Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I know I said that I'd post these a few weeks ago, but Christmas had me
completely frazzled.  Here are some of the cards I made this year.  The
ones I designed for Repeat Impressions
are in an earlier post.  I will resume my regular weekly tips, tricks
and ideas with the beginning of the new year.  If you'd like more
information about the cards, please post a comment here, and I'll reply
as soon as I can. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

  

A moment to breathe (Well, not really!)

I've been so busy crafting and shopping that I haven't had a chance to post for awhile.  I promise I'll scan some of my cards and post them this week.  For now, I'll leave you with this link for some pretty easy Christmas cards from Better Homes & Gardens.  I think I'm going to give some of them a try myself.  Have fun!  Make Your Own Christmas Cards

Some good news and some bad news

The bad news is that I am no longer on the Design Team for Scrapbook Queens.  The owner decided that she wants a change for the new year, so she asked us to step down from the DT.  She gave us the option of whether or not to finish out the year, and I chose not to.  It was a lot of fun, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have shared my ideas and (hopefully) to have inspired others.

Now for the good news!  I will now have more time to devote to My Crafty Life and the Design Team for Repeat Impressions .  If you haven't had a chance to visit RI yet, you really should.  Wendy is a wonderful person and a very gifted artist. 

I have lots of holiday ideas for scrapbooking, card making, and crafting coming up soon, so check back often.  Right now, you can look at the Design Team creations for RI.  Just click on the link above and go to Design Team Gallery.

Have a fabulous holiday season, and keep on crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #43: Ten crafting tips that will save you money

During the holiday season, we're all looking for ways to save some money.  Here are 10 crafting tips for using things you already have around the house.

1.  Instead of buying those waxy sticks to pick up and place rhinestones and other small objects, look around the house for stray crayons.  They work like a charm!

2.  Don't buy one of those small irons to iron your ribbon.  Just rub it over a warm lightbulb.  Remember to make sure the bulb isn't dusty, and BE CAREFUL - IT'S HOT! This works well with satin and grosgrain ribbon.  I wouldn't try organdy or gauzy ribbon; it might melt.

3.  Save the backings from your stickers and Xyron to use as waxed paper when you're using glue, paint, embossing powder, or glitter.

4.  If you have a Cricut, don't throw away your worn-out mats.  Spray them with repositionable spray adhesive to freshen them up.  Just remember to use masking tape around the edges so that the part that goes through the rollers doesn't get sticky.

5.  Another use for the worn-out Cricut mats:  Once they get to the point where they can't be refreshed anymore, use them to hold small objects while you're painting them.  I've used them to hold buttons while I painted them.  They have just enough tack to hold the objects in place temporarily.

6.  If you don't want to spend money on Christmas/Holiday stamp sets, try using stamps that you already have.  For example, cirlces make great ornaments, squares make wonderful packages, and a bit of holiday ribbon can spruce up an otherwise tired flower stamp.

7.  Along the same lines as Tip # 6:  Use simple shapes cut with your die cut machine to make holiday cards.  Circles, squares, ovals, and other shapes can easily be transformed into ornaments, boxes, flowers, etc.  Use your imagination!

8.  Make your own tags.  If you don't have a die cut machine, you can use punches or your paper trimmer to cut squares and rectangles.  Punch a hole, tie some string or ribbon, and you're good to go.

9.  Instead of buying new stamp sets with phrases and greetings that you will use only once or twice, use your computer to print them out.  This is also a great way to get a lot of card greetings done in only a few minutes.  Yeah, I think it's "cheating" too, but no one else has to know, right?  (I won't tell.)

10.  Get together with your friends and swap crafting stuff.  That leftover Halloween orange ribbon might be just the thing she needs to finish a layout or card, and those Valentine's Day buttons might add the perfect touch to your project.

I hope you find these useful.  They work for me, and I hope they work for you too.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #42: Scrapbook a favorite childhood toy.

This is another layout in my book about me.  I love
how it turned out, and my children are enjoying reading about my
childhood and seeing me as a very little girl.

