Amazing Mom

My mother has been a superstar through my Dad's illness. She has been his chief caregiver since day1 , and kept him at home right until the end, just like he had requested.

I wanted to use a picture of the 2 of us together for a layout all about her patience and endless love. I looked everywhere and the only photo I had of the 2 of us together is on my wedding day, 9 years ago!

From now on, more pics of Mom and I together!!

Thank-you, Mom, for everything you did for Dad. Though stricken with illness, he lived everyday with a smile knowing you loved him and would do anything for him.

Love you. Mommy!

Little Projects Around the House

I have been on a leave of absence from work since my father passed away nearly 3 weeks ago. I spend everyday doing the same thing - no need to list things here- what would you been doing if you lost your father?? :)

In order to get back to being me, I have made time each day to get back to doing all the things I love to do. Up until my father's departure, I had been spending most of my weekends in Exeter helping my mom and spending time with Daddy. No time for frivolous, crafty things.

So now, with a bit of free-time, I have turned back into the crazy-crafter and added these small touches to our little home:

I had bought these animal alphabet cards at a yard sale way back when Bryn was a toddler. I never knew how to use them until one day, reading a blog I enjoy, I came across this idea:

Cards on a clothesline! I love it! The 2 rows perfectly fill the space above Camden's bunkbeds.

Everyday, Camden and I review the names of the animals. He is just so darn cute when he says "lellow goldflinch" instead of "yellow goldfinch!"

Awhile back, for Afton's tea party birthday, I spent hours making tissue paper pompom flowers to decorate our home. There was no way I was throwing them out afterwards. So this is where they have landed:

She now sleeps beneath a garden of posies, fit for a princess!

The Scrapping Bug DT June Reveal

It's that time again! Here is what I created with several papers from the "Geo-Hectic" line by We R Memory Keepers:

For a change of pace, I decided to make a decorative garland for my youngest son's room. I used a star template I found on the net, cut out the stars and folded the paper in 2 different directions to make the 3D effect. (A tutorial to follow on The Scrapping Bug's Blog or Message Board.)

My son recently had a tumour removed from the space between his cerebellum and brain. It has been over 4 months since the surgery and he had shown no ill effects.

But after a routine opthalmologist appointment, post-surgery, we found that Bryn had lost most of the sight in his left eye, due to the pressure and swelling caused by the tumour.

At this time, there is no way to recover his vision. We were shocked to have this news, but Bryn took it all in stride!

Kraft envelope: Maya Road

Letter stickers: Basic Grey, Doodlebug, Making Memories

Punches: Fiskars

Jewels: Kaisercraft

The Spring Sprint is the annual fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

This year, we participated.

Bryn ran most of the 5Km with Daddy and Aunt Megahn, while the rest of us tried to keep up.

The run in Toronto raised over $160 000- well over their goal.
I based this layout on a sketch from "Sketch Support."

Punches: Fiskars

Gold ink: Colorsnap

Stamps: HeroArts

Letter Stickers: Doodlebug, Basic Grey

Our little lady let go of the training wheels early this spring! I really wanted to use this paper for a girly layout and it was quite a challenge. I stuck with a monochromatic blue patterned paper and layered stitching, thread-wrapping and pennants over some actions shots taken nearby our home.

Chipboard Title: Maya Road

Letter stickers: Basic Grey

Thread: DMC

Brads: Bazzill

Rub-on: Kaisercraft

Mini letter Stickers: Cosmo Cricket

Thanks for checking out this very long post!!

Travel Safely....

My father passed away last week from complications due to ALS. My heart is broken at the loss of such a gentle yet exuberant man. Here is my first tribute to him, in paper form.

I hope he arrived safely into heaven and was welcome with open arms. The heavens will be a much more exciting place now that he has arrived.

Love and you miss you, Daddy......