Friday, December 30, 2011

A Sizzix Blue Christmas!

Hello all,

So Christmas crept up on me and I had to come up with something quit.  Out of ideas so a perused the SOC site for some inspiration.  I found a beautiful card, it was blue, detailed and elegant.  But Christmas was coming fast and I had not time for details or elegance, so I went simple and blue.

I went to my paper rack and the perfect blue was there.  YES!  I had a matching blue ink pad CTMH Indian Corn Blue.  I had white card stock, envelopes, silver glitter glue.   I love my Sizzix even though I have a cricut (which I also have)  I would not trade my Sizzix for anything. 

I check my dies, and believe it or not I have Christmas Tree Bulbs and I find a embossing folder of snowflakes.  Everything is coming together.  I rummage through my stamp drawers and see what I have. Snowflakes but no saying.

So I visit walmart and find the perfect greeting, for $1.00.  3 stamp acrylic set only $1.00.  One last thing ribbon to tie the bow picked some up at Joan's.  I also had some dimension to add some height.

 I ran my paper through the Big Shot Express with the Embossing Folder then with the Die. 

Here are the results...




Well i stuck with this years model. Simple!

What did your Holiday Card look like!

Scrappingly Yours,

Gigi

Sunday, December 11, 2011

For the Diva

Hello all!

Sorry it has been awhile.  I will try to keep up.  So I have a besty that collects pins.  She loves them.  She also is a shop-a-holic.  A couple of years ago I bought her a book about Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, My Life in Pins.  Ms Albright is a huge collector an interseting read, pictures of her pins, where she got them from and why she wore them whaen she did. 

That being said,  I now buy a pin for my friend for the special events we share.  Her birthday was this month so I had to do a diva card and a box to send her pin in.

So cricut here I come,  I used the Foreever Young Cart for the first time.  I look through my pile of paper and came across a pack of paper I purchased at Marshalls for 5.99.  This paper pad had 48 sheets, cream and blck papers and texture!  Some of the paper is ? fuzzy? suedy?  Anyways I love it.  the paper stack was DCWV La Creme stack.

I created a Shoe card and a matching Purse gift box that was the perfect size for a pin.

Try this for the Diva friend in your life!


Show me the cards for one of your besties.

Scrappinly Yours,

Gigi

Thursday, October 27, 2011

My K.I.S.S. Philosophy!

Well we have heard the KISS philosophy mean a number of things.  Here is my philosophy.

K - Keep
I - It
S - Srap
S -Simple

So like many of you I get behind in my card making and then I feel like whaaa I have to get a card made.  So here was my solution.

I have a greeting that is high instead of long.  For my KISS  card, Start with double side paper.  Mine is chocolate on one side and cream on the other.   Cut a standard card shape, cut a strip off the cover for your greeting to display.  Cut a pattern paper to go over the cover.




This is card is not only simple but is very easily a masculine card as well.  Use your pattern paper to display the mood of the card and use you saying to compliment it.  Birthday pattern paper with birthday saying, baby pattern paper with a welcome baby greeting.

You can also turn this card so it opens upwards and you can use a wide saying.

By keeping a very simple stock card on hand you will always be prepared and you can still have the personal touch when sending a card without a long design time.

So KISS Keep It Scrap Simple...

Scrappingly yours!

Gigi

Monday, October 24, 2011

I love my Gypsy!

Yeah!  I finally did a project with my Gypsy...Love It!

I want to give you the highlights and advantages of the Gypsy.

     a)   You can 'Layer' each step of your projects this allows you to put each paper color on a different layer which makes cutting easy.
     b)   You can see the entire project.  what your vision is before your start cutting.
     c)    You can see and adjust the measurements (size) at a touch.

I am generally not a Halloween person, but I have a grandson and a great niece, so I will probably find holidays as an excuse the craft them something.

Below is the Halloween card I made.

     Layer 1 had the frame and the leaf
     Layer 2 had the pumpkin and the saying

I really liked that I was able to get the correct size of the leaf by magnifying the display.  Normally I probably would had cut 3 to 5 sizes trying to get the correct one.


I love the flexibility of designing while I am in another room, watching TV or on the go riding with my husband.  This will ultimately save me time, paper and frustration. 

This is one of the best tool purchases I have made.  People should really evaluate making this purchase when buying any cricut cutter.

My only regret, not buying it when I originally purchased my expression.  Amazing!

