Roll with the changes

Hey Scrappers! Long time no blog, huh? Well I didn't abandon my blog on purpose. In fact every day I haven't been able to blog has been tough. I don't know if any of you have been having any problems with Blogger but boy let me tell you, I certainly have. I have been trying to upload pictures and I keep getting error messages and it seems that when I do get my pictures uploaded, Blogger deletes them while I'm typing up my entries. This is so frustrating when it takes hours to write and upload a short entry when it should maybe take 15-20 mins. So those of you that love Blogger skip the next few lines because I feel like I have gone to the 'dark side'. I have opened a Type pad account for the Scrapping Sanctuary. I love blogging and if I have to continue to struggle with Blogger than I really think it's time that I find something that works better. I'm still working on the Type pad blog, making it look pretty and all, and I hope to have it up and running by the weekend. 

There's a few more changes I can see on the horizon. Last week I packed up all my stuff and moved out of my parents house and to a small apartment four hours away. At the end of June I will be moving again and hopefully it will be the last move for a while. With the move I had to quit my job working at the school that I have had for the past 8 months. It was hard to walk away but it had to be done. I have put in an application for a job that I would consider a dream at this point but I have my fingers crossed. So that means we are down to one income until I find out what happens with this application to see if I need to be looking for something else. A few great things have come out of all this change is that I am living with my husband again (he took a promotion in a different city and I didn't want to quit my job at the school so I waited to move) and I have all day while he's at work to scrap! If I can get Blogger to work I will try to upload pictures of a travel journal I'm working on and a Fall Pumpkin Patch mini I'm also working on.

Through all the change I keep reminding myself that all of these things are happening to me for a reason. I might not be happy with all this change and right now, that's okay with me. What's important is that I don't let it bother me too long and enjoy what I do have instead of looking at what I don't have and what I gave up. 

Okay, okay, back to work! Until later, Happy Scrappin! SB

Too Creative For My Own Good!

Hey Scrappers! Do you ever have those days where your brain seems to be going non-stop, like it's flooded with ideas and there's just no way to get them out fast enough? Well, the last two days has been like that for me! Yesterday I was checking out Paper Phenomenon's YouTube Channel and if you haven't checked her out, oh man you need to get over there NOW! She is such a talented woman. Anyways, in one of her videos she make a suitcase out of paper and chipboard. WAY COOL! The only thing I wanted to change was the size so I started playing around with some paper and I made a little demo version made out of just cardstock just so I could get some measurements. What's really funny is I'm no where near ready to actually start making it because I'm working on something else right now if you can even believe that! What I am currently working on is a project for my Dad that I thought of a few weeks ago at 12:30 in the AM. I couldn't sleep and all of a sudden I thought of an was to use a small Tim Holtz configuration box that I bought a few months ago but didn't know what to do with. So yes, at 12:30 AM I got up and started writing notes and writing down my thoughts before forgot. Hey, I couldn't sleep anyways so might as well do something productive :) So today I painted the boxes and I made the CUTEST little book and when I say little what I really mean is tiny. I think it's about 2 inches tall! I would love to post pictures but the batteries in my camera is dead and Josh has my big camera so that explains that. I will try to get some batteries and take some pics sometime this week. I wish I could take a picture of what is inside my brain because I think when this project is done it is going to be, BY FAR, my favorite project I have ever done. I have other projects that I'm in the process of working on as well but these two are by favorites at the moment. I don't know why but it is extremely hard for me to start a project and finish it before moving on to the next thing. I really do think that my creativity sometimes get the better of me! Well, it's getting a little late so I think that is all for now.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'! SB

P.S. Check out Paper Phenomenon's blog site as well. She has patterns for her projects including the suitcase and I think they're pretty affordable. I'm actually thinking of purchasing her pattern for the suitcase but I want to see if I can do it first!

These are a few of my favorite things....!

Hey Scrappers! I'm always interested in what kinds of products other crafters are using so I thought I would share some of my favorites. This is going to be a series of posts so that I can post some pictures and explain how to use the product. I think the first thing I will start with is my paper trimmer. Well, really I have two and I love them both.

This is the paper trimmer I use to cut my chipboard. It is a rotary trimmer by Fiskars. I would normally use a real quilter's rotary blade to cut my chip but I don't have enough room on my craft table right now so until I rearrange, this works just fine! The only thing I don't like is I think the measurements are a little off. It could be me though...I'm not very good at cutting straight even with a guide!

