Project Life + Tradiditonal Scrapbooking=Memory Keeping Bliss

Hi Stampers!  If you're an avid paper crafter, you will know that an important person in the biz, Heidi Swapp and her family, recently suffered a devastating loss when her 16 year old son passed away. Heidi has been posting a lot about the importance of preserving your memories after this incident.  What she has shared has spoke to me on a deep level.  It's so important to take pictures and PRINT those pictures!  Don't get caught with loads of them on your phone that magically disappear after an update or on a hard drive that crashes.  Seriously people, print those pictures and put them in albums to enjoy.  There is nothing better than sitting down with a photo album and just remembering both the good times and the not so good times.
 
Lately my kids have been taking photo albums off our shelves and looking through them.  They love to see what Kevin and I looked like "in the old days" (seriously, we are not that old!!!), to see where we lived, what we drove and what we did.  They have also noticed a big gap in our memories where scrapbooking and memory keeping was pushed to the bottom of my priority list.  My youngest son especially notices this with the lack of pages in his album!  Because of this, I am determined to get our memories into albums and Project Life is going to help me do just this!

In my Memory Keeping Club, we are combining Project Life with traditional Scrapbooking to create quick and easy layouts.  They had a good chuckle over my mistake on my sample layout this last month.  This is what happens when you are scrapbooking memories from 10 years ago....

I have pictures of my oldest son when he was 2 (he's now 13) on this page with today's dates.  Oops!!!  Needless to say, while this layout was sitting on my desk waiting to be fixed I changed my mind a little about parts of it (so club ladies, if you're looking at these pics wondering why your layout is a little different this is why!).

First of all, I fixed my mistake!

Here's what the whole layout looks like.  This month we used the PL #3 page protector in the assorted pack and some English Garden DSP for our layouts.

I am loving combining the ease of Project Life memory keeping with Traditional Scrapbooking! Here's a look at the journaling card I did for my layout!  In keeping with the planting flowers theme, I used the Handpicked Framelits to make a little banner and cut out that cute little garden shovel!

As I was making up this layout I was remembering the day we planted those tulip bulbs.  My boy was so excited to dig the holes and put them in the ground. And, he was very impatient at waiting for them to grow!  I also remember the look on his face when we finally saw the little green shoots of new plants and then when they bloomed!  We no longer live at that house, and I found myself wondering if the people that live there now still enjoy those flowers coming up every year like we did or if they planted something else in that spot.

Peeps, it's time.  It's time to print your pictures and enjoy remembering. Whether you have kids or not, whether you're married or single, whether you are creative or not...it's important.  I can help you do this quickly and easily with Project Life.  Seriously, it's as easy as sliding pictures into pockets...that's it!  Check out all the Project Life products in my online store and then contact me to order (or ask questions, or for help getting started, or to join my Memory Keeping club).

Have an inspired day!

Tuesday News

Hi Stampers!  Here is your Tuesday news!

• Stampin' Up! has done extensive testing with the Blendabilities and Classic Pads.  While they still recommend using them with the Memento pad for best results, they have compiled a list of Classic Pad colors that work well with the Blendabilities.  Remember that your image should be dry before coloring with Blendabilities!
  
  Always Artichoke, Baked Brown Sugar, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Hello Honey, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Soft Sky, Tangelo Twist, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder

• It's Tuesday which means Deals of the Week!  Remember, you can order these through me or in my online store, but they are only available while supplies last from Sept 30-Oct 6!

• There's only one month left to get the exclusive hostess set, Good Greetings!  Host a qualifying workshop (minimum $325 sales) and you will get the Good Greetings set in addition to the regular hostess rewards!  Contact me today to schedule your par-tay so you can get this fab set!

• It's Stamp, Stock & Save time!  From October 1-6, you can stock up on your fav colors of ink and cardstock, envelopes, Fast Fuse and select stamp sets at a discount!

• Pick a Pack of Paper...DSP to be exact!  When you join Stampin' Up! during the month of October, you can pick a pack of DSP for FREE each month from November through April!  That's 6 free packs of DSP...a value of $81!

Specialty and DSP Stacks are not included.  Free packs are redeemed on Demonstrator orders (shipping charges will be applied), one per month for six months.  Demonstrator must remain in active status to get the free items.

Have an inspired day!

Simple Card Sunday-Episode 2

Happy Sunday everyone!  It's been a rough day at my house...my laptop died and I almost started my oven mitt on fire.  Thankfully the oven mitt incident was minor...just a little smoke and a bad smell!  And, my awesome husband built and ordered me a new laptop.  I can't wait for it to arrive!

Anyway, on to some stamping, right?  Today I have another simple card to share.  Remember for a card to be classified as perfect for Simple Card Sunday it has to be done with minimal supplies, be created in 5 easy steps and be able to be made in 10-15 minutes.

