The Return

Incomplete & Cropped

Lately I've focused incorporating flowers and metals into new projects.  I've struggled with flower placement as either sprays or decorative elements from the beginning.  Inexperience with metals came down to inventory resources.  In this latest layout I've had opportunity to work with both.  The flower spray in the lower left corner still seems imbalanced somehow.  Secondly, this flower arrangement is dead flat.  Since the layout is not intended for a book where depth is an issue, it feels instinctively wrong not creating opportunity for shadowing.  Perhaps not. Overall, not a bad attempt for my first attempt.

This year's vacation is a thoroughly documented historical event, still unscrapped. Time to get serious about pulling it all together and for all that I still haven't decided which paper collection to use.  I originally bought Farm House Fair Skies collection for this purpose, but fell in love with - and purchased - Prima's Craftsman; either will work fabulously for the project. Choosing between the two collections might be the most difficult decision of the entire project. 

There's been two substantial hauls in under a week. I'm too ashamed to admit how much money changed hands; but using a spender's rationale, it can be said I saved more than paid.  The new inventory overflows with all types of goodies, covering everything from alphas to zippers.  The multiple quests involved purchasing items I've wanted to experiment with and incorporate into creations, but haven't, being unwilling to spend full price for something that may, or may not benefit future creations.

That's all for now!

Slow Down Go Around

Which comes first, the hobby or life?  Obviously, life wins every time.  Slow down yet again.

I'm still struggling through the self-designed mini-album.  One agonizing page at a time.  It's not as bad as that, I'm having fun in the creating, but find it amazing how much still remains a challenge.  Especially the mechanical aspects.  If I could ever commit to a dedicated Crop group, there would be an explosion of creativity and skills from which to draw.

I'm hoping for the luxury of creating a few designed albums before the end of the year... particularly those on YouTube I still drool over.  Over the past several weeks the complete Tropical Travelogue and Le Cirque collection pieces have filtered into the house.  I was surprised today when finding the Le Cirque 8x8 pad; something never expected!  Several weeks ago I posted a link to a YouTube video featuring a flip-flap album created from the Le Cirque collection.  With the 12x12 pad in hand I thought to pull together the measurement to get the album started.  Of course, in the manner all too familiar now, the album was built using the 8x8 pad.  Naturally.  The 12x12 could have been used, but when completely unfolded, would measure 36 inches long and over 24 high.  The problem with these proportions become abundantly clear.  A mega mini???  Purpose defeated.

It's taken awhile to decide where and to whom the albums will ultimately go.  I plan to make a childhood scrapbook for each of the boys, and one each for my sister and one brother.  Insofar as these gifts go, each will be copied versions of other albums.  The total lack of self-generated creativity will always work against my favour; yet, it's possible that, in time, it may all click together some day. 

G45 came out with a line of pigment inks that takes the guess work out of  colour coordination decisions.  That's very exciting news for partially colour-blind individuals!  In the latest haul I bought two of the five available colours, and will buy the other three over the next month.

The Mister celebrated his birthday this week and I created a stunning tag instead of the usual card.  As soon as the weather clears, and the pain isn't as crippling, I hope to photograph and post it here.  Again, there were several unanticipated mechanical problems, but was able to overcome them without great interruption.  This was the first full size tag I've created and was very pleased with the results.  See?  Some of this may eventually rub off into real creativity.

I hope to get a real jump on the Tropical Travelogue project this week.  The plan is to create one page from a tutorial and one from my own creativity.  That's the plan... now to make it a reality.

Improbable

Page with flip out card on left

 As improbable as it might seem, I worked out several technical issues and now back on track on the page order.  Also improbable, I completed the first page.  Nothing's been glued down, but there's no work remaining to complete the page.  At least that's what I think today.  As pretty as it is, it seems as if "something" is missing.  No worries, loads of time to think this through.
 



