Valentine's Day Card 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know that it's been some time sense I've posted on this blog. And actually I haven't been making many cards, but I did manage to crate this one for a friend for Valentine's Day.

My mom let me 'borrow' some of the Basic Grey paper and some other craft tools. So much fun.

Craft Critique :: Call For Reporters!

If you love crafting and would like to join the Craft Critique team as a reporter, here's your chance:

Call For Reporters! Ongoing!

There's are endless options from writing about knitting or fabrics to bedazzling and paper crafts ... and so much more. You can write reviews of products, projects, magazines, books and events. Not to mention all the fun on Facebook and Twitter.

I think the deadline is looming ... like January 18th.

Oh, and I used to be a Craft Critique reporter ... until I fell off the craft world locator. I'm still lurking, but as my Mom would say, I haven't made a card 'in who knows when'. Don't judge me ...

Craft Room Envy :: Savitri Wilder

This is just a quick blog post. I was going through my blog reader and I saw Savitri Wilder's post about her craft space. I thought that I'd just scroll and check out her pics and move on. But she added some small details, things that we just have to know like where she got some jars and the desk and the book shelves. She knows how we are and she provided the answers and links.

So I'm sharing her blog post on her craft space. Be prepared to be envious.

Savitri Wilder's Craft Studio

Cuttlebug Tips via Videos

If you've read just a little bit of this blog, then you should know that I'm a big fan of the Cuttlebug. I've seen the new one, but I have no interest in it since the old, original one is a fine and sturdy specimen.

I think I've only purchased one new folder in the past year. But you can chalk that up to the fact that I'm not currently living in the U.S. Actually, I have three new folders if I include the two from Tim Holtz. Again, the classic early Cuttlebug folders go a long way. Some of the new Cuttlebug folders are too 'scrapbooky' to me - for lack of a better term (I can't seem to find a link for the news ones).

All that to say, sometimes I'm seeking to do something different w/the Cuttlebug. Enter two videos that can add some 'umph' to your projects.

The first one uses ink on the folder. I'm on the fence about this one. I like the look, but if all of the ink does not come off (even with cleaning), I'm afraid that I'll mess up my next project. Still like the technique and the videos really short.

Using Ink with your Cuttlebug Embossing Folders by Tania Brown

The next technique is also cool, but a bit more advanced. You'll also need Nestabilities for this one.

Double Embossing with the Cuttlebug and Nestabilities by Nilda

Hope that you like those vids. Please feel free to share the projects you've created using these videos.

Gotta Have This: :: Sew Easy

Image borrowed from Scrapbook Update

I haven't made many scrapbooking purchases lately. Something to do w/living abroad and not doing much crafting.

But I've been keeping up w/all things scrapbooking including gadgets, tools, new paper lines and die cutting machines. I'm mostly underwhelmed. Like the new embossing folders for the Cuttlebug from ProvoCraft. There are lots of new folders, but none that I just have to have.

Meanwhile, I was looking at a list of the Top Ten Items at Summer CHA 2010 from Nancy Nally and I saw this tool called the Sew Easy from We R Memory Keepers. Oh, so cute and most importantly - affordable. I do have a sewing machine, but sometimes, I just don't want to do all of that (I don't have mine set up, so I have to get it set up in order to use it). I like this Sew Easy - it pokes holes in your paper - because it is as the name describes (at least it seems) so easy.

Also, there are different types. I'm liking that scalloped one.

Has anyone seen this item in the stores yet?

VIDEO: Make Your Own Stamps

Oh, how I like this idea. Problem is ... I don't think I have the skill or the patience to pull this off. Though I do have ideas. Lots of ideas ... I think it may be time to collaborate w/my artsy brother.

Never the less, I enjoyed this video from Geninne. Here's a link to some of her hand carved stamp tutorials.

Stamp Carving from Geninne D. Zlatkis on Vimeo.

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

It's been a while since I participated in a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. This month's theme is to use office supplies.

What a challenge for me since I don't have any craft supplies w/me while I visit the States this summer. Bless my mom for sharing the wealth of goodies that she has.

I still kept it simple.

Here's the thing though: I recently purchased some of the Impressabilities from Spellbinders. The price was good and I thought 'why not?'. But after they arrived and I discovered that they weren't like the Cuttlebug embossing folders (the Impressabilities are more like metal stencils rather than plastic folders), I was worried that I would not be able to use the Impressabilities in the Cuttlebug.

After some searching, I found an Impressabilities tutorial on Facebook w/some details that were useful and even some info about inking the Impressabilities and using them to do something like letterpress. I just had to give that a try. And it worked quite nicely.

Thanks for looking. Here's what I used (my apology that I don't have any Papertrey Ink products ... yet):

cardstock: Coredinations and Bazzill

stamp: Hero Arts

embossing: Impressabilities

ink: VersaColor

ribbon: JoAnns

staples: Making Memories