Share A Card Tuesday

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!

Sharing some cards from my stash made with Uchi's Design bilingual clear stamps. I love how crisp the images come out as well as the Spanish/English choices.

Weekend Wrap-up

I spent the weekend at a new to me event...the Point Sebago Scrapper's Weekend in Casco, Maine. It was such a beautiful setting and I loved having a Park Home to stay in. Walking to from the crop room to the dining hall and back and forth to my park home was so nice in the beautiful spring weather we had.

Check out the views. This shot was taken right outside the crop room at dusk. 

Best of all, I had my own table to scrap at and even got some scrapping done. Hung out with the coolest chickies...there were more but I don't have that pic so I'll share the one I do have.

  

The crop ended at noon so I even made it back in time to watch the second part of J's double header with my trusty sidekick, Diego. 

 

The girls were very welcoming...THANK YOU LADIES!!! I had a great time and have reserved my spot for next year :) 

ps. there was an awesome 10th year crop anniversary that I will share when it goes live.

Fave Five: The Scrapbooking Edition

I thought I would share with you my go-to tools when I'm scrapbooking, card-making and any general craftiness. 

1. My pink scotch ATG (adhesive tape glider) - I used to think it would be big and bulky. Not anymore. Can't scrap without it. Even did the math and its pennies per yard compared to other tape runners. My boys steal it when they have projects to work on 🙀

2. Tonic gulliotine trimmer - so glad I invested in it as well as the 12" platform version. It travels well and best of all, it is self-sharpening. Too bad they don't make them anymore 😞

3. Cutter Bee's Honey Bee scissors - can't say enough good things about it. If you've taken one of my classes or put together one of my kits, you know I love my fussy cutting. This one is even non-stick!

4. Quickstik tool - one end is a piercing tool and scraper (it pulls out and has 2 ends) and the other end has poster tack to help pick up tiny pieces of paper (large ones too). I use it to pick up and place bling on my projects. 

5. Squeeze and Roll glue pen - I avoided wet glue as much as I could until I discovered this glue pen. It's so easy to manipulate and just glides along. Glue is blue initially and turns white when it's tacky. It dries clear and is strong enough to "write" twine words!!!

Do you have any must-haves to share with me? I'd love to hear what you have to say. 

Nailed It

More iron-on vinyl projects to share with you. This was done with my old cricut and the SCAL software. Now that I have had a chance to play with my new cricut explore air, I'm finding things about it that I wish I had known before I bought it. I have to say I love how well it cuts and all the fun features...just wishing the software could do more and that I didn't have to be online.

I made team shirts for the boys for their annual New Year's basketball game at my in-laws. They're the "young ones" and "the old ones or old farts". I used glow in the dark iron-on vinyl and it definitely came in handy for the 1am New Year's Day game.

I used a dingbat font for the basketball players and then welded some letters together. All in all it took me about 3 hours from start to finish for 8 shirts.

Share A Card Tuesday

Putting my Cricut Explore Air through it's paces and decided I needed to try out a .svg file cut. I looked for one that would be fun and came across this minion file. It was super easy to work with and after a few hiccups, still learning how to use this new machine, I put him together and made it into a card for a friend of mine. Isn't he just too cute?

Comment here and I'll randomly send YOU a card in the month of May :)

Weekend Wrap-up

Spent the weekend freezing at the ball field. We had to split up on Saturday since the boys both had games at the same time. Initially thought I would go watch J since his coach had told him he was the starting pitcher. Good thing I didn't since D, on his very first outing on a big field, was also a starting pitcher!!! And boy did he rock it on top of playing an inning at center field and catching 2 innings. J did great at his game too.

Hubby and I did sneak away for a dinner date without the boys. It's so nice to dress up and head out although our age is telling, we were home by 9pm more 8:30am start games on Sunday 😞

Sunday saw us at the field by 7:30am for a doubleheader. It was a cold one...why have  I never brought a sleeping bag to the field? It is the smartest idea I've ever come up with!!!

We took Diego with us and boy was he busy. Felt like I had brought a fully charged 2 year old to an open field. Walks and runs (D ran him on the football field) didn't tire him out enough to lay down and watch a game. We realized at the last and final inning, he just wanted his own chair. He jumped up into my chair, cuddled up into the sleeping bag and went to sleep. Seriously?

There's a crop next weekend and I will have cropping space (say what?) so I will be packing/planning for it tonight. Gotta get some time in the scrap cave one way or another!!!

Sneaky Sunday

Two new layout kits in stock...

Cross Country is a TWO page layout using a blend of Bo Bunny and Moxxie lines. This layout comes together quick and easy.

