I was watching one of the latest scrapbooking presentations on HSN (which I watch very often) and they spent about half an hour on the newest Cricut Expression 2.  While I wasn’t surprised (I mean, when they start bringing down the price and having crazy deals on items like the previous Cricut you know something new is coming), I also wasn’t interested.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love new toys.  I don’t know any scrapbooker/crafter/cardmaker/artist/insert your title here that doesn’t love new toys.  And, how many blog posts or articles have your read about how crafters are going on a craft “diet” and/or are challenging themselves to use what’s already in their stash?  You don’t fool me.  I see that pack of paper that you had to have but haven’t opened yet.  That ink over there…I see it.  It’s still wrapped up.  And don’t even get me started on that set of dies, that pack of stamps, that…that..you know what you have!

I know because I do it too.  Yeah, I have an open cart on several online scrapbooking stores.  And while I have gotten really good at leaving something on the shelf in the store when I really wanted it or organizing my stash better so that I use what I already have, I do get weak from time to time.  At the top of my wish list this year? A new Silhouette SD.

I was really close to buying one last year, but I held off.  And I’m glad I did.  Know why?  If you didn’t know it already, there is a new and improved Silhouette machine called a Silhouette Cameo.  While I’m sure there are numerous upgrades, one of the most significant features that I notice is the fact that the Cameo will fit 12 x 12 paper.  While I mostly only purchase 12 x 12 paper, I don’t necessarily want to upgrade my choice or change how much I may have to spend to get a new machine.  However, after taking a look at the Silhouette website, it says that they are discontinuing the SD and have started shipping the Cameo this month.  Huh? So I have to automatically upgrade even if I don’t want to?  Of course, places like Amazon and other companies still have the SD for sale, but I guess that will be limited too. Oh my.

A little while back I decided to upgrade my original Cricut to an Expression.  It didn’t hurt that they had lowered the price and threw in a Gypsy that had several carts pre-loaded for almost no cost.  This was right around the time the Cricut Imagine came out, then the limited Anniversary edition, and now the CE2, and next year…who knows?  I suppose if you have an unlimited amount of disposable income (and space), the crafting world is your oyster and your wallet is always at the ready for the latest and greatest.  Maybe you can do that (and, bravo by the way) but I have to limit my inner shopaholic.

Back when I first got into scrapbooking I remember when everything I owned fit into one medium-sized tote.  I used to pull out a 4 foot folding table and scrap in front of the television.  Now my smallest bedroom holds all of my wares.  And back before I owned a Cricut or a Cuttlebug or a red Sizzix or a Big Shot, I remember making my own die cuts.  Yeah..that wasn’t a typo.  I made them.  As a matter of fact I remember going to the craft store, strolling the aisles thinking…”But what if I need a custom fill-in-the-blank-here for my page?” When I couldn’t find anything that would work on the page I was designing, I took a clue from the flowery patterned paper I was using.  I ended up hand-drawing a complementary flower die cut, colored it with colored pencils, added some journaling and adhered it to the page.  It was very nice if I do say so myself.  And I didn’t need a bug or a crank to help me cut it out. Decorative scissors anyone?

Don’t get me wrong.  I love, love, love my tools.  That’s what a good tool does, right?  It makes life easier.  But I don’t mind stretching my creativity sometimes and going back to what I enjoyed so much about scrapbooking when I started.  I have also sold or donated tools, materials and supplies to help me purge what I don’t need anymore (like the original Cricut).  It helps me save money and make room for the things I really, really have to have.

So does having access to all of these uber-fantastic tools help or hurt your creativity?  I think it all depends on how you use them, but I won’t speak for you.  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

You see that top strip of embossed paper that is added as a layer?  On the original card, it wasn’t a layer at all.  I embossed directly on the card and used blue masking tape in an effort to do a little masking.  However, everything was fine until I went to remove the tape.  I think that using the heat gun actually had a bit of an adverse reaction on the tackiness of the tape.  It was the first time that I’ve ever had an issue with removing it.

Instead of chucking the whole thing, I cut a strip of the original embossed image and made it small enough to fit on top of some beautiful large-width gray satin ribbon.  I added some of the extra that was destined for the recycling bin to the bottom as an added detail.

Yeah, I could of scrapped the whole thing, but I had worked too hard on all of that embossing.  And well, I am a “scrap”booker aren’t I?    I think that if I ever want to combine a lot of embossing and masking in the future, I will use some thin paper instead.

So what do you think?

