National Craft Month Recap

I promised myself to create a lot this March.  I was able to make 6 traditional/hybrid layouts (one of them a double page), 2 Altered items, 75 Cards, 6 digital layouts, 1 stained glass project and 2 crochet projects.  I think that's the most I've ever made in one month.  I guess it's not bad, huh? 

Here's the last one I did for today.  I would consider this a hybrid, because the main object of the page is a digital layout I made using Photoshop Elements.  I promised my sister I'll make her a scrapbook album about her college graduation, and some of the layouts were digital.  My printer doesn't have the capacity to print 12x12 pages, so the biggest I can print is 8x8 for a full square.  The best way for me is to incorporate it into a traditional layout.  I seem to find doing hybrids easier because there's not much you need to add.  You just need to garnish it a little bit, and that's it.  All the embellishments I used in this page are leftovers/scrap.  It's just hard for me throw stuff away, even a 2 inch piece of ribbon.  That stripe ribbon you see is the last of it's kind in my stock.  It's been in that jar of leftover ribbon for as long as I can remember.  I just couldn't get rid of it, and I'm glad I didn't because it's perfect for this layout.  I'm really not into brands actually.  As long as a particular piece of paper or embellishment looks good with another, that's what matters the most to me.  I don't want to limit my pages with just a particular brand.

For months I've been drooling for a card display rack.  Every now and then I would check out websites that sell them.  Earlier last week, I chanced upon a good deal for one.  Displays2Go was selling this greeting card fixture for $22.27 (originally $46.81).  Since I am planning to sell cards in a local craft show this year, I figured it would be just right to have one.  It came in 2 boxes, and it was very easy to assemble.  This is really a good buy.

I can't wait for Spring!!!  Too bad, I'll miss most of it though, because I'll be enjoying the sizzling hot summer in the Philippines and I'm soooo excited!  So, have you planned anything silly for April Fool's Day???  Here are some more observances for the coming month: 

• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Autism Awareness Month
• Cancer Control Month
• Celebrate Diversity Month
• Couple Appreciation Month
• Injury Prevention Month
• Jazz Appreciation Month
• Month of the Military Child
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Decorating Month
• National Poetry Month
• Physical Wellness Month
• Stress Awareness Month

They would all be good topics for a scrapbook page or even an album.  There are some of those that really interest me.  Check out my calendar for more daily and weekly holidays and observances for the month of April.

Stop and Smell the Roses...

Meari suggested to paint my ribbon organizer black and white to match the rest of my craft room.  I bought this from Dek Development a few months back.  I finally did two days ago.  I just used regular black acrylic paint, and using the White Ultimate Gel Pen by American Crafts (the best white pen I've used so far!), I added the doodling with the aid of the pattern by The Crafters Workshop.  Then I added purple flower sequins for a little touch of color.  You can see more photos right here.  I also made my own ribbon holders/spools using the centers of the GlueDots and my Scotch ATG tape.  I knew I can make good use of those things.  I didn't want to throw them away.  I was able to make 5 of them.  There were some empty spools too, so what I did was just cover them with black paper and stamped over it.  It looked just like the rest of the spools I made.  It's really easy to make your own ribbon spools.  I made a tutorial right here.

While I was at DekDevelopment, I saw a new item in their product line.  Their Pen Organizer Box (scoll down to see) looks really interesting.  I like the idea that the organizer is inclined a bit, which is ideal for storing pens.  I want one.... maybe two???

Here's my latest traditional layout I made for FreckleFriend's March contest.  The theme was "lucky".  I used DCWV Rockstar and FarEast for the paper; K & Co and Colorbok for the alpha die cuts; Stampin' Up and Magnetic Poetry for the stamps; EK Success, Staedler, Spica and Sharpie for journaling; Ranger Inkssentials and Beadazzles for the flower accent in the bottom right; and Scotch, Duck and Glue Dots for adhesive. Misc. materials are spiral paper clips, blue brads and nail accents. I also used Adobe Photoshop Elements to tweak the photo and Canon MP700 Printer for printing.  While I was doing this layout, I realized there are so many things to be thankful for.  Most of the time, we don't even think about these little things.  Like what they say, it doesn't hurt to stop and smell the roses every now and then.

Time for me to eat lunch!

