For Love of Paper

Don't be afraid to break the rules . . .

So many people are afraid of scrapbooking.  The thought of scrapping all the pictures they have is completely overwhelming.  Getting everything in chronological order is about as much fun as filing your last ten years bills.  And what about all those things that happened that there are no pictures of, won’t that leave huge gaps in a scrapbook?

 

I’m here to tell you, these unwritten rules of scrapbooking were made to be broken.

 

1. You don’t have to scrapbook chronologically.
2. You don’t have to scrapbook every photo ever taken.
3. It’s okay if you don’t have a photo for every memory.
4. Not every “page” must fit in a traditional 12x12 album.

 

Scrapbooking is way easier and a lot more fun if you work on what you’re excited about.  So if you’ve recently come across an old photo or recently taken photos that you’re excited about scrapbooking then work on those.

 

In today’s age of digital photography it would be impossible to scrapbook every photo you snap.  Digital cameras are supposed to make our lives easier by not wasting film and getting to see the photo right away, not make our lives more difficult by making us feel we need to scrapbook every photo.  So stop feeling guilty!

 

For many of us we don’t have a photo to go along with all our special memories especially when it comes to scrapbooking our own childhoods.  You don’t absolutely need a photo for every page.  Instead look on the web for a photo that represents your memory or keep the focus of the page on the journaling and decorate/embellish around the journaling rather than a photo.

 

Again, so many people are overwhelmed by the decision of scrapbooking 12 x 12, 8 ½ x 11, 6 x 6, mini albums, altered art etc.  They want all of their albums to look nice and matchy, matchy sitting on the shelf in their family room.  Well that’s fine for scrapbooking magazine photo shoots but not realistic at all.  It’s okay to scrap pages in different sizes, throw in a mini album here or there or make some altered wall art of your favorite memories.  You are not a professional historian; you are a person who enjoys creatively preserving their memories. 

 

If any of these so called “scrapbooking rules” have prevented you from beginning or enjoying scrapbooking I challenge you to throw the rules out the window and start (again).

Shop the new Spring Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog NOW!!!

I can hardly believe the new Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog is here! Not only are there many terrific new stamp sets, but new Designer Series Paper perfect for spring and summer and also LOTS of new Sizzix Dies. 

If you're as excited as I am about the new catalog and can't wait to get your hands on one please call or email me and I'd be happy to get one to you asap.  This offer applies to both local and non local stampers.

Terrific Trees!

Every now and then I’ll come across a stamp set through a new catalog or mini and think to myself, “what were they thinking when they decided to make that into a stamp set?” Of course it usually ends up that the stamp set is quite good, I just couldn’t envision the possibilities.  The Season of Friendship stamp set is the perfect example of this and now that I’ve seen some of the possibilities that exist with stamp set I am so sad to go.  I was really hoping this set would make it into the new Spring/Summer Idea Book & Catalog, but no such luck.

If you fall in love with this set like I have be sure to order it quickly.  It’s only available for two more days!  After January 18^th the Season of Friendship ends.  Call, email or go online to order yours asap!

Here are two of my favorite examples using the tree from Season of Friendship.

 

 

Tree of Love Card Recipe (one per page)

Tree of Love Card Recipe (four per page)

 

 

Sweet Tire Swing Recipe Card (one per page)

Sweet Tire Swing Recipe Card (four per page) 

 

January Technique Club Recipe Cards

So I have been trying to add links to the January Technique Club Cards since I did the post weeks ago and to no avail everytime I try the whole window goes crazy.  I decided I would just do another post and attach the card recipes here. 

So here are the three cards we did at the January Technique Club Meetings.

 

Seaside Stair Step Card Recipe (one per page)

Seaside Stair Step Card Recipe (four per page) 

 

Criss Cross Pennant Die Valentine Card Recipe (one per page)

Criss Cross Pennant Die Valentine Card Recipe (four per page) 

 

Bundle of Joy Scallop Bib Card Recipe (one per page)

Bundle of Joy Scallop Bib Card Recipe (four per page) 

Hugs & Kisses Valentine's Treat Box with Instructions

 

Two things you'll notice I talk about a lot are versatility and CASE'ing.  This little treat box is the perfect example of both.  I have been making cards and projects using things from the Love You Much Bundle for weeks and still more ideas keep appearing.  The versitility found in this bundle is amazing. I'm certain I could create something new everyday between now and Valentine's and not even make a dent in the possibilities.

