A Colourful Life

A Quick Update

This is gonna be a quick .... just so you guys won't think I've fallen off the face of the Earth.  It's been busy -- we were in San Fransciso for the weekend and got back late yesterday and today I was at work all day.  I have kits to make, handouts to write, name tags to finish, yadda, yadda, yadda.  The big event  is this weekend!  Hope some of you guys can attend.

At the store, I redid one of the endcaps in all pink since it is the signature color for Breast Cancer Reasearch.  Here's what part of it looks like:
 

The actual store display has an all pink background -- this shot was taken before I swapped out the purple and green background for all pink.  this card uses Microfine glitter and circle punches for the cool effect.  If you want to learn how to make this card, visit me at the store and I'll tell you!

What's Been Happening.....

So much has  been happening both at home and at work.  The days are whizzing by.  This coming weekend we are off to San Francisco to attend an Anniversary Ball that my dad's university fraternity is putting on.  My dad will be honored as he founded this fraternity, so we (my entire family, my mom, 2 sisters and their families plus my brother and his 2 kids) will be there to enjoy and witness the festivities.  Also in the agenda is a catamaran ride on the Bay from Pier 39 where Fisherman's Wharf is, a huge picnic and shopping!  Lots of pics to come, promise!

On the work front...still loving it!  We are busy with the final details of the Stamp Out Breast Cancer weekend on May 30 and 31.  Yesterday, I finished the name tags for the attendees, instructors and volunteers.

 

If you haven't yet signed up, there's lots of time.  You won't be disappointed, and it's for a great cause.  We will have make n' takes, contests and a flip flop booth where you decorate your very own flip flops!  Below is a pic of the Girlfriend Book I will be teaching on Sunday, May 31.

 

We will use the Scor-Pal in this class to create the inside panels of the book.  The book is on display at the store, so please drop by and check it out -- much nicer in person!

For those of you waiting to see the third card in my "Monkeying Around" class, here it is!

 

I used Ranger's Glossy Accents to create the wet and shiny look on the bubbles.  Hope to see you in class!

Long Weekend....

It is a long weekend here in Vancouver, B.C. -- Monday is Victoria Day for us.  For my American and international friends, this is the holiday that celebrates the current Canadian Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.  The date does not change with the change of the Monarch, rather it is set to the birthday of Queen Victoria, the Canadian Monarch at the time of Canadian Confederation in 1867.   But enough about that boring history stuff.....!

In our house, we are all very excited that Jordan has achieved early acceptance into UBC's Faculty of Science.  He has worked hard for this and he deserves it.  This achievement required a 94% average to gain the early admittance, most others do not get this priviledge till after their final grades are determined later in the year.  But nights of studying and dedication has paid off for Jordan and he was so happy when he got the news.  This is Jordan posing for his grade 12 grad photo.

  Jordan also received a $2,000 scholarship which he will use to cover his university books.  They are not cheap!!  For his grad gift, we are getting him a Macbook which he will use for school.  We are very proud of him!  He has his priorities right and his head screwed on properly.  How lucky can we be?? 

In work news.....still loving my new job!  Love the store, love the girls I work with and love our customers!  I still bring my camera in to work with me most days and take pictures in and around Granville Island.  Look what I found in the market!

 

Sugar free chocolate!!!  Now that's more like it.  I bought some to try and it was delicious -- pricier that regular chocolate, but the sugar free part is worth it.  Yummers.......

And here is the second card in my Monkey Around Class at I'm Impressed.

 

 

For class dates and times click here.

 

Have You Signed Up Yet????

For what?? For this.     Join this worthwhile event and help find a cure for this disease.  Below is the second card that is featured in my Copic class.  Hope to see you on May 30 and 31!

 

More from Granville Island.....

Yesterday was my second day at work, and it was just as much fun as the first. It was a beautiful sunny day and the island was packed full of people and tourists.  This was what I looked at while eating my lunch on a bench in the park.
 

Again, I arrived early as planned so that I could walk around the market, explore and take more pictures.  The market is such a place of discovery and I think my camera will be a permanent fixture on my arm when going to work!

 

Fresh vegetables -- so colorful and fresh.  Such a feast for the senses, both visual and olfactory.  My camera was working overtime!

 
I walked by this vendor and instantly started to salivate.  I bought fresh raspberries and had that for lunch!  So sweet.

 

Delicious, fresh bread.  And I get to have this daily!!  I plan to just buy my bread fresh everyday after work.  I work till 6 and the market is open till 7, so I can pop in and get my bread before heading home.  Doug loves bread and could easily live on bread alone with no problems.  He will be one happy camper in the days ahead!

 

Fish!  Again, fresh daily!  This is my stall and will buy my fish fresh daily.  No more frozen from now on.

 

This vendor had the most scrumptious, creamiest desserts.  I don't plan to indulge here too much -- too fattening and I'd have to spend hours at the gym working off the guilt!  But I will buy the kids treats now and then.  If they had anything to say about it, I'd bring them these desserts home everyday!

Lastly, here is the first card I will feature in my "Monkey Around" class.  As before I will post each of the four cards with each blog entry till all 4 are featured.

  

The class features cards with images of "Changito" -- Stampendous' fun and playful monkey.

 

If you live in Metro Vancouver, come by the market and stop by the yellow building -- that's the Kids Market, and that's where you'll find us at I'm Impressed.  Hope you visit soon!

 

First Day at my New Job.....

.....and I loved it.  It was a beautiful day -- not too warm, not too cold and I got to work early, so I explored a bit and walked around Granville Island.  Had my morning coffee.....
 
....and was pleasantly surprised to find a wonderful park right behind the market, with a pond, willow trees, ducks and geese!
 
