Card for Mom

I made a card for my Mom for mother's day...  she really enjoys them much more than the store bought ones

This card is was made with scraps (My Mind's Eye, Fancy Pants, & Prima)

I stitched all the layers to a 4-1/2 x 6" piece of kraft paper.

I stockpile the tiny type letters they are perfect for cards that I don't necessarily have the right sentiment stamp for plus I LOVE the look especially with stitches at the bottom.

Layers of border punched strips along with a small piece of lace trim.  The addition of "ancient" K & Company flowers with buttons & a twine bow add lots of interest & texture.

Hope you had a great weekend & took some time to be creative...

Music... I'm a Jordis Fan

I've been a Jordis Unga fan since she was on CBS show Rockstar years ago.  I still have her version of "Man Who Sold the World" and "Heart Shaped Box" on my iphone & listen to it often.  The above song titles are linked to youtube video of the performance on that show.  I didn't want to embed it since I like to visit blogs at night in bed and music has a habit of waking the whole house if I forgot to turn off my speakers lol.

So when she turned up on this season of NBC's The Voice I was excited to see her trying to continue to live her musical dreams.  She has the bluesy style voice that I really like to listen to & puts a lot of heart & emotion into any song she performs.  Unfortunately Blake Shelton didn't keep her as long as fans like me would have liked but huge congrats to her fellow team member Jermaine Paul!  He sure can sing.

Anyway the reason I'm blogging about her on a "scrapbooking" paper crafts blog is because as a fan I'd like to see her succeed & give me more music to put on my iphone....  She is doing what a lot of other independent artists are doing and that is publishing their own albums for much less cost.



You can help her get to the magic number of $33,300 too by visiting this website.  Even just $1 will help her achieve that goal.  She has set up rewards for different levels of support.  Last I checked she was already 30% of the way there.

Happy Birthday Karen

Today is my sister Karen's birthday.  I made her a card & decorated a bag that came from an Aveda salon that she goes to.  Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze is such a pretty line with lots of different patterned papers. I love the color combo it seems so fresh to me and classic.

I like to "fussy cut" different things out of patterned paper & these little yellow flowers are perfect embellishment

We went over to her house for a cookout with my parents & a couple of her neighbors.  Dad bought her a cake.

Yummy fresh picked strawberries from a local farm were a gift from one of my parent's neighbors who goes every year and cans jelly

Even Karen's dog Lilly had to give her a "present"... lots of love & kisses

We had a great time... wishing her blessings & good things in the coming year.

Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze Mini Book

I loved the soft yellow/grey colors in Teresa Collins' Carolina Breeze from the start so I was so happy when Susan @ EMI Scrapbooking brought it into the store & then asked me to create a mini book kit with it.

With Mother's Day fast approaching we decided that should be the theme but I also included "sister", "grandmother", and "friend" in the same stamped font in each kit for versatility.

It's filled with lots of interactive fold outs and pockets

Here are some sneaks of some of my favorite pages and elements....

If you would like to purchase this pre-cut kit that is packaged by page.  With all the EMI kits we do most of the work for you.... except for adhesive, ink, stitching (some of my older kits came pre-stitched lol) and some "fussy-cutting" all you do is follow the color photos to put it together.

You can purchase it locally in the store, online here or call/email Susan 770-888-2417 emiscrapbooking@aol.com for world wide shipping.

I won a super mega prize on Teresa's blog a couple weeks ago... when I saw that my name was picked I screamed and the dogs jumped on the bed to see if I was alright then gave me stink eye that I interrupted their sleep time... they didn't quite understand how this was a big deal lol.  I received 4 lines of product.

I LOVE the door mini album cover from the Coming Home line & Giving Thanks was one of my all time favorite scrapbook lines ever which I was down to mostly scraps of.... now I can create again using it.  It's so timeless and classic not detracting from the photos or being too trendy that I get tired of it and wouldn't want to work with again.  Thanks Teresa for being so generous!

WRMK Crazy 8 Punch

Welcome to another one of my reviews of a new product....

(sorry for the iphone photos again "somebody" has lost the cord that hooks my dslr camera to the computer & I can't upload my photos grrrr .

