I am obsessed with scrapbooking and I know you are too! I think about it, talk about it, and do it any chance I get. I love to shop as much as I love to crop. My blog will have: product reviews, show reviews, scrapbook organization, my shopping finds, and just general scrapbook topics. There are so many scrap blogs out there where the author journals about their life and shares their pages. I wanted my blog to be a little different. Hope you enjoy!
The Pull-Ez ribbon holder is still a fairly new product and I had only seen it in black. Well, now they have it in a cute lime green color (as requested by customers). Also now in red, baby blue and lilac:
By the way, if you’re looking for a way to store your ribbon but you want to keep it on spools, the BLOG for Your Pictured Memories (maker of Pull Ez) says they are coming out with a new product for that.
From the BB website:
“The new BoBunny Retractable Knife is perfect for many paper crafting needs. For example use the knife along with the new Self Healing Cutting Mat to trim excess paper off the My Word books. BoBunny’s new cutting mat is professional quality for all types of craft, hobby and art projects. These mats are self-healing, 3mm thick and extra durable . Reversible, non-slip, non-glare surface with imprinted ruled guide for easy placement on one side and solid pink on the other. Use with BoBunny’s new Retractable Knife.”
THIS blog has great pictures of the fun way companies display things!
Over at the AMR message board, we’re also getting firsthand reports from the owner, Stacey, via phone. She was going to try and post pics by borrowing her roomie’s laptop but I don’t think she’s been able to do so yet. Although a wonderful MB’er named Cemetary Artist, who lives in Southern Cal, actually met up with Stacey. She picked her up from the airport and got her settled in town, so she (Rita) posted a few pics of them having fun. I think it’s so cool that friends are finding each other through these great scrapbook message boards!
Thanks to ali_bl (ALINA) and THIS POST from the CK Message Board, I found another Must Have tool. It’s a punch so we can make our own scalloped/eyelet edge papers instead of paying an extra $1 per sheet just because the company did it, LOL. This is one of my favorite looks in scrapbooking these days, so I’m very excited that someone came up with this tool. I hope Fiskars or someone else also makes one that punches the scallop without the eyelet holes, as sometimes you just need that little bit of a different look, kwim?
FISKAR’s SCALLOP / EYELET PUNCH
THE EMBI by Provo Craft
Sounds like a very well-rounded tool but, so far, it’s not on my shopping list. Maybe when I see it in use. I’m not much of an embosser-girl, and I already have the Making Memories Tag Maker gathering dust in my scrap room. But it does seem like one cool tool!
Embi™Universal Embellishment Press
A clever new tool that offers you several convenient functions in one!
Embi comes with interchangeable heads to:
Make framed tags
Attach rhinestones & studs
Set eyelets
Punch
Emboss
This all-in-one embellishment solutions lets you add accents to your creations without the hassle of using different tools, saving you precious space and money. This versatile tool is perfect for all sorts of creative projects, from scrapbooking and card making, to home décor and fashion art. Embi can embellish in a variety of materials, creating lasting accents you’re sure to love. Interchangeable heads are easy to change and fun to use. Each Embi head comes packaged with designer embellishments to get you started with your creative projects. Embi is also portable and simple to use. Its six-inch reach allows you to work anywhere on a 12″ x 12″ scrapbook page or project.
Well, I won’t call this a Must Have for me, because I think the price tag is over $100. As much as I’d love to have The Slice, it will probably have to wait for a birthday or Christmas “please-honey-I’ve-been-really-good-and-nice-this-year-and-I-made-you-dinner-306-times-don’t-I-deserve-a-new-scrapbooking-toy?” gift.
I’ve been following The Slice since way back, before they even had a distributor. Here is my POST from August 2007. And here is what it used to look like:
Here is what it looks like now:
I think the best way to show this baby is a couple of YouTube video demos of the product at CHA.
HERE’swhere Queen of CKMB, Miss Leslie, asks others for their thoughts on The Slice. And check out what the AMR GIRLS and 2PEAS LADIES have to say about it. We crafters are in serious decision-making mode about which of all these fab new tools we want/need to spend our money on!
Will you be getting one, two, or all three of these scrap-fabulous new tools??
What’s this scrap world coming to? After my post earlier today about Scrapbooker Murderer Woman, now I hear about THIS arrest of a woman who had stolen $170,000 worth of scrapbooking products from stores and was selling them out of her home. Just crazy, I tell ya’.
