Just wanted to say “hiya” and check in. Life has been too busy to blog. Wah. Boo! Hate it.
As Mary reminded me in Comments, I have yet to post the second Arizona LSS review. Gotta’ get on that.
I also said I’d post about the stamp contro at Two Peas. Boy, do I have a lot to say ’bout that!
And there are so many other things I wanna’ write about.
But in the last 2 weeks, my workload has literally doubled. My car has literally died. And I literally have sciatica and a head cold.
So please forgive meeeeeee!
To make you smile, HERE is where Lisa Bearnson posted about her upcoming HSN Scrapbook shows in May 2014. Does that help you not be mad at me? Hope so!
And I hope all is well in your world, my loves <3
Talk soon.
Well, my little US scrappy friends, don’t get too excited yet. It appears these 2 new Project Life versions are available exclusively overseas, at least for the time being.
But word on the international streets is that there are 2 new kits hitting stores now. I couldn’t find the first one on Becky Higgins’ BLOG and couldn’t find either kit listed in her STORE or on AMAZON. “Aqua” apparently is for UK customers and “Happy” is exclusively for Spotlight stores in Australia {which Becky did blog about HERE back in February}.
First up is “Aqua” full of fun, happy, bright colors that would be great for toddler, kids, and school albums:
It was designed by CRYSTAL WILKERSON . . . but I can’t find any mention of it on her site either. Either nobody’s Search functions are working, or these are a big secret for some reason ;)
Second is “Happy” which is so, well, HAPPPYYYY!!
HSN – who also carries Project Life items – does have 2 papercrafting shows coming up on Tuesday 04-15-14 but, at least according to the show descriptions, no Project Life items will be presented. A Pea thinks she heard that HSN may debut 2 new PL lines toward the end of April . . . and wondering if (hoping!) it might be these. Just rumors and speculation at this point :)
ETA: Am I being a dork and this kit was on HSN last time?? AKA old news? {Thanks Tiffany!} I wasn’t able to watch but I think Tiffany is right.
I think they’re both really cute but I’m kinda’ glad I don’t NEEEEED them, LOL. The colors and designs aren’t too far off from other Project Life lines I already have like my favorite, “HONEY“, as well as SLATE.
What do you think? Are they ‘must have’ kits for you?
PS: For those Down Under, did you catch this Project Life Theme Set of Australia cards in Becky’s post linked above? Cute!
The classes are each about 1 hour in length, and cover all different aspects of pocket scrapbooking. We’re running a month-long super special, pricing these jam-packed videos at only $9 each.
You can get all six for only $7.50 each with the code “SAVE40” at checkout.
Here’s just a sampling of what’s available:
Just to recap:
-Individual classes are on sale through 4/30 for $9.
-Special offer: Buy five, get one free with code “SAVE40” through 4/30.
You can buy them right HERE. I’m excited because I know a lot of you wait for the individual class sales. Woot! Have a happy week!
From April 6-12, 2014, Michaels is having one of their BIGGEST sales of the year! Check out their ad and coupons HERE.
I for one am happy because they’ll have Iris 12×12 scrapbook cases for only $2.99 (reg. $8.99).
Over time, I’m converting all my scrapbook storage that was in open baskets on my shelves to these closed cases. Love that they’re see-through.
Scrapbook albums and Recollections craft storage are 60% off! Maybe I’ll finally take a chance on a Project Life album at THAT price! {I’ve heard they’re not very sturdy. Do you have a review?}
Scrapbook paper pads will be $9.99 (reg. $19.99).
And Plastic Scrapbook Storage will be 50% off.
If you wanted to implement my PROJECT LIFE CARDS or WASHI storage ideas, now would be a great time to buy up some of those cute plastic shoeboxes or 6×6 Iris containers!
I know you love a good scrappy bargain as much as I do, so I had to share. Hope you find something fabulous. Happy Shopping!
PS: Would love to hear what you pick up at Mike’s. Please come back and let us know!
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As I talked about in THIS post, I was lucky enough to find an AWESOME scrapbook store while in Arizona recently. {If you haven’t read that post yet, ya’ gotta’ if you want a laugh}.
Now it’s time to show you the haul from my trip to Scrapbooks Etc. in Mesa, Arizona.
Here’s the bag of pretties I brought home :) Note: If you click on any of the photos below, they will enlarge.
So, I took the photos, downloaded and edited them, then realized I forgot to include the Kaisercraft cards in this photo. So pretend they’re there, mmm kay? The budget I’d set for myself was $30 and you can see that I went over that just a teensy bit. Wonderful restraint though, if I do say so myself!!
They had a sale going: Buy 10 sheets of $1 paper and get the 11th free. Well, it was my duty to buy 10 sheets of paper, right?? Right.
