Happy Spring!

Happy Spring!  This lovely fellow greeted me on my front lawn for my birthday!  What a special way to start a special day!

Susan

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

May God richly bless each of you this coming year!

Blessings,

Susan

Summer Crafting and Water Fun

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a great summer! Our summer fun will begin tomorrow, as we go on holidays. Of course the biggest packing challenge for me is deciding which of my papercrafting and art supplies to bring (oh, but hubby, can't I just take it all???). My hubby James was teasing me and saying that he would rent a trailer to haul behind the motor home just for me and my art supplies (okay, he said for me and my 'stuff'). He is so understanding!!!

I've had some fun lately creating with a few new stamp sets from Stampin' Up! I think the new sets and colours are so much fun! With the scrapbook page, I had these photos and quotes hanging around from the teacher gifts I had made. I decided to put them together on the page. For teacher gifts, I had put the quote right on the photo and placed it in a frame. I know one teacher was very excited to get something that was different from the standard gifts. I gave them cards as well. He liked his cards so much, that he promptly ordered 10 more, with the 'motorcycle stamp on them, please!' It turns out that he's been repairing a motorcycle, and was going to finish it on the weekend.

The quote states,

 "To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted."

 by George Kneller.

I love trying to look at everyday things in a different light, or at a different angle.

At the end of June, the boys travelled with their dad down to Montana for a weekend with their neighborhood friends. Here are some photos of them enjoying some time at the lake (I don't remember the name, but I know it is long). they went out on the boat, and JJ even got to do some water fun!

At home, Juliana and I had some relaxing fun as well. She got herself a Build-a-Bear Bunny, and has been busy ever since sewing outfits for Aero, as she named her bunny. It is so great to see her enjoying the sewing machine, and coming up with some great items.

Happy Holidays to all! See you when we return!

Susan Bruyn

Juliana's Award Day

Congratulations go to Juliana, who recieved some very special awards at her school Awards Day!!  She was recognized twice for her skills as an artist, and received a Fine Arts Scholarship to a summer daycamp of her choice.  She received a "B-B+" average for her year's work, and received a medal for that.  Juliana also received a very special award - a Literacy award for all her hard work in the areas of reading and writing this year.  At the beginning of the year, she struggled with reading - now she reads in bed after I've shut off the light, as well as on the bus, and after school!  Juliana, you have come a long way in one year!  Congratulations!!!

 

  

A neighbor had us take some photos of her apple tree in bloom - Juliana had fun helping me out with this.  Photos are much more fun when you are in the tree, than simply under it.

  

   

I had fun making some cards for friends.  This card uses retired Stampin' Up! designer papers.  I used the technique Fossil Stone - it gave such an interesting background.

Spring is so vibrant and lovely this year! 
May you enjoy all this day has to offer!
Susan Bruyn

Happy Birthday to me!!

Yesterday was such a fun and special day for me!  I celebrated Mother's Day, as well as my birthday!  My family totally spoiled me, and treated me very special all day long!!  My daughter even decorated my studio with balloons and streamers and had a pinata for me, full of candy of course.

I had created this card with My Digital Studio last week, as a 'Congratulations' card for a door prize basket.  Once I had the Congratulations cards made, I thought it was a shame not to use this card idea for more celebrations.  So, I went back in and printed out some 'Thanks', some 'Happy Birthday', and even some 'HappyMother's Day' cards - it was so easy just to change the greeting and print out the same card.  I cut out the butterfly with the Bliss stamp set, and added it on top, with some bling.   It was far too easy with My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!

I'm teaching a technique class this week.  I am teaching 'Watercolour Wash'.  Once I got the stamp set Fabulous Florets from Stampin' Up!'s summer mini catalogue, I created this card.  These roses remind me of our Alberta Wild Rose, so I had to do them in soft pinks!  I love the way this card turned out!  I want to do this as a scrapbook page next, with some of our lovely Alberta roses as photos!

I love the Aviary stamp set.  I had fun one day creating this card.   I think it is totally cheery and fun!  The birds wake me up each day with their cheery song - I love listening to them trill and chirp and whistle!  If this card could talk, it would be trilling out "Cheery Day!  Cheery Day!"

I come from a long line of seamstresses, and made many pieces of clothing for my children in their early years.  I had this card idea in mind, and finally put all the pieces together.  I love the way it turned out, and must send one to my mother, who taught me the love of crafting and sewing!  I did use a similar layout idea as the Aviary card. 

The sun is shining here, and my neighbor's daffodils are blooming! What a beautiful day that God has given us!  I hope each of you have much sunshine in your lives and hearts this week!  Susan Bruyn

Happy 10th Birthday Juliana!

Juliana turns 10 years old today! She has been so excited to finally reach this milestone in her life!