Is there a particular toy from your childhood that holds special memories for you?  Do you have a picture of yourself with that toy?  This layout was a lot of fun for me.  Give it a try.  I think it will be a lot of fun for you, too.

Paper:  Pop Star by Rusty Pickle
Title:  Vixen by QuicKutz
Bottom Border:  Martha Stewart punch, Ranger Adirondack spray dyes
Markers:  Bic Mark-It
Journaling Card:  Printed from Simple Scrapbooks website
Other:  Glitter, 3-D flower stickers

Some Holiday Cards to Get You Started

Now, don't tell me it's too early to start thinking about the holidays.  You know they're right around the corner.  Every year, I say that I'm going to get started on my Christmas cards early, and every year I'm stamping away right up until a few days before Christmas.  At the same time, I'm trying to do my Christmas shopping, decorate the house and the tree, bake, make chocolate, and make some hand-made jewelry.  Plus all the day-to-day "stuff" that doesn't go away simply because it's the holiday season.  Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about the yearly trip to the Galleria to wait 90 minutes on line to take a 30-second photo with Santa (that usually drains our bank account of about $50).

Does all of this sound familiar?  I thought so.  Well, because I'm on the Design Team for Repeat Impressions, I was sent some wonderful holiday stamps to work with.  I was able to get a jump-start on my Thanksgiving and Christmas cards.  So I thought I'd share some of my designs with you to get those creative juices flowing.  I hope that these will inspire you to create your own wonderful and unique cards, tags, decorations, and gifts.  This is just the beginning.  I plan to have lots more to share.

Just to make things a little more fun, anyone who posts a comment here will be entered into a random drawing for a fabulous Mini Holiday Surprise Package to get you started on your holiday crafts.  Enjoy!  And remember to be yourself and let your unique creative talents shine through. (Deadline to post comments for entry in drawing is November 30th.)

 
 



 

 

Paper Crafting Tip #41: Use your diecut machine to make an Autumn Leaves Wreath

My daughter and I made this lovely wreath with leaves that I cut with my Cricut and Big Kick machines.  After I cut and embossed the leaves, we chalked them and glued them onto a cardboard wreath I had made from a cereal box.  Just trace a large bowl and a smaller bowl onto the cardboard and cut out.  I used tacky glue, and it worked great.

Paper Crafting Tip #40: Use your black and white photos.

Because I was born in the '60s, I have lots of childhood pictures of myself as a very little girl that are in black and white.  Sometimes we get intimidated by these photos, or we can't figure out how to use them on our layouts.  Many scrapbookers think that they have to use vintage or muted colors with these photos.  Well, I'll let you in on a little secret.  I really don't like the vintage, heritage, or "shabby chic" look that became popular when I first started scrapbooking.  I don't like muted, washed-out colors.  I like bright, vibrant papers and embellishments.

You can use these lively colors with your black and white photos.  In fact, the photos stand out beautifully when you do.  Here are some layouts I've done with my photos.  The first one is from several months back, and it's a traditional layout, with everything "cut and pasted" together (my favorite way to scrapbook).  The second layout is digital.  Although it's not something I do a lot, I do enjoy creating a digital layout once in a while. 

Have fun with those "old" photos!

  

Paper Crafting Tip #39: A few Halloween ideas for you

 

These are the samples I made for Repeat Impressions .  I used the Top Score Multiboard, by Crafter's Companion , to make the tri-fold card on the left.  The pumpkins on the middle card are raised with foam tape.  For the treat bag on the right, I painted a plain brown lunch bag with black acrylic paint.  Then I made a paper medallion using the directions from Martha Stewart Crafts .  The center of the medallion is a piece of a catalog cover that I recycled by stamping, coloring with markers, and covering with Diamond Glaze, by Judikins .

Happy Scary Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #38: Easy Photo Corners

Sorry it's been so long since my last post.  Life has been crazy, and I've been sick, but I'm back!

