UPCOMING CRAFT FAIR

I have been working non stop in my scrapbooking/craft room getting ready for an upcoming craft fair.  Not only will I have some amazing premade scrapbook pages and a few premade albums but I have been busy making Christmas Stocking Stuffers.  Here are some photos.

SNOWMAN KISSES

I am having a great time working in my Scrap Room today.  I am working on projects for an upcoming craft fair.  I found this really fun craft at KRISTENSKREATIONS.  Here are the finished pictures.

Does Your Photo Storage Box Need To Go On A Diet?

Let me be direct…is your photo box getting a little chubby?  In other words, are you too busy to scrapbook?  I can barely get in a shower, let alone scrap.  MY reasons are: I work full time, I’ve got a new business, a daughter whose expecting, laundry, wonderful boyfriend, needles inserted in eyes…you get the picture.  Tweak this list a little and you can see yourself.  So, what is a craft-loving, super woman (or man) to do?  That box of photos is not getting any lighter, in fact; it’s gained about 10 pounds in just the last year alone.  It’s about time to do something about it. One page at a time, one event at a time.  Don’t look at the big picture, because you will become overwhelmed.  Don’t spend your time trying to create the perfect layout.  Honestly, I’ve been saying this since the beginning of time…just get them down.  That’s my motto.  That doesn’t mean that your scrapbooks are going to turn out awful.  I’ve got some nice layouts that took 15 minutes or less.  Stick with a theme throughout your album; that alone will save you GOBS of time.  How about this…steal, steal and steal some more!  It’s fun to be creative, but that takes time and if you really need to just catch up, the internet is the perfect place to steal someone else’s imagination (or your neighbor at the next crop).  Once you catch up, create away!  Let’s start on a goal, lose a pound a week.  That’s not too much to ask, is it?

Take the Guilt out of Scrapbooking

Do you ever wonder why you need to scrap EVERYTHING??? 

I do, all the time.  It’s this weird thing I have where if I don’t scrap it, I feel completely and utterly guilty!  Let’s say I take a walk and see the cutest little duck in a pond, I take a picture of that cute little duck and feel the need to scrapbook it (sound familiar?).  Why, I ask you, WHY????? 

Don’t you think it’s time to take it down a notch?  I do…well, for myself anyway.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to scrap as much as the next guy.  Believe me, it’s a hobby that I am fervently into, so please don’t hate me for going off for a moment.  I’m really just trying to say that it’s ok to downsize, if nothing else but for your sanity. 

My advice:  Stick to what you really feel is important and scrap it.  All else goes into a box (make sure it’s acid free and don’t forget to categorize it – you know, under “Fowl, Spring of 2010.”)  And if you have a rainy day, the house is clean, the kids are in school and your scrapbooking is up-to-date, by all means scrapbook the rest.  Take a deep breath.  Isn’t that better now?

A scrapbookers Vocabulary

Adhesive - The product that is used to attach pictures and other items into a scrapbook page.


Album — Blank book used to hold scrap-booking pages.

Archival — Will last. Lightfast.

Border – The margins of a page.

Buffered — Maintains the core of a solution and prevents transference of acid from photos to paper.

Calligraphy — Old fashioned lettering.

Cardstock — Thick, sturdy paper, usually a thicker mil then regular paper.

Clipart — Art that is purchased usually in a group that can be used royalty free.

Collage — A collection of various items.

Corner Edger Scissors — Scissors that cut corners.

Crop — To cut or to trim a photograph.

Deacidification – Neutralizes the acid in paper.

Decorative scissors — Scissors which cut a decorative pattern.

Die-Cut Designs —Designs cut from die cut machines.

Double-Mount — To place a photograph or other item on two background papers.

Embellishment — A ‘special touch’ added to your layout for cosmetic value.

Emboss — To create a raised surface.

Eyelet - Eyelets are small metal circles through which the laces are threaded on a pair of shoes. They are used in a scrapbook context as decoration and as a means to "rivet" components onto a page--mainly card stock.

Focal point – The area of a design that you would like to draw attention.

Gel-Based rollers — pens with pigment ink.

General Pattern Paper — paper with patterns.

Gift Album — A collection of sentimental items put together for a person.

Handmade Paper — Paper made by hand.

Handmade Scraps — scrap book supplies made from layered die-cuts.

Heading — The caption or title.

Heritage — The traditions passed down from one generation to another generation.

Idea Books — Guidebooks usually written about one aspect of scrapbooking.

