Tobi's Place

Our Wedding Song

2009-07-15T00:41:00.000-07:00

Here's the story:

Everyone assumed I would do something musical for the wedding and all along I was like, "I don't think so" mostly because if I had to sing at my own wedding it would be a blubber-fest, so I brushed the idea off. The music we had planned for the wedding was by no means generic, we had a bagpiper walk the wedding party in, and the choir I directed last year sang during the signing of the register and the recessional, but we did not have a song for me and my father to walk down the aisle to..

I brainstormed ideas and sang through hundreds of songs until one day I was thumbing through my "Book" (the book of songs I regularly perform all organized by set and in my key etc...) and I came across a song by Jann Arden called, "Ode To a Friend" that I have sung many times. I sang it again, this time with Ian as my 'motivation' and voila! By the end of the song I was in tears exclaiming I FOUND THE SONG!! I decided right then and there that this would be a secret. I would record it in secret at my friend's studio, play a mock song during the rehearsal dinner, and the first time he would hear it was going to be at the ceremony.

Let's just say there was not a dry eye in the house, including mine. How stupid of me to record a song that is so dear to my heart and make me cry all the way to the altar. I was supposed to be beautiful, and instead I was trying to wipe away the tears without totally screwing up my makeup.. I don't think I smiled ONCE walking with my father. haha.. oh well.

So you want to hear it? ok. Ode To a Friend.

p.s. If you have a Myspace account you can download it..

Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge!

2009-07-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

This week it's a sketch challenge (everybody's favourite!). We would love for you to play along, and if you do please link it here (the Jacksonbelle Blog..) Here's the sketch:

If you're going to upload to SCS or your other favourite site, please include the keyword JBE062 (not 61 as listed...) so we can all see!

This is such an easy sketch to incorporate into any project, so I decided to make my Guest Book for the wedding using this sketch. I love how it turned out, and the guests loved it too!

Here's my favourite element:

These butterflies actually adorned much of our reception area, but I was just so addicted to them I had to include it on the book. I cut it out with the Slice, with special slice transparency paper. I bent it in the middle and because of the material it just stayed bent. Awesome!!

Here's the front cover:

And here's the inside of the back cover. Times like these I don't regret buying the Bind-it-All!

Supplies: Stamps: October Afternoon, heidi swapp date stamp; Paper: Bazzill, Prism, Making Memories Transpareny, other patterned paper that I've cut up and can no longer remember.....; Ink: Versamagic (Charcoal); May Arts Ribbon; Bind-it-all machine and coils, American Crafts Thickers, Slice.

**Remember to check out the Daisy D sale items at the Jacksonbelle store
**Check out the rest of the design team's challenge stuff on my sidebar -------------------------------->

Clean and Simple Inspiration challenge

2009-07-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Today's Clean and Simple challenge was to choose a piece of art from www.art.com and use it as an inspiration piece.

I just bought an elephant baby stamp from the AMuse store, so I went looking in the Elephant category and found this adorable scene. I copied it! haha..

So here's my little elephant. I added the bird using a Kim Hughes stamp from CHF. I think it goes well with the elephant! I free-hand drew the pond and doused it in glitter. The little grass tufts are a Memory Box clear stamp.

I airbrushed the background colours very loosely, and paper pieced the elephant so i didn't have to worry about colour from the markers getting on the image. The clouds are puffed with liquid applique.

I wanted to show you another purchase I made at the AMuse store:

I got most of my collection in the bucket, and when I counted there were about 160 markers in there. None of my browns and blenders made it in, but I was pretty happy that all of my colours fit EXACTLY, as in, I don't have more room for new markers, so I guess that means I'm set! haha..

Take care!

A couple wedding pics

2009-07-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of wedding pics have surfaced on Facebook, so I thought I would share some, since some of you have been asking. We won't have the professional shots for about 6 weeks, so we are relying on friends and family for some sneak peaks of how it all looked!

This is me, my bro (who was in my wedding party) and my sister.

So you all remember the Martha Stewart cover that inspired this card, and then inspired my student to make that card for me etc etc etc... Well we got that exact wedding cake!!! And I'm not saying this just because it was my cake, it was the best cake I've ever had. Chocolate cake with mint icing on the bottom, carrot cake with cream cheese buttercream in the middle, and creme brule cake with hazelnut buttercream on top.