Here's a quick little photo corner how-to:

1.  Punch or cut out a square. (1-2 inches is usually a good size to start with, but you can play around
     with the size once you get the hang of it.)

2.  Cut the square in half diagonally, so that you have two triangles.

3.  Line up the triangles so they match back-to-back.

4.  Cut a strip off the long edge.  The width of the strip that you cut will determine the width of the photo
     corners.

5.  Now, align the edges so that they form a corner. 

6.  Adhere to your page, and you're done!

Here is one of the layouts I made using this technique.  If you have any questions, please email or post a comment.  Enjoy!

 

Paper Crafting Tip #37: Title Tip

 

I have a great tip for you that is sure to make your titles more fun and
interesting.  Instead of using just one font for your titles, try using
2 or 3.  In this layout, I used stamps (Hero Arts) for the main title
and diecuts (Cricut) for the supporting title.  Each font is different
and adds a fun touch to the layout.  If your title is more serious, you
can choose other appropriate fonts.  Serious does not mean boring.  Try
this tip, and add some spice to your next layout.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #36: Create a Title Page for Your Scrapbook

I like to have title pages in my scrapbooks.  They set the tone for the pages that follow and serve as an introduction to the album.  Sometimes I create the title page before I begin an album, and sometimes I create it later on.  I made the title page here after I finished the first layout in the album, but I knew what I was going to do before I even started the first layout.  This is the title page for our second Favorite Holidays album, and it follows the same design as the one in the first volume.  I made all of the diecuts, including the letters, with my Cricut. 

Give it a try!  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #35: Believe in Yourself

This week's tip is more of a self-confidence booster, rather than an actual paper crafting tip.  Last night I read some posts on a forum that made me happy that I don't participate in swaps there.  The thread was all about how people get upset and even angry when other swap members' cards don't meet "their" standards. 

I've been hosting card swaps for years, and I welcome and encourage swappers of all levels.  In fact, I encourage beginners to join, because they can learn so much from others.  And even the most experienced stamper can learn something from a beginner, whether it be color combinations, layout, or simply an appreciation for the effort and work that person put into making the card.  

I had to stop reading the thread, because it was making me angry.  How dare people criticize others because they aren't "good enough" for their elite group?  If they want to be in a swap with only "professional" stampers, then that is the kind of swap group they should join.

Most of the people who attend my workshops and join my swaps start as beginners.  They build their confidence through practice, learning new techniques, and learning from each other.  They learn to believe in themselves and in their own unique talents. 

There is enough stress in our lives, without having to worry about whether or not we can live up to others' standards with our crafting.  So this week, make an effort to have fun with your crafting.  Believe in yourself, enjoy what you're doing, and don't worry about being "good enough" for anyone else.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #34: Break out your Coluzzle and make a purse card!

I just love my Coluzzle!  I've had it practically since I started scrapbooking, which is exactly 7 years ago.  I have a Cricut and a Big Kick; and, although I love them both, I still find myself pulling out my Coluzzle when I need a quick shape or envelope.  Or, as in this case, a card.  The Coluzzle Purse Template gives you the option of creating several different sizes of cards, from tag size to approximately A2 size (the one pictured here). 

What?? You don't have a Coluzzle??  Well, I can fix that!  Just email me at jeanettemg@yahoo.com to find out how to get your very own Coluzzle cutting system - and this fabulous Purse Template.  You can also find out how to get the gorgeous paper I used to make this card.  It's from The Angel Company (TAC), and I'm a demonstrator in the Bronx.  I ship to the U.S. and Canada.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #33: Limit Your Embellishments

When I first started scrapbooking, things were much simpler.  Choosing embellishments was pretty easy, because you had much less to choose from.  Now, there are so many embellishments on the market that it can be very difficult to choose what to use on your layouts.  Well, I have a very simple solution:  limit your embellishments to 3 or 4 different types of items.  For example, on this layout, I decided to use flowers, ribbon, and eyelets/brads.  Not only did that save me time, but it also forced me to be more creative with what I was using.  You do have to stick to your choices, though; because, if you second-guess yourself, that defeats the purpose of limiting your choices in the first place. 

