Scrapbooking 101: String of Embellishments

Here’s a fun little technique to jazz up your page.  Create a string of embellishments to draw your eye across the page.  On this Bathtime Fun page, I have a string of stamped images over a piece of ribbon.  I stamped various fish images onto white cardstock and then punched them out.  Then I placed them along a strip of polka-dot ribbon.  To give the string a whimsical look, I tilted the images a bit.

Though I used stamped images in this example, you could create a string using other embellishments or even a mix of embellishments.  Think buttons, brads, eyelets, punched shapes, stamped images, etc.

For additional Scrapbooking 101 posts, see the links in my left sidebar.  Be sure to check out the FREE tutorials in my sidebar as well. 

Stamp sets: just beachy, antiques upper alphabet, outline lower alphabet; Inks: basic black, summer sun, bermuda bay, green galore, tempting turquoise; Cardstock: summer sun, bermuda bay, tempting turquoise, whisper white; Embellishments: bermuda bay polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; Tools: square punch  

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Hi all.  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It was a quiet affair here….just my hubby, kids, and my mom.  A nice relaxing day, though we ate a little too much.

I wanted to share my Thanksgiving Place Card project with you.  Since it was just the 5 of us, I knew I could add a little stamped decor to the dining room table without having to spend hours on a project.  So, I decided to make place cards.

These are simply 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inch pieces of cardstock folded in half on the short side.  I made slightly different cards for the male and female diners.  Here are photos of the cards along with close-ups and a shot of of them on the dinner table.

Stamp set: defining alphabet, cornelli lace wheel; Inks: old olive, versamark; Cardstock: dusty durango, whisper white, chocolate chip, riding hood red; Embellishments: riding hood red & chocolate chip taffeta ribbon; Tools: big shot, cutting pads, leaves #2 originals die, stylus

Online Extravaganza – Shop our Holiday Sales!

Dates: November 23-30, 2009

For one week only, you can get amazing discounts....up to 50 percent off....on over 40 products and product bundles!

Click here to go to my Stampin' Up! website to view them.  Once you are on my website, click on the Shop Now button and then click on the buttons to see the product in each category.   Don’t forget to check out the Clearance Rack while you are there too – get products up to 80% off! 

Things to Remember:

• Orders may be placed online or through me.
• The sale begins Monday, November 23, 2009, 12:01 AM (MT), and ends Monday November 30, 2009, 11:50 PM (MT).
• Discounts range between 30 percent and 50 percent.
• For online orders, discounts will be shown in the shopping bag at checkout.

Question: Are sale items only while supplies last?
Answer: With the exception of the Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle, all sale prices will be honored through the sales period, even if items go on backorder. Please note: The Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle is only available in a limited quantity; if we run out of any of the products included in this bundle, the bundle will no longer be available and the sale price will no longer be honored.

Week 9 Weigh-Loss Update

I lost 2.6 lbs this week.  And since, starting the Isagenix 30-day Cleansing and Fat-Burning System 9 weeks ago, I’ve lost a total of

26 lbs & 48 inches!!!

Here’s a photo comparison I put together last week.  From left to right: before Isagenix, 1-month photo, and 2-month photo.  Notice how my arms hang straight down at my side now since I’ve lost alot of weight and inches in my hip area  My pants also hang straight down and have become boxy on me.  In fact, I will be taking future photos in different pants so you can see more of my shape underneath.

Can I get a big HOORRAY!!  I’m so excited.  And I feel so incredible…..Isagenix products give you so much ENERGY.  I can’t believe I’ve finally found a system that works for me.  From now through January 3rd, 2010 when you sign up as an Associate with the 30-day System and choose Autoship (your order automatically delivered each month), the $39 membership fee is waived.  That’s an awesome deal!  Plus, there’s a 30-day money back guarantee on the products.  What are you waiting for?!! 

For details, check out my weight-loss blog and read the links in the Isagenix Info section in my right sidebar, especially the 30-day System Basics and How to Sign Up as an Associate links.  Feel free to email me with questions too.  Whether you want to lose weight, make money, or BOTH….there is opportunity for everyone.  I’d love to have you join my growing (but shrinking) Isagenix team!!

Here are some other weight loss/health examples from other people using Isagenix:

• My upline Cindy has lost 42 lbs and 55 inches in 4 months and dropped her total cholesterol by 76 points!
• My friend Lia has lost 50 lbs and 83 inches in 3.5 months!
• My mom has lost 12 lbs in 7 weeks without doing the full-day cleanses (for those of you worried that the cleanse isn’t for you).

In honor of passing the 25 lb weight loss mark, I will be offering some blog candy here.  Stay tuned for details in the next few days.

