Pile 'em on

Rubons that is.  I never quite understand a scrapbookers' fear of using rubons.  Now that being said, they do have a shelf life, believe it or not.  So do not buy them and hoard them.  I mean for like years.  They will get dry and brittle and then do not rub on as well. 

But never fear, even those rubons that do not apply as well can still be used.  Rub another one of similar style right over the existing rubon, or continue the rubon by adding another just slightly overlapping the one previously applied.  I did that on my nieces soccer page and loved how this turned out.  I used rubons from several different packages to achieve this look and (gasp) some of them did not apply correctly.  So, I applied another one, and then another one, extending the flourishes further around the corner of the photo than it would have in its original form. 

And now looking at it, I think the original rubon, if it had been used as it was intended would have looked kind of lonely.  Sometimes more is really better.  So get brave, dig out your rubons (or your rubon leftovers) and pile 'em on!

G45 (finally)

Not "finally" that we received it... finally I got around to making something with it!  So here is a peek at the cover of a 4 x 9 mini book I made using some of the Under the Boardwalk papers (with a little help from a Bo Bunny dotted cardstock).

Also managed to use three EK border punches on the cover.  H-m-m-m-m,  wonder where else those border punches will be showing up?  Like anywhere I can  possibly add them!!!! 

The inside pages are fairly simple, since students will be making 5 different little books in one afternoon and we need to keep the structure of the pages simple and quick so everyone can finish.  I also did not add a bunch of ribbon on the wire binding like I usually would.  Maybe after the class.  Another option for the 4x9 (Long Tall Sally) book will be a grocery list type book with blank lined paper inside.  I'll post that sample later tonight or tomorrow. 

This is one of the most fun types of classes to teach.  We will be doing a 4x4 mini book, a 4x9 mini book, a Maya Road mini chipboard book, a new smaller Bo Bunny Edgey Album and a little surprise bonus bookette made form a single folded sheet of cardstock.   We provide samples for everyone to get ideas from, instruction and measurements for each of the books, as well as the chipboard, wires, or book kits and everyone gets a "paper allowance" to spend on the papers of their choice.  That means they can pick out whatever papers they would like to use for each of their little books.  They can copy mine, if they choose, or they can go a whole different route.  I secretly love it when the students feel brave enough to step outside the box a bit and pick their own things.  Oh, now I guess that's not exactly a secret anymore, is it? 

Gotta run, I think my chicken smells like it needs basting! 

EK Punches (yes,again)

Yeah, I'm still talking about the new punches, they are just that good.  Now mind you I do have a Cricut ( I tend to use that mostly for the fonts).  I am not a collector of cartridges.  And yes, I do have a Big Shot besides.  But these punches are just so darn easy to grab and use.  And they are much easier to pack up and take with you than any machine. 

I took home four of them to start with.  I am not one that will have to have them all.  But there are seveal from this collection that I am after.  The sample boards above DO NOT even show the new individual punches that have been released! 

My picks:  The bracket edge, the embossed scallop edge, the wavy dotted edge, the zig zag, the dotted scroll edge, the deco edge scallop edge, and bumpy road.  Also shown here are a wide scalloped edge and the diamond lace wide scallop edge.  We got those two after the first release of the new flat style punches, so added them to these sample boards. 

Gotta love them!!

No G45 samples, sorry

Nope I did not get to work on samples yesterday.  WE GOT OUR NEW EK PUNCHES!!!!  So that meant lots to unpack and there are lots more to do today. 

But I can share a layout with the new Cappella line from Basic Grey.  This is not due to arrive at the store until sometime later in April... This was done with some samples of paper we graciously got from Basic Grey when we ordered. 

This is my mom on her wedding day.  I've been waiting for just the right papers to do this photo justice and Cappella is perfect.  I think it is also going to be great with old potos I have of my dad.  I'll be looking forward to their arrival! 

Talk to ya'll later! 

Customer Appreciation

Last night was Customer Appreciation Night at the store.  Now that may sound a little lame, kind of hokey.  But the truth is that we truly do so deeply appreciate our good customers. 

There are a couple of message boards that I visit from time to time and I always take the side of the LSS (local scrapbook store).  There is so much weirdness out there, your should hear how some of the women talk.  Some berating their local store for some mistake or another, some proclaiming surprise and sadness when their local store closes, and then they are off talking about what a great deal they got at Walmart or something and I think, "what do you expect from us!?"  The truth is, you expect:  great service, the best prices we can afford to give you, great classes, samples, and products, and a happy environment in which to learn about new products, techniques and ideas.  This is what we aim for, this is where we set the bar.  This is what we think you deserve! 

I do see both sides to these stories on the message boards.  Some stores really do not understand marketing concepts or bother to figure out their customer base.  They probably just thought they liked to scrapbook, let's open a store. 

But at the same time, some customers do not always see the value in what we provide.  Some will come in only with a coupon and that's the only time we see them.  I kind of feel bad for these folks.  They miss out on so much.   Like... Customer Appreciation Night!   I hope everyone had a good time and liked their address book project.

And here are some of our favorite folks winning prizes, having some treats, (sorry I have no photos of you all working on your projects--um, since I was teaching the project...) 

See you all soon! 

More pics of Customer Appreciation Night

New Graphic 45!

Quick, quick post.  I cannot wait to start playing with these new papers from Graphic 45.  The "Perfect Gentleman" line will make some awfully cool manly cards!  And you know how hard it can be to make guys' cards.  There is one sheet that has antique autos on it that so easliy can be cut apart to make a bunch of cards. 

