I’m a little bit better about getting my tags made for my ongoing album counting off the months that my husband is gone than I am about posting them here…so it’s time for a tag catch-up post again! My album is currently completed through November, and the December tag is in process, which means I’ll actually be caught up when that one is completed since the January one is just supposed to be done by the end of February. That’s pretty good for me on an ongoing crafty project!
My CHA Winter 2012 Favorites
6 Feb posted by
Walking the floor at CHA always is exciting and frustrating at the same time. It’s exciting to see all of the new products that will be coming out for my future creative play. But it’s often frustrating as I see more products and inspiration than I know that I will ever have time to use, and also get excited about using products that I know may not actually be in my hands for months.
But, in the spirit of the dream of unlimited time and creativity…here’s the things that really spoke to me on the show floor in Anaheim, that stoked my creative fires and made me say “WOW!”
One of the first things I saw in the previews that excited me was the new lines from Pink Paislee. Literally everything they released this show, including their new signature lines, was stunning. But a few specific pieces really got me excited.
These tags from Spring Jubilee, one of my favorite two collections, grabbed me immediately. Although they are not my favorite tag size (#8) for making stand-alone tag projects, they will still be incredibly useful on layouts.
Good Riddance 2011…Welcome 2012
31 Dec posted by
This time last year, we faced the coming of the new year with nothing but dread. We knew Mike was going into custody in a few days. Life as we knew it would be over for the forseeable future. There was nothing to look forward to about 2011.
But 2011 has passed now. It felt interminably long, and yet also somehow flew by. 2011 brought new challenges that we never imagined a year ago, including our daughter being diagnosed with severe juvenile arthritis.
Through it all, one thing has been constant: our love for each other and our commitment to rebuilding our lives as a family when Mike is released in October 2013. That goal has kept us looking forward and not back.
Now as we embark on 2012, we can look forward with more optimism than a year ago. We expect to have really good news to share soon about Mike’s living situation, and hope that our daughter’s health will continue to improve as she receives treatment.
I couldn’t have survived 2011 without the support of so many people…thank you to all of you. I appreciate all of the support and am so glad to have you all with me as I move into the different challenges that 2012 will bring.
So here’s to 2012…good riddance 2011. I won’t miss you.
Holiday Fun With Paper!
7 Dec posted by
Welcome to my version of the Scrapbook Update staff blog hop! This month we are taking holiday scrapbook supplies “off the page”.
Off the page immediately brings to mind holiday decor and packaging and entertaining for most people…but the holidays at our house this year are pretty low-key due to my husband being away. And I’ve never been big on 3D projects anyway.
But of course, anyone who follows this site knows that off the page for me means one thing to me: tags. I’ve become a serious tagging addict the past year! And we can’t have Christmas without cards – my other recent creative addiction – so I’ll be sharing some of those too.
But first…the tags! Tags are getting a lot of attention right now because Tim Holtz is running his annual 12 Tags of Christmas event on his blog. Of all the annual scrapbooking events that occur online, this is by far my favorite. It’s like taking a whole Tim workshop, if you really pay attention to the detail in the step-outs instead of just soaking in the finished products.
I’m a bit behind on completing my versions of the 12 tags (what else is new?) but here are my first two that are completed. Only four more to go to be caught up! Think I can finish them before midnight? Hmm…maybe not.
Tag #1
I recreated the background technique that from Tim’s tag #1, but using the texture trades snow flake embossing folder and only put the technique on part of the background. Then I created the snowbank in the bottom right corner with a similar technique by using the embossing ink pad direct-to-paper in that area. I also copied the glittered chipboard element, but just with a smaller die (and I inked the tree trunk). I topped the glitter with Distress Stickles in Picket Fence to give the tree a snow covered look. [Read more...]
How I Became A Die Cutting Addict
8 Nov posted by
My journey to die cut machine fanatic has been a long and winding one.
Thirteen years ago, when I started scrapbooking and I also worked in a scrapbook store, I had access to an Accucut die cut machine anytime that I wanted. But despite the general popularity of solid color die cutting in scrapbooking back then, it never really captured my imagination and I rarely used die cuts in my scrapbooks. I even purchased fancy laser die cuts on occasion but rarely actually used them.
