Friday Sketch #10

Here's the sketch for this week:

I made a card:

I hope you have time to play this weekend!

Clearance

Well... I think I got everything!! Most items in the shoppe are up to 50% off. Pretty much everything except newer items and staples (like cardstock, adhesive, Doodlebug stickers, some Thickers, etc.)
I ran out of orange stickers, so some items (most noticably Scenic Route and KI) have their prices on the back.

oh... and sale table papers are 50% off too.... that makes them $0.25 each!

Enjoy.

Idea #4

do a monochromatic layout.
i did all shades of green, and
i threw in a little black and
white for good measure.



and i posted this one in the gallery a week
ago but i used strips of scraps to make it.



oh FYI....i work late friday, so if don't
post on friday it will be there sat...thanks
for checking me out this week.

Store your Scraps!

ok...pretty lame, but storing your scraps is important
to using them easily...

so in this first photo i have all three of my folders that have my scraps..
each folder (well a zippered envelope) has 2 sections...in each folder i seperate larger fuller sheets in the bigger sections and smaller easy-to-lose pieces in the smaller section....one folder has cardstock in the big side, small pp in the little, the second folder just has big pp in it and my third folder has....



my KI pp, also seperated from big and small...i find if my scraps are super organized then i will use them better...
I also go thru my paper rack every once in a while and make sure any papers that aren't exactly 12x12 are pulled out...it drives me crazy when i think a sheet is full only to find the corner in the back chopped off.



anyone have any other tips for storing their scraps???
the next couple of days i hope to share with you a couple
more layouts using scraps...thanks for visiting this week!!

IDEA #3

Alter Something!!



these have been posted in the gallery before, but are a great example of using bits of scraps and giving them new life! I bought these little birds at MIchaels's in their xmas clearance section..cheap...like 30 cents....

so i just dug out a few shades of one colour and started playing...i have a third bird i plan to alter...what have you altered lately??? i'd love to see!!!

idea #2

use up those scraps by creating journalling blocks!!!



just find complimenting colours, and keep a stash around for all your journalling needs..




sorry about the crappy photo...but here is a closer look at my tags..

All about Scraps

this week i'll show you a few ways i've used my scraps...i always seem to have a bunch...as i am sure most of you do too! Some of these scraps are from my fave patterned papers, and yet i don't use them!



The first idea is pretty straight-forward...create an image for your layout using only your scraps..i have many sized scraps, so it was easy to create the background for my layout...oh i'll also add that i've used a full sheet of cardstock for the base of my layout.

and this is actually a scraplift from Kelli Crowe, and it was this layout that inspired me to start using my scraps...

Wall Art

I'm the kinda person, that, if I see something and think I can make it I'll try to.
I saw this artwork in the Pottery Barn catalogue and knew I could easily make it with my scrapbooking stash. (I've since looked for the picture, but can't find it).

Anyway... all you'll need for this is a canvas and some paper. The original looked just like the Basic Grey solids, so I used those. (Two-three colors that are very similar if you want it monochromatic... which I did)

I trimmed my pattern paper to 1"x2" pieces and started gluing. As simple as that.
I used modpodge and a foam brush which happened to be the same size as the pieces I was gluing! After I had all the pieces on I sanded the edges and brushed another coat of glue on top to seal it. See... simple.




I have to glue a ribbon around the edge of the canvas yet (to cover the staples), but now I have a lovely piece of art hanging on a wall in my studio.

Now, I think I'll make another for our bedroom!

Friday Sketch #9

I've been working nights this week (and I'm so appreciative of the fact that I don't have to work nights all the time), so I don't have a layout, but here's the sketch! I'm hoping to scrap something this weekend...

More items marked down

More permanent discounts...

- Maya Road rub-ons - most marked down 50%
- all 7 Gypsies (I think I just missed a few in the back) 30-50% off
- Making Memories eyelets and snaps - 50% off
- most Basic Grey rub-ons - 50% off
- most My Mind's Eye die-cuts - 50% off (I still have some more to do)
- most Narratives - 50% off

I think I'm done the first 1/3 of the store.

