Journey To Paradise 2/28 Class

Happy Monday, everyone!

I am really excited about all the new product that The Mad Scrapper is getting in. The ladies had a blast at CHA and ordered some great new lines; as the weeks go by, I'll continue to post more photos of future classes I'll be teaching.

And speaking of classes, I wanted to share another February project: a travel binder featuring the Far And Away line from Teresa Collins! I love that even the binder is a TCD product. :)

I turned to some of my honeymoon photos from St. Thomas for inspiration. :)

Below, we have some handmade garland and faux washi tape. Scott and I paid $2 each to have our photo taken with those turtles, but we made up for it with all the free rum punch our hotel handed out. :)

If you're new to my blog, I should warn you now that I love flowers! I love them so much, that I will either make my own or die cut a bunch if I don't have any on hand for my classes.

This is one of the handmade rosettes that we'll make in class!

I love Teresa's file folders! The map one below is my favorite of the four.

Also in the binder are a handful of Teresa's fun sticky notes. I also used them in my Stationery Noted class.

Another rosette!

Of all my honeymoon photos, this one was my favorite. We didn't get married here, but I like to pretend that we did. :)

Well, that's enough sneak peeks for now. I'm headed to The Mad Scrapper to drop off the binder. Now I can exhale! That is, until I pick up product for my next class. ;)

Thanks so much for looking and I hope you're scrapping your own vacation photos, too!

--------------CLASS INFO----------------

Date:      Thursday, February 28th, 2013
Time:     6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Place:     The Mad Scrapper
Call:       425-427-8871

Bring: Your basic tool kit, a decorative edge punch (like Martha Stewart or Fiskars), postage stamp scissors, and a favorite travel memory to share. 

Teresa Collins Stationery Noted Class 2/16

Hello there!

I'm really excited. In a few weekends, I'll be teaching my first class at The Mad Scrapper using Teresa Collins paper and embellishments!

If you haven't seen Teresa's Stationery Noted paper line by now, let me tell you about it. Actually, I'll just let the photos tell you. :) Two of my favorite colors (blue and red) are used in this line, and in classic Teresa style, there's a full sheet dedicated to huge flowers (one of my other favorites). The designs have a cool postage/office feel to them, with a touch of whimsy in the form of Mr. owl.

Handmade garland and a little bling for the front cover. :)

This mini album is jam-packed with pages. :)

You know me and fussy cutting ... 

Lots of fun stuff hanging out!

To help me make this book, I printed up my engagement photos that were taken exactly 4 years ago by our friend Tyler Gould. (If you live in Portland or Seattle, or you pretty much anywhere, this guy is a rockstar and happens to make everyone he photographs look like rockstars, too.) I figured it was time to print them and that they would make a heartfelt gift for my husband. To be honest, I was going to stick our photos in with some of Teresa's Vintage Finds paper, but oh my gosh, the moment I put one of our photos against Stationery Noted, I was in love and will be picking up this paper for myself!

These are only snippets from the entire album. I designed it so you have 30 pages total for tons of photos and journaling. :) 

(Note: We will use silver wire instead of copper to bind the albums. Also, your brads may vary from the ones in the photos since I'm splitting packages.) 

My favorite thing about Teresa's papers is that not only are they beautiful, but they really make your photos sing. :) I really love her paper and have already started my own 2013 Journal/Scrapbook/Project Life book with her December kit ... :) You can bet I'll be adding some of Stationery Noted in there, too.

Well, thank you for looking and have a wonderful weekend!

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Class info

Date: Saturday, February 16th, 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: The Mad Scrapper, Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Call: (425) 427-8871

Webster's Pages "Best Friends" Mini Album 1/31 Class

There are so many wonderful paper companies out there. From vintage-inspired styles like Graphic 45 to the cleverly eclectic like Prima, I love them all! I've been so blessed to design classes for The Mad Scrapper using some of my favorite paper lines. And now, I'm adding my first Webster's Pages class - a funky mini album made with WP's "Best Friends" line!

