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Stamp Scrap Art Tour, Rhinebeck, NY

Art Gone Wild had some fabulous display boards.

Yesterday I took a 2-hour drive and went to the Stamp Scrap Art Tour in Rhinebeck, NY; and, although I had a great time visiting with my BFF, Tina, I have to honestly say that the show wasn't really worth the trip.  Yes, I bought some cool stamps and other goodies that I can't find in my local craft stores (I don't have any local scrapbook or stamp stores); but some really big names in the stamping and scrapbooking world were missing. 

I wasn't expecting many scrapbook vendors, because this is primarily a stamping expo.  It makes me wonder why it's called the Stamp Scrap Art Show in the first place, but I'm not going to get hung up on the name.  It was still disappointing not to see Marco's Paper and Outlines.  Those are two booths that I always look forward to visiting.

There were 18 vendors in all, and you can find the links to these vendors on the Stamp Scrap Art Tour site:  Custom Wood by Dallas, Heartfelt Creations, Repeat Impressions, Just For Fun, Motivet Rubber Stamps, ScrapDazzle, Darcie's Country Folk, Stampers Anonymous, Inky Antics, Art Gone Wild, Stamp Camp, Lost Coast Designs, Seaside Stampin' Ink, Central Perk Scrappers, Rubber Cottage, Stamp On It, Sweet Stamps.com, and Purple Daisy Designs. 

It was good to see some new companies (e.g. Central Perk Scrappers, Just For, Fun, and Stamp On it).  In fact, some of the demos were very well done.  The make 'n takes left a lot to be desired, though, and we didn't try any of them.  I believe that there shouldn't be a charge for make 'n takes, but that's another story.

I don't know if Saturday's turnout was better than yesterday's, but I doubt it.  Most of the vendors seemed disappointed and unenthusiastic.  Some traveled quite a long way from home and invested quite a bit of money, time, and effort in this show; however, the exhibit hall was depressingly deserted.  You would think that Tina and I would have won one of the door prize drawings, then, right?  That might have made the trip worth it, but no such luck.

I have the sinking feeling that we've seen the last of the Rhinebeck SSAT.  The loss of some of their biggest vendors and the decline in consumer attendance don't bode well for this venue.  I will miss it, as there aren't many expos of this type in New York as it is.  Oh, well, hopefully the Greater New York Stamp Show will have a better turn-out, in terms of both vendors and consumers. 

Thanks for checking in, and remember to be your crafty self.

Scrapbook Sketch

Sketches can be a very useful starting point for both scrapbook pages and cards.  For this sketch, I’ve kept things pretty simple.  The main part of the sketch is a photo collage, which allows you to vary the size and placement of your photos.  You can crop as little or as much as you want, and you don’t have to worry about lining up all of your photos perfectly.  Then write or print your journaling on strips of cardstock, and arrange them on your collage.

A punched or die-cut border at the bottom and (optionally) at the top is an effective way to focus attention on all the photos in your collage.  An oversized die-cut behind the mat under the photos breaks up the solid color background paper.  Finally, add a simple title and three embellishments to form a visual triangle, and you’re done!

I chose to create a double-page Christmas layout with a “present” theme.  Brenda Walton’s Peppermint Twist patterned paper was just what I needed to add some pizzazz to my solid background.  The large die-cuts and bottom borders were cut with my Cricut Expression using the Walk in My Garden cartridge.  I used my Fiskar’s Threading Water border punch and Martha Stewart's Gingerbread Trim edge punch to create unique embellishments out of coordinating scraps of paper.  I cut the title using the Alphalicious cartridge and added a few buttons as a finishing touch.

I hope you are inspired by this sketch to create your own fast, fun, and easy layouts this month.  You’ll be finished so quickly that you’ll have more time to spend making memories than trying to scrapbook them.  Happy scrapping!

I'm a Dottess!!

Yes, you read that right.  I've been chosen to be on the Glue Dots Design Team, and my title is Dottess.  I'm so looking forward to being on the team and working with all of the talented folks there.  Check out the blog for the complete list of Design Team members, as well as some fantastic craft projects and ideas.  Thanks for stopping by, and I'll "see" you soon.

You can try them for yourself by clicking here: 
Glue Dots Office/Home Variety Pack Contains Permanent, Removable and Poster Dot 'n Go Applicators (85111)

3-D Cards With the Crafter's Companion

Are you tired of making the same old standard-sized cards again and again?  Well, get yourself the Ultimate Crafter's Companion , and you’ll be able to create some of the most eye-popping cards you’ve ever seen.  Follow the easy steps in the manual, and you’ll never make a plain card again.

This is a pop-out card that I made for a dear friend for Mother’s Day.  Following the directions on p.9 in the manual, I started with two sheets of 8 ½” x 11” cardstock.  I used solid cardstock and added layers of patterned paper to the front and inside.  To create the hanging focal image inside, I sandwiched a piece of nylon fishing line between two identical punched shapes.  Then I secured it behind the top crease with a piece of tape, making sure that it didn’t extend beyond the edges of the folded card.
   
    I made this accordion card for an adorable two-year-old girl’s birthday.  Following the directions on p.4 in the manual, I began with a sheet of cardstock that measured 4 ¼” x 11”.  After creating the base of the card, I used the embossing design on the board and cut out a scalloped border.  Finally, I inked all of the edges with pink pigment ink.  This card is quite easy; and you can decorate it with die cuts, patterned paper, or just about anything else you’d like.  This type of card also makes a wonderful gift card holder.  Simply adhere the front and middle panels together, leaving the top end open, and this will create a pocket that is just the right size for the gift card.
    These are only two of the many different styles of cards, boxes, and envelopes that you can design with the Ultimate Crafter's Companion.  With this all-in-one crafting tool, never again will you be limited to single-fold, standard-sized cards.


(I did not receive any compensation from Crafter's Companion for writing this article.)