I can't wait to see the professional photos because the wedding party looked SO GREAT. All the guys in full scottish regalia was a real sight. Just breathtaking. Anyway.. I will be making some creations (Jacksonbelle challenges etc.. ), and posting my efforts in the next couple days, so stay tuned for that, also, if you love Daisy D products they are on sale all this week, so check out the prices here!

Our "pre-honeymoon" activities!

2009-07-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ian and I went to Seattle after our wedding for a practice honeymoon (that's what I like to call it anyway) but really, it was a chance to hang out with my friend and bridesmaid more before she went back to Ontario, and also visit with her parents.. I had to hit a few prime stamping destinations while I was there ofcourse, namely:

The amuse retail store!!! I bought a *few* things while I was there. And I stopped in at:

Impress rubber stamps which is also based in Seattle. I had fun browsing a store of mostly rubber stamps. It's overwhelming, even for a stamp-lover like me!

We did most of our shopping at University Village, and if you've been to Seattle, but have never gone to "U-village" you HAVE TO GO!!

(make-up stores like Sephora and MAC)

cool shoe stores

Novelty stores (this magnet suits me to a "T")

and lovely places to rest

"Just how long CAN she shop???"

I'll be working on a couple of project over the next few days before we leave on our trip across Canada! So stay tuned!

my First Jacksonbelle Challenge!!

2009-07-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

Head over to the Jacksonbelle blog to see the details of this week's challenge and to see what a couple of the DT did with this week's sketch!

I used some new papers to make this baby card. I cut out the word "Girl" with my Silhouette..

If you want to play along, head over to the blog and post before FRIDAY to be entered into a random draw! You can also upload to SCS and use the code JBE061

Supplies: Paper: Pink Paislee, Bazzil, Papertrey Ink; Ink: Momento (tuxedo Black); Ribbon (May Arts), Button (Basic Grey), Flower (Making Memories), Silhouette (Quickutz), Copic Multiliner pen (0.25).

This is good news for everyone who loves Cosmo Cricket!!! Click here to check out the savings!!

I hear wedding bells...

2009-07-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

Where have I been for the last little while? I'll tell you:

I'M GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! (Sunday, July 5th)

Here's what I've been up to:

Seating Plan

Centerpieces (my MAN of honour did them!!)

Setting up for the wedding

I can't wait to show you all the wedding pics! I am CLEARLY not in the mood to sleep tonight (it's almost midnight) but I suppose I will have to sleep sometime... So wish me luck!

A New Adventure

2009-06-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm getting married in exactly one week, and even though I'm going on a month-long honeymoon, I thought it would be really smart to apply for a design team or two... Smart.... NOT!!!!!!!!! But I am super excited to announce that I was asked to be on the Jacksonbelle Embellishments Design team!!!

As I was purusing the other new member's blogs the other day I was humbled.... Look at this lineup. You are sure to add some more blogs to your reader (if you don't already read them...).

Kristine Breach ~ Ink Something
Dawn Easton ~ Treasure Oiler Designz
Stephanie Hargis ~ Steph’s Stampin’ Stuff
Mitzi Koons ~ Stamps Jubilee
Loretta Lock ~ Love to Create
Jimmi Mayo ~ Stamping & Shopping
Bethany Paull ~ It’s Not All Black & White
Michelle Phillipi ~ Inside My Own Private Idaho
Carly Robertson ~ Paper in Bloom
Shemaine Smith ~ Scraptastic
They will be joining our current team of,
Lynda Benden: Stamp Act
Melissa Bove: Keepsakes By Melissa
Jennifer Buck: The Buck Stamps Here
Jill Dunn: Ink Genious
AJ Otto: The Willow Garden
Heather Lee-Reppen: Ink on my Ear
JE Owner:
Lindsey Botkin: Embellished

I can't wait for all of the excitement that will come... I'M ALREADY EXCITED, CAN'T YOU TELL?!?!?

Well on an earlier note. I'm getting married in a week. I have SO MUCH TO DO (and apparently can't stop yelling) so I will catch up with you all later!!

