Friday, February 28, 2020

February Template | Sahin Designs

We just finished our first weekend of ringette provincial play-downs.

It was pretty intense. The girls are really hoping to make it, as a team to provincials this year. We played in Hussar, AB. It's a little over an hour from our house to the rink. An hour and a half if there's a lot of traffic. 

We played our first game Saturday morning at 9 am. Which means we had to be at the rink at 8 am. Which meant an early morning get up. We were out the door by 6:45 am. 

We played 3 teams, and lost one game. [Had we won all 3 games, we would have automatically gone to provincials] With the one loss, that means we get to do it all again next weekend. 

This time of year, becomes ridiculously busy. We live day-by-day. I'm not trying to sound dramatic, but we find out about added practices, the day of, or the day before. This is our last little spurt before we're done for the season. 

The February Template from Sahin Designs is now available to purchase.

This is the template:


Two different layouts to choose from, I chose the one with the space for two photos.

And this is what I did with it: 


I love watching you play. I'm so impressed with how much you'e improved from our first year. 

This layout was perfect to document these few pictures and tell a story. 

Keep up the good work kiddo! 

I actually mixed together several collection for this page. I used paper from one collection and elements from another. I love how it all came together and looks like it goes together. 

The following Sahin Designs products we used:

Daybook Elements: https://sahindesigns.com/products/daybook-elements/


Monday, February 24, 2020

PL2020 - Week 5 | Sahlin Studio


At this time of year, a few things happen, that give us hope.

The days subtly begin to get longer. It's not that noticeable in the mornings yet, but it is noticeable at the end of the day.

With each day that goes by, we get a little bit more day time. 

The sun too, starts to feel warm and welcoming. 

Having said that, it's completely normal, to go from sitting outside drinking milkshakes, to a heavy snowfall advisory in the span of 24 hours.  It's not awesome, but it's not unusual...

Here is week 5 of this years project life album: 


High school kids, get a lot of time off school. It was shocking in grade 10. I was reminded in grade 11, and expected it this year, in grade 12. It was exam break. Lots of time off. But the kid is at least helpful.
Nothing like enjoying milkshakes after a picked up ringette practice, on a day both school systems had as a pd day.
That gorgeous light... Loving that it's lasting longer each day.
Our morning walk from Bridgeland into Inglewood was lovely.
There's our dump of snow. So crazy.
Celebrating Grandma's 80th Bday, just kids and spouses, made it quiet and enjoyable.

I used the following Sahlin Studio product: 

PM Celebrate - Elements https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Celebrate-Elements.html
PM Celebrate - J. Cards https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Celebrate-Journal-Cards.html
PM Celebrate - Photo Overlays - https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Celebrate-Photo-Overlay.html

Friday, February 21, 2020

Birds of a Feather Collection | Sahin Designs

Birds of a Feather Collection is the newest release from Sahin Designs in collaboration with Rachel Jefferies. This collection also comes with some ready-made templates, which can make your memory keeping so much easier!

Here's a quick look at the collection: 

Birds of a Feather Digital Scrapbook Collection - Sahin Designs & Rachel Jefferies

Through February 23rd, this collection is 20% off and can be found on Elif's Lilypad Store.  If you're a newsletter subscriber, you'll have received a 50% link, for the bundle. That too is valid through the 23rd of February. 

There were a couple of elements from this collection that I honed in on, and new I wanted to use. Number one, was the 'Us' journal card.  I knew as soon as I saw it, I wanted to tell a story about Us,  our family of four. I also loved the little blue heart and the bird house stitching. So I went to work fiddling with those elements, adding others through the process. 

Here is my finished layout, which is 8x8. 


I really love how it turned out. And the story it tells. Feel grateful for this crew of mine.  

The following Sahin Designs products were used: 

Paper:  https://the-lilypad.com/store/Birds-Of-A-Feather-Papers.html
Journal Cards:  https://the-lilypad.com/store/Birds-Of-A-Feather-Cards.html

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

PL2020 - Week 4 | Sahlin Studio


Last week I followed along with Ali Edwards and her #piecesofus challenge. Starting Monday, every day there was a different prompt, with the idea that we were to include more of ourselves in our photos. I participated and posted my pics on IG. 

I got my first iPhone in 2011... I was desperate to get on the IG wagon. Once I downloaded that app, I never looked back. I love the community of people I gravitate towards. I love the 'every day' of it. I'm drawn to the real, more so than the staged. [Though I do like the staged stuff too, I do limit it a bit] I don't play the comparison game, that can bring you down in a hurry.

I loved following along, and reading everyones words, seeing everyone's pictures. The sense of community I felt from it, was amazing. Ali's challenge reminded me why I was drawn to IG in the first place. 

Back to pocket pages,  I found week 4 of my project life album, tough. I had little motivation Which went well, with my lack of pictures. And, I'm tired of being cold. 

I finally got this week done with, happy to have it behind me now. 

Here it is: 


  • This crazy dog sitting staring into the fireplace. I think it was just ice melting and dripping, but she wouldn't walk away. And if anything ran out of there... I had all kinds of scenarios running through my head... Well, it wouldn't be one of my finer moments, I know that in advance.
  • At the rink, with the kids.
  • Happy mail, delighted to receive this xmas card from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
  • Book I was reading at the time.

I used the following Sahin Studio products:

Currently - templates: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Currently-PhotoTemplates.html
Simplify J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Simplify-Journal-Cards.html

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Reminisce Collection | Sahin Designs

This month, as part of Sahin Designs Creative Gallery, I chose to create a couple of layouts using the Reminisce Collection.