First, 5 sheets of October Afternoon “Daily Flash”. I officially love and, yes, want to marry that sheet on top with the distressed teal stripes. Well, it would be a plural marriage because I need the bokeh paper in my life always as well.
Here are the backs of those same OA papers:
Here’s 1 sheet of American Crafts “Daydreamer” from Dear Lizzy. Don’t worry; I’m not going to say AGAIN how much I love hearts. Because you already know I love hearts. I say I love hearts ALLLL the time. I mean, why do you need to hear again how much I love hearts?!?! You really don’t <3 <3 <3
Next are 5 sheets of Basic Grey “Capture”. My favorite (OBVI!) is the turquoise on one side and turquoise/green on the other. I don’t like being faced with Sophie’s Choice, so I just bought 3 sheets of it – 2 to use for a turquoise background on a 2-pager and 1 to use the striped side.
Here’s the other side of the BG papers. Oh look, those stripes again!
So there are my “buy 10 get 1 free” sheets of $1 scrapbook paper :)
Here’s all the cards spread out and where you can see both sides:
Are they not lovely!?!? I adore this color scheme. I do a lot of beach pocket page scrapping and these will be perfect-a-mundo!
The flowery bits are not my favorite but, ya know, every card has 2 sides, LOL. I love everything else about these cards. The distressed teals and beiges, sayings, and other designs with banners, dots, chevrons, etc.
I also got 5 sheets of Echo Park “Fun In The Sun” – bright, cheerful pastels, bikes, cameras, trees, and flowers. These were only 49 cents a sheet; I think I found them on the bargain table I mentioned in my last post.
Here are the other sides of the Echo Park papers. This will be a great line to use for Project Life pages.
The only garage sale item I left the store with: a pack of paper for only 5 buckaroonies! It came with 37 cardstock-weight sheets of paper. I don’t love all of them and there are lots of duplicates but, at a mere 13 cents per sheet, I’m not complaining :)
Here are the backs of the same papers above.
I batched together my 3 favorite sets. I don’t know who makes these but they look lovely together and I like the mix of patterns and color. Very useable, don’t you think?
These papers aren’t labeled either but they’re great for Halloween layouts.
My absolute faves and why I bought the pack: These papers from the Teresa Collins “Memories” line. Such fresh colors and designs. The paper is very heavy and also textured. I imagine these must retail for AT LEAST $1 per sheet and since I got 5 sheets, there’s the $5 I spent on the whole pack. The rest of the papers are just scrapbook gravy :)
At $10, that took a big chunk of my budget but totally worth it. I *had* to have the wood veneer 3×4 and 4×6 cards plus the whole set is just so stinkin’ pretty.
Then I got the 2 little bags (they were sold seperately but look like Allison Kreft?) and the Doodlebug coffee stickers. ‘Cuz I might, um, be a little addicted to coffee. And take photos of it. And scrapbook them. Just maybe.
Well, there ya’ go . . . my shopping haul from Scrapbooks Etc. Hope you enjoyed!
PS: I did hit up one other store while in Arizona. I’m not gonna’ pretend it was as awesome as this store but I did manage (ahem) to find some more scrappy goodies. Stay tuned for another store review and scrapbook haul!
I was recently traveling in Arizona and had the opportunity to visit two local scrapbook stores (LSS). This is a real treat since the closest LSS to my home is 2 hours away. So I warn you now, there are LOTS of photos and I have a LOT to say!! I’ll have to do 2 blog posts. What?! I’m wordy! Sheesh.
The first scrapbook store I visited in the Phoenix area was “Scrapbooks Etc.” in Mesa, AZ . . . or as it’s now called, “Etc. Scrapbooks, Fabric & More”. The name change appears to be because they’ve added fabrics to about 1/3 of the store. I’m no sewist but I think that’s a brilliant move! Way to stay viable, AZ scrap store owners!
I’m just gonna’ say from the beginning: I loved this store! It’s one of the biggest and best I’ve ever been to. They had loads of current stuff, I liked the way the store was laid out, and they had lots to offer the customer.
Yep, I managed to show up on their Scrapbook Yard Sale day – woot! It started at 10am so I got there about 9:45. I was greeted by a super long line outside the store. I texted DH at 9:48: “Garage sale starts at 10. There’s about 50 women in line. Hold my earrings. Mama might need to throw down!” He cheered me on: “They got nothin’ on u.”
Just kidding, just kidding. I got back in my car, drove across the street, and got a Starbucks. I’m not the aggressive type {even with a latte’ under my belt}.