Give it a try.  I think you'll be happy with the sense of freedom you will get when you make things so much easier on yourself.  See you next week.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #32: Take a Break from the Message Boards

If you're like me, you belong to several message boards.  Although I visit only 3 of them daily (I'm a moderator and on the Design Team for one), there was a time - not so long ago - when they took up a lot of my time.  It's easy to get involved in the "drama," or try to keep up with every new gadget or paper collection that seems to appear almost daily.  However, I've come to several conclusions about these message boards, and I've realized that my time can be better spent working on my projects.

1.  Since the information I'll receive about what's new and hot in scrapbooking and stamping will be the same no matter which message board I visit, I can limit myself to 2 or 3 and still not miss out on all the info.

2.  I don't have time for all the drama.  I read the subject lines of the posts and can usually skip at least half of them because they are really not important.  Especially the ones that start," So, what are you doing today" or "Guess What?"  I don't want to guess, and I really don't need to know what everyone is doing.

3.  I don't have to download and print out every tutorial that is posted or watch every video that is made.  To be perfectly honest, although some of them are quite good and well-thought-out, many of them are thrown together just so that the people who have made them can say, "Look, I can make tutorials and videos."

4.  I don't waste my time uploading my layouts and cards to online galleries.  Scanning, stitching, and resizing my images so that they will fit within the confines of some online galleries takes a lot of time.  On many larger message boards, these posts remain for mere minutes before they are pushed off the first page in the gallery, only to be buried under everyone else's.  And I don't know about you; but after all the work I go through to scan, stitch, etc., not only would I like them to stay around for awhile, but a comment or 2 would be appreciated as well.  It still boggles my mind how over 200 people can view a layout or card, yet not even one person can take the time to post a simple comment.

5.  Avoid getting too personally involved on the forums.  I've made the mistake of feeling so comfortable on some message boards that I've actually given my honest opinions when people have asked for them.  Now, I don't mean that I've trashed someone's layout or post.  I would never, ever do that.  I can always find something nice to say about someone's hard work, and I don't "flame."  I mean the people who ask how you really feel about something they've said or done.  For example:  "Let me know if I hurt your feelings, or if you feel slighted, because that really isn't what I wanted to do."  They really don't want to know your honest opinions or feelings.  They just want you to alleviate their feelings of guilt or make them feel better about the decisions they've made.

6.  Finally, set a timer for the number of minutes you want to devote to message boards, and stick to it.

I know I might sound a little harsh, but I've heard so many crafters say that they have no time to scrapbook or stamp anymore.  Maybe it's because we are spending too much time on message boards and not enough time creating.  Message boards, like all things in life, have their place.  I've learned so much from other crafters on message boards, and I've had a lot of fun sometimes.  But I've also spent a lot of time and hard work on some forums, only to fall victim to favoritism and the terrible crime of "not being popular or famous."  Remember, too much of anything isn't good for you.  Now stop reading my blog, and go create something!  :)

Directions for Criss-Cross Cards from Yesterday's Post

Here are the cards again.



Supplies: 

Two 4 1/4" x 11" pieces of cardstock 

One or two 4" x 5" piece of patterned paper  (*If you are using double-sided patterned paper, you will need one piece.  If you are using single-sided paper, you will need two.)

One 3 3/4" x 5" piece of cardstock

One 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of cardstock

Ink

Stamps

Adhesive

Scraps of paper for embellishments (or ready-made embellishments)

Corner rounder

Directions for Holder Portion:

1.  Score both 4 1/4 x 11" pieces of cardstock at 5 1/2".

2.  Take one scored piece and cut it diagonally from center top to bottom left.

3. 
Take the other piece of scored cardstock and cut it diagonally from the center top to the bottom right.

4. 
Add adhesive to the rectangle part of the back of one cardstock piece.

5. 
Tape both pieces together. Make sure both long edges of the diagonal sections are on the bottom.

6.  Fold the triangle flaps toward you to create the "criss-cross."

7.  Cut the patterned paper in half diagonally.  If you are using single-sided paper, have one patterned face up when you cut it and the other face down.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  If you are using double-sided paper, you don't have to worry about this.

