P is for Polinka

Polinka got my layout in the mail today, so I can now reveal it. I found it hard to come up with a good title so I simply called this layout "P", the first letter of her nickname as well as her real name. Polinka left a comment on my previous post telling me "it's absolutely beautiful". I am very happy that she likes my layout.



Supplies: Bazzill cardstock Black, Basic Grey Infuse PPs, Sweetwater Classic PPs, - Sassafras Lass Indian Summer 'Huckleberry Festival' PP, Hambly Screen Prints Rub-ons Vintage Motifs White, Autumn Leaves Foof-a-La Bag-o-Buttons, SEI brad, American Crafts Thickers Daiquirie Black, Maya Road Chipboard Scroll, EllisonDesign Circle dies, Versacolor Pinecone ink, Uniball Signo White pen and sewing machine.

Do you remember I made this card for one of the Caardvarks challenges in July 2007? I could finally send it to someone. My sweet friend Zab from France opened her online scrapbook store Bulle2Scrap.com last Sunday. I sent her this card to wish her good luck and lots of success!! Her online store as well as the store's blog looks fabulous.

Canvas #2

I am really in the scrapping mood these days. Full of inspiration and ideas. Last evening I scrapped another 8x8" canvas. Never thought I would enjoy working on a canvas this much. I so love to work with the pictures taken by Florence. This time I chose a picture of the four of us. Love this one! It is hard to take good quality pictures of my projects as it is so dark and grey outside. Even in the morning or early afternoon. I hope spring will arrive soon.



Supplies: My Mind's Eye Adore (Just Like Us, Cupid's Toile) & Kiss and Tell PPs, Making Memories {note}worthy (Ava Loopy Stripe - brown dots) PP, Bazzill Kraft cardstock, Prima Hydrangea Flowers, Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps (Flourishes and Big Swirls), Making Memories Brads Metal, Foof-a-La Bag-o-Buttons, Versafine Onyx Black, Versacolor Pinecone, QuicKutz Silhouette, vintage book pages, canvas board 8x8".

For the Dutch girls....the 8x8" canvas boards are available at Action for only 1,39 euro (2pcs).

Enjoy your weekend!

Splish Splash

You may recall that I organized a RAK some time ago. Marianne from Denmark was one of the lucky winners. I not only sent her a RAK, but also promised her to do a layout with one of her pictures. She sent me a cute picture of her son Max. I enjoyed working on this layout. With two girls in the house I hardly scrap any boy layouts, so this was a nice change.



Materials used: Bazzill and DCWV cardstock, Sassafrass Lass Serendipity, Scenic Route Laurel and Charlotte, Rusty Pickle knoopjes Lime, Chipboard star, Ranger Paint Dabber 'Pool', Uniball Signo pen white, Diamond Glaze, Sizzix Scallop Frame and Nouveau alphabet, American Crafts ribbon, Millennium Zig Writer black and sewing machine.

Finally

I hardly scrapped in the past few weeks. Simply because I didn't have any inspiration at all. I did create some cards, but no layouts or mini books. This week I started on a layout for Marianne from Denmark. She won one of my RAKs and I had promised her to make her a layout. She sent me a great picture of her son Max. I finished the layout this evening, and will send the layout to Marianne tomorrow. I guess she will get it in the mail on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Until then I leave you with a sneak peek.

Photo swap and a surprise

Hanneke received my layout in the mail today, so I can now reveal the layout I made for her. I already received her layout last week, but I didn't want to open the envelope yet. Wasn't easy, because the texture of the content made me very curious. It felt like she used lots of embellishments. As soon as I knew she received mine I opened her envelope. I was right about the embellishments. LOL! She knows I love lots of them on my layouts. I am very happy with the layout and so is Sanne. I really like the black and white papers, ribbon, lace and stamps in combination with the pink and turquoise flowers. Thanks, Hanneke!



Here is my layout for Hanneke. I had to work with a picture of her and her in-laws leaving for a holiday in Gran Canaria. Not the easiest picture to work with. This picture was taken at Schiphol Airport.



Materials I used for Hanneke's layout: Scenic Route Laurel & Cape Town PP, Sassafras Lass Daydream & Serendipity PP, Fancy Pants Key Lime Pie PP, Foof-a-La & Rusty Pickle buttons, 7Gypsies sticker, Catslife Press stamp Remember, ribbon (Little Silver Hat), Heidi Swapp Block Alphabet Stickers, Making Memories Boho Chic Tiny Alphabet Stickers, Uniball Signo pen and Magnolia Journaling stamp.

Today I received a nice suprise package in the mail from my friend Nancy. We met each other on the internet some months ago. I found her on 2Peas. When you view the gallery you recognize her layouts and cards immediately. She has a gorgeous style and I am a huge fan. I once had a question about a material she used on one of her layouts and sent her an e-mail. Since then we exchange e-mails. Although we live only 11 miles away from each other we haven't met in person.....not yet. Recently she was chosen as one of the DT members for the manufacturer Junkitz. Yes, this girl ROCKS! We talked about the transparent tape/ribbon by Junkitz lately and she offered me to send one in the mail. Her envelope was on my doorstep today and I was surprised to not only receive the tape, but also twillz, buttonz, expressionz rub-ons and labelz. Isn't that generous? Thanks sweetie, I really appreciate this!!

