Sunday, April 24, 2011

Nowhere, Anywhere, Somewhere

There is always this stash of stuff sitting next to my work area.  It no doubt ends up in a bin somewhere.  But in 2010 I decided that I need a better attack to that stash of stuff that ends up in the bin that usually gets stacked onto another bin that leads to nowhere.  I began a quest to use up scraps from layouts immediately . . . IMMEDIATELY (I say) . . . so as to not add to the bins, and eventually to eliminate maybe all but one bin down the road.  But it is seriously a great idea, because when it goes to the bin you spend hours trying to find things that go together.  By attacking it right away, I end up with cards that coordinate well (it's like a jigsaw puzzle trying to find the right layout for the scraps).  Best part is that all those extra pieces of chipboard embellishments have an immediate home and don't end up lost forever (in the other stack of bins with the extra pieces that no doubt are self-stick and end up all stuck together in a jumbled mess).

So any scrap of cardstock that is large enough for a card gets immediately sized down to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Pattern papers get trimmed down to 4" x 5 1/4".  Smaller pieces of cardstock will usually be trimmed to 4" x 4" (perfect for Quickutz, Cottage Cutz, Sizzix dies), and I keep them all stacked so I can just grab as needed. 

Yes - I am rambling!

So I did make this layout for a challenge, to be posted at a later date.  And with my leftover materials, I managed to make two cards which I will be donating to OWH in a shipment down the road.

So the stuff that usually ends up somewhere, and then goes nowhere could actually end up anywhere in the U.S. (sent by one of our nation's armed forces to his/her family).

Two people are going to need to get well somewhere in the U.S., and we'll be ready for them.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Action Wobbling a Kitty

So I just got done "Action Wobbling" a few things, and my favorite of the night was this awesome Cottage Cutz Kitty in a Pocket (using two of the die cuts).

Loving it . . . my brain is full of too many ideas now.  I need a rest!   

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Spring is Springing Up Everywhere

I work at my local scrapbook store - New England Scrapbook Co. - and I've had numerous customers lately tell me that all of the new product is "girlie" and feminine.  That is 100% accurate, and the only reason is because everything coming in is all about Spring.  Spring is flowers and flourish the whole way . . . so yes, everything is full of butterflies, birds, and flowers.  It's Spring!  


I designed this cute tray for a class I'm teaching.  I have this idea that there is one spot in my house where I will always have a tray hanging reflecting the time of year and some photos.  For this particular tray depicting Spring, I used Jillibean Soup paper which I adore.


I made my own butterflies using bazzill cardstock and corner punch!  They turned out really cute, and they just pop off the tray (as you can see in the photo further below).

I used my Cricut to cut the flowers which shower from the handle and also for the title in the top left corner.  I used Twinkling H2O's to add some color to the title and the stamping in the lower right!  The stamp is a Unity Stamp (love Unity).  It all tied together.  These trays are super easy and fun to create.  I just need to add some Spring photos . . . but that's for another day (it's still a little brown out in the real world here in Connecticut). 

I am sure there will be a summer tray in my future, and I'll be sure to post it.  I also have my eyes set on a tray to depict my love for all of my four-legged friends.  Stay tuned!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Unity Challenge - Fashion Forward

I love a challenge because it gets me creating!  I've been so swamped lately, there has been little time to get busy.  This month's Unity Challenge . . . 

FASHION FORWARD.
Yep, that's right!
We want YOU to
SPRING into FASHION using ONLY UNITY or IPPITY stamps!
(by creating a fashion themed card, layout, or 3d project!)
I dug through my monthly kits looking for stamps and used a combination of the October 2010 collection (the handbags) and the January 2011 (shoes and quote).  I used the Pepper Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock as my card base, stamped in black on cream cardstock (both from my LSS) and then colored the images with markers.  I added some glitter to my bag handles and buckles along with a few clear jewels.  Just a little ribbon and wow!  I love black, cream (or white), and any other single color to go along with it (in this case, pink). 
 

Looking forward to next month's challenge!