The yard sale was held in the classroom and here is what it looked like {faces have been blurred to protect the guilty . . . er, innocent}:
Here’s a sample of the goodies to be found at the Scrapbooks Etc. garage sale – a Simple Stories “Summer Fresh” pack for $7. I think that 6×6 pad alone sells for $6, so that’s a nice deal :)
I grabbed a few packs of things and literally had to escape that room so I could find a clear surface to check out the goods. And where did I end up!?!? At the Scrapbooks Etc. sale/clearance table in the back of the store. Where I found more deals. Sheesh. It’s like too much of a good thing, I tell ya’!
One thing from the garage sale I held onto was a BASIC GREY “BLUSH” collection pack. Here’s the tag sheet from the collection kit – “Blush” is SO yummy!
I think it was $7-8 and only missing a few sheets. Again, a good deal but it didn’t make the final cut in favor of NEW scrappy stuff!! I don’t get to an LSS but a few times a year so I didn’t want to miss the chance to get some newer things when I could actually see them in person. Yes, it’s a luxury these days :(
Okay, so if you’re a BAZZILL Babe like I am, you’ll want to sit down for this. Or at least hold onto a hand rail or something. Ready?? I give you. THE GREAT WALL OF BAZZILLLLLLL!!!!
Isn’t all that color and texture and paper goodness so PURDY??? I almost swallowed my tongue! GULP!
I can’t find it now but I swore I read earlier that the husband of the Scrapbooks Etc. owner owns (or works for?) Bazzill Basics. Which would make sense judging by their huge selection of Bazzill cardstock and other Bazzill papers.
Speaking of pretty colors, I just had to take a pic of all those pretty WRMK album colors all in a row. Gorge!
Scrapbooks Etc. had most products arranged by manufacturer which is how I prefer to shop. Here’s some new Dear Lizzy and Amy Tan, both by American Crafts:
I *so* wanted this Amy Tan “Mixtapes” pack but that price took up too much of my budget.
You’re a scrapper, you get it, right? You stand there in the store aisle, fondling the “$11 for 6 bitty rolls of washi tape” and have this internal conversation:
“You should get this. It’s sooper dooper cute!”
“I know, but ELEVEN DOLLARS! And the tapes are so skinny!”
“Yes, yes, but that’s what makes them so preciously KYUTE!”
“Precious smeshious, do you know how much PAPER I could buy with $11?”
“Well. Okay. You do have a good point there. Put them back.”
“But but but! But I want the cute little skinny Amy Tan washi! And if I buy it online, I have to pay $92 shipping on $11 worth of 6 skinny rolls of washi tape!”
“GUUUURRRLLL. Put. The washi tape. Back. NOW.
“(Kicking ground). Fine. It’s back. Jeez.”
Yeah, I put the washi tape back. But it was PAINFUL, I tell ya’!
These Dear Lizzy mini flair badges were very hard to pass up, too. Just darling.
They had a great selection of this new new Basic Grey:
One thing I loved was the little product vignettes they have around the store. They make very appealing displays with new products that make you want to buy things. Wicked smart! Here are just 2 but there were several more:
Colorful Doodlebug Goodness:
All these little packs of puffy arrows, chevrons, and punctuation were KILLIN’ me, Smalls. I very much coveted that shades of teal blue one in the middle.
But at $5 a pack, I had to pass :( You don’t want to hear the conversation-with-self I had about THAT! I almost socked myself in the jaw right then and there. But the Good Angel won. Again.
Here’s a shot of the fabric side of the store. They seemed pretty busy and I could hear the counter person answering lots of customer questions. Seems like a great set-up.
Teresa Collins “Happy” which is so much prettier in person than online.
Teresa Collins “Save the Date” which, me being married for so long, I didn’t think I’d be interested in. But, man, the colors were so pretty. I was seriously considering re-engaging and re-marrying my man just so I could use it.
The epoxy/enamel heart down there was callin’ my name. Have I mentioned I LOVE HEARTS?? Yeah, maybe once or thrice.
An entire wall of SIMPLE STORIES. Um, when can I move in, please? Starbucks across the street, rainbows of Bazzill, WRMK, and Doodlebug, AND a Simple Stories neighborhood – what more do I need to sustain life?
KAISERCRAFT is one company I’m not very familiar with but their products sure caught my eye! I ended up with a pack of their 3×4 cards; guess which one? {I’ll reveal in a “Scrapbooks Etc. Haul” post later}.
They also have Project Life Island. See? I never need to go anywhere else :) I’m set.
There was a big Accucut station; a die-cutter’s dream.
October Afternoon . . . squee!!
I think these were garage sale shoppers checking out their loot or deciding what to buy. I totally get it, ladies. Take your time. If I step on you, smack me.
