Guest Designer Tuesday: Pamela's Scrap Cave!

Welcome to my craft space which I affectionately call my “Scrap Cave”.

Once upon a time I had an entire room to use, but with the birth of our third son I had to move. I took over our master bedroom closet. It is actually quite perfect since it came with tons of shelving already installed. Thankfully, my existing craft table (which I absolutely love!) fit perfectly too.

Let me show you around (be careful it is not a very big space…try not to trip over any small children that may be on the floor).

I just moved this cart in here to give my Silhouette SD a place to sit. The drawers helped too. One holds all the Silhouette accessories I have, one holds fabric scraps and the other two hold everything that currently does not have a home (ie: crap I need to sort through!!!).

Hanging on the wall is my recently pared down ribbon collection. They are sorted by color and each color group is held together with a binder clip. The binder clips are all then fed on a big book ring.

On the floor is a market basket I use to hold all the craft projects I hope to get to someday…sigh.

Above the cart is one of my peg boards I got at Home Depot (they will cut them for you for free!). It has mostly covers and binders for mini books.

The other has my ridiculous collection of rub-ons (with some bling and stickers thrown in too).

Next is the cart (if only I had two) that holds my paper collections. Each drawer is labeled with the name of a scrapbook company in alphabetical order (are you seeing a compulsive sorting problem yet?). On top sits my newly acquired had-to-be-shipped-home-cuz-I-bought-and-was-given-too-much-stuff-at-the-awesome-MW-Retreat Cinch.

Above my table are three shelves that hold jars filled with buttons, flowers and journaling pens. My boys often volunteer to “sort” these items for me.

On the wall to the left of my table are some CD racks that I hung horizontally so they could be shelves too. Two birds, one stone. My clear stamps are all sorted by subject and in clear CD cases. All my inks, and acrylic blocks fit in their too.

A folded pants hanger is what I use to hold all my alphabet stickers. Grouped together by, you guessed it, color…they are clipped on book rings and attached to curtain hooks so they can slide on and off.

Moving to my table, I have a basket for adhesives and a mason jar holder for my glue gun and glue sticks (mason jars are a great and cheap supply organizer!).

In the corner is a lazy susan that I put jars filled with ribbons I use most (right now polka dots and gingham are my ribbons of choice), small punches, an i-rock and all photo filled zip drives. The spinning caddy holds tools and what nots. A pink flower vase that has wire across the top perfectly holds my colored pencils (until one of the kids takes them).

This table holds a ton of stuff! On the shelves below I have a little sewing machine and several of those 13x13 containers to keep albums in progress.

Back on top is a divided wooden container that has all my cardstock in it. It is for the most part sorted by color and size.

Lastly, right above my work space is a magnetic knife holder that I use to stick my chalks, hole punchers and most used scissors.

That about does it. Everything else I need is on the shelves that run at the top of the closet (albums, idea books, embellishment box, photo boxes etc).

Thanks for coming on this tour with me. I hope if you too are scrapping in a small space that you can find some inspiration in mine.

Express Kit Monday - Harvest - September 2011 MW Express Kit

Oh how I love this time of year.  The weather is changing and its time for all the fun things that go along with it.  Speaking of fun...the TeamWorks members are at it again!  We have some amazing layouts, cards and altered projects to share with you with this months "Harvest" Express Kit.  The colors are fabulous!  Take a look...

Kelly Holbrook

Kelly Holbrook

Christy Musack

Christy Musack

Check back next week for more exciting creative projects from the TeamWorks members.  We'll share ideas for cards and altered projects.  Stay tuned!

Inspiration Friday: One Card, Five Techniques

Happy Friday! Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite techniques, all while sharing the steps to create a greeting card. Maybe the techniques are something new to you, or maybe they're something you've seen before. Either way, here's a little challenge...try to incorporate one of these ideas into your "Scrap-time" this week!

Supplies to create this card:

4.25"x5.5" folded card
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
October Afternoon 5 & Dime word stickers
ZVA Bling: Flourish
a button
We R MemoryKeepers Sew Easy floss (Tertiary)
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (but any glimmer mist would work)
Ranger Distress Ink (I used Black Soot)
Tattered Angels glimmer screen (but any mask/plastic template would work)
Paper Towel
Fiskars Squeeze punch
Glue Dots Pop dots

Technique #1: Upcycle the "bar code" strip from 12x12 patterned papers.
Not only do many of the 12"x12" strips on double-sided paper often have a little sampling of the pattern on the back that you can use right on your project, but you can also use the strip as a guide! I used a strip from a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper to create a fun pleated border for my card.


I LOVE the Tim Holtz tissue tape! The rolls go a LONG way. And, did you realize that it's adhesive...very much like duct tape, but lighter, cuter and it is removable and doesn't lose it's "stick" if you need to move it around. I started on the left-hand side of a 4.25" piece of the bar code strip, and simply stuck down the Tissue Tape about 1/2", then folded back, then repeated in order to create my border. Once I was done, I folded the ends of the tape around to the back side. I inked it with my Distress Ink to give the edges some definition and adhered it to the card.