This is the trimmer I use for all my paper. It also is a trimmer by Fiskars. It is so light and portable and the coolest thing is that there is a thing piece of wire that allows you to see exactly where the blade will cut. Another cool thing is that there are measurements on the top and bottom of the trimmer so you can measure the paper from both ends.

Well, I hope this was helpful. Next up...my favorite paper collections!

Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Mommy and Me Night

Hey Scrappers! Well tonight's post is on a project that is very different from what I usually do. A while ago my mom asked me to help her with a project and tonight we finally got around to doing it. I think it turned out pretty beautiful myself but take a look for yourself...

The reflection on the mirror is catching a little bit of a candle holder on our wall but this was as good as I could get the picture! Anyways, I cut the letters out of black vinyl using my Cricut with the 'Nursery Rhymes' cartridge. My mom got the saying from her boss at work. I like it and it really fits the mood I'm in right now...maybe she should consider gifting it to me...lol! My Cricut was having a little trouble cutting out the smaller letters and I'm not sure if it was because the blade was dull or I just didn't have the settings right. Do you think I have the original instruction sheet that tells you helpful information like what setting to cut different materials with considering I've had it for a few years now? Um not a chance! Like I said earlier, I do really like the way it turned out and even though Mom says she's not creative at all, I think this project proves otherwise. It was fun bonding over a craft project!

Just a little update on what I've been up to these days. I know I've been slacking on posting but I have a kind of good excuse and a funny story to help explain...lol! I have been creating, a lot in fact. So what's with the lack of posts? Well, my husband puts it this way: My creativity goes so crazy that I get excited,but new products or start new projects and then never use the product or never finish the project because my creativity is already on the next thing. It's so true! So I'm trying this week to wrap some things up so I can post more and share more.

So until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Do You Miss Me Yet?

I feel like the last few weeks have been the longest of my life which explains why I have been slacking in the blogging area. If you think that's bad, I haven't been doing a whole lot of crafting either. I Last week I was pretty sick with a sinus infection and it wiped me out pretty good. I usually go to bed around 10:30/11:00 but last week I went to bed around 9/9:30 every night. Since then I have just been feeling extremely exhausted every night. Tonight I started covering a chipboard mini that I'm making about my 3 year old cousin. It seems like I have a ton of started projects I need to be finishing. There's just so much going on! I started working out again so I don't get home until later in the evening and then by the time I find something to eat....I'm sure you've all felt like there just isn't enough time. Today has been a really stressful day so I was surprised I was even in the mood to create but oh well! As I'm writing right now my contacts are so dry I can barely see the screen and I'm more than ready for bed. I'm praying that things will settle down in the next few months because I am more than ready to get myself back into the crafting groove and get some things accomplished! Until then, Happy Scrappin! SB

So Happy Together

Hey Scrappers! I managed to complete a layout a few weeks ago and yes I know, I'm just now getting around to posting it...lol. Check it out!

This layout is about 90% My Mind's Eye which is no surprise considering it's my favorite line. I just picked up some AWESOME new MME paper that I cannot wait to use! Anyways, here's an overview of the layout.

I made the title using gold Thickers letters and a sticker I got from the dollar section at Joann Fabrics. The stitching is also a rub on from the dollar section as well. I thought it really anchored down the title. I believe that is a Prima flower in the corner. The paper I used was from the Breaking Free collection.

This journal tag is from MME Life Stories Kraft Cardstock. This paper is REALLY heavy duty. There are tons of papers and tags in this collection for journaling but there is also really pretty distressed papers that I'm thinking of making a mini with because the papers are so sturdy. The flowers in the corner are Prima. I really need to start making more layouts I mean it is on my 101 Goal Challenge...lol. I'm just too stuck on minis right now! Well that's all for now! Happy Scrappin', SB

Punk Rock Valentines Day Mini

I love Valentine's Day! I know there are those out there who don't she in my sentiment but I can't help it. I love, Love, LOVE Valentine's Day. See now Valentine's Day isn't just about showing your significant other how much you love them, it's about your family too! I used a lot of different elements in this album...Enjoy!

This is just a basic paper bag alum that I made using pink paper bags. The angel wings are Tattered Angels resist chipboard that I misted with Glimmer Mist. I outlined all the pages and the cover with regular black acrylic paint. The journal tag and the tag in front of the wings is from Echo Park.