More October Afternoon:
Fancy Pants:
Whole row of Bazzill Basics patterned paper:
Ahh, My Minds Eye rotating racks, I’ve missed you!
So that’s my tour and review of Scrapbooks Etc. in Mesa, Arizona. I highly suggest you visit if you’re in the area. Or in an adjacent state. It’s worth it, LOL. Wonderful store and I hope I’m able to visit many more times in the future!
Stay tuned to see what goodies I bought there!
ETA 03-30-15: Kind of a sad update. I hear from an online friend who was at Scrapbooks Etc. recently that it has shrunk in both size and number of new products since last year when I went. They’ve remodeled the store into a smaller space at the same location and decreased the inventory accordingly. Boo hoo. Still probably a better store than most, though . . .
ETA 07-31-16: Well, I heard a while back that more of Scrapbooks Etc. had been converted to sewing products. Now I hear the sad news that they are closing altogether effective the end of July 2016 :(
Same owners since 1999!
We are sad to say that we are closing the store officially August 6th. July 28th-July 30th the store will be open from 10am-6pm and August 1st-6th the store will be open from 10am-3pm.
There will be no open lab for the remainder of us being open.
Check this out: Did you know you can get a FREE PREVIEW of Ali Edwards’ upcoming “Hello Story” class?!?! It comes with videos, a very nice .pdf handout, supply lists, and transcripts.
Then if you decide to sign up for this very cool class, you can get a 15% discount using code TIMEWITHALI through 04-10-14 (which is a full week AFTER the course starts, for you slow-committers, LOL).
I’ve done the math and with the discount it comes out to $8.25/week at full price or only $7/week with the discount. I love to share these discount codes with you because I know classes (especially by top scrapbookers like Ali) can seem expensive. But when you use the discount and break down the per week cost, I think you’ve got a deal here.
You can see from the free 1-week sample shared above what a quality course this is. If you like, you can sign up for “Hello Story” right HERE.
The 12-week class runs from 04-03-14 to 06-25-14 so you don’t have a lot of time to make up your mind. On the good side, when you decide to take the class, you don’t have that long to wait for it to start!
Please let me know if you sign up so I can live vicariously through you! I’d love to post your review on thuh blog afterward as well, if you’d be so kind :)
Also, let me know what you think of the free sample!
PS: Sheesh. I just noticed that immediately upon sign-up for the course, you get some freebies:
In the pre-classroom, which is available instantly upon registration, you’ll receive Ali’s Storyology downloadable class (valued at $14), which is the perfect warm-up for Hello Story. You’ll also receive a set of 50 downloadable Random Fact Journal Cards (valued at $5.49)!
I’m listening to Ali’s free sample now as I type this blog post. Yep, just me and Ali, hangin’ out. Even if you don’t take the class, you’d be a silly willie not to grab the free preview.
As I talked about HERE, it was time for me to get some new storage for my expanding collection of washi tape. Just like with my PROJECT LIFE CARD STORAGE, I need cheap, easy and practical. Requirements for my washi tape storage are:
– Not expensive; no more than $20 total
– Easy to use; no pulling tape rolls off dowels, walking across the room to access them, etc.
– Practical; keeps the dust out and easy to see what I have
I looked all over Target for a new storage solution but had no luck. My next stop was MICHAELS craft store. Armed with my 40% off coupon, I was pretty confident I’d find something I loved.
And I was right! Scroll to the very bottom of this post if you can’t wait to see my final washi tape storage solution :)
But let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Here is what I started out with:
Like I said in my last post, I originally had my washi in an open tray on my desk along with my Project Life cards and embellishments. Due to dust and (ahem) outgrowing that storage, I moved the PL embellishments – icon stickers, twine, stamps, and chalk ink pads – to one of these super handy “Bag in Bag” purse organizers.
As I packed for my RETREAT in January, I threw all my washi into this extra plastic shoebox from Mike’s that I had standing by for more Project Life / MAMBI / Sn@p! card storage. Or whatever. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to keep obsessively buying more cards and need a place to store them. ‘Cuz that would be crazy when I already have so many. Um, yeah.
The washi tape rolls were easy enough to access in the shoebox above ^ while I scrapped but I wanted a better storage solution. They didn’t stay very neat and there was a lot of wasted space in there.
Let’s try something new:
At Michaels, I picked up this storage piece first. It’s an Iris Scrapbook Project Case meant for storing 12×12 pages in progress, I suppose.
Liked: It was shallow enough to mostly spread out my tapes into a single level so they’d be easy to see and access, yet the case is tall enough to close over the thicker tapes like the red and green one on the bottom right above. There’s even room to stack 2 thinner tapes.
Didn’t like: Took up too much desk space and couldn’t see washi tape color/pattern as well when they’re lying flat versus on their sides.