Scrapbooking 101: Don’t Be Afraid of White Space

When I first started scrapbooking, I thought I had to fill every part of my page.  Since then, I’ve discovered that some of my favorite pages are those on which I leave white space (aka undecorated space).  Check out this So Happy Together 2-page layout below featuring photos of Brian and the kids fishing at my cousin’s farm. 

Here’s a closeup of the left side of the layout.  I kept plenty of white space around my title/photo block.  This technique works to draws the eye across the left page and over across the right page when the 2 pages are side-by-side. And here’s the right side of the layout.

The white space around the decorated parts of the page really make the photos “pop”.  Try leaving a little white space on your next page….I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Stamp set: happiness always; Inks: old olive, rich razzleberry; Cardstock: sahara sand, old olive, whisper white, rich razzleberry, cottage wall DSP; Embellishments: rich razzleberry polka-dot grosgrain ribbon; Tools: scallop edge punch, curly label punch, wide oval punch, big shot, stampin’ up! timeless type alphabet junior medium sizzlits dies, multi-purpose platform, cutting pads

Scrapbooking 101: Create a 12 x 12 Page From an 8-1/2 x 11 Sketch

There are many times when I’m perusing scrapbook magazines and come across a sketch that I just love, but the size is 8-1/2 x 11, when I typically scrapbook in size 12 x 12.  If you are in that same boat, I’ll show you an example of how you can still use the sketch on your page.

Here’s the sketch (from the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Scrapbooks, etc.):

And here’s the page they featured in the magazine:

Now here’s my pageI started by creating my 8-1/2 x 11 page based on the sketch and then placed it almost to the very right edge of my 12x12 piece of cardstock.  There was a little too much white space on the left edge of my page, so I added a button & 2 brads to the lower left corner.  But that still wasn’t enough…..I felt that the left side was still way too overpowered by the right side.  So, I used strips of olive & white cardstock to make it seem as though my title block extended all the way to the left side of the page.  As you can see, this helps to draw the eye across my page and over to my photos, which I want as the focus.  I also used the Rule of 3’s to draw the eye to various parts of the page…..using olive & rose red embellishments in 2 areas to coordinate with the olive & rose used in the title circle.

By creating an 8-1/2 x 11 page from the sketch and then building it up, I was able to successfully create my 12 x 12 page.  Give it a try sometime!

For more Scrapbooking 101 posts, see the links in my left sidebar or subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a post!

Stamp sets: antiques upper alphabet, simple serif alphabet & numbers; Inks: old olive, rose red, whisper white; Cardstock: pink pirouette, old olive, rose red, whisper white, bali breeze DSP; Embellishments: old olive & rose red 1/4” grosgrain ribbon, rich regals brads, playground designer buttons, white embroidery floss; Tools: circle scissors plus, glass mat, cutter tool, paper piercer, mat pack

3 x 6 Christmas Card Set

I created these 3x6 Christmas cards with our Berry Christmas & Four the Holidays stamp sets from the Holiday Mini catalog.  I love the 3x6 size because you can create 4 cards from a single piece of 12x12 cardstock.  Sweet!   These cards are nearly all no-layer cards, which is even better, because you save paper and time.  Plus, you don’t need many products to make them….typically just Stamps, Ink, & Paper.  Love that elegant simplicity!  Scroll down for photos of the individual cards.

And for a great gift idea, place four 3x6 cards and four Small Open-End Envelopes in my 3 x 6 Card Pouch.  If you missed the tutorial for the pouch, click here.

Stamp set: berry christmas, four the holidays; Inks: always artichoke, rich razzleberry; Cardstock: whisper white, rich razzleberry; Tools: 1/2” circle punch

3 x 6 Card Pouch Tutorial

I needed a pouch to hold some 3 x 6 inch cards, so I came up with this design.  The pouch holds four 3 x 6 cards and four of our small open-end envelopes, which measure 3-1/2 x 6-3/4 inches.  This set would make a great Christmas or birthday gift for a friend or teacher and it’s pretty easy to put together.  Stay tuned for my next post and I’ll show you pictures of the 3 x 6 cards inside!

Stamps: berry christmas; Inks: always artichoke, rich razzleberry; Cardstock: always artichoke, rich razzleberry, whisper white; Embellishments: white gel pen; Tools: big shot, stampin’ up! petals-a-plenty textured impressions folder, paper snips, 1/2” circle punch; Other: sticky strip

3 x 6 Card Pouch Tutorial

1) Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 6 x 12 inches.  Score it along the short side at 3/4”, 1”, 5”, and 5-1/4”.

