Scrapbooking, Baby Jada, and BIG news

I've been scrapbooking more lately than I have all summer. I spend so much more time on crafty things in the winter. I can't wait for the cooler weather and all the cozy, crafty time inside.

This is a little make n' take that I taught at the Mountain Memories Scrapbooking retreat last weekend. A quick card showcasing the new Bazzill Stitch It templates and thread.



Here are some pictures from our weekend with Jada:



Brandi and Katelyn at the shower



Proud papa



What a sweetheart. That lamb came all the way from Britain, too. She's worldly all ready.

So, here's the BIG news.....

We're moving to Edmonton!!!

Honest to Blog.

Brad got a promotion and we're in the process of figuring out where to look at houses, when we'll move, if we can get season's passes to the waterslides, and where exactly to go from here, but there you go. Our big news.

If you have any ideas for us: nice communities, good restaurants, great scrapbooking stores, etc. let me know!

Just Cre8 Challenge

So, I scrapped a layout from a challenge from Just Cre8 and it was really fun and made me think.

The challenge was to use a famous ad slogan on your layout. Interesting. Not my usual journaling style, but it's good to try something new, right?

I liked the challenge. It was interesting thinking of different slogans and what the mean or could mean.
I chose "Where do you want to go today?" a slogan from a Microsoft ad because of the free-spirited nature of our recent travels.



But then, I went too far. Have you ever gone too far with a layout?

I finished a layout and then I found some other embellishments that I thought would be perfect, and... I went too far.

I started doodling and playing while I was only half paying attention and I kind of screwed it up.

Here's a look at it after:


Hmmmm.... I like the ink on the flower, but....

Oh well, it was fun and I still like it, but I liked the cleaner look better.

Jada Lynn and Just Cre8

So, I finally met my new neice and... she's perfect! (Was there really any doubt?)

We had a fabulous shower for Brandi and Curtis and Jada on Saturday and had quite a few people come out to wish the new parents well and meet Jada and she got a ton of loot. People are so giving, especially in a small town, it was really nice to see everyone and to see the new family get off to a good start.

I have a few photos, but I haven't downloaded them, yet. I'll get them up soon.

Also, Just Cre8 had a fantastic online crop this weekend, which I unfortunately couldn't partake in, but if you're looking for great challenges, they will be up for awhile. I tend to make use of them throughout the year. Check it out if you have time.

Babies, Babies, Babies....

With a new little neice and Sam's sweet Jack, everything is coming up baby!

There's something about babies that is so much fun... little shoes, cute zoo animals, soft fabric and pastel colours are all so adorable.

We had a baby shower for Sam and Jack last weekend and we're having one for Brandi and Jada this upcoming weekend.

Jack, five weeks old, at the shower:



I finished my little mini-folder (from Aimee Grenier's fabulous class) with pics of baby Jack for Sam:







And, I'm having a ton of fun making a few little things for Brandi over the long weekend. What a fun reason to scrapbook!

If you've got a ton of reasons to scrapbook, too, you should check out the upcoming scrapbooking retreat in Canmore. Linnette, the owner of Mountain Memories Scrapbooking is putting on a retreat in two weeks (Oct. 24 to 26) and it is going to be a blast. For more info, visit her site here. I'll be teaching some make and takes there, so if you'll be there, come over and say hi!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you all had your fill of turkey.

Finally... Baby news!

I'm an auntie!!

Curtis and Brandi had a baby girl yesterday, 8 pounds 11 ounces. Congrats!





Could those two look any happier?

Jada Lynn took her time coming, but what a precious little girl arrived. We expected to return from our trip with a little neice or nephew, but that wee babe had other plans! Brandi and Curtis, you're troopers. Born more than two weeks late and with a labour that began three days ago, she's finally here and I can't wait to meet her.

Back in the swing of things

Well, we're home again and settling back in to regular life.

It wasn't too hard to return to the old routines although the alarm clock was a jarring sound Monday morning. Hearing the Namaz in Turkey may have been the closest we got to an alarm clock in the past five weeks.

To sum up our trip,

Favourite places: Paris, Cinque Terre, Venice, Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Istanbul

Favourite foods: bow tie pasta with pesto sauce in Milan, vegetable risotto in Dubrovnik, greek yogourt, Lamb Kleftiko (stew with dill) in Santorini, every single dessert we tried, except Turkish Delight... not a big fan

Longest Walks: Paris, should've used the buses that day

Worst accomodations: the hostel I made Brad walk to in Zadar, where we were greeted by someone peeing out their window into the street below

Best accomodations: the hotel in Santorini, Hotel Matina, and the sobe in Dubrovnik, where we rented an apartment from an elderly couple and their kids

Currencies used: Kuna, Turkish Lira, and Euro

Countries Visited: Italy, Greece, France, Turkey and Croatia

Countries Passed Through: Bosnia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany

Record Speed: 5 countries in 2 days

New stamps in passport: 12

Visas: 1

Modes of transportation used: foot, bus, train, plane, sailboat, minibus, van, ferry, catamaran, taxi, and metro

Favourite airport: Athens International

Approximate kilometres travelled: 30,000

Trip of a lifetime: Priceless

Back on Canadian Soil

After a month of travelling, experiencing different cultures, food and places, we returned home on Thursday. It's good to be home.

I have a few more pictures of our last days in Istanbul and then I'm going to take the rest of the weekend to visit.

Aya Sofia:



The Blue Mosque from our rooftop perch:



and our lavish "lunch":



Hope to see you all soon!