Happy Days Mini Album Tutorial Part Two

Hello, everybody.  The second tutorial is up.  Here is the link...

Video on You Tube

Thanks, and have a crafty day!

Happy Days Mini Album Tutorial, Part One

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that the first part of the tutorial for the Happy Days mini album is available on YouTube now.  Please, go check it out!  Enjoy!

Stay crafty, my friends!

Arc Disc Binding Strikes Again!

I found this AWESOME, WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS tutorial for FREE on Graphic 45's blog.  Jane Tregenza is a GENIUS, and I love this album, and plan to make my own very soon.

There are 9 parts to this album, and the tutorials are available in PDF form so that you can print them out.  It is a ton  of pages since they are completely detailed and have pictures of EVERYTHING!

So, how does one handle a tutorial printout that big and make it useable for having at your crafting table for reference?  Enter the Arc disc binding system!

 This is the cover of her album, "The Most Important People in my Life".  I printed it out full page, laminated it and punched it with my Arc punch.

 I have the most nifty and funky set of index sticky tabs that I found at The Container Store, and used my white gel pen to write on them.  I think the black tabs look cool with this little organization project.

 Here are the tabs.  They are by Semikolon.  I think they were less than $10.00.  Well worth the price, as there are 50 of each color!

So, with the indexing helping me to find the section I need quickly, and the disc binding system that allows the book to lay flat at all times...I am set to create!

Just another reason to love the Arc system by Staples.  And no, they didn't pay me to say that!  :)

Stay crafty, my friends!

PS:  Off now to try and finish up the "Happy Days" tutorial for you!

Got Your Number Album

Hi everybody!  I hope this post finds you all well!

I am on a ROLL!!  I am finishing projects that have been half done at a rapid pace!  Of course, the creative bug strikes me and I come up with new stuff, but after I finish that, it's right back to finishing up neglected projects.

Here's my latest finished project!

Last November, Jackie and I went to the Creative Keepsakes Convention, and took this class by Creating Keepsakes.  "Got Your Number".  It is themed, all about the numbers in your life.  The papers were from Echo Park, the Times and Seasons line.  I think it is beautiful!

 The cover and title page are done exactly as they instructed in the class.

 All of the following pages, except for the last two full layouts are done as follows:  The left pages are as instructed in the class, but the right pages I did.  I am, I suppose, old school in that I tend to make two page layouts that match.  So, after I made their pages, I used the leftovers and made my pages to match.

 This page was supposed to be about your favorite time of day, but I am going to put a year...the one I got married in.  I used the Fiskars filmstrip punch on this page, cute!

 Again, the left page is their design, the right is mine.

 10 things on my bucket list...why is this so hard to come up with??

 Then and now...I am putting pictures of me and my husband when we were little, and then current pictures.  Ahhhhh!

 This will be pictures of me and my hubby.

 And, pictures of our home, through the years and various paint colors.

 The next two pages I made myself.  I had two extra page protectors that couldn't go to waste.  Also, I wanted pages to celebrate our 3 children...(Pardon the toe in the lower corner!!!)

...and our 2 dogs.  These last two pages were constructed with scraps, as were all of the right pages in the layouts.  All I had to add was the 12x12 card stock.

I finished putting in the pictures, and I added one more simple 8x11" page for our "One Grandchild".  It turned out awesome and I love it.

Now on to another project half done.  I think it will be the tutorial for my "Happy Days" mini album!!

Thanks for looking, and stay crafty!!

Arc Planner Updates, Stuff and Things

I am loving my Arc Notebook turned planner/organizer/life saver.  I love having paper and pen to write things down.  Technology is OK, but there is nothing like sitting down with a paper and pen, there's so much freedom with that.

I discovered Levenger. I actually stumbled on it via Pinterest.  Have we discussed Pinterest yet? OMG, both are awesome! I did some net surfing about compatability, then made an order, and found out that the Levenger Circa system really does fit perfectly with my Arc system.  Score for me!!  I am sure that the popularity of the Arc has created demand for more options and insert styles, but until then, I am shopping some at the Levenger site.

 This was my first order.   It is a sample kit with a few things for the classic and full sized notebooks.  I thought this would be a safe way to try the stuff out, and see what I thought.

 It came with two sets of discs, some dividers, covers...

 ...and 4 different sizes of notes!  I think I'm in love!  With this, there was a special gift of a $40 gift certificate good for your next order.  Well...OK, twist my arm!  I ordered some more stuff immediately!