Intensity - The strength of a color.

Journaling — Any words you write in your scrapbook.

Layout — The arrangement of items in your scrapbook.

Lignin — a naturally occurring acid substance that breaks down over time.

Master Family Album — holds photos of everybody in the family and other items of interest.

Memorabilia — certificates, documents, and other items that tell a story.

Mount — to attach a photo or other item to another piece of paper.

Oval Cutters — paper trimmers that cut paper and photographs into ovals.

Page Protectors — acid-free plastic sheets protect your pages when they are complete.

Pattern Paper — paper with designs repeated on the entire page.

pH Level — measurement that tells a scrap booker how acidic or basic something is. Seven or above is thought of as ideal when scrapbooking.

Post-Bound Albums — scrap-booking albums that are held together with big metal posts that run through the pages.

Reversible Adhesive — an adhesive that can be removed if necessary.

Strap-Hinge Albums — scrap-booking albums held together with plastic straps that run through a holder directly on the pages and keep the book in place.

Template — a stencil or other pre-made item.

Theme — the overall subject.

Vellum — a lightweight, translucent paper.

Wax Pencil - A soft, acid-free pencil used to write on glass, plastic and photos.

Workshop —a class usually held at a scrap-booking store to help people new to scrapbooking to get started.

Something New with Memory Works

Ever hear of them? If you haven't you will NOW! You see I have recently become and Independant Memory Works Scrapbooking Consultant! I am so excited to share this wonderful opportunity with all of you!


Where to start? Well, Memory Works offers all products at a reasonable price in one easy place! ME! They offer papers, chipboard, flowers, adhesives, bling, inks, and so much more! Some vendors they carry are Bo Bunny, Tim Holtz, My Mind's Eye, Fiskars, Basic Grey, Crate Paper, Cosmo Cricket, Jenni Bowlin, and so many more!

Not only can you get new products, but you can also search their clearance section and get some awesome stuff at an even more unbeleivable price! Memory Works also has a Monthly Kit Club! Yup! You heard right! A Monthly Kit Club! You can order month to month after you see what they have OR you could just get yourself a monthly subscription and be surprised when you receive your kits every month automatically! Either way, you win!

They also have an easy, fast and cost efficient way to scrap your memories. It's called Simple Stories. You can quickly get your pages put together with one of their easy to use kits.

Here's how it all works........ Visit their website, review the products available and send me an email with the products you would like to purchase. I will then send you an invoice via PayPal. Once I get confirmation of payment I will place your order for you. In 10 days or LESS your order will arrive! Right to your door! How great is that?! All the glory of new scrappy supplies without the hassle of driving all the way to your local scrap store for the newest stuff!

If you live in Des Moines, I can host a get together for you and your friends! You supply the people and the snacks (if you choose) and I will supply the door prizes, fun, products for you to see and a great giveaway! Just send me an email telling me you are intereseted and we'll go from there!

I am totally excited about this new endeavor and I know you WILL BE very happy with their products and their quick shipping.

NOTE: This is my personal website (Independent MemoryWorks Scrapbook Consultant #MW976737). MemoryWorks provided graphics, images, and content are copyrighted and cannot be copied, pasted, or duplicated in any format. General website graphics, designs, and images on this website are not representative of MemoryWorks.

MEMORY WORKS

I think everyone has a "thang".  For some its cooking (not me).  For some its exercising (not me either). And for others its their work.  My thang is scrapbooking.

Its that thing that you devote a lot of time and focus to.  It usually comes naturally and is enjoyed to the fullest.

But I would argue that scrapbooking in particular is different than most thangs.  You don't have to be born with creativity oozing from your pores.  First of all, its a muscle that needs to be exercised to get stronger and better (and there goes my argument for not being an exerciser...). Second, there are so many products out there that do the work for you so you can have a stunning layout in no time and with no stress.

I have so many friends who feel like creativity is just not their thang, but at the same time they long to have the results...beautiful pages and albums that showcase their special memories.  If you're one of those people, I might have a solution for you.

I have recently become an Independant Sales Consultant for Memory Works...a direct sales scrapbook company, that allows scrapbookers of all levels to share their story and photos in a simple yet meaningful way.  The first kit created by Simple Stories is called Life Documented, a kit comprised of pre-designed cut apart elements in a variety of basic sizes. 

Memory Works is sending me a kit to review and I can't wait....I will post pictures and share the results when It arrives.