Thank You & Toots!

Hope you ladies had a fun weekend!
We had weather last weekend so I took advantage and planted some perennials and vegetables. Still recovering from digging aches and pains. I'm really getting old. :P

We didn't end up bringing Joe to the doctor that day but had to bring Josh the next day. He has an ear infection (probably from swimming). And just want to share what our doctor mentioned not to use cotton buds (esp for kids) 'coz it pushes the earwax further inside. He suggested a couple drops of olive oil inside the ear at night and put a cotton ball on the ear opening overnight to block the oil from dripping. You can take out the cotton ball in the morning.

Anyhow, I'd like to share my card for Card Patterns' Sketch 23. This time, I didn't use any stamps! Can you believe that? LOL.

We were generously sponsored by Shortcuts. I really love this product! As a matter of fact, I used one of their Gift Card Holder to submit to Cards magazine for their December 2009 issue and it was accepted! I'm beyond tickled pink & feel so blessed!


We even have a bonus sketch! Design courtesy of Kris Swain, one of our ubber talented designers!


Materials Used:
Card Base: Shortcuts Clear
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee / Around the Block
Die-Cut: Basic Grey Mellow Collection
Chipboard: KI Memories Bloom Collection
Ribbon: Offray
Rhinestone/Pearl: Kaisercraft
Button: Multicrafts
Tools: Martha Stewart Lace Border Punch

One more thing before I forget!

The Exclusive Unity Stampin' Store Kit for August!

In Stores ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY!

If you are interested in getting yours - there is a list of stores on our website that carry them...and soon there will be more, more, more!

CLICK HERE to VIEW that LIST!

One FULL sheet of red rubber stamps & a STORAGE Container!

Are you INTERESTED in getting your kit?

Be sure to tell your Local Scrapbook Store to contact:

michelle@unitystampco.com

She will get them set up immediately!

I'm so thankful Angela has given me this opportunity. 3 of these images are my design! Yay! A dream come true! Can you guess which ones are they?

I'm glad you stopped by! Have a nice week!

Create Your Own Pin Tutorial

WARNING! Pictures overload! :)

I've been eyeing on some pins for the past few months & have been really cheap to buy some. I recently figured out how to make my own. So I thought I'd share esp for those who wants to save some money.

What You'll Need:

• Glossy Accents
• Small head pins
• Beads

Adhere tiny drop of glossy accents on the head of the pin.

Insert the bead from the sharp tip and bring it up to the head of the pin.
Note: Glossy Accents dries up in seconds so make sure that you insert the bead before the glossy accents dries.

Leave it to dry flat on a surface for about a minute {just to make sure that your bead won't fall off } :) Voila, you have a pin of your choice!

Here's a card I made before we left for vacation using these pins I made.

Part II of our vacation photos:

Nearby Rick's parents house is this cool waterpark called Gyro Park. So we brought the kids there and look what I caught on camera!

Joe came to use this first, but there was no water, took his hands off, didn't pay attention & looked away. Then there water came back so Josh started playing with it. And Joe wanted it back & Josh wouldn't give it back, so Joe bit Josh's arm. Oh man!

The following day, we brought them there again with Rick's best friend & his girlfriend & her kid. And Josh finally found someone to play with who doesn't bite. :) He seemed pretty happy.

The waterpark is within a big park, great trails and this is part of it.

Then saw this bench and felt really at home!



Even more when you sit on it and see this wonderful river view.

We might have to make a short trip to the doctor tomorrow. The kids & I have had this cold for a week now and Joe's seems to be getting worse. The coughing wouldn't let him sleep at night. Hope nothing's serious. With the swine flu still around, it can get scary. But then, sometimes, it is scary too bringing them to the doctor hoping they'd be treated only to get more viral infections from other patients. I know, I'm paranoid.

Oh well, thanks for dropping by!
Hope you all are having a great night!

1st Day Travel Photos

We're finally back home from a very nice relaxing vacation in British Columbia where my in laws live. It's about 8 hr drive southwest from our home, about 9 hr with the kids. I'd like to share some photos during our first day.

