so there i was ...

New from Jillibean Soup

Jillibean Soup's mid season release ...

 
I can't decide which paper is going to be my favorite, they are all so fabulous. This little lovely is shipping April 30 just in time for summer.

Happy Crafting

 

 

 

MLS Soccer comes to Portland

I live with a crazy soccer fan who is without a voice today because he yelled so loud at last nights Portland Timbers game. I was promptly told that since I still had my voice that I was a bad fan. I say to that WHATEVER ... I learned the words to all the songs and didn't complain once when we stood for the entire game.

I borrowed Corinne's little point and shoot for the evening to try to take a few photos. Apparently I drank too much because the photos were pretty bad. Here's a couple for grins ...

This one's from the camera phone since even though it's grainy it's better than the one I took.

I really want to point out that in the last photo it's not foggy that is good old fashioned Portland RAIN. We thankfully sat in the general admission Timbers Army section ... under cover. The final score was 4-2.

Note to self ... learn to use the point and shoot camera before the next game and drink less maybe I will get some better photos.

Happy Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Holtz tool PSA

My favorite new tool is the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.

 

 

I know what you are thinking it's just a stapler. Ahhhh but it's more than just a stapler. The staples are smaller than a standard stapler but surprisingly heavy duty. Thanks Jill for introducing me to this little dandy of a tool.

 

(Supplies Used; Cardstock Bazzill, Lily Bee patterned paper/rubons/chipboard buttons, Stampin Up scallop punch, Fancy Pants buttons, Making Memories Halloween charm, Jillibean Soup twine, Crate Paper decorative brad, misc stick pins, misc corner rounder, Basic Grey tiny alphas, fonts Traveling Typewriter and Rockwell downloaded from the internet)

 

 
Can you spot where I used the Tiny Attacher on this layout? I made the little flags from some stick pins, stickers,and rubons all pulled together with a small staple. Sorry you are going to start seeing my little self made flags all over my work cause I am addicted.

 

  

 

Another one of my can't live without tools is the Tim Holtz Design Ruler. I seriously couldn't live without this clear ruler. It's great for spacing and since I am a self professed anal paper crafter you can totally understand my need for this tool. I also use this almost 99% of the time for tile placement. I simply hang the alphas off the edge of the ruler because it's clear I can immediately see if my title placement is just right (again anal scrapbooker here).

Speaking of tools I broke my 3rd paper piercer the other day. UGH Really I couldn't believe it but the tip just snapped off. Tim Holtz makes a retrackable one anyone have it? I would love to hear from you. BTW the broken ones were all Making Memories.

Happy Crafting

 

 

 

  

Jillibean Soup Punch Guide

I have been meaning to post the Jillibean Soup punch guide since CHA. I am only slightly behind please forgive me. The guide is a little something Laina put together showing which punches match with some of the new Jillibean Soup stickers/diecuts.

 

 

 

I just happen to have a couple of the punches check out how I nested some of the new stickers.

 
(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper/stickers, tiny kraft alphas, and Stampin Up/EK Punch)

 

This little project happens to be a covered post it note book. I backed it with some scrap chipboard and covered it with patterned paper matchbook style.

 
(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper/stickers/kraft paper, corner rounder, Fiskars tag punch, Basic Grey brad, IKEA pinking shears)

Enjoy the inspiration ... Happy Crafting

 

 

 

 

Revisiting my Creative Bucket List

It's been awhile since I posted my creative bucket list. And since I have a fresh new space the creative jucies are flowing. Who knew a little breathing room was going to induce craftiness?

• Go hybrid - use brushes to spice up cardstock/photos or add text to photo
• Play with misting
• Do more 2 page layouts
• Layer more embellishments
• Make a bunch of pin cushions to fill a large hurricane vase I bought for my dining room table
• Play with text
• Incorporate more stamping on my layouts
• Alter something
• Take more photos (especially this time of year)
• Sew an Apron
• Emboss something
• Incorporate a mini album into a scrapbook page
• Do a a "now & then" layouts about each child
• Sew a table runner
• Work on my hall entry photo project and fabric covered mats (this project is partially completed)
• Use more a variety of photo sizes on my layouts (old habits die hard)
• Take some cool location photos of the kids
• make a mini album gift for a friend
• Use more fabric
• Make the workout/running inspired journal I mentioned here
• Sew one of these cute purses Kimber showed me from ithinksew
• take MORE photos

I use this list as a way to challenge myself creatively. Some of the items I like to keep around while other items get filtered off. Since my sewing supplies are newly organized I am hoping to be able to tackle some of my many sewing projects.

Here's a little something I did recently from my list ...

