Big Lots Mini-Haul: Martha Stewart

I love finding out where all the good scrapbooking deals are and Big Lots has been the biggest surprise in town. When Tiff was visiting, I got some DCVW adhesive ribbon, die cuts and stickers from the "Far East" and "Once Upon a Time" collections. The ribbon was only $2 a pack at BL. Michaels usually retails it for about $4.99 so I knew I was getting a good deal. All told, I spent $15 on "business supplies".

Last night on the SCS message board, one of the posts was about Martha Stewart's "Drippy Goo" punch. It was in such high demand in some places of the country so naturally I had to have it (go ahead, ROLL your eyes, I don't care). Another post advised that BL had a bunch of MS merchandise come in. I love Martha's craft stuff, but it's pricey so I wait for it to go on sale. Anyhoo, here's my Martha mini-haul from this morning's jaunt:


3 rolls of 1/4 inch rickrack, 6 yards at $1 each in brownstone (Chocolate Chip), garnet (Real Red), and holly (Green Galore), 72 pieces of die cut flowers, scrolls, and leaves $2, 3 packs of white border transfers (rub-ons) $1 each, and Brownstone photo accordion book $1. There were no MS punches so I only spent $10 at BL.

Wal-Mart also carries a very limited stock of MS merchandise. It's mostly the generic stuff- all ocassion paper, glitter, scissors, punches, and ribbon. Behind all of the eyelet and lace punches, I found the Drippy Goo punch ($14.95)! It was the last one so I bought it. I have plans on using for an upcoming Halloween themed class.

I got notification that SU is shipping out my new Bermuda Bay ink pad and refill ink. I really hate to throw out the original one. About two months ago, SU posted that the Bermuda Bay ink pads and refills were defective and that over time, the color can shift. I didn't notice how the colors were defective until I compared them with the SU marker. I marked the ink bottle and pad with a big "X" and will put it the girls' art bin.

Anyhoo, we got a little bit of rain just now. It really didn't do much for us here with just spots of rain. Central Texas needs a gullywasher of a storm so we can get back on track. Tomorrow is our annual pool party and I'm sort of looking foward to getting together with our neighbors in the evening.

Happy Scrappin!
Erica

So, that's it.

Glass Etching and the Bigz Lattice

I was tired of cleaning the game room closet upstairs so I decided to finally do a project I'd been itching to do. About three months ago our magnetic curtain rods on our backdoor broke. Mr. K thought it would be quite clever to throw an old sheet over the full length glass pane until I bought replacement rods. I couldn't stand seeing the sheet over the door so I went to Home Depot the next week. Instead of putting up another set of magnetic rods and sheer panels, I applied a huge window film. I bought two 24 " x 36 " rolls of Rice Paper window film and had it covered in less than 15 minutes. I saved the rest of the film thinking I could run it through my Big Shot later to make letters.

Anyways, I've had my supplies out for my OHs and the Bigz Lattice was sitting in my machine ready for a demo. A huge light bulb went on inside my brain! I decided to cut the film to fit the die, run it several times, and apply it to the shortest square glass cannister that I had sitting in my pantry. I got the set of square glass cannisters as a part of a kitchen-themed basket I won at the school auction and knew I wanted to get crafty with it. Yes, I admit, I bid on the basket just for the cannisters though I knew I could have just bought them at Wal-Mart myself. I digress.

Here are the photos of what I did:
Big Shot, Bigz Lattice Die, glass cannister and artscape window film in Rice Paper.

Die Cuts laid out, backing side up


Lid with die cut on, backing removed


cannister with die cut on top
All four sides and top

Sprayed with Krylon etching spray
Finished project

Supplies: artscape 24"x36" window film in Rice Paper (there are other choices, see http://www.artscape-inc.com/), Stampin Up Big Shot, Stampin Up Bigz Lattice die, Krylon Glass Etching spray. Krylon says to use the spray in a 85 degree or cooler environment. Since it was 101 outside in the shade, I spread some newspaper out on our table and sprayed indoors. I had no idea that the fumes would be THAT BAD so I cracked a few windows, ran two fans, and plugged in the Ionic Breeze. Oh well, it was a fun project, but next time I will use the liquid version of the glass etching and do it in the garage!!!

P.S. I got excited and removed two sides of the die cut too soon so I have two small boo boos on the project, but overall it looks good. After it is sprayed with the glass etch stuff, it renders the cannister no good for food storage. I think I'll use it to put tickets in it.

Basic Card/Scrapbooking Essentials Q&A

Thank you to all of the ladies who attended my Daytime Open Houses this week! It was fun showing you the new products for 2009-2010. I'm always delighted to see someone's eyes light up when they finish a make-and-take. I got a lot of comments like; "That's all?", "That's all it took to make that card? It looks more complicated, but it was actually easy to do.", and "I'm not intimidated by the paper punch anymore!"

