What I Made Monday 2/6/12

For the past several years I've wanted to make this punch collage by Ali Edwards.

Source: aliedwards.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Years. Five years of wanting to make this.

After the de-decorating from Christmas I lost a piece of wall art. For most of January I wandered around the apartment wistfully saying "where's my wall art??"

Finally I caved and decided to make the heart punch collage. Just in time for Valentine's Day.

I purged a ton of my scrapbook papers and found some of my favorite Chatterbox sheets, so started punching away. Punch is the Martha Stewart heart punch.

Originally I thought I would mount the punched hearts on red cardstock, but we really don't have much red in our kitchen, so decided to go with white textured cardstock instead.

The sheet was 8x8 and I added pop dot adhesive for each heart. All the years I've used these foam dots I threw away the extra leftover adhesive scraps.  I finally realized I just had to rip it apart and use the background that is still sticky and just as good as the circles.

I bought an inexpensive matted 12x12 frame from Michael's and now the wall art is in its place.

Of course, now that it's hanging, we found the wall art. 

Behind the bookshelf.

Linking up with Conni.

What I Made Monday 8/8/11

I'm linking up with lots of other creative ladies for I Made it Monday at My Personal Reflections

This week I made a baby scrapbook for a coworker expecting her first child in the next few months.

I used some of my favorite papers from Making Memories, Die Cuts with a View, and Daisy D's that I've held onto and never really used. 

 The baby boom among my friends has just started (I know, it will likely last a while) so I am just now building up a baby arsenal in my scrapbook/cardmaking supplies.

Usually when I make albums (commissioned or for a gift) I add in lots of ribbons, monograms, special dates, buttons, etc. I'm not always sure of others' tastes, so I try to put in a little of everything.

Let's hope Colin's mama is happy (and that Colin is one day too).

What I Made Monday 8/1/11

I'm linking up with Conni at My Personal Reflections for her weekly look at what we created the past week.

This week I made some of these:

I looooove pink and green and I've had this Basic Grey paper for at least a year and just now sat down to make some birthday cards using it.

 I made most of these these without sentiments to add as needed (anniversary, birthday, sympathy, really whatever comes along).

 And these were made from random scraps I found. I think the one in front will be a new baby boy card for someone I work with.

What did you make this week?

Scarpbooking Tools = Style Helpers

You read that right: my scrapbooking hobby has saved many outfits

 with the tools and products that have saved a nearly  un-styled day. 

How you ask? Here are my little secrets.

(Photo taken in the sweltering hot summer)

Hate when belts are too long and they just hang there or stick out? You could use those little velcro dots, but that means you have to wear the belt the same way all the time. 

Enter the ATG gun. 

I'll argue that this bulky tool can also let you reuse uncanceled stamps with ease, but that's another post.

You just hold out the side of your belt, swipe on some adhesive and you are ready. It doesn't loosen through the day and it's totally invisible. Plus, the goo easily peels off post-wearing and has not yet left residue on my belts.  You can also use GlueDots or GlueLines and get the same results (for the non-scrapper, that is a cheaper solution).

Hate that your belts don't go to the perfect length (you could use a hole right between the ones already punched or just need it a tad longer or shorter)?

Time for the Crop A Dile!

Sure, you could try the ice pick or paper piercer trick, but for a clean, smooth punch that you can make in narrow or wide, depending on what you need, the Crop A Dile is awesome. The hole looks like it was meant to be there and you can easily see where you are punching.

 It's effortless and I think I use it more as a styling tool now than when I scrap.

And finally, this trick saved these pants.

The day after I bought these pants, we had a flood in our bathroom. 

I bleached the bathroom. 

I took a shower and put on my brand new pants.

 I leaned against the bleached sink. 

I bleached a perfect spot on my pants. 

Right in the front.

For a couple of months I tea stained the bleach, tried magic marker, tried sharpies. 

What worked? Staz On Ink Pads mixed with Distress Ink by Tim Holtz. 

Using several colors, I blended them to mask the stain and save the pants. And it stayed on after a wash.

Have any style tips that come from something completely unrelated? I'd love to hear! 