Technique #2: Make Tissue Tape flowers.
I can't take credit for these marvelous (and oh so easy) flowers. Tim Holtz has a great video tutorial on his website. But, the cliff notes version is this: Start with a scrap cardstock circle. Adhere about 1/2" of Tissue Tape on outer edge, then pleat as you go, sticking it down and going around the outer edge of the circle, then work in towards the middle.


For my flower I did about three rounds from outside to inside, then just tore it off when at the center. For added dimension, fluff up the edges throughout, and ink it up! You can use any kind of brad, button, sticker, etc, for the center.

Technique #3: Experiment...Go crazy and punch shapes from paper towels.



While cleaning up after using some glimmer mist recently, I thought about how pretty my paper towel was with all that ink... Note that I can't vouch for the acid-free or archival quality of a paper towel; however, in card-making, that generally doesn't matter so much! So, as an experiment, I used the Fiskars Squeeze Punches to punch scalloped circles from a Kirkland Brand (Costco) Paper Towel. My punches did great with that brand, thickness...I haven't experimented yet with any other brands. I love the fabric feel of these punched circles!! Then, I sprayed them with Perfect Pearls Mist in Forever red, which gave it a pinkish iridescent shine. I used my heat gun to dry the circles. Just be careful not to scorch them...!


Then, I used one as a center to my Tissue tape flower with a button sewn on, and another as a backing for my "Live Laugh Love" Sticker. Love experiments "gone right"!


Technique #4: Repeat patterns in your project.
Repeating patterns is a design principle that almost always looks great. You don't want to over-do it, of course, but I love how it ties things together.


It's hard to get a good photo of the Perfect Pearls Mists on my card, but I placed a flourish mask on the top of my cardstock base, then sprayed Perfect Pearls Mist (Forever red color) over it. I used my heat gun to dry quickly. Then, I adhered the ZVA Bling flourish to add a finishing touch.

Technique #5: Layer multiple textures.
Layering is another design principle that I use a lot in my paper-crafting. In this card, I used many textures...the tissue tape, the "fabric like" paper towel flowers, the bling, the stickers, the button, which give it a richer feel than just paper alone.

This really lends it a hand-made touch. But, you don't have to use five different things. Even just using Pop Dots to raise a paper piece off a page can create more depth in your project.

So, what idea are you going to use or try? I'd love to hear!

Product Wednesday: Introducing...

It's time to welcome back Danielle Hunter! 


Danielle has been a MemoryWorks Consultant since 2007 and joined TeamWorks at the start of this year. She is the mother of two daughters, ages 8 and 3, and considers them her favorite scrapbooking subjects.


Over the past several months, Danielle has focused on her new blog, EcoScrapbook, with hopes to educate scrapbookers on alternative ways to document memories. 


