How to Turn a Frown Upside Down!

Oh, the things we take for granted! I blew a tire on my wheelchair and no it couldn't happen during the week but on a weekend - a holiday weekend at that! After my only hope of having it fixed failed - Canadian Tire - I was at least lucky enough to find a local pharmacy open with two wheelchair rentals still available. 

One was wide enough to fit three people in and would have worked if I didn't need to get into the bathroom or bedroom for 3 days. The other was just my size and would work just fine - or so I thought!

 Ends up I would have been better off riding on a flat tire all weekend! It needs something - a ball bearing or something is my non mechanically educated guess. It only turns right (great if I want to go in circles!), it won't back up or go over basic floor transitions or thresholds, one tire spins as it won't touch the ground and it sits so high that I dare  not drop anything and have to pick it up! 

How do they get away with renting this garbage? I know they're not fancy or custom made ones that are meant for someone confined to a wheelchair - but still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To make matters worst it occured to me that my phone hadn't rang in a couple of days! My first thought was -  did I remember to pay the bill - yes I remembered, I did pay, so it should be fine. Then I discovered a lone plug on the ground which should not have been there. The phone modem was unplugged. Easy fix right? Well in my regular chair it would be a challenge but not one I couldn't handle. With the rental chair though forget it - I'd be lucky to reach the plug let alone plugging it in. It's a good thing the day was almost over and thank the Lord for modern technology!

So now here we are at a new day.
My phone is now working but it seems that the wheelchair place is closed on Saturdays.
Fingers crossed that it's open on Easter Monday!

On a happier note, as promised to myself, I did do a new layout of my little grandson for my own personal scrapbooks.

I used the new 'Bundle of Joy' papers from Kaisercraft. You know how much I love vintage and these papers did not disappoint!

I die-cut a circle to highlight my adorable grandsons face and distressed both the circle and paper edges, 

Oh - I got a new tool! The Zutter distressing tool. If you don't have one already, I highly recommend it if you like the distressed or shabby chic look. 

It makes fast and clean work of a normally tedious and dirty job!

I fussy cut some cherubs from the paper and adhered them along the top and bottom sides of the centre paper.

I added lace, flowers and hand dyed seam binding along the bottom with a
swarovski style pacifier attached to it.

Prima flowers and a little resin frame, inked and fitted with a rocking horse sticker
 from the collection finish it off.
This paper is adorable but what makes this layout really adorable is my
precious little grandson.
He definitely has a way of turning this grandma's frown upside down!

HAPPY HOPPY EASTER!

Girly vs. Grungey

My mojo is off to a slow start but I did get a custom album and matching box done for my Etsy shop then finished an envelope album I started back in January. They each have a totally different feel. The custom order was pink and pretty and all things girly - lace, bling, doilies, flowers... and the other was totally masculine with grunge, gears, metal and steampunk.
I can't really share the custom order with you but here is a wee peek. I LOVED making it and creating exactly what my customer wanted.

 I can share the masculine album with you though.

I used G45 black policy envelopes to make the album.

The pages were kept pretty simple by covering with Tim Holtz papers and inking the edges with a metallic bronze ink.

The papers were true to TH style with a masculine and vintage look - clocks, tickets, measuring tapes, and antique maps. Some pages were embellished with zipper trim while others had tags or coin envelopes added.

 

The cover is where I really brought out the industrial/steampunk look. It was so much fun to make as it was so out of my element.

I added metal gears, brads, clock faces, and an old fashioned lightbulb and pen nib all from Tim Holtz (you gotta love that guy)

 Swirly metal studs from Prima were added and my favourite part - a metal faucet handle. (again from TH)

It is used to open your book.

An antique bronze chain hangs from an old fashioned bronze safety pin with a 

clock key on the end. 

Guess who they're from? Yep - what a guy!

If you want more details be sure to check out Sapphire Noteables on Etsy.

When looking for photos of my dear late husband I realized how important scrapbooking is and preserving photos and stories for the next generation and ones after that. 

Even though my Etsy shop is important to me I am going to spend more time going back to my original reason for scrapping - to preserve lifes precious memories.

I'll still make mini albums and altered items and likely will spend too much time creating on my layouts but each one will be a precious and cherished memory.

 Isn't that what life is all about?!

 

Our Precious Gift from Above

It's been an emotional crazy time in my life. With having a neuromuscular  disease I have learnt that life goes on and I can't stop living it - I just needed to learn to live it differently. Well again I am being put to the test.
With the loss of my husband and best friend I need to learn to live my life differently.
It hasn't been easy but the love of friends and family are getting me through.
And with family come grandchildren! It is sad that my husband worked so hard for many years and when it came time for him to relax and enjoy his grandchildren he was taken from us. Our youngest grandson was only 7 weeks old when he passed and our little granddaughter was only 4 days old. She was not due for 2 more weeks but wanted to meet grandpa. It was meant to be - she will always have a guardian angel watching over her.
To help me with the grieving process I created a layout of our beautiful little granddaughter.

I took full advantage of a precious little girl and used pink papers (Prima), lots of flowers and lots of bling.
I  tore and distressed the papers adding ribbon to parts of the torn back paper.

Lots of flowers (Prima, Petaloo, and assorted ones from my stash), handmade butterflies, a paper lace doily, string pearls and swirly bling all add to the soft, feminine look.

  

Glittery alpha stickers were used to  make the title with a thin outline with a black marker to make it pop.

Journalling was added welcoming our sweet little Lily into the world!