A 'No Photos' Scrapbook Layout

Do you remember the first time you really noticed your own heart beat?  Heard it?  Or felt it booming away in your chest?  Wondered what it was, and were delighted when you found out? 

I don't. But I was lucky enough to be nearby when Bridie did, and what a wonder filled moment that was!  Now I am the first to admit that when it comes to scrapbooking big life moments like birthdays and christmas I am not so flash.  New PJs and heartbeats though?  Not so shoddy!

When I saw the look on Bridie's face, when I told her the 'popping' she could feel in her chest was actually her heart beating (wonder and delight!) I knew I had to capture the moment for her.  I was elbow deep in dinner preparations at the time, so didn't get a photo at the time.  I thought about posing her later - perhaps an arty farty closeup of her little hand, clutching her chest again?  But really, it was the look on her face, and the wonder she was feeling, that I wanted to remember - and re-enacting it half an hour later wouldn't be the same.

So...  I set myself a challenge.  Scrapbook it without a photo - just the story.  And while we are doing challenges, use a patterned paper (I'm a patterned paper junkie, but often struggle to get them, especially the 'busier' ones, to work on my layouts).  Abandon that idea of A4/letter size, and get back to 12 x 12, and lets have some white space (green space?!) And most of all?  Make it quick and simple!

The first thing I did was find a patterned paper (Raspberry Tart DSP), and then the card to match(Kiwi Kiss, and Pink Pirouette).  The good thing about layouts without photos?  Doesn't matter what colours you use!  I had the idea of a big heart outline in my mind, and with the 'make it fast' challenge in mind, got to work cutting one out freehand.  Type up the story, print and cut ('freehand' again).

Then figure out some embellishments to fancy it up a bit.  I was pleased that the Kiwi Kiss corduroy buttons from the spring mini catalogue were just the right colour, as I love, love, love them!  The ones with holes have a 'faux' thread (thin strip of patterned paper threaded through).  The buttons without holes are actually like big brads at the back.  The smaller hearts were also cut from the patterned paper.

I will admit that I was tempted to add some stamping to that big green background, but I resisted - quick and simple being the rule for the day.  The title is annoying me a bit.  The 'straight but freehand, so not really straight' cutting technique works fine for the journalling, but the title looks a little sloppy, darn it.  I was going to pull it off, but the 2 way gluepen (which was GREAT for sticking on all those little bitty strips!) was just sticking too well. 

And then I figured - it's done already, stick it in the album, and move on.

So I did.  And it feels great!

Parisian Breeze Stationery Set

I think I mentioned that last week I was off to a class? - my first one in ages! Well - here it is - a glimpse of the gorgeous stationery set we made - just like a little suitcase, with matching cards and envelopes inside...

We used the oh so beautiful Parisian Breeze Specialty Papers (now available in the NZ/Aust Spring Mini Catalogue). If you haven't used the specialty papers before they are definitely worth a look. Not only are the designs great, but the heavier weight (they feel like cardstock) make them perfect for projects like this, where you need a bit of substance. The fact that they are double sided means it is easy to flip them over and make your own perfectly coordinated trims - like on the outside pockets (you could use those pockets for stamps etc, but a notebook on one side, and chocolate on the other worked for me!)

Some jumbo brads and ribbon for the handles, and a rhinestone brad to finish off the closure made for a truly elegant project. There was more than one small disagreement when I got home, over just who that little suitcase might be for (so far, Mummy is winning!)

Here is a glimpse of the inside - with room for cards and envelopes, or whatever else you want...

Too much fun.

Like this week. When we go off exploring again.

See you at the end of the week!

Free Designer Patterned Papers - promo #1

Who doesn't love free patterned papers?

So, in a celebration of scrapbooking, Stampin' Up! have a couple of fantastic promotions for the month of May. First up, free papers. When you purchase three packs of selected Designer Series papers (19.95 + pp) you will get one more pack for free. There is no limit on how many free packs you can get - so if you bought six packs you would get two free....

The paper packs that are included in the promotion include a wide variety of colours and patterns...