Reminisce Digital Scrapbook Collection - Sahin Designs
For me, there's something joyful about seeing a layout come together.

I've sat down on numerous occasions in the past couple of weeks, trying to get my mojo flowing. It wasn't happening. I couldn't decide on a collection to use.  I couldn't decide on a picture. Does that ever happen to anyone else?

I was starting to feel a bit panicky, because sometimes I sit down at the computer and feel totally, meh...

I sat down again yesterday, and I think it's safe to say my mojo is back.

I LOVE how these 8x8 sized layouts turned out.



I have so many favourite pictures from last years road trip. These are just a couple more of the kids, taking in breath-taking scenery.

Once I saw the colour combination of the Reminisce collection, I knew it would lend itself very nicely to highlighting a couple more stories.

I used the following Sahin Designs products:

Reminisce Digital Stamps:  https://sahindesigns.com/products/reminisce-stamps/

Monday, February 10, 2020

PL2020 - Week 3 | Sahlin Studio


Gosh, we certainly had a cold snap in the city, during week 3. 

It was relatively short lived, it went from deep -30's all the way up to about -2 degrees by Sunday. What a difference a week makes. 

Fingers crossed we don't experience those extreme cold temperatures again. It just makes everyone crabby...

Week 3:

  • Miss Libby, getting cozy with me while I did my yoga, then stayed put. 
  • Engine light came on in both our vehicles.
  • Barry and I ran errands and went for burgers one chilly afternoon.
  • Volunteering for the EGR tourney. Dressed super warm and cozy to sit at a rink for 3 hours. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Rough Times - Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Rough-Times-Elements.html
Rough Times - Journal Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Rough-Times-Journal-Cards.html


Friday, February 7, 2020

Us Collection | Sahin Designs

Us is the latest collection to be released by Sahin Designs. 

Through Sunday February 9th, this collection will be available for 20% of the regular price. 

Should you be a newsletter subscriber, watch your inbox for a 50% off coupon. [If you're not already a subscriber, it's definitely worth it!]

I really like the colour combinations. 

It especially brightens up dreary winter days.  About this time of year, winter is getting a little bit long in the tooth. On the bright side, the days are getting noticeably brighter day by day. If only the snow would stop... 

This is the layout I created using this product. 


A quick layout capturing a selfie we took the night of our anniversary.  September is such a busy month for us with hockey and ringette evaluations. On the evening of our anniversary, we dropped Madelyn off at the rink, raced out for dinner, picked Madelyn up on our way back home, then Barry took Mason to the rink for his ice time. It was nuts. 

Even though it's hectic, I'm sure glad we made time to celebrate. 

21 years. In a row. I'm still exactly where I want to be. 

Lucky me. 

The following Sahin Designs products were used: 



Monday, February 3, 2020

February Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

I'm always excited to see what Sahlin Studios free monthly template looks like. This month I had so much fun creating a layout with the template. The template is free to download through the month of February only, so get it while you can. Follow this link to download.

Here is the template:



I can't lie, I love a good list. 

And top 10 favourites, its a pretty awesome way to document things.

I spent a few days thinking about this, and what I wanted my top 10 to be. Then Barry and I got to talking about Lost one night [my all time favourite tv show] and I thought there have been so many great shows over the years. Suddenly, my top 10 idea was born. 

Often in memory keeping, we overlook recording something like favourite tv shows through the years. Some of the every day stuff we look forward to, but don't really talk about. Some of these shows we watch/watched together. Others I watched on my own. But every single one of these shows  evokes a reaction or memory in me. 


We still watch re-runs of shows like Seinfeld and Friends, on a pretty regular basis. The kids watch them with us too now, and all the jokes we laughed at in years past, we're laughing at again with them. Also, the 'one liners' we've adopted from some of these shows, let's face it, mostly Joey and Kramer-isms, my kids can relate to. So fun. 

Modern family is wrapping up, they'll be done in 2020. Watching the last few episodes, knowing it's over,  has been a bit sad. The Good Place, which has only run for 4 seasons, is also finishing up, and I absolutely, LOVE this show. 

It's certainly been a good run. Love that we are able to watch reruns, or get access to old shows these days at the click of a few buttons. 

Nothing has come close to comparing to Lost in my opinion. Such a great show. A date night for Barry and I once a week for the 6 years it ran. We have all the DVD's of that show. Maybe this summer we'll watch that series again with the kids. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Winter Stories Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Winter-Stories-Kit.html


Saturday, February 1, 2020

February Feature Product: Word Art | Sahlin Studio

February's featured product from Sahlin Studio is Word Art.

For the entire month of February Sahlin Studio is offering 35% off her entire category of Word Art. This is an extensive category with all types of  different word packs. Click here to scroll through the impressive list. 

Trust me when I say, you'll have a hard time choosing which Word Art to pick, there are almost too many to choose from.  

I used All About This digital Stamps.

All About This (Digital Stamps)

I wanted a final page to close off 2019's Project Life album. 

This is a bit of a compilation of things that happened throughout the year, though very vague. It's touching only on a few moments. 

The last few years I've kept track of the books I've read, and I knew I wanted to include that. I wanted to highlight a few things that have happened over the year. I loved the idea of a collage of all the places we visited on our road trip last summer. So this page was born.  


I think it's the perfect last page of my album. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Using All About This: https://the-lilypad.com/store/All-About-This-Digital-Stamps.html
Journal Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Ice-Cards.html