Vicki Boutin

How About a 7 Gypsies Giveaway?

I know you have probably heard crickets chirping when you have visited here lately.  I have been travelling a lot and then came home sick...again.  I think exhaustion plays a role in leaving you susptable to illness.  But here I am today.  I have missed posting and hearing from my blog friends!!!  I have lots to share so grab a chair and let's chat!

First, Scrapfest Kitchener was a blast!!!  I love this event.  Great shopping...really good shopping and I get to spend time with ladies that I love to see!  Both classes went well and I enjoyed spending time with my momma.  Thanks to Tara and her daughter for helping out!!!  I will be adding the instructions for the bonus card and bonus layout from the Easy, Detail, Expert card next week.  That goes for both the Kitchener ladies and the Moncton ladies!  Here are some pics to remind you...

 

 

 

Next was Crop & Create in Moncton.  Fabulous.  From start to finish this was a great event!  Again, awesome hotel, awesome food, FANTABULOUS people!!!  I am going to share more once I edit the photos but I had to send out props to the attendees and stores.  Thanks for a good time.  You made it all worth it!!!

 

Today I am off to the Creativ Festival in Toronto.  I will be there with Catherine from Scrapbook & Cards, Today and I will be selling and signing my books.  Stop by and say "hi"!!!  Great place to be...lots of crafty inspiration!!!! 

Now...BC you are next!!!!  You do not want to miss out on the Burnaby Crop & Create.  It is such a good time.  Tell them Saskatoon, Markham, Winnipeg and Moncton peeps!!!

Now for a little tutorial and images from a 7 Gypsies project I made for winter CHA...

 

1. Layer background papers and add stitching along the bottom.  Add papers to the 12 x 12 frame.
2. Layer tickets and a book frame inside the shadow box.
3. Add tape to the upper right and lower left corners of the matted paper.
4. Attach a piece of a ticket and a key wrapped in twine to the upper right corner.
5. To create the layered heart, spray a number of paper towels with Glimmer Mist, dry and cut into heart shapes.  Also cut various sizes of hearts from the printed Collage Tissue and layer together.  Sew the layers together and add beads.
6. Add the heart to the book cover.  Attach a ruler.
7. Add crème buttons to the right of the book cover.
8. To create the cherry blossoms, mist Collage Tissue with red Glimmer Mist and dry.  Cut the Collage Tissue and pink tissue into blossoms and layer together.
9. Salvage a tree branch and adhere to the frame.  Glue the blossoms to the branch.
10. Add corners.

 

To buy back your love due to my total neglect of this site in recent weeks I am going to give away a 7 Gypsies prize pack.  Lots of lovelies for one winner to be announced on Monday when I will be back with a vengence!!!!  Just leave a comment.  Catch me up on what's going on with you.  I missed ya.

Have a great weekend!!!!

 

 

Hey friends! I am in Moncton for Crop & Create and wanted to check in. I will have lots to share when I get home.

Scrapfest Kitchener!!!

Mom and I are packing up and heading out to Scrapfest in Kitchener!!!! 

 

Teaching two classes...

 

 

A make 'n take with my new Stamping Bella stamps at the Scrapbook & Cards, Today booth @ 10:30am on Saturday (check first...that time may have changed)

 

(this is a peek...added more stuff!)

 

And I will have books for sale and be doing a book signing following the make ' take!!!!!

 

Hope to see you at the Stamping Bella booth, too!!!!  We are going to have some fun!!!!

 

Thanks Ella Publishing and My Craft Channel!!!

 

Let me start this post off with a BIG HUGE THANKS to Ella Publishing and My Craft Channel!!!!  They featured my book Creative Foundations on this month's episode of Books and Crafts!!!!  You can check it out HERE.  Wendy and Angie played with one of the techniques from the book and got messy fingers with GESSO!  Love it!  Make sure to check it out!!

 

Thanks so much Wendy and Angie!!!!!!

Wow!  It's Wednesday and I haven't been here for awhile.  We had a GREAT Easter weekend!  How about you?  It was very busy with a 4 day weekend.  We had Friday and Monday off and we filled every minute with something.  There was egg dying, a couple of easter egg hunts (3 to be exact), family dinners, class kitting, class design, instruction writing...like I said, a busy 4 days!  Then Tuesday was spent catching up.  So here I am, finally posting on Wednesday!

Photos to share....

Our Good Friday tradition.  We color eggs!

 

 

Nanny was on hand to help!

 

 

This was a good dye kit.  There were over 10 colors.  Good times!

 

Riley finished off the coloring with a few dance moves.  He's sexy and he knows it!  I have to say...this song is sung by kids every where!  One day when I went to pick the kiddos up from school the grade 2 door burst open when the bell went and the kids came out singing "I'm sexy and I know it".  Crazy.

 

Saturday was a BBQ at my brother's.  Ri, Jake and Dev...always making trouble!

 

The kids with Nanny and Boo.

 

We saw this GORGEOUS flowering tree that looked like a willow and went back for a few photos.  Love Dev's dress!

 

She thought this tree looked like it was part of a fairy glen.

 

Easter Sunday at the Inlaws.

 

Ri, Reed, Elle and Dev. (and Barbie)

Dev's Easter Dress!

 

Don't forget...Scrapfest Kitchener is this weekend!!!!  I will be there teaching, doing a few make 'n takes and selling and signing my books.  Hope to see you there!!!!

 

Look What Kelly Made!

What a busy couple of days!  We were in a hockey tournament this past weekend and then Riley came down with the flu on Sunday and couldn't play in the semi-finals.  He is still sick today, poor guy.  That has meant limited computer time for me and more mommy time with him.  I am feeling a little off today...I hope it passes.  No time for the flu.

I can not believe Easter is this weekend!!!  How did that sneak up on me?  I swear the older I get the faster time flies by.  Do you have any big plans for the weekend?  We will decorate eggs on Good Friday.  Dinner and an egg hunt at my brothers on Saturday and then plans with Rich's family, too.  I LOVE Easter!!!  It is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner!

Speaking of Easter, I have to share a project the talented Kelly Goree made!  Kelly contributed a few projects to Creative Foundations and she can make a layout like nobodies business!!!  When I first asked her to play along and try some techniques for the book she of course said yes but I could sense a little hesitation.  After playing with the stuff and getting her hands dirty she remembered how much she LOVED this kind of creating and rediscovered her college "art" roots.  That is what it is all about my friends!  Let go of what you think you know and love and try something totally new!  YOU CAN NOT FAIL!  You can't.  It is all about playing and allowing yourself the freedom to enjoy the process without the pressure to always do it "right" the first time.  Who decides what is "right" anyway?

Look at what Kelly made...

She used a variation of the ENCASED technique from Creative Foundations.  I LOVE THESE EGGS!!!!  You can read all about how she made them on the Scrapbook & Cards, Today blog HERE.  Kelly is doing a monthly series called Old, New, Borrowed, Cool.  Make sure to check it out!  And you can follow Kelly on her blog HERE.  Thanks, sweet friend!  I can't wait to see what else inspires you from the book!!! 

After seeing this project from Kelly it made me want to see more!!!  Maybe I should start a monthly Creative Foundations challenge!  I know a lot of you have the book...what are you making?  Have you looked at it yet?  LOL!  I am telling you...get it out and play!  What have you tried?  I want to see your "stuff".  Then I can share it here!  Let me know!

Ok.  Back to the sick boy.  He needs a popsicle.  Have a GREAT Tuesday!!!