PS: Thanks to LILYMAMA from CKMB for the news article!
With CHA-Winter coming up this weekend, everyone is talking about and trying to predict what the new trends in scrapbooking will be for this year. HERE is our discussion on the All Moments Remembered message board. Over on the SCRAP SCENE blog, they are doing a series of articles about Scrapbooking Trends for 2008. Here is PART ONE and PART TWO; will add PART THREE when it’s published.
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Here are my predictions and musings, as I said over at AMR:
Scallops and pretty edges
Journaling items
Acrylic stamps by every company, not just stamp companies
Distressed or shabby chic look
Glitter and bling
Pre-sewn items and papers, for those of us who don’t sew!
I’m really trying to think what the hot new material will be for letters and such. We’ve already done chipboard, felt, foam, grungeboard…what could be left? Hmmmm….
I saw some new thinner glass/mosaic type squares the other day…I wonder if that material will catch on?
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One thing I left out was: scrapbooking organizational items. I think all the companies have finally caught on that we have loads and loads of STUFF! And we need cute, functional ways to store it all. Personally, I’m tired of all the little org. pieces here and there, or ones sold to store just one type of item. We need more systems on a broader scale, something you could do your entire scrapbook area in that would cover all your bases and give everything a cohesive look. I’m truly surprised that Cropper Hopper hasn’t taken the lead on this. They would make a fortune if they did! At least, that’s my prediction…
What do you predict will be the hot trends for 2008?
I was doing a pretty lame job anyway, so I’m just going to turn over the HUGE task of giving CHA-W previews to this girl Monica @ SCRAP ETC. She is just rocking the previews and there are too many for me to keep up.
I was happy to see some Basic Grey previews over there, as BG is the one I always most anticipate:
BASIC GREY “ARCHAIC”
BASIC GREY “SUGARED”
BASIC GREY “BOXER”
I need to see more of each to say for sure, but so far “Boxer” is the only one I’ll be shopping for. I’m no scrapbooking designer, and I know it must be terribly difficult to keep coming up with fresh designs, but I miss “the old days” of Basic Grey. Not loving their stuff like I used to. I mean, there are elements of each collection that I like but I no longer just drool over the entire collection and have “can’t wait to use it” dance parties around my scrap room (no, there is NO footage of these events so don’t even try searching “Scrapbook Obsession’s solo dance parties” over at YouTube”). Do you think they got new designers along the way, or they’re just trying a little too hard to mix it up? The colors have gotten too muted for one thing. And you know how I feel about that weird flower they keep using. The dinosaurs in “Archaic” look cute, but they’re too specific, i.e. how many dino layouts can one girl do? I was scrapping a birthday party this weekend and really, really tried to use some of my Basic Grey “Sublime,” but it was just too…out there. The colors were off just a shade from matching anything (and you KNOW how many colors there are to choose from in birthday party pix), and the graphics were so weird that I couldn’t relate them to anything. You have to know, I HATE to be saying all this about “my” Basic Grey because they have always been my staple. Ask me any time since I’ve been scrapping what can I not do without, and the answer has always been “Basic Grey and Bazzill.” So I just really, really hope they do not disappoint again at CHA {picture me with fingers crossed}.
Tonight at CKMB during Happy Hour, ERIN LINCOLN (CK Message Board Hostess) posted THIS question re: CHA previews.
So, what are your thoughts? Am I alone on the Basic Grey thing? What are you most anticipating from CHA?
Sniff…sniff…uh oh! Do you smell another controversy? Just kidding, no big deal, but check out THIS thread from 2peas. Lisa B.’s little sister even chimes in. I’m so mad at myself! I was watching this episode on Tivo today but got distracted with something else. I heard the exchange between them about a slap but didn’t pay attention and think I deleted the episode when I was done. Wish I could see it for myself. Can’t say who’s right or wrong…did anyone see it?
I was at the crop all weekend, then slept on and off today (still recovering from surgery and SO shouldn’t have done that crop…oh yes, regrets, I’ve had a few). Anyway, I’ve only watched a few of the QVC presentations that I tivo’d. So far, the only thing I’ve ordered is the 7 Gypsies Acylic STAMPS.
Here is one of Lisa’s sample layouts made with the Family journaling stamp. That’s the one that sold me!