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Something new for a wedding

Hi all,

Here is the news.  I have received my Cinch and my Gypsy, but have been so busy that I have not had a chance to use them.  So those project posts will be happening later.  But it has been long enough and I have a fund idea to post.

So my hubby and I attended a wedding recently, it had some really cute ideas that I had never seen before.  They planted a tree together instead of a unity candle.  The had a nature theme.  Some of you may have seen this before but I hadn't and thought it was adorable, so on to the project.

Their Guest Registry was actually a picture of a tree.  The limbs were reaching and had no leaves.  It was large enough that it would be really easy to frame.  Here was the really cut part.  They had punches of flowers and leaves scattered around a table.  The flowers and leave were punch out of sticky paper. 

The guest were to right their names on a leaf or flower, peel and stick on the tree where ever they like.  The finish product was adorable.

































 


Now she ordered this online, it was not my idea or hers.  But it was too cute for a crafter to let pass by.

So crafters, here is a challenge for you, anyone think they can make one using their Cricut?  I would love to see your work  send it to me and I will post it on my blog.  Please share which carts and product you used. 

Part two of the challenge.... Come up with your own take.  What unique idea can you come up with for a Wedding Guest Register.

Anyone interested?


Scrapingly yours,

Gigi

Friday, September 30, 2011

Sale! One of my favorite words. Only till Sunday

So here is the sale story.  Well everyone was buzzing on my SOC site about the new E2 which HSN was showing.  Suddenly the conversation changed to the Gypsy, and what a great tool it was.  It allows you to anchor your items so they touch or overlay onto an item.  But what sealed the deal for me was the thought that I could use it while riding in the car with my husband.  I usually bring a stack of magazines when we drive, we live out in the country and most things are at least 45 to 60 minutes away.  but, the Gypsy is portable.

So I searched around and found the best deal.  This deal is only good till Sunday.  Cricut.com has the Gypsy combo and a free cartridge.  I only paid 8 dollars shipping and no sales tax for me.

The Combo you get...
     Gypsy
     Silicone Sleeve
     cover
     Car Charger
     Adaptor
     Cord for cartridge
     Cord for Cricut connection
     3 stylus pens
     Loaded with 2 Gypsie carts
     Destination Cartridge
     Free Cupcake catridge for spending 40$
     Total price was $99

    This is an outstanding price.  Hurry and get yours, Cricut told me it was only until Sunday.  I will fill you in when I get mine.

Scrapingly yours,

Gigi

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Happy News!

Hi All,

I am excited!  As some of you know I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a binding machine.  Well I researched and decided I wanted the new Cinch, it has been recommended by friends so I decided to do it.  Till..... I looked at the price and the least expensive price I had found was 109.00 at Joann's. As we all know we have more stuff that we don't use I was not in a hurry to make such a large purchase until I was sure I was going to use it.

Occasionally I had seen it on sale for 25 to 40% off. So the best price had been in the 70's.  I received an email from Joann's that they were having a 2 day special for $.99 shipping.  I generally think their normal shipping is a little on the high side.  So I took at look and to my surprise the Cinch was 50% off that was $54.00.  WOW!  I put it right in my shopping card.  While I was continually shopping around I notice the price change to only 25% off on the website. 

I rushed and clicked on my cart and there the price was still 50% off.  After I finished my shopping I proceeded to checkout, and got the Cinch at 50% off. 

The moral of the story,  If you see a good price stick it in your cart, because Joann's will honor the price that it was at the time you added it to your cart, even if the price changes while your shopping. Whoo Hoo!

I will let you know when I received it and use it.

Scrappingly yours,

GiGi

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Pretty as a Peacock

Hello All,

Stamping doesn't have to be expensive.  I purchased  a clear stamp set of a Peacock and Peacock feathers at an amazing deal.  Such a good deal that I bought 2, (be on alert some SOC member will be getting RAK'd).  What I already had on hand, Block embossing ink, clear embossing powder, misc bling (I got free in something that I normally would have thrown away if I weren't a paper crafter), also blue and black card stock.


I stamped the Peacock with Black embossing ink and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heating tool.  I stamped the large peacock feathers with black ink, and cut is in half and added the bling.  I layer the peacock as well as the feathers stamped on blue layered with black then blue, place on a black card.  I place a layer of Blue inside of the card.   I attached the peacock across the opening with dimension foam on one side and a magnet set on the other to allow it to open. 



What do you think?  Is it pretty as a peacock?