 

Thursday

I was able to finish my altered wood crate yesterday.  Ever since, I've liked the "black and white and another color" scheme.  I've seen other people do it with cards and scrapbooking layouts.  This is my shot at this really cool technique.  I painted the crate black, and foam stamped (Plaid Enterprises) it with white acrylic paint.  I wrapped a black lace around it, then I adhered the white assorted buttons on top.  I used ColorBok Prismatic Alpha Punch-Outs (from Walmart) for the words "create" and "inspire".  I added dimension on the die cuts using Pilot Latte.  For the flowers on the side, I painted a little bit of purple using Popstar Paint Pen I bought from Japan.  For the final touch, I adhered purple flower sequins on some of the buttons using Glue Dots. 

Now that I have started with this crate, I want to do the same with 9 other crates I bought from the 100 Yen Store back in Japan.  You can check out more photos of my Black & White & Purple Wood Crate here.

I recently discovered FreckleFriends through ScrapScene.  This website reminds me of SplitCoastStampers, only it focuses on traditional scrapbooking.  Since I don't belong to an online scrapbooking community, I decided to join this one.  So far, I find the people there really friendly.  They're actually having a contest for March, which is to make a layout all about LUCK.  I guess my muse is not lazy today, so I was able to make a layout about it.  My favorite thing about this layout is using the Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents and Suze Weinberg's Beadazzles.  Right now, I'm waiting for the guide lines to vanish (air erasable marker).

I thank Jerosha for the "enabler" she posted about the ShabbyPrincess website.  I was able to download a lot of freebies!  For this layout, I used the Urban Kiwi kit and Memory Mixer. I've been making a lot of scrapbook pages about my sister, and I haven't really done a single one about my brother.  I haven't seen him for 5 years, and I can't wait to see him next month!

Ok time for me to do house chores.....

Good Friday

Among Catholics, today's the commemoration of Jesus' death on the cross at 3 pm.  Time to ponder about our life and remember that Jesus died for our sins.  I remember we were not supposed to do anything "fun" on this day when we were kids.  But hey, most of the people I know back in the Philippines probably are out of town and having a great time at the beaches right now.

This week, I was able to do a small crochet project.  I made a little pouch for my niece-in-law's MP3 player.  I like the final product, that I want one of my own too!  It's my first time to use this kind of yarn.  It felt weird at first, but I like the final product.  Plus, I just used single crochet stitches on this, and it's very easy.

Like I said in another blog, I did finish the rest of the cards in the Ultimate Card Kit by Becky Higgins.  I noticed that the level of difficulty of the cards got higher as I went along.  But that was fine.  I still love the end results.  This card on the right is one of my favorites :) 

Check out the rest of the cards by clicking here.

Also, I was able to make another digital layout using Memory Mixer.   I used NBK for the background and flourish in the back.  The filegree in the bottom right is by Alice Koh.

A Day of Goodies

Who doesn't like to get goody mail?!?!?  On Monday, I got two packages:  one is an envelope with Felt Fusion from Creating Inspirations and the other one is a double page layout by Leah of SplitcoastStampers. 

I've been seeing the Felt Fusion line on scrapbooking magazines, and I've been wanting to try it.  It so happened that Creating Inspirations is having their closeout sale, and everything is 50% off, including sale items.  I can't wait to play with these!  Better take advantage of their sale, ladies :) 

I belong to a 12x12 Page Layout Monthly Scrapbook Club in SplitcoastStampers.  The members are assigned a month where they create a 2 page layout to be distributed to the other members.  So basically, if there are 12 members, you create 11 double page layouts (12 to include yourself) of the same design for the month you're assigned with.  Then you receive a double page layout every month (except your month), a total of 11 pages.  I like this system because you're assured of receiving something each month.  Just pray that there won't be any flakers (because the one in charge of February is one).  This is my second year being in this club and I love it.  I enjoy seeing what other people make.  Then it makes me ask myself "Why didn't I think of that???"

Last week, hubby bought a small crate of tangerines from Walmart.  And I told him, those are too many for us.  But when I saw the wood crate, I told him, go ahead and buy it.  Hahaha!  So yesterday, I started altering this wood crate, however it's not finished yet.  I figured it would be perfect to put in all the cards that I have made .

Also yesterday, I was able to finish another layout, this time a hybrid, showing my sister's graduation photos.  I'm really happy with the outcome!  I'm planning to submit it with a designer application this week, so I won't show the page yet.  Here's a sneak peak, though.  My goal this year is to get published in a magazine and/or become a designer for a few months or so.  I'd like to try something different this time.

Wish me luck!