My other purchase from Michaels were these 2 smaller cases, and this is the solution I ended up going with. I put cool colors in one and warm in the other.
At Michaels, the 6″ x 6″ Iris Mini Project Case was $4.99 minus $2.00 with all scrapbook storage 40% off = $2.99 {didn’t even need to use my coupon!}. So there’s the “cheap” requirement fulfilled; only $6 total. You can’t beat that with a stick.
Oh my! That is one pretty washi collection, if I do say so myself. All that color and design and possibility makes me so HAPPY!
As you can see, the lids closed easily over all sizes of washi tape. My “easy to use” requirement was met – no dowels, no pulling them off of hangers or spools, etc. Just reach in, grab the roll(s) you need, and put ’em back when you’re done.
I kept the label on so you could see what exactly the item is called, in case you’d like to replicate this washi storage :) It’s so funny because looking back, I mentioned way back HERE that I loved this little case and wanted to find a use for it.
Voila! Mission accomplished!
Here are my cute little washi cases stacked together on my desk, just to the left of me as I scrap. My pretty tape is secure and protected. So my “practical” requirement is fulfilled.
To the right is the Bag in Bag I mentioned above. On top of the washi cases is a small plastic ‘shoebox’ from Mike’s with enamel dots and some smaller embellishments that didn’t fit in the Bag in Bag. That’s another cheap, easy, and practical storage solution I love <3
Hope you find this helpful! How do you store your washi tape?
Well, unbeknownst to me, it’s National Craft Month on HSN. They failed to include me on the memo :D
And apparently it’s also National Wicked Cool Manicure Month!
Starting at midnight on Monday 03-24-14 (or 9pm Sunday night for those of us in the PST), HSN will be airing crafting and scrapbooking shows by (among others) ANNA GRIFFIN, MARTHA STEWART, and my personal favorite, LISA BEARNSON – check out the (4) new PROJECT LIFE kits for HSN she is debuting!
You MUST click over the Lisa B’s BLOG and see tons more photos. Well, I mean, click over there if you’re ready to buy something because you’ll want to after seeing all her great pics. Word.
Luckily for me, I’m broke. Ha! If I wasn’t, I’d be getting the “Daydreamer” and “Style Board” kits. OMBRE & WATERCOLOR & BOKEH, oh my!
Did you know you don’t have to wait for the shows to air to buy these kits? You can get them on HSN.com now {if they’re not already sold out}. I usually find things that are about to air in the crafting NEW ARRIVALS section.
The only problem is if we buy them all up before the show, Lisa won’t have anything to demo again, LOL. {Yes, that happened in the past}. Then again, things selling out before they even air shows HSN and other companies {I’m lookin’ at you, QVC!} that we scrappers are serious shoppers when you bring us new stuff at a decent price. Am I right?
To see when and what shows are airing, check out the HSN PROGRAM GUIDE and change the drop down menu to your time zone. Then set that DVR and get to recording! Or if you’re lucky and don’t have to be anywhere else, grab a bowl of popcorn, some coffee, and get to watchin’!!
And if you’re stuck at work on Monday – okay, do NOT tell your boss I told you this – but you can watch HSN live online RIGHT HERE. Just sayin’ . . .
Will you be watching HSN Crafting this time around? Do you think you’ll buy anything? What’s your favorite item?
ETA 03-23-14: Someone mentioned on Two Peas that Amazon had some of these kits without the extra stuff, if you don’t want that. I went to check and found that (as of this second) AZURE, DAYDREAMER, and STYLE BOARD are listed for good prices but sold out. I can’t find “Happy” on Amazon; someone mentioned it was maybe an exclusive to Australia?
I used to keep my washi tape collection {which is, ahem, extensive} in an open tray on my desk with all my Project Life stuff. But it gets very dry and dusty here so I had to give up the open tray idea. I found other storage for my PROJECT LIFE CARDS and EMBELLISHMENTS. Everything has a new home except for washi tape.
When I went to a SCRAPBOOK RETREAT in January, I put all my tapes in a plastic shoebox – you can kinda’ see them on the far right in this photo from the retreat:
But I wasn’t happy with it for the long-term. So I was in TARGET one day and decided to look around for possibilities for storing washi tape. Here is what I found:
These fridge and freezer storage containers could work. They’re a little pricey but I like that they’re clear. You can see what you have and the pretty colors from all that gorgeous tape are visible.
I was excited to find these short tension rods because I’d seen an idea using them on PINTEREST. I had them in my cart, then ended up putting them back. It occurred to me that I’d end up being annoyed at having to pull a bunch of rolls off the rods to get to the color I wanted – or in needing to keep them on the rod and tear the tape off while it stayed on the rod. Either way, I wouldn’t like it.
