MemoryWorks Express Kit Monday...

Can you believe that January is almost over!  Yikes!!!  Also, CHA is underway and I've see a lot of fun things out there for us for this next year.  I was excited to hear that Simple Stories is making an appearance at CHA and the new Destination Kit was revealed.  I'm sure everyone was just as excited as we are.  Can't wait to get my hands on mine!

If you ever need an idea on what to do with your Simple Stories kits, check out the inspirations on the Simple Stories blog.  Take a look... http://simplestories.typepad.com
Before our Februrary Love Potion MemoryWorks Kit is out, I thought I'd share a few more ideas from our TeamWorks members using the January MemoryWorks Express Kit.

Sandy Zent is making more layouts entitled "My Little Boy and One Fine Day"... great use of products!

Sarah Jimerson was excited that she could use these products for her little girl's layout rather than always using bright colors.  Subtle, and so sweet.... Mary Konow did yet another layout this time entitled "It's not all Junk"  Love all the layers and textures used on this layout. I hope you've enjoyed some of these finds.  I feel some "scraplifting" coming on! Happy Scrappin'

Inspiration Friday - Creative Tutorial

Happy Friday!

Today I want to share with you how to take your scrap supplies a little further with just a few added elements for a fun and functional altered project.

Most of us lead very busy lives and are charged with keeping everyone in the household (along with ourselves) both organized and to the places we need to be each day. With two kids in school, my refrigerator is covered with notes, lunch menus, reading lists and more. I wanted to have a prettier and more artistic way to contain all of this information - so I set out to create a chalk/cork board combo:




To start you will need your basic supplies: vintage frame with glass, chalk board paint, sheet of cork material, glue gun and foam paint brush. I picked up this frame at my local thrift store for under $3! You can find some great treasures there and when it comes to frames, the more distressed and ornate the better.


First you will remove the frame backing and clean the glass.
Next begin applying the chalk board paint using the foam brush. Be sure to apply nice even strokes in the same direction. I applied three coats of paint which took about 30 minutes to dry in between. Since I was applying cork on half of the glass it wasn't necessary to cover the glass entirely with the paint.



As the paint is drying you can cut your cork to the proper size. I used my Fiskars self healing mat and cutting wheel which along with the plastic measuring guide cut perfectly even.



Once the three coats of paint have dried you are ready to adhere the cork to the glass. You can use a hot glue gun or I find "Aleene's tacky glue" also works well. Tip: if using a hot glue gun, you will have to work fast as it will harden quickly. Once the cork is in place and dry, reassemble the frame and backing.



Now you are ready to decorate!

Additional supplies used: Basic Grey: “Pyrus” line - paper theme set, chipboard elements, chipboard alpha and glazed brads. Fiskars: decorative border punch. Other: twine, buttons, decorative pins, pop dots.


Here is an additional photo of a chalk board I made for Christmas. My kids are always uber excited about Christmas and love to count down the days until Santa arrives. Typically we purchase them each an advent calendar, but the chocolate is usually terrible tasting anyway and it slides down to the bottom leaving nothing behind the surprise door. So here's my solution to that (and it's decorative too):



Supplies used: Bo Bunny: “Noel” line – chipboard, holiday die cut, 12” noel paper, noel combo stickers, Making Memories: poinsettia, Jenni Bowlin: buttons, Maya Road: star and tree stick pins, Fiskars: decorative punch, other: buttons, bakers twine, pop dots, vintage frame, chalk board paint.

Have a great weekend...and be sure to "do something creative today!"

Product Showcase: A Simple Scrap Space

It's Wednesday and my last post of the month which means it's also time for a scrap space tour!

After scrapbooking at my dining room for over a year, I finally transitioned all my supplies into one room. The three things I love most about my simple scrap space: the window at my desk, a rocking chair (the most comfortable scrapbooking chair ever) and the uncluttered minimalism.

My desk drawers hold things like cardboard, chipboard and naked albums:

My ribbon is organized by bulk, holiday theme and color:

The decoupaged cat litter storage container on the desk holds all my essential supplies like scissors, markers and adhesive:

Under my desk is a rolling tote where I store my MemoryWorks business supplies and two binders filled with stickers, letters, flowers and other embellishments:

Next to the desk is a small table with craft books, magazines and this basket of punches:

All my other supplies are hidden away in this cabinet:

On the top shelf is a photo CD binder, video tapes, fabric and miscellaneous craft supplies. The second self is filled with scrapbooking kits, decorative paper and cardstock. The third shelf is where I store paint, stamps, extra adhesive, a paper trimmer and more scrapbooking kits. Finally, the bottom shelf is home to my book binder, die-cut machine, buttons, brads, ink, cutting tools and even more stamps.

