Hey! You!!

Happy Sunday everyone! Did you get to sleep in today? Or are you one of those people who just can't sleep in because your body just wakes up at crazy hours...like 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday?

Normally, I can sleep in a little bit (like say 8:30 or so) but since I normally get up at 6:30 during the week, sometimes that doesn't work out.

During July though, I'm always up super early because I love to watch the Tour de France! It starts airing at around 6:30 for about 5 hours. Yes, I actually watch bikes for about 5 hours. My family knows I love to watch and it's my uninterrupted knitting time. :)

While I'm watching the bikes, you can take a look at this:

Isn't it FABULOUS? I just LOVE the new Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper in this year's catalogue. You'll get to see it all in the video I have coming up on Tuesday. This paper makes it so quick and easy to create a card. You could even use the whole suite:

How amazing is that?? I love the stamping right onto the DSP using our Whisper White Craft Ink and heat embossing tool.

After I created the card above, I created a card for my upcoming Christmas in July class. Wanna see??

What? You didn't think I'd show you the WHOLE thing, did you? You'll have to come to class for that!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Scenic Saying
INK: Crumb Cake
PAPERS: Pool Party and Whisper White Cardstock; Serene Scenery DSP
ACCESSORIES: Silver Metallic Thread, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!


Product List

Scenic Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[141602]

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[122924]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack

[141642]

Silver Metallic Thread

[138402]

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[126975]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Glue Dots

[103683]

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

What's going on??

Have you even wondered what's going on over at Handstamped from the Heart and would like a handy reference so you can keep track? I've got just the ticket!

When you go to my business website at Stampin' UP! by clicking HERE, you'll see my name in the top right corner (make sure it's my name or it won't be a listing for my events) - I couldn't get everything in the screen cap - and a bar across the top of the page.

On that bar, there are several clickable links that will produce drop down menus, but if you just click on the main word (in this case EVENTS - circled in red), it will take you to a calendar where my current events are listed.

On the calendar, you'll see blank squares and coloured squares. The coloured squares indicate that an event is happening on that day and the colour will let you know what kind of even it is! In the example above, my June calendar, I have two events coloured in a sort of teal colour. The teal colour represents Open House events, where you can just drop in! Other colours designate classes or Stamp Clubs, etc.

Once you're on the event page for the current month, you can click on the arrows to either side of the month/year to see what I was up to or what I've got coming up! Easy peasy! At the bottom of each event listing (on the left) is an RSVP button - click that to let me know you're coming!

I hope you'll join me for an upcoming class or open house - I'd love to stamp with you!

Happy Stampin'!

HA! That's so PUNNY!

For this weeks Retro Sketches, I had a few options on my creative table. This one just cracked me up! Hey! Don't judge me...maybe I just need some more sleep...or maybe I've been spending too much time with my father in law - that man loves his puns!

Check it out:

SO many layers going on here! It would take me three days to measure and get back to you on actual sizes...so you'll just have to use your best judgement and eyeball it. The card is a standard 4 ¼" x 5 ½" card base, so that should give you a starting point.

The Designer Series Paper comes from (you guessed it!) Blooms & Bliss (are you sensing a theme??). I used both sides of the same paper again.

The image from Pun Intended (a hostess exclusive) was stamped in Island Indigo. Then, I used some Daffodil Delight and my water pen and VERY carefully drew some "light" around the bulb. You have to be careful because Island Indigo is not water resistant and if you get the water too close, you'll end up with green instead of yellow.

I wrapped the image panel with Crushed Curry baker's twine before adhering it to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

I think I'll give it to my hubby...just because...but also because he's his father's son...and while he doesn't use as many puns as his dad does, he's getting there! Old age should be a blast - LOL!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Pun Intended
INK: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight
PAPERS: Whisper White, Pool Party and Island Indigo Cardstock; Blooms & Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Baker's Twine, Water Brush, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

It's all for sale!

This post is pinned to the top until June 30th, 2016

Please scroll down to see what else I've been creating - Happy Stampin'!

