Let the 2014 Games Begin!

I'm undergoing my own Olympics for the next 18 days -- I'll be posting everyday!  Since today also coincides with my birthday, I thought I'd share with you a card that befits me ;)

This Sweet as a Cupcake card uses a modified Wishes "Windswept" template.  The original is a 5" x 7" card that I shrunk to a standard card of 4.25" x 5.5".

I stamped the Paper Girl in Black ink and colored her with pencils.  Pemberly paper could be replaced with Ariana and the brads in the upper left corner with Blue Epoxy Bubbles.  Change up the colors completely with any of the papers and coordinating accessories!

Just have fun with it!!

Artbooking Made Easy: Elegant Mini Albums

Elegant is right!  Today's video features images found on pages 47 and 48 of the Artbooking Cartridge booklet.



For the "Cherish Love" mini album, the majority were cut at proportional size of 11".  Those exceptions were "special" cut at 2"; the purple background cut at 7"; "always and forever" cut at 2.5"; and "LOVE" from the front was cut using the Artiste cartridge.  While Kristine doesn't say the size of "love", I would put it at about 2".

The smaller 8" "Special" album was cut at the proportional size of 8".  There were three cuts that were cut at 10" proportional size (meaning the real dial size was not on/used) - the front cover "special", the sweet leaf border, and the word "absolutely".

I like the fact the video shows two ways these Cricut keys can be used.  You may not have engagement pictures that need scrapping.  You could highlight a special cat, or friends, or even an obsession!  What a great gift those would be!!

The Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book is HERE!!

There is so much fun new stuff in here, it can be called overwhelming!!!  However, it will be the best "reading" material for the next several months.  Are you ready to hear what's new in it?!

• Of course another 6 months of exclusive Stamp of the Months; each available for only one month!
• 6 new and fun hostess rewards stamp sets!  Host a gathering of $150 or more and purchase these stamp sets at reduced prices (hint: you can be your own hostess, but it's more fun to hang with friends).
• 7 colorful paper packets with coordinating accessories.  Think spring and summer for colors!  Each paper packet has a scrapbooking workshop on the go kit at a reduced price.
• 2 cardmaking workshop on the go kits

• Picture my Life Scrapbooking Program!  If traditional or digital scrapbooking still intimidates you, try out this cool program.  You'll  only need to add pictures (okay, you may want to trim some down to 3"x4", but it's not necessary).  There are 8 designs to choose from!

More Base and Bling choices! Chains, glass covers, style sheets, and charms, oh my!

• Textiles (fabrics) to coordinate with Skylark and Jubilee paper packs.  But they coordinate with more than just those two.
• More mini stamps, and of course, lots of new stamp sets.  And don't forget about several new sets from Jeanette's stamp archives
• Of course, accessories have been added -- bubbles in black and grey, triangle studs, shimmer trim, washi tape, and paper fundamentals (pg 126), to name a few
• Journaling card box, pennant frame
• 5 little ol' EMBOSSING FOLDERS!!!  They're actually 5" x 7" folders so they're not too little
• New albums (target availability: March 1st), and finally,
• New page protector designs and orientations

Whew, my hands hurt from all of that typing!  I trust you see how excited I am for our new Spring/Summer 2014 idea book!  You can take a gander at it RIGHT NOW to see all of the wonderful items!

Let me know when you want to host your gathering!

Artbooking Made Easy: Love is in the Air Video

Pull out your Artbooking booklet and turn to page 58 and 59 to follow along with today's video.  All images will be cut from there!

The "You + Me" layout is mostly talked about.



For later reference, if you want to recreate this page, here are the Real Dial Sizes Carly mentions:

Frame around the kissing couple: 4"
My Valentine cluster: 1.5"
People in cluster: 2.5"
Heart behind people: 2.5"

Carly didn't mention the size "you + me" was cut, but from looking at it, I would guess around 4"

The second layout features an umbra look using inks that are behind those white hearts.  The technique:
Take a pigment ink pad (these are about 1" square pads -- for better control) and lightly swipe it back and forth from the center of your desired area of ink.  As you reach the end, pull up on the ink pad.  You can adjust the intensity of the ink color by the amount of pressure you use while swiping.

Carly mentions that several ink pads were used, but you could just use one color to highlight an area.

If you have any questions, please ask!

Studio J Layout Turned T-Shirt

I haven't showed you many layouts lately.  Don't worry, I've been hoarding them!

