Scrapbooking: Returning to an Old Passion

The first thing that got me interested in papercrafting was scrapbooking, mostly because I liked keeping a family history and secondly, because I loved all the adorable stickers we used to use.  What frustrated me about it though, was I was always running out of "E"s or "S"s or "T"s!  I'd have a whole page of alphabet stickers left except that all the "E"s were used up, so it was next to useless, unless I wanted to display the word "vacuum" or something as unlikely!

The other thing was that it took so long to complete a scrapbook and every time I'd have to put all my paper and equipment away, only to drag it all out the next day.  I decided that, unless I was creating scrapbooks on line, it was not for me.  Having said that, there are some enormously talented scapbookers out there who create pages that are literally works of art, and I really admire their artistic ability.

So one of the things we were asked to design for the retreat this weekend was a scrapbook page.  I left it for near the end because I was intimidated by the thought!  Scrapbooking has come along way since my sticker days.  But I gave it the old college try and here's what I came up with:

• I used the same products I have been using all week. 
• I love the Typeset Alphabet dies!  As long as you have paper, you have all the letters you need!  No more Alphabet stickers!  I used chip board and Soft Sky cardstock to cut these out and the Two-Way Glue pen to stick them together and on to the base.
• I discovered that, to make the rosettes, I prefer to use the Simply Scored Scoring Tool rather than the Designer Rosette Bigz Die.  That way I can control the thickness of the pleats and I get a better score, making it easier to accordion fold.
• Jumbo Sticky Rounds are essential when making rosettes, and a glue gun to hold the ends together.

I don't know if this little experiment will get me back into doing scrapbook pages or not, but it was fun to try again!

Don't forget that this week only, until Monday, Oct. 28, Stampin' Up is offering 25 stamp sets for 25% off.  My goal is to sell 25 sets.  I also have my monthly Mystery Hostess Contest running at the same time and every order will get you an entry in the draw to win all the Hostess rewards for orders placed this week. You will also get an additional entry in the draw for every $25 you spend before tax and shipping.  And to sweeten the pot, I am going to draw an additional 2 entries for free stamp sets up to $25 in value!   How's that for motivation!  Check out all the stamp sets on sale here.  If you are ordering on line use this Hostess Code: H7CWVP3K!  I need your orders by noon on Monday, Oct. 28!

THANK YOU THURSDAY!

This week's Thank You Thursday's are a "big" deal! We hope you enjoy this assortment of Big Shot accessories!

	Hearts a Flutter Framelit Item # 130159 Regular Price: $30.95 Discount Price:  $23.21  25% off
	Honeycomb Textured Embossing Folder Item # 129378 Regular Price: $9.95 Discounted Price: $7.46  25% off
	Envelope Liners Framelits Dies Item # 132172 Regular Price: $32.95 Discounted Price: /$24.71  25% off
	Alphabet Press Textured Embossing Folder Item # 130916 Regular Price: $9.95 Discounted Price: $7.46   25% off
	Window Frames Framelit Item # 129021 Regular Price: $32.95 Discounted Price: $24.71  25% off
Stamps: Everything Eleanor (w131987; c124164) Paper: Winter Frost Specialty Design Series Paper (132341); Smoky Slate Textured 12 x 12 Cardstock (132131); Silver Foil Sheets (132178); Textured 12 x 12 cardstock in Island Indigo (132132); Coastal Cabana (131297), Pool Party (122924) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock. Ink: Classic Stampin' Pad in Island Indigo (126986) Accessories: Subtles Designer Buttons (130030); In Colour Boutique Details (130938); Frosted Finishes Embellishments (132150); Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262); Jumbo Sticky Rounds (127852); Tea Lace Paper Doilies (129399) Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Designer Rosette BigzXL die (125594); Typeset Alphabet Bigz Dies (127553); Festive Flurry Framelits (132193); 2 1/2" Circle punch (120906); 1 3/4" Circle Punch; Deco Labels Framelits (130102);2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874); Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334)	Chalk Talk Framelits Item # 129983 Regular Price: $30.95 Discount Price: $23.21   25% off

Pals Paper Arts Under the Wire

Good Monday Morning!  I spent yesterday, after getting home from church, trying to get my Design 101 class together.  It's a bit trickier to plan because, rather than have everyone duplicate a card, I am giving them some variable options, so figuring out what to cut and how many of each is definitely challenging.  We will be learning how to use a layout sketch tonight and so I've taken sketches from some of the sketch challenges I've completed over the year and gradually offered them more and more choices, from colour and card orientation, to stamp sets to use and embellishments.  Each of the 3 projects gets more and more input from each of the participants.

It was late when I finished, but I still needed a blog post for today, so I decided to do the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #170 for last week, and I posted late Sunday night instead of early Monday morning, so I just squeaked in under the wire!  Phew!

I found the colour challenge palette a bit odd.  I don't think I would have ever come up with this on my own.  Here it is:

I was partly inspired for this card by a Pinterest card in black and white with a rosette and flourishes.