Now I’m late to the game of getting ready for the winter craft show season.  So, I’ll be busy creating cards, mini albums, and shadowboxes like these and selling my wares to those who will buy.  But don’t worry… I’ll see you soon!

Happy Fall!

I had no trouble with this layout as I kinda had a good idea of what I wanted to do.  (That always helps, doesn’t it?   In any case, while I wasn’t 100% happy with my stamping job, its always fun to work with different applications of paint, especially the fun kind that comes in spray bottles!  I used a little Tattered Angels and Mister Huey’s from Studio Calico.  And then I mixed a quick concoction of white acrylic paint and a little water and created the larger, splotchy “snowballs.”  I used some scraps up and cut several different sizes of circles and used them as masks to leave room for the embossing.  I really like the way it turned out.

In other news, I’ve finally gotten caught up with my son’s scrapbook.  The bad news?  I now only have about 8 months to get caught up with the next one.  Oh well…a mama’s job is never done!

It was a busy week overall for me.  I had just gotten back from another conference for my “real” job and then poof!  I was off to spend time at the work I really love to do.

Because of my job, I knew that my time at the CKC would going to be limited.  However, with a game plan and a few pre-determined goals, I would make the best of my experience.  And now that I’m less of a newbie than I used to be, I would love to share some tips to help the less experienced get exactly what they want out of the time that they spend at a conference.

Gotta have Webster's and Graphic 45. Embellies by Crate Paper.

Tip 10: Begin with the End in Mind

What’s the point? What do you hope to get out of your time at your chosen event? While it may sound like it is easy to answer, there is a ton of things to do at an event like CKC.  Of course there’s lots of shopping and classes, but there are also demos and make-n-takes and cropping opportunities.  Sometimes your budget determines what you can really can take advantage of but the key is figuring out exactly what it is that you want to do.  Me? I wanted lots of crafty professional development.

Tip 9: Bring Provisions and Stake Out Necessities

What’s your plan for taking care of yourself between class time and shopping time?  If you decided to spend most of your time in classes like I did, it really doesn’t leave a lot of time for lunch.  For me that wasn’t a big deal–I rarely stop for lunch on a regular day–but for others, that’s an absolute non-negotiable.  While I wasn’t terribly hungry at the end of the day, having a snack or two would have been a good idea.  The hotel had plenty of water stations available, so that was a big help;  and, I tucked a jacket away in my bag which was a lifesaver in the chilly classrooms.  But if you need to use elevators or often need bathroom breaks, then you should absolutely find out where these facilities exist before you get your day started.  When in doubt, ask a fellow participant or consult the information desk.

Tip 8: Mind the Gap

In preparing to depart, you should know all the finer details of what lies ahead.  For example, since this event is about an hour and half away from my home and I planned to drive, so I was prepared to spend the extra money in gas.  But, I had no idea that I would be spending almost $20 total in tolls.  (I was expecting about half that amount.)  I did, however, take time to read the fine print that is provided when you register for the event and I knew beforehand that I couldn’t take my rolling cart onto the main shopping floor.  I also had to make sure my laptop was fully charged for my Adobe Photoshop Elements class because I may not have had access to an electrical outlet.  And even though I wasn’t enrolled in a traditional scrapabooking class, I was glad when I bought my basic kit to my Copics class because I needed ink and adhesive.  It always pays to read the fine print. (I sound like a commercial…HA!)

Some cute clear stamps and a CD of digi templates

Tip 7: Create a Game Plan

Here’s where you really get to personalize your experience.  Once you figure out exactly what your schedule will look like, the next thing to review is a list of the vendors.  While many of the vendors may be local to the area, large events will draw quite the gamut of sellers.  Some vendors have only one product to sell you; others have a little bit of everything.  If you already know what you are looking for, then you can focus on where exactly you want to go and maximize your time.  It is also a great opportunity to get up close and personal with a national company.  Or, you can get finally get a first-hand look at those new product lines you’ve been eying.

The New Authentique Line

October Afternoon's Rocket Age

Tip 6: Don’t Forget the Extras!

Lots of vendors will have demonstrations throughout the day and some have craft stations where you can try some of their products or simply get inky or glittery.  However, the most fun are all the raffles.  I think I spotted about 15 – 20 or so different giveaways going on all at once! And if your are lucky enough to stay towards the end of the event, lots of vendors put things on sale just to help product move out the door.  If you’ve been eying something, a motivated seller might be willing to make a deal. You could walk away winning something for nothing or getting something for half price.

Tip 5: Make Friends!

