Category: Uncategorized

more than just packaging

Gift bags, boxes, wrapping paper…it all might just be packaging to you, but to me it’s more!  I thoroughly enjoy wrapping a gift.  Especially when I know that the person receiving it will be just as excited and will appreciate the creativity of the wrap.  Of course, not everyone feels the same way I do and that’s ok too.  This isn’t to say that occasionally I don’t just wrap a gift and be done with it!  We’ve all been there, at the last minute, shoving a present into a gift bag, or a gift certificate into a greeting card.  This is just a little glimpse at the fun that I have when I get a chance to do a little extra.

printer trays & why I love them!

Just a quick post about printer trays…and why I love them!

Way before I knew anything about Project Life, I was totally smitten with printer trays!  (Notice the similarities between the two totally different projects?)

Like the PL, I think I enjoy these because of the endless possibilities and freedom when creating all of those “little layouts” that, in the end, fit together to create a lovely image!

(Unfamiliar with Project Life?  Read my post from earlier this week.)

The Christmas one above is the only one that I have created for my own home.  I thoroughly enjoy making them as gifts.

Printer trays (shadow boxes) are now available in many different sizes, shapes, colors–all sorts!

If you haven’t made one, you should give it a try!

most frequently used

Today, I thought I would share a few of my ‘most frequently used’ products for scrapbooking, aka:papercrafting.

First up, my Sharpie Poster Paint Pen (extra-fine point, water-based, opaque paint marker).  This is a fabulous pen for writing on photos or cardstock.  I just googled my pen and apparently there is an entire Sharpie world that I was unaware of!  Check out their amazing website for all things Sharpie.  I have always loved Sharpie markers of all shapes and sizes, colors and tips…but this new knowledge of available products could be quite costly : )  Sharpie products can be found in many stores or online…I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby (in the paint/pen department–not in scrapbooking).

Next up, Thickers.  Need I say more?  My love for Thickers grows (as does my collection of them).  I am proud of myself for finally using them on a regular basis instead of hoarding them in my Thicker drawer (as seen in the picture).   Thanks to Project Life, I am finding myself using them more and more.  Thickers, by American Crafts, come in just about any color, font, texture and size.  They’re addicting & I love them!

Just added to my scrapbooking supplies is my Epson Artisan 730 printer.  Yes, I consider this scrapbooking supplies.  It is amazing!  I can print pictures directly from my iphone wirelessly.  Love it. Love it. Love it.

And finally, my Zutter Round-it-All corner punch.  This is the best corner rounder I have ever used.  The price is a bit higher, but so worth it.  They describe it as heavy-duty and I would agree!  It cuts through everything!  I use it all of the time.

So there you have it.  Products I would definitely recommend.  No, I’m not an expert–just an ordinary girl that likes to scrapbook.

 

exciting, yet scary

Wow.  Strange feeling being back at the keyboard blogging.  During the year of not blogging, I longed to have time to sit and blog.  Now, here I am and questioning once again that anyone will even read it!  I will trust that you’re here because you want to be…so, I will continue to type.

Many of you know that I am a scrapbooking, paper-loving addict.  My current form of scrapbooking is inspired by Becky Higgins’ Project Life.  If you’ve never heard about this, already struggle with finding time to document your current fast-paced family life, you should check out her site.  January 2012 I took the Project Life leap and haven’t looked back!

The images above are a look at how I’ve chosen to do Project Life.  I create a layout each week, whether a single layout or a double page layout, just depends on how busy my week was.  I’m not good at journaling, so that is what I am attempting to improve.  By using these types of page protectors, it’s almost like creating ‘mini layouts’.  Each one stands alone, representing a separate event or person, yet (like a puzzle) fits together to create a glimpse of your week–your life.  You can choose to simply drop in a few photos, a few mementos and no journaling.  Many scrappers choose to include a lot of detailed journaling for each day.  You may not have time to do any type of embellishing, or added details–that’s ok too!  However you interpret it, is up to you.  The goal is to simply record memories, little by little, making it work for you.

There are many scrapbook companies that are creating great products to use in your Project Life albums.  Of course, Becky Higgins has her Project Life product line which can get you started.  You can see her product line here.  Whether you’re new to scrapbooking or an old pro, give it a try!  I love it!

 

 

2011 {a little bit crafty}

Yes, I’m still here.  Just busy. 

I have had a little time to be crafty lately.  Here are some highlights. 

Paper tape flower in picture above.  VERY EASY.  I learned how from the Tim Holtz tutorial.  You should give it a try! 

Above is a glass etching that I finally did.  After watching many Cricut tutorials, I was confident enough to give it a try… Very EASY!  I am thinking of many more things to etch!
I sent a care package to my nephew that just started college.  I wanted to include some homemade cookies.  After putting them in a ziploc bag, I placed them in this oatmeal container, to better protect them.  I didn’t want to decorate it…after all, he’s a guy.  But I did include a handmade tag with it. 

SO, that’s just a little of what I’ve been up to. 

december daily 2010 preview

Finally am posting some pictures of my December Daily 2010.

If you want to see all of the pages, you can view them on my flickr page.

I think this is my 3rd or 4th DD.  Looking back, I learned 2 main things:

1.  Don’t try to create the page ahead of time.  Stick with the dates only and allow for creativity later.

2. I rarely have ever finished a DD once Christmas passes….so, I prepared up to day 25, added 2 more pages and that’s all.  Obviously, I can always add more pages, if time allows. 

This year, i wanted a “vintage-feel”.

Thanks for looking!

Christmas cards 2010 version 1.1

Well, I said I would never do it again, yet here I am. 

Handmade Christmas cards. 

A few years ago, I made huge amounts & hated it. 

This year, I decided that if I see any cards that catch my eye, I will buy them. 

BUT, I will also make some.  Usually, I send out about 60 cards….

we’ll see if I survive this year  : )

Here we go!

I decided to use embossed white paper as the main background. 

So, last week, I sat on the couch with my paper-cutter, my white cardstock, and my embosser. 

Then, I decided to do some hand-stitching on them. 

I have tried to use my sewing machine on paper with about 65% luck.  Never guaranteed what the end result will be, so I decided to do it by hand.  I absolutely LOVE how the snowflake turned out, however, of course, that one took the longest to make. 

On this card, I used my Tim Holtz edge thingy to give it a rough, frayed look. 

I had bought pre-cut/scored Kraft cards & envelopes a while back on sale, so I decided to use those. 

I put a sheet of red cardstock behind the white…just so a tiny amount of the red showed around the edges. 

Weeks ago, I found the “Christmas Story” both the Bible story version and The Night Before Christmas version and pasted them into a word document.  Then I changed the font color to red and printed it out on cardstock.  I then took my Marvy punch (scalloped edge square–size purple) and cut a bunch of background squares. 

Then, I tied a ribbon around the white cardstock before adhering it to the page. 

I also took my Distress Ink and inked around the edge. 

I used my PapertreyInk stamp for the sentiment.  Inked around the edges with white Brilliance ink. 

To make it more dimensional, I used foam dots to adhere the scalloped square. 

I stamped the inside, added some bling and inked around the edges  (for that snowy feel). 
I added some snowflakes to the envelope. 
Here’s another version of the card. 

On the inside of this one, I stamped first and then placed some cardstock on top of the words and inked a snowy edge around the sentiment.  Thanks for looking!