Here is what the album looked like after is was assembles and painted. Usually you want to embellish the pages before you bind them together just because they're easier to handle that way. I wasn't planning on embellishing a whole lot so I made them album and then embellished.

The plaid paper I got from the dollar section at Target. Isn't it cute?! The tag on the little flap is Echo Park.

Again, Target dollar spot flower paper and I LOVE this air balloon tag from Echo Park.

I had to much fun making this mini. Now all it needs is some pictures! That seems to be the issue with all my minis. I make the mini without any pictures in mind yet when I make layouts I always have to have the pictures first. Go figure!

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day and spent it with someone you love! Until we meet again, Happy Scrappin! SB

I NEED YOUR HELP!

Hey Scrappers! As if I don't have enough on my plate, I have decided to add one more thing. I would like a little advice. I love watching people teach crafting videos and techniques on USTREAM because it's live and we all get to chat as we go. Well, I have thought about hosting a show. What my vision is that it would be a time for us to get together and scrap/craft but it's not necessarily going to be a tutorial/technique type of show. I will have a plan or let you know what I'll be working on a few weeks ahead of time so if you want to make something similar and work along with me you can and of course if I'll show you how to do what I'm doing. So what I need help with is what do you think about all of this? What would you like to see me do? Am I crazy or what?! Okay you don't really have to answer that last one. I just feel like where I am there aren't a whole lot of people that I can craft with and I really want to reach out to other crafters. I just think it would be a whole lot of fun. Now I know MANY of you will respond this this post out of the kindness of your heart but others of you...it takes a little incentive :) So how about this...leave me a comment with your thoughts and I will enter your name into a drawing. The winner will get to pick any project that I have posted on my blog and I will make one for you. Of course I will personalize it, to some extent, to your liking. I'm thinking this won't really get going until I move to my permanent residence at the end of May so the first show would probably go live the beginning to middle of June.

Thanks for all your help and until we meet again, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Out With the Old Mini

Hello Scrappers! Here is a mini album I made a little while ago for a "Out with the old in with the new" themed swap over on Swap-bot. I started making the actual album around Christmas break and when I joined this swap I knew it would be perfect. As it turns out it was. The person I sent it to loved it and had the perfect use for it! I got the idea/pattern from Laura at Following the Paper Trail. She showed us how to make it during a New Years Eve show she did. Click HERE to see it over on USTREAM. The whole tutorial is in two parts and I will warn you that we were having a New Year's Eve party during this show so she does do quite a bit of talking and it does take a little while to get through the whole album. Oh yeah, and when you are watching you'll notice she gives a little shout out to 'Flutterflies22'...um that was me! I asked a question in the chat thinking someone in the chat would answer me but Laura answered me! I was so pumped, she's like my greatest inspiration :) Anyways, enough of that check out my mini!

I made the covers of the mini with regular chipboard and covered with plain black cardstock. It's a little hard to see but there is a shimmer to it and that is from some glimmer mist. I made the title by painting some wooden letters. I bound this book with my Cinch. It was the very first project I made with my Cinch! Then there is just a bunch of sheer ribbons tied on the binding.

Here is the inside of the book. Sorry I didn't rotate this picture, I forgot but the pink and green side has a pocket where the tag is stuck into but the pink square flops out and that is a matchbook style pocket. The yellow and purple side actually has two pockets; the one the tags are in and then there's one more below.

For the tags I covered regular shipping tags with paper and looped the same ribbon I used on the binding through the whole.

This is another of the larger pockets.

Another of the larger pockets and little pockets :)

I highly recommend checking out Laura's blog, her USTREAM, and YouTube channel. This mini was really easy to make and I hope to make another! Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Kiwi's Blogger Follower Swap #4

Welcome to all the newbies to my blog coming over from Swap-bot! Sorry I didn't get this post up right away, I suppose I should have read the requirements a little closer...anyways have fun looking around and enjoy! SB

Here I am!

Wow has the last week been crazy! It's been a little while since my last blog post but I really needed the last week to just take a creative break and get some rest. This weekend I was in Fargo watching my youngest brother, who is a junior in high school, wrestle in the state tournament. Without going into too much detail, I'll just let you know that he placed 7th and he did extremely well in their team dual. I'm going to try to get around to scrapping some of the pictures from this weekend and then I'll go into a little more detail. This is a scrapbooking blog so I try to stick to that topic. So anyways, what have I been up to? Take a look!

