A Walk Down Memory Lane: Product Review

Slick Writers by American Crafts
The Slick Writer is a pen "must-have" in my opinion because it allows scrapbookers and cardmakers to write on surfaces that would otherwise go unused and less embellished. Slick Writers contain quick-dry ink and their durable acrylic tip makes this the ideal marker for writing on lots & lots of surfaces, including photos, stickers, ribbon, vellum, metal and glass. I was introduced to the Slick Writer several years ago when I was whining to a friend about not being able to find a pen to write on Maya Road plastic journaling tags. Well, with Slick Writer's you can! They also work great on photo paper (which is what I used in my card example here). Sometimes I find myself wanting to add a bit of journaling to a picture-especially in an area of the photo that is blank-maybe an inspirational word-like "Hope" or "Love". I pull out my Slick Write and it works great. Slick Writers come in lots of different sizes-fine, medium, and broad and are also available in different colors. I created my card using American Crafts patterned paper, photo paper, Ranger alcohol inks, stencils, bling and green gingham ribbon & of course a fine black Slick Writer!

Tutorial: 3D Copic Images=Happiness :)

A Walk Down Memory Lane has a fun tutorial on how to create this 3D image using The Greeting Farm stamps, Copic Markers, and American Crafts papers & Thickers:

Copic Christmas Card Class-October 5, 2011

Join me at The Scrapbooking Studio on October 5, 2011 from 6:30-8:30pm to create five Christmas Cards using Copic markers, Nikki Sivils Gingerbread Land papers & stamps, Tattered Angels (Mist)-a-ble canvas sheet flowers, Just Rite Stamps, Maya Road wooden snowflakes and heart stick pins, Tim Holtz stamp, Stickles & Ranger inks & blender tool, as well as Perfect Pearls Mist, gorgeous ribbons with texture, punched and die cut pieces, and more. Each attendee will receive three Ciao Copic Markers to keep in the following colors ($12 value) R35 Coral, R39 Garnet, and YG63 Pea Green. You'll also receive photos of each card along with written directions and envelopes. In addition to the three Ciao marker colors already mentioned we will also use the following markers in class-bring them if you have them or use mine during class: R22, R24, BG10, B00, B02, N0, YG67, E74, E77, BV20, BV25, Y08, C5, C7, C8, Colorless Blender. Cost for class $28.00 Call to reserve your spot now: 309-736-7242 We had a full house last time! You won't want to miss out!

Another Challenge from A Walk Down Memory Lane

I love a good challenge-especially one that helps me reach outside of my comfort zone without being too painful. I have a bad habit of hoarding certain very pretty scrapbooking embellishments...so my challenge to you is to pick something from your "hoard" and use it on a layout today. I choose to use an embroidered tag from Prima that I purchased over a year ago. I also used some Kraft Glassine paper from Tim Holtz idea-ology (Advantus), and some vine ribbon. I cut the tag into two portions to make it go a little further, used the Glassine paper to die cut a flower (Accucut) and my title. The vine ribbon I've had for a while and am now down to only two feet or so-the remainder gets stashed back in the hoard for later :). Here's a look at my layout using the three items from my "hoard".

I created this layout using American Crafts cardstock and Hello Sunshine patterned paper.

Sassy Lil' Sketches Reveal! Sept. 2011 (Week 1)

It's the start of Sept. 2011 and you know what that means? It's time for another Card Sketch reveal from Sassy Lil' Sketches! This month's card sponsor is Authentique Paper check them out here: http://www.authentiquepaper.com/ Here's the first September sketch:




My first take on the sketch did indeed include a cupcake, I also was able to work in using my crimper and Copic markers for some of the frosting; however, the card just didn't look right to me when I was finished so I started over. I used a whole new color scheme, turned the sketch sideways and used stars instead of the cupcake. These changes to my original sample worked better for me and I was much happier with the results second time around. It's a fun sketch and I liked the idea of the really large flower as the card mat.









What's your take on the sketch? Give it a try and post it at: Sassy Lil Sketches. I can't wait to see your results.

Sweet Tooth September Kits-Revealed!

Pebbles Fresh Goods was a truly sweet treat to work with! Embossed dots, large and small florals, awsome borders and tons more~You will love what you create with this month's eight card collection:



Each of these floral goodies says, "Hello" in a very special way. Felt flowers, hand dyed coffee filter flowers, Kaiser Kraft flowers, Maya Road stick pins, Pebbles papers & rub-ons, buttons, brads, tons of ribbons and more bloom across every card.

Sweet Tooth Exclusive Kits at The Scrapbooking Studio

Sweet Tooth Scrapbooking Exclusive Kits for September 2011 will be available for purchase on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011 ONLY at The Scrapbooking Studio! Don't miss out on these easy to assemble, fun, colorful, gorgeous kits. A little something to temp you...

