ScrapGuy

You don't come across very many men in the scrapbooking, stamping, & crafting world so you usually take notice when you do. I'm adding ScrapGuy's blog address to my blog list so that you can easily follow the link to his blog. I really appreciate seeing his artwork as it tends to be a little different than everyone else's. He has cards & layout ideas for boys & men with instructions and tutorials. ScrapGuy has plenty to be inspired by so check out www.scrapguy.blogspot.com

Chipboard

One of the other items I saw at several booths at CKC yesterday was chipboard. These photos, if I remember correctly, were hanging at the Melissa Frances booth. I love the Paris wall hanging! Scalloped edges seem to be everywhere - postage stamp edges is aslo a big trend right now too. I really did a double take when I saw it as it didn't look at all like chipboard. I like simple things so I bought 10 of these in various shapes - I can't wait to start painting them. I've got a variety of things I want to try so I'll let you know what I come up!

CKC-Buffalo

I'm home from CKC - I only visited the Vendor Faire this year. The last few years the Vendor Faire at CKC-Buffalo

has gotten smaller and this year it seemed even smaller. No Skinny Cow this year! The other thing I noticed was that the vendors - many of them - had much smaller spaces than last year. I spoke with some of them - one chose a smaller space as she had just had a baby and their decision to come to Buffalo was a last minute thing. Others say its based on the economy. Some were new to CKC and were trying it out. I noticed that many of the booths were based on clearance items or retired lines. Several had items ranging from 99 cents to $3. I have a couple pictures to share over the next few days of some things that caught my eye. Here's the first one - Stamplistic's booth had a $3 make'n take that quickly caught my attention just a few minutes on the floor. The single image is what I made and the picture with all the flowers is their display board. The single flower is made with one stamp that you stamp on 7 different colored papers. Then you cut the image out but each succeeding paper you cut another layer in. You use tape runner to create 3 sets of flowers than use pop-dots to connect the 4 layers that you are left with. Add some glue glitter & glitter and you're done! I'll post future projects once I get a chance to use the stamp I purchased.

Paper Album

Here is a quick & easy gift idea. Have you noticed how often "quick & easy" appears in my projects? I've had these paper album kits for awhile & I knew what I wanted to do with them for a gift ideas - I just needed to get the photos developed (that took a lot longer than putting the album together. The paper album kit (Preppy Patterns) is from Creative Memories & while this one no longer appears to be available they have some other very cute ones on their website now. The kits include the paper album, matching papers & coordinating embellishments. I did add a vellum saying from Quick Quotes and a few other things I had already. The title was made from SnipIts. stickers from Tidbits. The ribbon on the front cover was already part of the album as was the round opening for the photo. The only cutting that was needed was for the photo mats. As I said it was really easy.

Above Rubies Studio

There is so much I could share with you about this website www.aboverubiesstudio.com but I'll just tell you about a few & let you discover the rest! First, you can purchase a copy of either the Cricut A to Z DVD or the Gypsy A to Z DVD. If you don't feel like you're getting the most out of your Cricut or Gypsy these are a great way to learn more. They are set up in sections so you can watch and learn at your own pace. If you don't have a lot of time to learn by trial & error these are for you! Also on the website is a free download called the Cricut Cutting Guide - it gives you the settings for a variety of paper & materials you can cut with your Cricut so again you don't have to waste time & effort getting good results! Check them out - there's a lot more on the site - I've added a link below for you to use.

Photo cubes

I finally finished these photo cubes. You might recall these from an earlier photo I posted that showed all my partially completed projects! So I am making progress however slow it may be! I painted the plain wooden cubes (from AC Moore) with white acrylic paint. I covered each of the sides with papers from Close To My Heart's Evergreen Level 2 paper pack and used some of the embellishments from the coordinating My Stickease pack. There are also some odds & ends embellishments that I'm not sure where they came from. Again, no photos as these will be going to craft shows later this year.