8.  Align the triangles to the front flaps of the card, and adhere them to your card front.

9. 
Add adhesive to the bottom of the middle panel and on the bottom of the triangle flap that will be the top flap. Tape the card base together.


Directions for Card Insert

1. 
Take the 3 3/4 x 5" and 3 1/2 x 4 3/4" pieces of cardstock, and round the top corners.

2.  Layer and adhere them together.

3.  Stamp and embellish as desired.  I used embellishments from my "stash." 

Please Note:  Adding a tab on top of the insert makes it easier for the recipient to
remove the card from the holder, but it is not necessary.  If you do
add it, you will need to make a custom envelope, because it won't fit
in an A2 (invitation size) envelope.  You can email me for a template.

Be warned:  These can become addictive!  Have fun, and don't say I didn't warn you!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

Shocking, isn't it?  But, yes, lately I really have been thinking about how I spend my time. I've been re-evaluating my priorities, and I've come to the conclusion that I need to spend more time on things that I really enjoy, and that I "get something out of." I'm not talking about monetarily. I mean things that I find gratifying.  I've been spending too much time on forums that I no longer enjoy, or at least don't enjoy as much as I used to. Since I'm not a member of the in crowd, or a yes, you're so wonderful, I want to be just like you bunch, or famous, I really don't have much to offer at those places.  I'm going to be using that time to pursue the things I do enjoy.

Apart from my family (of course), one of those things is this blog.  I started it with the hopes of sharing paper crafting tips with my fellow stampers and scrapbookers.  While I've tried to keep that going,  sometimes I've let other things get in the way.  Well, not anymore!  Starting this week, I will be posting weekly crafting tips again, along with updates on how things are going with Repeat Impressions. Speaking of Repeat Impressions, www.repeatimpressions.com ; I just received my first batch of stamps to create with. Wow!  They are simply gorgeous!  I have lots of plans for them, and  I encourage you all to check out RI to see all the wonderful stamps and accessories Wendy has.  Working on the Design Team for Repeat Impressions is another priority that I plan to devote a lot of time to.

I've been doing a lot more scrapbooking and stamping, and I'll be sharing some of those projects with you as well.  Here are some of the cards that I've made lately.  My first new paper crafting tip will be how to make these cards, and I should be posting it this weekend.

Happy Crafting!
Jeanette

 

I've been accepted!

I have some exciting news!  I've been accepted onto the Design Team for Repeat Impressions Rubber Stamps, a wonderful stamp company with a variety of fabulous stamps and accessories!  Check them out here:  http://www.repeatimpressions.com.  The DT isn't posted there yet, but we will be soon.  I'm so excited!

Summer in the Sixties

This weekend I completed a layout that I had been thinking about for awhile.  It's about my favorite summer memories from childhood.  A few years ago, my mother gave me a whole bunch of photos from my childhood, and I've been wanting to scrapbook them ever since.  I don't remember where I read about this challenge, but the challenge was to scrapbook your favorite summer memory from childhood.  Well, here it is, in all its glory.  I worked a little differently with this one, writing the journaling first, and then moving on to the photos.  I hope you like reading and seeing it as much as I enjoyed creating it.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

If you'd like to find out how to get the .cut files for the flower border and large scalloped circle, just email me.

Fitting 9 photos on a 9 x 12 2-page layout

A few years ago, my husband bought me a Hallmark scrapbook for Mother's Day.  Since the theme of the cover is family, I decided to use it to scrapbook the different things we do as a family.  Really.  No kidding!  The size has proven to be a challenge, but I think this layout is proof that you CAN fit multiple photos on a smaller size layout. I think the most important principle to keep in mind is symmetry.  Make sure that your layout is balanced on both sides, and be sure to crop and arrange your photos so that they balance each other and are lined up as straight as possible.  Perfection isn't necessary, though, as life isn't perfect.  Right?

