asha is counting down the days 'til Christmas with her school-made paper chain.

And can anyone else say they have a replica of the Taj Mahal in their living room right now?

Anyone?

Carter created this (with a little help from his parents) for his Structures Project in Grade 4.

It heads out the door tomorrow for his presentation.

Wishing you joy & happiness this holiday season.

May you feel the true meaning of Christmas in your hearts

& share it with your friends and family.

Blessings {from the farm},

j.

cruisin' design

So.....it seems like months & months & months ago that I shared the news with you that I was invited to create & design a layout for this years Crop and Cruise event as a past Featured Instructor. Well.......that fabulous event has been and gone and they all had a fantastic time (so jealous I couldn't be there this time). Click here to read all about their ADVENTURES.


I realize that I never did share the layout I designed using the greatest products from three amazing companies that I design for:
Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker,
myStampBOX &
Cut Your Way!!!!!!
Click here, here & here to see these companies featured on the Crop and Cruise blog.


So here is the layout (drumroll, please): My Personal Paradise

There are so many incredible products that I had the pleasure of working with. Basically, I chose each company's products and created a double-page layout kit. After choosing the products for the kit, I then designed the layout. Choosing the products first (without really having a definite vision in mind allowed me to "go a little crazy" with the products and choose prints & patterns that wouldn't be a scrappers first choice). I love doing this -- thinking a little outside-the-box and making participants think "holy cow, how's THIS gonna work?"

Here's a close-up of the mSB stamp set I used in the design -- Abundant Blossoms. I mixed the stamps with fabulous (fuschia) vinyl from Cut Your Way and one of my favourite products from NS, the burlap buttons. Loooooooove these!!!!!!

My sister personally cut all the titles, flowers & palm trees for the layout. Love the little details all over the layout that give it such a "paradise" touch. I used the cardstock pocket from the Pocket of Treats (by Nikki Sivils) to house one of my feature photos on the layout. Gives the page a little more dimension, while the vinyl dresses things up a bit.

I combined the Cardstock Letter Stickers from NS with a purple vinyl "paradise" from Cut Your Way. Took a while to find just the right font for the title (vinyl), but I think it turned out just the way I imagined.

Little details, like these Cardstock Stickers from NS complete any layout. You just gotta' have them all!!!!

Now....go check the Crop and Cruise blog so you don't miss the next event, all the fabulous products from myStampBOX & Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker and get emailing your vinyl order into Cut Your Way. Go on.......you have a busy day ahead of you!!!!!

(**editted**)

Thought I better give you the complete supply list -- in case you want to create your own "paradise" layout.

Nikki Sivils:

Willow Bee PP - Bee Strips/Day Dreamer; North Pole Nights - Creatures Are Stirring/24 Nights Til Christmas; Something for Everyone - For Hilde/For Deana; Blueberry Hill - Vines/Sunny Day for Blueberries; Boo-tiful - Trick or Treat Small my Feet/My Costume; U R My Favourite - U R My Favourite/U R Love

Burlap Buttons - red

Cardstock Stickers - Sugar Cookie

Pocket of Treats - Brown Curtain

myStampBOX:

Abundant Blossoms

Cut Your Way:

olive (palm tree)

fuschia (multi-sized flowers)

plum (paradise)

{from the farm},

j.

a quick link

Go check out MY POST over at the mSB Blog today. There is soooooooo much Inspiration happening during the 12 Days of Christmas celebration.

enjoying a day of catch-up {from the farm},
j.

Season of Giving // True Love

Yippeeeeee!!!! It's finally here. The time of year I just llloooooovvvvveeeeee. It's December and I'm so excited that we can celebrate the Season of Giving together over at the mSB Blog. So......we are giving you loads of Christmas stamping ideas to fill your head {and get those dancing sugarplums out of there for just a second}.

Join our team as we share inspiration and create some yummy treasures during the "12 Days of Christmas". I've seen the sneak peeks..........and they are fabulous!!!

So.....come on over and celebrate the holidays with the mSB Design Team.

dancing with sugarplums {from the farm},

j.

btw - And head on over to Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker today for a chance to WIN!!!!!!!! a fabulous basket of goodies from her. You won't be sorry!!!!!!!