My Favorite Craft Storage Idea

Hello Everybody!

I am so excited as this is my first post as a DT member for Scrap It Girl.  I know-I can't stop smiling!

So Kimberly is starting a new thing (you may have seen my previous posts) called My Favorite Things.  Each post is about a different favorite thing.  Like last week it was about a favorite tool.  All you have to do is blog about your favorite thing and link it up.  New ones are posted every other week.

This week it is about a favorite craft storage idea.  Now let me tell you-I don't like to buy organization or storage.  To me that is less money to spend on goodies! LOL.  However, my cling stamp collection is growing at a rate that I am not able to keep up with.  So I looked at stuff online.  I even watch a few videos on how designers stored their stamps.  Then one day at Wal-mart I saw these pencil pouches.  I bought a few and a binder.  And so far I love it!

As you see I have my stamps in there.  For some of the pouches I left the paper in and put stamps in the front and in the "back" of the pouch.  On the left side those are in the back of the pouch.  Now some of those are Stampers Anonymous and they come on the nice clear pages but I have a hard time get my stamps to stick back to those.  So now every time I go to Wal-mart I go to the office supply section to see if they have anymore.  (They were currently out the last time I went.)  They are less than $1 a piece (unless the prices go up of course).

And this particular binder I bought at a garage sale for .25.  This has totally made my stamp life better :)  I just flip through the pages.  Now if I could organize them by events.... ;)

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...what's your favorite organizational thing?

January Tag

Hello Everybody!

I just finished my Tim Holtz January Tag.  Yay!  It was really fun to do.  I finally bought Pumice stain and distress ink-and let me tell you-I am so glad I did.  It really is a great grungy color to have.  I would say a must have color.

I used twine for the tie part of this tag.  I used a little black soot distress ink to make it darker.  I am also submitting this tag to Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes with Twine or String.

So here is my tag:

I used a stamp from 7 Gypsies for the numbers down the side.  I didn't have the rub-on that Tim uses.  I did try to blot it with a paper towel to give it a distressed look but it didn't get as distressed as I would have liked it.  I should have practiced first.  

I did flick the paint-that is so fun!  Also, it is like a mist.  Next time I will use my mist box-LOL.  There are a few things now that have black soot dots on them but it's ok.  :)

Here is a close up of the pocket watch.  My sister bought me the circles for Christmas and I am soooo glad she did!  It made doing this a whole lot easier!  I need more little gears though-my supply is running out.  And I love the way Tim makes these words from labels to like banners with the triangle cut on the end.  Why couldn't I think of that? ;)

My sentiment on the tag is different than his.  I couldn't find my enjoy the journey stamp but in searching for it I did run across this one.  It came in a birthday stamp set-but how perfect for January!

Thank you for stopping by!!  Until next time my friends...stay warm it's cold out there. :)

Bed Shopping Layout

Hello Everybody!

Tonight I made this layout using the sketch at Let's Get Sketchy: January Week 2.  When I first saw this layout I thought it looked hard.  And then as I gathered my pictures for it and started looking at the DT's wonderful examples I realized this was a great sketch especially for scraps.

So I got out my folder of Chloe's Closet from Making Memories.  It's old but I still have enough pieces to keep it all together in a folder.  ;)  Many moons ago I took a Making Memories album class and we got all of these coordinating goodies.  It's always fun when there is stuff left over!

Here is a close up of the middle.  We love some IKEA! :)

Here is the journaling.

Here is the right hand corner.

Here is the left hand corner.  There is a paper with newspaper print circles.  So I cut them out (there are 2 different sizes) and then roughed up the edges and colored them with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.  I used a brad in the middle for this flower.  I made two of these because of the circles.

I used a photo overlay frame for the 2nd picture.  

Here is the sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends--do you have a favorite furniture store?

Favorite Tool

Hello Everybody,

Kimberly at Scrap It Girl has a cool thing going on where every Friday in January you share your Favorite of Something.  Last week it was your favorite project.  This week it is your Favorite Tool.

Now if you are like me-this is quite a challenge.  I love everything!  From my cricut to my cuttlebug to my laptop (for blogging all of these fun scrappy things and digi stamps!).  But the one this I picked was a more simple tool.

This is my Distress Ink Applicator by Ranger.  I learned how to use this little thing and I haven't stopped.  I ink up cards, scrapbook pages, you name it.  I have gotten where if something is too bright-I take it down a notch with walnut ink or vintage photo distress ink.  But I can't use the ink unless I have this applicator here.  It also applies alcohol ink and paints.  This is my go to tool.  :)

What's your favorite tool?  Link it up!

Until next time my friends...have a creative day! :)

Smile Layout

Hello Everybody!

I created this layout using the sketch at Sketchabilities: Sketch 107.  I used spray inks (Mr. Huey and October Afternoon) and some modeling paste with a Tim Holtz stencil.  I also used one of my new stamps from the Bitty Grunge stamp (my sister gave me for Christmas).  There's washi tape and some Ideology on there as well.