To finish off the tour, take a look at the bookshelf that holds all of my scrapbooks and a few photo albums:

Hope you enjoyed taking a peek into my scrap world!

Guest Designer Tues: Embellished Paper Flower Tutorial

January has been a month of inspiration and creativity with Rita Jensen as our Guest Designer! For her last post, Rita has created this tutorial for this fun embellishment:

1. Supplies needed: Choose 3 complimentary colors of heavy paper or cardstock. I used BoBunny's "It's My Party Presents", "It's My Party" and "It's My Party Stripe" - backside from MW past catalog. Also used red netting, a feather, cording, brad from Imaginisce's "To Love and Cherish" collection, Aleene's Super Thick Tacky glue.
2. Tear a rough circle for the back in the size you want the flower to be out of one of your color choices of cardstock and ink the edges in light brown. Crinkle it up then unfold it. Cut 6 pieces of red netting a little bigger than this circle and glue to this piece at center - set aside to dry.

3. Tear another circle a little smaller than this first one with your next choice of cardstock color. Draw 5 lines with a pencil almost to the center (they do not have to be even) - this will create your petals. Tear along the pencil lines. Ink the edges with the brown ink. Take a wooden skewer or toothpick and curl your edges of your petals.


4. Tear a slightly smaller circle from your 3rd cardstock color and repeat step 3 above for this flower. Glue your two curled flowers together at the center.
5. Take your cording and make a knot at the end, trim off, make another knot about 1-1/2 inch from the first one and trim its end off. Make 4. Glue them on top of your flower by making an X with first two and another X with the last two. Cut a small circle from cardstock and glue it on top of these cords to hold them in place - let dry. Punch a hole in the center at this point (I used my Big Bite) to make it easier to insert your brad later.

6. Cut two pieces of netting to the length needed to make the size netting center you want. I used a 21" long by 1-1/2" wide piece for this 3 inch flower. Fold in half lengthwise (both pieces) and hold them together at their ends. Lay netting on your index finger and wrap it around your finger until you have used it all up. Slowly work it off your finger being careful not to unravel it. Once it is off, hold it between your thumb and index finger at its center. Put a big glob of glue on center of your flower and put your netting center you just made down on the glue. While holding down, pick up you brad and push it through the netting finding the premade hole you punched.Glue this curled flower to your back piece (first piece you make) then add your feather next.



7. Attach your feather to back with glue and cut a cardstock circle out and glue over the feather.

Now you have a fun, unique element to add to that special layout, card or project!
Thanks, Rita!

Our Monthly MemoryWorks Kit and all the Cards, Cards, Cards...

Last week I shared with you a variety of different layouts made by our TeamWorks members from the January MemoryWorks Kit.  This week I wanted to show you the creativity continues and this week we share the cards made from the same kit.  It's those finishing touches that really make the cards.  I can't stress enough how awesome these kits are.  No need to try to match things up, MemoryWorks does it for you.  Take a look at what Mary Konow, Sandy Zent and myself came up with for this weeks look at the January kit.

A "just because" card is such a nice treat to get.  This is a perfect example to send to make someone's day.  

How sweet is this ... simple and makes you smile!

Sandy tells us that that she used just about everything out of her kit to create her cards and layouts. 

Any little boy (or a big boy for that matter), would love to get this card for their birthday.

This would be a great card to send to someone getting a new job or to a graduate. 

Mary created this darling card.  Check out the rounded corners on the card.  I bet she used her We R Memory Keepers corner chomper!

I'm always in search of a calendar... (I can never find it in the black hole of my purse) so I created this cover to have a little pocket calendar I can find. 

When you are inviting friends to a crop, why not make a cute invitation. 

Here is a card to send to someone who is moving into a new home.

Do you need a tag to go with a baby shower event.  Here is a sample to make using this months kit. 

This can be for spring, summer, winter or fall... everyone likes thank yous what ever the time of year it is.

Have you ordered your kit yet?  You won't be disappointed.

Happy Scrappin'