Week in the Life - Getting Ready

This morning I was thinking about my Week in the Life project that I will embark upon for the second time. And I was realizing that I will be taking photos of myself at a high school and trying to figure out how to do that without looking like a total dork. And then I went to work. And was asked to go to New Orleans from Wednesday through Friday for a presentation. Next week. So there goes trying to be creative about photographing dorky stuff!

I am very excited about this trip. I like to travel (hate to fly, but that's ok) and I've never been to New Orleans, so I'm thrilled that I will be in a new place. And I love taking pictures of scenery, architecture, flowers, etc. so I know I am headed to a great location. Oh, and I love to shop.

I will be presenting on millennial generation students (and I technically am a millennial, so I like this stuff too) and will be networking with professionals from across the country. I never used to enjoy this, but it has grown on me. I think I am most flattered that my director would want me to do this, as I am her representative for this. I am honored.

And that takes me to the Week in the Life project. I'm still going to do this next week, but I am not sure if this will very accurately document a typical week in my life. I will only being doing my typical morning routine on Tuesday. The rest of the week will be very abnormal. But that is what makes the project what it is. My life gets crazy like this, things pop up and gears get changed. Plus I'm pretty sure I will have lovely photos for the week.

To get ready for the project itself, I will be gathering the following:
2 cameras



I carry a point and shoot with me daily everywhere I go and have a larger semi-SLR for getting the great shots.

Moleskine notebook to jot things down as they happen


I hope to use the travel/airport time to compile Week in the Life information and get a blog post ready for when I get back, at least to share the week.

Week in the Life 2010

Back in 2008 I took photos for one week documenting my life's daily happenings. I really intended to then scrap them, but it never actually happened. The photos can be found here.

This year, Ali Edwards plans to do once again complete her project from April 19-April 25th. Here is Ali's original post as to how you should document this week in your life. She has wonderful tips on how you should really do this and why it doesn't have to be a perfect project, but a process that instead captures what you do everyday. I think that is the core of the project:focusing on the everyday coolness that is the routine of daily life.

These are the things I think helped me complete the documenting part:

1. Keep your camera with you all the time. I tend to do this anyway, but if you aren't in the habit, it is something to get used to a bit.

2. Have a notebook with you and set a page for each day of the week in advance. Either "think it and ink it" by writing down your activities as they happen, or choose to spend some time each evening writing a re-cap. Trust me, when you want to permanently document you will rely on these notes.

3. Take lots of photos. More than you think you will need. For me it turned out that I ended up taking tons at the beginning and fizzled a little at the end. It helped to have more to select from overall.

4. Upload your photos daily to your computer or a website like flickr and name them. This allows you to remember more and match the photos with your notes.

This year I really want to actually make the scrapbook immediately following the photo and documenting process. And this year maybe I will actually share it with all of you :)

Cardmaking...why?

I used to only be a scrapbooker who made scrapbook pages. That was all I did. I never understood the enjoyment of cardmaking at all. Why would I want to make things that I gave away (sounds a little selfish, I know)? Well, then I visited a local scrapbook store and the sweet owner explained it to me. You get to make little treasures to share with others. You buy supplies specifically for cardmaking so you don't feel guilty cutting that piece of 12x12 paper. Or use some of those scraps (which we scrappers keep piles of anyway).

And so, based on the instant gratification of quick creating, I started making some cards. And the first ones were pretty plain and simple, but when people receive handmade anything, it is a cool thing. I love it when someone knits me a scarf or makes me a card. So I guess I think of it as something to brighten a day, a little sprinkle of love into someone's life.

And that is when I realized the benefit of the "handmade from the heart" items. I think it's why I own six Lisa Leonard necklaces and why I love going to small local stores to peek at the owner-designed paper art. Why I love personalized wall art. Why I love my Crochet for a Cure scarves and bag. I love the art that is created for others to enjoy and sprinkled in my life.

So, I am sharing some digital cards. I sometimes forget that I made them and as I looked through my gallery at 2peas, I noticed that some were fun to make, so why not share them here?

Sending happy digital wishes for a quick spring!

Probably my favorite thank you card. I just love these papers.

A wedding card for dear friends. I tend to do monogrammed wedding cards.

A simple birthday card. This one lies pretty flat for easy mailing.

This was a shower card and tag.

And one of my favorite birthday cards. Just loved making this one.

