Brain Freeze or Ice Cream Face??

 

Suddenly last night our puppy Luke passed away. Top picture is him being photo ready at all times and the bottom photo is when Mom let him lick out her vanilla ice cream bowl and some of it splashed on his face and that made Mom laugh. Missing you so much it hurts sweet puppy... wishing for one more hug.... We cherish our 13 years with you and will always! Love, Dad & Mom & Sissy

One thing leads to another. . .

Recently sorted all the beads/spacers/jump rings/charms and that lead to this post.... Made holders for the beads using the small acrylic drawers from Dollar Tree that I was finally able to locate:

Now that the beads were visible and sorted and waiting to be made into some projects.... Upcoming project for this craft room ahead which I will post the last week of July but for now I used items on hand and made beaded pokey tools with a dangle:

I use the scribe pins from Hobby Lobby and although I had many on hand I wanted to make 4 more of the beaded pokey tools so I waited until the scribe pins were on sale and bought them for 40% off. I had all the beads, charms, spacers, chains, pins I needed so I pulled out the drawers of beads and began putting the beads and spacers on each scribe pin. I did not use adhesive yet in case I wanted to change out any of the beads.  Once all the beads/spacers were on the scribe pins I used E6000 adhesive and put the beads/spacers on each scribe pin. Let these sit over night so the adhesive set. For the dangles I used seed beads, charms, and plastic flower charms on each pokey tool. Here are photos of some of these close up:

For these three I used a bow charm at the top of the stack of beads. Some of the beads I only have one of so I tried to put together a pokey tool that would have that colour group:

To package these I used plastic earring backs I had on hand for the sharp tips. Then I used the longer snack bags from the Dollar Tree to put these decorated pokey tools in:

With that project done I decided to use up all the mini Post-It notes I had in the stash for Mini Post-It Note Holders. The pattern I used is from Sandra Ronald on YouTube. For my holders I only used double sided 6x6 card stocks. To make these I scored my full 6x6 sheet of card stock and then I cut them to the size I needed for the holders. This way I cut this one piece paper into 3 pieces but only had to score one time per sheet. Once all the sheets were scored and cut I creased the scored lines using the bone folder. Here is a photo of one of them cut and scored:

 

Added liquid glue to the two end flaps. Once dried I used a corner rounder punch for the four corners:

Added my mini Post-It note pad to each holder and I used small Velcro brand Velcro dots to close these:

Sorted them by prints to make it easier to add the gems to the fronts of the holders:

Used hot glue to add the gems from the stash to the front of the holders:

Full basket of Mini Post-It Note Holders ready to go:

Most of these mini Post-It note pads I bought at Ollie's awhile back. They are the Staples brand and Ollie's sold them in a package of 12 for $1.99. Happy to use up the mini Post-It note pads and more of the 6x6 card stocks in the stash as well as the stash gems on hand. Glad to use more of the items on hand for a project ahead..... Both the beaded pokey tools and the Post-It holders go together quickly and both are easy projects to make!

6 x 6 Paper Pad Storage

Recently went to the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Fredericksburg, VA.  I visited a booth I had never shopped before "Crafty Stamp Co" and I picked up a couple of pads of her 6 x 6 card stocks. When I got home and opened the package of papers I found a plastic storage envelope to store these papers in. I have been reorganizing the craft room here and there over the past 6 months and I have some empty kitchen storage bins from other products that I weeded out or moved to another storage bin so I made sure this new 6 x 6 plastic storage envelope would fit the bins I had available. Once I knew they would fit I went to her website to see if she sells these envelopes but I could not find them. Off to Amazon....

Found a plastic envelope that looks to be the same as she uses and I ordered a package of those. Decided since I was reorganizing these papers that I would weed out what I do not use and also remove all the papers from the packaging front and back covers they come with. If I want to know the manufacturer of my papers I could always cut out the brand name and slip that into the envelope in front of the card stock. I went through all the paper pads and once I had them all weeded out and then the ones I was keeping in their new envelopes I sorted them by theme/holiday.  I wanted to make dividers so it would be easy to look for a theme/holiday paper I wanted. 

