Friday, September 30, 2011

World Card Making Day and some blog candy!

Hello blog friends!

What a fun day to celebrate!  Tomorrow is World Card Making day and it is a great excuse to get together with some girl friends and craft away!

We are at the Mt. Pleasant Community Centre tomorrow ...

DATE: Saturday October 1st, 2011
TIME: 9:00am-6:00pm
LOCATION: 711 Mount Pleasant Road


If you are feeling like creating you can still get in on the fun....

Come out and crop with us for the day! Tickets are only $15 . BYO Lunch & Beverages.  Snacks are provided.  Come by or call us at 905-730-2673, for more information.


Or you can stop by and say hi and do some shopping, maybe choose some fun new scrappy stuff to create some cards with!

Also, leave us a comment on this post before Saturday October 8th, 2011 at midnight and we will draw for a World Card Making Day giveaway.  The winner will receive a Cardmaps magazine, a 6 x6 paper pack and a package of sentiment rub-ons perfect for making cards.


Thanks for stopping by today!
Laura
xoxo

ScrapFest Oshawa

Hello all!

I just got an email reminder that there are only ......

Two Weeks Left Until ScrapFest!!

Are you getting excited? There is so much to do at ScrapFest in Oshawa!! Shop, Crop, Learn and Create!!!
 
VIP passes are still available! This pass allows you to shop in the ScrapFest Marketplace on Friday AND Saturday (plus a goodie bag is included) for just $20+HST. Friday hours are 5pm - 10pm.
On Saturday, the Marketplace is open to the general public from 9am-5pm. So bring a friend and enjoy a creative day together. 
 
Saturday Marketplace tickets are $10 (in advance) or $12 at the door.

We hope to see many of our friends there!
Laura
xoxo 

Sketch-y Friday

Hello and Happy Friday!

Here is your sketch to play with for this week!


Hope you have a great weekend!

Laura
xoxo

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Inspiration on Thursday

Hello everyone!

I guess you all are too busy to send me any "inspiration" layouts this week, so i am going to post one of mine that hasn't been shown o this blog before.  I created this layout at our Scrappink crop.

If you have a layout or card that you would like to see posted here to inspire others, email your creations to me here.  The only stipulation is it must be created with at least 75% of product we offer in our store.

Thanks for popping in!
Laura
xoxo

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Tips and Techniques Wednesday

Hello blog friends!

We had a great time being the on-site store at the Encore Dance Studio crop last Saturday!  It was super thrilling for me to hear how many of those ladies popped by this blog to see what we are creating!  Thank you for that, it means the world to me!

While at the crop we even had time to make a few creations of our own!  Thanks to Ann and Christa for having us!

For today's tutorial, I am going to start a series of how-to's about make small gift items that would be perfect for hostess gifts or teachers gits, etc.  since we are approaching Thanksgiving and other big entertaining holidays.

Today I will show you an embellished candle that I created, along with a coordinating gift card.

First off, choose the product you would like to work with.  I have a selection of papers from MME's 'Mischievous" line and some American Crafts embellishments from the 'Night Fall' line.  Both of these collections are currently available in our store.
 Then I choose a punch and a leaf die to use, this is one of my favourite punches and I knew I wanted to add leaves to go with my fall theme.  You can cut leaves with punches, a die cutting machine like the Cricut or by hand, as well.
 And here is a look at the main pieces for my embellished candle.
 Next, I ran the leaves through my sewing machine to add some texture and mock veining right down the centre.  I snipped off the extra thread, but I did leave some short tails as I liked the distressed, not quite perfect look it gave as well as a bit of texture.
 And then I inked all of the piece with a Tim  Holtz's Distress Ink, I also added a bit of charcoal chalk ink along the very edges of my pieces to give them a little more definition.  This is a good tip, if you are using papers together that do not have a lot of contrast to each other.
 Now when I attached the collar to the candle I knew I wanted it to be really secure to last throughout the holiday season, so I chose to adhere the papers together with Glassy Accents.
Then I used Terrifically Tacky Tape to adhere  one end of the collar to the other end (you could also use Score Tape of any other really strong adhesive). 

Do not adhere anything directly to the candle if you or your recipient plan to use the candle at any time.  You want to be able to slide the collar off for safety purposes, before lighting the candle.


 Next, I layered the leaves in a pleasing manner and stapled them together.  This is a quick way to make sure your layers stay how you intended, don't worry we will hide the staple!  Some strategic bending and crumpling of the leaves, gives them some texture.  Adhere these to your collar with Glossy Accents.
 A little piece of twill, stapled to keep it folded and glued on top of the leaves.
 Next I added one of the little fan-fold flowers.  And even though these have a pop dot already on the back of them I always add a little Glossy Accents to them if I am creating something for display purposes that could get handled.  We want our beautiful creations to last, right?
 Here is a look at my completed embellished candle.  Perfect as is for a Halloween or fall decor element or gift.
 However, I decided mine would more likely be a Thanksgiving decor element, so I covered up the little 'Halloween" sentiment wit a button.
 A couple of close - ups for you.

 And now on to the little gift card, I used all of the same basic elements to create this little  3"x3" card.