And, here it is in all it's glory!

5 Simple Steps:

• Fold the Early Espresso piece in half
• Glue the 4 pieces of DSP (2x2) to the Crumb Cake piece (4 x 5 1/4)
• Tie the ribbon and attach it to the card
• Stamp the sentiment (Petite Pairs with Early Espresso ink)
• Glue the Crumb Cake piece to the Early Espresso card base

And, for you visual people, here's a video so you can see me assemble the card in real time!  I even included a tip for tying knots!

And, here are a couple more ideas for this same card layout.

This one uses the Confetti Celebration DSP and Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set

I flipped this one and used the Amazing Birthday set as well as a little embossing and a little washi tape!

You can find everything you need to create my featured card in my online store.  Grab the shopping list and head on over there to place your order today.  Don't forget to use the hostess code JVPYSGHR to be entered for a prize!

Shopping List

Stamps:  Petite Pairs

Cardstock:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

DSP:  Color Me Autumn (available when the Holiday Catalog goes live in Sept)

Ink:  Early Espresso

Accessories:  Cotton Ribbon (Early Espresso)

Have an inspired day!

Designer Series Paper Mini Pouches

Happy Thursday everyone!  Today  I have another of my convention swaps to share.  I always have cards to swap, but I really love swapping little 3D projects the most, so I make sure to have some at every event! 

This year I travelled to convention with 3 of my friends and we drove!  It's about a 12 hour drive for us and it's always so fun to road trip with them...so fun that it doesn't really feel like it takes 12 hours!!!!  This year I didn't drive so I prepped my swaps to make in the car on the way!

My traveling swap making shop!!!!

The only downside is the curvy, mountain roads that we drive on part of the way...beautiful scenery, not so conducive for swap assembly!!!

My inspiration for this project came from my good friend Becky Roberts.  She had posted these darling little pouches on her blog a while back and I fell in love!

The pouch on the left was made with the All Abloom DSP stack, which is what I used for my swaps.  The one on the right was made with the Moonlight DSP stack and is the version my stamp club members did this month.

The pouch is pretty basic and uses 1 full sheet of DSP from the little stacks (so, a 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 piece).  After doing the scoring, folding and sticking, I ran them through the Big Shot with the Finishing Touches Edgelit. I will admit that I bought those Edgelits a loooong time ago and had never used them until this project....rest assured they will be used more now!!!!

Here's a little template I drew up so you can make these super cute pouches at home!

Basically you score at 1, 1 1/2 and 2, 4, 4 1/2 and 5.  Then turn your DSP and score at 1/2". I've marked the parts you need to cut off on the template!  Easy peasy!

Shopping List

Stamps:  Num-Num

Ink:  Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey (or other colors that coordinate with your DSP)

Cardstock:  colors that coordinate with the DSP that you choose

DSP:  All Abloom and/or Moonlight 

Accessories:  Rhinestones or Pearls

Tools:  Big Shot, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Decorative Label punch, Extra Large Oval punch, Banner punch & Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (flower), Stampin' Sponges, Simply Scored or Trimmer with Scoring Blade

Head on over to my online store with the shopping list to get everything you need to create these fun little pouches at home!  Don't forget that DSP is on sale this month....Buy 3, Get 1 FREE (sadly, this doesn't include the awesome little DSP stacks).  And, when you place your order online remember to use the hostess code CZKJ2ZAD to be entered to win a pack of washi tape!

Have an inspired day!

Park Lane Starburst Technique

Hi everyone!  Today I'm going to share a super fun  and easy technique that is perfect for using up scraps of Designer Paper!

At my last Stamp & Share with my downline we learned about the Starburst technique and made some cards with it.  Everyone loved it so I decided to share it with my clubs this month too!

Here's a little step-by-step for you:

• start with 4 or 5 scraps of DSP cut to 1 1/2 x 4
• cut your rectangles of DSP on the diagonal so that you end up with 2 triangles
• place your triangles on your cardstock so they look like a starburst or sunburst.
• embellish and finish your card

And, I did up a quick video for you too so you can see the card come together!

Here's one more example of this technique.  This one uses the Moonlight DSP stack.

This is such a fun technique.  Give it a try and let me know how it turns out for ya!

Until the end of July, DSP is on sale!  For every 3 packs you purchase you get an additional pack FREE!  So, head on over to my online store with the shopping list and place your order today.  Don't forget to use the hostess code CZKJ2ZAD for a chance to win a pack of washi tape!

Shopping List

Stamps:  Chalk Talk

Ink:  Calypso Coral

Cardstock:  Old Olive, Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss

DSP:  Park Lane

Accessories:  Crushed Curry Baker's Twine, Rhinestones, Calypso Coral Seam Binding

Tools:  Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Have an inspired day!