Surprise Baby Scrapbook

2009-06-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

I don't know what lead me to do it (maybe the fact that I took over 300 pictures of the babe) but I made a scrapbook of my brand-new niece Georgia for my sister-in-law Tanya for her baby shower. I don't really like making scrapbooks for people because I actually MISS them when they are gone. Each page is so special and so unique and so much time went into it, but there's the flip side: I know that non-scrapbookers would NEVER make something like this for themselves, so it is up to us to make it for them.. And she was so happy when she looked through it. I will just have to visit my scrapbook when I visit Georgia.. So here it is from front to back:

If you have any questions about the products I've used, please leave a comment. There are too many products to list, and frankly I don't have the time, but I will gladly divulge!!!

Take care!

Elzybells Sneak Peek day 3 - Release day!

2009-06-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks I've shown you the last couple of days. The stamps are available now in the Elzybells shop!

Now I will show you the last card I made using "Pamper Yourself" and "Thank You For."

Pamper yourself is what Elizabeth calls a "Dinkie Set" that is unmounted rubber and comes with a variety of images and Thank You For is a clear set of images that have very unique and versatile sentiments.

I pulled out the ol' sewing machine for this card at the last minute. I was just about to glue everything together when it just looked a little basic. I said to myself "what would make this card go to the next level?" and my answer to myself (it was 12:30 am okay!!) was sewing!!!

Check out the rest of the dt design's and be sure to head over to the Elzybells store.

Elzybells Blog

Elzybells June Sneak Peek Day 2

2009-06-23T00:29:00.000-07:00

This is a triple challenge!! CPS Sketch, SCS Colour challenge, and it's an Elzybells sneak peek!! It was an interesting colour combo, but I really like it!

I cut out the stars with my Making Memories Slice, and stamped on one using Park Avenue Patterns (Stampin' Up) and Fresh Snow ink (Papertreyink).

The Elzybells stamp was coloured with Copic markers. The orange panel was stamped in versamark with another new image being released Wednesday. Here's the whole card:

Check out the rest of the girls sneak peeks:

Elzybells Blog (with new specials!)

Some daddy cards using the Silhouette

2009-06-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

This first card was make for Ian's dad and I used a die cut that I recently purchased from the Quickutz online store. It was fairly involved, paired with the fact that I don't really like the new cutting sheets for the Silhouette, but I got the job done. Ian's dad was impressed with all of the layers and asked if I cut it out by hand... Could you imagine??!!

So here's the final product.. It took no time at all (except for the cutting mishaps) and it turned out well, I think..

The next card was:

Coloured by Phoenix (my son who is 7 years old)

I chose yesterday to give him his first official colouring lesson (move your image around so the lines are on the left, drag the pen from top to bottom etc... ) Using a new Elzybells stamp that I absolutely love! we obviously didn't get into blending, but I was just so impressed by him staying in the lines by using my tips.. I think he did a good job..

The background was cut out with the Silhouette with Making Memories paper.

And I stamped the green panel with a perfectly coordinating stamp from Stampin' Up (Park Avenue Patterns) in Versamark Ink.

I hope you had a great father's day. I know we did... take care!

Elzybells June Sneak Peek Day 1

2009-06-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Amongst wedding madness over here I was able to carve out some time to play. It's good to have a reason to stamp sometimes, because I think I would let busy-ness take over too often and I would forget to make time for what I love.

This next release has a bunch of "girly" stamps and I had a lot of fun colouring "Elzybell" again! Here's a look at a "multi" stamp that's being released:

It's stamped on kraft (obviously) and coloured in with Koh-I-Noor pencils. Here's the entire card with a new Elzy image:

I coloured her in with Copic markers. I actually did a version with Koh-I-noor pencils but didn't like it as much, so I went with my old faithful's.. Check out the other girls' work and I'll see you tomorrow with another peek!

Elzybells Blog (with new specials!)

You've gotta have friends...

2009-06-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I seem to make a lot of cards about friends.. I don't do it intentionally, it just seems that so many stamp sets I own (florals mostly) have friend-type sentiments that accompany them.. Anyway. These cards were made using some Scenic Route patterned papers and Papertrey Ink stamps..

