Wedding update

I have been away the last few weeks and thus not able to post. The reason I was away was for my wedding. After 1.5 years of planning the day arrived and went. It was a wonderful time and I was thankful to share it with family and friends. The photos are not out yet but I did manage to snag one off of one of my friends. Here it is...

Time saving scrapbook class

This past week I taught my second class at Scrapbookers paradise. It was a lot of fun, the ladies were great. This class was designed for the busy scrapper in mind and used photo album pages to create one double page layout. These pages could be altered or made as simple or elaborate as you have time to make them. It could simply be using pattern paper and photos or you could do a variety of techniques.

 Material used:
We are memory keepers pages
Basic Grey Olivia paper and buttons
Martha Stewart Micro lustre beads
Glitter ritz microfine glitter
Basic Bazzill embroidery
Tattered angels glimmer mist in cherry blossom and moonlight
Butterfly 3D dazzles
Spellbinders labels one die
Divine swirls cuttlebug folder

Holiday Head Start class info.

This post if for the 6 ladies who gave me the priviledge of teaching them a Basic Grey scrapbook kit class entitiled Holiday Head Start at Scrapbooker's Paradise this past weekend. Ladies I have not forgotten to post pictures and those cards for you. I should have them up by mid-week. However, if you are keen on completing your scrapbook pages the photos of the pages are on the Scrapbooker's Paradise website under North Store. If you click on the images they will enlarge for you to get a better look.

I wanted to thank you all for your kind words and having patience with me as I went through my first class teaching. It was a pleasure and I hope to teach you again sometime in the future.


Cheers,
Crystal

Flourishes timeless Tuesday challenge-Lace (FTT C81)

I have been waiting for an opportunity to use my new Flourishes Beauty within stamp set with my spellbinders labels dies. I just had my Bridal shower and am now making thank-you cards to all the ladies and this challenge was a perfect starting point.

Materials Used:

Flourishes Beauty within stamp set

My favourite things flower flopsey sentiment

Martha Stewart Doily lace punch

Spellbinders labels eleven

Doodlebug pattern paper

Pink lace-Bulk

Copic Markers

Anyone for Anya sketch challenge

I had so much fun this past week attempting two challenges that I decided to try and complete three for this week. So keeping with this goal in mind I figured it was best to start early. Anyone for Anya has a sketch challenge this week. One of the hardest parts for me is to put everything cohesively together when it comes to cards so this challenge was perfect. I just had to pick the paper and image...they did the hardest part for me.

Materials Used:

BoBunny Mamarazzi paper line (I Love this line)

Tim Holtz film strip ribbon tape

Distressed ink in Denim and vintage photo

Crackle accents on the sentiment

C.C Design-stamp from their Say cheese set

Happy Birthday Anya Challenge

This is my first time trying the Anything for Anya challenge although I have been a fan for quite some time. I sometimes find it intimidating after seeing such wonderful creations from the design team but I figured what the heck, give it a shot.  It gives me a reason to get out my copics and create. I hope to start making it a weekly thing.

Materials Used:

Doodlebug Designs Inc Cherry pie plaid paper

My Mind's Eye Mary Mary "Happy Birthday" Grown up paper

CC designs Cupcake Kiki La Rue and Summer sentiments stamps

Basic Bazzill paper in lime green, hot pink, brown, and white

Ek Success Scalloped boarder punch

KaiserCraft Snow white pearls

Pink brads-brand unknown

Copic Markers

Crinkled ribbon challenge

This is the first online challenge I am attempting and hopefully not my last. With life being so hectic I don't have tons of time to try these challenges although I droll over the design teams' ideas each week. I felt it was time I gave it a go. I was inspired by Imaginisce's Splash Dance paperline and so I went from there to create a cute card using one of my favourite stamps from CC Design.

Materials I used were:

Imaginisce Splash Dance: Bubble Bash paper

Bazzill Bling paper in orange

Bazzill basic cardstock in white

Diecuts with a view cardstock in turqouise

CC Design Mermaid Emma  and Beach sentiments Stamps

Tim Holtz fragment pieces

Quickie Glue

Glimmer Ritz microfine glitter in Cool highlight

KaiserCraft Rhinestones in Champaigne

Copic Markers

Bulk Ribbon from Michaels

Tim Holtz Fun

I made my own personal challenge last night to create an stylish organization system using product from my favourite scrapbook store in hopes of it being put on display there. Friends and family alike call me an organization freak and so I decided to stop fighting that stereotype and just use it to create.

I used a Karen Foster design it drawer unit along with some of my favourite Tim Holtz distressing tools (Alcohol inks, film strip ribbon, ornamental tags, fragments) and Bo Bunny's Mamarazzi paper line to create this masterpiece.

Review of products

Product:
Doodlebug design inc. Go to sketches card companion kit

Description:
The complete kid to make 18 doodlebug cards featured in Go to Skteches Magazine

First impressions:
I love the Doodlebug design papers so when I saw this kit I definitely wanted to try it. They had so many cute cards that I could definitely see using and sending to friends. The bright colours really appealled to me.