STAMPS:

• You're so Lovely - BNIB - (2 sets) - Photopolymer - $15 each
• Wintertime - BNIB - Wood Mount - $12
• Watercolour Winter Too - Photopolymer - $10
• That's The Ticket (includes Punch) - Clear Mount - $30
• So Very Happy - Clear Mount - $15
• Postage Due/Post Card - Wood Mount - $35
• Postage Collection (exclusive hostess set) - BNIB - Wood Mount - $35
• Pictogram Punches (includes punches) - Wood Mount - $50
• Peachy Keen (includes dies) - Clear Mount - $40
• Party Wishes (include mini punch pack) - Clear Mount - $45
• Num Num (Wood Mount) - $30
• Merry Everything - Clear Mount - $20
• Label Something - Clear Mount - $10
• Label Love (includes punch) - Clear Mount - $40
• Itty Bitty Banners (includes dies) Clear Mount - $35
• Flamingo Lingo - Wood Mount - $15
• Bohemian Borders - Clear Mount - $20
• Apple of my Eye - BNIB - Photopolymer - $20
• Amazing Birthday - Clear Mount - $25
• All About Sugar - BNIB - Photopolymer - $20

PUNCHES:

• Triple Flower Punch - $15
• Ornate Tag Topper - $15
• Jewelry Tag Punch - $12
• Small Ornate Square - $12
• Itty Bitty Punch Pack Shapes (3 punches) - $15
• Corner Rounder - $4
• Small Oval - $12
• ¾" Square - $8
• 1 ¼" Square - $15
• 1 ⅜" Square - $15
• Large Oval - $15
• Large Tag - $15
• Scalloped Border Punch - $15
• Heart Border Punch - $15
• Paper Border Punch - $15
• Modern Label Punch - $15
• Banner Punch - $15
• Ribbon Border Punch - $15
• Postage Stamp Punch - $12
• Triple Corner Punch - $23
• Triangle Corner Punch - $4
• Slit Punch - $5
• Ribbon Slot Punch - $5

DIES & FOLDERS:

• Petal Cone - $20
• Gift Bow - $20
• Petite Pocket - $35
• Edgelits - Adorning Accents - $10
• Framelits - Window Frames Collection - $25
• Framelits - Hearts a Flutter Collection - $25
• Framelits - Hearts - $25
• Embossing Folder - Tulip Frame - $5
• Embossing Folder - Ampersand - $5
• Embossing Folder - Spring Flowers (never used) - $5
• Embossing Folder - Small Frames - $5
• Top Note Die - $10

Also Available - Misc. Ribbons and Washi tape

All prices EXCLUSIVE OF SHIPPING which is at BUYERS EXPENSE.

NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED.

25 and counting...

This year, my hubby and I will be celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. Yes, I know I look *much* too young to have been married that long. ;)

So, of course, anytime I've used the Number of Years Stamp Set and Dies, I've used the number 25. He may well end up with a ½ dozen or more anniversary cards - LOL! Although...I suppose I could just show him the selection and then let him choose one to give to me - teehee!

Here's the card I created for this week's Paper Crafts Crew Sketch:

I started off with a base of Island Indigo and added a layer of Blooms & Bliss DSP (yes, again). Since these cards are created in advance, I create several of them at one time. I only ordered Blooms and Bliss DSP and Pop of Pink DSP when I placed my pre-order and at the time I was creating my most recent series of cards, these are all I had. Stay tuned though...there's more (different) DSP on the way!

I used some image from the Number of Years Stamp Set for the image panel on the card and then stamped the numbers in Sahara Sand Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock before cutting them out on my Big Shot.

On the inside of the card, I sponged around the edges and added a strip of the same Designer Series Paper as I used on the front of the card.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Number of Years
INK: Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Sahara Sand
PAPERS: Whisper White, Island Indigo and Sahara Sand Cardstock; Blooms and Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Dies, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Sponges, Glue Dots

Happy Stampin'!

Popcorn Box Thinlits Dies by Stampin’ Up!

I haven't ordered mine yet, but you can bet it'll be on my next order and featured in some of my upcoming classes - this popcorn box die is just SO cute!



Happy Stampin'!

OH happy day! There's a FISH!!!

