Project Life - Week 2

Week 2. . .complete!  I cannot tell you how much I love this new approach (new to me) of scrapbooking!  It is so much fun collecting little tidbits from the week and using them in the pages.  I also love using my iphone photos.  So stinkin' easy to process them with apps and simply print them out.  I've updated my blog and added my fave Project Life blogs on the right.  On the left is my old 365 button, but I am updating it now with my daily photos which may not all make the project life cut when I'm putting my pages together.  :)  If you are participating in 365, or Project life at all. . .please link me up! 

 

week 2 - Page 1

 

Week 2 - Page 2

Hello and Happy 2012!

AAAahhhhh!  I can't believe I haven't blogged or crafted (at least paper crafted) in ages!  I know I've read other blogs where people just are uninspired or too busy to craft, but I never thought it would happen to me.  I completely got burned out.  Life happened.  No regrets either.  I am back though, and I have a tool to help me out a little with blogging now.  It's my iphone!  :)  It makes taking pictures and documenting life SO much easier for me!  Here I am a photographer, and I hate to lug around my ginormous camera to take everyday pics and then there's the uploading, backing up and editing of pics to make them "blog ready".  I was just plain lazy about it.  The irony is that the whole reason I bought it was because I longed for better looking pictures for my scrapbook pages.  Now, I just want real pictures.  I have a few favorite apps that I regularly use for my pictures.  They are:

http://linktoapp.com/instagram

 Instagram. . .I love that you can follow other people and see snippets of everyday life from the people you follow! Here is a view of mine. 

http://linktoapp.com/My365

I love the reminder to take a picture everyday.  This works like Instagram in that you can follow people and they can follow you.  You earn more filters as you add people, interact and upload photos

http://linktoapp.com/PhotoStudio

This is my favorite photo app!  So many options for what you can do to the photo.  It's kind of like having photoshop for your iphone.  You can also upload to many sites, like FB, Instagram, Flickr from within the app.  

http://linktoapp.com/Camera+

I like this one for the Zoom.  

http://linktoapp.com/PopBooth

Hands down favorite photo booth app!  You can add filters, upload to facebook and best of all - for $2 they mail you and a friend the pics.  Cool, eh?

So you my be wondering. . .it's great to have the ability to take all of these pics with your phone, but how do you get them off of your phone??   I wondered the same thing and did some researching and this is what I am doing. . .

http://linktoapp.com/PhotoSync

Wirelessly uploads your pictures to your computer.  You can select the pics or just upload them all.  That way you can print them out easy peasy.  

http://linktoapp.com/PostalPix

I have not used this yet, but I intend to.  You can upload them directly through the app and order pics from your iphone.  They have Instagram sizes too.  

http://linktoapp.com/Momento

This app is great for journaling your everyday happenings.  I am using this for my Project Life this year.  

Oh yes. . .did I mention that I have jumped on the Project Life train??  I love the ease of it and using mostly journal cards and pictures and then just whatever embellies my little heart desires.  It.makes.me.giddy!   I feel like it gives me a little more purpose.  My family is excited about contributing too.  They are my little scavengers, bringing me tidbits like receipts and tix stubs and momentos from what we do and where we go.   Even the huz is excited and going to take pics on his phone for me (which is an 8 megapixel as he likes to remind me - therefore much better quality than mine).  :)  

Here is my title page

Here is a view of some of the items I've collected so far. . .

 

Some of my fave goodies so far collected are:

Clementine Core kit - Project Life

Smash products (date stamp, tabs, stickies, pad, etc.)

Elle Studio journalers and labels

October Afternoon label stickers

JBS label stickers

Ali Edwards digital elements from Designer Digitals (I use these with my silhouette. . .see tutorial from Ali here)

Silhouette tabs and tags (I used this tutorial to create tags from Lisa Truesdale found here)

Paislee Press journal tags

Amy Tangerine papers

Various washi tapes

Tim Holtz tiny stapler

I am too impatient (and cheap) to wait on the inserts to be restocked on Amazon, so I bought the American Craft inserts that have 6 4x6 sections.  These are perfect for side by side journalers in conjunction with the 4x6 pics.  I even used my 40% off coupon from Michael's.  SCORE!  I plan to stock up on more of those. 

I am using an American Craft 3 ring binder as my PL book this year.  

So there you have it!  If you are doing Project Life or some form of it, I'd love you to link up!  I started a Pinterest board for inspo here!

