Wheee! Scrapbook & Cards Today!

First of all, happy 3rd birthday to Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine!

Next, be sure to check out today's blog entry on Scrapbook & Cards Today. Wheeeeee!

Finally, here is the card...that inspired the layout...that inspired the bunny card.

Dang it. Now I have that "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly" song in my head.

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Quickutz die (grass), Cricut diecut letters (Opposites Attract), DMC embroidery thread, other: buttons, foam layering tape, sandpaper.

Core'dinations and The Bunny

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (Vintage, Chocolate Box, WhiteWash, All in the Family), Scenic Route grid paper, Spellbinders butterfly die and Wizard embossing machine, Sizzix bunny & flower die and impression folder, Fiskars border punch, EK Success scallop circle punch and marker, Uniball Signo white pen, Basic Grey chipboard letters, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters and edge distressor, Hampton Art letter stamps, Tsukineko Ink, Lego, other: date stamp, sandpaper, corner rounder).

Just before Winter CHA I was asked by Core'dinations if I would teach a class for them at a the Retailers' Event at Open Page Wholesalers. They were looking for a class that would feature some of the many techniques that can be done with Core'dinations cardstock. I would need to use tools and other products that Open Page Wholesalers carried as well. I love a challenge so I said, "YES", right away.

On a sad note, I had planned on taking pictures of my kids doing some Easter egg decorating but Ema tripped on a walk home from school and scraped the front of her nose, chin and forehead so bad that I didn't want to risk a Children's Aid investigation but using photos of her. My good friend, Sarah Hough, sent me photos of her daughter, Grace, to use on the layout.

Some techniques from the page:

• the large yellow egg demonstrates tearing to reveal the colour core of the cardstock.


• the medium pink egg shows antiquing - a simple method of scrunching up the paper, smoothing it out and then giving it a light sanding.


• the small pink egg was dry embossed using the new Textured Impression folders by Sizzix.


• the title was created using Basic Grey and Heidi Swapp chipboard letters. The technique was posted on my blog on March 2, 2009.


• the polka dot background of this double layout was created by sanding over top of large base pieces of Lego. This technique was discovered by Michelle Engel, also on the Core'dinations design team.


• the bunny & flower die and butterfly die were enhanced with a light sanding. The Chocolate Box cardstock, used for the bunny's body, is the perfect choice.


• the green border strips were first punched with the Fiskars "Threading Water" punch and then distressed along the other side with the Heidi Swapp edge distressor.

I had an amazing time teaching this class to the group of retailers at the event! Hopefully I inspired them all to head back to their stores and start playing with Core'dinations cardstock in ways they hadn't thought of.

Now, if you would like the complete step-by-step instructions on how to make this layout, drop me an email at: thehodgees@yahoo.ca and I will send them to you in Word format.

If you are local to Woodstock, Ontario, I will be offering this class on Thursday, April 16th, from 5:30pm until 7pm at Eastdale Public School for $10 a person. Core'dinations has donated enough supplies so that I can teach this class to 26 people with all proceeds going to the grade 7/8 Camp Celtic trip. Book your spot by calling Eastdale P.S. at (519) 519-537-2652. If you are unable to attend the class you may also order a kit which comes with instructions and all the supplies you will need. You will need to arrange pick-up though. If you attend the class on April 16th it also includes this "Hoppy Easter" card as a bonus. This card features a cloud making technique which is also featured in the Spring 2009 Issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today (page 56).

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (All in the Family), Basic Grey patterned paper and chipboard letters, Sizzix bunny & flower die, Cricut diecut grass (Plantin Schoolbook cartridge), other: sandpaper.

Can I Just Say....

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned and kraft paper, Scenic Route worn grid paper, My Sentiments Exactly trunk stamp, American Crafts Thickers, Making Memories buttons, DMC embroidery thread, Stampin' Up! hemp cord, We R' Memory Keepers eyelet and Crop-a-Dile, EK Success circle and scallop circle punches and Tsukineko ink, designed for Sketch This #80.

It's been a long time coming but the snow has finally all melted here, the robins are singing quite merrily in our yard every day, and the snowpants officially got put away today.

Dang you, Paula Gilarde

So I have been tagged.

Paula tagged me this morning.

Here are the rules of this tag:

1. Take a picture of yourself right now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.

2. Load the picture onto your blog.

3. Tag three people to play. Remember, if you are tagged on another blog, we will all be heading to yours to see if you played along.

WARNING: This photo is true to the rules. My morning involved rolling out of bed, heading to the kitchen to make Craig and me a protein shake with blueberries and bananas, brewing a pot of coffee and heading to the computer. I think I may have some blueberries in my front teeth. Again, dang you, Paula and your tagging.

If you feel you are lookin' finer than this, drop me an email and I will tag you. Rules are made to be broken.

This is what happens...

...when I don't tidy up my supplies. So, I recently purchased two sheets of Hambly Screen Mini-Graph Overlays at our store and made a card. Well, seeing as I didn't put my supplies away I made another card. And then another...and another. I found out that the overlays score quite well and make really cool bases for cards. Yeah. Clearly I will be buying more.