Often times people wonder where my inspiration comes from.  Generally when I get a new stamp set or just need inspiration I turn to the galleries over at Splitcoast Stampers.  Here I can see cards and such made by other stampers.  From here I get layout ideas, notice new color combos and different ways to use the same supplies. 

The pizza style box is not anything new, but combining it with a new stamp set and a terrific layout make this creation into something fresh and fun. 

I'd like to thank SCS Users LLINNYC3 and Stampingmommaof4 for the pizza box instructions and Linda McClain for the layout and color combination.

Here is a look at the inside of the box.

If you're loving this little project as much as I am check out the Quickie Tutorial below. 

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Mini Pizza Box Quickie Instructions 

Hugs & Kisses CASE

I spoted this card on Split Coast Stampers (SCS) way back at the beginning of November.  It was done by a member named mmbc.  I really loved the sweet simplicity of the card.  I finally had the chance to whip one up today.  I did change out the papers so I could use the stripe from the Candy Lane DSP, but the layout was totally CASED.

 

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Card Recipe (one per page)

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Card Recipe (four per page) 

Turn weeds into cattails . . .

I'm really loving the Inspired By Nature Stamp Set.  Not only did we use it for Technique Club this month (Seaside Stairstep Card) but I also used it for teacher gifts at Christmas (hoping to locate photos of those soon). What makes this stamp set so fantastic is its versitility.  Just by adding a little punch out from the Horizontal Slot Punch you can turn weeds into cattails.

 

Here's how:

SUPPLIES

• Inspired By Nature and Winds of Grace Stamp Sets
• Basic Black, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Bravo Burgundy and Chocolate Chip Classic Inks
• Basic Black, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip Cardstock
• Horizontal Slot Punch, Photo Corner Punch and Signo White Gel Pen
• Sponges for each color ink
• Two Way Glue Pen

1. Begin with a 4" x 5.25" piece of Whisper White Cardstock. Sponge the entire piece using More Mustard Classic Ink.

 

2. Sponge over the bottom two thirds of the piece with Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink.

 

3. Sponge Bravo Bugundy Classic Ink over the bottom one third of the piece.

   

4.  Sponge the bottom 1/4" and up the sides a bit with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink.

   

5. Stamp the weeds from the Inspired By Nature Stamp Set using Chocolate Chip Classic Ink 2-3 times.

  

6. Punch about ten punches from Chocolate Chip Cardstock using the Horizontal Slot Punch.

   

7.  Using the Two Way Glue Pen add the punches over the weeds to look like cattails as shown.

 

From here you can add highlights to the weeds using the Signo White Gel Pen or leave it as is.

I added the sentiment from Winds of Grace, which is retiring, so get this while you can, using Basic Black Classic Ink.

Adhere your stamped piece to another piece of Whisper White Cardstock measuring 4 1/8" x 5 3/8".  Then onto a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of Basic Black and finally onto a Whisper White Card.  Punch two small photo corners using the Photo Corner Punch and Chocolate Chip CS, adhere to the top two corners and your finished.

Many of you know my mom, Belinda.  Here is a scrapbook page she created using the cattail trick.  She also used the Seaside stamp set.

Friend to Friend Valentine CASED

I totally love this card I CASED from JanTink.  While it takes a little time I think the results are worth it.  This would be a great card to send to your girl friends.

Friend to Friend Valentine Card Recipe (one per page)

Friend to Friend Valentine Card Recipe (four per page) 

Birdie Friends Valentine

This card is so adorable.  I CASED it from another local demonstrator who had it displayed at our Christmas Party.  This uses both the Love You Much Stamp Set and Candy Lane DSP from the Love You Much Bundle that is on sale through January 18th. The birds are not stamped, they are actually printed on one of the papers from the Candy Lane DSP.  The cut under their wings with a hobby blade and they can both hold the stamped heart.

Very quick, but very wowwy (yes that is a word, lol).

Birdie Friends Valentine Card Recipe (one per page)

Birdie Friends Valentine Card Recipe (four per page) 

Inventory Blow Out Sale!

Get some of your favorite stampin supplies at up to 50% off.  While several items are current or on the just released retiring list there are also previously retired items on the list. 

 

Click here to see the full list of items.

Click here to see items on sale but not in the current Idea Book & Catalog.

NOTE:  The retired and retiring items are in limited supply so order quickly.  The current items are only available at the reduced rate until SU! is happy with their quantity on hand.