Did you? Were You?

Did you get up early, were you watching the Royal Wedding live?  Our household was up at 5am and watched as the closest Royals and Middleton family members were arriving at Westminster Abbey.  Then of course we had a glimpse of Kate getting into the car, but waited patiently to see her gown as she and her father stepped out of the car at the Abbey.  What a stunning gown she wore, beautiful in it's simplicity as was her sister Pippa's dress too.  Did you see all the hats as well?  What an assortment of fashions there were.

Last night Linda and I created hats for Rachel and Emily (Linda's two daughters) to wear to school.  With a barrette, some tulle, feathers, silk flowers, hot glue and some well placed stitches they had their own creation to go with the dresses they will wear for the celebration at school today of Kate and William's wedding.   Jonathan (my grandson) will be dressed in suit and tie with boutonierre and will no doubt look very handsome too.  Maybe there will be photos to follow on the blog later.

Getting up early this morning means it's going to be a long day because we have a midnight crop today.  Still no regrets at getting up as I've not missed a royal wedding yet and this one was spectacular too.

Lilian

A New Twist

Recently we held our Special Folds card class where we created easel cards with a twist.  During our Mega Crop Weekend Anita was making cards for her sister-in-law-to-be and she added another twist by creating a rectangular easel card where as we have always made square easel cards.  Nice work Anita!




     We sooo like to share your creations!  Here's a card that our friend Elaine made for me - she and her daughter Tracey spoiled Lilian, Sandra and I at our Crop Weekend.  Thank you ladies!

                             Linda

A New Twist

Looking for the close-up of Anita's card??  We're having some troubles uploading it but if you'd please check back later this evening it should be up!

Thanks,

Linda

Something To Brighten Your Day!

It's a rainy ole Tuesday but I'm sure our E-Newsletter will perk you up!  Click HERE for a direct link ...

Lovely Weekend

Did you all enjoy the lovely weekend?  The weather changed daily, but still I thought we fared pretty well.
We enjoyed our family dinner on Sunday evening with extended family at the table too, though some missing due to illness.  Over the weekend we were able to talk to all the immediate family in England either by phone or Skype.  (Love that Skype).
I wanted to share these cute cards Linda and I received from Yvonne.....aren't they nice and very Easter colours too.  Thanks Yvonne.

Lilian

Mega Crop Recipes

     If you don't already have your menu planned for Easter Sunday dinner then here are a few suggestions that were well received at our Mega Crop Weekend.  Our kitchen staff always presents us with well appreciated meals and snacks - Thank You!

Triple Chocolate Layer Pie

-mix 24 finely crushed Oreo cookies with 1/4cup melted butter. Press firmly into 9in pie plate.

-beat 2pk (4 serving size each) Jello Chocolate Instant Pudding with 2cups cold milk until thick.

-spoon 1/2 of pudding on crust.

-fold in 1-1/2cups thawed Cool Whip into remaining pudding. Spread over pudding in crust.

-stir in 1cup chopped Mini Oreo Cookies into 1-1/2 cups thawed cool Whip.  Spread over pudding mixture.  Chill until set approx. 1 hour.

Lilian's Three Bean Salad

-one 14oz. can each of green, yellow and red beans washed and drained.

-one chopped onion.

-1/2cup salad oil.

-1/2cup cider vinegar.

-3/4cup white sugar.

-mix altogether and leave overnight to marinade.

-invite ANITA for dinner - it's her favourite!

Happy Easter!

Linda

Happy Easter to all our Crafting Friends

We wish you a joyful weekend with your family and friends.

I am so enjoying this lovely Lily and the card that came along with it, given to me by two crafting friends.  Thanks Elaine and Tracy. 

Elaine made this lovely card using the painting with Stickles technique that she learned at one of our Thursday night classes.

Lilian

Will You Be Receiving Easter Treats?

     Whether the bunny will be coming to visit you or not we thought we would share some Easter Treats that you could soon create before the big day!

     Our paper crafting friend Joanne has been busily preparing for Easter and, even though the bridge is closed, thankfully she still makes the time to come and share her creations with us.  The stamping and Cuttlebugging is done so now it's just the treats - don't know if Joanne is making those too!

     Joanne is also a lovely card maker!  This card of Joanne's features a half oval cut out on the front to reveal the greeting inside.  Joanne has also scored and sanded vertical lines to create her background - a great use for your coredinations cardstock.

Thanks for sharing Joanne...hope the bunny finds you and that he has more craft supplies in his basket!

Linda

Mega Crop Weekend

This time around we had 28 scrappers some of whom traveled a great distance to join us for the weekend and others who actually traveled each day!  We are always lucky to have a wonderful group of ladies who come with friends and family and leave with new friends.  Here's a look at the space we use at the Turner Centre here in Bracebridge...

     As always our make-and-take table was busy! Our scrappers took a break from their work to create our sample page with Lilian and I. Together we used our homemade glue dots to make flowers - check in our blog later this week to see how we made the glue dots.

