Friday, August 31, 2012

Comfort Cafe Birthday

My wonderful Aunt Brigitte just celebrated a very big birthday last Saturday! That's right, she turned the big 5-0! Although she doesn't look a day over 25 ;)! I love my Aunt Brigitte dearly, and find myself to be much like her. We both share a love for nursing, scrapbooking, and organization (although she's got the organization thing down a lot better than me I must say).

Recently, for her 25th Wedding Anniversary, she traveled with her husband, my Uncle Brad, her brother, My Uncle John, and his girlfriend Victoria to Europe. They had a wonderful trip, and got to visit with lots and lots of relatives in Germany. On Saturday we are all getting together for a potluck and slide show to look at some of the great pictures they took.

We have done slide shows with my family for as long as I can remember. I don't know if it is because my Uncle John is a University professor and has always had access to a slide projector or what (oh ya we did it back before you could set it all up on the computer. We used actual slides, crazy). But I love it, sometimes we look at old family photos, or my Uncle John's adventures (he travels a lot), sometimes a bit of both! Needless to say I am looking forward to seeing everyone, eating yummy food, and looking at some great pictures.

Here is the birthday card I made for Aunt Brigitte, using the Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper, which I must say is quickly becoming my favourite.

 
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Midnight Muse
Paper: Comfort Cafe DSP, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse
Accessories: 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Naturals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Thursday, August 30, 2012

2 Months!

I can't believe it! Gabriel is 2 months old today! Where has the time gone? I know everyone warns you that it will go fast, and you know it will, but it's still sad when it does. Is it totally pathetic that I was almost crying today because he's moving into size 2 diapers. I remember almost having a meltdown when he moved from newborn to size 1!

Today we go to the Doctor's to get our shots. Mommy is a whole lot more worried than Gabe. I'm a nurse, you'd think I'd be over this! Haha however, it must be done, and I'm sure he'll handle them like a champ!

Almost a smile!

Looks at those legs! :)

What a Difference a month makes!
 
At 2 months old Gabriel is:
  • smiling lots (especially when he's being changed, this child loves to be naked)
  • sleeping longer stretches (we had one 8.5 hour and a few 7 hours)
  • 11 lbs, 2 oz and 22.5 inches long
  • still loves bath time
  • hasn't lost any of that gorgeous hair
  • still so strong, always moving his legs and trying to get somewhere
  • cooing and making all sorts of new and wonderful noises
Happy Stamping (more on that tomorrow, promise),
Elizabeth Emma
 
 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Baby Shower

Are you guys sick of seeing baby things yet? I hope not. I promise I will stop soon, will probably not stop soon, but I'll try to mix it up a bit, how's that for compromise? I just wanted to share with you a few pictures from the baby shower my mom and sister had for me in June before Gabriel joined us.
 
 
 
This is the super cute cake my mom had made! I just love it. She used green and brown for a colour scheme since we didn't know the gender. We all had a good laugh because these were the same colours I used for my wedding, and also the same colours I used in Gabe's nursery...think I might like the combo? Haha.

 
This was a very cute bouquet of mini cupcakes that my cousin Becky-Lou made for me! Adorable!
 
 
The idea for this cute fruit basket came from pinterest of course! I got my mom into it and now she's probably on there more than I am. I'm glad she likes it though, it's so awesome. And I probably mention this about once a week but if you haven't checked it out yet, go do it now!


And I promise there is crafting buried somewhere in this post....

 
 These are the invitations I helped my mom with (she used my supplies). Aren't they cute? I'm so sad that this set is retired, I really do love it (both of them actually).

Supplies
Stamp Sets: Fox and Friends, Inviting
Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Certainly Celery, CrumbCake, Whisper White
Accessoies: Scallop Circle Punch, Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (discontinued)

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Digital Studio, Take 2


Yesterday I posted about my first experiences with My Digital Studio. I mentioned that I had made a couple birth announcements/thank-you cards. Here is the second go I had at it.


Here is the front and the back (you can design both sides). I used the same colours as the one I shared with you yesterday, I just put a little different spin on it. What do you think? I plan on using these for thank-yous which is why I left the blank tag on the back of the card. I was going to hand make all my thank-yous but we all know how that went with my wedding thank-yous (if you don't know, it took me forever) and that was when I didn't have a little one to care for so I thought this one might be a bit quicker, but still made by me, and still super cute.

Right now I am trying to take advantage of nap time as best I can! I am currently making invitations for Gabriel's Christening. I hope to share those with you soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

My Experience with MDS

I am a little late to the game, but oh well. Awhile ago I bought My Digital Studio (MDS). I didn't think I was one for digital scrapbooking, I like the traditional paper, adhesive, ink, and stamps. I had heard so many wonderful things about it, I thought I might give it a go, and so I used some of my hostess dollars (a wonderful reason to host a workshop ladies and gents) and bought it.

After I bought MDS I loaded it onto my computer and it just sat there and sat there. To be truthful, I was a little confused. I know people my age are supposed to be all in touch with the digital world and totally love these things. And for the most part I am, and I do, but I couldn't seem to get the hang of it (I didn't give myself very much time however).