Several asked about the upcoming classes and what they should bring. I advise anyone who is doing this for fun to only buy a few essential items. Then as you feel more confident you can add to your basics. Many times, a Newbie's eyes are bigger than her mad money budget or has unrealistic goals after the first class and buys everything she thinks she needs. I would suggest bringing a pair of nice sharp scissors for paper cutting only. If you have a nice extra pair of scissors at home that you can designate "for paper only", or simply label as "Mom's, hands off" bring those along with a glue stick. Any glue stick will do, but later we will be branching out into 'The World of Adhesive'. If you have neither scissors nor glue sticks, Stampin Up sells both in the catty.

Q: "But I have scissors and glue sticks at home and I want to get started right away with a small project, say regular-sized Thank You cards. What do I need?"

A: For the Newbie starting out on her first project, I would suggest stocking these essentials: Whisper White Cardstock 8.5x11 40 sheets/$7.50, stampin pad in Basic Black $5.95, Whisper White envelopes 40/$6.50 and a package of Cardstock 8.5x11 in one of the color families 36 sheets/$7.95. In addition to the paper, you can pick one stamp in the "under $10" section of the catty. If you are truly ambitious and the Thank You stamp in the "under $10" section is not challenging enough, you may want to look at "Thank You Kindly" a 4 stamp set on page 145 for $13.95. If you are looking at this list and thinking, "Sheesh, it's lots of piece parts, but I want the whole pizza" consider getting a Simply Sent card kit. Those can be found on pages 170-173 and range in price from $15.95 to $42.95. But really, it's up to you and what you feel you can do.

Q: "I'm a scrapper, not a card maker. What do I need?"

A: The line between being a scrapper and card maker is very thin. You'll see what I mean later. It's all about adaptability and flexibility. For a Beginner Scrapper I would suggest 12x12 cardstock in a color family 24 sheets/$7.95, 12x12 designer Series Paper that coordinates with the color family 12 sheets/$9.95, Stampin Write Journaler pen $3.25, and a Gusseted Envelope to hold photos, journal tags, etc. $5.95. Simply Scrappin kits are also available at $19.95. The bundle pack includes 8 textured 12x12 cardstock sheets, 6 12x12 double-sided Designer Paper, 6 sheets of self-adhesive die-cuts.

Q: "I'm ambidextrious- I can do both. What basic tools do I need that I can use for both crafts?"

A: I would recommend the following items which can be found in the Stampin Up catty:
Bone Folder $6.95 to ensure nice, crisp creases
Stampin Mist Cleaner $4.50 to clean your stamps
Stampin Scrub $16.95 to clean your stamps
Paper Cutter $24.95 for a straight edge- works best when doing long lengths
Craft & Paper Scissors $29.95
Crop-A-Dile $29.95 to set brads and eyelets, punch holes
Glue Dots $4.95 to glue small objects
Stampin Dimensionals $3.95 for a 3D effect
Anywhere Glue Stick $3.95

Q: "I'm on a budget. I can't afford all these things at once."

A: Start off simply and go with what you know you can use and will feel comfortable spending. I also offer a Stamp Club that helps you buy what you need and stick within your budget, AND you get free stuff in return. Query "stamp club" in my blog and it will take you to that post so you can read up on it.

Lastly, classes are filling up so sign up now by emailing me at ericaintexas@gmail.com. I will be adding new classes soon so check under my Event Dates. Stampin Up is partnering with a HUGE toy company. Look out for a special "Mom and Me" card/scrapbook class coming up in September to launch this new business partnership. I am so excited because the company picked these people to partner with!

Happy Crafting!
Erica

My Card Samples

Here is a slideshow of my card samples from this year. Some you may recognize because those are the ones I gave you. Enjoy!

First Scrapbook Class

The first Scrapbook class will be on August 6th from 10 am to 12 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm. The class fee is $5. Please bring two to four photos, your own adhesive (a glue stick or glue line tape), and a creative mindset! I will have samples of how you can make your layout as basic or as fancy as you want it. We'll also be sharing tips on how to keep you photos organized and ready to scrap.

Please email me at ericaintexas@gmail.com if you would like to attend. First 10 people who sign up get a chance to win one free class session of their choice!

First Card Class

The first card class will be held on August 4 from 10 am to 12 pm or 5 pm to 7 pm. We will be making two cards- one Happy Birthday and one Thank You. Class fee is $5.00. Please bring your own adhesive, scissors, and an open mind. I will demo using the Big Shot. What's a Big Shot, you ask? Come to the card class and find out!

Email me at ericaintexas@gmail.com if you would like to attend. First 10 people to sign up get a chance at a drawing for a free class session of their choice!

