Scrapbooking News, Super Moon & Cropping!

It's been a while since I've blogged, so I have several items to share! Tons of things are going on in my scrapbooking world! First, I got the opportunity to meet Madison Parker from Echo Park! He was at Scrapbook Island in San Jose and I got to take a class from him! He was a super nice guy!

Speaking of scrapbook stores, I try to look up stores when I'm traveling. I came across this store in Hawaii!

I found this other one in Nevada! 

I love finding stores and supporting small business!

On a sad note, I received the news that Scrapbooks Etc. magazine will be ceasing publication with the August 2012 issue. It's tragic to see yet another paper publication go out of print. This was my favorite magazine! I loved all of the projects and articles about new products. It seems as if the electronic age is taking over more and more of the scrapbooking industry. But, I will always be a traditional paper scrapbooker, so you can always count on seeing paper projects here!

On May 5th, I attended a National Scrapbooking Day Crop at Our Paper Place in Newark! I was so excited to be able to get a ton of layouts done! The crop had a pirate theme and it was so much fun!

Sarah & Gloria were such great hostesses!

 The crop room was packed with scrapping ladies!

This was my space where I was working on layouts.

Mom was working with her stamps & inks.

Sarah and I having some fun with the pirate props! 

It was also the night of the Super Moon!

It only happens every 18 years and I was so excited that I got to see it!

I think it helped out the creative mojo that we had going at the crop!

On the business side, Memory Works came out with the Spring/Summer 2012 catalog and there are some amazing new lines! We now have Studio Calico, Pebbles and the new Simple Stories 6X8 Album along with all of the new memorabilia pockets from the new Simple Stories lines - Awesome, Fabulous, Documented & Summer Fresh! Be sure to check them all out on my website! Remember that I offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $25. Please email me your orders directly at purpleprincess214@gmail.com. I accept Paypal for quick & easy payments!

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my little corner of the scrapbooking world!

Leave me a comment and let me know you were here! I appreciate the support!

Scrapping with May Flaum!

Yesterday, I had the privilege of taking yet another workshop with the wonderful May Flaum! She is an absolutely amazing teacher! This workshop was also my mom's first technique workshop! My mom had a ton of fun and learned new stamping techniques!

We worked on 5 different projects and each one showcased a scrapbooking trend that is either new or holding strong in the industry. We got to work with the new Heidi Swapp Color Magic paper & banners as well as the new Tim Holtz Distress Markers! I had so fun much coloring with the new Distress Markers and I can't wait for mine to arrive! They are currently on backorder and I'm hoping that they'll ship soon! May gave us some great tips on using them with stamps!
I can't wait for her Camp Scrap event on her website. You can sign up for her newsletter, so that you don't miss anything! She's going to have tons of projects & videos! I'm currently taking her Big Picture Classes workshop "The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide." It's a great class with tons of video tutorials. Her creativity is just fabulous! I have learned so much from her! Just thought I would pass on her info to my fellow scrappers!

Organization, Shopping & New Products!

As you all know, I'm trying to get myself organized in 2012! I started with cleaning and organizing my stash of scrapbooking supplies with the JetMax cubes from Michaels which resulted in a whole wall of stuff!

Obviously these are completely filled now! I'm on my way to getting things off of the floor! Yay!
Then I need to think about all of the scraps that I have. My scrap envelope is on the verge of exploding, so that prompted me to purchase this fabulous color coordinated cart from Michaels! I can't wait to start sorting and get that space back on my table!

On the tool front, I finally gave in and bought the Sizzix Big Shot! I couldn't pass up the amazing deal on Oh My Crafts! So, I ordered this and I can't wait to get it and use it! I currently have the Cuttlebug and the Sizzix Texture Boutique, but I've always had to pass up the larger dies, including all of the great Tim Holtz dies, before because my machines were way too small. Not anymore!

Last, but not least, there are a TON of great new products now available for purchase on my Memory Works website! I'm so excited about all of the new lines! Just to give you a tease...
There are new lines from the following manufacturers:

• 3 Bugs In A Rug
• Basic Grey
• Bo Bunny
• Crate Paper
• Echo Park
• Fancy Pants Designs
• Lily Bee Designs
• My Mind's Eye
• Pebbles - BRAND NEW to Memory Works!
• Simple Stories including the Mix & Match Albums!!!
• Studio Calico - BRAND NEW to Memory Works!
• Teresa Collins
• ZVA Bling

Remember that I offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $25 (USA ONLY).
Please email me your orders at purpleprincess214@gmail.com. I accept Paypal for easy payments!
Come shop with me today! Thank you for your support!!!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Please leave me a comment & let me know you were here!

My Birthday, Expo Review, DT Projects & a Contest!

