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