Besides the classes, I have been wanting to make more crafty friends, especially ones that live nearby that I can crop or attend events with.  So one of my other reasons for going to the convention was to connect to people.  I had only been there 10 minutes and I introduced myself to a couple of ladies in a booth shopping.  We all were interested in some unique clear stamps. (Yes I bought a few….HA!)

There really is such a camaraderie in this industry and if you’re into sharing the love of this craft, then it will be super easy to make friends.  If nothing else, it’s nice to be around others who “speak your language.” Isn’t that so refreshing? I don’t have any other scrapbookers in my family and friends circle, so although they appreciate my affection, they can’t really relate.  Nor can they understand why I have to buy that new trimmer, or ribbon, or pen, or cutting mat, or polka dot paper or…..you get the point. But I digress…

This is also a good time to have a few business cards on hand.  It actually doesn’t matter what they look like really, they just need to have your contact information on them.  (Although I have updated cards, I only remembered to bring older ones–doh!–but they still worked.) And in my second Copics class, I made good use of the them–one for the teacher and one for Julie who sat next to me in class.  We had a great few hours in class together and now I have someone to meet up again with next year.

Tip 4: Stay Awhile

Because of my “real” job, I didn’t spend as nearly as much time at the conference as I wanted or really needed to.  In the one day I attended, I took three classes and had very little time to do anything else.  I did get to do some shopping….

Ink, paper and stamps from Studio Calico.

Stamps and dies from Clear and Simple Stamps.

but there was a lot that I couldn’t take advantage of.  While I met my goals for the day, next year I hope to return and spend at least one more full day at the conference.  That way I can maybe spend one day in classes and another day on the main floor.  The other reason why this might be a good idea is because since we weren’t allowed to bring rolling totes onto the main floor, I ended up carrying my class supplies and anything else that I either purchased or was given on my shoulder…all day.  And even though I went out to my car once to drop some stuff off, my shoulder is killing me today.  Ouch!

Tip 3: Bring a Camera

This little tip might be the best of all.  I brought my camera, almost as an afterthought, but it came in handy in several ways.  I took pictures of samples,

Copic class samples

and a quick picture with Vee Jennings, a member of Studio Calico’s amazing design team,

and generally got some visual insight into what people are crafting these days.  Your camera will remember long after you forget.  And remember, inspiration is always free.

Tip 2: Expect the Unexpected

Remember that tip about reviewing the vendor list? While I wasn’t surprised about many of the vendors, I was surprised that there would be a few direct marketing-sellers like Close to My Heart on the main floor.  If you are a loyal customers of CTMH, then you can stock up on your favorite supplies.  I spent time shopping at a vendor that sold nothing but Spellbinders dies and accessories and another that sold only Fiskars products.  There were vendors that only sold pre-assembled page kits and laser die-cuts.  One vendor only sold software–all of the product was nothing more than a medium-size bin of CDs. One of the more interesting booths was for Scrapbuck, which boasts selling products for as low as a buck.  Think of it as a dollar store for scrapbooking supplies.  Kinda genius…

Tip 1: Everything is not for Everybody

Or in other words, if it isn’t fun, then why do it?  There is a lot to do but that doesn’t mean that you have to do everything.  So pick and choose what you end up doing. At the end of the day although I was exhausted from the driving and the walking and the hauling, I had a fantastic time.  I left feeling fulfilled and happy.  The energy was great.  The people were fabulous.  And so yes, I had fun.  So. much. fun.  And while everything isn’t for everybody, I will definitely be going again next year.

So what are you waiting for?

I wanted to let the photos speak for themselves and since they contained a lot of primary colors, I wanted my decoration to be a little more complementary and a little less exact.  Also, I did a couple of things that I rarely do on layouts–create my own embellishments and use a sticker.

This cutie camera is a stamped image from Lawn Fawn, one of my new favorite stamp companies.  I did a simple paper piecing with some Basic Grey paper and left over scraps.  I filled in the lens with some Glossy Accents.  (I admit I held back…when I get some GA in my hands, I can be pretty dangerous.)

This is a close up on another handmade embellishment.  I call it a button cloud.  After I had finished the layout, I wanted to add a little something to break up the frame a bit.  I had these die cut clouds from Jolee’s and since they were transparent, I put a little cardstock behind the die cut to help it show up more.  The button was an afterthought, but it was my way of keeping the transparency of the cloud without using glue, which would have been too obvious.  I sewed the button down to the cloud and added it to the layout with pop dots.

I hope we will get back there soon!