Today I'd like to show you what I did for my husband's and my 20 year anniversary last year.  We wend to Walt Disney World to celebrate and I wanted to commemorate the wedding.  For the two layouts I made, I thought of them as four individual layouts instead of two 2-page layouts.  However, I wanted to keep the same paper pack colors true so the four of us would be unified (see the bottom picture for what I mean).

For each of the girls, I took her birth picture, a current picture, and a picture of the four of us.  Of course I journaled when they joined the family!

For the two adult layouts, I mentioned our twenty years.  On each layout, I included the girls together, the four of us, the two of us, and a wedding picture.  For Mike, I added a picture of the his three girls as well as me alone.  For mine, you guessed it, I have a picture of him alone and with the girls.

Once I was happy with the four layouts I checked out.  Okay, I ended up buying the print version of these, but I didn't NEED to.  If I didn't want them as layouts, I could have bought just the j-peg version (which comes as a large version and a web version).  Since I bought the layouts, I got the j-pegs as well.

Armed with the j-pegs, I went to my printer with iron-on t-shirt transfer paper.  I printed (don't forget to follow the package directions!) each page onto the transfer paper and then ironed them onto shirts!

So think about using Studio J for a family reunion.  Isn't it better having pictures along with "Simone Reunion"?  You could add pictures of past reunions.

Or what about a birthday shirt?  You could add past pictures for that too.  Or signatures.

There is no limit to the possibilities!!

Create Your Own

I made this card in 2008.  Why am I showing it you now?!

Originals: Center Accent - 4.75"x3"

Because it shows several techniques!  First off, there are only two colors of cardstock associated with this card -- Spring Iris and Vanilla Cream (both retired).  The words are from one stamp set, the balloon is from a second stamp set, and the background pattern is from third set. 

The first technique is creating the top part.  I took the different birthday wishes and placed them all on one block.  I wanted to have "celebrate" and "happy birthday show" so I placed them on the block accordingly.  I stamped in Spring Iris on the top of the card.  Done.

Second technique is creating the background bottom portion of the card.  I wanted the card to be monochromatic and there wasn't any background and texture paper suitable.  That's why I stamped the bursts!  If memory serves me, that was one stamp for the whole bottom.  If not, then I stamped it multiple times.  Bottom done.

Third technique is a fun one. The balloon kissed the background stamp!  First, I inked my background burst stamp in Desert Sand and set it aside briefly.  Next, I took the balloon and created a second generation (ink stamp and stamp once on scratch paper).  Then, I kissed my second generation ready balloon to the background image.  That's to say, I stamped the background onto the balloon.  And finally, I stamped the balloon onto paper.  Therefore, my image was a balloon with a background on it.  Pretty cool, huh?!  Finally I stamped the balloon string in Desert Sand, cut out the balloon and the string, and edge distressed the card and the balloon.  The edge distressing technique was direct to paper.  I took the ink pad and swiped the paper's edge along the edge of the pad.  I sponged the balloon.

I assembled the card and mounted the balloon as the focal, and done!!

Can you use these techniques with the stamps you have currently?  You bet!  Will you look at future stamp sets and paper with these in mind?  I sure hope so.  : )

Coming Soon: The Last Day to Order from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book

January 31, 2014 is the last day to order from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book!  Please note that there is no grace period for retiring items, so be sure to complete your orders by 11:59 pm (MST) on Friday, January 31!

Any item (we're mostly talking accessories here) NOT found in the new Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book will not be orderable after midnight, with the exception of some stamp sets. Also, items are on a while supplies last basis!  One friend was out of luck when she tried to order Chantilly paper -- it's all gone.

Stamp sets continue to be available for one additional Idea Book, meaning that you may order stamp sets featured in the current or previous Idea Book. This means that through January you can order stamp sets from the Spring/Summer 2013 and Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Books, but come February 1 you will be able to order only those featured in the Autumn/Winter 2013 and Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Books. 

Also, all stamp sets that coordinate with one of our Cricut® collections will still be available. GO RIGHT NOW to view and purchase items that are set to retire on my website and select the “Retiring Items” category.

While you're there, don't forget about the Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit celebrating Papercrafting month.  Purchase the needed materials through me, and then join me February 24th or 25th to put your kit together (or I'll send you the cutting diagram and pictures of the additional cards we'll make).