must haves

Kids are back to school this morning and I'm still in my fuschia pj's.  Love it!!!  Been doing a little "homework" myself this morning; catching up on some blogs and finishing some deadlines that are sneaking up on me.


Kay......you have GOT to see this. 


Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker has been busy creating her latest paper lines and they are definitely going to be your next purchases!!!  I can't believe what this incredibly talented woman comes up with when she's designing.  She's amazing!!! 

Here's a little sneak peek at one of my new faves:

 The collection kit cover

(with a look at all the papers)

 there are so many ways that you could use these little telephones.

 kay.......hello........this one rocks!!!  love florals.  How did she know??

 ledger paper is definitely one of my faves for a background paper.

 always love the houndstooth!!!

 ... and check out these adoreable library cards.  So many possibilities!!!

Nikki's got other new lines just waiting to be shared.  I'll debut them in the next little while.  They are also announcing their latest Design Team in the next week or so.  Can't wait to see what talent they have lined up for this season!!!

Check back here next week when I start blogging from Costa Rica.......heading there this coming weekend.  Can't wait to start another adventure.

{from the farm},
j.

new 5 for Christmas

Posting 5 new layouts to show you.  A few weeks ago, I went away for a long weekend with some girlfriends to scrap........and I mean completely and only scrap, eat & sleep.........oh, yeah, and laugh A LOT!!!!
These are just some of the 23 layouts I created that weekend.

This first one (above) is of a Christmas Eve photo we took last year.  I`ve used mSB stamps to create some of the title, combined with letter stickers........really old stickers from my stash actually.  Love using old stuff!!!

This layout is totally scrap-lifted from Wilna Furstenberg (have to give the talented woman credit here).  Totally LUV her style....the colours she uses, the details she creates & the overall look of everything on her layouts.  I know she`s mostly digital, but I love re-creating her looks with product.

 simple, clean & oh, so Asha.

These two layouts are created using the Gingerbread Lane products from Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker.  LOVE all the goodies you get in her product lines...............sooooooo much fun to work with. 

Hope you enjoy.  There`s more to come soon.

from the farm,
j.

random // busy bee

I've been busy in this room lately.  Can't you tell?  It's a mess!!!

Needing to scrap the last of my "last winter" photos.  This layout showcases a photo of me & my two sisters having fun on the toboggan slopes at a neighbour's.  Just some random fun products sitting on my desk and in my muffin tins.  I used watercolour paper and some watered down acrylic paints to create the background paper.  I then stitched it onto a patterned 12x12 paper.

 Here are 3 layouts I've created recently for Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker.

 My Little Monster - product line

 School is Cool - product line

School is Cool - product line

Working on a few other projects right now...............my desk may stay looking like this for a while.  Some deadlines to meet (right in the middle of harvest time to boot).  I have all my September ones done, photos taken & sent in by email.  Now for the October ones.  Who knows.....we may still be harvesting then.  Gotta get 'em done early.  Hate having things hanging around.

Hey................and check this post out.  BIG news.................BIG BIG news.  I'm flying at the end of Sept.

Yeah!!!!!!!!

tired {from the farm},

j.

another quick peek

Click HERE to see another fantastic peek at Nikki Sivils' new products.........just releasing now. She's showcasing another new line today AND giving you some close-ups of some papers.

Have a wonderful day {from the farm},
j.

nothing NERDY about this

Introducing the latest addition to the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker line...................

I just got confirmation that we can now share some images from this new baby!!!! And this is not all. There are FOUR more new lines coming out -- they are just around the corner -- and I promise you I will share them as well.

I'm soooo excited about all 5 of the new product lines that Nikki has designed.......starting with SCHOOL IS COOL. They just seem to get better & better. Nikki has added collection kits, punch-outs, 6 different alpha stickers on one sheet of stickers.......(y'know those little square ones that I use ALL THE TIME), as well as a sheet of stickers that are just elements that coordinate with the collection. Can you believe it??!!!

I can't wait to get the mail!!!!!!!!!

Now, just like with any delivery............... I wait.

enjoy your day {from the farm},

j.

Swedish e-zine

Received a link today from a fellow Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker design team member (Monika Martinson) that the latest Swedish e-zine is out. And guess who has 2 layouts featured in it?

(who told you?)

Anyway.....take a peek and get tons of inspiration. There are so many layouts that I will use snippets from for creative ideas.

Click HERE to see.

My layouts are on pages 28-29 & pg. 31.


More "life" updates coming soon...........lots since I last posted. It's been a crazy spring.

{from the farm},
j.

guest designer

No......it's not me.

But IT COULD BE YOU!!!!!!!!

I'm sending you over to the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker BLOG to check out the latest

Guest Designer Call.

They are on the look out over there.................

..........and I think it could be

YOU!!!!!!!

So what are you waiting for?

Go check it out & apply today.