Because I changed my mind about the album dimensions, I can't firmly grasp how the above page will sit on the inside cover.  There may be room to add an ivory pleated trim between the book board and paper.  Another reason for not gluing the components to the page at this time is because it's probably 100 times more difficult; that, and if it can be done, I haven't seen anyone do it.

Next... an absolute final commitment to the 8.5x8.5 page size.  Either later this evening when there's more time, or tomorrow, I plan to cut the base paper for the first page.  It's with that extra added one-half inch that the certificate, that cause so much grief, can snugly fit.

The I am Roses package arrived today.  Oh, my!  These are going to be fun with a capital F.  The time has arrived where I can no longer ignore the (b)looming flower storage problem.  From incorporating flower use only a couple of months ago, the inventory is accumulating as quickly as weeds grow.  That's not including the dozens of flowers I've cut from off the Cricut.  Guess it's back into the room with the rolling bins.  Although... a $25 wall lateral wire shelf would go a long way in solving this problem without taking up floor space.  TBD.

It's total defeat in collecting the full Once Upon a Springtime collection.  What's on hand should be enough to do everything I bought it for.  I saw another Graphic 45 collection, Le Cirque since retired that peaked my interest, but thought much older then the Once Upon and, as these things go for me, figured completely unobtainable.  Not so fast!  I got my hands on both the 12x12 and 8x8 paper pads, and some of the other pieces in the collection.  I could not be more pleased.  Finally, as budgeted, I bought the full Tropical Travelogue collection, but from several places; all now on the way to the house.

While browsing through YouTube the other day I ran across a mini-album design, with tutorial, that's a must for several future albums.  The link for the YouTube video.

Lots to Cover & So Many Photos

We're back from vacation and there's much to cover in this post.

Crafty Secrets & Cricut Haul

EDIT:  Picture Revised.  The original photo posted reference a haul from last week.  This photo was the one intended for this area.  Apologies from the author.

 Several items ordered before we left arrived in the mail today.  I referenced a vintage stamp, paper, postcard company a post or two back, the order shown to the left.  The order was a sampling of some of the many products available and not surprisingly, was happier with some items more than others.  The various stamp sets are perfectly suited for several projects I'm due to begin in the coming weeks.  The little boy alpha stickers will quickly disappear.  The postage card/journaling tags will slowly find secret spots as other projects evolve.  I'm not sure how much the baby book chipboard stickers and chipboard pieces will actually end up in the Graphic 45 Little Darlings mini-album I begin work on this month, but with product in hand I'm now certain the colours match perfectly.  This was more luck than anything else. The Flower Shoppe cartridge from Cricut also arrived and this one will save over $100 within a day of work.  These cartridge offers endless dimensional flower combinations that, for under $20, cost about the same as one standard punch of this type.  My deepest regrets, EK Success. 

Butterfly, Turtle & Potbelly Pig charms

Dinosaur charms

Along side the need for a quick buildup of paper and fabric scrapbooking flowers, I've also found my charms collection miserably lacking. 

Charms are used extensively to decorate the outside binding of mini-albums; a charm bracelet for a book, as it were.  During each major phase of the vacation I bought several charming (ahem) charms representing that event; and, other pieces I thought might come into use down the road.  The dinosaur charms are precious!  I plan to use these within the Texas vacation mini as tag danglies.  I'll post pictures of how they're used once put into pace.  The cute little pot bellied pig will be seen again in the upcoming mini album project using the Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection.  Unfortunately, the gift shop at the Japanese Gardens didn't have a koi charm of any sort, which was a major disappointment... the quest will continue.

July 27th, 2012

 I couldn't resist posting one of my favourite photos of Martin feeding the koi during our visit to the gardens. The fish practically climb out of the water for their kibbles.  The little guy's mouth is wide open waiting for him to drop in the pellet.  Is this a great shot or what?  I love it!