And the "Under the Boardwalk" with all the old time bathing attire is too funny!  Guy cards or girl friend cards--almost too easy to put together!   So fun.  We'll see how many I can get done tomorrow. 

Now if those new EK punches would just hurry up and come in... 

Later!

Thanks!!

First I am still so blown away that I actually have "comments" from people!  woo-hoo! 

And thank you to you all that are reading it.  I had an email or two and comment about creating pages without photos. 

It was difficult when I first started working at the store to create pages without photos.  But...I am forever designing make and take pages for events and Saturday a.m.'s we always do a freebie make and take (not always pages...one Saturday will be a kid's project, one is a card and at least one is a page).  Anway, I got better at it.  You are working more with the papers to show them off to their best advantage and trying NOT to use up the store's inventory of any one particular paper (gotta have some to actually sell, ya know).  I start with papers that coordinate and it is easiest to stick within a certain manufacturer's line.  Then I try to use just strips, rectangles or squares of the patterned paper so I am not using entire sheets of it on one layout.  After that it's kind of like putting a puzzle together till all the pieces seem to fit, add some glitter, bling, ribbon, or flowers and there you have it.  Mix and bake at 350 degrees... oops that would be for a cake recipe not a page recipe!!!!

Occassionally we have overages of one paper or another and then I can cut loose a little and use the whole patterned sheet. 

Oh and we try NOT to put titles on make and takes anymore.  We found that it limited the customers perspective of what THEY could use the layout for.  Like, I'm not Irish and we don't do the whole green beer thing or other St. Patty's day stuff.  I will probably look for photos of my grandson with green and navy in the photo or on him and call the page My Luckiest Charm. 

Totally Backwards

I don't have photos on this layout yet.  It's up at the store as our March sesaonal page class.  I'm not usually drawn to making all the various "holiday" pages as much as the everyday ones.  Not that I don't make them, they are just not usually my most creative for some reason.  But I loved how this one turned out!  So now I am on the hunt for photos for it.  Which I know is TOTALLY backwards!!!  I always advocate shopping with your photos for papers and creating layouts for the photos. 

The papers are all from Little Yellow Bicycle except for the cardstock--which is Bazzill and the tiny glitter hearts are punched from Best Creations glitter paper.  The four leaf clover is cut from our Accucut die, the flourish is cut froma Spellbinders die and the brown scallop strips punched using the Fiskars scallop border punch. 

Getting it right

This is a layout I did quite a while ago, but I re-discovered it in my photo files and thought I would post it.  I am such the poster child for patterned paper!  Usually I use a plain cardstock base and build on that.  This layout surprised me because it is so heavy on the patterned paper and I still like it. 

I was thinking about this... even though I made this several years ago, I still love it!  You know sometimes we are more attracted to the most recent of our layouts. 

We are in love with the newest of the paper lines or particular tools, or our style has changed and developed.  I look at some of my oldest layouts and smile (or grimace) about how I started out years ago.  (Remember everyone's  fascination with edged scissors?  Yikes)

After scrapping for a couple of years, I began to develop my own style I guess and I can see a progression... which I guess is a part of the story too, huh?  

I just love it when things come together and you can go back and look at the pages, the memories come flooding back and you are still in love with the page! 

Now that's when you know you got it right, for you.  For them.  

Simple, Quick and Glittery

Just a quick post...I wanted to share this easy card I put together last night.  I've been wanting to make this card ever since I saw this Hero Arts stamp last season when it was released.  (That's how behind I get with things I just want to do...) 

This flowering tree was heat embossed using plain old black embossing powder and then the little flowers and leaves colored in just with my Tombow watercolor markers.  Added a streak or two or three of green along some of the branches and then stuck on a bunch of these cool little floral bling-y gems that Hero has in multi colored packs.  L-o-v-e them!  I haven't put a greeting on the card, just layered it with a scrap that was laying about on my desk---almost any color would have worked.  It's just something I wanted to make ever since last year and I finally took a minute or two to do it!  Yeah!  I think I will be making up a bunch of these since the pack of little gems is relatively inespensive and I can get three or four cards from one pack.

Considering myself lucky

I'mmmmmm baaaaaack.  Gosh it seems like a really long time since I blogged.  But after the grandma shower, things got a bit harried what with getting ready for the Craft Crawl that Legacy participates in and then there's the page designs for our upcoming Scrapathon, new class schedule, and LOTS of new products coming into the store.  All fun stuff, but all very time consuming.  Plus, I wanted to make sure I got thank-you cards done and out in the mail.  And they are!  (Done and out in the mail, that is!) 

And now the countdown begins.  The other night Boppa (that's grandpa in our house---and I am Nana--so named from our #1 grandson) and I spent some time putting together the pack and play.  h.mmmm  Not quite as simple as they were years ago.  My daughter stopped over to catch us in the act of struggling and arguing pn how to put the thing up.  Once we actually followed the directions, it went together much (?) easier.  Fancy that.  I'm so glad we could provide her with some entertainment. 

This is my baby who is having a baby.  Isn't she pretty?  We have one more month to go before meeting our newest family member.  Now I am getting anxious for her to arrive.  I know that my relationship with this child will not be like the one I enjoy with my grandson.  She and Jacob lived with us until he was a little over a year old.   And while I certainly do not think we should all be living together (we were bursting at the seams whith everyone living here years ago), there was something about having them here and seeing him each and everyday, witnessing so many of the firsts.  I consider myself very lucky to have had that time with them.