All of the cards are already at the flower shop, (maybe they're already sold?) but they were so easy to do with just the minimal stamping and colouring in using a blender pen and ink from the stamp pad. I have a couple different papers from Scenic Route in the same style so I can't wait to make more. I have to make some wedding cards, so maybe I'll do it with this design/layout/style!

Thanx for lookin'

We have a winner!!

2009-06-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Danell you are the lucky winner of this stamp set:

Congratulations!

Pop me an email (find it in my profile area) and I will send that out to you ASAP.

Teacher's Cards

2009-06-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

Our "class Mom" emailed all of us parents a couple of weeks ago asking for donations to buy the teachers (my son's class has two teachers) a group gift. I was happy to help out but also volunteered to make cards for the kids to sign to go along with the gifts. Using DCWV papers (thanx for reminding me Laurie) I made these two cards:

I like the first card WAY better, but I like that the second card has that removable clipboard that I turned into a magnet for her. I hope the parents/kids/teachers like the cards because I had a lot of fun making them!

*Remember that I have an Elzybells clear set to

give away (on Thursday) so if you

want a chance to win it

go to

THIS POST!!

Summer-time Happiness!

2009-06-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well the last day of class was on Friday (YAY) so for the next two weeks I will be attempting to clean my office, do some inventory, maybe plan for next year a little, and then.................... GET MARRIED. The wedding is fast approaching and it's freaking me out, but luckily everything seems to be on-track.

Here is a card that is summer in flavour, and I just love it... It uses stamps by Stampendous and a whole lotta bling!

The background was sprayed with a BG11 copic marker with the airbrush system and then I dragged the chisel tip of the marker along the edge to "ink" it. Sometimes it's just as effective as matting when you ink the edge well.. I did the same thing to the sentiment layer. I added some BLING to the patterned paper that just happens to resemble bubbles.

This is the inside:

I drew the bubbles and added some candy dots over the sentiment. The edge of the patterned paper was punched with a fiskars punch. Thanx for lookin' and don't forget the Elzybells BLOG CANDY that's still open on THIS POST!!

Supplies:

Paper: My Mind's Eye, American Crafts, Bazzil, Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Stampendous
Ink: Momento (tuxedo black)
Copic markers and airbrush system, Candy Dots (Pebbles Inc), Jewels (Kaiser), Fiskars punch,

Elzybells Flashbacks Day 2

2009-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the Elzybells BLOG CANDY I am giving away

on THIS POST! Check it out!!

Now for today's post! More of my favourite Elzybells cards.This card makes me sad because I have lost this stamp. A couple of my stamps have grown legs and taken off, it seems, and I haven't seen them since the move. I just love this stamp, and this card really made me happy, 'cause I don't usually make, or like making baby cards...

I will keep looking, but I've searched high and low. I will just order another one I guess.. But I really did love this card...

And here's the last of the flashbacks, an old card I made when I first got on the Design Team. I love the colours and the paper peicing!

Hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane, now go check out the other ladies' posts!

Elzybells Flashback Weekend & Blog Candy!!!!

2009-06-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Elzybell's 1st birthday, we (the design team) are showing you some of our favourite DT creations. It has almost been a year that we've been with Elizabeth (I think we started last August) and some of my favourite cards have been with her stamps.. They are just too cute! So here are a couple of my favourites:

I used the Tea for Two clear set, and it is truely one of my ALL TIME favourite sets.. The ideas just flowed when I sneaked this set. I gotta remember to use it more!!!!!!!

This was one of the more involved cards I have ever made, but man, I just love it.. And this stamp set?? SO CUTE!!! So guess what?

I am giving this stamp set (S-moo-ches) to a random blog commenter.

All you have to do is search through all of my Elzybells cards and tell me which one is your favourite and comment in this post!!

Here's a link to all of my posts containing Elzybells! I will draw a winner in 5 days (on the 18th) so please check back to see if you're the lucky one!

Check in with the other DT members for similar flashbacks and blog candy.

Clean and Simple Wedding Cards

2009-06-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

I hate making wedding cards and I don't know why. Maybe there's something Fruedian about it, I don't know... ANYWAY.. I have to start making a bunch for the flower shop I supply, and here are some clean and simple ones using some K&Co. border stickers.

