Wanna create some TEXTURE?

Check out this article...

...at the Create it-GREEN Blog!! Enjoy, I had fun writing in back in 2009- it's got some good info in it for you!

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More new creations!

Through the Apple Valley 2007: our 15th Anniversary "Jaunt"

Birthday Card (Money Holder)

My cousin Darcie and her family

Closeup of journaling:

Thanks for popping by!
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Some recent creations!

The start of our 2006 trip to PEI: Vacation Ready: PEI Bound!

Closeup of flowers

One of my "Scruffy Posies"

"Love"

My cousin Elizabeth's Wedding, Nov 2009

Detail shots:

Valentine Thank You Card

Blast-off fun!

Snow Romp

"Thank you" Mini-Cards

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Some really GREAT NEWS!

Oh my gosh, I'm so very excited!

I have become a member of the new Savvy 'n Sassy Design Team!

I am really thrilled to be part of such a GREAT Team... March 2010- Sept 2010!

Here's the link to the announcement...

SnS DT Announcement...

Thanks for reading and sharing my excitement! I'm over the moon!

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Two WINNERS!

Congrats to Carla and Jeanna who have been chosen as random winners on my Blog from the recent Creatively-Green Blog Hop!! You have each won a Goodie Bag from Creatively-Green and can choose one of the "Chocolove" Candy Bars as part of your prize.

Just email me at peteali@eastlink.ca with your addy and choice of bar and I'll fwd the info to our Store President, Nicole Gailliot who will then mail you your prize!

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!

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Vacation Ready: PEI Bound

I created this layout for a February Challenge over at Savvy N Sassy, called "Ann's Alphabet Frenzy!"

We were to use more than 2 alphabet styles on a layout. I managed to use quite a few styles as you can see, LOL! This was a LOT of fun! Why not pop over and try it out?

Here's my layout~

Vacation Ready: PEI Bound

(2006)

The dotted paper on the middle flower and the patterned striped paper are both Piggy Tales avail at Creatively-Green.

Closeup: One of my "Scruffy Posies!"

Thanks for being here- pop by again soon- and invite a friend!

((HUGZ)) ~

Just posted...

an installment about a card project on the Creatively-Green Blog.

Enjoy...

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Thru the Apple Valley

At Sisterhood of Scrap, Helen challenged us to create a LO in red and white in honour of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Black pen was allowed.
Here is mine:

On August 22, 2007, on our our 15th wedding Anniversary, Peter and I took a jaunt thru the Annapolis Valley taking picturs of everything we loved about this place.
(This apple orchard was beside the road near Canning, Nova Scotia.)

"Thru the @pple Valley" LO created by moderator Ali Macdonald for the Sisterhood of Scrap Olympic Crop: Remember that participants have until Feb 28th to share their Olympic Crop Challenge creations at SOS and be eligible for MANY prizes!

The Jillibean Soup Journaling Sprouts came from Creatively-Green Scrapbook Store.

Red Checkered pp: Norcard Sb'ing paper set (From our Elem School fundraiser)

Pink Paislee lettering: white "Fashion Script"

"@" symbol : Simply Sweet by Doodlebug designs

Gel pen: Uniball Signo gel pen in white

Black Pen: CM fine tip

Hope you like it! Feel free to leave a comment if you care to!!

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For the LOVE of Buttons!

Good Day Everyone!

Happy February 14th: Valentine's Day!

Today is the last day of the Creatively Green Eco-Friendly Valentines Blog Hop. We have an assortment of things going today, click HERE for a complete list of challenges and events.

As part of the fabulous Blog Hop at the Creatively-Green Scrapbook Store, where I'm a Design Team Member, I am privileged to share with you today a project that embodies 3 things I really love:

1) Green crafting
2) Buttons and pearls
3) The Asian influences in decor items

I'm so excited to share this vase with you! I hope you like it.

"Eco-Friendly" Asian Beauty Vase

By Creatively-Green Design Team Member Ali MacDonald

1- A Febreeze container has been recycled into a vase (Peter, my DH trimmed the top portion off for me with his Exacto knife.) The leftover plastic was recycled and the pump discarded as per our province's recycling program.

2- All buttons are from my own collection: from a gift from my scrappy friend Helen H., old clothing & our secondhand store's button bin.

Note: Main adhesive to secure buttons to container was Elmer's Craft Bond. COVER work area WELL. Ventilate well. I rarely use this adhesive as it is in an aerosol can, but it was necessary for this project.

3- Hanging chain on pearl button was made of metal loops from discarded costume jewellery (ie: some dangly earrings that were WAY too long!)