We had a fun party on Saturday, with some close friends. We had so much fun tie-dying t-shirts. Of course, we tried it out the day before, so Juliana was able to wear her t-shirt for the party! It looks really good!

During the party, I used the dye on some watercolour paper as well. The next day, I used it to make thank you cards. I also used it for Juliana's birthday card. I simply used the top note die to cut it out.

We went to Co-op, and managed to find some wonderful 'tie-dyed' cupcakes. The store puts 7 cupcakes in a circle and ices them like a cake. It was just too pretty. The lady behind the counter also decorated some extra white cupcakes for us. She was so pleasant and helpful.

Happy birthday, Juliana! We love you!!

Susan Bruyn

Happy Valentines Day!

We have a lovely day for Valentines Day, all sunny and warm! Here is a special card I made for classes last week. I got the idea for the mosaic heart from a fellow demonstrator, Yvette. I really like how the heart turned out with the Sending Love designer paper. It looks very vintage.

Here's a closeup of the detail on the mosaic heart.

I did a wee photo shoot with the bunnies - they sure look pretty against a black backdrop - and they posed so nicely for me. The one with the darker face is Mama Bits, and her baby's name is Spots.

I will leave you with a card I made for a friend. It features the lovely Fast and Fabulous hostess set.

Take care, and have a great day and week!

Susan Bruyn

Happy 12th Birthday Timothy!

Happy Birthday Timothy! Timothy turns 12 today! He had a party yesterday, with a friend staying for a sleepover today! They are running around the house with their Nerf guns! They plan to go tobogganing - the boys made two cool runs in the back yard.

Here is the invitation I made for Timmy's birthday - he loves everything to do with nature!

We had a few food allergies at the party! You are looking at a unique and yummy carrot cake! It is egg-less, nut-less, and gluten-free! It was good to know that everyone could eat it.

I am having fun making cards for classes. This is one that uses the Stampin' Up! set Sew Suite, as well as the Sale-a-bration set So Happy for You. I love how it turned out!

Take care, and have a great day! Stay warm.

Susan Bruyn

Dashing through the Snow?

Juliana thought it would be so cute to have the dog pull the bunnies in her sleigh! Thus, we have 'Dashing through the 'snow' in a four-pawed open sleigh!!' Mojo looks like she's not sure what she is supposed to be doing! I love the expression on her face! Maybe we should take them outside for a quick spin around the alley!

Speaking of snow, I created this fun snow card for a special class! It showcases some of the special items from Stampin' Up!'s holiday mini catalogue, and was a lot of fun to make!! I love how the snowflakes peek out from within the windows!

I came across some pieces from a previous project, and created these fun cards! The tree is embossed with white on glossy paper. I then did the polished stone technique around the tree (dip a cotton ball in some rubbing alcohol, and drop a few drops from some water-based stamp reinkers on the cotton ball. Dab it all over the glossy paper for a unique effect. I used two colours - mellow moss and always artichoke. I love the finished card! Add some retired paper, some distressing, a bit of ribbon, and some rhinestones for a truly unique effect!

I'm off to finish a few Christmas presents, and then make cookies with my kids. We found some lovely gluten-free shortbread cookies that are easy to make and taste delicious! See you later,
Susan Bruyn

A Birthday Cake for Daddy

James had his birthday on Monday. He mentioned to his brother that he would likely not get a cake for his birthday. Juliana and I had other plans!! She took a sugar cookie mix and made it in her Easy Bake Oven! Then she made icing, decorated it, and helped me find candles to suit the occasion! She even made some beeswax candles for the occasion!

How proud she was to present a very personal cake to her daddy for his birthday! Happy Birthday James!!

We have finally had some lovely warm weather! Here is a page to suit these final remaining lazy days of summer!! I am having a garage sale tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday (Feb 20, 21, 9:30 to 4:00), here at my place with some friends. I made some of my older calendar pages into kits - this one is similar to some that will be in the sale! Email me at sbruyn@telus.net for directions.

Take care and have a great day!!

Susan Bruyn

Summer Fun

Juliana and I had some fun making cards the other day! These two are some I came up with, using the "Build A Bear" Sizzix diecut form Stampin' Up! It is so fun to create bears - I get a different one each time!

Juliana created these two bears - she was excited to use four shirts with four pants for the boy, and four shirts with four skirts for the lady. Some glitter and gems completed the ensemble!  She was able to use hers right away, and sent them to her uncle and Oma in Ontario!

Here's Juliana with Mojo.  Mojo is enjoying her new summer 'do' after a visit to the hair trimmer.  Her coat is as soft as velvet, and a beautiful shade of grey-brown!  She is a lovely dog.

The kids all love her so much! JJ loves to cuddle with her too!  Mojo has really enriched our lives!

Take care, and have a great day!

Susan Bruyn