I don't know if you remember, but a few years ago, there was a single stamp image with two little fishies in a fishbowl. There was no sentiment, so you could make the card be anything you wanted it to be! I was so sad when that little fish retired! I had originally bought the stamp for my son, so he kept it and every once in a while I still borrow it.

But now!! There's a new fish in town! Check it out:

Isn't he just the CUTEST? I love him! And the Best Fishes Sentiment? Perfect!

Now that I've finally got my hands on this set (I KNOW! It wasn't in my first order - what was I THINKING??) you're probably going to see a LOT of it!

For today's card, I used the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. I started off with a base of Thick Whisper White Cardstock and added a layer of regular Whisper White cardstock that I sponged in Bermuda Bay Ink.

The circles were punched out using the 2" circle punch and they were sponged too.

I stamped the jar in Bermuda Bay Ink and the "water" was stamped in Pool Party which I stamped off before adding it to the image. Mr. Fish was stamped in one of the NEW In Colours - Peekaboo Peach - and I cut him out using the die and my Big Shot. You can get Jar of Love as a bundle which includes the stamps AND the dies for the Big Shot - it's a GREAT bundle with lots of dies and images! When you buy both the stamps and the dies in the bundle, you'll save 10% over the cost of buying them separately.

Everything was stacked up towards the bottom of the card and...DONE! Clean and simple!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Jar of Love
INK: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Peekaboo Peach
PAPERS: Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay and Pool Party Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Dies, Punches, Linen Thread, Sponges, Stampin Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Jar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141587]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[122924]

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131197]

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[131171]

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[126982]

Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad

[141398]

Linen Thread

[104199]

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Under the Weather?

I can't blame you with this crazy heatwave we've been having! (at least in Southern Ontario...if it's cooler where you are, I'd be more than happy to trade!)

Some of the weather finally broke earlier this week, but it's still pretty warm out there. With summer break right around the corner, I predict a LOT of time at the splash pad!

Today's card for the Retro Sketches Challenge features one of the images from the Ronald McDonald House Charities set My Hero.

I started off with a base of Bermuda Bay and added a layer of Pool Party before adding the layer of Designer Series Paper from the Serene Scenery Paper Stack and a length of Pool Party Ribbon.

I cut out the tags and used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch to punch the top and the Project Life Corner Rounder to round the bottom corners.

The umbrella was stamped in Bermuda Bay and cut out, while the handle was stamped directly on the Whisper White Cardstock.

Stampin' UP! has partnered for over 10 years with RMHC to help provide a home away from home for families with small children in hospital. Over the course of our partnership, Stampin' UP! has raised over $1.5 million through sales of its annual RMHC set.

This year's set is SO cute! There's something for every occasion! Check it out:

It has something for every occasion and you can be sure it will get a lot of use in the coming year! Other than today's card, I'll be starting with Christmas cards using the Christmas sentiment and if we happen to find ourselves at the Hospital for Sick Children (for routine appointments) near any of the holidays with sentiments in this set, you can be sure I'll be handing out treats!

What do you think?

STAMPS: My Hero
PAPERS: Whisper White, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay Cardstock; Serene Scenery DSP
INK: Bermuda Bay and Crumb Cake
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Ribbon, Bakers Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Are you ready for the summer...

Did you sing it? Come on...you can admit it, it's OK! :)

If you're NOT ready for summer, you will be when you order the adorable Blooms and Bliss Designer Series Paper from the new 2016-2017 catalogue! I ordered it when demonstrators could pre-order back in May and while I didn't really get a chance to play with it much, it's quickly becoming my favourite DSP. I bet it'll be yours TOO!

• Card Base: Island Indigo Cardstock cut to 5 ½" x 8 ½"
• Whisper White Cardstock cut to 4" x 5 ¼" and Blooms and Bliss DSP cut to 3 ⅞" x 5 ⅛"
• Additional Layers of Island Indigo and Whisper White Cardstock as well as Blooms and Bliss DSP
• Sentiment stamped in Mint Macaron on Whisper White Cardstock and sponged with Mint Macaron Ink.
• Ribbon and Cardstock notched and stacked 
• Pearls add just a touch of elegance

And check out the inside!