They are so cool, can’t wait to get them! They remind me of their 97% Complete Tags which I just got and have been using a lot for journaling. One of the ‘episodes’ I watched was with Lisa Bearnson and David Venable, who I usually love watching because they crack me up. But they were off their mark this time, I thought, and seemed so frantic or something. Wonder what was going on there? Anyway, I was so proud of my restraint, but then I see threads like THIS on CKMB and now I’m clamoring to get back to the television.
What did you buy? Go ahead and confess here, I won’t tell your hubby, I promise…
I can’t keep up! It’s too crazy and I want it ALL. Just go HERE and check it all out. Lovin’ Heidi Swapp, Fancy Pants, and Cosmo Cricket. Not too sure about Crate Paper. I hear one of Basic Grey’s new lines is called Archaic and has a dino theme, but can’t find pics anywhere.
Yeah, yeah, we know it’s Superbowl weekend! Only thing I like about it is it keeps DH busy so I can crop and shop. Here’s some things I’ll be checking out…
Home Shopping Network (HSN) has several scrapbooking shows coming up. Check HERE for HSN program listings and make sure to adjust for your time zone.
QVC also has a bunch of shows coming up, and the big TSV (Today’s Special Value) will knock your socks off. It’s a 9,000+ piece (yes, I said NINE THOUSAND), papercrafting extravaganza by one of our favorite companies, COSMO CRICKET. HERE is one link shared by CKMB’er and expert QVC shopper, Gladys/Oreosmom. Lisa Bearnson talks about upcoming show items HERE and HERE. And the program guide is HERE. Sorry, I’ve been out of the loop on this huge CC thing on QVC but go to any of the message boards and they’re talking about it if you need the scoop. Looks like it has multiple shipments…
My favorite scrapbooking shop-site, ALL MOMENTS REMEMBERED, is having 2 big events this weekend. Today is the big reveal of their first monthly kit (February 2008), which sold out in record time, and sight-unseen no less! Stacey, Heather, and the AMR ladies promise lots of MESSAGE BOARD fun, RAK’s, challenges, etc.
And in a sure case of “the inmates taking over the asylum,” AMR Message Boarders themselves will be hosting a Superbowl Crop on the message board this Sunday. Check out both events ~ I promise you’ll have a great time!
As for me, I’m a total nutcase and have chosen to hold my Superbowl Widows Crop this weekend even though I had (minor) surgery last Tuesday night. Yeah, I’m certifiable alright. So my Tivo will be working overtime this weekend, and I’ll be checking in at AMR with every spare moment.
Have a SUPER scrappin’ weekend, everyone! Let us know what your plans are, what you’re gonna buy or, afterwards, what didja’ get??? Please do tell…inquiring minds want to know.
As I mentioned in THIS POST, I have, or should I say HAD a bum gallbladder. Well, after my fourth attack on Monday morning, they removed the darn thing yesterday. I’m home now to rest. Just wanted to say “hi” and let y’all know why I’m not posting. Will be back in a day or three. Hope all is well with you :)
If you would like to write a post for me, to keep the masses entertained while I’m gone, let me know in a Comment on this post and I’ll contact you. About anything scrappy-related: a product review, your opinion on something in the industry, CHA goodness, whatever, just let me know. Suggested topics are the new Cropadile Big Bite and Cricut Design Studio. There seem to be a lot of questions about how to operate those but I have neither. A tutorial or How To would be great!
I’ll be here lurking, just not writing. Thanks luvies!
I was at Michaels yesterday and was so happy to finally see something NEW there. I had a 40% off and a 50% off coupon burning a hole in my wallet, so I was doubly, no make that tripley happy. I actually found 3 paper packs that were Must Haves, so I begrudgingly paid full price for one of them.
First, and my favorite of the three, Coastal Culture by Me and My Big Ideas (MAMBI).
Second, Modern Milan by MAMBI.
Third, Chelsea’s Place by Making Memories.
Now, I’m totally confused because I went to search online for pics of these lines so I could share my rockin’ finds with YOU. As for the MAMBI, on THEIR BLOG it says these are new products to be released at CHA in February 2008 and they have only given sneak peeks HERE and HERE. WTF? Why does Michaels have it if it hasn’t been released yet? Gawd, usually a product has to be at least 20 years old for MICHAELS to have it!!! Did I crash land into another universe when I wasn’t looking??
