Inspiration Friday: Scrap Space Envy

So, if you follow this blog often, you may be like me and suffering from some serious "Scrap Space Envy". In the past couple months there have been some beautiful "scrap spaces" shown. I drooled, and oogled, and awwed over them... But, I really can't complain. My husband has graciously shared our home office with me for the past several years. He sits and plays computer games while I sit about 1.5 feet away...scrapping away in my little scrap-corner of our office. At least I have a dedicated space. For that I am truly grateful.

If nothing else, my space is a testament to really sturdy wall shelves, and the awesome-ness of the Cropper Hopper vertical organization products carried by MemoryWorks. People who see my scrap-corner comment on how MUCH I have in my space. I'm able to store a lot of cardstock and patterned papers in a small space using these 12x12 holders. I store many of my patterned papers by manufacturer, and theme set, using these 12x12 paper files with dividers.

Note that I store my patterned paper holders on their side to make it easy to just pull sheets out while I lazily sit in my chair. I store my scraps in these 12x12 Scrap Storage Holders. I have one for patterned scraps and one for solid cardstock scraps. (Since they come in a 3-pack, I also have one for patterned scraps from the current Memory-Works catalog theme sets - helps me keep my business papers seperate to use for samples, etc).

It's not revolutionary, by any means...but I use baskets and buckets and plastic drawers to hold my miscellaneous tools, flowers, buttons, stamps, journaling items, punches...etc. More recently, I've found some "vintage" bottle holder boxes that I'm using to hold my ink pads and my most-often-used items. They're fun to look at, but also functional.

I change things up from time to time. Most recently I upcycled the white magazine holders (from IKEA) in the photo above...they had been holding my old scrapbooking magazines...but are now holding my 8.5x11 and 8x8 papers. They work great and were super cheap! I also recently decided to sort and store my ribbon in clear jars. I love how it adds color to my desk and makes it much easier to find the color I need!

So, I'd love to know...what's your favorite organization item in your scrap-space, scrap-corner, or scrap-closet, or scrap-drawer??

Product Showcase - Make & Take

I don't know about you, but I am ready for SPRING. So I thought I would share this easy Make & Take basket. I used products from the December MemoryWorks Express Kit to create mine.

1. Cut a 9 x 9 and 12 x 1 1/2 piece of paper

2. Corner round all 4 corners

3. Divide the square into 9 equal parts with a pencil.

4.Cut where shown in the photo

 

5. Fold at all creases

 6. Pull the middle section up and keep the ends on the outside. Staple all three parts together

7. Using adhesive adhere the handle to the inside of the basket

8. Embellish! I cut little parts of a patterned piece of paper and stickled dots onto it. I added some lace for some texture.

  You can use flowers, brads, buttons anything you like!

Guest Designer Tues: Express Kit Inspiration!

The February Express Kit is just fabulous! I hope that my projects this week inspire you to pull out your Love Potion kit and start having fun!

I used the Walnut Cream cardstock and Pink Paislee Pretty Lace for the first layout. I conserve paper by cutting out the base portion that is covered with patterned paper, so I had enough paper to mat my picture and die-cut the phrase "love." By cutting the Pretty Lace paper down, I had enough left to cut all my circles.

Fancy Pants Love Birds is such a fun collection! When I saw those flowers and birdhouses, I couldn't help but cut some of them out for this layout. The letters are the backside of one of the sheets, so it was easy to cut them out and give this layout a title. Take a close look at the birdhouse area. Those are are elements that are included in the kit. I've used sequins in a couple of places, and I thought they were a fun addition!

This is such an easy gift! I cut the flowers with a Tim Holtz die and then painted them with Ranger distress paint in clear rock candy. If you don't have that product, get a hold of your consultant to purchase some! When it dries, it gives you the wonderful ability to curl the petals. I stacked a gem and button to create the center.

I didn't want to forget the guys! This is just a 4-pack of root beer. It only took one sheet of paper (Farm Fresh October Afternoon) to cover the box and make it just a little more special. The stickers are not in the kit, but are Fancy Pants Happy Together and can be found in the MW catalog.

Next week, I am going to bring you some cards using the Express Kit and a tutorial for something that is really trendy right now. I'll see you then!!

Memory Works items used: Love Potion Express Kit; Crate Restoration Stickers and Chipboard; Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Paint; Fancy Pants Happy Together Stickers. Bo Bunny Mam-Razzi Buttons; American Crafts Chestnut Memory Marker; American Crafts Dimensional Dots Adhesive; Mini Glue Dots; Tombow Mono Dots Roller

Other items and and tools; Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles; Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die; Bazzill Paper Flower; Slice Words & Expression Design Card; Jute; Candle

February 2011 MemoryWorks Express Kit -- Week 2

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you all have a nice one with your special someone. And to help celebrate Valentines Day, I will show you some of my projects I made using the February 2011 MemoryWorks Express Kit, "Love Potion." Did I say before that I LOVE this kit!? Especially the Memory Makers "Je t' Adore Embellishment Box Kit." It looks like a box of "candy." Everything comes in a heart shaped box with all of the embellsihments sorted in little pink paper cups, like how the candy comes in a heart shaped box. Very cute! I used up most (99%) of mine.;) So without further ado, here are some of my projects...........