I couldn't resist getting the We R Memory Keepers new Crazy 8 Punches.  Watching all the videos from CHA (since I don't go to the winter show) and then seeing the demo on HSN when it was the world wide launch as the today's special value.... I just had to get it ordered for my birthday (thanks Dad).  The Lace/Doily set was calling my name so that is what was ordered by operator & a conformation was sent to our account.  I even got the auto ship (sets of 2 would ship quarterly for the same price as TSV) since I could always cancel if I didn't want but couldn't add it later.  Quick shipping as it was on my porch within 2 days had me super excited until I opened the box and saw that I received the floral/circle set instead of the the lace/doily.  I love the circle it's super versatile but the floral is just not my style & it would be sitting in the drawer if I kept it.

I called HSN customer service and they acknowledged the mistake and credited my account $10 so I could reorder the lace/doily set which was still in stock (apparently people reserve and say they will send in a check and then don't) and authorized free return shipping.  (but by the time I shipped these back on Monday the lace/doily set was sold out so I didn't end up getting it).  HSN allows you to use and return so I had to try them out to see if I wanted to try to exchange for the lace/doily set because you never know until you try for yourself... right?

Well these punches sure deserve and live up to all the hype.  I loved them!

You can feel the quality they are heavy, durable, carefully crafted & designed.

They are super easy to use - You know how it's tricky to line up traditional border punches not with these punches just line up each corner and punch then flip and do it again.  

The punch has the ability to turn off either the inner or outer cutting with the flip of a switch.

For this scallop circle cut from a 12 x 12 piece of paper I had both settings turned on.

Very clean die cut - no raggedy edges and not lining up.  Again I can't say it enough how it's so easy to achieve professional results.  

These are as nice as the die cut cardstock shapes that Archiver's sells for over $1

On the top of the punch it shows with pictures & words what each setting looks like

This is inner only

this is a closeup of outer only

I did notice a slight problem if I used inexpensive cardstock that was not true 12x12 size

This could be covered up with embellishments to use in a layout

But I think I would just use Bazzill cardstock 

or another premium brand that is true to size to get the best results.

You can also cut different sizes other than 12x12 and get a graduated look.

All in all these are a great tool.  Yes they are a bit pricey since even on HSN the sets of 2 are sold for $59.99 plus shipping.

I have a Cricut Expression but that doesn't stop me from buying border punches so I think I would invest in some basic yet stylish shapes.

TWO BIG CRAFTY THUMBS UP 

FROM ME FOR THE 

WRMK CRAZY 8 SCALLOPED CIRCLE PUNCH

Disclaimer:  WRMK did not provide me with products or encourage me to say I liked it.   I purchased  it myself.  This is an honest review of what I think of the product.

Echo Park Mini Book Kit

I loved creating with Echo Park's Times Seasons Line.  It had some of my favorite colors for "guy projects" & great elements.  This mini has plenty of room for full sized photos and lots of journaling.  Most of the pages are patterned paper adhered to chipboard but also several fold outs & 6x8 envelopes to hold ephemera or other sentimental goodies.

This kit is available for sale at EMI Scrapbooking in Cumming GA or online in their Etsy shop here.  You also can always call Susan at the store  770-888-2417 or  email emiscrapbooking@aol.com

As with all our kits they are pre-cut & everything is bagged by page with color photos of the sample.

Details:
There are 9 pages front and back
2 pages include 6x8 slide out mats equaling 4 more pages
2 pages are 6x8 fold outs equaling 4 more pages
Kits include:
chipboard pages
precut papers
cardstock stickers
cardstock alphabet stickers
binder clips
floss/twine
buttons
paint chips
tickets
library card stamped images
other stamped images
assorted ribbons
playing cards
brads
binder rings
color photos

Here are photos of all the pages.

I've finished a bound book style mini album using Glitz paper that I'm loving right now.  I will be sharing it in a couple days.  There will also be kits available at EMI.  I'm working on several using Teresa Collins' new lines which are my favorite to create them with since her lines are so well thought out that the minis go together so easily & have loads of style.

Hope you have a great day.

New Goodies I'm Loving....

CHA time to me is like Christmas... I save money, sell cards, and stalk my LSS updates as to when UPS will be delivering the new things that I'm dying for.  I already have quite a stash of paper & embellishments so do I really need it... maybe not but do I want it.... oh yes.