Happy scrappin' and Happy 4th of July!

 

Quick and Easy Teacher Gift

I know it's kind of late, but these sticky note holders are so quick and easy, you can whip up a whole bunch in no time.

The Materials:  1 piece double-sided cardstock, 1 small sticky note pad (about 3" x 3"), adhesive, Velcro or small magnetic closure, embellishments of choice

Step 1:  Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.

Step 2:  Score 1 1/2" in from the left side.  Then score 1 7/8" in from the same side (3/8" from the first fold).

Step 3:  Score 3" in from the right side.  Then score 3 3/8" in from the same side (3/8" from the first fold.

Step 4:  Fold all of your score lines with a bone folder.

Step 5:  Adhere your sticky note pad to the center inside cover.

Step 6:  Use either your Velcro or magnetic closure to make a closure for the holder.

Step 7:  Embellish as desired.

Here is one of the holders that I made.  I used Brenda Walton's Neopolitan Scrap Pad to Go and dollar store flowers.  The flower Post-It note is from 3M, and I split it into 3 sections to use for 3 different  gifts.

And here are the gift bags that I made for them. 

 

 

A Day (Night) to Remember

As some of you may know, my son is a HUGE Yankees fan.  Wasn't he the luckiest kid ever when his Dad took him to the last Opening Day of the "old" Yankee Stadium?!!  And he got to go back the following night because the day game was rained out!  Of course the Yankees won, making this one of the most memorable experiences in his life.  Now, you know Mom just had to scrapbook this one! 

I know that sometimes we scrappers can get so overwhelmed with being "caught up" with our older photos that we tend to let the new ones sit in boxes or on CDs, not to mention the ones that are still floating around on our digital cameras somewhere.  (You know who you are.)  Do yourself and your family a big favor, and take some time in between all your catching up, and scrapbook the here and now.  Don't let these moments slip away without documenting them.  And remember to journal, journal, journal!  You'll be glad you did.

Happy crafting!

Well, things are on a definite upswing for me!

First I won the Fiskars Challenge.  Now I've made my first real business deal!  My cards are going to be sold in a handmade crafts gift shop!  I brought some samples in to the owner, and she really liked my designs.  I brought in 3 dozen gift enclosures yesterday, and we discussed future designs.  Here are some of the cards I made. Next to these are the cards we made at my June TAC Workshop.  We had a great time, and everyone's cards turned out great.  The new TAC catalog is due out next month.  Remember to contact me for your copy.  Happy Crafting!

I WON!!!

I'm so excited!  I entered one of my layouts into the Fiskars Sketch of the Month Contest for May, and I WON!!!  Here's the layout.  I can't wait to see what the prize is!

Using 3 4x6 Photos on a Layout

If you're like me, you have too many photos to use just one on a layout.  And, if you're like me, your photography skills have improved since you started scrapbooking.  Now there isn't as much distracting background to crop out.  A 12 x 12 page gives you plenty of room to fit 3 4x6 photos on a page, without having to crop anything out of the pictures.  Plus, you'll have room for journaling (VERY important) and even some embellishments.  Here's the most recent layout I've done, from Halloween of last year.  (This layout is based on a sketch by Becky Higgins.)  Happy Crafting!

   

Scallop Contest

Here's the first entry in my  Scallop Contest .  It's by Barbara Clayton, AKA Lucia on Scrapbook Queens .  I love not only Barb's scalloped embellishments, but also her choice of colors and the way she has laid out her photos.  They're great photos, too!  Her heartfelt journaling brings it all together.  Great job, Barb!

Some Mother's Day Cards

Since Mother's Day is quickly approaching, I thought I'd share some ideas for quick Mother's Day cards.  I used Twinkling H2Os to color in the images on these cards.