Anyhow, for now, this is the best I can do, layout samples from MAMBI blogs…
Then I link over to Suzy Plantamura’s blog and in THIS ENTRY dated 1-23-08, she says the same thing about Modern Milan, Coastal Culture, and another line called Renee being released at CHA?? Well, whatever, just glad I got me some already!! Here are some layouts from Suzy and check out that entry above to see more…
By Suzy, using Coastal Culture:
By Suzy, using Modern Milan:
Oh, and here’s Jamie Harper’s BLOG with a mention and some layout/card samples of all 3 lines including Renee. Jamie links to Suzy and also to Angelia Wiggington’s blog with THIS entry. Check it! I swear, sometimes you have to be a friggin’ internet detective to find new scrapbook stuff. Oh well, guess that’s what you guys pay me for…
What I love about both lines are the fresh color combinations, and the different textures with foiling and flocking (wow, sounds kinky, huh?). Seriously, whoever designed these lines should be very proud. Can’t wait to see Renee by MAMBI now too. I do a lot of ocean and coastal layouts, with the usual colors of blue, turquoise and green, but Coastal Culture shakes that up with colors you wouldn’t normally think of as “coastal,” yet they totally evoke that easy, laid back, coastal feeling. I can’t wait to play with it!
As for Chelsea’s Place by Making Memories, I was glad my search for it took me HERE to Christine Middlecamp’s blog because if you haven’t already “met” her, you should. She’s an awesome lady who just went through a horrific loss with an amazing grace you don’t often see. She movingly blogged about her journey and she just amazes me. Please make her a regular read if you can. That said, Miss Christine seemed to share my confusion over Mike’s actually having something NEW and COOL. So click on over there, leave her some blog love, and check out some Chelsea’s Place.
I stole this from a post by TexasPaperArtist on 2peas:
“Yes, Chelsea’s Place is new & it is coming shortly.(your store is probably just a little early getting it). It is exclusive to Michaels, along with 5 other collections by various companies. I know Michaels will have something about it on their website next week.”
The paper pack I got has a bunch of those cool shaped papers, like a circle with scalloped edges, etc.
See, even this is scrapbook-related…the reason I watched it in the first place was because Lisa Bearnson said one time on QVC that it was her favorite movie, and she often had it on in her studio while she scrapped.
CATHY Z MAKING FUN OF TOM CRUISE
She rocks it!
(If you haven’t seen the Tom clip she’s parodying, just go to YouTube, search Tom Cruise Scientology, and you’ll easily find it)
Thanks to KELLI, who’s been posting funny scrapbooker YouTube clips over at the AMR MESSAGE BOARD! It’s been a good reminder how much scrapbook-related stuff is over there, some funny, some informative. Now that WordPress has given us pretty much unlimited free memory, I’ll be posting YouTubes more often. As they say in TV land, stay tuned!
Like most things CK these days, this newly-released product guide/special issue is already causing a stir among the scrapping masses. Discussions on 2Peas: HERE and HERE. One Pea was so unhappy, she gave her issue away FOR FREE. Debate on CKMB: HERE, HERE and HERE (this one is harshing on not just the product review issue, but CK of late, in general). I just bought mine at the grocery store lastnight (as I no longer subscribe)(but not for the reason you think).
Let me see if I can sum up the “issues” with this issue:
~ Paying good money for a scrapbook magazine that features only 3 or 4 layouts (15 if you count those in advertisements)
~ Just one big advertisement for their sponsors
~ Doesn’t give a complete list of things like electronic cutters
~ Apparently replaced the Top 10 Issue, which everyone seems to have liked (at least in comparison to this)
~ No “How To’s” to USE the products featured
~ Nothing new is featured, stuff we’ve seen before, “so last week”
~ Geared toward newbie scrappers
~ Couldn’t access online links that were listed, and why not just include that content in the magazine in the first place?
~ Not consistent in use of comparison charts, or in featuring ALL of a certain type of product
And with CK magazine in general lately:
~ Too much digital now
~ Bland, uninspiring, dog-earing a lot fewer pages
~ Less layouts
~ Less pages, more ads
~ Layouts are shown so small you can’t read the journaling, even when the article is about journaling
~ Would like to see more scraprooms, more of the latest products being used in layouts
~ What’s with the “lifestyle” articles like How You Met Your Spouse?