4- Butterfly: from broken & discarded chinoise-style necklace.

5- Freshwater pearls: salvaged from broken formal necklace.

6- Sequins: not my "thing " but perfect here to camouflage edge of container. Were salvaged from a Dollar Store craft kit.

7- Curved chinoise-style black enamel-look decoration at top of vase is a barette, purchased from button bin (!) and saved for use in crafts...I think I paid 25 cents for it... Peter removed the clip portion for me with pliers. (TY again to Pete.)

8- To adhere the glass beads, iridscent shell-shaped sequins, freshwater pearls, and faux-pearl bead accents, I used ONE adhesive: Glossy Accents by Ranger. This also just added shine in any spot where it may have "shown." For this part of project, only ONE product was required to adhere multiple types of craft items. Convenient and FAST!

9- HUGE Mother of Pearl button: Guy's Frenchy's button bin- Wilmot, NS- adhered with a large Glue Dot. Butterfly also adhered with large glue dots.

10- Chain links were attached to pearl button, then a large Glue Dot was "wrapped" around the very last link of chain, which was "hidden" by affixing it between butterfly and large M-O-P button.

Thanks for looking, I really hope you like it!!

Now here is your Challenge for Feb 14th!!

Break out the buttons, cardstock, patterned paper and glue ladies! To play along, create your challenge entry and click HERE to visit the C-G Forum, then leave a comment with a link to your button creation!!

CHALLENGE:
Find a few (or MANY) buttons and create a layout or card with them.
I will leave this up to YOU.

Here is the prize you could win!!!!

It's a "Petite Jar" FULL of BUTTONS from Creatively-Green! Aren't they gorgeous!?

Be sure to play along!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see your entries! Post the links to your project on the appropriate date on the C-G Blog! Here is that LINK (Feb 14th).

**Remember that every challenge you do, and every comment you make on recipes, and so on gets you a ballot for our GRAND PRIZE!

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Blog Hop Continues

The wonderful Feb 11-14 Blog Hop at Creatively-Green continues TODAY! Please be sure to check out all the fun HERE

Remember there are tonnes of prizes nd chances to WIN just by visiting blogs and leaving comments! :)

See you there~!
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The Blog Hop...

at Creatively Green continues today! Here is where you can find out about today's fun events and prizes!!!

See you there!

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SWEET TOOTH RECIPE!

As a Designer over at Creatively-Green, I am in charge today of posting a "Sweet Tooth Recipe" this morning for our Eco-Friendly Valentines Blog Hop!!

We have a prize to be given away...drawn from among the commenters, too! So be sure you leave a comment as the prize is gorgeous!

Here is our recipe for today:

Cracker Candy

Source: Christmas with Southern Living 2004

(** Ali’s comments.)

2 sleeves round buttery crackers (approx 76 crackers) ( ** I bought “Toppables” which are rectangular shaped crackers. Delicious and easy to use as they are the right shape!)

3/4 cup real butter

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 cups real milk chocolate chips (** Chipits make good ones I have discovered.)

3/4 cup toasted chopped pecans

1/2 cup chopped white chocolate (**I used white chocolate chips or a big sized white chocolate bar cut into little chunks.)

**OPTIONAL: 1/4 package of butterscotch chips… (I used no-name ones and they were a DELICIOUS addition… just a sprinkle of them!)

Place crackers on a lightly greased (** Pam-type cooking spray) aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring butter and brown sugar to boil in a saucepan, stirring constantly; cook 3 minutes stirring often.

Pour mixture over the crackers.

Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Turn oven off.

Sprinkle crackers with chocolate morsels. Let stand in oven 3 minutes until chocolate melts.
Spread melted chocolate evenly over crackers.

Top with pecans and white chocolate. (Add a sprinkling of butterscotch chips if using.)

Cool completely, and break candy into pieces. Store in refrigerator.

Yield: about 2 lbs.

The prize for the Blog Hop Sweet Tooth recipe, to be drawn randomly from among comments is:

A gorgeous set of Valentine Vintage Blooms!


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Blog Hop Starts tomorrow! HUGE Grand Prize!

Creatively-Green has put put together a sweet blog hop! It's called the CREATIVELY-GREEN ECO FRIENDLY VALENTINES BLOG HOP!

The Hop event will run February 11th through 14th! Get ready for some fun and Prizes!! We will have exciting challenges, a ton of inspiration and a few treats too!
Here is a list of the events! We hope to see you all there :)

Oh and be sure to go here and sign up TODAY FEB 10, for the Bingo Game which starts tomorrow Feb 11!