Next are the photos of the book's layout almost naked, before attaching the vacation photos and other memorabilia inside.  I've flipped at a breakneck speed through most of the pictures we took and can already tell I'm going to add a few more pages to the album.  I suspected this would be the case, and planned accordingly, but waited until knowing exactly what we had before committing to the work.  (See post: TP & Thinking, June 26th, 2012) Those, of course, aren't represented in this showing because they are still locked in my head and scattered throughout various parts of the scrapbooking room.

Front Cover

Inside Front Cover

Japanese Garden Pages

Museum Pages - Info Bundled, Ready to mount

Self-descriptive

Family Photos & Small Pocket Page

Flip Page Details

Glen Rose - With Back Inside Cover

 ( How nice it would be to quickly figure out how to neatly arrange the photos, but this is a first and it's late! :D  

Oh, well)

I'm particularly proud of this mini-album because, although I've learned many of the techniques from other great scrappers, the layout, paper combinations, and design are 100% mine... no scrap-lifting involved.

School starts back this week so I'll have many hours each day to devote undivided attention to several upcoming mini-album projects.  The baby book, the boy's younger years, and two identical copied-to-the-letter Old Curiosity Shoppe albums - one for here and one as a Christmas gift.  The album I plan to shamelessly copy - not once but twice - is shown on YouTube here.  Almost needless to say, but said, is that all the paper lines will come from various Graphic 45 collections.  Does the company sell stock?  If so, buying in could prove a solid investment.

I promised to cover a whole bunch.  Delivered, with a smile.  Blessings!

PS... The vacation was positively awesome.  We had a blast.

Card & Haul

I'm finishing the second created card of the year.  It's for my brother, and boy did all sorts of inspiration take hold on this one.  It's not just a card, but also a little note pad should he ever choose to use it as such. 

Face

 

Inside with working notepad and assorted vintage tickets

Envelope

 

 I went shopping yesterday making the usual circuit.  I found all sorts of good stuff!  The associate store had recently restocked their hobby aisle, and most of the stuff I picked out ranged between 25 cents up to $1.00.  Nothing more than that for a very generous bag to bring home.  The best find was a spool of Tinkerbell ribbon, which was more of a strand of tiny green rhinestones mounted on a gossamer ribbon not much wider than the rhinestones.  It took my breath away.  HL had a few steals, the best of which included a Madonna Christmas stamp I've had my eyes on for awhile (reduced from $11 down to $3.50) and a chain of square metal jewelry charms, also deeply discounted.  I found a large, delicate flourish stamp set at TM that will be used at every opportunity.

July 23rd Haul

The prize of the week:   I found a box of deeply etched resin roses that I couldn't figure what possible function these could serve until pulling one out of the packaging.  They were bulletin board tacks.  The packaging leads me to believe these were meant to be sold as individual pieces, maybe a dollar each?  The outside box original price listed at $11.00.  TM reduced them to $3.00.  Because three were missing, the manager reduced it all to $2.40.  This was theft, I say!  My plans for the tacks are to cut down the tack portion and use the top as a closure button for a mini-album.  Or even, how about... using some as very pretty bulletin board tacks until using or selling them for scrapbooking purposes.

Resin Tacks

New Haul

In an incredible feat of restraint, I made the full scrapbooking run yesterday... and spent only my $80.00 weekly allowance.  Yes, a show of pure restraint.


I would have done much better had TM had not had another two G45 retailer sets out for sell.  There were four more pages from the "On the Boardwalk" collection, and the first four of the "Le Romantique" set.  {My mind begins spinning thinking about how certain elements of the "Proper Gentleman" and the "Le Romantique" collections could/will work together for a wedding, early relationship, or Valentine's Day album.}   Other than a tin of metal hinges, bookplates, and sliders picked up, now that I know how much I'll use these in other projects, that concluded the TM experience.

We had to run to the local TM to purchase three battery operated, personal misting fans. If we are to camp in Texas at the end of July, and we are, wet is absolutely essential.

