Hump Day Hat Trick

What is a "hump day hat trick" you ask? That is a term that I made up to describe what we will be doing on the message boards on Wednesdays (9pm, sharp! lol). I love hump day and I love hat tricks (something fabulous that you learn to do and that you will tend to use over & over again). The message board is up and running and I have been thinking of ways to make the chirping crickets go away and really get the board hopping. Well, hump day hat trick is just one of the things that we will be doing. It is sorta like an online class, sorta like a chat....... oh heck who am I kidding. It is a get together for ladies who scrap that we can do in the middle of the week to get our juices flowing for the weekend. I put it at 9pm est because I don't know about you but between 8am and 8pm it is all about everyone but me. The kids, the dog, the hubby, the boss, the bills whateva. 9 is usually when I can have a wee bit of quiet time, so I want to invite you ladies to come and play with me for about 30 minutes or so. We will be doing a paper piecing project titled "a mother's love is as sweet as hunny". Please don't forget to register for the boards & gallery prior to 9 so that you will be able to jump right in. Here is the pattern for the bear and you will also need the following:

*right click and print picture. The full size bear is 6 1/4 X 6 1/4 and the 2nd bear (the topper) is 5 1/2 X 4. The size does not have to be the same as mine. Just reduce or enlarge to make whatever size bear you would like. You can also right click and save if you would like to use the pattern again for a later project*

• 7 Medium sized flowers (I used primas)
• Pencil
• sharp detail scissors
• brown bazzill cardstock (or whatever color you want your bear to be)
• lighter brown cardstock for muzzel & center of ears (scrap)
• tan cardstock for bee hive (scrap)
• vellum for angel wings (scrap)
• white gel pen (for centers of eyes)
• green cardstock for leaves & flower stems (scrap)
• yellow bazzill cardstock for bee body (scrap)
• black bazzill cardstock for bee body, eyes, nose, hole in bee hive & tips of antenna
• chalk set for shading
• fine tip black marker
• paper trimmer

Congratulations to Marcie Morgan! She is the winner of the guest kit designer contest for this week. Her work is fabulous and we are so excited to be working with her. Check her out here. I would also like to thank all of the fabulous artist who posted layouts. It was a very tough decision and I truly appreciate your interest in designing for Gifted Memories.

Marcie, your kit is in the mail and your email will be in your inbox shortly!

We have a few ideas in the works for the message boards and would love to have your input on what you would like to see there. Just leave a comment here on the blog, contact us via the store or you can email me at sjamison8@sc.rr.com. A couple of the things that we will be implementing starting next week are:

• Scrappers SOS - if you have a design dilemma, a question or tricky piece of equipment join us on the message boards on Tuesday to chat about it. One of our designers will be standing by and I am sure that there will be a good samaritan there willing to offer help in case the designer is at a loss. Time 9-10pm est
• 101 Uses - let's talk about how you use .......... Every week, we will pick a popular tool, paper, adhesive, embelli, colorant, whateva and talk about the many different ways it can be used (we are a resourceful bunch we scrapbookers). It won't be just limited to traditional products either! Join us on Thursdays at 9-10 pm est to share your fabulous ideas!
• Wuz Up - What are you up too? Get together with fellow crafters (not just the scrappy type) to talk about what your working on and why. Ask questions, give suggestions, share ideas and stories. For you charity scrappers, you may even be able to scare up a few donations to your cause. Join us on Sunday's at 6-8pm est.

What's new at the store :
Making Memories Ella Tag Journaling Book

Making Memories Jack Tag Journaling Book Petaloo Dahlia Box Blend, Large *I also have pink&black, blue&brown and light blue&dark blue on back order!*

Patterned Paper from Bo-Bunny, Basic Grey, Reminisce, Creative Imaginations and Fancy Pants

Creative Imaginations Rhonna Farrer Overlay Thanks for stopping by the blog and see you on the boards!

Can we start the day with a challenge?

Let's get the day off to a good start with a simple, simple challenge.

1. Title Layout "Anything Goes"
2. Use 15 Red Brads
3. Use one tag
4. Must have a pocket

Show your lo off in the Gallery or on your blog (leave a link so the nosey folks -like me- can see).

Over 50 New Items In the Store!

Boy am I tired! I just finished posting over 50 new items to the store. So many scrap goodies, so little time! The new glimmer mist colors are just fabulous, oy, I can't wait till you see them. You have to post a line to tell me what you think. Good enough to eat. And the Fancy Pants rub-ons. What about the journal ATC's? Oh, oh, I cant forget about the HS alpha mask and bling cherries. Too, too cute. You are just going to have to stop by the store and check it all out for yourselves!


I am so happy to announce that finally, finally, the message board and gallery are up and running. I am very much looking forward to chatting with you guys and seeing what you've been up too. If you are planning on entering the guest kit designer contest, you can upload a photo into the gallery. It was so much simpler than I thought it would be (I am super computer challenged and since my kids weren't home kinda lost lol).