I have never been to the winter show in California but thanks to Noell & Izzy Hyman from Paperclipping & Nancy Nally & her gals at Scrapbook Update it's the next best thing and I have a good idea of what things are REALLY going to look like.  (that's one of my pet peeves when I think I'm going to love something & then order it online then it arrives and really looks totally different washed out colors, quality of paper, etc so with Paperclipping videos and Scrapbook Updates links & reviews complete with photos I trust that it is what it is).

A few of my favorites have started to come into the EMI Scrapbooking where I shop in Cumming GA here in Atlanta... with more coming in each week.

Teresa Collins came out with 4 amazing beautiful lines that are so versatile & were at the top of my list for must haves.

Here is Paperclipping video of the booth at the trade show.  Teresa always has one of the most beautiful booths in the entire show.  Casual elegance that welcomes you in & you feel right at home in the booth browsing the new products & gorgeous samples.

Fabrications Canvas is beautiful & the texture and weight of the paper makes it look like a textile fabric.  This line has the prettiest colors & just the perfect variety of small/large patterns, dark/light prints, and beautiful embellishments (even pearls which I love).  It is perfect for spring.  I'm planning a mother's day mini album for my mom with this one using old photos of my mom, grandma, sister, aunt and I.  The stamps aren't pictured here but they were absolutely beautiful & so useful that I had to have them.

Fabrications Linen is classic elegance.  All the favorite patterns we have come to love in fresh colors.  My guys wouldn't "balk" at this one being too girly for their photos and stories.  I'm so glad they enjoy looking at the minis and layouts but they do stifle my overdoing of the "girly blingy stuff" as they call it.

Spring Fling is girly girly girly.  I love the pinks & teal.  It's fresh, happy & fun.  The chipboard embellishments are adhesive back & truly make a statement on any project.

Last but not least is Everyday Moments.  This line is my favorite since it's so versatile & will work for all the family stories I want to tell .  I'm usually such a teal gal but the last year royal blues & yellow have been calling my name more and more.  The colors and patterns show off the photos instead of overpowering them.  Clean uncluttered elegance.  I LOVED ledger paper with subtle images for simple elegant backgrounds...  I could go on gushing forever how much I like this line

Can you tell I'm a Teresa Collins fan.... she has exquisite taste & pays such attention to detail as she prepares to manufacture and designs her lines.  As a designer of projects I can tell you that using her lines allows me to spend less time creating since all the elements go together so easily.

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My Mind's Eye has always been a favorite manufacturer.  I fell in love with the lines that were designed by Rhona Farar called Follow Your Heart.  The line is divided into a more pink girly Be Happy & The blue gender neutral Be Amazing.  Soft colors & vintage elements make this very much my style.  I'm loving the 6x6 paper pads since they allow me to get all the papers in a smaller pattern.  They aren't just perfect for cards but work great on layouts and minis.

BE HAPPY 

Sweet pinks, greys and blue

Sheet Music, Florals, Birds, Banners....

BE AMAZING

Lovely fresh soft teal, yellow, grey & brown

Kites, bikes, sentiments, 

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Another line that I purchased & used a lot of is Crate Paper's Paper Hearts.  It was their Valentine/Love theme line.  It's still very versatile and doesn't lock you into just using it for the holiday.  I loved the colors & small prints with some of my favorite colors.

Crate never lets me down with just the right amount of distressing & funky vintage elements.

Patterned Paper

I Loved the Chipboard Elements and all the doilies

I've been using this line on cards, layouts, mixed media canvases, my art journal & mini albums.

I can't wait until all the new Pink Paislee comes in next week - Susan at EMI ordered it all.  I'm excited about all the lines especially "She Art" created by Christy Tomlinson (that gal can knock my socks off with paint, stamps, rub-ons & Mod Podge).  Since I took the class I love making my "girl" canvases.  

Heidi Swapp is now on her own and released some pretty lines that I'm excited to see and will be coming in soon.  Noell of Paperclipping shared several videos with Heidi

Memory Files 

Instant Frames

Mist & Curling Ribbon Demo

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Well enough enabling I'll be posting some projects in the next couple days using Teresa's lines that I made during a class this weekend.

Hope you have a great day & remember to do something creative.