farewell to lots of memories...

an emotional morning today indeed...

mom and i went to my Grandparents house to get the last utility readings and one last

check through their house.

the new owners move in tomorrow.

of course we all know that grandma and grandpa's move into their brand new

seniors apartment was the BEST thing for them, but it is still very difficult for

all of us as we have now come to this last day of calling their house

The Smith Residence.

They lived here over 65 years, raised all of their children in this house and shared a

lifetime of happy memories here.

naturally, it's hard to let the tangable aspect of a lifetime go.

the very foundation of new beginnings, family traditions taught lovingly and a home filled with the warmest welcome when you walk in the door.

we must remind ourselves that none of this has changed, only the address of its tenants.

Farewell 767.

I promised my Grandma I would take as many pictures as possible as I walked about their house today.

memories,

so vivid i could almost hear them,

flooded me as i wandered through the upstairs with my camera.

I had to sit against the wall, right in the corner where she kept her big wooden sewing box, and have myself a little cry...it is indeed hard to let go.

..but i do have a happy and funny memory that i will share with you...

( there's so many, but this one is a great one )

these trecharous stairs.

thin carpet, steep drop, and most inviting to 7 & 8 year olds...

so many times my two brothers and I would climb to the top and race down these stairs on our STOMACHS only to be practically in tears by the bottom from the severe carpet burn we got on our travel down! Oh yes, we did it on purpose to compare battle scars after racing each other down a few times ( and before my parents figured out what we were doing and hollered to KNOCK IT OFF !!! )

man, were we dumb!

Moms last photo on the back door steps....
-sigh-



"This too shall pass"
:O)

december class head's up....and I'VE BEEN PLAYING!

teehee.

i've taken advantage of some free daytime while the kids were at school and actually

PLAYED,

SCRAPBOOKED,

CREATED,

with no deadline, ultimate purpose or neccessity!!!

dang.

that was fun!

( i've been digging out some older photos sitting in old albums...i've found GOLD i tell you....gonna be LOTS more to come! )

{GIGGLE}

( yes, i used JAVEX and BUBBLE WRAP on the layout above!!! FUN STUFF...

...and...

just a head's up for December class dates:

Monday, Dec. 1 - Monday night SKETCHES

Friday, Dec, 5 - HALL CROP AT St. Saviours Church HALL

Monday, Dec. 8 - Christmas Journal class

Friday, Dec. 12 - Potluck Christmas Crop / Party at my house.

( i have sent out an email to everyone on my contact list with a detailed outline of these classes, if you have not received it or wish to be added to my email list, please contact me at

thegriffs@mts.net

and i will add you to my special list!!

( wink )

:O)

have a FABULOUS weekend everyone....

Monday night Sketches Class...

one or two mondays a month i teach a 'sketches' class at my house.

you always complete three different 12 x 12 layouts and EVERYTHING ( except you bring your own adhesives ) is provided for you to create them!!!

once you register, you are given an outline of what size and how many photos you will need for the class and the rest is easy as pie!

i always try to use different techniques to get you to play with more products out there and hope that you try something new you haven't done before.

Sketches classes are great for beginner scrapbookers AND also for the experienced scrapper who sometimes hits a brick wall in the creativity dept. and needs some new ideas, or just a refresher too!!

although we always follow the sketch design for the layout, the paper choices and color themes are always your own to choose to suit your own photos.

here are tonights layouts we will be doing...

techniques:

-playing with acrylic paints

-rubber stamping ( acrylics )

-heat embossing with glitter powder

-making your own chipboard titles and heat embossing them

-using felt and basic stitching

-using fibers on your layouts

NEXT SKETCHES CLASS IS MONDAY DEC. 1

6:30 - 9:30PM

happy monday everyone!!

:O)

okay...

HOW

stinkin' cute

is

this??

mike took tyler snowmobiling today for the day with our friends

and they had a blast!

last weekend, both courtney and tyler got to go for their first time,

and

no

camera

went along with them!!!!

so this time,

i made sure mike took the camera with him!!

i think tyler looks so cute in his little snowmobiling gear!!

mike and dave gave the kids rides towing a sled behind the machines....

wish i coulda been there to snap some pic's myself

( courtney had another dance lesson )

NEXT TIME.

looks like i missed out on the fun this time....

:O)

chillin'

as promised, here's a pic of the five Christmas Cards we made at last nights

card class with Michelle from Stampin' Up.

luv 'em!

( we used lots of glitter and fun techniques that the photo just doesn't do justice...)

Michelle will be teaching one more christmas card class, featuring FIVE different cards

again at my house on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24. ( 6:30 - 9:30pm $15 - includes a snack )

there's still room if you dig.

thegriffs@mts.net to register.

well,

...it's 11:01am on tuesday, remembrance day.

the kids have no school today.

mike has the day off work.

the house is QUIET because mike took the kids with our friends to go SNOWMOBILING for the day!!

i really, really DO plan to organize and clean the kids' bedrooms, and organize my scrapbooking mess downstairs, REALLY.

but right now ( after only sweeping the yesterday washed upstairs floors )

THIS IS ME...