• 112042 Urban Garden Designer Series (see photo above)
• 112470 Haiku Designer Series
• 113976 Pink Flamingo Designer Series
• 112468 Sweet Always Designer Series
• 113992 Tea Party Designer Series
• 113975 Raspberry Tart Designer Series
• 113966 Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series
• 112469 Holiday Treasures Designer Series
• 112041 Bella Rose Designer Series
• 113974 Bella Bleu Designer Series
• 113978 Urban Oasis Designer Series
• 112461 Washington Apple Designer Series
• 112039 Windsor Knot Designer Series
• 113980 Candy Lane Designer Series
  

All of these papers can be seen on pages 132 - 135 of the catalogue. If you don't have a catalogue you can view them online - see the link on the sidebar, or click here.

If you would like to take advantage of this promotion please contact me. The free papers are available until 31 May. Tracee.creates@gmail.com

Keep an eye out for another post coming soon - the second promotion for the month sees the cheapest ever offer of an SU starter kit - is it time for you to start your own business, doing what you love?

Cheap and pretty pen storage!

Okay. So I am sure I am not the only one who gets in a bit of a mess when they create?! Pens and pencils especially, have a tendancy to get swallowed up. I didn't want to spend a whole lot on storage so I decided to make my own.

Cue the spaghetti/tomato/soup tins...

The key to preparing the tins is a 'safety can opener' - the kind we used for those pop up cans (if you don't know what I am talking about here, don't worry. I will make it my mission to do a pop up can in the not so distant future!) Instead of cutting the tin, the safety opener somehow gets in between the seal, so there are no sharp edges. I have found that the pull top cans can still be a little sharp, so to reuse the can, I take the rim bit off with my trusty safety can opener too.

Eat the contents. Wash out the can, and then I pop it in the oven for a couple of minutes to make sure it is all dry (they tend to rust REALLY quickly if left too long to dry).

And then on to the fun bit - the decorating. Being short on time, these ones were super simple, but I like how they have turned out. I used patterned paper from the Petals and Paisley pack, and attached it to the outside of the cans using sticky strip (1 sheet of paper did all three cans, with leftovers). Because the cans were all different on the inside, I also lined them with a rolled up piece of Taken with Teal card, to match the paper. A little bit of sticky strip to hold the cans together, and then some wide Olive ribbon tied around to make them all pretty.

I wanted to lay them on the side (remember pens should be stored horizontally!) so that is why I used three cans in a pyramid shape - you could use as many as you like - but remember, one on its side will roll away, and that would not be helpful! You might also want to measure what you are going to store in the tins first. These tins are maybe a little short for the stampin' write markers - I discovered that a little late. But never fear, there is a big old soup tin sitting on the bench waiting for some friends, and patterned paper is on a super duper special!

Now I just need to get the pens to put themselves away!

The price of SU's patterned paper

As some of you know, this year the patterned papers were supposed to be $19.95 for a pack of 12 sheets. Lucky for us (unlucky for SU!) there was a misprint in the catalogue, and we have happily been paying $13.95 instead.

Of course, it was to be expected that they would not make that mistake again, and prices would increase to $19.95. I was surprised then to see in a 'sneak peak' of the new catalogue, patterned paper would be $22.95..... WHAT?!

Luckily I wasn't alone. Lots of demonstrators have offered their 'constructive criticism' on this, and SU have listened. They have just announced that the papers will now be $19.95. I am guessing that won't be the price listed in the catalogue, but I don't mind a bit of crossing out and rewriting in my copy!

That said, it is still not the bargain of this year, especially at the moment. All of the current papers are being retired, and there are only three packs that have not been discounted - (see the list below). These prices are for packs of 12 sheets of double sided paper, so at those prices you don't have to save them up for 'special projects'! They are also all still in good supply (except the Pumpkin Pie patterned Prints which is listing as low). Let me know ASAP if you would like to order some. If you don't have a catalogue you can see them online - click on the link on the sidebar to the right to go right to it.

$6.98 packs

Spring Flowers, Spring Showers (see 07-08 catalogue for a picture)

$10.46 packs

Berry Bliss, Brilliant Blue Prints, Brocade Backgrounds, Certainly Celery Prints, Close to Cocoa Prints, Dashing, East Coast Prep, Fall Flowers, Le Jardin, Notebook, Old Olive Prints, Outlaw, Petals and Paisley, Pumpkin Pie Prints, Spring Break, Spring Fling, Spring Silhouettes

$13.95 packs

Jersey Shore, Rose Red Prints, Wintergreen.

and of course, the papers from the Summer Mini - Bali Breeze, Ginger Blossom, and Afternoon Tea.

I should have had a photo of a project to show you, but with daylight savings having started, the morning light in here is darker than ever. Perhaps later today... (or tomorrow!)