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