CHILLAXING!

oh ya, baby.

still in my p.j's

hot earl grey tea in my new PINK thermal mug from Dana ( which i plan to drink in its entirety, not only a mouthful hot and the rest cold because i've been sidetracked...)

and starting to contemplate where oh where to start....

i love lazy days, don't you?

have a good one.

:O)

open house door prize winner IS....

LORI NOVAK!!!

you have won the door prize from my Open House today!!!

thank you TYLER for being my "BINGO" caller / name puller tonight!!!

hahahaha!!

( i will make arrangements for drop off with you tonight! )

THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by to shop and have a visit with me today!!!

...i am all packed up again and ready for a FUN, FUN night tomorrow of making Christmas Cards with Michelle from Stampin' Up....i will be showing off the pictures of the completed cards in a couple of days!!! there's still another class available at my house with Michelle on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 if you'd still like to try them out!!! ( there will be FIVE different cards at the second class )

...well, i'm off to get my jammies on and have a cup of tea in my favorite Scotland mug and watch a bit of tellie in bed!!

YAAAWWWNNNN......been a long day!!!

have sweet dreams everyone....i know Lori Novak will now!!!

teehee...

:O)

Don't forget....

TOMORROW IS THE SCRAPPIN STUDIO'S...

...please email or call if you need my home address to come by and SHOP & SAVE!!!

thegriffs@mts.net

...AND...

just another reminder that

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10

&

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24

( both 6:30pm - 9:30pm -ish! )

are scheduled CHRISTMAS CARD making classes with the extemely talented

Michelle Vernaus

of

Stampin' Up!!!

I have had her as a guest teacher several times before and the Christmas Card classes are always so much fun!!

Both classes will feature FIVE different cards for you to make and add to your homemade stash this holiday season!!!

Impress your family and friends and come out for a fun night of friendship, fun and creativity!

Cardmaking class fees are $15 and also includes door prizes and a small snack, coffee and tea.

Please email to register for these classes!!

...AND....

at my hall crop this coming friday, November 14

I will be having a guest vendor as well, promoting all her

fun, beautiful, creative homemade creations!!

Leigh-Ann of Freckled Nest

http://www.frecklednest.blogspot.com/

will be there displaying and selling lots of fun things to add to your

Christmas shopping for your crafty friends, family, teachers, and YOURSELF!

check out her blog and have a look in her etsy shop for a sneek peek of what will be there!

lotsa fun!

...and i think that's all i have to say for now...

gotta go get my house cleaned up and ready for tomorrow's

OPEN HOUSE...

:O)

something to say, something to show...

so.

ever have some of those days where things just get ya kinda down and

there doesn't seem to be anything to help?

nothing really in particular, but just kinda blue?

...been kinda in a slump the last few days, not sure why but feeling better today!

i have the BEST guy right here, under my roof and i'm wearing his wedding ring!

he picks me up ( even if i try to fight it ) when i'm down,

he helps me solve problems ( that i usually cause for myself ),

and he loves me with his whole heart.

i needed to remind myself of how amazing his love is to me today

and i am so proud to be mrs. griffin!

( thank you mr. griffin! )

xo

( hahaha...he just called me on his coffee break and I anwered the phone to hear him whistling the tune from 'Sesame Street' to 'sweep my clouds away'....so funny! )

( mike and i in St. Andrews, Scotland this summer )

AND.....

i put together another fun kit for you!!

"this one's for the boys"

-2 x Bazzill textured cardstock

-2 x Co'redinations textured cardstock

-5 x Heidi Swapp double sided 12 x 12 patterned papers in Grunge

- 1 pkg. Heidi Swapp chipboard alpha in whisper blue

-8 x heidi swapp journaling die cuts

-5 x assorted plastic photo slides

-3 yards co-ordinating ribbons

-2 x heidi swapp XL photo corners

$16

( this is the other side of the patterned papers )

Please email or leave a comment to reserve a kit while they last!!

thegriffs@mts.net

AND....

as mentioned in my november class newsletter, here are some pic's of the

CHRISTMAS PLANNER

class on Nov. 21 ( 6pm - midnite )

-class fee includes all the supplies to make the basic planner as shown!!

( yes Tara, that is Love, Elsie paper we're using...NOEL line!! )

I have printed off and precut all the "lists" and calendar, etc...to add to your planner!

You bring your own adhesives and bling to embellish your project once completed!!

class also includes a small snack, coffee and tea, as always with home classes!!

please email to register for this class

thegriffs@mts.net

DO YOU WANT AN ORGANIZED CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR???

( what the ? happened here??? )

:O)

the front and back covers were done using fabric paper!!!

way cool.

...if you'd like to be added to my newsletter list for monthly classes and crops please email me your info and i'll be in touch!!

( email above )

hope everyone stayed warm and cozy is this tropical heatwave we had in winnipeg today!!

hahahahaha!!!!

Just a few...

...HALLOWEEN PICTURES...

...hope everyone had a fun, fun night of ghosts and goblins!!!

( and witches & darth vaders...)

:O)