For almost 10 years since then, I have scrapped without regular access to a local scrapbook store. I didn’t miss access to die cutting and so I didn’t feel compelled to invest in a machine of my own. That changed about 2-3 years ago, when I purchased a Cricut baby bug machine on a $69 Thanksgiving Day sale at Michael’s. After some initial experimenting however, that machine became neglected as well. The choices on the cartridges were overwhelming, and I found it impossible to find the image that I wanted or to remember what images I had. My ADHD brain grew impatient with fiddling with settings, and I didn’t like having to use large pieces of paper to get the cut that I wanted. The perfectionist in me did like the ability to cut a shape to exactly the right size for my project design, but most of the time I grew impatient with the hassle of getting that perfection.
Die cutting still hadn’t gotten its hooks into me.
Then, at CHA Winter 2010, Tim Holtz introduced his signature Alterations line of dies with Sizzix. And it’s not exactly a secret that I love everything Tim Holtz…could he convert me to die cutting as well?
I held out for almost 10 months, admiring the dies but not ready to commit to investing in a machine and dies. But a little over a year ago, I finally took the plunge and ordered myself a Sizzix Big Shot machine (now available from Amazon for $49.99
and a few dies and embossing folders. I was surprised by the immediate obsession that would develop with my new machine after all the years of being “meh” about die cutting. Within 6 weeks I owned at least a dozen dies and had a wishlist of more a mile long.
When I moved to my new kitchen scrap space shortly after getting my machine, a home for my Big Shot was one of my top priorities, because I knew that I wanted it within easy reach. It now sits on top of the storage cubes to the left of the kitchen table spot that I work at.
I use my Big Shot constantly. My most often used die is probably my Sizzix Alterations Tag & Bookplates Die, that cuts a #8 sized tag. It is perfect for so many of my favorite projects. It first got a major workout during the 2010 Holiday Tag Feud between my husband and I. I’ve used it since then to create my monthly tag album. I love that I can make easily make my favorite size of tag out of any paper that I want using the die. [Read more...]
Monthly Tags: #7 July, 2011 and #8 August, 2011
19 Oct posted by
It’s time to make tag #9…and I’m just finally getting around to posting tags #7 and #8! Tag #7 has been done for a long time but the posting got delayed by the site outage from the server failure. Tag #8 was also finished in late September, just under the wire before it was time to start making tag #9…
Supplies | Dies: Tim Holtz Alterations for Sizzix (Tag & Bookplates, Mini Hearts, Collage & Notebook Embossing Folder). Cardstock: Core’dinations (Tim Holtz Kraft Core), Bazzill (Kraft). Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup (Apple Cheddar Soup 6×6 pad). Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inkpad (Black Soot). Stickers: K & Company (Handmade Stamp Sticker Pad). Pen: American Crafts (Precision 03). Metal Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology (Muse Tokens), Unknown (brads).
Unlike previous tags where I’ve used an embellishment to create the number, for this month I used the embossing folder on the Kraft Core and then sanded and inked it to highlight the #7. The butterfly stamp embellishments are give the tag a touch of summer and also reflect my frequent letter writing with Mike. The Muse Token – E for Excellence – was a nod to the importance of my work in my life during July, when I traveled to Chicago to speak at the Craft & Hobby Association trade show. [Read more...]
Scrapbooking & My iPhone
4 Oct posted by
Today the Scrapbook Update staff is having a blog hop all about crafting with our phones…which means I get to talk about one of my favorite topics: my iPhone.
My life is pretty much on my phone. It is my constant companion from dusk till dawn (and in between, too). One of the best things about that is that it means that I always have a camera with me. As a scrapbooker, I constantly see pictures around me – but I am terrible at remembering to haul my camera with me, and sometimes I just don’t want the hassle. My iPhone fills in that gap nicely as long as I am not tied to having pixel perfect photos of an event.
Here’s a look at some of the photos that I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for my iPhone:
Cards | I Love You
26 Aug posted by
This week was an especially difficult anniversary for my husband and I – the tenth anniversary of the stillbirth of our son. As that date approached I knew that being apart as we remembered that awful loss was going to be extra hard. I wanted to do something special to bring some comfort to my husband as he tried to endure reliving our past nightmare while living through the current one.
DOC rules severely limit my options to reach out to him, however. I finally settled on making a handmade card as my best option. But even sending a card has challenges, because anything sent into his correctional facility can’t have adhered layers on it (too much risk of contraband or hidden messages). So I had to come up with a design that, basically, didn’t use any glue. Then I realized the solution – creating visual layers with ink, basically creating a painting!
I dug out my stamps and various mediums, and started playing. This was the result.
Supplies – Cardstock: Bazzill Smoothies (Walnut Cream). Ink: Tim Holtz Distress (Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot), Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Peeled Paint, Pine Needles, Faded Jeans), Studio Calico Mr. Huey’s Mist (Classic Calico). Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Background Basics: Text Style), Tim Holtz for Stamper’s Anonymous (Nature’s Elements), Technique Tuesday (Words We Love).