Erica's Stampin Up Club

Being a member has it's privileges! Do you have a craft supplies wish list? Do you want to buy stamping/crafting supplies on a monthly basis, stick to your budget, AND get Hostess rewards? Join my Stamp Club! It's a fun and easy way to fuel your hobby without breaking your budget. As a member you are required to commit to spending $15 a month (before taxes and shipping) for TEN months. Orders are due by the 10th of each month. Each member in the stamp club is assigned one month to receive the Hostess Award (that's one Level One Hostess Set or Definitely Decorative set PLUS $15 in FREE MERCHANDISE). The more orders you get, the more free merchandise you can potentially receive!

If you can't make it to the card class, I will put together the project cards and include them in your delivery.

As a member you get the following:

• free 2009-2010 Catalog
• fee waived for card or scrapbook classes (value at $5 or $8, but free for you)
• reduced fees on craft classes or card camps (valued at $15, but discounted for you to $7)
• hang out with like-minded crafty people, reduce stress, and have fun!
• access to a members-only blog with helpful info, links, and my own special sales!!

Email me to join my Stamp Club: ericaintexas@gmail.com

Sign up for classes

If you are a new or veteran crafter and would like a jump start on your creative juices, join me for some technique classes beginning this August. I am offering both day time and evening classes to make it easy for you to attend. Here are some of the craft classes available-

For Card Crafters-
Start off with the basics using the SU In-Color Palette and other SU color Palettes with several themes (Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Thank You cards, etc.), make 3x3 bitty cards for gift tags or Christmas tags, recipe cards, coupons, tear edge, faux stitching, Christmas in October, stamp-a-stack in September, watercoloring, 3-D shadow box cards, etc.

For Scrapbookers-
Make 12 x 12 layouts with chipboard embellishments, make mini albums to give away as gifts, learn about photo cropping, organizing photos, and just plain getting out all those photos stored in boxes.

For Crafters-
Cover a tin box to hold recipe cards or store extra cards, decorate a clipboard with pretty SU Designer Series Paper and embellishments, make party favors, use the SU Definitely Decorative rub-ons to make pretty glass coasters or decorate glass candle jars.

Hope to see you at the Open House!

Erica's Stampin Up! Open House dates

Hi Everyone,
I am having a few Open House dates in July. If you are curious to see the new Stampin Up! products, see a Big Shot demo, and create a make-and-take, please join me on July 23 & 24 from 10 am to 2 pm or July 30 & 31 from 5 pm to 8 pm. In addition to the latest catalogs, I have the supplemental mini brochure, Definitely Decorative, Stampin Up's newest line of home decor decals. I will have lots of card, scrapbook, and decor samples for you to enjoy and get inspired by!

Also, I will have a sign up sheet and a list of classes offered; mostly are technique classes that can be used for either card making or scrapbook layouts. The card class fee is $5 which includes two cards with envelopes, instructions on how to make the card, and a demo of a technique or tool. The scrapbook class fee is $5 which includes a 12 x 12 layout, instructions on how to make the layout, and a demo of a technique or tool. Save money by attending the card and scrapbook classes offered on the same week- $8 for both.

Catalogs are normally $9.95 each, but if you host a workshop you can receive the catalog for free! Stampin Up hostess benefits are truly amazing- a $150 workshop (before taxes and shipping charges) gets you a Level 1 Hostess set and $15 worth of free merchandise. The awards only go up from there! The Level 1 Hostess sets are exclusive only to Hostesses and are not available for sale in the catalog.


Hope to see you soon!

Erica

Craft Room Update

I have had the hardest time finding a permanent place in the house as my craft area. I originally had half of the guest room, but when my parents came to stay I was embarrassed about the craft mess. It's a constant in my life- having a messy desk. I've tried several times to reform and stay neat, but it never took. I then moved my stuff out of the guest room and into the game room loft. It was okay there, but it was hard for me to keep going up and down stairs if I forgot something during one of my classes or crops.

After much discussion with Mr. Keiser, we decided to use the formal living room as my craft/class area. I am only halfway done with setting it up. Here is the progress so far. I'll post details later.

Country Living Summer Cookout Kit

The Country Living Summer cookout kit gives you everything you need to make your backyard BBQ party a big hit! You can see the contents of this kit here:

Country Living Summer Cookout Kit.

New Stampin Up Catalog- In digital format

If you didn't already know, the Stampin Up catalog has been extended to a one year catalog instead of a six month catalog. Now you have a full year to get excited and not have to worry if the stamp set you haven't gotten will retire in six months. You can browse the new catalog online here: CLICK HERE.

If you have placed an order with me in the past or are currently a member of my stamp club, you will be receiving yours in the mail shortly. I know some folks like their catties in digital format and some people like to savor, dog ear, sticky tab, drool on, and occasionally spill coffee on their pages in excitement--, ugh, sorry. That would be me.

The Fall-Winter Definitely Decorative brochure can be found here CLICK HERE.

Email me at ericaintexas@gmail.com woith your order or any questions you may have!