Here is a layout I created using a sketch I received from Creating Keepsakes. I used a bunch of photos I used from a trip Bella and I took up to see Josh in Williston.

The size of the pictures are 2x4 inches. Target has done some updating of their Photo Lab and now it's even easier to make mini prints. I don't think I will print off many 4x6's anymore. Anyways, I used a snowflake paper for the boarder and blue ribbon to help separate the pictures a little bit. I really like the little birdie sticker in the corner!

Here is a close up of the ribbon I used to boarder my journaling block. This was a new technique for me that I was really excited to try. I typed up my journaling and printed it out on vellum. The only part that I still find tricky is using an adhesive that won't show through the vellum. On this layout I used a special vellum tape runner but you can still see through it a little.

I think this is one of my favorite layouts because it really speaks to Bella's spirit! Well, keep on eye out for some more posts on what I've been up to. Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

ATC Paper Bag Mini

Hey Scrappers! I have been trying to find some way to store my ATCs and I stumbles across a video on YouTube from Ozomenurse that showed how to make a mini album from standard paper bags. You can click HERE to watch her video. Make sure to check out some of her other videos as well...she has some really great ideas!

Here is the cover of my mini. The paper looks like some altered/grunged up paper. I distressed it by rubbing inks over the cover.

To make the inside pages, I again used distress inks and then stamped various images on the pages. The stamps that I used were Tim Holtz acrylic stamps.

The longest part was actually cutting the bags and assembling the book. I didn't do a whole lot of embellishing because I didn't want the embellishments to take over the pages and take away attention from the ATCs. This album was so easy to make I think I am going to make a few more of these using photos. I think that's all for now! Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Birthday Organizer

Well, I decided to project from my 101 goal challenge because it has to do with crafting and it is SUPER cute! Goal #8 is to make 3 projects from every book/magazine I own and here is one that I have been working on the last few days. It is a birthday organizer. Have a look!

The paper I used from the cover is from a Paper Studio page kit and the blue flower is from there also. The owl is a My Mind's Eye Sticker while the heart is a Prima cardstock glitter sticker. I used my Cop-a-dile to punch holes in the corner of all the pages and used Tim Holtz chain to keep the pages together and adorned the chain with some ribbons and a charm I got from the wedding department at Hobby Lobby.

Here is a close up of the binding. I know the lettering came in a kit but I've had it torn apart for a while so I'm not sure where it's from but it worked perfectly for this project!

To make the inside, I used a bookmark template from Scrapbook Factory Delux program on my computer. I put text boxes over the bookmarks and typed in the month and number along the side. The paper on the backside (like the polkadot) is from My Mind's Eye as well. I printed the bookmarks on white cardstock but the front and back covers are chipboard for durability. After printing, I wrote the birthdays of my family in the corresponding month and date.

So I bet you'd like to know where I got this idea from, huh? Well, it came from my December 2010 issue of Scrapbooks Ect. Here is a look at the original created by Celeste Smith.

Also, goal #40 on my list is to blog twice a week and I blogged Sunday and today...YAY! Well, I'll leave you with this for tonight. I have a few more goals that are in progress that I need to start planning for! SB

101 Goal Blog...

...is up and running! What's really cool is I had one visitor before I even had a post up...lol! I hope they come back again! Anyways, click HERE to check it out. Be sure to become a follower to make...hmm following...my journey easier! Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

My New Exciting Journey..,

...is about to begin and I have to say I'm a bit nervous. I never make New Year's resolutions because I don't see the point. I know I never keep them. Well I've stumbled across this idea a few times and I have decided to take part in it. It's called 101 goals in 1001 days. Basically you make a list of 101 goals and you have 1001 days to complete them (which is about 2.75 years). I like this because it's quite a long period of time and I feel like the goals I have listed are very attainable. Some will be easier than others and some will take more time than others but I am extremely confident that I will complete most if not all of them. Well anyways, here's my list:

101 Goals 1001 Days

1. 100 Layouts (0/100)