First, I used half of an 8.5×11 sheet of the Bazzill cardstock to create the card blank out of. This conveniently left me with the other half of the sheet to use to practice my effects on before stamping them on the “real” card.
The first layer of the stamping that was laid down was the text background stamp by Papertrey Ink. Using the Antique Linen Distress ink, I stamped that background strip twice across the bottom area of the card, leaving enough room at the bottom to add the sentiment stamp later.
Next, I started adding the foliage. First I added the large spray of leaves from the Nature’s Elements set, in Peeled Paint Distress Stain. Then I added the slightly smaller green floral element, stamped in Pine Needle. Finally, I filled the blank area between their stems with the small floral stamp in Faded Jeans. I selected the Distress Stain for these elements because I wanted a soft, watercolor look. Practicing on the scrap piece of cardstock really helped get the order of the stamping of these elements right, as well as figure out which piece should be which color. It also gave me practice learning how much stain to use on the stamps for the effect I wanted.
The butterfly from the Nature’s Element set was stamped with Distress Ink (not stain) in Brushed Corduroy because I wanted a crisper effect for that image than I had wanted for the foliage that I did with stain. The last stamp placed was the sentiment from the Technique Tuesday set, in Black Soot Distress ink.
As a finishing touch, to knock back the glaring perfection of the Walnut Cream background, I gave the card a spritz with the Mr. Huey’s spray mist. I sprayed from near the top of the right side so that most of the spray was concentrated in that area.
Mike loved the card and I learned a lot about working with my various different inks and stamps doing this. I liked the challenge of trying to see what effects I could achieve solely with my inks. I’m sure I will be doing more of it in the future!
Cards | Using Office-Inspired Supplies
24 Aug posted by
Welcome to the Scrapbook Update staff blog hop on The Nally Notes!
A blog hop that gives me an excuse to play with all of my office supply-inspired scrapbook stuff is like Christmas for me…an excuse to “assign” myself to play with some of my favorite things! The only problem is figuring out which of my presents to open first, because I have a huge collection of office inspired scrapbook toys.
So I could play with and share as many of them as possible, I decided to make quick card projects for this post. (Plus…a card goes into an envelope and is sort of an office supply itself, so it is extra fitting to create them for this article!) The two cards I made show a range of styles can be created with “office” supplies. Just another reason to love them!
My first card takes the concept of “office” very literally. I used Tim Holtz’s File Tabs die from Sizzix to create a card that was shaped like a file folder – and then stapled a sheet of notebook paper inside it with a sentiment on it. Just check the box for the sentiment of your choice!
Supplies – Cardstock: Bazzill (Kraft). Patterned Paper: BasicGrey Basics (Booknote). Die: Tim Holtz Alterations for Sizzix (File Tabs). Punch: EK Success Slimline (Binding Edge Edger). Stamps: BasicGrey (To Do), Papertrey Ink (Around & About Sentiments, Mega Mixed Messages), Tim Holtz for Stamper’s Anonymous (Grunge Butterfly). Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Barn Door), Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Vintage Photo). Embossing Powder: Ranger (Clear Super Fine Detail). Misc: Tim Holtz idea-ology Tiny Attacher.
I added the red hearts to brighten up the dark color scheme and enhance the “love” theme of the card intended by the sentiment stamps. Finally, I used the Grunge Butterfly (stamped with Vintage Photo Distress Stain) to soften the overall look of the card. I chose the brown stain to create a kind of coffee-stained look that would be subtle and wouldn’t overwhelm the rest of the card.
My second card went a whole different direction, using bright cheerful pastels. The office theme here isn’t as literal as the first card. Instead, I created something softer and more feminine.
Supplies – Cardstock: Bazzill Smoothies (Walnut Cream). Stamps: Hero Arts (Graph Background), Stampin’ Up (Much Appreciated). Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress (Tumbled Glass, Black Soot). Rub-Ons: October Afternoon Thrift Shop (Image). Stickers: BasicGrey Out of Print (Paper Ribbon), October Afternoon 5 & Dime (Label Stickers). Flowers: Fancy Pants Beach Babe. Brads: unknown.
I created the background that looks like graph paper using the Hero Arts Graph Background stamp. Stamped on the Walnut Cream cardstock with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, it looks just like the graph paper you’d find in any office supply store. Then I softened the look with the rub-on and the paper ribbon. Finally, I created the sentiment block with an office supply item – a label, stamped with a typewriter font sentiment stamp. I also gave the flowers an “office” touch by attaching them with brads.