 This was my next order!  I got a 300 sheet pack of colored notes pages, more top dividers, some mini note pages, and a sampler pack for a standard size book like my Arc system.  They also have different sizes of discs, so I ordered some 1/4" discs!

 I used some of them to create a mini notebook with 3x5 index cards.  This size fits PERFECTLY in my pocket at work!  Now, instead of random papers with notes, I use this, then zip it out of this book and it GOES INTO MY ARC NOTEBOOK PERFECTLY!

 Yes, I am a planner geek, organizer nerd, and a note-taking fanatic!  I admit it!!

 So, finally, here are some of my latest weekly pages.  My Stuff and Things.  This week above, I color coded the days to the to-do's.

 This week, I just liked this set of stickers, so I used them.  Kind of pretty and girly.

 This was the week of the 4th of July, so I went with red, white, and blue.

And this was last week, as I was beginning it.  I just used some leftover random stickers from my "Happy Days" mini album!

Have a great week, stay crafty and ORGANIZED my friends!

Happy Days Mini Album!

Hello, Internet Crafters!  Welcome to my Saturday in my Craft Room!!

The other morning I had a creative brainstorm, and made this album.  I made a YouTube video, you can see the full walk-through here.  VIDEO!

 When I got ready to take the pictures, my little dog-son, Zeke, hopped up on the couch and decided to model for me.  Awww...

 I did a stash busting job with this one.  The paper is by Echo Park, called Happy Days.  I loved it!  I had already used up some of the pack, this project used up all of the rest, except for some stickers.

 It is two books in one, a sort of gatefold thing, all wrapped up in one.

 I did a take on the "Stack the Deck" binding...the pages are the binding...and they are also part of the closure and the back covers!

I used lots of envelopes in this one as well, and the cards from the envelopes.

I am planning to do a video tutorial on how I made it.  Thanks for looking, and I will see you on YouTube very soon!

Stay Crafty, my friends!

More Cards

 I love this Sizzix Accordion Album die!!!  I made some baby shower invitations with it in a recent post.  I decided to use it again for my niece's graduation card. 

 It was so thick that I had to make a box to contain it.

 On the back I threaded ribbon to hold a "scroll" of money.  I slipped a note from myself and her 

Uncle D in the roll of money.

 "Yay Madie!"

 This is a card I gave to my nephew, who was promoted to 9th grade.

He loved this card, especially the pocket made from a coin envelope that had cash in it!!

I hope you liked these cards!

Stay crafty my friends!

Just A Few Designs, THE STAMPS ARE AVAILABLE TODAY!!!

It's time, It's TIME!!!!

Elsa's stamps are available for purchase!!!

Go to her site, and check it out!!

Justafewdesigns.com

Below are the two images I previewed for you the last two days...there are 8 more available for purchase!!

 "Annie on Cloud 9"

"Love Bobot"

Remember, when you get to Elsa's website and make a purchase say that "Michelle sent me" for your chance to win a surprise with your purchase!!  There will be card kits and mini stamps to be had!!!

Happy creating, everyone!!

Just a Few Designs, Stamp Release #2

Hi Everyone!  Welcome back!!  

Welcome back to preview the new stamp, "Love Bobot!"  I showed you the first image yesterday, "Annie on Cloud 9".  I sure hope you enjoyed it and I hope you had a chance to visit the other crafty gals in our "Sassy 6".  Did you see what they created?  Incredible!!!

Remember, there are 10 new rubber stamp designs available, 

created by the lovely and talented Elsa,

STARTING SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd!!!!

justafewdesigns.com

 Elsa is also having giveaways!!  There will be card kits and mini stamps to be had!!!

Elsa will pick one person from every one of the Sassy 6's blogs to be the winner, so tell her "Michelle sent me" when you order for your chance to win!

OK, now here is my second project using Elsa's stamp, "Love Bobot".

She is called "bobot" after something Elsa's grandson said.  He had a hard time pronouncing his "R's", and said "bobot" instead of "robot".  Isn't that cute?  Isn't this image adorable!  I just love it, and I had so much fun coloring her.  Inside the card, I added the words 

"I love you forever."

I bet you can't wait to see what the other gals in the "Sassy 6" have created with their second images!  Here's the list of their blogs so you can go check them out!

Elsa          http://justafewdesigns.blogspot.com

Krystal      http://krystalsnight.blogspot.com

 Suzie       http://scrappingsuzieqtt.blogspot.com

Linda        http://simpleandsassycreations.blogspot.com

Michelle    http://www.creativeoperation.blogspot.com/

Sherence  http://proudmommy702.blogspot.com/

Yvette       http://daileyscrapper.blogspot.com

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY ELSA'S SITE AND CHECK OUT THESE NEW STAMPS!  