• A piece of Whisper White Cardstock cut to 4" x 5 ¼"
• Sponged with Mint Macaron Ink
• Doodled with Mint Macaron Marker
• Embellished with images from the Number of Years Stamp Set

BLOG CANDY!!!

Leave me a comment below and let me know what YOUR favourite new thing from the new 2016-2017 catalogue is and I'll draw from the comments and send the winner a sampling of Blooms and Bliss DSP (6 x 6 pieces of each sheet) and some other goodies! Unfortunately, due to the high cost of mailing outside of Canada, I will only be mailing Blog Candy to Canadian addresses.

Be sure to see what the rest of the Crew have been up to (and visit their blogs, they may have blog candy too!) HERE.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Suite Sayings (front), Number of Years (inside)
INK: Mint Macaron, Sweet Sugarplum
PAPERS: Island Indigo, Mint Macaron and Whisper White Cardstock; Blooms and Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Ribbon, Markers, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Bold Butterfly Framelits and Butterflies Thinlits

Last week, I shared a video with tips from Sizzix for using your Precision Base Plate. That should stand you in good stead for Holly's video featuring the Butterfly Framelits and Thinlits.

P.S. It's my birthday today! Be sure to leave me your birthday wishes in the comments. :)

Have you ever...

...created a card so stinkin' cute that you sit there chuckling to yourself because of how very clever you are?

Today's card for the Freshly Made Sketches was born out of some scraps that I had on my table from another card you'll see later this week (you won't want to miss that one either! Hint: there may be BLOG CANDY!)

I pulled out a sheet of Soft Sky, thinking it was a half sheet of cardstock. Turns out it was slightly smaller at 3 ¼" x 11", but I figured what the heck and went with it! This is the result:

I added a layer of Mint Macaron cardstock cut to 5 ¼" x 3" and stamped the sentiment from Sprinkles of Life onto it using Mint Macaron ink. Then I couldn't decide which cupcake topper to use when I turned over the piece of DSP and went: "Ah ha! Flowers". So I stamped them and used my markers to colour in just a few of the flowers - it was kind of like an adult colouring book, but I had to stop myself before I went too crazy - LOL!

The cupcake was added to the front of the card using Stampin' Dimensionals and there you have it! A quick and cute little card that will still fit in a standard size envelope - perfect!

For the inside, I just added a small piece of Whisper White Cardstock and a skinny strip of DSP.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Sprinkles of Life
INK: Mint Macaron, Soft Sky
PAPERS: Soft Sky, Mint Macaron and Whisper White Cardstock; Blooms and Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Around the World

This is the first time that I've participated in the Global Design Project - YAY!! I've used some of their ideas for inspiration in the past, but this the first time that I've actually linked to their page with my project.

Still playing with Blooms & Bliss (I hope you're not tired of it yet, because there's more next week and I haven't even STARTED on the pink patterns!), our task on the GDP website was to CASE (copy and Share Everything or Copy and Selectively Edit - depending on who you ask) the Designer. I chose the layout as my jumping off point and created the card you see above.

The base is Mint Macaron and I added a layer of Island Indigo before adding the Blooms and Bliss DSP.

The balloons are from Balloon Celebration, a set that was available in the Occasions Catalogue earlier this year but that carried over into the 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue - which I'm happy about because now I get to play with it for a WHOLE YEAR!! And the very BEST part is that it comes with a coordinating punch to make creating dozens of balloons a snap!

Check out that bling! I didn't think I'd like the new metallic thread, but I think I'm in LOVE! I used the gold for these cards and now Stampin' UP! has added copper and black to the collection - WOOHOO!! It adds just a subtle touch of shimmer to the card and it's just perfect when you want "just a little".

On Thursday, I showed you the Sunburst Card I created for PPA and since I had some leftover pieces of triangular DSP, I added some to the inside of the card:

Who says all your lines have to be straight?

What do you think?

STAMPS: Balloon Celebration
INK: Island Indigo and Mint Macaron
PAPERS: Whisper White, Mint Macaron and Island Indigo Cardstock; Blooms & Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punch, Silver Metallic Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Happy Stampin'!

Sunshine, lollipops and...