This was our first stop in Banff. It's about 1.5 hrs away (assuming you're driving in a 110-120km/hr speed). :) This area is very popular with tourists because of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

As we were heading out from Banff, it started getting dark & rained a bit. Then I saw this beautiful ray and just had to take a snapshot the best I could from the car.

This is already in B.C. (forgot where) but I remember it's around 9PM when we passed this beautiful scenery somewhere in the summit. Because of the spectacular mountain views, we always take this route driving around the mountains.

Our next stop was here at Cranbrook. The boys helped Rick fill the tires with some air around 10:30pm. It's not too dark yet. I guess, just a slight disadvantage in the summer because the sun set past 10pm so the kids wouldn't want to go to bed at 8 because it's like 2pm outside. So, in the winter where the sun sets around 4:30-5pm, I guess it'll be their bedtime coz it gets really dark early! LOL.

We arrived around 1:30am at my in laws (they're 1 hr behind from our time). So that morning, I went to my mother in law's garden immediately & took photos of her beautiful flowers.

Then we had a visit from my sister in law and her daughter Emma. Isn't she adorable? I loooove her bright blue eyes!

I took about a million photos during this trip and I'd love to share more and show you the beautiful British Columbia.

I'm sooo behind scrapping photos. I got so focused on card making I hardly had time to make layouts and feels that I'd need a few inspiration to get back into it. Which blogs/sketch blogs you often visit for layout inspiration?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fab day!
Take care!

CP # 22 and a Stix 2 Tutorial

Aaaah...... still on holidays but we're on our way home! We'll probably reach home tonight or tomorrow morning. Depends on hubby's mood so this is another scheduled post.

We were lucky to be sponsored by ShortCuts. They offer clear/frosted cardstock and giftcard holders.

One lucky winner within the next 2 weeks will receive a $15 gift certificate from ShortCuts store!! If you can't wait to try it (like me :>), enter discount code "CardPatterns15" during check out and receive 15% off your order! Offer is valid until August 31, 2009 only.

This is the sketch that was designed by our talented DT Carla Peicheff & I just drew it on Illustrator.

Since I don't have any large butterfly stamp, sticker or chipboard, I decided to use this stamp from my ever favorite stamping company Unity Stamps. ;)
I'd love to show you how I created that metallic effect on the frosted cardstock.

Since you can't heat emboss clear or frosted cardstocks to create any metallic effect, the best product to use with it is Stix 2 PVA Glue.
Tip: Make sure you buy the Stix 2 PVA Glue with the metal nib. It will be easier for you to put glue on smaller space.

When the glue won't be sticky when it dries out. The only thing that will adhere to that dried glue is your Stix 2 foil sheet.
It's the wonders of Stix 2!! :)

Voila! I just added Sakura Glaze 3D Ink on the center of the flowers and Frost Stickles.

Other materials used:
Making Memories and Prima Patterned Paper
Multicrafts Button
Prima Flowers
DMD Thread
Stazon Timber Brown Ink
May Arts Ribbon

This Stix 2 is really handy and it felt like ages since I last used it. I hope you enjoyed this little info (if you are not familiar with it yet), as much as I enjoyed doing it!

Thanks so much for stopping by. See you soon!

CP #21

Hiyah all! Hope you are enjoying a great weather!

We are on holidays at my in laws and they don't have internet access so I've already scheduled posting this. You gotta love blogger's post options!

Big thank you to dear friend Tracy who is going to take over the Card Patterns blog while I am away. This is our sketch for week 21.

Our sponsor is still Odd Bird Planet using Fairy Tale Kit.
In the kit were these duck eggs miniature. It's sooo cute I can't help myself so I had to wrap it around the lace that was also included in the kit and create a little nest for it.

I adhered couple of the patterned paper that was in the kit as well as a themed sheet of cardstock which I adhered on the body of the duck.

It's a short post today. Hope you'll come join us over at Card Patterns! Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Have a great weekend and so glad you dropped by!