Favorites in February - Scrapbook Essentials

I've been scrapbooking for about six years now. I've found that sometimes I get into a real scrapping groove, constantly taking great photos, using lots of cool products, and making great projects. There are some really great items out there that make scrapping easy for me and are real essentials.

1. A great scrapbooking website

I love twopeasinabucket.com . I've been visiting the site since April 2004 and love that I can post my layouts there, learn what products are worth buying, and learn the latest and greatest about the industry. The gallery at 2peas is filled with amazing cards and layouts and I use it often for inspiration.

2. A fabulous cutter

If you can work at home and have endless space, I recommend the Tonic Guillotine trimmer

It cuts through several sheets of cardstock and acrylic and is super sharp.

For crops and simple scrapping, I use my Fiskars Euro Trimmer (this isn't exactly what I have, but it seems to be a newer version, hence the NEW circle).

It is precise and cuts very well. You do need to buy replacement blades, so slight bummer.

3. Strong, acid-free adhesive

I think you need both dry and wet adhesive depending on the project.

I like Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Adhesive

and I am looooooving my ATG gun.

Yes, it's large,but the refills are so inexpensive and last forever and are so super sticky.

4. Glue dots

These little wonders make ribbon, metal art, wood, stick to anything.

5. Fabulous Cardstock

I use Bazzil or Prism mostly. Great texture and very easy to work with. I have learned I do not need every color of the rainbow, I now just buy those go-to colors I use most:

white, black, dark brown, kraft brown, greens, teal/icy blue, and pomegranate red.

6. A fabulous Local Scrapbook Store

I've been shopping at Scrapper's Playground since the week it opened. What helps is that this store stocks all the latest and greatest and is open to any suggestions on what to stock. They have amazing papers, a "wall of color" with every ink, paint, copic marker, chalk you can imagine, a knowledgeable staff to tell you how to use the product, and awesome classes with their talented staff members and "celeb" scrappers too (it's where I went to Donna Downey's classes last year when my hair was way longer).

Most of all, just enjoy the process. Once it becomes a burden, I have learned to take a little break, pack up my stuff and ignore it. Then the bug hits and I am back in the groove.

So go get scrappy :)

Simplify scrapped

So I usually get around to scrapping my word of the year in June. And it is usually long after the word has had its effect. And it is usually just to have it scrapped.

So this year, I scrapped it first thing at a private crop in Sandra's new scrap room.

In a sense it is a journal moment for my word with a photo of Freddy and me on New Year's Eve.

Th journaling reads:

Simplify - my ford for 2010. Need less, want less, keep less. Love more, learn more, organize more. Be "ok," be grateful, be me. Make goals, make a schedule, make time for what is important. Keep it simple.

This was definitely a fun way to get back into scrapping this year. And it made for a reflective moment.

Good things

Lots of cool things happened this month, so here's a quick review:

Feb 1 - Polar Bear Plunge!!
This has been one of Freddy's dreams and we plunged for Make-A-Wish. such an exhilarating experience. More photos to come, but this is us getting ready for the dip. Thanks Lauren for capturing this!

Feb. 6,7,8: Donna Downey scrapping adventure
While I am a creative person, I don't tend to go too far out of my box. My weekend with Donna was inspiring and all around amazing. I am very motivated to capture the special moments of my life. Here's me with Donna:

Feb 8: Farewell to Florence. As you know, I have been praying with a group of women for almost 2 years. Florence, a strong, compassionate and affirming woman is moving to Savannah later this month. We had this great surprise party for her, bringing together the many people whose lives she has touched. Florence is next to me in yellow.


Feb 13th Valentine's Day
Enjoyed yummy ramen noodle shrimp pouches prepared by darling Freddy and flowering tea.




Feb 14th Death by Chocolate
My Aunt Barbara and Uncle Brendan hosted a murder party. Freddy was a puppeteer and I was a chocolate maven. A completely funny night.





And then this weekend. No photos, but a lot went on. We celebrated Freddy's grandpa's 70th birthday and attended a benefit for a friend's niece. And today, well I got up at noon and now I am blogging.

I do have a huge recommendation for everyone, though. How I never saw this documentary before is a mystery, but thanks to Patty for suggesting I see it. Unchained Memories on HBO is readings of slave narratives by black actors. I was completely moved and stunned. If you have 73 minutes, watch it.