Thursday, November 29, 2012

i caved…sort of…

I’ve attempted “December daily” a few times.  One year I was diligent and completed it.  The next year I got sick the second week of December and didn’t take daily photos, so the album didn’t get finished.  The next year I thought I’d take the photos out of the one I’d started the previous year and just give it a do-over.  It was a fleeting thought.  I didn’t do it.  Since then, I’ve loved the idea – I think the concept is awesome…but I just haven’t been able to get myself excited enough to actually give it another try.

I wasn’t planning on doing one this year either…until I got this awesome mini album kit from Melinda at Scrap Kit Studio.  I love the fun shaped album.  I love that Melinda does most of the work by cutting all the paper to fit on the chipboard album pages.  I love that all of the products coordinate.  I love that I didn’t have to add anything at all – just some time and adhesive.  (And I did add some extra jute/twine, but that’s it.)

I spent a few hours last night, just gluing the papers onto the chipboard and adding all the stickers and embellishments.  And now I am ready for December – and I’m ready to record it!  BUT…I am not committing myself to taking a photo or adding journaling every single day.  That’s why the title is “JOY, 25 ways and days (be merry).”  I’m taking it a day at a time.  Some days I might record five different things that brought me joy.  Some days I might not record anything.  As long as I fill the album up with 25 “ways/days” one way or another, I’ll be a happy girl…and maybe even brave enough to do it again next year.  But no promises…except that I plan to “be merry” through the process. :)

So, today I want to share my album with you guys – having it all complete and ready to fill gives me more incentive to work on it as well:

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I cut apart all of the journaling pages that were included in the kit and added them between several of the pages.  It was fun to embellish those – and I can always switch them around if I need to.

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I love the option of just adding them to the rings so you can see both sides of the design!

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The little number banners in the corner are included on every page.

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Here are the rest of the blank pages…waiting to have photos and journaling added…

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And of course I wanted to add the year and some more fun embellishment to the back cover as well.

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I love that these kits are designed so you can put them together just like the photos in the kit – OR you can add your own “extras” (whether that’s product or technique) – depending on your time and desires. 

These kits would make great gifts for the holidays – either as the kit OR as a completed album…don’t you agree?

Let me know if you have any questions about my album – and be sure to check out the Scrap Kit Studio Shop AND Blog!  Thanks, Melinda, for creating such a fun album kit for us to work with!

Friday, November 23, 2012

it’s that time again…surprise boxes!!!

Just wanted to let you all know I’ve been cleaning and organizing in my scrapbook room again in preparation for the holidays and I’ve put together several more “surprise boxes” (medium flat rate priority mail boxes) full of scrappy goodness! And, just like before, when I say full, I really mean full – there’s no room for peanuts or crumpled up shipping paper – these babies are packed tight – and they are HEAVY!
surprise box
It’s a great time to purchase these surprise boxes – with the holidays right around the corner, you could use these products as gifts for others – or for yourself! ;)
If you are interested in purchasing a surprise box, please e-mail me (wendysueanderson@hotmail.com).
It’ll work just like before:
  • Boxes are all different and all random – they may include: patterned paper, cardstock, stickers, misc. embellishments, and this time I’m parting with lots of STAMPS too!  I am not going to take photos of all the product in each box (thus the term “surprise boxes”), but I promise there will be a lot more than $40 worth of product in each and every box. A lot more. Much of the product is brand new in it’s original packaging. Some things have been opened and I’ve used a portion (letter stickers, rub-ons, etc.). A few of the stamps might be stained, but a majority of them have never been used – regardless, they all work perfectly. :)
  • $40 per box (which will include flat rate USPS shipping which is $11.35) Unless you are local, of course, you won't have to pay shipping and we can arrange for you to pick up your box.
  • US Shipping only (sorry international friends – it just gets too complicated (and expensive) for these boxes)
  • I will accept payments by PayPal only
  • E-mail me if you’re interested…I will sell them on a first come, first served basis
  • The boxes are packed and taped and ready to go…so as soon as your payment hits my PayPal account, I’ll print your label and ship off your box!
Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions!
Thank you!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Echo Park Design Team: November Blog Hop…

 

Welcome to the Echo Park Paper Design Team Blog Hop!

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Today the Echo Park Paper Design Team is showcasing projects from our latest collections. I want to share a card I made using the Fall Fever mini theme collection:

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I trimmed the card front so the trees could “float” on the card. 

I also tucked leaf stickers at the foot of the trees. 

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To remove the stickiness from the stickers, I simply rubbed a bit of baby powder on the back.

Luckily, these stickers are a heavier weight so they stand well without any extra support.

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You can see (and purchase) the Fall Fever Collection kit by clicking the image below:

 

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Be sure to follow the blog hop list below as you hop from one blog to the next. One winner will be selected from each blog to receive an Echo Park Paper collection kit of their choosing.

To be entered in my drawing, just leave a comment telling when you take down your fall/Thanksgiving décor and replace it with Winter/Christmas decorations. We usually put up our tree and decorate our home the day after Thanksgiving.  Leave your comment by midnight EST, Sunday, November 25th to qualify for the drawing. And please be sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win! The winner will be announced on each blog Monday, November 26th so be sure to check back to see if you've won.

Here’s the order for the blog hop!

Kandis Smith

Davinie Fiero

Susan Stringfellow

Tamara Tripodi

Linda Auclair

Lowri McNabb

Nancy Damiano

Wendy Sue Anderson <--------you are here! :)

Jennifer Gallacher

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Friday, November 16, 2012

holiday card event…

Did you know Echo Park recently hosted a huge holiday card event on their blog?  You can check out their blog here and scroll through all the posts for loads of fun holiday card ideas.  My card was featured on Day #2.

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I believe it’s never too early to get started on your holiday cards! (And if you start early enough, you can make them each unique!) Start with a basic design and then use various patterned papers, stickers, and brads to vary each card. I covered a kraft card base with patterned paper then created a “ticket” of sorts from another patterned paper. By layering additional papers, ribbons, stickers, and chipboard pieces, the card has its own unique look and it will be easy to replicate the basic design over and over again.

I used the “This & That: Christmas Collection” for my card – you can see all of the gorgeous papers and embellishments included in this line HERE at the Two Peas store – or click on any of the product images below.

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