Marcie, you are officially the first entrant in the kit designer contest! I just wanted to say that I love love love your work and am wishing you the best of luck. We will be choosing the first designer on Sunday and sending the first kit out on Monday so make sure that you get your entries in!


We received a ton of request for the paperbag albums at the last 2 shows that we were at. In fact we sold out of them! So per your request, the blank albums are now in the store in 2 sizes, 5X5 & 6X6 ($2 & $3 respectively). Also loaded today are the 2008 blank calendars ($2). The calendars are a fabulous way to record your families year. Just decorate and fill with photos as the months go by. Before you know it, you will have scrapped a whole year. At the end of the year, take the calendar apart and slip it right into an album. Easy peasy. Here are some example pics of what you can do (these completed calendars will be on sale at the May shows):


January - I used papers that aren't too themey (so not a word but it fit what I was talking about) throughout the entire calendar. Anyone at any stage/place/circumstance could use it. Very versatile.

March

April

June - I liked how all the little bits & pieces came together. Sorry about the horrible pic!
May
Here are just some random lo's that I have done:


Did this one last year and still love it because of the paper and the bronze stamping and embossing that I did to make it more formal.

I wanted to try something different. You don't get much more different than this and because I just randomly rounded, it was simple and quick.

One of my all time favorite layouts. How can you go wrong with Dream Street & Basic Grey papers?
This is for a class at the fabulous Pink House. It's called "A Way With Words" and is all about finding simple ways to get more bang out of your titles and about inspired journaling. I struggle with what to write all the time so I am happy to share some of the ways that I have found to make it easier on me to tell the whole story on my pages (starting with a fab, simple title). Sometimes I forget that 25-30 years from now, noone will know who the heck the people in the photos are.
Thanks for dropping by the blog and hope you have a fabulous hump day!!!!!!

New Find

I'm sure that you all know about this already, but I just discovered it today. And immediately ordered it and added it to the store. Fabulous!!!!!!!Look what I did with it. I wrote the word "lucky" and then glittered it. This is a page from yet another mini-album that I am working on and I plan to journal & glitter a whole page with this. Woohoo!!!

I have also ordered these for the store (they will be here on the 8th):

Fancy Pants Glitter Cuts (these are 3 of the 5 that I ordered but they are all just as fabulous)

In the newsletter I announced that Gifted Memories is looking for a few good scrappers to be guest kit designers. Well that contest is set to begin on Monday(tomorrow). I have already listed the details to the right so make sure that you take a look. I have seen some of you guys's work and am so excited about this contest! Don't be shy, send us a link!!!!! I will be putting this contest call on pubcalls, 2peas, CK and any and everywhere that I can think of so make sure that you get your link posted! If you have any questions, email me or post a comment. I can't wait to see what you come up with and want to thank you in advance for submitting.

I checked the website for the New Jersey Memories Expo and the Saturday Something Old, Something New class is now sold out! That class was so much fun in OH so if you are thinking about it, sign up! I didn't have time to take pictures as the ladies had me working out but will definitely take some in Jersey. Check out the class blog if you have questions about materials etc.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and hope that you had a fabulously lazy Sunday. See you tomorrow.

Studio Shot

Okay, I don't really want to tell you how nosey I am but i'm going to. I am addicted to lurking on blogs and love to look at studios. I want to see where other people are creating their magic. I have seen some pretty good ones and I have just one question. HOW do you keep your studio CLEAN? Is there a magic pill, maid, super obedient children (husband)(pet) that live to clean when you are done creating? I am super slob and try really hard to clean after creating but normally it is 2 or 3 in the am (why, oh why does creativity strike so late) and am just too tired. Well I am going to share anyway because this is truly my happy place.

My workbench with the project that I am working on right now. As you can see, I just dump everything out and pick it up as it fits to me.

My planning station. I keep all of my reference finds, class calender, paperwork that I need to fill out etc here......
One of the windows that I look out of when I should be working......
My cutter, basket of fibers, pretty stuff that I like to look at (it is right next to the other window that I look out of when I should be working), stamps that I use often and my clock that I ignore until the last possible minute.
Look at what my mommy gave me. She loves the goodwill (yardsales, thrift stores, estate sales, etc) and usually when she utters the words "I picked something up for you" it gets groans, moans and "mom, my house is so full already" from the six of us. This time, just as I was about to say the words, my mom showed me these........

and this.........than this.......

*my little guy is a frog fanatic! He is actually writing a (100%) voluntary research paper on the life journey of a little baby tadpole to a big ol fat toad (don't ask me why because I have no clue. Am just glad that it is educational and does not involve bringing one into the house)*Who am I not to give them a good home? Love ya mom, thanks!

Here is what I am working on..........

Altering a book that I found on clearance
And the finally ready to be released (Monday April 7th Shipping April 15th) Gifted Memories Kit club. Gotta do some example pages but love the kit. It took me awhile to find just the right things to put in there. I didn't want to go with the ordinary but I also did not want to add things that would be so trendy that it would be hard to use them (most of it anyway).