 

 

Canvas Bag Tutorial

Hello!  Two posts in one month. . .crazypants, eh?  I've actually found a little time to craft, believe it or not!  I've had THE busiest summer evah!  It's been so fun though.  Anyhoo. . .I must share that I did not come up with this idea on my own.  I was inspired by my niece's bag that she was given as a gift.  I figured it looked like something on etsy and then perused etsy for awhile until I found something that looked similar to what she had and what I wanted to make!  So, credit for the design goes to this etsy seller right here.  I purchased this fabric interface from the Silhouette website.

I purchased the sewable interface.  I have done some searching (now that I am slightly addicted to this idea of cutting fabric and appliqueing it), and have found that heat n bond will work with the silhouette too.  I have not tried that yet, but I intend to and I'll give my feedback on that too.  So I purchased this about 5-6 months ago and just sat and stared at it.  Anytime I got my scrapbook supplies out, I would look over it and daydream, but I was too scared to rip it open and experiment.  Do you feel me?  :)  I do this a lot.  However, this week I finally had all of the supplies available to tear into this project and I'm so happy I did! 
You will need:  Canvas bag (I bought a pack of 3 from Michaels and I bought the white color)
                         Sewing machine (although you could hand sew, it just would take longer)
                         Various Fabrics
                         Silhouette machine (or other diecut machine that can cut through fabric)
                         Silhouette sewable interface (or heat n bond if you dare).
                         Ribbon (from my stash)
                         Clippy/pin backings for the fabric flowers

I first found a font that I liked.  I used "Ghosttown".  I then lined up my fabric choices for each bag. . .I had the girls pick out the fabric and colors that they wanted.  Next I cut a square of scrap fabric (about 4x4) and cut out interface about the same size.  Then I ironed it for 2 seconds just like the directions indicate to do.  It adheres quickly.  Then I trimmed the edges and peeled off the backing.  Srsly. . .super easy so far.  I adhered it to my thick media mat and prepared my font to cut.  I used the "view grid" option and made the squares resemble the ones on my thick media mat to get the sizing right.  Does that make sense?  :P  Then I cut one letter at a time and it did a great job!  I recommend using the double cut option.  I used fairly thin fabric and it needed a double cut.  I then trimmed any stray strings from my fabric and laid it out on my bag how I liked it and ironed it.  There. . .all set until I'm ready to sew!  SO easy!  I did this for all of the bags before I began sewing. 

 

 I used a zig zag stitch like shown (really I just wanted to show off my new crackle painted nails. . .isn't it cool?).  :)  

I found various ribbons from my stash and just sewed a straight stitch for those.  Now. . .for the fabric flowers, I looked on Pinterest.  Don't you love internet?  I used this pattern, but you could use this one

 Or this one:

Or this one would be adorable:  I actually think the fabric covered buttons would work even better for the centers, but I didn't have any left, so I used buttons from my stash.

For the backs of the flowers, I used these clippy/pins. 

 I love that I can take them off when I wash the bags or I can use them in my girlies' hair! 

 

Here are the finished bags: 

So there ya have it!  If you have any questions. . .feel free to ask away!  :) 

Giveaway!

PSA Essentials and Helmar USA (adhesive company) is partnering together to do a giveaway.  If you are a crafter (a paper crafter in particular), you've probably used some of their adhesives.  They make liquid scrap dots, Zapdots, Quickfix adhesive runner & refill, and gemstone glue.  They generously sent us some of their adhesives to work with and I love them!  My favorites were the Sparkle Mod Podge, and the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic as well as the Liquid Scrap dots!  I used the Sparkle Mod Podge to create this cute bottlecap necklace for my daughter:

 

For Instructions on how I did this, visit the PSA Essentials blog right here! 

So for the details of the giveaway, all week long on the PSA blog, they will be sharing fun and creative ideas of how to use the stamps with the adhesives.  Comment each day and at the end, a winner will be chosen to receive a prize package from PSA Essentials and Helmar valued at $250!!  That's it. . .just leave a comment and become a follower on the PSA blog if you haven't already.  They are on day 4, so you'll want to catch up and comment on the last few posts, but it's worth it to get the beeeg priiiize, right?  :)  You may want to check out the Helmar blog here and the Helmar facebook page here. 

So far. . .