Supplies:

Stamps: "Celebrate" by Stampin' Up, Wedding Bells by Inkadinkado
Paper: Stampin' Up (kraft), Papertrey Ink (white)
Ink: Momento
Copic markers, K&Co. Border stickers, EK Corner Rounder

This is the busiest time of a teachers life

2009-06-09T15:41:00.000-07:00

and let me tell you, I'm exhausted. I've had a chance to sit down to make a couple of cards here and there, but I haven't had time to post them, so I'm playing catch-up today. Here's a card I make using this week's CPS sketch. I LOVE how this card turned out. The colours are just gorgeous.

This is how I did the main panel:

cut out the main panel with nestabilities.
stamped the main image(s) in versacolor ink then embossed with clear embossing powder.
airbrushed the background with copic markers and airbrush system with two colors leaving the nestabilities die on the paper so it leaves the white border.
coloured the "flames" with Koh-I-Noor pencils and gamsol

The rest of the card was just trial and error, but really I just followed the sketch to a "T." Here's the inside:

Cute sentiment eh?

Supplies:

Paper: Bazzil, Papertrey Ink, Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Momento (London Fog), Versacolor (charcoal)
Stamps: Crafty Secrets
Copic markers, embossing powder, Koh-I-Noor pencils, EK punches, AMuse ribbon, Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug

It's Elzybell's Birthday!

2009-06-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

It's the Elzybells blog and shop's first anniversary, and to celebrate Elizabeth and the DT

have some fun things cooking up for you. Here are the details:

This is this week's special! What a collection!

The total retail value of these stamps (unmounted) is over £24

For this week only, you can purchase all these stamps plus a sheet of Kling-on repositional cushion for £13 - AND you get an extra 10% off this price making it £11.70 - a real bargain!!

Available in the online shop now until Sunday!

For a chance to win $10 of Elzybells stamps, check out the blog for the Crazy Daisy Competition

a CPS Sketch

2009-05-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

I feel like the gall bladder surgery has sucked the life out of me. Seriously, how long does it take for me to get my energy back?? I am tired all of the time. I managed to squeak a couple cards out today, though.

I am designing a class that's called "Inside Out" in which we will make cards that are ornately decorated on the outside AND the inside.I used this week's CPS sketch for the layout on the outside:

These adorable stamps are by Stampendous. SO fun to colour. Here's a shot of the outside and inside side-by-side. I made two. I'm so productive, I can hardly stand it..

The inside features this handsome fella:

I've mentioned this before, but don't you hate it when you show someone a card you made and they say WOW, that's SO nice, then look on the inside to see if there's anything else. Well, it's always a pleasant surprise when there is, right?

So there's my big accomplishment for today. Besides teaching since 7 this morning, getting home, teaching private lessons for 3 hours, but you get the idea!!

Supplies: Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye; Cardstock: Papertrey Ink and Bazzill; Stamps: Stampendous; Ink: Momento; Copic markers, Kaiser Jewels, Making Memories Slice (to make the little tag), Ribbon (American Crafts).

It's RELEASE DAY

2009-05-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

That's right! The Elzybells shop is loaded with all of the new goodies, so hop on over and

take a look!

I also wanted to mention that for a couple of my sneak peek's I've been using Koh-I-Noor pencils that Elizabeth is now offering in her store, and so for today's final sneak peek I wanted to feature them.. I'm not as good as Paula is, but I'm really trying!!!

Elizabeth did a tutorial on her blog about how they work, and for the beginning pencil crayon-user it's a great resource. I just try to think of how I would use my copics, where I would add shading etc, and apply those skills to the pencils.. Here's a close-up of my work:

Ian said "that's a really simple card for you." And yes, it is, but I like no-layer cards sometimes!!!

So take care, look at everyone else's sneak peeks, and have fun shopping!

Elzybells Blog

Elzybells May Sneak Peek Day 3

2009-05-20T00:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick card created with stamps from two different clear sets, and here's a hint about one of them: I made the sentiment myself!!! Here's the card:

Very simple, very quick, and a perfect layout for a quick card. (I used today's sketch challenge at SCS).

Remember to check out the other ladie's creations!!!

Elzybells Blog