2. Finish 1 unfinished project a month (0/32)

3. Create 50 of my 100 layouts using a sketch (0/50)

4. Post 52 videos on YouTube/ Blog (0/52)

5. Make 150 cards (0/150)

6. Wedding album for Mom and Dad

7. Create Zach’s senior album

8. Create 3 projects from every book/magazine I own (0/?)

9. Take 1 picture a day for a year (0/365)

10. Plant a window box herb garden

11. Plant a tree on Earth Day

12. Write a will

13. Write a love letter to Josh

14. Make a list of 50 things that makes me happy (0/50)

15. Write a fan letter

16. Ask 10 people to recommend books and read them (0/10)

17. Try 100 new recipes (0/100)

18. Go berry picking

19. Bake a pie with fresh picked berries

20. Read 10 books about 10 different countries (0/10)

21. Memorize a poem by heart

22. Sleep under the stars

23. Learn how to change the oil in my car

24. Donate blood

25. Lear how to tie a fishing knot

26. Make a macaroni picture

27. Go mini golfing

28. Walk dogs twice a week

29. Go to a drive in movie theater

30. Go horseback riding

31. Weight goal 125

32. Build a birdhouse

33. Sew a quilt

34. Date night with Josh twice a month (0/64)

35. Breakfast at sunrise

36. Couple’s photo once a month (0/32)

37. Family portrait once every 6 months (0/5)

38. Use re-useable shopping bags

39. Watch a sunset and sunrise in the same day

40. Blog 2 times a week (0/290)

41. Blog contest once every 2 months (0/16)

42. Complete a puzzle

43. Go camping

44. Run a 5k

45. Breakfast in bed once a month

46. Get a layout published

47. Write a letter to everyone in my family

48. Take a photography class

49. Go to spa with Josh

50. Get my hair professionally colored

51. Take a pottery class

52. Order business cards with blog info

53. 100 blog followers (23/100)

54. Create an up to date address book

55. Make wedding minis for Bridesmaids

56. Camping trip to the Badlands

57. Camping trip with brothers

58. Take dance lessons

59. Recycle any recyclable items

60. Fly fish in Montana

61. Learn how to tie flies

62. Go on a cruise

63. Read my bible from cover to cover

64. Use my Cricut once a week (0/143)

65. Bake homemade bread

66. Bake Josh a birthday cake

67. Throw Bella a birthday party

68. Breakfast in bed once a month (0/32)

69. Supper at the table 2 times a week (0/290)

70. Watch the Starwars movies in one day

71. Go to the Reptile Gardens, SD

72. Swimming at the wave pool

73. See a play

74. Read 10 biographies (0/10)

75. Decorate scraproom

76. Get a manicure

77. Get a pedicure

78. Donate to a charity once a month (0/32)

79. Go golfing

80. Create a family history album

81. Family portrait with Mom, Dad, Matt, Zach

82. Learn to play guitar

83. Create a gratitude journal

84. Write in my gratitude journal once a week (0/143)

85. Go to church four times a month

86. Album for Michael

87. Take a painting class

88. Send birthday cards to all my family members (0/10)

89. Go a week without checking Facebook

90. Josh’s fishing album

91. Make an eye appointment and go

92. Make a doctor appointment and go

93. Kiss in the rain

94. Go on a picnic

95. Journal for 60 days straight (0/60)

96. Go seven days without TV (0/7)

97. Knit a pair of mittens

98. Cross-stitch pattern

99. Knit a blanket

100. This one’s a surprise J

As you can see, some of my goals have to do with crafting and some of them do not. This is the only post that I will make in regards to this challenge because....I'M STARTING A SEPARATE BLOG DEDICATE TO IT! As soon as I have it up and running I will let you all know. Then I will be able to keep you all updated on my progress. My official start date will be Sunday. Mostly so I have time to get the other blog up and running and to give myself a little time to get prepared and organized. On that note...here's a little wrap up on my January Journal. I wouldn't say it was a complete success but I wouldn't call it a failure either. January ended just a few days ago and I have many blank pages in my journal. I did like the fact that I took a lot more pictures than I normally would have otherwise. Some of the events I was able to capture were family traditions and others were new ones. I think the hardest part is that there were some days I had tons going on and other days nothing. When Ali Edwards does this project, she does it during the month of December when there is always something going on. Well, I haven't given up all hopes. I am going to do a journal for February and it is call my 'February Findings'. The biggest difference is that my goal is to journal/document 30 different happenings and they are not restricted to one a day. Hopefully this goes over better. Can you tell I haven't blogged in a while? I have way too much to say now...lol!

Until we meet again, Happy Scrappin'! SB

And the Winners Are...

