New Stuff

***Apparently the "schedule" feature isn't working because this should have posted on May 24th.***


I know, I know. The last thing I need to be buying is more paper. But I needed it.

Not buying it? Yeah, me neither. But I did need it. I showed up to the scrapbook retreat an hour early and needed to kill some time. I ran by JoAnn Fabric just to look around and wouldn't you know it but they had paper packs on sale for 50% off. And then I got to thinking about how I needed some fun and bright summer colors for a few layouts that I was going to work on that day. They also had some awesome birthday paper which I also needed. So....3 paper packs later and I was good to go.

I did use a ton of it at the retreat on Sunday. And in the long run it did save me $$$.



My table at the retreat



The other thing I bought was a huge lot of bakers twine. Yes, it's a LOT of twine and no, there is no possible way I could use it all. That's why I'm splitting it up between friends. I've had plans in mind for these for quite some time.

It's supposed to be really hot this weekend and I desperately want to be inside where it's cool getting my craft on. But hubs has other plans. My holiday weekend will be spent having a picnic at little guy's preschool tomorrow followed by a trip to buy flowers. My deck looks ugly and naked without any flowers. The rest of the weekend will be filled with weeding the garden and painting/staining the playset. Fun fun fun!!!

In the next 10 years...

I had a request for a book for a college graduate based on things she wanted to accomplish in the next ten years. Basically there is room for a picture and a small piece of journaling if the recipient wishes to do so.

This is the result.



get married on the beach




while Yiruma plays piano



visit the art museums in Italy



paint while on the road to Hana (Maui, Hawaii)




pla with a basket of tiny kittens for an entire day



touch and pet an exotic big cat



go up and down a spiral staircase




live in the modern house from the Twilight movies




stay in a bungalow in Bora Bora for a week




Go to Nepal/Asia and teach English to children

I had to whip this bad boy together in about 2 days so it's not as "polished" as I'd like it to be. I used my silhouette cameo to cut a majority of images/letters. The staircase was tricky but I finally figured out how to use my trace feature and it cut perfectly! The stickers on the front are red foil thickers. The binding is a piece of 7 Gypsies gaffer tape. 
The book is actually a blank children's board book that I didn't even know I had. I guess that goes to show how much stuff I have in my stash!

Oh, and excuse the bad pictures. I took them on my desk at work with less than ideal lighting.

I did get reports back on Monday that the book was a smash success and the lucky girl is already looking for a spiral staircase :)

Notebooks Galore

I received a custom order of 18 of my mini notebooks this weekend. She wanted 11 for girls and 7 for boys. Overall I'm really pleased with how they turned out. My only issue was that it was super humid today and none of my adhesives wanted to stick all that well. I have to break out the glue which has its own set of problems.

I was really lucky in that she was open for anything. My only guidance was the phrase on them and the fact that she wanted to incorporate teal somehow into all of the ones for the girls. Had I had a little more time I would have done a few things differently but am overall pleased with them.

Swatches!

I don't know how many times I've gone to Hobby Lobby or Michael's and bought supplies like punches and inks then come home to discover that I have the exact same thing! Let's be honest, I have WAY too much stuff in my stash.

Here is what I've come up with to help make sure I don't come home with items I already have. I had bought a package of blank bookmarks with intentions of doing something with them. Turns out they are super thin and not good at all for a bookmark.

So...instead I decided to make swatches out of them. I punched holes at the tops and strung them through a 1" binder ring. I have one set with all of my ink colors/Mr. Huey/Glimmer Mist colors along with a sample of each of my embossing folders. The other ring has things like my stickles, perfect pearls, liquid pearls, and samples of my punches and edge punches.

I. Love. Them. And I coated them with clear packing tape so they are super durable AND waterproof (well, sort of). I'm not actually going to test them to see if they are waterproof. I keep them in my purse if I know I'll be going to the craft store. Otherwise they sit on my craft desk and serve as an easy reference without me either 1) forgetting what I have and 2) not having to go digging around in my stuff to find something I may or may not have.

Wanna see???

Then I thought it would be a good idea to do the same with all of my stamps...and I did. I'm just too embarrassed to show you the insane amount of stamps I have :)

Cameo Project

My dear Tiki Sistahs are going to Key West in June and sadly I can't join them. Sniff sniff. I will be there in spirit especially since I'm making them these handy dandy mini-books to take with them. Think Smash book only not nearly as big.

I found this tiki sign in the Silhouette store. It took me about an hour to figure out how to ungroup the image and separate all of the elements out. I set it up so I could cut all of the pieces out at once.

I used coasters for the front and back covers. Then I painted them and sprayed them with gold Glimmer Mist. I did add a trip title to the middle using a really cool font and my pink vinyl. I'll leave that part as a surprise just in case any of the other Tiki Sisahs decide to take a peek at the old blog.

 Screen Shot

 paper layout before cutting

 After cutting

assembled cover

I added some yellow liquid pearls in the center of the flowers to give it a little something extra. I'm thinking these could also make for cute mini-albums for any occasion!

April Card Kit

Here is the last card from the April card kit. I must say that I absolutely LOVE the washi tape that came in the kit.

I might try this same concept in different formations. At the time I made the card I wasn't aware she had a heart die-cut and put the flowers on it. I just sort of eyeballed my heart and I think it turned out great.

My May card kit should come in later this week. I can't wait to see what goodies I get this time and I'm certain there is another roll of red and white dot washi tape.

Washi madness!!!

It's been...two weeks since you looked at me and said you're sorry

Sorry for the Barenaked Ladies lyric. I can't believe I haven't posted in over two weeks but what can I say? Life has been busy between my birthday, Easter, and school/work/life.

I have been busy with cards too. I had an order for an assortment of sympathy cards. Here is what I came up with:

That last card was a pain to make but it just might be my favorite. :)

It's been awhile

March has been a busy month here. I haven't had much time to update the blog so here goes...

I had friends from Indiana come and visit. We had a lovely lunch together and spent a beautiful day at the zoo with the kids.

The weekend after we attempted to have our own scrap-a-palooza with Tiki Laru and little sis Amy. Not much went according to plan but all was good since their brother arrived safely home from Afghanistan that weekend. :)

Last weekend we went bowling with little buddy's preschool class. We had lots of fun and I almost, almost, beat the man of the house. Is it cheating if we used the lane with the bumpers too?

I started (and almost finished) another online card class. It's called "Creative Chemistry" and shows the different Tim Holtz/Ranger products and how they work and why. It is definitely very interesting and I'm learning a lot of techniques.

I also signed up for a "card kit of the month club" through simonsaysstamp.com. I've been busy playing with my new goodies.

Enough talk. I know y'all really just want to see pictures of what I've been up to lately...