February 11 Events:
Eco Friendly Valentine’s Day Cards
*PRIZE*Chocolaty sketch contest!
Sparkle and Shine, Eco friendly V-Day Glitter Project
*PRIZE*Sweet tooth recipe to share
*PRIZE*CG BINGO starts

February 12 Events:
*PRIZE** A little something GREEN and eco friendly just for you
Valentine’s Day goodie bags or altered treat boxes:
*PRIZE*Valentine’s Card Sketch Challenge
*PRIZE* CG scavenger hunt for a chance to win a sweet prize

February 13 Events:
*PRIZE*Pink and Red ATC Challenge
*PRIZE*Simply using your sweet scraps
Sweet tooth recipe to share

February 14 Events/The Grand Finale:
*PRIZE*For the ♥ of buttons
*PRIZE*Valentine’s Day Colour Challenge

I will also be posting a Sweet recipe on February 11th. Yummy! There is a beautiful Prize too. I'll Show it to you tomorrow!

My Challenge for you on Feb 14th will be "For the love of Buttons" , and I can't wait to show you what I have created for you! Here is the prize!

I

And... get this: there will be a grand prize awarded to the person who takes part in the most events or challenges! In the event of a tie there will be a random draw to pick a grand winner!
*Deadline for all challenge entries is February 19th, and winners we be announced February 20th on the CG Blog and Forum!*

Here is the Grand Prize, worth $150.00! So, come and play with us!

Feb 11-14th- Save the date!

See you at Creatively-Green's Blog Hop!

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News article about an Autism Assistance Dog from the Lions Foundation of Canada!

Here is a news article about the VERY programme we have applied to for an Autism Assistance Guide Dog for Noah!

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/lifetimes/article/949820


Thanks for reading-- there is a pic of a little boy, the Lions Foundation of Canada's Dog Trainer (Chris Fowler) and one of the Autism Assistance Dogs in the article!

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Eco-Friendly Valentine's Blog Hop is COMING!

Won't you join us? More details to follow!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned! :o)

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"Repurpose with Love!"

Just wanted to let all my scrappy friends know that Create it-GREEN has a Blog Hop coming up this weekend-- SATURDAY, FEB 6 to be exact!

Please join us! We will be repurposing a VERY interesting item at another of my Blogs: "Scrap and Share: Tutorials for crafters!"

You'll start off at noon EST on Saturday at the Create it-GREEN blog then hop along to lots of fun places where you'll see GREAT love-themed projects, play games, collect a few digis, and have the chance to win some fun Prizes!

So come on- Hop along with us! See you at the HOP!

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Go check out Create it-GREEN!

I just posted an idea for a "green" way to use cropped-off photo scraps!

You can check it out here!

Have a wonderful day!

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Update!!

Feb 2, 2010

GOOD MORNING! Just wanted to update you on what I had heard from the Lions Foundation Guide Dogs of Canada in terms of an Autism Assistant Dog Guide for Noah!

Heard from Alex Ivic, Client Svcs Supervisor at Guide Dogs of Canada. He called me yesterday am.

He said that they have all they need from us in terms of our application.

Next step: Autism Assistance Dog Guide Trainer Chris Fowler will call us from Oakville ON and set up a home visit here in NS. He will be flying in to assess the situation with us, the home and to check on Noah’s needs.

He will see other families in the Eastern part of Canada while down this way.

THEN: no longer than 2 weeks after Chris gets back to Oakville, Guide Dogs of Canada has an Application Acceptance Committee meeting and decides based on info from Chris and our application, whether we can receive an Autism Assistance Guide Dog for Noah.

Either way, we will receive a call and a letter telling us the decision from Mr. Ivic (Alex--who is a nice, NICE man, by the way.)

IF accepted, Noah would be in line to receive the first available dog who MATCHES HIS NEEDS as a child with Autism.

The next class for the parent and the chosen dog runs in June 2010.

If there is not a dog to match Noah available in that batch of Dog Guide critters, then the next class is Dec-January 2011. Alex said it is likely there WOULD be a dog in that batch)(JUNE 2010), if not the very next one: DEC 2010/JAN 2011

Alex told me straight out that if we are approved we can expect a dog in June or Dec/Jan.

Chris Fowler then trains the 1 parent (ie: me; likely; not with the child…) in class in Oakville, ON, and and I fly home with the dog. Then Chris makes a home visit(s) to tweak the training to fit Noah's needs.
Amazing news.

I PROMISE I will keep you all posted.

SO in summary: Call from trainer Chris Fowler soon- visit in March or April, approval meeting; possibly training for me and the new critter in June or Dec... IF APPROVED.

I am blown away with hope.

Thank You all for listening...

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