Another hard to come by theme...Let's Bowl is a TWO page layout using Imaginisce's family fun line. Fits multiple photos and the color scheme is bright & fun.

I Am...

soaking in the sunshine and stopping to admire the crocus'.

checking my calendar twice but it still says baseball every.single.day!

looking forward to a new to me event...Point Sebago crop next weekend.

knitting (still) a hat I started way back in February.

wanting a new sewing machine so I can quilt/sew again. My old machine is being super cranky.

sitting on a pile of packages that need to go out but can't quite get my act together, need to write in 1 card and add a few things to another.

making a list of layout kits to put together in the next few weeks.

loving  the family photos we took while at my in-laws over the holidays that I just finished editing

going on long walks with the puppy to tire him out and to meet my 10K steps daily goal

working on getting this blog back up again

Nailed It

 

I have a brand new nephew and have been wanting to give this idea a whirl for the longest time. It was the easiest handmade gift I've made so far. The hardest part was buying the onesies. Why do they come in 5 packs? And why doesn't the store have all the sizes in stock?

Looks great on him doesn't it? And I didn't stop there, I made an extra set for a friend's baby. On the docket is another set but I'm going to have to wait to hear if it's a nephew or a niece :)

Share A Card Tuesday

Not sure if I've ever mentioned that I collect stamps. Over the years, I've collected quite a few sets and, some of you know this, have been trying not to buy more. The reason being...I don't make cards and didn't put them to use. The last few weeks in an attempt to do something crafty daily, I've made quite a pile of cards and other items that I have actually been mailing out. I wanted to share a card I made in under 30 minutes before D was dropped off at a Bar Mitzvah. 

I used Core-dinations' Tim Holtz Weathered Wood cardstock, inked the background with a Stampin' Up set from way back using Weathered Wood distress inks. Heat embossed the greeting, cut out the banner and layered it. It needed a little something else so I added stars (from my star punch) and bling.

Added some cold hard cash and off D went. Quick & easy! Want to see more cards? I think I'll make it my Tuesday feature.

Weekend Wrap-up

Vacation week here in Massachusetts and it's raining. Stuck indoors, boys are doing homework and I'm back to blogging. I've missed sharing with you and have been busy with the family but finding time here and there to play as well. There are quite a few layout kits to share with you as well as some projects.

I thought I'd start off easy and share with you, in pictures, what I (we) have been up to since Feb 13!

 Finished editing family pics we took on Jan 1

Started an hour long walk in the morning with him to tire him out...life is never dull with him around

 Wrapped up hockey season

 Wrapped up THREE back to back weekends at Cool Crops Portsmouth

 Bought myself the new Cricut Explore Air...love this thing and still learning how to work it

Started baseball season and hopefully hiking, canoeing and fishing season

It's been busy, going to be busy and I doubt things will let up for a while. And it's ok...life is good. See you back here tomorrow!

My Scrap Process

Ever wonder my personal scrapbooking process? What goes on when I work on my own pages? Everyone works differently and I thought I'd share mine. It all starts with me sitting in front of the computer for hours looking through photos. I pick out important events (birthday etc) and the ones with stories to tell. While I'm looking at the pics, I copy the ones that are scrap-worthy to a different folder and jot down the event plus # of pages (1 page or 2 page layout). This list is typed up and it's the map of a year's album.

I then get the photos printed, and kitted. What do I mean by kitted? I spend a little time putting together photos, papers, embellishments and sometimes an idea/sketch together in a baggie. This way when I have a small window between to-do's and must-do's, I can pull a baggie out and get a page or two done.

Everything gets inked...if you've taken one of my classes, you've heard me say, "I ink everything that's not moving!"

If it's an event that I'm scrapping for both boys, I will scrap 2 pages at the same time. Similar photos (highlighting them), same layout, same products - kill two birds with one stone.

Questions? Ask away!

February Bazzill Bulk Buy

A Bazzill Bulk Buy is an opportunity to stock up on Bazzill cardstock at a reduced price.  New to my cardstock bulk buy?  Here's the scoop...

• You will receive 60 sheets of cardstock, 5 sheets each of 12 different colors.
• Price includes tax and shipping to me.
• Price is for local hand delivery only - It does NOT include shipping to you. We can meet up or deliver at an event (check my schedule here).  Cardstock will be available for delivery at Scrap-A-Way Warwick and Cool Crops Portsmouth 1, 2 & 3.
• Mailing from me to you will be actual USPS cost, $12 in a priority flat rate box. I can fit 2 orders in a box.
• Order Deadline is midnight, Sunday 2/8. 
• Payments in advance by check are appreciated or cash upon delivery.  No CC's or paypal please.
• Does not apply towards prizes or raffles at crops if you take delivery and pay me at an event.