Well, it's been a whirlwind month so far! Talk about March Madness and it's not even about basketball around here! I'm talking all about me and scrapping! On March 14th, I turned the big 4-0! Yes, I'm finally forty! I spent my birthday with my mom, sister & husband. I took the day off from work and enjoyed a great lunch at CPK with my hubby and then a great dinner with my mom, sister & hubby at my favorite Italian restaurant, Buon Gusto! The following night was spent celebrating with my in-laws & godparents and the next night was with my dad's side of the family! It's been great and extremely fattening, but I'm the happiest when I'm around people who love me & feed me well!
This past Saturday was the Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Out of the three Expos that I attend (Pleasanton, Santa Clara and Sacramento), this one is the biggest and has the most vendors. My mom and I ventured out early and got there around 10am. The place was packed and there were tons of rude people! Now, my mom brought her cane because her knees had been bugging her, so she was walking at a slower pace, but that didn't mean that people had the right to just push past her! Oh my God! There were tons of people that just cut right in front of her to get to a rack of paper or a dollar bin! I was so irritated by the end of the day! We ended up leaving around noon because both of us couldn't take it anymore! But, in between the rude people, we did find some good bargains! I got some stamp sets for $4.00 and embellishments for $1.00 (brad packs & button bags). I also got some gorgeous ribbon! You do have to scour around for the good deals and keep track of the places that tend to offer the same items so that you can compare prices. I'm going to bring my Copics list to Santa Clara to get in on some deals there. I might take some classes there too since it's going to be a smaller vendor showing down there. It just seems like it gets smaller and smaller each year.
Now on to Design Team projects! Here are two cards that I did for Becky's Sweet Creations. Our assignment was to create a birthday card with 3 different papers.

Then, I totally forgot that we were supposed to have a color theme to the birthday card, so I did another one with the color scheme!

I had a super blonde moment, but at least I was crafty about it! See, I turn 40 and the mind goes first!

Now for the contest! Paper Crafter's Library is having a contest where you can win a One Year Subscription to their site! You can learn all about it here!

Thanks for stopping by my blog & catching up with me! I appreciate the support!
Please leave me a comment and let me know you were here!

A Crafty Rant

In the past few weeks, I've read about crafters criticizing crafters about their work. Why is this happening? We're our own worst critics. We don't need to make biting remarks about others who share the same hobbies that we do! Each one of us has our own style. Each one of us has our own voice. Each one of us has our own stories to tell that have nothing to do with anyone else. Each of us battles our own demons when we sit down to craft. What photos do I print? Do I scrap chronologically? Will I ever be caught up? What paper do I use? How many buttons are too many? We spend so much time criticizing our own work that we end up with one layout three hours later! Then we get brave enough to take yet another photo and post our work online. That step alone sets us up for more questions, comments and inevitably this week it seems...ridicule.
I know that we're supposed to be a community of crafters. We're supposed to share ideas & recommendations for useful products that make our crafting lives easier. We're supposed to teach each other new ways to do things or share our storage solutions for our crafting addictions. It's all supposed to be fun & enjoyable. But, it's been getting downright nasty and that's just not right. I may not think four buttons is enough and you may think it's too much...so what? Is it really that important to say that you think four buttons is too much? Or can you just look at a layout and move on without voicing the negative? If you have something nice to say, then go ahead and compliment your fellow crafter! Please! We all enjoy hearing good things about our work! But, if you don't like what you see, simply click to the next page, blog, etc. It's that simple. It's all about making choices and we need to choose to end the negativity. Like I said, we're our own worst critics, so we'll handle the negative on our own! What we need from each other is to bolster the creativity that feeds us all!
Just thought I would put in my two cents on the subject since everyone else seems to be!
Please voice your two cents! I love hearing from my fellow crafters on issues that bug us all!
Take a break from crafting, like I just did, and sound off! Thanks for stopping by! I truly appreciate the support!

It's A "Green" Thing Blog Hop - About Nature

If you're looking for the It's All About Green Blog Hop, please click here.
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Hello and Welcome to the It's A "Green" Thing Blog Hop - About Nature. Tina from Crafty & Green is hosting this hop & loves nature and being Green! So, we are so glad you were able to join us today to celebrate Nature with Spring just around the corner!
If you arrived here from Gill's blog, then you're in the right place. If you just happened upon my blog today, please start at the beginning with Tina from Crafty & Green because you wouldn't want to miss anything along the way!
This is a two day hop, but we are only making one project. That should give you two full days to go through the entire hop and leave comments, so you are able to be entered to win the prizes!

Sponsors & Blog Candy

$20 Gift Certificate

Scripture Sayings Stamp Set

Rules to be eligible for Blog Candy:
1) You MUST visit each blog and leave a comment on every blog in the hop
2) You must become a follower of Craft & Green - if you haven't already!
3) For an "Extra Entry", please friend Tina at Crafty & Green on Facebok.

I did a layout for Spring showcasing my floral photography. I used vertical pictures, so I chose paper with a vertical design. I picked out chipboard letters to spell out "Spring" and added a leaf & flower popped up on foam dots to add to the title. Spring has sprung!

Please leave me a comment & become a follower. I appreciate the support!
Thank you for joining us and celebrating Nature! Your next stop is the talented & crafty Wendy's blog!
Happy Hopping!

It's All About Green Blog Hop - March 3rd & 4th

Welcome to the It's All About Green Blog Hop - March 3rd & 4th! The nine fantastic ladies that are joining me  on this wonderful hop are going to show you what green means to them. It's finally March and the month of green  - whether it's for St. Patty's Day or finally a hint of spring! If you are following the path of green and came from Jearise's blog, then you are on the right path. If you have just been following the rainbow and came upon my blog, you might want to start with the blog of our hostess!

For my project, I thought I would make a cute rosette with a St. Patty's Day theme! I used the Simply Charmed cartridge to make the Golden Rainbow. I put gold Stickles on the gold coins to make them sparkle! The rosette is 4 strips of 3" X 12" paper scored at ever 3/4". I glued these end to end and used a small circle with hot glue in the middle of each side to keep the rosette together. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Please leave me a comment and become a follower. I appreciate the support!
Thank you for joining us on our Green Hop and please hop on over to Vicki's blog to see what wonderful creations she has for you! Happy Hopping!