2) Now score it along the long side at 4-3/4” and 5”.  Here’s how your cardstock piece should look.

3) Now cut off the outer two upper corners at the inner vertical fold & the lower horizontal fold.  (I bent my cardstock at the bottom horizontal score line to make this step a little more obvious in the photo) 

4) Now bend your cardstock inward at all the folds and crease with a bone folder.  Use a circle punch to notch out a half circle on the bottom edge.

5) Apply Sticky Strip adhesive to the folded edges.

6) Now remove the backing on the adhesive and fold the top flap of the pouch down over the folded edges making sure that your bottom corners are square (it’s hard to tell, but the bottom of the pouch is in the lower left side of the photo, the top edge of the pouch is in the upper right side off the photo). This is what the base pouch should look like when you are done.

7)  Apply Sticky Strip adhesive to the back of the base pouch.

8) Now to make the front flap, take a piece of cardstock measuring 3-15/16 x 12 inches.  Score it on the long side at 6-15/16” and 7-3/16”.  Now bend the cardstock inward at the folds and crease with a bone folder.

9)  Place the pouch base in the flap so that the top of the base meets the bottom scored line.  Remove the adhesive from the back of the base and stick the 2 pieces together.

10) Here’s the finished card pouch with front flap.  Decorate as desired and then fill with 3x6 cards and envelopes.

 Note: the belly band was created from a 1 x 12 inch piece of cardstock.  Score the strip on the longest side at 3-11/16”, 4”, 8”, and 8-5/16”.

I’d love to see your creations.  If you make one of these for yourself, please leave a comment with a link to your project!

Scrapbooking 101: Match Your Page Theme to the Photos

When scrapbooking, it’s important to match the theme of your page or layout to the photos so you get the look you want.  In the example page below, I’m using photos of my husband and son at my cousin’s farm with a couple of their horses.  I wanted a western & masculine feel to my page, so I used appropriate-themed designer paper and stamps as well as masculine colors and distressed/torn cardstock.  My embellishments are also of a western and masculine type: poly-twill ribbon (which is more boy-ish than say a grosgrain or taffeta ribbon), plain die-cut letters, and a jumbo eyelet.  It’s all about keeping the look. 

By all means, break out the glitter & rhinestone brads when it’s appropriate, but make sure the theme fits the photos.

Here’s a close-up of the distressed journaling block.  I took Very Vanilla cardstock, crumbled it into a ball, and open it up.  Next, I rubbed my Chocolate Chip ink pad directly on the edges and curled the upper right corner under.

Stamp set: wanted; Inks: really rust, chocolate chip, sage shadow; Cardstock: really rust, sage shadow, very vanilla, outlaw DSP; Embellishments: chocolate chip poly-twill ribbon, jumbo eyelet; Tools: big shot, stampin’ up! billboard sizzlets decorative strip die, decorative strip cutting pads

Mia’s Page Corner Bookmarks

Mia was home sick for 3 days a few weeks ago and was getting serious couped-up-itis.  Yes, I made that word up!  Anyway, I suggested that she make page corner bookmarks for her classmates and a few friends.  I had some retired designer paper and a lot of Only Orange cardstock, so we set to work creating about 30 bookmarks.  The kids loved them.

Here are the girl version bookmarks with scalloped edges, polka-dot or star-burst designer paper, and white gel pen polka dot accents:

And here are the boy version bookmarks with a straight edge, striped designer paper, and bashful blue strips for accents:

If you missed the tutorial for making these bookmarks, click here.

Page Corner Bookmark Tutorial

I’ve seen several styles of these online and finally had to make one for myself.  I’m an avid book reader and am always in need of a bookmark.  I love this style because it’s easy to tuck the corner of your page into the “pocket” of your bookmark.  These make fun gifts too.  Stay tuned tomorrow as I’ll be posting bookmarks that Mia made for her classmates.

Stamps: all year cheer; Inks: soft suede; Cardstock: real red, soft suede, christmas cocoa specialty DSP; Embellishments: white gel pen; Tools: scallop edge punch, small oval punch

1) Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 5x5 inches.  Now score at 2.5 inches on each side.  You’ll end up with a piece of cardstock divided into 4 equal squares.

2) Cut the corner off of one square at a diagonal.  This will be the front of the bookmark.  If desired, you can scallop this diagonal piece with our scallop edge punch or our eyelet border punch. 

3)  Cut away the entire square opposite the diagonal piece.  Now fold the cardstock along the 2 remaining score lines, tucking one square behind the diagonal piece, applying adhesive to its back side, and folding the remaining square to the very back.  Now you have your bookmark to decorate as desired.