(Yes, that means YOU).

enjoying the sunshine {from the farm},

j.

two posts

My March post is up today at the myStampBOX blog. Go check it out here. We did something a little different this month and created "partner" projects. You'll want to go see everyone's creations!!!!!

Here's a sneak peek of my LO:


And click here to check out the LOs I created using the latest lines from Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker. They were posted on their blog yesterday ........... just didn't quite get them posted on mine (how bad is that??).

Here's a little taste before you head over there:



I'll post some Inspiration Layouts tomorrow......................so come back for more.

{from the farm},
j.

i can show you now

Here's a few layouts I created using Nikki Sivil Scrapbookers "Something for Everyone" and "Sugar Cookie" lines. They were both featured on their blog a few weeks back and I remembered just now that I hadn't shared them with you yet.

Looking Back: featuring a photo of me & my cutie little niece, Erica.


Cheers to us: i used a photo of me & my sister-in-laws.....love them!!! and I created the layout using a 12x12 page protector with 6 - 4x6 pockets. I put photos and paper underneath, and layered the embellies on top to give some dimension. Soooooo fun & EASY!!!!!!!

And head on over to the mSB blog today to check out my latest layout using the fabulous new Pennants stamp set & the Timelines stamp set. LOVE both these new sets!!!!!!! It's funny how I forget about these layouts sometimes. I create them so far in advance for the DT that, by the time they are featured, the layout has been sitting on a pile (uhhum......I mean in an album) for so long. I've got to get a better system going so this won't happen.

Here's a sneak peek before you head over to the mSB blog:

btw - spent a huge portion of my afternoon in my scrap space.........some clean, some organizing, lots of creating.
(smile).

And to those who scolded me for thinking my scrap space is boring.............it is!!!!!! Well, at least for now it is.

It's colourful -- yes.

It's busy -- yes.

It's inspiring even -- yes.

But it's not organized & fresh & tidy & my style & did I say organized??!? So, just wait until I'm done with it (.........I may need a shopping trip before I can continue though)!!!!!

see you soon {from the farm},
j.

a little love

Today I have to give shout some serious love out to two of the best companies I have ever had the priviledge to design for:

and

Both companies are getting ready in CA this weekend to kick off some new products at CHA. We sure are thinking of everyone out there this weekend -- busy setting up their booths, sweating with excitement & nervousness, getting ready for the swarms of people to come and check them out. Go get 'em!!!!!!

myStampBOX is introducing their latest stamp set: Pennants
Fortunately, I have had these little babies in my hand for about 4 weeks now and (can I say).........woohoo!!!!!! LOVE these so much. I actually sent a personal email to Bettina (the creator & owner of mSB) thanking her for sending me this set. They are absolutely spectacular -- EVERYONE has got to order them.

On another note:

Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker is also setting up their booth this weekend and introducing SIX!!!!!!! new (not just "new"...........but AWESOME) lines that are already sitting on my desk. insert a teasing sound right here......na na nana na.

Here's a little taste of some of my faves. I'm not gonna give you any more than this right now........I'll share more details about them when I create some lo's with the incredible papers.

And.....Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker is being featured TODAY on the CK Blog!!! Go check it out here.

Stay tuned for some creations very soon. And there's some BIG NEWS coming in the next few days..........something about vinyl (shhhhhhhh).


busy creating {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.

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!!!!!!!

weekend // blizzard

It's snowing outside and I'm having trouble loading photos onto blogger.

Here's a few sneak peeks from my Saskatoon weekend.........thanks to Christy Riopel's camera. Thanks, girl.

I'll share more when the weather turns nice................but, in the meantime..............

Here are the Make 'n Take layouts I created (& taught) for Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker.

And here is me in action at the Make 'n Take table. (love, love, love this part of the job -- teaching)
And why am I on the phone while I'm working?????? (it's not even my phone)

Come back to see more from the fabulous weekend. Treats, goodies, food, teachers, friends & more....................

cuddling up tonight {from the farm},
j.

BIG announcement today

Go head over to this fabulous blog where there's a BIG announcement today ....... where I'm teaching next. It's coming up really quick -- better start gettin' on my game for the crowds of scrappers.

I'll be using this collection from Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker for my project:

Hey................and if there's some product left over (they always send LOTS!!!!!), maybe we should get together when I get home and do a little scrappin' with some Nikki Sivils products!!!!!!! Leave me a comment if you're interested.

smiles {from the farm},

j.

featured

Go check out the Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker blog today ..................... some of the DT members are being featured today. And "guess who?" is one of them.

There is tons of inspiration from some extremely talented women.

happy halloween {from the farm},
j.

I'm baaaack.....as a designer

Pop on over to this blog to see who I'm designer for right now...........she's an incredible friend and she's hosting yet another FANTASTIC event!!!!!!

And I used product from three of my favourite companies to design the kit!!!!!!

I'll give you a peek at the kit / project once the event starts in November.

working inside on this rainy day {from the farm},

j.