Changing photos on home decor projects - banner

I wanted to take some time during my blog week to highlight the holiday banner I made with December's kit.
(I had intentions of making a Valentine's one... but it hasn't happened yet)



I love having "scrapbook decor" up, but I don't like that after a while... when I'm tired of the pictures, I have to take it down. Same deal here.
I knew I wanted to make a banner with the Jenni Bowlin Bingo Cards, but I didn't want to "waste" them and just have them in a box in a few years. So I came up with this.

I took standard photo protectors (from a regular photo album) and trimmed them out individually. I cut my paper pieces and just sewed them on. This way I can change my photos every year and not have to replace my hard work!

Some closeups...

February sneak

It's the 20th! Time for next month's kit sneak!

Our February kit this year isn’t your typical Valentines-y one. But have no fear you red lovers… our add-on kit is. So, this month we’re sharing a sneak of the main kit stamp and also the add-on kit… which just happens to double as a project kit too!

Heres' the main kit sneak...

... and the add-on sneak...



Yup. There’s a February giveaway! Again… not Valentines-y.

We want to know if you make any Valentine’s projects… cards, gifts, decorations… that kind of stuff.
Comment in this post and we'll draw a RAK at the end of the month.

Liz's Space

Welcome to my little corner... I use part of our family room in the basement, and this is the view coming into the room.


I got this tall shelf at the Superstore (I really wanted to go to Ikea and get an Expedit shelf like Marcy has, but this works for now). On the top shelf I have SU! cardstocks and papers, a box of completed cards, a box of envelopes and a box with my Hero Arts Wood Mounted stamps.

On the second shelf I have my Big Shot, my Clear Stamp Binder (similar to Leigh's, but I just used photo protector sheets and hockey card sheets). There's also a portable paper holder that I have packed with some stamps and letter stickers/rub-ons too.

On the third shelf, I have a box with my paper flowers, a box of cardstock and paper scraps, a photo box with my photo back-up CD's and my embossing powders (in plastic containers for quick and easy use). I also have a few alterable items on that shelf.

On the bottom shelf, I have a scrapbook album and a basket with embellishments.

My desk is a table from Ikea. I think it's about 2.5'x5'. At the back right corner, I have the same desk organizer Leigh has (also from Ikea). I keep rub-ons, stickers, Hambly transparancies, pencils and pens, and the latest MSS kit in it. Beside that I have a fabric covered box with three sections. It holds my adhesives, some inkpads and small embellishments.

There is a ledge above my desk, and I use it to hold more stuff! It's home to my Stickles and re-inkers, ribbon jars (I think they were made for the kitchen), a jar of buttons and some containers of flowers. I have another desk organizer up there too. It holds most of my letter stickers and rub-ons as well as a few embellishments. I have a magnet board on the wall above my desk. I hang inspiration up there, and also some of the products I want to use. I also have magnet clips holding my non-alpha rub-ons.

This is the left side of my work area. We found some metal shelves and spray painted them white. The top shelf holds my paper holders and some drawers from Ikea. I covered the fronts of one of them with paper, but haven't done the other one yet. My cardstock and papers are all in the paper holders. The next shelf down holds my boxes of punches, inkpads, markers and stamps. On the back left of my desk, I have my AMM tote which holds a lot of my tools and small inkpads.


These are the shelves that are accessible beside my desk. I have my SU! wood mounted stamps in the metal and plastic containers. The rest of the shelf space is only reachable if I crawl under my desk, so I put things I don't use as often there.


Thanks for visiting! It's definitely function over looks right now, but it works for me. :D

Marcy's Space

My art studio. My scrapbook room. My sewing room. My office. My room has many functions. I have a 9x10 room off the living room. The trim work's not done (the ceiling either) but I love it! It also has no door, and being right off the living had to look like part of the house.
Here's a little peek into my creative space.
(be warned... lots of talking and pictures ahead).

My counter.

I LOVE this counter. It used to be in the store on the video side. When we had to rearrange the shop (because I moved to the front) we stored it my house till I'd be able to use it. It was going to go in our addition... but that's taking too long... so I moved it in my room!

I store my empty mini books (in baskets and containers) in there as well as my ribbon, misc. stickers, etc.



The one piece of glass in the front had a crack, so I actually bust both sides out so I could access my stuff from the front (it sits in front of the bump-out, so I couldn't get at that one side from the back anyhow).