Look at what you have on hand, and enjoy using all the supplies you have collected.  Have a great week.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Friday, September 9, 2011

I found the 2 best organization tools to date.

This is it. I do think these are the two best organizing ideas I have come across so far.   I love this paper organization.  I wish I could take credit for this but I can't.  I actually found this idea on YouTube.  It starts with purchasing a package of four wire cubes that you put together.  I purchased 6 packs.  I wanted black, I found them on line at Walmart.com for about $20.00 ea.



17 15x15 wire squares come in a pack.  Decide the shape and put them together.  I chose to create 6 squares. A few of these I saw put together on line looked a little shaky, so I used heavy duty zip ties to reinforce the frame.  This takes some time but it is well worth it, it is very sturdy after this.  I used about 50 zip ties.  Once the frame is together use the balance of the wire panels and lighter weight zip ties to create shelves.  You can have as many as eight shelves per cube not counting the top and bottom.  Most cubes I put eight shelves, some a put 2 to 4.  Currently I have 7 panels left that I haven't decided on how to use.  I used about 150 small zip ties.  The more you use the more reinforced and sturdy it will be.  It is well worth the time and effort. 


The next organization tool is super easy.  I bought a pegboard kit again from Walmart, this was in store sold out on line.  It was black plastic pegboard. 4 1ft x 2ft panels total space 2ft x 4 ft for $24.95.  It comes with a number of pegs,  I did not use the red plastic bins, I bought 3 black wire bins about $3 each.  Screw it into the wall, insert the pegs an organize!



So these are best finds for organizing.  Do you have any ideas?  If you decide to try these out let me know how they work for you.  Now that I can see what I have, maybe I will actually get some scrapping done. 

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Free Scrap Magazine!

Hi all,

Just a quick note.  As most of you know, I am a member of the SOC 'Scraps of Color' site.  Our newest magazine is out.  Just go to the website to download your free copy. 

http://www.scrapsofcolor.com/


Stay tuned I will be blogging about my newest paper organizer project, next week.  Until then click and enjoy.

Craftingly yours,

GiGi

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Michael's Secret

Hi All,

So I was in Michael's today and found out a little piece of information I thought I would share.  I was digging through the Clarance rack as always, I came across a Sizzix embossing folder set (4 piece).  there was no price on it.  I asked for a price check and the ladies was disturbed and said I couldn't buy it because is was down to .01 cent and they were not allowed to sell anything for 1 cent.  After a conversation they did sell it to me because I had already had it in my possession. 

She did explain to me when they go down that low they are supposed to be removed from the floor.  I asked her what they would do with them and she said.  Grab bags.  I had just seen a big bin with a lot of grab bags, I thought they were $2.  I did not buy one.  But she said those bags are things that have gone down to 1cent.  So keep that in mind, when you see the grab bags you might get lucky and get something really nice I believe the normal price on the Sizzix embossing set was 14.95.  Yipee!

P.S.  I just received my wire cubes of which I will attempt to build paper holder so I can keep my paper sorted.  I saw this on You-Tube.  I'll let you know and post pics when I am done.  I plant to work on this the first week of September.  Have a great weekend!

Craftingly Yours,

GIGI

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Wedding in black and white

Hello all,

Just a quick project update. 

We are going to a wedding and I had to make a card.  I have never done a black and white card and wanted to step out of my box.  I also wanted to give it a modern twist.  I usually like more traditional items, but I have to say I really like the stripes and the modern bride and groom.  So here are the tips I have for this project. 

Michaels has their own brand of paper.  It is 65lb weight.  I used my 40% off coupon and bought a pack of assorted black and white patterned paper.  Less than three dollars.  That is where the striped paper came from. 

I used the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge, after cutting the layer wedding dress in white, I put it through my Sizzix with a Cuddle Bug embossing folder.

Also I trimmed the envelope with a piece of the stripped paper.  I think it adds alot.

Tell me what you think.





Sunday, July 31, 2011

Well it is Done!

A scrapbook created totally from things I already had on hand.  It is amazing the things you find when you search through your supplies. 

This feeds into my previous post.  If you can do a good job of created items from the supplies you have on hand versus going out and spending 20-30 dollars to do every project, you will be way ahead of the game. 

Needless to say this shows that catching items on sale or clearance pays off and you can afford to stock up on items this way.  Then you are always ready at the drop of a hat to create something without shopping. 

