Awesome Grunginess!

O.K., even though grunge is not normally my thing, I found the most awesome grunge paper bag album on youtube.  So here is the link to the youtube video overview of the whole album.

http://www.youtube.com/user/kathyorta#p/u/4/eLIAy1bR7bQ

I showed this album to the friend who told me about this lady, and we have decided to attempt to make this album, only using the videos.  It ought to be lots of fun!

The album uses almost all Tim Holtz stuff.  From paper to embellishments!  And it is HUGE!  I have never seen a "mini" album be so big and thick!  It is stuffed full of mini albums and flips and flaps and TONS of pockets!!  I can't wait!

I will post some pictures when I can.  I am not sure when we will be starting this album, but hopefully it will be soon!

Look at the video and let me know what you think!

Scrap,Scrap,Scrap!!

So in the last week I have had more scrap time than I have in the last 3 months combined.  I scrapped during the Superbowl, roughly 6 hours.  On Wednesday night was card class, about 3 hours.  Friday night was a 2$ crop up the hill, that went on for at least 5 hours.  Then yesterday there was an all day crop in a nearby town and I spent another 6 hours there!  You would think that after spending that much time elbow deep in paper, ink, ribbon,and adhesive that I would be burnt out?  Not even close!!  Now I have to super speed clean today so I can play tomorrow!!

Finally!

So waaay back in July I decided that all I wanted for my birthday was to go to the Scrapbook Expo in Sacramento in November.  That's it, nothing else.  So after having the discussion with dear hubby, I bought my ticket, signed up for way to many classes and waited rather impatiently for November to arrive.  So along comes the end of August and no more job, by my own choice that is(or rather my tempers choice).  So at the end of September I started a new job, went through all the training and the new store I was to be working at opened the day before Halloween.  I was hoping really hard that I would have at least one of the expo days off.  No such luck and it being a new job there was no way I was already going to be asking for days off.  So I didn't get to go to the expo but a friend of mine was also going and she was awesome enough to bring all of my class kits home for me.

That was the beginning of November. It is now the middle of February. I am down to only one or two class kits left to put together. They have been so much fun to do and I am going to post a link to a BUNCH of pics on my Picasa Web Album so you can see them! These projects will also be up for sale at my Etsy store soon. So if you really like something you'll need to hurry as there is only one of each. You can get to my Etsy store by visiting http://www.gatespapercrafts.etsy.com/ . thanks!

The project photos will be posted by project. The projects are as follows:
Moravia Envelope Album
We Are Family Layouts
Jocelyn Interactive Album
Grace Acrylic Album

Just click on a project and it will take you to the photos.

I would love your opinion on the projects and my execution of them!  Please post your comments!  I love hearing from you!!  Thanks for reading today and hope to see you again!

I won!

A few months ago I entered a drawing for a sample pack of Core'Dinations sample pack and I won!  It took a little while to get here but it's here now and it has some very wonderful colors.

As they are strips instead of the 6x6 format I was expecting, I think they will become boarder strips for any layouts or cards in the coming months.  The Core'Dinations people have little giveways and contests every so often and I will try to let you all know when they happen, as long as I know anyway!  You can also go to their website and sign up for their newsletter and they will send you an email when they have contests and drawings.  I wish you all a great day and thanks again for reading today!

In Love With A Clearance Rack!!

I know it sounds silly but I LOVE the clearance rack/section at Scrapbook.com!  There is alway so much stuff on clearance.  There is even a dollar or less section.  You can narrow your search by brand, type of item, color, and even cost.  I found the cutest colored flatback pearls, and the crystals in lots of different swirly patterns. And they were less than two dollars!  There was even some of the Prima Pebbles for less than two dollars though I can imagine that those are already gone!

So now that I have told you what one of my favorite online shopping places is, I want to know where your favorite place to shop is!  Please post a comment and let me know!!

Crazy, crazy, crazy!

It has been so crazy around here!  New job, weird hours, and up waaaaayy to early.  Can't wait for things to settle down so I can find some kind of routine!  Will spend the day tomorrow doing housework in an effort to catch up and try to get ahead at least a little.  Hopefully I will be able to play in paper on Tuesday!  Really, really hope so because I'm having withdrawals!  Well I'm off to find something for dinner.  Bye all!

Chalk Popping

This month we are going to learn how to do Chalk Popping!  One of my favorite ways to make my layouts or cards unique.  So that's what we are going to do!!

For this technique you need:
     White Cardstock
     Embossing Buddy
     Favorite Stamp
     Embossing Pad
     Decorating Chalks

Step 1
     Rub your embossing buddy over the area of cardstock that you are going to stamp your image on.

Step 2
    Using embossing ink, ink your stamp of choice well and stamp it on the area of cardstock that you used the embossing buddy on.  Make sure your image stamps well.  If you are having a problem getting your image to stamp well, try putting a thin layer of foam underneath your cardstock.

Step 3

     Rub your chalk applicator onto the chalk color of your choice and then gently rub the applicator over the stamped image.  If you choose you can chalk your image in several different colors.   

Thats it!  Very simple, but it turns out beautiful!  You can also be creative.  Use several colors and make it as creative as you are!  The skys the limit!!