Here's Your Chance to Win Blog Candy!!

My friend, Jen, is giving away blog candy to celebrate being selected for the Above Rubies Studio Design Team. Click here and follow the rules for your chance to win!! Congrats Jen!!!!

Above Rubies Studio - Guest Designer

I am so excited to report that I have been selected to be a guest designer in Club Rubies on Above Rubies Studio. When I find out more information I'll be sure to share.

Paperbag Album

Here is a sneak peek of a paperbag album I created for my partner in a swap on the Cricut Messageboard. Inside the album I will create 2 fan charts of her and her husband's ancestors.


This is the first thing you see when you open the album. On the right side, behind the ribbon, will open into more sections as you will see in the following pictures.


This is where I will insert the fan charts of her ancestors. This side will be her side of the family.


And this side will be of her husband's side of the family.

This is the back of the album.

Magic in a Box

This box is for a swap on the Cricut Messageboard. The theme for this day is "Magic in a Box". The tutorial for making this box can be found on the Life As Lou blog, click here. These are very simple to make and can be done in all kinds of styles. I plan to put candy in the boxes to make it even more special. I hope you enjoy!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Here are some paper flowers I made for my partner in a swap on the Cricut Messageboard. The theme for this day is April Showers Bring May Flowers. I am making her several flowers that can be used on a variety of projects. These are made with designer cardstock, a little spray starch and sprayed with a homemade pearl mist. FollowThePapertrail has a tutorial on how to make these cute flowers, just Click Here.

Using PageMaps to Prepare for the Swarm

If you are having trouble figuring out how to layout your pages or just need inspiration, try PageMaps. They have several for free online at:

http://www.pagemaps.com/pdfsketches.htm

Here is an idea: Print out your favorite page maps and put them in your bags as you create your page kits for the swarm. Then you will know how the page is to be laid out and you don't have to create your own sketch (I lack this ability).

What is nice about these is unlike the pretty pages in the scrapbook magazines these give you more flexibility in building your pages because if you are like me I want the exact same stamp, flowers, brads, etc that they use in the magazines. Although everyone says I have A LOT of scrapbooking stuff, I never have what I need to duplicate the layouts in the magazine. I don't know about you, but I can't afford to go out and buy stamps and chipboard and glimmer mists, etc just to create a page. With the page maps you can decide if you use paper, ribbon, or stickers to create a design element they show. Now if I can just get myself to prepare my kits like I'm suggesting you do!!

Preparing for Branson

The Branson swarm will be here before we know it!! Below are some links to help you pack and prepare for the swarm.


http://organizedscrapbooks.com/got-photos-packing-page-kits-photos-finished

http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-Ready-to-Crop-Create-a-Scrapbook-Page-Kit-in-5-Steps&id=1994964

http://danandsherree.com/2006/03/06/preparing_for_a_scra.php

http://www.ehow.com/how_2050192_pack-crop-weekend.html

Vacation Memory Organizer

Here are some pictures of a "Vacation Memory Organizer" I made for my partner in a swap on the Cricut.com messageboards. I got the idea for this from Gina on stamptv.com. Here is the link to the tutorial. It is a 2-part tutorial and really very easy to do. The purpose of this organizer is that she can take photos, document what was happening at the time and then when she gets home she can print out the photos and put them with the note cards until she is ready to make a scrapbook or she can keep them in this organizer as a mini album.

The Front of the Organizer - kept close with a ribbon but a magnetic catch or button and loop would work well too.


The Back


Inside


The journal cards

My New Puppy - Harley

We just got a new puppy on January 9th. His name is now Harley and we LOVE him. He is now 14 weeks old. He weighed 3 lbs at 12 weeks and should be a max of 6 lbs or so fully grown.

Tags for a Swap

Here are a couple of tags I made for a swap on the Cricut messageboards. I hope you like them.

Still Looking for Location for 1 Day Swarm/Crop

I am still working on a location and date (that is even harder to figure out) for our 1 day swarm/crop. Right now Fort Collins is seeming to work out the best as all my other options have fallen through.

I found a group on MeetUp.com who is having a 4 day/3 night crop at the Chocolate Moose Lodge in Fairplay (near Breckenridge) October 22- 25. The cost is $175/person and you have to provide food and cook 1 meal for 10 people. If you are interested in finding out more, email me at tammy@iplanitmeetings.com. I have not booked yet (and may not be able to attend), but I wanted to let everyone know just in case you are interested.

Don't forget that we have June 11-13, 2010 on hold at Traditions Mountain Lodge. We also have an October or November date, but for some reason I can't remember it. As soon as I can recall the dates, I'll update this post.

Awesome Tip for Rub Ons

I was doing some blog hopping and cricut message board surfing yesterday I came across a really cool tip for rub ons on KellpieJo's blog. You can use your cuttlebug to apply rubons and they come out perfectly. Use your normal embossing sandwich, except put your paper under the embossing folder with the rub on where you want it. A plate, B plate, cardstock or papern paper, rubon, any cuttlebug embossing folder, b plate, run thru your machine, when it comes out the other side your paper will have the rub on nicely adheared and you shouldn't have any missing or lifted spots.