I don't know whose design it is because the link just led me back to the Splitcoast Stampers Home page.  If you know, please leave me a comment so I can give the proper recognition.  Anyway, I loved it at first sight and you can see how it influenced my design.

• I used A Round Array stamp set to create the circlet for the top of the rosette, which is made from Eastern Elegance DSP in Crushed Curry. I punched it out using the coordinating 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch and several other Scallop Circle punches for the other layers.  The one that might stump you is the Early Espresso layer.  That was actually the result of a mistake.  Let me fill you in:
• I found the greatest Stamp Set for this card, one that I had rarely, if ever used before:  Sent with Love.  Only after I had everything together, did I remember that it had been retired last year.  I thought I had cleaned out all my retired stamp sets.  I guess not!!  The Early Espresso layer is stamped with one of those images, but I liked it so much, I kept it and just put another image over top.

• I inked up Flowering Flourishes with Midnight Muse ink for the flourish you see on the Whisper White and added some Pearl Basic Jewels.
• Where you see the flag with one of the sentiments from Banner Greetings in Early Espresso, was actually a sentiment from Sent with Love, that I had to cover up.
• Anyway, I'm happy with the results, and maybe the colour combo isn't as weird as I thought!

Just a reminder that you still have time to play the "As You See It Challenge" for this week.  I hope you will give it a try!  Check out the rest of the Design Team's samples!  I know you're going to love them.

Stamps:  Flowering Flourishes (w131998; c126367); A Round Array (w129087; c129090); Banner Greetings (w129711; c129714); Sent with Love (retired)

Paper:  Eastern Elegance DSP (130131); Early Espresso (119686), Midnight Muse (126843), Crushed Curry (131199) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Midnight Muse (126860) and Early Espresso (126974)

Accessories:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

Tools:  Designer Rosette Bigz XL die (125594) *; 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch (129404); 1 1/4" Circle Punch (119861); 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854) and the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874); Sticky Strip (104294); Big Shot (113439)

*needs Extended Premium Crease Pad (117630) and Extended Cutting Pad (113478)

A Round Array Stamp Set

Banner Greetings Stamp Set

Designer Rosettes Bigz XL Die

Eastern Elegance DSP

Flowering Flourishes Stamp Set

Pearl Basic Jewels

My Amazing Hubby

Last week I was gone the whole week in Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up's Convention 2013.  My husband, Ken, had to fend for himself while I was away.  I didn't worry about him because he normally does the cooking in our house, so I knew he could feed himself okay.  He does get lonely, but he doesn't sit around the house moping, he gets together with his many friends and manages that way.

I really am fortunate to have such a loving, supportive guy!  Here's what I found when I walked in the door after arriving home from Salt Lake City:

A bouquet of carnations (my favourite flowers) and a hand-stamped card!  I'm so excited that he takes an active role helping me with my business, but I really wasn't so sure what to expect when I got him the "Dude, You're Welcome" kit!  He was excited to get it and has actually used it several times already!  Here's the proof:

See the ink stains on several of the the stamps?  Here's a closer look at the card he made me:

I know my hubby is special, but you might just find that your significant other is more enthusiastic than you expect him to be when you give him his own Dude, You're Welcome kit.

I think the stamping world would definitely benefit from having a few more males involved.  It would essentially double our customer base! Just this year, a guy, Brian King, became a Rising Star, just like me.  He was the first male ever to win that distinction!  Stampin' Up had to change their prizes in order to be suitable for a male! lol  Well done, Brian!!

Last night, I held my regular Big Shot Club and we made a couple of projects using the Big Shot.  I thought I would show you one of the cute boxes we made:

• I used our Kraft Gift Boxes as a base and covered the sides and top with Eastern Elegance DSP.
• The butterfly is cut using the Beautiful Butterfly Bigx Die and some more Eastern Elegance paper.  Pearls Basic Jewels create the centre bling!     Here's the top:
• I used my Designer Rosette Bigz XL die to create this rosette for the top.  I cut two strips of Eastern Elegance DSP 2" x 12" and ran them through the Big Shot on the extended cutting plate and Extended Premium Crease Pad.
• I accordian-folded the two strips on the scored lines, then joined them using Sticky Strip to form a pleated tube.  Snail is not strong enough for the pressure on the joins when you create the rosette.
• I opened a Jumbo Sticky round and then flattened the rosette in the middle and adhered it on the Jumbo Sticky Round to hold it.  
• I used the Chalk Talk Stamp set to stamp the labels in Crushed Curry and Coastal Cabana, part of the Eastern Elegance palette along with Smoky Slate, and die cut the label with the Chalk Talk framelits.
• I added another butterfly from the Beautiful Butterfly Bigx Die.

And there you have a perfect little gift box for a special someone in your life!

Stamps:  Chalk Talk (w130631; c130634)
Paper:  Eastern Elegance DSP (130131); Kraft Gift Boxes (124106)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Crushed Curry (131173) and Coastal Cabana (131175)
Accessories:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247); Jumbo Sticky Rounds (127852); Sticky Strip (104294)
Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Beautiful Butterfly Bigx Die (114507),  Designer Rosette Bigz XL die (125594), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860)