~ Going more toward altered projects and paper crafts vs. scrapbooking, which is okay just keep it to a moderate level not put it on the cover
~ Would like more from HOF and SOY scrappers
On a positive note:
~ Like the new cover style
~ Like the Dream Team, Candice Stringham, computer and photography tips, Jennifer McGuire, Fresh Faces
~ CK was responsive to complaints by getting rid of Organize It, Easy Patterns, and the full page photos of Ali Edwards, et al.
Disclaimer: Please note that the comments or points above are NOT my opinion, just a summary of what I read in the CKMB and 2peas threads.
What did you think of the issue, and of CK magazine in general lately? Are you liking the Product Guide and all the changes CK is making?
Unless it’s super dooper special like that RENDEZVOUS RELEASE, I’m adding new CHA-W 2008 sneak peeks to THIS POST. Just added My Minds Eye, American Crafts (both get a thumbs up) and Daisy D’s (thumbs down).
I’ve been listing all the previews I find HERE, but this one was so special it deserved it’s own post. Check out the CHA preview by RENDEZVOUS, and make sure your speakers are on…but not too loud :)
I’ve been tagged by Janine/dahulagirl on HER BLOG. Think I’ve done this one a few times so I’ll try to think of 7 original random things, LOL…
Here are the rules which must be posted on your blog if you are tagged:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.
Here’s 7 facts about me:
1. My childhood nickname was Rickie (get it, for Erika?). My BFF in 5th grade thought of it, and she still calls me that.
2. One of my favorite snacks is Wheat Thins with cream cheese and salsa. But you have to use Philadelphia cream cheese and Southwestern medium salsa from Albertson’s.
3. I am VERY calm in emergencies. Scary calm.
4. One time when I was a dispatcher, I took a 911 call from a guy who said he was on the side of the freeway watching a man get run over by speeding cars….and over…and over…and over. He was yelling, “OH!” and gorily describing each hit to me as we rushed officers to his (supposed) location. He turned out to be 5150, and there was no road pizza. I will never forget that call.
5. I’ve always wanted to own a horse. Maybe I will someday.
6. My favorite color ever since I was little has been green.
7. I love Double Stuff Oreos dipped in ice cold nonfat milk.
Looks like another must-have tool by Basic Grey. It gets a big “thumbs up” from Noel Culbertson, a CK Scrapbooker of the Year Top 10. She said on the CKMB that it makes rub-ons go on “like a dream,” and that she got it HERE at embellish IT! where they sell it for $7. Here is the description on their website:
AMAZING TOOL!
Roller ball rub-on stylus
Rolling ball tip glides smoothly for a controlled application
Flat nylon paddle for setting the rub-on
High-quality design
I mean, Noel had me at Hello, but when she said this new tool does not leave smush marks on her Bazzill, it was like chocolate icing on a chocolate cake. You know, already great but just that much better. Okay, I’m off to see if ALL MOMENTS REMEMBERED or MEMORY WORKS plan to carry it, because Lord knows Michaels won’t have it in this decade and that’s about the only place left to shop around here. Will this be on your shopping list?
Edited to add 1/23/08: Deb from CKMB just posted a review on her blog. HERE YA GO…
All my talk of HOF-gate, commenting on scrap rooms, and what’s new at CHA 08 really seems trivial when you hear that “our of our own” is dealing with a life-threatening illness. A lovely lady from CKMB, Leslie (SoCal Scrapper) has been diagnosed with cancer and is just beginning her fight. She has a wonderful support system ~ devoted spouse, a church family, IRL friends, and online scrapper friends. I truly believe in the power of prayer and have heard countless stories of the miracles PRAYER has accomplished. Please join me in praying for Leslie. Updates on her progress can be found at LESLIE’S FREEDOM FROM CANCER BLOG. There are many CKMB threads about Miss Leslie: HERE,HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. You will see what a beautiful lady she is, inside and out. While I was searching all the posts BY Leslie, I was struck by how generous, sweet, and giving she is. She takes the time to compliment tons of layouts that are posted, wish Happy Birthdays and Get Well Soons, add prayers, be grateful for daily devotionals, and express gratitude for all the kindnesses coming her way.
Will you also please take a few minutes every once in a while to leave her a message of love and healing. She has already expressed how much the support of her MB and scrap friends, with cards, MB posts, PM’s and e-mails ~ have meant to her. Thanks so much!