We are doing a lot of playing this summer.  We are catching lightning bugs, going to drive in movies, playing glow in the dark football, making our own bubbles, making slushies and homemade ice cream, checking off my list of crafts from my "Crafty Goodness" Pinterest board, staying up late and sleeping in late, going to the pool, having picnics at the park with the splashpad, playing in the splashpad afterwards, going to Reds baseball games and the local Tincap games, growing our own strawberries (a bit unsuccessfully thanks to the chipmunks!), making strawberry shortcakes, going to firework displays, having a lemonade stand, making a fairy garden, making sidewalk chalk art, going to local festivals, buying ice cream from the ice cream bicycle, going to church softball games, running kids to baseball practices and games, going to the dollar theater with the family, going to the lake, making fruit smoothies and iced coffees, grilling out, going to amusement parks, going to the zoo, going to parades, trying out new summer recipes, and just soaking up the sunshine!!

Yet to do: camp out in our back yard, watch a movie in our backyard under the stars, make our own sidewalk paint, have a game night with our friends until late, make rootbeer floats, take a family bike ride to DQ, and a few projects around the home. 

Completely neglecting: my laundry and my house. 
So. . .that is a pretty good summary of how our summer has been!  How about you?  :)

Want2Scrap and PSA Essentials Blog Hop!

Yay!  Another Blog Hop means more prizes! :)  Welcome.  You should have just arrived from Tami Mayberry's blog.  If you are unsure of the order, then visit Want 2 Scrap, where the blog hop begins!

Today PSA Essentials and Want 2 Scrap are teaming up to bring you some ideas of the fun products that each company carries!  PSA Essentials, of course has the interchangeable stamps, and Want 2 Scrap has generously allowed us to play with their adhesive gems (my fave!).  

I decided to make a scrap page. . .it's been awhile, and I had some new pics that needed printing and prettied up.  :)

click to make larger

You can see I scattered the jewels throughout the page to add whimsical touches and it creates movement throughout the layout (yikes - sorry for the wonky photo. . .I took the pic at night and the lighting was horrrible!).   I also used my PSA Essentials stamps from the "Bouquet Toss" collection (the umbrella), and the "Dare To Dream" collection (the sentiment stamps). 
Here are a few detail pics. . .

So now for the fun part. . .
Here is where you can purchase Want 2 Scrap product, and they are offering 30% off your entire purchase from 6/13 - 6/23!
You can purchase PSA Essentials stamps here, where they are offering 30% off all PSA Essentials product from 6/13 - 6/23.  The coupon code is SAVE ONPSA

*FOR THE GIVEAWAY:
PSA Essentials is giving away 1 stamper, 1 Peel & Stick packs of winners choice
Want2Scrap is giving away a $35 gift certificate to their store!
You have from 6/13 - 6/15 to enter.
To enter:
Be a follower of PSA Stamp Camp Blog & Comment (1 entry)
Be a follower of Want2Scrap Blog & comment (1 entry)
Winner will be chosen on 6/16 and announced on Facebook
Happy Hopping and your next stop is Kelley Eubanks.

The Twinery and PSA Essentials Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to my neck of the woods on the blog hop train.  :)  This is day five, and I am your last stop from the talented Emily Leiphart.  A few exciting things to note before I share my project. . .

There is a ginormous giveaway! 
You will have until SUNDAY 6/12 at 11:59 EST. 
 PSA Essentials is giving away:  1 stamper, 3 Peel & Stick packs of winners choice
The Letter Tree is giving away 1 monogrammed tote bag. . .check out how fun this is!

The Twinery is giving away Six spools of twine of winner's choice ($84 value)

Here are the  conditions to enter the giveaway:
   Follow the PSA Stamp Camp Blog – 1 entry
   Follow The Twinery Blog – 1 entry
   Like PSA Essentials on Facebook – 1 entry
   Like The Twinery on Facebook – 1 entry
 *Winner will be chosen on 6/13 and announced on Facebook on both Twinery & PSA pages

I am in love with this twine!  They come in a variety of colors and I have been using them for my packaging for my photography business.  Here is my contribution to the blog hop. . .

Using the fabulous twine and the PSA Essentials "Life's A Beach" summer stamps and a little bling too, I made a fun little piece of art that can be changed out for each season!  With the variety of stamps for the Holidays for PSA Essentials and the variety of colors for The Twinery, it will be easy peasy.  :)

*If you head on over to The Twinery right now, you can get 15% off any order from June 6-10 using this code: PSAHOP15
*The Letter Tree is giving a 30% discount off of all PSA Essentials products from June 6-10 also.  No coupon code is needed as the product will already be discounted.

You will want to get the entire week's line up right here to possibly win other great prizes! 

Happy Shopping and Thank you for stopping by and participating in the blog hop!  :)