This Week's New Card Collection!

I was a busy little crafter this weekend!  I have 9 new card releases now available nationwide!*

*and by "nationwide", I mean at any of my on-line shops.  :)

Here is a preview of each card for your viewing pleasure!  Each piece is one-of-a-kind ~ Enjoy!

B&B for some R&R

7 Wives Inn Bed & Breakfast (photographed here with our innkeeper Vanessa)

Nothing says relaxing getaway like a former polygamist hideout, right? 

Mike and I have been working like maniacs the last few months and needed to get out of town for a few days.  In Vegas, the only place driving distance is St. George (unless you want to travel all the way to Universal Studios ~ my hubby's vote!)

St. George it is! 

When we started looking on-line, we stumbled across a place called Seven Wives Inn.  Soooooo funny (and creepy).  Neither of us had stayed in a B&B ever before, but you can't resist a name like that right?!

When we got there, we couldn't believe how sweet the place was.  Tucked away in a quaint neighborhood, it was like something from a movie (not at all creepy.  We had joked on the drive there that it might be like Dwight's beet farm B&B on The Office.  1 in 6.)

Old time squeaky floorboards, white Vintage door handles, old fashioned car bathtubs ~ it was all here!  Each room even had a framed biography of one of the wives!

Our innkeeper, Vanessa, was amazing and we had so much fun hangin' out with her (she's pictured by the sign in my layout).  I can't wait to go back!  Next time we go out of town anywhere, we will make sure to check for the bed and breakfast options first!

I loved working on this layout!  I used my favorite Graphic 45 line, Domestic Goddess.  I did a lot of hand cutting (fork and spoon, stamp, fruit strips) and then just embellished like crazy!

How to Make Frou Frou Cupcake Toppers

These are some cupcake toppers that I made for a recent birthday party.  They are SUPER easy and were a huge success.  I saw all the ladies leaving with them in their purses.  :)

Here are some quick directions, along with the JPEG sheet I made, if you'd like to make some for your next party.

Supplies needed:

*scissors

*glue gun

*collage images

*glitter paint

*rhinestones

*craft ribbon (I found some in the wrapping paper section at Michaels)

*card stock

*lollipop sticks (can be found in the chocolate making section of the craft store)

 

I first cut each image out and added glitter glue and a rhinestone to each gown.

Then, I accordion folded the craft ribbon and glued it to the back of each image (this is the most time consuming of the entire process.  You have to go slow when gluing around the back edge.)

I cut squares out of card stock with my Cricut and glued them to the back so that the piece would be sturdy.  Finally, I added some glue inside one of the bottom folds and inserted the stick.  Easy as pie!

This is a great craft because there are so many variations you can use.  Find your favorite digital collage or image and you can create any themed party you want!

For more fun JPEG images, please be sure to stop by my Collage Crazy Etsy shop and happy crafting!

Pack Animal

Late last night, I received a custom request for a sexy Jacob (Twilight) card that says:

"Once you go pack...you never go back!"

Hilarious!  I couldn't wait to start on it.  I have been thinking of ideas for color and design all morning!  Finally, when both boys went down for their nap (hubby and son), I had a quiet house.  The fire and ink flew as I tore this and burned that.  Stitch here and distress there.

I still have ink on my nose, but here is the finished product.  I'm SO happy with it!

My Mind's Eye Contest Entry

This is my second layout entry for the My Mind's Eye Blog Contest.  I've really had a lot of fun entering these.  The sketches are really great to work with and I'm so happy with how this layout turned out (4.5 hours at the kitchen table last night!)

I used a lot of their new lines: Lush and Lil' Robots.

I love this rub-on saying.  It's SO true!  I cut each word out individually so that I could make it fit the circle shape and size.

I love the look of stitching in a layout.  It takes a bit of time, however (I usually save that until last and then stitch while I watch TV.  Last night, I caught up on the Celebrity Apprentice episode I missed).

Each of the triangles were cut using my Cricut Wild Card cartridge.  I think the triangles added a feeling of chaos (much like his room at the time....well, most times, to be fair).

I Think, Therefore I Scrap.

One of the things I like most about making cards is that the themes are unlimited!  I find that happening often as I become a more "experienced" crafter. 

A few years ago, if my hubby had come to me one night and said:

"My buddy at work is having a birthday in two days.  Can you make him a special card?  He's a philosophy major and loves Descartes.  Go!"

I would have had a panic attack and threw together a birthday card featuring a duck and some left over glitter.

This time, however, I went with it.  I took a few minutes to think about what I wanted and made it happen (vs. making something happen around what I had on hand).  I'm totally into printing my own papers and images now and it has really expanded my creativity.

This card in particular, features Descartes (I think, therefore I am) and I did a play on it with this birthday greeting:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42839475

 

He took it into work last week and everyone went nuts over it (I love it so much when that happens.  It makes me feel all warm and squishy inside), so I decided to list it in my various stores as well. 

Wish me luck!  :)

Interview with Molly Lee

I love finding unique crafters on Etsy!  I met Molly through the Etsy Greetings team we both belong to and have never seen anything quite like her card designs.  Here is what she has to say about her art:

1) How long have you been paper crafting?

I've been papercrafting all my life! As a young child, someone showed me how to make a fortune teller (some people call them cootie catchers). Discovering that I could make an actual interactive toy out of a flat piece of paper seemed completely magical. Paper airplanes, origami and pop-up books all demonstrated how paper could be made interactive and dimensional and I've been obsessing about the possibilities ever since.

2) Where did you get the idea to start making pop-up and interactive cards and when did you start selling on Etsy?

