need some Inspiration...?

1. new pp line from American Crafts -- love it!!!!! tons of colour -- just what i like.

2. loving very large mirrors (i have one in my home), so.......this one on heidi swapps blog, of course, caught my eye.

3. stamping on a dresser and a fabulous PINK chair ................. need i say more?

4. the colour turquoise -- the beauty & bling of a chandelier -- and the edginess of a concrete wall ................. all mixed together for a great photo.

enjoy your day.

{from the farm},

j.

Celebrating My Mom ...

Ten things i love about my mom:

1. the dozens of cookies she makes for my kids' lunches throughout the year
-- I'm NOT a gifted baker.

2. she loves shopping -- i love shopping. Need I say more?

3. she is incredibly gifted at cleaning. Why do i love that? duh...................!!

4. my mom knows everything there is to know about the NHL: teams, coaches, players, rules, stats, play-offs, records, etc. I would love to surprise her someday with tickets to an NHL game in some city, but the woman won't step foot in a crowded arena. Maybe I'll just get the team to come to her -- wouldn't that be a nice gift?? Anyone have any connections?

5. she makes eggs & toast for my kids for breakfast when they go for a sleep-over. Now that's love.

6. Ron (my husband) & my mom get along so incredibly well -- that is soooooo worth everything to me. :)

7. Her feet are bigger than mine. Sorry, Mom -- had to!!!

8. Her short hair. It's something we have in common and probably forever will have in common. Love that!!!!!

9. Her advice -- when asked for or not -- hey, that's what mothers are for.

10. The fact that many people in our lives have mistaken my mom as being my sister; not my mom. She looks so young, dresses hip & cool, and is really close to me & my two sisters. If I could choose another sister, I'd definitely choose my mom.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.
LOVE YOU!!!!!!

from the farm {about 1 hour away},
j.

Classes at StS

Thought I'd share some images of the classes I instructed last weekend at Smalltown Scrappers. I taught a class that consisted of creating 5 layouts in 2 hours ........... I know, I'm crazy. We actually didn't do too bad. I hate teaching classes that go over-time or where the participants leave with unfinished projects or layouts. But we actually went just slightly over the two hours and got EVERYTHING DONE!!!!!!! Everyone's layouts looked awesome. Thank you to all participants who squished into the back room at the store and had a blast with me in the class.



Here are the layouts we created together. So incredibly simple, quick & fun. Love these kinds of classes where everything is so relaxed, the products & colours are fun and there is no pressure. So much inspiration from tons of ladies in this industry -- Ali, Lizzie, Jamie.

I want to add the photos yet, but I've been working on some other projects lately as well, and haven't gotten around to it. It'll be fun looking for photos for them.

That's definitely something new that I've been doing lately.........creating layouts with no photos. These layouts are great for classes -- or I'm using products all from the same line or, at least, company and just pounding out some layouts on my dining room table from all the (for example) Basic Grey product that I have in front on me. It's been a lot of fun!!!!

Still waiting to get me Scrap-Room in order....................{sigh}.

I'll show you some BG layouts like that next week.......or maybe in a few dayz (I never know).

enjoy the evening.

warm Spring breezes {from the farm},

j.

Optional Classes are up now ...

... on www.scrapbookyourheart.com

No more Sneak Peaks!!!

Take a look and see what this FABULOUS retreat is all about.

And check out the fantastic vinyl title on my class layout -- compliments of www.cutyourway.blogspot.com. Can you say {signal yellow} lettering ..... wow!!!! Love it.

Flights are cheap right now..............why not join me??

Warming up {on the farm},
j.

always love the "Sneak Peek" ...

Want to see what I'll be teaching at the Scrapbook Your Heart retreat coming up in May? Check out http://www.scrapbookyourheart.com/ in the next few weeks and sign up for my optional class.

curious?

totally up my alley -- playing with loads of patterns, textures, buttons, doodling & hand journaling. fun fun fun.

signing off {from the farm},

j.

Happy Easter ...

... wish the weather was nicer today, but these layouts may cheer you up and make you all warm inside.

enjoy.

wishes for a wonderful day {from the farm},

j.

What a Weekend!!!!!!!

This past weekend I instructed at the Brandon Charity Convention hosted by some lovely ladies that are just too cool & fun for words!!!! I always have such a great time at this convention with everyone and I want to personally thank Janet, Chris, Rose & all their family members and planning team for hosting such a SPECTACULAR Scrapbooking Event and being such wonderful people who think of others first!!!!! You girls are awesome and I feel honored every year to be asked to teach!!!!

So........here are just a few things that happened during the weekend and some stuff you should be checking out right now:

1. my "Frame It Big" class was a HUGE success and everyone loved the 18" frames that we stamped. If you are looking for a unique & beautiful piece of art to decorate, please check Laura Lee Harms' blog out at www.cutyourway.blogspot.com for awesome products.

2. The layout class I taught this weekend was amazing!!! Classes like these get me sooooo excited b/c everyone's layouts start looking so amazingly different {even though most of them are trying to copy the sample layouts}. I love how each layout has its own flaire & each person adds their own unique style to them. Thanks to all participants that attended my classes. I have made some great friends at this convention once again!!!!!

3. my sister-in-law, Heather Hildebrand was at the convention working in the Smalltown Scrappers booth and she was rockin' out the demos. If you were there & were lucky enough to chat with Heather about ANY product out there, you will agree with me that she is one of the most knowledgeable teachers in this industry when it comes to new products. She tries them all and then lets the rest of us know what they're like, what's great about them, what's not so great & how we can use the products on different projects & lo's. If you are ever at a convention where she is..........do yourself a favour & check out her classes or demos.

4. Smalltown Scrappers is closing their physical-store doors, but keeping their online store rockin' & rollin'!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!! So you can imagine the great sales that were happening at the Brandon Charity Convention. If you are looking for ANY product at INCREDIBLY reasonable prices, check out www.smalltownscrappers.com.

5. Coming up in May, I will be teaching at 2 different venues:

First, on the National Scrapbook Weekend (May 1-3), I will be instructing several classes at the Smalltown Scrappers Crop and Close Event in Pilot Mound, MB. If you are interested in attending, email scrappin@mts.net for more details, or visit www.smalltownscrappers.com.

Secondly, I will be flying to Calgary to instruct at Camp Caroline {just north of Clagary}. The "Scrapbook Your Heart" retreat is designed to provide scrapbookers with the perfect opportunity to explore various matters of the heart and include these important parts in your scrapbooks! I am so honored to be asked to be a Special Guest Instructor this year and join Allison Orthner (www.allisonorthner.com) for another weekend of fun again!!!! Check out: www.scrapbookyourheart.com. I am sooooooo needing a weekend like this!!!! Work, play, heart-to-heart chats, laughing, crying, EATING, sleeping, etc. Thanks for this opportunity, Al.

That's all for today.

smiles to all {from the farm},
j.