Hobby Lobby has ribbon 1/2 priced this week.  Four new rolls.  A Sizzix keyhole with key die, regularly priced at $20.00, mine at $7.00. It took almost three albums to realize I was using Tim Holtz,'s Tea Dye instead of Vintage Photo ink.  I kept wondering why my shading came out differently from the examples... well, beginning this next album, that's fixed, because now I own both.  I added one gorgeous golden Prima flower package to the growing floral collection.


The TJ Maxx was a total bust this trip, but that's the nature of discount versus craft stores.


JoAnne's wasn't much better.  Every item I went in for was already sold out.  Not the black StazOn die I've finally committed to using.  Not the 12x12 paper storage drawers.  And not the paper pad I needed to refill.  

There had been many, many numerous clearance items marked down as much as 80%, but it was as if someone had taken a buggy and cleared every rack of every single item.  I'll certainly stock up on certain items, and pick up an extra or two of something I know can be traded or sold, or wipe a shelf out knowing it will be immediately replaced (TM) but whoever did this did so with the mind of absolute selfishness, without regard for others.  It covered every item in the store, across every crafting row to just be a happenstance run of hundreds of buyers.  If I figure out who's doing this, I'll cruelly mark their eBay site as the NWA greedy gut; because if this should show up on eBay it will be marked up by at least 60%.  

We did, however, find a couple of reusable/dishwasher-safe, plastic screw topped Coke bottle to carry drinks in the car during the next few months. 


Internet haul.  I finally managed to find and purchase three magnet sets.  The company I'd purchased from last week refunded my money two days later and informed me the items were temporarily out of stock.  No way!!  As of yesterday, they were still waiting.  That's now remedied.  And, Kiwi Lane Designs has another of their great 2-3 day sales, so I purchased another template set.  These come in so handy it's difficult to imagine putting together a project without them.  Call this one set 4 of the series.

Not strictly considered scrapbook materials, but closely related, were a pair of gold earrings at Sears - they were on sale; however, not included in the $80.00 earlier stated.  Nickle-plated and inferior metals have been causing all sorts of problems lately.  Reckon it will take a while... and many more sales... to rebuild a suitable earring collection again.

This and a major clothes shopping spree for the Miss mad for a very fun, and very long, day of hitting the stores.

New Type of Haul

Oh, my!  I've gone way over the top this time.  I took the drive down to the Annex this afternoon.  While the sales today weren't the same as the first trip, the trip was worth the while.  I've got more paper than any person could possibly use, but keep an eye out for unique finds.  There was a box, labeled 2 for 5c, where I unearthed a black, tan and white round, scalloped safari animal page.  Also inside was a transparency page with a built-in frame and light script writing on the edge.  Yes, hard to describe.  Another few steps to the left and I found small bins of interesting stencils in various shapes: palm and ancient oak trees, star and shellfish, a dove, many, many framed shapes, including watches, and more!  No prices indicated, but I picked out a few of those liked best.  Flowing out from the stencils was a vast array of Tattered Angels Glitter Glams and Glazes: 5 for $10.00.  (A real steal!)  I've made a personal commitment to incorporate flowers into layouts and minis.  AH!  There they were!  A sign said fill the bag with as many as can fit (it need not shut) for $2.00.  Find out that applied to the stencils, as well.  Scoot back to the right and grab several handfuls.  And since I am solidly into making mini albums, I broke down and bought several 12x12 canvas printed designs (one clocks in black and white, the other brightly coloured butterflies) to use as covering for a yet unidentified album, or two.  Not so much damage to the budget for all that.

I met a lady who bowled me over; I mean, God ran me smack into this gift.  She's well known in certain circles, completely understandable given her charisma that mists anyone within 20 feet of her presence.  I was totally in awe.  She invited me to lunch this coming Monday.  Hopefully I can keep my mouth from dropping down and some of the things she says.  Wow, wow, wow!  God surely is good to answer prayers not only at the degree in which we ask, but full measure, pressed down, and running over.  The deals found at the store were great, but nothing in comparison to the treasure of this woman. Should I never meet up with her again (NO way I pass up on that chance) I'd feel forever blessed by this one single conversation.  And get this... she doesn't even scrap.  Thank you, Lord, for this gift.