"The Odd Couple" Layout by Sharon Hill


"My Sweet Valentine" Layout by Sharon Hill


"Love At First Sight" Layout by Sharon Hill


"14 Days of Valentines" Tags by Sharon Hill

The idea behind these tags, are to make 14 tags, one for each of the first 14 days of February. They can hang any way you would like with a coupon/ticket redeemable by that special someone in your life for something sweet, like a night out to the movies, a day to be pampered, and/or a romantic dinner for two, etc. I have made Tags #1, #2, and #14 as examples so you get the gist of how they can be made.

That is all for now. Check back in a few weeks to see the rest of my projects, including a "Rose Bouquet." For a complete list of products used on these projects, go to www.memory-works.com and click on "Idea Gallery" which is found under "Inspiration" or by clicking here.

Happy Scrappin'!

Inspiration Friday: Vintage Sweet Love

I know it's kind of an oxymoron to say "new vintage"...but, I just love this trend in the crafting world. Making new things look "old". I'm a sucker for "shabby chic", too. So, when I got a coveted brown box from my favorite UPS man recently with the Pink Paislee Sweetness line inside, I was in pure scrappy heaven.

I gave a little sneak peek of a couple projects I made with the "Sweetness" line last week. Did you know that you can find instructions for my Valentine's mini album and "be mine" card on the MemoryWorks website here?

You can also find instructions for this layout, so you can make it your own:

With Valentine's Day coming up in a couple days, I also decided to make a little "home decor" project so I could enjoy the "sweet" paper in my living room, as well as in my scrapbooks.

Believe it or not, it only required one sheet of the Sweetness theme set, the coordinating Sweetness rubons, a yellow heart "badge" (reminds me of "flair"), a couple paper flowers, some Ranger Distress crackle paint, brown ink, ribbon or seam binding, 4" wooden letters and a paper-mache box! SO easy.

Trace the wooden letters on the patterned paper and cut out. Use adhesive (I used mod podge) to adhere the paper to the front and then trim and sand the edges once dry. Paint the sides, bottom and back of the letters with the Ranger Distress Crackle paint (scattered straw), then ink the edges of the letters with brown Colorbox ink...It really makes the crackle, vintage look complete!

Then, cover the paper mache box with the same patterned paper and paint the edges of the lid with the crackle paint. Once dry, adhere a strip of vintage seam binding (ribbon would work great, too) around the lid to soften the look. I added a rose rubon, flowers, and a button (badge) to the front right corner, but just decorate how you like. I merely sat the letters on top of the box, but you could adhere them, if you want.

Thanks for looking! So, what Valentine's projects are you cooking up? Have a great Valentine's Weekend!

Product Showcase-Product Tutorial

Stickles, Oh how I love my Stickles.

 

Stickles can create a sparkle and a bit of dimensions to any project. 

They come in about every color under the sun and are very affordable.

 Click HERE for a list of 101 Ways to use Stickles. 

I have chosen a few of my favorite ways below using MemoryWorks products and Stickles!

Use Stickels to make trails on insects

  Use Stickles to make a spiderweb sparkle

 Use Stickles to outline the letters in your title

 Use Stickles as a paint to put on petals of a flower.

I would also like to share a great way to store your stickles so they work easier for you.

1.Purchase an acrylic clear stand and some velcro.

2.Cut squares of the velcro and adhere to the back of the stand and the stickles. 3.Hang the Stickles upside down so they will flow easier when you use them.

 I hope you enjoy my tips and Stickles as much as I do.

Guest Designer Tues: Tour Brenda's Space!

I am here today to show you bits and pieces of my craft room. My space for crafting isn’t designed beautifully, but what it lacks in a good paint job and wall décor, it makes up for in functionality. I have only half of a 15x10 room, so I’ve got to stay organized. First I’ll show you my desk. It’s a big Ikea desktop that I can fit a lot of things on while I work.
This shelf holds so many things, and they are right at hand while I’m working. Small things are in jars, buttons are sorted by color family, and other products are grouped together. The turntable and ink pad holder are also placed so that I can work efficiently.
One of my favorite organizational tools is my Clip-It-Up. It stores so many things, and it keeps them right in the open. I forget I have things if they aren’t in the open! It sits immediately to the left of my desk for easy reach.

This shelf holds so much! I’ve got all my photos and tools in this shelf. It also sits to my immediate left. I love my ribbon tags! It’s a great way to store ribbon in order to keep it from getting wrinkled. I keep all of my larger ribbon reels in the skinny drawer of the shelf.
Finally, this is the shelf where I keep all my paper, finished cards, and albums in progress. This shelf is on the wall to the right of my desk. I keep my patterned paper in cropper hoppers, and my cardstock in trays.

It’s been a pleasure to have you visit my craft room today! Everything is within reach form my table, and I love that. I don’t always have a lot of time to craft so organization is key!

Thanks for the tour of your wonderful space, Brenda! We will all look forward to seeing what you made with the February MemoryWorks Express Kit next week!