Remember, they go on sale on Saturday, June 22nd! 

Just A Few Designs, Stamp Release #1!!

Well, here it is, the BIG SURPRISE!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen!  It is my pleasure to let you all know that Elsa (you know her from Just a Few Designs, and she was the leader in the craft group I was involved with, Just a Few Friends) has designed some ADORABLE images, and they are being made available for your rubber stamping pleasure!!!  

Yes, that's right!!  I am soooooo excited for her, and am also soooooo excited to be a part of her Design Team.  You will notice a new logo on my sidebar, and a new lineup of talented ladies.  We are now known as THE SASSY 6!!!  

Today, I am going to show you the first image I was given to create with.  Tomorrow I will show you the second image I was given to create with.  There are 10 new designs available,

STARTING SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd!!!!

justafewdesigns.com

 Elsa is having giveaways!! There will be card kits and mini stamps to be had!!!

Elsa will pick one person from every one of the Sassy 6's blogs to be the winner, so tell her "Michelle sent me" when you order for your chance to win!

All of us in the SASSY 6 have been working on creating designs to showcase Elsa's awesome stamps!  I will have a list of these talented ladies at the end of this post.  Please go on over and see what they have done with the other 8 images that will be available very soon!!

Without further ado...May I present to you, "ANNIE ON CLOUD 9!"

This little beauty is just one of the cutest images I've seen!  But, I think all of Elsa's images are AWESOME!!!

I just love the look on her face, and the first thing that came to me was that she was thinking of someone very special.  It is hard to see, but on the chipboard heart are embossed shapes.  I took a glitter pen and enhanced them.  Inside, the card is blank.

So, let me introduce you to "The Sassy 6!"  Please stop by their blogs and see the different images that they have been creating with.

Elsa          http://justafewdesigns.blogspot.com

Krystal      http://krystalsnight.blogspot.com

 Suzie       http://scrappingsuzieqtt.blogspot.com

Linda        http://simpleandsassycreations.blogspot.com

Michelle    http://www.creativeoperation.blogspot.com/

Sherence  http://proudmommy702.blogspot.com/

Yvette       http://daileyscrapper.blogspot.com

You can meet us at our new Mansion, here.

AND DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY ELSA'S SITE AND CHECK OUT THESE NEW STAMPS!  

Remember, they go on sale on Saturday, June 22nd! 

Come on by tomorrow for another preview of "Love Bobot!!"

Announcements!!!

Well, I have two announcements for you!!

First, I still have a surprise for you all, and it is going to be soooooo COOL!!  

It was going to start today, but the Sassy 6 needed some time to get it ready, so we are shooting for sthe 20th!!  

What is it? 

 I can't tell you yet, that would spoil the surprise!  

But, we should be ready to show you what we are all excited about starting on the 20th!  

Be ready, be prepared, it will be AWESOME!!

Here's the second announcement, an invitation type announcement!

I found these Sizzix dies at the craft store, and I had to get them!  They are supposed to make a mini album, but I thought that they would make a unique mini album for some shower invitations I was making.  

 Stage one, cutting all of the pieces.  My invites were 4 panels long, so with all of the pieces, it meant 12 different pieces per invite.  I made 20 of them.

 Assembly.  You have to assemble all of the panels before you adhere them to each other.  I printed the information on white pieces, then cut them out using a Spellbinders die that fit perfectly into the gray square cut out with the second die I used.

 Here is what it looks like all adhered.  I blurred out the information, sorry.  I also failed to get a picture of the cute front of the card.  It had a stamp with an elephant on it, that I colored yellow.  (Her colors for her baby shower are yellow and gray).  Around the elephant said "Sweet Baby".

 They all folded up nicely, then I had to create envelopes using my We R Memory Keepers envelope maker, the cards were about 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" square.  You can see the Spellbinders die under the edge of the box.

We R Memory Keepers also has washi tape sheets out, I used them to punch hearts with a yellow design to close the envelopes.  

So, that's that for today.  Here's a list of the supplies that I used.

Cardstock:  Bazzill and AC

Ink:  Memento 

Stamp:  Fiskars

Dies:  Sizzix and Spellbinders

Pens:  Chromatix

Envelope and Washi Tape Sheet:  We R Memory Keepers

Punch:  Unknown

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK BACK ON THE 20TH!!!

Stay Crafty, My Friends!