   Also included in our sample page was a "fill text" box (for which Lilian has found a great tutorial that we will also share later on the blog), banners, paper strip circle and tickets.  All these embellishments were then included in many of the layouts our ladies put together for their challenges.  And, as always, judging the work of your peers is a challenge of its own!

Check back again this week for a couple of recipes that were a big hit on our menu!

Linda

Newsletter Day - again?

Wow, that was such a busy week it felt like a very short week!  Tuesday is here again and our E-newsletter has been published - Click HERE for a direct link....

WOW!!!

Sometimes it's hard to put into words the high you feel from spending 27hours with 30 ladies that enjoy the same kind of crafting as you do!
That's what Linda and I had the good fortune to be doing this weekend and it was a fabulously successful time.  I can't begin to describe how great it was, so if you missed it and it sounds like your kind of weekend, you'll have to be sure to sign up for the next one.  Many of the ladies were saying that they wanted to register now for the next one, so we'll get the date together as soon as we can so that you can clear your calendars.
Watch the blog and newsletter as we put some photos on for you to see. 
Lilian

One More Sleep

The croppers have been coming into the store the last couple of days, some telling us they are packed and ready and some saying they are packing tonight....how about you?  Are you ready?
Linda and I will be packing things up in the store tomorrow morning.  Then the perishable grocery shopping and set up at the Turner Centre and we're good to go.

We look forward to a great weekend once again, where we can visit, teach and generally help our croppers to stretch beyond what they may normally do.
See you soon

Lilian

Ever Closer

Only a couple of more days before the Mega Crop weekend.  I'm sure all the ladies are busy packing their supplies and organising the last of their photos.

I thought you'd like to have some insight into the prep work that Linda and I do at the Turner Centre in readiness for the ladies arrival.  This photo was taken last fall complements of my sister-in-law who was visiting at the time.  Yes you're seeing right...we dropped the lot!

As you can see...our organisational skills have a lot to be desired!  I was probably laughing at the time. 

Drives Linda crazy 'cos she says I can't do anything once I start to laugh!

Tuesday Newsletter Day!

It's amazing how quickly a week can pass because it's E-Newsletter Day again!  Click HERE to read about what's happening this week in the store.

I'm Back

Well I will be on Tuesday anyway.  Linda had some fun in my absence didn't she.  Did you get to enjoy the sales she put on while I was away?  Good ones they were too.  I really don't know that I complained about the weather, well maybe a bit because it really was hot!

Here's a quick look at some of what we saw.

Thanks Lisa for introducing us to the idea of cruising and for all the tips you shared with us.  We enjoyed it thoroughly.

New Goodies!

     We had lots of new goodies arrive on Tuesday!  It took me all day to get everything unpacked and Lizette spent today put everything away.  Of particular note are the following:

~ Inkadinkado cling stamps

~ Sizzix embossing folders

~ paper packs from My Mind's Eye

~ layered butterfly accents

~ Bo Bunny rubons

~ Elizabeth stick pins

~ Au Jardin buttons

~ Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden paper

~ K & Company albums

~ make your own sock monkey kits

     Of particular note are the Au Jardin button packs.  We have had these buttons in stock for a little while now but the new order includes new mixes - a must see even if you've already picked some up!  Also take a good look at the My Mind's Eye paper packs.  You probably already know that we are not ones to regularly stock pads of 12"x12" paper so these must be worth considering!

                                                                            See you in the store soon!

                                                                            Linda

Have you read your E-Newsletter?

If you haven't received our weekly E-Newsletter direct to your inbox then grab a coffee, Click HERE and have a read at what's happening in your local craft store!

Crop Night Projects

     Looking for a little scrapbooking inspiration?  Well if you're not already registered for our upcoming Mega Crop Weekend there is still time ... but only three spaces left!  If you're not joining us then here's a look at some of what you'll be missing out on ....

     The whole idea of cropping together is to spark each other's creativity and to solve problems when we are stumped.  At one of our recent Crop Nights fellow scrapper Lucille was challenged by some damaged paper but with some help from Lilian a little creative placement of paper hid any blemishes!



     At the same Crop Night we also offered a single-page layout as our freebie project.  Lucille's daughter Katelyn did just what we always hope our scrappers will do - she took our idea and ran with it.  Katelynn used the same idea of using scrap strips of paper woven together to create a background for her page.  Take a look at how well she placed the patterns of her papers so that her Disney/Mickey theme is subtly repeated throughout the page.  I still have Disney pages to complete so I might be scraplifting this idea!

     So, if you find that you don't make the time while at home to get some of your scrapping done or if you feel like you need a some inspiration then be sure to sign up for our Mega Crop Weekend.  Time is passing quickly, the 15th of April will be here very soon!

                                                                            Thanks for sharing ladies!

                                                                             Linda