I miss you! Let's chat

It was about a year ago that I made the difficult announcement that I was closing up my shop.  I can't believe how this year has flown by because it feels like it's been much longer than that.  This blog post is a bit hard to make because it is about me, not scrapbooking, and is not announcing a return to designing... yet.  But I wanted to write a short update because soon you will be seeing me around at Scraps N Pieces a bit more.

I miss designing so much!  I opened Photoshop the other day to see if I 'still had it' as far as designing goes.  It's much like riding a bike - I discovered that I still remember many of the little tricks I used to make CU products my own.  I still remember the keyboard shortcuts.  And I felt the passion I had for creating my designs.  It was a fun day!

Then I got the bright idea that I should see if I could do something for the blog train at Scraps N Pieces.   I will have to push it today if I'm going to be finished in time for the deadline though.  Deadlines and the effect they were taking on my health were the reason I had to hang up my designing hat last year.    So... we'll see.  Maybe I'll make it and maybe I won't.  If not this month's blog train, maybe next month!

Health issues still plague me and unfortunately it's come to the point of specialists testing me for some very serious diseases.   I am certainly hoping that they are wrong.

Oh, did I mention my motorcycle accident?  On July 1st, my husband and I were celebrating Canada Day by riding our motorcycle to one of the parks in the city to join in the festivities.  Unfortunately, a careless driver ruined our day and we found ourselves down on the ground with paramedics taking us by ambulance to the hospital.

We were fortunate however!  Our injuries, although debilitating, were not serious enough to be life threatening.  My husband suffered a head injury, both collarbones were dislocated, his shoulder was dislocated and he suffered a massive deep bruise on his thigh that is now developing some nasty scar tissue.  I fell on my hip, hit my head on the ground, and the car's tire stopped on top of my fingers.   I was very fortunate that out of all that, my biggest problem is soft tissue damage in my pelvis.  I am officially considered handicapped as I have a lot of trouble walking on my own, standing for longer than about 5 minutes, and I can only lift my right foot about 6" off the ground so I can't even put socks and shoes on by myself. I use a 4 wheeled walker to get around when I'm out.  My fingers are still sore, but there were no broken bones and I can't believe it, but I didn't even lose a fingernail like I expected to.  My husband is recovering quickly and despite all the dislocated bones, his bruises and constant headaches are his biggest problem right now.

If you've read this far... wow!  You must be pretty bored.  LOL!  I'm sad that I'm not announcing a return to designing yet, but at least I'm thinking about blog trains...   See you around at SNP.   ;)

Tip-toeing Back to the Blog

Maybe I can sneak back without making a ruckus!

Recap

My last blog post was in July last year.  I can't believe it's been so long!  To bring you up to speed, I retired from designing my digital scrapbook kits because I had been throwing myself into my work for so long that my health was suffering.  Those 16 hour days in front of the computer, trying to achieve perfection for my wonderful clients to preserve their memories with, had caught up with me and I ended up in the Emergency Room.  That was my wake-up call to slow things down and take some time away.

A Quick Synopsis of the Last 6 Months

Six months later, I'm still taking it slower.  Between July and now, I made a few blank miniature scrapbooks** that I intend to sell eventually.  Some are about 6" x 6" and some are about 8" x 8".  They are beautiful and I'm proud of them, but they are certainly quite a change from digital scrapping!  Here's a couple (very bad!) photos of some of them while I was making them:

A page from my Christmas themed album

A couple pages from my beachy themed album

A few more pages from my flowery summery feminine themed album

I can't pick a favourite!  I've made a few other books too, but don't have any photos of them.  I haven't put them on sale yet just because I'm not quite ready to get back into the "rat race".  It's been nice to be able to work on them on my own schedule and be really fussy to keep them up to my high standards.

**I purchased tutorials from a lovely lady (SoMuchScrap) on Etsy to learn how to make the albums.  Her albums sell for as much as $250 each, plus shipping!  

Do Fairies Get Cabin Fever?

Changing gears...  I think that it's probably safe to say that pretty much the entire continent of North America has cabin fever and is tired of Winter.  I am no different.  I've been dreaming of starting a little miniature garden.  I have an old aquarium that I think will be a lovely habitat for some little fairy creatures.  My biggest problem is figuring out where the best place to put it because it will have to be indoors and once I set it up, that's where it's going to stay because of its size.  I'm quite excited to start making cute little houses and accessories to enhance the small plants I'm dreaming of planting.  Once the weather gets a bit nicer (ie. above -10C), I plan to go on a little (get it?  "little"... cuz it's miniature....  ah, I crack myself up) shopping spree for some tiny plants and a few small craft items I don't have so I can get started!