Each WeRMemoryKeepers Travel Light "Thinking of You" five card kit comes complete with ribbons, pins, button, Pebbles "Thinking of You" rub-ons to use for greetings, die cut, punched and envelopes and color photo instructions. Cost $11/Kit

Sassy Lil' Sketches-Week 3 Reveal

It's time for the Week 3 Card Sketch Reveal at Sassy Lil' Sketches! Here's their awesome sketch...

And here's my take on it. I substituted a die for scallop type square for the circles. I had fun with the star instead of the flowers on the four corners and then tied that in with punched star shapes. Pop dots give the numbers a bit of dimension.

And now a word from our card sponsor:

http://www.mftstamps.com/

Want to play along? Great! You just copy the sketch and post it on Sassy Lil' Sketches. Have fun & good luck!! Here are the RULES.

Sassy Lil' Sketches-Week 1 Layout (August)

Loved this awesome layout sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches so I had to try it out!

I received my August samples from The Scrapbooking Studio (my favorite LSS!) in Moline, IL and used the Cosmo Cricket 6x6 pad (perfect for this type of layout) to create this 12x12 page layout. I really love the grid! I used a white pen to create the faux stiches, Bella Blvd. 12x12 sheet of letters for the title and journaling (this saved so much time!!), Accucut dies for the butterflies and pennant, and Tim Holtz die for the small journaling piece at the top. Mark and I celebrated our fifteen wedding anniversary in Galena, IL. This layout worked great as an opportunity to have several photos on one page.

Sassy Lil' Card Sketch-Week 1 Reveal

I am excited to share a card I created using the Week 1 Sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches! Here's the sketch:

And here's my take on it using Crate paper, twine from Twinery, Queen black pearl bling, white opaque pen and black pen for faux stitching, Maya Road small wood buttons and small chipbard flowers, Prima glass glob, Cat eye ink pads to color the chipboard pieces, Pebbles rub-on for the greeting.

I used a large plastic lid as my circle stencil for drawing the "sewn" circles.

I pressed the chipboard down into my cat eye inks to coat the little flowers. Thanks for taking a peak!

And here is this week's card sponsor:
http://www.mftstamps.com/

Want to play along? Great! You just copy the sketch and post it on Sassy Lil' Sketches. Have fun & good luck!! Here are the RULES.

Copic Class August 24, 2011 6:30 pm

Copic Tricks & Treats 101: Create five Halloween cards using Copic markers, Just-Rite stamps, Reminisce papers, ribbons, Maya Road pins & wooden buttons, stamp and color on Ranger sticky back canvas and lots more! You will be shown three copic blending techniques during class. If you have the following Copic markers please bring them with you to class: C5, C7, BV20, BV25, BG10, R02, R05, colorless blender, and the 0.03 black multiliner. I have a lot of information to share with beginner Copic marker users. If you've purchased Copics in the past and have tried to used them but failed-NOW is your chance to figure it out!Class includes 3 Copic Ciao Markers retail value of $12.87. Bring a basic tool kit with you to class.

Register for class by calling The Scrapbooking Studio 309-736-7242 or

Register ONLINE now!

Something NEW from Sweet Tooth Scrapbooking-Don't miss out...

Sweet Tooth Scrapbooking, LLC is offering something NEW for August 2011: five one-page layouts in one kit! You read it correctly---FIVE one-page layouts in one kit for only $20/kit. Here's what you can expect to receive in each kit: Echo Park's Playground papers, journaling cards, element stickers (12x12 sheet), border strips, Scenic Route chipboard circles, ribbons, buttons, twine, color photos & of course written instructions. Available here on the Sweet Tooth website.

Also for August: Jillibean Soup Blossom & Pea Pod Parts adorn this 8-card collection of "Hello", "Thank You", "I Love You", and several friendship cards. Jillibean Soup's designer's have a way of making everything they create really adorable and this collection is no exception. Each kit includes, papers, die cut parts, ribbons, twine, buttons, brads, envelopes, color photo instructions and lots more. Order yours now for the low cost of $16 for eight cards.

Glittery Inspiration...

I love this picture of Julianne and Charlie discovering the ocean at Cocoa Beach, FL for the very first time. It was an awesome trip with lots of "firsts". We saw our first surfer who was on his board just to their left and besides him and us it was pretty empty. It was so cold and windy we were truly the only ones around and we were able to savor the beauty alone.

We had the opportunity to visit a lot of places on our trip: Disney, Universal, the Space Center but the only place they wanted a second chance at visiting was the ocean. :)

I also created a card using the Best Creation glitter papers. It's sort of fun because it "grows" like the plants on the paper. Check it out...

Thanks for taking a peak!