My son who is older now than in this picture insisted on putting this bingo piece on there.  There isn't a significant reason for the number.  He just picked it and wanted to glue it down.  So I said ok-but I told him where to glue it down.  LOL ;)  The blue star is Tim Holtz and I used alcohol ink to paint it blue.

I am also submitting this to the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...Smile!

Vintage Anniversary Card

Hello Everybody!

I am so glad I finished this card and it turned out like how it was in my head! :)  I love it when a plan comes together! ;)

I recently bought some stamps and this couple was one of the stamps.  They are all previously used but totally brand new to me and I am so excited to start using them.

So all of a sudden I starting visualizing this card with the sketch from House of Cards and the stamp.  I used my Cricut and the Craft Room (love the craft room!) to get a scalloped circle cut out.  It's tricky when you are going for the negative.  But third time was a charm :)

I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink on my embossing folder and then embossed the tan cardstock that the oval had been cut out of.  I did practice this first before I did it.

I love how it turned out.  Then I adhered the ribbon and the pearls.  The purple flower was apart of a bigger flower so I detached it.  That is not usually in my nature.  If something comes together I use it like you are supposed to.  But the flower that this was attached to was so awesome and 3-D-ish I thought it would take away from my couple.  So I took this flower off and I am so glad I did!  I put an adhesive pearl in the middle of it.  Then I pop dotted this whole panel.  It creates a sort of window or frame for the couple.

I wanted to use this as a Valentine's Day card but my hubby said maybe an Anniversary card.  He's so smart-that's the perfect idea for this card!

Here are the challenges that I am submitting this to:

House of Cards: Cute and Vintage style using this sketch.  (I chose vintage.)

Simon Says Stamp--Anything Goes--Monday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Emboss It!  The front panel is embossed with a Sizzix folder.

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...good night! :)

What a Day Layout

Hello Everybody!

I created this layout to play along with the weekly challenge at Let's Scrap.  I am also submitting this to the monthly challenge at Scrap It Girl-Use Stars.

I embossed a strip of two tone Coredinations paper with gears.  Then I did a little sand papering.

I used this library card/envelope from Pebbles for the journaling.  I had won the prize at Scrap It Girl last month so I was able to use the washi tape and a Bazzill button from my new goodies.  The star here and on the other page are from Tim Holtz.  I used alcohol inks to color them.  I love these stars!  They look great plain too.  :)

I used Heidi Grace rub-ons-that's the swirls.  I used a couple of gears and the heart is a chipboard piece.  I had just colored the outside but it didn't look good by itself so I put the middle back in.  On the bottom are 3 Candi's.  The arrow is a cork arrow from Fancy Pants.  

Here is the sketch from Let's Scrap:

That is where my inspiration for the rub-ons come from.  Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...have a good night! :)

Valentine's Day Card

Hello Everybody!

I finished making this card this morning.  It's for a sketch challenge at Try Stampin' On Tuesday-Challenge #150.  There was a twist too-to use polka dots.

The stamps are from The Alley Way.  I stamped the balloon part on a piece of Recollections paper.  I embossed a white panel with Swiss Dots also.  And the sentiment is done with white embossing powder.

Here is the challenge sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...have a great Monday! :)

Hearts for My Valentine

Hello Everybody!

There is a great sketch at Mojo Monday this week.  I made this Valentine's Day card tonight.

I used a great embossing folder from ProvoCraft for the background.  Then the little hearts are stamps from KI Memories from a long time ago.  The cut out heart is from the Cricut Craft Room.  I love love love the Craft Room.  It makes using the Cricut that much more fun and easy!  

The sentiment is also from KI Memories.  I used Crystal Stickles for the big heart and one of the little hearts.

Here is the sketch:

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends...here's my heart! :)

Favorite Thing

Hello Everybody!

Kimberly at Scrap It Girl has a new thing (not a challenge though) going on Fridays.  It's called Favorite Things Fridays.  Each Friday (after January it will go to every couple of weeks) a new theme will be posted and you will submit your Favorite things.  So to start it off this Friday's theme is Favorite Hand Made Item by you (or me in this case) ;)

So there are some projects I do absolutely adore and others that I don't.  Picking one out is one of the hardest because I do have more adored projects than not. ;)

As of right now this is one of my most favorite projects.  I love how the cover of my December Daily turned out.  I used stamps and light modeling paste and stencils.  I really like doing mixed media things.  I have been watching videos on YouTube to try to learn new techniques.

Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to link up your favorite project.  :)  Until next time my friends...time to make a new favorite ;)

Sushi Layout

Hello Everybody!

Happy New Year!  I remember last year I was so good.  I had goals and was ready to go on January 1st.  This year here is my 2nd post and it's already the 10th!  How did that happen?  Not to mention Valentine's Day is almost only a month away.  Eek!

Well I have reset my Scrapbook goals as a 100 pages.  And I would like to make 114 cards (the whole 2014 year thing is how I came up with 114-weird I know).  So last year I only made 57 scrapbook pages out of 100.  So this year I am going to work harder toward reaching my scrappin' goal.

So here is the first of many hopefully for 2014:

I am submitting it to the Let's Get Sketchy Challenge.  