Right now I'm saving bread clips, thinking I could shingle a house with them.  Empty soup cans will make punched tin shutters.  I have a small flower pot full of bottle caps that will become a patio or path. Once the snow melts and I can find some twigs in the forest behind my house, I hope to make some tiny benches and fences.  I have so many other crafting supplies that I'm sure I will be able to cram my little garden full if I'm not careful!  It sounds like so much fun!

Look for my Bits N Pieces "Hush Little Baby" at SNP

The first half of 2014 is behind, and we are full-swing into summer.  July is a fun and exciting month in the United States as its Independence is celebrated throughout the country on the 4th.  The first of July is also a big day for Canadians, as we celebrate Canada Day.  In honor of these patriotic holidays, the designers at Scraps N Pieces have an awesome monthly collab.

Introducing This is My Country...

 

This month's CU Grab bag has gone metal, and is 25% off.

This month's Bits N Pieces' colors are so soft and pretty, and the participating designers rocked the color palette with such creative themes.  Remember, each piece is $1 each during the first week.  Grab some and be sure to participate in the monthly BnP challenge for forum points.

Have a couple hours free time?  Who does really?  But in case you do, be sure to jot down the July speed scrap dates.  Join in to complete a layout and earn a participation prize.

Super Saturday Sale and 50% off everything else at SNP

Summer vacation on Doctor's orders!  I've had a reality check recently.  It's no secret I've been having some health issues lately.  Earlier this month I spent the better part of 2 days in the ER and things got real.  I have had so many blood tests since then, and there's more in my future because they don't know what's wrong yet.  My Dr told me that it's time to stop working and to reduce my stress and activity for a couple months.

Since I won't be putting out anything new over the summer, I thought I'd give you a gift before I leave.  I hope you like it:

The coupon will work on everything in my store except Super Saturday Sale products today.

True North Scraps has some great deals in the Super Saturday Sale bin at Scraps N Pieces this week.  For all you that are doing P365/P52  projects there is a great bundle of quick pages and coordinating kit of embellishments to help make it faster and easier to keep up with.  Then there are two of True North Scraps Newest release in the sale this week, Je suis content and Beach Trip.  North Star Dawn has some Word art for you she made using Beach Trip down below the previews.

Project Life's Busy Bundle $1.00

 Je suis content $1.00

Beach Trip $3.00

Take a look at some of the great layouts the North Stars made using the kits in this weeks sale.

North Star Jennifer, Project Life's Busy Bundle

North Star Beth, Je suis content

North Star Robin, Beach Trip

You can grab this word art on Dawn 's Blog.  Have a great weekend and make sure you pop back in on Tuesday for our Flashback Tuesday kit.  Have a great weekend.

Coupon for 50% off at my SNP and GDS stores

Coupon code good at my shops at Scraps N Pieces and GoDigital Scrapbooking.

It's SUPER SATURDAY again at Scraps-N-Pieces!

SCARY TALES Vol 3 - SUPERSTITIOUS FEELING 

is in the sale this week (You do know that next Friday is Friday the 13th again right?  ... Perfect timing for your "lucky" or "unlucky" layouts!) There are 3 parts of this kit in the sale

KIT ($3.00)

JOURNAL CARDS ($1.00)

WORDART ($1.00)

Here's a little inspiration from the NORTH STARS

Brenda

Beth

 Melissa

and poki

poki extracted her wordart and cluster to create a freebie using 

SCARY TALES Vol 3 SUPERSTITIOUS FEELING. 

Collect it on poki's blog

I'd like to play a little game with you!  Can you find the 10 differences between these two layouts I made?

Spring Up for $2 Tuesday

$2.00 Tuesday deal at Go Digital Scrapbooking is Spring up! 

It's been a long, hard Winter this year and I know we are all sick and tired of snow and cold weather.  I just had to make a kit suitable for those photos of the first green shoots peeking through the holes in the snow.  The bright yellow, orange and green color palette makes this such a cheerful kit. It's perfect for St Patrick's Day celebrations - look at that cute little shamrock smiling away in the preview. But this kit is suitable for any LO that needs a dose of sweetness.  I have an adorable lion and lamb, a happy little caterpillar and a robin ready to welcome Spring, as well as flowers, leaves, and an assortment of useful elements to make your pages perfect.  I made 24 papers and 56 elements as well as an alpha of Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers and Punctuation in two different color ways.

Spring up!  $2.00

Check out these layouts the True North Stars made using Spring Up!

North Star Dawn

North Star Jennifer

North Star Roknbear

North Star Lynn

North Star Marie