Hey Scrappers! Well, I know I said that I was going to draw the winners for my blog contest on January 31st but....I'm not the most patient person in the world. It's been a while since I've had any new followers anyways so here we go. What I did is gave everyone of my followers a number based on the order that you followed me. Now remember that my original followers were put in the drawing 5 times. So anyways....heres who won:

1. heatherjonescmc
2. Riechan
3. julieswasson
4. Scraples

Here's the deal...I need you guys to email me at flutterflies22@gmail.com with your information and I will let you pick which prize you would like me to send to you. These people have until next Saturday which is February 5th to get me their contact info or I will draw another winner in their place. To refresh your memory the prizes were a winter themed mini comp book, pink and white stripe mini comp book, a Christmas mini, and a recipe box. I do have pictures up on my previous blog posts in January. Once again I just want to thank all of my followers for checking out what I create from time to time and leaving such wonderful comments. CONGRATS and Happy Scrappin'! SB

January Journal Update

Well, we're about halfway through January and that means I should be halfway through my January Journal, right? Well I have to admit not exactly and at the same time pretty much...that makes sense right? Well, here's how I'm trying to stay up to date on my journal. I will confess I don't work on the actual book everyday. I try to take pictures everyday and at the end of the day I take those pictures in a folder on my computer that is label with each day in January. About every 4 or 5 days I got to Target and print off my pictures from the past few days. Some of the other things that I put into my journal are my blog posts and Faecebook statuses. If I go out to eat, go shopping, or anything like that I keep any receipts or menus to put in my book. So how far am I exactly? About day 6 or 7 as far as fully completed pages. I think the next time Doreen and I scrap together I will work on my journal to get a little more caught up. I think the key, for me, is to work on it when I have a chunk of work to do. I know it would probably be easier to stay caught up by working on it a little at a time but I just can't justifly in my mind only taking out a few things at a time and working on just a few pages at a time. When I craft I like to take out ALL of my supplies, weather I need them or not (lol!), and make a great big crafting mess! Just the way my creativity works I guess! Sometimes I'll see tips for quick scrapbooking and they'll say to only use 5 supplies and right away my brain thinks, WAIT WHAT? Maybe that's will have to be a challenge I have to work on....or better yet, a monthly blog challenge?! I swear I thought of that just now...lol!

One other thing before I go. Remember how I was so excited about Marion's kit club she was going to have? Well, cutting out most of the drama, the group still exsists on Facebook (click HERE to check it out) but it's not exclusive and she's still having the kits but this really isn't a club anymore. Now you might be thinking, why. Well I'll tell you why and if you can pick up on the passion and feeling behind my voice, good. Marion is one of the most sweetest people in the crafting industry and a few people decided to complain about the way SHE was running HER club and because she is so sweet, decided to change her vision to accommodate those few. THEN, someone had the audacity to make a YouTube video trashing her. Now I never got to see the video because this person took it down before I got a chance. I imagine it was because Marion's true followers came to her rescue and I only regret I hadn't seen it sooner and been given that chance. We all need to remember that there are things in this crafting community and in this world that we don't agree with and that's okay. What is not okay is to take those frustrations oppositions out in an unhealthy and down right mean way. I don't like that some of the cutest scrapbooking supplies cost and arm and a leg but instead of bashing the suppliers on YouTube and anywhere else, I just don't buy them. I know I'm ranting but I just don't get how cruel some people can be. Okay, okay I'm done with that.

Well, I'll try to end on a positive note. This week should be a busy week of crafting for me so I will try to get a bunch of projects done and post a bunch of pictures. I hope your 2011 is off to a wonderful start. I can't believe we're halfway through January! Happy Scrappin'! SB

So Exciting!

Hey everybody! I have some very exciting new to share! So I follow Marion Smith pretty much religiously on her You Tube channel and I watch pretty much all of her videos on U Stream and she has created a very cool, very exclusive, scrapbooking kit club. I'm really pumped and I am trying to think of all the reasons under the sun to convince Josh to let me join...lol. But wait, he doesn't decide who joins and who doesn't...Marion does! So maybe I should be convincing her instead. Well, I was told to post my blog under her You Tube video comments so in case she would happen to pass through, omg my heart is beating faster at just the thought, here are a few of my reasons why I think I should be invited to join your group!

1. I watch all of your videos on U Stream, in fact I was bummed when I heard you weren't going to be doing videos every Thursday.
2. I have watched most of your You Tube videos and enjoy making the projects you have made. One of my favs I've made is the accordion box. Click HERE to check it out!
3. I'm inspired not only by your creativity but your lifestyle. I too hope to one day have an organic garden and be a wonderful mother.
4. Your kindness is contagious and I feel even though we've never met, that we are great friends and connected through our love of crafting.