Circle Journal: Beautiful places

Our holiday is getting closer and actually I should do the last washing, ironing and cleaning, but in the evening I love to scrap to relax. So I do the household during the day, and scrap at night. Last evening I worked on my entry for the Circle Journal. Actually the deadline is August 15th, but since I am not sure if I have time to work on it when we get back from France I worked on it now. This CJ is about beautiful places in the world. I visited quite some beautiful places and thought of making a layout on Norway, Stockholm, Cayman Islands, San Francisco - do I need to go on? - but I decided to make a layout on our trip to Canada. Eric and I went to Canada in 1999 and drove through British Columbia and Alberta for 2 weeks. Prior to our trip we spent a few days with Lisette, David and Rebecca who lived in the USA back then, and we ended our trip with them as well. Working on this layout reminded me of that wonderful holiday. I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of Canada's nature. In the Netherlands we have woods, but believe me, that is NOTHING in comparison to the Canadian forests. The national parks in BC and Alberta are bigger than my country. We saw breathtaking waterfalls, beautiful sceneries, the impressive Icefields Parkway and lots of wildlife. You hardly see any wildlife here - unless you go to the zoo - so you can probably imagine that we were very surprised when we saw our first deer, moose or bear in the soft shoulder. I would love to go back one time, but I guess that will take a few years. For now our girls prefer a swimming pool and playground.

Photo swap and Circle Journal

Norbiba received my layout in the mail today, so I can show it to you now. I sent her a picture of Fleur taken in our backyard on a sunny day in April. I had to work with a picture of Norbiba wearing one of her favorite outfits.

Here is the layout made by Norbiba. Thanks girl!


And here is my layout made for her.


I also finished a spread for a Circle Journal (CJ) lately. This CJ was about ribbons and flowers. On the left page you had to make a layout with these elements, and the right page had to be about yourself. There is a hidden tag on the right page with some facts about me. I am not really satisfied with this spread, but don't know why. Well, I think I have an idea. First of all, I am not good at making spreads. The more I look at this spread the more I realize that both pages make not 1 layout. Secondly, I think it has to do with the fact that I am not really enjoying this CJ anymore. It has nothing to do with this CJ album in particular, but with this CJ cycle. It seems like this group is not as motivated anymore as it was in the beginning and that makes working on someone's CJ less fun....at least for me. This was my first CJ and I have a very strong feeling that this will be my last.

Result photo swap

We have already organized 11 photo swaps on the Dolls & Decorations messageboard, and I participated in all of them. It is so much fun to do a photo swap and make a layout for someone else. Swap #11 was hosted by Leontine, and I was linked to her. We sent our layouts yesterday, and both received them in the mail today. Leontine made a layout with a picture of Fleur, and I had to work with a picture of her little niece Anouk. Thanks Leontine, for the wonderful layout.

Here is the layout that Leontine made for me.


And here is the layout that I made for her.

Layout for Mandy

A while ago Mandy and I agreed to do a photo swap together. Mandy is not only a great scrapper - I so LOVE her style - but also a very nice person. I checked her blog this morning and found out she already returned from holiday. Time really flies.....I thought she would be away for another week and therefore had to wait another week to reveal my layout for her. So glad I can do it now. Her layout for me is on her blog and you really have to check it out. I LOVE IT!! Mandy has a great style, and creates wonderful stuff. Not only layouts but also mini books. She is the Queen of mini books. Here is my layout for her...

Layouts photo swaps

Yesterday I received the layouts made by Yvon and Daniëlle in the mail. I like both layouts. Thanks girls for your time and effort.

Here is the one made by Yvon.



And here is the one made by Daniëlle.

And here is...

...another photo swap layout to reveal. This is the layout that I created for Danielle. Fortunately she too was happy with my creation. I will probably get her layout in the mail tomorrow.

Busy day

Today my dad had a surgery to his oesophagus (slokdarm). It always causes a bit of stress when you have to wait, especially when it takes quite a long time before you hear if everything went well. He had the surgery around 1pm and was back to the ward at 4.15pm. Just 5 minutes before my mom arrived who couldn't stand to wait at home any longer. I went to see my dad this evening. He was still very sleepy due to the anaesthesia and morphine, but he was doing well. He has to stay in hospital for a few days. We don't know yet when he will be released.

This morning I went to Amsterdam to visit my former colleagues and spent almost 3 hours with them. Pretty strange to be in the office as a visitor. Had a cup of tea and a chat with some girls, and lunch with my manager. It was good to see him again. We worked together for more than 9 years and I still miss him from time to time.

No time to scrap today, so I will leave you with a picture of one of the photo swap layouts. Yvon got mine in the mail today, so I can now reveal the layout. Fortunately she was very happy with the result. I will get her layout on Saturday, so I have to be patient for another 2 days. I am really into Scenic Route lately. I just LOVE that brand. I am very curious to know what new lines they will introduce at CHA in July. Has anyone already seen a sneak peak?

Revelation photo swap

Today I received Wendy's layout in the mail. I sent her a picture of Fleur made in March. She received my layout yesterday, so I can now show a picture of my creation. Wendy and one of her friends had a high tea, and took some funny pictures of each other. One of those pictures was sent to me. Not an easy picture to work with, but fortunately Wendy is very happy with my layout.

Here's the layout Wendy made for me.


And here's the one I made for Wendy.


Fortunately I am feeling much better today than I did yesterday. I woke up with a terrible headache yesterday. I took a shower and made breakfast for the girls, but then I went back to back. Eric brought the girls to school. I slept till noon, and finally got dressed at 1.30pm as I had to run some errands. I had plans to scrap a layout or work on a mini book, but unfortunately I didn't do anything during the day. Last night I did an attempt to scrap, but I only made this very simple birthday card.