Frosty Day CD Scrapbook & Clipboard

This is my latest creation. I had to do a gift exchange for our annual SU local Christmas party. I made a "CD cover" Scrapbook and matching clipboard. The scrapbook has 3 sets of covers with inserts for lots of pictures, pockets to put your CD's of photos or music. It also has some tags for journaling, little envelopes to put some keepsakes in, and pages to mount pictures. Enjoy!!

2009 HERE WE COME!!

Well, it looks like I may finally get this place fixed up and be ready to open in January 2009... barring any other unforseen circumstances. I will be going over to the cottage to see what painting needs to be done, get the roof repaired, and fill in that swimming pool hole so we can get this RETREAT ready for the Stampers and Scrappers!!

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been putting some pages together for a small scrapbook. Here is the cover page for one book for my daughter. I put her family name off to the side on purpose... The camp fire is from my cuttlebug. The stamp sets are from SU. And of course you can't have a tree without some grass.. so I just "fringed" some grass freehand with scissors.

Owl Book

This is my little OWL book I am giving away on my regular stamping blog as part of the blog candy. I wanted to post more views of it here, so you could get an idea of it's composition. I figured out a way to fold up pockets and insert in between the main pages of the book. I will be creating the instructions later on detailing how to make this book.


I have included some views of some of the inside pages. I included some designer papers from other companies as the colors just lended themselves to the Fall theme of the book. The pockets have tags in them, ready to stamp or add pictures.

Retreat not Ready... oh my!!

Well, I've had trouble getting some funding to get my little house in Texas fixed up and ready to receive all you stampers and scrappers. Thank goodness hurricane Ike didn't do anything drastic to the place!! I still have to get funding to fix the roof, fill in the 'hole in the ground", re-sod the yard where "the hole" is.. and then do some minor painting inside. I have dishes, pots and pans, silverware, some furniture, etc.. all ready to load in when I get the BIG stuff done.. so if anyone knows where I can get some backers to fix up this place... PLEASE LET ME KNOW. The economic situation has taken it's toll all over the country... even here in the Southwest... where days just seem to go on..... slowly, but time does not stand still.

Box in a Bag & Dollar Tree find

Found these clips at the Dollar Tree store.. The colors match our new Tangerine Tango paper!!














Here's the bag in a box I made for the hostess.. Thought I'd add a clip since the colors match. What do you think??

Altered Box

I needed to make a gift for my friend and fellow demo who went to convention and brought me back some goodies, since I couldn't go. I wanted to make her something that she could put some of her childrens pictures in as a keepsake. Even though I don't have any of the new designer papers, I thought the Bali breeze papers made a good color combo for the fold out accordian book and box. I painted the paper mache box with luna lights teal paint, then covered the outside with the white, teal, apriot, and rose designed paper. Inside I just covered the top panel and the bottom panel. The book folds up nicely and fits in the box leaving room for any small treasures she may want to store there. The book is all attached with a continuous length of rose ribbon. The box will also tie shut with the same ribbon.

Below are some pictures of what your work space looks like when trying to put together something that you "have in your head", and are trying to get it all "on paper".. or "in paper" as this was the case.

I've shown both sides of the fold up pages.. front is embellished a bit and the reverse is all in the rose dp with some stamping. It's not finished as you can see all the "other" embellishments I have to cut out and figure out how to fit them all into the puzzle. I will post the finished box.




































The pic to the left is the inside of hte box showing how the booklet folds up, leaving a tail of ribbon to pull the booklet out.

Easy Elegant cards

I started holding some classes to get stampers more familiar with some of our Gorgeous retiring stamps... so 2 months down the road they won't say.. Gee, I wish I had ordered that!! This week I featured our "Wild Rose" stamp set. I cased a card from SCS, changing up the stamped image and adding a bit more embellishment. I also made a 6x6 scrapbook page for those who like to scrap!! Ribbon at the corner of the page allows you to attach a photo easily, or you could cut around the larger rose to stick the photo behind.











To see the cards, check my regular blog.

Couldn't stop at just one.......

Well, after making the little fold out book, I had to try making one of the "Friendship journals" from Andrea Walford. Since the kit she uses in her class is retiring, I thought I'd try just using decorative papers and stamps. I did find some other "vintage" stickers I had in my stash, that went so well with the colors. I used Porcelain prints with the new Baja Blue for the covers. I haven't finished yet, but you can get the idea from where I'm going with this book. I love blues... When the new kits come out, I'll revise her instructions for a class using one of the simply scrappin kits. Andrea has really put a lot of work into her demo planners. Thanks Andrea!! Great Job!!!

What do you do all day at a Scrap fest??

One of my friends came over to make some of those cute little fold out mini books we've been seeing all over the web. I put on a pot of chili, got a salad, then we sat down to "create". I told her.. this is an example of what goes on when you're at one of those all day, all night, all weekend scrapbook sessions..... only she gets to go home tonight!!! 7 1/2 hours later... this is what we had done.....The "black and white, aka Charbon, black and white" is Gail's creation.

The red with western motif is mine. I used some of last year's boho west papers, along with the "Wanted" stamp set, some gingham ribbon, the scallop punch (punched several times, cut apart and used to mat the medalion), some other little vintage stickers I had "laying around".. and some scraps I had cut off when making some of the corners. I'm rather please with the whole thing. My daughter liked it so well, she said... "make me one.... only in my favorite colors >> PINK!!".... so I guess I did ok.









This set is Gail's book. As you might notice, there's a little bit of old, and a little bit of new. Some of the new Bella Rose made it's way into the book, as well as one of this years hostess stamps...
Just a word of caution to anyone making these.. if using the 5/8" ribbon.. cut it LONGER!!! 18" is nut not long enough to tie a decent bow for the cover.... ALSO... do all your stamping on the inner pages before attaching... makes it all much easier to decorate, especially with all the little layers.

Any Progress on getting going??

I am trying to make some progress on getting the roof replaced, getting the GIGANTIC hole in the ground (once called a swimming pool until the sides collapsed) filled in and re-sodded. Then, we can paint, and go find some beds, craft tables, OTT lights, task chairs, a refrigerator, microwave, some bits and pieces of furniture to allow the crafters to take a break from all their hard work scrapping and stamping. Right now the funds are really tight, but the main priority is to get the roof fixed and the hole in the ground filled in.

When that is finished.. the rest should be actually FUN!!! There will be an outdoor bar-b-que area off the "living room" now turned crafting studio... I will probably go see my friend Janet at Lindy Mall to find a cute comfy sofa to put in the living room also for lounging.

The cottage will be completely furnished with a full kitchen including dishes, pots, pans, coffee maker, microwave, and some basic condiments. The bedrooms will all have single beds, except maybe the master bedroom. I would like to put a Queen size bed in there in case someone wants to rent the place for a LONG weekend away and wants a more comfy retreat. All linens will also be furnished.. so forget about having to bring SLEEPING BAGS!! I don't think so!! I have heard of some craft retreats with only bunk beds where you have to bring all your own bedding. Don't worry ladies.. that will all be taken care of!!

Well, back to the planning and creating the business plan for the bank!! Hope to get some pictures of the outside soon so you can see what a lovely in which this cottage is located.