Gowanda Crop, CKC, Altered Book Class

Yesterday I was at Linda Edington's Gowanda Moose Crop and created this tag holder (the Scrapping Sisters' Make'n Take). I hadn't used the mesh before so that was fun & easy. I don't know if you can see it in the photo or not but crystal Stickles was spread over the entire mesh (& holes) to make the gold mesh pop even more! Linda provides a great crop experience - good food and lots of great prizes throughout the day as well as special items in the Chinese auction. I managed to get several pages done as I had put stuff together so I just had to put pages together - I didn't have to search for stuff. Makes it much easier and I don't end up with tons of stuff out on the table while I'm looking! I'm really happy that I have my supplies and albums so much better organized now. I feel like I'm making progress again! Not to say I don't have a ton left to do but I can literally just sit down and work! I don't have to search for photos and where supplies are. I'm going to try & be good with all future purchases and put them away in the right places. I found that was one of my biggest problems was as I bought things I just put them somewhere but didn't necessarily put them with similar items. Anyways, enough rambling about me. CKC is this coming weekend and I'm starting to feel sad that I'm not going for the weekend as usual. The last few years I have gone up and stayed 2 nights and taken anywheres from 4-7 classes and at least one night crop. Last year I volunteered - I was an assistant at one class and 2 crops earning about $50 in CK products! This year I'm just planning on going up Saturday morning for the Vendor Faire - check out all the new stuff - I have my list of things I'm looking for. Things I haven't found elsewhere but feel the need to have! Then in the afternoon I'm taking an Altered Book class at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff. No classes at CKC this year as I've put that money towards 2 of Tim Holtz's classes in June! If you haven't checked out Buffalo Stamps & Stuff - go to their website (their link is below) and check it out! Sharon, the owner, has several instructors coming in from various places/companies so its a great way to learn directly from them on how to use the products! She also has a large class listing with something for just about everyone. Sign up for her newsletter while you're at site as well as the store's blog.

Close To My Heart Photo Cube

So here is one of the projects I have been working on for awhile on & off. I loved these papers from the Close To My Heart Aspen Level 2 paper pack and started off knowing exactly what I wanted to do. That didn't work out like I thought it would and then I couldn't get any fresh ideas - I was stuck in that one direction. I've played with it on & off but didn't like anything I came up until tonight. I'm sorry my photos have a little too much light in them. I still haven't figured out my camera even though I've had it a couple of years!

Unfortunately you can't see the detail - I used Liquid Glass (love this stuff - great for decorative work as well as adhering almost anything!) on the snowflakes. I had to leave a couple of the sides blank without any other embellishments because I really loved the paper (looks like trees in a winter night). But those will make great spots for photos. Other than the grosgrain ribbon (also from CTMH) and Aspen My Stickease I had a couple of enamel-like snowflakes with glitter (not sure where I got those from. I was in the creative groove tonight as I finished a set of 3 photo cubes that I have been stuck on finishing as well. Those photos tomorrow.

How do you create?

Are you like me and have several projects going at one time? I have a variety of projects in varying states of completion. Some are upstairs (hoping that proximity will ensure that they get finished soon and then there are those in my box down in my craft room. Some are almost done and just need photos or a few last embellishments, journaling or other touches that I still need to find. Is this how you create? Do you work on it over time as ideas come to you or time allows? Or do you finish a project from beginning to end all in one sitting?

Copic 101

I am ready to start offering Copic classes. My first class (and the only one for right now) is a basic class for anyone who wants to know what Copic markers are all about, why they are different than other markers/pens on the market, how to choose markers, some color theory, and techniques. The 2 hour class will be $12 per person. I can provide the class in my home or yours. Up to 6 students per class. Contact me at laew@aol.com for more information or to set up a date/time for yourself (and your friends).

Doing a happy dance!

I'm so excited! I managed to get through on the phone to Buffalo Stamps & Stuff and I'm registered for 2 of Tim Holtz's classes - Journey Journal and Generation Grunge! I could hear the background noise and the store sounds crazy! I can't wait!
If you are going to call this morning, they are taking your name and then calling you back on cellphones. Have your credit card ready - MasterCard or Visa only. They are offering lunch for $10 as well. Hope to see you there!

Wellness for Life

While my friends were celebrating National Scrapbook Day cropping at Fluvanna I was at the Wellness for Life seminar at the Audubon. If you look close you can see a few of the goslings (baby geese) following mom. I got to watch them as I ate lunch pondside in between sessions. Its always nice to do something different & I've made myself a promise to visit the Audubon more often - so peaceful! And nature is a great inspiration for your artwork!