My Close To My Heart Spring/Summer 2014 Party Goodies Arrived Today!

Oh my it feels like Christmas again. My order with all the fun new stamps and papers from the new idea book came today. It was so much fun opening package after package of pretty papers, kits and stamps.  I can not wait for the Open House. We are going to have so much fun! The new project life kit was really interesting. The cards in it are beautiful and the page protectors are the same incredible quality as our regular page protectors. I could definitely see why so many people got into project life. It looks like and incredibly speedy way to create beautiful memory albums.

 Now I am inspired to clean out my stamp collection and get rid of all the old stamps that I am not using. Who knows this could lead to a complete destash.

I am trying to run with the idea that if I let things go then it will allow room for better things. Not just new stamps but in other areas of my life as well.

I am going to go start playing with all the goodies. I hope you can join me for the Idea Book launch party either at my house or on FB.

Happy Crafting!

Busy as a bee

Hello All.

It seems I am destined to fall behind on my blogging these last few weeks. I had such good intentions for 2014 too. Motherhood always comes before blogging right! My second little trooper is down with the flu today. The youngest will return to school tomorrow but I think Monkey may need to be kept home at least one more day.

I have not been totally absent from social media though, thank goodness for smartphones and wi-fi that allow me to check in when the kids are tended too. So, though I may be absent from the blog for a couple more days (flu and funerals) I would love for you to join me over on FB where I am hosting a couple of parties with giveaways. One is even a mystery hostess....whoooo....

Our friend Charlotte Barker from Jamberry Nails is also gearing up to have a special party just for you Tea Cozies. I am so excited.

Oh, and don't forget we are planning a Tea Party with Kareen Ferguson of Steeped Tea. The harsh driving conditions have convinced us that the Tea Party should be a spring event.

I also have a fundraiser for Heart and Stroke coming up and planning for what to do to raise money for relay for life.

Most exciting of all I am having a Close To My Heart Open House on February 1st to celebrate the launch of the new Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book. This is by far my favourite collection of stamps and papers. I can't wait to show Charlotte the hot air balloon stamps and paper. I know she is going to go crazy over them. If you are not local, please join in the fun by joining my  Facebook Party! If you are nearby please stop in on Saturday February 1st from 1-3pm.

My Grandma's Teacups Studio Tour

Hello friends! My goodness how time gets away from me.  I had so many post ideas floating around in my head that I thought that I had actually posted them. This my fellow bloggers is why we are supposed to use editorial calendars right!
As you might already know I have been super busy getting my new studio space organized. The abrupt way in which I was forced to move into the space before Hubby had been able to finish it was a bit of a challenge for me (we will call it the flood of 2013). Now that I am cozily situated in the new space I am in love.  I thank my wonderful facebook pals for choosing such a wonderful cheery colour for me. The room is not 100% finished and so Hubbs was reluctant for me to post pictures but with this disclaimer that the room still needs trim and a bit of paint...a few ceiling tiles...a couple shelves and some artwork...he is agreeing for me to show just you...(my closest friends) my incredible new space. First I want you to see what he started with. Please keep in mind that we fostered some rather active children in the last decade.

Ok so are you ready for this? 

Though he did do an amazing job on this renovation I do think I deserve some credit for being so incredibly clever as to marry such a talented man.  You are all invited to come over for a cup of tea! In a spillproof container of course! 

Special shoutout to my awesome friends in our new scrapbook club! I have not laughed so hard in a very long time.

Beginniner"s Guide to Scrapbooking- Lesson #2 Paper

There are so many choices when you start to look at paper for your scrapbook and cardmaking projects. It is important to investigate the product a bit to be certain that the paper you purchase is appropriate for the task at hand.  You want to look for papers that are archival safe (do not contain acid or lignin that will fade your photos). There are many lovely papers with any design you could possibly be interested in.  Avoid the pitfall of rushing out and buying all the pretty designs.  First it is important to build your basic supply of paper.  This is much the same way that we started acquiring our tools.(Basic Toolkit)  Choose products that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.  White cardstock is where you should begin.  By having a blank canvas of white cardstock to build upon you can create your own designer paper, cards and layouts with minimal supplies.  You may be doubting me at this point so I am including a  videos to illustrate what can be achieved with white cardstock.

In this simple video from Scrapbooks.com you see how easy it is to achieve a lovely layout with minimal supplies. The design paper that they use could easily be replaced with hand stamped background paper that you create using your stamps, ink and colour pencils or markers. 

As you are ready to add to your "stash" try to purchase other complimentary colours of cardstock. Having a coordinating palette of cardstock will enable you to create endless designs that will look lovely together.

When you feel that you have a good selection of cardstock it is time to expand into premade design paper. Many people think that buying paper in a stack is a cost saving way to gain a large variety of papers...cheap. In fact you may end up buying allot of designs that you are never going to use.  Stacks are full of coordinating papers but often there are designs that are left over once you have used up your favourites that just don't suit any project you are working on. In this case it would have been more prudent to purchase the design paper that you really liked and only what you need. The quality of paper you get in a stack is also very often lacking. If you do decide on purchasing a stack, look for an open sample of that pad and check out the weight of the paper.  It is very disheartening to arrive home with a lovely paper that is too thin to work with.

A good way to build your paper supply is to find a buddy.  By purchasing cardstock or design paper with a friend you can "split" the colours and therefore the cost.  This will allow you to acquire smaller amounts of each colour.

Make sure that you protect your investment by storing your paper in appropriate sized storage boxes or shelves. Your paper needs room to lie flat but not so much room as to allow it to jostle around and get dog eared. Also be aware of the humidity in your storage area. Like any other paper product, scrapbook paper needs to be kept in a cool dry place.

Enjoy building your stash and take time to explore the different weight and textures and huge variety of colour. Now get out there and get your paper! Make sure you post your creations to our fb fan page http://www.facebook.com/mygrandmasteacups

Beginners Guide To Paper Crafting Lesson #1 What to take to a Class, Workshop or Crop

Once you get the scrapbook bug you never really look back. You take it for granted that everyone knows what you mean when you say you are "cropping" or "distressing" something. We don't expect terms like "bling" and "bone Folder" are mysterious or misunderstood but to a new crafter this new lingo and vast array of products, tools and techniques can be a bit foreboding. If you are an experienced papercrafter this post is not for you.  This post is for all my lovely friends out there that have boxes and SD cards brimming with photos that they promised themselves they would put into albums someday.  Ok Ladies, someday starts today. Many people would say to go gather your pictures and decide on an album. Forget that.  You know what photos are hiding in there and having the album already purchased is just going to add more pressure to the situation. I think that you should begin where every other recipe begins.  Assemble your utensils....or in this case....the tools.

Step #1 Your Basic Tool Kit

• Pencil and White Eraser

• Ruler: You are going to want to get one that is metal so that the edge stays true even after hours of abuse with sharp edged blades and pointed pencils.

• Scissors: any fine tips scissor is a good place to start.  If you have to purchase a pair you will want to invest in a pair that does not stick.  I personally have two pairs of CutterBee scissors and a pair from Close To My Heart.  Look for terms like non-stick micro scissors. I love both styles and they have lasted several years of extensive use.  Make sure you keep the cover as these babies are sharp!

• Adhesive: There are many types of adhesive available.  Match your glue to your project.  If I am working on a card that I know won't be kept much past its initial presentation (Hello Kids Cards) then I often work with plain old white school glue.  It does not cost much, it has no offensive odour and its pretty easy to work with.  If your are working with Scrapbooks or Cards that need to be kept in archival quality then you will need to invest in glue specifically for scrapbooks.  Look for terms life Acid and Lignen Free or Archival Safe on the packaging.  Tape Runners are a must have for scrapbooking and cardmaking (basically they are very thin double sided glue on thin strips wound like tape in a plastic dispenser). You can purchase these very inexpensively at your local Dollar Tree, Walmart or big box store. Double sided sticky tape can also be purchased there and you will want to throw 2-3 rolls of it into your pack. Don't get lured into glue dots or foam squares yet. You are just starting out, no need to get crazy.

• Pen: find a fine tip black pen that does not bleed.  You don't have to spend a fortune on a a top of the line pen. Just experiment and find one that suits your style of writing.  Ink that dries quickly is a bonus as you don't want to be waiting around for it to dry while you could be creating.

• Bone Folder: Often this is not included in a beginners tool kit but I think it should be.  A bone folder can be anything from a deluxe ergonomically designed, beautifully decorated plastic tool to a popsicle stick...sticky free of course.  Start the habit of using a bone folder right from the beginning and you will always be pleased with the professional look of your cards and layouts.  It seems like something as simple as the crease on a card could not be important but I assure you it makes all the difference in your final result.

• Black and Brown Ink: this is where you start.  Invest in good ink like Memento and save yourself the frustration of dealing with cheap ink that does not give you a crisp image.  Starting with the basics of black and brown opens the world to endless possibilities using supplies you likely have in your supply drawer. Images can be coloured with pencil crayons, watercolour paint, markers or even Sharpies or Bic's if you have them. Resist the urge to splurge on your favourite shades of pink and lilac. They just won't get the use and you will be frustrated by being limited. Once you have all your basic supplies then you can gradually add to your colour palette.

• Plastic Storage Box: again this is a personal addition to the start up tool roster but there is nothing more frustrating than spending 2-3 hours on  a layout only to find that you have crinkled it on the way home from a crop or threw the contents of your purse on it when rummaging for a pen or paper to write down the important phone number.  Make it then place it flat in a 12x12 paper storage box. You can get them at most craft stores for about $5. Make sure to use those 40% off coupons.

Thats it. You are ready to sign up for a workshop or class right now.

As you become more familiar with working with paper crafts you will want to expand your kit to include a paper trimmer, craft knife and other goodies. For now keep it simple.  Master the basic tools before you get caught up in all the fancy gadgets that glitter from the store shelves. Set a budget up front for how much you can invest each month in your hobby and divide it between consumable products (paper, adhesive, ink) and tools. Stick to your budget as many of us have gone astray in our love of all things crafty.  A good way to budget is to become a member of a crop group or kit club where you receive supplies every month at a set price (usually $15-30). These gatherings also allow you to try new tools without having to make the commitment of buying them and realizing you are not going to use them.

Try to find a group to crop with. Your knowledge in scrapbooking and cardmaking grows exponentially when you are in a room of creative types. Ask questions! crafters love to share.  Give it a try! Like anything else it takes practice to create masterpieces. The fun is in the journey.

http://mygrandmasteacups.ctmh.com

The importance of Good Content.

I love to read and learn about social media and the underlying advice of all successful social media types is the importance of providing fresh information that educates and engages your followers.  Ok here is my best attempt at providing you with that level of informative information. Here it goes: If you have created a mess of natural disaster proportion in your craft room it is extremely important not to blog about it ....or include pictures if you are hoping to keep your hubby from noticing. Read my post Itty Bitty Pieces Of  Paper for a what not to do post. Your Hubby might actually be reading your blog too ;) Love you Honey!

Clearly the Best! (02)

Studio J® Custom Photo Wells

Its time to start thinking about homemade Christmas Cards

Once the kids are all settled in school I will start buckling down on my pre-Christmas planning. I always think that I still have lots of time to get things done and inevitably end up running around at the last minute trying to make something or pick something up. Not this year my friends. I am going to get organized. This will be the first time in 13 years that I have not had a wee one home every day. I am going to make my lists and check them twice. I have already purchased the Frosted card making workshop from Close to My Heart and I can't wait to get to started. The kit is absolutely lovely and jam packed with everything I will need. I will post some pictures when the cards are done. I have to run now though. Today is meet the teacher in my son's jk room. He is so excited he hardly slept last night. Check out this great video from Close to My Heart and let it inspire you to get a jumpstart on your Christmas To-Do.