Awhile back I picked up legal size manila folders from the Scrap Exchange recycle store in Durham, NC for another organizing project for the craft room. The folders were new and cheap so I picked up a stack of those not knowing how many I would need to start with. Did all the other organizing I planned to do using these folders and I have some left over. So for the dividers for my 6 x 6 paper pads I used more of the manila folders and cut them to the size I wanted and I used the We R Makers Tab Punch Board and made the tabs on the dividers. With the paper envelopes all sorted I used the label maker to make labels for my divider tabs and put these in their new bins for storing:

Now I can easily find a paper I am wanting to use and everything is in an envelope in these taller bins so the papers will not get bent or damaged:

Happy to find a way to store my 6 x 6 papers. I have tried labeling and stacking them, keeping them in a drawer, (out of sight, out of mind), and nothing really worked. Happy to have the bins that hold these new envelopes for the papers and another problematic product storage that will work for me. Easily can see no more 6 x 6 card stocks needed for me and now I can easily access them all for projects ahead. So a big thanks to Crafty Stamp Co for a storage idea I did not even think about before I bought her two beautiful paper packs at the show:

Always happy to complete another organizing project. Also glad I had the bins on hand and the manila folders on hand to cut down for the dividers for the papers. 

Double Vision Sunflower Card

Have wanted to make a card using the Double Vision technique on a card front and when I shopped the Scrapbook Expo in Fredericksburg, VA this weekend I picked up a 6x6 paper pad "Summer Sunshine" from the "Crafty Stamp Co" booth. I really like this card stock and it is easy to work with. I have seen different ways to make the Double Vision look on a card front but I will explain how I made this card:

To start with I looked through my stash of cut and scored coloured card stock bases and pulled out a golden yellow card base. For the front of my card I did not want a border to show around the sunflower front so I needed to make my panel for the card front. I cut a piece of white card stock 4" wide x 5 1/4". This would be the base I would use to build the card front on. I pulled out a sunflower print from the 6x6 pad and I cut that down to a height of 5 1/4". Then I took this to the trimmer and I turned the paper over. On the backside of this sunflower print is a plaid. I cut this paper every 1/2" and as I cut the strips I used a black Sharpie and numbered each strip as I cut them into 1/2" pieces - when done I had them in numerical order:

As you can see in this photo I numbered all the strips at the bottom - for two reasons. First having them numbered my print will be in order and line up. Secondly having them numbered at the bottom of the strips reminds me when I glue them onto the white card stock base that all numbers will be at the bottom so again that helps with the floral pattern. Here is how I made my card front. First I laid my strips onto the white card stock base:

I used liquid glue to put every other strip onto the white card stock. This one is glued on and the second strip is just laid onto the white card stock base next to the first glued one:

Third strip I glued on and fourth I did not and I continued this all the way across the white card stock base:

Every other strip that was not glued down I put foam dots behind those and the high and low of this technique on the card front gives you that look and dimension:

Laid this technique card front onto the card base and decided which way I wanted it to be on the card front and then using liquid glue I put this onto the yellow card stock base.  Again I used the sentiment hot foil plate with matching die set from Pinkfresh for my sentiment.  With this card front already being dimensional I did not want to use foam tape behind the sentiment so I used liquid glue to put this onto the card front:

Added three clear gold gems from the stash to the card front for some sparkle and shine. Laying down all the strips onto your white card front as you glue and assemble this card front keeps all your strips spaced correctly and it is easy to keep it all in order by numbering the back of the strips as you cut them. I also found it easier to cut the length I would need my strips to be and then to cut them into the 1/2" strips rather than to have the strips longer than the white card stock I was using as a base for them. Fun card to make and all you need is a trimmer - no dies needed! Really like this card stock from this new to me company -- craftystampco and happy I was able to shop their booth at the show!