Two of my favorite things about Webster's Pages are their cameo embellishments and their gorgeous ribbon trim. It's impossible not to use them on the front cover! 

I chose this paper line for my Valentine's Day project for a few reasons. First, the colors are a nice break from the traditional red and pink and they're versatile enough to be used for an Easter or other spring project. Second, the "Best Friends" theme can work anytime of the year! So if you don't complete the mini album in time for Valentine's Day this year, you can still gift it anytime. Finally, the papers and sentiments work for all kinds of best friends: a girlfriend, your spouse, child; even the family dog! 

Since the colors and imagery are so playful, I thought I'd make an equally playful yet simple book. I made the pages different sizes and heights, created a few fold out pages, and added a flap to the inside front cover. I also fussy cut some heart balloons, added some twine behind them, and popped them up.

I also made a few pockets with tags, and turned some of my page borders into flags. 

I love all the cute Polaroid-style photos mats and the text boxes! They're such a fun way to add journaling.

Very spring-y colors, huh? 

I told you this works for 4-legged best friends as well! I love how Webster's Pages chose a Parson Russell Terrier. That is my favorite dog breed and hopefully, I'll have one some day. :) But that's a story for another day ... 

Thanks so much for looking! For you ladies and gents who'd like to attend class, here are the details: 

Date: Thursday, January 31st 2013

Time: 6:00 - 8:00pm

Location: The Mad Scrapper, Issaquah, WA U.S.A.

Call: 425-427-8871

In addition to your basic supply kit, please bring a corner rounder. :)

New Year, new resolution that I hope to keep!

Well, Happy New Year, dear crafty friends!

I hope 2013 has been very good to you so far. If you have any resolutions, hopes, dreams, or other goals for the new year, I hope all of them come true for you!

Recently, I shared with my fellow blog friend Sandra about a resolution I really want to keep this year: to make at least one project for myself every month! Specifically, I want to start scrapping my life!

I knew I wanted to start documenting everyday life, but I couldn't decide how to do it. Do I go the traditional 12 x 12 layout route, but then keep a separate journal? Or, do I try the quick yet thorough Project Life approach but nix the layouts? I love elements of both, so I decided to grab the December 2012 Teresa Collins kit and turn that into my journal/scrapbook/planner/Project Life book!

Teresa's kit came with (2) 10 x 10 covers, (4) binder rings, (2) pieces of paper from her "Now & Then" line, a package of trim, gorgeous blingy embellishments, and calendar and journaling templates. The original instructions were to trim the covers down to something like 5" x 7", but because I wanted to use this book for layouts as well, I ended up trimming my book to 8" x 10". I also used all (4) binder rings instead of the 2 suggested in the kit and widened the border. My last tweak to the cover design was to add a monogram die cut from Teresa's "Sophisticated" Cricut cartridge. Emilyn, if you're reading this, I will bring yours to the staff meeting tomorrow!

I am in love with Teresa's simple yet stunning style. She has lots of new gorgeous paper lines coming out soon! I can't wait to use some of her new designs as I fill out my 2013 book. :)

Another crafty friend of mine, Janna, has a new crafty resolution as well! Her new adventure is starting an art journal! Her first page is just awesome. I love how she's stretching her creative abilities and venturing into art journal territory. Do you have any new crafty goals?

I love how the new year always brings about new ideas and resolutions to live our lives more meaningfully. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Maria

Magic Reindeer Food Tutorial

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share a fun Christmas craft that I'm sure you've seen before. My friend Kris in Newport told me about this project last year, and since then, I've been dying to try it out!

For the poem and ingredients I turned to the internet. I found the poem from the DLTK site and the recipe Organized Christmas. I swapped out the regular sugar in the recipe for glitter and I also altered the recipe to make it even more kid-friendly. Instead of using cups, I used tablespoons and teaspoons, since they're easier on little hands plus it helps wee ones to practice counting. Then, I turned to one of my trusty Tim Holtz dies, a basic office supply, and festive baker's twine to decorate!