These “Bento” containers by Rubbermaid are super cute. I love how the compartments pop out and you can really personalize it. The containers come in multiple sizes. I ended up veto’ing this too because 1. I don’t do well at keeping cloth things clean, and 2. It seemed too deep.
Are these little chipboard suitcases the kee-YOU-test?!?! Could totally see these for my washi tape storage. Great price, too. Only downside is they’re not see-through and I’m a “see it or forget to use it” kinda’ girl.
Now these trays, I really thought about for a while. The color is bland but that’s okay – washi tape is not, LOL! I could picture my pretty rows of colorful tape all lined up in ROYGBIV order in one of these babies. They’d be in a single layer, easy to see, and easy to access. The downsides were the larger footprint {I don’t have much desk real estate left} and being open to dust. Oh well, neat idea.
Thinking about closed storage, I checked out all these jars in the kitchen section. I didn’t pull the trigger on anything but there were some cute and affordable options there.
Oh well, back to the drawing board! I’ll check out Michaels next and I’m sure I’ll find some cool washi tape storage there :)
When I posted about HERE about “TRUE STAMP 2014” earlier today, there was no discount code in effect. However, one has just been added!
*** Code NOW20 is good for $20 off the regular registration rate through the end of this month (03-31-14) *** There are over 400 people signed up and Lain would like to get to 500!
Here are some additional reasons to sign up for True Stamp 2014 asap:
-They’re closing the doors at 500 people (that’s all the web room will hold)
-The supply list went out today, so things are hip-hop-happening
-Call guide goes out soon
-In addition to the classes, you’ll have the opportunity to win amazing prizes and access exclusive True Stamp discounts from event sponsors
Um, yeah, I’m thinkin’ those are gonna’ be some pretty nice prizes ;)
Anyhoo – just wanted to let you know in case the price was holding you back from signing up for “True Stamp 2014, which you can do HERE for $20 off through 03-31-14. Don’t forget to use this code: NOW20
Even without the discount, it’s a reasonable price. But with the discount, it’s hard to pass up.
I have a confession: I’m addicted to the free online courses at “CreativeLive.com.” There, I said it. As a business owner + creative type, it’s like they made the place just for me.
Since then, I’ve ‘taken’ about 5 other courses and frequently check their upcoming schedule to see what looks interesting. I’d heard from LAIN EHMANN, another of my fave scrapbookers, that she was in talks with CreativeLive . . . and I’ve been waiting patiently to see if she posted more about that. She hasn’t, unless I missed it.
But what should I see today on CreativeLive but THIS!!
Scrapbooking is a powerful way to preserve memories, but the process can often feel like a time-consuming chore, rather than a chance to tell your unique story. If you’re unsure where to start or held back by your inner perfectionist, this two-day course will teach you everything you need to know about creating scrapbooks that fully, creatively document your authentic life.
Scrapbooking expert Lain Ehmann will help you understand how to focus on storytelling rather than perfection when you scrapbook. Lain will cover ways to discover your own motivations for memory-keeping and match those motivations with the scrapbooking process that works for you. You’ll learn about creating beautiful, meaningful layouts that you and your family will cherish. Lain will also cover alternative methods of scrapbooking — from working with pre-made kits to preserving memories digitally and much more. By the end of this class, you’ll love your layouts – and your memories – more.
If you’re not familiar with Lain Ehmann yet, she does lots of cool online scrapbooking events, chats, and classes.
The next thing coming up is TRUE STAMP 2014. I’m not a stamper so I haven’t signed up for it but I’ve done MANY of her other classes and events like TRUE SCRAP 4, TRUE SCRAP 5, TRUE SCRAP POCKET PAGES, and 2 or 3 of her LOAD events (that stands for Layout A Day; it’s like a monthly challenge to get you scrappin’ with support of a big group). I’ve blogged about LOAD a bunch HERE because I love them so :)
Anyhow, just wanted to let you know that Lain is coming to CreativeLive and you should RSVP now so you can watch it and participate in the chat for FREE! Once they do their original events, they’re replayed a few times – then you have to pay to access them. Hope to see you there!
And I wanted to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to both Becky and Lain. In addition to being simple scrappers, gorgeous, and SO nice, they’re both businesswomen I look up to. Getting booked on CreativeLive is a wonderful step for their businesses. I admire the guts it takes to stand up there and talk about our hobby for 2-3 full days. It’s just awesome!
PS: Are you brave, too? Why don’t you try and get into Lain’s live studio audience? Oh, how I wish I could (dang work!). HERE is where you sign up. PLEASE let me know if you get in!