Here is this week's sketch:

Here is a close up sort of.  The chevrons or I guess they may be more like zigzags are from my new Cricut machine that I got for Christmas.  I saw them on there and had to use them.  And then this sketch came out.  Kismet! :)  I used a couple of different rub-ons here but the ones that are Asian are from Dove of the East.  I don't know if they are still around but they made some cool cool papers and rub-ons.  

I used a 7 Gypsies 12X12 as the background and as the printed zigzag.  The postcard paper is from DCWV.  I also used some Tim Holtz and Recollections washi tape.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time my friends....what are you doing for lunch?

Triple Stamping Technique

Hello Everybody!

Today is the first technique for the year at Technique Time Tuesday, and I am totally excited!  I have seen it done and thought that it looked very complicated.

But it's not!  Check out the tutorial and you will see you can do it too!  Also, Shana is the hostess this month and she has a very cool prize.  Go check it--after you see my card. :)

I tried to do a pretty card-I really did.  And then as I was going through my stamps he was looking at me.  But at first I was like no...and then I tried stamping using the other pretty stamps.  LOL  And I came back to this fella.  And here we are.  And I LOVE how it turned out.

The background paper is Tim Holtz but those little light bulbs are from a Prima Flower stamp set that my sister got me for Christmas.  I love light bulbs-I don't know what to say.

The gears at the bottom are Graphic 45.  And Mister here is from Tim Holtz.  I used distress inks-vintage photo, rusty hinge, black soot, and dusty concord-which is purple.  Sounds crazy but it works and blends beautifully.

I used a mixture of Copic markers and Distress Markers.  I did the watercolor effect with the Distress Markers.  Which is awesome because that is how his hat is grey and not black.  I did got back and outline the stamp especially after coloring with the Copics.  I didn't want Mister to loose his sketchy-ness.  (That might have a double meaning?)

There is a sentiment on the right side.  It's a "Greetings" from the seasonal ChitChat sticker set from Tim H.  And I used a couple of gears and an arrow and the corner.  There is just something fun about metal!  One is Tim's and the other is from Spare Parts at Hobby Lobby.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Catch the Bug: Anything Goes!

SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenge: Use Your New Stash : Light Bulb Stamps

Thank you for stopping by!  I can't wait to see what you Triple Stamp.  Pretty or Grungy-either way!  Until next time my friends...stay warm!

My Latest Obsession

Hello Everybody!

Happy New Year!  As I am writing this it is already the 4th.  How did that happen?  ;)

I haven't posted too many things because I have been consumed by one project--my December Daily.  It all started when I was looking at one of the Simon Says challenge blogs (the Monday challenge I think) and one of the DT's project was the cover of her December Daily.  Of course I had to know what that was and a few clicks later I was here at Ali Edwards.  A book documenting everyday up until Christmas.  25 Days--I can totally do that!

So I got through my albums box.  Yes I have a box of small albums that are empty.  That either people gave me or I bought with the great intentions of filling them.  Now they are in a box waiting for an occasion like this.

So I chose this Melissa Francis Christmas Tree shaped album.  The tallest part is about 11 inches or so.

Here it is with the pages fanned out.

 Here it is with the cover decorated.  :)  I gessoed the outside and insides.  I have a pearl white paint from Close to My Heart that I added concentrated Mowed Lawn Distress ink to-that created the green color.  I stamped with a handwriting stamp and a new stamp set I got at Christmas.  My sister got me the Tim Holtz Bitty Grunge set and it has a bubble wrap polka dot stamp in it that I used here.  The love is from October Afternoon (a long time ago).  I used a Forest Green Staz On Ink for the darker ink that you see.

I also used some stamps from a set that I won from Rubber Stamp Tapestry called Pen and Ink.  They have different dots on them and they are so fun to use!  The stamp is on a wooden cylinder piece that you almost hold like a pen.  It's awesome and that is what I used going up the spine of the cover.

I used light modeling paste and a Tim Holtz stencil for the hexagons.  The paste picked up the green-pretty cool.  The numbers are from Tim's Die 25 Noel.  The Noel was too big so I just used the numbers.  I covered them with Martha Stewart texture Then I painted them with TH distress paint in silver.  Then  I outlined them with red paint from Americana.  I tied a Prima ornament embellishment to finish it off.

Here is the inside of the first page.  On just the gesso I wrote a little note.  I started this on November 30 because that is when we put up the tree.

Here is a spot in the middle.  We had done so much one day I made a little fold out to hold more pictures.  And on the opposite page is a pocket.  There is black and white twine attached to a picture behind the green square paper.

Here's the back page.  I covered the back cover with some Tim Holtz paper that was like a collage.  It saved me time from trying to make a collage LOL ;)

Oh and the wise men on the bottom.  That idea was from God.  I was at church this past Sunday listening to the sermon-and no lie I saw this stamp on the bottom of my 25th page.  It was my only page left.  :)  I even used black embossing powder for them.  That's the only heat embossing image in the book.

Here is the book with both outside covers.  Please forgive me for not taking pictures of everything.  It is way late now and I am just happy that my December Daily 2013 was completed way before December 2014 :)

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time my friends---let's dust of last year's resolution ;)