 
(Supplied Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Bo Bunny patterned paper/chipboard elements/buttons, Stampin Up scallop punch, misc corner rounder/circle punch/tab punch, DMC floss, font Arial Narrow downloaded from the internet)

I really like to combine old & new this idea is why a "now & then" layout in on my creative bucket list. I recently took a stab at doing a "now & then" layout about my son. In a perfect world I would have used a baby photo on this layout. Unfortunately Grant's early years were BD (before digital) so I used a favorite photo from when he was 5 years old.The photos inspired me to take a not so literal approach to a "now & then" layout. 

Happy Crafting

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Funny

 
 
 
Now that you have had your daily giggle go get crafty ... 

 

 

 

My Office ... a work in progress

Who knew when I decided to take on operation clean out the office that everything would end up asexually reproducing throughout my house. I couldn't believe how much stuff came out of my closet alone. Check out the mess I made ...

 

And somehow I managed to get most of it back in place over the weekend. Wow it's amazing what a little space planning can do. I still need to get baskets/drawers for the Expedit.

 
 

I really wanted a dedicated place for my sewing machine and supplies and here it is. The top 2 drawers are full of my sewing supplies including fabric.
 

This is my desk and computer space it's still a bit under construction. Notice the printer on the desk it's not supposed ot be there it will eventually be housed in the closet I am waiting for my resident handy man to run the USB cables under the flooring.

 

I really love the newer light green color on the walls it's really fresh. I still have another shelf that needs to be hung and I'd like to get another cork board. It's a work in progress and I love it!

Happy Crafting

 

 

 

 

Jillibean Soup Layouts

Just catching up on posting a few Jillibean Soup projects. Enjoy ...

 

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Jillibean Soup patterned paper/kraft/diecuts/stickers/tiny craft alphas, misc buttons, Stampin Up scallop punch, DMC Floss, misc corner rounder, misc adhesive gemstone, and font Traveling Typewriter)

(Supplies Used: Bazzill cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper/shipping tags/stickers/corrugated shape/diecuts/journaling sprouts/tiny kraft alphas/bakers twine, misc corner rounder and font Traveling Typewriter downloaded from the internet) 
 
Happy Crafting

 

 

 

Vintage Color Wash

I have been playing around with some Photoshop Elements Actions I downloaded awhile ago. My current favorite action besides the drop shadow/re-sized action has got to be the vintage color wash.

 

Original Photo

 

Vintage Color Wash Action

 

I am totally addicted to the subtle change this action does for my photos. Check out how I used the desaturated photos on a layout.  

 
 
(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Lily Bee patterned paper/rubons/chipboard buttons, McGill punch, Fancy Pants button, Maya Road chipboard hearts, Making Memories paint, Stampin' Up scallop punch, misc gemstone, DMC white floss, and Arial Narrow font downloaded from the internet)

A couple of my favorite places to get actions from are The CoffeeShop Blog, MCP Actions, Erin Cobb, and the Pioneer Woman. Now which site did my favorite action come from ... most of my actions say where they are from except of course the one I want to tell you about. I tired googling it no dice ... by process of elimination I *think* the action is from the Pioneer Woman.

On the home front my office is coming together nicely. I now have extra furniture sitting in my front entry way, a dinning room table full of supplies ready for the upcoming garage sale at my LSS, and a garage full of recycling. As much as I wanted to paint my space gray I decided against it and went with Divine Blade a bright celery green. I have another shelf to hang and I need to get baskets/drawers for my Expedit. I will share photos later in the week.    

Happy Crafting

 

 

 

Office Wish List

I think I opened Pandora's Box when I decided to take on the project of cleaning out my office. The first floor of our house is now officially been declared a disaster area. Corinne asked me where exactly she was supposed to do her homework yesterday since I have now taken over every available flat surface.

Most of the current furniture won't be returning and will be making it's way to a local consignment shop. I prefer to stand (or perch on a stool) rather than sit when I create so having a huge L-shaped deep desk is just a waste of space. I will be keeping the metal shelving and furnishing my office from IKEA.

My office will have a small desk to house my computer and first on my list is this chair from Target. I know it's totally not stylish but it's a must have since I have back issues.

 

I was at Pottery Barn a couple of days ago and I spotted this Tiered Bath Storage piece. I can totally see myself filing this up with all kind of goodies.

 

 

Classics from IKEA inlude ...

 
 
Are you seeing a trend here ... lots of white and definitely very modern. I plan on warming up the space with cool accessories, paint and maybe a rug.

I hope you have been following the Scrapbooking & Cards Today blog this week. Today's give-way is from American Crafts make sure you go leave a comment for your chance to win.

Happy Scrapping ... or in my case organizing