 
What a difference from the burbs....Granville Island is downtown, yet I was thrilled to see how much closer I was to nature and the fact that I have all this to enjoy during my break and at lunch is such a nice thing!  The pond is steps away from the store....I just walk out and I'm right there in minutes.  Look who came out to have lunch with me today!
 
I loved that the Canada geese didnt' even flinch when I came close to snap a picture.  They just stayed where they where, oblivious to me and anyone else that happened to be there enjoying a picnic lunch, strolling by.....and there were many tourists around -- after all, it was a gorgeous day!  I am really thrilled that I get do enjoy this everyday.  I'm still pinching myself.  

Here is Raya, hard at work -- I took a pic of her when she wasnt' looking.  Sorry, Raya......!
 
And here are Christina and Mary Lou who run the post office adjacent to the stamp store.....yes talk about service, huh!!!  Buy your craft supplies and mail your letters and packages all in one place!
 
And now for the best part about my job.....all the STUFF!!  I get to be around this everyday.....smelling it, touching it, looking at it and BUYING IT!  Again, I'm still pinching myself....
If you are looking for twinkling H2O's -- stop looking -- we have it all at I'm Impressed.  I know this product is now discontinued so if you want some (and who wouldn't??!?!) get yourself on over to the store!
 
Go crazy over ribbon -- yards and yards and yards and yards of it!
 
Cricut, Big Shot, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Spellbinder  -- we have it all.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
 
And of course....the main event....STAMPS.  We have a stamp of the month featured every month at half price.  Check out what's on for this month!
 
And as promised, here is the last of the 4 cards in my "For Men Only" class -- don't delay signing up for this class -- it will fill!
 
 

 I used wire for the balloon strings -- so cute!  Check out the entire class schedule here.

I will be working on the cards for my Monkeying Around class tonight....so stay tuned for samples of those coming up.

Owl Card, Kind Words and Tap!

Owl Card: This is the third card in my "For Men Only" class at I'm Impressed.
 

My fave color is green, which is why I really love this card.  I also love the greeting with the 2 different types of font.  I'll take a pic of the fourth card and upload it in the next couple of days.  Hope some of you can join my class -- you can check out the class schedule here.

Kind Words: It always makes me appreciate and love what I do all the more when I receive wonderful emails from customers and students who have taken my classes.  This week in particular I've received several emails from customers who have taken my Copic classes to tell me how much they have learned and how much they enjoy it.  I love what I do, and it's because of everyone I meet and the great and talented ladies I get to know on a regular basis.  You guys make my job a joy.

Tap!:  Alysssa competed today, doing her group tap dance routine and they did awesome!  Their group got gold!

They did their number to the Disney musical "Newsies" -- and they rocked.  I sometimes complain about all the driving to and from rehearsals, not to mention the cost of all her dance classes.....(it ain't cheap cause she's in ballet, tap, hip-hop, musical theatre and voice!) ...but when I get to see her  perform and see how good she is at all the different types of dance, it makes it all worth it.  Plus the self-confidence it instills in her, as well as a sense of accomplishment in a job well done is worth more than all the money and time spent getting her to all her rehearsals! 

So tomorrow, I start my new job and I'm looking forward to it -- stay tuned for news on my new adventure!

Next Card....

This is the second in my series of 3 days off....before I start my new job.....and this is the second card in my class "For Men Only", which I will be teaching at my new job!
 

This is a veratile card cause while it is meant for a man, it certainly can be given to a woman as well...love the color combo here -- red, cream and brown!

The greeting is simple and verstile as well -- you can use this card for a birthday, congratulations, thinking of you....WHATEVER!

The gold brads really dress up the final card, too.

Doug is back from his week long business trip, so tonight we are going to the gym together -- he really misses the gym routine while away on business.  I also continued with my domestic goddess facade.....(cause once I'm back at work....it's all gonna stop!) and cooked chicken breasts, peppers, onions, etc for a dinner of chicken fajitas tonight!

I bought several different types of tortillas -- whole wheat, pesto, and sundried tomato for variety.  Gonna work off some energy first, then come home to this.

Hope you are all having a good Wednesday (hump day).

Designing, Designing.

Today is a day off, but I spent most of it designing new classes which I will be teaching at I'm Impressed.   This card below will be one of the cards I will teach in May in my class called "For Men Only".....as the title implies, the class will feature 4 cards meant to be given to the men in your life.
 
Loved the way this one turned out.  Perfect for everyone's Prince Charming.
I watercolored the frog using lyra watercolor crayons and then finished off the frog with some glossy accents from Ranger. 

All supplies can be purchased at I'm Impressed.  Hope to see you in class!

What else did I do today?  Well, I cleaned up the house, including my ever so messy craft studio in the basement.  It's looking a bit better now and I can actually find some stuff!!  I also cooked dinner then made this delicious and healthy dessert of cut up strawberries.  Gonna load the fruit up in parfait glasses, with a layer of vanilla yogurt and topped off with granola.  Yum, yum.

Girlfriend Book

I will be teaching this Flip Flop book project at the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Event on May 30 and 31.  The venue for this fabulous event is the Granville Island Hotel in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.  This event is sponsored by I'm Impressed and all proceeds will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  I have had many friends touched by this disease and it was without hesitation that I quickly signed on to teach a class when I was asked.  Together we can make a difference!

Here are some pics of the Flip Flop book that I will be teaching.
 

 

This will be a fabulous 2 days for all who can attend.  Give yourself a treat and make a weekend of it and stay overnight at the hotel.....and don't forget to come and say hi to me or better yet, come and join my classes!  Hope to see you there.