Today's card features the sunburst technique in blues (with a hint of green).

I was surfing around some popular sites for sketches/ideas, when I came across Pals Paper Arts (which I've known about for quite some time, I just haven't played along in a while) and what should appear but a colour challenge using Pool Party, Island Indigo and Whisper White.

Since I already had some Blooms & Bliss Designer Series Paper out on my workspace for some cards I'm featuring next week on the blog, I thought it would be great to play along!

I started off with a base of Pool Party Cardstock and added a layer of Island Indigo. The Whisper White layer was mostly covered in Blooms & Bliss DSP using the Sunburst (or Starburst) technique depending on who you ask. :)

I cut the DSP into strips ranging from 1" wide to 2" wide and then cut them on the diagonal to form triangles. The triangles form the sunburst!

I stamped the sentiment in Pool Party onto Whisper White Cardstock and punched it out using the 2" circle punch. The edges were sponged and some doodling and bling were added before I attached it to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

The inside was stamped with a sentiment from Happy Happenings and sponging/doodling were added as well.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Suite Sayings (front), Happy Happenings (inside)
INK: Pool Party
PAPERS: Pool Party, Island Indigo and Whisper White Cardstock; Blooms & Bliss DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punch, Markers, Basic Rhinestones (still one of my favourite embellishments) and Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Tips and Tricks For the Precision Base Plate

Stampin' UP! has been partnered with Sizzix for a number of years and these tips come straight from Sizzix to help you get the most use out of our Precision Base Plate.

I can attest to the curving cutting plates! I did a LOT of cutting for my hubby's Christmas cards this past December and had to order new plates as they were SO warped they would hardly go through my Big Shot!

It's a ONE DAY DEAL!!

Technically, it's just shy of a 31 hour deal, but who's counting!

This one day deal is available to NEW subscribers only.

Be sure to click HERE to sign up!

Paper Pumpkin May 2016

Have you just signed up for My Paper Pumpkin? Did you know that as a current subscriber, you're eligible to purchase past kits? If you weren't a subscriber for the May Kit, you'll want to check this out! Then, when you're done, head over HERE and sign yourself up! You can then order this great manly kit (if still available) and have cards ready just in time for Father's Day!

Botanical Blooms Bundle by Stampin' Up!

Only available as a bundle until May 31st!

Get OUT of my head!

When Stampin' UP! demonstrators around the world got their first peek at the brand new 2016-2017 catalogue, I'm pretty sure a hush fell over the crowd...I'm also pretty sure that only lasted 3.2 seconds and then everyone started with the "OMG! Check out page 26! Did you SEE that adorable set on page 57? I can't EVEN with the cuteness of the RMH set this year!!"

I can tell you that the first thing *I* OMG'd over was the whole Pop of Pink Suite! I mean, come on! Stampin' UP! has to have been inside my head when they came up with that one!

Because...if you've known me for more than a minute, you KNOW that pink is my FAVOURITE colour! Right?

The Pop of Pink comes with :

• Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Designer Washi Tape
• and the ADORABLE Pop of Paradise Stamp Set (which is on order, or I'd show you!)
• It will also coordinate with the Melon Mambo and Basic Black Thick Bakers Twine 

How awesome is THAT?

Check it out:

Today's card should have been ready to go for the Paper Crafts Crew Sketch Challenge, but I've been travelling and time got away from me. Better late than never, right?

I started off with a  4 ¼" square base and added a layer of Pop of Pink DSP. Then I added one of the Pop of Pink DSP's with gold flecks in it - there's a second specialty sheet with gold polka dots. I layered some Basic Black and Melon Mambo Cardstocks and added another piece of Pop of Pink paper (the Melon Mambo pattern is what's on the back of the Basic Black piece).

I added a strip of Whisper White ¼" cotton ribbon (which is retiring - I'm selling my leftovers at my Open House) and then die cut a piece of Whisper White Cardstock using the Swirly Scribbles Thinlits (LOVE!!!) and sponged it in pink (DUH!). The wee birdie was stamped in Melon Mambo Ink and fussy cut (JOY!) and adhered using a Stampin' Dimensional.