Why do I love “office” supply scrapbooking supplies? For starters, I’ve always had a thing for office supplies. I can spend hours in Staples! In scrapbooking, I like that they have some character and lend a somewhat vintage look to projects, but still are mostly a blank palette to work with and build on. They are neutrals of the best kind!
These cards used almost all of my favorite office-themed scrapbook supplies from my stash. I have another favorite that you see on this site frequently – my Tim Holtz Alterations for Sizzix Tag & Bookplates die.
Don’t forget to check out the other posts on this topic from the rest of the Scrapbook Update staff:
Now…for that giveaway that we promised!
Are you a Jennifer McGuire fan like I am? Starting on Sept. 12th, she’s teaching an online class called Inspiration Showcase at OnlineCardClasses.com. For two weeks, you’ll be able to learn all about 40 different techniques while following along with the construction of a decorative 12×12 canvas. The canvas is just an example of all the techniques – once you learn these stamping, paper and decor techniques, they can be used on cards, layouts and many other kinds of paper craft projects.
Sound exciting? I can’t wait to take this class with Jennifer! And…one lucky reader will get to take it too, because I have a seat to give away! Just leave a comment on this entry saying what your favorite technique is for stamping or scrapbooking and you’ll be entered to win our random drawing. The giveaway will be open for entries until Midnight eastern time on Sunday night, August 28th. One entry person, please!
Layout | Second Grade Changes
22 Aug posted by
Another school year started today at our house. It’s hard to believe that my little girl is a big 3rd grader now! While she was on summer vacation the past couple weeks, I was reflecting back on how much she had changed during her 2nd grade year and decided to make a layout about it.
I normally don’t scrap a lot of school stuff for some reason (probably due to Bridget’s school experience being so different than normal because of her disability – I don’t have a ton of opportunities to take pictures in a school setting) but as she enters 3rd grade this week, I’m finally planning on taking the few school layouts that I’ve already done and making them the basis of a “school” album that I can build over the years for her. I figure it will be a good way to chart the basic process of her growth and development in a single album.
Since the photos didn’t have a lot of cohesive colors in them, taken on different days in different outfits, a neutral kraft background was perfect. Then a collage of embellishments was the perfect way to tie all the jumble of colors together into something resembling order (I like even my collage-y pages to feel orderly – kind of a contradiction, I know!).
Supplies – Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Farmhouse (Button Box), BasicGrey Basics (Blueline). Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress (Antique Linen, Faded Jeans), Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Spun Sugar). Embossing Powder: Ranger (Clear Super Fine Detail). Rub-Ons: October Afternoon Thrift Shop (Image). Stamps: Tim Holtz for Stamper’s Anonymous (Seamless Experience). Alphabets: Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type (Blue), Sassafrass (Cool Gray). Embellishments: Elle’s Studio (Vintage Month Flashcards), BasicGrey (Out of Print Bloomers), Recollections (rhinestones), Making Memories (Sabrina Buttons), Hero Arts (Hero Hues Woven Lace Ribbon). Other: unknown buttons, DMC floss.
Journaling: Your second grade was stressful and full of change. First, there was your Daddy’s legal problems and last months at home. Then, “he went away” as you put it so sadly when we would talk. I worried so much about how you would handle it all, but you just continued to amaze us. At the start of the year you were a shy uncertain child, tentative. By June you carried yourself a whole new way: more mature, more confident. You made so much progress in your speech and other things! I’m so proud of you!
The title block is one of the trendy “button card” blocks that make up the back side of a patterned paper in October Afternoon’s upcoming new Farmhouse collection. It turned out to be a great way to “ground” the title block. I used buttons at three points in the layout to create a visual triangle and lead the eye through my design (I have a thing about doing that with embellishments). The notebook paper for the journaling, and the ruler, reinforces the school theme while also working with the collage style of the page. Most of the other embellishments are fairly random, chosen for size, shape and color, although the buttons do work well to pair with the theme of the button card in the title.
It was while trying to find a home in one of my albums for this layout that I decided that I think I will start a whole new school album for Bridget. I came across several other layouts that were from first days of school and couldn’t believe how much they showed stair steps of change in her life. So as soon as I get an album purchased, Bridget’s school years is going to be the first album in my new system of organizing my layouts, based on Stacy Julian’s Library of Memories system. Noell Hyman, my Paperclipping Roundtable co-host, posted a new Paperclipping episode today talking about doing the same thing with her albums!
Follow Me