You can read more about Danielle and see a few of her past projects here.

~~~

Hello fellow MemoryWorks readers! Hope all of you had a fantastic summer! I know it's not officially over until later this month, but with the start of school and cooler weather, fall creeps closer every day.

I'm so happy to be back on the blog and will be sharing my most recent project with you. It's a work in progress, but I'm dedicating it to my daughters. Below are a few clues...

Are you ready?

It will be fabulous...

and I'll be sharing during the month of September.

This special something I've been using has been getting "mad props" all year long.

I think that this pen + glue combo is the neatest tool invented:

Can't stand the suspense? Are you done with my list of clues?

Okay. Any guesses?

How about some...

Yep! I'm talking about K&Company's Smash Collection! But you'll have to wait until next Wednesday for more smashy goodness.

Guest Designer Tuesday: Meet Pamela!

Hi Everyone! 

My name is Pamela Palistrant.  I am a sahm to three little boys, Joey 6 ½, Jake 4 ¾ and Joshua 22 months.  Add my husband of almost 8 years and I am truly out numbered.  My sister introduced me to this highly addictive craft about 9 years ago.  My style has changed much over the years, and sometimes I am filled with a desire to re-scrap all my older albums.  I have coined the term scrap-ements to describe how I scrap.  Basically, I do it 15 minutes at a time because that is usually all I can manage.  That is also the name of my blog (www.scrap-ements.blogspot.com please come say hi!) where I like to share what I have been working on…when I get to work on something.  Scrapping in 15 minute increments can result in my taking forever to complete things.  Plus, I tend to make changes A LOT.  But…scrapping is my escape, if you can call sitting in a walk-in closet with usually 2 out of the 3 boys (at least) an escape.   I love having the chance to use my brain for things other than re-organizing all the boy’s toys.  Thank you to Sandy for offering me the opportunity to be Guest Designer for September.
I have been a Memory-Works consultant since January 2009.  I am without a doubt my best customer!  I love this company.  You could not find a better group of people.  I got to meet a lot of them at this year’s ReTreat.  Best part was talking to Amber about how and why she came up with Simple Stories.  Amber is a genius, and I have her and Simple Stories to thank for the completion of many albums.  Talk about being able to scrap in increments!  I have 2009 completed, 2010 halfway done, my 6 year old son's school album started.  I am now working on my youngest son’s baby album.
I scooped up Baby Steps the second it was available.  I had the collection before I had all the pictures printed out for the album!  Here are a few pages I have done.

These four pages were done almost exclusively with the Baby Steps Collection.  Other items used were: twine, Color Box: Fluid Chalk – Dark Brown, Imaginisce i-bond with brown glue stick, Tim Holtz Tiny Fastener, Glue Arts adhesive and some cream colored cardstock.


Thanks for letting me share a little bit of me with you!

Express Kit Monday - Introduction and Inspiration

Harvest - September 2011 MW Express Kit

Happy Labor Day!  September is the month that the season starts to change, school is back in session and its harvest time.  See what MemoryWorks has in store with this months kit and stay tuned for TeamWorks Members as they share what they have done with this wonderful kit!

The MemoryWorks Express kit is only $29.95* per month and packed full of goodies!   Click to subscribe...

*Doesn't included shipping, handling & sales tax.   September 2011 MemoryWorks  Express Kit Contains: Patterned Paper {1} 12x12 Countryside - Farmhouse (Crate Paper) {1} 12x12 Cross Stitch - Farmhouse (Crate Paper) {1} 12x12 Cupboard - Farmhouse (Crate Paper) {1} 12x12 Memories - Lost & Found 2 (My Minds Eye) {1} 12x12 Silly Stripe - Stella & Rose (My Minds Eye) {1} 12x12 Dusk - Forever Fall (Bo Bunny) Solid Cardstock {1} 12x12 Papaya Puree Dark (Bazzill) {1} 12x 12 Suede Brown Dark (Bazzill) {1} 12x12 Sugar Cream (Bazzill) {1} 12x12 Kraft (Bazzill) Embellishments {1} 6x12 Phrase Stickers - Farmhouse (Crate Paper) {1} 6x12 Border Stickers - Farmhouse (Crate Paper) {1} 6x12 Woodgrain Mini Alphas (Sassafras) {3} 5x8 Ribbon Edge Chipboard Banners (Fancy Pants) {2} Cream Notions Patterned Flowers (Studio Calico) {6} Pyrus Glazed Brads - Assorted Styles & Sizes (BasicGrey) {4} Memories Eclectic Buttons - Assorted Styles & Sizes (My Minds Eye) {1} ½ Yard Timber & Cream Gingham Ribbon (Creative Impressions) {1} ½ Yard Jumbo Mustard Rick Rack (Creative Impressions) {1} ½ Yard Antique Ruler Twill (Creative Impressions) {1} ½ Yard Natural Twine (Creative Impressions) Cards  {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Papaya Puree Dark (Bazzill)

{1} 5.5 x 8.5 Suede Brown Dark (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Sugar Cream (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Spring Willow Medium (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Kraft (Bazzill) {5} 5 3/4 X 4 3/8 Natural Envelopes Have you signed up for your kit?   You won't be disappointed... sign up today!

Inspiration Friday: Scrap-time with Simple Stories

TeamWorks Creative Team Member, Sarah Crawford, will be joining us for Inspiration Fridays in September! Welcome back, Sarah!

It's great to be back on the blog and surrounded by so much crafty goodness! I don't know about you, but after a VERY busy summer, I'm really enjoying a little bit of quiet while the kids are in school. I only have one little one left home with me during the day and luckily she's a late-morning sleeper...so I've been able to get some scrapping in during the mornings after I get the older kids out the door to the bus!

Lately, I've been engrossed with the new Simple Stories lines. I used the newest baby line...Baby Steps...for the Fall 2011 MemoryWorks Website inspiration. I love that this line is neutral enough for either girl or boy - and yet looks great when you either "girl-it-up" or "boy-it-up"! Here's a little sneak peek...

Another favorite new Simple Stories line is "Happy Day". I love the color scheme and adorable design of this very happy "Happy Birthday" themed line! I've always wanted to create an album just for recording birthdays, and found the BEST thing for it... Have you seen the new Fancy Pants Brag Books? The red one is a PERFECT match with the color scheme of the Simple Stories Happy Day line! Lots of room for journaling, photos, and memorabilia.


I removed the ring binding, covered the front and back chipboard covers, then reorganized the pages and reassembled. I placed one 4x6(x2) clear photo protector, then a red pocket page, then four of the journaling pages (love those red flourishes!), and repeated that pattern throughout the book. If I do one birthday year per section, I'd be able to get 15 years of birthdays in the one book! I love that it's a "work in progress".



The re-binding process would've been made SO much faster if I'd had a Cinch binding tool, but I was able to do it "by hand". I used a diecut tool to create tabs using coordinating cardstock and added those to the red pocket pages. I envision adding number stickers to the tabs when I add the birthday photos, etc.

Since I had some scraps of Happy Day laying on my desk, I also created a birthday card with the Happy Days line and the coordinating banner stamp by Unity Stamps. I used the Sew Easy tool to create the "string" for the banner. A fun card to create and give!

What are you going to create with the Baby Steps or Happy Day line? I'd love to hear your ideas! See you next Friday!