Supplies: Hambly Mini-Graph overlays, Glue Dots.
40! Card: October Afternoon patterned paper and diecut journaling cards, American Crafts Thickers, Stampin' Up! border punch, EK Success letter stamps and marker, Tsukineko ink, designed for Sketch This #81

Home Sweet Home: October Afternoon patterned paper, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, Scenic Route grid paper, Sizzix embossing folder, American Crafts Thickers, EK Success letter stamps and leaf punch, Tsukineko ink, other: foam layering tape.

Happy Birthday: Core'dinations Black Magic cardstock, October Afternoon patterned paper, Scenic Route grid paper, American Crafts Thickers, EK Success letter stamps and butterfly punch, Fiskars border punch, Tsukineko ink, other: foam layering tape, sandpaper.

Nurture You: Core'dinations cardstock, Jillibean Soup patterned paper, Creative Impressions twill, My Sentiments Exactly stamp, Quickutz label die, SEI brads, Prima flowers, Tsukineko ink.

She's Off to the Races!

Some friends of ours have a daughter named Hannah. Hannah is in grade 5 this year. She had recently expressed an interest in learning how to scrapbook and, of course, I was all over offering to teach her.

In one evening, yes...only one, here is the beautiful project that she made.

Be sure to leave Hannah a comment as it's her first attempt at scrapbooking and I personally feel she "knocked it out of the park!" Great title. Great photos. Great journaling. Super great dog!

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Masterpiece Studio patterned paper, May Arts ribbon, Basic Grey chipboard letters, EK Success letter stamps, Tsukineko ink, We R' Memory Keepers Corner Chomper corner rounder, Stampin' Up border punch and scallop circle punch, other: foam layering tape.

Jillibean Soup Annoucement

I am so excited!

I have been asked to serve on the Jillibean Soup design team for the next six months. If you have been visiting my blog in the past month or so you would have seen a lot of layouts and projects that feature their product lines. I love their bright, cheerful colours. Their products are optimistic in their nature. And, just like a great bowl of soup, have a hearty feeling which fills you up.

I know lots of scrappers on the list including the guest designers. Cherie Nymeyer is also a Canadian gal from up the road the bit. Congrats, Cherie!!!

Congrats to everyone! I can't wait to see what sort of goodness we can all cook up.

Hello, Gorgeous!

...where have you been this long winter?
I found this beautiful sign of spring outside our front door this afternoon at 4PM EST.
Spring must be on her way!
Have a great weekend.

The Mc Cue Family Farm

This past week a new line arrived at our store by Jenni Bowlin. I called my mother in law right away as the "Farmer's Wife" line was calling out to me for her childhood photos. She was one of five girls. That had to be a bit of a bummer for a farmer.
I used my new favourite technique for dry embossing the "farm" title. Vintage Core'dinations cardstock was the perfect match.

Supplies: Core'dinations Vintage cardstock ("Bloom"), Jenni Bowlin patterned paper, milk cap buttons, journaling card, Jillibean Soup kraft paper, Fiskars border punch, May Arts ribbon, Creative Imaginations felt flowers, EK Success corner rounder, Cricut diecut title ("the" - Opposites Attract), Scenic Route chipboard letters, Hampton Art letter stamps, Tsukineko ink, Mc Gill tab punch, other: sandpaper.

Rock Star

I called my mother in law the other night to ask for some photos of her parents. I figure that in exchange for the photos I needed to cough up a new one of Ema for her.

Ema was born to be a rock star. Clearly.

Supplies: Jillibean Soup patterned paper, kraft paper and journaling sprouts, Scenic Route grid paper, American Crafts Thickers, Sizzix embossing folder, EK Success letter stamps, other: foam layering tape.

I Need Beach

Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock (*NEW* Whitewash), Jillibean Soup kraft paper and journaling sprout, Kaiser wooden florishes (for embossing technique, see March 2 entry), American Crafts Thickers, Balloon font, sandpaper.

Yep.

It's cold. Still cold.

This Canadian has had enough.

I wish this was some awesome posting about how Craig and I are eagerly awaiting our Caribbean cruise during the March Break. I wish I could go on and on about how I am working on my base tan at some tanning salon for the trip.

Yeah.

Nope.
Instead I will post a layout I just made about the beach.

Hey, if you are reading this and you are packing for some tropical getaway, please be a friend and DO NOT comment about it. Unless you are prepared to lug my body through customs as I lay silently folded in your suitcase DO NOT COMMENT ON YOUR VACATION.

Thanks.

My Funny Valentine

This is a layout that I made based on a sketch from the April 2009 issue of Scrapbooks Etc. This layout is great for using up the last of your scraps. Clearly I have been using a lot of Jillibean Soup paper lately.

It is kind of hard to see the "My Funny" but that was the look I was trying to achieve. In order to emboss chipboard letters into Core'dinations cardstock you need to follow these steps:

1. Cut up an old Cricut mat or something with a repositionable surface. Cut the mat so that it will fit through your embossing machine AND so that it's larger than the piece of paper you will be embossing.

2. Using the grid on the mat, center your chipboard letters. In this case I used chipboard letters by Basic Grey. Lay your cardstock on top of that.

3. Place a rubber embossing mat over the entire area. In this case I used the Tan Polymer Pad by Spellbinders from their Wizard machine.

4. Run through your embossing machine. You may have to add to your sandwich if the thickness is not quite right.

The possibilities are endless when using Core'dinations ColorCore cardstock for this technique. You can then sand the surface of their cardstock to reveal the letters even more.