Sneak for the Next Release

This year so far has been busy, busy, busy! And not much creating... how sad. Where I live our local Scrapbook Store (LSS) closed. Then the next "best" one which was a drive - but worth it because they had a large selection, closed. Now we are left with a very small one. Not much selection, but she carries lines that I like: Cosmo Cricket, Graphic 45, October Afternoon, Melissa Francis, Sassafras Las, Tattered Angels, and Basic Grey. The other scrapbook store that is close to us has a wide selection - mostly of older lines that were released two, three years ago. The staff is not friendly. When I am there I feel as if I am interrupting their conversation when I need to be rung up. You would stand at the cash register for several minutes until they "noticed" you with a "Are you ready?" I would prefer to avoid this store, but now we have no where else to go -- except on line. But I really like to see the papers in person and look at samples to get ideas, and I love embellishments! Embellishments need to be merchandised with the group of papers to get a real understanding of how they might be used. Embellishments from one manufacturer can easily be used with a totally different line or group of papers. Anyway, so I have not been able to fuel my "outlet" thus I have been using my time volunteering for various projects. Right now, making centerpieces for the Girl Scout Father/Daughter Dance. The theme this year is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, so I am making brightly colored flower pots stuffed with candy and cellophane to make a "full" bouquet of color and sugar! **Post Script: I did not mention the third store by us on purpose. No new merchandise in what? A year? Never open... Closed Sunday, Monday early on weekdays. No one at the register. The customer has to go to the scrap tables and ask if anyone works there to be rung up. I figure this place is someones hobby and not a store.

The sneak - this the Mom's Day Layout which will be available for purchase in April. I used the Graphic 45 Romantique line and grounded the floral pattern with the solid Java paper. I mixed in distressing, lace and pearls for a vintage look. This is a two page layout with room for four photographs. This layout will be available on the Die Cut Diva web site. The site has all sorts of layouts and cards available for purchase, please visit them if you need an already cut out layout. All you need to do is assemble yourself, so you can adjust the layout to your photographs and journaling style. Most layouts range from $14 to $20.

Sneak for New Endeavor...

Christmas just wipes me out! Takes me along time to get my "groove" back. I have been cleaning out closets, cabinets, storage spaces, the pantry and the refrigerator(s). Yes, the refrigerator in the garage needs to be cleaned too! Our local scrapbook store closed in December and since I'd have to take a drive to the nearest store I have been skipping the scrap shopping. Which I miss terribly. I find shopping for scrapping supplies soothing and it provides me with something to look forward to (making a project :) ). So what do I do with my free time now that I am no longer designing for Scrappin' Good Times? Well, I decided to join a book club (this one is called "The Bookies" and is so cute - they have a mission statement and bylaws!? Crack me up! I wonder if they "throw the book at you" if you do not read that months book?). Last year I made a resolution to read a book a month - seemed attainable. But no go! So now if I am in a "club" I am forcing myself to read. And then I figure as I read the required readings I can acclimate myself time to read pleasure reading as well.... We will see. I just finished Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani. This was the third book in her trilogy. I need to read the first two to really appreciate this one. But "The Bookies" absolutely loved the book. Some cried. Some had to put the book down when she met up with Jack in New York. They did not know if they wanted to find out what Ava would do with Jack...


My other big project I am working on now is designing scrapbook kits to sell on line. I joined the Die Cut Divas - Scrapbook Kits for the Diva on the Go web site. Each week the site will feature a new layout to sell and a new card kit. The "sneak" for my kit is a winter snowing fun layout using the Fancy Pants "Frosted" line. It is titled "Snow Much Fun!" and features lots of snow flakes!


The other thing that is keeping me busy (in addition to working full time) is helping my son with his Mission project. Last summer we went to San Juan Capistrano for Lauren's softball tournament. In between games we toured the San Juan Capistrano Mission. We took lots of pictures hoping he would get this mission... But he picked the Mission in San Luis Obispo. So off to San Luis we went during Christmas break! The walls in the church are all handpainted now. They took several years to complete them. But they are beautiful. The bells are awesome and they have a grape vine that encorporates a whole arched walkway that is unbelievable. I just love these old missions! Another great one is the one in Carmel. I love the courtyard there also.


Well this is why I have not been a good blogger! Happy New Year to everyone!

Kit of the Month - February 2009

February's Kit of the Month features papers from Fancy Pants. I like the use of black mixed with the traditional Valentine colors of Red and Pink, they even brought in a very pretty turquoise. This layout can be used for both girls and boys. The washed out black paper with the "you rock" sayings can be for any one of your munchkins. There is a bit of whimsy with the scrolls and the scroll element at the bottom. I used a black pen to enhance some of the scroll and drew small random hearts. The heart die cuts have hand drawn stitch marks. It really is a layout that you must see in person to get the whole effect of the detail. Plus I cut out extra heart dies so you can make your personal layout even more unique! These wont be in the store long. We only make a small number of kits. Don't wait until the end of the month, they will (hopefully) be gone by then!

Kit of the Month

The month of April was my month to design the Kit of the Month for Scrappin' Good Times. The Design Team members are each assigned a month to come up with, design, decide on a paper group to use and order, cut out the desired number of kits, package them and have them ready to be able to display the first day of the month. Which is April first. I used Fancy Pants Designs for the paper with the theme of flowers. "Spring has sprung!" I hand wrote two poems that I found on two peas and a bucket and created the stem on which the flower rests. You can purchase the kit for $19.00 during the month of April while supplies last from Scrappin' Good Times in San Dimas. (Feels good to have it completed though, I must say)!