Ah, heck, I try to keep this journal on the singular subject of scrapbooking, but this sitting requires some personal commentary.  This tiny sliver of America called NWA is just about the most inhospitable and unfriendly area I've ever lived.  The people are friendly, but carry this impenetrable shield.  No one wants to commit to friendship; too much coming and going for anyone to ever feel settled enough to grow roots, as temporary as those roots might be.  I hear from virtually everyone how lonely they are.  Well, hello.  To fear making friends which may, and probably will, move away, and suffer loneliness in silence is about as stupid as stupid gets.  After a great deal of prayer, the solution to my isolation became obvious:  go out and make friends, align myself with people starving for contact.  Once I made the decision - and acted in faith and with action - people are virtually coming out of the walls to be heard.  I would never try to limit what God can do with me, that's for Him to decide, but to the best of my knowledge my primary gift is listening.  Once people figure out someone is actually hearing them speak, doors blow open.  Life is much too short to keep everyone shut out until "a better time and place" comes their way.

Finally, I hit the usual round of stores looking for deals, found a few.  The best buy of the day has to be our new house.  A bat house.  Really!  A box designed to house and shelter bats.  If we still had a dog, I would have never picked it up due to bats often suffer from rabies infection.  But I outweighed the slimmest risk of the most unlikely nighttime exposure to infected bats against the dramatic drop in insects we'd see if a few bats do settle in.  What did I read one time?  Each bat eats several pounds of insects each night?  Don't exactly remember, but whatever it is, it's a whole bunch of lots..  The box goes up this weekend.... we'll see.

Take a Breath

There's been such a flurry of activity lately is seems almost impossible to sit down and get anything done.  Not true, I've finished four 12x12 layouts, got the new organizer in place and well stocked, and have accomplished quite a series of hauls.  

Most everything revolves around an incredible discovery at TM.  They had retail packs (24 each) of almost then entire "A Proper Gentleman" collection.  Martin actually stumbled across this treasure, bought two packs, and made the mistake of telling me they had stacks of other G45 retail packs in different designs.  At the end of the quest I have twelve full 12x12 pads of this collection, minus two pages... for less than what a single pad would have cost.  Profit time!!!  We were also able to pick up almost half the "On the Boardwalk" collection in retail packs.  I think we've exhausted the bonanza.  There were arm fulls of book board, but I stopped at six sets.   They had Tim Holtz Grunge Paper sets, retailed at $40; I paid $8.  Finally, a 5 inch Xyron.  A couple of adorable embellishments and the run ended there.

I decided to hit JoAnn's because we were in town it's rare we make it that far south. Phew!  Almost all paper crafting supplies are 50% off this week, plus a coupon in the paper allows an extra 10% off from the total purchase.  60% savings?!  Heck, yeah!!  I managed some control and walked out of the store with only two large bags.  A wider variety of adhesives, the first alcohol inks, specialty paper, and yes a Crop-A-Dile II (Big Bite).

The stamps, ink, paper, embellishments, etc never quit coming in; however, it's hard to imagine any other tool needed to carry on this business.  Maybe a Zutter Cutter for the extra weight chipboard?  Maybe, but not a necessity. 

I'm attempting to design my first, original mini-album.  It's sketched out, roughly, but I'm finding it hard to cut that first page; there seems to be so little room for error, which, in itself, is an error.  How, besides looking amateurish, can a person go wrong with G45?  For sure it won't be the best album I'll ever create, and will quickly prove true, but it's all part of this glorious process called creative expression.

Gaining

I went to Fayetteville yesterday for a doctor appointment.  While there I planned to hit JoAnne's and the TM rumoured to have a much better inventory selection for scrapbooking supplies.  Imagine my surprise when TM was located in the same mall strip as HL!  Well, that works out just fine. No doubt about it; the Fayetteville store was all promised... and more!