Just wanted to check in since it’s been over a week since I posted. I’ve been in Arizona :)
I need to get my work and laundry done first, then I’ll be posting about some scrappy shopping I did! There’ll be plenty of photos with reviews of the 2 scrapbook stores I visited. And I’ll show you what I bought, of course. It’s all super yummy!
I also have 2 new posts I’m working on about WASHI TAPE storage that I hope to get posted this week.
Please say “hi” and let me know how you’re doing! What’ve you been up to these days? Please leave a Comment below :)
As I mentioned HERE back in early January 2014, some Michaels received new Project Life items including 6×8 albums, page protectors, and kits to use in them for Planner, Agenda, and Recipe.
Well, what should I spy at my Mike’s almost 2 months later but this!?!?:
Yeppers, some of the page protectors and 1 of the 3 kits. I have a zillion 6×8 Sn@p! pages so I don’t need more of those for now but I did snatch up the “Planner” Project Life kit. It was $4.99 minus $2.00 with my 40% off coupon. So only $2.99 for 40 cards – pretty cost effective.
And it’s really cute! I love the theme, colors, and style. I think I’ll get a lot of use from these cards. Here are some photos in case you’d like a closer look:
4×6 cards
3×4 cards
It’s very everyday, happy, and fresh. It looks great with one of my other favorite Project Life kits, HONEY. {I talk about why it’s one of my faves HERE}.
Not to enable or anything – ‘cuz you know I hate to do that – but “Honey” and “Olive” are only $23 and “Turquoise” is only $18 at the moment HERE on Amazon. These kits are usually $30 so that’s a great deal ;)
Anyway, just wanted to let you know not to give up hope on finding the “new” Project Life items at your Michaels. They may still show up!
Hey there! I’m not a stamper but I know a lot of you are, so I wanted to pass this on: General registration for “True Stamp 2014” opens today 03-01-14.
And I have a discount code for you to save almost 50% on your registration. Just enter code LOVE at checkout!
This code is good from 03-01 to 03-17-14 at which point it expires, so make sure to register for “True Stamp 2014” prior to that.
What is True Stamp 2014? Here’s some info:
If you’ve been lacking in the creative mojo, or wondering how you can get more life from the stamps you already own… or you just want to spend a day with a bunch of super-cool crafty people, then look no further.
My friend Lain Ehmann of True Scrap has pulled together six of the hottest stamping companies around to offer a full day of inspiration and fun, such as Technique Tuesday, Lawn Fawn, Simon Says Stamp, and three more. They’ll be revealing all their best stamping tips, tricks, techniques, and secrets in the ground-breaking True Stamp event.
True Stamp is a one-day, online, LIVE event on April 5, 2014. Yep, that’s right – all 6 instructors will come to you via the magic of the internet in a state-of-the-art web room. You’ll watch class demonstrations, chat with instructors and other students, and have the time of your stampy life – all without leaving home (or even changing out of your PJs!).
You’ll learn from experts such as Shari Carroll, Kelly Marie Alvarez, Nichol Magouirk, Bev Grey, Bobbi Lemanski, and Kim Hughes, with a few surprise instructors.
If you’re tired of just staring at your stamping supplies or creating the “same old” projects, then check out True Stamp 2014.
I attend a lot of Lain’s events and they’re all top notch. Here are the things I love about them:
– If I’m busy the day/weekend of the event, I can watch the videos and read the chat transcript later, as many times as I want.
– Chatting with other “obsessed” crafters from around the world.
– Great instructors who put a lot of time and knowledge into their presentations
– Upbeat atmosphere created by Lain’s bubbly personality
– Cost effective when compared to other online or in-person classes with the same level of content
Just click HERE for more details. If you should choose to sign up, remember to use my link and enter code LOVE to save almost 50% off the price by 03-17-14.
About a month ago {01-28-14}, Becky Higgins announced on her blog HERE that a new Project Life line would be coming to Joann craft stores as an exclusive. The line is called “Kiwi” and it’s super cute!
Being a Project Life junkie, I knew I had to have it. Unfortunately, the closest Joann to me is about an hour and it’s a tiny one – hardly any scrapbooking stuff. So I started looking online at JOANN.COM and found the kit HERE.
Note: Click on “Locate in Store”, enter your zip code, and you can find out if the Joann store(s) near you carry the “Kiwi” set.
Joann.com told me that my tiny, not-so-close store didn’t carry it. So I signed up to receive an e-mail when Joann.com had it in stock but have yet to be notified :(
But luckily for me, a sweet online friend (ENABLER HEATHER! ha ha) lives near all these amazing, large, current craft stores and she always finds things I *need*. She found Project Life “Kiwi” at HER Joann and bought it for herself, then kindly sold me 1/2 of it.