I didn't get seriously into interactive cards until I started planning birthday parties for my twin boys -- I would spend months planning the celebrations, including designing completely over-the-top interactive invitations. The feedback I got from the cards was so encouraging that I ended up posting them for sale on Etsy a few years ago. Response has been wonderful and amazingly gratifying! I think I probably do it just as much for the validation and positive response I get as for the money it brings in.

3) How do you find design inspiration? What are some of your favorite pieces?

There are many wonderful how-to books about pop-ups available now (here's a list of some of my favorites: http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/2008/12/paper-engineering-books-i-love.html). I browse the web constantly, looking for clever ideas -- there are a lot of papercrafting geniuses who regularly share their work online.

I really like how the mechanism works on my pop-up birthday cake card (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24754394).

Probably my most gratifying cards are my Three Reasons series of cards, which have different themes, like Three Reasons Why You're my Superhero (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36203236) and an elegant, more traditional floral theme. This series of cards allows the sender to turn a wheel and write three heartfelt reasons why the recipient is special to them. Of any of my cards, these are the ones where people often send me feedback, telling me how their spouse simply broke down in tears when they read their sentiments.

And my spinning fish invitations are the first invitations that I created (for my boys' third birthday) are still among my favorites: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28657799

4) What is one card that you've found to be the most popular?

My Drink a Toast Birthday cards are really popular!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32550909

They're also my very favorite cards. When you pull the little lever, Drinking Paul raises his glass in a toast and says "A birthday? I'll drink... to that!" It never fails to make the recipient smile.

5) What is a design or theme that you'd like to make in future cards? Are there any other unique card styles that you're looking forward to trying?

I have several ideas that I'm working on right now -- it takes a long time for me to post new cards because I'm really picky about my designs. I have a dinosaur-themed birthday party inviation that is nearly done. I have another interactive greeting card that will show images of fish bowls, propane tanks, miltary vehicles, etc. When you open it up, it will read "Many tanks!" 
 

Thank you so much, Molly!  I wish you continued success!!

 

Scrapbook Organization Woes

Now that I have more space (thanks to a huge liquidation sale last month), I'm working on reorganizing my scrapbook stash and spreading things out.

I'm having the hardest time organizing!

Don't get me wrong ~ I love looking at my favorite papers and embellishments over and over again (wishing I had a bigger family just so I'd have more pictures to scrap). So many great papers, so few events...

Anyway, the question of the day is:

How do you organize?

Sort by color? Theme? Brand? Season? Alphabetical? Shopping trip?

I think I've moved sections of goodies to different areas about 3 or 4 times so far. At first it was all the Vintage/ephemera themed goodies (my favorite right now). That was too big and still strangely random. Then, I sorted by brand. But what if a Basic Grey sheet would go perfectly with a Graphic 45 piece and I'll never know about the greatest pairing since argyle and socks because one was upstairs on a paper wrack and the other downstairs next to the mac and cheese?!

Also, what in the scrap do you do with all of those sections of paper that are partially used, but match other 12x12 sheets or kits?! I have a ton of 13x13 baggies and I try to keep everything together that way. Now, it just looks like my scrap drawer is a Ziploc Ad. Nothing lays flat or even makes sense. I never even know what I have (yet I still find myself shopping at the craft store each time a coupon comes in the mail).

Any advice? I'd love to hear what you do for storage and organization! Also, any organizational brands/items that you really like? I think laying things flat (700 sheets deep) is no longer working for me. Things are getting squished and wrinkled (although it saves time distressing my paper).

It's my goal to get organized this week ~ wish me luck!

Spring Scrapbook Giveaway Winner!

Drumroll please.

And the winner of my first scrapbook giveaway is........

Lisa!

Congratulations and thank you SO much to everyone who entered! 

I'm busy putting my next box of blog candy together now, so stay tuned... 

Retro Woodland Cuties

I love working with Vintage or Retro images.  They are just so sweet and cute and sweet and cute! 
This kitschy retro card is so happy and I smile each time I walk by it!  I made it last night using one of my favorite images (I've included it here in the blog, so you can print and use it too!)

I've embellished it using the Sassafras Lass Hog Heaven line, some ribbon and a Vintage style button.  There's also space on the Happy Birthday tag to write the recipient's name.

Here is the JPEG for all of you if you're feeling in the mood for some retro crafting:

If you'd like to experiment more with digital collages, please stop by my other Etsy shop, Collage Crazy, at:

http://www.collagecrazy.etsy.com/

Now that my eBay store is closed, I'll be spending more time doing what I enjoy most ~ crafting!  I'll be offering lots of new collages there (as well as here on the blog) in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow is the drawing for my first giveaway! 
Last call for candy! 

I'm so excited about it!  Now is the time to put your name in there, if you haven't already.  It is open to anyone ~ no matter your country!  I'll ship it to England, China, New Guinea...even Canada!  :)

http://gen-gensscrapbookkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/02/spring-scrapbook-giveaway.html

My Greatest Inspiration

My little tiger, Jackson, is my greatest inspiration.  I take picture after picture (after picture) of this little fellow.  Everything he does makes me laugh (except when done at 11pm...not so funny then).

I always wanted children, but never did I imagine my heart's ability to love.  I love my hubby, of course, but there is some kind of awe when looking at my child that I had never experienced before becoming a mommy.

I look back at pictures and layouts sometimes and already feel nostalgic at how fast he's growing up and changing (he's only 3 for cryin' out loud!)

No matter the day we've had together (I'm a stay-at-home mom), or how trying the last few hours before bedtime (don't even get me started) ~ when I see him sleeping, all is forgotten. 

My heart melts again and I'm putty in his tiny, sticky hands.

P.S. Don't forget about the Spring Scrapbook Giveaway!  The lucky winner will be chosen on Friday!!