I have also found that I often think of doing things for friends and I never find the time to make a special trip to shop for needed items and if I do...I can never find what I am looking for.  So shop the sales, use what you have, and here's to shopping, scrapping and smiles!









Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Shop the sale racks even if you don't know what your going to do with it!

OK so here is the scoop.  I am working on a baby gift.  I don't have pics yet but I will post soon.   I decided to use some of the tools, I have purchased and never used.  ( I am sure you have some of these).  So my plan is to do a mini scrapbook, 8 x 8 and bind it with the Your Story binding machine.  I thought this would be a cute keepsake for a young couple that does not scrap.  I will create a complete book but leave spots for them to add the pictures they like.

Another item that I purchase on sale and thought I would never use is an 8 x 8 paper pack that included punch-outs.  I seldom use punch outs, but it was an outstanding sale price and I thought the paper was beautiful. Looking through my paper when I saw this pack it inspired me. Baby pink, pretty in pink, pink roses, sugar & spice, got an idea!

So the morale of this story is, I used to feel like I bought to many items for scrapping just because they were on sale, but now after seeing what I have created with these items, I'm all for shopping the scrapbook sale racks more!

Oh by the way, 8 pages of punch outs, letters & words plus 40 pages of pattern paper $3.99.

Inspiration and Scrapbook... Priceless! 

OK so here is a sneak peak.


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Shop a Holic card

One of the biggest benefits of organizing you crafting supplies is you see all of the things you have purchased but never used.  I bought these stamps, probably 3 years ago and have never used them.  I just loved them, because they are so unique.  So yesterday a friend of mine came over and we spent the day paper crafting, (this is another way to motivate yourself to try different things, invite a Friend over).  Here is one of my creations.
Here are my supplies...
Lockhart stamp Co.  Veggie shoe #2015, Corn Dress #2012, 2 Colors of card stock, Stamping Up, sorry i do not remember the shade names, Ofray 1/4" organza ribbon. 3 for a $ at Joann's.  A Cuttle bug embossing folder (Bird sitting on a cattail, I didn't use the piece that displays the bird.  A Stamping Up Marker, and a Tombow marker from Close to My Heart.

Here is the result.  what do you think?


Thanks,

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Organization is key!

So I have finally reorganized my craft room.  I do plan to livening it up with different paint and decor but first we must organize.  I have found that most of the time we don't really know what we have.  With this in mind I have tried to put as much in site as possible.  So today's advice is no matter what tools you have, a bookcase, shelf, shoe bag, or what ever else is laying around, try to think outside the box to have as much of your craft items in site so you will use what you have.





Take a day organize and create!  Here are a few pics of my reorganization step one.  Hopefully sometime this week I will add some creations I have worked on now that I have an organized space.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

The Yourstory binding kit.

I have just received the Yourstory Binding system.  I am not really sure how much I will use it, but the possibilities seem endless.  Books for my grandson, memories that I can pass down.  It took me a while to committ because I was thinking how much the replacements pieces were.  Then I find out is is just glue you can use from a glue gun and a number of things you can make your own covers from, so I was sold.  Especially the deals,  I got mine free with the purchase of a Cricut cartridge of 39.99 at http://www.cricutmachine.com/

Let me know if you have one and what our thoughts are.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Are our social hobbies segregated?

I have often wondered why those who share our hobbies (I like scrapbooking, stamping and card making and my husband likes Flyfishing and Bow hunting) don't look like us.  Is it our location Washington State, or is it something else?

Maybe what we are exposed to?  We have always wondered about this but most recently It really struct me when a friend found a website and forwarded to me.  SOC  Scraps of Color.  This is a page where the majority of the members are women of color.  This was an amazing find for me.  You may wonder why?  Is it all about race, those of you who know me know better.  It is not it is about culture, our body shapes, skin tones, and our lifestyle,  To have stamps or graphics that show people who look like you and your family is nice.  it is nice to see yourself in your work.

But it still brings me back to why are our hobbies not more intergrated between races?

What do you think?

http://scrapsofcolor.ning.com/

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Change

Is Good, So I am going to try something new...  Blogging.  Although I am not sure what i will blog about, it may be the new crafting project I just finished, it may be about the polictics of the day or a story to warm your heart.

I hope at some point I say something to inspire you, to make a difference maybe in the world or maybe just in someone's heart.    It can be something small or something big. 

Mostly I just want to make a difference, share a smile and hopefully share some of the wisdom that comes with age.

From this first day I thank you,  Be blessed