Well in one of our recent Stampin' Success Magazines (a publication exclusively for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators), I saw a super cute birth announcement made using MDS. And since that hits home right now, I decided to give it another go! You'll never guess, I absolutely loved it! And after spending some time with it, I found it is very easy to operate. I made a couple super cute thank-you/birth announcement cards for Gabriel, and quite quickly too (which is awesome from any mother's perspective I am sure).

So enough of my rambling on, here is my first attempt at My Digital Studio, please don't judge too harshly, I am just a beginner.

The picture is a little small, I apologize for that. This is one I took pretty much right out of Stampin' Success, but I thought it was a good jumping off point. I used the colours Wild Wasabi and Bashful Blue for the background, and the writing and Flag punch are Marina Mist.

Well what do you think? I made another one as well that I will share with you tomorrow. I hope there will be many more digital projects to come!

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Monday, August 20, 2012

Happy First Anniversary

Well this post is just a little bit delayed considering our first anniversary was June 25th. I was just a little bit nesting and getting ready to go into labour 5 days later haha.

This is one of my favourite wedding pictures <3.

For a little time wrap, here is us in June 2008. Weren't we cute.
Anyways, I still can't believe Cody and I have been married for a year, it certainly doesn't feel like it has been that long. We've been together since I was 16!! I guess it's true what they say, time flies when you're having fun (so cliche, but I just had to). So much has happened in that year! I can't wait to see what the next year (and many more years to come) brings.


I won't bore you with our love story anymore, but there is a little stamping in here, don't you fear. Here is the card I made him for our anniversary. I really wasn't very in love with the new in colours when they first came out, but now I really love them! It's a totally different look from the 2011-2013 in colours.

Stamps: Memorable Moments
Ink: Midnight Muse, Soft Suede
Paper: Comfort Cafe DSP, Soft Suede, Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla,
Accessories: Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Stripes Embossing Folder, Labels Framelits

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Monday, August 13, 2012

Memorable Moments Birthday

Here is a Birthday Card I made using the Memorable Moments set. I like this set because it allows you to personalize cards for a specific birthday or anniversary or just make a regular one like I've done here. This another good one you can use for a guy or gal!



Supplies:
Stamps: Memorable Moments, Betsy's Blossoms
Ink: Pool Party, Raspberry Ripple
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green
Accessories: Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Labels Framelits Die, Stripes Emnossing Folder

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Friday, August 10, 2012

Keep Calm and Celebrate that It's Back!

So awhile go, back in June when the new Stampin' Up! catalogue first came out there was a super awesome hostess stamp set in it called "Carry On". I order it in the demonstrator preorder in May (one of the wonderful benefits to being a demonstrator) and played around with it a bit. I was so excited to share it with all of you but then it was unavailable for awhile due to copyright issues :(...so sad.

But have no fear! It's back! So to get this super awesome stamp set, it's simple! Host a workshop! Or place over $200 in individual sales!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Carry On
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP, Basic Gray, Whisper White
Accessories: Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, 1" circle punch, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma

Gabriel 1 Month

Wow! I do apologize, I have been gone for quite some time! As I mentioned in my previous post, our little bundle of joy joined us two weeks early, on June 30th! He will be six weeks old tomorrow (makes me want to cry, it's going soo quick).

Anyways I saw this on another blog (Kerry's Paper Crafts ), and thought I would do it to. It's a great way to keep track of Gabe's progress, cause I am bound to update my blog even if I am a bit behind on the scrapbook page. I am taking pictures of Gabe each month in a plain white onesie with monthly stickers (an amazing find on Etsy). So here is his first month's progress update:

Aww look at my little munchkin! Isn't he adorable?! Okay, so I may be a little biased but I don't care!

At One Month Old Gabriel:

  • Weighs 9lbs, 5oz is 21.5 inches long and in the 50th percentile
  • Is a very noisy and restless sleeper. Always moaning, groaning, talking and moving in his sleep, it's crazy. Glad he is sleeping, cause the rest of us aren't haha!
  • Loves, loves, loves his hands above his head when he is sleeping! He absolutely hates being swaddled. I think we tried that twice and it was miserable.
  • Has very beautiful blonde hair, that surprisingly he has kept all from birth. The only problem is he tends to pull it, a lot. he gets a death grip going and won't let go, then the poor soul screams bloody murder cause it hurts! Silly boy.
  • Loves bath time
  • Has taken a bottle from daddy, ate like a champ, good to know we can leave him with grandparents very shortly so mommy and daddy can have a night out (if mommy can handle it).
  • Refuses to sleep in crib or bassinet, but loves loves loves his vibrating chair!

**Update: Last night Gabe spent almost 5 hours in his crib. From 2am - 5:45am, even went in awake! And this morning he had a glorious 2 hour nap in his crib! Go Gabriel!**



And just because he is so cute and I have been too busy to share photos I will share some more with you now:

Mommy's little fireman

All dressed up!

In Daddy's fire gear, look at those little toes!

Such an angel.

Before and After <3

Aw :)

Alright, he may be cute, but I am sure you have had enough of my family for now! I will be back with more stamping very soon I promise! Thanks for letting me share!

Happy Stamping,
Elizabeth Emma