The kit includes items from scenic route, bo-bunny, kaiser, studio 45, k&co, american crafts, bazzill and more. It is jam packed full of cool stuff and is called Hard Lines and Soft Edges. The name represents the transition from the hard lines of winter to the soft edges & colors of spring. Love the kit!

I also put a couple of new page kits in the store and am working on a few more that will be added in the next few weeks..........

New products that I have added:
Daisy D's Butterfly Dreams Journal Die-Cuts

K&Company Tape Runners (finally, a one step refill)
Making Memories Journal Books
Smitten Die Cuts

Thickers

And more. Make sure that you stop by the store and pick up what you like before it's gone!

The Newsletter will go out today and I sure do hope you enjoy it. I would love to hear some feed back on what you think so please share it here.

New Pics

My husband just recently went to Jerusalem and sent me these photos.....

I sure wish that I could have went with him. Oh well, maybe next time. He said that it was absolutely beautiful there. I love to travel and am going to make sure that I get to see the country for myself. It is a good thing that not only does he like to take photos, he is very good at it (much better than me and he likes to take photos more than I do. If I take the kids somewhere, I will be lucky to come back with one or two photos).

This is a project that I worked on today.

I used the photos as the actual album pages and actually did my journalling right on the photo with a souffle pen. I also used the backs of the photos as a mat and placed matted photos right on to it. The blue background behind the word pie is a square of crackle paint and the rest is scraps. Yes all scraps. Leftover embellies, letters, paper and cardstock. How can I justify the new if I still have tons of the old? So ladies, break em out and use em up. Mini albums are terrific for scraps! After you have finished, visit the store and stock up on more goodies.

I know that I have already told you how terrific the Ohio show was. The classes went well and the store did fantastic. Glimmer mist is a bonified scrapper favorite and I sold out of every bottle that I had on the very first day. As a matter of fact I sold out of quite a bit of stuff and now have room for some terrific new items. They will be hitting the shelves by Tuesday so make sure that you drop by the store. Here is a short list of what is coming:

Glimmer mist: Sugar Cookie (absolutely gorgeous!), Coffee (ditto), Snowflake, Spring Mint, Daffodil, Van Breeze, Tiger Lily, Silver, Pearl, Sea Glass, Moonlight, Lemon Zest, Graphite, Gold, Cherub Pink, Black Cherry, and Bronze. If you like a color that I didn't list let me know and I will get it in for you.

Making Memories:

Heidi Swapp: The bird mini mask, journal stamps, clock stamps and angel wing stamps went like wildfire (they are super, super cute so I see why!)

These letters are actually a mask that can be used over and over again!

Bo Bunny Paper Frills in: Lily White, Bubble Blue, Limeade, Bumblebee and Cupcake (shown)

Fancy Pants Rub-Ons and double-sided artist trading cards (4 different sets, 1-Simply Sentiments, 2-Seasonal Celebrations 3-Notecard Journaling Prompts and 4-Remember Journal): Rub-ons

ATC's
And of the new kits that were debuted at the show, here are the 2 that are left (1 each of the Cookie and 2 each of the Color)I can't believe how fast May is coming at us. We have 2 shows (Memories Expo NJ and CKC Buffalo) so if you plan to visit the booth, make sure that you sign up for the newsletter. We have a coupon for you! Also check out the class blog if you are taking a class. Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening! See you tomorrow.

Hello My Name is Shere........

...and it has been 11 days since my last blog post. Not good, not good at all. But I do have a reasonably good excuse. Memories Scrapbooking Expo in Columbus, OH!

It was so much fun (exhausting) but a ton of fun. As usual, I met a ton (at least 108) of terrific ladies who were so supportive (not to mention talented & FUN!!!!!) in my classes. You were so good to me and I want to say a great big THANK YOU. I really appreciate all the kind words and you sharing your time with me. I just today got the rest of the blue crackle paint off of my hands, lol, and I can't tell you how sorry I felt for the very nice Cord Camera man that got my classroom after we finished. There were torn strips of paper, paint, glue and lace paper everywhere. He was very patient so all went well. I bet he wanted to beat me up though (just joking, he was extremely sweet, really). I have completely slept my butt off for the last 2 days and my feet are just now starting to talk to me again so tomorrow, back to work. I came back with so many new ideas. I didn't get to shop at all but I met a few of my fellow vendors and have to tell you that they were incredible! Can't wait to see them again.

Casey & Sandie your kits will be in the mail tomorrow and I hope that you love them. Thank you for being so patient. I didn't tell you this at the show, but I am sure that if the situations were reversed, I would have thrown a hissy fit and you will never know how grateful I am that you guys are nothing like me. You were so graceful and even took another class from me.

I will post some projects and a new challenge for you tomorrow. If you are on the newsletter list, you will be getting that tomorrow as well. I still haven't decided what the prize for the blog poll will be but I will make sure it is terrific! (glimmer mist maybe? Scrappers seem to love it) Have a terrific evening and blog you tomorrow.