Baby Girl Brag Book

Baby Girl 6 x 8 Brag Book

My cousin, Janice and her husband, Dave are due to have a baby girl in August. 

On Sunday, July 15, 2018, I attended Janice's Baby Shower and gave her this Baby Album as a gift.

Every page has a meaning...I found out that they were having a baby girl in one of Janice's Trip to Disney posts on Facebook. On their baby registry, they had lamb bedding picked out and octopus bath towels and face clothes. Janice is a school teacher and Dave works in construction. They have two fur-babies and so forth and so forth.

I gave myself a challenge with this album...to use Doodlebug paper (one of my all time favourite companies) for the main paper on every layout.

I am most proud of the Octopus Layout and the Minnie Mouse Cupcake layout because those are dies that I designed using generic dies that I already purchased...it brought me back to my old graphic art designing days.

Also, the fishing layout was a lot of fun because the daisy is made out of spinners from D & R Sporing Goods...haven't made one of these types of daisies in years.

Yes, she loved the album and yes, she appreciated the love and time that went into it.

Grandma Brag Book

 Same layout...just showing the flip page.

Grandma's Brag Book

Many years back, a group of my girlfriends and I started making our version of a Baby Book for our friends who had babies to record their child's first year.

We would design a 2 page layout...one side was a calendar to record all the milestones and the other side was a layout all ready for photos.

In October...at my birthday party...my girlfriend, Judy, gave me the best news ever...she was becoming a First Time Grandma. For anyone, this is a big deal and I couldn't be happier for her.

Judy has a BIG heart, but very little time management skills. She started making these baby books for friends of a friend. These albums can become pricey and take many, many hours. These albums she was making, with very good intentions...wouldn't get to these people until the baby's first birthday or even later and then in some cases...were never filled.

I wanted her to know how happy and excited I am for her becoming a First Time Grandma...to a grand-daughter...so, I revamped our baby book style to my version of a Grandma Brag Book. I had a BLAST making this 6 x 8 album.

Judy is very traditional or old school and her daughter is not so much. Judy would love to dress her grand-daughter up in Pink, Frilly outfits...but that's not her daughter's style. So, out of respect and love for her daughter...Judy is toning down her wants.

So, the goal of my album was to have PINK on every layout...but also include the Nature Nursery Theme that her daughter has beautifully done and tie in a lot of Judy's hobbies and interests in the album (fishing, quilting, cooking).

Every layout in this book is full of meaning and back stories of Judy's and my friendship. I could be here for a day trying to explain every one of them to you.

The grand-daughter will be here any time this month...my goal was to give this album to Judy at my National Scrapbooking Day Crop because scrapbooking is what brought us together.

I believe the photo of her opening her album...says it all!

My heart is overflowing with nothing but love & joy!

It also feels so incredibly good to be back in my scrap room again...still have to pace myself...but something is SO much better than nothing.

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

A couple of weeks ago...my mom was in my dining room...saw this photo and she commented on how much she liked this photo of my brother, Jimmy, her and I that was taken at Jimmy's 40th Birthday Party last October.

She asked me to print her off a copy of this photo the next time I was printing photos.

I was working on a scrapbooking project and came across this blue, butterfly paper that I had bought awhile ago to make something with for my mom.

At the time I purchased this paper, I had no idea what I would do with it...it just screamed my mom. My mom loves butterflies and her favourtie colour is blue.

When I saw this paper the other day...I immediately thought about the photo and decided that I had to do something for my mom for Mother's Day. 

So, Friday Night...when I was supposed to be packing for my 12 hour crop the next day...this design popped into my head and I had to put it together.

It turned out better than I imagined...I love my New Cricut Expressions 2!

I framed it in a clear glass 12 x 12 frame.

Dad's 77th Birthday Gifts

My dad's 77th Birthday Gifts

In the previous post, I explained why I did a Pittsburgh Penguin/Paul Coffey Birthday Party for my dad this year.

I made him I Golf Cart Gift Card Holder to go with the theme of my party.

My dad enjoys golfing...so my family and I chipped in and got him a gift card for golfing for his birthday.

At the Chapples Golf Course, there is no discount for seniors until you turn 75 and once you do turn 75...you don't just get a Senior's Discount...you get a Super Senior's Discount. That is what they call it.

So, of course, I had to incorporate that piece of information into my design.

I got the SVG for the Golf Cart from SVG Cutting Files.

The present was a gift from my 6 year old son, TJ, to his Papa.

TJ insisted on having his own gift for Papa and look what we found on Amazon.com...Pittsburgh Penguin Golf Tees!

Now my dad can think of me every time he golfs...I am sure he is going to be breaking a lot of tees when he does...wink...wink.

I taught TJ how to wrap his present and he did a great job!

The funny thing is...my dad is the one who taught me how to wrap presents.

TJ wanted to personalize the gift wrap...so while I was designing party favours on my Cricut...TJ was decorating his gift wrap and I think he did an amazing job!

Dad's 77th Birthday Party

On April 9, 2018, I threw my dad a birthday party. He turned 77 - on April 10.

My dad does not like the Pittsburgh Penguins...he is a Toronto Maple Leafs Fan. My dad doesn't have a favourite player either...but I did when I followed hockey.

Growing up...my dad & older brother liked the Toronto Maple Leafs, my younger brother liked the New Jersey Devils and I liked the Pittsburgh Penguins & Montreal Canadians.

My Favourite Hockey Player was Paul Coffey - Number 77.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won their first Stanley Cup in 1991 against the Minnesota North Stars. In the following hockey season, my dad took my brother, Jimmy, and I to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Minnesota North Stars in Minnesota.

I made a sign that states something a long the lines that "Penguins are #1"...but since we were in Minnesota...my dad wouldn't let me bring it in.

Over the years...my dad's memory isn't as sharp as it used to be...because he teases me that my sign said something like "I love you Paul Coffey" or "Paul Coffey Will You Marry Me"...it did not...but it's a fun argument that my dad & I still have to this day.

So, I had some fun of my own and planned a whole Pittsburgh Penguin/Paul Coffey themed birthday party for my dad.

Besides all the above photos of what I made for the party decorations...we decked out the house in yellow & black streamers and balloons as well.

My dad enjoys golfing...so TJ wanted to make a golf green for us to play on at his party. He refers to his Papa as the "Master Golfer".

The 8 x 10 Framed Photo of Paul Coffey is a copy that I found on the world wide web of the actual photo that I used to have up in my bedroom.

When my brother Jimmy came to the party, he asked: "You still have your framed photo of Paul Coffey!?"

I informed him of the internet.

FYI: The Oilers Paul Coffey hockey card in the photo...is his rookie card...I also have an autographed hockey card of his...they both stay in their protective frame in my fire proof safe to this day.