At present, I'm collecting as many Basic Grey paper packs as possible.  (Only at greatly reduced prices, of course.)  They had two large packs.  Wow-za! The current passion for BG is that the company puts out an unique array of colours and patterns hard to find elsewhere.  And the paper quality is great.

I love Tim Holtz products, but most large box stores charge exorbitant prices and the rare times put up for sale, it's less than a significant margin. Until yesterday my Tim Holtz inventory consisted of four distress ink pads, and about five Sizzix Bigz dies.  I found two paper packs, a small and gigantic mask set, and a package of round cut out grunge board that I have NO idea how to put to use, but will eventually.  There might have been other items, but it's all put away and nothing else comes to mind.  (Oh! a butterfly border die!)

The grand find involved 7 Gypsies (yet another line tending on the expensive side).  They had a super-sized stamp set, 64 individual stamps, with every warning one could ever think of stamping on a page or envelope when mailing.

Note:  I need to rethink haul strategies.

Finally, though it's not related to scrapbooking, we stopped at a little antique/junk store I've wanted to visit every time we drive past it - 4 times every weekday.  They had quite the assortment.  Of all wonders, I found three history books published in the late 1800's, and a world atlas from 1937; pre-WWII era.  They weren't in perfect condition, but still!  While on the subject of books, the doctor gave me an outdated medical book for the asking.  There's real scrapping potential with this one.

Now to the meat of this post.

One would expect a difference in quality between a new scrapper and one with six years under her belt.  I can spot the difference in less than a second when browsing LOs at scrapbook.com.  I suppose an innately artistic brain probably differentiates, also.  I'm putting a great deal of effort trying to decipher the differences between amateur and professional work.  So far, I've only been able to learn more advanced techniques, but haven't gotten the hang of combining these to make a WOW piece.  They happen occasionally, but it's mostly by accident.

While browsing through more professional LOs today, I stumbled across Dusty Attic, a blog with blow-away tutorials.  Maybe this will be the place, and ones similar to this, I can learn the tricks of the craft.

What would be absolutely wonderful would be to recruit a few semiprofessionals to not encourage the scrapper, but to critique works submitted.  The submitters would put out their best examples and find where room for improvement exists.  It would not necessarily be put-downs, but a place to learn, "this is good, but some shadowing would make a difference."  The concept is good.  Implementing it, another.

75% Off Haul

Oh. My. Goodness!

The warehouse portion open to the public wasn't as large as it might be in the future, but was still larger than their flagship store.

What did they have? What not, indeed?

12x12 sheets @ 3/$1.00, including some Graphic 45 papers... Most of these run between $1.00- 1.50 each in the store.

An area with assorted size papers and envelopes. Pick up an extra large 20x20 inch Ziplock bag, and as long as the papers fit and the bag zips, pay $3.00 total.

Sticker and chipboard packages, varied between $0.25 and $.75 each pack.

Small tags regular price...about $2.50 for less than 20, today's find, 100 tags for $0.50.

Ribbons for $.25 per roll.

A sealing wax monogram stamp, something I've search the world over, (well, for awhile, anyway) all of $2.00

Christmas, Easter, and Halloween decor... way, way cheap!

Little decorations to spice up the home decor... even less than cheap.

I bought everything that I wanted and could possible use, but despite that, I barely put a dent into any of the inventory. I came out with a goodly sized box (estimated at 12x12x24) almost filled to the top with paper, and a large reusable cloth bag... stuffed and overflowing.

This was the very first day the warehouse was open to the public. The everything 75% sale ends Friday. They are thinking of opening the warehouse a couple of days each week, but prices will only be cut to 50%.  Even so, this delights my treasure hunt obsession.

Oh, did I mention everything brought home cost right at $60? Oh, yeah! Not the $240 the supplies would have cost full price.

Now, whew, I have to find a way to organize all the new paper from the fill-it and seal-it bag; the goods there had six different sizes, not including the tags. Ye-haw!!!