On the side of my counter I hung a wire basket I picked up at an antique place. It's the perfect size. Here I toss my newest products.



On top of my counter I keep my Making Memories Carosel, a little bowl of buttons, a blue colinder (where I keep my treading water punch, corner rounder and the cropodile) and an antique bowl for little odds and ends. From where I stand I look into the living room.




When I'm scrapping my trimmer and photos are beside me on a bump-out that is on top of the basement stairwell.



Behind me is the "closet" which is mostly relegated to work stuff. My computer lives in here, as well as my sewing machine.




I store my cardstock in the Cropper Hopper vertical storage at the bottom of the closet. Above that is a basket for extra tools, Red Star Studio stamps and other misc. stuff.
On the shelves I have boxes and/or baskets for extra adhesive, cards, frames, my Bind-it-all, idea books, photos, canvases, memorabilia etc. Our house was built in 1890 and without closets... so this closet in my room tends to hold all that kind of stuff.




Beside me is a window looking into the back.

On that window sill I have some jars holding more "antique-y" supplies.

To the left of the window I have a 25-slot paper rack (the same kind as in the shoppe). I store my favorite patterned papers on here by manufacturer. KI, October Afternoon, etc. I use sheets of chipboard with labels on them to remind me what's where.



Underneath the window is an old bench I picked up. There's a basket for scraps and another for misc. manufacturers. These are sorted in those 12x12 plastic envelopes and also labeled. I keep my 12x12 sticker sheets and die-cuts in here as well.


Beside that I have a black Expedit from IKEA.

There's a lot of decorative items on there, as well as supplies.

Jenni Bowlin products are in one basket.

Miscellaneous items in another.

Brads all loose in a square tin (it's so much fun to dig in there!).

Scenic Route chipboard in one glass jar. American Crafts felt and chipboard in another.

Stamps in the bottom shelves (in baskets and the Making Memories Stamp Binder) And so on and so on. All tagged and labeled.
What made the most difference for me, scrapbooking-wise, was when I recently took all my journaling supplies and put them in a basket (no longer organized by manufacturer). Now I actually journal! Before I'd never leave room for it.

The wall across from me when I work is the work-horse. Three pieces of furniture that hold the bulk of my stuff.


First there's a wood tool box from Costco (painted white). The drawers are nice and shallow. The bottom drawer holds my punchs. One draw stores page protectors, another projects I've made, etc. My little (old) TV sits on top.

Beside the toolbox is a large dresser (also painted white).

I removed the drawers (which were super heavy and didn't open nicely anyway) and put in baskets.

These baskets hold products from my favorite manufacturers. KI, Heidi Swapp, Making Memories. One basket holds flowers. Another alterable items (tins, etc.). And two hold photography supplies (envelopes, tins, etc. for my business).
The top two small "drawers" on the dresser hold my DVD player and a basket for label stickers.

On top of the dresser I have a large glass jar for buttons, a wooden toolbox for wooden stamps, misc. jars (holding photo corners, bulldog clips, Making Memories flowers, binder rings) and a large canister for chipboard (that I scored for $2 and saw at an antique place for $28! Ha!)



Above the toolbox and dresser I hung a door that I took out of the old house on our property. It was the perfect shade of green/blue. And man are those old doors heavy! I use this door as my inspiration board... or at least that's the intent.


And, the last section of my room (if you're still with me) I have a little wooden cabinet I picked up (and painted white! Are you surprised?? LOL). It was used in an office I think.


I love the little slots and use them to sort Thickers (3 slots), Scenic Route stickers, Doodlebug stickers, Basic Grey rub-ons and chipboard, and so on.
I also have wire baskets for ephemera and found papers, one for envelopes, one for cardmaking supplies, one for unfinished projects and one for old books.
I store my fabric on top.


Above this cabinet I have a small shelf I found at the thrift store and.... can you guess?... painted white.

I keep all my little embellishments in jars on here. Little clips, Making Memories buttons, Heidi Swapp tags, little spooled ribbons... anything little that would look good out of it's packaging!


So, this is where I am for now (one day when our addition is finished I'll be moving my space up into the loft). Thanks for stopping by.

If you have any questions about how I organize my space or the items in it, just comment on this post and I'll get back to you.