And without further ado, here is a quick pic of Kiwi:
Sorry, I did’t have time to spread the cards out better and get more photos but you get the idea. The colors are fun, bright, and happy. The sayings are everyday and very useable. The “handwriting” font used on some of the cards isn’t my favorite {see the pink one on top of the pile?}; it’s a little sloppy for my taste. But that’s the great thing about PL cards – if you don’t like one side, use the other or even put a sticker or embellishment over things you don’t love. I like the use of black and turquoise with lighter pastels, there are plenty of hearts {you KNOW I love HEARTS!}, and the mix of white/off-white backgrounds is a nice feature.
Because the Kiwi kit is “exclusive” to Joann stores and so hard to find, the message boards are abuzz with people buying, trading, and looking for it. Many have been unsuccessful and the rumor is that each Joann store who DOES have it only got 2 kits per store. Which seems kind of crazy given how popular Project Life items usually are.
A Pea reported today that: “I was at (Joanns) tonight and asked a lady about the Kiwi kits. She said they’d be put out next week since Ms has a coupon on them. It must be the 50% off one she’s referring to.” So that’s good news if it’s true! If you’re looking for the Kiwi kit, I hope you find it sooner than later! It really is beautiful and I think you’ll like it a lot in person.
Soooo . . . confession time! Are you a Scrapoholic? Are you in recovery . . . or driving to the store?
Tell us something weird, funny, or crazy your “scrapbook obsession” has made you do. I mean, it’s an ADDICTION so you’re clearly not in control and can’t be blamed for your actions. {That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it}.
– I had to buy a third plastic shoebox because my PROJECT LIFE, MAMBI, and SN@P! card sets have outgrown THIS storage . . .
– I take selfies at the beach {while pretending I’m taking ocean photos} because that’s the only way to get myself in the scrapbook . . .
– I have one of my jobs solely to have a budget for buying scrapbook supplies and printing photos . . .
There are lots more but I’ll leave it at that :)
Okay, don’t leave me hangin’ out here alone. Your turn!
I’m sorry I didn’t post this sooner but it’s been cray-cray in the hizz-zay. You feel me? Word.
Unless you’re, like, the super most efficient scrapper on the face of the planet, I’m reaching you in time anyway. Before you start scrapping your Valentine’s Day 2014 festivities, check out Miss Tiina’s “Printable Valentine’s Day Freebies” HERE. This one is my favorite . . .
. . . but there is lots of heart-filled goodness there by one of my favorite graphic designers. Who still hasn’t designed a PROJECT LIFE set yet, much to my dismay. I’m going to start a letter-writing campaign, I swear!
{For you young-uns, a “letter” is what we used to hand write on paper BEFORE there was e-mail. And we had to put it in an envelope, lick a stamp – yes! we had to LICK them! oh em gee – and wait for our “letter” to arrive in the mail. This could take DAYS. It was rough back then}.
So I’m going to start an e-mail (ahem) campaign for BECKY HIGGINS to sign on MISS TIINA. She is wicked talented, I want her style in my scrapbooks, and I’m tired of having to cut up all her printables. Help a sista’ out, Becks. {I can call her “Becks” because we talked at CHA and now we’re besties}. {Ok, not really . . . the besties part, I mean}.
PS: HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!! Hope yours was fabu. Did you get anything scrappy?
. I officially love and, yes, want to marry that sheet on top with the distressed teal stripes. Well, it would be a plural marriage because I need the bokeh paper in my life always as well.
from Dear Lizzy. Don’t worry; I’m not going to say AGAIN how much I love hearts. Because you already know I love hearts. I say I love hearts ALLLL the time. I mean, why do you need to hear again how much I love hearts?!?! You really don’t <3 <3 <3
. These are called “Snapshot”:
– bright, cheerful pastels, bikes, cameras, trees, and flowers. These were only 49 cents a sheet; I think I found them on the bargain table I mentioned in my last post.
line. Such fresh colors and designs. The paper is very heavy and also textured. I imagine these must retail for AT LEAST $1 per sheet and since I got 5 sheets, there’s the $5 I spent on the whole pack. The rest of the papers are just scrapbook gravy :)
that has been on my 
purse organizers.
meant for storing 12×12 pages in progress, I suppose. 
was $4.99 minus $2.00 with all scrapbook storage 40% off = $2.99 {didn’t even need to use my coupon!}. So there’s the “cheap” requirement fulfilled; only $6 total. You can’t beat that with a stick.
, 
, and 
are listed for good prices but sold out. I can’t find “Happy” on Amazon; someone mentioned it was maybe an exclusive to Australia?
. {I talk about why it’s one of my faves 