~What you'll need~

Reindeer Food ingredients (makes at least 8):

• 6 cups of rolled oats
• 1 container of red sugar crystals
• 1 bottle of glitter - the cuter the container, the funner it is! (I used Donna Salazar's Fairy Dust glitter because of its amazing holographic shine and adorable shaker style top!) 
• Silver mixing bowl, ramekins, tablespoon, and teaspoon
• White piece of paper with the recipe written down, for kids to refer to

Packaging:

• (8) plastic sandwich bags with zipper closures (snack size)
• Tim Holtz mini reindeer die
• (1) piece of kraft paper
• (4) 5" wide x 3" tall index cards (they're usually referred to as "3 x 5")
• (1) spool of red and white baker's twine
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Hole punch

~Directions~

Preparing the food:

1. Pour oats into the bowl and the red sugar crystals into ramekins.

2. For each bag of reindeer food, use 5 tablespoons of oats, 1 teaspoon of red crystals, and 1 - 2 shakes of glitter. Helpful hint:Write this recipe down on a piece of white paper so the kids have something to refer to!

3. Close bags then turn them vertically. Make sure mixture is at the bottom and set aside.

Creating the packaging:

1. Cut kraft paper so that you have (8) 2 1/4" wide x 3" tall pieces. 

2. For each piece of kraft paper, place it over your mini reindeer die and cut. Set aside the mini reindeer for another project; we'll use the stenciled part of the paper for this project. 

3. Take your hole punch and punch a hole in the upper left corner of each reindeer stencil. Don't have the reindeer die? You can also use a stamp or sticker. 

4. Locate your 5" wide x 3" tall index cards and cut them in half so that each card produces (2) 2 1/2" wide x 3" tall pieces. 

5. Take your hole punch and punch a hole in the upper left corner of each reindeer stencil.

6. With a pen, handwrite the Magic Reindeer Poem. 

7. Use a ruler and measure out 8" of baker's twine. Cut. Do this 7 more times.

8. Grab one of the baggies, ensure that it's sealed tight, then run a piece of baker's twine around the top.
Insert the poem through the twine, and then a reindeer stencil. Tie a bow and you're done!

Graphic 45 Place In Time Calendar Album Class 12/13

Hi there!

I just wanted to post some photos of my last class I'll be teaching for 2012! Most of you have probably seen Graphic 45's "Place In Time" collection. It's a comprehensive paper line consisting of 2 double-sided pattern papers per month, with an additional third sheet that you can use as a monthly 12" x 12" foundation.

Now, if you've ever taught a class before, you know that other than being creative, your project has to be somewhat "in budget"! Since I used more than twice the amount of paper that I normally do for my classes, I had to skimp on embellishments and just use as much of the paper as I could. A little Glossy Accents and Stickles here also helped!

What I made was a 12" x 12" calendar album that you can put two photos in per month. The mini month is always tucked away so that this album is more of a perennial calendar, but it can always be brought forward and filled in. :)

I apologize for February's blurriness ... 

Yesterday, my friend Lauren told me that the Graphic 45 blog is showcasing a different month everyday from their design team. So I checked it out last night and I had to chuckle when I saw April. I saw that one of their designers also fussy cut the ladies for their April page. We G45'ers think alike! 

May has these gorgeous butterfly stamps. I fussy cut two of the butterflies and placed them over two of the stamps. And yes ... those are definitely mini butterflies that I also fussy cut ... don't forget your detail scissors, my friends! ;)

When I made December, I'm pretty sure I had zero scraps leftover ... it's hard not to use every piece for this month! 

Well, there you have it, ladies and gents! I'm sorry to post this so late, as I'm afraid there are only 2 kits left at this time. But you can always call the store (425-427-8871) to confirm. 

Thank you for stopping by ~ have a lovely, crafty weekend, dear friends!