Well Marion, I could go on and on but I think this will do. I hope you can feel the sincerity in my words and know that I'm not sucking up to you or anything. I truly admire you and hope we will all have fun in this journey!

To all of my followers, I've said it once and I'll say it again, thank you for making my blog a part of your life. It truly humbles me to know that there are people out there who appreciate my creativity :) Until we meet again, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Another Prize and Other Stuff

Welcome to all of my new followers! I have been having a lot of fun seeing my followers grow from 9 to 23! Whoo-hoo!! Anyways, I said I would come up with a few more prizes and here they are!

I posted some pictures of some recipe boxes I made a few weeks ago and I got so many compliments on them I decided to give one away! I have three of them sitting in my room so it's time to give one a home. This box also comes with 6 recipe cards.

Sorry this little notebook isn't a giveaway but it turned out so cute I had to show you! This one is for a swap I am participating in on Swap-bot. I love it so much I was tempted to keep it but it's time to start using my stashed supplies and pass my creations on to good homes!

Here is the little notebook altered and another of the recipe boxes I made. I didn't mean for them to look like a set but they turned out looking that way! This recipe box I am going to keep and put all of my baking recipes in.

Well I guess I only posted one prize and two projects...lol. The last of the prizes will be some type of mini album I'm not sure how I will make it or what it will look like. I have a few other swaps to get ready for so we'll see what I come up with. I truly am thankful for all the people who have stopped by and left such nice comments. I used to think that only people who actually saw my blog were a very select few. I've been taking a closer look at my blog stats and it turns out that's not true. More people view my blog than I actually would have thought. Now if only I could get more of them to comment...lol. It's hard to plan the direction of where you want your blog to go when you don't even know what people think of it. So a great big thank you to those of my followers that take the time to let me know what they think and thank you for joining me on this journey. I can't wait to see where it takes us and hope to have tons of fun along the way!

Happy Scrappin'! SB

Valentine's Day Journal Swap

Here's is what I have been tonight! I have a love themed journal swap that needs to get sent out at the end of next week so I thought I'd upload a few pictures!

Here is the cover. I covered the journal with patterned paper and dry brushed white paint around the edges and all over the cover. I layered two fabric flowers and put a brad through the middle to hold them in place, then used hot glue to adhere onto the cover. The tag in the middle is chipboard as well as the letters in the lower right hand corner. The letters are my partner's initials. To finish it off I put some sparkled pink ribbon.

This is a close up of the fabric flower. Oh I forgot to mention that I also dry brushed white paint onto the flowers as well.

Here is the back cover. Okay I know what you're thinking, that is a really random place for that flower. Well here's what happened...the camera was having an EXTREMELY hard time deciding on what to focus on, the paint or the pattered paper so I had to give the camera something to focus on!

I'm looking forward to starting Valentine's Day projects in about two weeks. If you have an ideas or anything you want to see me try leave me a comment! I think that's all I have for tonight so until we meet again, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Prizes and Procrastinating

Well here they are! The pictures of the little prizes I made for our contest. Now remember, these are just the three little ones. I have two other ones that I will hopefully (wow I just realized I use that word a lot!) be done and posted by....well let's just say Sunday sometime. My brother has a wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday and that will give me plenty to do while I wait for him to go. Anyways, check them out I had a lot of fun making them!

This mini couldn't have turned out any cuter!

I made it using paper bags and binder rings for the binding.

This comp book I actually covered with tissue paper! I've done this technique with tags and I decided to try it out on the book and it turned out awesome! Speaking of the tissue paper technique, at some point (don't hold your breath...lol!) I will post a video, or at least pictures, showing how I covered items with tissue paper. I've had a lot of questions so this will be a good way to get a start on video blogging!

This comp book has the color pink so of course I love it!

Okay, so the title of this post is prizes and procratinating, and I showed you the prizes so here is the procrastnaing portion of my day! Well, I was going to work on a few of my swaps for Swap-bot that I need to send out next week but then I published some comments about my tissue paper tags and well that was enough to get me side tracked! This tag is covered in pink tissue paper and the stamp in the corner is from Tim Holtz. I know it's hard to see but the brad holding the flower in place has an adorable butterfly on it. There's a little fiber on the bottom that has pink beads on it. Way cute!

So I will let this be my last post for a few days, just so I can get projects finished and then I'll do a bunch of blogging this weekend. Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB