First page of the Year!

I did my first page of the year yesterday (see left).

It is a sample for an LSS. They have pics for me to put on it--so do I count it? Yes! LOL I finally used my grungeboard!! That stuff is cool--it picked up the ink nicely an then I put those shimmer chalks from pebbles on it and that stuck well too--wow!

I am going to a crop today at Scrappin' Lounge and then I am going on a 3 day retreat with Desert Scrappers. I've been making page kits like mad. Since I am on a spending freeze until I get a scrapping paycheck, I am trying to use up stuff in my stash. I'm realizing I really don't NEED to do any shopping right now--I have plenty of stuff to use up. I tried the stash challenge and it is just impossible for me to do--I spent like $200 the day after I was supposed to start it. So I am setting some goals to help me use up my stuff but be realistic.


Goal #1 is to use up all these stickers. I buy them because they are cute but they never end up on my layouts. I had two drawers with file folders in them full of stickers and I pulled them all out and put them in a rubbermaid tub right under my scrap table so I have to use them because they are in my way. Hopefully that works.


Goal #2 is to find stuff I know I won't use and get rid of it. I am having a scrapping yard sale at my house--more info will follow in my email newsletter so sign up if you want to come. It will be this month. I've already got loads of good stuff, brand new stuff even, set aside for you to get a great deal on. Plus maybe I'll make some cash to go out and buy new stuff! LOL

So that's it for now. I'm going to try to see if I can't get some stuff done today! Hope you have a scrappy weekend as well!

Embelliegram #2

This is for the people who are in my Embelliegram program. Some of the emails did not go through so I posted the instructions here as well. If you got a packet in the mail from me, then you are in it. If you want to join, then come to a class I am teaching at an LSS (Scrapbook Blvd or Scrappin' Lounge)! You can sign up for it there.

Hello All!

Hope you had a great Christmas or Hannukah and happy new year!

By now you should have received an embellie-gram from me in the mail. You are probably wondering, "What do I do with this?!?"

And why is it "#2"? I gave out the first embellie-gram when I introduced the program at a class kickoff at SGT.

You should also have received my email newsletter yesterday. If you did not, please take a moment to sign up for my newsletter here (in the upper left corner there is a box to enter your email address). This will let you know where and when I'll be teaching. I am not returning the SGT this year after all--I'm focusing on my work with Scrapbook Royalty, who I've worked with for the past two years doing crops for charity. Now I'll be at 4 different stores teaching classes!!! And at lots of events so you don't want to miss out. And I'm continuing the "Our Little" series ... please see my blog for all the details. Now, back to business!

Here's the scoop:

Every month I'll be sending a little project to make an embellishment. This month it is actually a little book but in the future it will be some goodies to make an embellishment. I won't include the bulky stuff, like brads, because they can get damaged in the envelope. But all the paper and such that you need will be included. A couple of you have received a completed book--all you need to do is decorate it--I just drew names to figure out who got what.

Embellie-gram #2

You have two gift cards with holes punched in them. Sorry, there is not money on them! But you can make a cute little book! On some I used the Bind It All and on some I used the Crop A Dile to punch the holes. If you have either tool, then you can make more of these little books. They are fun and quick gifts to make.

The back of each gift card is pretty ugly. You'll want to cover this with paper. Simply glue the gift card to some patterned paper or cardstock and cut around it. You can use Tombow mono adhesive (the blue permanent one) or Zip Dry will also work well. If you don't like the image on the front of your gift card, then cover that with paper too. Make sure you punch the binding holes out again. If you cover the front too, do it in this order: cover the back, punch the binding holes, cover the front, and repunch the hoes. This way you can see where the holes are supposed to be. Or if that is just too much work, just cover the back of the gift card and leave the holes exposed (just bump the paper up to where the holes are but don't cover them).

You've got two options--you can make a minibook or you can make a notebook. First you need to measure your gift cards. Then cut the paper you want inside 1/8" smaller all the way around. So if the mini book is 2" x 3" cut your paper to be 1 7/8" x 2 7/8". Use printer paper or notebook paper for a notebook. Use cardstock for a mini book. You can make as many pages as you'd like. Punch holes in the pages. Use one of the gift cards as a guide by holding it against the papers while you punch. Or you can mark the holes with a pencil onto the paper and then punch the holes in the paper.

Now you will bind the book. You can use binder rings ot the bind it all o-wires if you like. Or you can simply tie ribbon or tulle through the holes. Put a pen or pencil in for a spacer--basically lay it so that you tie the binding around the pencil. Then when it is all tied, slide the pencil out. This will create enough slack int he binding so you can open your book.

After you've bound the book, decorate it with epoxy stickers, flowers, whatever fits your theme. You can tie ribbons on the spine too if you want.

Here are some pictures of a gift card mini book I made a few months back. These gift cards are form Target.

http://jenniferpriest.blogspot.com/2007/08/gift-card-mini-books.html

I got the gift cards I sent to you at Starbuck's, Target, and Walmart. Some stores make you put a $1 on each one. So I usually go when I need something from the store, load up like 20 giftcards with $20 and then use that to make my purchase. Then the gift cards are mine. Or you can always just tell the clerk you are making a craft project and need some cards and see what they say. Sometimes they don't want to go through the trouble of loading them all up with a $1.

Have fun!

Making the Most of Sketches

Over the last couple of years I have gotten into using sketches. At first I was like , "Who is Becky Higgins??" and "why would I want to use a sketch?!?"...and I balked at buying idea books for sketches...

Well, some things have changed (I still balk at idea books but I'm getting better! LOL).

I love using sketches. They get the creative juices flowing when I'm having a creativity drought. Sometimes I just need that little push. And sometimes I have a challenging problem to address--like when I need to put 10 photos on a 2 page layout I can turn to a sketch to help me out.

I get my sketches from a variety of sources.

Websites & Blogs. I love PageMaps, Pencil Lines, and Little Book of Sketches among others. PageMaps sends email of their sketches each month while Pencil Lines and Little Book have challenges. I like the challenges because then you can see how other people have used sketches to inspire their work. Forum sites, like scrapbook.com and crop addict.com have members who make their own sketches which you can see in their galleries. And sometimes they even host challenges where 50 or so people use the same sketch to create a layout. I love to check out all the different interpretations of a sketch! (Links to all of these are on the left, either in "Places I crop Shop etc" or "Past Fun Little Somethin's").

Idea Books. My all time favorites ate the two Close to My Heart sketchbooks, Cherish and Imagine. I can look in the front of the books at pages with mini sketches that tell me the number of pics each sketch can accommodate. When I am really in a rut, I just find the first sketch that fits my needs (like if I have 5 pics I find a 5 pic sketch). Even if I don't like the sketch first off. And then I go with it. I almost always change something to make it my own--I just need to sketch to jump-start my creativity.

Magazines. I love the sketches in each BHG Scrapbooks Etc--I tear out that section and save it. And when I got CK. I looked forward to the Becky Higgins sketch every month. I don't buy many mags but most of them seem to have caught on to using sketches as a tool.

Over the next few weeks (or however long it takes), I'm going to be sharing different techniques with sketches, talking about how I use them, how I adapt them, where to find them...anything I can think of about sketches. This is the year I'm going to get alot done. And I'm going to need some sketches to help me out!

Happy Happy New Year!!!

2008 is here! Woohoo!

I have exciting news: I'm going to be teaching all over Southern California at stores and events for Scrapbook Royalty!! We have so much fun stuff planned, including crops in the Inland Empire and High Desert, and I am so excited to be a part of it!

Plus I am teaching at new stores and branching out. I'm officially on the Scrapbook Blvd Design Team (in Victorville) as well as on the Creative Team for Crop Addict, an awesome monthly kit company!

I'm so glad that I got meet so many people last year (he he we can finally say that) and look forward to meeting more this year. I can't wait to see you all again!

Here's where I'll be with Scrapbook Royalty for the next month or so: Oh yeah, and you can sign up for these classes NOW! Just click the link for the place where I am teaching them and go from there.

"Family Is..." 4x12 mini book
Jan 12, 2008, 12pm
Desert Scrappers Retreats in Palm Desert

You can come to this class (above) even if you are not going to the retreat! Just let Laura from Desert Scrappers know or email me.

"Live In The Sunshine" layout class
Jan 12, 2008, 12pm
Desert Scrappers Retreats in Palm Desert

You can come to this class (above) even if you are not going to the retreat! Just let Laura from Desert Scrappers know or email me.

"A Jolly Holiday" half circle mini book
Jan 17, 2008, 6pm
Scrapping Lounge





















"A Joyful Life" layouts class
(pictured in the slide show on the left)
Jan 19, 2008, Time TBA
Scrap Fest San Diego

"Our Little Sweetheart " mini book version A
Jan 19, 2008, Time TBA
Scrap Fest San Diego
















"Our Little Sweetheart " 6x6 book version B
Jan 25, 2008, 6pm
Scrapbook Alley Expo, Ontario, CA
















"A Joyful Life" layouts class
(3 layouts pictured in the slide show on the left)
January 26, 2008, 12pm
Scrapbook Alley Expo, Ontario, CA

"Intro to Scrapbooking"
January 26, 2008, 10am and 2:30pm
Scrapbook Alley Expo, Ontario, CA













Make-n-Take for Grand Opening of The Scrappin' Table
(You have to attend to see the sample--hehe!!)
January 26, 2008, 5-7pm
The Scrappin Table

"8-3-1 Means I Love You" 4x12 mini book
Feb 2, 2008, 12pm
Scrapping Lounge

























Whew....and then I am taking a few weeks off! Actually I'll be at CHA and Scrapbook Expo but I won't be teaching again until February 21, when I'll be at Scrapbook Blvd doing my first class there. Pleas see the listing on the left for more info.

You can just call up the stores to sign up for classes! Or click the link to the Expo or Crop to find out about how to take my classes there.

Hope you had a great New Year's and see you soon!!

Midnight is approaching

and it is finally setting that we're starting a new year in 3 hours or so. A friend of mine was asking about resolutions, both scrapbooking and non-scrapbooking (hey Trisha!) and it got me thinking about resolutions.

For one thing I keep seeing all these weight loss success stories, on TV, in magazines...makes me think I have a chance. I am bigger than I have ever been before. I can't move. I am sick all the time, just can't seem to kick colds and they turn into infections. I need a nap more often than I'd like--I am NOT the napping type. I can't stand sleeping once it is light out yet I am taking naps now. Oh I am making myself sick just thinking about it! We joined a gym and have both gone once. I am sick so I really need to wait until I get over this cold (taking meds for it) before I go and start pushing the envelope, you know? But I am going to do it, I'm going to get back in shape I'm tired of being a weakling (wish I was 90 lbs! LOL). And I am going to lose weight--No more "fat lady" section shopping for me!

So that is the non-scrapbooking resolution. Now for the scrapbooking one.

I want to start scrapping with Katie more. Teach her some things, help to refine her style, spend one-on-one time with her. And I guess that is about it. I've pretty much accepted that since I've had Matt I am the most disorganized and messy scrapbooker on earth. I can get my room looking nice and clean--but it does not last. If I am not messing it up, Matt will surely get the job done. I figure for the next 18 years or so, I'm not going to kill myself trying to make resolutions to be organized at all--there's no way I can do it. But Xaver and I are going to tackle my spending habits--it's not a resolution but more like an absolute.

I spend alot. ALOT. Not that we are in debt because of my scrapping but I shudder at the thought of what we could have bought with what I spent on scrapping this year alone--a car, a down payment on a house...it is just shameful. We are not rich--we're just average. I did earn quite a good bit teaching classes this year but not enough to justify my spending. So next year we have a plan. My classes cost money to teach. So when I get paid, I'll take out the "costs" and put that back into my account to keep rolling it over to finance my future classes. Out of the "profit" I'm going to spend 20% on scrapbooking. So if I earn $200 profit teaching a class, I get to spend $40. This will make me work harder because I know I can't spend the whole thing on scrapbooking.

What am I going to do with the 80%? We are going to invest it. I turned 30 this year and it hadn't really hit me that I am getting older until I started seeing a rash of stories and hearing newscasts about investing while you're "young". Like when you're 25. Hmm. So I figure if we can "build wealth" now as they say, hopefully I can just be a crazy old millionaire scrapping granny and buy whatever I want when I am older. And not have to work at McDonald's to supplement my Social Security, like I have seen far too many seniors doing nowadays. So that is the plan. I am crossing my fingers that it works. The way teaching classes works is that you get paid a few weeks to maybe a month or more after teaching a class so I have some time to work on not spending--alot of time to go with not spending. We haven't discussed sales in my Etsy store though so that may be an untapped resource...

It isn't even the new year yet and here I am trying to get around the "rules"...boy oh boy this is going to be hard. Hopefully next year I'll be blogging about our successes in 2008. Here's wishing you are too and that you have a fun celebration and an even better scrap-filled year!!