Thank you for stopping by today to see what we are up to!
Laura
xoxo

Saturday, September 24, 2011

New in Store!

ello Scrappers!

We have a fun new tool in store for you from Epiphany Crafts!  This tool allows you to make custom buttons and epoxy embellishments for your projects and guess what?  Jewellery too!

Here is a peek at the items we are currently carrying.....

round epoxy embellishment tool

custom button tool

clear buttons

clear epoxies

rings

button casings, can also be used on rings

charms for your projects or jewellery
You can see how to use these tools in this Youtube video......

Or simply read the instructions here.

You'll notice each tool creates a unique shaped embellishment.  They are easy to use and reasonably priced.  And there are a few more tools as well.  If you are interested in one of these tools you can email us here for more information on ordering.  If you are interested in an alternate shaped tool, email us for more information on a pre-order.

I picked up one last weekend at the Scrappink crop and cannot wait to play with it!

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a scrappy day!
Laura
xoxo

Friday, September 23, 2011

Sketch-y Friday

Hi blog friends!

Another quick week!  As we are all settling into our back to school routines, time seems to fly by, Thanksgiving will be upon us before we know it!

Here is today's sketch!


I created a double page layout this week as I heard that that is what you are looking for.   And don't forget if you need further inspiration, have a look at the slide show below or check back each Thursday when we post some beautiful creations made by us, our croppers and you!  If you want your project featured on our Thursday inspiration post, email it to me here

Thank you for stopping by today and have a great weekend!

Laura
xoxo.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Inspiration on Thursday

Hello and Happy Thursday!


I have lots of inspiration to share with you today!  Eileen has been busy creating all of this scrappy goodness.......










Beautiful work, right?

And if that isn't enough inspiration, I have good news!  The fall issue of Scrapbooks and Cards Today is in stock!  Get your copy free with purchase.

Finally,  just a reminder if you have a layout or card that you would like to see posted here to inspire others, email your creations to me here.  The only stipulation is it must be created with at least 75% of product we offer in our store.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with us today!
Laura
xoxo

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Tips and Techniques Wednesday

Hello all!

I have a stamping technique for you today, called block stamping.  It is a quick and easy way to create a funky background for your projects.   Watch the video to see the 'how to'.....



And here are a few close up photos of the card that I created in the video.......

you'll notice that I went back and added some inking around the stamped background and just a hint of MME patterned paper



Let me know if there are any techniques you would like to see featured here, by leaving a comment on this post..

Thanks for visiting the blog today!
Laura
xoxo

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Crop and a Class!

Hello blog friends!

I have some fun news to share with you!  We are offering a crop and a class on October 1st, another super fun day, that you won't want to miss out on!  Keep reading for all of the details......

4-Page Layout Kit
Crop & Class

DATE: Saturday October 1st, 2011
TIME: 9:00am-6:00pm
LOCATION: 711 Mount Pleasant Road
Mount Pleasant Community Center

Come out and crop with us for the day! Tickets are only $15 for the day, BYO Lunch & Beverages, snacks are provided. Reserve your space by emailing us at: scrapmuch@rogers.com
Spaces must be pre-paid.


Join the class at 10am and create 4 pages! The Kit includes everything you need to complete the layouts!   You will feel accomplished with 2 single page lay-outs and 1 double page lay-out! Cost of the class is $19.99 + HST if you are attending the crop, and $25.00 + HST if you are not attending the crop.
We only have 5 spaces for the class so reserve your space now !
*If you cannot attend the class or crop but would like to see what's new in-store, please come visit us! All are welcome!

Oh, and here is a coupon for your shopping pleasure, good for the day of the crop!  Feel free to shop with your coupon, whether you stay and crop or just come to shop!

Save 15%
Save 15% off your purchase of $50 or more* (before tax) on anything in-store!
Coupon must be presented at time of use and does not apply to classes, crops or retreats. This coupon is transferable so feel free to share it with your Friends & Family!
Cannot be used on previous purchases or combined with any other offers.
*on regular priced merchandise only
Offer Expires: October 1st, 2011


Thank you for popping by to see waht we are up to!
Laura
xoxo

Friday, September 16, 2011

Sketch-y Friday

hello and happy Friday!

Can you  believe another week have flown by?  I am hoping to have some creative time this weekend, are you?  I hope so, because I have a sketch for you to play with......

If you would like your layouts that you create based on our sketches, featured here on the blog, email them to me here.


Thanks for popping in today!
Laura
xoxo

Thursday, September 15, 2011

New in Store!

Hello blog friends!

I have a little treat for you!  We have just received this wonderful line called 'Nightfall" from American Crafts.  We are so happy it arrived just in time for our big Scrappink event! 

Here is a sample of some of the papers.....

and here is just a sample of the embellishments.......

Our very own Eileen got a chance to work with this collection!  She put together  a few samples for you to drool over!




 
 

 


 
 



 

And you know how much I loved playing with American Craft's new "Garden Cafe" collection last month.......  

Which features papers like this sampling ......


And embellishments like this sampling......
Well it arrived yesterday as well!
What do you say?  Aren't they both so inspiring?  I know you will love playing with them!
Thanks for popping by!

Laura
xoxo