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.

WRMK Sew Stamper Review

I LOVE the look of sewing on all my projects.  I use the sewing machine, hand stitch, and use stamps or rub-ons and even hand drawing to mimic the look.

I recently purchased the We R Memory Keepers Sew Stamper set from HSN here.  I already own the WRMK Sew Easy that perforates paper in different stitch patterns to easily add thread so I am familiar with & like the handle and interchanging stitch heads.

The Sew Stamper starter package comes with the handle & double straight stitch stamp.   The other stitch patterns are sold separately.  The set I purchased came with all that is pictured below.  Handle + 6 additional stamp heads.  I think this covers all the basic & decorative stitches I would want so I am pleased with the collection.

What You Get 

Sew Stamper tool with straight head Cross Sew stamper head Zig Zag Sew stamper head Scallop Sew stamper head Burst Sew stamper head Blanket Sew stamper head Hem Sew stamper head

Since each head has ink already inside it's important to keep it covered.  WRMK made that easy by designing a lid that slides away when in use....  This is super impressive to me as someone who easily misplaces things all the time in the chaos of creating - they usually show up again but why risk it right.  (sorry for the blurry photo I was trying out using the iphone 3gs camera instead of dragging out the big boy but you get the idea)

Trying the straight stitch stamp head on plain non textured cardstock.  There was a slight random dotting on the right side of the stamped images as I rolled it the first time (left side) so I did it again & adjusted the angle of handle/pressure slightly & the pretty much took care of the problem (right side).

Then I tried the cross stitch patterned stamp.  There was a slight discoloration on both edges as I rolled along the paper.  You can see how as I adjusted the angle of the handle a bit the marks changed position.  There's a fine line between just enough pressure for a good image & too much pressure with lots of extra marks.  The random marks don't bother me much since I like a "home made" and distressed look

I purchased this for mini books & mini book kits since stitching can be lumpy it's not always desirable but I didn't want to give up the stitch look.  This tool is going to be perfect for achieving that quickly & will great results.

Here is what the X stitch stamp looks like on a mixed media canvas that I was working on.

This picture shows the zig zag stamp head.  The top is a rub-on and the bottom is the WRMK stamp

Finally I love this large folky hand stitched scallop of this stamp.

This is a water based dye ink & it limits the use slightly.  I made the mistake of not looking before I leap so the faux stitches on the canvas pictured above were wiped off as they would not dry over Mod Podge layers & if I would have put more Mod Podge over them it would have reacted with the ink to smear ruining the piece... thankfully I called WRMK customer service when it wasn't drying to ask & they were super helpful.  So I just wiped off with a damp paper towel avoiding disaster.   This was my own fault for not checking before using & expecting it to do more than the product was designed to do.  If you are using on paper for cards, mini albums, scrapbook pages, etc it will work perfectly with no problems.

Pros
Ease of use getting that hand stitched look that I like
Ability to change the stitch head stamps quickly
Ink dries quickly on PAPER
Very economical compared to rub-ons with similar results
Fast to use - in the past I drew my own "faux stitches" with a fine tip marker this was a little time consuming.

Cons
Slight marks show up when rolling depending on the pressure/angle but this lessens once you get the hang of using it.
Waterbased dye ink only limits applications


Summary:
WRMK makes some of my favorite tools (Crop-A-Dile, Brad Setter, Corner Chomper, & Sew Easy).  The Sew Stamper is now added to that list.  I loved the hand stitched look of the length of stitches & it gives me the ability to have a stitched look without the bulk of thread.  I love that the lid is attached so it will not get lost.  It is economical compared to rub-ons since the head can be used over and over again.  It was super easy to change heads.   No more hand drawing my own "faux stitches" this is so much faster & easier with a more even look.  I would recommend this tool to any of my friends and blog readers - 2 crafty thumbs up

Disclaimer - I was in no way compensated for this review or was given this or any other product from WRMK for free at the time of this blog post.  I'm a consumer & these are my honest thoughts on the product.