Jennifer McGuire, ink.

Winner of 7Gypsies Binderie!

We have a winner of the Binderie Punch!

The lucky one is...

Marcy Grant!

I will email you.

Thanks!

How-To Video: Mini Photo Album & 7Gypsies Binderie GIVEAWAY!

Hello.  I have a video and great giveaway today.

You all know what a big fan I am of great crafting tools.  Well, I was putting together a little mini photo album the other day (a simple design that I make often) and realized that it used many of my favorite tools.  So I decided to do a video showing the creation.

This video gives a peek into the 7Gypsies Binderie, Corner Chomper and Silhouette.  The mini photo book is a quick one, using Grungepaper from Tim Holtz and more.  I made it for my girl who is at her grandma's and then camp.  Wanted her to have some photos and notes from the family.  I will explain the album more below.

Please forgive the bad photos.  I apparently didn't have my camera settings right.  (This is common for me.  Ha.)

Supplies: 7Gypsies Binderie Tool, Corner Chomper, Silhouette, 

I really like Grungepaper or Grungeboard - they are great to use for making little books.  It is flexible and durable and easily painted.  Rounding the corners really adds and nice touch, and the fabulous Corner Chompers cuts through it all easily.

The pieces on this were cut with the Quickutz Silhouette.  Ah... my sweet baby Silhouette.  I love this guy.  He cuts the most intricate shapes and makes my crafting easier.  About once a week, I go and cut a ton of different shapes and designs from white cardstock.  That way I have a bunch of shapes ready to go for any project.  I just ink them up and get crafting.  (Oh, and you can get tons of great shapes online HERE.)

Next up is the 7Gypsies Binderie tool.  This tool rocks.  At first, I wasn't sure I had a need for it.  But once you play with it and see how awesome it works, you quickly become addicted.  Basically, it punches binding holes through just about anything, with the quick touch of a button.  Ahhh... so easy to use.  I was excited when 7Gypsies asked me to decorate one for an artist challenge.  (You can see all the other artists HERE.)  It started out red and black, and here is what I did with mine...

In my video, I show a quick way to use it.  But there are more thorough videos on the 7gypsies site HERE.  I recommend checking them out!  Oh, and this tool is fun for cardmakers, too.  I like to use it to punch holes for adding ribbon, or holding several cards together for an extra special gift.

And!  I get to give one of these awesome Binderie Tools away!  Just leave a comment here by Saturday at 11:59pmEDT telling me what your favorite crafting tool is and I will pick a lucky winner.

Thanks for stopping by.  See you tomorrow...

Blog hop, links, enabling and more...

Hello, bloggers.

First, I want to see if anyone else is playing along this Saturday in the Cards for Heroes Blog Hop?  

This blog hop is SO easy.  Just post a card on Saturday and link to the next person in line.  I did my projects today.  They are hoping for 100 people.  Please come play.  Click HERE for the information.  And, please leave a comment on this post telling me if you signed up.  From those folks, I will pick a winner of some stamps. :)  And I know they have lots of prizes throughout the hop...

I just got a card from a soldier who I sent a box of cards to via Cards for Heroes.  The appreciation from her group was so wonderful.  Made my heart smile.

Time to share.  These are layouts I did for CK.  This one was just a couple months ago.  I love making circles like this with my Quickutz Revolution and dies...

(c) Creating Keepsakes

This page is from last year.  The article was on ways to use journaling blocks.  Here, I cut them in half and used them around a photo.  Jamie had emailed me asking about it, so I thought I would share.  It amazes me how Colin is still like the many things listed here...

(c) Creating Keepsakes

It is linking time:

• Debbie Olsen.  My my my.  She is amazingly talented.  Her attention to detail is the best.  Adore THIS card.
• Love THIS page on the Studio Calico blog.
• The giftbox Tami Hartley made HERE is so gorgeous.  Can't wait to try it.
• Great page HERE from Laura Vegas.
• Great giveaways HERE from Stephanie Howell.  And the sneak peeks are fab!

Speaking of which, I have to show you a couple of my favorite new products.  I bought them.  And am now going back and buying two more. Hee.  They are from Lily Bee - 12x12 rub-ons.  So unique, affordable and cool.  Click on the images to see them bigger.

  

One last thing: Remember me telling you about the little boy in Africa named Surprise?  He is still not in a loving home.  Please keep praying.  Thanks...

And thanks for stopping by once again.  Off to watch Gilles.  Night. :)

Coming back with a bang... and giveaways...

Hey, folks.

Sorry that I went MIA for a few days.  Just needed to take a break.  I finally got back to creating Saturday afternoon.  And it felt good.  So good.

So, now I am back with lots to share this week.  Projects.  Enabling.  Links.  Giveaways.  Let's get going...

First - someone asked for a closer look at the two layouts that were in the recent CK.  I don't have great photos, but maybe these will help.  (BTW, the recent issues of CK have rocked.  I tore out lots of ideas from the June issue!)

(c) Creating Keepsakes - June issue

(c) Creating Keepsakes - June issue

Next up: Found some great shopping. How about a bit of enabling?

• I am adding THIS to my scrapbook room door.
• New Doodlebug.  I have always been a Doodlebug fan.  Their products always make me smile.  And better yet, the people who work there are true gems.  THESE are adorable.  They always use the best fonts, and THESE mini rub-ons are must-haves.  They come in lots of colors.
• Ah... and step aside, Cuttlebug.  Quickutz has some rockin' embossing folders now HERE.  My favorite?  THIS 12" border.  Great for pages and cards.  (And, yes, you can use them with your Cuttlebug.)
• Speaking of Quickutz, I am lovin' on THIS die set.  
• I really like papers that you can cut out lots of different borders from, etc.  THIS one from Cosmo Cricket - yum.
• One of my favorite things to do in the evening is to search around on Etsy.  I fill up my cart...  dig through it... save many to favorites... and then buy nothing.  Ha.  Actually, I do buy there pretty often - I like the idea of supporting handmade.  I get lots of shirts for Colin there, jewelry for the girls and gifts for friends.  (And, if you Twitter, I often share links to my favorite finds there.)  Anyway, I just saw THESE and will be getting them for the girl's bedroom doors.  And it is always fun finding bargins like THIS.  Hee.  If you like jewelry, THIS is my favorite seller.  And THIS is my favorite necklace.

How about some links?  Here are some for ya from 2peas...

• THIS page by Peg Manrique is fantastic.  Fun colors and such, but the focus stays on the photo.  Perfect.
• Shannon Tidwell does such fun pages.  THIS one just made me smile.  The title and accents are perfect.
• THIS is an AMAZING page by Kelly Purkey.  Fun in every way.  Boy, I sure wish I had access to her closet. :)
• Moon Ko is so talented.  THIS is so classy.
• Nichol Magouirk rocked this Garden.  Love THIS and THIS is the greatest page of all time.
• It wouldn't be a new Garden without a page to love from Robyn.  THIS is fantastic.

HERE is a set of cards I did.  Super quick, thanks to the help of die cuts and fancy paper. :)

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - click HERE for more information

And, HERE are two more cards I did using Crackle Paint and Glimmer Mist.  A strange combo, but it looks cool in real life - the shimmer gets in the crackles and shines a ton.  Here is one of the cards...

(c) twopeasinabucket.com - click HERE for more information

Last but not least, how about a giveaway?  Or two?  I was going through my brads and realized I have too many to count.  I picked out the ones I could still use - and thanks to my dear neighbor girl, they are now sorted by color! But I still have lots I don't need - a HUGE pile.  It includes simple brads, fancy brads, mini brads, big brads, gem brads, fabric brads, etc.  I will divide them up into two bags for two lucky winners.  For a chance to win, just leave a comment here by Tuesday at 11:59pmEDT telling me your plans for the upcoming 3-day weekend.  (If you aren't in the States... the upcoming weekend. :)  Here is a peek at the brad goodness...

I think that is all for tonight - off to get some donations ready to be picked up tomorrow bright and early.  Thanks for stopping by... night. :)

Two Giveaways...

Just posting quickly to let you know about two giveaways.  I will be back later to share some ideas.

The first is at Creating Keepsakes Blog.  I was the guest blogger and you can enter for a chance to win a bunch of flowers I made.  Click HERE to play...

The next is over on Hero Arts' blog.  We are giving away five copies of the new book from the fabulous Kimber McGray.  Love this girl.  Click HERE to play...

More later!  Happy Friday...

Home! Let's do a giveaway...

I am home.  I missed my internet.  Thank God for the iPhone. :)

I thought I would just share a page from the recent Creating Keepsakes.  I had several people email me about this one.  I used a 2" circle punch on the small photos.  I then glued them to white cardstock and cut around it closely for a mat.  Then the big photo was cut with a Coluzzle.  I love the word "travel"... they are Studio Calico letter stamps.

(c) Creating Keepsakes

I really have been loving the Creating Keepsakes magazine lately.  Lots of fresh ideas.

Giveaway time. :) Today I realized I have two of THIS great punch and thought I could pass one on to one of you.  Just leave a comment here telling me your favorite recent crafting purchase.  On Thursday night at 11:59pmEDT, I will pick a winner of this gem...

More tomorrow!

Card Drive share...

Hey, stampers.

We still have some time before the the Card Drive for Victorian Families mailing deadline of the 15th.  I can't believe how many I have received already!  So many.  I thought I would only get a few due to the short time and notice.  God bless you, you sweet stampers!  I will pick some winners of some fun prizes from the people who send things.  If you are interested, click HERE for info.

I thought I would share a few of the cards I made for the drive. This one is kinda bold for me, but I thought a colorful card might cheer someone up.  I wish this photo was better - the chipboard letters have black velvet on them - yum.  They are from Anna Griffin - so nice.  And the Hero Arts black pearls are perfect for this card.  (And they are great for eyes on little critters.)  Oh, and the flower has a houndstooth pattern stamped on it.  LOVE this stamp.  Run and buy it - it is out of stock lots of places.

Supplies: Hero Arts (flower stamp, black pearls, houndstooth stamp and notecard); Anna Griffin velvet chipboard letters; BasicGrey papers

More tomorrow.  Hope everyone is having a good day.

Giveaway!

I haven't done a giveaway lately - I think it is time...

Here is a card I made a long time ago at a stamp retreat.  (I so hope I haven't shared it already!)  It literally used scraps and such I had laying on my workspace.  I just love how several of my favorite products landed on one card. :)

Supplies: BasicGrey patterned paper; Close To My Heart rub-ons; Prima flowers; Hero Arts notecard and pearls; vintage text paper; Tim Holtz Distress Ink and inking tool

So, I thought I would share some of Close To My Hearts' fabulous rub-ons, along with an ink.  These rub-ons have several sheets in a pack - love it.  They have some of my favorite rub-ons!  For a chance to win, just leave a comment on this post telling me your best money-saving tips.  (We could all use a few of those these days, huh?)  On Friday at 11:59pmEDT, I will pick a winner of these goodies...

Have a good night and good luck!

(Oh, and I am with many of you on DWTS.  Not sure it is still a "family show" for us.  Too much talk of Playboy, jail, jacka** and skimpy outfits.  Not sure yet...)

Card Drive for the Victorian Families

Hey, folks.  I have something to tell you about - something that could make you feel really good.

I got an email from a lovely gal I met when I was in New Zealand to teach with Kiwi Scraps.  Her name is Debbie Blincoe.  She told me that she is starting a Card Drive for the Victorian Families that have lost homes and family members to the fires.  I can't imagine what those families are going through.  Wouldn't it be lovely for them to get a kind card from someone miles away?  Seems like a small thing to do, but it is an easy thing - and something that may make them smile.

I knew I had to jump on board.  I am so hoping you can all help me out.

So, here are the details. 

• We need cards with "thinking of you" or "take care" or whatever message you feel is best. 
• Each card needs to have a nice written note inside along with your name and city.
• Each card needs to be in an unsealed envelope.  If you only send one card, you can just put it in an envelope and mail it to me.  I will open it and put it in a blank envelope to send over.
• Try not to make them weigh a lot or be bulky - it will help with shipping.  The flatter the better.  Store-bought cards are welcome!
• Get them in the mail to me at this address below by March 15.  I will then ship them over to Debbie to distribute.

Jennifer McGuire
Aussie Card Drive
PO Box 428612
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

• If you aren't in the US and would rather just ship directly to Debbie, please email me and I can give you here address.

I know this isn't much time, but we need to get them over there as soon as possible.  Anything you can send would be great.  Thank you so much!

I know I have been down lately with all the sad things in the news - the economy, people sick, etc.  This is one way to lift our own spirits, but mostly the spirits of others.  What a good thing.

And, I will randomly pick a few return address labels of those of you who send in cards to give a prize to.  Something good - I promise you will like.

I went through some of my cards to find ones to write in for this drive today.  And I plan to make more. Thought I would share this one - I think it would be perfect to send.  Bright and cheery.  (Sorry if I shared it before - it is from a class I did in the fall.)  I just stamped a big floral image and colored it.  I then punched circles from the image.  One is adhered over the main piece.  Two are positioned below circles punched in the main piece.  In fact, I have a video showing this technique - just click HERE.

Supplies:
All Hero Arts stamps, notecard and gems
Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots (I sanded afterwards to reveal the white)

And here is a pile of cards from the last card drive I did.  The cards are piled about a foot deep.  Gotta love it...

Thanks everyone.  Think you could play along? :)

Quick - TWO fun giveaways!

I have two great giveaways to let you know about.  I will come back later to share some more.  But wanted to mention these before time was up. :)

1. Go over and leave a comment HERE on the Hero Arts Blog and you could win a great prize.  And the special guest on the blog today is Deborah Nolan - her cards are SO creative!

2. Sweet Jana is giving away a great Hero Arts stamp set on her blog HERE.

More later. :)