Review:

After opening the package and organizing the papers into each card group, I immediately noticed that there was not enough large pieces of cardstock to make the card bases. Luckily I had some paper in my stash that would cover the difficiency.

The second thing I noticed was that I would have to do a lot of cutting for the cute tags and embellishments. Instead of making them punch out Doodlebug went the cheap way and just printed them on one single paper so that the consumer has to cut out all of the items. Some of these embellishments and tags are farely complex and hard to cut out even with my small craft scissors and knife.

I thought that this package would be a time saver to make quick and easy cards but that definitely wasn't the case. All of the cutting slowed me down. I think it would almost be faster to design and make my own cards than use this kit.

The final products turned out well considering some of the disadvantages of the kit but another kit like this will not be on my wishlist anytime soon. I hope you find this review helpful.

Scraping Fun

I have been on a mission today to create a fun and innovative class for the scrapbook store I just started working at. I really enjoy working there and getting constructive feedback from the girls on how I can make my pages more appealing and relevant to others. It helps me grow and move outside of my own box. I jammed so much technique into it once I went back and made some changes. Now I am just waiting to see if it will be approved for me to teach. Even if its not I still feel very proud of what I created and it definitely go me scrapping again. Sometimes I just need a challenge or project to get my creative juices flowing and to actually get myself to do something with my ideas instead of just letting them pile up and never getting them done.

I also talked to my friend who I just got involved in my scrapbooking adventures. In just 12 hours of cropping fun she learned so many new techniques and tools. She is totally inspired now to get some scrapping done too. She phoned me up for advice on what cartridges to get for her new cricut. I gave her the list of the ones I use the most, but does anyone else have any suggestions I can pass on to her? I really don't want her to have a bias response. Its so fun watching someone else's eyes light up with excitement and remembering that just last year I was in the same position. I think thats why I am so much of a "keener" to teach classes because I want to pass on everything I learned and see others come up with ideas I never thought of. The creative process is facinating...I can't wait to see what it has on its agenda for me next.

New and improved craftroom

I am fortunate enough that my fiance has given me the spare room to be my creative space. After multiple attemps at finding an organizing system that would work for me (Which is hard since I have organizers for my organizers) I think I have found a more long term solution.

The main work area of my room is an Expedit bookshelf-desk combo. It has a large work surface so I can spread out and little cubbies on the one side to house my clear stamps (In plastic bins), my copic marker bag, my punches, and my adhesive. I placed a kitchen knife magnetic board on the wall over my desk to hold onto my scissors, paper piercer, hole punch, and cricut tools. The 6 drawer unit beside my workspace houses rubbermaid 2 drawer organizers which are perfect for organizing my inks, stamps, embossing powers, stickles, cuttlebug plates, etc.

My Embellishment centre holds all of my dew drops, brads, buttons, flowers, glimmer mists, smooch, and ribbons. Along the side of it I have put up a clothing line for my cards using 3M hooks and some string. Now I can see everything and am more likely to use it. I also love having cards I created on display. It helps get my creative juices going when I sit down to scrapbook or make cards. 

Beside my main work station I have used cube storage I purchased at Michaels (I wouldn't pay full price but with 40% off its worth it). I was skeptical about how sturdy they would be, but they are well constructed and easy to put together. I now have room for my 12 x 12 paper, albums, and magazines. The drawers in the bottom of the unit are perfect for holding envelopes, 4x6 mat cardstock, decorative brads, photos to scrap, and those odd tools that don't seem to fit anywhere else.


I truely love my new workroom and now that I am organized I feel ready to create. My advice to anyone setting up their craftroom is to experiment with various storage units, find out what you really want, and then splurge. It is worth the investment because lets face it, our craft supplies are expensive and if we don't protect them we may as well be putting money down the drain anyways.

Summer projects

After a fantastic Scrapbook frenzy where we made a wonderful scrapbook page layout using Basic Grey's Capella line of paper http://www.basicgrey.com/scrapbook/shop/collections/show/current/cappella, I decided to start my wedding scrapbook album beforehand so that after the wedding I just have to add pictures of the day. My goal for the summer is to complete the album. I will post pictures of my inspirational layout designed by the famous Kate as soon as I figure out how to do that.

I also want to try some online challenges and learn how to use this "Mr. Linky" thing they keep talking about. My computer lingo is a little lacking but I will learn it along the way. Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers for now,
Crystal

My dream part-time job

Best Part-Time Job Ever!
This past weekend I was hired on at a Scrapbooking store in Calgary . I have always loved creating things and have developed a little bit of an addiction to everything scrapbooking and card making. With some help from the wonderful ladies at the store I have been able to pick up the techniques easily and can't wait to share my adventure's or learning this new craft with other beginners. I know that it will mean that I will probably spend my whole paycheck at the store getting all the latest goodies but I know I will have fun doing it.