The sentiment, from the current Ronald McDonald House Charities Set (which is carrying over - YAY!) was stamped in Basic Black on Whisper White, the ends were notched and I added some bling...because, well...bling!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Swirly Bird, Sprinkles of Life

INK: Melon Mambo, Basic Black

PAPERS: Whisper White, Basic Black and Melon Mambo Cardstock; Pop of Pink Specialty DSP

ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Dies, Whisper White ¼" Cotton Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Happy Stampin'!

Wink of Stella Glitter Brush by Stampin' Up!

Did you know you could use the Wink of Stella pen as a blender pen?? How cool is THAT?

Things I learned while creating with the Watercolour Wishes Kit

If you remember, last week I was talking about the Watercolour Wishes Kit and how it was the perfect travelling kit because pretty much everything was in there and all you had to do was grab it and go!

I learned a few things...

• There are NO extra cardstock cutouts, so if you're a perfectionist take your time. The stamps are photopolymer, so you can see right where they're going, but there's still the possibility of a an "oops".

• There's a couple of extra adhesive die cuts, so you could add them in on any cards you choose.
• There's LOTS of extra sequins, wooden laser cut shapes, and Wahsi Tape, so go to town with those! :)

• While the block in the package is definitely suitable for all the images in the exclusive stamp set, you might like to have an "A" block for the teeny tiny hearts.
• There's good news and there's bad news. The good news is, the Watercolour Wishes Kit will still be available in the upcoming 2016-2017 catalogue. The bad news is, the price is going up. The good news is, you can order it NOW. The bad news is, you ONLY have until May 31st, so don't delay! I'll be placing an order on May 22nd, so if you'd like me to order the kit for you, let me know. 
• Once you're done making all the cards, you've got a handy little storage box to hold them! 

Pop back in later this week and I'll share some of the completed cards with you. You're going to love them!

Do you have the Thinlits Treat Bag Die?

Here's an awesome alternative idea by Stampin' UP! Brandi Barnard:

Things I learned while visiting La Belle Province...

My daughter and I recently returned from a three day trip to Montreal and Québec City. It was great to get back (I was born and raised in Montreal) and visit with my sister. And seeing Québec was a treat since I hadn't been since 1991. We had a FABULOUS time and I learned a few things (some comparisons to Toronto included):

• Hand made gifts for teachers ensure your child is happy *grin*

• Road signs, road lines and traffic laws are merely suggestions - you're taking your own life in your hands if you choose to drive (or walk!) here.
• Your "concrete jungle" is worse than our "basketweave". 
• Listening to Google Maps give directions in English while you're driving in a FRENCH province is PAINFUL (to say the very least!).
• I love, love, LOVE speaking French! I learned to speak both English and French growing up and it was SO much fun to spend a few days speaking French again...and let's face it! I need the practice what with my whole plan to move to France!
• You thought Québec motorists were bad? The only thing worse than a Québec motorist is a Québec motorcyclist. The only thing worse than a Québec motorcyclist is that guy with the WIDE LOAD in the FAST lane trying to pass a semi! (you can't make this crap up - I swear!)
• I drive in Toronto traffic. It's pretty bad. Montreal traffic is WORSE!
• Everybody smokes. EVERY. BODY.
• You can buy wine and beer in the grocery store. In truth, I knew this...what I didn't know is that there was an ENTIRE aisle dedicated to beer and wine in the grocery store. 
• You can purchase gasoline at rest stops...but before you get back in your car, don't forget the wine! SERIOUSLY??

• If you DON'T know how to behave in a church, please don't embarrass yourself by going in. Taking a photo of yourself AND your wife shaking hands (I kid you not!) with the image of Jesus as you pass through the Holy Door in the year of Mercy is NOT ok.
• THIS is a thing. WHY is this a thing??

• Tire d'érable is a little bit of heaven on a stick

And the very LAST thing I learned while visiting La Belle Province:

• You can stamp ANYWHERE as long as you have the right tools/equipment. This Watercolour Wishes Kit was PERFECT for travelling! All I needed was the box and some adhesive and I was ready to go! EVERYTHING you need (except MONO) was in the box (including ink and a block).