The cost of this month's buy is $26.  Email me (sluvs2skrap at yahoo dot com) to purchase, please include # of buys, payment method and delivery location.

Pinterest Fave Five: Valentine Edition

1. Valentine's Day Fonts - My favorite is Heartland. Looking forward to downloading it and using it in a project.

2. DIY Heart Tree - This project looks easy and would be a nice touch in the house for the holidays.

3. A Year of Dates - Great idea for a gift for the hubby. Looks like there's some serious planning
involved but I'm sure I can come up with some that aren't quite as involved or costly.

4. Red Velvet Sandwich Cookie - These cookies will be a hit with my boys...can't wait to try them.

5. Last but not least, a nice list of Valentines page titles.

Sneaky Sunday

A new class for a new year...Good Day Sunshine! I thought it would be nice to warm up February with a bright summer-y layout. In this class, I will show you how to put together a complete layout with 2 pieces of patterned paper, some spray inks, chalk, bling and some fancy snipping. Cost is $10 for a 2 page spread.

 Class will be offered at Scrap-A-Way Waltham, Cool Crops Andover and Scrap-A-Way Warwick.

Nailed It!

I needed some quick and super easy gifts for a few friends. Sam's Club had the EOS lip balm packs and I remembered seeing this cute packaging idea. Bought the balm, printed the .pdf (Thanks Simple as That)  and tied them up...Done in 10 minutes!

Weekend Wrap-up

First event of 2015 done and it was a good time, as always, thanks to the Cool Crops Crew! Nashua was a great location and I got to make some new friends and visit with some ahem old friends. Love that it's work and yet not work. There was plenty of space to spread out and I like how my store has evolved. I would love to hear feedback if you have any...there is always room for improvement.

While I was away at Cool Crops, hubby and my younger boy were at a hockey tournament in New York. Some of you had to listen to this new hockey mom talk hockey, thanks for listening. Sunday morning's championship game was a real nail biter, 1 minute left of the game...the score was 4-3 us...and we had 2 players in the penalty box...my guy was out there playing defense...and they won!

If you're keeping score, my older boy stayed home for his own sports schedule. We hired him a driver and they hung out together, pretty cool. He also stayed home as our designated puppy sitter. What a great kid! I even got puppy updates...check it out

Mom...he thinks it's his personal puppy bed!

How was your weekend?

I Am...

loving  the family photos we took while at my in-laws over the holidays

enjoying having a puppy in the house even if he has decided paper is delicious and sneaks them from my recycle bin anytime he thinks he won't get caught



freezing in the sub-zero temps we have had all week, and it's continuing into next week

listening to an audiobook, ... by Wilbur Smith

watching Covert Affairs season 3 and Justified season 2...while I scrap, knit and run, not all at the same time

knitting two projects - a hat as my on the go project and a gift baby blanket (shhh don't tell)

prepping for the start of a busy season

organizing the boxes and boxes of papers I have purchased to be made into kits, there really isn't enough hours in the day
  
plotting ways to simplify and streamline my business, this would mean more kits available!

January Bazzill Bulk Buy

A Bazzill Bulk Buy is an opportunity to stock up on Bazzill cardstock at a reduced price.  New to my cardstock bulk buy?  Here's the scoop...

• You will receive 60 sheets of cardstock, 5 sheets each of 12 different colors.
• Price includes tax and shipping to me.
• Price is for local hand delivery only - It does NOT include shipping to you. We can meet up or deliver at an event (check my schedule here).  Cardstock will be available for delivery at Scrap-A-Way Waltham (Feb 5).
• Mailing from me to you will be actual USPS cost, $10 in a priority flat rate box. I can fit 2 orders in a box.
• Order Deadline is midnight, Sunday 1/11. 
• Payments in advance by check are appreciated or cash upon delivery.  No CC's or paypal please.
• Does not apply towards prizes or rafffles at crops if you take delivery and pay me at an event.

The cost of this month's buy is $25.  Email me (sluvs2skrap at yahoo dot com) to purchase, please include # of buys, payment method and delivery location.

Sneaky Sunday

For Cool Crops Nashua, I have a really neat layout class called Spicy Social. This is the layout to scrapbook your social media photos - your selfies, your foodie pics, your favorite instagram pics, and the list goes on. There's even a "been there pinned that" embellishment. Layout is a 2 page spread and cost is $10.

If you can't make Cool Crops Nashua, I will have extra kits available for purchase at the rest of my events, until sold out.