It has definitely been a long time since I have added any postings to this blog. About 8 years to be exact. A very busy life got in the way. There has been so many changes in the world of blogging and in my life. I now have lots more time and fully anticipate adding more to this blog. First I just have to learn to my way around in this much newer and hopefully better version of blogger, which was Blogspot. I have also wondered about creating a full website, but wonder if it will cut into the amount of personal space/mb that google allows. But for now and maybe forever I am back on here blogging.

Chris and Sabrina

Life is back to normal in our household.  My middle son Christopher married his sweetheart, Sabrina last weekend. With all the excitment and myraid of things to do before a wedding, I haven't posted on here for awhile. Hope you enjoy the video and the pictures taken by family and friends.

Chris & Sabrina's wedding video  (click on the link to open the video)

Bridesmaids & Mom

I now pronounce you 'husband and wife'

First kiss

Husband and wife

The whole Dyson clan

My husband, myself and our 3 children

Sabrina and our family

Me and Chris

Newly weds

The newly weds

Sabrina and Chris

Just as it says

One of many

Before the new year gets any further along and Christmas seems like it was an eternity ago, now seemed like a good time to start posting my Christmas cards from 2011, while there is still snow on the ground.

My first Christmas card for 2011 was made for a Christmas in July card swap. I just loved this double-sided Christmas paper by Graphic 45 from their Christmas Past Collection. 

 Both sides of the paper were used for the front of the card. Inside the card I used a vellumy like paper, that matched the green on the front perfectly. I embossed both ends of the green paper and when opened the card said 'Merry Christmas'. Unfortuneatly, I did not take a picture of the card opened. The ribbon was placed behind the green paper and threaded out the sides. The poinsettas are stamped and gold embossed on red and green vellum.

I love the layout of this card as both sides of the double sided paper are on the front of the card. This is one card layout that I will be using again. Hope you like it too. Thanks for looking.

Same Die Cut - Slightly Different Look

Last fall when I was at Scrapfest in Oshawa, Lisa of Local Rubber King was demostrating her new die cuts that she had made to match her stamps. They are all awesome. It was all I could do to stop myself from buying everyone of them.

I had bought this stamp from Lisa the previous year, so I decided it was the first one I wanted the die cut for.

After watching Lisa demostrate how to use it, I went home and created these two cards. There are slightly different, but the basic design is the same. Both flowers and stamps were colored using one of my favorite colouring methods, using Tombos directly on the stamp. Thanks Lisa for showing me this great method of coloring and how to create the wonderful background. A great way to fill in all that white space.

Needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing Lisa at the next Scrapfest in Kitchener in the spring. Thanks for looking.