 

 

For the  butterfly card, I painted directly on the solid butterfly stamp.  (This is a 2-step stamp set from Stampin' Up.)  Then I embossed the outline butterfly stamp with black glitter embossing powder.  For the greeting, I again painted directly on the Hero Arts background stamp, but this time I used Staz On for the greeting.  I added a few butterfly eyelets, and that was it!  I was very happy with the watercolor effect on this one.

The second card was easy to do also.  I stamped the image (Great
Impressions) with Staz On and painted it in with the H2Os.  I added
glitter to all the dots by using a Sakura glue pen and then sprinkling  translucent
prisma glitter onto the dots.  I did the greeting the same way that I
did the butterfly greeting.  A quick final border in yellow with the
H2Os, and I was done.

Happy Mother's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper Crafting Tip #31: Try Some Scallops! They're good for you!

No, not the kind you eat!  I mean the kind you create with punches, die cut machines, and scissors.  Scalloped edges are all the rage right now; and, while I don't consider myself a very trendy person, once in a while, something comes along (or is revived) that really catches my eye and inspires me to try something new.  Whether I'm using my new Threading Water punch by Fiskars or creating embellishments and borders with my Cricut Design Studio, I just can't resist scallops. 

I made this card for a 3-year-old girl's birthday. The dot stamps are by Hero Arts, the
sundress stamp is by Impression Obsession, and the Happy Birthday is TAC. The
ribbon is by May Arts.  I used my Threading Water punch to make the scallops.

I'd love to see what you create!  Post a comment AND send me a scan/photo of your scalloped creation, and I will enter your name in a drawing for a little surprise gift from me.  Remember, you must post a comment AND send me a jpeg of your creation in order to be eligible for the prize.  Have fun, and HAPPY CRAFTING!

*All entries must be received by May 31 (2008!).

Come and Craft Some Cool Creations!

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post!  I guess that's because I've been so busy getting ready for next week's Workshop.  I'll be teaching 2 fabulous projects:  a cute Keyring Mini Scrapbook and an adorable Cow Birthday Card, wrapped in an envelope made from a circle!

I still have 2 spots left, and no experience is necessary.  There will be crafters of all experience levels, and I provide individual attention and instruction.

Here are the details:

On April 26, from 1-4, I will be teaching a Mini Book TAC Workshop.  If
you have the new Spring/Summer Supplement, you will notice that there
are mini book projects at the bottom of every page.  We'll be making a
few of those at the Workshop.  If you don't have the Supplement yet,
you can pick one up at the workshop.  Trust me; the mini books are
adorable!  We'll be using different materials, but the designs will be
the same.

The fee is $10, which includes all materials and snacks.  Please bring the following (if you have them):
Paper trimmer, scoring tool/bone folder, adhesive.  Photos
are optional.  Please email me at jeanettemg@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending this fun, fabulous workshop! 

I'm planning a Cricut class for June; so,
if you're interested, let me know what dates work for you.

I hope to see you there!  Happy crafting!
Jeanette

Paper Crafting Tip #30: Try something different!

I'm not really into digital scrapbooking.  I've used some digital elements, such as titles and journaling, and I've printed out some patterned papers.  But I simply love the actual hands-on approach to scrapbooking and card making so much that I could never go totally digital.  That's not to say that I haven't done an occasional all-digital layout, though.  I did one for a New Year's Challenge back in January, and I did one last night.  This layout, created last night, is the first layout that Haley and I have designed together.  We used a pre-made design in Photoshop Elements, and we adjusted the colors and photo positioning.  Then we added a title and journaling.  We had such a great time together that now Haley wants to try one on her own!  So this week, why not try something new?

Paper Crafting Tip # 29: Journal around a layout.

This week's Try It Tuesday challenge is to journal around the perimeter
of your layout.  Another option is to journal around individual
photos.  This is a great way to fit more photos on a layout.  Tip:  A
white gel or Souffle pen works great on dark paper.  TRY IT!