Sunflower Card

For this card I used the "Shatter Background Die" I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo show in Fredericksburg, VA from the TallMouse booth for $10.00:

The card stock I used for this card is from the "Summer Sunshine" pack of 6x6 card stock that I bought at the "craftystampco" booth:

This card stock is double sided so lots of options for prints on a card front. Here is my card and as you can see I made my card front upside down from the way their die is as I wanted my larger print of sunflowers to be the focal print on the card front:

I went through my stash of coloured card stock bases that are already cut and scored at the top and I found this green card stock base that would go with my sunflower prints. First I cut out a piece of white card stock using the base piece in the TallMouse die set for my card front. I cut out all four of my printed card stocks using the layering pieces in the die set. Used liquid glue to put all the prints onto the white card stock base. Used liquid glue to put the card front on the green card stock base. Set this aside. 

Looked through my hot foil sentiments and pulled out the Pinkfresh "Celebrating You" hot foil plate with matching die. Hot foiled this plate using matte gold foil on a white card stock. Die cut that out using the matching die. I die cut out a second layer of white card stock and put this blank white card stock piece behind my sentiment to make it more sturdy on the card front. I put the "thinking of you" sentiment on the card front using pop dots. Added three clear gold gems to the card front.

Easy card to put together and using a pack of 6x6 themed card stock made putting prints together for the card front simple. I had never heard of "craftystampco.com" before but happy I shopped her booth at the show as this printed card stock is very nice. Will be ordering from her online I am sure.....

Another Road Trip for Scrapbook Expo

Each year my PIC (stamping Partner In Crime) and I plan what stamp/scrapbooking shows we would want to attend during that year. In the past each year would start with our first show being in Columbia, SC and that is the Stamp and Scrap Art Tour show (SSAT). Two years ago we shopped that show and there were no sales, vendor coupons, or booth deals so this year we skipped that show. With traveling 3+ hours one way to a show having coupons or deals helps off set time and gas getting there.... In the past we have attended the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo show in both Chantilly, VA and Duluth, GA which were great shows but for us we would have to reserve hotel rooms for the night since the drive to these cities is a 6+ hour ride..... but last year we did go to the Duluth show and it was really good -- lots of vendors, lots of coupons/deals/sales and a fun show all around.... usually at these shows when you are waiting in the line to enter vendors walk the line and have "hand outs" which are coupons or a small flyer with their booth sales and deals.... PIC and I were all set to attend the Duluth show again this July until....

Stamp and Scrapbook Expo sent out an email that this year they would not be holding their show in Chantilly, VA but rather in Fredericksburg, VA in June. I spoke to my PIC and we were fine to cancel our hotel reservations for the Duluth show in July and instead drive the 3 1/2 hours to Fredericksburg to attend this show..... DH said he would drive us there and back so we were set.... I went to the website for the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo and signed up for show coupons/specials so before we went to the show we would know what deals were offered. First to start with on our way....

and a photo of the Convention Center:

DH dropped us at the door at 8:30AM with the show starting at 9:00AM. We got in line to wait for the show to open and there already were shoppers ahead of us in line. 

Admission to this show was $12.00 EACH... I think the highest we have paid to attend one of these shows in the past was maybe $8.00 for our admission. In the past when we attend SSAT shows we usually receive a post card a couple of weeks before the show with a dollar off coupon for our admission.  Also at the Duluth show we were all given a large black Stamplistic/Spellbinders tote bag to use for shopping with our admission ticket. At this show $12.00 got us in and that was it....  no tote bag.... Last week I did receive an email from the Scrapbook Expo with a link to print out coupons/deals at the show in Fredericksburg. I printed them out and had them ready with my shopping list. Here is the show guide you get with your paid admission and it has a list of vendors inside as well as a floor map of the vendors so you know where everyone is set up:

Tall Mouse, Eyelet Outlet, and Scrappy Boy Stamps all walked the line and gave us hand outs and told us about specials at their booth, etc.. Before I left for the show I had made a list of 5 products I wanted to shop for at this show. First being the American Flag die set from Scrappy Boy Stamps that was sold out in their online store when I looked for it and I was hoping they would have it at the show. When Sean (ScrappyBoy) walked the waiting line I asked if he had the flag die with him at this show and he said he did so happy me to go to his booth first and pick that die set up. I also picked up his plastic storage envelopes in a size I wanted and his Box Making die set as well. He had a coupon for 15% off all his stamp and dies so that was nice to have a savings offered:

Also on my list was a stop at the Bee Creative booth for their special on Stickles all their Sizzix products were 30% off. I bought the Diamond Stickles and a 3D embossing folder:

This next booth/products were at a vendor I have never heard of or shopped before. She is the "Crafty Stamp Co" and her website is: "www.craftystampco.com" and her booth was really nice. I bought two packs of her 6x6 card stocks - there are 48 sheets in each pack AND she has a plastic envelope/sleeve in the package to store your card stock in. Here is a photo of the card stocks and stencils I picked up from her:

Nautical card stock, sunflower card stock, one stencil is here "Yikes and Frights" Halloween background stencil and her "Forest Tree Line" stencil. She also gave us a code for a discount on an order from her website. Here is a photo of the card stocks in the plastic envelope/sleeve she includes in the package:

Off to the Elizabeth Craft Design booth. They had show specials where you buy a certain amount of dies and get one free. She also had flower dies for $5.00 and a sentiment stamp set for $2.00. They gave you a free "handmade" stamp with your purchase:

Now to Tall Mouse. Their die sets were $10.00 each and if you bought a certain amount you again got one for free:

I picked up a cover plate die and two die sets for piecing card fronts together. If you spent $30.00 at their booth they gave you a free tote bag and a free button. I also bought mini magnets from them:

Off to the Stamplistic booth where they were selling Spellbinder dies and hot foil plates:

At the show last year in Duluth Stamplistic had specials on Spellbinders dies and products but not this year. I picked up two die sets and one Simon Hurley hot foil set for $10.00. At KeepItSimplePaper.com I picked up their show special of Sprinkles and a large pumpkin die set:

Now for the items I bought at Brass & Bliss. Last year at the Duluth show I shopped their booth and they had lots of show specials but this year NONE. No coupons, no buy this many to get one free, zip...

These three items I had on my list so I bought them anyways knowing at least I would not have to pay for shipping if I bought them at the show and not from their online store... But I was disappointed that they offered no show specials or coupons or anything for us shoppers...... 

Will say these stamp shows need to realize all us crafters do not live across the street and many of us will travel an hour or a few to attend these shows so any coupons/show specials help us justify driving to support them. This was the first year we had to print out our own coupons/show special ads and hand outs for the waiting line were few. At then entrance of the show there was a display rack with all these buttons for sale and I bought one:

I usually buy a different button each year for the shows and this button cost $4.00..... When we left the show we stopped at a booth in the lobby where if you showed your combined receipts that totaled $150.00 or more you received a really nice lanyard with a Scrap Book Expo show button and another "shopped the Expo" button for free:

DH picked us up and we went over to Wegmans which we could walk to it is so close to the Convention Center:

We all ordered a sub for our late lunch and ate it there and did some shopping and headed home for the day. DH said when he dropped us off to the show he left and went to IHOP for breakfast. When he came back the parking lot at the Convention Center was full so he pulled in the Wegmans parking lot to park and wait for us. He said he saw a lot of  people pull into the parking lot at the Convention Center and then drive over to Wegmans to park and they walked over to the Convention Center to shop. At every booth we shopped there were a lot of shoppers -- lines to check out at all the booths so happy to see so many paper crafters and scrapbookers at this show. A lady that works for Scrapbook Expo said they plan to return to Fredericksburg next year and that show will be held in April so happy about that as we will attend again.

Long day but happy we did not have to reserve a hotel and spread the trip out over two days. Always happy to see products in person at the shows and all the displays and samples at the vendor booths. Just wish that Scrapbook Expo offered a coupon for admission as I think $12.00 for admission is high.....