I used acrylic paint and black cardstock for the background layer.  The scalloped-edge paper is from Pink Paislee.  I wanted an interesting way to crop the photos, so I found inspiration in the oh-so-hot banner trend and cut them with an oval shape. Although this layout took longer than I wanted, I like the way that it ended up turning out. It was definitely a bit of a departure for me.

I can’t stay too long…I’ve got several more layouts to add to the book.  Off I go!

Speaking of getting it done, I’m getting myself primed and ready to really push at my crafty goals these next few months.  One of the biggest one is working on my personal professional development.  I really have adopted a sense of being a continuing learner, especially in this industry.  While the foundation rarely changes, there are always trends, new techniques, and something new to share.

At the end of the month, I will be attending my first ever scrapbooking conference.  While it’s hard for me to fit in as much PD as I would like, I think that it is important to always be looking to learn something new.  The other good thing? I will get to meet more people who like to do what I do.  Fun right?  We’re all a bunch of crafty geeks after all, aren’t we?

One day, I’d also like to teach a class, maybe at one of these conferences.  By teaching part-time at Michaels, I’m able to reach just a few folks at a time.  I would love the opportunity to share what I’ve learned on a grander scale.  Although I have done a small series of tutorials on YouTube, I would love to teach a class designed to help scrapboookers find new ways to use their tools so that they can stretch not only their creativity, but stretch their dollar too.  Wouldn’t that be cool?

PS If you are interested in learning more about how to create your own online classes, Crissy Herron is someone you should be in contact with.  She’s got a wealth of knowledge and experience and she seems like one cool chick! Click here to learn more:

http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/giveaway-how-to-teach-an-online-class-coaching/

]]> http://tencraftyfingers.com/2011/07/04/happy-half-year/feed/ 0 tencraftyfingers Thanks so much_Card http://tencraftyfingers.com/2011/06/26/home-improvement/ http://tencraftyfingers.com/2011/06/26/home-improvement/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:13:00 +0000 tencraftyfingers http://tencraftyfingers.com/?p=835 ]]> I can’t believe it’s here….July, or in other respects, we are halfway through 2011.

I have known for some time that time seems to fly faster and faster the older you get.  At least, it works that way for me.  Except this year, at this time, I am turning a curve.  My life has been pretty straight and narrow and except for the one big surprise that happened in 2006, it really hasn’t hit too many speed bumps, ditches, or shallow places.

It’s true. I’ve been very blessed.  So blessed.

I once came across something that Roger Ebert said: “I should be thankful for the abundance that I have.”  And since I am a person who collects quotes, I quickly scribbled that down and posted it to my corkboard. It resonated with me.  It’s true that I’m not the richest person in the world, nor am I the happiest, but I am thankful for all of the small blessings I have.  My prayer is rarely one of expectation; it is usually one of thanksgiving.  And, I’m proud of that.

But since this is the occasion of the half year, I personally felt that it was time to put some plans into action. You see, I’ve been cruising along with my crafting and although I have shared a lot through the years, I have finally arrived at that inevitable fork in the road.  Do I continue with being comfortable and crafty or do I take a giant leap, really challenge myself and see what develops?

I have this notebook.  And in it, I write all of my card designs, layout ideas, lists of stuff I’d like to try…you name it–it’s in there.  I’m sure most crafters have something similar…maybe an art journal or one of those new Smash books from K & Company.  I have been writing in it for some time now and most recently, I’ve been really scaring myself with what has been written in there.  There are some really great things, I think.  And while I hope that they are ultimately good ideas, that really isn’t my point.  I feel that I’m finally beginning to really focus on the kind of papercrafter that I want to be. It’s closer to me now than it ever has been before. It’s the inner voice that I’ve desperately been trying to hear.  Listening very closely to what your heart is saying and transforming that passion into an actual “thing”….ah, that is bliss to me.

Now that I’m finally starting to feel like I’m on the right track, I hope that I can continue to be courageous.  There are so many things that I’d love to see come to fruition, that sometimes I’m almost scared to share my dreams with others. I suppose it just boils down to being disappointed and facing what seems to be an inevitable sense of failure. I mean, who wants to feel like that? No one does. But I know, with every project or idea that doesn’t work out, it just puts me closer to turning that curve.

So, here I stand. And maybe, just maybe, turning that curve will lead me exactly where I want to go.

The stamp set is from Stampin’ Up! and the printed paper is from K & Company.  I used some dimensionals and pop dots on this as well as some embossing.  While I tried several times to create a bow with the ribbon, I found that it added an unnecessary slant to this masculine-themed card.  And now that it is done, it is on its way to my father in Virginia.  Happy Father’s Day…even if it is a little late.